1
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Giraudeau M, Vincze O, Dupont SM, Sepp T, Baines C, Lemaitre JF, Lemberger K, Gentès S, Boddy A, Dujon AM, Bramwell G, Harris V, Ujvari B, Alix-Panabières C, Lair S, Sayag D, Conde DA, Colchero F, Harrison TM, Pavard S, Padilla-Morales B, Chevallier D, Hamede R, Roche B, Malkocs T, Aktipis AC, Maley C, DeGregori J, Le Loc'h G, Thomas F. Approaches and methods to study wildlife cancer. J Anim Ecol 2024; 93:1410-1428. [PMID: 39189422 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14144] [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: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
The last few years have seen a surge of interest from field ecologists and evolutionary biologists to study neoplasia and cancer in wildlife. This contributes to the One Health Approach, which investigates health issues at the intersection of people, wild and domestic animals, together with their changing environments. Nonetheless, the emerging field of wildlife cancer is currently constrained by methodological limitations in detecting cancer using non-invasive sampling. In addition, the suspected differential susceptibility and resistance of species to cancer often make the choice of a unique model species difficult for field biologists. Here, we provide an overview of the importance of pursuing the study of cancer in non-model organisms and we review the currently available methods to detect, measure and quantify cancer in the wild, as well as the methodological limitations to be overcome to develop novel approaches inspired by diagnostic techniques used in human medicine. The methodology we propose here will help understand and hopefully fight this major disease by generating general knowledge about cancer, variation in its rates, tumour-suppressor mechanisms across species as well as its link to life history and physiological characters. Moreover, this is expected to provide key information about cancer in wildlife, which is a top priority due to the accelerated anthropogenic change in the past decades that might favour cancer progression in wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Giraudeau
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| | - Orsolya Vincze
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
- ImmunoConcEpT, CNRS UMR 5164, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Ecology Group, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- HUN-REN-DE Conservation Biology Research Group, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Sophie M Dupont
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
- Laboratoire de Biologie des ORganismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), FRE 2030, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, IRD, Sorbonne Université, Université de Caen Normandie, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Tuul Sepp
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ciara Baines
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Jean-Francois Lemaitre
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, CNRS, UMR5558, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | | | - Sophie Gentès
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| | - Amy Boddy
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Antoine M Dujon
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
- CREEC/CANECEV, MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224-CNRS5290-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Georgina Bramwell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Valerie Harris
- Arizona Cancer Evolution Center, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Beata Ujvari
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
- Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer, Montpellier, France
| | - Catherine Alix-Panabières
- Laboratory of Rare Human Circulating Cells (LCCRH), University Medical Centre of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Stephane Lair
- Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative/Centre québécois sur la santé des animaux sauvages, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
| | - David Sayag
- ONCOnseil-Unité d'expertise en oncologie vétérinaire, Toulouse, France
| | - Dalia A Conde
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
- Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Fernando Colchero
- Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
- Department of Primate Behavior and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Tara M Harrison
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Samuel Pavard
- Unité Eco-Anthropologie (EA), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS 7206, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Benjamin Padilla-Morales
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Damien Chevallier
- Laboratoire de Biologie des ORganismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), FRE 2030, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, IRD, Sorbonne Université, Université de Caen Normandie, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer, Montpellier, France
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Benjamin Roche
- CREEC/CANECEV, MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224-CNRS5290-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Centre de Recherche en Écologie et Évolution de la Santé (CREES), Montpellier, France
- Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Tamas Malkocs
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, IUEM, Plouzane, France
| | - Athena C Aktipis
- Arizona Cancer Evolution Center, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Carlo Maley
- Arizona Cancer Evolution Center, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - James DeGregori
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Frédéric Thomas
- CREEC/CANECEV, MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224-CNRS5290-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Centre de Recherche en Écologie et Évolution de la Santé (CREES), Montpellier, France
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2
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Reeve HK, Pfennig DW. Evolution of transmissible cancers: An adaptive, plastic strategy of selfish genetic elements? iScience 2024; 27:110740. [PMID: 39286496 PMCID: PMC11402641 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110740] [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] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
A growing number of studies have applied evolutionary and ecological principles to understanding cancer. However, few such studies have examined whether phenotypic plasticity--the ability of a single individual or genome to respond differently to different environmental circumstances--can impact the origin and spread of cancer. Here, we propose the adaptive horizontal transmission hypothesis to explain how flexible decision-making by selfish genetic elements can cause them to spread from the genome of their original host into the genomes of other hosts through the evolution of transmissible cancers. Specifically, we hypothesize that such cancers appear when the likelihood of successful vertical transmission is sufficiently low relative to the likelihood of successful horizontal transmission. We develop an evolutionary optimization model of this hypothesis, highlight empirical findings that support it, and offer suggestions for future research. Generally, phenotypically plastic selfish genetic elements might play an important role in the evolution of transmissible cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hudson Kern Reeve
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Seeley G. Mudd Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - David W Pfennig
- Department of Biology, CB#3280, Coker Hall, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA
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3
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Hart SFM, Garrett FES, Kerr JS, Metzger MJ. Gene expression in soft-shell clam ( Mya arenaria) transmissible cancer reveals survival mechanisms during host infection and seawater transfer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.13.612964. [PMID: 39345472 PMCID: PMC11429866 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.13.612964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
Transmissible cancers are unique instances in which cancer cells escape their original host and spread through a population as a clonal lineage, documented in Tasmanian Devils, dogs, and ten bivalve species. For a cancer to repeatedly transmit to new hosts, these lineages must evade strong barriers to transmission, notably the metastasis-like physical transfer to a new host body and rejection by that host's immune system. We quantified gene expression in a transmissible cancer lineage that has spread through the soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria) population to investigate potential drivers of its success as a transmissible cancer lineage, observing extensive differential expression of genes and gene pathways. We observed upregulation of genes involved with genotoxic stress response, ribosome biogenesis and RNA processing, and downregulation of genes involved in tumor suppression, cell adhesion, and immune response. We also observe evidence that widespread genome instability affects the cancer transcriptome via gene fusions, copy number variation, and transposable element insertions. Finally, we incubated cancer cells in seawater, the presumed host-to-host transmission vector, and observed conserved responses to halt metabolism, avoid apoptosis and survive the low-nutrient environment. Interestingly, many of these responses are also present in healthy clam cells, suggesting that bivalve hemocytes may have inherent seawater survival responses that may partially explain why transmissible cancers are so common in bivalves. Overall, this study reveals multiple mechanisms this lineage may have evolved to successfully spread through the soft-shell clam population as a contagious cancer, utilizing pathways known to be conserved in human cancers as well as pathways unique to long-lived transmissible cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel F M Hart
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Genome Sciences Department, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Jesse S Kerr
- PEI Department of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture, Canada
| | - Michael J Metzger
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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4
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Silver LW, Hogg CJ, Belov K. Plethora of New Marsupial Genomes Informs Our Knowledge of Marsupial MHC Class II. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae156. [PMID: 39031605 PMCID: PMC11305139 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae156] [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] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a vital role in the vertebrate immune system due to its role in infection, disease and autoimmunity, or recognition of "self". The marsupial MHC class II genes show divergence from eutherian MHC class II genes and are a unique taxon of therian mammals that give birth to altricial and immunologically naive young providing an opportune study system for investigating evolution of the immune system. Additionally, the MHC in marsupials has been implicated in disease associations, including susceptibility to Chlamydia pecorum infection in koalas. Due to the complexity of the gene family, automated annotation is not possible so here we manually annotate 384 class II MHC genes in 29 marsupial species. We find losses of key components of the marsupial MHC repertoire in the Dasyuromorphia order and the Pseudochiridae family. We perform PGLS analysis to show the gene losses we find are true gene losses and not artifacts of unresolved genome assembly. We investigate the associations between the number of loci and life history traits, including lifespan and reproductive output in lineages of marsupials and hypothesize that gene loss may be linked to the energetic cost and tradeoffs associated with pregnancy and reproduction. We found support for litter size being a significant predictor of the number of DBA and DBB loci, indicating a tradeoff between the energetic requirements of immunity and reproduction. Additionally, we highlight the increased susceptibility of Dasyuridae species to neoplasia and a potential link to MHC gene loss. Finally, these annotations provide a valuable resource to the immunogenetics research community to move forward and further investigate diversity in MHC genes in marsupials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke W Silver
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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5
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Dujon AM, Ujvari B, Tissot S, Meliani J, Rieu O, Stepanskyy N, Hamede R, Tokolyi J, Nedelcu A, Thomas F. The complex effects of modern oncogenic environments on the fitness, evolution and conservation of wildlife species. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13763. [PMID: 39100750 PMCID: PMC11294924 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence indicates that human activities are causing cancer rates to rise in both human and wildlife populations. This is due to the inability of ancestral anti-cancer defences to cope with modern environmental risks. The evolutionary mismatch between modern oncogenic risks and evolved cancer defences has far-reaching effects on various biological aspects at different timeframes, demanding a comprehensive study of the biology and evolutionary ecology of the affected species. Firstly, the increased activation of anti-cancer defences leads to excessive energy expenditure, affecting other biological functions and potentially causing health issues like autoimmune diseases. Secondly, tumorigenesis itself can impact important fitness-related parameters such as competitiveness, predator evasion, resistance to parasites, and dispersal capacity. Thirdly, rising cancer risks can influence the species' life-history traits, often favoring early reproduction to offset fitness costs associated with cancer. However, this strategy has its limits, and it may not ensure the sustainability of the species if cancer risks continue to rise. Lastly, some species may evolve additional anti-cancer defences, with uncertain consequences for their biology and future evolutionary path. In summary, we argue that the effects of increased exposure to cancer-causing substances on wildlife are complex, ranging from immediate responses to long-term evolutionary changes. Understanding these processes, especially in the context of conservation biology, is urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine M. Dujon
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVictoriaAustralia
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224–CNRS 5290–Université de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Beata Ujvari
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVictoriaAustralia
| | - Sophie Tissot
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224–CNRS 5290–Université de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Jordan Meliani
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224–CNRS 5290–Université de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Océane Rieu
