1
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von Takach B, Ranjard L, Burridge CP, Cameron SF, Cremona T, Eldridge MDB, Fisher DO, Frankenberg S, Hill BM, Hohnen R, Jolly CJ, Kelly E, MacDonald AJ, Moussalli A, Ottewell K, Phillips BL, Radford IJ, Spencer PBS, Trewella GJ, Umbrello LS, Banks SC. Population genomics of a predatory mammal reveals patterns of decline and impacts of exposure to toxic toads. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5468-5486. [PMID: 36056907 PMCID: PMC9826391 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Mammal declines across northern Australia are one of the major biodiversity loss events occurring globally. There has been no regional assessment of the implications of these species declines for genomic diversity. To address this, we conducted a species-wide assessment of genomic diversity in the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus), an Endangered marsupial carnivore. We used next generation sequencing methods to genotype 10,191 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 352 individuals from across a 3220-km length of the continent, investigating patterns of population genomic structure and diversity, and identifying loci showing signals of putative selection. We found strong heterogeneity in the distribution of genomic diversity across the continent, characterized by (i) biogeographical barriers driving hierarchical population structure through long-term isolation, and (ii) severe reductions in diversity resulting from population declines, exacerbated by the spread of introduced toxic cane toads (Rhinella marina). These results warn of a large ongoing loss of genomic diversity and associated adaptive capacity as mammals decline across northern Australia. Encouragingly, populations of the northern quoll established on toad-free islands by translocations appear to have maintained most of the initial genomic diversity after 16 years. By mapping patterns of genomic diversity within and among populations, and investigating these patterns in the context of population declines, we can provide conservation managers with data critical to informed decision-making. This includes the identification of populations that are candidates for genetic management, the importance of remnant island and insurance/translocated populations for the conservation of genetic diversity, and the characterization of putative evolutionarily significant units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenton von Takach
- Research Institute for the Environment and LivelihoodsCharles Darwin UniversityDarwinNorthern TerritoryAustralia,School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Louis Ranjard
- The Research School of Biology, Faculty of ScienceThe Australian National UniversityActonAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia,PlantTech Research InstituteTaurangaNew Zealand
| | | | - Skye F. Cameron
- Australian Wildlife ConservancyKimberleyWestern AustraliaAustralia,School of Biological SciencesUniversity of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Teigan Cremona
- Research Institute for the Environment and LivelihoodsCharles Darwin UniversityDarwinNorthern TerritoryAustralia
| | | | - Diana O. Fisher
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | | | - Brydie M. Hill
- Flora and Fauna Division, Department of Environment, Parks and Water SecurityNorthern Territory GovernmentNorthern TerritoryAustralia
| | - Rosemary Hohnen
- Research Institute for the Environment and LivelihoodsCharles Darwin UniversityDarwinNorthern TerritoryAustralia
| | - Chris J. Jolly
- Institute of Land, Water and Society, School of Environmental ScienceCharles Sturt UniversityAlburyNew South WalesAustralia,School of Natural SciencesMacquarie UniversityMacquarie ParkNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Ella Kelly
- School of BioSciencesUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Anna J. MacDonald
- The Research School of Biology, Faculty of ScienceThe Australian National UniversityActonAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia,Australian Antarctic Division, Department of AgricultureWater and the EnvironmentKingstonTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Adnan Moussalli
- School of BioSciencesUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia,Department of ScienceMuseums VictoriaMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Kym Ottewell
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionsPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Ben L. Phillips
- School of BioSciencesUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Ian J. Radford
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionsPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Peter B. S. Spencer
- Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Gavin J. Trewella
- Research Institute for the Environment and LivelihoodsCharles Darwin UniversityDarwinNorthern TerritoryAustralia
| | - Linette S. Umbrello
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionsPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia,Collections and Research CentreWestern Australian MuseumWelshpoolWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Sam C. Banks
- Research Institute for the Environment and LivelihoodsCharles Darwin UniversityDarwinNorthern TerritoryAustralia
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2
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Farquharson KA, McLennan EA, Cheng Y, Alexander L, Fox S, Lee AV, Belov K, Hogg CJ. Restoring faith in conservation action: Maintaining wild genetic diversity through the Tasmanian devil insurance program. iScience 2022; 25:104474. [PMID: 35754729 PMCID: PMC9218385 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Conservation breeding programs aim to maintain 90% wild genetic diversity, but rarely assess functional diversity. Here, we compare both genome-wide and functional diversity (in over 500 genes) of Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) within the insurance metapopulation and across the species’ range (64,519 km2). Populations have declined by 80% since 1996 due to a contagious cancer, devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). However, predicted local extinctions have not occurred. Recent suggestions of selection for “resistance” alleles in the wild precipitated concerns that insurance population devils may be unsuitable for translocations. Using 830 wild samples collected at 31 locations between 2012 and 2021, and 553 insurance metapopulation devils, we show that the insurance metapopulation is representative of current wild genetic diversity. Allele frequencies at DFTD-associated loci were not substantially different between captive and wild devils. Methods presented here are valuable for others investigating evolutionary potential in threatened species, particularly ones under significant selective pressures. Developed target capture to assess functional diversity at over 500 genes Fine-scale structure exists in the genetically depauperate Tasmanian devil Insurance metapopulation is representative of wild genetic diversity Allele frequencies at disease-associated loci were similar in captivity to the wild
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elspeth A McLennan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Lauren Alexander
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Samantha Fox
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, NRE Tasmania, Hobart, Tas 7001, Australia.,Toledo Zoo, 2605 Broadway, Toledo, OH 43609, USA
| | - Andrew V Lee
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, NRE Tasmania, Hobart, Tas 7001, Australia.,Toledo Zoo, 2605 Broadway, Toledo, OH 43609, USA
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, PO BOX 120551, San Diego, CA 92112, USA
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3
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Roycroft E, MacDonald AJ, Moritz C, Moussalli A, Portela Miguez R, Rowe KC. Museum genomics reveals the rapid decline and extinction of Australian rodents since European settlement. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2021390118. [PMID: 34183409 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2021390118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Australia has the highest historically recorded rate of mammalian extinction in the world, with 34 terrestrial species declared extinct since European colonization in 1788. Among Australian mammals, rodents have been the most severely affected by these recent extinctions; however, given a sparse historical record, the scale and timing of their decline remain unresolved. Using museum specimens up to 184 y old, we generate genomic-scale data from across the entire assemblage of Australian hydromyine rodents (i.e., eight extinct species and their 42 living relatives). We reconstruct a phylogenomic tree for these species spanning ∼5.2 million years, revealing a cumulative total of 10 million years (>10%) of unique evolutionary history lost to extinction within the past ∼150 y. We find no evidence for reduced genetic diversity in extinct species just prior to or during decline, indicating that their extinction was extremely rapid. This suggests that populations of extinct Australian rodents were large prior to European colonization, and that genetic diversity does not necessarily protect species from catastrophic extinction. In addition, comparative analyses suggest that body size and biome interact to predict extinction and decline, with larger species more likely to go extinct. Finally, we taxonomically resurrect a species from extinction, Gould's mouse (Pseudomys gouldii Waterhouse, 1839), which survives as an island population in Shark Bay, Western Australia (currently classified as Pseudomys fieldi Waite, 1896). With unprecedented sampling across a radiation of extinct and living species, we unlock a previously inaccessible historical perspective on extinction in Australia. Our results highlight the capacity of collections-based research to inform conservation and management of persisting species.
