Upregulation of cathepsin L gene under mild cold conditions in young Japanese male adults

Vol. 40, Article number: 16 (2021)
Yoshiki Yasukochi, Sora Shin, Hitoshi Wakabayashi & Takafumi Maeda 

Physiological thermoregulatory systems in humans have been a key factor for adaptation to local environments after their exodus from Africa, particularly, to cold environments outside Africa. Recent studies using high-throughput sequencing have identified various genes responsible for cold adaptation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying initial thermoregulation in response to acute cold exposure remain unclear. Authors investigated transcriptional profiles of six young Japanese male adults exposed to acute cold stress.

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Plasmodium—a brief introduction to the parasites causing human malaria and their basic biology

Vol. 40 Article number: 1 (2021)

Shigeharu Sato

Malaria has been recognised as a serious health problem since the earliest historical times. This disease is caused by protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Plasmodium. The strong negative pressure of the disease has likely forced the evolution of human populations in malaria endemic regions and the selection of some unique genetic variants. 

Plasmodium species have remarkable genetic flexibility which lets them adapt to alterations in the environment, giving them the potential to quickly develop resistance to therapeutics such as antimalarials and to change host specificity. In this article, selected topics involving the Plasmodium species that cause malaria in humans are reviewed.

Journal of Physiological Anthropology Best Reviewer Award 2020 is awarded to:

• Yoshiki Yasukochi (Mie University, Japan)

For more information, please visit the award page.

Journal of Physiological Anthropology (JPA) is the official journal of the Japan Society of Physiological Anthropology. JPA is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that publishes research on the physiological functions of modern mankind, with an emphasis on the physical and bio-cultural effects on human adaptability to the current environment.
Click here to read full Aims and Scope of JPA

Journal of Physiological Anthropology publishes special issues and collection of papers on the select topics of recent interest within the scope of the journal. See the list of article collections and special issues here. 

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