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Minow MAA, Marand AP, Schmitz RJ. Leveraging Single-Cell Populations to Uncover the Genetic Basis of Complex Traits. Annu Rev Genet 2023; 57:297-319. [PMID: 37562412 PMCID: PMC10775913 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-022123-110824] [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] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
The ease and throughput of single-cell genomics have steadily improved, and its current trajectory suggests that surveying single-cell populations will become routine. We discuss the merger of quantitative genetics with single-cell genomics and emphasize how this synergizes with advantages intrinsic to plants. Single-cell population genomics provides increased detection resolution when mapping variants that control molecular traits, including gene expression or chromatin accessibility. Additionally, single-cell population genomics reveals the cell types in which variants act and, when combined with organism-level phenotype measurements, unveils which cellular contexts impact higher-order traits. Emerging technologies, notably multiomics, can facilitate the measurement of both genetic changes and genomic traits in single cells, enabling single-cell genetic experiments. The implementation of single-cell genetics will advance the investigation of the genetic architecture of complex molecular traits and provide new experimental paradigms to study eukaryotic genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A A Minow
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA;
| | | | - Robert J Schmitz
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA;
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2
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Hu B, Han S, He H. Effect of epidemic diseases on wild animal conservation. Integr Zool 2023; 18:963-980. [PMID: 37202360 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12720] [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] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Under the background of global species extinction, the impact of epidemic diseases on wild animal protection is increasingly prominent. Here, we review and synthesize the literature on this topic, and discuss the relationship between diseases and biodiversity. Diseases usually reduce species diversity by decreasing or extinction of species populations, but also accelerate species evolution and promote species diversity. At the same time, species diversity can regulate disease outbreaks through dilution or amplification effects. The synergistic effect of human activities and global change is emphasized, which further aggravates the complex relationship between biodiversity and diseases. Finally, we emphasize the importance of active surveillance of wild animal diseases, which can protect wild animals from potential diseases, maintain population size and genetic variation, and reduce the damage of diseases to the balance of the whole ecosystem and human health. Therefore, we suggest that a background survey of wild animal populations and their pathogens should be carried out to assess the impact of potential outbreaks on the population or species level. The mechanism of dilution and amplification effect between species diversity and diseases of wild animals should be further studied to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for human intervention measures to change biodiversity. Most importantly, we should closely combine the protection of wild animals with the establishment of an active surveillance, prevention, and control system for wild animal epidemics, in an effort to achieve a win-win situation between wild animal protection and disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Hu
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuyi Han
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongxuan He
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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3
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Hansen CCR, Láruson ÁJ, Rasmussen JA, Ballesteros JAC, Sinding MHS, Hallgrimsson GT, von Schmalensee M, Stefansson RA, Skarphédinsson KH, Labansen AL, Leivits M, Sonne C, Dietz R, Skelmose K, Boertmann D, Eulaers I, Martin MD, Helgason AS, Gilbert MTP, Pálsson S. Genomic diversity and differentiation between island and mainland populations of white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla). Mol Ecol 2023; 32:1925-1942. [PMID: 36680370 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Divergence in the face of high dispersal capabilities is a documented but poorly understood phenomenon. The white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) has a large geographic dispersal capability and should theoretically be able to maintain genetic homogeneity across its dispersal range. However, following analysis of the genomic variation of white-tailed eagles, from both historical and contemporary samples, clear signatures of ancient biogeographic substructure across Europe and the North-East Atlantic is observed. The greatest genomic differentiation was observed between island (Greenland and Iceland) and mainland (Denmark, Norway and Estonia) populations. The two island populations share a common ancestry from a single mainland population, distinct from the other sampled mainland populations, and despite the potential for high connectivity between Iceland and Greenland they are well separated from each other and are characterized by inbreeding and little variation. Temporal differences also highlight a pattern of regional populations persisting despite the potential for admixture. All sampled populations generally showed a decline in effective population size over time, which may have been shaped by four historical events: (1) Isolation of refugia during the last glacial period 110-115,000 years ago, (2) population divergence following the colonization of the deglaciated areas ~10,000 years ago, (3) human population expansion, which led to the settlement in Iceland ~1100 years ago, and (4) human persecution and exposure to toxic pollutants during the last two centuries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Áki Jarl Láruson
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Jacob Agerbo Rasmussen
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.,Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jesus Adrian Chimal Ballesteros
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.,Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mikkel-Holger S Sinding
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gunnar T Hallgrimsson
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | | | | | | | - Madis Leivits
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Kim Skelmose
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David Boertmann
