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Viña-Feás A, Temes-Rodríguez J, Vidal-Capón A, Novas S, Rodríguez-Castro J, Pequeño-Valtierra A, Pasantes JJ, Tubío JMC, Garcia-Souto D. Unravelling epigenetic mechanisms in Cerastoderma edule genome: a comparison of healthy and neoplastic cockles. Mol Genet Genomics 2024; 299:58. [PMID: 38789628 PMCID: PMC11126487 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-024-02148-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is a multifaceted genetic disease characterized by the acquisition of several essential hallmarks. Notably, certain cancers exhibit horizontal transmissibility, observed across mammalian species and diverse bivalves, the latter referred to as hemic neoplasia. Within this complex landscape, epigenetic mechanisms such as histone modifications and cytosine methylation emerge as fundamental contributors to the pathogenesis of these transmissible cancers. Our study delves into the epigenetic landscape of Cerastoderma edule, focusing on whole-genome methylation and hydroxymethylation profiles in heathy specimens and transmissible neoplasias by means of Nanopore long-read sequencing. Our results unveiled a global hypomethylation in the neoplastic specimens compared to their healthy counterparts, emphasizing the role of DNA methylation in these tumorigenic processes. Furthermore, we verified that intragenic CpG methylation positively correlated with gene expression, emphasizing its role in modulating transcription in healthy and neoplastic cockles, as also highlighted by some up-methylated oncogenic genes. Hydroxymethylation levels were significantly more elevated in the neoplastic samples, particularly within satellites and complex repeats, likely related to structural functions. Additionally, our analysis also revealed distinct methylation and activity patterns in retrotransposons, providing additional insights into bivalve neoplastic processes. Altogether, these findings contribute to understanding the epigenetic dynamics of bivalve neoplasias and shed light on the roles of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in tumorigenesis. Understanding these epigenetic alterations holds promise for advancing our broader understanding of cancer epigenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Viña-Feás
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Javier Temes-Rodríguez
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | - Samuel Novas
- Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Jorge Rodríguez-Castro
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ana Pequeño-Valtierra
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | - Jose M C Tubío
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Daniel Garcia-Souto
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Environment, Arts and Society, College of Arts, Sciences & Education (CASE), Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
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2
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Hogg CJ. Translating genomic advances into biodiversity conservation. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:362-373. [PMID: 38012268 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00671-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
A key action of the new Global Biodiversity Framework is the maintenance of genetic diversity in all species to safeguard their adaptive potential. To achieve this goal, a translational mindset, which aims to convert results of basic research into direct practical benefits, needs to be applied to biodiversity conservation. Despite much discussion on the value of genomics to conservation, a disconnect between those generating genomic resources and those applying it to biodiversity management remains. As global efforts to generate reference genomes for non-model species increase, investment into practical biodiversity applications is critically important. Applications such as understanding population and multispecies diversity and longitudinal monitoring need support alongside education for policymakers on integrating the data into evidence-based decisions. Without such investment, the opportunity to revolutionize global biodiversity conservation using genomics will not be fully realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life & Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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3
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Stammnitz MR, Gori K, Murchison EP. No evidence that a transmissible cancer has shifted from emergence to endemism in Tasmanian devils. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231875. [PMID: 38633353 PMCID: PMC11022658 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Tasmanian devils are endangered by a transmissible cancer known as Tasmanian devil facial tumour 1 (DFT1). A 2020 study by Patton et al. (Science 370, eabb9772 (doi:10.1126/science.abb9772)) used genome data from DFT1 tumours to produce a dated phylogenetic tree for this transmissible cancer lineage, and thence, using phylodynamics models, to estimate its epidemiological parameters and predict its future trajectory. It concluded that the effective reproduction number for DFT1 had declined to a value of one, and that the disease had shifted from emergence to endemism. We show that the study is based on erroneous mutation calls and flawed methodology, and that its conclusions cannot be substantiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian R. Stammnitz
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kevin Gori
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elizabeth P. Murchison
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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4
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Gallinson DG, Kozakiewicz CP, Rautsaw RM, Beer MA, Ruiz-Aravena M, Comte S, Hamilton DG, Kerlin DH, McCallum HI, Hamede R, Jones ME, Storfer A, McMinds R, Margres MJ. Intergenomic signatures of coevolution between Tasmanian devils and an infectious cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2307780121. [PMID: 38466855 PMCID: PMC10962979 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307780121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Coevolution is common and frequently governs host-pathogen interaction outcomes. Phenotypes underlying these interactions often manifest as the combined products of the genomes of interacting species, yet traditional quantitative trait mapping approaches ignore these intergenomic interactions. Devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), an infectious cancer afflicting Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii), has decimated devil populations due to universal host susceptibility and a fatality rate approaching 100%. Here, we used a recently developed joint genome-wide association study (i.e., co-GWAS) approach, 15 y of mark-recapture data, and 960 genomes to identify intergenomic signatures of coevolution between devils and DFTD. Using a traditional GWA approach, we found that both devil and DFTD genomes explained a substantial proportion of variance in how quickly susceptible devils became infected, although genomic architectures differed across devils and DFTD; the devil genome had fewer loci of large effect whereas the DFTD genome had a more polygenic architecture. Using a co-GWA approach, devil-DFTD intergenomic interactions explained ~3× more variation in how quickly susceptible devils became infected than either genome alone, and the top genotype-by-genotype interactions were significantly enriched for cancer genes and signatures of selection. A devil regulatory mutation was associated with differential expression of a candidate cancer gene and showed putative allele matching effects with two DFTD coding sequence variants. Our results highlight the need to account for intergenomic interactions when investigating host-pathogen (co)evolution and emphasize the importance of such interactions when considering devil management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan G. Gallinson
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL33620
- College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL33620
| | - Christopher P. Kozakiewicz
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA99163
- W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI49060
| | - Rhett M. Rautsaw
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL33620
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA99163
| | - Marc A. Beer
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA99163
| | - Manuel Ruiz-Aravena
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS7001, Australia
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Sebastien Comte
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS7001, Australia
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, Orange, NSW2800, Australia
| | - David G. Hamilton
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS7001, Australia
| | - Douglas H. Kerlin
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD4111, Australia
| | - Hamish I. McCallum
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD4111, Australia
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS7001, Australia
- CANECEV Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer, Montpellier34394, France
| | - Menna E. Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS7001, Australia
| | - Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA99163
| | - Ryan McMinds
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL33620
- College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL33620
| | - Mark J. Margres
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL33620
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5
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Zhou C, Zheng X, Peng K, Feng K, Yue B, Wu Y. Chromosome-level genome assembly of the kiang (Equus kiang) illuminates genomic basis for its high-altitude adaptation. Integr Zool 2023. [PMID: 38151756 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
The kiang (Equus kiang) can only be observed in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). The kiang displayed excellent athletic performance in the high-altitude environment, which attracted wide interest in the investigation of the potential adaptive mechanisms to the extreme environment. Here, we assembled a chromosome-level genome of the kiang based on Hi-C sequencing technology. A total of 324.14 Gb clean data were generated, and the chromosome-level genome with 26 chromosomes (25 + X) and scaffold N50 of 101.77 Mb was obtained for the kiang. The genomic synteny analysis revealed large-scale chromosomal rearrangement during the evolution process of Equus species. Phylogenetic and divergence analyses revealed that the kiang was the sister branch to the ass and diverged from a common ancestor at approximately 13.5 Mya. The expanded gene families were mainly related to the hypoxia response, metabolism, and immunity. The kiang suffered a significant loss of olfaction-related genes, which might indicate decreased olfactory sensibility. Positively selected genes (PSGs) detected in the kiang were mainly associated with hypoxia response. Especially, there were two species-specific missense amino acid mutations in the PSG STAT3 annotated in the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 signal pathway, which may play an important role in the high-altitude adaptation of the kiang. Moreover, structure variations in the kiang genome were also identified, which possibly contributed to the high-altitude adaptation of the kiang. Comparative analysis revealed a lot of species-specific insertions and deletions in the kiang genome, such as PIK3CB and AKT with 3258 and 189 bp insertions in the intron region, respectively, possibly affecting the expression and regulation of hypoxia-related downstream pathways. This study provided valuable genomic resources, and our findings help a better understanding of the underlying adaptive strategies to the high-altitude environment in the kiang.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kexin Peng
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kaize Feng
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bisong Yue
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongjie Wu
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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6
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Ghildiyal K, Nayak SS, Rajawat D, Sharma A, Chhotaray S, Bhushan B, Dutt T, Panigrahi M. Genomic insights into the conservation of wild and domestic animal diversity: A review. Gene 2023; 886:147719. [PMID: 37597708 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Due to environmental change and anthropogenic activities, global biodiversity has suffered an unprecedented loss, and the world is now heading toward the sixth mass extinction event. This urges the need to step up our efforts to promote the sustainable use of animal genetic resources and plan effective strategies for their conservation. Although habitat preservation and restoration are the primary means of conserving biodiversity, genomic technologies offer a variety of novel tools for identifying biodiversity hotspots and thus, support conservation efforts. Conservation genomics is a broad area of science that encompasses the application of genomic data from thousands or tens of thousands of genome-wide markers to address important conservation biology concerns. Genomic approaches have revolutionized the way we understand and manage animal populations, providing tools to identify and preserve unique genetic variants and alleles responsible for adaptive genetic variation, reducing the deleterious consequences of inbreeding, and increasing the adaptive potential of threatened species. The advancement of genomic technologies, particularly comparative genomic approaches, and the increased accessibility of genomic resources in the form of genome-enabled taxa for non-model organisms, provides a distinct advantage in defining conservation units over traditional genetics approaches. The objective of this review is to provide an exhaustive overview of the concept of conservation genomics, discuss the rationale behind the transition from conservation genetics to genomic approaches, and emphasize the potential applications of genomic techniques for conservation purposes. We also highlight interesting case studies in both livestock and wildlife species where genomic techniques have been used to accomplish conservation goals. Finally, we address some challenges and future perspectives in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanika Ghildiyal
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Sonali Sonejita Nayak
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Divya Rajawat
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Anurodh Sharma
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Supriya Chhotaray
- Animal Genetics and Breeding Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India
| | - Bharat Bhushan
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Triveni Dutt
- Livestock Production and Management Section, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Manjit Panigrahi
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India.