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4
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Grueber CE, Farquharson KA, Wright BR, Wallis GP, Hogg CJ, Belov K. First evidence of deviation from Mendelian proportions in a conservation programme. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:3703-3715. [PMID: 34051005 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Classic Mendelian inheritance is the bedrock of population genetics and underpins pedigree-based management of animal populations. However, assumptions of Mendelian inheritance might not be upheld in conservation breeding programmes if early viability selection occurs, even when efforts are made to equalise genetic contributions of breeders. To test this possibility, we investigated deviations from Mendelian proportions in a captive metapopulation of the endangered Tasmanian devil. This marsupial population is ideal for addressing evolutionary questions in conservation due to its large size, range of enclosure types (varying in environmental conditions), good genomic resources (which aid interpretation), and the species' biology. Devil mothers give birth to more offspring than they can nurse in the pouch, providing the potential for intense viability selection amongst embryos. We used data from 140 known sire-dam-offspring triads to isolate within-family selection from population-level mechanisms (such as mate choice or inbreeding), and compared observed offspring genotypes at 123 targeted SNPs to neutral (i.e., Mendelian) expectations. We found lower offspring heterozygosity than expected, and subtle patterns that varied across a gradient of management intensity from zoo-like enclosures to semi-wild environments for some loci. Meiotic drive or maternal-foetal incompatibilities are consistent with our results, although we cannot statistically confirm these mechanisms. We found some evidence that maternal genotype affects annual litter size, suggesting that family-level patterns are driven by differential offspring mortality before birth or during early development. Our results show that deviations from Mendelian inheritance can occur in conservation programmes, despite best-practice management to prevent selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E Grueber
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Katherine A Farquharson
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Belinda R Wright
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Graham P Wallis
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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5
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Stahlke AR, Epstein B, Barbosa S, Margres MJ, Patton AH, Hendricks SA, Veillet A, Fraik AK, Schönfeld B, McCallum HI, Hamede R, Jones ME, Storfer A, Hohenlohe PA. Contemporary and historical selection in Tasmanian devils ( Sarcophilus harrisii) support novel, polygenic response to transmissible cancer. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210577. [PMID: 34034517 PMCID: PMC8150010 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) are evolving in response to a unique transmissible cancer, devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), first described in 1996. Persistence of wild populations and the recent emergence of a second independently evolved transmissible cancer suggest that transmissible cancers may be a recurrent feature in devils. Here, we compared signatures of selection across temporal scales to determine whether genes or gene pathways under contemporary selection (six to eight generations) have also been subject to historical selection (65-85 Myr). First, we used targeted sequencing, RAD-capture, in approximately 2500 devils in six populations to identify genomic regions subject to rapid evolution. We documented genome-wide contemporary evolution, including 186 candidate genes related to cell cycling and immune response. Then we used a molecular evolution approach to identify historical positive selection in devils compared to other marsupials and found evidence of selection in 1773 genes. However, we found limited overlap across time scales, with only 16 shared candidate genes, and no overlap in enriched functional gene sets. Our results are consistent with a novel, multi-locus evolutionary response of devils to DFTD. Our results can inform conservation by identifying high priority targets for genetic monitoring and guiding maintenance of adaptive potential in managed populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R. Stahlke
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Brendan Epstein
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Soraia Barbosa
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Mark J. Margres
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Austin H. Patton
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Sarah A. Hendricks
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Anne Veillet
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Alexandra K. Fraik
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Barbara Schönfeld
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Hamish I. McCallum
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Menna E. Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Paul A. Hohenlohe
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
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6
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Abstract
Conservation breeding programs such as zoos play a major role in preventing extinction, but their sustainability may be impeded by neutral and adaptive population genetic change. These changes are difficult to detect for a single species or context, and impact global conservation efforts. We analyse pedigree data from 15 vertebrate species – over 30,000 individuals – to examine offspring survival over generations of captive breeding. Even accounting for inbreeding, we find that the impacts of increasing generations in captivity are highly variable across species, with some showing substantial increases or decreases in offspring survival over generations. We find further differences between dam and sire effects in first- versus multi-generational analysis. Crucially, our multispecies analysis reveals that responses to captivity could not be predicted from species’ evolutionary (phylogenetic) relationships. Even under best-practice captive management, generational fitness changes that cannot be explained by known processes (such as inbreeding depression), are occurring. Captive breeding could prevent species extinctions, but selection for captivity may decrease fitness. Here the authors analyse pedigree data on 15 long-running vertebrate breeding programs and find generational fitness changes that processes such as inbreeding depression cannot explain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Farquharson
- The University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- The University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Catherine E Grueber
- The University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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7
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Hamede R, Madsen T, McCallum H, Storfer A, Hohenlohe PA, Siddle H, Kaufman J, Giraudeau M, Jones M, Thomas F, Ujvari B. Darwin, the devil, and the management of transmissible cancers. Conserv Biol 2021; 35:748-751. [PMID: 32992406 PMCID: PMC8048418 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Thomas Madsen
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of WollongongWollongongNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Hamish McCallum
- School of Environment and ScienceGriffith University, Nathan CampusNathanQueenslandAustralia
| | - Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological SciencesWashington State UniversityPullmanWAU.S.A.
| | - Paul A. Hohenlohe
- Department of Biological SciencesInstitute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of IdahoMoscowIDU.S.A.
| | - Hannah Siddle
- Centre for Biological SciencesUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonSO17 1BJU.K.
| | - Jim Kaufman
- Department of PathologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 1QPU.K.
| | - Mathieu Giraudeau
- Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer/Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueMontpellierFrance
| | - Menna Jones
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer/Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueMontpellierFrance
| | - Beata Ujvari
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVictoriaAustralia
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8
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Kwon YM, Gori K, Park N, Potts N, Swift K, Wang J, Stammnitz MR, Cannell N, Baez-Ortega A, Comte S, Fox S, Harmsen C, Huxtable S, Jones M, Kreiss A, Lawrence C, Lazenby B, Peck S, Pye R, Woods G, Zimmermann M, Wedge DC, Pemberton D, Stratton MR, Hamede R, Murchison EP. Evolution and lineage dynamics of a transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000926. [PMID: 33232318 PMCID: PMC7685465 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Devil facial tumour 1 (DFT1) is a transmissible cancer clone endangering the Tasmanian devil. The expansion of DFT1 across Tasmania has been documented, but little is known of its evolutionary history. We analysed genomes of 648 DFT1 tumours collected throughout the disease range between 2003 and 2018. DFT1 diverged early into five clades, three spreading widely and two failing to persist. One clade has replaced others at several sites, and rates of DFT1 coinfection are high. DFT1 gradually accumulates copy number variants (CNVs), and its telomere lengths are short but constant. Recurrent CNVs reveal genes under positive selection, sites of genome instability, and repeated loss of a small derived chromosome. Cultured DFT1 cell lines have increased CNV frequency and undergo highly reproducible convergent evolution. Overall, DFT1 is a remarkably stable lineage whose genome illustrates how cancer cells adapt to diverse environments and persist in a parasitic niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Mi Kwon
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Gori
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Naomi Park
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Nicole Potts
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Swift
- Mount Pleasant Laboratories, Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment (DPIPWE), Prospect, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Jinhong Wang
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Maximilian R. Stammnitz
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Naomi Cannell
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Baez-Ortega
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastien Comte
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Samantha Fox
- Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment (DPIPWE), Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Toledo Zoo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Colette Harmsen
- Mount Pleasant Laboratories, Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment (DPIPWE), Prospect, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Stewart Huxtable
- Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment (DPIPWE), Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Menna Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Alexandre Kreiss
- Menzies Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Clare Lawrence
- Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment (DPIPWE), Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Billie Lazenby
- Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment (DPIPWE), Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Sarah Peck
- Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment (DPIPWE), Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Ruth Pye
- Menzies Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Gregory Woods
- Menzies Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Mona Zimmermann
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - David C. Wedge
- Oxford Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - David Pemberton
- Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment (DPIPWE), Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | | | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- CANECEV, Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer, Montpellier, France
| | - Elizabeth P. Murchison
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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9
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Kozakiewicz CP, Ricci L, Patton AH, Stahlke AR, Hendricks SA, Margres MJ, Ruiz-Aravena M, Hamilton DG, Hamede R, McCallum H, Jones ME, Hohenlohe PA, Storfer A. Comparative landscape genetics reveals differential effects of environment on host and pathogen genetic structure in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) and their transmissible tumour. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:3217-3233. [PMID: 32682353 PMCID: PMC9805799 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Genetic structure in host species is often used to predict disease spread. However, host and pathogen genetic variation may be incongruent. Understanding landscape factors that have either concordant or divergent influence on host and pathogen genetic structure is crucial for wildlife disease management. Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) was first observed in 1996 and has spread throughout almost the entire Tasmanian devil geographic range, causing dramatic population declines. Whereas DFTD is predominantly spread via biting among adults, devils typically disperse as juveniles, which experience low DFTD prevalence. Thus, we predicted little association between devil and tumour population structure and that environmental factors influencing gene flow differ between devils and tumours. We employed a comparative landscape genetics framework to test the influence of environmental factors on patterns of isolation by resistance (IBR) and isolation by environment (IBE) in devils and DFTD. Although we found evidence for broad-scale costructuring between devils and tumours, we found no relationship between host and tumour individual genetic distances. Further, the factors driving the spatial distribution of genetic variation differed for each. Devils exhibited a strong IBR pattern driven by major roads, with no evidence of IBE. By contrast, tumours showed little evidence for IBR and a weak IBE pattern with respect to elevation in one of two tumour clusters we identify herein. Our results warrant caution when inferring pathogen spread using host population genetic structure and suggest that reliance on environmental barriers to host connectivity may be ineffective for managing the spread of wildlife diseases. Our findings demonstrate the utility of comparative landscape genetics for identifying differential factors driving host dispersal and pathogen transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lauren Ricci
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Austin H. Patton
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA,Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Amanda R. Stahlke
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - Sarah A. Hendricks
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - Mark J. Margres
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Manuel Ruiz-Aravena
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia,Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - David G. Hamilton
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Hamish McCallum
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Menna E. Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Paul A. Hohenlohe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA,corresponding author: Andrew Storfer, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
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10
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Hamede R, Owen R, Siddle H, Peck S, Jones M, Dujon AM, Giraudeau M, Roche B, Ujvari B, Thomas F. The ecology and evolution of wildlife cancers: Applications for management and conservation. Evol Appl 2020; 13:1719-1732. [PMID: 32821279 PMCID: PMC7428810 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ecological and evolutionary concepts have been widely adopted to understand host-pathogen dynamics, and more recently, integrated into wildlife disease management. Cancer is a ubiquitous disease that affects most metazoan species; however, the role of oncogenic phenomena in eco-evolutionary processes and its implications for wildlife management and conservation remains undeveloped. Despite the pervasive nature of cancer across taxa, our ability to detect its occurrence, progression and prevalence in wildlife populations is constrained due to logistic and diagnostic limitations, which suggests that most cancers in the wild are unreported and understudied. Nevertheless, an increasing number of virus-associated and directly transmissible cancers in terrestrial and aquatic environments have been detected. Furthermore, anthropogenic activities and sudden environmental changes are increasingly associated with cancer incidence in wildlife. This highlights the need to upscale surveillance efforts, collection of critical data and developing novel approaches for studying the emergence and evolution of cancers in the wild. Here, we discuss the relevance of malignant cells as important agents of selection and offer a holistic framework to understand the interplay of ecological, epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of cancer in wildlife. We use a directly transmissible cancer (devil facial tumour disease) as a model system to reveal the potential evolutionary dynamics and broader ecological effects of cancer epidemics in wildlife. We provide further examples of tumour-host interactions and trade-offs that may lead to changes in life histories, and epidemiological and population dynamics. Within this framework, we explore immunological strategies at the individual level as well as transgenerational adaptations at the population level. Then, we highlight the need to integrate multiple disciplines to undertake comparative cancer research at the human-domestic-wildlife interface and their environments. Finally, we suggest strategies for screening cancer incidence in wildlife and discuss how to integrate ecological and evolutionary concepts in the management of current and future cancer epizootics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTas.Australia
- Centre for Integrative EcologySchool of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityVic.Australia
| | - Rachel Owen
- Centre for Biological SciencesUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
| | - Hannah Siddle
- Centre for Biological SciencesUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
| | - Sarah Peck
- Wildlife Veterinarian, Veterinary Register of TasmaniaSouth HobartTas.Australia
| | - Menna Jones
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTas.Australia
| | - Antoine M. Dujon
- Centre for Integrative EcologySchool of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityVic.Australia
| | - Mathieu Giraudeau
- Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer/Centre de Recherches en Ecologie et Evolution de la SantéUnité Mixte de RecherchesInstitut de Recherches pour le Développement 224‐Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 5290‐Université de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Benjamin Roche
- Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer/Centre de Recherches en Ecologie et Evolution de la SantéUnité Mixte de RecherchesInstitut de Recherches pour le Développement 224‐Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 5290‐Université de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Beata Ujvari
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTas.Australia
- Centre for Integrative EcologySchool of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityVic.Australia
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer/Centre de Recherches en Ecologie et Evolution de la SantéUnité Mixte de RecherchesInstitut de Recherches pour le Développement 224‐Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 5290‐Université de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
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11
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Fraik AK, Margres MJ, Epstein B, Barbosa S, Jones M, Hendricks S, Schönfeld B, Stahlke AR, Veillet A, Hamede R, McCallum H, Lopez-Contreras E, Kallinen SJ, Hohenlohe PA, Kelley JL, Storfer A. Disease swamps molecular signatures of genetic-environmental associations to abiotic factors in Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) populations. Evolution 2020; 74:1392-1408. [PMID: 32445281 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Landscape genomics studies focus on identifying candidate genes under selection via spatial variation in abiotic environmental variables, but rarely by biotic factors (i.e., disease). The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is found only on the environmentally heterogeneous island of Tasmania and is threatened with extinction by a transmissible cancer, devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). Devils persist in regions of long-term infection despite epidemiological model predictions of species' extinction, suggesting possible adaptation to DFTD. Here, we test the extent to which spatial variation and genetic diversity are associated with the abiotic environment (i.e., climatic variables, elevation, vegetation cover) and/or DFTD. We employ genetic-environment association analyses using 6886 SNPs from 3287 individuals sampled pre- and post-disease arrival across the devil's geographic range. Pre-disease, we find significant correlations of allele frequencies with environmental variables, including 365 unique loci linked to 71 genes, suggesting local adaptation to abiotic environment. The majority of candidate loci detected pre-DFTD are not detected post-DFTD arrival. Several post-DFTD candidate loci are associated with disease prevalence and were in linkage disequilibrium with genes involved in tumor suppression and immune response. Loss of apparent signal of abiotic local adaptation post-disease suggests swamping by strong selection resulting from the rapid onset of DFTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra K Fraik
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164
| | - Mark J Margres