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Michael D Martin
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Agnar S Helgason
- Department of Anthropology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.,deCODE Genetics, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - M Thomas P Gilbert
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.,Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Snaebjörn Pálsson
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
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4
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Ghosh T, Kumar S, Sharma K, Kakati P, Sharma A, Mondol S. Consideration of genetic variation and evolutionary history in future conservation of Indian one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). BMC Ecol Evol 2022; 22:92. [PMID: 35858827 PMCID: PMC9301832 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-02045-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The extant members of the Asian rhinos have experienced severe population and range declines since Pleistocene through a combination of natural and anthropogenic factors. The one-horned rhino is the only Asian species recovered from such conditions but most of the extant populations are reaching carrying capacity. India currently harbours ~ 83% of the global wild one-horned rhino populations distributed across seven protected areas. Recent assessments recommend reintroduction-based conservation approaches for the species, and implementation of such efforts would greatly benefit from detailed genetic assessments and evolutionary history of these populations. Using mitochondrial data, we investigated the phylogeography, divergence and demographic history of one-horned rhinos across its Indian range. Results We report the first complete mitogenome from all the extant Indian wild one-horned rhino populations (n = 16 individuals). Further, we identified all polymorphic sites and assessed rhino phylogeography (2531 bp mtDNA, n = 111 individuals) across India. Results showed 30 haplotypes distributed as three distinct genetic clades (Fst value 0.68–1) corresponding to the states of Assam (n = 28 haplotypes), West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh (both monomorphic). The reintroduced population of Uttar Pradesh showed maternal signatures of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Mitochondrial phylogenomics suggests one-horned rhino diverged from its recent common ancestors ~ 950 Kya and different populations (Assam, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh/Nepal) coalesce at ~ 190–50 Kya, corroborating with the paleobiogeography history of the Indian subcontinent. Further, the demography analyses indicated historical decline in female effective population size ~ 300–200 Kya followed by increasing trends during ~ 110–60 Kya. Conclusion The phylogeography and phylogenomic outcomes suggest recognition of three ‘Evolutionary Significant Units (ESUs)’ in Indian rhino. With ongoing genetic isolation of the current populations, future management efforts should focus on identifying genetically variable founder animals and consider periodic supplementation events while planning future rhino reintroduction programs in India. Such well-informed, multidisciplinary approach will be the only way to ensure evolutionary, ecological and demographic stability of the species across its range. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-022-02045-2.
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Prost S, Machado AP, Zumbroich J, Preier L, Mahtani‐Williams S, Meissner R, Guschanski K, Brealey JC, Fernandes CR, Vercammen P, Hunter LTB, Abramov AV, Plasil M, Horin P, Godsall‐Bottriell L, Bottriell P, Dalton DL, Kotze A, Burger PA. Genomic analyses show extremely perilous conservation status of African and Asiatic cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Mol Ecol 2022; 31:4208-4223. [PMID: 35748392 PMCID: PMC9540975 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We live in a world characterized by biodiversity loss and global environmental change. The extinction of large carnivores can have ramifying effects on ecosystems like an uncontrolled increase in wild herbivores, which in turn can have knock-on impacts on vegetation regeneration and communities. Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) serve important ecosystem functions as apex predators; yet, they are quickly heading towards an uncertain future. Threatened by habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict and illegal trafficking, there are only approximately 7100 individuals remaining in nature. We present the most comprehensive genome-wide analysis of cheetah phylogeography and conservation genomics to date, assembling samples from nearly the entire current and past species' range. We show that their phylogeography is more complex than previously thought, and that East African cheetahs (A. j. raineyi) are genetically distinct from Southern African individuals (A. j. jubatus), warranting their recognition as a distinct subspecies. We found strong genetic differentiation between all classically recognized subspecies, thus refuting earlier findings that cheetahs show only little differentiation. The strongest differentiation was observed between the Asiatic and all the African subspecies. We detected high inbreeding in the Critically Endangered Iranian (A. j. venaticus) and North-western (A. j. hecki) subspecies, and show that overall cheetahs, along with snow leopards, have the lowest genome-wide heterozygosity of all the big cats. This further emphasizes the cheetah's perilous conservation status. Our results provide novel and important information on cheetah phylogeography that can support evidence-based conservation policy decisions to help protect this species. This is especially relevant in light of ongoing and proposed translocations across subspecies boundaries, and the increasing threats of illegal trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Prost
- Research Institute of Wildlife EcologyVetmeduni ViennaViennaAustria
- LOEWE‐Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Senckenberg MuseumFrankfurtGermany
- South African National Biodiversity InstitutePretoriaSouth Africa
| | - Ana Paula Machado
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Julia Zumbroich
- Research Institute of Wildlife EcologyVetmeduni ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Lisa Preier
- Research Institute of Wildlife EcologyVetmeduni ViennaViennaAustria
| | | | - Rene Meissner
- Research Institute of Wildlife EcologyVetmeduni ViennaViennaAustria
- LOEWE‐Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Senckenberg MuseumFrankfurtGermany
- Institute for Ecology, Evolution and DiversityGoethe UniversityFrankfurtGermany
| | - Katerina Guschanski
