The innate immune system recognizes microbial features leading to the activation of the adaptive immune system. The role of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is to recognize microbial DNA. In addition to immune cells, TLR9 is ...

Domesticated species such as cattle have evolved under natural and artificial selection, leading to cattle breeds (both Bos taurus and Bos indicus) that display a broad phenotypic spectrum. As a result of intensive artificial ...

Plants form the first trophic level in terrestrial ecosystems and provide energy and nutrients to higher trophic levels. Herbivores, frugivores or fungal endophytes use plants directly, while ...

Biodiversity is unequally spread throughout terrestrial ecosystems. The highest species richness of animals and plants is encountered around the Equator, and naturalists observe a decrease in the number of creatures with ...

In marine benthic communities, herbivores consume a considerable proportion of primary producer biomass and, thus, generate selection for the evolution of resistance traits. According to the theory of plant defenses, ...

Once the seed has germinated, the plant is forced to face all the environmental changes in its habitat. In order to survive, plants have evolved a number of different acclimation systems. The primary reaction behind plant ...

Although abundant in the number of individuals, the Atlantic salmon may be considered as a threatened species in many areas of its native distribution range. Human activities such as building of power plant dams, offshore ...

Jatropha curcas (L.) is a multipurpose oil bearing shrub assumed to be able to survive in a wide range of ecological conditions across the tropical regions of the world. The thesis is composed of two parts, the first one ...