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164
| | - Brendan Epstein
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164.,Plant Biology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455
| | - Soraia Barbosa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, Idaho, 83844
| | - Menna Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7004, Australia
| | - Sarah Hendricks
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, Idaho, 83844
| | - Barbara Schönfeld
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7004, Australia
| | - Amanda R Stahlke
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, Idaho, 83844
| | - Anne Veillet
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, Idaho, 83844
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7004, Australia
| | - Hamish McCallum
- School of Environment, Griffith University Nathan, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Elisa Lopez-Contreras
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164
| | - Samantha J Kallinen
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164
| | - Paul A Hohenlohe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, Idaho, 83844
| | - Joanna L Kelley
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164
| | - Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164
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12
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Patchett AL, Coorens THH, Darby J, Wilson R, McKay MJ, Kamath KS, Rubin A, Wakefield M, Mcintosh L, Mangiola S, Pye RJ, Flies AS, Corcoran LM, Lyons AB, Woods GM, Murchison EP, Papenfuss AT, Tovar C. Two of a kind: transmissible Schwann cell cancers in the endangered Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:1847-1858. [PMID: 31375869 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03259-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) comprises two genetically distinct transmissible cancers (DFT1 and DFT2) endangering the survival of the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) in the wild. DFT1 first arose from a cell of the Schwann cell lineage; however, the tissue-of-origin of the recently discovered DFT2 cancer is unknown. In this study, we compared the transcriptome and proteome of DFT2 tumours to DFT1 and normal Tasmanian devil tissues to determine the tissue-of-origin of the DFT2 cancer. Our findings demonstrate that DFT2 expresses a range of Schwann cell markers and exhibits expression patterns consistent with a similar origin to the DFT1 cancer. Furthermore, DFT2 cells express genes associated with the repair response to peripheral nerve damage. These findings suggest that devils may be predisposed to transmissible cancers of Schwann cell origin. The combined effect of factors such as frequent nerve damage from biting, Schwann cell plasticity and low genetic diversity may allow these cancers to develop on rare occasions. The emergence of two independent transmissible cancers from the same tissue in the Tasmanian devil presents an unprecedented opportunity to gain insight into cancer development, evolution and immune evasion in mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
| | - Tim H H Coorens
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Jocelyn Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Richard Wilson
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Matthew J McKay
- Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Karthik S Kamath
- Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Alan Rubin
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Matthew Wakefield
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Lachlan Mcintosh
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Stefano Mangiola
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Ruth J Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Lynn M Corcoran
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | | | - Anthony T Papenfuss
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Cesar Tovar
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
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13
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McLennan EA, Grueber CE, Wise P, Belov K, Hogg CJ. Mixing genetically differentiated populations successfully boosts diversity of an endangered carnivore. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. A. McLennan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - C. E. Grueber
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
- San Diego Zoo Global San Diego CA USA
| | - P. Wise
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, DPIPWE Hobart Tas Australia
| | - K. Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - C. J. Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
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14
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D’Urban Jackson J, Bruford MW, Székely T, DaCosta JM, Sorenson MD, Russo IRM, Maher KH, Cruz-López M, Galindo-Espinosa D, Palacios E, De Sucre-Medrano AE, Cavitt J, Pruner R, Morales AL, Gonzalez O, Burke T, Küpper C. Population differentiation and historical demography of the threatened snowy plover Charadrius nivosus (Cassin, 1858). CONSERV GENET 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-020-01256-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractDelineating conservation units is a complex and often controversial process that is particularly challenging for highly vagile species. Here, we reassess population genetic structure and identify those populations of highest conservation value in the threatened snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus, Cassin, 1858), a partial migrant shorebird endemic to the Americas. We use four categories of genetic data—mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), microsatellites, Z-linked and autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)—to: (1) assess subspecies delineation and examine population structure (2) compare the sensitivity of the different types of genetic data to detect spatial genetic patterns, and (3) reconstruct demographic history of the populations analysed. Delineation of two traditionally recognised subspecies was broadly supported by all data. In addition, microsatellite and SNPs but not mtDNA supported the recognition of Caribbean snowy plovers (C. n. tenuirostris) and Floridian populations (eastern C. n. nivosus) as distinct genetic lineage and deme, respectively. Low migration rates estimated from autosomal SNPs (m < 0.03) reflect a general paucity of exchange between genetic lineages. In contrast, we detected strong unidirectional migration (m = 0.26) from the western into the eastern nivosus deme. Within western nivosus, we found no genetic differentiation between coastal Pacific and inland populations. The correlation between geographic and genetic distances was weak but significant for all genetic data sets. All demes showed signatures of bottlenecks occurring during the past 1000 years. We conclude that at least four snowy plover conservation units are warranted: in addition to subspecies nivosus and occidentalis, a third unit comprises the Caribbean tenuirostris lineage and a fourth unit the distinct eastern nivosus deme.
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15
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Patton AH, Margres MJ, Stahlke AR, Hendricks S, Lewallen K, Hamede RK, Ruiz-Aravena M, Ryder O, McCallum HI, Jones ME, Hohenlohe PA, Storfer A. Contemporary Demographic Reconstruction Methods Are Robust to Genome Assembly Quality: A Case Study in Tasmanian Devils. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 36:2906-2921. [PMID: 31424552 PMCID: PMC6878949 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Reconstructing species’ demographic histories is a central focus of molecular ecology and evolution. Recently, an expanding suite of methods leveraging either the sequentially Markovian coalescent (SMC) or the site-frequency spectrum has been developed to reconstruct population size histories from genomic sequence data. However, few studies have investigated the robustness of these methods to genome assemblies of varying quality. In this study, we first present an improved genome assembly for the Tasmanian devil using the Chicago library method. Compared with the original reference genome, our new assembly reduces the number of scaffolds (from 35,975 to 10,010) and increases the scaffold N90 (from 0.101 to 2.164 Mb). Second, we assess the performance of four contemporary genomic methods for inferring population size history (PSMC, MSMC, SMC++, Stairway Plot), using the two devil genome assemblies as well as simulated, artificially fragmented genomes that approximate the hypothesized demographic history of Tasmanian devils. We demonstrate that each method is robust to assembly quality, producing similar estimates of Ne when simulated genomes were fragmented into up to 5,000 scaffolds. Overall, methods reliant on the SMC are most reliable between ∼300 generations before present (gbp) and 100 kgbp, whereas methods exclusively reliant on the site-frequency spectrum are most reliable between the present and 30 gbp. Our results suggest that when used in concert, genomic methods for reconstructing species’ effective population size histories 1) can be applied to nonmodel organisms without highly contiguous reference genomes, and 2) are capable of detecting independently documented effects of historical geological events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin H Patton
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
| | - Mark J Margres
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA.,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, MA
| | - Amanda R Stahlke
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
| | - Sarah Hendricks
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
| | - Kevin Lewallen
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
| | - Rodrigo K Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | | | - Oliver Ryder
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego, CA
| | | | - Menna E Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Paul A Hohenlohe
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
| | - Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
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16
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Cunningham CX, Johnson CN, Jones ME. A native apex predator limits an invasive mesopredator and protects native prey: Tasmanian devils protecting bandicoots from cats. Ecol Lett 2020; 23:711-721. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.13473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Calum X. Cunningham
- School of Natural Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
| | - Christopher N. Johnson
- School of Natural Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
| | - Menna E. Jones
- School of Natural Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
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17