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Science for Life LaboratoryUppsala UniversitetUppsalaSweden
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Jaelle C. Brealey
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Science for Life LaboratoryUppsala UniversitetUppsalaSweden
- Department of Natural HistoryNTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Carlos Rodríguez Fernandes
- CE3C ‐ Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE ‐ Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de CiênciasUniversidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
- Faculdade de PsicologiaUniversidade de Lisboa, Alameda da UniversidadeLisbonPortugal
| | - Paul Vercammen
- Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian WildlifeSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Luke T. B. Hunter
- Wildlife Conservation SocietyNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Alexei V. Abramov
- Zoological InstituteRussian Academy of SciencesSaint PetersburgRussia
| | - Martin Plasil
- Department of Animal GeneticsUniversity of Veterinary SciencesBrnoCzech Republic
- Central European Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Veterinary Sciences Brno (CEITEC Vetuni)BrnoCzech Republic
| | - Petr Horin
- Department of Animal GeneticsUniversity of Veterinary SciencesBrnoCzech Republic
- Central European Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Veterinary Sciences Brno (CEITEC Vetuni)BrnoCzech Republic
| | | | | | | | - Antoinette Kotze
- South African National Biodiversity InstitutePretoriaSouth Africa
- Genetics DepartmentUniversity of the Free StateBloemfonteinSouth Africa
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6
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Lok S, Lau TNH, Trost B, Tong AHY, Wintle RF, Engstrom MD, Stacy E, Waits LP, Scrafford M, Scherer SW. Chromosomal-level reference genome assembly of the North American wolverine ( Gulo gulo luscus): a resource for conservation genomics. G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2022; 12:6604289. [PMID: 35674384 PMCID: PMC9339297 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We report a chromosomal-level genome assembly of a male North American wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus) from the Kugluktuk region of Nunavut, Canada. The genome was assembled directly from long-reads, comprising: 758 contigs with a contig N50 of 36.6 Mb; contig L50 of 20; base count of 2.39 Gb; and a near complete representation (99.98%) of the BUSCO 5.2.2 set of 9,226 genes. A presumptive chromosomal-level assembly was generated by scaffolding against two chromosomal-level Mustelidae reference genomes, the ermine and the Eurasian river otter, to derive a final scaffold N50 of 144.0 Mb and a scaffold L50 of 7. We annotated a comprehensive set of genes that have been associated with models of aggressive behavior, a trait which the wolverine is purported to have in the popular literature. To support an integrated, genomics-based wildlife management strategy at a time of environmental disruption from climate change, we annotated the principal genes of the innate immune system to provide a resource to study the wolverine’s susceptibility to new infectious and parasitic diseases. As a resource, we annotated genes involved in the modality of infection by the coronaviruses, an important class of viral pathogens of growing concern as shown by the recent spillover infections by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 to naïve wildlife. Tabulation of heterozygous single nucleotide variants in our specimen revealed a heterozygosity level of 0.065%, indicating a relatively diverse genetic pool that would serve as a baseline for the genomics-based conservation of the wolverine, a rare cold-adapted carnivore now under threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Lok
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Timothy N H Lau
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Brett Trost
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Amy H Y Tong
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto , ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Richard F Wintle
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Mark D Engstrom
- Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum , Toronto, ON M5S 2C6, Canada
| | - Elise Stacy
- Environmental Science Program, University of Idaho , Moscow, ID 83844, USA
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Arctic Beringia , Fairbanks, AK 99709, USA
| | - Lisette P Waits
- Department of Fish and Wildlife, University of Idaho , Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Matthew Scrafford
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada , Thunder Bay, ON P7A 4K9, Canada
| | - Stephen W Scherer
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
- McLaughlin Centre, University of Toronto , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto , ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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7
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The cheetah optimizer: a nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithm for large-scale optimization problems. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10953. [PMID: 35768456 PMCID: PMC9243145 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14338-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Motivated by the hunting strategies of cheetahs, this paper proposes a nature-inspired algorithm called the cheetah optimizer (CO). Cheetahs generally utilize three main strategies for hunting prey, i.e., searching, sitting-and-waiting, and attacking. These strategies are adopted in this work. Additionally, the leave the pray and go back home strategy is also incorporated in the hunting process to improve the proposed framework's population diversification, convergence performance, and robustness. We perform intensive testing over 14 shifted-rotated CEC-2005 benchmark functions to evaluate the performance of the proposed CO in comparison to state-of-the-art algorithms. Moreover, to test the power of the proposed CO algorithm over large-scale optimization problems, the CEC2010 and the CEC2013 benchmarks are considered. The proposed algorithm is also tested in solving one of the well-known and complex engineering problems, i.e., the economic load dispatch problem. For all considered problems, the results are shown to outperform those obtained using other conventional and improved algorithms. The simulation results demonstrate that the CO algorithm can successfully solve large-scale and challenging optimization problems and offers a significant advantage over different standards and improved and hybrid existing algorithms. Note that the source code of the CO algorithm is publicly available at https://www.optim-app.com/projects/co.
