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Andersen MK, Roe AD, Liu Y, Musso A, Fudlosid S, Haider F, Evenden M, MacMillan HA. The freeze-avoiding mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) survives prolonged exposure to stressful cold by mitigating ionoregulatory collapse. J Exp Biol 2024:jeb.247498. [PMID: 38682690 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.247498] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Insect performance is linked to environmental temperature, and surviving through winter represents a key challenge for temperate, alpine, and polar species. To overwinter, insects have adapted a range of strategies to become truly cold hardy. However, while the mechanisms underlying the ability to avoid or tolerate freezing have been well-studied, little attention has been given to the challenge of maintaining ion homeostasis at frigid temperatures in these species, despite this limiting cold tolerance for insects susceptible to mild chilling. Here we investigate how prolonged exposure to temperatures just above the supercooling point affects ion balance in freeze-avoiding mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) larvae in autumn, mid-winter, and spring, and relate it to organismal recovery times and survival. Hemolymph ion balance was gradually disrupted during the first day of exposure, characterized by hyperkalemia and hyponatremia, after which a plateau was reached and maintained for the rest of the seven-day experiment. The degree of ionoregulatory collapse correlated strongly with recovery times, which followed a similar asymptotical progression. Mortality increased slightly during extensive cold exposures, where hemolymph K+ concentration was highest, and a sigmoidal relationship was found between survival and hyperkalemia. Thus, the cold tolerance of the freeze-avoiding larvae of D. ponderosae appears limited by the ability to prevent ionoregulatory collapse in a manner similar to chill-susceptible insects, albeit at much lower temperatures. Based on these results, we propose that a prerequisite for the evolution of insect freeze-avoidance may be a convergent or ancestral ability to maintain ion homeostasis during extreme cold stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda Diane Roe
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada
| | - Yuehong Liu
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada
| | - Antonia Musso
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Serita Fudlosid
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Fouzia Haider
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Maya Evenden
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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2
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Lind BM, Candido-Ribeiro R, Singh P, Lu M, Obreht Vidakovic D, Booker TR, Whitlock MC, Yeaman S, Isabel N, Aitken SN. How useful are genomic data for predicting maladaptation to future climate? Glob Chang Biol 2024; 30:e17227. [PMID: 38558300 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17227] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Methods using genomic information to forecast potential population maladaptation to climate change or new environments are becoming increasingly common, yet the lack of model validation poses serious hurdles toward their incorporation into management and policy. Here, we compare the validation of maladaptation estimates derived from two methods-Gradient Forests (GFoffset) and the risk of non-adaptedness (RONA)-using exome capture pool-seq data from 35 to 39 populations across three conifer taxa: two Douglas-fir varieties and jack pine. We evaluate sensitivity of these algorithms to the source of input loci (markers selected from genotype-environment associations [GEA] or those selected at random). We validate these methods against 2- and 52-year growth and mortality measured in independent transplant experiments. Overall, we find that both methods often better predict transplant performance than climatic or geographic distances. We also find that GFoffset and RONA models are surprisingly not improved using GEA candidates. Even with promising validation results, variation in model projections to future climates makes it difficult to identify the most maladapted populations using either method. Our work advances understanding of the sensitivity and applicability of these approaches, and we discuss recommendations for their future use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon M Lind
- Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Rafael Candido-Ribeiro
- Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Pooja Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mengmeng Lu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Dragana Obreht Vidakovic
- Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tom R Booker
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael C Whitlock
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sam Yeaman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nathalie Isabel
- Canada Research Chair in Forest Genomics, Centre for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sally N Aitken
- Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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3
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O'Hara E, Zaheer R, Andrés-Lasheras S, McAllister TA, Gruninger RJ. Evaluating the liver abscess microbiota of beef cattle during a reduction in tylosin supplementation shows differences according to abscess size and fraction. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae002. [PMID: 38373802 PMCID: PMC10960635 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae002] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver abscesses (LA) resulting from bacterial infection in cattle pose a significant global challenge to the beef and dairy industries. Economic losses from liver discounts at slaughter and reduced animal performance drive the need for effective mitigation strategies. Tylosin phosphate supplementation is widely used to reduce LA occurrence, but concerns over antimicrobial overuse emphasize the urgency to explore alternative approaches. Understanding the microbial ecology of LA is crucial to this, and we hypothesized that a reduced timeframe of tylosin delivery would alter LA microbiomes. We conducted 16S rRNA sequencing to assess severe liver abscess bacteriomes in beef cattle supplemented with in-feed tylosin. Our findings revealed that shortening tylosin supplementation did not notably alter microbial communities. Additionally, our findings highlighted the significance of sample processing methods, showing differing communities in bulk purulent material and the capsule-adhered material. Fusobacterium or Bacteroides ASVs dominated LA, alongside probable opportunistic gut pathogens and other microbes. Moreover, we suggest that liver abscess size correlates with microbial community composition. These insights contribute to our understanding of factors impacting liver abscess microbial ecology and will be valuable in identifying antibiotic alternatives. They underscore the importance of exploring varied approaches to address LA while reducing reliance on in-feed antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eóin O'Hara
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 5403 1st Ave S, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Rahat Zaheer
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 5403 1st Ave S, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Sara Andrés-Lasheras
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 5403 1st Ave S, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Tim A McAllister
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 5403 1st Ave S, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Robert J Gruninger
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 5403 1st Ave S, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada
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4
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Candido-Ribeiro R, Aitken SN. Weak local adaptation to drought in seedlings of a widespread conifer. New Phytol 2024; 241:2395-2409. [PMID: 38247230 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19543] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Tree seedlings from populations native to drier regions are often assumed to be more drought tolerant than those from wetter provenances. However, intraspecific variation in drought tolerance has not been well-characterized despite being critical for developing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, and for predicting the effects of drought on forests. We used a large-scale common garden drought-to-death experiment to assess range-wide variation in drought tolerance, measured by decline of photosynthetic efficiency, growth, and plastic responses to extreme summer drought in seedlings of 73 natural populations of the two main varieties of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii and var. glauca). Local adaptation to drought was weak in var. glauca and nearly absent in menziesii. Var. glauca showed higher tolerance to drought but slower growth than var. menziesii. Clinal variation in drought tolerance and growth species-wide was mainly associated with temperature rather than precipitation. A higher degree of plasticity for growth was observed in var. menziesii in response to extreme drought. Genetic variation for drought tolerance in seedlings within varieties is maintained primarily within populations. Selective breeding within populations may facilitate adaptation to drought more than assisted gene flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Candido-Ribeiro
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Sally N Aitken
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
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5
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Knox C, Wilson M, Klinger C, Franklin M, Oler E, Wilson A, Pon A, Cox J, Chin NE, Strawbridge S, Garcia-Patino M, Kruger R, Sivakumaran A, Sanford S, Doshi R, Khetarpal N, Fatokun O, Doucet D, Zubkowski A, Rayat D, Jackson H, Harford K, Anjum A, Zakir M, Wang F, Tian S, Lee B, Liigand J, Peters H, Wang RQ, Nguyen T, So D, Sharp M, da Silva R, Gabriel C, Scantlebury J, Jasinski M, Ackerman D, Jewison T, Sajed T, Gautam V, Wishart D. DrugBank 6.0: the DrugBank Knowledgebase for 2024. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:D1265-D1275. [PMID: 37953279 PMCID: PMC10767804 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
First released in 2006, DrugBank (https://go.drugbank.com) has grown to become the 'gold standard' knowledge resource for drug, drug-target and related pharmaceutical information. DrugBank is widely used across many diverse biomedical research and clinical applications, and averages more than 30 million views/year. Since its last update in 2018, we have been actively enhancing the quantity and quality of the drug data in this knowledgebase. In this latest release (DrugBank 6.0), the number of FDA approved drugs has grown from 2646 to 4563 (a 72% increase), the number of investigational drugs has grown from 3394 to 6231 (a 38% increase), the number of drug-drug interactions increased from 365 984 to 1 413 413 (a 300% increase), and the number of drug-food interactions expanded from 1195 to 2475 (a 200% increase). In addition to this notable expansion in database size, we have added thousands of new, colorful, richly annotated pathways depicting drug mechanisms and drug metabolism. Likewise, existing datasets have been significantly improved and expanded, by adding more information on drug indications, drug-drug interactions, drug-food interactions and many other relevant data types for 11 891 drugs. We have also added experimental and predicted MS/MS spectra, 1D/2D-NMR spectra, CCS (collision cross section), RT (retention time) and RI (retention index) data for 9464 of DrugBank's 11 710 small molecule drugs. These and other improvements should make DrugBank 6.0 even more useful to a much wider research audience ranging from medicinal chemists to metabolomics specialists to pharmacologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Knox
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Mike Wilson
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Christen M Klinger
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Mark Franklin
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Eponine Oler
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Alex Wilson
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Allison Pon
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Jordan Cox
