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Ross G, Radtke-Schuller S, Frohlich F. Ferret as a model system for studying the anatomy and function of the prefrontal cortex: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 162:105701. [PMID: 38718987 PMCID: PMC11162921 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
There is a lack of consensus on anatomical nomenclature, standards of documentation, and functional equivalence of the frontal cortex between species. There remains a major gap between human prefrontal function and interpretation of findings in the mouse brain that appears to lack several key prefrontal areas involved in cognition and psychiatric illnesses. The ferret is an emerging model organism that has gained traction as an intermediate model species for the study of top-down cognitive control and other higher-order brain functions. However, this research has yet to benefit from synthesis. Here, we provide a summary of all published research pertaining to the frontal and/or prefrontal cortex of the ferret across research scales. The targeted location within the ferret brain is summarized visually for each experiment, and the anatomical terminology used at time of publishing is compared to what would be the appropriate term to use presently. By doing so, we hope to improve clarity in the interpretation of both previous and future publications on the comparative study of frontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Ross
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Susanne Radtke-Schuller
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Flavio Frohlich
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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2
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Knoll M, Honce R, Meliopoulos V, Segredo-Otero EA, Johnson KE, Schultz-Cherry S, Ghedin E, Gresham D. Host obesity impacts genetic variation in influenza A viral populations. J Virol 2024; 98:e0177823. [PMID: 38785423 PMCID: PMC11237528 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01778-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Obesity is well established as a risk factor for many noncommunicable diseases; however, its consequences for infectious disease are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the impact of host obesity on influenza A virus (IAV) genetic variation using a diet-induced obesity ferret model and the A/Hong Kong/1073/1999 (H9N2) strain. Using a co-caging study design, we investigated the maintenance, generation, and transmission of intrahost IAV genetic variation by sequencing viral genomic RNA obtained from nasal wash samples over multiple days of infection. We found evidence for an enhanced role of positive selection acting on de novo mutations in obese hosts that led to nonsynonymous changes that rose to high frequency. In addition, we identified numerous cases of mutations throughout the genome that were specific to obese hosts and that were preserved during transmission between hosts. Despite detection of obese-specific variants, the overall viral genetic diversity did not differ significantly between obese and lean hosts. This is likely due to the high supply rate of de novo variation and common evolutionary adaptations to the ferret host regardless of obesity status, which we show are mediated by variation in the hemagglutinin and polymerase genes (PB2 and PB1). We also identified defective viral genomes (DVGs) that were found uniquely in either obese or lean hosts, but the overall DVG diversity and dynamics did not differ between the two groups. Our study suggests that obesity may result in a unique selective environment impacting intrahost IAV evolution, highlighting the need for additional genetic and functional studies to confirm these effects.IMPORTANCEObesity is a chronic health condition characterized by excess adiposity leading to a systemic increase in inflammation and dysregulation of metabolic hormones and immune cell populations. Influenza A virus (IAV) is a highly infectious pathogen responsible for seasonal and pandemic influenza. Host risk factors, including compromised immunity and pre-existing health conditions, can contribute to increased infection susceptibility and disease severity. During viral replication in a host, the negative-sense single-stranded RNA genome of IAV accumulates genetic diversity that may have important consequences for viral evolution and transmission. Our study provides the first insight into the consequences of host obesity on viral genetic diversity and adaptation, suggesting that host factors associated with obesity alter the selective environment experienced by a viral population, thereby impacting the spectrum of genetic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa Knoll
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rebekah Honce
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Victoria Meliopoulos
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Katherine E.E. Johnson
- Systems Genomics Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Stacey Schultz-Cherry
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Elodie Ghedin
- Systems Genomics Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - David Gresham
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
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3
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Farrukee R, Schwab LSU, Barnes JB, Brooks AG, Londrigan SL, Hartmann G, Zillinger T, Reading PC. Induction and antiviral activity of ferret myxovirus resistance (Mx) protein 1 against influenza A viruses. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13524. [PMID: 38866913 PMCID: PMC11169552 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63314-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Myxovirus resistance (Mx) proteins are products of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) and Mx proteins of different species have been reported to mediate antiviral activity against a number of viruses, including influenza A viruses (IAV). Ferrets are widely considered to represent the 'gold standard' small animal model for studying pathogenesis and immunity to human IAV infections, however little is known regarding the antiviral activity of ferret Mx proteins. Herein, we report induction of ferret (f)Mx1/2 in a ferret lung cell line and in airway tissues from IAV-infected ferrets, noting that fMx1 was induced to higher levels that fMx2 both in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression confirmed cytoplasmic expression of fMx1 as well as its ability to inhibit infection and replication of IAV, noting that this antiviral effect of fMx1was modest when compared to cells overexpressing either human MxA or mouse Mx1. Together, these studies provide the first insights regarding the role of fMx1 in cell innate antiviral immunity to influenza viruses. Understanding similarities and differences in the antiviral activities of human and ferret ISGs provides critical context for evaluating results when studying human IAV infections in the ferret model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubaiyea Farrukee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, 792 Elizabeth St., Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Lara S U Schwab
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, 792 Elizabeth St., Victoria, 3000, Australia
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - James B Barnes
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, 792 Elizabeth St., Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Andrew G Brooks
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, 792 Elizabeth St., Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Sarah L Londrigan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, 792 Elizabeth St., Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Gunther Hartmann
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Thomas Zillinger
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Patrick C Reading
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, 792 Elizabeth St., Victoria, 3000, Australia.
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, 792 Elizabeth St., Victoria, 3000, Australia.
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4
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Kawasaki H. Investigation of the mechanisms underlying the development and evolution of folds of the cerebrum using gyrencephalic ferrets. J Comp Neurol 2024; 532:e25615. [PMID: 38587214 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The mammalian cerebrum has changed substantially during evolution, characterized by increases in neurons and glial cells and by the expansion and folding of the cerebrum. While these evolutionary alterations are thought to be crucial for acquiring higher cognitive functions, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and evolution of the mammalian cerebrum remain only partially understood. This is, in part, because of the difficulty in analyzing these mechanisms using mice only. To overcome this limitation, genetic manipulation techniques for the cerebrum of gyrencephalic carnivore ferrets have been developed. Furthermore, successful gene knockout in the ferret cerebrum has been accomplished through the application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system. This review mainly highlights recent research conducted using gyrencephalic carnivore ferrets to investigate the mechanisms underlying the development and evolution of cortical folds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kawasaki
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
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5
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Pramod RK, Atul PK, Pandey M, Anbazhagan S, Mhaske ST, Barathidasan R. Care, management, and use of ferrets in biomedical research. Lab Anim Res 2024; 40:10. [PMID: 38532510 DOI: 10.1186/s42826-024-00197-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The ferret (Mustela putorius furo) is a small domesticated species of the family Mustelidae within the order Carnivora. The present article reviews and discusses the current state of knowledge about housing, care, breeding, and biomedical uses of ferrets. The management and breeding procedures of ferrets resemble those used for other carnivores. Understanding its behavior helps in the use of environmental enrichment and social housing, which promote behaviors typical of the species. Ferrets have been used in research since the beginning of the twentieth century. It is a suitable non-rodent model in biomedical research because of its hardy nature, social behavior, diet and other habits, small size, and thus the requirement of a relatively low amount of test compounds and early sexual maturity compared with dogs and non-human primates. Ferrets and humans have numerous similar anatomical, metabolic, and physiological characteristics, including the endocrine, respiratory, auditory, gastrointestinal, and immunological systems. It is one of the emerging animal models used in studies such as influenza and other infectious respiratory diseases, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, cardiac research, gastrointestinal disorders, neuroscience, and toxicological studies. Ferrets are vulnerable to many human pathogenic organisms, like severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), because air transmission of this virus between them has been observed in the laboratory. Ferrets draw the attention of the medical community compared to rodents because they occupy a distinct niche in biomedical studies, although they possess a small representation in laboratory research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravindran Kumar Pramod
- ICMR-National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research, Genome Valley, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500101, India.