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7
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Hart SFM, Yonemitsu MA, Giersch RM, Garrett FES, Beal BF, Arriagada G, Davis BW, Ostrander EA, Goff SP, Metzger MJ. Centuries of genome instability and evolution in soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria, bivalve transmissible neoplasia. NATURE CANCER 2023; 4:1561-1574. [PMID: 37783804 PMCID: PMC10663159 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00643-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Transmissible cancers are infectious parasitic clones that metastasize to new hosts, living past the death of the founder animal in which the cancer initiated. We investigated the evolutionary history of a cancer lineage that has spread though the soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria) population by assembling a chromosome-scale soft-shell clam reference genome and characterizing somatic mutations in transmissible cancer. We observe high mutation density, widespread copy-number gain, structural rearrangement, loss of heterozygosity, variable telomere lengths, mitochondrial genome expansion and transposable element activity, all indicative of an unstable cancer genome. We also discover a previously unreported mutational signature associated with overexpression of an error-prone polymerase and use this to estimate the lineage to be >200 years old. Our study reveals the ability for an invertebrate cancer lineage to survive for centuries while its genome continues to structurally mutate, likely contributing to the evolution of this lineage as a parasitic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel F M Hart
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Marisa A Yonemitsu
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Brian F Beal
- Division of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Maine at Machias, Machias, ME, USA
- Downeast Institute, Beals, ME, USA
| | - Gloria Arriagada
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Facultad de Medicina y Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Santiago, Chile
| | - Brian W Davis
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Elaine A Ostrander
- Cancer Genetics and Comparative Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stephen P Goff
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Metzger
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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8
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Schönbichler A, Bergthaler A. A deep dive into transmissible cancer evolution in bivalve mollusks. NATURE CANCER 2023; 4:1528-1530. [PMID: 37993693 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00655-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
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9
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Bruzos AL, Santamarina M, García-Souto D, Díaz S, Rocha S, Zamora J, Lee Y, Viña-Feás A, Quail MA, Otero I, Pequeño-Valtierra A, Temes J, Rodriguez-Castro J, Aramburu L, Vidal-Capón A, Villanueva A, Costas D, Rodríguez R, Prieto T, Tomás L, Alvariño P, Alonso J, Cao A, Iglesias D, Carballal MJ, Amaral AM, Balseiro P, Calado R, El Khalfi B, Izagirre U, de Montaudouin X, Pade NG, Probert I, Ricardo F, Ruiz P, Skazina M, Smolarz K, Pasantes JJ, Villalba A, Ning Z, Ju YS, Posada D, Demeulemeester J, Baez-Ortega A, Tubio JMC. Somatic evolution of marine transmissible leukemias in the common cockle, Cerastoderma edule. NATURE CANCER 2023; 4:1575-1591. [PMID: 37783803 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00641-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Transmissible cancers are malignant cell lineages that spread clonally between individuals. Several such cancers, termed bivalve transmissible neoplasia (BTN), induce leukemia-like disease in marine bivalves. This is the case of BTN lineages affecting the common cockle, Cerastoderma edule, which inhabits the Atlantic coasts of Europe and northwest Africa. To investigate the evolution of cockle BTN, we collected 6,854 cockles, diagnosed 390 BTN tumors, generated a reference genome and assessed genomic variation across 61 tumors. Our analyses confirmed the existence of two BTN lineages with hemocytic origins. Mitochondrial variation revealed mitochondrial capture and host co-infection events. Mutational analyses identified lineage-specific signatures, one of which likely reflects DNA alkylation. Cytogenetic and copy number analyses uncovered pervasive genomic instability, with whole-genome duplication, oncogene amplification and alkylation-repair suppression as likely drivers. Satellite DNA distributions suggested ancient clonal origins. Our study illuminates long-term cancer evolution under the sea and reveals tolerance of extreme instability in neoplastic genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia L Bruzos
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Martín Santamarina
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Daniel García-Souto
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Seila Díaz
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- ECOMARE, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sara Rocha
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Jorge Zamora
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Yunah Lee
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Alejandro Viña-Feás
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | - Iago Otero
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ana Pequeño-Valtierra
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Javier Temes
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Jorge Rodriguez-Castro
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Leyre Aramburu
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - André Vidal-Capón
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Antonio Villanueva
- Centro de Investigación Mariña (CIM-ECIMAT), Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Damián Costas
- Centro de Investigación Mariña (CIM-ECIMAT), Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Rosana Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación Mariña (CIM-ECIMAT), Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Tamara Prieto
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura Tomás
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain
| | - Pilar Alvariño
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain
| | - Juana Alonso
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain
| | - Asunción Cao
- Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA), Consellería do Mar, Xunta de Galicia, Vilanova de Arousa, Spain
| | - David Iglesias
- Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA), Consellería do Mar, Xunta de Galicia, Vilanova de Arousa, Spain
| | - María J Carballal
- Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA), Consellería do Mar, Xunta de Galicia, Vilanova de Arousa, Spain
| | - Ana M Amaral
- Centro de Ciencias do Mar do Algarve (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Pablo Balseiro
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- NORCE AS, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ricardo Calado
- ECOMARE, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Bouchra El Khalfi
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Molecular Genetics & Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Health and Biotechnology Research Centre, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Urtzi Izagirre
- Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PiE-UPV/EHU), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plenzia-Bitzkaia, Spain
- Cell Biology in Environmental Toxicology Research Group, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa-Bizkaia, Spain
| | | | - Nicolas G Pade
- European Marine Biology Resources Centre (EMBRC-ERIC), Paris, France
| | - Ian Probert
- FR2424 Station Biologique de Roscoff, Sorbonne University/CNRS, Roscoff, France
| | - Fernando Ricardo
- ECOMARE, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Pamela Ruiz
- Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PiE-UPV/EHU), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plenzia-Bitzkaia, Spain
- Cell Biology in Environmental Toxicology Research Group, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa-Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Maria Skazina
- Department of Applied Ecology, St Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Katarzyna Smolarz
- Department of Marine Ecosystem Functioning, University of Gdańsk, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Juan J Pasantes
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Mariña (CIM-ECIMAT), Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Antonio Villalba
- Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA), Consellería do Mar, Xunta de Galicia, Vilanova de Arousa, Spain
- Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PiE-UPV/EHU), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plenzia-Bitzkaia, Spain
- Department of Life Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | | | - Young Seok Ju
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - David Posada
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain
| | - Jonas Demeulemeester
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Adrian Baez-Ortega
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.
- Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Jose M C Tubio
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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10
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Petrohilos C, Patchett A, Hogg CJ, Belov K, Peel E. Tasmanian devil cathelicidins exhibit anticancer activity against Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) cells. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12698. [PMID: 37542170 PMCID: PMC10403513 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39901-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is endangered due to the spread of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a contagious cancer with no current treatment options. Here we test whether seven recently characterized Tasmanian devil cathelicidins are involved in cancer regulation. We measured DFTD cell viability in vitro following incubation with each of the seven peptides and describe the effect of each on gene expression in treated cells. Four cathelicidins (Saha-CATH3, 4, 5 and 6) were toxic to DFTD cells and caused general signs of cellular stress. The most toxic peptide (Saha-CATH5) also suppressed the ERBB and YAP1/TAZ signaling pathways, both of which have been identified as important drivers of cancer proliferation. Three cathelicidins induced inflammatory pathways in DFTD cells that may potentially recruit immune cells in vivo. This study suggests that devil cathelicidins have some anti-cancer and inflammatory functions and should be explored further to determine whether they have potential as treatment leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cleopatra Petrohilos
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide & Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Amanda Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide & Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide & Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Emma Peel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide & Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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11
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Hamede R, Fountain‐Jones NM, Arce F, Jones M, Storfer A, Hohenlohe PA, McCallum H, Roche B, Ujvari B, Thomas F. The tumour is in the detail: Local phylogenetic, population and epidemiological dynamics of a transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils. Evol Appl 2023; 16:1316-1327. [PMID: 37492149 PMCID: PMC10363845 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases are a major threat for biodiversity conservation and can exert strong influence on wildlife population dynamics. Understanding the mechanisms driving infection rates and epidemic outcomes requires empirical data on the evolutionary trajectory of pathogens and host selective processes. Phylodynamics is a robust framework to understand the interaction of pathogen evolutionary processes with epidemiological dynamics, providing a powerful tool to evaluate disease control strategies. Tasmanian devils have been threatened by a fatal transmissible cancer, devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), for more than two decades. Here we employ a phylodynamic approach using tumour mitochondrial genomes to assess the role of tumour genetic diversity in epidemiological and population dynamics in a devil population subject to 12 years of intensive monitoring, since the beginning of the epidemic outbreak. DFTD molecular clock estimates of disease introduction mirrored observed estimates in the field, and DFTD genetic diversity was positively correlated with estimates of devil population size. However, prevalence and force of infection were the lowest when devil population size and tumour genetic diversity was the highest. This could be due to either differential virulence or transmissibility in tumour lineages or the development of host defence strategies against infection. Our results support the view that evolutionary processes and epidemiological trade-offs can drive host-pathogen coexistence, even when disease-induced mortality is extremely high. We highlight the importance of integrating pathogen and population evolutionary interactions to better understand long-term epidemic dynamics and evaluating disease control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
- CANECEV, Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le CancerMontpellierFrance
| | | | - Fernando Arce
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Menna Jones
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological SciencesWashington State UniversityPullmanWashingtonUSA
| | - Paul A. Hohenlohe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary StudiesUniversity of IdahoMoscowIdahoUSA
| | - Hamish McCallum
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food SecurityGriffith University, Nathan CampusNathanQueenslandAustralia
| | - Benjamin Roche
- CREEC, MIVEGEC (CREES)University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpelierFrance
| | - Beata Ujvari
- CANECEV, Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le CancerMontpellierFrance
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVictoriaAustralia
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CANECEV, Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le CancerMontpellierFrance
- CREEC, MIVEGEC (CREES)University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpelierFrance
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12
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Bista I, Wood JMD, Desvignes T, McCarthy SA, Matschiner M, Ning Z, Tracey A, Torrance J, Sims Y, Chow W, Smith M, Oliver K, Haggerty L, Salzburger W, Postlethwait JH, Howe K, Clark MS, William Detrich H, Christina Cheng CH, Miska EA, Durbin R. Genomics of cold adaptations in the Antarctic notothenioid fish radiation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3412. [PMID: 37296119 PMCID: PMC10256766 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38567-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous novel adaptations characterise the radiation of notothenioids, the dominant fish group in the freezing seas of the Southern Ocean. To improve understanding of the evolution of this iconic fish group, here we generate and analyse new genome assemblies for 24 species covering all major subgroups of the radiation, including five long-read assemblies. We present a new estimate for the onset of the radiation at 10.7 million years ago, based on a time-calibrated phylogeny derived from genome-wide sequence data. We identify a two-fold variation in genome size, driven by expansion of multiple transposable element families, and use the long-read data to reconstruct two evolutionarily important, highly repetitive gene family loci. First, we present the most complete reconstruction to date of the antifreeze glycoprotein gene family, whose emergence enabled survival in sub-zero temperatures, showing the expansion of the antifreeze gene locus from the ancestral to the derived state. Second, we trace the loss of haemoglobin genes in icefishes, the only vertebrates lacking functional haemoglobins, through complete reconstruction of the two haemoglobin gene clusters across notothenioid families. Both the haemoglobin and antifreeze genomic loci are characterised by multiple transposon expansions that may have driven the evolutionary history of these genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iliana Bista
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK.
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK.
- Wellcome/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK.
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, 2333 CR, the Netherlands.
| | - Jonathan M D Wood
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Thomas Desvignes
- University of Oregon, Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, 13th Avenue, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Shane A McCarthy
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Michael Matschiner
- University of Oslo, Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Sars' gate 1, 0562, Oslo, Norway
- University of Zurich, Department of Palaeontology and Museum, University of Zurich, Karl-Schmid-Strasse 4, 8006, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zemin Ning
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Alan Tracey
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - James Torrance
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Ying Sims
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - William Chow
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Michelle Smith
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Karen Oliver
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Leanne Haggerty
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Walter Salzburger
- University of Basel, Zoological Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Vesalgasse 1, 4051, Basel, Switzerland
| | - John H Postlethwait
- University of Oregon, Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, 13th Avenue, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Kerstin Howe
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Melody S Clark
- British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - H William Detrich
- Northeastern University, Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Marine Science Centre, 430 Nahant Rd., Nahant, MA, 01908, USA
| | - C-H Christina Cheng
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behaviour, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Eric A Miska
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
- Wellcome/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Richard Durbin
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK.
