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Alehashem M, Alcaraz AJ, Hogan N, Weber L, Siciliano SD, Hecker M. Linking pesticide exposure to neurodegenerative diseases: An in vitro investigation with human neuroblastoma cells. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 933:173041. [PMID: 38723972 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Although many organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been banned or restricted because of their persistence and linkage to neurodegenerative diseases, there is evidence of continued human exposure. In contrast, registered herbicides are reported to have a moderate to low level of toxicity; however, there is little information regarding their toxicity to humans or their combined effects with OCPs. This study aimed to characterize the mechanism of toxicity of banned OCP insecticides (aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, and lindane) and registered herbicides (trifluralin, triallate, and clopyralid) detected at a legacy contaminated pesticide manufacturing and packing site using SH-SY5Y cells. Cell viability, LDH release, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and caspase 3/7 activity were evaluated following 24 h of exposure to the biocides. In addition, RNASeq was conducted at sublethal concentrations to investigate potential mechanisms involved in cellular toxicity. Our findings suggested that aldrin and heptachlor were the most toxic, while dieldrin, lindane, trifluralin, and triallate exhibited moderate toxicity, and clopyralid was not toxic to SH-SY5Y cells. While aldrin and heptachlor induced their toxicity through damage to the cell membrane, the toxicity of dieldrin was partially attributed to necrosis and apoptosis. Moreover, toxic effects of lindane, trifluralin, and triallate, at least partially, were associated with ROS generation. Gene expression profiles suggested that decreased cell viability induced by most of the tested biocides was related to inhibited cell proliferation. The dysregulation of genes encoding for proteins with anti-apoptotic properties also supported the absence of caspase activation. Identified enriched terms showed that OCP toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells was mediated through pathways associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. In conclusion, this study provides a basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of pesticide-induced neurotoxicity. Moreover, it introduced SH-SY5Y cells as a relevant in vitro model for investigating the neurotoxicity of pesticides in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Alehashem
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - A J Alcaraz
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - N Hogan
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada; Department of Animal Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - L Weber
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - S D Siciliano
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada; Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada
| | - M Hecker
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada; School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8, Canada.
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2
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Margiotta-Casaluci L, Owen SF, Winter MJ. Cross-Species Extrapolation of Biological Data to Guide the Environmental Safety Assessment of Pharmaceuticals-The State of the Art and Future Priorities. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:513-525. [PMID: 37067359 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The extrapolation of biological data across species is a key aspect of biomedical research and drug development. In this context, comparative biology considerations are applied with the goal of understanding human disease and guiding the development of effective and safe medicines. However, the widespread occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the environment and the need to assess the risk posed to wildlife have prompted a renewed interest in the extrapolation of pharmacological and toxicological data across the entire tree of life. To address this challenge, a biological "read-across" approach, based on the use of mammalian data to inform toxicity predictions in wildlife species, has been proposed as an effective way to streamline the environmental safety assessment of pharmaceuticals. Yet, how effective has this approach been, and are we any closer to being able to accurately predict environmental risk based on known human risk? We discuss the main theoretical and experimental advancements achieved in the last 10 years of research in this field. We propose that a better understanding of the functional conservation of drug targets across species and of the quantitative relationship between target modulation and adverse effects should be considered as future research priorities. This pharmacodynamic focus should be complemented with the application of higher-throughput experimental and computational approaches to accelerate the prediction of internal exposure dynamics. The translation of comparative (eco)toxicology research into real-world applications, however, relies on the (limited) availability of experts with the skill set needed to navigate the complexity of the problem; hence, we also call for synergistic multistakeholder efforts to support and strengthen comparative toxicology research and education at a global level. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:513-525. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Margiotta-Casaluci
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stewart F Owen
- Global Sustainability, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J Winter
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
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3
