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Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Ren M, Liu X, Zhou X, Yang J. Selection of Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Analysis in the Hawthorn Spider Mite, Amphitetranychus viennensis (Acarina: Tetranychidae), Under Acaricide Treatments. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 115:662-670. [PMID: 35297479 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toac019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Hawthorn spider mite, Amphitetranychus viennensis Zacher, one of the most damaging arthropod pests for Rosaceaous fruit trees and ornamentals, has developed resistance to most of the commercially available acaricides. To understand the molecular basis of acaricide resistance, a standardized protocol for real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) following the MIQE (minimum information for publication of quantitative real time PCR experiments) guidelines is needed. In this study, we screened for the internal references in A. viennensis to study in acaricide resistance. In total, 10 candidate reference genes, including EF1A, 28S rRNA, 18S rRNA, α-tubulin, Actin3, RPS9, GAPDH, V-ATPase B, RPL13, and V-ATPase A, were assessed under the treatments of four commonly used acaricides with distinct mode-of-actions (MOAs). Based on the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee MOA classification, avermectin, bifenazate, spirodiclofen, and fenpropathrin belong to group 6, 20D, 23, and 3A, respectively. The expression profiles of these candidate genes were evaluated using geNorm, Normfinder, BestKeeper, and ∆Ct methods, respectively. Eventually, different sets of reference genes were recommended for each acaricide according to RefFinder, a comprehensive platform integrating all four above-mentioned algorithms. Specifically, the top three recommendations were 1) 28S, V-ATPase A, and Actin 3 for avermectin, 2) GAPDH, RPS9, and 28S for bifenazate, 3) Actin 3, V-ATPase B, and α-tubulin for spirodiclofen, and 4) Actin 3, α-tubulin, and V-ATPase A for fenpropathrin. Although unique sets of genes are proposed for each acaricide, α-tubulin, EF1A, and GAPDH are the most consistently stably expressed reference genes when A. viennensis was challenged chemically. Our findings lay the foundation for the study of acaricide resistance in the phytophagous mites in general, and in the hawthorn spider mite, A. viennensis, in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuying Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhonghuan Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Meifeng Ren
- College of Plant Protection, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiangying Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Xuguo Zhou
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY,USA
| | - Jing Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan, China
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André MR, Neupane P, Lappin M, Herrin B, Smith V, Williams TI, Collins L, Bai H, Jorge GL, Balbuena TS, Bradley J, Maggi RG, Breitschwerdt EB. Using Proteomic Approaches to Unravel the Response of Ctenocephalides felis felis to Blood Feeding and Infection With Bartonella henselae. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:828082. [PMID: 35155282 PMCID: PMC8831700 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.828082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the Ctenocephalides felis felis-borne pathogens, Bartonella henselae, the main aetiological agent of cat scratch disease (CSD), is of increasing comparative biomedical importance. Despite the importance of B. henselae as an emergent pathogen, prevention of the diseases caused by this agent in cats, dogs and humans mostly relies on the use of ectoparasiticides. A vaccine targeting both flea fitness and pathogen competence is an attractive choice requiring the identification of flea proteins/metabolites with a dual effect. Even though recent developments in vector and pathogen -omics have advanced the understanding of the genetic factors and molecular pathways involved at the tick-pathogen interface, leading to discovery of candidate protective antigens, only a few studies have focused on the interaction between fleas and flea-borne pathogens. Taking into account the period of time needed for B. henselae replication in flea digestive tract, the present study investigated flea-differentially abundant proteins (FDAP) in unfed fleas, fleas fed on uninfected cats, and fleas fed on B. henselae-infected cats at 24 hours and 9 days after the beginning of blood feeding. Proteomics approaches were designed and implemented to interrogate differentially expressed proteins, so as to gain a better understanding of proteomic changes associated with the initial B. henselae