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK.
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13
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Stammnitz MR, Gori K, Kwon YM, Harry E, Martin FJ, Billis K, Cheng Y, Baez-Ortega A, Chow W, Comte S, Eggertsson H, Fox S, Hamede R, Jones M, Lazenby B, Peck S, Pye R, Quail MA, Swift K, Wang J, Wood J, Howe K, Stratton MR, Ning Z, Murchison EP. The evolution of two transmissible cancers in Tasmanian devils. Science 2023; 380:283-293. [PMID: 37079675 DOI: 10.1126/science.abq6453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Tasmanian devils have spawned two transmissible cancer lineages, named devil facial tumor 1 (DFT1) and devil facial tumor 2 (DFT2). We investigated the genetic diversity and evolution of these clones by analyzing 78 DFT1 and 41 DFT2 genomes relative to a newly assembled, chromosome-level reference. Time-resolved phylogenetic trees reveal that DFT1 first emerged in 1986 (1982 to 1989) and DFT2 in 2011 (2009 to 2012). Subclone analysis documents transmission of heterogeneous cell populations. DFT2 has faster mutation rates than DFT1 across all variant classes, including substitutions, indels, rearrangements, transposable element insertions, and copy number alterations, and we identify a hypermutated DFT1 lineage with defective DNA mismatch repair. Several loci show plausible evidence of positive selection in DFT1 or DFT2, including loss of chromosome Y and inactivation of MGA, but none are common to both cancers. This study reveals the parallel long-term evolution of two transmissible cancers inhabiting a common niche in Tasmanian devils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian R Stammnitz
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kevin Gori
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Young Mi Kwon
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Edward Harry
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fergal J Martin
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Konstantinos Billis
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Adrian Baez-Ortega
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - William Chow
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sebastien Comte
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Samantha Fox
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- Toledo Zoo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- CANCEV, Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer, Montpellier, France
| | - Menna Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Billie Lazenby
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Sarah Peck
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Ruth Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Michael A Quail
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kate Swift
- Mount Pleasant Laboratories, Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Prospect, TAS, Australia
| | - Jinhong Wang
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan Wood
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kerstin Howe
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael R Stratton
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Zemin Ning
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elizabeth P Murchison
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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14
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Dong LF, Rohlena J, Zobalova R, Nahacka Z, Rodriguez AM, Berridge MV, Neuzil J. Mitochondria on the move: Horizontal mitochondrial transfer in disease and health. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:213873. [PMID: 36795453 PMCID: PMC9960264 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202211044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian genes were long thought to be constrained within somatic cells in most cell types. This concept was challenged recently when cellular organelles including mitochondria were shown to move between mammalian cells in culture via cytoplasmic bridges. Recent research in animals indicates transfer of mitochondria in cancer and during lung injury in vivo, with considerable functional consequences. Since these pioneering discoveries, many studies have confirmed horizontal mitochondrial transfer (HMT) in vivo, and its functional characteristics and consequences have been described. Additional support for this phenomenon has come from phylogenetic studies. Apparently, mitochondrial trafficking between cells occurs more frequently than previously thought and contributes to diverse processes including bioenergetic crosstalk and homeostasis, disease treatment and recovery, and development of resistance to cancer therapy. Here we highlight current knowledge of HMT between cells, focusing primarily on in vivo systems, and contend that this process is not only (patho)physiologically relevant, but also can be exploited for the design of novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan-Feng Dong
- https://ror.org/02sc3r913School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, Australia,Lan-Feng Dong:
| | - Jakub Rohlena
- https://ror.org/00wzqmx94Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague-West, Czech Republic
| | - Renata Zobalova
- https://ror.org/00wzqmx94Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague-West, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Nahacka
- https://ror.org/00wzqmx94Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague-West, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Jiri Neuzil
- https://ror.org/02sc3r913School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, Australia,https://ror.org/00wzqmx94Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague-West, Czech Republic,Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic,First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic,Correspondence to Jiri Neuzil: ,
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15
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Shukla H, Suryamohan K, Khan A, Mohan K, Perumal RC, Mathew OK, Menon R, Dixon MD, Muraleedharan M, Kuriakose B, Michael S, Krishnankutty SP, Zachariah A, Seshagiri S, Ramakrishnan U. Near-chromosomal de novo assembly of Bengal tiger genome reveals genetic hallmarks of apex predation. Gigascience 2022; 12:6963323. [PMID: 36576130 PMCID: PMC9795480 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giac112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The tiger, a poster child for conservation, remains an endangered apex predator. Continued survival and recovery will require a comprehensive understanding of genetic diversity and the use of such information for population management. A high-quality tiger genome assembly will be an important tool for conservation genetics, especially for the Indian tiger, the most abundant subspecies in the wild. Here, we present high-quality near-chromosomal genome assemblies of a female and a male wild Indian tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). Our assemblies had a scaffold N50 of >140 Mb, with 19 scaffolds corresponding to the 19 numbered chromosomes, containing 95% of the genome. Our assemblies also enabled detection of longer stretches of runs of homozygosity compared to previous assemblies, which will help improve estimates of genomic inbreeding. Comprehensive genome annotation identified 26,068 protein-coding genes, including several gene families involved in key morphological features such as the teeth, claws, vision, olfaction, taste, and body stripes. We also identified 301 microRNAs, 365 small nucleolar RNAs, 632 transfer RNAs, and other noncoding RNA elements, several of which are predicted to regulate key biological pathways that likely contribute to the tiger's apex predatory traits. We identify signatures of positive selection in the tiger genome that are consistent with the Panthera lineage. Our high-quality genome will enable use of noninvasive samples for comprehensive assessment of genetic diversity, thus supporting effective conservation and management of wild tiger populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Krishna Mohan
- Department of Research and Development, AgriGenome Labs Private Ltd, Kochi, Kerala 682030, India
| | - Rajadurai C Perumal
- Department of Research and Development, AgriGenome Labs Private Ltd, Kochi, Kerala 682030, India
| | - Oommen K Mathew
- Department of Research and Development, AgriGenome Labs Private Ltd, Kochi, Kerala 682030, India
| | - Ramesh Menon
- MedGenome Labs Ltd., Narayana Health City, Bangalore, Karnataka 560099, India
| | - Mandumpala Davis Dixon
- Department of Research and Development, AgriGenome Labs Private Ltd, Kochi, Kerala 682030, India
| | - Megha Muraleedharan
- Department of Research and Development, AgriGenome Labs Private Ltd, Kochi, Kerala 682030, India
| | - Boney Kuriakose
- Department of Research and Development, AgriGenome Labs Private Ltd, Kochi, Kerala 682030, India
| | - Saju Michael
- Department of Research and Development, AgriGenome Labs Private Ltd, Kochi, Kerala 682030, India
| | - Sajesh P Krishnankutty
- Department of Research and Development, AgriGenome Labs Private Ltd, Kochi, Kerala 682030, India
| | - Arun Zachariah
- SciGenom Research Foundation, Narayana Health City, Bangalore, Karnataka 560099, India,Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Sultan Bathery, Kerala 673592, India
| | - Somasekar Seshagiri
- Correspondence address. Somasekar Seshagiri, Department of Research and Development SciGenom Research Foundation 3rd Floor, Narayana Nethralaya Building, Narayana Health City, #258/A, Bommasandra, Hosur Road, Bangalore 560099, India. E-mail:
| | - Uma Ramakrishnan
- Correspondence address. Uma Ramakrishnan, National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065, India. E-mail:
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16
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Peel E, Silver L, Brandies P, Zhu Y, Cheng Y, Hogg CJ, Belov K. Best genome sequencing strategies for annotation of complex immune gene families in wildlife. Gigascience 2022; 11:6780307. [PMID: 36310247 PMCID: PMC9618407 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giac100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The biodiversity crisis and increasing impact of wildlife disease on animal and human health provides impetus for studying immune genes in wildlife. Despite the recent boom in genomes for wildlife species, immune genes are poorly annotated in nonmodel species owing to their high level of polymorphism and complex genomic organisation. Our research over the past decade and a half on Tasmanian devils and koalas highlights the importance of genomics and accurate immune annotations to investigate disease in wildlife. Given this, we have increasingly been asked the minimum levels of genome quality required to effectively annotate immune genes in order to study immunogenetic diversity. Here we set out to answer this question by manually annotating immune genes in 5 marsupial genomes and 1 monotreme genome to determine the impact of sequencing data type, assembly quality, and automated annotation on accurate immune annotation. RESULTS Genome quality is directly linked to our ability to annotate complex immune gene families, with long reads and scaffolding technologies required to reassemble immune gene clusters and elucidate evolution, organisation, and true gene content of the immune repertoire. Draft-quality genomes generated from short reads with HiC or 10× Chromium linked reads were unable to achieve this. Despite mammalian BUSCOv5 scores of up to 94.1% amongst the 6 genomes, automated annotation pipelines incorrectly annotated up to 59% of manually annotated immune genes regardless of assembly quality or method of automated annotation. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that long reads and scaffolding technologies, alongside manual annotation, are required to accurately study the immune gene repertoire of wildlife species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Peel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Luke Silver
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Parice Brandies
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Ying Zhu
- Sichuan Provincial Academy of Natural Resource Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan 610000, China
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- Correspondence address. Katherine Belov, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Rm 206, RMC Gunn Building (B19), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. E-mail:
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17
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Kumar S, De Leon EM, Granados J, Whitworth DJ, VandeBerg JL. Monodelphis domestica Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Reveal Metatherian Pluripotency Architecture. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12623. [PMID: 36293487 PMCID: PMC9604385 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Marsupials have been a powerful comparative model to understand mammalian biology. However, because of the unique characteristics of their embryology, marsupial pluripotency architecture remains to be fully understood, and nobody has succeeded in developing embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from any marsupial species. We have developed an integration-free iPSC reprogramming method and established validated iPSCs from two inbred strains of a marsupial, Monodelphis domestica. The monoiPSCs showed a significant (6181 DE-genes) and highly uniform (r2 [95% CI] = 0.973 ± 0.007) resetting of the cellular transcriptome and were similar to eutherian ESCs and iPSCs in their overall transcriptomic profiles. However, monoiPSCs showed unique regulatory architecture of the core pluripotency transcription factors and were more like marsupial epiblasts. Our results suggest that POU5F1 and the splice-variant-specific expression of POU5F3 synergistically regulate the opossum pluripotency gene network. It is plausible that POU5F1, POU5F3 splice variant XM_016427856.1, and SOX2 form a self-regulatory network. NANOG expression, however, was specific to monoiPSCs and epiblasts. Furthermore, POU5F1 was highly expressed in trophectoderm cells, whereas all other pluripotency transcription factors were significantly downregulated, suggesting that the regulatory architecture of core pluripotency genes of marsupials may be distinct from that of eutherians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satish Kumar
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
| | - Erica M. De Leon
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
| | - Jose Granados
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
| | - Deanne J. Whitworth
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
| | - John L. VandeBerg
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville, TX 78520, USA
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18
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Tian R, Guo H, Jin Z, Zhang F, Zhao J, Seim I. Molecular evolution of vision-related genes may contribute to marsupial photic niche adaptations. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.982073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vision plays an essential role in the life of many animals. While most mammals are night-active (nocturnal), many have adapted to novel light environments. This includes diurnal (day-active) and crepuscular (twilight-active) species. Here, we used integrative approaches to investigate the molecular evolution of 112 vision-related genes across 19 genomes representing most marsupial orders. We found that four genes (GUCA1B, GUCY2F, RGR, and SWS2) involved in retinal phototransduction likely became functionally redundant in the ancestor of marsupials, a group of largely obligate nocturnal mammals. We also show evidence of rapid evolution and positive selection of bright-light vision genes in the common ancestor of Macropus (kangaroos, wallaroos, and wallabies). Macropus-specific amino acid substitutions in opsin genes (LWS and SWS1), in particular, may be an adaptation for crepuscular vision in this genus via opsin spectral sensitivity tuning. Our study set the stage for functional genetics studies and provides a stepping stone to future research efforts that fully capture the visual repertoire of marsupials.
