Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Evidence for Evolution

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.

Microbial Classification System

Microbial Classification System

Classification is the process of organizing organisms into hierarchically inclusive groups based on their phenotypic similarities or evolutionary relationships. A species comprises one or more strains, and closely related species are grouped into genera. Genera are further classified into families, families into orders, orders into classes, and so forth, up to the domain level, which is the broadest taxonomic rank derived from a combination of phenotypic and genotypic data.The nomenclature of...

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is that if two species share a common feature, it is likely encoded by the DNA sequence conserved between both species. The advent of genome sequencing technologies in the late 20th century enabled scientists to understand the concept of conservation of domains between species and helped them to deduce evolutionary relationships across diverse...

Modern Molecular Taxonomy

Modern Molecular Taxonomy

Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...

Methods of Classification and Identification

Methods of Classification and Identification

Bacterial identification relies on a diverse array of techniques to classify and understand microorganisms, each tailored to uncover specific characteristics. Traditional morphological approaches, while still valuable, are limited for closely related or structurally simple organisms. Modern methods integrate biochemical, serological, genetic, and advanced molecular tools to achieve greater accuracy.Morphological and Biochemical TechniquesMorphological characteristics, such as cell shape and...

Applications of Molecular Taxonomy

Applications of Molecular Taxonomy

Molecular taxonomy has revolutionized the understanding and classification of bacteria, providing precise insights into their diversity, evolutionary relationships, and ecological roles. By utilizing molecular techniques such as DNA sequencing and fingerprinting, researchers have made significant strides in various fields related to bacterial studies.Resolving Taxonomic AmbiguitiesMolecular taxonomy has been instrumental in distinguishing closely related bacterial species initially thought to...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Human-specific evolutionary genetic loss of addition of a single oxygen atom from sialic acids increases hydrophobicity of cells and proteins [Carbohydr. Res. (552), June 2025, 109469].

Carbohydrate research·2026

Same author

Carbohydrate sulfotransferases in humans: Repertoire and regulation of glycan-lectin interactions.

Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects·2026

Same author

Comprehensive identification of the genes involved in the expression of Siglec-15 ligands on osteoclast precursors.

Cell reports·2026

Same author

Origins and Evolution of Essentials of Glycobiology.

Glycobiology·2025

Same author

Advancing Chemoenzymatic Synthesis and Covalent Immobilization of a Comprehensive Ganglio-glycosphingolipid Library Enables Functional Multiplex Bead Assays.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2025

Same author

Disrupting Siglec-mediated interactions to develop immunotherapies for cancer treatment.

Expert opinion on therapeutic targets·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 31, 2025

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

Published on: July 11, 2025

Discovery, classification, evolution and diversity of Siglecs.

Takashi Angata¹, Ajit Varki²

¹Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Molecular Aspects of Medicine

|August 21, 2022

Summary

Siglecs, or sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins, are immune proteins with diverse roles. Rapid evolution in human Siglec genes, particularly CD33rSiglecs, reflects pathogen interactions and disease associations.

Keywords:

Evolution Genetic polymorphism Host-pathogen interaction Paired receptors Sialic acid Siglec

More Related Videos

Discovering CsgD Regulatory Targets in Salmonella Biofilm Using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation and High-Throughput Sequencing ChIP-seq

Discovering CsgD Regulatory Targets in Salmonella Biofilm Using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation and High-Throughput Sequencing ChIP-seq

Published on: January 18, 2020

Microinjection for Transgenesis and Genome Editing in Threespine Sticklebacks

Microinjection for Transgenesis and Genome Editing in Threespine Sticklebacks

Published on: May 13, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 31, 2025

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

Published on: July 11, 2025

Discovering CsgD Regulatory Targets in Salmonella Biofilm Using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation and High-Throughput Sequencing ChIP-seq

Discovering CsgD Regulatory Targets in Salmonella Biofilm Using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation and High-Throughput Sequencing ChIP-seq

Published on: January 18, 2020

Microinjection for Transgenesis and Genome Editing in Threespine Sticklebacks

Microinjection for Transgenesis and Genome Editing in Threespine Sticklebacks

Published on: May 13, 2016

Area of Science:

Immunology
Glycobiology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily proteins regulate cellular responses.
Siglecs (sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins) are I-type lectins expressed on leukocytes, modulating immunity.
Key Siglecs like Siglec-1, -2, -4, and -15 are conserved, while CD33rSiglecs show rapid evolutionary variation.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the evolutionary dynamics of Siglec genes, particularly CD33rSiglecs.
To investigate the impact of human-specific Siglec evolution on immunity and disease.
To understand the role of Siglec gene polymorphisms in host-pathogen interactions.

Main Methods:

Comparative genomics analysis of Siglec gene clusters across species.
Examination of Siglec expression patterns in human and non-human primate tissues.
Association studies of Siglec gene polymorphisms with human diseases.

Main Results:

CD33rSiglecs exhibit significant interspecies and intraspecies variation, suggesting adaptation to pathogen pressures.
Human Siglecs show unique properties compared to great apes, including expression in non-immune cells and association with human-specific diseases.
Siglec gene polymorphisms demonstrate context-dependent effects, influencing susceptibility to both infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Conclusions:

The rapid evolution of CD33rSiglecs is driven by host-pathogen interactions.
Human-specific Siglec evolution, including changes in sialic acid metabolism, impacts human health and disease.
Siglec gene polymorphisms are critical factors in the ongoing evolutionary arms race between humans and pathogens.