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224–CNRS 5290–Université de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Nikita Stepanskyy
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224–CNRS 5290–Université de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Jácint Tokolyi
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology, MTA‐DE “Momentum” Ecology, Evolution and Developmental Biology Research GroupUniversity of DebrecenDebrecenHungary
| | - Aurora Nedelcu
- Department of BiologyUniversity of new BrunswickFrederictonNew BrunswickCanada
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVictoriaAustralia
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6
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Ong CEB, Lyons AB, Woods GM, Flies AS. Generation of Devil Facial Tumour Cells Co-Expressing MHC With CD80, CD86 or 41BBL to Enhance Tumour Immunogenicity. Parasite Immunol 2024; 46:e13062. [PMID: 39313933 DOI: 10.1111/pim.13062] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules play an integral role in the adaptive immune response to transmissible cancers through tumour antigen presentation and recognition of allogeneic MHC molecules. The transmissible devil facial tumours 1 and 2 (DFT1 and DFT2) modulate MHC-I antigen presentation to evade host immune responses and facilitate transmission of tumours cells to new Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) hosts. To enhance T-cell-driven tumour immunogenicity for vaccination and immunotherapy, DFT1 and DFT2 cells were co-transfected with (i) NLRC5 for MHC-I expression or CIITA for MHC-I and MHC-II expression, and (ii) a co-stimulatory molecule, either CD80, CD86 or 41BBL. The co-transfected DFT cells presented enhanced expression of MHC-I and/or MHC-II. As few devil-specific monoclonal antibodies exist, we used recombinant CTLA4 and 41BB fused to a fluorescent protein to confirm expression of cell surface CD80, CD86 and 41BBL. The capacity for these cells to induce T-cell responses including PD1 and IFNG expression was evaluated in in vitro co-culture assays with captive devil peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Although PBMC viability had increased, there was no evidence of enhanced T-cell activation. This system can be used to identify additional factors required to promote activation of naïve devil T-cells in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrissie E B Ong
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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7
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Bramwell G, DeGregori J, Thomas F, Ujvari B. Transmissible cancers, the genomes that do not melt down. Evolution 2024; 78:1205-1211. [PMID: 38656785 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpae063] [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: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Evolutionary theory predicts that the accumulation of deleterious mutations in asexually reproducing organisms should lead to genomic decay. Clonally reproducing cell lines, i.e., transmissible cancers, when cells are transmitted as allografts/xenografts, break these rules and survive for centuries and millennia. The currently known 11 transmissible cancer lineages occur in dogs (canine venereal tumour disease), in Tasmanian devils (devil facial tumor diseases, DFT1 and DFT2), and in bivalves (bivalve transmissible neoplasia). Despite the mutation loads of these cell lines being much higher than observed in human cancers, they have not been eliminated in space and time. Here, we provide potential explanations for how these fascinating cell lines may have overcome the fitness decline due to the progressive accumulation of deleterious mutations and propose that the high mutation load may carry an indirect positive fitness outcome. We offer ideas on how these host-pathogen systems could be used to answer outstanding questions in evolutionary biology. The recent studies on the evolution of these clonal pathogens reveal key mechanistic insight into transmissible cancer genomes, information that is essential for future studies investigating how these contagious cancer cell lines can repeatedly evade immune recognition, evolve, and survive in the landscape of highly diverse hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Bramwell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - James DeGregori
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CREEC, UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Beata Ujvari
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216, Australia
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8
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Harding J, Vintersten-Nagy K, Yang H, Tang JK, Shutova M, Jong ED, Lee JH, Massumi M, Oussenko T, Izadifar Z, Zhang P, Rogers IM, Wheeler MB, Lye SJ, Sung HK, Li C, Izadifar M, Nagy A. Immune-privileged tissues formed from immunologically cloaked mouse embryonic stem cells survive long term in allogeneic hosts. Nat Biomed Eng 2024; 8:427-442. [PMID: 37996616 PMCID: PMC11087263 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-023-01133-y] [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: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The immunogenicity of transplanted allogeneic cells and tissues is a major hurdle to the advancement of cell therapies. Here we show that the overexpression of eight immunomodulatory transgenes (Pdl1, Cd200, Cd47, H2-M3, Fasl, Serpinb9, Ccl21 and Mfge8) in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) is sufficient to immunologically 'cloak' the cells as well as tissues derived from them, allowing their survival for months in outbred and allogeneic inbred recipients. Overexpression of the human orthologues of these genes in human ESCs abolished the activation of allogeneic human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and their inflammatory responses. Moreover, by using the previously reported FailSafe transgene system, which transcriptionally links a gene essential for cell division with an inducible and cell-proliferation-dependent kill switch, we generated cloaked tissues from mESCs that served as immune-privileged subcutaneous sites that protected uncloaked allogeneic and xenogeneic cells from rejection in immune-competent hosts. The combination of cloaking and FailSafe technologies may allow for the generation of safe and allogeneically accepted cell lines and off-the-shelf cell products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Harding
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kristina Vintersten-Nagy
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Huijuan Yang
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean Kit Tang
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maria Shutova
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric D Jong
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ju Hee Lee
- Translational Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammad Massumi
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tatiana Oussenko
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zohreh Izadifar
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Puzheng Zhang
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ian M Rogers
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael B Wheeler
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen J Lye
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hoon-Ki Sung
- Translational Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - ChengJin Li
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammad Izadifar
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andras Nagy
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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9
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Gérard A, Owen RS, Dujon AM, Roche B, Hamede R, Thomas F, Ujvari B, Siddle HV. In vitro competition between two transmissible cancers and potential implications for their host, the Tasmanian devil. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13670. [PMID: 38468711 PMCID: PMC10925828 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13670] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the emergence of a transmissible cancer, devil facial tumour disease (DFT1), in the 1980s, wild Tasmanian devil populations have been in decline. In 2016, a second, independently evolved transmissible cancer (DFT2) was discovered raising concerns for survival of the host species. Here, we applied experimental and modelling frameworks to examine competition dynamics between the two transmissible cancers in vitro. Using representative cell lines for DFT1 and DFT2, we have found that in monoculture, DFT2 grows twice as fast as DFT1 but reaches lower maximum cell densities. Using co-cultures, we demonstrate that DFT2 outcompetes DFT1: the number of DFT1 cells decreasing over time, never reaching exponential growth. This phenomenon could not be replicated when cells were grown separated by a semi-permeable membrane, consistent with exertion of mechanical stress on DFT1 cells by DFT2. A logistic model and a Lotka-Volterra competition model were used to interrogate monoculture and co-culture growth curves, respectively, suggesting DFT2 is a better competitor than DFT1, but also showing that competition outcomes might depend on the initial number of cells, at least in the laboratory. We provide theories how the in vitro results could be translated to observations in the wild and propose that these results may indicate that although DFT2 is currently in a smaller geographic area than DFT1, it could have the potential to outcompete DFT1. Furthermore, we provide a framework for improving the parameterization of epidemiological models applied to these cancer lineages, which will inform future disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne‐Lise Gérard
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVictoriaAustralia
- CREEC/MIVEGEC, CNRS, IRDUniversité de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Rachel S. Owen
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
- Institute for Life SciencesUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
- The Roslin InstituteThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Antoine M. Dujon
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVictoriaAustralia
| | - Benjamin Roche
- CREEC/MIVEGEC, CNRS, IRDUniversité de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CREEC/MIVEGEC, CNRS, IRDUniversité de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Beata Ujvari
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVictoriaAustralia
| | - Hannah V. Siddle
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
- Institute for Life SciencesUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
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10
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Hammel M, Touchard F, Burioli EAV, Paradis L, Cerqueira F, Chailler E, Bernard I, Cochet H, Simon A, Thomas F, Destoumieux-Garzón D, Charrière GM, Bierne N. Marine transmissible cancer navigates urbanized waters, threatening spillover. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232541. [PMID: 38378149 PMCID: PMC10878816 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Inter-individual transmission of cancer cells represents a unique form of microparasites increasingly reported in marine bivalves. In this study, we sought to understand the ecology of the propagation of Mytilus trossulus Bivalve Transmissible Neoplasia 2 (MtrBTN2), a transmissible cancer affecting four Mytilus mussel species worldwide. We investigated the prevalence of MtrBTN2 in the mosaic hybrid zone of M. edulis and M. galloprovincialis along the French Atlantic coast, sampling contrasting natural and anthropogenic habitats. We observed a similar prevalence in both species, probably due to the spatial proximity of the two species in this region. Our results showed that ports had higher prevalence of MtrBTN2, with a possible hotspot observed at a shuttle landing dock. No cancer was found in natural beds except for two sites close to the hotspot, suggesting spillover. Ports may provide favourable conditions for the transmission of MtrBTN2, such as high mussel density, stressful conditions, sheltered and confined shores or buffered temperatures. Ships may also spread the disease through biofouling. Our results suggest ports may serve as epidemiological hubs, with maritime routes providing artificial gateways for MtrBTN2 propagation. This highlights the importance of preventing biofouling on docks and ship hulls to limit the spread of marine pathogens hosted by fouling species.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Hammel
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, Occitanie, France
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
| | - F. Touchard
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, Occitanie, France
| | - E. A. V. Burioli
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, Occitanie, France
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
| | - L. Paradis
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, Occitanie, France
| | - F. Cerqueira
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, Occitanie, France
| | - E. Chailler
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, Occitanie, France
| | | | - H. Cochet
- Cochet Environnement, 56550 Locoal, France
| | - A. Simon
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, Occitanie, France
| | - F. Thomas
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - D. Destoumieux-Garzón
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
| | - G. M. Charrière
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
| | - N. Bierne
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, Occitanie, France
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11
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Slyp B, Darby JM, Flies AS. Conversion of Mouse-Derived Hybridomas to Tasmanian Devil Recombinant IgG Antibodies. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2826:231-249. [PMID: 39017897 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3950-4_17] [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: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
The hybridoma method for production of monoclonal antibodies has been a cornerstone of biomedical research for several decades. Here we convert the monoclonal antibody sequence from mouse-derived hybridomas into a "devilized" recombinant antibody with devil IgG heavy chain and IgK light chain. The chimeric recombinant antibody can be used in functional assays, immunotherapy, and to improve understanding of antibodies and Fc receptors in Tasmanian devils. The process can be readily modified for other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey Slyp
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Jocelyn M Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
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12