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19
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Ní Leathlobhair M, Lenski RE. Population genetics of clonally transmissible cancers. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:1077-1089. [PMID: 35879542 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01790-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Populations of cancer cells are subject to the same core evolutionary processes as asexually reproducing, unicellular organisms. Transmissible cancers are particularly striking examples of these processes. These unusual cancers are clonal lineages that can spread through populations via physical transfer of living cancer cells from one host individual to another, and they have achieved long-term success in the colonization of at least eight different host species. Population genetic theory provides a useful framework for understanding the shift from a multicellular sexual animal into a unicellular asexual clone and its long-term effects on the genomes of these cancers. In this Review, we consider recent findings from transmissible cancer research with the goals of developing an evolutionarily informed perspective on transmissible cancers, examining possible implications for their long-term fate and identifying areas for future research on these exceptional lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Máire Ní Leathlobhair
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Department of Microbiology, Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, School of Genetics and Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Richard E Lenski
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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20
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Farquharson KA, McLennan EA, Cheng Y, Alexander L, Fox S, Lee AV, Belov K, Hogg CJ. Restoring faith in conservation action: Maintaining wild genetic diversity through the Tasmanian devil insurance program. iScience 2022; 25:104474. [PMID: 35754729 PMCID: PMC9218385 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Conservation breeding programs aim to maintain 90% wild genetic diversity, but rarely assess functional diversity. Here, we compare both genome-wide and functional diversity (in over 500 genes) of Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) within the insurance metapopulation and across the species’ range (64,519 km2). Populations have declined by 80% since 1996 due to a contagious cancer, devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). However, predicted local extinctions have not occurred. Recent suggestions of selection for “resistance” alleles in the wild precipitated concerns that insurance population devils may be unsuitable for translocations. Using 830 wild samples collected at 31 locations between 2012 and 2021, and 553 insurance metapopulation devils, we show that the insurance metapopulation is representative of current wild genetic diversity. Allele frequencies at DFTD-associated loci were not substantially different between captive and wild devils. Methods presented here are valuable for others investigating evolutionary potential in threatened species, particularly ones under significant selective pressures. Developed target capture to assess functional diversity at over 500 genes Fine-scale structure exists in the genetically depauperate Tasmanian devil Insurance metapopulation is representative of wild genetic diversity Allele frequencies at disease-associated loci were similar in captivity to the wild
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elspeth A McLennan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Lauren Alexander
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Samantha Fox
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, NRE Tasmania, Hobart, Tas 7001, Australia.,Toledo Zoo, 2605 Broadway, Toledo, OH 43609, USA
| | - Andrew V Lee
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, NRE Tasmania, Hobart, Tas 7001, Australia.,Toledo Zoo, 2605 Broadway, Toledo, OH 43609, USA
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, PO BOX 120551, San Diego, CA 92112, USA
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21
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Blagosklonny MV. Hallmarks of cancer and hallmarks of aging. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:4176-4187. [PMID: 35533376 PMCID: PMC9134968 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A thought-provoking article by Gems and de Magalhães suggests that canonic hallmarks of aging are superficial imitations of hallmarks of cancer. I took their work a step further and proposed hallmarks of aging based on a hierarchical principle and the hyperfunction theory. To do this, I first reexamine the hallmarks of cancer proposed by Hanahan and Weinberg in 2000. Although six hallmarks of cancer are genuine, they are not hierarchically arranged, i.e., molecular, intra-cellular, cellular, tissue, organismal and extra-organismal. (For example, invasion and angiogenesis are manifestations of molecular alterations on the tissue level; metastasis on the organismal level, whereas cell immortality is observed outside the host). The same hierarchical approach is applicable to aging. Unlike cancer, however, aging is not a molecular disease. The lowest level of its origin is normal intracellular signaling pathways such as mTOR that drive developmental growth and, later in life, become hyperfunctional, causing age-related diseases, whose sum is aging. The key hallmark of organismal aging, from worms to humans, are age-related diseases. In addition, hallmarks of aging can be arranged as a timeline, wherein initial hyperfunction is followed by dysfunction, organ damage and functional decline.
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22
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Lott MJ, Wright BR, Neaves LE, Frankham GJ, Dennison S, Eldridge MDB, Potter S, Alquezar-Planas DE, Hogg CJ, Belov K, Johnson RN. Future-proofing the koala: synergising genomic and environmental data for effective species management. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:3035-3055. [PMID: 35344635 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Climatic and evolutionary processes are inextricably linked to conservation. Avoiding extinction in rapidly changing environments often depends upon a species' capacity to adapt in the face of extreme selective pressures. Here, we employed exon capture and high-throughput next-generation sequencing to investigate the mechanisms underlying population structure and adaptive genetic variation in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), an iconic Australian marsupial that represents a unique conservation challenge because it is not uniformly threatened across its range. An examination of 250 specimens representing 91 wild source locations revealed that five major genetic clusters currently exist on a continental scale. The initial divergence of these clusters appears to have been concordant with the Mid-Brunhes Transition (∼ 430-300 kya), a major climatic reorganization that increased the amplitude of Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles. While signatures of polygenic selection and environmental adaptation were detected, strong evidence for repeated, climate-associated range contractions and demographic bottleneck events suggests that geographically isolated refugia may have played a more significant role in the survival of the koala through the Pleistocene glaciation than in situ adaptation. Consequently, the conservation of genome-wide genetic variation must be aligned with the protection of core koala habitat to increase the resilience of threatened populations to accelerating anthropogenic threats. Finally, we propose that the five major genetic clusters identified in this study should be accounted for in future koala conservation efforts (e.g. guiding translocations), as existing management divisions in the states of Queensland and New South Wales do not reflect historic or contemporary population structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Lott
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, 2010, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Belinda R Wright
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, 2010, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, the University of Sydney, 2006, New South Wales, Australia.,Sydney School of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science, the University of Sydney, 2006, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Linda E Neaves
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, 2010, New South Wales, Australia.,Fenner School of Environment and Society, the Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2600, Australia
| | - Greta J Frankham
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, 2010, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Siobhan Dennison
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, 2010, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark D B Eldridge
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, 2010, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sally Potter
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, 2010, New South Wales, Australia.,Division of Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, the Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, 2600, Australia
| | - David E Alquezar-Planas
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, 2010, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, the University of Sydney, 2006, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, the University of Sydney, 2006, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rebecca N Johnson
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, 2010, New South Wales, Australia.,National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, Washington, 20560, United States
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23
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Peel E, Silver L, Brandies P, Hayakawa T, Belov K, Hogg CJ. Genome assembly of the numbat ( Myrmecobius fasciatus), the only termitivorous marsupial. GIGABYTE 2022; 2022:gigabyte47. [PMID: 36824518 PMCID: PMC9650251 DOI: 10.46471/gigabyte.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is an endangered Australian marsupial, and the last surviving member of the Myrmecobiidae family. The numbat regularly undergoes torpor and is unique amongst marsupials as it is the only diurnal and termitivorous species. Here we sequenced the first draft genome of the numbat using 10× Genomics Chromium linked-read technology, resulting in a 3.42 Gbp genome with a scaffold N50 of 223 kbp. A global transcriptome from liver, lung and tongue was also generated to aid genome annotation, identifying 21,465 protein-coding genes. To investigate adaptation to the numbat's termitivorous diet and arid/semi-arid range, we interrogated the most highly expressed transcripts within the tongue and manually annotated taste, vomeronasal and aquaporin gene families. Antimicrobial proteins and proteins involved in digestion were highly expressed in the tongue, alongside umami taste receptors. However, sweet taste receptors were not expressed in this tissue, which combined with the putative contraction of the bitter taste receptor gene repertoire in the numbat genome, may indicate a potential evolutionary adaptation to their specialised termitivorous diet. Vomeronasal and aquaporin gene repertoires were similar to other marsupials. The draft numbat genome is a valuable tool for conservation and can be applied to population genetics/genomics studies and to investigate the unique biology of this interesting species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Peel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Luke Silver
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Parice Brandies
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Takashi Hayakawa
- Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan,Japan Monkey Centre, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Carolyn J. Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Corresponding author. E-mail:
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24
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Giersch RM, Hart SFM, Reddy SG, Yonemitsu MA, Orellana Rosales MJ, Korn M, Geleta BM, Countway PD, Fernández Robledo JA, Metzger MJ. Survival and Detection of Bivalve Transmissible Neoplasia from the Soft-Shell Clam Mya arenaria (MarBTN) in Seawater. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11030283. [PMID: 35335607 PMCID: PMC8955499 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11030283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Many pathogens can cause cancer, but cancer itself does not normally act as an infectious agent. However, transmissible cancers have been found in a few cases in nature: in Tasmanian devils, dogs, and several bivalve species. The transmissible cancers in dogs and devils are known to spread through direct physical contact, but the exact route of transmission of bivalve transmissible neoplasia (BTN) has not yet been confirmed. It has been hypothesized that cancer cells from bivalves could be released by diseased animals and spread through the water column to infect/engraft into other animals. To test the feasibility of this proposed mechanism of transmission, we tested the ability of BTN cells from the soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria BTN, or MarBTN) to survive in artificial seawater. We found that MarBTN cells are highly sensitive to salinity, with acute toxicity at salinity levels lower than those found in the native marine environment. BTN cells also survive longer at lower temperatures, with 50% of cells surviving greater than 12 days in seawater at 10 °C, and more than 19 days at 4 °C. With one clam donor, living cells were observed for more than eight weeks at 4 °C. We also used qPCR of environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect the presence of MarBTN-specific DNA in the environment. We observed release of MarBTN-specific DNA into the water of laboratory aquaria containing highly MarBTN-diseased clams, and we detected MarBTN-specific DNA in seawater samples collected from MarBTN-endemic areas in Maine, although the copy numbers detected in environmental samples were much lower than those found in aquaria. Overall, these data show that MarBTN cells can survive well in seawater, and they are released into the water by diseased animals. These findings support the hypothesis that BTN is spread from animal-to-animal by free cells through seawater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael M. Giersch
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98122, USA; (R.M.G.); (S.F.M.H.); (M.A.Y.); (M.K.); (B.M.G.)
| | - Samuel F. M. Hart
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98122, USA; (R.M.G.); (S.F.M.H.); (M.A.Y.); (M.K.); (B.M.G.)