| | - Pravin Kumar Atul
- ICMR-National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research, Genome Valley, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500101, India
| | - Mamta Pandey
- ICMR-National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research, Genome Valley, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500101, India
| | - S Anbazhagan
- ICMR-National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research, Genome Valley, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500101, India
| | - Suhas T Mhaske
- ICMR-National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research, Genome Valley, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500101, India
| | - R Barathidasan
- ICMR-National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research, Genome Valley, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500101, India
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6
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Rowe T, Davis W, Wentworth DE, Ross T. Differential interferon responses to influenza A and B viruses in primary ferret respiratory epithelial cells. J Virol 2024; 98:e0149423. [PMID: 38294251 PMCID: PMC10878268 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01494-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Influenza B viruses (IBV) cocirculate with influenza A viruses (IAV) and cause periodic epidemics of disease, yet antibody and cellular responses following IBV infection are less well understood. Using the ferret model for antisera generation for influenza surveillance purposes, IAV resulted in robust antibody responses following infection, whereas IBV required an additional booster dose, over 85% of the time, to generate equivalent antibody titers. In this study, we utilized primary differentiated ferret nasal epithelial cells (FNECs) which were inoculated with IAV and IBV to study differences in innate immune responses which may result in differences in adaptive immune responses in the host. FNECs were inoculated with IAV (H1N1pdm09 and H3N2 subtypes) or IBV (B/Victoria and B/Yamagata lineages) and assessed for 72 h. Cells were analyzed for gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR, and apical and basolateral supernatants were assessed for virus kinetics and interferon (IFN), respectively. Similar virus kinetics were observed with IAV and IBV in FNECs. A comparison of gene expression and protein secretion profiles demonstrated that IBV-inoculated FNEC expressed delayed type-I/II IFN responses and reduced type-III IFN secretion compared to IAV-inoculated cells. Concurrently, gene expression of Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP), a type-III IFN-induced gene that enhances adaptive immune responses, was significantly downregulated in IBV-inoculated FNECs. Significant differences in other proinflammatory and adaptive genes were suppressed and delayed following IBV inoculation. Following IBV infection, ex vivo cell cultures derived from the ferret upper respiratory tract exhibited reduced and delayed innate responses which may contribute to reduced antibody responses in vivo.IMPORTANCEInfluenza B viruses (IBV) represent nearly one-quarter of all human influenza cases and are responsible for significant clinical and socioeconomic impacts but do not pose the same pandemic risks as influenza A viruses (IAV) and have thus received much less attention. IBV accounts for greater severity and deaths in children, and vaccine efficacy remains low. The ferret can be readily infected with human clinical isolates and demonstrates a similar course of disease and immune responses. IBV, however, generates lower antibodies in ferrets than IAV following the challenge. To determine whether differences in initial innate responses following infection may affect the development of robust adaptive immune responses, ferret respiratory tract cells were isolated, infected with IAV/IBV, and compared. Understanding the differences in the initial innate immune responses to IAV and IBV may be important in the development of more effective vaccines and interventions to generate more robust protective immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Rowe
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Influenza Division, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - William Davis
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Influenza Division, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - David E. Wentworth
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Influenza Division, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ted Ross
- Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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7
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Evans NG, Pence CH. Gain-of-function research and model organisms in biology. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS 2024; 50:201-206. [PMID: 37188506 DOI: 10.1136/jme-2022-108853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
So-called 'gain-of-function' (GOF) research is virological research that results in a virus substantially more virulent or transmissible than its wild antecedent. GOF research has been subject to ethical analysis in the past, but the methods of GOF research have to date been underexamined by philosophers in these analyses. Here, we examine the typical animal used in influenza GOF experiments, the ferret, and show how despite its longstanding use, it does not easily satisfy the desirable criteria for an animal model We then discuss the limitations of the ferret model, and how those epistemic limitations bear on ethical and policy questions around the risks and benefits of GOF research. We conclude with a reflection on how philosophy of science can contribute to ethical and policy debates around the risks, benefits and relative priority of life sciences research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas G Evans
- Department of Philosophy, University of Massachussetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Charles H Pence
- Institut supérieur de philosophie, Universite catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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8
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Basu Thakur P, Mrotz VJ, Maines TR, Belser JA. Ferrets as a Mammalian Model to Study Influenza Virus-Bacteria Interactions. J Infect Dis 2024; 229:608-615. [PMID: 37739789 PMCID: PMC10922577 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferrets represent an invaluable model for the study of influenza virus pathogenicity and transmissibility. Ferrets are also employed for the study of bacterial pathogens that naturally infect humans at different anatomical sites. While viral and bacterial infection studies in isolation using animal models are important for furthering our understanding of pathogen biology and developing improved therapeutics, it is also critical to extend our knowledge to pathogen coinfections in vivo, to more closely examine interkingdom dynamics that may contribute to overall disease outcomes. We discuss how ferrets have been employed to study a diverse range of both influenza viruses and bacterial species and summarize key studies that have utilized the ferret model for primary influenza virus challenge followed by secondary bacterial infection. These copathogenesis studies have provided critical insight into the dynamic interplay between these pathogens, underscoring the utility of ferrets as a model system for investigating influenza virus-bacteria interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poulami Basu Thakur
- Immunology and Pathogenesis Branch, Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Victoria J Mrotz
- Comparative Medicine Branch, Division of Scientific Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Taronna R Maines
- Immunology and Pathogenesis Branch, Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jessica A Belser
- Immunology and Pathogenesis Branch, Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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9
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Cox RM, Wolf JD, Lieberman NA, Lieber CM, Kang HJ, Sticher ZM, Yoon JJ, Andrews MK, Govindarajan M, Krueger RE, Sobolik EB, Natchus MG, Gewirtz AT, deSwart RL, Kolykhalov AA, Hekmatyar K, Sakamoto K, Greninger AL, Plemper RK. Therapeutic mitigation of measles-like immune amnesia and exacerbated disease after prior respiratory virus infections in ferrets. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1189. [PMID: 38331906 PMCID: PMC10853234 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45418-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Measles cases have surged pre-COVID-19 and the pandemic has aggravated the problem. Most measles-associated morbidity and mortality arises from destruction of pre-existing immune memory by measles virus (MeV), a paramyxovirus of the morbillivirus genus. Therapeutic measles vaccination lacks efficacy, but little is known about preserving immune memory through antivirals and the effect of respiratory disease history on measles severity. We use a canine distemper virus (CDV)-ferret model as surrogate for measles and employ an orally efficacious paramyxovirus polymerase inhibitor to address these questions. A receptor tropism-intact recombinant CDV with low lethality reveals an 8-day advantage of antiviral treatment versus therapeutic vaccination in maintaining immune memory. Infection of female ferrets with influenza A virus (IAV) A/CA/07/2009 (H1N1) or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) four weeks pre-CDV causes fatal hemorrhagic pneumonia with lung onslaught by commensal bacteria. RNAseq identifies CDV-induced overexpression of trefoil factor (TFF) peptides in the respiratory tract, which is absent in animals pre-infected with IAV. Severe outcomes of consecutive IAV/CDV infections are mitigated by oral antivirals even when initiated late. These findings validate the morbillivirus immune amnesia hypothesis, define measles treatment paradigms, and identify priming of the TFF axis through prior respiratory infections as risk factor for exacerbated morbillivirus disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Cox
- Center for Translational Antiviral Research, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Josef D Wolf
- Center for Translational Antiviral Research, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Nicole A Lieberman
- Virology Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Carolin M Lieber
- Center for Translational Antiviral Research, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Hae-Ji Kang
- Center for Translational Antiviral Research, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Zachary M Sticher
- Emory Institute for Drug Development, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Jeong-Joong Yoon
- Center for Translational Antiviral Research, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Meghan K Andrews
- Emory Institute for Drug Development, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | | | - Rebecca E Krueger
- Emory Institute for Drug Development, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Elizabeth B Sobolik
- Virology Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Michael G Natchus
- Emory Institute for Drug Development, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Andrew T Gewirtz
- Center for Translational Antiviral Research, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Rik L deSwart
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Khan Hekmatyar
- Advanced Translational Imaging Facility, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Kaori Sakamoto
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Alexander L Greninger
- Virology Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Richard K Plemper
- Center for Translational Antiviral Research, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
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10
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Tennenbaum SR, Bortner R, Lynch C, Santymire R, Crosier A, Santiestevan J, Marinari P, Pukazhenthi BS, Comizzoli P, Hawkins MTR, Maldonado JE, Koepfli K, vonHoldt BM, DeCandia AL. Epigenetic changes to gene pathways linked to male fertility in ex situ black-footed ferrets. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13634. [PMID: 38283602 PMCID: PMC10818088 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental variation can influence the reproductive success of species managed under human care and in the wild, yet the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain largely mysterious. Molecular mechanisms such as epigenetic modifiers are important in mediating the timing and progression of reproduction in humans and model organisms, but few studies have linked epigenetic variation to reproductive fitness in wildlife. Here, we investigated epigenetic variation in black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes), an endangered North American mammal reliant on ex situ management for survival and persistence in the wild. Despite similar levels of genetic diversity in human-managed and wild-born populations, individuals in ex situ facilities exhibit reproductive problems, such as poor sperm quality. Differences across these settings suggest that an environmentally driven decline in reproductive capacity may be occurring in this species. We examined the role of DNA methylation, one well-studied epigenetic modifier, in this emergent condition. We leveraged blood, testes, and semen samples from male black-footed ferrets bred in ex situ facilities and found tissue-type specificity in DNA methylation across the genome, although 1360 Gene Ontology terms associated with male average litter size shared functions across tissues. We then constructed gene networks of differentially methylated genomic sites associated with three different reproductive phenotypes to explore the putative biological impact of variation in DNA methylation. Sperm gene networks associated with average litter size and sperm count were functionally enriched for candidate genes involved in reproduction, development, and its regulation through transcriptional repression. We propose that DNA methylation plays an important role in regulating these reproductive phenotypes, thereby impacting the fertility of male ex situ individuals. Our results provide information into how DNA methylation may function in the alteration of reproductive pathways and phenotypes in artificial environments. These findings provide early insights to conservation hurdles faced in the protection of this rare species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robyn Bortner
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Black‐Footed Ferret Conservation CenterCarrColoradoUSA
| | | | - Rachel Santymire
- Biology DepartmentGeorgia State UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
- Center for Species SurvivalSmithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
| | - Adrienne Crosier
- Center for Animal Care SciencesSmithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
| | - Jenny Santiestevan
- Center for Species SurvivalSmithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
| | - Paul Marinari
- Center for Animal Care SciencesSmithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
| | - Budhan S. Pukazhenthi
- Center for Species SurvivalSmithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
| | - Pierre Comizzoli
- Center for Species SurvivalSmithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
| | - Melissa T. R. Hawkins
- Division of Mammals, Department of Vertebrate ZoologyNational Museum of Natural HistoryWashingtonDCUSA
| | - Jesús E. Maldonado
- Center for Conservation GenomicsSmithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstituteWashingtonDCUSA
| | - Klaus‐Peter Koepfli
- Center for Species SurvivalSmithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
- Smithsonian‐Mason School of ConservationGeorge Mason UniversityFront RoyalVirginiaUSA
| | | | - Alexandra L. DeCandia
- Center for Conservation GenomicsSmithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstituteWashingtonDCUSA
- BiologyGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDCUSA
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11
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Anderson-Mondella CJJ, Maines TR, Tansey CM, Belser JA. Meeting Ferret Enrichment Needs in Infectious Disease Laboratory Settings. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2023; 62:518-524. [PMID: 37857467 PMCID: PMC10772907 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-23-000057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment is a necessary component of all research vivarium settings. However, appropriate enrichment decisions vary greatly depending on the species involved and the research use of the animals. The increasing use of ferrets in research settings-notably for modeling the pathogenicity and transmissibility of viral pathogens that require containment in ABSL-2 to -4 environments-presents a particular challenge for veterinary and research staff to ensure that enrichment needs for these animals are met consistently. Here, we discuss the species-specific enrichment needs of ferrets, enrichment considerations for ferrets housed in research settings, and the challenges and importance of providing appropriate enrichment during experimentation, including when ferrets are housed in high-containment facilities. This article is organized to support the easy availability of information that will facilitate the design and implementation of optimal environmental enrichment for ferrets used in diverse research efforts in vivarium settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Challie JJ Anderson-Mondella
