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Pacheco A, Banos G, Lambe N, McLaren A, McNeilly TN, Conington J. Genome-wide association studies of parasite resistance, productivity and immunology traits in Scottish Blackface sheep. Animal 2024; 18:101069. [PMID: 38296768 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.101069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal parasitism represents a global problem for grazing ruminants, which can be addressed sustainably by breeding animals to be more resistant against infection by parasites. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic architecture underlying traits associated with gastrointestinal parasite resistance, immunological profile and production in meat sheep, and identify and characterise candidate genes affecting these traits. Data on gastrointestinal parasite infection (faecal egg counts for Strongyles (FECS) and Nematodirus (FECN) and faecal oocyst counts for Coccidia, along with faecal soiling scores (DAG), characterised by the accumulation of faeces around the perineum) and production (live weight (LWT)) were gathered from a flock Scottish Blackface lambs at three and four months of age. Data on the immune profile were also collected from a subset of these lambs at two and five months of age. Immune traits included the production of Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 following stimulation of whole blood with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) or antigen from the gastric parasite Teladorsagia circumcincta (T-ci), and serum levels of T. circumcincta-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA). Animals were genotyped with genome-wide DNA arrays, and a total of 1 766 animals and 45 827 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were retained following quality control and imputation. Genome-wide association studies were performed for 24 traits. The effects of individual markers with significant effects were estimated, and the genotypic effect solutions were used to estimate additive and dominance effects, and the proportion of additive genetic variance attributed to each SNP locus. A total of 15 SNPs were associated at least at a suggestive level with FECS, FECN, DAG, IgA, PWM-induced IFN-γ and IL-4, and T-ci-induced IL-10. This study uncovered 52 genes closely related to immune function in proximity to these SNPs. A number of genes encoding C-type lectins and killer cell lectin-like family members were close to a SNP associated with FECN, while several genes encoding IL-1 cytokine family members were found to be associated with IgA. Potential candidate genes belonging to or in close proximity with the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) were revealed, including Homeostatic Iron Regulator and butyrophilin coding genes associated with IFN-γ(PWM), and IL-17 coding genes associated with IgA. Due to the importance of the MHC in the control of immune responses, these genes may play an important role in resistance to parasitic infections. Our results reveal a largely complex and polygenic genetic profile of the studied traits in this Scottish Blackface sheep population.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Pacheco
- Scotland's Rural College, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom.
| | - G Banos
- Scotland's Rural College, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - N Lambe
- Scotland's Rural College, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - A McLaren
- Scotland's Rural College, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - T N McNeilly
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom
| | - J Conington
- Scotland's Rural College, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
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2
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Pérez-Umphrey AA, Settlecowski AE, Elbers JP, Williams ST, Jonsson CB, Bonisoli-Alquati A, Snider AM, Taylor SS. Genetic variants associated with hantavirus infection in a reservoir host are related to regulation of inflammation and immune surveillance. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 116:105525. [PMID: 37956745 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The immunogenetics of wildlife populations influence the epidemiology and evolutionary dynamic of the host-pathogen system. Profiling immune gene diversity present in wildlife may be especially important for those species that, while not at risk of disease or extinction themselves, are host to diseases that are a threat to humans, other wildlife, or livestock. Hantaviruses (genus: Orthohantavirus) are globally distributed zoonotic RNA viruses with pathogenic strains carried by a diverse group of rodent hosts. The marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) is the reservoir host of Orthohantavirus bayoui, a hantavirus that causes fatal cases of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome in humans. We performed a genome wide association study (GWAS) using the rice rat "immunome" (i.e., all exons related to the immune response) to identify genetic variants associated with infection status in wild-caught rice rats naturally infected with their endemic strain of hantavirus. First, we created an annotated reference genome using 10× Chromium Linked Reads sequencing technology. This reference genome was used to create custom baits which were then used to target enrich prepared rice rat libraries (n = 128) and isolate their immunomes prior to sequencing. Top SNPs in the association test were present in four genes (Socs5, Eprs, Mrc1, and Il1f8) which have not been previously implicated in hantavirus infections. However, these genes correspond with other loci or pathways with established importance in hantavirus susceptibility or infection tolerance in reservoir hosts: the JAK/STAT, MHC, and NFκB. These results serve as informative markers for future exploration and highlight the importance of immune pathways that repeatedly emerge across hantavirus systems. Our work aids in creating cross-species comparisons for better understanding mechanisms of genetic susceptibility and host-pathogen coevolution in hantavirus systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A Pérez-Umphrey
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, 227 RNR Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
| | - Amie E Settlecowski
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, 227 RNR Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Jean P Elbers
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, 227 RNR Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; Institute of Medical Genetics, Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 10, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - S Tyler Williams
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, 227 RNR Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Colleen B Jonsson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, University of Tennessee, 858 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Andrea Bonisoli-Alquati
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, 227 RNR Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
| | - Allison M Snider
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, 227 RNR Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Sabrina S Taylor
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, 227 RNR Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
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3
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Napolitano C, Sacristán I, Acuña F, Aguilar E, García S, López-Jara MJ, Cabello J, Hidalgo-Hermoso E, Poulin E, Grueber CE. Assessing micro-macroparasite selective pressures and anthropogenic disturbance as drivers of immune gene diversity in a Neotropical wild cat. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 897:166289. [PMID: 37591403 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic environmental change is reducing available habitat for wild species, providing novel selection pressures such as infectious diseases and causing species to interact in new ways. The potential for emerging infectious diseases and zoonoses at the interface between humans, domestic animals, and wild species is a key global concern. In vertebrates, diversity at the major histocompatibility complex MHC is critical to disease resilience, and its study in wild populations provides insights into eco-evolutionary dynamics that human activities alter. In natural populations, variation at MHC loci is partly maintained by balancing selection, driven by pathogenic selective pressures. We hypothesize that MHC genetic diversity differs between guigna populations inhabiting human-dominated landscapes (higher pathogen pressures) versus more natural habitats (lower pathogen pressures). We predict that MHC diversity in guignas would be highest in human-dominated landscapes compared with continuous forest habitats. We also expected to find higher MHC diversity in guignas infected with micro and macro parasites (higher parasite load) versus non infected guignas. We characterized for the first time the genetic diversity at three MHC class I and II exons in 128 wild guignas (Leopardus guigna) across their distribution range in Chile (32-46° S) and Argentina, representing landscapes with varying levels of human disturbance. We integrated MHC sequence diversity with multiple measures of anthropogenic disturbance and both micro and macro parasite infection data. We also assessed signatures of positive selection acting on MHC genes. We found significantly higher MHC class I diversity in guignas inhabiting landscapes where houses were present, and with lower percentage of vegetation cover, and also in animals with more severe cardiorespiratory helminth infection (richness and intensity) and micro-macroparasite co-infection. This comprehensive, landscape-level assessment further enhances our knowledge on the evolutionary dynamics and adaptive potential of vertebrates in the face of emerging infectious disease threats and increasing anthropogenic impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constanza Napolitano
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Biodiversidad, Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile; Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB), Concepción, Chile; Cape Horn International Center (CHIC), Puerto Williams, Chile.
| | - Irene Sacristán
- Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile; Animal Health Research Centre, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisca Acuña
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Emilio Aguilar
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastián García
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - María José López-Jara
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Javier Cabello
- Chiloé Silvestre Center for the Conservation of Biodiversity, Ancud, Chile
| | | | - Elie Poulin
- Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB), Concepción, Chile; Millennium Institute of Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems and Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Catherine E Grueber
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Lozano-Martín C, Bracamonte SE, Barluenga M. Evolution of MHC IIB Diversity Across Cichlid Fish Radiations. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad110. [PMID: 37314153 PMCID: PMC10306275 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are among the most polymorphic genes in vertebrates and crucial for their adaptive immune response. These genes frequently show inconsistencies between allelic genealogies and species phylogenies. This phenomenon is thought to be the result of parasite-mediated balancing selection maintaining ancient alleles through speciation events (trans-species polymorphism [TSP]). However, allele similarities may also arise from postspeciation mechanisms, such as convergence or introgression. Here, we investigated the evolution of MHC class IIB diversity in the cichlid fish radiations across Africa and the Neotropics by a comprehensive review of available MHC IIB DNA sequence information. We explored what mechanism explains the MHC allele similarities found among cichlid radiations. Our results showed extensive allele similarity among cichlid fish across continents, likely due to TSP. Functionality at MHC was also shared among species of the different continents. The maintenance of MHC alleles for long evolutionary times and their shared functionality may imply that certain MHC variants are essential in immune adaptation, even in species that diverged millions of years ago and occupy different environments.