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Hart SFM, Yonemitsu MA, Giersch RM, Garrett FES, Beal BF, Arriagada G, Davis BW, Ostrander EA, Goff SP, Metzger MJ. Centuries of genome instability and evolution in soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria, bivalve transmissible neoplasia. NATURE CANCER 2023; 4:1561-1574. [PMID: 37783804 PMCID: PMC10663159 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00643-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Transmissible cancers are infectious parasitic clones that metastasize to new hosts, living past the death of the founder animal in which the cancer initiated. We investigated the evolutionary history of a cancer lineage that has spread though the soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria) population by assembling a chromosome-scale soft-shell clam reference genome and characterizing somatic mutations in transmissible cancer. We observe high mutation density, widespread copy-number gain, structural rearrangement, loss of heterozygosity, variable telomere lengths, mitochondrial genome expansion and transposable element activity, all indicative of an unstable cancer genome. We also discover a previously unreported mutational signature associated with overexpression of an error-prone polymerase and use this to estimate the lineage to be >200 years old. Our study reveals the ability for an invertebrate cancer lineage to survive for centuries while its genome continues to structurally mutate, likely contributing to the evolution of this lineage as a parasitic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel F M Hart
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Marisa A Yonemitsu
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Brian F Beal
- Division of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Maine at Machias, Machias, ME, USA
- Downeast Institute, Beals, ME, USA
| | - Gloria Arriagada
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Facultad de Medicina y Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Santiago, Chile
| | - Brian W Davis
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Elaine A Ostrander
- Cancer Genetics and Comparative Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stephen P Goff
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Metzger
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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13
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Schönbichler A, Bergthaler A. A deep dive into transmissible cancer evolution in bivalve mollusks. NATURE CANCER 2023; 4:1528-1530. [PMID: 37993693 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00655-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
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14
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Bruzos AL, Santamarina M, García-Souto D, Díaz S, Rocha S, Zamora J, Lee Y, Viña-Feás A, Quail MA, Otero I, Pequeño-Valtierra A, Temes J, Rodriguez-Castro J, Aramburu L, Vidal-Capón A, Villanueva A, Costas D, Rodríguez R, Prieto T, Tomás L, Alvariño P, Alonso J, Cao A, Iglesias D, Carballal MJ, Amaral AM, Balseiro P, Calado R, El Khalfi B, Izagirre U, de Montaudouin X, Pade NG, Probert I, Ricardo F, Ruiz P, Skazina M, Smolarz K, Pasantes JJ, Villalba A, Ning Z, Ju YS, Posada D, Demeulemeester J, Baez-Ortega A, Tubio JMC. Somatic evolution of marine transmissible leukemias in the common cockle, Cerastoderma edule. NATURE CANCER 2023; 4:1575-1591. [PMID: 37783803 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00641-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Transmissible cancers are malignant cell lineages that spread clonally between individuals. Several such cancers, termed bivalve transmissible neoplasia (BTN), induce leukemia-like disease in marine bivalves. This is the case of BTN lineages affecting the common cockle, Cerastoderma edule, which inhabits the Atlantic coasts of Europe and northwest Africa. To investigate the evolution of cockle BTN, we collected 6,854 cockles, diagnosed 390 BTN tumors, generated a reference genome and assessed genomic variation across 61 tumors. Our analyses confirmed the existence of two BTN lineages with hemocytic origins. Mitochondrial variation revealed mitochondrial capture and host co-infection events. Mutational analyses identified lineage-specific signatures, one of which likely reflects DNA alkylation. Cytogenetic and copy number analyses uncovered pervasive genomic instability, with whole-genome duplication, oncogene amplification and alkylation-repair suppression as likely drivers. Satellite DNA distributions suggested ancient clonal origins. Our study illuminates long-term cancer evolution under the sea and reveals tolerance of extreme instability in neoplastic genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia L Bruzos
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Martín Santamarina
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Daniel García-Souto
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Seila Díaz
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- ECOMARE, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sara Rocha
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Jorge Zamora
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Yunah Lee
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Alejandro Viña-Feás
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | - Iago Otero
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ana Pequeño-Valtierra
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Javier Temes
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Jorge Rodriguez-Castro
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Leyre Aramburu
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - André Vidal-Capón
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Antonio Villanueva
- Centro de Investigación Mariña (CIM-ECIMAT), Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Damián Costas
- Centro de Investigación Mariña (CIM-ECIMAT), Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Rosana Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación Mariña (CIM-ECIMAT), Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Tamara Prieto
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura Tomás
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain
| | - Pilar Alvariño
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain
| | - Juana Alonso
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain
| | - Asunción Cao
- Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA), Consellería do Mar, Xunta de Galicia, Vilanova de Arousa, Spain
| | - David Iglesias
- Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA), Consellería do Mar, Xunta de Galicia, Vilanova de Arousa, Spain
| | - María J Carballal
- Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA), Consellería do Mar, Xunta de Galicia, Vilanova de Arousa, Spain
| | - Ana M Amaral
- Centro de Ciencias do Mar do Algarve (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Pablo Balseiro
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- NORCE AS, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ricardo Calado
- ECOMARE, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Bouchra El Khalfi
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Molecular Genetics & Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Health and Biotechnology Research Centre, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Urtzi Izagirre
- Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PiE-UPV/EHU), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plenzia-Bitzkaia, Spain
- Cell Biology in Environmental Toxicology Research Group, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa-Bizkaia, Spain
| | | | - Nicolas G Pade
- European Marine Biology Resources Centre (EMBRC-ERIC), Paris, France
| | - Ian Probert
- FR2424 Station Biologique de Roscoff, Sorbonne University/CNRS, Roscoff, France
| | - Fernando Ricardo
- ECOMARE, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Pamela Ruiz
- Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PiE-UPV/EHU), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plenzia-Bitzkaia, Spain
- Cell Biology in Environmental Toxicology Research Group, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa-Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Maria Skazina
- Department of Applied Ecology, St Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Katarzyna Smolarz
- Department of Marine Ecosystem Functioning, University of Gdańsk, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Juan J Pasantes
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Mariña (CIM-ECIMAT), Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Antonio Villalba
- Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA), Consellería do Mar, Xunta de Galicia, Vilanova de Arousa, Spain
- Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PiE-UPV/EHU), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plenzia-Bitzkaia, Spain
- Department of Life Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | | | - Young Seok Ju
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - David Posada
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain
| | - Jonas Demeulemeester
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Adrian Baez-Ortega
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.
- Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Jose M C Tubio
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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15
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Burioli EAV, Hammel M, Vignal E, Vidal-Dupiol J, Mitta G, Thomas F, Bierne N, Destoumieux-Garzón D, Charrière GM. Transcriptomics of mussel transmissible cancer MtrBTN2 suggests accumulation of multiple cancer traits and oncogenic pathways shared among bilaterians. Open Biol 2023; 13:230259. [PMID: 37816387 PMCID: PMC10564563 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230259] [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] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Transmissible cancer cell lines are rare biological entities giving rise to diseases at the crossroads of cancer and parasitic diseases. These malignant cells have acquired the amazing capacity to spread from host to host. They have been described only in dogs, Tasmanian devils and marine bivalves. The Mytilus trossulus bivalve transmissible neoplasia 2 (MtrBTN2) lineage has even acquired the capacity to spread inter-specifically between marine mussels of the Mytilus edulis complex worldwide. To identify the oncogenic processes underpinning the biology of these atypical cancers we performed transcriptomics of MtrBTN2 cells. Differential expression, enrichment, protein-protein interaction network, and targeted analyses were used. Overall, our results suggest the accumulation of multiple cancerous traits that may be linked to the long-term evolution of MtrBTN2. We also highlight that vertebrate and lophotrochozoan cancers could share a large panel of common drivers, which supports the hypothesis of an ancient origin of oncogenic processes in bilaterians.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A V Burioli
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
| | - M Hammel
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - E Vignal
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
| | - J Vidal-Dupiol
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
| | - G Mitta
- IFREMER, UMR 241 Écosystèmes Insulaires Océaniens, Labex Corail, Centre Ifremer du Pacifique, Tahiti, Polynésie française
| | - F Thomas
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - N Bierne
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - D Destoumieux-Garzón
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
| | - G M Charrière
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
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16
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Petrohilos C, Patchett A, Hogg CJ, Belov K, Peel E. Tasmanian devil cathelicidins exhibit anticancer activity against Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) cells. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12698. [PMID: 37542170 PMCID: PMC10403513 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39901-0] [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: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is endangered due to the spread of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a contagious cancer with no current treatment options. Here we test whether seven recently characterized Tasmanian devil cathelicidins are involved in cancer regulation. We measured DFTD cell viability in vitro following incubation with each of the seven peptides and describe the effect of each on gene expression in treated cells. Four cathelicidins (Saha-CATH3, 4, 5 and 6) were toxic to DFTD cells and caused general signs of cellular stress. The most toxic peptide (Saha-CATH5) also suppressed the ERBB and YAP1/TAZ signaling pathways, both of which have been identified as important drivers of cancer proliferation. Three cathelicidins induced inflammatory pathways in DFTD cells that may potentially recruit immune cells in vivo. This study suggests that devil cathelicidins have some anti-cancer and inflammatory functions and should be explored further to determine whether they have potential as treatment leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cleopatra Petrohilos
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide & Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Amanda Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide & Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide & Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Emma Peel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide & Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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17
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Hamede R, Fountain‐Jones NM, Arce F, Jones M, Storfer A, Hohenlohe PA, McCallum H, Roche B, Ujvari B, Thomas F. The tumour is in the detail: Local phylogenetic, population and epidemiological dynamics of a transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils. Evol Appl 2023; 16:1316-1327. [PMID: 37492149 PMCID: PMC10363845 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13569] [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: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases are a major threat for biodiversity conservation and can exert strong influence on wildlife population dynamics. Understanding the mechanisms driving infection rates and epidemic outcomes requires empirical data on the evolutionary trajectory of pathogens and host selective processes. Phylodynamics is a robust framework to understand the interaction of pathogen evolutionary processes with epidemiological dynamics, providing a powerful tool to evaluate disease control strategies. Tasmanian devils have been threatened by a fatal transmissible cancer, devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), for more than two decades. Here we employ a phylodynamic approach using tumour mitochondrial genomes to assess the role of tumour genetic diversity in epidemiological and population dynamics in a devil population subject to 12 years of intensive monitoring, since the beginning of the epidemic outbreak. DFTD molecular clock estimates of disease introduction mirrored observed estimates in the field, and DFTD genetic diversity was positively correlated with estimates of devil population size. However, prevalence and force of infection were the lowest when devil population size and tumour genetic diversity was the highest. This could be due to either differential virulence or transmissibility in tumour lineages or the development of host defence strategies against infection. Our results support the view that evolutionary processes and epidemiological trade-offs can drive host-pathogen coexistence, even when disease-induced mortality is extremely high. We highlight the importance of integrating pathogen and population evolutionary interactions to better understand long-term epidemic dynamics and evaluating disease control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