- Comparative Medicine Branch, Division of Scientific Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
- Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville, Georgia; and
| | - Taronna R Maines
- Immunology and Pathogenesis Branch, Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Cassandra M Tansey
- Comparative Medicine Branch, Division of Scientific Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jessica A Belser
- Immunology and Pathogenesis Branch, Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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12
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Kliver S, Houck ML, Perelman PL, Totikov A, Tomarovsky A, Dudchenko O, Omer AD, Colaric Z, Weisz D, Aiden EL, Chan S, Hastie A, Komissarov A, Ryder OA, Graphodatsky A, Johnson WE, Maldonado JE, Pukazhenthi BS, Marinari PE, Wildt DE, Koepfli KP. Chromosome-length genome assembly and karyotype of the endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). J Hered 2023; 114:539-548. [PMID: 37249392 PMCID: PMC10848218 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esad035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) narrowly avoided extinction to become an oft-cited example of the benefits of intensive management, research, and collaboration to save a species through ex situ conservation breeding and reintroduction into its former range. However, the species remains at risk due to possible inbreeding, disease susceptibility, and multiple fertility challenges. Here, we report the de novo genome assembly of a male black-footed ferret generated through a combination of linked-read sequencing, optical mapping, and Hi-C proximity ligation. In addition, we report the karyotype for this species, which was used to anchor and assign chromosome numbers to the chromosome-length scaffolds. The draft assembly was ~2.5 Gb in length, with 95.6% of it anchored to 19 chromosome-length scaffolds, corresponding to the 2n = 38 chromosomes revealed by the karyotype. The assembly has contig and scaffold N50 values of 148.8 kbp and 145.4 Mbp, respectively, and is up to 96% complete based on BUSCO analyses. Annotation of the assembly, including evidence from RNA-seq data, identified 21,406 protein-coding genes and a repeat content of 37.35%. Phylogenomic analyses indicated that the black-footed ferret diverged from the European polecat/domestic ferret lineage 1.6 million yr ago. This assembly will enable research on the conservation genomics of black-footed ferrets and thereby aid in the further restoration of this endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei Kliver
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The Globe Institute, The University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marlys L Houck
- Beckman Center for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA, United States
| | - Polina L Perelman
- Department of the Diversity and Evolution of Genomes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Azamat Totikov
- Department of the Diversity and Evolution of Genomes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Andrey Tomarovsky
- Department of the Diversity and Evolution of Genomes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Olga Dudchenko
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics and Department of Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Arina D Omer
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Zane Colaric
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - David Weisz
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Erez Lieberman Aiden
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics and Department of Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Saki Chan
- Department of Research and Development, Bionano Genomics, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Alex Hastie
- Department of Research and Development, Bionano Genomics, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Aleksey Komissarov
- Applied Genomics Laboratory, SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Oliver A Ryder
- Beckman Center for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA, United States
| | - Alexander Graphodatsky
- Department of the Diversity and Evolution of Genomes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Warren E Johnson
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United States
- The Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Museum Support Center MRC-534, Smithsonian Institution, Suitland, MD, United States
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
- Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jesús E Maldonado
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Budhan S Pukazhenthi
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United States
| | - Paul E Marinari
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United States
| | - David E Wildt
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United States
| | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United States
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Front Royal, VA, United States
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13
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Knoll M, Honce R, Meliopoulos V, Schultz-Cherry S, Ghedin E, Gresham D. Host obesity impacts genetic variation in influenza A viral populations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.12.548715. [PMID: 37503024 PMCID: PMC10369978 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.12.548715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Obesity is a chronic health condition characterized by excess adiposity leading to a systemic increase in inflammation and dysregulation of metabolic hormones and immune cell populations. Obesity is well established as a risk factor for many noncommunicable diseases; however, its consequences for infectious disease are poorly understood. Influenza A virus (IAV) is a highly infectious pathogen responsible for seasonal and pandemic influenza. Host risk factors, including compromised immunity and pre-existing health conditions, can contribute to increased infection susceptibility and disease severity. During viral replication in a host, the negative sense single stranded RNA genome of IAV accumulates genetic diversity that may have important consequences for viral evolution and transmission. Here, we investigated the impact of host obesity on IAV genetic variation using a diet induced obesity ferret model. We infected obese and lean male ferrets with the A/Hong Kong/1073/1999 (H9N2) IAV strain. Using a co-caging study design, we investigated the maintenance, generation, and transmission of intrahost IAV genetic variation by sequencing viral genomic RNA obtained from nasal wash samples over multiple days of infection. We found evidence for an enhanced role of positive selection acting on de novo mutations in obese hosts that led to nonsynonymous changes that rose to high frequency. In addition, we identified numerous cases of recurrent low-frequency mutations throughout the genome that were specific to obese hosts. Despite these obese-specific variants, overall viral genetic diversity did not differ significantly between obese and lean hosts. This is likely due to the high supply rate of de novo variation and common evolutionary adaptations to the ferret host regardless of obesity status, which we show are mediated by variation in the hemagglutinin (HA) and polymerase genes (PB2 and PB1). As with single nucleotide variants, we identified a class of defective viral genomes (DVGs) that were found uniquely in either obese or lean hosts, but overall DVG diversity and dynamics did not differ between the two groups. Our study provides the first insight into the consequences of host obesity on viral genetic diversity and adaptation, suggesting that host factors associated with obesity alter the selective environment experienced by a viral population, thereby impacting the spectrum of genetic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa Knoll
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University
| | - Rebekah Honce
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
| | | | | | - Elodie Ghedin
- Systems Genomics Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - David Gresham
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University
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14
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Govindarajulu M, Patel MY, Wilder DM, Krishnan J, LaValle C, Pandya JD, Shear DA, Hefeneider SH, Long JB, Arun P. Upregulation of multiple toll-like receptors in ferret brain after blast exposure: potential targets for treatment. Neurosci Lett 2023; 810:137364. [PMID: 37391063 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Although blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) has been designated as the signature injury of recent combat operations, its precise pathological mechanism(s) has not been identified thus far. Prior preclinical studies on bTBI demonstrated acute neuroinflammatory cascades which are known to be contributing to neurodegeneration. Danger-associated chemical patterns are released from the injured cells, which activate non-specific pattern recognition receptors, such as toll-like receptors (TLRs) leading to increased expression of inflammatory genes and release of cytokines. Upregulation of specific TLRs in the brain has been described as a mechanism of injury in diverse brain injury models unrelated to blast exposure. However, the expression profile of various TLRs in bTBI has not been investigated thus far. Hence, we have evaluated the expression of transcripts for TLR1-TLR10 in the brain of a gyrencephalic animal model of bTBI. We exposed ferrets to tightly coupled repeated blasts and determined the differential expression of TLRs (TLR1-10) by quantitative RT-PCR in multiple brain regions at 4 hr, 24 hr, 7 days and 28 days post-blast injury. The results obtained indicate that multiple TLRs are upregulated in the brain at 4 hr, 24 hr, 7 days and 28 days post-blast. Specifically, upregulation of TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 was noted in different brain regions, suggesting that multiple TLRs might play a role in the pathophysiology of bTBI and that drugs that can inhibit multiple TLRs might have enhanced efficacy to attenuate brain damage and thereby improve bTBI outcome. Taken together, these results suggest that several TLRs are upregulated in the brain after bTBI and participate in the inflammatory response and thereby provide new insights into the disease pathogenesis. Therefore, inhibition of multiple TLRs, including TLR2, 4 and 9, simultaneously might be a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of bTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj Govindarajulu
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Mital Y Patel
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Donna M Wilder
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Jishnu Krishnan
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Christina LaValle
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Jignesh D Pandya
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Deborah A Shear
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | | | - Joseph B Long
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Peethambaran Arun
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
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15
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Zeng TS, Yang DS, Kelvin AA, Kelvin DJ. Host Transcriptome Analysis of Ferret Tissues Following Henipavirus Infection. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2682:281-299. [PMID: 37610589 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3283-3_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Ferrets are commonly used as experimental models of infection for a variety of viruses due to their susceptibility to human respiratory viruses and the close resemblance of pathological outcomes found in human infections. Even though ferret-specific reagents are limited, the use of ferrets as a preclinical experimental model of infection has gained considerable interest since the publication of the ferret transcriptome and draft ferret genome. These advances have made it feasible to easily perform whole-genome gene expression analysis in the ferret infection model. Here, we describe methods for genome-wide gene expression analysis using RNA sequence (RNAseq) data obtained from the lung and brain tissues obtained from experimental infections of Hendra (HeV) and Nipah (NiV) viruses in ferrets. We provide detailed methods for RNAseq and representative data for host gene expression profiles of the lung tissues that show early activation of interferon pathways and later activation of inflammation-related pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian S Zeng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - D S Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - A A Kelvin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - David J Kelvin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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16
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Advances in the development of chordoma models for drug discovery and precision medicine. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188812. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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17
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Hussain SS, Edwards YJK, Libby EF, Stanford D, Byzek SA, Sin DD, McDonald ML, Raju SV, Rowe SM. Comparative transcriptomics in human COPD reveals dysregulated genes uniquely expressed in ferrets. Respir Res 2022; 23:277. [PMID: 36217144 PMCID: PMC9552453 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-022-02198-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease with poor treatment options. However, most mouse models of COPD produce a primarily emphysematous disease not recapitulating clinically meaningful COPD features like chronic bronchitis. METHODS Wild-type ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) were divided randomly into two groups: whole body cigarette smoke exposure and air controls. Ferrets were exposed to smoke from 1R6F research cigarettes, twice daily for six months. RNA-sequencing was performed on RNA isolated from lung tissue. Comparative transcriptomics analyses of COPD in ferrets, mice, and humans were done to find the uniquely expressed genes. Further, Real-time PCR was performed to confirmed RNA-Seq data on multiple selected genes. RESULTS RNA-sequence analysis identified 420 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were associated with the development of COPD in ferrets. By comparative analysis, we identified 25 DEGs that are uniquely expressed in ferrets and humans, but not mice. Among DEGs, a number were related to mucociliary clearance (NEK-6, HAS1, and KL), while others have been correlated with abnormal lung function (IL-18), inflammation (TREM1, CTSB), or oxidative stress (SRX1, AHRR). Multiple cellular pathways were aberrantly altered in the COPD ferret model, including pathways associated with COPD pathogenesis in humans. Validation of these selected unique DEGs using real-time PCR demonstrated > absolute 2-fold changes in mRNA versus air controls, consistent with RNA-seq analysis. CONCLUSION Cigarette smoke-induced COPD in ferrets modulates gene expression consistent with human COPD and suggests that the ferret model may be uniquely well suited for the study of aspects of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shah S Hussain
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MCLM 829 1918 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0006, USA
| | - Yvonne J K Edwards
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Department of Cell Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Emily Falk Libby
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Denise Stanford
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MCLM 829 1918 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0006, USA
| | - Stephen A Byzek
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MCLM 829 1918 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0006, USA
| | - Don D Sin
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation and Division of Respiratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Merry-Lynn McDonald
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MCLM 829 1918 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0006, USA
| | - S Vamsee Raju
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MCLM 829 1918 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0006, USA
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Steven M Rowe
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MCLM 829 1918 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0006, USA.