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5
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Vinkler M, Fiddaman SR, Těšický M, O'Connor EA, Savage AE, Lenz TL, Smith AL, Kaufman J, Bolnick DI, Davies CS, Dedić N, Flies AS, Samblás MMG, Henschen AE, Novák K, Palomar G, Raven N, Samaké K, Slade J, Veetil NK, Voukali E, Höglund J, Richardson DS, Westerdahl H. Understanding the evolution of immune genes in jawed vertebrates. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:847-873. [PMID: 37255207 PMCID: PMC10247546 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14181] [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: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Driven by co-evolution with pathogens, host immunity continuously adapts to optimize defence against pathogens within a given environment. Recent advances in genetics, genomics and transcriptomics have enabled a more detailed investigation into how immunogenetic variation shapes the diversity of immune responses seen across domestic and wild animal species. However, a deeper understanding of the diverse molecular mechanisms that shape immunity within and among species is still needed to gain insight into-and generate evolutionary hypotheses on-the ultimate drivers of immunological differences. Here, we discuss current advances in our understanding of molecular evolution underpinning jawed vertebrate immunity. First, we introduce the immunome concept, a framework for characterizing genes involved in immune defence from a comparative perspective, then we outline how immune genes of interest can be identified. Second, we focus on how different selection modes are observed acting across groups of immune genes and propose hypotheses to explain these differences. We then provide an overview of the approaches used so far to study the evolutionary heterogeneity of immune genes on macro and microevolutionary scales. Finally, we discuss some of the current evidence as to how specific pathogens affect the evolution of different groups of immune genes. This review results from the collective discussion on the current key challenges in evolutionary immunology conducted at the ESEB 2021 Online Satellite Symposium: Molecular evolution of the vertebrate immune system, from the lab to natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Vinkler
- Department of ZoologyFaculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | | | - Martin Těšický
- Department of ZoologyFaculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | | | - Anna E. Savage
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Central FloridaFloridaOrlandoUSA
| | - Tobias L. Lenz
- Research Unit for Evolutionary ImmunogenomicsDepartment of BiologyUniversity of HamburgHamburgGermany
| | | | - Jim Kaufman
- Institute for Immunology and Infection ResearchUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Department of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Daniel I. Bolnick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
| | | | - Neira Dedić
- Department of Botany and ZoologyMasaryk UniversityBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Andrew S. Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical ResearchUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - M. Mercedes Gómez Samblás
- Department of ZoologyFaculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
- Department of ParasitologyUniversity of GranadaGranadaSpain
| | | | - Karel Novák
- Department of Genetics and BreedingInstitute of Animal SciencePragueUhříněvesCzech Republic
| | - Gemma Palomar
- Faculty of BiologyInstitute of Environmental SciencesJagiellonian UniversityKrakówPoland
| | - Nynke Raven
- Department of ScienceEngineering and Build EnvironmentDeakin UniversityVictoriaWaurn PondsAustralia
| | - Kalifa Samaké
- Department of Genetics and MicrobiologyFaculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Joel Slade
- Department of BiologyCalifornia State UniversityFresnoCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Eleni Voukali
- Department of ZoologyFaculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Jacob Höglund
- Department of Ecology and GeneticsUppsala UniversitetUppsalaSweden
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6
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Nelson-Flower MJ, Grieves LA, Reid JM, Germain RR, Lazic S, Taylor SS, MacDougall-Shackleton EA, Arcese P. Immune genotypes, immune responses, and survival in a wild bird population. Mol Ecol 2023. [PMID: 36919652 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16923] [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] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Individuals vary in their immune genotype, inbreeding coefficient f, immune responses, survival to adulthood, and adult longevity. However, whether immune genes predict survival or longevity, whether such relationships are mediated through immune responses, and how f affects immune genotype remain unclear. We use a wild song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) population in which survival to adulthood, adult longevity, and f were measured precisely, and in which immune responses have previously been assessed. We investigate four toll-like receptor (TLR) and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class IIB exon 2 genes. We test whether immune genes predict fitness (survival to adulthood or adult longevity); whether immune genes predict immune response; whether immune response predicts fitness and whether fitness, immune responses, or immune genotypes are correlated with f. We find that survival to adulthood is not associated with immune gene variation, but adult longevity is decreased by high MHC allele diversity (especially in birds that were relatively outbred), and by the presence of a specific MHC supertype. Immune responses were affected by specific immune genotypes. Survival to adulthood and adult longevity were not predicted by immune response, implying caution in the use of immune response as a predictor for fitness. We also found no relationship between f and immune genotype. This finding indicates that immune gene associations with longevity and immune response are not artefacts of f, and suggests that pathogen-mediated selection at functional loci can slow the loss of genetic variation arising from genetic drift and small population size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha J Nelson-Flower
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Biology, Langara College, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Leanne A Grieves
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jane M Reid
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Institut for Biologi, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Ryan R Germain
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark
| | - Savo Lazic
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sabrina S Taylor
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | | | - Peter Arcese
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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7
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Kloch A, Mierzejewska EJ, Welc-Falęciak R, Bajer A, Biedrzycka A. Cytokine gene polymorphism and parasite susceptibility in free-living rodents: Importance of non-coding variants. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0258009. [PMID: 36693052 PMCID: PMC9873194 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Associations between genetic variants and susceptibility to infections have long been studied in free-living hosts so as to infer the contemporary evolutionary forces that shape the genetic polymorphisms of immunity genes. Despite extensive studies of proteins interacting with pathogen-derived ligands, such as MHC (major histocompatilbility complex) or TLR (Toll-like receptors), little is known about the efferent arm of the immune system. Cytokines are signalling molecules that trigger and modulate the immune response, acting as a crucial link between innate and adaptive immunity. In the present study we investigated how genetic variation in cytokines in bank voles Myodes glareolus affects their susceptibility to infection by parasites (nematodes: Aspiculuris tianjensis, Heligmosomum mixtum, Heligmosomoides glareoli) and microparasites (Cryptosporidium sp, Babesia microti, Bartonella sp.). We focused on three cytokines: tumour necrosis factor (TNF), lymphotoxin alpha (LTα), and interferon beta (IFNβ1). Overall, we identified four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with susceptibility to nematodes: two located in LTα and two in IFNβ1. One of those variants was synonymous, another located in an intron. Each SNP associated with parasite load was located in or next to a codon under selection, three codons displayed signatures of positive selection, and one of purifying selection. Our results indicate that cytokines are prone to parasite-driven selection and that non-coding variants, although commonly disregarded in studies of the genetic background of host-parasite co-evolution, may play a role in susceptibility to infections in wild systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Kloch
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland
- * E-mail:
| | - Ewa J. Mierzejewska
- Wild Urban Evolution and Ecology Laboratory, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Renata Welc-Falęciak
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Anna Bajer
- Department of Eco-epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland
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Feoktistova NY, Meschersky IG, Karmanova TN, Gureeva AV, Surov AV. Allele Diversity of the Major Histocompatibility Complex in the Common Hamster (Cricetus cricetus) in Urban and Rural Populations. BIOL BULL+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359022050077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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9
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Gigliotti AK, Bowen WD, Hammill MO, Puryear WB, Runstadler J, Wenzel FW, Cammen KM. Sequence diversity and differences at the highly duplicated MHC-I gene reflect viral susceptibility in sympatric pinniped species. J Hered 2022; 113:525-537. [PMID: 35690352 PMCID: PMC9584807 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esac030] [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: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Differences in disease susceptibility among species can result from rapid host-pathogen coevolution and differences in host species ecology that affect the strength and direction of natural selection. Among two sympatric pinniped species that differ in sociality and putative disease exposure, we investigate observed differences in susceptibility through an analysis of a highly variable, duplicated gene family involved in the vertebrate immune response. Using high-throughput amplicon sequencing, we characterize diversity at the two exons that encode the peptide binding region of the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) gene in harbor (N = 60) and gray (N = 90) seal populations from the Northwest Atlantic. Across species, we identified 106 full-length exon 2 and 103 exon 3 sequence variants and a minimum of 11 duplicated MHC-I loci. The sequence variants clustered in 15 supertypes defined by the physiochemical properties of the peptide binding region, including a putatively novel Northwest Atlantic MHC-I diversity sublineage. Trans-species polymorphisms, dN/dS ratios, and evidence of gene conversion among supertypes are consistent with balancing selection acting on this gene. High functional redundancy suggests particularly strong selection among gray seals at the novel Northwest Atlantic MHC-I diversity sublineage. At exon 2, harbor seals had a significantly greater number of variants per individual than gray seals, but fewer supertypes. Supertype richness and private supertypes are hypothesized to contribute to observed differences in disease resistance between species, as consistently, across the North Atlantic and many disease outbreaks, gray seals appear to be more resistant to respiratory viruses than harbor seals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - W Don Bowen
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - Michael O Hammill
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Mont-Joli, QC, Canada
| | - Wendy B Puryear
- Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan Runstadler
- Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA
| | - Frederick W Wenzel
- Protected Species Branch, NOAA, NMFS, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole, MA, USA
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10
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Magid M, Wold JR, Moraga R, Cubrinovska I, Houston DM, Gartrell BD, Steeves TE. Leveraging an existing whole genome resequencing population dataset to characterize toll‐like receptor gene diversity in a threatened bird. Mol Ecol Resour 2022; 22:2810-2825. [PMID: 35635119 PMCID: PMC9543821 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Species recovery programs are increasingly using genomic data to measure neutral genetic diversity and calculate metrics like relatedness. While these measures can inform conservation management, determining the mechanisms underlying inbreeding depression requires information about functional genes associated with adaptive or maladaptive traits. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) are one family of functional genes, which play a crucial role in recognition of pathogens and activation of the immune system. Previously, these genes have been analysed using species‐specific primers and PCR. Here, we leverage an existing short‐read reference genome, whole‐genome resequencing population data set, and bioinformatic tools to characterize TLR gene diversity in captive and wild tchūriwat’/tūturuatu/shore plover (Thinornis novaeseelandiae), a threatened bird endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand. Our results show that TLR gene diversity in tchūriwat’/tūturuatu is low, and forms two distinct captive and wild genetic clusters. The bioinformatic approach presented here has broad applicability to other threatened species with existing genomic resources in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly Magid
- University of Canterbury School of Biological Sciences Christchurch NZ
| | - Jana R. Wold
- University of Canterbury School of Biological Sciences Christchurch NZ
| | - Roger Moraga
- Tea Break Bioinformatics, Ltd Palmerston North NZ
| | - Ilina Cubrinovska
- University of Canterbury School of Biological Sciences Christchurch NZ
| | | | - Brett D. Gartrell
- Wildbase Massey University Institute of Veterinary, Animal, and Biomedical Sciences, Palmerston North, Manawatu NZ
| | - Tammy E. Steeves
- University of Canterbury School of Biological Sciences Christchurch NZ
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11
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Fabbri MC, Crovetti A, Tinacci L, Bertelloni F, Armani A, Mazzei M, Fratini F, Bozzi R, Cecchi F. Identification of candidate genes associated with bacterial and viral infections in wild boars hunted in Tuscany (Italy). Sci Rep 2022; 12:8145. [PMID: 35581286 PMCID: PMC9114367 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12353-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) is one of the large mammals most spread worldwide, highly adaptable, and its population rapidly increased in many areas in Europe, including Italy, where Tuscany is considered particularly suitable for wild boar. Wild boars are potential hosts for different etiological agents, such as Brucella spp., Leptospira spp. and Pseudorabies virus and they can contribute to maintain and/or to disseminate some bacterial or viral pathogens to humans and domestic animals, above all-in free-range farms. In order to identify hypothetical genomic regions associated with these infection diseases, 96 samples of wild boars hunted in Tuscany during the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 hunting seasons were considered. Diagnosis was achieved by serological tests and 42 Pseudorabies, 31 Leptospira and 15 Brucella positive animals were identified. All animals were genotyped with Geneseek Genomic Profiler Porcine HD (70 k) and a genome-wide scan was then performed. Significant markers were highlighted for Pseudorabies (two SNPs), Brucella (seven SNPs), and Leptospira (four SNPs) and they were located within, or nearby, 29 annotated genes on chromosome 6, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 18. Eight genes are implicated in viral (SEC14L1, JMJD6, SRSF2, TMPRSS2, MX1, MX2) or bacterial (COL8A1, SPIRE1) infections, seven genes (MFSD11, METTL23, CTTNBP2, BACE2, IMPA2, MPPE1 and GNAL) are involved in mental disorders and one gene (MGAT5B) is related to the Golgi complex. Results presented here provide interesting starting points for future research, validation studies and fine mapping of candidate genes involved in bacterial and viral infections in wild boar.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Fabbri
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy.
| | - A Crovetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy
| | - L Tinacci
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - F Bertelloni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - A Armani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - M Mazzei
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - F Fratini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - R Bozzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy
| | - F Cecchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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12
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Minias P, Vinkler M. Selection balancing at innate immune genes: adaptive polymorphism maintenance in Toll-like receptors. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:6586215. [PMID: 35574644 PMCID: PMC9132207 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Balancing selection is a classic mechanism for maintaining variability in immune genes involved in host–pathogen interactions. However, it remains unclear how widespread the mechanism is across immune genes other than the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Although occasional reports suggest that balancing selection (heterozygote advantage, negative frequency-dependent selection, and fluctuating selection) may act on other immune genes, the current understanding of the phenomenon in non-MHC immune genes is far from solid. In this review, we focus on Toll-like receptors (TLRs), innate immune genes directly involved in pathogen recognition and immune response activation, as there is a growing body of research testing the assumptions of balancing selection in these genes. After reviewing infection- and fitness-based evidence, along with evidence based on population allelic frequencies and heterozygosity levels, we conclude that balancing selection maintains variation in TLRs, though it tends to occur under specific conditions in certain evolutionary lineages rather than being universal and ubiquitous. Our review also identifies key gaps in current knowledge and proposes promising areas for future research. Improving our understanding of host–pathogen interactions and balancing selection in innate immune genes are increasingly important, particularly regarding threats from emerging zoonotic diseases.
