Metabolic acclimation to warming links unexpected immune activation and sexual dimorphism attenuation in Xenopus tropicalis.

ABSTRACT: Maintaining a dynamic balance among various life-history traits is crucial for survival in a warming world, yet the underlying mechanisms remain enigmatic. In this study, we employed the western clawed frog (Xenopus tropicalis) as a model and conducted a long-tern experiment from zygotes to adult stage. We find that even within the previously considered normal temperature range, a 5 °C increase in ambient temperature can establish a new metabolic state, resulting in elevated oxidative stress and a shift in energy allocation towards immune defense at the expense of sexual development. This conceptual framework of temperature-dependent trade-off strategy suggests that, while some studies observed that warm temperature reduces the risk of infection, it is important to note that this change ma

SUBMITTER: Li J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12185709 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature