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Kataoka C, Kashiwada S. Ecological Risks Due to Immunotoxicological Effects on Aquatic Organisms. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8305. [PMID: 34361068 PMCID: PMC8347160 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The immunotoxic effects of some anthropogenic pollutants on aquatic organisms are among the causes of concern over the presence of these pollutants in the marine environment. The immune system is part of an organism's biological defense necessarily for homeostasis. Thus, the immunotoxicological impacts on aquatic organisms are important to understand the effects of pollutant chemicals in the aquatic ecosystem. When aquatic organisms are exposed to pollutant chemicals with immunotoxicity, it results in poor health. In addition, aquatic organisms are exposed to pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. Exposure to pollutant chemicals has reportedly caused aquatic organisms to show various immunotoxic symptoms such as histological changes of lymphoid tissue, changes of immune functionality and the distribution of immune cells, and changes in the resistance of organisms to infection by pathogens. Alterations of immune systems by contaminants can therefore lead to the deaths of individual organisms, increase the general risk of infections by pathogens, and probably decrease the populations of some species. This review introduced the immunotoxicological impact of pollutant chemicals in aquatic organisms, including invertebrates, fish, amphibians, and marine mammals; described typical biomarkers used in aquatic immunotoxicological studies; and then, discussed the current issues on ecological risk assessment and how to address ecological risk assessment through immunotoxicology. Moreover, the usefulness of the population growth rate to estimate the immunotoxicological impact of pollution chemicals was proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chisato Kataoka
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Toyo University, 1-1-1 Izumino, Itakura, Gunma 374-0193, Japan
| | - Shosaku Kashiwada
- Department of Life Sciences, Toyo University, 1-1-1 Izumino, Itakura, Gunma 374-0193, Japan;
- Research Centre for Life and Environmental Sciences, Toyo University, 1-1-1 Izumino, Itakura, Gunma 374-0193, Japan
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Baines D, Newborn D, Richardson M. Are Trichostrongylus tenuis control and resistance avoidance simultaneously manageable by reducing anthelmintic intake by grouse? Vet Rec 2019; 185:53. [PMID: 31019007 DOI: 10.1136/vr.105029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Benzimidazole-based anthelmintics bound to grit (medicated grit) are annually prescribed on request by veterinary practices to grouse managers to control Trichostrongylus tenuis an intestinal parasite of red grouse Lagopus lagopus scotica Those prescribing medication typically do without knowledge of parasite loads and hence often prescribe when loads are low and unlikely to impact the host. Inappropriate use of anthelmintics in livestock has led to development of parasite resistance to anthelmintics. To encourage grouse managers to reduce anthelmintic use, the authors experimentally withdrew medication from parts of eight moors. The authors monitored parasite and grouse responses by counting eggs and adult worms and grouse mortality and breeding success. Rapid increases in parasite egg counts in early spring culminated in resuming medication at three wet, blanket-peat sites; one in the first spring and two in the second. Medication was restored, despite low parasite counts, at a fourth moor. On the remaining four moors, drier heaths in the east, parasite levels remained low, were not associated with grouse mortality, but breeding success was 16 per cent lower in years without medication. Better parasite monitoring by grouse managers and vets alike may reduce anthelmintic use, helping prevent drug resistance, but this may be off-set by reduced grouse productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Baines
- Uplands, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham, UK
| | - David Newborn
- Uplands, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham, UK
| | - Michael Richardson
- Uplands, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham, UK
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Segner H, Verburg-van Kemenade BML, Chadzinska M. The immunomodulatory role of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis: Proximate mechanism for reproduction-immune trade offs? DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 66:43-60. [PMID: 27404794 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2016.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Revised: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The present review discusses the communication between the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis and the immune system of vertebrates, attempting to situate the HPG-immune interaction into the context of life history trade-offs between reproductive and immune functions. More specifically, (i) we review molecular and cellular interactions between hormones of the HPG axis, and, as far as known, the involved mechanisms on immune functions, (ii) we evaluate whether the HPG-immune crosstalk serves as proximate mechanism mediating reproductive-immune trade-offs, and (iii) we ask whether the nature of the HPG-immune interaction is conserved throughout vertebrate evolution, despite the changes in immune functions, reproductive modes, and life histories. In all vertebrate classes studied so far, HPG hormones have immunomodulatory functions, and indications exist that they contribute to reproduction-immunity resource trade-offs, although the very limited information available for most non-mammalian vertebrates makes it difficult to judge how comparable or different the interactions are. There is good evidence that the HPG-immune crosstalk is part of the proximate mechanisms underlying the reproductive-immune trade-offs of vertebrates, but it is only one factor in a complex network of factors and processes. The fact that the HPG-immune interaction is flexible and can adapt to the functional and physiological requirements of specific life histories. Moreover, the assumption of a relatively fixed pattern of HPG influence on immune functions, with, for example, androgens always leading to immunosuppression and estrogens always being immunoprotective, is probably oversimplified, but the HPG-immune interaction can vary depending on the physiological and envoironmental context. Finally, the HPG-immune interaction is not only driven by resource trade-offs, but additional factors such as, for instance, the evolution of viviparity shape this neuroendocrine-immune relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut Segner