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13
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Buzan E, Potušek S, Duniš L, Pokorny B. Neutral and Selective Processes Shape MHC Diversity in Roe Deer in Slovenia. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12060723. [PMID: 35327121 PMCID: PMC8944837 DOI: 10.3390/ani12060723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Disease prevention and appropriate wildlife management are among the major challenges in wildlife conservation. In the present study, we made a first assessment of the variability of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes in roe deer in Slovenia and evaluated local population adaptation by comparing MHC variability with neutral microsatellites. We discovered three new MHC DRB exon 2 alleles in addition to seven previously described in the literature. Moreover, we found evidence of historical positive selection, as selection analysis indicated that approx. 10% of the encoded amino acids were subjected to episodic positive selection. This study provides the basis for further research on immunogenetic variation in roe deer and highlights opportunities to incorporate genetic data into science-based population management. Abstract Disease control and containment in free-ranging populations is one of the greatest challenges in wildlife management. Despite the importance of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes for immune response, an assessment of the diversity and occurrence of these genes is still rare in European roe deer, the most abundant and widespread large mammal in Europe. Therefore, we examined immunogenetic variation in roe deer in Slovenia to identify species adaptation by comparing the genetic diversity of the MHC genes with the data on neutral microsatellites. We found ten MHC DRB alleles, three of which are novel. Evidence for historical positive selection on the MHC was found using the maximum likelihood codon method. Patterns of MHC allelic distribution were not congruent with neutral population genetic findings. The lack of population genetic differentiation in MHC genes compared to existing structure in neutral markers suggests that MHC polymorphism was influenced primarily by balancing selection and, to a lesser extent, by neutral processes such as genetic drift, with no clear evidence of local adaptation. Selection analyses indicated that approx. 10% of amino acids encoded under episodic positive selection. This study represents one of the first steps towards establishing an immunogenetic map of roe deer populations across Europe, aiming to better support science-based management of this important game species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Buzan
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000 Koper, Slovenia; (S.P.); (L.D.)
- Environmental Protection College, Trg Mladosti 7, 3320 Velenje, Slovenia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +38-65-6117570; Fax: +38-65-61175
| | - Sandra Potušek
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000 Koper, Slovenia; (S.P.); (L.D.)
| | - Luka Duniš
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000 Koper, Slovenia; (S.P.); (L.D.)
| | - Boštjan Pokorny
- Environmental Protection College, Trg Mladosti 7, 3320 Velenje, Slovenia;
- Slovenian Forestry Institute, Večna pot 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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14
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Huang W, Dicks KL, Hadfield JD, Johnston SE, Ballingall KT, Pemberton JM. Contemporary selection on MHC genes in a free-living ruminant population. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:828-838. [PMID: 35050541 PMCID: PMC9306867 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Genes within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are the most variable identified in vertebrates. Pathogen-mediated selection is believed to be the main force maintaining MHC diversity. However, relatively few studies have demonstrated contemporary selection on MHC genes. Here, we examine associations between MHC variation and several fitness measurements including total fitness and five fitness components, in 3400 wild Soay sheep (Ovis aries) monitored between 1989 and 2012. In terms of total fitness, measured as lifetime breeding success of all individuals born, we found haplotypes named C and D were associated with decreased and increased male total fitness respectively. In terms of fitness components, juvenile survival was associated with haplotype divergence while individual haplotypes (C, D and F) were associated with adult fitness components. Consistent with the increased male total fitness, the rarest haplotype D has increased in frequency throughout the study period more than expected under neutral expectations. Our results demonstrate contemporary natural selection is acting on MHC class II genes in Soay sheep and the mode of selection on specific fitness components can be different mode from selection on total fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Huang
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kara L Dicks
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jarrod D Hadfield
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Susan E Johnston
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Josephine M Pemberton
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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15
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Boyd RJ, Denommé MR, Grieves LA, MacDougall-Shackleton EA. Stronger population differentiation at infection-sensing than infection-clearing innate immune loci in songbirds: Different selective regimes for different defenses. Evolution 2021; 75:2736-2746. [PMID: 34596241 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14368] [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: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Parasite-mediated selection is widespread at loci involved in immune defense, but different defenses may experience different selective regimes. For defenses involved in clearing infections, purifying selection favoring a single most efficacious allele likely predominates. However, for defenses involved in sensing and recognizing infections, evolutionary arms races may make positive selection particularly important. This could manifest primarily within populations (e.g., balancing selection maintaining variation) or among them (e.g., spatially varying selection enhancing population differences in allele frequencies). We genotyped three toll-like receptors (TLR; involved in sensing infections) and three avian beta-defensins (involved in clearing infections) in 96 song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) from three breeding populations that differ in disease resistance. Variation-based indicators of selection (proportion of variable sites, proportion of nonsynonymous SNPs, proportion of sites bearing signatures of positive or purifying selection, rare allele frequencies) did not differ appreciably between the two locus types. However, differentiation was generally higher at infection-sensing than infection-clearing loci. Allele frequencies differed markedly at TLR3, driven by a variant predicted to alter protein function. Geographically structured variants at infection-sensing loci may reflect local adaptation to spatially heterogeneous parasite communities. Selective regimes experienced by infection-sensing versus infection-clearing loci may differ primarily due to parasite-mediated population differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel J Boyd
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada.,McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205
| | - Melanie R Denommé
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University Faculty of Mathematics & Science, St. Catherines, Ontario, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Leanne A Grieves
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4M4, Canada
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16
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Elfeil WK, Abouelmaatti RR, Talat S, Fawzy M, Rady M, Diab M, Alkahtani S, Sultan H, Sun C, Lei L, Han W, Sedeik M, Abdel-Daim MM. Molecular characterization of Toll-like receptor type-3 in mallard duck and its response to Newcastle disease virus infection. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:55786-55795. [PMID: 34142323 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14759-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs), type I transmembrane pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), are composed of the extracellular domain that is implicated in the recognition of microbial products and initiates the innate and adaptive immune response. Previous reports on TLRs in birds showed significant levels of inter- and intraspecific genetic variation. Little is known about the structure and function of the avian immune system, especially waterfowl species. This work aimed to identify and clone Anas platyrhynchos (mallard duck) TLR-3 (dTLR-3) and its expression level following challenge with velogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) as a model for waterfowl species. The mallard duck TLR-3 full-length cDNA sequence had been cloned, which consisted of 2457 nucleotides. The translated amino acid sequence showed identity degree as 97% with Muscovy duck, 95% with geese, 89% with helmeted guineafowls, 88% with the chickens TLR-3 gene, 82% with turkey TLR-3, and 79% with zebra finch, while it showed 54% with human one; the analysis data suggested that the new sequence is probably homologous to vertebrates' TLR-3. The predicted protein encoded by the duck dTLR-3 mRNA sequence is composed of 819 amino acids. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence indicated that dTLR-3 has typical structural features and contains the main components of proteins in the TLR family. The dTLR-3 expressed in almost all examined tissues of mallard duck following quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis and using B-actin as a housekeeping gene. To check the functionality of the receptor and its role in viral infection, we evaluate the expression level in different tissues and its changes following NDV infection. The results showed significant (P < 0.05) upregulated in the brain at 24 h (1.84-fold), reached a peak at 48 h (4.82-fold), and recovered to normal levels at 72 h post-infection. These results indicate a complete and functional dTLR-3 that is orthologous to other vertebrate receptors with its potential role in early response against viral infection in mallard duck species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wael K Elfeil
- No. 13 Avian and Rabbit Medicine Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Kilo 4.5 campus, 41522, Ismailia, Egypt.
- Microbiology and Immunology lab, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, China.
| | - Reham R Abouelmaatti
- Basic Medicine Division, Norman Bethune College of Medical Sciences, Jilin University Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
- Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Veterinary Medicine Directorate, General Organization for Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Sharqia Branch, 44511, Egypt
| | - Shaimaa Talat
- Birds and Rabbits Medicine Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sadat City University, Sadat, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Fawzy
- Virology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Rady
- Central Lab for Quality Control on Poultry Production (CLQP), Animal Health Research Institute, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Diab
- Animal Hygiene and Zoonoses Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, New Valley University, New Valley, Egypt
| | - Saad Alkahtani
- Department of Zoology, Science College, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hesham Sultan
- Birds and Rabbits Medicine Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sadat City University, Sadat, Egypt
| | - Changjiang Sun
- Microbiology and Immunology lab, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, China
| | - Liancheng Lei
- Microbiology and Immunology lab, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, China
| | - Wenyu Han
- Microbiology and Immunology lab, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, China
| | - Mahmoud Sedeik
- Poultry and Fish Diseases Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mohamed M Abdel-Daim
- Department of Zoology, Science College, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Department Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
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17
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Towards a more healthy conservation paradigm: integrating disease and molecular ecology to aid biological conservation †. J Genet 2021. [PMID: 33622992 PMCID: PMC7371965 DOI: 10.1007/s12041-020-01225-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Parasites, and the diseases they cause, are important from an ecological and evolutionary perspective because they can negatively affect host fitness and can regulate host populations. Consequently, conservation biology has long recognized the vital role that parasites can play in the process of species endangerment and recovery. However, we are only beginning to understand how deeply parasites are embedded in ecological systems, and there is a growing recognition of the important ways in which parasites affect ecosystem structure and function. Thus, there is an urgent need to revisit how parasites are viewed from a conservation perspective and broaden the role that disease ecology plays in conservation-related research and outcomes. This review broadly focusses on the role that disease ecology can play in biological conservation. Our review specifically emphasizes on how the integration of tools and analytical approaches associated with both disease and molecular ecology can be leveraged to aid conservation biology. Our review first concentrates on disease-mediated extinctions and wildlife epidemics. We then focus on elucidating how host–parasite interactions has improved our understanding of the eco-evolutionary dynamics affecting hosts at the individual, population, community and ecosystem scales. We believe that the role of parasites as drivers and indicators of ecosystem health is especially an exciting area of research that has the potential to fundamentally alter our view of parasites and their role in biological conservation. The review concludes with a broad overview of the current and potential applications of modern genomic tools in disease ecology to aid biological conservation.