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Flies AS, Flies EJ, Fox S, Gilbert A, Johnson SR, Liu GS, Lyons AB, Patchett AL, Pemberton D, Pye RJ. An oral bait vaccination approach for the Tasmanian devil facial tumor diseases. Expert Rev Vaccines 2020; 19:1-10. [PMID: 31971036 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2020.1711058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the largest extant carnivorous marsupial. Since 1996, its population has declined by 77% primarily due to a clonal transmissible tumor, known as devil facial tumor (DFT1) disease. In 2014, a second transmissible devil facial tumor (DFT2) was discovered. DFT1 and DFT2 are nearly 100% fatal.Areas covered: We review DFT control approaches and propose a rabies-style oral bait vaccine (OBV) platform for DFTs. This approach has an extensive safety record and was a primary tool in large-scale rabies virus elimination from wild carnivores across diverse landscapes. Like rabies virus, DFTs are transmitted by oral contact, so immunizing the oral cavity and stimulating resident memory cells could be advantageous. Additionally, exposing infected devils that already have tumors to OBVs could serve as an oncolytic virus immunotherapy. The primary challenges may be identifying appropriate DFT-specific antigens and optimization of field delivery methods.Expert opinion: DFT2 is currently found on a peninsula in southern Tasmania, so an OBV that could eliminate DFT2 should be the priority for this vaccine approach. Translation of an OBV approach to control DFTs will be challenging, but the approach is feasible for combatting ongoing and future disease threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Emily J Flies
- School of Natural Sciences, College of Sciences and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, Australia
| | - Samantha Fox
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, DPIPWE, Hobart, Australia.,Toledo Zoo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Amy Gilbert
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Shylo R Johnson
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Guei-Sheung Liu
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Amanda L Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | | | - Ruth J Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
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18
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Patchett AL, Flies AS, Lyons AB, Woods GM. Curse of the devil: molecular insights into the emergence of transmissible cancers in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:2507-2525. [PMID: 31900624 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03435-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the only mammalian species known to be affected by multiple transmissible cancers. Devil facial tumours 1 and 2 (DFT1 and DFT2) are independent neoplastic cell lineages that produce large, disfiguring cancers known as devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). The long-term persistence of wild Tasmanian devils is threatened due to the ability of DFTD cells to propagate as contagious allografts and the high mortality rate of DFTD. Recent studies have demonstrated that both DFT1 and DFT2 cancers originated from founder cells of the Schwann cell lineage, an uncommon origin of malignant cancer in humans. This unprecedented finding has revealed a potential predisposition of Tasmanian devils to transmissible cancers of the Schwann cell lineage. In this review, we compare the molecular nature of human Schwann cells and nerve sheath tumours with DFT1 and DFT2 to gain insights into the emergence of transmissible cancers in the Tasmanian devil. We discuss a potential mechanism, whereby Schwann cell plasticity and frequent wounding in Tasmanian devils combine with an inherent cancer predisposition and low genetic diversity to give rise to transmissible Schwann cell cancers in devils on rare occasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
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19
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Abstract
Marsupial genomes, which are packaged into large chromosomes, provide a powerful resource for studying the mechanisms of genome evolution. The extensive and valuable body of work on marsupial cytogenetics, combined more recently with genome sequence data, has enabled prediction of the 2n = 14 karyotype ancestral to all marsupial families. The application of both chromosome biology and genome sequencing, or chromosomics, has been a necessary approach for various aspects of mammalian genome evolution, such as understanding sex chromosome evolution and the origin and evolution of transmissible tumors in Tasmanian devils. The next phase of marsupial genome evolution research will employ chromosomics approaches to begin addressing fundamental questions in marsupial genome evolution and chromosome evolution more generally. The answers to these complex questions will impact our understanding across a broad range of fields, including the genetics of speciation, genome adaptation to environmental stressors, and species management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine E Deakin
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2617, Australia;
| | - Rachel J O'Neill
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA;
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20
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Fraik AK, Quackenbush C, Margres MJ, Comte S, Hamilton DG, Kozakiewicz CP, Jones M, Hamede R, Hohenlohe PA, Storfer A, Kelley JL. Transcriptomics of Tasmanian Devil ( Sarcophilus Harrisii) Ear Tissue Reveals Homogeneous Gene Expression Patterns across a Heterogeneous Landscape. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E801. [PMID: 31614864 PMCID: PMC6826840 DOI: 10.3390/genes10100801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In an era of unprecedented global change, exploring patterns of gene expression among wild populations across their geographic range is crucial for characterizing adaptive potential. RNA-sequencing studies have successfully characterized gene expression differences among populations experiencing divergent environmental conditions in a wide variety of taxa. However, few of these studies have identified transcriptomic signatures to multivariate, environmental stimuli among populations in their natural environments. Herein, we aim to identify environmental and sex-driven patterns of gene expression in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), a critically endangered species that occupies a heterogeneous environment. We performed RNA-sequencing on ear tissue biopsies from adult male and female devils from three populations at the extremes of their geographic range. There were no transcriptome-wide patterns of differential gene expression that would be suggestive of significant, environmentally-driven transcriptomic responses. The general lack of transcriptome-wide variation in gene expression levels across the devil's geographic range is consistent with previous studies that documented low levels of genetic variation in the species. However, genes previously implicated in local adaptation to abiotic environment in devils were enriched for differentially expressed genes. Additionally, three modules of co-expressed genes were significantly associated with either population of origin or sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra K Fraik
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
| | - Corey Quackenbush
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
| | - Mark J Margres
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
| | - Sebastien Comte
- School of Natural Sciences, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia.
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, 1447 Forest Road, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.
| | | | | | - Menna Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia.
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia.
| | - Paul A Hohenlohe
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, ID 83844, USA.
| | - Andrew Storfer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, ID 83844, USA.
| | - Joanna L Kelley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, ID 83844, USA.
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Hohenlohe PA, McCallum HI, Jones ME, Lawrance MF, Hamede RK, Storfer A. Conserving adaptive potential: lessons from Tasmanian devils and their transmissible cancer. CONSERV GENET 2019; 20:81-87. [PMID: 31551664 PMCID: PMC6759055 DOI: 10.1007/s10592-019-01157-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Maintenance of adaptive genetic variation has long been a goal of management of natural populations, but only recently have genomic tools allowed identification of specific loci associated with fitness-related traits in species of conservation concern. This raises the possibility of managing for genetic variation directly relevant to specific threats, such as those due to climate change or emerging infectious disease. Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) face the threat of a transmissible cancer, devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), that has decimated wild populations and led to intensive management efforts. Recent discoveries from genomic and modeling studies reveal how natural devil populations are responding to DFTD, and can inform management of both captive and wild devil populations. Notably, recent studies have documented genetic variation for disease-related traits and rapid evolution in response to DFTD, as well as potential mechanisms for disease resistance such as immune response and tumor regression in wild devils. Recent models predict dynamic persistence of devils with or without DFTD under a variety of modeling scenarios, although at much lower population densities than before DFTD emerged, contrary to previous predictions of extinction. As a result, current management that focuses on captive breeding and release for maintaining genome-wide genetic diversity or demographic supplementation of populations could have negative consequences. Translocations of captive devils into wild populations evolving with DFTD can cause outbreeding depression and/or increases in the force of infection and thereby the severity of the epidemic, and we argue that these risks outweigh any benefits of demographic supplementation in wild populations. We also argue that genetic variation at loci associated with DFTD should be monitored in both captive and wild populations, and that as our understanding of DFTD-related genetic variation improves, considering genetic management approaches to target this variation is warranted in developing conservation strategies for Tasmanian devils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A. Hohenlohe
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USA
| | - Hamish I. McCallum
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Menna E. Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Matthew F. Lawrance
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Rodrigo K. Hamede
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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22