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Na Eun (Lucy) Chin
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Seth A Strawbridge
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Marysol Garcia-Patino
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Ray Kruger
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Aadhavya Sivakumaran
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Selena Sanford
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Rahil Doshi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Nitya Khetarpal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Omolola Fatokun
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Daphnee Doucet
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Ashley Zubkowski
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Dorsa Yahya Rayat
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Hayley Jackson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Karxena Harford
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Afia Anjum
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Mahi Zakir
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Siyang Tian
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Brian Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Jaanus Liigand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Harrison Peters
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Ruo Qi (Rachel) Wang
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Tue Nguyen
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Denise So
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Matthew Sharp
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Rodolfo da Silva
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Cyrella Gabriel
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Joshua Scantlebury
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Marissa Jasinski
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - David Ackerman
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Timothy Jewison
- OMx Personal Health Analytics, Inc., 700–10130 103 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9, Canada
| | - Tanvir Sajed
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Vasuk Gautam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - David S Wishart
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
- Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E8, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
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6
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Wang F, Pasin D, Skinnider MA, Liigand J, Kleis JN, Brown D, Oler E, Sajed T, Gautam V, Harrison S, Greiner R, Foster LJ, Dalsgaard PW, Wishart DS. Deep Learning-Enabled MS/MS Spectrum Prediction Facilitates Automated Identification Of Novel Psychoactive Substances. Anal Chem 2023; 95:18326-18334. [PMID: 38048435 PMCID: PMC10733899 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
The market for illicit drugs has been reshaped by the emergence of more than 1100 new psychoactive substances (NPS) over the past decade, posing a major challenge to the forensic and toxicological laboratories tasked with detecting and identifying them. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is the primary method used to screen for NPS within seized materials or biological samples. The most contemporary workflows necessitate labor-intensive and expensive MS/MS reference standards, which may not be available for recently emerged NPS on the illicit market. Here, we present NPS-MS, a deep learning method capable of accurately predicting the MS/MS spectra of known and hypothesized NPS from their chemical structures alone. NPS-MS is trained by transfer learning from a generic MS/MS prediction model on a large data set of MS/MS spectra. We show that this approach enables a more accurate identification of NPS from experimentally acquired MS/MS spectra than any existing method. We demonstrate the application of NPS-MS to identify a novel derivative of phencyclidine (PCP) within an unknown powder seized in Denmark without the use of any reference standards. We anticipate that NPS-MS will allow forensic laboratories to identify more rapidly both known and newly emerging NPS. NPS-MS is available as a web server at https://nps-ms.ca/, which provides MS/MS spectra prediction capabilities for given NPS compounds. Additionally, it offers MS/MS spectra identification against a vast database comprising approximately 8.7 million predicted NPS compounds from DarkNPS and 24.5 million predicted ESI-QToF-MS/MS spectra for these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wang
- Department
of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E8, Canada
- Alberta
Machine Intelligence Institute, Edmonton, Alberta T5J
3B1, Canada
| | - Daniel Pasin
- Section
of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Michael A. Skinnider
- Michael
Smith Laboratories, University of British
Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Lewis-Sigler
Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton
University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
- Ludwig Institute
for Cancer Research, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Jaanus Liigand
- Department
of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
- Institute
of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia
| | - Jan-Niklas Kleis
- Institute
of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - David Brown
- Forensic
Science Laboratory, ChemCentre, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Eponine Oler
- Department
of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Tanvir Sajed
- Department
of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Vasuk Gautam
- Department
of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Stephen Harrison
- Forensic
Science Laboratory, ChemCentre, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
| | - Russell Greiner
- Department
of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E8, Canada
- Alberta
Machine Intelligence Institute, Edmonton, Alberta T5J
3B1, Canada
| | - Leonard J. Foster
- Michael
Smith Laboratories, University of British
Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University
of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 2A1, Canada
| | - Petur Weihe Dalsgaard
- Section
of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - David S. Wishart
- Department
of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E8, Canada
- Department
of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
- Department of Laboratory
Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2C8, Canada
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
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Lim KS, Cheng J, Tuggle C, Dyck M, Canada P, Fortin F, Harding J, Plastow G, Dekkers J. Genetic analysis of the blood transcriptome of young healthy pigs to improve disease resilience. Genet Sel Evol 2023; 55:90. [PMID: 38087235 PMCID: PMC10714454 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-023-00860-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disease resilience is the ability of an animal to maintain productive performance under disease conditions and is an important selection target. In pig breeding programs, disease resilience must be evaluated on selection candidates without exposing them to disease. To identify potential genetic indicators for disease resilience that can be measured on selection candidates, we focused on the blood transcriptome of 1594 young healthy pigs with subsequent records on disease resilience. Transcriptome data were obtained by 3'mRNA sequencing and genotype data were from a 650 K genotyping array. RESULTS Heritabilities of the expression of 16,545 genes were estimated, of which 5665 genes showed significant estimates of heritability (p < 0.05), ranging from 0.05 to 0.90, with or without accounting for white blood cell composition. Genes with heritable expression levels were spread across chromosomes, but were enriched in the swine leukocyte antigen region (average estimate > 0.2). The correlation of heritability estimates with the corresponding estimates obtained for genes expressed in human blood was weak but a sizable number of genes with heritable expression levels overlapped. Genes with heritable expression levels were significantly enriched for biological processes such as cell activation, immune system process, stress response, and leukocyte activation, and were involved in various disease annotations such as RNA virus infection, including SARS-Cov2, as well as liver disease, and inflammation. To estimate genetic correlations with disease resilience, 3205 genotyped pigs, including the 1594 pigs with transcriptome data, were evaluated for disease resilience following their exposure to a natural polymicrobial disease challenge. Significant genetic correlations (p < 0.05) were observed with all resilience phenotypes, although few exceeded expected false discovery rates. Enrichment analysis of genes ranked by estimates of genetic correlations with resilience phenotypes revealed significance for biological processes such as regulation of cytokines, including interleukins and interferons, and chaperone mediated protein folding. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that expression levels in the blood of young healthy pigs for genes in biological pathways related to immunity and endoplasmic reticulum stress have potential to be used as genetic indicator traits to select for disease resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyu-Sang Lim
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
- Department of Animal Resource Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Jian Cheng
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | - Michael Dyck
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - PigGen Canada
- PigGen Canada Research Consortium, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Frederic Fortin
- Centre de Développement du Porc du Québec Inc. (CDPQ), Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - John Harding
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Graham Plastow
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jack Dekkers
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
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8
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Lee BL, Rout M, Mandal R, Wishart DS. Automated identification and quantification of metabolites in human fecal extracts by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Magn Reson Chem 2023; 61:705-717. [PMID: 37265043 DOI: 10.1002/mrc.5372] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We report the development of a software program, called MagMet-F, that automates the processing and quantification of 1D 1 H NMR of human fecal extracts. To optimize the program, we identified 82 potential fecal metabolites using 1D 1 H NMR of six human fecal extracts using manual profiling and a literature review of known fecal metabolites. We acquired pure versions of those metabolites and then acquired their 1D 1 H NMR spectra at 700 MHz to generate a fecal metabolite spectral library for MagMet-F. The fitting of these metabolites by MagMet-F was iteratively optimized to replicate manual profiling. We validated MagMet-F's automated profiling using a test set of six fecal extracts. It correctly identified 80% of the compounds and quantified those within <20% of the values determined by manual profiling using Chenomx. We also compared MagMet-F's profiling performance to two other open-access NMR profiling tools, Bayesil and Batman. MagMet-F outperformed both. Bayesil repeatedly overestimated metabolite concentrations by 10% to 40% while Batman was unable to properly quantify any compounds and took 10-20× longer. We have implemented MagMet-F as a freely accessible web server to enable automated, fast and convenient 1D 1 H NMR spectral profiling of fecal samples. MagMet-F is available at https://www.magmet.ca.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian L Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Manoj Rout
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rupasri Mandal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - David S Wishart