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18
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Kessler C, Brambilla A, Waldvogel D, Camenisch G, Biebach I, Leigh DM, Grossen C, Croll D. A robust sequencing assay of a thousand amplicons for the high-throughput population monitoring of Alpine ibex immunogenetics. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:66-85. [PMID: 34152681 PMCID: PMC9292246 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Polymorphism for immune functions can explain significant variation in health and reproductive success within species. Drastic loss in genetic diversity at such loci constitutes an extinction risk and should be monitored in species of conservation concern. However, effective implementations of genome‐wide immune polymorphism sets into high‐throughput genotyping assays are scarce. Here, we report the design and validation of a microfluidics‐based amplicon sequencing assay to comprehensively capture genetic variation in Alpine ibex (Capra ibex). This species represents one of the most successful large mammal restorations recovering from a severely depressed census size and a massive loss in diversity at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). We analysed 65 whole‐genome sequencing sets of the Alpine ibex and related species to select the most representative markers and to prevent primer binding failures. In total, we designed ~1,000 amplicons densely covering the MHC, further immunity‐related genes as well as randomly selected genome‐wide markers for the assessment of neutral population structure. Our analysis of 158 individuals shows that the genome‐wide markers perform equally well at resolving population structure as RAD‐sequencing or low‐coverage genome sequencing data sets. Immunity‐related loci show unexpectedly high degrees of genetic differentiation within the species. Such information can now be used to define highly targeted individual translocations. Our design strategy can be realistically implemented into genetic surveys of a large range of species. In conclusion, leveraging whole‐genome sequencing data sets to design targeted amplicon assays allows the simultaneous monitoring of multiple genetic risk factors and can be translated into species conservation recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Kessler
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Alice Brambilla
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Alpine Wildlife Research Center, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy
| | - Dominique Waldvogel
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Glauco Camenisch
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Iris Biebach
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Deborah M Leigh
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,WSL Swiss Federal Research Institute, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Christine Grossen
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Croll
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
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19
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Quéméré E, Hessenauer P, Galan M, Fernandez M, Merlet J, Chaval Y, Morellet N, Verheyden H, Gilot-Fromont E, Charbonnel N. Pathogen-mediated selection favours the maintenance of innate immunity gene polymorphism in a widespread wild ungulate. J Evol Biol 2021; 34:1156-1166. [PMID: 34062025 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLR) play a central role in recognition and host frontline defence against a wide range of pathogens. A number of recent studies have shown that TLR genes (Tlrs) often exhibit large polymorphism in natural populations. Yet, there is little knowledge on how this polymorphism is maintained and how it influences disease susceptibility in the wild. In previous work, we showed that some Tlrs exhibit similarly high levels of genetic diversity as genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), and signatures of contemporary balancing selection in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), the most abundant cervid species in Europe. Here, we investigated the evolutionary mechanisms by which pathogen-mediated selection could shape this innate immunity genetic diversity by examining the relationships between Tlr (Tlr2, Tlr4 and Tlr5) genotypes (heterozygosity status and presence of specific alleles) and infections with Toxoplasma and Chlamydia, two widespread intracellular pathogens known to cause reproductive failure in ungulates. We showed that Toxoplasma and Chlamydia exposures vary significantly across years and landscape features with few co-infection events detected and that the two pathogens exert antagonistic selection on Tlr2 polymorphism. By contrast, we found limited support for Tlr heterozygote advantage. Our study confirmed the importance of looking beyond Mhc genes in wildlife immunogenetic studies. It also emphasized the necessity to consider multiple pathogen challenges and their spatiotemporal variation to improve our understanding of vertebrate defence evolution against pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erwan Quéméré
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet-Tolosan, France.,LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, Auzeville-Tolosane, France.,ESE, Ecology and Ecosystems Health, INRAE, Rennes, France
| | | | - Maxime Galan
- Département de Foresterie, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Marie Fernandez
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet-Tolosan, France.,LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | - Joël Merlet
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet-Tolosan, France.,LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | - Yannick Chaval
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet-Tolosan, France.,LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | - Nicolas Morellet
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet-Tolosan, France.,LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | - Hélène Verheyden
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet-Tolosan, France.,LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | - Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne, France.,Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Nathalie Charbonnel
- CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Institut Agro, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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20
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Pérez-González J, Carranza J, Martínez R, Benítez-Medina JM. Host Genetic Diversity and Infectious Diseases. Focus on Wild Boar, Red Deer and Tuberculosis. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1630. [PMID: 34072907 PMCID: PMC8229303 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061630] [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: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Host genetic diversity tends to limit disease spread in nature and buffers populations against epidemics. Genetic diversity in wildlife is expected to receive increasing attention in contexts related to disease transmission and human health. Ungulates such as wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) are important zoonotic hosts that can be precursors to disease emergence and spread in humans. Tuberculosis is a zoonotic disease with relevant consequences and can present high prevalence in wild boar and red deer populations. Here, we review studies on the genetic diversity of ungulates and determine to what extent these studies consider its importance on the spread of disease. This assessment also focused on wild boar, red deer, and tuberculosis. We found a disconnection between studies treating genetic diversity and those dealing with infectious diseases. Contrarily, genetic diversity studies in ungulates are mainly concerned with conservation. Despite the existing disconnection between studies on genetic diversity and studies on disease emergence and spread, the knowledge gathered in each discipline can be applied to the other. The bidirectional applications are illustrated in wild boar and red deer populations from Spain, where TB is an important threat for wildlife, livestock, and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Pérez-González
- Biology and Ethology Unit, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
| | - Juan Carranza
- Wildlife Research Unit (UIRCP), University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain;
| | - Remigio Martínez
- Infectious Pathology Unit, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain; (R.M.); (J.M.B.-M.)
| | - José Manuel Benítez-Medina
- Infectious Pathology Unit, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain; (R.M.); (J.M.B.-M.)
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21
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Davies CS, Taylor MI, Hammers M, Burke T, Komdeur J, Dugdale HL, Richardson DS. Contemporary evolution of the innate immune receptor gene TLR3 in an isolated vertebrate population. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:2528-2542. [PMID: 33949028 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Understanding where genetic variation exists, and how it influences fitness within populations is important from an evolutionary and conservation perspective. Signatures of past selection suggest that pathogen-mediated balancing selection is a key driver of immunogenetic variation, but studies tracking contemporary evolution are needed to help resolve the evolutionary forces and mechanism at play. Previous work in a bottlenecked population of Seychelles warblers (Acrocephalus sechellensis) show that functional variation has been maintained at the viral-sensing Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) gene, including one nonsynonymous SNP, resulting in two alleles. Here, we characterise evolution at this TLR3 locus over a 25-year period within the original remnant population of the Seychelles warbler, and in four other derived, populations. Results show a significant and consistent temporal decline in the frequency of the TLR3C allele in the original population, and that similar declines in the TLR3C allele frequency occurred in all the derived populations. Individuals (of both sexes) with the TLR3CC genotype had lower survival, and males - but not females - that carry the TLR3C allele had significantly lower lifetime reproductive success than those with only the TLR3A allele. These results indicate that positive selection on the TLR3A allele, caused by an as yet unknown agent, is driving TLR3 evolution in the Seychelles warbler. No evidence of heterozygote advantage was detected. However, whether the positive selection observed is part of a longer-term pattern of balancing selection (through fluctuating selection or rare-allele advantage) cannot be resolved without tracking the TLR3C allele over an extended time period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charli S Davies
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norfolk, UK
| | - Martin I Taylor
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norfolk, UK
| | - Martijn Hammers
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Terry Burke
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Jan Komdeur
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hannah L Dugdale
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - David S Richardson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norfolk, UK.,Nature Seychelles, Roche Caiman, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles
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22
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Zanet S, Ferroglio E, Orlandini F, Bassano B, Battisti E, Brambilla A. Bronchopulmonary Nematodes in Alpine Ibex: Shedding of First Stage Larvae Analyzed at the Individual Host Level. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:663268. [PMID: 33996985 PMCID: PMC8116586 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.663268] [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: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumonia is the most frequent cause of death for Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) in Gran Paradiso National Park, (Italy). The etiology of this form of pneumonia is currently unknown and the identification of the primary etiological agent remains difficult due to biological and logistic constraints. Uncovering individual differences in Protostrongylid prevalence and intensity is important to further investigate the epidemiology of respiratory diseases and their relationship to heterozygosity and inbreeding in a once almost extinct population like C. ibex. In a group of 21 individually recognizable adult male we monitored monthly prevalence and intensity of Protostrongylid first-stage larvae using Baerman's technique from June to September 2019. First-stage larvae of 5 genera were detected. Muellerius (P = 100%, CI95% = 84–100) and Protostrongylus (P = 86%, CI95%:71–100) were two dominant genera according to Bush's importance index. Neostrongylus (P = 38%,CI95%: 17–59), Cystocaulus (P = 33%,CI95% = 13–53) were classified as co-dominant genera while Dictyocaulus filaria (P = 0.05%, CI95% = 0.04–0.13) was detected, for the first time in Alpine ibex, in one subject. Protostrongylidae larval excretion varied significantly over time, with minimum L1 excretion in July. Individual median larval intensity ranged from 4.4 lpg to 82.2 lpg with Poulin's discrepancy index showing highly aggregated distribution patterns for Muellerius spp. (D = 0.283, CI95% = 0.760–0.895) and Protostrongylus spp. (D = 0.635, CI95% = 0.580–0.705). Presented data provide the necessary base point to further investigate how lungworm infection account for the different rates of progression of pneumonia in C. ibex. Individual aggregation of larval intensity must be further evaluated to determine whether these differences mirror different levels of parasitic infection related to individual differences in immune response, hormonal-states or genetic fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Zanet
- Department Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Ezio Ferroglio
- Department Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Bruno Bassano
- Gran Paradiso National Park, Alpine Wildlife Research Center, Noasca, Italy
| | - Elena Battisti
- Department Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Alice Brambilla
- Gran Paradiso National Park, Alpine Wildlife Research Center, Noasca, Italy.,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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23
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Trujillo AL, Hoffman EA, Becker CG, Savage AE. Spatiotemporal adaptive evolution of an MHC immune gene in a frog-fungus disease system. Heredity (Edinb) 2021; 126:640-655. [PMID: 33510466 PMCID: PMC8115231 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-020-00402-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic diversity of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes is linked to reduced pathogen susceptibility in amphibians, but few studies also examine broad spatial and temporal patterns of MHC and neutral genetic diversity. Here, we characterized range-wide MHC diversity in the Northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens, a species found throughout North America that is experiencing disease-related declines. We used previously sequenced neutral markers (mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites), sequenced an expressed MHC class IIß gene fragment, and measured infection prevalence and intensity of the global fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) across 14 populations. Four populations were sampled across two decades, enabling temporal comparisons of selection and demography. We recovered 37 unique MHC alleles, including 17 that were shared across populations. Phylogenetic and population genetic patterns between MHC and neutral markers were incongruent, and five MHC codon positions associated with peptide binding were under positive selection. MHC heterozygosity, but not neutral marker heterozygosity, was a significant factor explaining spatial patterns of Bd prevalence, whereas only environmental variables predicted Bd intensity. MHC allelic richness (AR) decreased significantly over time but microsatellite-based AR did not, highlighting a loss of functional immunogenetic diversity that may be associated with Bd selective pressures. MHC supertype 4 was significantly associated with an elevated risk of Bd infection, whereas one supertype 2 allele was associated with a nearly significant reduced risk of Bd. Taken together, these results provide evidence that positive selection contributes to MHC class IIß evolution in R. pipiens and suggest that functional MHC differences across populations may contribute to disease adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa L. Trujillo
- grid.170430.10000 0001 2159 2859Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL USA
| | - Eric A. Hoffman
- grid.170430.10000 0001 2159 2859Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL USA
| | - C. Guilherme Becker
- grid.411015.00000 0001 0727 7545Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL USA
| | - Anna E. Savage
- grid.170430.10000 0001 2159 2859Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL USA
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24
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Batley KC, Sandoval-Castillo J, Kemper CM, Zanardo N, Tomo I, Beheregaray LB, Möller LM. Whole genomes reveal multiple candidate genes and pathways involved in the immune response of dolphins to a highly infectious virus. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:6434-6448. [PMID: 33675577 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife species are challenged by various infectious diseases that act as important demographic drivers of populations and have become a great conservation concern particularly under growing environmental changes. The new era of whole genome sequencing provides new opportunities and avenues to explore the role of genetic variants in the plasticity of immune responses, particularly in non-model systems. Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) has emerged as a major viral threat to cetacean populations worldwide, contributing to the death of thousands of individuals of multiple dolphin and whale species. To understand the genomic basis of immune responses to CeMV, we generated and analysed whole genomes of 53 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) exposed to Australia's largest known CeMV-related mortality event that killed at least 50 dolphins from three different species. The genomic data set consisted of 10,168,981 SNPs anchored onto 23 chromosome-length scaffolds and 77 short scaffolds. Whole genome analysis indicated that levels of inbreeding in the dolphin population did not influence the outcome of an individual. Allele frequency estimates between survivors and nonsurvivors of the outbreak revealed 15,769 candidate SNPs, of which 689 were annotated to 295 protein coding genes. These included 50 genes with functions related to innate and adaptive immune responses, and cytokine signalling pathways and genes thought to be involved in immune responses to other morbilliviruses. Our study characterised genomic regions and pathways that may contribute to CeMV immune responses in dolphins. This represents a stride towards clarifying the complex interactions of the cetacean immune system and emphasises the value of whole genome data sets in understanding genetic elements that are essential for species conservation, including disease susceptibility and adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley C Batley
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour, and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | | | - Nikki Zanardo
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour, and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Ikuko Tomo
- South Australian Museum, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Luciano B Beheregaray
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Luciana M Möller
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour, and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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25
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Perrin A, Khimoun A, Faivre B, Ollivier A, de Pracontal N, Théron F, Loubon M, Leblond G, Duron O, Garnier S. Habitat fragmentation differentially shapes neutral and immune gene variation in a tropical bird species. Heredity (Edinb) 2021; 126:148-162. [PMID: 32934360 PMCID: PMC7853120 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-020-00366-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Habitat fragmentation is a major cause of biodiversity loss, responsible for an alteration of intraspecific patterns of neutral genetic diversity and structure. Although neutral genetic variation can be informative for demographic inferences, it may be a poor predictor of adaptive genetic diversity and thus of the consequences of habitat fragmentation on selective evolutionary processes. In this context, we contrasted patterns of genetic diversity and structure of neutral loci (microsatellites) and immune genes (i.e., toll-like receptors) in an understorey bird species, the wedge-billed woodcreeper Glyphorynchus spirurus. The objectives were (1) to investigate forest fragmentation effects on population genetic diversity, (2) to disentangle the relative role of demography (genetic drift and migration) and selection, and (3) to assess whether immunogenetic patterns could be associated with variation of ectoparasite (i.e., ticks) pressures. Our results revealed an erosion of neutral genetic diversity and a substantial genetic differentiation among fragmented populations, resulting from a decrease in landscape connectivity and leading to the divergence of distinct genetic pools at a small spatial scale. Patterns of genetic diversity observed for TLR4 and TLR5 were concordant with neutral genetic patterns, whereas those observed for TLR3 and TLR21 were discordant. This result underlines that the dominant evolutionary force shaping immunogenetic diversity (genetic drift vs. selection) may be different depending on loci considered. Finally, tick prevalence was higher in fragmented environments. We discussed the hypothesis that pathogen selective pressures may contribute to maintain adaptive genetic diversity despite the negative demographic effect of habitat fragmentation on neutral genetic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Perrin
- Biogéosciences, UMR 6282 CNRS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, 21000, Dijon, France.
| | - Aurélie Khimoun
- Biogéosciences, UMR 6282 CNRS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, 21000, Dijon, France
| | - Bruno Faivre
- Biogéosciences, UMR 6282 CNRS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, 21000, Dijon, France
| | - Anthony Ollivier
- Biogéosciences, UMR 6282 CNRS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, 21000, Dijon, France
| | - Nyls de Pracontal
- Groupe d'Etude et de Protection des Oiseaux en Guyane, 431 route d'Attila Cabassou, 97354, Rémire-Montjoly, France
| | - Franck Théron
- Groupe d'Etude et de Protection des Oiseaux en Guyane, 431 route d'Attila Cabassou, 97354, Rémire-Montjoly, France
| | - Maxime Loubon
- Groupe d'Etude et de Protection des Oiseaux en Guyane, 431 route d'Attila Cabassou, 97354, Rémire-Montjoly, France
| | - Gilles Leblond
- SARL BIOS, Route de Davidon, Duzer, 97115, Sainte-Rose, France
| | - Olivier Duron
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle (MIVEGEC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement (IRD), Université de Montpellier (UM), Montpellier, France
| | - Stéphane Garnier
- Biogéosciences, UMR 6282 CNRS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, 21000, Dijon, France
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26
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Prüter H, Franz M, Twietmeyer S, Böhm N, Middendorff G, Portas R, Melzheimer J, Kolberg H, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Greenwood AD, Lüschow D, Mühldorfer K, Czirják GÁ. Increased immune marker variance in a population of invasive birds. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21764. [PMID: 33303774 PMCID: PMC7729907 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78427-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunity and parasites have been linked to the success of invasive species. Especially lower parasite burden in invasive populations has been suggested to enable a general downregulation of immune investment (Enemy Release and Evolution of Increased Competitive Ability Hypotheses). Simultaneously, keeping high immune competence towards potentially newly acquired parasites in the invasive range is essential to allow population growth. To investigate the variation of immune effectors of invasive species, we compared the mean and variance of multiple immune effectors in the context of parasite prevalence in an invasive and a native Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus) population. Three of ten immune effectors measured showed higher variance in the invasive population. Mean levels were higher in the invasive population for three effectors but lower for eosinophil granulocytes. Parasite prevalence depended on the parasite taxa investigated. We suggest that variation of specific immune effectors, which may be important for invasion success, may lead to higher variance and enable invasive species to reduce the overall physiological cost of immunity while maintaining the ability to efficiently defend against novel parasites encountered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Prüter
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Mathias Franz
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sönke Twietmeyer
- Department of Research and Documentation, Eifel National Park, Urftseestraße 43, 53937, Schleiden-Gemünd, Germany
| | - Niklas Böhm
- FÖA Landschaftsplanung GmbH, Auf der Redoute 12, 54296, Trier, Germany
| | | | - Ruben Portas
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jörg Melzheimer
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Holger Kolberg
- Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Private Bag, 13306, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alex D Greenwood
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dörte Lüschow
- Institute of Poultry Diseases, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 63, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kristin Mühldorfer
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gábor Árpád Czirják
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.
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27
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Nandakumar M, Ishtiaq F. Genetic drift and bottleneck do not influence diversity in Toll-like receptor genes at a small spatial scale in a Himalayan passerine. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:12246-12263. [PMID: 33209285 PMCID: PMC7663051 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic diversity is important for long-term viability of a population. Low genetic diversity reduces persistence and survival of populations and increases susceptibility to diseases. Comparisons of the neutral markers with functional loci such as immune genes [Toll-like receptors; TLR] can provide useful insights into evolutionary potential of a species and how the diversity of pathogens and selection pressures on their hosts are directly linked to their environment. In this study, we compare genetic diversity in neutral (eleven microsatellite loci) and adaptive (seven TLR loci) loci to determine genetic variation in a nonmigratory western Himalayan passerine, the black-throated tit (Aegithalos concinnus), distributed across an elevation gradient with varying degree of pathogen-mediated selection pressure. We further compare the diversity in TLR loci with a high-elevation sister species, the white-throated tit (Aegithalos niveogularis). Our results indicate a lack of population genetic structure in the black-throated tit and signatures of a past bottleneck. In contrast, we found high diversity in TLR loci and locus-specific (TLR7) signatures of pathogen-mediated selection, which was comparable to diversity in the white-throated tit. Levels of diversity at TLR5 locus corresponded very closely with neutral microsatellite variation. We found evidence of positive selection in TLR1LA, TLR5, and TLR7 loci highlighting the importance in pathogen recognition. Our finding demonstrates that reduction in neutral variation does not necessarily lead to reduction in functional genetic diversity and probably helps in revival of population in a widespread species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mridula Nandakumar
- Centre for Ecological SciencesIndian Institute of ScienceBangaloreIndia
- Present address:
Department of BiologyLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Farah Ishtiaq
- Centre for Ecological SciencesIndian Institute of ScienceBangaloreIndia
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28
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Grueber CE, Peel E, Wright B, Hogg CJ, Belov K. A Tasmanian devil breeding program to support wild recovery. Reprod Fertil Dev 2020; 31:1296-1304. [PMID: 32172782 DOI: 10.1071/rd18152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Tasmanian devils are threatened in the wild by devil facial tumour disease: a transmissible cancer with a high fatality rate. In response, the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STDP) established an 'insurance population' to enable the preservation of genetic diversity and natural behaviours of devils. This breeding program includes a range of institutions and facilities, from zoo-based intensive enclosures to larger, more natural environments, and a strategic approach has been required to capture and maintain genetic diversity, natural behaviours and to ensure reproductive success. Laboratory-based research, particularly genetics, in tandem with adaptive management has helped the STDP reach its goals, and has directly contributed to the conservation of the species in the wild. Here we review this work and show that the Tasmanian devil breeding program is a powerful example of how genetic research can be used to understand and improve reproductive success in a threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Grueber
- The University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - E Peel
- The University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - B Wright
- The University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - C J Hogg
- The University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - K Belov
- The University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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29
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Cruz-López M, Fernández G, Hipperson H, Palacios E, Cavitt J, Galindo-Espinosa D, Gómez Del Angel S, Pruner R, Gonzalez O, Burke T, Küpper C. Allelic diversity and patterns of selection at the major histocompatibility complex class I and II loci in a threatened shorebird, the Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus). BMC Evol Biol 2020; 20:114. [PMID: 32912143 PMCID: PMC7488298 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-020-01676-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding the structure and variability of adaptive loci such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes is a primary research goal for evolutionary and conservation genetics. Typically, classical MHC genes show high polymorphism and are under strong balancing selection, as their products trigger the adaptive immune response in vertebrates. Here, we assess the allelic diversity and patterns of selection for MHC class I and class II loci in a threatened shorebird with highly flexible mating and parental care behaviour, the Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus) across its broad geographic range. Results We determined the allelic and nucleotide diversity for MHC class I and class II genes using samples of 250 individuals from eight breeding population of Snowy Plovers. We found 40 alleles at MHC class I and six alleles at MHC class II, with individuals carrying two to seven different alleles (mean 3.70) at MHC class I and up to two alleles (mean 1.45) at MHC class II. Diversity was higher in the peptide-binding region, which suggests balancing selection. The MHC class I locus showed stronger signatures of both positive and negative selection than the MHC class II locus. Most alleles were present in more than one population. If present, private alleles generally occurred at very low frequencies in each population, except for the private alleles of MHC class I in one island population (Puerto Rico, lineage tenuirostris). Conclusion Snowy Plovers exhibited an intermediate level of diversity at the MHC, similar to that reported in other Charadriiformes. The differences found in the patterns of selection between the class I and II loci are consistent with the hypothesis that different mechanisms shape the sequence evolution of MHC class I and class II genes. The rarity of private alleles across populations is consistent with high natal and breeding dispersal and the low genetic structure previously observed at neutral genetic markers in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Medardo Cruz-López
- Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Cd. México, Mexico.
| | - Guillermo Fernández
- Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 811, 82040, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Helen Hipperson
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Eduardo Palacios
- Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Unidad La Paz, Miraflores 334, Col. Bellavista, 23050, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
| | - John Cavitt
- Avian Ecology Laboratory Department of Zoology, Weber State University, Ogden, UT, 84408, USA
| | - Daniel Galindo-Espinosa
- Departamento Académico de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, Carretera al Sur km 5.5, A.P. 19-B, 23080, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico
| | - Salvador Gómez Del Angel
- Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Cd. México, Mexico
| | - Raya Pruner
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Panama City, FL, USA
| | - Oscar Gonzalez
- Grupo Aves del Perú, Gómez del Carpio 135, Barrio Medico, 34, Lima, Peru.,Department of Natural Sciences, Emmanuel College, Franklin Springs, GA, 30369, USA
| | - Terry Burke
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Clemens Küpper
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Strasse, 82319, Seewiesen, Germany.