- CANECEV, Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le CancerMontpellierFrance
| | | | - Fernando Arce
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Menna Jones
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological SciencesWashington State UniversityPullmanWashingtonUSA
| | - Paul A. Hohenlohe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary StudiesUniversity of IdahoMoscowIdahoUSA
| | - Hamish McCallum
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food SecurityGriffith University, Nathan CampusNathanQueenslandAustralia
| | - Benjamin Roche
- CREEC, MIVEGEC (CREES)University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpelierFrance
| | - Beata Ujvari
- CANECEV, Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le CancerMontpellierFrance
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVictoriaAustralia
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CANECEV, Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le CancerMontpellierFrance
- CREEC, MIVEGEC (CREES)University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpelierFrance
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18
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Russell GG, Palmieri C, Darby J, Morris GP, Fountain-Jones NM, Pye RJ, Flies AS. Automated Analysis of PD1 and PDL1 Expression in Lymph Nodes and the Microenvironment of Transmissible Tumors in Tasmanian Devils. Immunol Invest 2023:1-20. [PMID: 37267050 DOI: 10.1080/08820139.2023.2217845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The wild Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) population has suffered a devastating decline due to two clonal transmissible cancers. The first devil facial tumor 1 (DFT1) was observed in 1996, followed by a second genetically distinct transmissible tumor, the devil facial tumor 2 (DFT2), in 2014. DFT1/2 frequently metastasize, with lymph nodes being common metastatic sites. MHC-I downregulation by DFT1 cells is a primary means of evading allograft immunity aimed at polymorphic MHC-I proteins. DFT2 cells constitutively express MHC-I, and MHC-I is upregulated on DFT1/2 cells by interferon gamma, suggesting other immune evasion mechanisms may contribute to overcoming allograft and anti-tumor immunity. Human clinical trials have demonstrated PD1/PDL1 blockade effectively treats patients showing increased expression of PD1 in tumor draining lymph nodes, and PDL1 on peritumoral immune cells and tumor cells. The effects of DFT1/2 on systemic immunity remain largely uncharacterized. This study applied the open-access software QuPath to develop a semiautomated pipeline for whole slide analysis of stained tissue sections to quantify PD1/PDL1 expression in devil lymph nodes. The QuPath protocol provided strong correlations to manual counting. PD-1 expression was approximately 10-fold higher than PD-L1 expression in lymph nodes and was primarily expressed in germinal centers, whereas PD-L1 expression was more widely distributed throughout the lymph nodes. The density of PD1 positive cells was increased in lymph nodes containing DFT2 metastases, compared to DFT1. This suggests PD1/PDL1 exploitation may contribute to the poorly immunogenic nature of transmissible tumors in some devils and could be targeted in therapeutic or prophylactic treatments.Abbreviations: PD1: programmed cell death protein 1; PDL1: programmed death ligand 1; DFT1: devil facial tumor 1; DFT2: devil facial tumor 2; DFTD: devil facial tumor disease; MCC: Matthew's correlation coefficient; DAB: diaminobenzidine; ROI: region of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace G Russell
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Chiara Palmieri
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jocelyn Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Gary P Morris
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Nicholas M Fountain-Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Ruth J Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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19
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Stammnitz MR, Gori K, Kwon YM, Harry E, Martin FJ, Billis K, Cheng Y, Baez-Ortega A, Chow W, Comte S, Eggertsson H, Fox S, Hamede R, Jones M, Lazenby B, Peck S, Pye R, Quail MA, Swift K, Wang J, Wood J, Howe K, Stratton MR, Ning Z, Murchison EP. The evolution of two transmissible cancers in Tasmanian devils. Science 2023; 380:283-293. [PMID: 37079675 PMCID: PMC7614631 DOI: 10.1126/science.abq6453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Tasmanian devils have spawned two transmissible cancer lineages, named devil facial tumor 1 (DFT1) and devil facial tumor 2 (DFT2). We investigated the genetic diversity and evolution of these clones by analyzing 78 DFT1 and 41 DFT2 genomes relative to a newly assembled, chromosome-level reference. Time-resolved phylogenetic trees reveal that DFT1 first emerged in 1986 (1982 to 1989) and DFT2 in 2011 (2009 to 2012). Subclone analysis documents transmission of heterogeneous cell populations. DFT2 has faster mutation rates than DFT1 across all variant classes, including substitutions, indels, rearrangements, transposable element insertions, and copy number alterations, and we identify a hypermutated DFT1 lineage with defective DNA mismatch repair. Several loci show plausible evidence of positive selection in DFT1 or DFT2, including loss of chromosome Y and inactivation of MGA, but none are common to both cancers. This study reveals the parallel long-term evolution of two transmissible cancers inhabiting a common niche in Tasmanian devils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian R. Stammnitz
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kevin Gori
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Young Mi Kwon
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ed Harry
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fergal J. Martin
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Konstantinos Billis
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Adrian Baez-Ortega
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - William Chow
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sebastien Comte
- School of Nature Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange, Australia
| | | | - Samantha Fox
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Hobart, Australia
- Toledo Zoo, 2605 Broadway, Toledo, Ohio 43609, USA
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Nature Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
- CANCEV, Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer, Montpellier, France
| | - Menna Jones
- School of Nature Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Billie Lazenby
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Hobart, Australia
| | - Sarah Peck
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Hobart, Australia
| | - Ruth Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Michael A. Quail
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kate Swift
- Mount Pleasant Laboratories, Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Prospect, Australia
| | - Jinhong Wang
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan Wood
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kerstin Howe
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Zemin Ning
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elizabeth P. Murchison
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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20
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Fear generalization and behavioral responses to multiple dangers. Trends Ecol Evol 2023; 38:369-380. [PMID: 36428124 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Animals often exhibit consistent-individual differences (CIDs) in boldness/fearfulness, typically studied in the context of predation risk. We focus here on fear generalization, where fear of one danger (e.g., predators) is correlated with fear of other dangers (e.g., humans, pathogens, moving vehicles, or fire). We discuss why fear generalization should be ecologically important, and why we expect fear to correlate across disparate dangers. CIDs in fear are well studied for some dangers in some taxa (e.g., human fear of pathogens), but not well studied for most dangers. Fear of some dangers has been found to correlate with general fearfulness, but some cases where we might expect correlated fears (e.g., between fear of humans, familiar predators, and exotic predators) are surprisingly understudied.
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21
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Lewis AC, Hughes C, Rogers TL. Living in human-modified landscapes narrows the dietary niche of a specialised mammalian scavenger. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3582. [PMID: 36869089 PMCID: PMC9984462 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30490-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic impacts on carnivores can be complex, posing numerous threats to many species, yet also benefits to those able to exploit certain resources. This balancing act is particularly precarious for those adapters that exploit dietary resources provided by humans, but still require other resources only available in native habitat. Here we measure the dietary niche of one such species, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), a specialised mammalian scavenger, across an anthropogenic habitat gradient stretching from cleared pasture to undisturbed rainforest. Populations inhabiting areas of greater disturbance showed restricted dietary niches, suggesting that all individuals fed on similar food items, even within regenerated native forest. Populations in undisturbed rainforest habitats had comparatively broad diets and showed evidence of niche partitioning by body size, which may reduce intraspecific competition. Despite the potential benefits of reliable access to high-quality food items in anthropogenically-modified habitats, the constrained niches we observed may be harmful, indicating altered behaviours and potentially increasing the rate of fights between individuals over food. This is of particular concern for a species at risk of extinction due to a deadly cancer primarily transmitted through aggressive interactions. The lack of diversity in devil diets within regenerated native forest compared to those in old-growth rainforest also indicates the conservation value of the latter for both the devil and the species which they consume.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C Lewis
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- The Carnivore Conservancy, Ulverstone, TAS, Australia.
| | - Channing Hughes
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Carnivore Conservancy, Ulverstone, TAS, Australia
| | - Tracey L Rogers
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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22
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Faro TAS, de Oliveira EHC. Canine transmissible venereal tumor - From general to molecular characteristics: A review. Anim Genet 2023; 54:82-89. [PMID: 36259378 DOI: 10.1111/age.13260] [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] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a group of complex diseases resulting from the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic changes affecting control and activity of several genes, especially those involved in cell differentiation and growth processes, leading to an abnormal proliferation. When the disease reaches an advanced stage, cancer can lead to metastasis in other organs. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that some types of cancer spread not only through the body, but also can be transmitted among individuals. Therefore, these cancers are known as transmissible tumors. Among the three types of transmissible tumors that occur in nature, the canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) is known as the oldest cancer in the world, since it was originated from a single individual 11 000 years ago. The disease has a worldwide distribution, and its occurrence has been documented since 1810. The CTVT presents three types of cytomorphological classification: lymphocytoid type, mixed type, and plasmacytoid type, the latter being chemoresistant due to overexpression of the ABCB1 gene, and consequently increase of the P-glycoprotein. More knowledge about the epidemiology and evolution of CTVT may help to elucidate the pathway and form of the global spread of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thamirys A S Faro
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
- Laboratório de Citogenômica e Mutagênese Ambiental, SEAMB, Instituto Evandro Chagas Ananindeua, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Edivaldo H C de Oliveira
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
- Laboratório de Citogenômica e Mutagênese Ambiental, SEAMB, Instituto Evandro Chagas Ananindeua, Belém, Pará, Brazil
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23
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Trivedi DD, Dalai SK, Bakshi SR. The Mystery of Cancer Resistance: A Revelation Within Nature. J Mol Evol 2023; 91:133-155. [PMID: 36693985 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-023-10092-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Cancer, a disease due to uncontrolled cell proliferation is as ancient as multicellular organisms. A 255-million-years-old fossilized forerunner mammal gorgonopsian is probably the oldest evidence of cancer, to date. Cancer seems to have evolved by adapting to the microenvironment occupied by immune sentinel, modulating the cellular behavior from cytotoxic to regulatory, acquiring resistance to chemotherapy and surviving hypoxia. The interaction of genes with environmental carcinogens is central to cancer onset, seen as a spectrum of cancer susceptibility among human population. Cancer occurs in life forms other than human also, although their exposure to environmental carcinogens can be different. Role of genetic etiology in cancer in multiple species can be interesting with regard to not only cancer susceptibility, but also genetic conservation and adaptation in speciation. The widely used model organisms for cancer research are mouse and rat which are short-lived and reproduce rapidly. Research in these cancer prone animal models has been valuable as these have led to cancer therapy. However, another rewarding area of cancer research can be the cancer-resistant animal species. The Peto's paradox and G-value paradox are evident when natural cancer resistance is observed in large mammals, like elephant and whale, small rodents viz. Naked Mole Rat and Blind Mole Rat, and Bat. The cancer resistance remains to be explored in other small or large and long-living animals like giraffe, camel, rhinoceros, water buffalo, Indian bison, Shire horse, polar bear, manatee, elephant seal, walrus, hippopotamus, turtle and tortoise, sloth, and squirrel. Indeed, understanding the molecular mechanisms of avoiding neoplastic transformation across various life forms can be potentially having translational value for human cancer management. Adapted and Modified from (Hanahan and Weinberg 2011).