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Reis PCJ, Correa-Garcia S, Tremblay J, Beaulieu-Laliberté A, Muench DG, Ahad JME, Yergeau E, Comte J, Martineau C. Microbial degradation of naphthenic acids using constructed wetland treatment systems: metabolic and genomic insights for improved bioremediation of process-affected water. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad153. [PMID: 38012121 PMCID: PMC10710301 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad153] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Naphthenic acids (NAs) are a complex mixture of organic compounds released during bitumen extraction from mined oil sands that are important contaminants of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). NAs can be toxic to aquatic organisms and, therefore, are a main target compound for OSPW. The ability of microorganisms to degrade NAs can be exploited for bioremediation of OSPW using constructed wetland treatment systems (CWTS), which represent a possible low energy and low-cost option for scalable in situ NA removal. Recent advances in genomics and analytical chemistry have provided insights into a better understanding of the metabolic pathways and genes involved in NA degradation. Here, we discuss the ecology of microbial NA degradation with a focus on CWTS and summarize the current knowledge related to the metabolic pathways and genes used by microorganisms to degrade NAs. Evidence to date suggests that NAs are mostly degraded aerobically through ring cleavage via the beta-oxidation pathway, which can be combined with other steps such as aromatization, alpha-oxidation, omega-oxidation, or activation as coenzyme A (CoA) thioesters. Anaerobic NA degradation has also been reported via the production of benzoyl-CoA as an intermediate and/or through the involvement of methanogens or nitrate, sulfate, and iron reducers. Furthermore, we discuss how genomic, statistical, and modeling tools can assist in the development of improved bioremediation practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula C J Reis
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, QC, Canada
| | - Sara Correa-Garcia
- Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Québec city, QC G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Julien Tremblay
- Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Québec city, QC G1K 9A9, Canada
- Energy, Mining and Environment, National Research Council Canada, Montréal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Aurélie Beaulieu-Laliberté
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, QC, Canada
- Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie (GRIL), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Douglas G Muench
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Jason M E Ahad
- Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Québec city, QC G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Etienne Yergeau
- Energy, Mining and Environment, National Research Council Canada, Montréal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Jérôme Comte
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, QC, Canada
- Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie (GRIL), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Christine Martineau
- Laurentian Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, Québec city, QC G1V 4C7, Canada
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Koop K, Yuan W, Tessadori F, Rodriguez-Polanco WR, Grubbs J, Zhang B, Osmond M, Graham G, Sawyer S, Conboy E, Vetrini F, Treat K, Płoski R, Pienkowski VM, Kłosowska A, Fieg E, Krier J, Mallebranche C, Alban Z, Aldinger KA, Ritter D, Macnamara E, Sullivan B, Herriges J, Alaimo JT, Helbig C, Ellis CA, van Eyk C, Gecz J, Farrugia D, Osei-Owusu I, Adès L, van den Boogaard MJ, Fuchs S, Bakker J, Duran K, Dawson ZD, Lindsey A, Huang H, Baldridge D, Silverman GA, Grant BD, Raizen D, van Haaften G, Pak SC, Rehmann H, Schedl T, van Hasselt P. Macrocephaly and developmental delay caused by missense variants in RAB5C. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:3063-3077. [PMID: 37552066 PMCID: PMC10586195 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Rab GTPases are important regulators of intracellular vesicular trafficking. RAB5C is a member of the Rab GTPase family that plays an important role in the endocytic pathway, membrane protein recycling and signaling. Here we report on 12 individuals with nine different heterozygous de novo variants in RAB5C. All but one patient with missense variants (n = 9) exhibited macrocephaly, combined with mild-to-moderate developmental delay. Patients with loss of function variants (n = 2) had an apparently more severe clinical phenotype with refractory epilepsy and intellectual disability but a normal head circumference. Four missense variants were investigated experimentally. In vitro biochemical studies revealed that all four variants were damaging, resulting in increased nucleotide exchange rate, attenuated responsivity to guanine exchange factors and heterogeneous effects on interactions with effector proteins. Studies in C. elegans confirmed that all four variants were damaging in vivo and showed defects in endocytic pathway function. The variant heterozygotes displayed phenotypes that were not observed in null heterozygotes, with two shown to be through a dominant negative mechanism. Expression of the human RAB5C variants in zebrafish embryos resulted in defective development, further underscoring the damaging effects of the RAB5C variants. Our combined bioinformatic, in vitro and in vivo experimental studies and clinical data support the association of RAB5C missense variants with a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by macrocephaly and mild-to-moderate developmental delay through disruption of the endocytic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaas Koop
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 EA, The Netherlands
| | - Weimin Yuan
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, C. elegans Model Organism Screening Center, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Federico Tessadori
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 CT, The Netherlands
| | - Wilmer R Rodriguez-Polanco
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Jeremy Grubbs
- Department of Neurology and the Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Bo Zhang
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, C. elegans Model Organism Screening Center, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Matt Osmond
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Gail Graham
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Sarah Sawyer
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Erin Conboy
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Francesco Vetrini
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Kayla Treat
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Rafal Płoski
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, 02-106, Poland
| | - Victor Murcia Pienkowski
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, 02-106, Poland
- Marseille Medical Genetics U1251, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, 13005, France
| | - Anna Kłosowska
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, 80-210, Poland
| | - Elizabeth Fieg
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Joel Krier
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Coralie Mallebranche
- Unité d'Onco-Hémato-Immunologie pédiatrique, CHU d’Angers, Angers, 49933, France
| | - Ziegler Alban
- Service de génétique, CHU d’Angers, Angers, 49933, France
| | - Kimberly A Aldinger
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Deborah Ritter
- Department of Pediatrics, Oncology Section, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ellen Macnamara
- Undiagnosed Diseases Program Translational Laboratory, NHGRI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Bonnie Sullivan
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - John Herriges
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Mercy-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Joseph T Alaimo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Mercy-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Catherine Helbig
- The Epilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative, Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Colin A Ellis
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia PA, 19104, USA
| | - Clare van Eyk
- Robinson Research Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5006, Australia
| | - Jozef Gecz
- Robinson Research Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5006, Australia
| | | | - Ikeoluwa Osei-Owusu
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Lesley Adès
- Department of Clinical Genetics, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, 2145, Australia
| | - Marie-Jose van den Boogaard
- Department of Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584EA, The Netherlands
| | - Sabine Fuchs
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 EA, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Bakker
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 CT, The Netherlands
| | - Karen Duran
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 CT, The Netherlands
| | - Zachary D Dawson
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, C. elegans Model Organism Screening Center, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Anika Lindsey
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, C. elegans Model Organism Screening Center, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Huiyan Huang
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, C. elegans Model Organism Screening Center, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Dustin Baldridge
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, C. elegans Model Organism Screening Center, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Gary A Silverman
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, C. elegans Model Organism Screening Center, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Barth D Grant
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - David Raizen
- Department of Neurology and the Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Gijs van Haaften
- Department of Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584EA, The Netherlands
| | - Stephen C Pak
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, C. elegans Model Organism Screening Center, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Holger Rehmann
- Department of Energy and Biotechnology, Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, 24943, Flensburg, Germany
| | - Tim Schedl
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, C. elegans Model Organism Screening Center, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Peter van Hasselt
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 EA, The Netherlands
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11
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Brush M, Lewis MA. Coupling Mountain Pine Beetle and Forest Population Dynamics Predicts Transient Outbreaks that are Likely to Increase in Number with Climate Change. Bull Math Biol 2023; 85:108. [PMID: 37775681 DOI: 10.1007/s11538-023-01215-7] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Mountain pine beetle (MPB) in Canada have spread well beyond their historical range. Accurate modelling of the long-term dynamics of MPB is critical for assessing the risk of further expansion and informing management strategies, particularly in the context of climate change and variable forest resilience. Most previous models have focused on capturing a single outbreak without tree replacement. While these models are useful for understanding MPB biology and outbreak dynamics, they cannot accurately model long-term forest dynamics. Past models that incorporate forest growth tend to simplify beetle dynamics. We present a new model that couples forest growth to MPB population dynamics and accurately captures key aspects of MPB biology, including a threshold for the number of beetles needed to overcome tree defenses and beetle aggregation that facilitates mass attacks. These mechanisms lead to a demographic Allee effect, which is known to be important in beetle population dynamics. We show that as forest resilience decreases, a fold bifurcation emerges and there is a stable fixed point with a non-zero MPB population. We derive conditions for the existence of this equilibrium. We then simulate biologically relevant scenarios and show that the beetle population approaches this equilibrium with transient boom and bust cycles with period related to the time of forest recovery. As forest resilience decreases, the Allee threshold also decreases. Thus, if host resilience decreases under climate change, for example under increased stress from drought, then the lower Allee threshold makes transient outbreaks more likely to occur in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micah Brush
- Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
| | - Mark A Lewis
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
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12