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30
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Lado S, Elbers JP, Rogers MF, Melo-Ferreira J, Yadamsuren A, Corander J, Horin P, Burger PA. Nucleotide diversity of functionally different groups of immune response genes in Old World camels based on newly annotated and reference-guided assemblies. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:606. [PMID: 32883205 PMCID: PMC7468183 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-06990-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Immune-response (IR) genes have an important role in the defense against highly variable pathogens, and therefore, diversity in these genomic regions is essential for species’ survival and adaptation. Although current genome assemblies from Old World camelids are very useful for investigating genome-wide diversity, demography and population structure, they have inconsistencies and gaps that limit analyses at local genomic scales. Improved and more accurate genome assemblies and annotations are needed to study complex genomic regions like adaptive and innate IR genes. Results In this work, we improved the genome assemblies of the three Old World camel species – domestic dromedary and Bactrian camel, and the two-humped wild camel – via different computational methods. The newly annotated dromedary genome assembly CamDro3 served as reference to scaffold the NCBI RefSeq genomes of domestic Bactrian and wild camels. These upgraded assemblies were then used to assess nucleotide diversity of IR genes within and between species, and to compare the diversity found in immune genes and the rest of the genes in the genome. We detected differences in the nucleotide diversity among the three Old World camelid species and between IR gene groups, i.e., innate versus adaptive. Among the three species, domestic Bactrian camels showed the highest mean nucleotide diversity. Among the functionally different IR gene groups, the highest mean nucleotide diversity was observed in the major histocompatibility complex. Conclusions The new camel genome assemblies were greatly improved in terms of contiguity and increased size with fewer scaffolds, which is of general value for the scientific community. This allowed us to perform in-depth studies on genetic diversity in immunity-related regions of the genome. Our results suggest that differences of diversity across classes of genes appear compatible with a combined role of population history and differential exposures to pathogens, and consequent different selective pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lado
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jean P Elbers
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Mark F Rogers
- Intelligent Systems Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - José Melo-Ferreira
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Adiya Yadamsuren
- Wild Camel Protection Foundation Mongolia, Jukov avenue, Bayanzurh District, Ulaanbaatar, 13343, Mongolia
| | - Jukka Corander
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.,Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Helsinki Institute for Information Technology, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo, N-0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Petr Horin
- Department of Animal Genetics, Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Ceitec VFU, RG Animal Immunogenomics, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pamela A Burger
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Lundregan SL, Niskanen AK, Muff S, Holand H, Kvalnes T, Ringsby T, Husby A, Jensen H. Resistance to gapeworm parasite has both additive and dominant genetic components in house sparrows, with evolutionary consequences for ability to respond to parasite challenge. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:3812-3829. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L. Lundregan
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| | - Alina K. Niskanen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit University of Oulu Oulu Finland
| | - Stefanie Muff
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Mathematical Sciences Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| | - Håkon Holand
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| | - Thomas Kvalnes
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| | - Thor‐Harald Ringsby
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| | - Arild Husby
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
- Evolutionary Biology Department of Ecology and Genetics Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
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32
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Biedrzycka A, Popiołek M, Zalewski A. Host-parasite interactions in non-native invasive species are dependent on the levels of standing genetic variation at the immune locus. BMC Evol Biol 2020; 20:43. [PMID: 32299345 PMCID: PMC7164242 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-020-01610-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Parasites may mediate the success of biological invasions through their effect on host fitness and thus, on host population growth and stability. However, a release from the pressure of parasites is strongly related to the genetic differentiation of the host. In invasive host populations, the number of available genetic variants, allowing them to ‘fight’ the infection, are likely to be influenced by founder events and genetic drift. The level standing genetic variation of invasive populations may be crucial in successfully adapting to new environments and resisting diseases. We studied invasive populations of raccoon that experienced a random reduction in genetic diversity during the establishment and evaluated the relationship between host immune genetic diversity and intestinal parasites infection. Results We distinguished two different genetic clusters that are characterized by different sets of functionally relevant MHC-DRB alleles. Both clusters were characterized by considerably different allele-parasite associations and different levels of parasite infection. The specific resistance MHC-DRB alleles explained the lower prevalence of Digenea parasites. An increased infection intensity was related to the presence of two MHC-DRB alleles. One of these alleles significantly decreased in frequency over time, causing a decrease of Digenea abundance in raccoons in consecutive years. Conclusions Our findings suggest that intestinal parasites can exert selective pressure on an invasive host with lowered levels of immune genetic diversity and contribute to promoting local adaptation over time. The random genetic drift that created the two different genetic clusters in the invasive raccoon range imposed completely different MHC-parasite associations, strongly associated with the infection status of populations. Our findings underline the role of standing genetic variation in shaping host-parasite relationships and provide empirical support that functional genetic variation may be, at least partly, responsible for differences in the success of invasive populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Biedrzycka
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Marcin Popiołek
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 63/67, 51-148, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Zalewski
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Stoczek 1, 17-230, Białowieża, Poland
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33
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Biedrzycka A, Konopiński M, Hoffman E, Trujillo A, Zalewski A. Comparing raccoon major histocompatibility complex diversity in native and introduced ranges: Evidence for the importance of functional immune diversity for adaptation and survival in novel environments. Evol Appl 2020; 13:752-767. [PMID: 32211065 PMCID: PMC7086054 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The adaptive potential of invasive species is related to the genetic diversity of the invader, which is influenced by genetic drift and natural selection. Typically, the genetic diversity of invaders is studied with neutral genetic markers; however, the expectation of reduced diversity has not been consistently supported by empirical studies. Here, we describe and interpret genetic diversity at both neutral microsatellite loci and the immune-related MHC-DRB locus of native and invasive populations of raccoon to better understand of how drift and selection impact patterns of genetic diversity during the invasion process. We found that despite the loss of many MHC (major histocompatibility complex) alleles in comparison with native populations, functional MHC supertypes are preserved in the invasive region. In the native raccoon population, the number of supertypes within individuals was higher than expected under a neutral model. The high level of individual functional divergence may facilitate the adaptation to local conditions in the invasive range. In the invasive populations, we also detected increased population structure at microsatellites compared to the MHC locus, further suggesting that balancing selection is acting on adaptively important regions of the raccoon genome. Finally, we found that alleles known to exhibit resistance to rabies in the native range, Prlo-DRB*4, Prlo-DRB*16 and Prlo-DRB*102, were the most common alleles in the European populations, suggesting directional selection is acting on this locus. Our research shows empirical support for the importance of functional immune diversity for adaptation and survival in novel environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maciej Konopiński
- Institute of Nature ConservationPolish Academy of SciencesKrakówPoland
| | - Eric Hoffman
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Central FloridaOrlandoFLUSA
| | - Alexa Trujillo
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Central FloridaOrlandoFLUSA
| | - Andrzej Zalewski
- Mammal Research InstitutePolish Academy of SciencesBiałowieżaPoland
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34
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Quéméré E, Rossi S, Petit E, Marchand P, Merlet J, Game Y, Galan M, Gilot-Fromont E. Genetic epidemiology of the Alpine ibex reservoir of persistent and virulent brucellosis outbreak. Sci Rep 2020; 10:4400. [PMID: 32157133 PMCID: PMC7064506 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61299-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
While it is now broadly accepted that inter-individual variation in the outcomes of host-pathogen interactions is at least partially genetically controlled, host immunogenetic characteristics are rarely investigated in wildlife epidemiological studies. Furthermore, most immunogenetic studies in the wild focused solely on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) diversity despite it accounts for only a fraction of the genetic variation in pathogen resistance. Here, we investigated immunogenetic diversity of the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) population of the Bargy massif, reservoir of a virulent outbreak of brucellosis. We analysed the polymorphism and associations with disease resistance of the MHC Class II Drb gene and several non-MHC genes (Toll-like receptor genes, Slc11A1) involved in the innate immune response to Brucella in domestic ungulates. We found a very low neutral genetic diversity and a unique MHC Drb haplotype in this population founded few decades ago from a small number of individuals. By contrast, other immunity-related genes have maintained polymorphism and some showed significant associations with the brucellosis infection status hence suggesting a predominant role of pathogen-mediated selection in their recent evolutionary trajectory. Our results highlight the need to monitor immunogenetic variation in wildlife epidemiological studies and to look beyond the MHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erwan Quéméré
- CEFS, INRAE, Université de Toulouse, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystems Health, Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, 35042 Rennes, France.
| | - Sophie Rossi
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Unité Sanitaire de la Faune, Gap, France
| | - Elodie Petit
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Unité Ongulés sauvages, Gières, France
| | - Pascal Marchand
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Unité Ongulés sauvages, Gières, France
| | - Joël Merlet
- CEFS, INRAE, Université de Toulouse, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Yvette Game
- Laboratoire Départemental d'Analyses Vétérinaires de Savoie, Chambéry, France
| | - Maxime Galan
- CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier SupAgro, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup - Campus vétérinaire de Lyon, Marcy l'Étoile, France
- Université de Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558 Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive (LBBE), Villeurbanne, France
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35
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Thomas F, Giraudeau M, Dheilly NM, Gouzerh F, Boutry J, Beckmann C, Biro PA, Hamede R, Abadie J, Labrut S, Bieuville M, Misse D, Bramwell G, Schultz A, Le Loc'h G, Vincze O, Roche B, Renaud F, Russell T, Ujvari B. Rare and unique adaptations to cancer in domesticated species: An untapped resource? Evol Appl 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eva.12920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Thomas
- CREECUMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Mathieu Giraudeau
- CREECUMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Nolwenn M. Dheilly
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook University Stony Brook NY USA
| | - Flora Gouzerh
- CREECUMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Justine Boutry
- CREECUMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Christa Beckmann
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Waurn Ponds VIC Australia
- School of Science Western Sydney UniversityParramatta NSW Australia
| | - Peter A. Biro
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Waurn Ponds VIC Australia
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart TAS Australia
| | | | | | - Margaux Bieuville
- CREECUMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Dorothée Misse
- CREECUMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Georgina Bramwell
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Waurn Ponds VIC Australia
| | - Aaron Schultz
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Waurn Ponds VIC Australia
| | - Guillaume Le Loc'h
- Clinique des NAC et de la Faune Sauvage, UMR IHAP École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse Toulouse France
| | - Orsolya Vincze
- Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology Evolutionary Ecology Group Babeş‐Bolyai University Cluj‐Napoca Romania
- Department of Tisza Research MTA Centre for Ecological Research‐DRI Debrecen Hungary
| | - Benjamin Roche
- CREECUMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
- Unité mixte Internationale de Modélisation Mathématique et Informatique des Systèmes Complexes UMI IRD/Sorbonne UniversitéUMMISCO Bondy France
| | - François Renaud
- CREECUMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Tracey Russell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Beata Ujvari
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Waurn Ponds VIC Australia
- School of Natural Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart TAS Australia
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36
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Abstract
All organisms encounter pathogens, and birds are especially susceptible to infection by malaria parasites and other haemosporidians. It is important to understand how immune genes, primarily innate immune genes which are the first line of host defense, have evolved across birds, a highly diverse group of tetrapods. Here, we find that innate immune genes are highly conserved across the avian tree of life and that although most show evidence of positive or diversifying selection within specific lineages or clades, the number of sites is often proportionally low in this broader context of putative constraint. Rather, the evidence shows a much higher level of negative or purifying selection in these innate immune genes - rather than adaptive immune genes - which is consistent with birds' long coevolutionary history with pathogens and the need to maintain a rapid response to infection. We further explored avian responses to haemosporidians by comparing differential gene expression in wild birds (1) uninfected with haemosporidians, (2) infected with Plasmodium, and (3) infected with Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus). We found patterns of significant differential expression with some genes unique to infection with each genus and a few shared between "treatment" groups, but none that overlapped with the genes included in the phylogenetic study.