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8
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Virrueta Herrera S, Johnson KP, Sweet AD, Ylinen E, Kunnasranta M, Nyman T. High levels of inbreeding with spatial and host-associated structure in lice of an endangered freshwater seal. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:4593-4606. [PMID: 35726520 PMCID: PMC9544963 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Host-specialist parasites of endangered large vertebrates are in many cases more endangered than their hosts. In particular, low host population densities and reduced among-host transmission rates are expected to lead to inbreeding within parasite infrapopulations living on single host individuals. Furthermore, spatial population structures of directly-transmitted parasites should be concordant with those of their hosts. Using population genomic approaches, we investigated inbreeding and population structure in a host-specialist seal louse (Echinophthirius horridus) infesting the Saimaa ringed seal (Phoca hispida saimensis), which is endemic to Lake Saimaa in Finland, and is one of the most endangered pinnipeds in the world. We conducted genome resequencing of pairs of lice collected from 18 individual Saimaa ringed seals throughout the Lake Saimaa complex. Our analyses showed high genetic similarity and inbreeding between lice inhabiting the same individual seal host, indicating low among-host transmission rates. Across the lake, genetic differentiation among individual lice was correlated with their geographic distance, and assignment analyses revealed a marked break in the genetic variation of the lice in the middle of the lake, indicating substantial population structure. These findings indicate that movements of Saimaa ringed seals across the main breeding areas of the fragmented Lake Saimaa complex may in fact be more restricted than suggested by previous population-genetic analyses of the seals themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephany Virrueta Herrera
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, USA.,Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Kevin P Johnson
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Andrew D Sweet
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA
| | - Eeva Ylinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Mervi Kunnasranta
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland.,Natural Resources Institute Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Tommi Nyman
- Department of Ecosystems in the Barents Region, Svanhovd Research Station, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Svanvik, Norway
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9
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Connecting the spots: Understanding cheetah reproduction to improve assisted breeding and population management. Theriogenology 2022; 185:70-77. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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10
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Sherkow JS, Barker KB, Braverman I, Cook-Deegan R, Durbin R, Easter CL, Goldstein MM, Hudson M, Kress WJ, Lewin HA, Mathews DJH, McCarthy C, McCartney AM, da Silva M, Torrance AW, Greely HT. Ethical, legal, and social issues in the Earth BioGenome Project. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2115859119. [PMID: 35042809 PMCID: PMC8795529 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2115859119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Earth BioGenome Project (EBP) is an audacious endeavor to obtain whole-genome sequences of representatives from all eukaryotic species on Earth. In addition to the project's technical and organizational challenges, it also faces complicated ethical, legal, and social issues. This paper, from members of the EBP's Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI) Committee, catalogs these ELSI concerns arising from EBP. These include legal issues, such as sample collection and permitting; the applicability of international treaties, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol; intellectual property; sample accessioning; and biosecurity and ethical issues, such as sampling from the territories of Indigenous peoples and local communities, the protection of endangered species, and cross-border collections, among several others. We also comment on the intersection of digital sequence information and data rights. More broadly, this list of ethical, legal, and social issues for large-scale genomic sequencing projects may be useful in the consideration of ethical frameworks for future projects. While we do not-and cannot-provide simple, overarching solutions for all the issues raised here, we conclude our perspective by beginning to chart a path forward for EBP's work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob S Sherkow
- College of Law, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820;
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
- Center for Advanced Studies in Biomedical Innovation Law, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark
| | - Katharine B Barker
- Global Genome Initiative and Global Genome Biodiversity Network, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560
| | - Irus Braverman
- University at Buffalo School of Law, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260
| | - Robert Cook-Deegan
- School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes, College of Global Futures, Arizona State University, Washington, DC 20006
| | - Richard Durbin
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Carla L Easter
- Education and Community Involvement Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Melissa M Goldstein
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052
| | - Maui Hudson
- Te Kotahi Research Institute, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand
- Genomics Aotearoa, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - W John Kress
- The Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
- Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560
| | - Harris A Lewin
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Debra J H Mathews
- Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | | | - Ann M McCartney
- Genome Informatics Section, National Human Genomics Research Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Manuela da Silva