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Margres MJ, Jones ME, Epstein B, Kerlin DH, Comte S, Fox S, Fraik AK, Hendricks SA, Huxtable S, Lachish S, Lazenby B, O'Rourke SM, Stahlke AR, Wiench CG, Hamede R, Schönfeld B, McCallum H, Miller MR, Hohenlohe PA, Storfer A. Large-effect loci affect survival in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) infected with a transmissible cancer. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:4189-4199. [PMID: 30171778 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Identifying the genetic architecture of complex phenotypes is a central goal of modern biology, particularly for disease-related traits. Genome-wide association methods are a classical approach for identifying the genomic basis of variation in disease phenotypes, but such analyses are particularly challenging in natural populations due to sample size difficulties. Extensive mark-recapture data, strong linkage disequilibrium and a lethal transmissible cancer make the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) an ideal model for such an association study. We used a RAD-capture approach to genotype 624 devils at ~16,000 loci and then used association analyses to assess the heritability of three cancer-related phenotypes: infection case-control (where cases were infected devils and controls were devils that were never infected), age of first infection and survival following infection. The SNP array explained much of the phenotypic variance for female survival (>80%) and female case-control (>61%). We found that a few large-effect SNPs explained much of the variance for female survival (~5 SNPs explained >61% of the total variance), whereas more SNPs (~56) of smaller effect explained less of the variance for female case-control (~23% of the total variance). By contrast, these same SNPs did not account for a significant proportion of phenotypic variance in males, suggesting that the genetic bases of these traits and/or selection differ across sexes. Loci involved with cell adhesion and cell-cycle regulation underlay trait variation, suggesting that the devil immune system is rapidly evolving to recognize and potentially suppress cancer growth through these pathways. Overall, our study provided necessary data for genomics-based conservation and management in Tasmanian devils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Margres
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
| | - Menna E Jones
- School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Brendan Epstein
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
| | - Douglas H Kerlin
- School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sebastien Comte
- School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Samantha Fox
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Alexandra K Fraik
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
| | - Sarah A Hendricks
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho
| | - Stewart Huxtable
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | | | - Billie Lazenby
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Sean M O'Rourke
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Amanda R Stahlke
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho
| | - Cody G Wiench
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.,Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Barbara Schönfeld
- School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Hamish McCallum
- School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael R Miller
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Paul A Hohenlohe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho
| | - Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
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Peel E, Belov K. Lessons learnt from the Tasmanian devil facial tumour regarding immune function in cancer. Mamm Genome 2018; 29:731-8. [PMID: 30225648 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-018-9782-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Genetic and genomic technologies have facilitated a greater understanding of the Tasmanian devil immune system and the origins, evolution and spread of devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). DFTD is a contagious cancer that has caused significant declines in devil populations across Tasmania. Immune responses to DFTD are rarely detected, allowing the cancer to pass between individuals and proliferate unimpeded. Early immunosenscence in devils appears to decrease anti-tumour immunity in older animals compared to younger animals, which may increase susceptibility to DFTD and explain high DFTD prevalence in this age group. Devils also have extremely low major histocompatibility complex (MHC) diversity, and multiple alleles are shared with the tumour, lowering histocompatibility barriers which may have contributed to DFTD evolution. DFTD actively evades immune attack by down-regulating cell-surface MHC I molecules, making it effectively invisible to the immune system. Altered MHC I profiles should activate natural killer (NK) cell anti-tumour responses, but these are absent in DFTD infection. Recent immunisation and immunotherapy using modified DFTD cells has induced an anti-DFTD immune response and regression of DFTD in some devils. Knowledge gained from immune responses to a transmissible cancer in devils will ultimately reveal useful insights into immunity to cancer in humans and other species.
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Storfer A, Hohenlohe PA, Margres MJ, Patton A, Fraik AK, Lawrance M, Ricci LE, Stahlke AR, McCallum HI, Jones ME. The devil is in the details: Genomics of transmissible cancers in Tasmanian devils. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007098. [PMID: 30071111 PMCID: PMC6084034 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Paul A. Hohenlohe
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
| | - Mark J. Margres
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Austin Patton
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Alexandra K. Fraik
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Matthew Lawrance
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Lauren E. Ricci
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Amanda R. Stahlke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
| | | | - Menna E. Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
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Grueber C, Fox S, Belov K, Pemberton D, Hogg C. Landscape-level field data reveal broad-scale effects of a fatal, transmissible cancer on population ecology of the Tasmanian devil. Mamm Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2018.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Stammnitz MR, Coorens THH, Gori KC, Hayes D, Fu B, Wang J, Martin-Herranz DE, Alexandrov LB, Baez-Ortega A, Barthorpe S, Beck A, Giordano F, Knowles GW, Kwon YM, Hall G, Price S, Pye RJ, Tubio JMC, Siddle HVT, Sohal SS, Woods GM, McDermott U, Yang F, Garnett MJ, Ning Z, Murchison EP. The Origins and Vulnerabilities of Two Transmissible Cancers in Tasmanian Devils. Cancer Cell 2018; 33:607-619.e15. [PMID: 29634948 PMCID: PMC5896245 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2018.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Transmissible cancers are clonal lineages that spread through populations via contagious cancer cells. Although rare in nature, two facial tumor clones affect Tasmanian devils. Here we perform comparative genetic and functional characterization of these lineages. The two cancers have similar patterns of mutation and show no evidence of exposure to exogenous mutagens or viruses. Genes encoding PDGF receptors have copy number gains and are present on extrachromosomal double minutes. Drug screening indicates causative roles for receptor tyrosine kinases and sensitivity to inhibitors of DNA repair. Y chromosome loss from a male clone infecting a female host suggests immunoediting. These results imply that Tasmanian devils may have inherent susceptibility to transmissible cancers and present a suite of therapeutic compounds for use in conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian R Stammnitz
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Tim H H Coorens
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Kevin C Gori
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Dane Hayes
- Mount Pleasant Laboratories, Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment, Prospect, TAS 7250, Australia; School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS 7248, Australia
| | - Beiyuan Fu
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Jinhong Wang
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Daniel E Martin-Herranz
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Ludmil B Alexandrov
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Adrian Baez-Ortega
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Syd Barthorpe
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Alexandra Beck
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Francesca Giordano
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Graeme W Knowles
- Mount Pleasant Laboratories, Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment, Prospect, TAS 7250, Australia
| | - Young Mi Kwon
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - George Hall
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Stacey Price
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Ruth J Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Jose M C Tubio
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Hannah V T Siddle
- Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Sukhwinder Singh Sohal
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS 7248, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Ultan McDermott
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Fengtang Yang
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Mathew J Garnett
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Zemin Ning
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Elizabeth P Murchison
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.
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Russell T, Lisovski S, Olsson M, Brown G, Spindler R, Lane A, Keeley T, Hibbard C, Hogg CJ, Thomas F, Belov K, Ujvari B, Madsen T. MHC diversity and female age underpin reproductive success in an Australian icon; the Tasmanian Devil. Sci Rep 2018; 8:4175. [PMID: 29520077 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20934-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a highly contagious cancer, has decimated Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) numbers in the wild. To ensure its long-term survival, a captive breeding program was implemented but has not been as successful as envisaged at its launch in 2005. We therefore investigated the reproductive success of 65 captive devil pair combinations, of which 35 produced offspring (successful pairs) whereas the remaining 30 pairs, despite being observed mating, produced no offspring (unsuccessful pairs). The devils were screened at six MHC Class I-linked microsatellite loci. Our analyses revealed that younger females had a higher probability of being successful than older females. In the successful pairs we also observed a higher difference in total number of heterozygous loci, i.e. when one devil had a high total number of heterozygous loci, its partner had low numbers. Our results therefore suggest that devil reproductive success is subject to disruptive MHC selection, which to our knowledge has never been recorded in any vertebrate. In order to enhance the success of the captive breeding program the results from the present study show the importance of using young (2-year old) females as well as subjecting the devils to MHC genotyping.