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37
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Episodic positive diversifying selection on key immune system genes in major avian lineages. Genetica 2019; 147:337-350. [PMID: 31782071 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-019-00081-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the adaptive immune system and the toll-like receptor (TLR) family of the innate immune system are involved in the detection of foreign invaders, and thus are subject to parasite-driven molecular evolution. Herein, we tested for macroevolutionary signatures of selection in these gene families within and among all three major clades of birds (Paleognathae, Galloanserae, and Neoaves). We characterized evolutionary relationships of representative immune genes (Mhc1 and Tlr2b) and a control gene (ubiquitin, Ubb), using a relatively large and phylogenetically diverse set of species with complete coding sequences (34 orthologous loci for Mhc1, 29 for Tlr2b, and 37 for Ubb). Episodic positive diversifying selection was found in the gene-wide phylogenies of the two immune genes, as well as at specific sites within each gene (8.5% of codon sites in Mhc1 and 2.7% in Tlr2b), but not in the control gene (Ubb). We found 20% of lineages under episodic diversifying selection in Mhc1 versus 9.1% in Tlr2b. For Mhc1, selection was relaxed in the Galloanserae and intensified in the Neoaves relative to the other clades, but no differences were detected among clades in the Tlr2b gene. In summary, we provide evidence of episodic positive diversifying selection in key immune genes and demonstrate differential strengths of selection within Class Aves, with the adaptive gene showing an increased divergence and evolutionary rate over the innate gene, contributing to the growing understanding of vertebrate immune gene evolution.
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38
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Gaigher A, Burri R, San-Jose LM, Roulin A, Fumagalli L. Lack of statistical power as a major limitation in understanding MHC-mediated immunocompetence in wild vertebrate populations. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:5115-5132. [PMID: 31614047 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Disentangling the sources of variation in developing an effective immune response against pathogens is of major interest to immunoecology and evolutionary biology. To date, the link between immunocompetence and genetic variation at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has received little attention in wild animals, despite the key role of MHC genes in activating the adaptive immune system. Although several studies point to a link between MHC and immunocompetence, negative findings have also been reported. Such disparate findings suggest that limited statistical power might be affecting studies on this topic, owing to insufficient sample sizes and/or a generally small effect of MHC on the immunocompetence of wild vertebrates. To clarify this issue, we investigated the link between MHC variation and seven immunocompetence proxies in a large sample of barn owls and estimated the effect sizes and statistical power of this and published studies on this topic. We found that MHC poorly explained variation in immunocompetence of barn owls, with small-to-moderate associations between MHC and immunocompetence in owls (effect size: .1 ≥ r ≤ .3) similar to other vertebrates studied to date. Such small-to-moderate effects were largely associated with insufficient power, which was only sufficient (>0.8) to detect moderate-to-large effect sizes (r ≥ .3). Thus, studies linking MHC variation with immunocompetence in wild populations are underpowered to detect MHC effects, which are likely to be of generally small magnitude. Larger sample sizes (>200) will be required to achieve sufficient power in future studies aiming to robustly test for a link between MHC variation and immunocompetence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Gaigher
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Laboratory for Conservation Biology, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Computational Biology, Génopode, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Reto Burri
- Department of Population Ecology, Institute of Ecology & Evolution, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Luis M San-Jose
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique, UMR 5174, CNRS, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Luca Fumagalli
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Laboratory for Conservation Biology, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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39
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Sparks AM, Watt K, Sinclair R, Pilkington JG, Pemberton JM, McNeilly TN, Nussey DH, Johnston SE. The genetic architecture of helminth-specific immune responses in a wild population of Soay sheep (Ovis aries). PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008461. [PMID: 31697674 PMCID: PMC6863570 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Much of our knowledge of the drivers of immune variation, and how these responses vary over time, comes from humans, domesticated livestock or laboratory organisms. While the genetic basis of variation in immune responses have been investigated in these systems, there is a poor understanding of how genetic variation influences immunity in natural, untreated populations living in complex environments. Here, we examine the genetic architecture of variation in immune traits in the Soay sheep of St Kilda, an unmanaged population of sheep infected with strongyle gastrointestinal nematodes. We assayed IgA, IgE and IgG antibodies against the prevalent nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta in the blood plasma of > 3,000 sheep collected over 26 years. Antibody levels were significantly heritable (h2 = 0.21 to 0.57) and highly stable over an individual’s lifespan. IgA levels were strongly associated with a region on chromosome 24 explaining 21.1% and 24.5% of heritable variation in lambs and adults, respectively. This region was adjacent to two candidate loci, Class II Major Histocompatibility Complex Transactivator (CIITA) and C-Type Lectin Domain Containing 16A (CLEC16A). Lamb IgA levels were also associated with the immunoglobulin heavy constant loci (IGH) complex, and adult IgE levels and lamb IgA and IgG levels were associated with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). This study provides evidence of high heritability of a complex immunological trait under natural conditions and provides the first evidence from a genome-wide study that large effect genes located outside the MHC region exist for immune traits in the wild. Understanding how immune responses vary in natural populations can give an insight into how infection affects the ability of hosts and parasites to survive and reproduce, and how this drives evolutionary and ecological dynamics. Yet, very little is known about how immune responses vary over an individual’s lifetime and how genes contribute to this variation under natural conditions. Our study investigates the genetic architecture of variation in three antibody types, IgA, IgE and IgG in a wild population of Soay sheep on the St Kilda archipelago in North-West Scotland. Using data collected over 26 years, we show that antibody levels have a heritable basis in lambs and adults and are stable over an individual’s lifetime. We also identify several genomic regions with large effects on immune responses. Our study offers the first insights into the genetic control of immunity in a wild population, which is essential to understand how immune profiles vary in challenging natural conditions and how natural selection maintains genetic variation in complex immune traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M. Sparks
- Institutes of Evolutionary Biology and Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Kathryn Watt
- Institutes of Evolutionary Biology and Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Rona Sinclair
- Institutes of Evolutionary Biology and Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jill G. Pilkington
- Institutes of Evolutionary Biology and Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Josephine M. Pemberton
- Institutes of Evolutionary Biology and Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Tom N. McNeilly
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel H. Nussey
- Institutes of Evolutionary Biology and Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Susan E. Johnston
- Institutes of Evolutionary Biology and Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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40
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Nelson-Flower MJ, Germain RR, MacDougall-Shackleton EA, Taylor SS, Arcese P. Purifying Selection in the Toll-Like Receptors of Song Sparrows Melospiza melodia. J Hered 2019; 109:501-509. [PMID: 29893971 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esy027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Variation in immune gene sequences is known to influence resistance to infectious diseases and parasites, and hence survival and mate choice, across animal taxa. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) comprise one essential gene family in the vertebrate innate immune system and recognize evolutionarily conserved structures from all major microorganism classes. However, the causes and consequences of TLR variation in passerine birds remain largely unexplored. We examined 7 TLR genes in song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), a species that is studied across North America. We then examined sequences from 4 unduplicated TLRs (TLR1LB, TLR3, TLR4, and TLR15) from birds in 2 parts of the species' range (N = 27, N = 6), tested for evidence of selection, and conducted pilot analyses of the role of TLR heterozygosity in survival. We identified 45 SNPs: 19 caused changes in amino acid sequences and 2 of these were likely deleterious. We found no evidence of codon-level episodic positive selection but detected purifying selection at codons in all TLRs. Contrary to expectations we found no strong correlation between heterozygosity at TLRs and inbreeding coefficient f (estimate ± standard error [SE] = -0.68 ± 0.37, Radj2 = 0.08, F1,25 = 3.38, P = 0.08). In addition, pilot analyses revealed no relationship between TLR heterozygosity and survival (β ± SE: 0.09 ± 2.00, P = 0.96), possibly due to small sample size. Further analyses of genetic diversity in TLRs are likely to advance understanding of the effects of innate immune gene diversity on the fitness and persistence of wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha J Nelson-Flower
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | | | - Sabrina S Taylor
- The School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA
| | - Peter Arcese
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Altered immune parameters associated with Koala Retrovirus (KoRV) and Chlamydial infection in free ranging Victorian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Sci Rep 2019; 9:11170. [PMID: 31371797 PMCID: PMC6673689 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47666-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Koala Retrovirus (KoRV) has been widely speculated to cause immune suppression in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) and to underlie the koala's susceptibility to infectious disease, however evidence for immunomodulation is limited. The aim of this study is to determine whether immunophenotypic changes are associated with KoRV infection in free ranging Victorian koalas. qPCR was used to examine mRNA expression for Th1 (IFNγ), Th2-promoting (IL6, IL10) and Th17 (IL17A) cytokines, along with CD4 and CD8 in whole blood of koalas (n = 74) from Mt Eccles and Raymond Island in Victoria, Australia, with and without natural chlamydial infection. KoRV positive koalas had significantly lower levels of IL17A (p`0.023) and IFNγ (p = 0.044) gene expression along with a decreased CD4:CD8 gene expression ratio (p = 0.025) compared to negative koalas. No effect of chlamydial infection or combined effect of KoRV and chlamydial infection was detected in these populations. The decreased expression of IFNγ could make KoRV infected koalas more susceptible to persistent chlamydial infection, and a decrease in IL17A could make them more susceptible to gram negative bacterial, fungal and mycobacterial infection; but more tolerant of chlamydial infection.