- Fiocruz Covid-19 Biobank, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21041-361, Brazil
| | | | - Henry T Greely
- Center for Law and the Biosciences, Stanford Law School, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
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11
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Kessler C, Brambilla A, Waldvogel D, Camenisch G, Biebach I, Leigh DM, Grossen C, Croll D. A robust sequencing assay of a thousand amplicons for the high-throughput population monitoring of Alpine ibex immunogenetics. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:66-85. [PMID: 34152681 PMCID: PMC9292246 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Polymorphism for immune functions can explain significant variation in health and reproductive success within species. Drastic loss in genetic diversity at such loci constitutes an extinction risk and should be monitored in species of conservation concern. However, effective implementations of genome‐wide immune polymorphism sets into high‐throughput genotyping assays are scarce. Here, we report the design and validation of a microfluidics‐based amplicon sequencing assay to comprehensively capture genetic variation in Alpine ibex (Capra ibex). This species represents one of the most successful large mammal restorations recovering from a severely depressed census size and a massive loss in diversity at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). We analysed 65 whole‐genome sequencing sets of the Alpine ibex and related species to select the most representative markers and to prevent primer binding failures. In total, we designed ~1,000 amplicons densely covering the MHC, further immunity‐related genes as well as randomly selected genome‐wide markers for the assessment of neutral population structure. Our analysis of 158 individuals shows that the genome‐wide markers perform equally well at resolving population structure as RAD‐sequencing or low‐coverage genome sequencing data sets. Immunity‐related loci show unexpectedly high degrees of genetic differentiation within the species. Such information can now be used to define highly targeted individual translocations. Our design strategy can be realistically implemented into genetic surveys of a large range of species. In conclusion, leveraging whole‐genome sequencing data sets to design targeted amplicon assays allows the simultaneous monitoring of multiple genetic risk factors and can be translated into species conservation recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Kessler
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Alice Brambilla
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Alpine Wildlife Research Center, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy
| | - Dominique Waldvogel
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Glauco Camenisch
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Iris Biebach
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Deborah M Leigh
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,WSL Swiss Federal Research Institute, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Christine Grossen
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Croll
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
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12
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Bredemeyer KR, Harris AJ, Li G, Zhao L, Foley NM, Roelke-Parker M, O'Brien SJ, Lyons LA, Warren WC, Murphy WJ. Ultracontinuous Single Haplotype Genome Assemblies for the Domestic Cat (Felis catus) and Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). J Hered 2021; 112:165-173. [PMID: 33305796 PMCID: PMC8006817 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esaa057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to including one of the most popular companion animals, species from the cat family Felidae serve as a powerful system for genetic analysis of inherited and infectious disease, as well as for the study of phenotypic evolution and speciation. Previous diploid-based genome assemblies for the domestic cat have served as the primary reference for genomic studies within the cat family. However, these versions suffered from poor resolution of complex and highly repetitive regions, with substantial amounts of unplaced sequence that is polymorphic or copy number variable. We sequenced the genome of a female F1 Bengal hybrid cat, the offspring of a domestic cat (Felis catus) x Asian leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) cross, with PacBio long sequence reads and used Illumina sequence reads from the parents to phase >99.9% of the reads into the 2 species' haplotypes. De novo assembly of the phased reads produced highly continuous haploid genome assemblies for the domestic cat and Asian leopard cat, with contig N50 statistics exceeding 83 Mb for both genomes. Whole-genome alignments reveal the Felis and Prionailurus genomes are colinear, and the cytogenetic differences between the homologous F1 and E4 chromosomes represent a case of centromere repositioning in the absence of a chromosomal inversion. Both assemblies offer significant improvements over the previous domestic cat reference genome, with a 100% increase in contiguity and the capture of the vast majority of chromosome arms in 1 or 2 large contigs. We further demonstrated that comparably accurate F1 haplotype phasing can be achieved with members of the same species when one or both parents of the trio are not available. These novel genome resources will empower studies of feline precision medicine, adaptation, and speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin R Bredemeyer
- Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.,Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Andrew J Harris
- Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.,Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Gang Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Le Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Nicole M Foley
- Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Melody Roelke-Parker
- Frederick National Laboratory of Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD
| | - Stephen J O'Brien
- Laboratory of Genomic Diversity-Center for Computer Technologies, ITMO University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation.,Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