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Murdoch B, Jandura A, Caulfield T. Reconsenting paediatric research participants for use of identifying data. J Med Ethics 2023; 49:106-109. [PMID: 35046134 PMCID: PMC9887363 DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2021-107958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
When a minor research participant reaches the age of majority or the level of maturity necessary to be granted legal decision-making capacity, reconsent can be required for ongoing participation in research or use of health information and banked biological materials. Despite potential logistical concerns with implementation and ethical questions about the trade-offs between maximising respect for participant agency and facilitating research that may generate benefits, reconsent is the approach most consistent with both law and research ethics.Canadian common law consent requirements are expansive and likely compel reconsent on obtaining capacity. Common law doctrine recognises that children are entitled to decision-making authority that reflects their evolving intelligence and understanding. Health consent legislation varies by province but generally either compels reconsent on obtaining capacity or delegates the ability to determine reconsent to research ethics boards. These boards largely rely on the Canada's national ethics policy, the Tri-Council Policy Statement, which states that, with few exceptions, reconsent for continued participation is required when minors gain capacity that would allow them to consent to the research in which they participate. A strict interpretation of this policy could require researchers to perform frequent capacity assessments, potentially presenting feasibility concerns. In addition, Canadian policy and law are generally consistent with the core principles of key international ethical standards from the United Nations and elsewhere.In sum, reconsent of paediatric participants upon obtaining capacity should be explicit and informed in Canada, and should not be presumed from continued participation alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake Murdoch
- Faculty of Law, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Allison Jandura
- Faculty of Law, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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13
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Marcon AR, Zenone M, Caulfield T. The portrayal of organ donation on TikTok: A content analysis of popular English-language TikTok videos. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231222422. [PMID: 38152444 PMCID: PMC10752038 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231222422] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms and plays a role in shaping public perceptions. This research examined how organ donation was portrayed on the platform. Methods We built a dataset of the most popular English-language TikTok videos that used the hashtags #organdonor or #organdonation. We then performed content analysis on the 400 most viewed videos after limiting data set inclusion to one video per user account. Results The finalized videos (N = 313) had generated nearly 80 million views and 10 million likes. Featuring both donors (56.2%) and recipients (44.1%), videos shared experiences that celebrated and lamented lost donor lives (41.8%) while also celebrating transplantation successes (31.3%). Very few videos included public solicitation (2.9%). Common video traits included detailing medical procedures (45.4%), presenting honor walks (10.9%), and displaying donors and recipients connecting or wanting to connect (16.9%). Videos mostly had a positive (74.1%) versus negative (10.2%) leaning tone. Conclusion Far from superficially glamorizing organ donation/transplantation processes and procedures, popular English-language TikTok videos depicted what we perceived as highly emotional and expository experiences. While the videos likely offered learning and cathartic opportunities for individuals and communities, they also highlight some tensions between personal anecdotes and data/research. Findings from this research can inform public outreach efforts as well as policies related to protecting anonymity and celebrating donors with honor walks. Indeed, given TikTok's increasing popularity and influence, it could be a valuable tool to meaningfully learn from, and engage with, patient and donor communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro R Marcon
- Health Law Institute, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Marco Zenone
- Health Law Institute, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Timothy Caulfield
- Health Law Institute, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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14
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Groves RA, Chan CCY, Wildman SD, Gregson DB, Rydzak T, Lewis IA. Rapid LC-MS assay for targeted metabolite quantification by serial injection into isocratic gradients. Anal Bioanal Chem 2023; 415:269-276. [PMID: 36443449 PMCID: PMC9823034 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-04384-x] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has emerged as a mainstream strategy for metabolomics analyses. One advantage of LC-MS is that it can serve both as a biomarker discovery tool and as a platform for clinical diagnostics. Consequently, it offers an exciting opportunity to potentially transition research studies into real-world clinical tools. One important distinction between research versus diagnostics-based applications of LC-MS is throughput. Clinical LC-MS must enable quantitative analyses of target molecules in hundreds or thousands of samples each day. Currently, the throughput of these clinical applications is limited by the chromatographic gradient lengths, which-when analyzing complex metabolomics samples-are difficult to conduct in under ~ 3 min per sample without introducing serious quantitative analysis problems. To address this shortcoming, we developed sequential quantification using isotope dilution (SQUID), an analytical strategy that combines serial sample injections into a continuous isocratic mobile phase to maximize throughput. SQUID uses internal isotope-labelled standards to correct for changes in LC-MS response factors over time. We show that SQUID can detect microbial polyamines in human urine specimens (lower limit of quantification; LLOQ = 106 nM) with less than 0.019 normalized root mean square error. Moreover, we show that samples can be analyzed in as little as 57 s. We propose SQUID as a new, high-throughput LC-MS tool for quantifying small sets of target biomarkers across large cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A Groves
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Carly C Y Chan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Spencer D Wildman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Daniel B Gregson
- Alberta Precision Laboratories, Calgary, AB, T2L 2K8, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Thomas Rydzak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Ian A Lewis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
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15
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Hayeems RZ, Bernier F, Boycott KM, Hartley T, Michaels-Igbokwe C, Marshall DA. Positioning whole exome sequencing in the diagnostic pathway for rare disease to optimise utility: a protocol for an observational cohort study and an economic evaluation. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e061468. [PMID: 36216418 PMCID: PMC9557316 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite the superior diagnostic performance of exome and genome sequencing compared with conventional genetic tests, evidence gaps related to clinical utility and cost effectiveness have limited their availability in routine clinical practice in many jurisdictions. To inform adoption and reimbursement policy, this protocol provides a chain of evidence approach to determining the diagnostic utility, clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of whole exome sequencing (WES) from seven medical genetic centres in two Canadian provinces. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Using a multicentre observational cohort design, we will extract data specific to the pre-WES diagnostic pathway and 1-year post-WES medical management from electronic medical records for 650 patients with rare disease of suspected genetic aetiology who receive WES. The date from the clinical record will be linked to provincial administrative health database to capture healthcare resource use and estimate costs. Our analysis will: (1) define and describe diagnostic testing pathways that occur prior to WES among patients with rare disease, (2) determine the diagnostic utility of WES, characterised as the proportion of patients for whom causative DNA variants are identified, (3) determine the clinical utility of WES, characterised as a change in medical management triggered by WES results, (4) determine the pattern and cost of health service utilisation prior and 1 year following WES among patients who receive a diagnosis, do not receive a diagnosis, or receive an uncertain diagnosis and (5) estimate the cost-effectiveness of WES compared with conventional diagnostic testing pathways, measured by the incremental cost per additional patient diagnosed by WES using simulation modelling. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This protocol was approved by Clinical Trials Ontario (CTO-1577) and research ethics boards at the University of Calgary (REB18-0744 and REB20-1449) and University of Alberta (Pro0009156). Findings will be disseminated through academic publications and policy reports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Z Hayeems
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Francois Bernier
- Department of Medical Genetics, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cummings School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kym M Boycott
- Department of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, Facuty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Taila Hartley
- Department of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christine Michaels-Igbokwe
- Cummings School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Deborah A Marshall
- Cummings School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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16
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Mapar M, Rydzak T, Groves RA, Lewis IA. Biomarker enrichment medium: A defined medium for metabolomic analysis of microbial pathogens. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:957158. [PMID: 35935218 PMCID: PMC9354526 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.957158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbes have diverse metabolic capabilities and differences in these phenotypes are critical for differentiating strains, species, and broader taxa of microorganisms. Recent advances in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) allow researchers to track the complex combinations of molecules that are taken up by each cell type and to quantify the rates that individual metabolites enter or exit the cells. This metabolomics-based approach allows complex metabolic phenotypes to be captured in a single assay, enables computational models of microbial metabolism to be constructed, and can serve as a diagnostic approach for clinical microbiology. Unfortunately, metabolic phenotypes are directly affected by the molecular composition of the culture medium and many traditional media are subject to molecular-level heterogeneity. Herein, we show that commercially sourced Mueller Hinton (MH) medium, a Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) approved medium for clinical microbiology, has significant lot-to-lot and supplier-to-supplier variability in the concentrations of individual nutrients. We show that this variability does not affect microbial growth rates but does affect the metabolic phenotypes observed in vitro—including metabolic phenotypes that distinguish six common pathogens. To address this, we used a combination of isotope-labeling, substrate exclusion, and nutritional supplementation experiments using Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) medium to identify the specific nutrients used by the microbes to produce diagnostic biomarkers, and to formulate a Biomarker Enrichment Medium (BEM) as an alternative to complex undefined media for metabolomics research, clinical diagnostics, antibiotic susceptibility testing, and other applications where the analysis of stable microbial metabolic phenotypes is important.