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Satyatejas G. Reddy
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME 04544, USA; (S.G.R.); (M.J.O.R.); (P.D.C.); (J.A.F.R.)
- University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Marisa A. Yonemitsu
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98122, USA; (R.M.G.); (S.F.M.H.); (M.A.Y.); (M.K.); (B.M.G.)
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - María J. Orellana Rosales
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME 04544, USA; (S.G.R.); (M.J.O.R.); (P.D.C.); (J.A.F.R.)
- Southern Maine Community College, South Portland, ME 04106, USA
| | - Madelyn Korn
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98122, USA; (R.M.G.); (S.F.M.H.); (M.A.Y.); (M.K.); (B.M.G.)
- Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Brook M. Geleta
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98122, USA; (R.M.G.); (S.F.M.H.); (M.A.Y.); (M.K.); (B.M.G.)
- Macalester College, Saint Paul, MN 55105, USA
| | - Peter D. Countway
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME 04544, USA; (S.G.R.); (M.J.O.R.); (P.D.C.); (J.A.F.R.)
| | - José A. Fernández Robledo
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME 04544, USA; (S.G.R.); (M.J.O.R.); (P.D.C.); (J.A.F.R.)
| | - Michael J. Metzger
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98122, USA; (R.M.G.); (S.F.M.H.); (M.A.Y.); (M.K.); (B.M.G.)
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +206-726-1220
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25
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Hogg CJ, Ottewell K, Latch P, Rossetto M, Biggs J, Gilbert A, Richmond S, Belov K. Threatened Species Initiative: Empowering conservation action using genomic resources. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2115643118. [PMID: 35042806 PMCID: PMC8795520 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2115643118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, 15,521 animal species are listed as threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and of these less than 3% have genomic resources that can inform conservation management. To combat this, global genome initiatives are developing genomic resources, yet production of a reference genome alone does not conserve a species. The reference genome allows us to develop a suite of tools to understand both genome-wide and functional diversity within and between species. Conservation practitioners can use these tools to inform their decision-making. But, at present there is an implementation gap between the release of genome information and the use of genomic data in applied conservation by conservation practitioners. In May 2020, we launched the Threatened Species Initiative and brought a consortium of genome biologists, population biologists, bioinformaticians, population geneticists, and ecologists together with conservation agencies across Australia, including government, zoos, and nongovernment organizations. Our objective is to create a foundation of genomic data to advance our understanding of key Australian threatened species, and ultimately empower conservation practitioners to access and apply genomic data to their decision-making processes through a web-based portal. Currently, we are developing genomic resources for 61 threatened species from a range of taxa, across Australia, with more than 130 collaborators from government, academia, and conservation organizations. Developed in direct consultation with government threatened-species managers and other conservation practitioners, herein we present our framework for meeting their needs and our systematic approach to integrating genomics into threatened species recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life & Environmental Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
| | - Kym Ottewell
- Conservation Science Centre, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, & Attractions, Kensington, WA 6151, Australia
| | - Peter Latch
- Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water & Environment, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Maurizio Rossetto
- Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience, Australian Institute of Botanical Science, The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
| | - James Biggs
- Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia
| | | | | | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life & Environmental Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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26
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Garcia-Souto D, Bruzos AL, Diaz S, Rocha S, Pequeño-Valtierra A, Roman-Lewis CF, Alonso J, Rodriguez R, Costas D, Rodriguez-Castro J, Villanueva A, Silva L, Valencia JM, Annona G, Tarallo A, Ricardo F, Bratoš Cetinić A, Posada D, Pasantes JJ, Tubio JMC. Mitochondrial genome sequencing of marine leukaemias reveals cancer contagion between clam species in the Seas of Southern Europe. eLife 2022; 11:e66946. [PMID: 35040778 PMCID: PMC8765752 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Clonally transmissible cancers are tumour lineages that are transmitted between individuals via the transfer of living cancer cells. In marine bivalves, leukaemia-like transmissible cancers, called hemic neoplasia (HN), have demonstrated the ability to infect individuals from different species. We performed whole-genome sequencing in eight warty venus clams that were diagnosed with HN, from two sampling points located more than 1000 nautical miles away in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea Coasts of Spain. Mitochondrial genome sequencing analysis from neoplastic animals revealed the coexistence of haplotypes from two different clam species. Phylogenies estimated from mitochondrial and nuclear markers confirmed this leukaemia originated in striped venus clams and later transmitted to clams of the species warty venus, in which it survives as a contagious cancer. The analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences supports all studied tumours belong to a single neoplastic lineage that spreads in the Seas of Southern Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Garcia-Souto
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
- Cancer Ageing and Somatic Mutation Programme, Wellcome Sanger InstituteCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Alicia L Bruzos
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
| | - Seila Diaz
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
| | - Sara Rocha
- Phylogenomics Lab, Universidade de VigoVigoSpain
| | - Ana Pequeño-Valtierra
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
| | | | - Juana Alonso
- CINBIO, Universidade de VigoVigoSpain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGOVigoSpain
| | - Rosana Rodriguez
- Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, ECIMATVigoSpain
| | - Damian Costas
- Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, ECIMATVigoSpain
| | - Jorge Rodriguez-Castro
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
| | | | - Luis Silva
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Centro Oceanográfico de CádizCádizSpain
| | - Jose Maria Valencia
- Laboratori d’Investigacions Marines i Aqüicultura, (LIMIA) - Govern de les Illes BalearsPort d'Andratx, Balearic IslandsSpain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Agroambientales y de Economía del Agua (INAGEA) (INIA-CAIB-UIB)Palma de Mallorca, Balearic IslandsSpain
| | | | | | - Fernando Ricardo
- ECOMARE, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Santiago University CampusAveiroPortugal
| | | | - David Posada
- CINBIO, Universidade de VigoVigoSpain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGOVigoSpain
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Universidade de VigoVigoSpain
| | - Juan Jose Pasantes
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Universidade de VigoVigoSpain
- Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de VigoVigoSpain
| | - Jose MC Tubio
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
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27
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Espejo C, Patchett AL, Wilson R, Lyons AB, Woods GM. Challenges of an Emerging Disease: The Evolving Approach to Diagnosing Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Pathogens 2021; 11:27. [PMID: 35055975 PMCID: PMC8780694 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11010027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) is an emerging infectious disease that provides an excellent example of how diagnostic techniques improve as disease-specific knowledge is generated. DFTD manifests as tumour masses on the faces of Tasmanian devils, first noticed in 1996. As DFTD became more prevalent among devils, karyotyping of the lesions and their devil hosts demonstrated that DFTD was a transmissible cancer. The subsequent routine diagnosis relied on microscopy and histology to characterise the facial lesions as cancer cells. Combined with immunohistochemistry, these techniques characterised the devil facial tumours as sarcomas of neuroectodermal origin. More sophisticated molecular methods identified the origin of DFTD as a Schwann cell, leading to the Schwann cell-specific protein periaxin to discriminate DFTD from other facial lesions. After the discovery of a second facial cancer (DFT2), cytogenetics and the absence of periaxin expression confirmed the independence of the new cancer from DFT1 (the original DFTD). Molecular studies of the two DFTDs led to the development of a PCR assay to differentially diagnose the cancers. Proteomics and transcriptomic studies identified different cell phenotypes among the two DFTD cell lines. Phenotypic differences were also reflected in proteomics studies of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which yielded an early diagnostic marker that could detect DFTD in its latent stage from serum samples. A mesenchymal marker was also identified that could serve as a serum-based differential diagnostic. The emergence of two transmissible cancers in one species has provided an ideal opportunity to better understand transmissible cancers, demonstrating how fundamental research can be translated into applicable and routine diagnostic techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Espejo
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; (C.E.); (A.B.L.)
| | - Amanda L. Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia;
| | - Richard Wilson
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia;
| | - A. Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; (C.E.); (A.B.L.)
| | - Gregory M. Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia;
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28
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Peel E, Silver L, Brandies P, Hogg CJ, Belov K. A reference genome for the critically endangered woylie, Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi. GIGABYTE 2021; 2021:gigabyte35. [PMID: 36824341 PMCID: PMC9650285 DOI: 10.46471/gigabyte.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Biodiversity is declining globally, and Australia has one of the worst extinction records for mammals. The development of sequencing technologies means that genomic approaches are now available as important tools for wildlife conservation and management. Despite this, genome sequences are available for only 5% of threatened Australian species. Here we report the first reference genome for the woylie (Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi), a critically endangered marsupial from Western Australia, and the first genome within the Potoroidae family. The woylie reference genome was generated using Pacific Biosciences HiFi long-reads, resulting in a 3.39 Gbp assembly with a scaffold N50 of 6.49 Mbp and 86.5% complete mammalian BUSCOs. Assembly of a global transcriptome from pouch skin, tongue, heart and blood RNA-seq reads was used to guide annotation with Fgenesh++, resulting in the annotation of 24,655 genes. The woylie reference genome is a valuable resource for conservation, management and investigations into disease-induced decline of this critically endangered marsupial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Peel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Luke Silver
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Parice Brandies
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Carolyn J. Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Corresponding author. E-mail:
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29
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Espejo C, Wilson R, Willms E, Ruiz-Aravena M, Pye RJ, Jones ME, Hill AF, Woods GM, Lyons AB. Extracellular vesicle proteomes of two transmissible cancers of Tasmanian devils reveal tenascin-C as a serum-based differential diagnostic biomarker. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:7537-7555. [PMID: 34655299 PMCID: PMC11073120 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03955-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The iconic Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is endangered due to the transmissible cancer Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), of which there are two genetically independent subtypes (DFT1 and DFT2). While DFT1 and DFT2 can be differentially diagnosed using tumour biopsies, there is an urgent need to develop less-invasive biomarkers that can detect DFTD and distinguish between subtypes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), the nano-sized membrane-enclosed vesicles present in most biofluids, represent a valuable resource for biomarker discovery. Here, we characterized the proteome of EVs from cultured DFTD cells using data-independent acquisition-mass spectrometry and an in-house spectral library of > 1500 proteins. EVs from both DFT1 and DFT2 cell lines expressed higher levels of proteins associated with focal adhesion functions. Furthermore, hallmark proteins of epithelial-mesenchymal transition were enriched in DFT2 EVs relative to DFT1 EVs. These findings were validated in EVs derived from serum samples, revealing that the mesenchymal marker tenascin-C was also enriched in EVs derived from the serum of devils infected with DFT2 relative to those infected with DFT1 and healthy controls. This first EV-based investigation of DFTD increases our understanding of the cancers' EVs and their possible involvement in DFTD progression, such as metastasis. Finally, we demonstrated the potential of EVs to differentiate between DFT1 and DFT2, highlighting their potential use as less-invasive liquid biopsies for the Tasmanian devil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Espejo
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
| | - Richard Wilson
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7005, Australia
| | - Eduard Willms
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Manuel Ruiz-Aravena
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Ruth J Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Menna E Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Andrew F Hill
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
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30
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Owen RS, Ramarathinam SH, Bailey A, Gastaldello A, Hussey K, Skipp PJ, Purcell AW, Siddle HV. The differentiation state of the Schwann cell progenitor drives phenotypic variation between two contagious cancers. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010033. [PMID: 34780568 PMCID: PMC8629380 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Contagious cancers are a rare pathogenic phenomenon in which cancer cells gain the ability to spread between genetically distinct hosts. Nine examples have been identified across marine bivalves, dogs and Tasmanian devils, but the Tasmanian devil is the only mammalian species known to have given rise to two distinct lineages of contagious cancer, termed Devil Facial Tumour 1 (DFT1) and 2 (DFT2). Remarkably, DFT1 and DFT2 arose independently from the same cell type, a Schwann cell, and while their ultra-structural features are highly similar they exhibit variation in their mutational signatures and infection dynamics. As such, DFT1 and DFT2 provide a unique framework for investigating how a common progenitor cell can give rise to distinct contagious cancers. Using a proteomics approach, we show that DFT1 and DFT2 are derived from Schwann cells in different differentiation states, with DFT2 carrying a molecular signature of a less well differentiated Schwann cell. Under inflammatory signals DFT1 and DFT2 have different gene expression profiles, most notably involving Schwann cell markers of differentiation, reflecting the influence of their distinct origins. Further, DFT2 cells express immune cell markers typically expressed during nerve repair, consistent with an ability to manipulate their extracellular environment, facilitating the cell’s ability to transmit between individuals. The emergence of two contagious cancers in the Tasmanian devil suggests that the inherent plasticity of Schwann cells confers a vulnerability to the formation of contagious cancers. Cancer can be an infectious pathogen, with nine known cases, infecting bivalves, dogs and two independent tumours circulating in the endangered Tasmanian devil. These cancers, known as Devil Facial Tumour 1 (DFT1) and Devil Facial Tumour 2 (DFT2), spread through the wild population much like parasites, moving between genetically distinct hosts during social biting behaviours and persisting in the population. As DFT1 and DFT2 are independent contagious cancers that arose from the same cell type, a Schwann cell, they provide a unique model system for studying the emergence of phenotypic variation in cancers derived from a single progenitor cell. In this study, we have shown that these two remarkably similar tumours have emerged from Schwann cells in different differentiation states. The differentiation state of the progenitor has altered the characteristics of each tumour, resulting in different responses to external signals. This work demonstrates that the cellular origin of infection can direct the phenotype of a contagious cancer and how it responds to signals from the host environment. Further, the plasticity of Schwann cells may make these cells more prone to forming contagious cancers, raising the possibility that further parasitic cancers could emerge from this cell type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S. Owen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sri H. Ramarathinam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Alistair Bailey
- Centre for Cancer Immunology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Annalisa Gastaldello
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn Hussey
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Paul J. Skipp
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony W. Purcell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Hannah V. Siddle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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31
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Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: Non-Coding RNAs Associated with Transmissible Cancers in Tasmanian Devil, Domestic Dog and Bivalves. Noncoding RNA 2021; 7:ncrna7040072. [PMID: 34842768 PMCID: PMC8628904 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna7040072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently there are nine known examples of transmissible cancers in nature. They have been observed in domestic dog, Tasmanian devil, and six bivalve species. These tumours can overcome host immune defences and spread to other members of the same species. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are known to play roles in tumorigenesis and immune system evasion. Despite their potential importance in transmissible cancers, there have been no studies on ncRNA function in this context to date. Here, we present possible applications of the CRISPR/Cas system to study the RNA biology of transmissible cancers. Specifically, we explore how ncRNAs may play a role in the immortality and immune evasion ability of these tumours.
