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Donato S, Arana Peña LM, Arfelli F, Brombal L, Colmo L, Longo R, Martellani F, Tromba G, Zanconati F, Bonazza D. Integrating X-ray phase-contrast imaging and histology for comparative evaluation of breast tissue malignancies in virtual histology analysis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5831. [PMID: 38461221 PMCID: PMC10924917 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56341-6] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Detecting breast tissue alterations is essential for cancer diagnosis. However, inherent bidimensionality limits histological procedures' effectiveness in identifying these changes. Our study applies a 3D virtual histology method based on X-ray phase-contrast microtomography (PhC μ CT), performed at a synchrotron facility, to investigate breast tissue samples including different types of lesions, namely intraductal papilloma, micropapillary intracystic carcinoma, and invasive lobular carcinoma. One-to-one comparisons of X-ray and histological images explore the clinical potential of 3D X-ray virtual histology. Results show that PhC μ CT technique provides high spatial resolution and soft tissue sensitivity, while being non-destructive, not requiring a dedicated sample processing and being compatible with conventional histology. PhC μ CT can enhance the visualization of morphological characteristics such as stromal tissue, fibrovascular core, terminal duct lobular unit, stromal/epithelium interface, basement membrane, and adipocytes. Despite not reaching the (sub) cellular level, the three-dimensionality of PhC μ CT images allows to depict in-depth alterations of the breast tissues, potentially revealing pathologically relevant details missed by a single histological section. Compared to serial sectioning, PhC μ CT allows the virtual investigation of the sample volume along any orientation, possibly guiding the pathologist in the choice of the most suitable cutting plane. Overall, PhC μ CT virtual histology holds great promise as a tool adding to conventional histology for improving efficiency, accessibility, and diagnostic accuracy of pathological evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandro Donato
- Department of Physics, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende, CS, Italy.
- Division of Frascati, INFN, 00044, Frascati, RM, Italy.
| | - Lucia Mariel Arana Peña
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
- Division of Trieste, INFN, 34127, Trieste, Italy
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Fulvia Arfelli
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
- Division of Trieste, INFN, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Luca Brombal
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
- Division of Trieste, INFN, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Luisella Colmo
- Unit of Surgical Pathology of the Cattinara Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliana Isontina (ASUGI), 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Renata Longo
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
- Division of Trieste, INFN, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Fulvia Martellani
- Unit of Surgical Pathology of the Cattinara Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliana Isontina (ASUGI), 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Fabrizio Zanconati
- Unit of Surgical Pathology of the Cattinara Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliana Isontina (ASUGI), 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Deborah Bonazza
- Unit of Surgical Pathology of the Cattinara Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliana Isontina (ASUGI), 34149, Trieste, Italy
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2
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Ortiz JR, Lewis SM, Ciccone M, Chatterjee D, Henry S, Siepel A, Dos Santos CO. Single-Cell Transcription Mapping of Murine and Human Mammary Organoids Responses to Female Hormones. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2024; 29:3. [PMID: 38289401 PMCID: PMC10827859 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-023-09553-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
During female adolescence and pregnancy, rising levels of hormones result in a cyclic source of signals that control the development of mammary tissue. While such alterations are well understood from a whole-gland perspective, the alterations that such hormones bring to organoid cultures derived from mammary glands have yet to be fully mapped. This is of special importance given that organoids are considered suitable systems to understand cross species breast development. Here we utilized single-cell transcriptional profiling to delineate responses of murine and human normal breast organoid systems to female hormones across evolutionary distinct species. Collectively, our study represents a molecular atlas of epithelial dynamics in response to estrogen and pregnancy hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steven M Lewis
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 11724, USA
- Graduate Program in Genetics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Michael Ciccone
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 11724, USA
| | | | - Samantha Henry
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 11724, USA
- Graduate Program in Genetics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Adam Siepel
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 11724, USA
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3
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Sumbal J, Sumbalova Koledova Z. Fibroblast-Epithelium Co-culture Methods Using Epithelial Organoids and Cell Line-Derived Spheroids. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2764:107-129. [PMID: 38393591 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3674-9_8] [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: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Fibroblasts are an integral cell type of mammary gland stroma, which plays crucial roles in development, homeostasis, and tumorigenesis of mammary epithelium. Fibroblasts produce and remodel extracellular matrix proteins and secrete a plethora of paracrine signals, which instruct both epithelial and other stromal cells of the mammary gland through mechanisms, which have not been fully understood. To enable deciphering of the intricate fibroblast-epithelial interactions, we developed several 3D co-culture methods. In this chapter, we describe methods for establishment of various types of embedded 3D co-cultures of mammary fibroblasts with mammary epithelial organoids, mammary tumor organoids, or breast cancer spheroids to investigate the role of fibroblasts in mammary epithelial development, morphogenesis, and tumorigenesis. The co-culture types include dispersed, aggregated, and transwell cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Sumbal
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Institut Curie, INSERM U934, CNRS UMR3215, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Collège Doctoral, Paris, France
| | - Zuzana Sumbalova Koledova
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Laboratory of Tissue Morphogenesis and Cancer, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
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4
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Brezak M, Kubec L, Sumbalova Koledova Z. Differentiation of Fibroblasts to Adipocytes in 3D for a Co-culture with Mammary Organoids and Immunohistological Analysis. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2764:131-144. [PMID: 38393592 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3674-9_9] [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: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Mammary epithelial ducts, the main functional compartment of the mammary gland, are embedded in an adipocyte-rich stroma, which is essential for proper mammary gland development, function, and tissue homeostasis. Moreover, the adipocyte compartment has an important role in cancer progression. To better understand cell-to-cell interactions and the role of the adipocytes in the mammary gland, development of proper in vitro models which realistically mimic in vivo conditions has been essential. In this chapter, we describe a simple and effective method for generating mammary gland adipocytes from mammary fibroblasts and their subsequent co-culture with mammary epithelial organoids to further investigate the role of adipocytes in epithelial development and morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matea Brezak
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lukas Kubec
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Sumbalova Koledova
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Laboratory of Tissue Morphogenesis and Cancer, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
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5
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Moccia C, Cherubini M, Fortea M, Akinbote A, Padmanaban P, Beltran‐Sastre V, Haase K. Mammary Microvessels are Sensitive to Menstrual Cycle Sex Hormones. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2302561. [PMID: 37897317 PMCID: PMC10724440 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
The mammary gland is a highly vascularized organ influenced by sex hormones including estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4). Beyond whole-organism studies in rodents or cell monocultures, hormonal effects on the breast microvasculature remain largely understudied. Recent methods to generate 3D microvessels on-chip have enabled direct observation of complex vascular processes; however, these models often use non-tissue-specific cell types, such as human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and fibroblasts from various sources. Here, novel mammary-specific microvessels are generated by coculturing primary breast endothelial cells and fibroblasts under optimized culture conditions. These microvessels are mechanosensitive (to interstitial flow) and require endothelial-stromal interactions to develop fully perfusable vessels. These mammary-specific microvessels are also responsive to exogenous stimulation by sex hormones. When treated with combined E2 and P4, corresponding to the four phases of the menstrual cycle (period, follicular, ovular, and luteal), vascular remodeling and barrier function are altered in a phase-dependent manner. The presence of high E2 (ovulation) promotes vascular growth and remodeling, corresponding to high depletion of proangiogenic factors, whereas high P4 concentrations (luteal) promote vascular regression. The effects of combined E2 and P4 hormones are not only dose-dependent but also tissue-specific, as are shown by similarly treating non-tissue-specific HUVEC microvessels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Moccia
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, BarcelonaDr. Aiguader, 88Barcelona08003Spain
| | - Marta Cherubini
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, BarcelonaDr. Aiguader, 88Barcelona08003Spain
| | - Marina Fortea
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, BarcelonaDr. Aiguader, 88Barcelona08003Spain
| | - Akinola Akinbote
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, BarcelonaDr. Aiguader, 88Barcelona08003Spain
- Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Prasanna Padmanaban
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, BarcelonaDr. Aiguader, 88Barcelona08003Spain
| | | | - Kristina Haase
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, BarcelonaDr. Aiguader, 88Barcelona08003Spain
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Ortiz JR, Lewis SM, Ciccone MF, Chatterjee D, Henry S, Siepel A, Dos Santos CO. Single-cell transcription mapping of murine and human mammary organoids responses to female hormones. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.28.559971. [PMID: 37808747 PMCID: PMC10557705 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.28.559971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
During female adolescence and pregnancy, rising levels of hormones result in a cyclic source of signals that control the development of mammary tissue. While such alterations are well understood from a whole-gland perspective, the alterations that such hormones bring to organoid cultures derived from mammary glands have yet to be fully mapped. This is of special importance given that organoids are considered suitable systems to understand cross species breast development. Here we utilized single-cell transcriptional profiling to delineate responses of murine and human normal breast organoid systems to female hormones across evolutionary distinct species. Collectively, our study represents a molecular atlas of epithelial dynamics in response to estrogen and pregnancy hormones.
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7
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Yoshitake R, Chang G, Saeki K, Ha D, Wu X, Wang J, Chen S. Single-Cell Transcriptomics Identifies Heterogeneity of Mouse Mammary Gland Fibroblasts With Distinct Functions, Estrogen Responses, Differentiation Processes, and Crosstalks With Epithelium. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:850568. [PMID: 35300413 PMCID: PMC8923650 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.850568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblasts have been shown to be one of the essential players for mammary gland organization. Here, we identify two major types of mouse mammary gland fibroblasts through single-cell RNA sequencing analysis: Dpp4 + fibroblasts and Dpp4 - fibroblasts. Each population exhibits unique functional characteristics as well as discrete localization in normal mouse mammary glands. Remarkably, estrogen, a crucial mediator of mammary gland organization, alters the gene expression profiles of fibroblasts in a population-specific manner, without distinct activation of estrogen receptor signaling. Further integrative analysis with the inclusion of five other publicly available datasets reveals a directional differentiation among the mammary gland fibroblast populations. Moreover, the combination with the mouse mammary epithelium atlas allows us to infer multiple potential interactions between epithelial cells and fibroblasts in mammary glands. This study provides a comprehensive view of mouse mammary gland fibroblasts at the single-cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryohei Yoshitake
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Gregory Chang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Kohei Saeki
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Imabari, Japan
| | - Desiree Ha
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Xiwei Wu
- Integrative Genomics Core, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, United States
| | - Jinhui Wang
- Integrative Genomics Core, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, United States
| | - Shiuan Chen
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
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Sumbal J, Gudjonsson T, Traustadottir GA, Koledova Z. An Organotypic Assay to Study Epithelial-Fibroblast Interactions in Human Breast. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2471:283-299. [PMID: 35175604 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2193-6_16] [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] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-stromal interactions play an essential role in regulation of mammary gland development, homeostasis, and tumorigenesis. Fibroblasts constitute a substantial proportion of mammary gland stromal cells in human breast and have been recognized for their paracrine signaling and extracellular matrix production and remodeling roles during normal breast development as well as in breast cancer. However, our current knowledge on human breast fibroblast functions is incomplete. Here we provide a detailed protocol for an organotypic human breast assay to facilitate research in the roles of human breast fibroblasts in mammary epithelial morphogenesis and early tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Sumbal
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Thorarinn Gudjonsson
- Stem Cell Research Unit, Biomedical Center, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Department of Laboratory Hematology, Landspitali - University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Gunnhildur Asta Traustadottir
- Stem Cell Research Unit, Biomedical Center, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
| | - Zuzana Koledova
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
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9
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Charifou E, Traustadottir GA, Bentires-Alj M, Howard B, Van Keymeulen A. Twelfth Annual ENBDC Workshop: Methods in Mammary Gland Biology and Breast Cancer. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2021; 26:221-226. [PMID: 34448098 PMCID: PMC8390087 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-021-09498-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The twelfth annual workshop of the European Network for Breast Development and Cancer focused on methods in mammary gland biology and breast cancer, was scheduled to take place on March 26-28, 2020, in Weggis, Switzerland. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was rescheduled twice and eventually happened as a virtual meeting on April 22 and 23, 2021. The main topics of the meeting were branching and development of the mammary gland, tumor microenvironment, circulating tumor cells, tumor dormancy and breast cancer metastasis. Novel and unpublished findings related to these topics were presented, with a particular focus on the methods used to obtain them. Virtual poster sessions were a success, with many constructive and fruitful interactions between researchers and covered many areas of mammary gland biology and breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Charifou
- Cellular Plasticity and Disease Modeling, Department of Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, CNRS UMR3738 - Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Gunnhildur Asta Traustadottir
- Stem Cell Research Unit, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Biomedical Center, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Mohamed Bentires-Alj
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Beatrice Howard
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Alexandra Van Keymeulen
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Cancer, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.
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Dawson CA, Visvader JE. The Cellular Organization of the Mammary Gland: Insights From Microscopy. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2021; 26:71-85. [PMID: 33835387 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-021-09483-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite rapid advances in our knowledge of the cellular heterogeneity and molecular regulation of the mammary gland, how these relate to 3D cellular organization remains unclear. In addition to hormonal regulation, mammary gland development and function is directed by para- and juxtacrine signaling among diverse cell-types, particularly the immune and mesenchymal populations. Precise mapping of the cellular landscape of the breast will help to decipher this complex coordination. Imaging of thin tissue sections has provided foundational information about cell positioning in the mammary gland and now technological advances in tissue clearing and subcellular-resolution 3D imaging are painting a more complete picture. In particular, confocal, light-sheet and multiphoton microscopy applied to intact tissue can fully capture cell morphology, position and interactions, and have the power to identify spatially rare events. This review will summarize our current understanding of mammary gland cellular organization as revealed by microscopy. We focus on the mouse mammary gland and cover a broad range of immune and stromal cell types at major developmental stages and give insights into important tissue niches and cellular interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb A Dawson
- Cancer Biology and Stem Cells Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 3052, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, 3010, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Jane E Visvader
- Cancer Biology and Stem Cells Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 3052, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, 3010, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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