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Brooks BW, van den Berg S, Dreier DA, LaLone CA, Owen SF, Raimondo S, Zhang X. Towards Precision Ecotoxicology: Leveraging Evolutionary Conservation of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Product Targets to Understand Adverse Outcomes Across Species and Life Stages. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:526-536. [PMID: 37787405 PMCID: PMC11017229 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Translation of environmental science to the practice aims to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services, and our future ability to do so relies on the development of a precision ecotoxicology approach wherein we leverage the genetics and informatics of species to better understand and manage the risks of global pollution. A little over a decade ago, a workshop focusing on the risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment identified a priority research question, "What can be learned about the evolutionary conservation of PPCP targets across species and life stages in the context of potential adverse outcomes and effects?" We review the activities in this area over the past decade, consider prospects of more recent developments, and identify future research needs to develop next-generation approaches for PPCPs and other global chemicals and waste challenges. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:526-536. © 2023 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan W Brooks
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | | | - David A Dreier
- Syngenta Crop Protection, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Stewart F Owen
- Global Sustainability, Astra Zeneca, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK
| | - Sandy Raimondo
- Gulf Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling Division, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, Florida
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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4
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Jeon YS, Sangiovanni J, Boulanger E, Crump D, Liu P, Ewald J, Basu N, Xia J, Hecker M, Head J. Hepatic Transcriptomic Responses to Ethinylestradiol in Embryonic Japanese Quail and Double-Crested Cormorant. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023. [PMID: 38116984 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Understanding species differences in sensitivity to toxicants is a critical issue in ecotoxicology. We recently established that double-crested cormorant (DCCO) embryos are more sensitive than Japanese quail (JQ) to the developmental effects of ethinylestradiol (EE2). We explored how this difference in sensitivity between species is reflected at a transcriptomic level. The EE2 was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide and injected into the air cell of eggs prior to incubation at nominal concentrations of 0, 3.33, and 33.3 µg/g egg weight. At midincubation (JQ 9 days; DCCO 16 days), livers were collected from five embryos/treatment group for RNA sequencing. Data were processed and analyzed using EcoOmicsAnalyst and ExpressAnalyst. The EE2 exposure dysregulated 238 and 1,987 genes in JQ and DCCO, respectively, with 78 genes in common between the two species. These included classic biomarkers of estrogen exposure such as vitellogenin and apovitellenin. We also report DCCO-specific dysregulation of Phase I/II enzyme-coding genes and species-specific transcriptional ontogeny of vitellogenin-2. Twelve Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways and two EcoToxModules were dysregulated in common in both species including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway and fatty acid metabolism. Similar to previously reported differences at the organismal level, DCCO were more responsive to EE2 exposure than JQ at the gene expression level. Our description of differences in transcriptional responses to EE2 in early life stage birds may contribute to a better understanding of the molecular basis for species differences. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-12. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeon-Seon Jeon
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jonathan Sangiovanni
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Emily Boulanger
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Doug Crump
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jessica Ewald
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Niladri Basu
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jianguo Xia
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Markus Hecker
- School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Jessica Head
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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5
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Mittal K, Ewald J, Crump D, Head J, Hecker M, Hogan N, Xia J, Basu N. Comparing Transcriptomic Responses to Chemicals Across Six Species Using the EcoToxChip RNASeq Database. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023. [PMID: 38085106 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The EcoToxChip project includes RNA-sequencing data from experiments involving model (Japanese quail, fathead minnow, African clawed frog) and ecological (double-crested cormorant, rainbow trout, northern leopard frog) species at multiple life stages (whole embryo and adult) exposed to eight chemicals of environmental concern known to perturb a wide range of biological systems (ethinyl estradiol, hexabromocyclododecane, lead, selenomethionine, 17β trenbolone, chlorpyrifos, fluoxetine, and benzo[a]pyrene). The objectives of this short communication were to (1) present and make available this RNA-sequencing database (i.e., 724 samples from 49 experiments) under the FAIR principles (FAIR data are data which meet principles of findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability), while also summarizing key meta-data attributes and (2) use ExpressAnalyst (including the Seq2Fun algorithm and EcoOmicsDB) to perform a comparative transcriptomics analysis of this database focusing on baseline and differential transcriptomic changes across species-life stage-chemical combinations. The database is available in NCBI GEO under accession number GSE239776. Across all species, the number of raw reads per sample ranged between 13 and 58 million, with 30% to 79% of clean reads mapped to the "vertebrate" subgroup database in EcoOmicsDB. Principal component analyses of the reads illustrated separation across the three taxonomic groups as well as some between tissue types. The most common differentially expressed gene was CYP1A1 followed by CTSE, FAM20CL, MYC, ST1S3, RIPK4, VTG1, and VIT2. The most common enriched pathways were metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of cofactors and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and chemical carcinogenesis, drug metabolism, and metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450. The RNA-sequencing database in the present study may be used by the research community for multiple purposes, including, for example, cross-species investigations, in-depth analyses of a particular test compound, and transcriptomic meta-analyses. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-6. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krittika Mittal
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jessica Ewald
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Doug Crump
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Center, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jessica Head
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Markus Hecker
- Toxicology Center, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Natacha Hogan
- Toxicology Center, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Jianguo Xia
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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6
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Andrews DQ, Stoiber T, Temkin AM, Naidenko OV. Discussion. Has the human population become a sentinel for the adverse effects of PFAS contamination on wildlife health and endangered species? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:165939. [PMID: 37769722 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Global contamination with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) poses a threat to both human health and the environment, with significant implications for ecological conservation policies. A growing list of peer-reviewed publications indicates that PFAS can harm wildlife health and that the adverse effects associated with PFAS exposure in wildlife are in concordance with human epidemiological studies. The correlation of cross-species data supports a unique perspective that humans can be regarded as a sentinel for PFAS effects in other species. The health harms due to PFAS are potentially most concerning for populations of endangered and threatened species that are simultaneously exposed to PFAS and other toxic pollutants, and also face threats to their survival due to habitat loss, degradation of ecosystems, and over-harvesting. Human epidemiological studies on the PFAS doses associated with health harm present a rich source of information about potential impacts on wildlife health due to PFAS. Our analysis suggests that national and international efforts to restrict the discharges of PFAS into the environment and to clean up PFAS-contaminated sites present an opportunity to protect wildlife from chemical pollution and to advance species conservation worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Q Andrews
- Environmental Working Group, 1250 I Street NW Suite 1000, Washington DC 20005, United States of America.
| | - Tasha Stoiber
- Environmental Working Group, 1250 I Street NW Suite 1000, Washington DC 20005, United States of America
| | - Alexis M Temkin
- Environmental Working Group, 1250 I Street NW Suite 1000, Washington DC 20005, United States of America
| | - Olga V Naidenko
- Environmental Working Group, 1250 I Street NW Suite 1000, Washington DC 20005, United States of America
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7
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Anh NH, Min YJ, Thi My Nhung T, Long NP, Han S, Kim SJ, Jung CW, Yoon YC, Kang YP, Park SK, Kwon SW. Unveiling potentially convergent key events related to adverse outcome pathways induced by silver nanoparticles via cross-species omics-scale analysis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132208. [PMID: 37544172 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
The adverse effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been studied in various models. However, there has been discordance between molecular responses across the literature, attributed to methodological biases and the physicochemical variability of AgNPs. In this study, a gene pathway meta-analysis was conducted to identify convergent and divergent key events (KEs) associated with AgNPs and explore common patterns of these KEs across species. We performed a cross-species analysis of transcriptomic data from multiple studies involving various AgNPs exposure. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed a set of pathways linked to oxidative stress, apoptosis, and metabolite and lipid metabolism, which are considered potentially conserved KEs across species. Subsequently, experiments confirmed that oxidative stress responses could be early KEs in both Caenorhabditis elegans and HepG2 cells. Moreover, AgNPs preferentially impaired the mitochondria, as evidenced by mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction. Furthermore, disruption of amino acids, nucleotides, sulfur compounds, glycerolipids, and glycerophospholipids metabolism were in good agreement with gene pathway shreds of evidence. Our findings imply that, although there may be organism-specific responses, potentially conserved events could exist regardless of species and physicochemical factors. These results provide valuable insights into the development of adverse outcome pathways of AgNPs across species and the regulatory toxicity of AgNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Hoang Anh
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, the Republic of Korea
| | - Young Jin Min
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, the Republic of Korea
| | - Truong Thi My Nhung
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, the Republic of Korea
| | - Nguyen Phuoc Long
- Department of Pharmacology and PharmacoGenomics Research Center, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan 47392, the Republic of Korea
| | - Seunghyeon Han
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, the Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Jo Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, the Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol Woon Jung
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, the Republic of Korea
| | - Young Cheol Yoon
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, the Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Pyo Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, the Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Ki Park
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, the Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Won Kwon
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, the Republic of Korea; Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, the Republic of Korea.
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8
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Bornstein K, Gryan G, Chang ES, Marchler-Bauer A, Schneider VA. The NIH Comparative Genomics Resource: addressing the promises and challenges of comparative genomics on human health. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:575. [PMID: 37759191 PMCID: PMC10523801 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09643-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Comparative genomics is the comparison of genetic information within and across organisms to understand the evolution, structure, and function of genes, proteins, and non-coding regions (Sivashankari and Shanmughavel, Bioinformation 1:376-8, 2007). Advances in sequencing technology and assembly algorithms have resulted in the ability to sequence large genomes and provided a wealth of data that are being used in comparative genomic analyses. Comparative analysis can be leveraged to systematically explore and evaluate the biological relationships and evolution between species, aid in understanding the structure and function of genes, and gain a better understanding of disease and potential drug targets. As our knowledge of genetics expands, comparative genomics can help identify emerging model organisms among a broader span of the tree of life, positively impacting human health. This impact includes, but is not limited to, zoonotic disease research, therapeutics development, microbiome research, xenotransplantation, oncology, and toxicology. Despite advancements in comparative genomics, new challenges have arisen around the quantity, quality assurance, annotation, and interoperability of genomic data and metadata. New tools and approaches are required to meet these challenges and fulfill the needs of researchers. This paper focuses on how the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Comparative Genomics Resource (CGR) can address both the opportunities for comparative genomics to further impact human health and confront an increasingly complex set of challenges facing researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gary Gryan
- The MITRE Corporation, 7525 Colshire Dr, McLean, VA, USA
| | - E Sally Chang
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20894, USA
| | - Aron Marchler-Bauer
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20894, USA
| | - Valerie A Schneider
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20894, USA.
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9
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Liu P, Ewald J, Pang Z, Legrand E, Jeon YS, Sangiovanni J, Hacariz O, Zhou G, Head JA, Basu N, Xia J. ExpressAnalyst: A unified platform for RNA-sequencing analysis in non-model species. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2995. [PMID: 37225696 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38785-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing application of RNA sequencing to study non-model species demands easy-to-use and efficient bioinformatics tools to help researchers quickly uncover biological and functional insights. We developed ExpressAnalyst ( www.expressanalyst.ca ), a web-based platform for processing, analyzing, and interpreting RNA-sequencing data from any eukaryotic species. ExpressAnalyst contains a series of modules that cover from processing and annotation of FASTQ files to statistical and functional analysis of count tables or gene lists. All modules are integrated with EcoOmicsDB, an ortholog database that enables comprehensive analysis for species without a reference transcriptome. By coupling ultra-fast read mapping algorithms with high-resolution ortholog databases through a user-friendly web interface, ExpressAnalyst allows researchers to obtain global expression profiles and gene-level insights from raw RNA-sequencing reads within 24 h. Here, we present ExpressAnalyst and demonstrate its utility with a case study of RNA-sequencing data from multiple non-model salamander species, including two that do not have a reference transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Liu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Canada
| | - Jessica Ewald
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Canada
| | - Zhiqiang Pang
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Canada
| | - Elena Legrand
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Canada
| | - Yeon Seon Jeon
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Canada
| | - Jonathan Sangiovanni
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Canada
| | - Orcun Hacariz
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Canada
| | - Guangyan Zhou
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Canada
| | - Jessica A Head
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Canada
| | - Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Canada
| | - Jianguo Xia
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Canada.
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10
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Potter TD, Haywood N, Teixeira A, Hodges G, Barrett EL, Miller MA. Partitioning into phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol membranes: liposome measurements, coarse-grained simulations, and implications for bioaccumulation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023. [PMID: 37158124 DOI: 10.1039/d3em00081h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Membrane-water partitioning is an important physical property for the assessment of bioaccumulation and environmental impact. Here, we advance simulation methodology for predicting the partitioning of small molecules into lipid membranes and compare the computational predictions to experimental measurements in liposomes. As a step towards high-throughput screening, we present an automated mapping and parametrization procedure to produce coarse-grained models compatible with the Martini 3 force field. The methodology is general and can also be used for other applications where coarse-grained simulations are appropriate. This article addresses the effect on membrane-water partitioning of adding cholesterol to POPC (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) membranes. Nine contrasting neutral, zwitterionic and charged solutes are tested. Agreement between experiment and simulation is generally good, with the most challenging cases being permanently charged solutes. For all solutes, partitioning is found to be insensitive to membrane cholesterol concentration up to 25% mole fraction. Hence, for assessment of bioaccumulation into a range of membranes (such as those found in fish), partitioning data measured in pure lipid membranes are still informative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D Potter
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom.
| | - Nicola Haywood
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandre Teixeira
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
| | - Geoff Hodges
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
| | - Elin L Barrett
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
| | - Mark A Miller
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom.
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11
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Rivetti C, Houghton J, Basili D, Hodges G, Campos B. Genes-to-Pathways Species Conservation Analysis: Enabling the Exploration of Conservation of Biological Pathways and Processes Across Species. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:1152-1166. [PMID: 36861224 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The last two decades have witnessed a strong momentum toward integration of cell-based and computational approaches in safety assessments. This is fueling a global regulatory paradigm shift toward reduction and replacement of the use of animals in toxicity tests while promoting the use of new approach methodologies. The understanding of conservation of molecular targets and pathways provides an opportunity to extrapolate effects across species and ultimately to determine the taxonomic applicability domain of assays and biological effects. Despite the wealth of genome-linked data available, there is a compelling need for improved accessibility, while ensuring that it reflects the underpinning biology. We present the novel pipeline Genes-to-Pathways Species Conservation Analysis (G2P-SCAN) to further support understanding on cross-species extrapolation of biological processes. This R package extracts, synthetizes, and structures the data available from different databases, that is, gene orthologs, protein families, entities, and reactions, linked to human genes and respective pathways across six relevant model species. The use of G2P-SCAN enables the overall analysis of orthology and functional families to substantiate the identification of conservation and susceptibility at the pathway level. In the present study we discuss five case studies, demonstrating the validity of the developed pipeline and its potential use as species extrapolation support. We foresee this pipeline will provide valuable biological insights and create space for the use of mechanistically based data to inform potential species susceptibility for research and safety decision purposes. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1152-1166. © 2023 UNILEVER GLOBAL IP LTD. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Rivetti
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Jade Houghton
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Danilo Basili
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Geoff Hodges
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Bruno Campos
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
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12
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Mitchell CA, Burden N, Bonnell M, Hecker M, Hutchinson TH, Jagla M, LaLone CA, Lagadic L, Lynn SG, Shore B, Song Y, Vliet SM, Wheeler JR, Embry MR. New Approach Methodologies for the Endocrine Activity Toolbox: Environmental Assessment for Fish and Amphibians. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:757-777. [PMID: 36789969 PMCID: PMC10258674 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Multiple in vivo test guidelines focusing on the estrogen, androgen, thyroid, and steroidogenesis pathways have been developed and validated for mammals, amphibians, or fish. However, these tests are resource-intensive and often use a large number of laboratory animals. Developing alternatives for in vivo tests is consistent with the replacement, reduction, and refinement principles for animal welfare considerations, which are supported by increasing mandates to move toward an "animal-free" testing paradigm worldwide. New approach methodologies (NAMs) hold great promise to identify molecular, cellular, and tissue changes that can be used to predict effects reliably and more efficiently at the individual level (and potentially on populations) while reducing the number of animals used in (eco)toxicological testing for endocrine disruption. In a collaborative effort, experts from government, academia, and industry met in 2020 to discuss the current challenges of testing for endocrine activity assessment for fish and amphibians. Continuing this cross-sector initiative, our review focuses on the current state of the science regarding the use of NAMs to identify chemical-induced endocrine effects. The present study highlights the challenges of using NAMs for safety assessment and what work is needed to reduce their uncertainties and increase their acceptance in regulatory processes. We have reviewed the current NAMs available for endocrine activity assessment including in silico, in vitro, and eleutheroembryo models. New approach methodologies can be integrated as part of a weight-of-evidence approach for hazard or risk assessment using the adverse outcome pathway framework. The development and utilization of NAMs not only allows for replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal testing but can also provide robust and fit-for-purpose methods to identify chemicals acting via endocrine mechanisms. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:757-777. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Natalie Burden
- National Centre for the 3Rs (NC3Rs), London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Bonnell
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Markus Hecker
- Toxicology Centre and School of the Environment & Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | | | | | - Carlie A. LaLone
- Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Toxicology & Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Research and Development, Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Bayer, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Scott G. Lynn
- Office of Pesticide Programs, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
| | - Bryon Shore
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - You Song
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sara M. Vliet
- Office of Research and Development, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | | | - Michelle R. Embry
- The Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, Washington, DC, USA
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13
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LaLone CA, Blatz DJ, Jensen MA, Vliet SMF, Mayasich S, Mattingly KZ, Transue TR, Melendez W, Wilkinson A, Simmons CW, Ng C, Zhang C, Zhang Y. From Protein Sequence to Structure: The Next Frontier in Cross-Species Extrapolation for Chemical Safety Evaluations. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:463-474. [PMID: 36524855 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Computational screening for potentially bioactive molecules using advanced molecular modeling approaches including molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation is mainstream in certain fields like drug discovery. Significant advances in computationally predicting protein structures from sequence information have also expanded the availability of structures for nonmodel species. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to develop an analysis pipeline to harness the power of these bioinformatics approaches for cross-species extrapolation for evaluating chemical safety. The Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) tool compares protein-sequence similarity across species for conservation of known chemical targets, providing an initial line of evidence for extrapolation of toxicity knowledge. However, with the development of structural models from tools like the Iterative Threading ASSEmbly Refinement (ITASSER), analyses of protein structural conservation can be included to add further lines of evidence and generate protein models across species. Models generated through such a pipeline could then be used for advanced molecular modeling approaches in the context of species extrapolation. Two case examples illustrating this pipeline from SeqAPASS sequences to I-TASSER-generated protein structures were created for human liver fatty acid-binding protein (LFABP) and androgen receptor (AR). Ninety-nine LFABP and 268 AR protein models representing diverse species were generated and analyzed for conservation using template modeling (TM)-align. The results from the structural comparisons were in line with the sequence-based SeqAPASS workflow, adding further evidence of LFABL and AR conservation across vertebrate species. The present study lays the foundation for expanding the capabilities of the web-based SeqAPASS tool to include structural comparisons for species extrapolation, facilitating more rapid and efficient toxicological assessments among species with limited or no existing toxicity data. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:463-474. © 2022 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlie A LaLone
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Donovan J Blatz
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Marissa A Jensen
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
- Department of Biology, Swenson College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sara M F Vliet
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Sally Mayasich
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
- Aquatic Sciences Center at USEPA Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, University of Wisconsin-Madison Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kali Z Mattingly
