Topic
Burmese python
About: Burmese python is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 108 publications have been published within this topic receiving 2309 citations. The topic is also known as: Python bivittatus.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
University of Texas at Arlington1, University of Colorado Denver2, Alberta Children's Hospital3, University of Chicago4, Southeast University5, Linfield College6, Mississippi State University7, University of Utah8, University of Toronto9, Washington University in St. Louis10, Virginia Commonwealth University11, Texas Tech University12, Bangor University13, Naturalis14, Leiden University15, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine16, University of Northern Colorado17, Iowa State University18, University of Alabama19
TL;DR: The python and king cobra genomes are compared along with genomic samples from other snakes and transcriptome analysis is performed to gain insights into the extreme phenotypes of the python, finding rapid and massive transcriptional responses in multiple organ systems that occur on feeding and coordinate major changes in organ size and function.
Abstract: Snakes possess many extreme morphological and physiological adaptations. Identification of the molecular basis of these traits can provide novel understanding for vertebrate biology and medicine. Here, we study snake biology using the genome sequence of the Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus), a model of extreme physiological and metabolic adaptation. We compare the python and king cobra genomes along with genomic samples from other snakes and perform transcriptome analysis to gain insights into the extreme phenotypes of the python. We discovered rapid and massive transcriptional responses in multiple organ systems that occur on feeding and coordinate major changes in organ size and function. Intriguingly, the homologs of these genes in humans are associated with metabolism, development, and pathology. We also found that many snake metabolic genes have undergone positive selection, which together with the rapid evolution of mitochondrial proteins, provides evidence for extensive adaptive redesign of snake metabolic pathways. Additional evidence for molecular adaptation and gene family expansions and contractions is associated with major physiological and phenotypic adaptations in snakes; genes involved are related to cell cycle, development, lungs, eyes, heart, intestine, and skeletal structure, including GRB2-associated binding protein 1, SSH, WNT16, and bone morphogenetic protein 7. Finally, changes in repetitive DNA content, guanine-cytosine isochore structure, and nucleotide substitution rates indicate major shifts in the structure and evolution of snake genomes compared with other amniotes. Phenotypic and physiological novelty in snakes seems to be driven by system-wide coordination of protein adaptation, gene expression, and changes in the structure of the genome.
305 citations
TL;DR: The observed large-scale alterations of the gut microbiota that accompany the Burmese python's own dramatic physiological and morphological changes during feeding and fasting emphasize the need to consider both microbial and host cellular responses to nutrient flux.
Abstract: The vertebrate gut microbiota evolved in an environment typified by periodic fluctuations in nutrient availability, yet little is known about its responses to host feeding and fasting. As many model species (for example, mice) are adapted to lifestyles of frequent small meals, we turned to the Burmese python, a sit-and-wait foraging snake that consumes large prey at long intervals (>1 month), to examine the effects of a dynamic nutrient milieu on the gut microbiota. We used multiplexed 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing to characterize bacterial communities harvested from the intestines of fasted and digesting snakes, and from their rodent meal. In this unprecedented survey of a reptilian host, we found that Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes numerically dominated the python gut. In the large intestine, fasting was associated with increased abundances of the genera Bacteroides, Rikenella, Synergistes and Akkermansia, and with reduced overall diversity. A marked postprandial shift in bacterial community configuration occurred. Between 12 h and 3 days after feeding, Firmicutes, including the taxa Clostridium, Lactobacillus and Peptostreptococcaceae, gradually outnumbered the fasting-dominant Bacteroidetes, and overall ‘species’-level diversity increased significantly. Most lineages seemed to be indigenous to the python rather than ingested with the meal, but a dietary source of Lactobacillus could not be ruled out. Thus, the observed large-scale alterations of the gut microbiota that accompany the Burmese python's own dramatic physiological and morphological changes during feeding and fasting emphasize the need to consider both microbial and host cellular responses to nutrient flux. The Burmese python may provide a unique model for dissecting these interrelationships.
270 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that the meiotic pathways that produce the diploid egg cells are different, and the offspring are genetically identical to their mother, whereas in previous studies on sporadic parthenogenesis in snakes a loss of genetic information was reported.
Abstract: Parthenogenesis among reptiles is rare. Only a few species have the ability to reproduce asexually. Most of these are obligate parthenogenetic species that consist (almost) entirely of females, which can reproduce solely through parthenogenesis. Rarer are sexual species that only sporadically reproduce through parthenogenesis. A female Python molurus bivittatus (Reptilia, Boidae) from the Artis Zoo, Amsterdam, produced eggs in five consecutive years that contained embryos while she was isolated from males. These eggs might be fertilized with stored sperm, or might be the product of parthenogenesis. Parthenogenesis has not been shown for the Boidae family before. We performed parentship analyses on the snake and seven of her embryos using microsatellites and AFLP. Four microsatellite loci developed for this species combined with three loci developed previously for different snake species revealed too little variation to discriminate between sperm retention and parthenogenesis. With AFLP we were able to confirm that the Artis Zoo female reproduced parthenogenetically. Because the offspring are genetically identical to their mother, whereas in previous studies on sporadic parthenogenesis in snakes a loss of genetic information was reported, we conclude that the meiotic pathways that produce the diploid egg cells are different.
98 citations
TL;DR: The Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus) is now well established in southern Florida and spreading northward, and a substantial portion of the mainland US is potentially vulnerable to this ostensibly tropical invasion.
Abstract: The Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus) is now well established in southern Florida and spreading northward. The factors likely to limit this spread are unknown, but presumably include climate or are correlated with climate. We compiled monthly rainfall and temperature statistics from 149 stations located near the edge of the python’s native range in Asia (Pakistan east to China and south to Indonesia). The southern and eastern native range limits extend to saltwater, leaving unresolved the species’ climatic tolerances in those areas. The northern and western limits are associated with cold and aridity respectively. We plotted mean monthly rainfall against mean monthly temperature for the 149 native range weather stations to identify the climate conditions inhabited by pythons in their native range, and mapped areas of the coterminous United States with the same climate today and projected for the year 2100. We accounted for both dry-season aestivation and winter hibernation (under two scenarios of hibernation duration). The potential distribution was relatively insensitive to choice of scenario for hibernation duration. US areas climatically matched at present ranged up the coasts and across the south from Delaware to Oregon, and included most of California, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South and North Carolina. By the year 2100, projected areas of potential suitable climate extend northward beyond the current limit to include parts of the states of Washington, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Thus a substantial portion of the mainland US is potentially vulnerable to this ostensibly tropical invader.
97 citations
TL;DR: The integrative response of intestinal functional upregulation and tissue hypertrophy enables each of these five python species, regardless of body shape, to modulate intestinal performance to meet the demands of their large infrequent meals.
Abstract: SUMMARY The adaptive interplay between feeding habits and digestive physiology is
demonstrated by the Burmese python, which in response to feeding infrequently
has evolved the capacity to widely regulate gastrointestinal performance with
feeding and fasting. To explore the generality of this physiological trait
among pythons, we compared the postprandial responses of metabolism and both
intestinal morphology and function among five members of the genus
Python : P. brongersmai , P. molurus, P. regius, P.
reticulatus and P. sebae . These infrequently feeding pythons
inhabit Africa, southeast Asia and Indonesia and vary in body shape from short
and stout ( P. brongersmai ) to long and slender ( P.
reticulatus ). Following the consumption of rodent meals equaling 25% of
snake body mass, metabolic rates of pythons peaked at 1.5 days at levels 9.9-
to 14.5-fold of standard metabolic rates before returning to prefeeding rates
by day 6-8. Specific dynamic action of these meals (317-347 kJ) did not differ
among species and equaled 23-27% of the ingested energy. For each species,
feeding triggered significant upregulation of intestinal nutrient transport
and aminopeptidase-N activity. Concurrently, intestinal mass doubled on
average for the five species, in part due to an 85% increase in mucosal
thickness, itself a product of 27-59% increases in enterocyte volume. The
integrative response of intestinal functional upregulation and tissue
hypertrophy enables each of these five python species, regardless of body
shape, to modulate intestinal performance to meet the demands of their large
infrequent meals.
95 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2016 | 9 |