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24
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Madsen T, Klaassen M, Raven N, Dujon AM, Jennings G, Thomas F, Hamede R, Ujvari B. Transmissible cancer and longitudinal telomere dynamics in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii). Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6531-6540. [PMID: 36205590 PMCID: PMC10091798 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
A plethora of intrinsic and environmental factors have been shown to influence the length of telomeres, the protector of chromosome ends. Despite the growing interest in infection-telomere interactions, there is very limited knowledge on how transmissible cancers influence telomere maintenance. An emblematic example of transmissible cancer occurs in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), whose populations have been dramatically reduced by infectious cancer cells. To investigate associations between telomere dynamics and the transmissible cancer, we used longitudinal data from a Tasmanian devil population that has been exposed to the disease for over 15 years. We detected substantial temporal variation in individual telomere length (TL), and a positive significant association between TL and age, as well as a marginally significant trend for devils with devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) having longer telomeres. A proportional hazard analysis yielded no significant effect of TL on the development of DFTD. Like previous studies, we show the complexity that TL dynamics may exhibit across the lifetime of organisms. Our work highlights the importance of long-term longitudinal sampling for understanding the effects of wildlife diseases on TL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Madsen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marcel Klaassen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nynke Raven
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Antoine M Dujon
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.,CREEC, UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Geordie Jennings
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CREEC, UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,MIVEGEC, IRD, CNRS, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Beata Ujvari
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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25
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Gaertner K, Michell C, Tapanainen R, Goffart S, Saari S, Soininmäki M, Dufour E, Pohjoismäki JLO. Molecular phenotyping uncovers differences in basic housekeeping functions among closely related species of hares (
Lepus
spp., Lagomorpha: Leporidae). Mol Ecol 2022. [PMID: 36320183 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Speciation is a fundamental evolutionary process, which results in genetic differentiation of populations and manifests as discrete morphological, physiological and behavioural differences. Each species has travelled its own evolutionary trajectory, influenced by random drift and driven by various types of natural selection, making the association of genetic differences between the species with the phenotypic differences extremely complex to dissect. In the present study, we have used an in vitro model to analyse in depth the genetic and gene regulation differences between fibroblasts of two closely related mammals, the arctic/subarctic mountain hare (Lepus timidus Linnaeus) and the temperate steppe-climate adapted brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas). We discovered the existence of a species-specific expression pattern of 1623 genes, manifesting in differences in cell growth, cell cycle control, respiration, and metabolism. Interspecific differences in the housekeeping functions of fibroblast cells suggest that speciation acts on fundamental cellular processes, even in these two interfertile species. Our results help to understand the molecular constituents of a species difference on a cellular level, which could contribute to the maintenance of the species boundary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateryna Gaertner
- Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology FI‐33014 Tampere University Tampere Finland
| | - Craig Michell
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences FI‐80101 University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal Saudi Arabia
| | - Riikka Tapanainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences FI‐80101 University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
| | - Steffi Goffart
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences FI‐80101 University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
| | - Sina Saari
- Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology FI‐33014 Tampere University Tampere Finland
| | - Manu Soininmäki
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences FI‐80101 University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
| | - Eric Dufour
- Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology FI‐33014 Tampere University Tampere Finland
| | - Jaakko L. O. Pohjoismäki
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences FI‐80101 University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
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26
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Pharmaceutics for free-ranging wildlife: Case studies to illustrate considerations and future prospects. Int J Pharm 2022; 628:122284. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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27
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Kayigwe AN, M. Darby J, Lyons AB, L. Patchett A, Lisowski L, Liu GS, S. Flies A. A human adenovirus encoding IFN-γ can transduce Tasmanian devil facial tumour cells and upregulate MHC-I. J Gen Virol 2022; 103. [DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) has led to a massive decline in the wild Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) population. The disease is caused by two independent devil facial tumours (DFT1 and DFT2). These transmissible cancers have a mortality rate of nearly 100 %. An adenoviral vector-based vaccine has been proposed as a conservation strategy for the Tasmanian devil. This study aimed to determine if a human adenovirus serotype 5 could express functional transgenes in devil cells. As DFT1 cells do not constitutively express major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), we developed a replication-deficient adenoviral vector that encodes devil interferon gamma (IFN-γ) fused to a fluorescent protein reporter. Our results show that adenoviral-expressed IFN-γ was able to stimulate upregulation of beta-2 microglobulin, a component of MHC-I, on DFT1, DFT2 and devil fibroblast cell lines. This work suggests that human adenoviruses can serve as a vaccine platform for devils and potentially other marsupials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahab N. Kayigwe
- Department of Science and Laboratory Technology, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, Bibititi and Morogoro Rd Junction, P. O. Box 2958, Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Jocelyn M. Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - A. Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Amanda L. Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Military Institute of Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Guei-Sheung Liu
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
| | - Andrew S. Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
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28
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Ong CEB, Cheng Y, Siddle HV, Lyons AB, Woods GM, Flies AS. Class II transactivator induces expression of MHC-I and MHC-II in transmissible Tasmanian devil facial tumours. Open Biol 2022; 12:220208. [PMID: 36259237 PMCID: PMC9579919 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220208] [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] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
MHC-I and MHC-II molecules are critical components of antigen presentation and T cell immunity to pathogens and cancer. The two monoclonal transmissible devil facial tumours (DFT1, DFT2) exploit MHC-I pathways to overcome immunological anti-tumour and allogeneic barriers. This exploitation underpins the ongoing transmission of DFT cells across the wild Tasmanian devil population. We have previously shown that the overexpression of NLRC5 in DFT1 and DFT2 cells can regulate components of the MHC-I pathway but not MHC-II, establishing the stable upregulation of MHC-I on the cell surface. As MHC-II molecules are crucial for CD4+ T cell activation, MHC-II expression in tumour cells is beginning to gain traction in the field of immunotherapy and cancer vaccines. The overexpression of Class II transactivator in transfected DFT1 and DFT2 cells induced the transcription of several genes of the MHC-I and MHC-II pathways. This was further supported by the upregulation of MHC-I protein on DFT1 and DFT2 cells, but interestingly MHC-II protein was upregulated only in DFT1 cells. This new insight into the regulation of MHC-I and MHC-II pathways in cells that naturally overcome allogeneic barriers can inform vaccine, immunotherapy and tissue transplant strategies for human and veterinary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrissie E. B. Ong
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Hannah V. Siddle
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - A. Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7005, Australia
| | - Gregory M. Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Andrew S. Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
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29
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Ní Leathlobhair M, Lenski RE. Population genetics of clonally transmissible cancers. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:1077-1089. [PMID: 35879542 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01790-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Populations of cancer cells are subject to the same core evolutionary processes as asexually reproducing, unicellular organisms. Transmissible cancers are particularly striking examples of these processes. These unusual cancers are clonal lineages that can spread through populations via physical transfer of living cancer cells from one host individual to another, and they have achieved long-term success in the colonization of at least eight different host species. Population genetic theory provides a useful framework for understanding the shift from a multicellular sexual animal into a unicellular asexual clone and its long-term effects on the genomes of these cancers. In this Review, we consider recent findings from transmissible cancer research with the goals of developing an evolutionarily informed perspective on transmissible cancers, examining possible implications for their long-term fate and identifying areas for future research on these exceptional lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Máire Ní Leathlobhair
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Department of Microbiology, Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, School of Genetics and Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Richard E Lenski
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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30
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Dujon AM, Boutry J, Tissot S, Meliani J, Guimard L, Rieu O, Ujvari B, Thomas F. A review of the methods used to induce cancer in invertebrates to study its effects on the evolution of species and ecosystem functioning. Methods Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine M. Dujon
- Deakin University Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology Waurn Ponds Victoria Australia
- CANECEV‐Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer (CREEC) Montpellier France
- CREEC, MIVEGEC UMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Justine Boutry
- CANECEV‐Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer (CREEC) Montpellier France
- CREEC, MIVEGEC UMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Sophie Tissot
- CANECEV‐Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer (CREEC) Montpellier France
- CREEC, MIVEGEC UMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Jordan Meliani
- CANECEV‐Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer (CREEC) Montpellier France
- CREEC, MIVEGEC UMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Lena Guimard
- CANECEV‐Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer (CREEC) Montpellier France
- CREEC, MIVEGEC UMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Océane Rieu
- CANECEV‐Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer (CREEC) Montpellier France
- CREEC, MIVEGEC UMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Beata Ujvari
- Deakin University Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology Waurn Ponds Victoria Australia
- CANECEV‐Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer (CREEC) Montpellier France
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CANECEV‐Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer (CREEC) Montpellier France
- CREEC, MIVEGEC UMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
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31
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Farquharson KA, McLennan EA, Cheng Y, Alexander L, Fox S, Lee AV, Belov K, Hogg CJ. Restoring faith in conservation action: Maintaining wild genetic diversity through the Tasmanian devil insurance program. iScience 2022; 25:104474. [PMID: 35754729 PMCID: PMC9218385 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104474] [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: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Conservation breeding programs aim to maintain 90% wild genetic diversity, but rarely assess functional diversity. Here, we compare both genome-wide and functional diversity (in over 500 genes) of Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) within the insurance metapopulation and across the species’ range (64,519 km2). Populations have declined by 80% since 1996 due to a contagious cancer, devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). However, predicted local extinctions have not occurred. Recent suggestions of selection for “resistance” alleles in the wild precipitated concerns that insurance population devils may be unsuitable for translocations. Using 830 wild samples collected at 31 locations between 2012 and 2021, and 553 insurance metapopulation devils, we show that the insurance metapopulation is representative of current wild genetic diversity. Allele frequencies at DFTD-associated loci were not substantially different between captive and wild devils. Methods presented here are valuable for others investigating evolutionary potential in threatened species, particularly ones under significant selective pressures. Developed target capture to assess functional diversity at over 500 genes Fine-scale structure exists in the genetically depauperate Tasmanian devil Insurance metapopulation is representative of wild genetic diversity Allele frequencies at disease-associated loci were similar in captivity to the wild
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elspeth A McLennan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Lauren Alexander
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Samantha Fox
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, NRE Tasmania, Hobart, Tas 7001, Australia.,Toledo Zoo, 2605 Broadway, Toledo, OH 43609, USA
| | - Andrew V Lee
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, NRE Tasmania, Hobart, Tas 7001, Australia.,Toledo Zoo, 2605 Broadway, Toledo, OH 43609, USA
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, PO BOX 120551, San Diego, CA 92112, USA
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32
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Dujon AM, Boutry J, Tissot S, Lemaître JF, Boddy AM, Gérard AL, Alvergne A, Arnal A, Vincze O, Nicolas D, Giraudeau M, Telonis-Scott M, Schultz A, Pujol P, Biro PA, Beckmann C, Hamede R, Roche B, Ujvari B, Thomas F. Cancer Susceptibility as a Cost of Reproduction and Contributor to Life History Evolution. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.861103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproduction is one of the most energetically demanding life-history stages. As a result, breeding individuals often experience trade-offs, where energy is diverted away from maintenance (cell repair, immune function) toward reproduction. While it is increasingly acknowledged that oncogenic processes are omnipresent, evolving and opportunistic entities in the bodies of metazoans, the associations among reproductive activities, energy expenditure, and the dynamics of malignant cells have rarely been studied. Here, we review the diverse ways in which age-specific reproductive performance (e.g., reproductive aging patterns) and cancer risks throughout the life course may be linked via trade-offs or other mechanisms, as well as discuss situations where trade-offs may not exist. We argue that the interactions between host–oncogenic processes should play a significant role in life-history theory, and suggest some avenues for future research.
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33
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Silver LW, Cheng Y, Quigley BL, Robbins A, Timms P, Hogg CJ, Belov K. A targeted approach to investigating immune genes of an iconic Australian marsupial. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:3286-3303. [PMID: 35510793 PMCID: PMC9325493 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Disease is a contributing factor to the decline of wildlife populations across the globe. Koalas, iconic yet declining Australian marsupials, are predominantly impacted by two pathogens, Chlamydia and koala retrovirus. Chlamydia is an obligate intracellular bacterium and one of the most widespread sexually transmitted infections in humans worldwide. In koalas, Chlamydia infections can present as asymptomatic or can cause a range of ocular and urogenital disease signs, such as conjunctivitis, cystitis and infertility. In this study, we looked at differences in response to Chlamydia in two northern populations of koalas using a targeted gene sequencing of 1209 immune genes in addition to genome‐wide reduced representation data. We identified two MHC Class I genes associated with Chlamydia disease progression as well as 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms across 17 genes that were associated with resolution of Chlamydia infection. These genes are involved in the innate immune response (TLR5) and defence (TLR5, IFNγ, SERPINE1, STAT2 and STX4). This study deepens our understanding of the role that genetics plays in disease progression in koalas and leads into future work that will use whole genome resequencing of a larger sample set to investigate in greater detail regions identified in this study. Elucidation of the role of host genetics in disease progression and resolution in koalas will directly contribute to better design of Chlamydia vaccines and management of koala populations which have recently been listed as “endangered.”
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke W Silver
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Bonnie L Quigley
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, Queensland, 4556, Australia.,Provectus Algae Pty Ltd, 5 Bartlett Road, Noosaville, Queensland, 4566, Australia
| | - Amy Robbins
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, Queensland, 4556, Australia.,Endeavour Veterinary Ecology Pty Ltd, 1695 Pumicestone Road, Toorbul, Queensland, 4510, Australia
| | - Peter Timms
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, Queensland, 4556, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
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34
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Espejo C, Wilson R, Pye RJ, Ratcliffe JC, Ruiz-Aravena M, Willms E, Wolfe BW, Hamede R, Hill AF, Jones ME, Woods GM, Lyons AB. Cathelicidin-3 Associated With Serum Extracellular Vesicles Enables Early Diagnosis of a Transmissible Cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:858423. [PMID: 35422813 PMCID: PMC9004462 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.858423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of practical early diagnostic biomarkers is a cornerstone of improved prevention and treatment of cancers. Such a case is devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), a highly lethal transmissible cancer afflicting virtually an entire species, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Despite a latent period that can exceed one year, to date DFTD diagnosis requires visual identification of tumor lesions. To enable earlier diagnosis, which is essential for the implementation of effective conservation strategies, we analyzed the extracellular vesicle (EV) proteome of 87 Tasmanian devil serum samples using data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry approaches. The antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin-3 (CATH3), released by innate immune cells, was enriched in serum EV samples of both devils with clinical DFTD (87.9% sensitivity and 94.1% specificity) and devils with latent infection (i.e., collected while overtly healthy, but 3-6 months before subsequent DFTD diagnosis; 93.8% sensitivity and 94.1% specificity). Although high expression of antimicrobial peptides has been mostly related to inflammatory diseases, our results suggest that they can be also used as accurate cancer biomarkers, suggesting a mechanistic role in tumorous processes. This EV-based approach to biomarker discovery is directly applicable to improving understanding and diagnosis of a broad range of diseases in other species, and these findings directly enhance the capacity of conservation strategies to ensure the viability of the imperiled Tasmanian devil population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Espejo
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Richard Wilson
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Ruth J Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Julian C Ratcliffe
- La Trobe University Bioimaging Platform, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Manuel Ruiz-Aravena
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Eduard Willms
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Barrett W Wolfe
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.,CANECEV, Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer, Montpellier, France
| | - Andrew F Hill
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.,Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, VIC, Australia
| | - Menna E Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
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35
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Michnowska A, Hart SFM, Smolarz K, Hallmann A, Metzger MJ. Horizontal transmission of disseminated neoplasia in the widespread clam
Macoma balthica
from the Southern Baltic Sea. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:3128-3136. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.16464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alicja Michnowska
- Department of Marine Ecosystems Functioning Institute of Oceanography Faculty of Oceanography and Geography University of Gdańsk Piłsudskiego 46 81‐378 Gdynia
| | - Samuel F. M. Hart
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute 720 Broadway Seattle WA 98122 USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program University of Washington 1959 NE Pacific Street, HSB T‐466 Seattle WA 98195 USA
| | - Katarzyna Smolarz
- Department of Marine Ecosystems Functioning Institute of Oceanography Faculty of Oceanography and Geography University of Gdańsk Piłsudskiego 46 81‐378 Gdynia
| | - Anna Hallmann
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry Medical University of Gdańsk Dębinki 1 80‐211 Gdańsk
| | - Michael J. Metzger
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute 720 Broadway Seattle WA 98122 USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program University of Washington 1959 NE Pacific Street, HSB T‐466 Seattle WA 98195 USA
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36
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Hussey K, Caldwell A, Kreiss A, Skjødt K, Gastaldello A, Pye R, Hamede R, Woods GM, Siddle HV. Expression of the Nonclassical MHC Class I, Saha-UD in the Transmissible Cancer Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11030351. [PMID: 35335675 PMCID: PMC8953681 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11030351] [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: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) is a transmissible cancer that has circulated in the Tasmanian devil population for >25 years. Like other contagious cancers in dogs and devils, the way DFTD escapes the immune response of its host is a central question to understanding this disease. DFTD has a low major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) expression due to epigenetic modifications, preventing host immune recognition of mismatched MHC-I molecules by T cells. However, the total MHC-I loss should result in natural killer (NK) cell activation due to the ‘missing self’. Here, we have investigated the expression of the nonclassical MHC-I, Saha-UD as a potential regulatory or suppressive mechanism for DFTD. A monoclonal antibody was generated against the devil Saha-UD that binds recombinant Saha-UD by Western blot, with limited crossreactivity to the classical MHC-I, Saha-UC and nonclassical Saha-UK. Using this antibody, we confirmed the expression of Saha-UD in 13 DFTD tumours by immunohistochemistry (n = 15) and demonstrated that Saha-UD expression is heterogeneous, with 12 tumours showing intratumour heterogeneity. Immunohistochemical staining for the Saha-UD showed distinct patterns of expression when compared with classical MHC-I molecules. The nonclassical Saha-UD expression by DFTD tumours in vivo may be a mechanism for immunosuppression, and further work is ongoing to characterise its ligand on immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Hussey
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK; (K.H.); (A.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Alison Caldwell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK; (K.H.); (A.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Alexandre Kreiss
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; (A.K.); (R.P.); (G.M.W.)
| | - Karsten Skjødt
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark;
| | - Annalisa Gastaldello
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK; (K.H.); (A.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Ruth Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; (A.K.); (R.P.); (G.M.W.)
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7005, Australia;
| | - Gregory M. Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; (A.K.); (R.P.); (G.M.W.)
| | - Hannah V. Siddle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK; (K.H.); (A.C.); (A.G.)
- Correspondence:
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37
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Raven N, Klaassen M, Madsen T, Thomas F, Hamede R, Ujvari B. Transmissible cancer influences immune gene expression in an endangered marsupial, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Mol Ecol 2022; 31:2293-2311. [PMID: 35202488 PMCID: PMC9310804 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16408] [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: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the effects of wildlife diseases on populations requires insight into local environmental conditions, host defence mechanisms, host life‐history trade‐offs, pathogen population dynamics, and their interactions. The survival of Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) is challenged by a novel, fitness limiting pathogen, Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), a clonally transmissible, contagious cancer. In order to understand the devils’ capacity to respond to DFTD, it is crucial to gain information on factors influencing the devils’ immune system. By using RT‐qPCR, we investigated how DFTD infection in association with intrinsic (sex and age) and environmental (season) factors influences the expression of 10 immune genes in Tasmanian devil blood. Our study showed that the expression of immune genes (both innate and adaptive) differed across seasons, a pattern that was altered when infected with DFTD. The expression of immunogbulins IgE and IgM:IgG showed downregulation in colder months in DFTD infected animals. We also observed strong positive association between the expression of an innate immune gene, CD16, and DFTD infection. Our results demonstrate that sampling across seasons, age groups and environmental conditions are beneficial when deciphering the complex ecoevolutionary interactions of not only conventional host‐parasite systems, but also of host and diseases with high mortality rates, such as transmissible cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Raven
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Waurn Ponds, Vic, 3216, Australia
| | - M Klaassen
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Waurn Ponds, Vic, 3216, Australia
| | - T Madsen
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Waurn Ponds, Vic, 3216, Australia
| | - F Thomas
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), Montpellier, France.,MIVEGEC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - R Hamede
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Waurn Ponds, Vic, 3216, Australia.,School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
| | - B Ujvari
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Waurn Ponds, Vic, 3216, Australia
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38
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Tissot S, Gérard AL, Boutry J, Dujon AM, Russel T, Siddle H, Tasiemski A, Meliani J, Hamede R, Roche B, Ujvari B, Thomas F. Transmissible Cancer Evolution: The Under-Estimated Role of Environmental Factors in the “Perfect Storm” Theory. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11020241. [PMID: 35215185 PMCID: PMC8876101 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the true prevalence of transmissible cancers is not known, these atypical malignancies are likely rare in the wild. The reasons behind this rarity are only partially understood, but the “Perfect Storm hypothesis” suggests that transmissible cancers are infrequent because a precise confluence of tumor and host traits is required for their emergence. This explanation is plausible as transmissible cancers, like all emerging pathogens, will need specific biotic and abiotic conditions to be able to not only emerge, but to spread to detectable levels. Because those conditions would be rarely met, transmissible cancers would rarely spread, and thus most of the time disappear, even though they would regularly appear. Thus, further research is needed to identify the most important factors that can facilitate or block the emergence of transmissible cancers and influence their evolution. Such investigations are particularly relevant given that human activities are increasingly encroaching into wild areas, altering ecosystems and their processes, which can influence the conditions needed for the emergence and spread of transmissible cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Tissot
- CREEC/MIVEGEC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 34394 Montpellier, France; (A.-L.G.); (J.B.); (J.M.); (B.R.); (F.T.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Anne-Lise Gérard
- CREEC/MIVEGEC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 34394 Montpellier, France; (A.-L.G.); (J.B.); (J.M.); (B.R.); (F.T.)
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC 32020, Australia; (A.M.D.); (B.U.)
| | - Justine Boutry
- CREEC/MIVEGEC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 34394 Montpellier, France; (A.-L.G.); (J.B.); (J.M.); (B.R.); (F.T.)
| | - Antoine M. Dujon
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC 32020, Australia; (A.M.D.); (B.U.)
| | - Tracey Russel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
| | - Hannah Siddle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK;
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Aurélie Tasiemski
- Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017-CIIL-Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France;
| | - Jordan Meliani
- CREEC/MIVEGEC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 34394 Montpellier, France; (A.-L.G.); (J.B.); (J.M.); (B.R.); (F.T.)
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia;
| | - Benjamin Roche
- CREEC/MIVEGEC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 34394 Montpellier, France; (A.-L.G.); (J.B.); (J.M.); (B.R.); (F.T.)
- Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinariay Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México 01030, Mexico
| | - Beata Ujvari
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC 32020, Australia; (A.M.D.); (B.U.)
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CREEC/MIVEGEC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 34394 Montpellier, France; (A.-L.G.); (J.B.); (J.M.); (B.R.); (F.T.)
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39
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Hammel M, Simon A, Arbiol C, Villalba A, Burioli EAV, Pépin JF, Lamy JB, Benabdelmouna A, Bernard I, Houssin M, Charrière G, Destoumieux-Garzon D, Welch J, Metzger MJ, Bierne N. Prevalence and polymorphism of a mussel transmissible cancer in Europe. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:736-751. [PMID: 34192383 PMCID: PMC8716645 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Transmissible cancers are parasitic malignant cell lineages that have acquired the ability to infect new hosts from the same species, or sometimes related species. First described in dogs and Tasmanian devils, transmissible cancers were later discovered in some marine bivalves affected by a leukaemia-like disease. In Mytilus mussels, two lineages of bivalve transmissible neoplasia (BTN) have been described to date (MtrBTN1 and MtrBTN2), both of which emerged in a Mytilus trossulus founder individual. Here, we performed extensive screening of genetic chimerism, a hallmark of transmissible cancer, by genotyping 106 single nucleotide polymorphisms of 5,907 European Mytilus mussels. Genetic analysis allowed us to simultaneously obtain the genotype of hosts - Mytilus edulis, M. galloprovincialis or hybrids - and the genotype of tumours of heavily infected individuals. In addition, a subset of 222 individuals were systematically genotyped and analysed by histology to screen for possible nontransmissible cancers. We detected MtrBTN2 at low prevalence in M. edulis, and also in M. galloprovincialis and hybrids although at a much lower prevalence. No MtrBTN1 or new BTN were found, but eight individuals with nontransmissible neoplasia were observed at a single polluted site on the same sampling date. We observed a diversity of MtrBTN2 genotypes that appeared more introgressed or more ancestral than MtrBTN1 and reference healthy M. trossulus individuals. The observed polymorphism is probably due to somatic null alleles caused by structural variations or point mutations in primer-binding sites leading to enhanced detection of the host alleles. Despite low prevalence, two sublineages divergent by 10% fixed somatic null alleles and one nonsynonymous mtCOI (mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I) substitution are cospreading in the same geographical area, suggesting a complex diversification of MtrBTN2 since its emergence and host species shift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurine Hammel
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier,
France,IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, Univ Perpignan,
Via Domitia, France
| | - Alexis Simon
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier,
France
| | | | - Antonio Villalba
- Centro de Investigacións Mariñas,
Consellería do Mar, Xunta de Galicia, Vilanova de Arousa, Spain,Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad de
Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain.,Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and
Biotechnology (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plentzia, Basque
Country, Spain
| | - Erika AV Burioli
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, Univ Perpignan,
Via Domitia, France,LABÉO, Caen, France
| | - Jean-François Pépin
- Laboratoire Environnement ressources des Pertuis
Charentais, IFREMER, La Tremblade, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Lamy
- Santé, Génétique, Microbiologie des
Mollusques, IFREMER, La Tremblade, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | - John Welch
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge,
Downing Street, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Nicolas Bierne
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier,
France
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40
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Garcia-Souto D, Bruzos AL, Diaz S, Rocha S, Pequeño-Valtierra A, Roman-Lewis CF, Alonso J, Rodriguez R, Costas D, Rodriguez-Castro J, Villanueva A, Silva L, Valencia JM, Annona G, Tarallo A, Ricardo F, Bratoš Cetinić A, Posada D, Pasantes JJ, Tubio JMC. Mitochondrial genome sequencing of marine leukaemias reveals cancer contagion between clam species in the Seas of Southern Europe. eLife 2022; 11:e66946. [PMID: 35040778 PMCID: PMC8765752 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Clonally transmissible cancers are tumour lineages that are transmitted between individuals via the transfer of living cancer cells. In marine bivalves, leukaemia-like transmissible cancers, called hemic neoplasia (HN), have demonstrated the ability to infect individuals from different species. We performed whole-genome sequencing in eight warty venus clams that were diagnosed with HN, from two sampling points located more than 1000 nautical miles away in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea Coasts of Spain. Mitochondrial genome sequencing analysis from neoplastic animals revealed the coexistence of haplotypes from two different clam species. Phylogenies estimated from mitochondrial and nuclear markers confirmed this leukaemia originated in striped venus clams and later transmitted to clams of the species warty venus, in which it survives as a contagious cancer. The analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences supports all studied tumours belong to a single neoplastic lineage that spreads in the Seas of Southern Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Garcia-Souto
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
- Cancer Ageing and Somatic Mutation Programme, Wellcome Sanger InstituteCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Alicia L Bruzos
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
| | - Seila Diaz
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
| | - Sara Rocha
- Phylogenomics Lab, Universidade de VigoVigoSpain
| | - Ana Pequeño-Valtierra
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
| | | | - Juana Alonso
- CINBIO, Universidade de VigoVigoSpain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGOVigoSpain
| | - Rosana Rodriguez
- Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, ECIMATVigoSpain
| | - Damian Costas
- Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, ECIMATVigoSpain
| | - Jorge Rodriguez-Castro
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
| | | | - Luis Silva
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Centro Oceanográfico de CádizCádizSpain
| | - Jose Maria Valencia
- Laboratori d’Investigacions Marines i Aqüicultura, (LIMIA) - Govern de les Illes BalearsPort d'Andratx, Balearic IslandsSpain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Agroambientales y de Economía del Agua (INAGEA) (INIA-CAIB-UIB)Palma de Mallorca, Balearic IslandsSpain
| | | | | | - Fernando Ricardo
- ECOMARE, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Santiago University CampusAveiroPortugal
| | | | - David Posada
- CINBIO, Universidade de VigoVigoSpain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGOVigoSpain
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Universidade de VigoVigoSpain
| | - Juan Jose Pasantes
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Universidade de VigoVigoSpain
- Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de VigoVigoSpain
| | - Jose MC Tubio
- Genomes and Disease, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de CompostelaSpain
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41
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Espejo C, Patchett AL, Wilson R, Lyons AB, Woods GM. Challenges of an Emerging Disease: The Evolving Approach to Diagnosing Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Pathogens 2021; 11:27. [PMID: 35055975 PMCID: PMC8780694 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11010027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) is an emerging infectious disease that provides an excellent example of how diagnostic techniques improve as disease-specific knowledge is generated. DFTD manifests as tumour masses on the faces of Tasmanian devils, first noticed in 1996. As DFTD became more prevalent among devils, karyotyping of the lesions and their devil hosts demonstrated that DFTD was a transmissible cancer. The subsequent routine diagnosis relied on microscopy and histology to characterise the facial lesions as cancer cells. Combined with immunohistochemistry, these techniques characterised the devil facial tumours as sarcomas of neuroectodermal origin. More sophisticated molecular methods identified the origin of DFTD as a Schwann cell, leading to the Schwann cell-specific protein periaxin to discriminate DFTD from other facial lesions. After the discovery of a second facial cancer (DFT2), cytogenetics and the absence of periaxin expression confirmed the independence of the new cancer from DFT1 (the original DFTD). Molecular studies of the two DFTDs led to the development of a PCR assay to differentially diagnose the cancers. Proteomics and transcriptomic studies identified different cell phenotypes among the two DFTD cell lines. Phenotypic differences were also reflected in proteomics studies of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which yielded an early diagnostic marker that could detect DFTD in its latent stage from serum samples. A mesenchymal marker was also identified that could serve as a serum-based differential diagnostic. The emergence of two transmissible cancers in one species has provided an ideal opportunity to better understand transmissible cancers, demonstrating how fundamental research can be translated into applicable and routine diagnostic techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Espejo
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; (C.E.); (A.B.L.)
| | - Amanda L. Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia;
| | - Richard Wilson
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia;
| | - A. Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; (C.E.); (A.B.L.)
| | - Gregory M. Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia;
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42
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Silva RCMC, Panis C, Pires BRB. Lessons from transmissible cancers for immunotherapy and transplant. Immunol Med 2021; 45:146-161. [PMID: 34962854 DOI: 10.1080/25785826.2021.2018783] [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: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of horizontal transmission of cancer between vertebrates is an issue that interests scientists and medical society. Transmission requires: (i) a mechanism by which cancer cells can transfer to another organism and (ii) a repressed immune response on the part of the recipient. Transmissible tumors are unique models to comprehend the responses and mechanisms mediated by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which can be transposed for transplant biology. Here, we discuss the mechanisms involved in immune-mediated tissue rejection, making a parallel with transmissible cancers. We also discuss cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in cancer immunotherapy and anti-rejection therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Cardoso Maciel Costa Silva
- Laboratory of Immunoreceptors and Signaling, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina Panis
- Laboratory of Tumor Biology, State University of West Paraná, UNIOESTE, Francisco Beltrão, Brazil
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43
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Burioli EAV, Hammel M, Bierne N, Thomas F, Houssin M, Destoumieux-Garzón D, Charrière GM. Traits of a mussel transmissible cancer are reminiscent of a parasitic life style. Sci Rep 2021; 11:24110. [PMID: 34916573 PMCID: PMC8677744 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03598-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Some cancers have evolved the ability to spread from host to host by transmission of cancerous cells. These rare biological entities can be considered parasites with a host-related genome. Still, we know little about their specific adaptation to a parasitic lifestyle. MtrBTN2 is one of the few lineages of transmissible cancers known in the animal kingdom. Reported worldwide, MtrBTN2 infects marine mussels. We isolated MtrBTN2 cells circulating in the hemolymph of cancerous mussels and investigated their phenotypic traits. We found that MtrBTN2 cells had remarkable survival capacities in seawater, much higher than normal hemocytes. With almost 100% cell survival over three days, they increase significantly their chances to infect neighboring hosts. MtrBTN2 also triggered an aggressive cancerous process: proliferation in mussels was ~ 17 times higher than normal hemocytes (mean doubling time of ~ 3 days), thereby favoring a rapid increase of intra-host population size. MtrBTN2 appears to induce host castration, thereby favoring resources re-allocation to the parasites and increasing the host carrying capacity. Altogether, our results highlight a series of traits of MtrBTN2 consistent with a marine parasitic lifestyle that may have contributed to the success of its persistence and dissemination in different mussel populations across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A V Burioli
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France.
| | - M Hammel
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - N Bierne
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - F Thomas
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - M Houssin
- LABÉO, Caen, France
- Normandie Université, Université de Caen Normandie, FRE BOREA, CNRS-2030, IRD-207, MNHN, UPMC, UCN, Caen, France
| | - D Destoumieux-Garzón
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
| | - G M Charrière
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
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44
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Durrant R, Hamede R, Wells K, Lurgi M. Disruption of Metapopulation Structure Reduces Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease Spread at the Expense of Abundance and Genetic Diversity. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10121592. [PMID: 34959547 PMCID: PMC8705368 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Metapopulation structure plays a fundamental role in the persistence of wildlife populations. It can also drive the spread of infectious diseases and transmissible cancers such as the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). While disrupting this structure can reduce disease spread, it can also impair host resilience by disrupting gene flow and colonisation dynamics. Using an individual-based metapopulation model we investigated the synergistic effects of host dispersal, disease transmission rate and inter-individual contact distance for transmission, on the spread and persistence of DFTD from local to regional scales. Disease spread, and the ensuing population declines, are synergistically determined by individuals' dispersal, disease transmission rate and within-population mixing. Transmission rates can be magnified by high dispersal and inter-individual transmission distance. The isolation of local populations effectively reduced metapopulation-level disease prevalence but caused severe declines in metapopulation size and genetic diversity. The relative position of managed (i.e., isolated) local populations had a significant effect on disease prevalence, highlighting the importance of considering metapopulation structure when implementing metapopulation-scale disease control measures. Our findings suggest that population isolation is not an ideal management method for preventing disease spread in species inhabiting already fragmented landscapes, where genetic diversity and extinction risk are already a concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan Durrant
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (R.D.); (K.W.)
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia;
| | - Konstans Wells
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (R.D.); (K.W.)
| | - Miguel Lurgi
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (R.D.); (K.W.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-(0)-1792-602157
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45
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Espejo C, Wilson R, Willms E, Ruiz-Aravena M, Pye RJ, Jones ME, Hill AF, Woods GM, Lyons AB. Extracellular vesicle proteomes of two transmissible cancers of Tasmanian devils reveal tenascin-C as a serum-based differential diagnostic biomarker. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:7537-7555. [PMID: 34655299 PMCID: PMC11073120 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03955-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The iconic Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is endangered due to the transmissible cancer Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), of which there are two genetically independent subtypes (DFT1 and DFT2). While DFT1 and DFT2 can be differentially diagnosed using tumour biopsies, there is an urgent need to develop less-invasive biomarkers that can detect DFTD and distinguish between subtypes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), the nano-sized membrane-enclosed vesicles present in most biofluids, represent a valuable resource for biomarker discovery. Here, we characterized the proteome of EVs from cultured DFTD cells using data-independent acquisition-mass spectrometry and an in-house spectral library of > 1500 proteins. EVs from both DFT1 and DFT2 cell lines expressed higher levels of proteins associated with focal adhesion functions. Furthermore, hallmark proteins of epithelial-mesenchymal transition were enriched in DFT2 EVs relative to DFT1 EVs. These findings were validated in EVs derived from serum samples, revealing that the mesenchymal marker tenascin-C was also enriched in EVs derived from the serum of devils infected with DFT2 relative to those infected with DFT1 and healthy controls. This first EV-based investigation of DFTD increases our understanding of the cancers' EVs and their possible involvement in DFTD progression, such as metastasis. Finally, we demonstrated the potential of EVs to differentiate between DFT1 and DFT2, highlighting their potential use as less-invasive liquid biopsies for the Tasmanian devil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Espejo
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
| | - Richard Wilson
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7005, Australia
| | - Eduard Willms
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Manuel Ruiz-Aravena
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Ruth J Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Menna E Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Andrew F Hill
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
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46
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Dujon AM, Vittecoq M, Bramwell G, Thomas F, Ujvari B. Machine learning is a powerful tool to study the effect of cancer on species and ecosystems. Methods Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine M. Dujon
- Geelong School of Life and Environmental Sciences Centre for Integrative Ecology Deakin University Waurn Ponds Victoria Australia
- CREECUMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
- CANECEV‐Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le cancer (CREEC) Montpellier France
| | - Marion Vittecoq
- CREECUMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
- MIVEGECUniversity of MontpellierCNRSIRD Montpellier France
- Tour du Valat Research Institute for the Conservation of Mediterranean Wetlands Arles France
| | - Georgina Bramwell
- Geelong School of Life and Environmental Sciences Centre for Integrative Ecology Deakin University Waurn Ponds Victoria Australia
- CANECEV‐Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le cancer (CREEC) Montpellier France
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CREECUMR IRD 224‐CNRS 5290‐Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
- CANECEV‐Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le cancer (CREEC) Montpellier France
- MIVEGECUniversity of MontpellierCNRSIRD Montpellier France
| | - Beata Ujvari
- Geelong School of Life and Environmental Sciences Centre for Integrative Ecology Deakin University Waurn Ponds Victoria Australia
- CANECEV‐Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le cancer (CREEC) Montpellier France
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47
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Owen RS, Ramarathinam SH, Bailey A, Gastaldello A, Hussey K, Skipp PJ, Purcell AW, Siddle HV. The differentiation state of the Schwann cell progenitor drives phenotypic variation between two contagious cancers. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010033. [PMID: 34780568 PMCID: PMC8629380 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Contagious cancers are a rare pathogenic phenomenon in which cancer cells gain the ability to spread between genetically distinct hosts. Nine examples have been identified across marine bivalves, dogs and Tasmanian devils, but the Tasmanian devil is the only mammalian species known to have given rise to two distinct lineages of contagious cancer, termed Devil Facial Tumour 1 (DFT1) and 2 (DFT2). Remarkably, DFT1 and DFT2 arose independently from the same cell type, a Schwann cell, and while their ultra-structural features are highly similar they exhibit variation in their mutational signatures and infection dynamics. As such, DFT1 and DFT2 provide a unique framework for investigating how a common progenitor cell can give rise to distinct contagious cancers. Using a proteomics approach, we show that DFT1 and DFT2 are derived from Schwann cells in different differentiation states, with DFT2 carrying a molecular signature of a less well differentiated Schwann cell. Under inflammatory signals DFT1 and DFT2 have different gene expression profiles, most notably involving Schwann cell markers of differentiation, reflecting the influence of their distinct origins. Further, DFT2 cells express immune cell markers typically expressed during nerve repair, consistent with an ability to manipulate their extracellular environment, facilitating the cell’s ability to transmit between individuals. The emergence of two contagious cancers in the Tasmanian devil suggests that the inherent plasticity of Schwann cells confers a vulnerability to the formation of contagious cancers. Cancer can be an infectious pathogen, with nine known cases, infecting bivalves, dogs and two independent tumours circulating in the endangered Tasmanian devil. These cancers, known as Devil Facial Tumour 1 (DFT1) and Devil Facial Tumour 2 (DFT2), spread through the wild population much like parasites, moving between genetically distinct hosts during social biting behaviours and persisting in the population. As DFT1 and DFT2 are independent contagious cancers that arose from the same cell type, a Schwann cell, they provide a unique model system for studying the emergence of phenotypic variation in cancers derived from a single progenitor cell. In this study, we have shown that these two remarkably similar tumours have emerged from Schwann cells in different differentiation states. The differentiation state of the progenitor has altered the characteristics of each tumour, resulting in different responses to external signals. This work demonstrates that the cellular origin of infection can direct the phenotype of a contagious cancer and how it responds to signals from the host environment. Further, the plasticity of Schwann cells may make these cells more prone to forming contagious cancers, raising the possibility that further parasitic cancers could emerge from this cell type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S. Owen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sri H. Ramarathinam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Alistair Bailey
- Centre for Cancer Immunology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Annalisa Gastaldello
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn Hussey
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Paul J. Skipp
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony W. Purcell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Hannah V. Siddle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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48
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Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: Non-Coding RNAs Associated with Transmissible Cancers in Tasmanian Devil, Domestic Dog and Bivalves. Noncoding RNA 2021; 7:ncrna7040072. [PMID: 34842768 PMCID: PMC8628904 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna7040072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently there are nine known examples of transmissible cancers in nature. They have been observed in domestic dog, Tasmanian devil, and six bivalve species. These tumours can overcome host immune defences and spread to other members of the same species. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are known to play roles in tumorigenesis and immune system evasion. Despite their potential importance in transmissible cancers, there have been no studies on ncRNA function in this context to date. Here, we present possible applications of the CRISPR/Cas system to study the RNA biology of transmissible cancers. Specifically, we explore how ncRNAs may play a role in the immortality and immune evasion ability of these tumours.
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49
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Cheng Y, Grueber C, Hogg CJ, Belov K. Improved high-throughput MHC typing for non-model species using long-read sequencing. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:862-876. [PMID: 34551192 PMCID: PMC9293008 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a critical role in the vertebrate immune system. Accurate MHC typing is critical to understanding not only host fitness and disease susceptibility, but also the mechanisms underlying host‐pathogen co‐evolution. However, due to the high degree of gene duplication and diversification of MHC genes, it is often technically challenging to accurately characterise MHC genetic diversity in non‐model species. Here we conducted a systematic review to identify common issues associated with current widely used MHC typing approaches. Then to overcome these challenges, we developed a long‐read based MHC typing method along with a new analysis pipeline. Our approach enables the sequencing of fully phased MHC alleles spanning all key functional domains and the separation of highly similar alleles as well as the removal of technical artefacts such as PCR heteroduplexes and chimeras. Using this approach, we performed population‐scale MHC typing in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), revealing previously undiscovered MHC functional diversity in this endangered species. Our new method provides a better solution for addressing research questions that require high MHC typing accuracy. Since the method is not limited by species or the number of genes analysed, it will be applicable for studying not only the MHC but also other complex gene families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Catherine Grueber
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Ní Leathlobhair M, Yetsko K, Farrell JA, Iaria C, Marino G, Duffy DJ, Murchison EP. Genotype data not consistent with clonal transmission of sea turtle fibropapillomatosis or goldfish schwannoma. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:219. [PMID: 34622016 PMCID: PMC8459624 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17073.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent discoveries of transmissible cancers in multiple bivalve species suggest that direct transmission of cancer cells within species may be more common than previously thought, particularly in aquatic environments. Fibropapillomatosis occurs with high prevalence in green sea turtles ( Chelonia mydas) and the geographic range of disease has increased since fibropapillomatosis was first reported in this species. Widespread incidence of schwannomas, benign tumours of Schwann cell origin, reported in aquarium-bred goldfish (Carassius auratus), suggest an infectious aetiology. We investigated the hypothesis that cancers in these species arise by clonal transmission of cancer cells. Through analysis of polymorphic microsatellite alleles, we demonstrate concordance of host and tumour genotypes in diseased animals. These results imply that the tumours examined arose from independent oncogenic transformation of host tissue and were not clonally transmitted. Further, failure to experimentally transmit goldfish schwannoma via water exposure or inoculation suggest that this disease is unlikely to have an infectious aetiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Máire Ní Leathlobhair
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, UK
- Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kelsey Yetsko
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, Florida, 32080, USA
| | - Jessica A. Farrell
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, Florida, 32080, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Carmelo Iaria
- Centre of Experimental Fish Pathology of Sicily (CISS), Viale Giovanni Palatucci, University of Messina, 98168, Messina, Italy
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, n 31, University of Messina, 98166, Messina, Italy
| | - Gabriele Marino
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Viale Giovanni Palatucci, University of Messina, 98168, Messina, Italy
| | - David J. Duffy
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, Florida, 32080, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Elizabeth P. Murchison
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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