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32
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Wang P, Yue C, Liu K, Lu D, Liu S, Yao S, Li X, Su X, Ren K, Chai Y, Qi J, Zhao Y, Lou Y, Sun Z, Gao GF, Liu WJ. Peptide Presentations of Marsupial MHC Class I Visualize Immune Features of Lower Mammals Paralleled with Bats. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 207:2167-2178. [PMID: 34535575 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Marsupials are one of three major mammalian lineages that include the placental eutherians and the egg-laying monotremes. The marsupial brushtail possum is an important protected species in the Australian forest ecosystem. Molecules encoded by the MHC genes are essential mediators of adaptive immune responses in virus-host interactions. Yet, nothing is known about the peptide presentation features of any marsupial MHC class I (MHC I). This study identified a series of possum MHC I Trvu-UB*01:01 binding peptides derived from wobbly possum disease virus (WPDV), a lethal virus of both captive and feral possum populations, and unveiled the structure of marsupial peptide/MHC I complex. Notably, we found the two brushtail possum-specific insertions, the 3-aa Ile52Glu53Arg54 and 1-aa Arg154 insertions are located in the Trvu-UB*01:01 peptide binding groove (PBG). The 3-aa insertion plays a pivotal role in maintaining the stability of the N terminus of Trvu-UB*01:01 PBG. This aspect of marsupial PBG is unexpectedly similar to the bat MHC I Ptal-N*01:01 and is shared with lower vertebrates from elasmobranch to monotreme, indicating an evolution hotspot that may have emerged from the pathogen-host interactions. Residue Arg154 insertion, located in the α2 helix, is available for TCR recognition, and it has a particular influence on promoting the anchoring of peptide WPDV-12. These findings add significantly to our understanding of adaptive immunity in marsupials and its evolution in vertebrates. Our findings have the potential to impact the conservation of the protected species brushtail possum and other marsupial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyan Wang
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Can Yue
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.,Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
| | - Kefang Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - Dan Lu
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
| | - Sai Liu
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Sijia Yao
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Li
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoling Su
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Keyi Ren
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yan Chai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - Jianxun Qi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - Yingze Zhao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yongliang Lou
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Zeyu Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - George F Gao
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China; .,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.,Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - William J Liu
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China; .,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
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33
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Zhang Y, Shen Q, Leng L, Zhang D, Chen S, Shi Y, Ning Z, Chen S. Incipient diploidization of the medicinal plant Perilla within 10,000 years. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5508. [PMID: 34535649 PMCID: PMC8448860 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25681-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Perilla is a young allotetraploid Lamiaceae species widely used in East Asia as herb and oil plant. Here, we report the high-quality, chromosome-scale genomes of the tetraploid (Perilla frutescens) and the AA diploid progenitor (Perilla citriodora). Comparative analyses suggest post Neolithic allotetraploidization within 10,000 years, and nucleotide mutation in tetraploid is 10% more than in diploid, both of which are dominated by G:C → A:T transitions. Incipient diploidization is characterized by balanced swaps of homeologous segments, and subsequent homeologous exchanges are enriched towards telomeres, with excess of replacements of AA genes by fractionated BB homeologs. Population analyses suggest that the crispa lines are close to the nascent tetraploid, and involvement of acyl-CoA: lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase gene for high α-linolenic acid content of seed oil is revealed by GWAS. These resources and findings provide insights into incipient diploidization and basis for breeding improvement of this medicinal plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujun Zhang
- grid.410318.f0000 0004 0632 3409Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Shen
- grid.410318.f0000 0004 0632 3409Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China ,grid.464326.1Rapeseed Research Institute, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, China ,grid.411866.c0000 0000 8848 7685Present Address: Institute of Medical Plant Physiology and Ecology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Leng
- grid.410318.f0000 0004 0632 3409Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- grid.410318.f0000 0004 0632 3409Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Sha Chen
- grid.410318.f0000 0004 0632 3409Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhua Shi
- grid.410318.f0000 0004 0632 3409Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zemin Ning
- grid.10306.340000 0004 0606 5382Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Shilin Chen
- grid.410318.f0000 0004 0632 3409Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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34
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Harding EF, Russo AG, Yan GJH, Waters PD, White PA. Ancient viral integrations in marsupials: a potential antiviral defence. Virus Evol 2021; 7:veab076. [PMID: 34548931 PMCID: PMC8449507 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veab076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Marsupial viruses are understudied compared to their eutherian mammal counterparts, although they may pose severe threats to vulnerable marsupial populations. Genomic viral integrations, termed 'endogenous viral elements' (EVEs), could protect the host from infection. It is widely known past viral infections and EVEs play an active role in antiviral defence in invertebrates and plants. This study aimed to characterise actively transcribed EVEs in Australian marsupial species, because they may play an integral role in cellular defence against viruses. This study screened publicly available RNA sequencing data sets (n = 35) and characterised 200 viral transcripts from thirteen Australian marsupial species. Of the 200 transcripts, 188 originated from either Bornaviridae, Filoviridae, or Parvoviridae EVEs. The other twelve transcripts were from putative active infections from members of the Herpesviridae and Anelloviridae, and Hepadnaviridae. EVE transcripts (n = 188) were mapped to marsupial genomes (where available, n = 5/13) to identify the genomic insertion sites. Of the 188 transcripts, 117 mapped to 39 EVEs within the koala, bare-nosed wombat, tammar wallaby, brushtail possum, and Tasmanian devil genomes. The remaining eight animals had no available genome (transcripts n = 71). Every marsupial has Bornaviridae, Filoviridae, and Parvoviridae EVEs, a trend widely observed in eutherian mammals. Whilst eutherian bornavirus EVEs are predominantly nucleoprotein-derived, marsupial bornavirus EVEs demonstrate a surprising replicase gene bias. We predicted these widely distributed EVEs were conserved within marsupials from ancient germline integrations, as many were over 65 million years old. One bornavirus replicase EVE, present in six marsupial genomes, was estimated to be 160 million years old, predating the American-Australian marsupial split. We considered transcription of these EVEs through small non-coding RNA as an ancient viral defence. Consistent with this, in koala small RNA sequence data sets, we detected Bornaviridae replicase and Filoviridae nucleoprotein produced small RNA. These were enriched in testis tissue, suggesting they could protect marsupials from vertically transmitted viral integrations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alice G Russo
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Grace J H Yan
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Paul D Waters
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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35
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Wold J, Koepfli KP, Galla SJ, Eccles D, Hogg CJ, Le Lec MF, Guhlin J, Santure AW, Steeves TE. Expanding the conservation genomics toolbox: Incorporating structural variants to enhance genomic studies for species of conservation concern. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:5949-5965. [PMID: 34424587 PMCID: PMC9290615 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Structural variants (SVs) are large rearrangements (>50 bp) within the genome that impact gene function and the content and structure of chromosomes. As a result, SVs are a significant source of functional genomic variation, that is, variation at genomic regions underpinning phenotype differences, that can have large effects on individual and population fitness. While there are increasing opportunities to investigate functional genomic variation in threatened species via single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data sets, SVs remain understudied despite their potential influence on fitness traits of conservation interest. In this future-focused Opinion, we contend that characterizing SVs offers the conservation genomics community an exciting opportunity to complement SNP-based approaches to enhance species recovery. We also leverage the existing literature-predominantly in human health, agriculture and ecoevolutionary biology-to identify approaches for readily characterizing SVs and consider how integrating these into the conservation genomics toolbox may transform the way we manage some of the world's most threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Wold
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, Front Royal, Virginia, USA.,Centre for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Computer Technologies Laboratory, ITMO University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Stephanie J Galla
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.,Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - David Eccles
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Marissa F Le Lec
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Joseph Guhlin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.,Genomics Aotearoa, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Anna W Santure
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Tammy E Steeves
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
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36
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Armstrong EE, Khan A, Taylor RW, Gouy A, Greenbaum G, Thiéry A, Kang JT, Redondo SA, Prost S, Barsh G, Kaelin C, Phalke S, Chugani A, Gilbert M, Miquelle D, Zachariah A, Borthakur U, Reddy A, Louis E, Ryder OA, Jhala YV, Petrov D, Excoffier L, Hadly E, Ramakrishnan U. Recent Evolutionary History of Tigers Highlights Contrasting Roles of Genetic Drift and Selection. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:2366-2379. [PMID: 33592092 PMCID: PMC8136513 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Species conservation can be improved by knowledge of evolutionary and genetic history. Tigers are among the most charismatic of endangered species and garner significant conservation attention. However, their evolutionary history and genomic variation remain poorly known, especially for Indian tigers. With 70% of the world’s wild tigers living in India, such knowledge is critical. We re-sequenced 65 individual tiger genomes representing most extant subspecies with a specific focus on tigers from India. As suggested by earlier studies, we found strong genetic differentiation between the putative tiger subspecies. Despite high total genomic diversity in India, individual tigers host longer runs of homozygosity, potentially suggesting recent inbreeding or founding events, possibly due to small and fragmented protected areas. We suggest the impacts of ongoing connectivity loss on inbreeding and persistence of Indian tigers be closely monitored. Surprisingly, demographic models suggest recent divergence (within the last 20,000 years) between subspecies and strong population bottlenecks. Amur tiger genomes revealed the strongest signals of selection related to metabolic adaptation to cold, whereas Sumatran tigers show evidence of weak selection for genes involved in body size regulation. We recommend detailed investigation of local adaptation in Amur and Sumatran tigers prior to initiating genetic rescue.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anubhab Khan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bangalore, India
| | - Ryan W Taylor
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,End2End Genomics, LLC, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Alexandre Gouy
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gili Greenbaum
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Alexandre Thiéry
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan T Kang
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore
| | | | - Stefan Prost
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Gregory Barsh
- Hudsonalpha Institute, Hunstville, AL, USA.,Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Martin Gilbert
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Russia Program, New York, NY, USA.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Dale Miquelle
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Russia Program, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Anuradha Reddy
- Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species, CCMB, Hyderabad, India
| | - Edward Louis
- Department of Genetics, Omaha Zoo, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Oliver A Ryder
- San Diego Zoo, Institute for Conservation Research, Escondido, CA, USA
| | | | - Dmitri Petrov
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Laurent Excoffier
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Elizabeth Hadly
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Russia Program, New York, NY, USA
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37
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Considerations for Initiating a Wildlife Genomics Research Project in South and South-East Asia. J Indian Inst Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s41745-021-00243-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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38
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Grueber CE, Farquharson KA, Wright BR, Wallis GP, Hogg CJ, Belov K. First evidence of deviation from Mendelian proportions in a conservation programme. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:3703-3715. [PMID: 34051005 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Classic Mendelian inheritance is the bedrock of population genetics and underpins pedigree-based management of animal populations. However, assumptions of Mendelian inheritance might not be upheld in conservation breeding programmes if early viability selection occurs, even when efforts are made to equalise genetic contributions of breeders. To test this possibility, we investigated deviations from Mendelian proportions in a captive metapopulation of the endangered Tasmanian devil. This marsupial population is ideal for addressing evolutionary questions in conservation due to its large size, range of enclosure types (varying in environmental conditions), good genomic resources (which aid interpretation), and the species' biology. Devil mothers give birth to more offspring than they can nurse in the pouch, providing the potential for intense viability selection amongst embryos. We used data from 140 known sire-dam-offspring triads to isolate within-family selection from population-level mechanisms (such as mate choice or inbreeding), and compared observed offspring genotypes at 123 targeted SNPs to neutral (i.e., Mendelian) expectations. We found lower offspring heterozygosity than expected, and subtle patterns that varied across a gradient of management intensity from zoo-like enclosures to semi-wild environments for some loci. Meiotic drive or maternal-foetal incompatibilities are consistent with our results, although we cannot statistically confirm these mechanisms. We found some evidence that maternal genotype affects annual litter size, suggesting that family-level patterns are driven by differential offspring mortality before birth or during early development. Our results show that deviations from Mendelian inheritance can occur in conservation programmes, despite best-practice management to prevent selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E Grueber
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Katherine A Farquharson
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Belinda R Wright
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Graham P Wallis
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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39
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Genomics for conservation: a case study of behavioral genes in the Tasmanian devil. CONSERV GENET 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-021-01354-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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40
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A biomimetic natural sciences approach to understanding the mechanisms of ageing in burden of lifestyle diseases. Clin Sci (Lond) 2021; 135:1251-1272. [PMID: 34037207 DOI: 10.1042/cs20201452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The worldwide landscape of an ageing population and age-related disease brings with it huge socio-economic and public healthcare concerns across nations. Correspondingly, monumental human and financial resources have been invested in biomedical research, with a mission to decode the mechanisms of ageing and how these contribute to age-related disease. Multiple hallmarks of ageing have been identified that are common across taxa, highlighting their fundamental importance. These include dysregulated mitochondrial metabolism and telomeres biology, epigenetic modifications, cell-matrix interactions, proteostasis, dysregulated nutrient sensing, stem cell exhaustion, inflammageing and immuno-senescence. While our understanding of the molecular basis of ageing is improving, it remains a complex and multifactorial process that remains to be fully understood. A key aspect of the shortfall in our understanding of the ageing process lies in translating data from standard animal models to humans. Consequently, we suggest that a 'biomimetic' and comparative approach, integrating knowledge from species in the wild, as opposed to inbred genetically homogenous laboratory animals, can provide powerful insights into human ageing processes. Here we discuss some particularities and comparative patterns among several species from the animal kingdom, endowed with longevity or short lifespans and unique metabolic profiles that could be potentially exploited to the understanding of ageing and age-related diseases. Based upon lessons from nature, we also highlight several avenues for renewed focus in the pathophysiology of ageing and age-related disease (i.e. diet-microbiome-health axis, oxidative protein damage, adaptive homoeostasis and planetary health). We propose that a biomimetic alliance with collaborative research from different disciplines can improve our understanding of ageing and age-related diseases with long-term sustainable utility.
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41
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Stenvinkel P, Avesani CM, Gordon LJ, Schalling M, Shiels PG. Biomimetics provides lessons from nature for contemporary ways to improve human health. J Clin Transl Sci 2021; 5:e128. [PMID: 34367673 PMCID: PMC8327543 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2021.790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Homo sapiens is currently living in serious disharmony with the rest of the natural world. For our species to survive, and for our well-being, we must gather knowledge from multiple perspectives and actively engage in studies of planetary health. The enormous diversity of species, one of the most striking aspects of life on our planet, provides a source of solutions that have been developed through evolution by natural selection by animals living in extreme environments. The food system is central to finding solutions; our current global eating patterns have a negative impact on human health, driven climate change and loss of biodiversity. We propose that the use of solutions derived from nature, an approach termed biomimetics, could mitigate the effects of a changing climate on planetary health as well as human health. For example, activation of the transcription factor Nrf2 may play a role in protecting animals living in extreme environments, or animals exposed to heat stress, pollution and pesticides. In order to meet these challenges, we call for the creation of novel interdisciplinary planetary health research teams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Stenvinkel
- Division of Renal Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, Technology and Intervention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carla M. Avesani
- Division of Renal Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, Technology and Intervention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Line J. Gordon
- Stockholm Resilience Centre Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Schalling
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Paul G. Shiels
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, Wolfson Wohl Translational Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Bearsden, Glasgow, UK
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42
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Michell C, Wutke S, Aranda M, Nyman T. Genomes of the willow-galling sawflies Euura lappo and Eupontania aestiva (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae): a resource for research on ecological speciation, adaptation, and gall induction. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2021; 11:jkab094. [PMID: 33788947 PMCID: PMC8104934 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hymenoptera is a hyperdiverse insect order represented by over 153,000 different species. As many hymenopteran species perform various crucial roles for our environments, such as pollination, herbivory, and parasitism, they are of high economic and ecological importance. There are 99 hymenopteran genomes in the NCBI database, yet only five are representative of the paraphyletic suborder Symphyta (sawflies, woodwasps, and horntails), while the rest represent the suborder Apocrita (bees, wasps, and ants). Here, using a combination of 10X Genomics linked-read sequencing, Oxford Nanopore long-read technology, and Illumina short-read data, we assembled the genomes of two willow-galling sawflies (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae: Nematinae: Euurina): the bud-galling species Euura lappo and the leaf-galling species Eupontania aestiva. The final assembly for E. lappo is 259.85 Mbp in size, with a contig N50 of 209.0 kbp and a BUSCO score of 93.5%. The E. aestiva genome is 222.23 Mbp in size, with a contig N50 of 49.7 kbp and a 90.2% complete BUSCO score. De novo annotation of repetitive elements showed that 27.45% of the genome was composed of repetitive elements in E. lappo and 16.89% in E. aestiva, which is a marked increase compared to previously published hymenopteran genomes. The genomes presented here provide a resource for inferring phylogenetic relationships among basal hymenopterans, comparative studies on host-related genomic adaptation in plant-feeding insects, and research on the mechanisms of plant manipulation by gall-inducing insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Michell
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, 80100, Finland
| | - Saskia Wutke
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, 80100, Finland
| | - Manuel Aranda
- Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division, Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tommi Nyman
- Department of Ecosystems in the Barents Region, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Svanvik, 9925, Norway
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43
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Baecklund TM, Morrison J, Donaldson ME, Hueffer K, Kyle CJ. The role of a mechanistic host in maintaining arctic rabies variant distributions: Assessment of functional genetic diversity in Alaskan red fox (Vulpes vulpes). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249176. [PMID: 33831031 PMCID: PMC8031376 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Populations are exposed to different types and strains of pathogens across heterogeneous landscapes, where local interactions between host and pathogen may present reciprocal selective forces leading to correlated patterns of spatial genetic structure. Understanding these coevolutionary patterns provides insight into mechanisms of disease spread and maintenance. Arctic rabies (AR) is a lethal disease with viral variants that occupy distinct geographic distributions across North America and Europe. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) are a highly susceptible AR host, whose range overlaps both geographically distinct AR strains and regions where AR is absent. It is unclear if genetic structure exists among red fox populations relative to the presence/absence of AR or the spatial distribution of AR variants. Acquiring these data may enhance our understanding of the role of red fox in AR maintenance/spread and inform disease control strategies. Using a genotyping-by-sequencing assay targeting 116 genomic regions of immunogenetic relevance, we screened for sequence variation among red fox populations from Alaska and an outgroup from Ontario, including areas with different AR variants, and regions where the disease was absent. Presumed neutral SNP data from the assay found negligible levels of neutral genetic structure among Alaskan populations. The immunogenetically-associated data identified 30 outlier SNPs supporting weak to moderate genetic structure between regions with and without AR in Alaska. The outliers included SNPs with the potential to cause missense mutations within several toll-like receptor genes that have been associated with AR outcome. In contrast, there was a lack of genetic structure between regions with different AR variants. Combined, we interpret these data to suggest red fox populations respond differently to the presence of AR, but not AR variants. This research increases our understanding of AR dynamics in the Arctic, where host/disease patterns are undergoing flux in a rapidly changing Arctic landscape, including the continued northward expansion of red fox into regions previously predominated by the arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan M. Baecklund
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Jaycee Morrison
- Forensic Science Undergraduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael E. Donaldson
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karsten Hueffer
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Christopher J. Kyle
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Forensic Science Department, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Natural Resources DNA Profiling & Forensic Centre, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
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44
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Ong CEB, Patchett AL, Darby JM, Chen J, Liu GS, Lyons AB, Woods GM, Flies AS. NLRC5 regulates expression of MHC-I and provides a target for anti-tumor immunity in transmissible cancers. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2021; 147:1973-1991. [PMID: 33797607 PMCID: PMC8017436 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-021-03601-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Downregulation of MHC class I (MHC-I) is a common immune evasion strategy of many cancers. Similarly, two allogeneic clonal transmissible cancers have killed thousands of wild Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) and also modulate MHC-I expression to evade anti-cancer and allograft responses. IFNG treatment restores MHC-I expression on devil facial tumor (DFT) cells but is insufficient to control tumor growth. Transcriptional co-activator NLRC5 is a master regulator of MHC-I in humans and mice but its role in transmissible cancers remains unknown. In this study, we explored the regulation and role of MHC-I in these unique genetically mis-matched tumors. Methods We used transcriptome and flow cytometric analyses to determine how MHC-I shapes allogeneic and anti-tumor responses. Cell lines that overexpress NLRC5 to drive antigen presentation, and B2M-knockout cell lines incapable of presenting antigen on MHC-I were used to probe the role of MHC-I in rare cases of tumor regressions. Results Transcriptomic results suggest that NLRC5 plays a major role in MHC-I regulation in devils. NLRC5 was shown to drive the expression of many components of the antigen presentation pathway but did not upregulate PDL1. Serum from devils with tumor regressions showed strong binding to IFNG-treated and NLRC5 cell lines; antibody binding to IFNG-treated and NRLC5 transgenic tumor cells was diminished or absent following B2M knockout. Conclusion MHC-I could be identified as a target for anti-tumor and allogeneic immunity. Consequently, NLRC5 could be a promising target for immunotherapy and vaccines to protect devils from transmissible cancers and inform development of transplant and cancer therapies for humans. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00432-021-03601-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrissie E B Ong
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Amanda L Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Jocelyn M Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Jinying Chen
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia.,Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guei-Sheung Liu
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia.
