{"entity": "researcher", "timestamp": "2026-08-20T21:12:05.004Z", "family": "Hiller", "given": "Michael", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0003-3024-1449", "affiliations": ["Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.", "Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany.", "Center for Systems Biology Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany."], "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/1005d0d1f4264b46b1cfe214c7aca246.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/1005d0d1f4264b46b1cfe214c7aca246"}}, "publications": [{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "9b255b8a99944228a707e155419fd870", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/9b255b8a99944228a707e155419fd870.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/9b255b8a99944228a707e155419fd870"}}, "title": "Quest for Orthologs in the Era of Biodiversity Genomics.", "authors": [{"family": "Langschied", "given": "Felix", "initials": "F", "orcid": "0009-0004-3348-3130", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/e1a6e133f7fe44bf96dd05a90d8fc273.json"}}, {"family": "Bordin", "given": "Nicola", "initials": "N", "orcid": "0000-0002-6568-9035", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/3ec6e6c9fb67478580b946a6ecae062b.json"}}, {"family": "Cosentino", "given": "Salvatore", "initials": "S", "orcid": "0000-0002-1066-8659", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/99f2695b80684c87addfbc751534e7d7.json"}}, {"family": "Fuentes-Palacios", "given": "Diego", "initials": "D", "orcid": "0000-0002-9977-6786", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/cc15167b6b1943a3a07e911fef77b942.json"}}, {"family": "Glover", "given": "Natasha", "initials": "N", "orcid": "0000-0003-1811-4340", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/fe6ec892c5404ac3a0aaf4e8ac907ee9.json"}}, {"family": "Hiller", "given": "Michael", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0003-3024-1449", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/1005d0d1f4264b46b1cfe214c7aca246.json"}}, {"family": "Hu", "given": "Yanhui", "initials": "Y", "orcid": "0000-0003-1494-1402", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/d048ac84bf934c9d87774c6cab7430c6.json"}}, {"family": "Huerta-Cepas", "given": "Jaime", "initials": "J", "orcid": "0000-0003-4195-5025", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/0c8c00b0396840c480fa3f57a376ce00.json"}}, {"family": "Coelho", "given": "Luis Pedro", "initials": "LP", "orcid": "0000-0002-9280-7885", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/3630792233fd4118b12a548dba98f8bc.json"}}, {"family": "Iwasaki", "given": "Wataru", "initials": "W", "orcid": "0000-0002-9169-9245", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/77399cc41820467ba6e32dd3ee6eaaec.json"}}, {"family": "Majidian", "given": "Sina", "initials": "S", "orcid": "0000-0001-5345-6982", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/a14f17e8c2dc470dae5250c36d32cb27.json"}}, {"family": "Manzano-Morales", "given": "Saioa", "initials": "S", "orcid": "0000-0001-5138-3871", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/c23facda0fef49a8a038195ac49b6ee2.json"}}, {"family": "Persson", "given": "Emma", "initials": "E", "orcid": "0000-0003-0532-8251", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/c17b5ab61d4949d4818f653f43fa11f6.json"}}, {"family": "Richards", "given": "Thomas A", "initials": "TA", "orcid": "0000-0002-9692-0973", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/c4778e4e15ce4ce6af7a4f07b27943b9.json"}}, {"family": "Gabald\u00f3n", "given": "Toni", "initials": "T", "orcid": "0000-0003-0019-1735", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/1ae849222ff5490d816ec645b9e3cda3.json"}}, {"family": "Sonnhammer", "given": "Erik", "initials": "E", "orcid": "0000-0002-9015-5588", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/8c4fb5f5a50a4dbb91bbea3cc6861ffa.json"}}, {"family": "Thomas", "given": "Paul D", "initials": "PD", "orcid": "0000-0002-9074-3507", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/4af1f8a10ced487196829d162e22d314.json"}}, {"family": "Dessimoz", "given": "Christophe", "initials": "C", "orcid": "0000-0002-2170-853X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/8d9dc970f3da45a4a46ecfdf4ab0893f.json"}}, {"family": "Ebersberger", "given": "Ingo", "initials": "I", "orcid": "0000-0001-8187-9253", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/946c40da21e441d196dd8b88ea126df0.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2024-10-09", "journal": {"title": "Genome Biol Evol", "issn": "1759-6653", "volume": "16", "issue": "10", "issn-l": "1759-6653"}, "abstract": "The era of biodiversity genomics is characterized by large-scale genome sequencing efforts that aim to represent each living taxon with an assembled genome. Generating knowledge from this wealth of data has not kept up with this pace. We here discuss major challenges to integrating these novel genomes into a comprehensive functional and evolutionary network spanning the tree of life. In summary, the expanding datasets create a need for scalable gene annotation methods. To trace gene function across species, new methods must seek to increase the resolution of ortholog analyses, e.g. by extending analyses to the protein domain level and by accounting for alternative splicing. Additionally, the scope of orthology prediction should be pushed beyond well-investigated proteomes. This demands the development of specialized methods for the identification of orthologs to short proteins and noncoding RNAs and for the functional characterization