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Dept of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, P.O. Box, CH-3001, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - B M Lidy Verburg-van Kemenade
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Dept. of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Magdalena Chadzinska
- Department of Evolutionary Immunology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
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Piertney SB. High-Throughput DNA Sequencing and the Next Generation of Molecular Markers in Wildlife Research. CURRENT TRENDS IN WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-27912-1_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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Wenzel MA, Douglas A, James MC, Redpath SM, Piertney SB. The role of parasite-driven selection in shaping landscape genomic structure in red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica). Mol Ecol 2015; 25:324-41. [PMID: 26578090 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Revised: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Landscape genomics promises to provide novel insights into how neutral and adaptive processes shape genome-wide variation within and among populations. However, there has been little emphasis on examining whether individual-based phenotype-genotype relationships derived from approaches such as genome-wide association (GWAS) manifest themselves as a population-level signature of selection in a landscape context. The two may prove irreconcilable as individual-level patterns become diluted by high levels of gene flow and complex phenotypic or environmental heterogeneity. We illustrate this issue with a case study that examines the role of the highly prevalent gastrointestinal nematode Trichostrongylus tenuis in shaping genomic signatures of selection in red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica). Individual-level GWAS involving 384 SNPs has previously identified five SNPs that explain variation in T. tenuis burden. Here, we examine whether these same SNPs display population-level relationships between T. tenuis burden and genetic structure across a small-scale landscape of 21 sites with heterogeneous parasite pressure. Moreover, we identify adaptive SNPs showing signatures of directional selection using F(ST) outlier analysis and relate population- and individual-level patterns of multilocus neutral and adaptive genetic structure to T. tenuis burden. The five candidate SNPs for parasite-driven selection were neither associated with T. tenuis burden on a population level, nor under directional selection. Similarly, there was no evidence of parasite-driven selection in SNPs identified as candidates for directional selection. We discuss these results in the context of red grouse ecology and highlight the broader consequences for the utility of landscape genomics approaches for identifying signatures of selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius A Wenzel
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Alex Douglas
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Marianne C James
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Steve M Redpath
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Stuart B Piertney
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
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Transcriptomic Characterization of Innate and Acquired Immune Responses in Red-Legged Partridges (Alectoris rufa): A Resource for Immunoecology and Robustness Selection. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136776. [PMID: 26331304 PMCID: PMC4557936 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 08/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Present and future challenges for wild partridge populations include the resistance against possible disease transmission after restocking with captive-reared individuals, and the need to cope with the stress prompted by new dynamic and challenging scenarios. Selection of individuals with the best immune ability may be a good strategy to improve general immunity, and hence adaptation to stress. In this study, non-infectious challenges with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and sheep red blood cells allowed the classification of red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) according to their overall immune responses (IR). Skin from the area of injection of PHA and spleen, both from animals showing extreme high and low IR, were selected to investigate the transcriptional profiles underlying the different ability to cope with pathogens and external aggressions. RNA-seq yielded 97 million raw reads from eight sequencing libraries and approximately 84% of the processed reads were mapped to the reference chicken genome. Differential expression analysis identified 1488 up- and 107 down-regulated loci in individuals with high IR versus low IR. Partridges displaying higher innate IR show an enhanced activation of host defence gene pathways complemented with a tightly controlled desensitization that facilitates the return to cellular homeostasis. These findings indicate that the immune system ability to respond to aggressions (either diseases or stress produced by environmental changes) involves extensive transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulations, and expand our understanding on the molecular mechanisms of the avian immune system, opening the possibility of improving disease resistance or robustness using genome assisted selection (GAS) approaches for increased IR in partridges by using genes such as AVN or BF2 as markers. This study provides the first transcriptome sequencing data of the Alectoris genus, a resource for molecular ecology that enables integration of genomic tools in further studies.