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Ujvari B, Klaassen M, Raven N, Russell T, Vittecoq M, Hamede R, Thomas F, Madsen T. Genetic diversity, inbreeding and cancer. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:rspb.2017.2589. [PMID: 29563261 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic diversity is essential for adaptive capacities, providing organisms with the potential of successfully responding to intrinsic and extrinsic challenges. Although a clear reciprocal link between genetic diversity and resistance to parasites and pathogens has been established across taxa, the impact of loss of genetic diversity by inbreeding on the emergence and progression of non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, has been overlooked. Here we provide an overview of such associations and show that low genetic diversity and inbreeding associate with an increased risk of cancer in both humans and animals. Cancer being a multifaceted disease, loss of genetic diversity can directly (via accumulation of oncogenic homozygous mutations) and indirectly (via increased susceptibility to oncogenic pathogens) impact abnormal cell emergence and escape of immune surveillance. The observed link between reduced genetic diversity and cancer in wildlife may further imperil the long-term survival of numerous endangered species, highlighting the need to consider the impact of cancer in conservation biology. Finally, the somewhat incongruent data originating from human studies suggest that the association between genetic diversity and cancer development is multifactorial and may be tumour specific. Further studies are therefore crucial in order to elucidate the underpinnings of the interactions between genetic diversity, inbreeding and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Ujvari
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Marcel Klaassen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Nynke Raven
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Tracey Russell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Marion Vittecoq
- Institut de Recherche de la Tour du Valat, le Sambuc, 13200 Arles, France
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CREEC/MIVEGEC, UMR IRD/CNRS/UM 5290, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Thomas Madsen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia .,School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
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Antonides J, Mathur S, Sundaram M, Ricklefs R, DeWoody JA. Immunogenetic response of the bananaquit in the face of malarial parasites. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:107. [PMID: 31113360 PMCID: PMC6529992 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1435-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the arms race between hosts and parasites, genes involved in the immune response are targets for natural selection. Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) genes play a role in parasite detection as part of the innate immune system whereas Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes encode proteins that display antigens as part of the vertebrate adaptive immune system. Thus, both gene families are under selection pressure from pathogens. The bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) is a passerine bird that is a common host of avian malarial parasites (Plasmodium sp. and Haemoproteus sp.). We assessed molecular variation of TLR and MHC genes in a wild population of bananaquits and identified allelic associations with resistance/susceptibility to parasitic infection to address hypotheses of avian immune response to haemosporidian parasites. RESULTS We found that allele frequencies are associated with infection status at the immune loci studied. A consistent general trend showed the infected groups possessed more alleles at lower frequencies, and exhibited unique alleles, compared to the uninfected group. CONCLUSIONS Our results support the theory of natural selection favoring particular alleles for resistance while maintaining overall genetic diversity in the population, a mechanism which has been demonstrated in some systems in MHC previously but understudied in TLRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Antonides
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 W. State Street, Pfendler Hall 141, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Samarth Mathur
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State St, Indiana, USA
| | - Mekala Sundaram
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 W. State Street, Pfendler Hall 141, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Robert Ricklefs
- Department of Biology, University of Missouri, 1 University Blvd, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - J. Andrew DeWoody
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 W. State Street, Pfendler Hall 141, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State St, Indiana, USA
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Batley KC, Sandoval‐Castillo J, Kemper CM, Attard CRM, Zanardo N, Tomo I, Beheregaray LB, Möller LM. Genome-wide association study of an unusual dolphin mortality event reveals candidate genes for susceptibility and resistance to cetacean morbillivirus. Evol Appl 2019; 12:718-732. [PMID: 30976305 PMCID: PMC6439501 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2018] [Revised: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases are significant demographic and evolutionary drivers of populations, but studies about the genetic basis of disease resistance and susceptibility are scarce in wildlife populations. Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is a highly contagious disease that is increasing in both geographic distribution and incidence, causing unusual mortality events (UME) and killing tens of thousands of individuals across multiple cetacean species worldwide since the late 1980s. The largest CeMV outbreak in the Southern Hemisphere reported to date occurred in Australia in 2013, where it was a major factor in a UME, killing mainly young Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus). Using cases (nonsurvivors) and controls (putative survivors) from the most affected population, we carried out a genome-wide association study to identify candidate genes for resistance and susceptibility to CeMV. The genomic data set consisted of 278,147,988 sequence reads and 35,493 high-quality SNPs genotyped across 38 individuals. Association analyses found highly significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies among cases and controls at 65 SNPs, and Random Forests conservatively identified eight as candidates. Annotation of these SNPs identified five candidate genes (MAPK8, FBXW11, INADL, ANK3 and ACOX3) with functions associated with stress, pain and immune responses. Our findings provide the first insights into the genetic basis of host defence to this highly contagious disease, enabling the development of an applied evolutionary framework to monitor CeMV resistance across cetacean species. Biomarkers could now be established to assess potential risk factors associated with these genes in other CeMV-affected cetacean populations and species. These results could also possibly aid in the advancement of vaccines against morbilliviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley C. Batley
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
- Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour, and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Jonathan Sandoval‐Castillo
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | | | - Catherine R. M. Attard
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
- Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour, and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Nikki Zanardo
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
- Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour, and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Ikuko Tomo
- South Australian MuseumAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Luciano B. Beheregaray
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Luciana M. Möller
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
- Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour, and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
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Functional variation at an expressed MHC class IIβ locus associates with Ranavirus infection intensity in larval anuran populations. Immunogenetics 2019; 71:335-346. [PMID: 30761419 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-019-01104-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Infectious diseases are causing catastrophic losses to global biodiversity. Iridoviruses in the genus Ranavirus are among the leading causes of amphibian disease-related mortality. Polymorphisms in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are significantly associated with variation in amphibian pathogen susceptibility. MHC genes encode two classes of polymorphic cell-surface molecules that can recognize and bind to diverse pathogen peptides. While MHC class I genes are the classic mediators of viral-acquired immunity, larval amphibians do not express them. Consequently, MHC class II gene diversity may be an important predictor of Ranavirus susceptibility in larval amphibians, the life stage most susceptible to Ranavirus. We surveyed natural populations of larval wood frogs (Rana sylvatica), which are highly susceptible to Ranavirus, across 17 ponds and 2 years in Maryland, USA. We sequenced the peptide-binding region of an expressed MHC class IIβ locus and assessed allelic and genetic diversity. We converted alleles to functional supertypes and determined if supertypes or alleles influenced host responses to Ranavirus. Among 381 sampled individuals, 26% were infected with Ranavirus. We recovered 20 unique MHC class IIβ alleles that fell into two deeply diverged clades and seven supertypes. MHC genotypes were associated with Ranavirus infection intensity, but not prevalence. Specifically, MHC heterozygotes and supertype ST1/ST7 had significantly lower Ranavirus infection intensity compared to homozygotes and other supertypes. We conclude that MHC class IIβ functional genetic variation is an important component of Ranavirus susceptibility. Identifying immunogenetic signatures linked to variation in disease susceptibility can inform mitigation strategies for combatting global amphibian declines.
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Belasen AM, Bletz MC, Leite DDS, Toledo LF, James TY. Long-Term Habitat Fragmentation Is Associated With Reduced MHC IIB Diversity and Increased Infections in Amphibian Hosts. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2018.00236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Maibach V, Vigilant L. Reduced bonobo MHC class I diversity predicts a reduced viral peptide binding ability compared to chimpanzees. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:14. [PMID: 30630404 PMCID: PMC6327438 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1352-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The highly polymorphic genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I are involved in defense against viruses and other intracellular pathogens. Although several studies found reduced MHC class I diversity in bonobos in comparison to the closely related chimpanzee, it is unclear if this lower diversity also influences the functional ability of MHC class I molecules in bonobos. Here, we use a bioinformatic approach to analyze the viral peptide binding ability of all published bonobo MHC class I molecules (n = 58) in comparison to all published chimpanzee MHC class I molecules (n = 161) for the class I loci A, B, C and A-like. RESULTS We examined the peptide binding ability of all 219 different MHC class I molecules to 5,788,712 peptides derived from 1432 different primate viruses and analyzed the percentage of bound peptides and the overlap of the peptide binding repertoires of the two species. We conducted multiple levels of analysis on the "species"-, "population"- and "individual"-level to account for the characterization of MHC variation in a larger number of chimpanzees and their broader geographic distribution. We found a lower percentage of bound peptides in bonobos at the B locus in the "population"-level comparison and at the B and C loci in the "individual"-level comparison. Furthermore, we found evidence of a limited peptide binding repertoire in bonobos by tree-based visualization of functional clustering of MHC molecules, as well as an analysis of peptides bound by both species. CONCLUSION Our results suggest a reduced MHC class I viral peptide binding ability at the B and C loci in bonobos compared to chimpanzees. The effects of this finding on the immune defense against viruses in wild living bonobos are unclear. However, special caution is needed to prevent introduction and spread of new viruses to bonobos, as their defensive ability to cope with new viruses could be limited compared to chimpanzees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Maibach
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Linda Vigilant
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Minias P, Pikus E, Whittingham LA, Dunn PO. Evolution of Copy Number at the MHC Varies across the Avian Tree of Life. Genome Biol Evol 2019; 11:17-28. [PMID: 30476037 PMCID: PMC6319602 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evy253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is shaped by frequent gene duplications and deletions, which generate extensive variation in the number of loci (gene copies) between different taxa. Here, we collected estimates of copy number at the MHC for over 250 bird species from 68 families. We found contrasting patterns of copy number evolution between MHC class I and class IIB, which encode receptors for intra- and extracellular pathogens, respectively. Across the avian evolutionary tree, there was evidence of accelerated evolution and stabilizing selection acting on copy number at class I, while copy number at class IIB was primarily influenced by fluctuating selection and drift. Reconstruction of MHC copy number variation showed ancestrally low numbers of MHC loci in nonpasserines and evolution toward larger numbers of loci in passerines. Different passerine lineages had the highest duplication rates for MHC class I (Sylvioidea) and class IIB (Muscicapoidea and Passeroidea). We also found support for the correlated evolution of MHC copy number and life-history traits such as lifespan and migratory behavior. These results suggest that MHC copy number evolution in birds has been driven by life histories and differences in exposure to intra- and extracellular pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Minias
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lódz, Poland
| | - Ewa Pikus
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lódz, Poland
| | - Linda A Whittingham
- Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
| | - Peter O Dunn
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Poland.,Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
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DiRenzo GV, Zipkin EF, Grant EHC, Royle JA, Longo AV, Zamudio KR, Lips KR. Eco-evolutionary rescue promotes host-pathogen coexistence. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 28:1948-1962. [PMID: 30368999 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Emerging infectious pathogens are responsible for some of the most severe host mass mortality events in wild populations. Yet, effective pathogen control strategies are notoriously difficult to identify, in part because quantifying and forecasting pathogen spread and disease dynamics is challenging. Following an outbreak, hosts must cope with the presence of the pathogen, leading to host-pathogen coexistence or extirpation. Despite decades of research, little is known about host-pathogen coexistence post-outbreak when low host abundances and cryptic species make these interactions difficult to study. Using a novel disease-structured N-mixture model, we evaluate empirical support for three host-pathogen coexistence hypotheses (source-sink, eco-evolutionary rescue, and spatial variation in pathogen transmission) in a Neotropical amphibian community decimated by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in 2004. During 2010-2014, we surveyed amphibians in Parque Nacional G. D. Omar Torríjos Herrera, Coclé Province, El Copé, Panama. We found that the primary driver of host-pathogen coexistence was eco-evolutionary rescue, as evidenced by similar amphibian survival and recruitment rates between infected and uninfected hosts. Average apparent monthly survival rates of uninfected and infected hosts were both close to 96%, and the expected number of uninfected and infected hosts recruited (via immigration/reproduction) was less than one host per disease state per 20-m site. The secondary driver of host-pathogen coexistence was spatial variation in pathogen transmission as we found that transmission was highest in areas of low abundance but there was no support for the source-sink hypothesis. Our results indicate that changes in the host community (i.e., through genetic or species composition) can reduce the impacts of emerging infectious disease post-outbreak. Our disease-structured N-mixture model represents a valuable advancement for conservation managers trying to understand underlying host-pathogen interactions and provides new opportunities to study disease dynamics in remnant host populations decimated by virulent pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graziella V DiRenzo
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20744, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
| | - Elise F Zipkin
- Department of Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
| | - Evan H Campbell Grant
- U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, SO Conte Anadromous Fish Research Lab, Turners Falls, Massachusetts, 01376, USA
| | - J Andrew Royle
- U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland, 20708-4017, USA
| | - Ana V Longo
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20744, USA
| | - Kelly R Zamudio
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14583, USA
| | - Karen R Lips
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20744, USA
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50
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Pawluk RJ, Uren Webster TM, Cable J, Garcia de Leaniz C, Consuegra S. Immune-Related Transcriptional Responses to Parasitic Infection in a Naturally Inbred Fish: Roles of Genotype and Individual Variation. Genome Biol Evol 2018; 10:319-327. [PMID: 29340582 PMCID: PMC5786212 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evx274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites are strong drivers of evolutionary change and the genetic variation of both host and parasite populations can co-evolve as a function of parasite virulence and host resistance. The role of transcriptome variation in specific interactions between host and parasite genotypes has been less studied and can be confounded by differences in genetic variation. We employed two naturally inbred lines of a self-fertilizing fish to estimate the role of host genotype in the transcriptome response to parasite infection using RNA-seq. In addition, we targeted several differentially expressed immune-related genes to further investigate the relative role of individual variation in the immune response using RT-qPCR, taking advantage of the genomic uniformity of the self-fertilizing lines. We found significant differences in gene expression between lines in response to infection both in the transcriptome and in individual gene RT-qPCR analyses. Individual RT-qPCR analyses of gene expression identified significant variance differences between lines for six genes but only for three genes between infected and control fish. Our results indicate that although the genetic background plays an important role in the transcriptome response to parasites, it cannot fully explain individual differences within genetically homogeneous lines, which can be important for determining the response to parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Jane Pawluk
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Tamsyn M Uren Webster
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Joanne Cable
- Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Carlos Garcia de Leaniz
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Sofia Consuegra
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Wales, United Kingdom
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