- Department of Cell Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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18
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Jansen EB, Orvold SN, Swan CL, Yourkowski A, Thivierge BM, Francis ME, Ge A, Rioux M, Darbellay J, Howland JG, Kelvin AA. After the virus has cleared-Can preclinical models be employed for Long COVID research? PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010741. [PMID: 36070309 PMCID: PMC9451097 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) can cause the life-threatening acute respiratory disease called COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) as well as debilitating multiorgan dysfunction that persists after the initial viral phase has resolved. Long COVID or Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) is manifested by a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, dyspnea, arthralgia, myalgia, heart palpitations, and memory issues sometimes affecting between 30% and 75% of recovering COVID-19 patients. However, little is known about the mechanisms causing Long COVID and there are no widely accepted treatments or therapeutics. After introducing the clinical aspects of acute COVID-19 and Long COVID in humans, we summarize the work in animals (mice, Syrian hamsters, ferrets, and nonhuman primates (NHPs)) to model human COVID-19. The virology, pathology, immune responses, and multiorgan involvement are explored. Additionally, any studies investigating time points longer than 14 days post infection (pi) are highlighted for insight into possible long-term disease characteristics. Finally, we discuss how the models can be leveraged for treatment evaluation, including pharmacological agents that are currently in human clinical trials for treating Long COVID. The establishment of a recognized Long COVID preclinical model representing the human condition would allow the identification of mechanisms causing disease as well as serve as a vehicle for evaluating potential therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan B. Jansen
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization VIDO, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Spencer N. Orvold
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Cynthia L. Swan
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization VIDO, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Anthony Yourkowski
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization VIDO, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Brittany M. Thivierge
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization VIDO, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Magen E. Francis
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization VIDO, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Anni Ge
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Melissa Rioux
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Joseph Darbellay
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization VIDO, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - John G. Howland
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Alyson A. Kelvin
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization VIDO, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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19
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Etherington GJ, Ciezarek A, Shaw R, Michaux J, Croose E, Haerty W, Di Palma F. Extensive genome introgression between domestic ferret and European polecat during population recovery in Great Britain. J Hered 2022; 113:500-515. [PMID: 35932226 PMCID: PMC9584812 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esac038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The European polecat (Mustela putorius) is a mammalian predator which occurs across much of Europe east to the Ural Mountains. In Great Britain, following years of persecution the range of the European polecat contracted and by the early 1900s was restricted to unmanaged forests of central Wales. The European polecat has recently undergone a population increase due to legal protection and its range now overlaps that of feral domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). During this range expansion, European polecats hybridized with feral domestic ferrets producing viable offspring. Here, we carry out population-level whole-genome sequencing on 8 domestic ferrets, 19 British European polecats, and 15 European polecats from the European mainland. We used a range of population genomics methods to examine the data, including phylogenetics, phylogenetic graphs, model-based clustering, phylogenetic invariants, ABBA-BABA tests, topology weighting, and Fst. We found high degrees of genome introgression in British polecats outside their previous stronghold, even in those individuals phenotyped as “pure” polecats. These polecats ranged from presumed F1 hybrids (gamma = 0.53) to individuals that were much less introgressed (gamma = 0.2). We quantify this introgression and find introgressed genes containing Fst outliers associated with cognitive function and sight.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adam Ciezarek
- The Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Rebecca Shaw
- The Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Johan Michaux
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | | | | | - Federica Di Palma
- The Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.,Genome British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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20
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Lossi L. Anatomical features for an adequate choice of the experimental animal model in biomedicine: III. Ferret, goat, sheep, and horse. Ann Anat 2022; 244:151978. [PMID: 35787443 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2022.151978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The anatomical characteristics of each of the many species today employed in biomedical research are very important when selecting the correct animal model(s), especially for conducting translational research. In previous papers, these features have been considered for fish (D'Angelo et al. Ann. Anat, 2016, 205:75), the most common laboratory rodents, rabbits, and pigs (Lossi et al. 2016). I here follow this line of discussion by dealing with the importance of proper knowledge of ferrets, goats, sheep, and horses' main anatomical features in translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Lossi
- University of Turin, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Turin, Italy; INN, Istituto Nazionale di Neuroscienze, Turin, Italy.
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21
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de Ferran V, Figueiró HV, de Jesus Trindade F, Smith O, Sinding MHS, Trinca CS, Lazzari GZ, Veron G, Vianna JA, Barbanera F, Kliver S, Serdyukova N, Bulyonkova T, Ryder OA, Gilbert MTP, Koepfli KP, Eizirik E. Phylogenomics of the world's otters. Curr Biol 2022; 32:3650-3658.e4. [PMID: 35779528 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Comparative whole-genome analyses hold great power to illuminate commonalities and differences in the evolution of related species that share similar ecologies. The mustelid subfamily Lutrinae includes 13 currently recognized extant species of otters,1-5 a semiaquatic group whose evolutionary history is incompletely understood. We assembled a dataset comprising 24 genomes from all living otter species, 14 of which were newly sequenced. We used this dataset to infer phylogenetic relationships and divergence times, to characterize patterns of genome-wide genealogical discordance, and to investigate demographic history and current genomic diversity. We found that genera Lutra, Aonyx, Amblonyx, and Lutrogale form a coherent clade that should be synonymized under Lutra, simplifying the taxonomic structure of the subfamily. The poorly known tropical African Aonyx congicus and the more widespread Aonyx capensis were found to be reciprocally monophyletic (having diverged 440,000 years ago), supporting the validity of the former as a distinct species. We observed variable changes in effective population sizes over time among otters within and among continents, although several species showed similar trends of expansions and declines during the last 100,000 years. This has led to different levels of genomic diversity assessed by overall heterozygosity, genome-wide SNV density, and run of homozygosity burden. Interestingly, there were cases in which diversity metrics were consistent with the current threat status (mostly based on census size), highlighting the potential of genomic data for conservation assessment. Overall, our results shed light on otter evolutionary history and provide a framework for further in-depth comparative genomic studies targeting this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera de Ferran
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6681, prédio 12C, sala 134, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Henrique Vieira Figueiró
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Species Survival, National Zoological Park, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
| | - Fernanda de Jesus Trindade
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6681, prédio 12C, sala 134, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Oliver Smith
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The GLOBE Institute - University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen 1353, Denmark
| | - Mikkel-Holger S Sinding
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The GLOBE Institute - University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen 1353, Denmark
| | - Cristine S Trinca
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6681, prédio 12C, sala 134, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Gabriele Zenato Lazzari
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6681, prédio 12C, sala 134, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Géraldine Veron
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, 57 rue Cuvier, CP 51, 75231 Paris Cedex 5, France
| | - Juliana A Vianna
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation (CRG), Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Departamento de Ecosistemas y Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Vicuna Mackenna 4860, Santiago 782-0436, Chile
| | - Filippo Barbanera
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via A. Volta 4, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sergei Kliver
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, 8/2 Acad. Lavrentiev Ave, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Natalia Serdyukova
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, 8/2 Acad. Lavrentiev Ave, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Tatiana Bulyonkova
- A. P. Ershov Institute of Informatics Systems SB RAS, 6 Acad. Lavrentiev Ave, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Oliver A Ryder
- San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, Escondido, CA 92027, USA; Department of Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology, Division of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - M Thomas P Gilbert
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The GLOBE Institute - University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen 1353, Denmark; University Museum, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Species Survival, National Zoological Park, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA; Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA.
| | - Eduardo Eizirik
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6681, prédio 12C, sala 134, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90619-900, Brazil; Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Av. Horácio Netto, 1030 - Parque Edmundo Zanoni, Atibaia, São Paulo 12945-010, Brazil.
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22
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Shinmyo Y, Hamabe-Horiike T, Saito K, Kawasaki H. Investigation of the Mechanisms Underlying the Development and Evolution of the Cerebral Cortex Using Gyrencephalic Ferrets. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:847159. [PMID: 35386196 PMCID: PMC8977464 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.847159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian cerebral cortex has changed significantly during evolution. As a result of the increase in the number of neurons and glial cells in the cerebral cortex, its size has markedly expanded. Moreover, folds, called gyri and sulci, appeared on its surface, and its neuronal circuits have become much more complicated. Although these changes during evolution are considered to have been crucial for the acquisition of higher brain functions, the mechanisms underlying the development and evolution of the cerebral cortex of mammals are still unclear. This is, at least partially, because it is difficult to investigate these mechanisms using mice only. Therefore, genetic manipulation techniques for the cerebral cortex of gyrencephalic carnivore ferrets were developed recently. Furthermore, gene knockout was achieved in the ferret cerebral cortex using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. These techniques enabled molecular investigations using the ferret cerebral cortex. In this review, we will summarize recent findings regarding the mechanisms underlying the development and evolution of the mammalian cerebral cortex, mainly focusing on research using ferrets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohei Shinmyo
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Toshihide Hamabe-Horiike
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kengo Saito
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kawasaki
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
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23
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Derežanin L, Blažytė A, Dobrynin P, Duchêne DA, Grau JH, Jeon S, Kliver S, Koepfli KP, Meneghini D, Preick M, Tomarovsky A, Totikov A, Fickel J, Förster DW. Multiple types of genomic variation contribute to adaptive traits in the mustelid subfamily Guloninae. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:2898-2919. [PMID: 35334142 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Species of the mustelid subfamily Guloninae inhabit diverse habitats on multiple continents, and occupy a variety of ecological niches. They differ in feeding ecologies, reproductive strategies and morphological adaptations. To identify candidate loci associated with adaptations to their respective environments, we generated a de novo assembly of the tayra (Eira barbara), the earliest diverging species in the subfamily, and compared this with the genomes available for the wolverine (Gulo gulo) and the sable (Martes zibellina). Our comparative genomic analyses included searching for signs of positive selection, examining changes in gene family sizes, as well as searching for species-specific structural variants (SVs). Among candidate loci associated with phenotypic traits, we observed many related to diet, body condition and reproduction. For example, for the tayra, which has an atypical gulonine reproductive strategy of aseasonal breeding, we observe species-specific changes in many pregnancy-related genes. For the wolverine, a circumpolar hypercarnivore that must cope with seasonal food scarcity, we observed many changes in genes associated with diet and body condition. All types of genomic variation examined (single nucleotide polymorphisms, gene family expansions, structural variants) contributed substantially to the identification of candidate loci. This strongly argues for consideration of variation other than single nucleotide polymorphisms in comparative genomics studies aiming to identify loci of adaptive significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Derežanin
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW, Alfred Kowalke Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Asta Blažytė
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Information and Biotechnology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Pavel Dobrynin
- Computer Technologies Laboratory, ITMO University, 49 Kronverkskiy Pr, 197101, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - David A Duchêne
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - José Horacio Grau
- amedes Genetics, amedes Medizinische Dienstleistungen GmbH, Jägerstr. 61, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sungwon Jeon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Information and Biotechnology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea.,Clinomics Inc, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Sergei Kliver
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, SB RAS, 8/2 Acad. Lavrentiev Ave, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Computer Technologies Laboratory, ITMO University, 49 Kronverkskiy Pr, 197101, Saint Petersburg, Russia.,Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA.,Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Species Survival, National Zoological Park, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA
| | - Dorina Meneghini
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW, Alfred Kowalke Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michaela Preick
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476, OT, Germany
| | - Andrey Tomarovsky
- Computer Technologies Laboratory, ITMO University, 49 Kronverkskiy Pr, 197101, Saint Petersburg, Russia.,Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, SB RAS, 8/2 Acad. Lavrentiev Ave, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.,Novosibirsk State University, 1 Pirogova str, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Azamat Totikov
- Computer Technologies Laboratory, ITMO University, 49 Kronverkskiy Pr, 197101, Saint Petersburg, Russia.,Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, SB RAS, 8/2 Acad. Lavrentiev Ave, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.,Novosibirsk State University, 1 Pirogova str, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Jörns Fickel
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW, Alfred Kowalke Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.,Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476, OT, Germany
| | - Daniel W Förster
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW, Alfred Kowalke Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
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24
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He N, Liu X, Vegter AR, Evans TIA, Gray JS, Guo J, Moll SR, Guo LJ, Luo M, Ma N, Sun X, Liang B, Yan Z, Feng Z, Qi L, Joshi AS, Shahin W, Yi Y, Gibson-Corley KN, Hoffman EA, Wang K, Mueller C, Engelhardt JF, Rosen BH. Ferret models of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency develop lung and liver disease. JCI Insight 2022; 7:e143004. [PMID: 35104244 PMCID: PMC8983124 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.143004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is the most common genetic cause and risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but the field lacks a large-animal model that allows for longitudinal assessment of pulmonary function. We hypothesized that ferrets would model human AATD-related lung and hepatic disease. AAT-knockout (AAT-KO) and PiZZ (E342K, the most common mutation in humans) ferrets were generated and compared with matched controls using custom-designed flexiVent modules to perform pulmonary function tests, quantitative computed tomography (QCT), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) proteomics, and alveolar morphometry. Complete loss of AAT (AAT-KO) led to increased pulmonary compliance and expiratory airflow limitation, consistent with obstructive lung disease. QCT and morphometry confirmed emphysema and airspace enlargement, respectively. Pathway analysis of BAL proteomics data revealed inflammatory lung disease and impaired cellular migration. The PiZ mutation resulted in altered AAT protein folding in the liver, hepatic injury, and reduced plasma concentrations of AAT, and PiZZ ferrets developed obstructive lung disease. In summary, AAT-KO and PiZZ ferrets model the progressive obstructive pulmonary disease seen in AAT-deficient patients and may serve as a platform for preclinical testing of therapeutics including gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan He
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bo Liang
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
| | | | | | - Lisi Qi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
| | | | | | - Yaling Yi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
| | | | | | - Kai Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Christian Mueller
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John F. Engelhardt
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Bradley H. Rosen
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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25
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Cai Z, Christensen OF, Lund MS, Ostersen T, Sahana G. Large-scale association study on daily weight gain in pigs reveals overlap of genetic factors for growth in humans. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:133. [PMID: 35168569 PMCID: PMC8845347 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08373-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Imputation from genotyping array to whole-genome sequence variants using resequencing of representative reference populations enhances our ability to map genetic factors affecting complex phenotypes in livestock species. The accumulation of knowledge about gene function in human and laboratory animals can provide substantial advantage for genomic research in livestock species. Results In this study, 201,388 pigs from three commercial Danish breeds genotyped with low to medium (8.5k to 70k) SNP arrays were imputed to whole genome sequence variants using a two-step approach. Both imputation steps achieved high accuracies, and in total this yielded 26,447,434 markers on 18 autosomes. The average estimated imputation accuracy of markers with minor allele frequency ≥ 0.05 was 0.94. To overcome the memory consumption of running genome-wide association study (GWAS) for each breed, we performed within-breed subpopulation GWAS then within-breed meta-analysis for average daily weight gain (ADG), followed by a multi-breed meta-analysis of GWAS summary statistics. We identified 15 quantitative trait loci (QTL). Our post-GWAS analysis strategy to prioritize of candidate genes including information like gene ontology, mammalian phenotype database, differential expression gene analysis of high and low feed efficiency pig and human GWAS catalog for height, obesity, and body mass index, we proposed MRAP2, LEPROT, PMAIP1, ENSSSCG00000036234, BMP2, ELFN1, LIG4 and FAM155A as the candidate genes with biological support for ADG in pigs. Conclusion Our post-GWAS analysis strategy helped to identify candidate genes not just by distance to the lead SNP but also by multiple sources of biological evidence. Besides, the identified QTL overlap with genes which are known for their association with human growth-related traits. The GWAS with this large data set showed the power to map the genetic factors associated with ADG in pigs and have added to our understanding of the genetics of growth across mammalian species. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08373-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zexi Cai
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, 8830, Tjele, Denmark.
