Abstract In this study, we analyzed associations between vaccination knowledge, vaccination intention, political ideology, and belief in conspiracy theories before and during the 2020 Sars-Cov-2 pandemic in the Brazilian population. It was conducted a longitudinal study into three data collections. Participants responded to the Flexible Inventory of Conspiracy Suspicions (FICS), questionnaires measuring their knowledge, and opinion about vaccines, and sociodemographic data. The results were: the greater the belief in conspiracy theories about vaccines, the lesser the intention to get vaccinated, the vaccine knowledge, and the attitudes towards vaccine investment. Religious, prone to right-wing politics, parents, and older people scored more for FICS than atheists/agnostics, and younger people. From 2019 to 2020 the vaccination intention and vaccination investment did not differ, showing that people did not change their opinion about vaccines regardless of personal experience or the pandemic scenario. The research strengthened the relevance of health education as a milestone for public health and protection from dangerous conspiracy theories.

Resumo Neste estudo, analisamos associações entre conhecimento sobre vacinação, intenção de vacinação, ideologia política e crença em teorias da conspiração antes e durante a pandemia da Sars-Cov-2 de 2020 na população brasileira. Foi realizado um estudo longitudinal em três coletas de dados. Os participantes responderam ao Inventário Flexível de Suspeitas de Conspiração (FICS), a questionários medindo seu conhecimento e opinião sobre vacinas e dados sociodemográficos. Os resultados obtidos foram: quanto maior a crença em teorias da conspiração sobre vacinas, menor a intenção de se vacinar, o conhecimento da vacina e as atitudes em relação ao investimento em vacinas. Religiosos, propensos à política de direita, pais e idosos pontuaram mais para FICS do que ateus/agnósticos e pessoas mais jovens. De 2019 a 2020, a intenção de vacinação e o investimento em vacinação não diferiram, mostrando que as pessoas não mudaram de opinião sobre as vacinas, independentemente da experiência pessoal ou de um cenário de pandemia. Nossa pesquisa sugere fortalecer a educação em saúde como um marco para a saúde pública e proteção de perigosas teorias da conspiração.

Resumo Neste estudo, analisamos associações entre conhecimento sobre vacinação, intenção de vacinação, ideologia política e crença em teorias da conspiração antes e durante a pandemia da Sars-Cov-2 de 2020 na população brasileira. Foi realizado um estudo longitudinal em três coletas de dados. Os participantes responderam ao Inventário Flexível de Suspeitas de Conspiração (FICS), a questionários medindo seu conhecimento e opinião sobre vacinas e dados sociodemográficos. Os resultados obtidos foram: quanto maior a crença em teorias da conspiração sobre vacinas, menor a intenção de se vacinar, o conhecimento da vacina e as atitudes em relação ao investimento em vacinas. Religiosos, propensos à política de direita, pais e idosos pontuaram mais para FICS do que ateus/agnósticos e pessoas mais jovens. De 2019 a 2020, a intenção de vacinação e o investimento em vacinação não diferiram, mostrando que as pessoas não mudaram de opinião sobre as vacinas, independentemente da experiência pessoal ou de um cenário de pandemia. Nossa pesquisa sugere fortalecer a educação em saúde como um marco para a saúde pública e proteção de perigosas teorias da conspiração. SarsCov2 SarsCov Sars Cov 2 Sars-Cov- 202 brasileira FICS, , (FICS) sociodemográficos foram vacinar Religiosos direita ateusagnósticos ateus agnósticos jovens 201 diferiram Sars-Cov 20 (FICS

Abstract In this study, we analyzed associations between vaccination knowledge, vaccination intention, political ideology, and belief in conspiracy theories before and during the 2020 Sars-Cov-2 pandemic in the Brazilian population. It was conducted a longitudinal study into three data collections. Participants responded to the Flexible Inventory of Conspiracy Suspicions (FICS), questionnaires measuring their knowledge, and opinion about vaccines, and sociodemographic data. The results were: the greater the belief in conspiracy theories about vaccines, the lesser the intention to get vaccinated, the vaccine knowledge, and the attitudes towards vaccine investment. Religious, prone to right-wing politics, parents, and older people scored more for FICS than atheists/agnostics, and younger people. From 2019 to 2020 the vaccination intention and vaccination investment did not differ, showing that people did not change their opinion about vaccines regardless of personal experience or the pandemic scenario. The research strengthened the relevance of health education as a milestone for public health and protection from dangerous conspiracy theories. knowledge ideology 202 SarsCov2 SarsCov Sars Cov 2 Sars-Cov- population collections FICS, , (FICS) were vaccinated Religious rightwing right wing politics parents atheistsagnostics atheists agnostics atheists/agnostics 201 differ scenario 20 Sars-Cov (FICS