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17
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Cappa EP, Klutsch JG, Sebastian-Azcona J, Ratcliffe B, Wei X, Da Ros L, Liu Y, Chen C, Benowicz A, Sadoway S, Mansfield SD, Erbilgin N, Thomas BR, El-Kassaby YA. Integrating genomic information and productivity and climate-adaptability traits into a regional white spruce breeding program. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264549. [PMID: 35298481 PMCID: PMC8929621 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tree improvement programs often focus on improving productivity-related traits; however, under present climate change scenarios, climate change-related (adaptive) traits should also be incorporated into such programs. Therefore, quantifying the genetic variation and correlations among productivity and adaptability traits, and the importance of genotype by environment interactions, including defense compounds involved in biotic and abiotic resistance, is essential for selecting parents for the production of resilient and sustainable forests. Here, we estimated quantitative genetic parameters for 15 growth, wood quality, drought resilience, and monoterpene traits for Picea glauca (Moench) Voss (white spruce). We sampled 1,540 trees from three open-pollinated progeny trials, genotyped with 467,224 SNP markers using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). We used the pedigree and SNP information to calculate, respectively, the average numerator and genomic relationship matrices, and univariate and multivariate individual-tree models to obtain estimates of (co)variance components. With few site-specific exceptions, all traits examined were under genetic control. Overall, higher heritability estimates were derived from the genomic- than their counterpart pedigree-based relationship matrix. Selection for height, generally, improved diameter and water use efficiency, but decreased wood density, microfibril angle, and drought resistance. Genome-based correlations between traits reaffirmed the pedigree-based correlations for most trait pairs. High and positive genetic correlations between sites were observed (average 0.68), except for those pairs involving the highest elevation, warmer, and moister site, specifically for growth and microfibril angle. These results illustrate the advantage of using genomic information jointly with productivity and adaptability traits, and defense compounds to enhance tree breeding selection for changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo P. Cappa
- Instituto de Recursos Biológicos, Centro de Investigación en Recursos Naturales, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jennifer G. Klutsch
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Blaise Ratcliffe
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Xiaojing Wei
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Letitia Da Ros
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Charles Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Andy Benowicz
- Forest Stewardship and Trade Branch, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shane Sadoway
- Blue Ridge Lumber Inc., West Fraser Mills Ltd, Blue Ridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shawn D. Mansfield
- Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nadir Erbilgin
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Barb R. Thomas
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Yousry A. El-Kassaby
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Borba RS, Hoover SE, Currie RW, Giovenazzo P, Guarna MM, Foster LJ, Zayed A, Pernal SF. Phenomic analysis of the honey bee pathogen-web and its dynamics on colony productivity, health and social immunity behaviors. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263273. [PMID: 35100308 PMCID: PMC8803170 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Many pathogens and parasites have evolved to overwhelm and suppress their host's immune system. Nevertheless, the interactive effects of these agents on colony productivity and wintering success have been relatively unexplored, particularly in large-scale phenomic studies. As a defense mechanism, honey bees have evolved remarkable social behaviors to defend against pathogen and parasite challenges, which reduce the impact of disease and improve colony health. To investigate the complex role of pathogens, parasites and social immunity behaviors in relation to colony productivity and outcomes, we extensively studied colonies at several locations across Canada for two years. In 2016 and 2017, colonies founded with 1-year-old queens of diverse genetic origin were evaluated, which represented a generalized subset of the Canadian bee population. During each experimental year (May through April), we collected phenotypic data and sampled colonies for pathogen analysis in a standardized manner. Measures included: colony size and productivity (colony weight, cluster size, honey production, and sealed brood population), social immunity traits (hygienic behavior, instantaneous mite population growth rate, and grooming behavior), as well as quantification of gut parasites (Nosema spp., and Lotmaria passim), viruses (DWV-A, DWV-B, BQCV and SBV) and external parasites (Varroa destructor). Our goal was to examine: 1) correlations between pathogens and colony phenotypes; 2) the dynamics of pathogens and parasites on colony phenotypes and productivity traits; and 3) the effects of social immunity behaviors on colony pathogen load. Our results show that colonies expressing high levels of some social immunity behaviors were associated with low levels of pathogens/parasites, including viruses, Nosema spp., and V. destructor. In addition, we determined that elevated viral and Nosema spp. levels were associated with low levels of colony productivity, and that five out of six pathogenic factors measured were negatively associated with colony size and weight in both fall and spring periods. Finally, this study also provides information about the incidence and abundance of pathogens, colony phenotypes, and further disentangles their inter-correlation, so as to better understand drivers of honey bee colony health and productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata S. Borba
- Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Shelley E. Hoover
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Robert W. Currie
- Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Pierre Giovenazzo
- Département de Biologie, faculté des sciences et génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - M. Marta Guarna
- Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Leonard J. Foster
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amro Zayed
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen F. Pernal
- Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada
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Wishart DS, Guo A, Oler E, Wang F, Anjum A, Peters H, Dizon R, Sayeeda Z, Tian S, Lee B, Berjanskii M, Mah R, Yamamoto M, Jovel J, Torres-Calzada C, Hiebert-Giesbrecht M, Lui V, Varshavi D, Varshavi D, Allen D, Arndt D, Khetarpal N, Sivakumaran A, Harford K, Sanford S, Yee K, Cao X, Budinski Z, Liigand J, Zhang L, Zheng J, Mandal R, Karu N, Dambrova M, Schiöth H, Greiner R, Gautam V. HMDB 5.0: the Human Metabolome Database for 2022. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:D622-D631. [PMID: 34986597 PMCID: PMC8728138 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 583] [Impact Index Per Article: 291.5] [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: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The Human Metabolome Database or HMDB (https://hmdb.ca) has been providing comprehensive reference information about human metabolites and their associated biological, physiological and chemical properties since 2007. Over the past 15 years, the HMDB has grown and evolved significantly to meet the needs of the metabolomics community and respond to continuing changes in internet and computing technology. This year's update, HMDB 5.0, brings a number of important improvements and upgrades to the database. These should make the HMDB more useful and more appealing to a larger cross-section of users. In particular, these improvements include: (i) a significant increase in the number of metabolite entries (from 114 100 to 217 920 compounds); (ii) enhancements to the quality and depth of metabolite descriptions; (iii) the addition of new structure, spectral and pathway visualization tools; (iv) the inclusion of many new and much more accurately predicted spectral data sets, including predicted NMR spectra, more accurately predicted MS spectra, predicted retention indices and predicted collision cross section data and (v) enhancements to the HMDB's search functions to facilitate better compound identification. Many other minor improvements and updates to the content, the interface, and general performance of the HMDB website have also been made. Overall, we believe these upgrades and updates should greatly enhance the HMDB's ease of use and its potential applications not only in human metabolomics but also in exposomics, lipidomics, nutritional science, biochemistry and clinical chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Wishart
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
- Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - AnChi Guo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Eponine Oler
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E8, Canada
| | - Afia Anjum
- Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E8, Canada
| | - Harrison Peters
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Raynard Dizon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Zinat Sayeeda
- Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E8, Canada
| | - Siyang Tian
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Brian L Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Mark Berjanskii
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Robert Mah
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Mai Yamamoto
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Juan Jovel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | | | | | - Vicki W Lui
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Dorna Varshavi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Dorsa Varshavi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Dana Allen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - David Arndt
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Nitya Khetarpal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Aadhavya Sivakumaran
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Karxena Harford
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Selena Sanford
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Kristen Yee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Xuan Cao
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Zachary Budinski