of novel gene families. Furthermore, protein structures predicted by machine learning are now readily available, but this new information is yet to be integrated with orthology-based analyses. Finally, an increasing focus should be placed on making orthology assignments adhere to the findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) principles. This fosters green bioinformatics by avoiding redundant computations and helps integrating diverse scientific communities sharing the need for comparative genetics and genomics information. It should also help with communicating orthology-related concepts in a format that is accessible to the public, to counteract existing misinformation about evolution.", "doi": "10.1093/gbe/evae224", "pmid": "39404012", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC11523110"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "7822254"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T09:41:22.699Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T09:41:23.293Z"}, {"entity": "publication", "iuid": "7aa5056b58e3462f93a00ad80578b6ec", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/7aa5056b58e3462f93a00ad80578b6ec.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/7aa5056b58e3462f93a00ad80578b6ec"}}, "title": "Chiropterans Are a Hotspot for Horizontal Transfer of DNA Transposons in Mammalia.", "authors": [{"family": "Paulat", "given": "Nicole S", "initials": "NS"}, {"family": "Storer", "given": "Jessica M", "initials": "JM"}, {"family": "Moreno-Santill\u00e1n", "given": "Diana D", "initials": "DD"}, {"family": "Osmanski", "given": "Austin B", "initials": "AB"}, {"family": "Sullivan", "given": "Kevin A M", "initials": "KAM"}, {"family": "Grimshaw", "given": "Jenna R", "initials": "JR", "orcid": "0000-0001-7673-5167", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/47c81a9b846f488d9b140dcfcb28edaf.json"}}, {"family": "Korstian", "given": "Jennifer", "initials": "J"}, {"family": "Halsey", "given": "Michaela", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Garcia", "given": "Carlos J", "initials": "CJ"}, {"family": "Crookshanks", "given": "Claudia", "initials": "C"}, {"family": "Roberts", "given": "Jaquelyn", "initials": "J"}, {"family": "Smit", "given": "Arian F A", "initials": "AFA"}, {"family": "Hubley", "given": "Robert", "initials": "R"}, {"family": "Rosen", "given": "Jeb", "initials": "J"}, {"family": "Teeling", "given": "Emma C", "initials": "EC"}, {"family": "Vernes", "given": "Sonja C", "initials": "SC"}, {"family": "Myers", "given": "Eugene", "initials": "E"}, {"family": "Pippel", "given": "Martin", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Brown", "given": "Thomas", "initials": "T"}, {"family": "Hiller", "given": "Michael", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0003-3024-1449", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/1005d0d1f4264b46b1cfe214c7aca246.json"}}, {"family": "Zoonomia Consortium\n", "given": "", "initials": ""}, {"family": "Rojas", "given": "Danny", "initials": "D"}, {"family": "D\u00e1valos", "given": "Liliana M", "initials": "LM", "orcid": "0000-0002-4327-7697", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/7d8a875eb2704b75ac10564ffb83c3b0.json"}}, {"family": "Lindblad-Toh", "given": "Kerstin", "initials": "K"}, {"family": "Karlsson", "given": "Elinor K", "initials": "EK", "orcid": "0000-0002-4343-3776", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/81b5c82fcb904394b6a6b1d811863fa0.json"}}, {"family": "Ray", "given": "David A", "initials": "DA", "orcid": "0000-0002-3340-3987", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/d6392a5497414b98999823cbafd67d4b.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2023-05-02", "journal": {"title": "Mol. Biol. Evol.", "issn": "1537-1719", "volume": "40", "issue": "5", "issn-l": "0737-4038"}, "abstract": "Horizontal transfer of transposable elements (TEs) is an important mechanism contributing to genetic diversity and innovation. Bats (order Chiroptera) have repeatedly been shown to experience horizontal transfer of TEs at what appears to be a high rate compared with other mammals. We investigated the occurrence of horizontally transferred (HT) DNA transposons involving bats. We found over 200 putative HT elements within bats; 16 transposons were shared across distantly related mammalian clades, and 2 other elements were shared with a fish and two lizard species. Our results indicate that bats are a hotspot for horizontal transfer of DNA transposons. These events broadly coincide with the diversification of several bat clades, supporting the hypothesis that DNA transposon invasions have contributed to genetic diversification of bats.", "doi": "10.1093/molbev/msad092", "pmid": "37071810", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC10162687"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "7128099"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T09:42:31.229Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T09:42:31.404Z"}, {"entity": "publication", "iuid": "b8f68b45bcd643d784b9cf62a589160d", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/b8f68b45bcd643d784b9cf62a589160d.