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Russell T, Madsen T, Thomas F, Raven N, Hamede R, Ujvari B. Oncogenesis as a Selective Force: Adaptive Evolution in the Face of a Transmissible Cancer. Bioessays 2018; 40. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201700146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2017] [Revised: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tracey Russell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of SydneySydneyNSW2006Australia
| | - Thomas Madsen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin UniversityWaurn PondsVictoria3218Australia
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CREEC/MIVEGEC, UMR IRD/CNRS/UM 5290911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 6450134394 Montpellier Cedex 5France
| | - Nynke Raven
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin UniversityWaurn PondsVictoria3218Australia
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin UniversityWaurn PondsVictoria3218Australia
- School of Natural Sciences University of TasmaniaPrivate Bag 55HobartTasmania7001Australia
| | - Beata Ujvari
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin UniversityWaurn PondsVictoria3218Australia
- School of Natural Sciences University of TasmaniaPrivate Bag 55HobartTasmania7001Australia
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29
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Bolton PE, Rollins LA, Brazill-boast J, Maute KL, Legge S, Austin JJ, Griffith SC. Genetic diversity through time and space: diversity and demographic history from natural history specimens and serially sampled contemporary populations of the threatened Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae). CONSERV GENET 2018; 19:737-54. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-018-1051-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Storfer A, Epstein B, Jones M, Micheletti S, Spear SF, Lachish S, Fox S. Landscape genetics of the Tasmanian devil: implications for spread of an infectious cancer. CONSERV GENET 2017; 18:1287-97. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-017-0980-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Brüniche-Olsen A, Hazlitt SL, Eldridge MDB. Genetic evidence of range-wide population declines in an Australian marsupial prior to European settlement. CONSERV GENET 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-017-0960-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Hendricks S, Epstein B, Schönfeld B, Wiench C, Hamede R, Jones M, Storfer A, Hohenlohe P. Conservation implications of limited genetic diversity and population structure in Tasmanian devils ( Sarcophilus harrisii). CONSERV GENET 2017; 18:977-982. [PMID: 28966567 DOI: 10.1007/s10592-017-0939-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Tasmanian devils face a combination of threats to persistence, including Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD), an epidemic transmissible cancer. We used RAD sequencing to investigate genome-wide patterns of genetic diversity and geographic population structure. Consistent with previous results, we found very low genetic diversity in the species as a whole, and we detected two broad genetic clusters occupying the northwestern portion of the range, and the central and eastern portions. However, these two groups overlap across a broad geographic area, and differentiation between them is modest (FST = 0.1081). Our results refine the geographic extent of the zone of mixed ancestry and substructure within it, potentially informing management of genetic variation that existed in pre-diseased populations of the species. DFTD has spread across both genetic clusters, but recent evidence points to a genomic response to selection imposed by DFTD. Any allelic variation for resistance to DFTD may be able to spread across the devil population under selection by DFTD, and/or be present as standing variation in both genetic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Hendricks
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Dr., Moscow, Idaho 83844-3051, USA
| | - Brendan Epstein
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
| | - Barbara Schönfeld
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart 7001, AUSTRALIA
| | - Cody Wiench
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Dr., Moscow, Idaho 83844-3051, USA
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart 7001, AUSTRALIA
| | - Menna Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart 7001, AUSTRALIA
| | - Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
| | - Paul Hohenlohe
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Dr., Moscow, Idaho 83844-3051, USA
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Hogg CJ, Lee AV, Srb C, Hibbard C. Metapopulation management of an Endangered species with limited genetic diversity in the presence of disease: the Tasmanian devilSarcophilus harrisii. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/izy.12144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- C. J. Hogg
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences; University of Sydney; Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
- Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia; Mosman NSW 2088 Australia
| | - A. V. Lee
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program; DPIPWE; Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
| | - C. Srb
- Healesville Sanctuary; Healesville VIC 3777 Australia
| | - C. Hibbard
- Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia; Mosman NSW 2088 Australia
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35
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Bergner LM, Dussex N, Jamieson IG, Robertson BC. European Colonization, Not Polynesian Arrival, Impacted Population Size and Genetic Diversity in the Critically Endangered New Zealand Kākāpō. J Hered 2016; 107:593-602. [DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esw065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Island endemic species are often vulnerable to decline and extinction following human settlement, and the genetic study of historical museum specimens can be useful in understanding these processes. The kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus) is a critically endangered New Zealand parrot that was formerly widespread and abundant. It is well established that both Polynesian and European colonization of New Zealand impacted the native avifauna, but the timeframe and severity of impacts have differed depending on species. Here, we investigated the relative importance of the 2 waves of human settlement on kākāpō decline, using microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to characterize recent kākāpō genetic and demographic history. We analyzed samples from 49 contemporary individuals and 54 museum specimens dating from 1884 to 1985. Genetic diversity decreased significantly between historical and contemporary kākāpō, with a decline in mean number of microsatellite alleles from 6.15 to 3.08 and in number of mtDNA haplotypes from 17 to 3. Modeling of demographic history indicated a recent population bottleneck linked to the period of European colonization (approximately 5 generations ago) but did not support a major decline linked to Polynesian settlement. Effective population size estimates were also larger for historical than contemporary kākāpō. Our findings inform contemporary kākāpō management by indicating the timeframe and possible cause of the bottleneck, which has implications for the management of extant genetic diversity. We demonstrate the broader utility of a historical perspective in understanding causes of decline and managing extinction risk in contemporary endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M. Bergner
- From the Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand (Bergner, Dussex, Jamieson, and Robertson) and Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK (Bergner)
| | - Nicolas Dussex
- From the Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand (Bergner, Dussex, Jamieson, and Robertson) and Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK (Bergner)
| | - Ian G. Jamieson
- From the Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand (Bergner, Dussex, Jamieson, and Robertson) and Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK (Bergner)
| | - Bruce C. Robertson
- From the Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand (Bergner, Dussex, Jamieson, and Robertson) and Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK (Bergner)
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Brüniche-Olsen A, Austin JJ, Jones ME, Holland BR, Burridge CP. Detecting Selection on Temporal and Spatial Scales: A Genomic Time-Series Assessment of Selective Responses to Devil Facial Tumor Disease. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147875. [PMID: 26930198 PMCID: PMC4773136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Detecting loci under selection is an important task in evolutionary biology. In conservation genetics detecting selection is key to investigating adaptation to the spread of infectious disease. Loci under selection can be detected on a spatial scale, accounting for differences in demographic history among populations, or on a temporal scale, tracing changes in allele frequencies over time. Here we use these two approaches to investigate selective responses to the spread of an infectious cancer—devil facial tumor disease (DFTD)—that since 1996 has ravaged the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Using time-series ‘restriction site associated DNA’ (RAD) markers from populations pre- and post DFTD arrival, and DFTD free populations, we infer loci under selection due to DFTD and investigate signatures of selection that are incongruent among methods, populations, and times. The lack of congruence among populations influenced by DFTD with respect to inferred loci under selection, and the direction of that selection, fail to implicate a consistent selective role for DFTD. Instead genetic drift is more likely driving the observed allele frequency changes over time. Our study illustrates the importance of applying methods with different performance optima e.g. accounting for population structure and background selection, and assessing congruence of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Brüniche-Olsen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart 7001, Tasmania, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Jeremy J. Austin
- School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace Campus, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - Menna E. Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart 7001, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Barbara R. Holland
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 37, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
| | - Christopher P. Burridge
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart 7001, Tasmania, Australia