Abstract Sapajus libidinosus members of the Pedra Furada group, living in the Serra da Capivara National Park, use stone tools in a wider variety of behaviors than any other living animal, except humans. To rescue the evolutionary history of the Caatinga S. libidinosus and identify factors that may have contributed to the emergence and maintenance of their tool-use culture, we conducted fieldwork seasons to obtain biological samples of these capuchin monkeys. UsingCYTBsequences, we show a discrete but constant population growth from the beginning of the Holocene to the present, overlapping the emergence of the Caatinga biome. Our habitat suitability reconstruction reports the presence of plants whose hard fruits, seeds, or roots are processed by capuchins using tools. TheS. libidinosusindividuals in the Caatingawere capable of dynamically developing and maintaining their autochthonous culture thanks to: a) cognitive capacity to generate and execute innovation under selective pressure; b) tolerance favoring learning and cultural inheritance; c) an unknown genetic repertoire that underpins the adaptive traits; d) a high degree of terrestriality; e) presence and abundance of natural resources, which makes some places “hot spots” for innovation, and cultural diversification within a relatively short time. group Park animal humans S tooluse tool monkeys UsingCYTBsequences present biome fruits seeds TheS pressure b inheritance c traits d terrestriality e resources hot spots time

Abstract Hominin evolution is characterized by adaptive solutions often rooted in behavioral and cognitive changes. If balancing selection had an important and long-lasting impact on the evolution of these traits, it can be hypothesized that genes associated with them should carry an excess of shared polymorphisms (trans- SNPs) across recent Homo species. In this study, we investigate the role of balancing selection in human evolution using available exomes from modern (Homo sapiens) and archaic humans (H. neanderthalensis and Denisovan) for an excess of trans-SNP in two gene sets: one associated with the immune system (IMMS) and another one with behavioral system (BEHS). We identified a significant excess of trans-SNPs in IMMS (N=547), of which six of these located within genes previously associated with schizophrenia. No excess of trans-SNPs was found in BEHS, but five genes in this system harbor potential signals for balancing selection and are associated with psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders. Our approach evidenced recent Homo trans-SNPs that have been previously implicated in psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia, suggesting that a genetic repertoire common to the immune and behavioral systems could have been maintained by balancing selection starting before the split between archaic and modern humans.

Abstract Domestication is of unquestionable importance to the technological revolution that has given rise to modern human societies. In this study, we analyzed the DNA and protein sequences of six genes of the oxytocin and arginine vasopressin systems (OXT-OXTR; AVP-AVPR1a, AVPR1b and AVPR2) in 40 placental mammals. These systems play an important role in the control of physiology and behavior. According to our analyses, neutrality does not explain the pattern of molecular evolution found in some of these genes. We observed specific sites under positive selection in AVPR1b (ω = 1.429, p = 0.001) and AVPR2 (ω= 1.49, p = 0.001), suggesting that they could be involved in behavior and physiological changes, including those related to the domestication process. Furthermore, AVPR1a, which plays a role in social behavior, is under relaxed selective constraint in domesticated species. These results provide new insights into the nature of the domestication process and its impact on the OXT-AVP system.

Abstract The FOXP subfamily is probably the most extensively characterized subfamily of the forkhead superfamily, playing important roles in development and homeostasis in vertebrates. Intrinsically disorder protein regions (IDRs) are protein segments that exhibit multiple physical interactions and play critical roles in various biological processes, including regulation and signaling. IDRs in proteins may play an important role in the evolvability of genetic systems. In this study, we analyzed 77 orthologous FOXP genes/proteins from Tetrapoda, regarding protein disorder content and evolutionary rate. We also predicted the number and type of short linear motifs (SLIMs) in the IDRs. Similar levels of protein disorder (approximately 70%) were found for FOXP1, FOXP2, and FOXP4. However, for FOXP3, which is shorter in length and has a more specific function, the disordered content was lower (30%). Mammals showed higher protein disorders for FOXP1 and FOXP4 than non-mammals. Specific analyses related to linear motifs in the four genes showed also a clear differentiation between FOXPs in mammals and non-mammals. We predicted for the first time the role of IDRs and SLIMs in the FOXP gene family associated with possible adaptive novelties within Tetrapoda. For instance, we found gain and loss of important phosphorylation sites in the Homo sapiens FOXP2 IDR regions, with possible implication for the evolution of human speech.

Abstract Oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and arginine vasopressin receptors (AVPR1a, AVPR1b, and AVPR2) are paralogous genes that emerged through duplication events; along the evolutionary timeline, owing to speciation, numerous orthologues emerged as well. In order to elucidate the evolutionary forces that shaped these four genes in placental mammals and to reveal specific aspects of their protein structures, 35 species were selected. Specifically, we investigated their molecular evolutionary history and intrinsic protein disorder content, and identified the presence of short linear interaction motifs. OXTR seems to be under evolutionary constraint in placental mammals, whereas AVPR1a, AVPR1b, and AVPR2 exhibit higher evolutionary rates, suggesting that they have been under relaxed or experienced positive selection. In addition, we describe here, for the first time, that the OXTR, AVPR1a, AVPR1b, and AVPR2 mammalian orthologues preserve their disorder content, while this condition varies among the paralogues. Finally, our results reveal the presence of short linear interaction motifs, indicating possible functional adaptations related to physiological and/or behavioral taxa-specific traits.