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/b8f68b45bcd643d784b9cf62a589160d"}}, "title": "Broad host range of SARS-CoV-2 predicted by comparative and structural analysis of ACE2 in vertebrates.", "authors": [{"family": "Damas", "given": "Joana", "initials": "J", "orcid": "0000-0003-4857-2510", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/f60eb6afeabc435ea1e6378786162fa8.json"}}, {"family": "Hughes", "given": "Graham M", "initials": "GM", "orcid": "0000-0003-3088-345X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/9785e94b95a3466dbb70ad8eb9b34ccd.json"}}, {"family": "Keough", "given": "Kathleen C", "initials": "KC", "orcid": "0000-0002-7481-0511", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/27ba6707b77e4d0eb914e71063dab333.json"}}, {"family": "Painter", "given": "Corrie A", "initials": "CA", "orcid": "0000-0001-6174-1548", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/d8344bb3d42144f98f550aa8f83e42d7.json"}}, {"family": "Persky", "given": "Nicole S", "initials": "NS", "orcid": "0000-0002-9948-2761", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/ed0fc24668b242f1ab1c772856f17d24.json"}}, {"family": "Corbo", "given": "Marco", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0002-4566-2724", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/8133d835c1ec4fe4937748d71a6794e8.json"}}, {"family": "Hiller", "given": "Michael", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0003-3024-1449", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/1005d0d1f4264b46b1cfe214c7aca246.json"}}, {"family": "Koepfli", "given": "Klaus-Peter", "initials": "KP", "orcid": "0000-0001-7281-0676", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/90e8966ff0e04ca391070664d52cdf04.json"}}, {"family": "Pfenning", "given": "Andreas R", "initials": "AR", "orcid": "0000-0002-3447-9801", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/5f7c2be6e32147d19f03c7ff88fb3f80.json"}}, {"family": "Zhao", "given": "Huabin", "initials": "H", "orcid": "0000-0002-7848-6392", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/ce72657ddbab4665991d934bf3ccfdbe.json"}}, {"family": "Genereux", "given": "Diane P", "initials": "DP", "orcid": "0000-0001-5770-0989", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/352ee25047c544aaa486a69e7e3333fc.json"}}, {"family": "Swofford", "given": "Ross", "initials": "R", "orcid": "0000-0003-3676-8479", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/85b0174c633b417b933092763175bb1c.json"}}, {"family": "Pollard", "given": "Katherine S", "initials": "KS", "orcid": "0000-0002-9870-6196", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/8d080bc9bff548958f0c161612cdc4cf.json"}}, {"family": "Ryder", "given": "Oliver A", "initials": "OA", "orcid": "0000-0003-2427-763X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/3d18635ed6fa42d4bbcfddadae70e308.json"}}, {"family": "Nweeia", "given": "Martin T", "initials": "MT", "orcid": "0000-0001-7079-4123", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/b4846b6d146a4a7288db1543583a0158.json"}}, {"family": "Lindblad-Toh", "given": "Kerstin", "initials": "K", "orcid": "0000-0001-8338-0253", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/612a779b69494f1ca9b6c5f1d84fd711.json"}}, {"family": "Teeling", "given": "Emma C", "initials": "EC", "orcid": "0000-0002-3309-1346", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/28069443db794cb596e58aea060d9dea.json"}}, {"family": "Karlsson", "given": "Elinor K", "initials": "EK", "orcid": "0000-0002-4343-3776", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/81b5c82fcb904394b6a6b1d811863fa0.json"}}, {"family": "Lewin", "given": "Harris A", "initials": "HA", "orcid": "0000-0002-1043-7287", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/5059da24204049c696aec45b62526759.json"}}], "type": "comparative study", "published": "2020-09-08", "journal": {"title": "Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.", "issn": "1091-6490", "volume": "117", "issue": "36", "pages": "22311-22322", "issn-l": "0027-8424"}, "abstract": "The novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of COVID-19. The main receptor of SARS-CoV-2, angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), is now undergoing extensive scrutiny to understand the routes of transmission and sensitivity in different species. Here, we utilized a unique dataset of ACE2 sequences from 410 vertebrate species, including 252 mammals, to study the conservation of ACE2 and its potential to be used as a receptor by SARS-CoV-2. We designed a five-category binding score based on the conservation properties of 25 amino acids important for the binding between ACE2 and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Only mammals fell into the medium to very high categories and only catarrhine primates into the very high category, suggesting that they are at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. We employed a protein structural analysis to qualitatively assess whether amino acid changes at variable residues would be likely to disrupt ACE2/SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding and found the number of predicted unfavorable changes significantly correlated with the binding score. Extending this analysis to human population data, we found only rare (frequency <0.001) variants in 10/25 binding sites. In addition, we found significant signals of selection and accelerated evolution in the ACE2 coding sequence across all mammals, and specific to the bat lineage. Our results, if confirmed by additional experimental data, may lead to the identification of intermediate host species for SARS-CoV-2, guide the selection of animal models of COVID-19, and assist the conservation of animals both in native habitats and in human care.", "doi": "10.1073/pnas.2010146117", "pmid": "32826334", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC7486773"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "2010146117"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T09:30:48.684Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T09:30:49.333Z"}]}