| | | | - Mogens Sandø Lund
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, 8830, Tjele, Denmark
| | - Tage Ostersen
- SEGES Danish Pig Research Centre, Agro Food Park 15, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Goutam Sahana
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, 8830, Tjele, Denmark
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26
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Peart CR, Williams C, Pophaly SD, Neely BA, Gulland FMD, Adams DJ, Ng BL, Cheng W, Goebel ME, Fedrigo O, Haase B, Mountcastle J, Fungtammasan A, Formenti G, Collins J, Wood J, Sims Y, Torrance J, Tracey A, Howe K, Rhie A, Hoffman JI, Johnson J, Jarvis ED, Breen M, Wolf JBW. Hi-C scaffolded short- and long-read genome assemblies of the California sea lion are broadly consistent for syntenic inference across 45 million years of evolution. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 21:2455-2470. [PMID: 34097816 PMCID: PMC9732816 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
With the advent of chromatin-interaction maps, chromosome-level genome assemblies have become a reality for a wide range of organisms. Scaffolding quality is, however, difficult to judge. To explore this gap, we generated multiple chromosome-scale genome assemblies of an emerging wild animal model for carcinogenesis, the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Short-read assemblies were scaffolded with two independent chromatin interaction mapping data sets (Hi-C and Chicago), and long-read assemblies with three data types (Hi-C, optical maps and 10X linked reads) following the "Vertebrate Genomes Project (VGP)" pipeline. In both approaches, 18 major scaffolds recovered the karyotype (2n = 36), with scaffold N50s of 138 and 147 Mb, respectively. Synteny relationships at the chromosome level with other pinniped genomes (2n = 32-36), ferret (2n = 34), red panda (2n = 36) and domestic dog (2n = 78) were consistent across approaches and recovered known fissions and fusions. Comparative chromosome painting and multicolour chromosome tiling with a panel of 264 genome-integrated single-locus canine bacterial artificial chromosome probes provided independent evaluation of genome organization. Broad-scale discrepancies between the approaches were observed within chromosomes, most commonly in translocations centred around centromeres and telomeres, which were better resolved in the VGP assembly. Genomic and cytological approaches agreed on near-perfect synteny of the X chromosome, and in combination allowed detailed investigation of autosomal rearrangements between dog and sea lion. This study presents high-quality genomes of an emerging cancer model and highlights that even highly fragmented short-read assemblies scaffolded with Hi-C can yield reliable chromosome-level scaffolds suitable for comparative genomic analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire R. Peart
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Munchen, Germany
| | - Christina Williams
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Saurabh D. Pophaly
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Munchen, Germany
- Max Planck institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Benjamin A. Neely
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Frances M. D. Gulland
- Karen Dryer Wildlife Health Center, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - David J. Adams
- Cytometry Core Facility, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bee Ling Ng
- Cytometry Core Facility, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - William Cheng
- Cytometry Core Facility, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael E. Goebel
- Institute of Marine Science, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Olivier Fedrigo
- Vertebrate Genome Lab, The Rockefeller University, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Bettina Haase
- Vertebrate Genome Lab, The Rockefeller University, New York City, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Giulio Formenti
- Vertebrate Genome Lab, The Rockefeller University, New York City, New York, USA
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics of Language, The Rockefeller University, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Joanna Collins
- Tree of Life Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan Wood
- Tree of Life Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ying Sims
- Tree of Life Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - James Torrance
- Tree of Life Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alan Tracey
- Tree of Life Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kerstin Howe
- Tree of Life Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Arang Rhie
- Genome Informatics Section, Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph I. Hoffman
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jeremy Johnson
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Erich D. Jarvis
- Vertebrate Genome Lab, The Rockefeller University, New York City, New York, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Matthew Breen
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jochen B. W. Wolf
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Munchen, Germany
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27
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Yang X, Liu G, Wang Q, Gao X, Xia T, Zhao C, Dou H, Zhang H. Comparative transcriptome provides insights into the selection adaptation between wild and farmed foxes. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:13475-13486. [PMID: 34646484 PMCID: PMC8495804 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The silver fox and blue fox are economically important fur species and were domesticated by humans from their wild counterparts, the arctic fox and red fox, respectively. Farmed foxes show obvious differences from their wild counterparts, including differences in physiology, body size, energy metabolism, and immunity. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these differences are presently unclear. In this study, we built transcriptome libraries from multiple pooled tissues for each species of farmed fox, used RNA-seq to obtain a comprehensive dataset, and performed selection analysis and sequence-level analyses of orthologous genes to identify the genes that may be influenced by human domestication. More than 153.3, 248.0, 81.6, and 65.8 million clean reads were obtained and assembled into a total of 118,577, 401,520, 79,900, and 186,988 unigenes with an average length range from 521 to 667 bp for AF, BF, RF, and SF, respectively. Selective pressure analysis showed that 11 and 14 positively selected genes were identified, respectively, in the two groups (AF vs. BF and RF vs. SF). Several of these genes were associated with natural immunity (CFI and LRRFIP1), protein synthesis (GOLGA4, CEP19 and SLC35A2), and DNA damage repair (MDC1). Further functional enrichment analyses demonstrated that two positively selected genes (ACO1 and ACAD10) were involved in metabolic process (GO:0008152, p-value = .032), representing a significant enrichment. Sequence analysis of 117 orthologous genes shared by the two groups showed that the LEMD2, RRBP1, and IGBP1 genes might be affected by artificial selection in farmed foxes, with mutation sites located within sequences that are otherwise highly conserved across most mammals. Our results provide a valuable transcriptomic resource for future genetic studies and improvement in the assisted breeding of foxes and other farmed animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiufeng Yang
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | | | - Qi Wang
- Hulunbuir Academy of Inland Lakes in Northern Cold & Arid AreasHulunbuirChina
| | - Xiaodong Gao
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Tian Xia
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Chao Zhao
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Huashan Dou
- Hulunbuir Academy of Inland Lakes in Northern Cold & Arid AreasHulunbuirChina
| | - Honghai Zhang
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
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28
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Szatmári L, Cserkész T, Laczkó L, Lanszki J, Pertoldi C, Abramov AV, Elmeros M, Ottlecz B, Hegyeli Z, Sramkó G. A comparison of microsatellites and genome-wide SNPs for the detection of admixture brings the first molecular evidence for hybridization between Mustela eversmanii and M. putorius (Mustelidae, Carnivora). Evol Appl 2021; 14:2286-2304. [PMID: 34603499 PMCID: PMC8477604 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introgressive hybridization can pose a serious threat to endangered species which have an overlapping distribution such as in the case of two polecat species, Mustela eversmanii and M. putorius, in Europe. The population size of steppe polecat is known to continuously shrink, whereas its sister species, the European polecat, is still somehow widespread. In this study, we perform an analysis using microsatellite (SSR) and genomic (SNP) data sets to identify natural hybrids between polecats. Four populations were genotyped for eight polymorphic SSR loci, and thousands of unlinked SNPs were generated using a reduced-representation sequencing approach, RADseq, to characterize the genetic make-up of allopatric populations and to identify hybrids in the sympatric area. We applied standard population genetic analyses to characterize the populations based on their SSR allelic frequency. Only a single sample out of 48 sympatric samples showed exact intermediacy that we identified as an F1 hybrid. Additionally, one specimen was indicated in the genomic data sets as backcrossed. Other backcrosses, indicated by SSRs, were not validated by SNPs, which highlights the higher efficacy of the genomic method to identify backcrossed individuals. The low frequency of hybridization suggests that the difference in habitat preference of the two species may act as a barrier to admixture. Therefore, it is apparently unlikely that polecat populations are threatened by significant introgression. The two species showed a clear genetic differentiation using both techniques. We found higher genetic diversity values in the sympatric steppe polecat population than in the other studies on polecat populations. Although M. putorius is a hunted species in most countries, genetic diversity values indicate worse conditions in Europe than in the protected sibling species M. eversmanii. Suspending hunting and providing protected status of the former seems to be reasonable and timely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lajos Szatmári
- MTA-DE "Lendület" Evolutionary Phylogenomics Research Group Debrecen Hungary
- Department of Botany University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
| | - Tamás Cserkész
- Department of Zoology Hungarian Natural History Museum Budapest Hungary
- Bükk Mammalogical Society Eger Hungary
| | - Levente Laczkó
- MTA-DE "Lendület" Evolutionary Phylogenomics Research Group Debrecen Hungary
- Department of Botany University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
| | - József Lanszki
- Carnivore Ecology Research Group Szent István University, Kaposvár Campus Kaposvár Hungary
| | - Cino Pertoldi
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience Aalborg University Aalborg Øst Denmark
- Aalborg Zoo Aalborg Denmark
| | - Alexei V Abramov
- Zoological Institute Russian Academy of Sciences Saint Petersburg Russia
| | - Morten Elmeros
- Department of Bioscience - Wildlife Ecology Aarhus University Rønde Denmark
| | | | - Zsolt Hegyeli
- Milvus Group Bird and Nature Protection Association Tîrgu Mureș Romania
| | - Gábor Sramkó
- MTA-DE "Lendület" Evolutionary Phylogenomics Research Group Debrecen Hungary
- Department of Botany University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
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29
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Animal Models Utilized for the Development of Influenza Virus Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9070787. [PMID: 34358203 PMCID: PMC8310120 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9070787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models have been an important tool for the development of influenza virus vaccines since the 1940s. Over the past 80 years, influenza virus vaccines have evolved into more complex formulations, including trivalent and quadrivalent inactivated vaccines, live-attenuated vaccines, and subunit vaccines. However, annual effectiveness data shows that current vaccines have varying levels of protection that range between 40–60% and must be reformulated every few years to combat antigenic drift. To address these issues, novel influenza virus vaccines are currently in development. These vaccines rely heavily on animal models to determine efficacy and immunogenicity. In this review, we describe seasonal and novel influenza virus vaccines and highlight important animal models used to develop them.
