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Leynen N, Tytgat JS, Bijnens K, Jaenen V, Verleysen E, Artois T, Van Belleghem F, Saenen ND, Smeets K. Assessing the in vivo toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in Schmidtea mediterranea: uptake pathways and (neuro)developmental outcomes. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 270:106895. [PMID: 38554681 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.106895] [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: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) in aquatic environments, originating from urban run-off, product use and post-consumer degradation, interact with aquatic organisms through water and sediments. Thorough toxicity assessment requires comprehensive data across all ecosystem compartments especially the benthic zone, which is currently lacking. Moreover, a proper physicochemical characterization of the particles is needed before and during toxicity assessment. In the present work, we used the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea to investigate the effects of TiO2-NPs (5 mg/L and 50 mg/L). Planarians are benthic organisms that play an important role in the food chain as predators. Our study integrated particle characterization with toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic parameters and showed that the uptake of TiO2-NPs of 21 nm occurred through the epidermis and intestine. Epidermal irritation and mucus production occurred immediately after exposure, and TiO2-NPs induced stronger effects in regenerating organisms. More specifically, TiO2-NPs interfered with neuroregeneration, inducing behavioral effects. A delay in the formation of the anterior commissure between the two brain lobes after seven and nine days of exposure to 50 mg/L was observed, probably as a result of a decrease in stem cell proliferation. Our findings underscore the need to incorporate multiple exposure routes in toxicity screenings. Additionally, we highlight the vulnerability of developing organisms and recommend their inclusion in future risk assessment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Leynen
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - J S Tytgat
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - K Bijnens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - V Jaenen
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - E Verleysen
- Trace Elements and Nanomaterials, Sciensano, Groeselenbergstraat 99, 1180 Uccle, Belgium
| | - T Artois
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - F Van Belleghem
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Open Universiteit, Heerlen, the Netherlands
| | - N D Saenen
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - K Smeets
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.
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2
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Gao T, Sun B, Xu Z, Chen Q, Yang M, Wan Q, Song L, Chen G, Jing C, Zeng EY, Yang G. Exposure to polystyrene microplastics reduces regeneration and growth in planarians. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 432:128673. [PMID: 35303662 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The potential adverse effects of microplastics (MPs) on ecosystems and human health have received much attention in recent years. However, only limited data are available on the mechanisms for the uptake, distribution, and effects of MPs in freshwater organisms, especially with respect to tissue repair, regeneration and impairment of stem cell functions. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted exposure experiments in which planarians (Dugesia japonica) were exposed to polystyrene (PS)-MPs mixed in liver homogenate and examined the tissue growth and regeneration, stem cell functions, and oxidative stress. The body and blastema areas decreased upon exposure to PS-MPs, indicating that the growth and regeneration of planarians were delayed. The proliferation and differentiation processes of stem cells were inhibited, and the proportion of mitotic stem cells decreased, which may be related to the activation of the TGFβ/SMAD4 and Notch signaling pathways. The enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde on the first day of exposure to PS-MPs confirmed the oxidative stress response of planarians to PS-MPs. The present study demonstrated the likelihood of biotoxicity induced by PS-MPs. These results will provide clues for further investigations into the potential risks of PS-MPs to human stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Gao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Bingbing Sun
- School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Zhenbiao Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China
| | - Qiaoyun Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Meng Yang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Qinli Wan
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Linxia Song
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China
| | - Guo Chen
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Chunxia Jing
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Eddy Y Zeng
- School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Guang Yang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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Morris J, Bealer EJ, Souza IDS, Repmann L, Bonelli H, Stanzione JF, Staehle MM. Chemical Exposure-Induced Developmental Neurotoxicity in Head-Regenerating Schmidtea Mediterranea. Toxicol Sci 2021; 185:220-231. [PMID: 34791476 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing number of commercially-used chemicals that are under-evaluated for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) combined with the difficulty in describing the etiology of exposure-related neurodevelopmental toxicity has created a reticent threat to human health. Current means of screening chemicals for DNT are limited to expensive, time-consuming, and labor-intensive traditional laboratory animal models. In this study, we hypothesize that exposed head regenerating planarian flatworms can effectively and efficiently categorize DNT in known developmental neurotoxins (ethanol and bisphenol A (BPA)). Planarian flatworms are an established alternative animal model for neurodevelopmental studies and have remarkable regenerative abilities allowing neurodevelopment to be induced via head resection. Here, we observed changes in photophobic behavior and central nervous system (CNS) morphology to evaluate the impact of exposure to low concentrations of ethanol, BPA, and BPA industry alternatives bisphenol F (BPF), and bisguaiacol (BG) on neurodevelopment. Our studies show that exposure to 1% v/v ethanol during regeneration induces a recoverable 48-hour delay in the development of proper CNS integrity, which aligns with behavioral assessments of cognitive ability. Exposure to BPA and its alternatives induced deviations to neurodevelopment in a range of severities, distinguished by suppressions, delays, or a combination of the two. These results suggest that quick and inexpensive behavioral assessments are a viable surrogate for tedious and costly immunostaining studies, equipping more utility and resolution to the planarian model for neurodevelopmental toxicity in the future of mass chemical screening. These studies demonstrate that behavioral phenotypes observed following chemical exposure are classifiable and also temporally correlated to the anatomical development of the central nervous system in planaria. This will facilitate and accelerate toxicological screening assays with this alternative animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Morris
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
| | - E J Bealer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
| | - I D S Souza
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
| | - L Repmann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
| | - H Bonelli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
| | - J F Stanzione
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
| | - M M Staehle
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
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Martinez O, Sire S, Saunier A, Malgouyres JM, Fournier A, Vignet C. Behavioral responses of three freshwater planaria species to light, visual and olfactory stimuli: Setting the stage for further ecotoxicological studies. Behav Processes 2020; 183:104295. [PMID: 33383124 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Planarians are freshwater flatworms commonly used as environmental bioindicator due to their sensitivity of response and their ease of culturing in lab. Nevertheless, to date, very few studies describing their behavior have been led. This work aims to fill the literature gap by providing preliminary results through six behavioral challenges (locomotion, exploration, light stress, planarian light/dark test, shoaling and foraging) conducted with three different species Dugesia tigrina, Schmidtea mediterranea and Schmidtea polychroa. The behavioral responses of every species in each of these six assays were recorded and differences between species were highlighted, depending on the assays and conditions. Schmidtea polychroa is less active than the two others and had the highest light aversion. Reactions observed in response to diverse and realistic stimuli helped us to select the most suitable tests and choose the species that seem the most appropriate for future ecotoxicological and neurophysiological tests. Four tests - out of the six tested- seem reliable in order to standardize planarian behavioral tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Odile Martinez
- Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives (BTSB), EA7417, INU Champollion, Place de Verdun, 81000, Albi, France
| | - Sacha Sire
- Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives (BTSB), EA7417, INU Champollion, Place de Verdun, 81000, Albi, France
| | - Alice Saunier
- Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives (BTSB), EA7417, INU Champollion, Place de Verdun, 81000, Albi, France
| | - Jean-Michel Malgouyres
- Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives (BTSB), EA7417, INU Champollion, Place de Verdun, 81000, Albi, France
| | - Alice Fournier
- Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives (BTSB), EA7417, INU Champollion, Place de Verdun, 81000, Albi, France
| | - Caroline Vignet
- Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives (BTSB), EA7417, INU Champollion, Place de Verdun, 81000, Albi, France.
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5
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Ireland D, Bochenek V, Chaiken D, Rabeler C, Onoe S, Soni A, Collins EMS. Dugesia japonica is the best suited of three planarian species for high-throughput toxicology screening. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 253:126718. [PMID: 32298908 PMCID: PMC7350771 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
High-throughput screening (HTS) using new approach methods is revolutionizing toxicology. Asexual freshwater planarians are a promising invertebrate model for neurotoxicity HTS because their diverse behaviors can be used as quantitative readouts of neuronal function. Currently, three planarian species are commonly used in toxicology research: Dugesia japonica, Schmidtea mediterranea, and Girardia tigrina. However, only D. japonica has been demonstrated to be suitable for HTS. Here, we assess the two other species for HTS suitability by direct comparison with D. japonica. Through quantitative assessments of morphology and multiple behaviors, we assayed the effects of 4 common solvents (DMSO, ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate) and a negative control (sorbitol) on neurodevelopment. Each chemical was screened blind at 5 concentrations at two time points over a twelve-day period. We obtained two main results: First, G. tigrina and S. mediterranea planarians showed significantly reduced movement compared to D. japonica under HTS conditions, due to decreased health over time and lack of movement under red lighting, respectively. This made it difficult to obtain meaningful readouts from these species. Second, we observed species differences in sensitivity to the solvents, suggesting that care must be taken when extrapolating chemical effects across planarian species. Overall, our data show that D. japonica is best suited for behavioral HTS given the limitations of the other species. Standardizing which planarian species is used in neurotoxicity screening will facilitate data comparisons across research groups and accelerate the application of this promising invertebrate system for first-tier chemical HTS, helping streamline toxicology testing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniel Chaiken
- Department of Computer Science, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, USA
| | | | - Sumi Onoe
- Department of Computer Science, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, USA
| | - Ameet Soni
- Department of Computer Science, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, USA
| | - Eva-Maria S Collins
- Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, USA; Department of Physics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Wu JP, Li MH. The use of freshwater planarians in environmental toxicology studies: Advantages and potential. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2018; 161:45-56. [PMID: 29859407 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.05.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 05/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Regarding the humane use of animals in scientific research, invertebrates are often recommended in toxicological studies. "Freshwater planarians" refers to numerous free-living freshwater members of the Class "Turbellaria" of the phylum Platyhelminthes. This group of invertebrates has received extensive attention from biologists for many years because of their unique biological characteristics, such as the primitive form of the central nervous system and notable capability to regenerate tissues. Using freshwater planarians as test animals in chemical toxicity studies has grown in popularity since the 1960s. Results from various toxicological experiments have collectively suggested that freshwater planarians can serve as not only alternative models for chemical toxicity screenings in laboratories but also as potential bioindicators for the quality of freshwater environments. However, thus far, no standardized battery of tests for conducting toxicological studies that includes freshwater planarians has been proposed. This paper comprehensively reviews the toxicological information obtained from chemically exposed planarians and proposes practical factors for consideration in toxicity experiments with freshwater planarians as test organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Pin Wu
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Hui Li
- Environmental Toxicology Lab, Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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7
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Effects of ethanol on negative phototaxis and motility in brown planarians (Dugesia tigrina). Neurosci Lett 2018; 685:102-108. [PMID: 30145368 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The behavioral effects of ethanol in brown planarians were studied in four experiments. In the first two experiments, acute administrations of ethanol increased travel time in a dose-dependent fashion in individual planarians moving away from a light source. Orderly results were obtained using both within-subject and between-group designs. In a third experiment, ethanol dose was arranged by time rather than concentration. Ethanol increased travel time overall, but variability between subjects was considerable. In a final experiment, ethanol administration reduced motility and altered movement patterns in planarians in an open-field test. These experiments demonstrated that negative phototaxis by planarians may exhibit sufficient stability to allow for experimental determinations of dose-response curves utilizing both within-subject and between-subject designs.
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8
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Cochet-Escartin O, Carter JA, Chakraverti-Wuerthwein M, Sinha J, Collins EMS. Slo1 regulates ethanol-induced scrunching in freshwater planarians. Phys Biol 2016; 13:055001. [DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/13/5/055001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Hagstrom D, Cochet-Escartin O, Collins EMS. Planarian brain regeneration as a model system for developmental neurotoxicology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 3:65-77. [PMID: 27499880 PMCID: PMC4895328 DOI: 10.1002/reg2.52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Revised: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Freshwater planarians, famous for their regenerative prowess, have long been recognized as a valuable in vivo animal model to study the effects of chemical exposure. In this review, we summarize the current techniques and tools used in the literature to assess toxicity in the planarian system. We focus on the planarian's particular amenability for neurotoxicology and neuroregeneration studies, owing to the planarian's unique ability to regenerate a centralized nervous system. Zooming in from the organismal to the molecular level, we show that planarians offer a repertoire of morphological and behavioral readouts while also being amenable to mechanistic studies of compound toxicity. Finally, we discuss the open challenges and opportunities for planarian brain regeneration to become an important model system for modern toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Hagstrom
- Division of Biological Sciences University of California San Diego, La Jolla California 92093 USA
| | | | - Eva-Maria S Collins
- Division of Biological Sciences University of California San Diego, La Jolla California 92093 USA; Department of Physics University of California San Diego, La Jolla California 92093 USA
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Hagstrom D, Cochet-Escartin O, Zhang S, Khuu C, Collins EMS. Freshwater Planarians as an Alternative Animal Model for Neurotoxicology. Toxicol Sci 2015; 147:270-85. [PMID: 26116028 PMCID: PMC4838007 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfv129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional toxicology testing has relied on low-throughput, expensive mammalian studies; however, timely testing of the large number of environmental toxicants requires new in vitro and in vivo platforms for inexpensive medium- to high-throughput screening. Herein, we describe the suitability of the asexual freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica as a new animal model for the study of developmental neurotoxicology. As these asexual animals reproduce by binary fission, followed by regeneration of missing body structures within approximately 1 week, development and regeneration occur through similar processes allowing us to induce neurodevelopment "at will" through amputation. This short time scale and the comparable sizes of full and regenerating animals enable parallel experiments in adults and developing worms to determine development-specific aspects of toxicity. Because the planarian brain, despite its simplicity, is structurally and molecularly similar to the mammalian brain, we are able to ascertain neurodevelopmental toxicity that is relevant to humans. As a proof of concept, we developed a 5-step semiautomatic screening platform to characterize the toxicity of 9 known neurotoxicants (consisting of common solvents, pesticides, and detergents) and a neutral agent, glucose, and quantified effects on viability, stimulated and unstimulated behavior, regeneration, and brain structure. Comparisons of our findings with other alternative toxicology animal models, such as zebrafish larvae and nematodes, demonstrated that planarians are comparably sensitive to the tested chemicals. In addition, we found that certain compounds induced adverse effects specifically in developing animals. We thus conclude that planarians offer new complementary opportunities for developmental neurotoxicology animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Hagstrom
- *Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| | | | - Siqi Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Cindy Khuu
- *Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Eva-Maria S Collins
- *Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093; Physics Department, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093; and
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