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Jaanus Liigand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Lun Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Jiamin Zheng
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Rupasri Mandal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Naama Karu
- Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research LACDR/Analytical Biosciences, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Maija Dambrova
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Section of Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Russell Greiner
- Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E8, Canada
| | - Vasuk Gautam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
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20
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Murphy SMC, Bautista MA, Cramm MA, Hubert CRJ. Diesel and Crude Oil Biodegradation by Cold-Adapted Microbial Communities in the Labrador Sea. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:e0080021. [PMID: 34378990 PMCID: PMC8478444 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00800-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Oil spills in the subarctic marine environment off the coast of Labrador, Canada, are increasingly likely due to potential oil production and increases in ship traffic in the region. To understand the microbiome response and how nutrient biostimulation promotes biodegradation of oil spills in this cold marine setting, marine sediment microcosms amended with diesel or crude oil were incubated at in situ temperature (4°C) for several weeks. Sequencing of 16S rRNA genes following these spill simulations revealed decreased microbial diversity and enrichment of putative hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria that differed depending on the petroleum product. Metagenomic sequencing revealed that the genus Paraperlucidibaca harbors previously unrecognized capabilities for alkane biodegradation, which were also observed in Cycloclasticus. Genomic and amplicon sequencing together suggest that Oleispira and Thalassolituus degraded alkanes from diesel, while Zhongshania and the novel PGZG01 lineage contributed to crude oil alkane biodegradation. Greater losses in PAHs from crude oil than from diesel were consistent with Marinobacter, Pseudomonas_D, and Amphritea genomes exhibiting aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation potential. Biostimulation with nitrogen and phosphorus (4.67 mM NH4Cl and 1.47 mM KH2PO4) was effective at enhancing n-alkane and PAH degradation following low-concentration (0.1% [vol/vol]) diesel and crude oil amendments, while at higher concentrations (1% [vol/vol]) only n-alkanes in diesel were consumed, suggesting toxicity induced by compounds in unrefined crude oil. Biostimulation allowed for a more rapid shift in the microbial community in response to petroleum amendments, more than doubling the rates of CO2 increase during the first few weeks of incubation. IMPORTANCE Increases in transportation of diesel and crude oil in the Labrador Sea will pose a significant threat to remote benthic and shoreline environments, where coastal communities and wildlife are particularly vulnerable to oil spill contaminants. Whereas marine microbiology has not been incorporated into environmental assessments in the Labrador Sea, there is a growing demand for microbial biodiversity evaluations given the pronounced impact of climate change in this region. Benthic microbial communities are important to consider given that a fraction of spilled oil typically sinks such that its biodegradation occurs at the seafloor, where novel taxa with previously unrecognized potential to degrade hydrocarbons were discovered in this work. Understanding how cold-adapted microbiomes catalyze hydrocarbon degradation at low in situ temperature is crucial in the Labrador Sea, which remains relatively cold throughout the year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M. C. Murphy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - María A. Bautista
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Margaret A. Cramm
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Casey R. J. Hubert
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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21
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Extensive research and important discoveries on the microbiome have led to a growth in media coverage. This study explores how the microbiome has been portrayed in press sources popular among American and Canadian audiences. DESIGN Content analysis. METHODS Using the FACTIVA Database, we compiled a finalised data set of (N=830) articles from press sources popular among American and Canadian audiences which were published between 1 January 2018 and 11 October 2019 and which contained at least one of the following search terms: 'microbiome', 'microbiota', 'gut health', 'healthy gut', 'unhealthy gut', 'gut bacteria', 'probiotic' or 'probiotics.' We performed content analysis on the articles to determine how often ideas of the microbiome were presented as beneficial, in which health contexts, and whether actions could be taken to reap stated benefits. We compared this portrayal of benefits with critical portrayals of the microbiome. RESULTS Almost all of the articles (94%) described health benefits associated with the microbiome with many (79%) describing actions which could be taken to reap stated benefits. Articles most often described health benefits in more broad, general context (34%) and most commonly outlined actions related to food/drug (45%) as well as probiotic (27%) intake. Only some articles (19%) provided microbiome-related critiques or limitations. Some of the articles (22%) were focused on highlighting specific research developments, and in these articles, critiques or limitations were more common. CONCLUSIONS Articles discussing the microbiome published for American and Canadian audiences typically hype the microbiome's impact and popularise gut health trends while only offering a little in the way of communicating microbiome science. Lifestyle choices including nutrition, taking probiotics, stress management and exercise are often promoted as means of reaping the microbiome-related health benefits. The trend of actionable 'gut health' is foregrounded over more evidence-based descriptions of microbiome science.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stuart Turvey
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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22
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Hannaoui S, Triscott E, Duque Velásquez C, Chang SC, Arifin MI, Zemlyankina I, Tang X, Bollinger T, Wille H, McKenzie D, Gilch S. New and distinct chronic wasting disease strains associated with cervid polymorphism at codon 116 of the Prnp gene. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009795. [PMID: 34310662 PMCID: PMC8341689 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease affecting cervids. Polymorphisms in the prion protein gene can result in extended survival of CWD-infected animals. However, the impact of polymorphisms on cellular prion protein (PrPC) and prion properties is less understood. Previously, we characterized the effects of a polymorphism at codon 116 (A>G) of the white-tailed deer (WTD) prion protein and determined that it destabilizes PrPC structure. Comparing CWD isolates from WTD expressing homozygous wild-type (116AA) or heterozygous (116AG) PrP, we found that 116AG-prions were conformationally less stable, more sensitive to proteases, with lower seeding activity in cell-free conversion and reduced infectivity. Here, we aimed to understand CWD strain emergence and adaptation. We show that the WTD-116AG isolate contains two different prion strains, distinguished by their host range, biochemical properties, and pathogenesis from WTD-116AA prions (Wisc-1). Serial passages of WTD-116AG prions in tg(CerPrP)1536+/+ mice overexpressing wild-type deer-PrPC revealed two populations of mice with short and long incubation periods, respectively, and remarkably prolonged clinical phase upon inoculation with WTD-116AG prions. Inoculation of serially diluted brain homogenates confirmed the presence of two strains in the 116AG isolate with distinct pathology in the brain. Interestingly, deglycosylation revealed proteinase K-resistant fragments with different electrophoretic mobility in both tg(CerPrP)1536+/+ mice and Syrian golden hamsters infected with WTD-116AG. Infection of tg60 mice expressing deer S96-PrP with 116AG, but not Wisc-1 prions induced clinical disease. On the contrary, bank voles resisted 116AG prions, but not Wisc-1 infection. Our data indicate that two strains co-existed in the WTD-116AG isolate, expanding the variety of CWD prion strains. We argue that the 116AG isolate does not contain Wisc-1 prions, indicating that the presence of 116G-PrPC diverted 116A-PrPC from adopting a Wisc-1 structure. This can have important implications for their possible distinct capacities to cross species barriers into both cervids and non-cervids. Chronic wasting disease belongs to the family of prion diseases. It is considered the most contagious prion disease and the only one that affects free ranging wildlife. The disease range is expanding in North America and Northern Europe. This work describes the emergence and characterization of new chronic wasting disease strains related to a polymorphism in the prion protein gene. It supports the concept that strains are a dynamic mixture of substrains that can influence and interfere with each other. Because transmission barriers are governed by the compatibility of a particular prion strain with the new host’s prion protein, it is critical to understand the emergence and variety of chronic wasting disease strains circulating in wild animals and their ability to infect new host species including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samia Hannaoui
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Hotchkiss Brain Institute; University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Triscott
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Camilo Duque Velásquez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Sheng Chun Chang
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Hotchkiss Brain Institute; University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Maria Immaculata Arifin
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Hotchkiss Brain Institute; University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Irina Zemlyankina
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Hotchkiss Brain Institute; University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Xinli Tang
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Trent Bollinger
- Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Holger Wille
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Debbie McKenzie