| | - Leslie A Lyons
- Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - Wesley C Warren
- Bond Life Science Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - William J Murphy
- Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.,Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
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13
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Tarlinton RE, Fabijan J, Hemmatzadeh F, Meers J, Owen H, Sarker N, Seddon JM, Simmons G, Speight N, Trott DJ, Woolford L, Emes RD. Transcriptomic and genomic variants between koala populations reveals underlying genetic components to disorders in a bottlenecked population. CONSERV GENET 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-021-01340-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AbstractHistorical hunting pressures on koalas in the southern part of their range in Australia have led to a marked genetic bottleneck when compared with their northern counterparts. There are a range of suspected genetic disorders such as testicular abnormalities, oxalate nephrosis and microcephaly reported at higher prevalence in these genetically restricted southern animals. This paper reports analysis of differential expression of genes from RNAseq of lymph nodes, SNPs present in genes and the fixation index (population differentiation due to genetic structure) of these SNPs from two populations, one in south east Queensland, representative of the northern genotype and one in the Mount Lofty Ranges South Australia, representative of the southern genotype. SNPs that differ between these two populations were significantly enriched in genes associated with brain diseases. Genes which were differentially expressed between the two populations included many associated with brain development or disease, and in addition a number associated with testicular development, including the androgen receptor. Finally, one of the 8 genes both differentially expressed and with a statistical difference in SNP frequency between populations was SLC26A6 (solute carrier family 26 member 6), an anion transporter that was upregulated in SA koalas and is associated with oxalate transport and calcium oxalate uroliths in humans. Together the differences in SNPs and gene expression described in this paper suggest an underlying genetic basis for several disorders commonly seen in southern Australian koalas, supporting the need for further research into the genetic basis of these conditions, and highlighting that genetic selection in managed populations may need to be considered in the future.
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14
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Usui T, Ueda M, Azumano A, Nomura M, Arima T, Murata K, Ito T, Yamaguchi T. A cluster epidemic of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus infection in four captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Zoonoses Public Health 2021; 68:239-246. [PMID: 33576190 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12813] [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] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In January 2019, four cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) kept at a Japanese zoo intermittently showed respiratory signs following the incidence of seasonal influenza in animal caregivers. Respiratory materials (saliva, sputum and food tray swabs) were non-invasively collected from the four cheetahs. Although we were unable to isolate the virus, the NP gene of influenza A virus was detected in three of the cheetahs but not in the fourth cheetah that had nearly recovered. From a food tray swab which tested weakly positive by a commercial influenza detection kit, we were able to obtain the whole-genome sequence of the influenza A virus. Analysis of the genome, A/cheetah/Kanagawa/2/2019(H1N1), revealed that the virus was closely related to influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses isolated from humans in Japan in the 2018-2019 winter. Production of haemagglutinin inhibition (HI) antibodies (64-128 HI) against an A(H1N1)pdm09 virus in plasma samples confirmed infection of all four cheetahs. The animals continued to produce antibodies for at least 314 days after disease onset. These findings strongly suggest that reverse zoonotic transmission of A(H1N1)pdm09 virus occurred from human to cheetah and subsequently from cheetah to cheetah in the zoo. We also show that specimens can be safely and non-invasively collected from non-domesticated animals and used to investigate respiratory infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsufumi Usui
- Avian Zoonosis Research Center, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Miya Ueda
- Yokohama Zoological Gardens, Yokohama, Japan
| | | | - Mika Nomura
- Yokohama Zoological Gardens, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Toru Arima
- Yokohama Zoological Gardens, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Koichi Murata
- Yokohama Zoological Gardens, Yokohama, Japan.,Laboratory of Wildlife Science, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa-shi, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Ito
- Avian Zoonosis Research Center, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
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15
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de Almeida Monteiro Melo Ferraz M, Nagashima JB, Noonan MJ, Crosier AE, Songsasen N. Oviductal Extracellular Vesicles Improve Post-Thaw Sperm Function in Red Wolves and Cheetahs. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E3733. [PMID: 32466321 PMCID: PMC7279450 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial insemination (AI) is a valuable tool for ex situ wildlife conservation, allowing the re-infusion and dissemination of genetic material, even after death of the donor. However, the application of AI to species conservation is still limited, due mainly to the poor survival of cryopreserved sperm. Recent work demonstrated that oviductal extracellular vesicles (oEVs) improved cat sperm motility and reduced premature acrosomal exocytosis. Here, we build on these findings by describing the protein content of dog and cat oEVs and investigating whether the incubation of cryopreserved red wolf and cheetah sperm with oEVs during thawing improves sperm function. Both red wolf and cheetah sperm thawed with dog and cat oEVs, respectively, had more intact acrosomes than the non-EV controls. Moreover, red wolf sperm thawed in the presence of dog oEVs better maintained sperm motility over time (>15%) though such an improvement was not observed in cheetah sperm. Our work demonstrates that dog and cat oEVs carry proteins important for sperm function and improve post-thaw motility and/or acrosome integrity of red wolf and cheetah sperm in vitro. The findings show how oEVs can be a valuable tool for improving the success of AI with cryopreserved sperm in threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer Beth Nagashima