transmission period (24 hour timepoint) and a subsequent time point 9 days after blood ingestion and flea infection. As a result, serine proteases, ribosomal proteins, proteasome subunit α-type, juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase 1, vitellogenin C, allantoinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, glycinamide ribotide transformylase, secreted salivary acid phosphatase had high abundance in response of C. felis blood feeding and/or infection by B. henselae. In contrast, high abundance of serpin-1, arginine kinase, ribosomal proteins, peritrophin-like protein, and FS-H/FSI antigen family member 3 was strongly associated with unfed cat fleas. Findings from this study provide insights into proteomic response of cat fleas to B. henselae infected and uninfected blood meal, as well as C. felis response to invading B. henselae over an infection time course, thus helping understand the complex interactions between cat fleas and B. henselae at protein levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Rogério André
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil
- Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, The Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Pradeep Neupane
- Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, The Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Michael Lappin
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Center for Companion Animal Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Brian Herrin
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Vicki Smith
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Taufika Islam Williams
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
- Molecular Education, Technology and Research Innovation Center (METRIC), North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Leonard Collins
- Molecular Education, Technology and Research Innovation Center (METRIC), North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Hongxia Bai
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
- Molecular Education, Technology and Research Innovation Center (METRIC), North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Gabriel Lemes Jorge
- Departmento de Biotecnologia Agropecuária e Ambiental, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Tiago Santana Balbuena
- Departmento de Biotecnologia Agropecuária e Ambiental, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Julie Bradley
- Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, The Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Ricardo G. Maggi
- Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, The Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Edward B. Breitschwerdt
- Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, The Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
- *Correspondence: Edward B. Breitschwerdt,
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Brown LD, Maness R, Hall C, Gibson JD. Reactive oxygen species-mediated immunity against bacterial infection in the gut of cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis). INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 136:103620. [PMID: 34216781 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Fleas (Order Siphonaptera) transmit numerous bacterial pathogens that cause severe human diseases (e.g., cat scratch disease, flea-borne spotted fever, murine typhus, plague). Because initial entry of these infectious agents occurs while blood feeding, the immune response in the flea gut is considered to be the first line of defense against invading microbes. However, relatively few studies have identified the flea immune molecules that effectively resist or limit infection in the gut. In other hematophagous insects, an immediate immune response to imbibed pathogens is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we utilized cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) to investigate whether oral infection with a well-known insect bacterial pathogen (Serratia marcescens) induces ROS synthesis in the flea gut, and whether production of ROS provides a defense mechanism against microbial colonization. Specifically, we treated fleas with an antioxidant to limit the number of free radicals in the digestive tract prior to infection, and then measured the following: S. marcescens infection loads, hydrogen peroxide (ROS) levels, and mRNA abundance of ROS signaling pathway genes. Overall, our data shows that ROS levels increase in response to infection in the flea gut, and that this increase helps to strengthen the flea immune response through the microbicidal activity of ROS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D Brown
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, 4324 Old Register Rd., Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA.
| | - Ryne Maness
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, 4324 Old Register Rd., Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA
| | - Clark Hall
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, 4324 Old Register Rd., Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA
| | - Joshua D Gibson
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, 4324 Old Register Rd., Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA
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Danchenko M, Laukaitis HJ, Macaluso KR. Dynamic gene expression in salivary glands of the cat flea during Rickettsia felis infection. Pathog Dis 2021; 79:6189691. [PMID: 33770162 PMCID: PMC8062234 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftab020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, is an arthropod vector capable of transmitting several human pathogens including Rickettsia species. Earlier studies identified Rickettsia felis in the salivary glands of the cat flea and transmission of rickettsiae during arthropod feeding. The saliva of hematophagous insects contains multiple biomolecules with anticlotting, vasodilatory and immunomodulatory activities. Notably, the exact role of salivary factors in the molecular interaction between flea-borne rickettsiae and their insect host is still largely unknown. To determine if R. felis modulates gene expression in the cat flea salivary glands, cat fleas were infected with R. felis and transcription patterns of selected salivary gland-derived factors, including antimicrobial peptides and flea-specific antigens, were assessed. Salivary glands were microdissected from infected and control cat fleas at different time points after exposure and total RNA was extracted and subjected to reverse-transcriptase quantitative PCR for gene expression analysis. During the experimental 10-day feeding period, a dynamic change in gene expression of immunity-related transcripts and salivary antigens between the two experimental groups was detected. The data indicated that defensin-2 (Cf-726), glycine-rich antimicrobial peptide (Cf-83), salivary antigens (Cf-169 and Cf-65) and deorphanized peptide (Cf-75) are flea-derived factors responsive to rickettsial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Danchenko
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, 610 Clinic Drive, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Hanna J Laukaitis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, 610 Clinic Drive, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Kevin R Macaluso
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, 610 Clinic Drive, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
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Comparative Evaluation of RNAlater Solution and Snap Frozen Methods for Gene Expression Studies in Different Tissues. REV ROMANA MED LAB 2020. [DOI: 10.2478/rrlm-2020-0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Freezing of tissues with liquid nitrogen is the most common method in studies performed at the RNA level. However, the use of RNA stabilization solutions has become a popular alternative method. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of RNAlater on RNA stabilization in different tissues.
Material and Methods: In this study, RNA were isolated from the lung, heart, liver and skeletal muscle tissues of rats that were frozen with liquid nitrogen (snap frozen, SF group) or stored in RNAlater solution (RL group), and the changes in concentration, purity, reference genes expression, and fold-change levels between groups were analyzed.
Results: In the RL group, the concentration of RNA isolated from the liver tissues was higher (P<0.05), whereas the A260/280 ratio was lower in the heart and liver tissues (P<0.05). PPIA and SRP72 genes were found to have lower Ct values in the heart tissues of rats in the RL group (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively) than the SF group. Expression levels of PPIA, ACTB, and SRP72 genes across the tissues were found to be different between the groups (P<0.05). The gene expression level examined in terms of fold-change was significantly different in the RL group (upregulated up to 4 folds and downregulated about 0.5 fold) (P< 0.05).
Conclusions: The results showed that RNAlater can maintain the RNA integrity and can also change the results of gene expression because it does not inhibit biological activity. The snap freezing method is more reliable because gene expression is more stable in tissues frozen with liquid nitrogen.
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He S, An T, A R, Liu S. Validation of Reliable Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Studies of Target Gene Expression in Colletotrichum camelliae During Spore Germination and Mycelial Growth and Interaction With Host Plants. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2055. [PMID: 31551988 PMCID: PMC6737088 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The tea plant [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] is one of the most important leaf crops, and it is widely used for the production of non-alcoholic beverages worldwide. Tea also has a long history of medicinal use. Colletotrichum camelliae Massee is one of the dominant fungal pathogens that infects tea leaves and causes severe tea anthracnose disease. To analyze the molecular biology of C. camelliae, the quantification of pathogen gene expression by the RT-qPCR method is necessary. Reliable RT-qPCR results require the use of stable reference genes for data normalization. However, suitable reference genes have not been reported in C. camelliae thus far. In this study, 12 candidate genes (i.e., CcSPAC6B12.04c, CcWDR83, Cchp11, Ccnew1, CcHplo, CcRNF5, CcHpcob, CcfaeB-2, CcYER010C, CcRNM1, CcUP18, and CcACT) were isolated from C. camelliae and assessed as potential reference genes. The expression stability of these genes in C. camelliae during spore germination and mycelial growth and interaction with host plants was first evaluated using several statistical algorithms, such as geNorm, NormFinder, and Bestkeeper. A web-based analysis program, Refinder, was then used to find the most suitable reference genes. Our results indicated that Cenew1, CcHplo, and CcSPAC6B12.04c were the most stable reference genes in C. camelliae under all conditions. Our work provided the most suitable reference genes for future studies performed to quantify the target gene expression levels of C. camelliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengnan He
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Tai An
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Runa A
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shouan Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Lü J, Yang C, Zhang Y, Pan H. Selection of Reference Genes for the Normalization of RT-qPCR Data in Gene Expression Studies in Insects: A Systematic Review. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1560. [PMID: 30459641 PMCID: PMC6232608 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a reliable technique for quantifying expression levels of targeted genes during various biological processes in numerous areas of clinical and biological research. Selection of appropriate reference genes for RT-qPCR normalization is an elementary prerequisite for reliable measurements of gene expression levels. Here, by analyzing datasets published between 2008 and 2017, we summarized the current trends in reference gene selection for insect gene expression studies that employed the most widely used SYBR Green method for RT-qPCR normalization. We curated 90 representative papers, mainly published in 2013–2017, in which a total of 78 insect species were investigated in 100 experiments. Furthermore, top five journals, top 10 frequently used reference genes, and top 10 experimental factors have been determined. The relationships between the numbers of the reference genes, experimental factors, analysis tools on the one hand and publication date (year) on the other hand was investigated by linear regression. We found that the more recently the paper was published, the more experimental factors it tended to explore, and more analysis tools it used. However, linear regression analysis did not reveal a significant correlation between the number of reference genes and the study publication date. Taken together, this meta-analysis will be of great help to researchers that plan gene expression studies in insects, especially the non-model ones, as it provides a summary of appropriate reference genes for expression studies, considers the optimal number of reference genes, and reviews the average number of experimental factors and analysis tools per study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Lü
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Innovation and Application of Guangdong Province, Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunxiao Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Youjun Zhang
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huipeng Pan
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Innovation and Application of Guangdong Province, Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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Edwards CH, Baird J, Zinser E, Woods DJ, Shaw S, Campbell EM, Bowman AS. RNA interference in the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis: Approaches for sustained gene knockdown and evidence of involvement of Dicer-2 and Argonaute2. Int J Parasitol 2018; 48:993-1002. [PMID: 30261185 PMCID: PMC6237673 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Revised: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Effective RNA interference (RNAi) methods have been developed in many pest species, enabling exploration of gene function. Until now RNAi had not been attempted in the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, although the development of RNAi approaches would open up potential avenues for control of this important pest. This study aimed to establish if an RNAi response occurs in adult C. felis upon exposure to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), which administration methods for dsRNA delivery could bring about effective gene knockdown and to investigate dynamics of any RNAi response. Knockdown of 80% of GSTσ was achieved by intrahaemoceolic microinjection of dsGSTσ but this invasive technique was associated with relatively high mortality rates. Immersing C. felis in dsGSTσ or dsDicer-2 overnight resulted in 65% knockdown of GSTσ or 60% of Dicer-2, respectively, and the degree of knockdown was not improved by increasing the dsRNA concentration in the bathing solution. Unexpectedly, the greatest degree of knockdown was achieved with the continuous administration of dsRNA in whole blood via a membrane feeding system, resulting in 96% knockdown of GSTσ within 2 days and sustained up to, at least, 7 days. Thus, unlike in many other species, the gut nucleases do not impair the RNAi response to ingested dsRNA in C. felis. A modest, but significant, upregulation of Dicer-2 and Argonaute2 was detectable 3 h after exposure to exogenous dsRNA, implicating the short-interfering RNA pathway. To our knowledge this study represents the first demonstration of experimentally induced RNAi in the cat flea as well as giving insight into how the gene knockdown response progresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catriona H Edwards
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - John Baird
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Erich Zinser
- Zoetis Inc, 333 Portage Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007, USA
| | - Debra J Woods
- Zoetis Inc, 333 Portage Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007, USA
| | - Sophie Shaw
- Centre for Genome Enabled Biology and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, 23 St. Machar Drive, Old Aberdeen AB24 3RY, UK
| | - Ewan M Campbell
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Alan S Bowman
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK.
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