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Sabine Gilch
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Hotchkiss Brain Institute; University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- * E-mail:
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23
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Van Goor A, Pasternak A, Walker K, Hong L, Malgarin C, MacPhee DJ, Harding JCS, Lunney JK. Differential responses in placenta and fetal thymus at 12 days post infection elucidate mechanisms of viral level and fetal compromise following PRRSV2 infection. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:763. [PMID: 33148169 PMCID: PMC7640517 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07154-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A pregnant gilt infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) can transmit the virus to her fetuses across the maternal-fetal-interface resulting in varying disease outcomes. However, the mechanisms leading to variation in fetal outcome in response to PRRSV infection are not fully understood. Our objective was to assess targeted immune-related gene expression patterns and pathways in the placenta and fetal thymus to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the resistance/tolerance and susceptibility of fetuses to PRRSV2 infection. Fetuses were grouped by preservation status and PRRS viral load (VL): mock infected control (CTRL), no virus detected (UNINF), virus detected in the placenta only with viable (PLCO-VIA) or meconium-stained fetus (PLCO-MEC), low VL with viable (LVL-VIA) or meconium-stained fetus (LVL-MEC), and high VL with viable (HVL-VIA) or meconium-stained fetus (HVL-MEC). RESULTS The host immune response was initiated only in fetuses with detectable levels of PRRSV. No differentially expressed genes (DEG) in either the placenta or thymus were identified in UNINF, PLCO-VIA, and PLCO-MEC when compared to CTRL fetuses. Upon fetal infection, a set of core responsive IFN-inducible genes (CXCL10, IFIH1, IFIT1, IFIT3, ISG15, and MX1) were strongly upregulated in both tissues. Gene expression in the thymus is a better differentiator of fetal VL; the strong downregulation of several innate and adaptive immune pathways (e.g., B Cell Development) are indicative of HVL. Gene expression in the placenta may be a better differentiator of fetal demise than the thymus, based-on principle component analysis clustering, gene expression patterns, and dysregulation of the Apoptosis and Ubiquitination pathways. CONCLUSION Our data supports the concept that fetal outcome in response to PRRSV2 infection is determined by fetal, and more significantly placental response, which is initiated only after fetal infection. This conceptual model represents a significant step forward in understanding the mechanisms underpinning fetal susceptibility to the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Van Goor
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, ARS, USDA, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Alex Pasternak
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Kristen Walker
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, ARS, USDA, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Linjun Hong
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Carolina Malgarin
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Daniel J MacPhee
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - John C S Harding
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Joan K Lunney
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, ARS, USDA, Beltsville, MD, USA.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The spread of misinformation has accompanied the coronavirus pandemic, including topics such as immune boosting to prevent COVID-19. This study explores how immune boosting is portrayed on the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN Content analysis. METHODS We compiled a dataset of 227 webpages from Google searches in Canada and the USA using the phrase 'boost immunity' AND 'coronavirus' on 1 April 2020. We coded webpages for typology and portrayal of immune boosting and supplements. We recorded mentions of microbiome, whether the webpage was selling or advertising an immune boosting product or service, and suggested strategies for boosting immunity. RESULTS No significant differences were found between webpages that appeared in the searches in Canada and the USA. The most common types of webpages were from news (40.5%) and commercial (24.7%) websites. The concept of immune boosting was portrayed as beneficial for avoiding COVID-19 in 85.5% of webpages and supplements were portrayed as beneficial in 40% of the webpages, but commercial sites were more likely to have these portrayals. The top immune boosting strategies were vitamin C (34.8%), diet (34.4%), sleep (34.4%), exercise (30.8%) and zinc (26.9%). Less than 10% of the webpages provide any critique of the concept of immune boosting. CONCLUSIONS Pairing evidence-based advice for maintaining one's health (eg, healthy diet, exercise, sleep) with the phrase immune boosting and strategies lacking in evidence may inadvertently help to legitimise the concept, making it a powerful marketing tool. Results demonstrate how the spread of misinformation is complex and often more subtle than blatant fraudulent claims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christen Rachul
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | | | - Benjamin Collins
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Anthropology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Timothy Caulfield
- Health Law Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Law, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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25
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Bixby M, Hoover SE, McCallum R, Ibrahim A, Ovinge L, Olmstead S, Pernal SF, Zayed A, Foster LJ, Guarna MM. Honey Bee Queen Production: Canadian Costing Case Study and Profitability Analysis. J Econ Entomol 2020; 113:1618-1627. [PMID: 32484511 PMCID: PMC7313926 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toaa102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The decline in managed honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colony health worldwide has had a significant impact on the beekeeping industry. To mitigate colony losses, beekeepers in Canada and around the world introduce queens into replacement colonies; however, Canada's short queen rearing season has historically limited the production of early season queens. As a result, Canadian beekeepers rely on the importation of foreign bees, particularly queens from warmer climates. Importing a large proportion of (often mal-adapted) queens each year creates a dependency on foreign bee sources, putting beekeeping, and pollination sectors at risk in the event of border closures, transportation issues, and other restrictions as is currently happening due to the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. Although traditional Canadian queen production is unable to fully meet early season demand, increasing domestic queen production to meet mid- and later season demand would reduce Canada's dependency. As well, on-going studies exploring the potential for overwintering queens in Canada may offer a strategy to have early season domestic queens available. Increasing the local supply of queens could provide Canadian beekeepers, farmers, and consumers with a greater level of agricultural stability and food security. Our study is the first rigorous analysis of the economic feasibility of queen production. We present the costs of queen production for three Canadian operations over two years. Our results show that it can be profitable for a beekeeping operation in Canada to produce queen cells and mated queens and could be one viable strategy to increase the sustainability of the beekeeping industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Bixby
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Shelley E Hoover
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, South, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Robyn McCallum
- Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture, Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Abdullah Ibrahim
- Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lynae Ovinge
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, South, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sawyer Olmstead
- Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture, Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Stephen F Pernal
- Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Amro Zayed
- Department of Biology, York University, Lumbers Building #208, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leonard J Foster
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - M Marta Guarna
- Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada
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26
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Patron J, Serra-Cayuela A, Han B, Li C, Wishart DS. Assessing the performance of genome-wide association studies for predicting disease risk. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220215. [PMID: 31805043 PMCID: PMC6894795 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [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: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
To date more than 3700 genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been published that look at the genetic contributions of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to human conditions or human phenotypes. Through these studies many highly significant SNPs have been identified for hundreds of diseases or medical conditions. However, the extent to which GWAS-identified SNPs or combinations of SNP biomarkers can predict disease risk is not well known. One of the most commonly used approaches to assess the performance of predictive biomarkers is to determine the area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve (AUROC). We have developed an R package called G-WIZ to generate ROC curves and calculate the AUROC using summary-level GWAS data. We first tested the performance of G-WIZ by using AUROC values derived from patient-level SNP data, as well as literature-reported AUROC values. We found that G-WIZ predicts the AUROC with <3% error. Next, we used the summary level GWAS data from GWAS Central to determine the ROC curves and AUROC values for 569 different GWA studies spanning 219 different conditions. Using these data we found a small number of GWA studies with SNP-derived risk predictors that have very high AUROCs (>0.75). On the other hand, the average GWA study produces a multi-SNP risk predictor with an AUROC of 0.55. Detailed AUROC comparisons indicate that most SNP-derived risk predictions are not as good as clinically based disease risk predictors. All our calculations (ROC curves, AUROCs, explained heritability) are in a publicly accessible database called GWAS-ROCS (http://gwasrocs.ca). The G-WIZ code is freely available for download at https://github.com/jonaspatronjp/GWIZ-Rscript/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Patron
