Biology subjects

Gago, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Gago, J..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Elevational Shifts in Tropical Tree Leaf Traits: Interactions Between Soil, Climate, Light, and Phylogeny

Understanding how tropical trees respond to complex environmental gradients is essential for predicting forest resilience under climate change. We examined variation in key leaf traits, including specific leaf area (SLA), foliar nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), C:N and N:P ratios, and stable isotope composition ({delta}13C, {delta}15N), in 160 tree species along a 3,200-m elevational transect on Mount Cameroon. This gradient spans hyper-humid coastal rainforests to arid Afroalpine savannas, capturing sharp transitions in climate, soils, and forest structure. Leaf traits shifted nonlinearly with elevation, from acquisitive strategies at mid-elevations to conservative syndromes in lowlands and highlands. Mid-elevation forests ([~]1,000-1,500 m), characterized by moderate climate and canopy disturbance by elephants, supported nutrient-rich, high-SLA foliage. In contrast, high-elevation forests (>2,000 m) exhibited low SLA, high C:N, and enriched {delta}13C, consistent with stress tolerance under cold, dry, and fire-prone conditions. The strongest phosphorus limitation occurred in hyper-humid lowlands, where extreme rainfall (>12,000 mm/year) drives leaching losses. Foliar {delta}15N declined markedly with elevation (from +5{per thousand} to -5{per thousand}), indicating a shift from mineral N uptake and N-fixation in lowland Fabaceae to ecto- and ericoid mycorrhizal associations in montane Ericaceae. A bimodal {delta}15N pattern, with enrichment in both lowland and upper montane forests, reflects N-fixation under leaching and fire-driven N scarcity, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses showed that climate, soils, forest structure, and lineage jointly shaped trait-environment relationships. Traits related to {delta}13C, C:N, and {delta}15N exhibited strong phylogenetic signal, highlighting evolutionary constraints. These findings underscore the value of integrating functional traits, isotopes, and phylogeny to predict tropical forest responses to global change.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Reproductive traits of the European catfish (Silurus glanis) during the early stages of invasion in the Lower Tagus River

Freshwater ecosystems face severe challenges from biological invasions, leading to biodiversity loss, disruption of ecosystem services, and economic impacts. Human-mediated activities, such as aquarium trade and sport angling, contribute to species introductions, with potential negative consequences for native ecosystems. The European catfish (Silurus glanis) is one of the worlds largest freshwater fish and has been intentionally introduced into diverse regions, impacting native ecosystems. However, limited research exists on its reproductive traits outside its native range. This study addresses this gap by examining the reproductive characteristics of non-native European catfish populations in the Lower Tagus River in Portugal, focusing on size at maturity, spawning period, and fecundity. The observed balanced sex ratio aligns with studies of native populations. Variations in size at first maturity (TL50) among populations highlight the influence of habitat conditions, temperature, food availability, growth rate, and geographical location on this trait. The extended spawning season (March to June) in the Tagus River is consistent with native populations, but variations may occur based on environmental conditions and water temperature. Absolute fecundity ranged from 8,961 to 335,500 oocytes, showing positive relationships with body size and emphasizing the reproductive potential of European catfish in Portugal. Egg size variations, along with asynchronous egg development, contribute to the species reproductive strategy, favoring its invasive success. Management efforts should include monitoring, regulations on introductions, removal programs, and public awareness to mitigate their impact. Future research should focus on understanding how non-native European catfish populations adapt in various regions and continue to impact ecosystems.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2023

Westwards expansion of the European catfish Silurus glanis in the Douro River (Portugal)

The current study reports the first occurrence and the spread of the European catfish Silurus glanis (Family: Siluridae) in the Portuguese section of the Douro River, suggesting a potential expansion of its distribution in Portugal either via westward dispersal across international rivers and/or human-assisted introductions into new reservoirs and drainages. European catfish has unique features (e.g., opportunistic predator, hunting, and aggregation behaviour) that make it highly suitable for establishing self-sustaining populations in new areas and likely contribute to its invasion success. The species may severely affect native prey communities and modify food web structure and ecosystem functioning. Efficient and sustainable management actions are needed to prevent further introductions in the future.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2021

ACE2-containing defensosomes serve as decoys to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection

Extracellular vesicles of endosomal origin, exosomes, mediate intercellular communication by transporting substrates with a variety of functions related to tissue homeostasis and disease. Their diagnostic and therapeutic potential has been recognized for diseases such as cancer in which signaling defects are prominent. However, it is unclear to what extent exosomes and their cargo inform the progression of infectious diseases. We recently defined a subset of exosomes termed defensosomes that are mobilized during bacterial infection in a manner dependent on autophagy proteins. Through incorporating protein receptors on their surface, defensosomes mediated host defense by binding and inhibiting pore-forming toxins secreted by bacterial pathogens. Given this capacity to serve as decoys that interfere with surface protein interactions, we investigated the role of defensosomes during infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of COVID-19. Consistent with a protective function, exosomes containing high levels of the viral receptor ACE2 in bronchioalveolar lavage fluid from critically ill COVID-19 patients was associated with reduced ICU and hospitalization times. We found ACE2+ exosomes were induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection and activation of viral sensors in cell culture, which required the autophagy protein ATG16L1, defining these as defensosomes. We further demonstrate that ACE2+ defensosomes directly bind and block viral entry. These findings suggest that defensosomes may contribute to the antiviral response against SARS-CoV-2 and expand our knowledge on the regulation and effects of extracellular vesicles during infection.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2021

Gut microbiome dysbiosis during COVID-19 is associated with increased risk for bacteremia and microbial translocation.

The microbial populations in the gut microbiome have recently been associated with COVID-19 disease severity. However, a causal impact of the gut microbiome on COVID-19 patient health has not been established. Here we provide evidence that gut microbiome dysbiosis is associated with translocation of bacteria into the blood during COVID-19, causing life-threatening secondary infections. Antibiotics and other treatments during COVID-19 can potentially confound microbiome associations. We therefore first demonstrate in a mouse model that SARS-CoV-2 infection can induce gut microbiome dysbiosis, which correlated with alterations to Paneth cells and goblet cells, and markers of barrier permeability. Comparison with stool samples collected from 96 COVID-19 patients at two different clinical sites also revealed substantial gut microbiome dysbiosis, paralleling our observations in the animal model. Specifically, we observed blooms of opportunistic pathogenic bacterial genera known to include antimicrobial-resistant species in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Analysis of blood culture results testing for secondary microbial bloodstream infections with paired microbiome data obtained from these patients indicates that bacteria may translocate from the gut into the systemic circulation of COVID-19 patients. These results are consistent with a direct role for gut microbiome dysbiosis in enabling dangerous secondary infections during COVID-19.

microbiology↗