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA; (J.B.N.); (M.J.N.); (A.E.C.); (N.S.)
| | - Michael James Noonan
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA; (J.B.N.); (M.J.N.); (A.E.C.); (N.S.)
- The Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, 1177 Research Road, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Adrienne E. Crosier
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA; (J.B.N.); (M.J.N.); (A.E.C.); (N.S.)
| | - Nucharin Songsasen
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA; (J.B.N.); (M.J.N.); (A.E.C.); (N.S.)
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16
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Rai N, Verma SK, Gaur A, Iliescu FM, Thakur M, Golla TR, Chandra K, Prakash S, Tabasum W, Ara S, Singh L, Thangaraj K, Jacobs GS. Ancient mtDNA from the extinct Indian cheetah supports unexpectedly deep divergence from African cheetahs. Sci Rep 2020; 10:4618. [PMID: 32165662 PMCID: PMC7067882 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60751-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The Indian cheetah was hunted to extinction by the mid-20th century. While analysis of 139 bp of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has confirmed that the Indian cheetah was part of the Asiatic subspecies (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus), the detailed relationships between cheetah populations remains unclear due to limited genetic data. We clarify these relationships by studying larger fragments of cheetah mtDNA, both from an Indian cheetah museum specimen and two African cheetah, one modern and one historic, imported into India at different times. Our results suggest that the most recent common ancestor of cheetah mtDNA is approximately twice as ancient as currently recognised. The Indian and Southeast African (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) cheetah mtDNA diverged approximately 72 kya, while the Southeast and Northeast African (Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii) cheetah mtDNA diverged around 139 kya. Additionally, the historic African cheetah sampled from India proved to have an A. j. jubatus haplotype, suggesting a hitherto unrecognised South African route of cheetah importation into India in the 19th century. Together, our results provide a deeper understanding of the relationships between cheetah subspecies, and have important implications for the conservation of A. j. venaticus and potential reintroduction of cheetahs into India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niraj Rai
- Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, India.,CSIR Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Sunil Kumar Verma
- CSIR Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Ajay Gaur
- CSIR Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | | | | | - Tirupathi Rao Golla
- Ecological Genomics & Wildlife Conservation, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Satya Prakash
- CSIR Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Wajeeda Tabasum
- CSIR Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Sreenivas Ara
- CSIR Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Lalji Singh
- CSIR Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | | | - Guy S Jacobs
- Complexity Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore. .,Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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17
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Immunoglobulin J chain as a non-invasive indicator of pregnancy in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0225354. [PMID: 32040477 PMCID: PMC7010269 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The North American cheetah population serves as a reservoir for the species, and acts as a research population to help understand the unique biology of the species. Little is known about the intrauterine physiology of the cheetah, including embryo differentiation, implantation, and the development of the placenta. After mating, cheetah females frequently experience (30–65% of matings) a non-pregnant luteal phase where progestogen metabolite levels match those found in pregnant females for the first ~55 days of gestation, but parturition does not occur. Immunoglobulin J chain (IgJ) is a molecule that is involved in the activation of the secretory immune response and has been found to be indicative of pregnancy in the cheetah using fecal monitoring. In this study, western blotting was employed to track IgJ abundance in pooled weekly fecal samples following natural breeding or exogenous stimulation to ovulate, and IgJ levels were compared between individuals undergoing a pregnant (n = 12) and non-pregnant (n = 19) luteal phase. It was revealed that IgJ abundance was increased in pregnant females compared to non-pregnant females at week 4 and week 8 post-breeding, indicating the potential modulation of maternal immunity in response to sensitive events such as implantation and the increased secretory activity of the placenta. IgJ levels also tended to be higher early after breeding in females that were bred naturally with intact males compared to exogenously stimulated females with no exposure to seminal plasma, potentially indicating a response to the act of intromission or the stress of breeding, or possibly demonstrating an immune response resulting in the promotion of maternal tolerance to seminal antigens present upon embryonic implantation. Monitoring fecal IgJ may be a potential method to determine gestational status in the cheetah and will aid future conservation efforts of the species.