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45
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Construction of Whole Genomes from Scaffolds Using Single Cell Strand-Seq Data. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073617. [PMID: 33807210 PMCID: PMC8037727 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate reference genome sequences provide the foundation for modern molecular biology and genomics as the interpretation of sequence data to study evolution, gene expression, and epigenetics depends heavily on the quality of the genome assembly used for its alignment. Correctly organising sequenced fragments such as contigs and scaffolds in relation to each other is a critical and often challenging step in the construction of robust genome references. We previously identified misoriented regions in the mouse and human reference assemblies using Strand-seq, a single cell sequencing technique that preserves DNA directionality Here we demonstrate the ability of Strand-seq to build and correct full-length chromosomes by identifying which scaffolds belong to the same chromosome and determining their correct order and orientation, without the need for overlapping sequences. We demonstrate that Strand-seq exquisitely maps assembly fragments into large related groups and chromosome-sized clusters without using new assembly data. Using template strand inheritance as a bi-allelic marker, we employ genetic mapping principles to cluster scaffolds that are derived from the same chromosome and order them within the chromosome based solely on directionality of DNA strand inheritance. We prove the utility of our approach by generating improved genome assemblies for several model organisms including the ferret, pig, Xenopus, zebrafish, Tasmanian devil and the Guinea pig.
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46
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Ikonomopoulou MP, Lopez-Mancheño Y, Novelle MG, Martinez-Uña M, Gangoda L, Pal M, Costa-Machado LF, Fernandez-Marcos PJ, Ramm GA, Fernandez-Rojo MA. LXR stimulates a metabolic switch and reveals cholesterol homeostasis as a statin target in Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108851. [PMID: 33730574 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) and its lack of available therapies are propelling the Tasmanian devil population toward extinction. This study demonstrates that cholesterol homeostasis and carbohydrate energy metabolism sustain the proliferation of DFTD cells in a cell-type-dependent manner. In addition, we show that the liver-X nuclear receptor-β (LXRβ), a major cholesterol cellular sensor, and its natural ligand 24S-hydroxycholesterol promote the proliferation of DFTD cells via a metabolic switch toward aerobic glycolysis. As a proof of concept of the role of cholesterol homeostasis on DFTD proliferation, we show that atorvastatin, an FDA-approved statin-drug subtype used against human cardiovascular diseases that inhibits cholesterol synthesis, shuts down DFTD energy metabolism and prevents tumor growth in an in vivo DFTD-xenograft model. In conclusion, we show that intervention against cholesterol homeostasis and carbohydrate-dependent energy metabolism by atorvastatin constitutes a feasible biochemical treatment against DFTD, which may assist in the conservation of the Tasmanian devil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria P Ikonomopoulou
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Translational Venomics Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain.
| | - Yaiza Lopez-Mancheño
- Hepatic Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Marta G Novelle
- Hepatic Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Maite Martinez-Uña
- Hepatic Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Lahiru Gangoda
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Martin Pal
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Luis Filipe Costa-Machado
- Metabolic Syndrome Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | | | - Grant A Ramm
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Manuel Alejandro Fernandez-Rojo
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Hepatic Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain.
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47
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Peel E, Frankenberg S, Hogg CJ, Pask A, Belov K. Annotation of immune genes in the extinct thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus). Immunogenetics 2021; 73:263-275. [PMID: 33544183 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-020-01197-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Advances in genome sequencing technology have enabled genomes of extinct species to be sequenced. However, given the fragmented nature of these genome assemblies, it is not clear whether it is possible to comprehensively annotate highly variable and repetitive genes such as those involved in immunity. As such, immune genes have only been investigated in a handful of extinct genomes, mainly in human lineages. In 2018 the genome of the thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus), a carnivorous marsupial from Tasmania that went extinct in 1936, was sequenced. Here we attempt to characterise the immune repertoire of the thylacine and determine similarity to its closest relative with a genome available, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), as well as other marsupials. Members from all major immune gene families were identified. However, variable regions could not be characterised, and complex families such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) were highly fragmented and located across multiple small scaffolds. As such, at a gene level we were unable to reconstruct full-length coding sequences for the majority of thylacine immune genes. Despite this, we identified genes encoding functionally important receptors and immune effector molecules, which suggests the functional capacity of the thylacine immune system was similar to other mammals. However, the high number of partial immune gene sequences identified limits our ability to reconstruct an accurate picture of the thylacine immune repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Peel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew Pask
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Vic, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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48
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Gastaldello A, Ramarathinam SH, Bailey A, Owen R, Turner S, Kontouli N, Elliott T, Skipp P, Purcell AW, Siddle HV. The immunopeptidomes of two transmissible cancers and their host have a common, dominant peptide motif. Immunology 2021; 163:169-184. [PMID: 33460454 PMCID: PMC8114214 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmissible cancers are malignant cells that can spread between individuals of a population, akin to both a parasite and a mobile graft. The survival of the Tasmanian devil, the largest remaining marsupial carnivore, is threatened by the remarkable emergence of two independent lineages of transmissible cancer, devil facial tumour (DFT) 1 and devil facial tumour 2 (DFT2). To aid the development of a vaccine and to interrogate how histocompatibility barriers can be overcome, we analysed the peptides bound to major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC‐I) molecules from Tasmanian devil cells and representative cell lines of each transmissible cancer. Here, we show that DFT1 + IFN‐γ and DFT2 cell lines express a restricted repertoire of MHC‐I allotypes compared with fibroblast cells, potentially reducing the breadth of peptide presentation. Comparison of the peptidomes from DFT1 + IFNγ, DFT2 and host fibroblast cells demonstrates a dominant motif, despite differences in MHC‐I allotypes between the cell lines, with preference for a hydrophobic leucine residue at position 3 and position Ω of peptides. DFT1 and DFT2 both present peptides derived from neural proteins, which reflects a shared cellular origin that could be exploited for vaccine design. These results suggest that polymorphisms in MHC‐I molecules between tumours and host can be ‘hidden’ by a common peptide motif, providing the potential for permissive passage of infectious cells and demonstrating complexity in mammalian histocompatibility barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sri H Ramarathinam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alistair Bailey
- Centre for Cancer Immunology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Rachel Owen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Steven Turner
- Centre for Cancer Immunology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - N Kontouli
- Centre for Cancer Immunology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Tim Elliott
- Centre for Cancer Immunology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Paul Skipp
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Anthony W Purcell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hannah V Siddle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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Iannucci A, Makunin AI, Lisachov AP, Ciofi C, Stanyon R, Svartman M, Trifonov VA. Bridging the Gap between Vertebrate Cytogenetics and Genomics with Single-Chromosome Sequencing (ChromSeq). Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:124. [PMID: 33478118 PMCID: PMC7835784 DOI: 10.3390/genes12010124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of vertebrate genome evolution is currently facing a revolution, brought about by next generation sequencing technologies that allow researchers to produce nearly complete and error-free genome assemblies. Novel approaches however do not always provide a direct link with information on vertebrate genome evolution gained from cytogenetic approaches. It is useful to preserve and link cytogenetic data with novel genomic discoveries. Sequencing of DNA from single isolated chromosomes (ChromSeq) is an elegant approach to determine the chromosome content and assign genome assemblies to chromosomes, thus bridging the gap between cytogenetics and genomics. The aim of this paper is to describe how ChromSeq can support the study of vertebrate genome evolution and how it can help link cytogenetic and genomic data. We show key examples of ChromSeq application in the refinement of vertebrate genome assemblies and in the study of vertebrate chromosome and karyotype evolution. We also provide a general overview of the approach and a concrete example of genome refinement using this method in the species Anolis carolinensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Iannucci
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (C.C.); (R.S.)
| | - Alexey I. Makunin
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK;
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;
| | - Artem P. Lisachov
- Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Biology (X-BIO), University of Tyumen, 625003 Tyumen, Russia;
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Claudio Ciofi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (C.C.); (R.S.)
| | - Roscoe Stanyon
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (C.C.); (R.S.)
| | - Marta Svartman
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil;
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Old JM, Ong OTW, Stannard HJ. Red-tailed phascogales: A review of their biology and importance as model marsupial species. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2020; 335:217-227. [PMID: 33382214 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
There are many limitations when using traditional laboratory species. Limits on variation, may result in limited outcomes, at both the species and individual level, due to different individuals/species having diverse physiological processes, or differing molecular and genetic mechanisms. By using a variety of model species, we will be able to develop creative solutions to biological problems and identify differences of which we were not previously aware. The laboratory mouse has been a suitable model species for various mammalian studies, however most are bred specifically for laboratory research with limited variability due to selective breeding. Marsupial models offer unique research opportunities compared to eutherian models. We believe that there should be an expansion in marsupial model species, and the introduction of the red-tailed phascogale (Phascogale calura), a dasyurid marsupial, should be one of them. Phascogales are easily managed in captivity, and there are now multiple studies involving their development, reproduction, nutrition, behavior and immune system, which can serve as a baseline for future studies. The addition of the phascogale as a model species will improve future mammalian studies by introducing variability and offer alternate solutions to biological problems, particularly in the areas of genetics, nutrition, immunology, the neuro-endocrine system, and ageing, due to their semelparous reproductive strategy and hence, subsequent predictive physiology. In this review, we provide information based on existing research on red-tailed phascogales to support their inclusion as a model species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M Old
- School of Science, Hawkesbury Campus, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Oselyne T W Ong
- Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hayley J Stannard
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
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