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Miranda I, Giska I, Farelo L, Pimenta J, Zimova M, Bryk J, Dalén L, Mills LS, Zub K, Melo-Ferreira J. Museomics dissects the genetic basis for adaptive seasonal colouration in the least weasel. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:4388-4402. [PMID: 34157721 PMCID: PMC8476133 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dissecting the link between genetic variation and adaptive phenotypes provides outstanding opportunities to understand fundamental evolutionary processes. Here, we use a museomics approach to investigate the genetic basis and evolution of winter coat colouration morphs in least weasels (Mustela nivalis), a repeated adaptation for camouflage in mammals with seasonal pelage colour moults across regions with varying winter snow. Whole-genome sequence data was obtained from biological collections and mapped onto a newly assembled reference genome for the species. Sampling represented two replicate transition zones between nivalis and vulgaris colouration morphs in Europe, which typically develop white or brown winter coats, respectively. Population analyses showed that the morph distribution across transition zones is not a by-product of historical structure. Association scans linked a 200 kb genomic region to colouration morph, which was validated by genotyping museum specimens from inter-morph experimental crosses. Genotyping the wild populations narrowed down the association to pigmentation gene MC1R and pinpointed a candidate amino acid change co-segregating with colouration morph. This polymorphism replaces an ancestral leucine residue by lysine at the start of the first extracellular loop of the protein in the vulgaris morph. A selective sweep signature overlapped the association region in vulgaris, suggesting that past adaptation favoured winter-brown morphs and can anchor future adaptive responses to decreasing winter snow. Using biological collections as valuable resources to study natural adaptations, our study showed a new evolutionary route generating winter colour variation in mammals and that seasonal camouflage can be modulated by changes at single key genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Miranda
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, 4169-007, Portugal
| | - Iwona Giska
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
| | - Liliana Farelo
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
| | - João Pimenta
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
| | - Marketa Zimova
- School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Dana Natural Resources Building, 440 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI, 49109, USA
| | - Jarosław Bryk
- School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Quennsgate, Huddersfield, UK
| | - Love Dalén
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Svante Arrhenius väg 20C, Stockholm, SE-10691, Sweden.,Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, Stockholm, SE-10405, Sweden
| | - L Scott Mills
- Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA.,Office of Research and Creative Scholarship, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
| | - Karol Zub
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Stoczek 1, Białowieża 17-230, Poland
| | - José Melo-Ferreira
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, 4169-007, Portugal
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Nguyen TQ, Rollon R, Choi YK. Animal Models for Influenza Research: Strengths and Weaknesses. Viruses 2021; 13:1011. [PMID: 34071367 PMCID: PMC8228315 DOI: 10.3390/v13061011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza remains one of the most significant public health threats due to its ability to cause high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although understanding of influenza viruses has greatly increased in recent years, shortcomings remain. Additionally, the continuous mutation of influenza viruses through genetic reassortment and selection of variants that escape host immune responses can render current influenza vaccines ineffective at controlling seasonal epidemics and potential pandemics. Thus, there is a knowledge gap in the understanding of influenza viruses and a corresponding need to develop novel universal vaccines and therapeutic treatments. Investigation of viral pathogenesis, transmission mechanisms, and efficacy of influenza vaccine candidates requires animal models that can recapitulate the disease. Furthermore, the choice of animal model for each research question is crucial in order for researchers to acquire a better knowledge of influenza viruses. Herein, we reviewed the advantages and limitations of each animal model-including mice, ferrets, guinea pigs, swine, felines, canines, and non-human primates-for elucidating influenza viral pathogenesis and transmission and for evaluating therapeutic agents and vaccine efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi-Quyen Nguyen
- College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea; (T.-Q.N.); (R.R.)
| | - Rare Rollon
- College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea; (T.-Q.N.); (R.R.)
| | - Young-Ki Choi
- College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea; (T.-Q.N.); (R.R.)
- Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Research Center, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
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32
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Schiffman Z, Liu G, Cao W, Zhu W, Emeterio K, Qiu X, Banadyga L. The Ferret as a Model for Filovirus Pathogenesis and Countermeasure Evaluation. ILAR J 2021; 61:62-71. [PMID: 33951727 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilab011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) has long been a popular animal model for evaluating viral pathogenesis and transmission as well as the efficacy of candidate countermeasures. Without question, the ferret has been most widely implemented for modeling respiratory viruses, particularly influenza viruses; however, in recent years, it has gained attention as a novel animal model for characterizing filovirus infections. Although ferrets appear resistant to infection and disease caused by Marburg and Ravn viruses, they are highly susceptible to lethal disease caused by Ebola, Sudan, Bundibugyo, and Reston viruses. Notably, unlike the immunocompetent rodent models of filovirus infection, ferrets are susceptible to lethal disease caused by wild-type viruses, and they recapitulate many aspects of human filovirus disease, including systemic virus replication, coagulation abnormalities, and a dysregulated immune response. Along with the stringency with which they reproduce Ebola disease, their relatively small size and availability make ferrets an attractive choice for countermeasure evaluation and pathogenesis modeling. Indeed, they are so far the only small animal model available for Bundibugyo virus. Nevertheless, ferrets do have their limitations, including the lack of commercially available reagents to dissect host responses and their unproven predictive value in therapeutic evaluation. Although the use of the ferret model in ebolavirus research has been consistent over the last few years, its widespread use and utility remains to be fully proven. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the ferret models of filovirus infection and perspective on their ongoing use in pathogenesis modeling and countermeasure evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Schiffman
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Guodong Liu
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Wenguang Cao
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Wenjun Zhu
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Karla Emeterio
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Xiangguo Qiu
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Logan Banadyga
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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33
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Gilardi C, Kalebic N. The Ferret as a Model System for Neocortex Development and Evolution. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:661759. [PMID: 33996819 PMCID: PMC8118648 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.661759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The neocortex is the largest part of the cerebral cortex and a key structure involved in human behavior and cognition. Comparison of neocortex development across mammals reveals that the proliferative capacity of neural stem and progenitor cells and the length of the neurogenic period are essential for regulating neocortex size and complexity, which in turn are thought to be instrumental for the increased cognitive abilities in humans. The domesticated ferret, Mustela putorius furo, is an important animal model in neurodevelopment for its complex postnatal cortical folding, its long period of forebrain development and its accessibility to genetic manipulation in vivo. Here, we discuss the molecular, cellular, and histological features that make this small gyrencephalic carnivore a suitable animal model to study the physiological and pathological mechanisms for the development of an expanded neocortex. We particularly focus on the mechanisms of neural stem cell proliferation, neuronal differentiation, cortical folding, visual system development, and neurodevelopmental pathologies. We further discuss the technological advances that have enabled the genetic manipulation of the ferret in vivo. Finally, we compare the features of neocortex development in the ferret with those of other model organisms.
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Rioux M, Francis ME, Swan CL, Ge A, Kroeker A, Kelvin AA. The Intersection of Age and Influenza Severity: Utility of Ferrets for Dissecting the Age-Dependent Immune Responses and Relevance to Age-Specific Vaccine Development. Viruses 2021; 13:678. [PMID: 33920917 PMCID: PMC8071347 DOI: 10.3390/v13040678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Many factors impact the host response to influenza virus infection and vaccination. Ferrets have been an indispensable reagent for influenza virus research for almost one hundred years. One of the most significant and well-known factors affecting human disease after infection is host age. Another significant factor is the virus, as strain-specific disease severity is well known. Studying age-related impacts on viral infection and vaccination outcomes requires an animal model that reflects both the physiological and immunological changes that occur with human aging, and sensitivity to differentially virulent influenza viruses. The ferret is uniquely susceptible to a plethora of influenza viruses impacting humans and has proven extremely useful in studying the clinical and immunological pictures of influenza virus infection. Moreover, ferrets developmentally have several of the age-related physiological changes that occur in humans throughout infancy, adulthood, old age, and pregnancy. In this review, we discuss ferret susceptibility to influenza viruses, summarize previous influenza studies using ferrets as models of age, and finally, highlight the application of ferret age models in the pursuit of prophylactic and therapeutic agents to address age-related influenza disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Rioux
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H4R2, Canada; (M.R.); (A.G.)
| | - Magen E. Francis
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N5E3, Canada; (M.E.F.); (C.L.S.); (A.K.)
| | - Cynthia L. Swan
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N5E3, Canada; (M.E.F.); (C.L.S.); (A.K.)
| | - Anni Ge
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H4R2, Canada; (M.R.); (A.G.)
| | - Andrea Kroeker
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N5E3, Canada; (M.E.F.); (C.L.S.); (A.K.)
| | - Alyson A. Kelvin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H4R2, Canada; (M.R.); (A.G.)
