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Jesus presents at the Annual Honors Thesis Presentations

4/23/2026

Jesus presented his research on the antimicrobial properties of a skin peptide of Pristimantis toftae at the Annual Honors Thesis Presentations. Jesus combined a variety of transcriptomic, proteomic, and genetic approaches to identify peptide candidates from the genome, transcriptome, and skin secretions. One of the best candidate peptide, found at high frequency in the skin transcripts, was then tested for inhibition activity in co-culture assays in a plate reader, revealing moderate inhibition against E. coli. Rising microbial resistance to antibiotics demands innovative strategies to expand our therapeutic arsenal, and the chemically diverse secretions of frog skin offer a promising pharmacopeia for the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents

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One if by land, two if by sea: phylogeny of Phyllodactylus

4/21/2026

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A new paper led by Kathryn A. Sullivan and Tony Gamble, in collaboration with the Catenazzi Lab and an international team of collaborators, sheds new light on the evolutionary history of Neotropical leaf‑toed geckos (Phyllodactylus). The study, published in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, presents the most complete time‑calibrated phylogeny of this group to date and reveals a surprisingly complex biogeographic history shaped by both continental geology and long‑distance dispersal.

Leaf‑toed geckos are found across the Americas, from deserts and coastal dry forests to islands such as the Galápagos and throughout the Caribbean. Because of their wide distribution and ancient lineage, they provide an ideal system for testing how major geological events—such as the uplift of the Andes and the formation of the Isthmus of Panama—have influenced the movement and diversification of species over deep time.

One of the most striking results of the study is evidence that Phyllodactylus dispersed into North and Central America well before the complete closure of the Isthmus of Panama, which is often cited as the primary route for interchange between the continents. Using a densely sampled molecular dataset and state‑of‑the‑art phylogenetic methods, the authors estimated that this northward dispersal occurred roughly 37–46 million years ago, long before a continuous land bridge existed. Rather than relying on emerging land connections, these geckos most likely crossed marine barriers via overseas dispersal, possibly rafting on vegetation. While this might sound extraordinary, geckos are well known for their ability to colonize remote islands, and similar dispersal events have been inferred in many other reptile lineages.

The study also examined how Andean uplift influenced diversification within Phyllodactylus, particularly in western South America and inter‑Andean valleys. Although some lineages predate major uplift events, several divergence events coincide with periods of accelerated mountain building in the late Miocene, suggesting that the Andes did not simply act as barriers dividing populations, but also created new opportunities that promoted diversification and micro‑endemism. This is especially evident in western Andean clades.y.

By sampling nearly 70% of described Phyllodactylus species, the authors were able to test long‑standing assumptions about relationships within the group. Surprisingly, the analyses indicate that Phyllodactylus, as currently defined, is not monophyletic, with some species more closely related to other genera in the family Phyllodactylidae. The study also found evidence of mitonuclear discordance, likely caused by ancient introgression or incomplete lineage sorting. These complex histories make species boundaries difficult to define, but also highlight how dynamic evolution has been in this group. Importantly, many of the lineages with hidden diversity occur in regions facing habitat loss, particularly along the Pacific coast and in Andean dry forests. Clarifying species limits is critical for conservation, as several species are already listed as threatened by the IUCN.

Citation: Sullivan, K.A., R.L. Klabacka, A. Catenazzi, J. Pérez Z, P.J. Venegas, P.L. Wood, Jr., D.C. Browne, C. Koch, J.P. van Leeuwen, F. Valdez, S.V. Nielsen, A.M. Bauer, J.W. Sites, Jr., C. Aguilar Puntriano, E. Greenbaum, T. Gamble. 2026. One if by land, two if by sea: molecular phylogeny and biogeography of the Neotropical leaf‑toed geckos (Phyllodactylidae: Phyllodactylus). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 206: zlag63. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlag063

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Jesus presents at the Annual Honors Thesis Presentations

One if by land, two if by sea: phylogeny of Phyllodactylus

Jesus presents at the Undergraduate Research Conference

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