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18
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Arauco-Shapiro G, Schumacher KI, Boersma D, Bouzat JL. The role of demographic history and selection in shaping genetic diversity of the Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0226439. [PMID: 31910443 PMCID: PMC6946592 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although many studies have documented the effects of demographic bottlenecks on the genetic diversity of natural populations, there is conflicting evidence of the roles that genetic drift and selection may play in driving changes in genetic variation at adaptive loci. We analyzed genetic variation at microsatellite and mitochondrial loci in conjunction with an adaptive MHC class II locus in the Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), a species that has undergone serial demographic bottlenecks associated with El Niño events through its evolutionary history. We compared levels of variation in the Galápagos penguin to those of its congener, the Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus), which has consistently maintained a large population size and thus was used as a non-bottlenecked control. The comparison of neutral and adaptive markers in these two demographically distinct species allowed assessment of the potential role of balancing selection in maintaining levels of MHC variation during bottleneck events. Our analysis suggests that the lack of genetic diversity at both neutral and adaptive loci in the Galápagos penguin likely resulted from its restricted range, relatively low abundance, and history of demographic bottlenecks. The Galápagos penguin revealed two MHC alleles, one mitochondrial haplotype, and six alleles across five microsatellite loci, which represents only a small fraction of the diversity detected in Magellanic penguins. Despite the decreased genetic diversity in the Galápagos penguin, results revealed signals of balancing selection at the MHC, which suggest that selection can mitigate some of the effects of genetic drift during bottleneck events. Although Galápagos penguin populations have persisted for a long time, increased frequency of El Niño events due to global climate change, as well as the low diversity exhibited at immunological loci, may put this species at further risk of extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Arauco-Shapiro
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Katelyn I. Schumacher
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Dee Boersma
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels and Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Juan L. Bouzat
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States of America
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19
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Mable BK. Conservation of adaptive potential and functional diversity: integrating old and new approaches. CONSERV GENET 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-018-1129-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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20
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Schmidt-Küntzel A, Dalton DL, Menotti-Raymond M, Fabiano E, Charruau P, Johnson WE, Sommer S, Marker L, Kotzé A, O’Brien SJ. Conservation Genetics of the Cheetah: Genetic History and Implications for Conservation. CHEETAHS: BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION 2018. [PMCID: PMC7149701 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-804088-1.00006-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
From allozymes in 1983 to whole genomes in 2015, genetic studies of the cheetah have been extensive. In this chapter we provide an overview of the available literature. Overall, patterns of genetic variation provided evidence of low variability and suggest this loss occurred thousands of years ago. Differences between published subspecies were supported genetically. At a local scale, populations were generally considered panmictic with minor genetic structure. Although cheetahs have persisted despite low genetic variability, important questions arise from these findings: Does the cheetah have the ability to adapt to and evolve with future changes in environmental and infectious pressure? How would cheetahs cope with further loss of genetic diversity? Connectivity in the wild should be maintained via prevention of habitat loss, while management of small isolated populations may require reestablishing gene flow. Genetics could assist captive-breeding decisions and provide forensic evidence as to the geographical origin of illegally traded animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Desiré L. Dalton
- National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa,University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| | | | | | | | - Warren E. Johnson
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United States
| | | | | | - Antoinette Kotzé
- National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa,University of Free State South Africa, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Stephen J. O’Brien
- St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia,Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
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