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N5E3, Canada; (M.E.F.); (C.L.S.); (A.K.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3K6R8, Canada
- The Canadian Center for Vaccinology (IWK Health Centre, Dalhousie University and the Nova Scotia Health Authority), Halifax, NS B3K6R8, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N5E5, Canada
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35
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Pai AC, Parekh KR, Engelhardt JF, Lynch TJ. Ferret respiratory disease models for the study of lung stem cells. LUNG STEM CELLS IN DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND DISEASE 2021:273-289. [DOI: 10.1183/2312508x.10010320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
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36
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Construction of Whole Genomes from Scaffolds Using Single Cell Strand-Seq Data. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073617. [PMID: 33807210 PMCID: PMC8037727 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate reference genome sequences provide the foundation for modern molecular biology and genomics as the interpretation of sequence data to study evolution, gene expression, and epigenetics depends heavily on the quality of the genome assembly used for its alignment. Correctly organising sequenced fragments such as contigs and scaffolds in relation to each other is a critical and often challenging step in the construction of robust genome references. We previously identified misoriented regions in the mouse and human reference assemblies using Strand-seq, a single cell sequencing technique that preserves DNA directionality Here we demonstrate the ability of Strand-seq to build and correct full-length chromosomes by identifying which scaffolds belong to the same chromosome and determining their correct order and orientation, without the need for overlapping sequences. We demonstrate that Strand-seq exquisitely maps assembly fragments into large related groups and chromosome-sized clusters without using new assembly data. Using template strand inheritance as a bi-allelic marker, we employ genetic mapping principles to cluster scaffolds that are derived from the same chromosome and order them within the chromosome based solely on directionality of DNA strand inheritance. We prove the utility of our approach by generating improved genome assemblies for several model organisms including the ferret, pig, Xenopus, zebrafish, Tasmanian devil and the Guinea pig.
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37
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Longet S, Mellors J, Carroll MW, Tipton T. Ebolavirus: Comparison of Survivor Immunology and Animal Models in the Search for a Correlate of Protection. Front Immunol 2021; 11:599568. [PMID: 33679690 PMCID: PMC7935512 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.599568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Ebola viruses are enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses belonging to the Filoviridae family and can cause Ebola virus disease (EVD), a serious haemorrhagic illness with up to 90% mortality. The disease was first detected in Zaire (currently the Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1976. Since its discovery, Ebola virus has caused sporadic outbreaks in Africa and was responsible for the largest 2013-2016 EVD epidemic in West Africa, which resulted in more than 28,600 cases and over 11,300 deaths. This epidemic strengthened international scientific efforts to contain the virus and develop therapeutics and vaccines. Immunology studies in animal models and survivors, as well as clinical trials have been crucial to understand Ebola virus pathogenesis and host immune responses, which has supported vaccine development. This review discusses the major findings that have emerged from animal models, studies in survivors and vaccine clinical trials and explains how these investigations have helped in the search for a correlate of protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Longet
- Public Health England, National Infection Service, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - Jack Mellors
- Public Health England, National Infection Service, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - Miles W. Carroll
- Public Health England, National Infection Service, Salisbury, United Kingdom
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Tipton
- Public Health England, National Infection Service, Salisbury, United Kingdom
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38
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Jiang W, Wong J, Tan HX, Kelly HG, Whitney PG, Barr I, Layton DS, Kent SJ, Wheatley AK, Juno JA. Screening and development of monoclonal antibodies for identification of ferret T follicular helper cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1864. [PMID: 33479388 PMCID: PMC7820401 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81389-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The ferret is a key animal model for investigating the pathogenicity and transmissibility of important human viruses, and for the pre‐clinical assessment of vaccines. However, relatively little is known about the ferret immune system, due in part to a paucity of ferret‐reactive reagents. In particular, T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are critical in the generation of effective humoral responses in humans, mice and other animal models but to date it has not been possible to identify Tfh in ferrets. Here, we describe the screening and development of ferret-reactive BCL6, CXCR5 and PD-1 monoclonal antibodies. We found two commercial anti-BCL6 antibodies (clone K112-91 and clone IG191E/A8) had cross-reactivity with lymph node cells from influenza-infected ferrets. We next developed two murine monoclonal antibodies against ferret CXCR5 (clone feX5-C05) and PD-1 (clone fePD-CL1) using a single B cell PCR-based method. We were able to clearly identify Tfh cells in lymph nodes from influenza infected ferrets using these antibodies. The development of ferret Tfh marker antibodies and the identification of ferret Tfh cells will assist the evaluation of vaccine-induced Tfh responses in the ferret model and the design of novel vaccines against the infection of influenza and other viruses, including SARS-CoV2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Jiang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Julius Wong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Hyon-Xhi Tan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Hannah G Kelly
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul G Whitney
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research On Influenza, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ian Barr
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research On Influenza, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Daniel S Layton
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian Animal Health Laboratories, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen J Kent
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Melbourne Sexual Health Clinic and Infectious Diseases Department, Alfred Hospital, Monash University Central Clinical School, Carlton, VIC, Australia.,ARC Centre for Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Adam K Wheatley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Jennifer A Juno
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Sécher T, Bodier-Montagutelli E, Guillon A, Heuzé-Vourc'h N. Correlation and clinical relevance of animal models for inhaled pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2020; 167:148-169. [PMID: 32645479 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Nonclinical studies are fundamental for the development of inhaled drugs, as for any drug product, and for successful translation to clinical practice. They include in silico, in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo studies and are intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of the inhaled drug beneficial and detrimental effects. To date, animal models cannot be circumvented during drug development programs, acting as surrogates of humans to predict inhaled drug response, fate and toxicity. Herein, we review the animal models used during the different development stages of inhaled pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals, highlighting their strengths and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Sécher
- INSERM, Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, U1100, Tours, France; University of Tours, Tours, France
| | - E Bodier-Montagutelli
- INSERM, Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, U1100, Tours, France; University of Tours, Tours, France; CHRU de Tours, Pharmacy Department, Tours, France
| | - A Guillon
- INSERM, Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, U1100, Tours, France; University of Tours, Tours, France; CHRU de Tours, Critical Care Department, Tours, France
| | - N Heuzé-Vourc'h
- INSERM, Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, U1100, Tours, France; University of Tours, Tours, France.
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40
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Skorupski J. Fifty Years of Research on European Mink Mustela lutreola L., 1761 Genetics: Where Are We Now in Studies on One of the Most Endangered Mammals? Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E1332. [PMID: 33187363 PMCID: PMC7696698 DOI: 10.3390/genes11111332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to present the current state of knowledge about the genetics of European mink Mustela lutreola L., 1761, which is one of the most endangered mammalian species in the world. This article provides a comprehensive description of the studies undertaken over the last 50 years in terms of cytogenetics, molecular genetics, genomics (including mitogenomics), population genetics of wild populations and captive stocks, phylogenetics, phylogeography, and applied genetics (including identification by genetic methods, molecular ecology, and conservation genetics). An extensive and up-to-date review and critical analysis of the available specialist literature on the topic is provided, with special reference to conservation genetics. Unresolved issues are also described, such as the standard karyotype, systematic position, and whole-genome sequencing, and hotly debated issues are addressed, like the origin of the Southwestern population of the European mink and management approaches of the most distinct populations of the species. Finally, the most urgent directions of future research, based on the research questions arising from completed studies and the implementation of conservation measures to save and restore M. lutreola populations, are outlined. The importance of the popularization of research topics related to European mink genetics among scientists is highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Skorupski
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Szczecin, Adama Mickiewicza 16 St., 70-383 Szczecin, Poland; ; Tel.: +48-914-441-685
- Polish Society for Conservation Genetics LUTREOLA, Maciejkowa 21 St., 71-784 Szczecin, Poland
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Dukler N, Huang YF, Siepel A. Phylogenetic Modeling of Regulatory Element Turnover Based on Epigenomic Data. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 37:2137-2152. [PMID: 32176292 PMCID: PMC7306682 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary changes in gene expression are often driven by gains and losses of cis-regulatory elements (CREs). The dynamics of CRE evolution can be examined using multispecies epigenomic data, but so far such analyses have generally been descriptive and model-free. Here, we introduce a probabilistic modeling framework for the evolution of CREs that operates directly on raw chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing (ChIP-seq) data and fully considers the phylogenetic relationships among species. Our framework includes a phylogenetic hidden Markov model, called epiPhyloHMM, for identifying the locations of multiply aligned CREs, and a combined phylogenetic and generalized linear model, called phyloGLM, for accounting for the influence of a rich set of genomic features in describing their evolutionary dynamics. We apply these methods to previously published ChIP-seq data for the H3K4me3 and H3K27ac histone modifications in liver tissue from nine mammals. We find that enhancers are gained and lost during mammalian evolution at about twice the rate of promoters, and that turnover rates are negatively correlated with DNA sequence conservation, expression level, and tissue breadth, and positively correlated with distance from the transcription start site, consistent with previous findings. In addition, we find that the predicted dosage sensitivity of target genes positively correlates with DNA sequence constraint in CREs but not with turnover rates, perhaps owing to differences in the effect sizes of the relevant mutations. Altogether, our probabilistic modeling framework enables a variety of powerful new analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Dukler
- Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
- Physiology, Biophysics, and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
| | - Yi-Fei Huang
- Department of Biology and Huck Institute of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | - Adam Siepel
- Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
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42
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Belser JA, Pulit-Penaloza JA, Maines TR. Ferreting Out Influenza Virus Pathogenicity and Transmissibility: Past and Future Risk Assessments in the Ferret Model. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2020; 10:cshperspect.a038323. [PMID: 31871233 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a038323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
As influenza A viruses continue to jump species barriers, data generated in the ferret model to assess influenza virus pathogenicity, transmissibility, and tropism of these novel strains continues to inform an increasing scope of public health-based applications. This review presents the suitability of ferrets as a small mammalian model for influenza viruses and describes the breadth of pathogenicity and transmissibility profiles possible in this species following inoculation with a diverse range of viruses. Adaptation of aerobiology-based techniques and analyses have furthered our understanding of data obtained from this model and provide insight into the capacity of novel and emerging influenza viruses to cause human infection and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Belser
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA
| | - Joanna A Pulit-Penaloza
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA
| | - Taronna R Maines
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA
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Wong J, Tai CM, Hurt AC, Tan HX, Kent SJ, Wheatley AK. Sequencing B cell receptors from ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233794. [PMID: 32470013 PMCID: PMC7259655 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) provides a critical animal model to study human respiratory diseases. However immunological insights are restricted due to a lack of ferret-specific reagents and limited genetic information about ferret B and T cell receptors. Here, variable, diversity and joining genes within the ferret kappa, lambda and heavy chain immunoglobulin loci were annotated using available genomic information. A multiplex PCR approach was derived that facilitated the recovery of paired heavy and light chain immunoglobulin sequences from single sorted ferret B cells, allowing validation of predicted germline gene sequences and the identification of putative novel germlines. Eukaryotic expression vectors were developed that enabled the generation of recombinant ferret monoclonal antibodies. This work advances the ferret as an informative immunological model for viral diseases by allowing the in-depth interrogation of antibody-based immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Wong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Celeste M. Tai
- World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Aeron C. Hurt
- World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hyon-Xhi Tan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stephen J. Kent
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- ARC Centre for Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail: (AKW); (SJK)
| | - Adam K. Wheatley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- ARC Centre for Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail: (AKW); (SJK)