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Hewavisenti RV, Morris KM, O'Meally D, Cheng Y, Papenfuss AT, Belov K. The identification of immune genes in the milk transcriptome of the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). PeerJ 2016; 4:e1569. [PMID: 26793426 PMCID: PMC4715465 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) pouch young, like other marsupials, are born underdeveloped and immunologically naïve, and are unable to mount an adaptive immune response. The mother’s milk provides nutrients for growth and development as well as providing passive immunity. To better understand immune response in this endangered species, we set out to characterise the genes involved in passive immunity by sequencing and annotating the transcriptome of a devil milk sample collected during mid-lactation. At mid-lactation we expect the young to have heightened immune responses, as they have emerged from the pouch, encountering new pathogens. A total of 233,660 transcripts were identified, including approximately 17,827 unique protein-coding genes and 846 immune genes. The most highly expressed transcripts were dominated by milk protein genes such as those encoding early lactation protein, late lactation proteins, α-lactalbumin, α-casein and β-casein. There were numerous highly expressed immune genes including lysozyme, whey acidic protein, ferritin and major histocompatibility complex I and II. Genes encoding immunoglobulins, antimicrobial peptides, chemokines and immune cell receptors were also identified. The array of immune genes identified in this study reflects the importance of the milk in providing immune protection to Tasmanian devil young and provides the first insight into Tasmanian devil milk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katrina M Morris
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia
| | - Denis O'Meally
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia
| | - Anthony T Papenfuss
- Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research, Parkville, Australia; Bioinformatics and Cancer Genomics, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia
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Pye RJ, Pemberton D, Tovar C, Tubio JM, Dun KA, Fox S, Darby J, Hayes D, Knowles GW, Kreiss A, Siddle HV, Swift K, Lyons AB, Murchison EP, Woods GM. A second transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:374-9. [PMID: 26711993 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1519691113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Clonally transmissible cancers are somatic cell lineages that are spread between individuals via the transfer of living cancer cells. There are only three known naturally occurring transmissible cancers, and these affect dogs, soft-shell clams, and Tasmanian devils, respectively. The Tasmanian devil transmissible facial cancer was first observed in 1996, and is threatening its host species with extinction. Until now, this disease has been consistently associated with a single aneuploid cancer cell lineage that we refer to as DFT1. Here we describe a second transmissible cancer, DFT2, in five devils located in southern Tasmania in 2014 and 2015. DFT2 causes facial tumors that are grossly indistinguishable but histologically distinct from those caused by DFT1. DFT2 bears no detectable cytogenetic similarity to DFT1 and carries a Y chromosome, which contrasts with the female origin of DFT1. DFT2 shows different alleles to both its hosts and DFT1 at microsatellite, structural variant, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci, confirming that it is a second cancer that can be transmitted between devils as an allogeneic, MHC-discordant graft. These findings indicate that Tasmanian devils have spawned at least two distinct transmissible cancer lineages and suggest that transmissible cancers may arise more frequently in nature than previously considered. The discovery of DFT2 presents important challenges for the conservation of Tasmanian devils and raises the possibility that this species is particularly prone to the emergence of transmissible cancers. More generally, our findings highlight the potential for cancer cells to depart from their hosts and become dangerous transmissible pathogens.
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Grueber CE, Peel E, Gooley R, Belov K. Genomic insights into a contagious cancer in Tasmanian devils. Trends Genet 2015; 31:528-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2015.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Revised: 05/03/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Woods GM, Howson LJ, Brown GK, Tovar C, Kreiss A, Corcoran LM, Lyons AB. Immunology of a Transmissible Cancer Spreading among Tasmanian Devils. J Immunol 2015; 195:23-9. [PMID: 26092814 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1500131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) is a transmissible cancer that has killed most of the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrissii) population. Since the first case appeared in the mid-1990s, it has spread relentlessly across the Tasmanian devil's geographic range. As Tasmanian devils only exist in Tasmania, Australia, DFTD has the potential to cause extinction of this species. The origin of DFTD was a Schwann cell from a female devil. The disease is transmitted when devils bite each other around the facial areas, a behavior synonymous with this species. Every devil that is 'infected' with DFTD dies from the cancer. Once the DFTD cells have been transmitted, they appear to develop into a cancer without inducing an immune response. The DFTD cancer cells avoid allogeneic recognition because they do not express MHC class I molecules on the cell surface. A reduced genetic diversity and the production of immunosuppressive cytokines may also contribute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; and
| | - Lauren J Howson
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Gabriella K Brown
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Cesar Tovar
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Alexandre Kreiss
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Lynn M Corcoran
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; and
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Morris KM, Wright B, Grueber CE, Hogg C, Belov K. Lack of genetic diversity across diverse immune genes in an endangered mammal, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Mol Ecol 2015; 24:3860-72. [PMID: 26119928 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Revised: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is threatened with extinction due to the spread of devil facial tumour disease. Polymorphisms in immune genes can provide adaptive potential to resist diseases. Previous studies in diversity at immune loci in wild species have almost exclusively focused on genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC); however, these genes only account for a fraction of immune gene diversity. Devils lack diversity at functionally important immunity loci, including MHC and Toll-like receptor genes. Whether there are polymorphisms at devil immune genes outside these two families is unknown. Here, we identify polymorphisms in a wide range of key immune genes, and develop assays to type single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within a subset of these genes. A total of 167 immune genes were examined, including cytokines, chemokines and natural killer cell receptors. Using genome-level data from ten devils, SNPs within coding regions, introns and 10 kb flanking genes of interest were identified. We found low polymorphism across 167 immune genes examined bioinformatically using whole-genome data. From this data, we developed long amplicon assays to target nine genes. These amplicons were sequenced in 29-220 devils and found to contain 78 SNPs, including eight SNPS within exons. Despite the extreme paucity of genetic diversity within these genes, signatures of balancing selection were exhibited by one chemokine gene, suggesting that remaining diversity may hold adaptive potential. The low functional diversity may leave devils highly vulnerable to infectious disease, and therefore, monitoring and preserving remaining diversity will be critical for the long-term management of this species. Examining genetic variation in diverse immune genes should be a priority for threatened wildlife species. This study can act as a model for broad-scale immunogenetic diversity analysis in threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina M Morris
- University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Belinda Wright
- University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Catherine E Grueber
- University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.,San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Carolyn Hogg
- Zoo and Aquarium Association, Mosman, NSW, 2088, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
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Tompkins DM, Carver S, Jones ME, Krkošek M, Skerratt LF. Emerging infectious diseases of wildlife: a critical perspective. Trends Parasitol 2015; 31:149-59. [PMID: 25709109 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2015.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2014] [Revised: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
We review the literature to distinguish reports of vertebrate wildlife disease emergence with sufficient evidence, enabling a robust assessment of emergence drivers. For potentially emerging agents that cannot be confirmed, sufficient data on prior absence (or a prior difference in disease dynamics) are frequently lacking. Improved surveillance, particularly for neglected host taxa, geographical regions and infectious agents, would enable more effective management should emergence occur. Exposure to domestic sources of infection and human-assisted exposure to wild sources were identified as the two main drivers of emergence across host taxa; the domestic source was primary for fish while the wild source was primary for other taxa. There was generally insufficient evidence for major roles of other hypothesized drivers of emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Scott Carver
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Menna E Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Martin Krkošek
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord St, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Lee F Skerratt
- One Health Research Group, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Cui J, Cheng Y, Belov K. Diversity in the Toll-like receptor genes of the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Immunogenetics 2015; 67:195-201. [PMID: 25563844 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-014-0823-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil is an endangered marsupial species that has survived several historical bottlenecks and now has low genetic diversity. Here we characterize the Toll-like receptor (TLR) genes and their diversity in the Tasmanian devil. TLRs are a key innate immune gene family found in all animals. Ten TLR genes were identified in the Tasmanian devil genome. Unusually low levels of diversity were found in 25 devils from across Tasmania. We found two alleles at TLR2, TLR3 and TLR6. The other seven genes were monomorphic. The insurance population, which safeguards the species from extinction, has successfully managed to capture all of these TLR alleles, but concerns remain for the long-term survival of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Cui
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Rm 303, RMC Gunn Building B19, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
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