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
- SpecPro Professional Services, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Thomas R Transue
- Congruence Therapeutics, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Wilson Melendez
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Audrey Wilkinson
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Cody W Simmons
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Carla Ng
- Departments of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Chengxin Zhang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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14
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Sumpter JP, Johnson AC, Runnalls TJ. Renewing and improving the environmental risk assessment of chemicals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 845:157256. [PMID: 35820522 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The processes underpinning the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of chemicals have not changed appreciably in the last 30 years. It is unclear how successful these processes are in protecting the environment from any adverse effects of chemicals. To ascertain if the current methodology can be improved, and if so, how, we invited experts to suggest how the current ERA process could be improved. They were not asked to select from a list of suggestions. The 36 experts made 109 suggestions for improvement, which could be grouped into 33 categories. The category that received the most support, from 12 experts, was to utilise a broader range of scientific information, including all up-to-date information, in ERAs. The second most popular category, supported by 10 experts, was the suggestion to regulate mixtures of chemicals; the current regulatory process involves chemical-by-chemical assessment. Two quite radical proposals were suggested. One was to replace the regulator with artificial intelligence. The other was to establish a new competent authority that would appoint groups of experts, each including representatives of the range of stakeholders, to decide which studies were required, commission those studies, then conduct the ERA based on the results of those studies. These two radical proposals, which the authors support strongly, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. We conclude that the present ERA process could be improved to better protect the environment from the myriad of chemicals in use.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Sumpter
- Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom(.).
| | - Andrew C Johnson
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, United Kingdom
| | - Tamsin J Runnalls
- Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom(.)
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15
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Abdullahi M, Li X, Abdallah MAE, Stubbings W, Yan N, Barnard M, Guo LH, Colbourne JK, Orsini L. Daphnia as a Sentinel Species for Environmental Health Protection: A Perspective on Biomonitoring and Bioremediation of Chemical Pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:14237-14248. [PMID: 36169655 PMCID: PMC9583619 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Despite available technology and the knowledge that chemical pollution damages human and ecosystem health, chemical pollution remains rampant, ineffectively monitored, rarely prevented, and only occasionally mitigated. We present a framework that helps address current major challenges in the monitoring and assessment of chemical pollution by broadening the use of the sentinel species Daphnia as a diagnostic agent of water pollution. And where prevention has failed, we propose the application of Daphnia as a bioremediation agent to help reduce hazards from chemical mixtures in the environment. By applying "omics" technologies to Daphnia exposed to real-world ambient chemical mixtures, we show improvements at detecting bioactive components of chemical mixtures, determining the potential effects of untested chemicals within mixtures, and identifying targets of toxicity. We also show that using Daphnia strains that naturally adapted to chemical pollution as removal agents of ambient chemical mixtures can sustainably improve environmental health protection. Expanding the use of Daphnia beyond its current applications in regulatory toxicology has the potential to improve both the assessment and the remediation of environmental pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Abdullahi
- Environmental
Genomics Group, School of Biosciences, the
University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Xiaojing Li
- Environmental
Genomics Group, School of Biosciences, the
University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
| | | | - William Stubbings
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, the University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Norman Yan
- Department
of Biology, York University, and Friends of the Muskoka Watershed, Bracebridge, Ontario P1L 1T7, Canada
| | - Marianne Barnard
- Environmental
Genomics Group, School of Biosciences, the
University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Liang-Hong Guo
- Institute
of Environmental and Health Sciences, China
Jiliang University, 258 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, People’s Republic of China
| | - John K. Colbourne
- Environmental
Genomics Group, School of Biosciences, the
University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Luisa Orsini
- Environmental
Genomics Group, School of Biosciences, the
University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
- The
Alan Turing Institute, British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB, U.K.
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