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Etherington GJ, Heavens D, Baker D, Lister A, McNelly R, Garcia G, Clavijo B, Macaulay I, Haerty W, Di Palma F. Sequencing smart: De novo sequencing and assembly approaches for a non-model mammal. Gigascience 2020; 9:5836134. [PMID: 32396200 PMCID: PMC7216774 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giaa045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Whilst much sequencing effort has focused on key mammalian model organisms such as mouse and human, little is known about the relationship between genome sequencing techniques for non-model mammals and genome assembly quality. This is especially relevant to non-model mammals, where the samples to be sequenced are often degraded and of low quality. A key aspect when planning a genome project is the choice of sequencing data to generate. This decision is driven by several factors, including the biological questions being asked, the quality of DNA available, and the availability of funds. Cutting-edge sequencing technologies now make it possible to achieve highly contiguous, chromosome-level genome assemblies, but rely on high-quality high molecular weight DNA. However, funding is often insufficient for many independent research groups to use these techniques. Here we use a range of different genomic technologies generated from a roadkill European polecat (Mustela putorius) to assess various assembly techniques on this low-quality sample. We evaluated different approaches for de novo assemblies and discuss their value in relation to biological analyses. Results Generally, assemblies containing more data types achieved better scores in our ranking system. However, when accounting for misassemblies, this was not always the case for Bionano and low-coverage 10x Genomics (for scaffolding only). We also find that the extra cost associated with combining multiple data types is not necessarily associated with better genome assemblies. Conclusions The high degree of variability between each de novo assembly method (assessed from the 7 key metrics) highlights the importance of carefully devising the sequencing strategy to be able to carry out the desired analysis. Adding more data to genome assemblies does not always result in better assemblies, so it is important to understand the nuances of genomic data integration explained here, in order to obtain cost-effective value for money when sequencing genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Darren Heavens
- The Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - David Baker
- The Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Ashleigh Lister
- The Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Rose McNelly
- The Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Gonzalo Garcia
- The Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Bernardo Clavijo
- The Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Iain Macaulay
- The Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Wilfried Haerty
- The Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, UK
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45
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Tang Y, Yan Z, Engelhardt JF. Viral Vectors, Animal Models, and Cellular Targets for Gene Therapy of Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease. Hum Gene Ther 2020; 31:524-537. [PMID: 32138545 PMCID: PMC7232698 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
After more than two decades since clinical trials tested the first use of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) to treat cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease, gene therapy for this disorder has undergone a tremendous resurgence. Fueling this enthusiasm has been an enhanced understanding of rAAV transduction biology and cellular processes that limit transduction of airway epithelia, the development of new rAAV serotypes and other vector systems with high-level tropism for airway epithelial cells, an improved understanding of CF lung pathogenesis and the cellular targets for gene therapy, and the development of new animal models that reproduce the human CF disease phenotype. These advances have created a preclinical path for both assessing the efficacy of gene therapies in the CF lung and interrogating the target cell types in the lung required for complementation of the CF disease state. Lessons learned from early gene therapy attempts with rAAV in the CF lung have guided thinking for the testing of next-generation vector systems. Although unknown questions still remain regarding the cellular targets in the lung that are required or sufficient to complement CF lung disease, the field is now well positioned to tackle these challenges. This review will highlight the role that next-generation CF animal models are playing in the preclinical development of gene therapies for CF lung disease and the knowledge gaps in disease pathophysiology that these models are attempting to fill.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinghua Tang
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Ziying Yan
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - John F. Engelhardt
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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46
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Liu G, Zhao C, Xu D, Zhang H, Monakhov V, Shang S, Gao X, Sha W, Ma J, Zhang W, Tang X, Li B, Hua Y, Cao X, Liu Z, Zhang H. First Draft Genome of the Sable, Martes zibellina. Genome Biol Evol 2020; 12:59-65. [PMID: 32058545 PMCID: PMC7144822 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of genus Martes provide early warning signals about forest ecosystem health and are designated as a Management Indicator Species. As one of the most widespread members in Martes, the sable (Martes zibellina) is a circumboreal small predator found throughout all taiga zoogeographical zones of Eurasia and shows distinct population differentiation and morphological variations. To support further studies on striking local adaptation and population evolution, we present the first sable genome, assembled de novo from an individual originating in the Great Khingan Mountains (China). The assembled genome is 2.42 Gb, consisting of 15,814 scaffolds with a scaffold N50 of 5.20 Mb. Searches for complete Mammalia BUSCO (Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Ortholog) gene groups found that 95.15% of the curated single-copy orthologs were assembled as complete, suggesting a high level of completeness of the genome. We totally predicted 19,413 protein-coding genes, and 0.82 Gb of repeat sequences was annotated. We also detected 1,257 olfactory receptor genes and found more functional olfactory receptor genes in sable than in other Mustelidae species, which provide a possible genetic explanation for the acute sense of smell of the sable for searching the preys under deep snow. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the ferret (Mustela putorius furo) and sea otter (Enhydra lutris) form a clade that is sister to the sable, which was dated ∼16.4 Ma. Overall, our study provided the first reference genome for research in a broad range of areas including local adaptations, population evolution, conservation, and management for sable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangshuai Liu
- College of Life Science, Qufu Normal University, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chao Zhao
- College of Life Science, Qufu Normal University, China
| | - Dongming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Huanxin Zhang
- College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Vladimir Monakhov
- Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Shuai Shang
- College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Binzhou University, China
| | - Xiaodong Gao
- College of Life Science, Qufu Normal University, China
| | - Weilai Sha
- College of Life Science, Qufu Normal University, China
| | - Jianzhang Ma
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Xuexi Tang
- College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Bo Li
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Yan Hua
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaofang Cao
- Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Honghai Zhang
- College of Life Science, Qufu Normal University, China
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47
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Gao J, Petraki S, Sun X, Brooks LA, Lynch TJ, Hsieh CL, Elteriefi R, Lorenzana Z, Punj V, Engelhardt JF, Parekh KR, Ryan AL. Derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells from ferret somatic cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2020; 318:L671-L683. [PMID: 32073882 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00456.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferrets are an attractive mammalian model for several diseases, especially those affecting the lungs, liver, brain, and kidneys. Many chronic human diseases have been difficult to model in rodents due to differences in size and cellular anatomy. This is particularly the case for the lung, where ferrets provide an attractive mammalian model of both acute and chronic lung diseases, such as influenza, cystic fibrosis, A1A emphysema, and obliterative bronchiolitis, closely recapitulating disease pathogenesis, as it occurs in humans. As such, ferrets have the potential to be a valuable preclinical model for the evaluation of cell-based therapies for lung regeneration and, likely, for other tissues. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide a great option for provision of enough autologous cells to make patient-specific cell therapies a reality. Unfortunately, they have not been successfully created from ferrets. In this study, we demonstrate the generation of ferret iPSCs that reflect the primed pluripotent state of human iPSCs. Ferret fetal fibroblasts were reprogrammed and acquired core features of pluripotency, having the capacity for self-renewal, multilineage differentiation, and a high-level expression of the core pluripotency genes and pathways at both the transcriptional and protein level. In conclusion, we have generated ferret pluripotent stem cells that provide an opportunity for advancing our capacity to evaluate autologous cell engraftment in ferrets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghui Gao
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Sophia Petraki
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Xingshen Sun
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Leonard A Brooks
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Thomas J Lynch
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Chih-Lin Hsieh
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Reem Elteriefi
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Zareeb Lorenzana
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Vasu Punj
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - John F Engelhardt
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Kalpaj R Parekh
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Amy L Ryan
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
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48
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Hu Y, Thapa A, Fan H, Ma T, Wu Q, Ma S, Zhang D, Wang B, Li M, Yan L, Wei F. Genomic evidence for two phylogenetic species and long-term population bottlenecks in red pandas. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaax5751. [PMID: 32133395 PMCID: PMC7043915 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax5751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), an endangered Himalaya-endemic mammal, has been classified as two subspecies or even two species - the Himalayan red panda (A. fulgens) and the Chinese red panda (Ailurus styani) - based on differences in morphology and biogeography. However, this classification has remained controversial largely due to lack of genetic evidence, directly impairing scientific conservation management. Data from 65 whole genomes, 49 Y-chromosomes, and 49 mitochondrial genomes provide the first comprehensive genetic evidence for species divergence in red pandas, demonstrating substantial inter-species genetic divergence for all three markers and correcting species-distribution boundaries. Combined with morphological evidence, these data thus clearly define two phylogenetic species in red pandas. We also demonstrate different demographic trajectories in the two species: A. styani has experienced two population bottlenecks and one large population expansion over time, whereas A. fulgens has experienced three bottlenecks and one very small expansion, resulting in very low genetic diversity, high linkage disequilibrium, and high genetic load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibo Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Arjun Thapa
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huizhong Fan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tianxiao Ma
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Ma
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dongling Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Min Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Yan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fuwen Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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49
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Glover N, Dessimoz C, Ebersberger I, Forslund SK, Gabaldón T, Huerta-Cepas J, Martin MJ, Muffato M, Patricio M, Pereira C, da Silva AS, Wang Y, Sonnhammer E, Thomas PD. Advances and Applications in the Quest for Orthologs. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 36:2157-2164. [PMID: 31241141 PMCID: PMC6759064 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene families evolve by the processes of speciation (creating orthologs), gene duplication (paralogs), and horizontal gene transfer (xenologs), in addition to sequence divergence and gene loss. Orthologs in particular play an essential role in comparative genomics and phylogenomic analyses. With the continued sequencing of organisms across the tree of life, the data are available to reconstruct the unique evolutionary histories of tens of thousands of gene families. Accurate reconstruction of these histories, however, is a challenging computational problem, and the focus of the Quest for Orthologs Consortium. We review the recent advances and outstanding challenges in this field, as revealed at a symposium and meeting held at the University of Southern California in 2017. Key advances have been made both at the level of orthology algorithm development and with respect to coordination across the community of algorithm developers and orthology end-users. Applications spanned a broad range, including gene function prediction, phylostratigraphy, genome evolution, and phylogenomics. The meetings highlighted the increasing use of meta-analyses integrating results from multiple different algorithms, and discussed ongoing challenges in orthology inference as well as the next steps toward improvement and integration of orthology resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Glover
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christophe Dessimoz
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ingo Ebersberger
- Applied Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BIK-F), Frankfurt, Germany.,LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sofia K Forslund
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Cooperation of Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.,Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany.,Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität u Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.,Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaime Huerta-Cepas
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.,Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria-Jesus Martin
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Matthieu Muffato
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mateus Patricio
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Cécile Pereira
- Eura Nova, Marseille, France.,Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Alan Sousa da Silva
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, CA
| | - Erik Sonnhammer
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden
| | - Paul D Thomas
- Division of Bioinformatics, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
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50
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Characterization of the ferret TRB locus guided by V, D, J, and C gene expression analysis. Immunogenetics 2019; 72:101-108. [PMID: 31797007 PMCID: PMC6971162 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-019-01142-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
The domestic ferret, Mustela putorius furo, is an important mammalian animal model to study human respiratory infection. However, insufficient genomic annotation hampers detailed studies of ferret T cell responses. In this study, we analyzed the published T cell receptor beta (TRB) locus and performed high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of peripheral blood of four healthy adult ferrets to identify expressed V, D, J, and C genes. The HTS data is used as a guide to manually curate the expressed V, D, J, and C genes. The ferret locus appears to be most similar to that of the dog. Like other mammalian TRB loci, the ferret TRB locus contains a library of variable genes located upstream of two D-J-C gene clusters, followed by a (in the ferret non-functional) V gene with an inverted transcriptional orientation. All TRB genes (expressed or not) reported here have been approved by the IMGT/WHO-IUIS nomenclature committee.
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