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | | | - Beomsoo Han
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Carin Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - David Scott Wishart
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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27
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Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD), an environmentally transmissible, fatal prion disease is endemic in North America, present in South Korea and has recently been confirmed in northern Europe. The expanding geographic range of this contagious disease of free-ranging deer, moose, elk and reindeer has resulted in increasing levels of prion infectivity in the environment. Soils are involved in CWD horizontal transmission, acting as an environmental reservoir, and soil mineral and organic compounds have the ability to bind prions. Upper horizons of soils are usually enriched with soil organic matter (SOM), however, the role of SOM in prion conservation and mobility remains unclear. In this study, we show that incubation of PrPCWD with humic acids (HA), a major SOM compound, affects both the molecular weight and recovery of PrPCWD. Detection of PrPCWD is reduced as HA concentration increases. Native HA extracted from pristine soils also reduces or entirely eliminates PrPCWD signal. Incubation of CWD prions with HA significantly increased incubation periods in tgElk mice demonstrating that HA can reduce CWD infectivity. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a contagious prion disease affecting several species of captive and wild cervids. Environmental prion contamination plays a major role in increasing incidence of CWD, with CWD infectivity being released into the environment by decaying carcasses, or shedding of biological fluids including urine, feces, and saliva. Horizontal transmission of CWD involves soils as an environmental reservoir of infectivity. Here, we tested the role of a soil organic matter compound, humic acid, for its ability to bind CWD prions and impact infectivity. A wide range of humic acid concentrations were examined representing the extensive spectrum of humic acid levels present in native soils. We found that incubation of CWD prions with high concentrations of humic acids (>2.5 g L-1) decreases the both CWD-prion signal and infectivity, whereas lower levels of humic acids did not significantly impact protein stability or infectivity. Our study provides new insights into soil-prion interactions, prions persistence in soil, and their bioavailability to grazing animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alsu Kuznetsova
- Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences Faculty, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | - Debbie McKenzie
- Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Judd M. Aiken
- Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences Faculty, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- * E-mail:
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28
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Lotterhos KE, Yeaman S, Degner J, Aitken S, Hodgins KA. Modularity of genes involved in local adaptation to climate despite physical linkage. Genome Biol 2018; 19:157. [PMID: 30290843 PMCID: PMC6173883 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-018-1545-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [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: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Linkage among genes experiencing different selection pressures can make natural selection less efficient. Theory predicts that when local adaptation is driven by complex and non-covarying stresses, increased linkage is favored for alleles with similar pleiotropic effects, with increased recombination favored among alleles with contrasting pleiotropic effects. Here, we introduce a framework to test these predictions with a co-association network analysis, which clusters loci based on differing associations. We use this framework to study the genetic architecture of local adaptation to climate in lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta, based on associations with environments. RESULTS We identify many clusters of candidate genes and SNPs associated with distinct environments, including aspects of aridity and freezing, and discover low recombination rates among some candidate genes in different clusters. Only a few genes contain SNPs with effects on more than one distinct aspect of climate. There is limited correspondence between co-association networks and gene regulatory networks. We further show how associations with environmental principal components can lead to misinterpretation. Finally, simulations illustrate both benefits and caveats of co-association networks. CONCLUSIONS Our results support the prediction that different selection pressures favor the evolution of distinct groups of genes, each associating with a different aspect of climate. But our results went against the prediction that loci experiencing different sources of selection would have high recombination among them. These results give new insight into evolutionary debates about the extent of modularity, pleiotropy, and linkage in the evolution of genetic architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie E Lotterhos
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern Marine Science Center, 430 Nahant Rd, Nahant, MA, 01908, USA.
| | - Sam Yeaman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N1N4, Canada
| | - Jon Degner
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Sally Aitken
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Kathryn A Hodgins
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
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29
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Coombe L, Zhang J, Vandervalk BP, Chu J, Jackman SD, Birol I, Warren RL. ARKS: chromosome-scale scaffolding of human genome drafts with linked read kmers. BMC Bioinformatics 2018; 19:234. [PMID: 29925315 PMCID: PMC6011487 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-018-2243-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [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: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The long-range sequencing information captured by linked reads, such as those available from 10× Genomics (10xG), helps resolve genome sequence repeats, and yields accurate and contiguous draft genome assemblies. We introduce ARKS, an alignment-free linked read genome scaffolding methodology that uses linked reads to organize genome assemblies further into contiguous drafts. Our approach departs from other read alignment-dependent linked read scaffolders, including our own (ARCS), and uses a kmer-based mapping approach. The kmer mapping strategy has several advantages over read alignment methods, including better usability and faster processing, as it precludes the need for input sequence formatting and draft sequence assembly indexing. The reliance on kmers instead of read alignments for pairing sequences relaxes the workflow requirements, and drastically reduces the run time. RESULTS Here, we show how linked reads, when used in conjunction with Hi-C data for scaffolding, improve a draft human genome assembly of PacBio long-read data five-fold (baseline vs. ARKS NG50 = 4.6 vs. 23.1 Mbp, respectively). We also demonstrate how the method provides further improvements of a megabase-scale Supernova human genome assembly (NG50 = 14.74 Mbp vs. 25.94 Mbp before and after ARKS), which itself exclusively uses linked read data for assembly, with an execution speed six to nine times faster than competitive linked read scaffolders (~ 10.5 h compared to 75.7 h, on average). Following ARKS scaffolding of a human genome 10xG Supernova assembly (of cell line NA12878), fewer than 9 scaffolds cover each chromosome, except the largest (chromosome 1, n = 13). CONCLUSIONS ARKS uses a kmer mapping strategy instead of linked read alignments to record and associate the barcode information needed to order and orient draft assembly sequences. The simplified workflow, when compared to that of our initial implementation, ARCS, markedly improves run time performances on experimental human genome datasets. Furthermore, the novel distance estimator in ARKS utilizes barcoding information from linked reads to estimate gap sizes. It accomplishes this by modeling the relationship between known distances of a region within contigs and calculating associated Jaccard indices. ARKS has the potential to provide correct, chromosome-scale genome assemblies, promptly. We expect ARKS to have broad utility in helping refine draft genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Coombe
- BC Cancer Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4S6 Canada
| | - Jessica Zhang
- BC Cancer Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4S6 Canada
| | | | - Justin Chu
- BC Cancer Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4S6 Canada
| | | | - Inanc Birol
- BC Cancer Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4S6 Canada
| | - René L. Warren
- BC Cancer Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4S6 Canada
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30
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Abstract
Support for open science is growing, but motivating researchers to participate in open science can be challenging. This in-depth qualitative study draws on interviews with researchers and staff at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital during the development of its open science policy. Using thematic content analysis, we explore attitudes toward open science, the motivations and disincentives to participate, the role of patients, and attitudes to the eschewal of intellectual property rights. To be successful, an open science policy must clearly lay out expectations, boundaries and mechanisms by which researchers can engage, and must be shaped to explicitly support their values and those of key partners, including patients, research participants and industry collaborators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Ali-Khan
- Centre for Intellectual Property Policy, Faculty of LawMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - Liam W Harris
- Centre for Intellectual Property Policy, Faculty of LawMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - E Richard Gold
- Centre for Intellectual Property Policy, Faculty of LawMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
- Department of Human GeneticsMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
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