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Wenzel MA, James MC, Douglas A, Piertney SB. Genome-wide association and genome partitioning reveal novel genomic regions underlying variation in gastrointestinal nematode burden in a wild bird. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:4175-92. [PMID: 26179597 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Revised: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Identifying the genetic architecture underlying complex phenotypes is a notoriously difficult problem that often impedes progress in understanding adaptive eco-evolutionary processes in natural populations. Host-parasite interactions are fundamentally important drivers of evolutionary processes, but a lack of understanding of the genes involved in the host's response to chronic parasite insult makes it particularly difficult to understand the mechanisms of host life history trade-offs and the adaptive dynamics involved. Here, we examine the genetic basis of gastrointestinal nematode (Trichostrongylus tenuis) burden in 695 red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica) individuals genotyped at 384 genome-wide SNPs. We first use genome-wide association to identify individual SNPs associated with nematode burden. We then partition genome-wide heritability to identify chromosomes with greater heritability than expected from gene content, due to harbouring a multitude of additive SNPs with individually undetectable effects. We identified five SNPs on five chromosomes that accounted for differences of up to 556 worms per bird, but together explained at best 4.9% of the phenotypic variance. These SNPs were closely linked to genes representing a range of physiological processes including the immune system, protein degradation and energy metabolism. Genome partitioning indicated genome-wide heritability of up to 29% and three chromosomes with excess heritability of up to 4.3% (total 8.9%). These results implicate SNPs and novel genomic regions underlying nematode burden in this system and suggest that this phenotype is somewhere between being based on few large-effect genes (oligogenic) and based on a large number of genes with small individual but large combined effects (polygenic).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius A Wenzel
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Marianne C James
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Alex Douglas
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Stuart B Piertney
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
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Yang Y, Zhou QJ, Chen XQ, Yan BL, Guo XL, Zhang HL, Du AF. Profiling of differentially expressed genes in sheep T lymphocytes response to an artificial primary Haemonchus contortus infection. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:235. [PMID: 25903558 PMCID: PMC4406218 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0844-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Haemonchus contortus is a common bloodsucking nematode causing widespread economic loss in agriculture. Upon H. contortus infection, a series of host responses is elicited, especially those related to T lymphocyte immunity. Existing studies mainly focus on the general immune responses of sheep T lymphocyte to H. contortus, lacking investigations at the molecular level. The objective of this study was to obtain a systematic transcriptional profiling of the T lymphocytes in H. contortus primary-infected sheep. METHODS Nematode-free sheep were orally infected once with H. contortus L3s. T lymphocyte samples were collected from the peripheral blood of 0, 3, 30 and 60 days post infection (dpi) infected sheep. Microarrays were used to compare gene transcription levels between samples. Quantitative RT-PCR was employed to validate the microarray data. Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analysis were utilized for the annotation of differentially expressed genes. RESULTS Our microarray data was consistent with qPCR results. From microarrays, 853, 242 and 42 differentially expressed genes were obtained in the 3d vs. 0d, 30d vs. 0d and 60d vs. 0d comparison groups, respectively. Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analysis indicated that these genes were involved in metabolism, signaling, cell growth and immune system processes. Functional analysis of significant differentially expressed genes, such as SLC9A3R2, ABCB9, COMMD4, SUGT1, FCER1G, GSK3A, PAK4 and FCER2, revealed a crucial association with cellular homeostasis maintenance and immune response. Our data suggested that maintaining both effective immunological response and natural cellular activity are important for T lymphocytes in fighting against H. contortus infection. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide a substantial list of candidate genes in sheep T lymphocytes response to H. contortus infection, and contribute novel insights into a general immune response upon infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Qian-Jin Zhou
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Faculty of Life Science and Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.
| | - Xue-Qiu Chen
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Bao-Long Yan
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
| | - Xiao-Lu Guo
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Hong-Li Zhang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Zhejiang center for animal disease control and prevention, Hangzhou, 310000, China.
| | - Ai-Fang Du
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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Wenzel MA, Piertney SB. Digging for gold nuggets: uncovering novel candidate genes for variation in gastrointestinal nematode burden in a wild bird species. J Evol Biol 2015; 28:807-25. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Revised: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. A. Wenzel
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences; University of Aberdeen; Aberdeen UK
| | - S. B. Piertney
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences; University of Aberdeen; Aberdeen UK
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Alvarez M, Schrey AW, Richards CL. Ten years of transcriptomics in wild populations: what have we learned about their ecology and evolution? Mol Ecol 2015; 24:710-25. [PMID: 25604587 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Revised: 12/16/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Molecular ecology has moved beyond the use of a relatively small number of markers, often noncoding, and it is now possible to use whole-genome measures of gene expression with microarrays and RNAseq (i.e. transcriptomics) to capture molecular response to environmental challenges. While transcriptome studies are shedding light on the mechanistic basis of traits as complex as personality or physiological response to catastrophic events, these approaches are still challenging because of the required technical expertise, difficulties with analysis and cost. Still, we found that in the last 10 years, 575 studies used microarrays or RNAseq in ecology. These studies broadly address three questions that reflect the progression of the field: (i) How much variation in gene expression is there and how is it structured? (ii) How do environmental stimuli affect gene expression? (iii) How does gene expression affect phenotype? We discuss technical aspects of RNAseq and microarray technology, and a framework that leverages the advantages of both. Further, we highlight future directions of research, particularly related to moving beyond correlation and the development of additional annotation resources. Measuring gene expression across an array of taxa in ecological settings promises to enrich our understanding of ecology and genome function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano Alvarez
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA
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Identification and characterisation of 17 polymorphic candidate genes for response to parasitic nematode (Trichostrongylus tenuis) infection in red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica). CONSERV GENET RESOUR 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s12686-014-0323-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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12
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Wenzel MA, Piertney SB. Fine-scale population epigenetic structure in relation to gastrointestinal parasite load in red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica). Mol Ecol 2014; 23:4256-73. [PMID: 24943398 PMCID: PMC4282444 DOI: 10.1111/mec.12833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Revised: 06/10/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic modification of cytosine methylation states can be elicited by environmental stresses and may be a key process affecting phenotypic plasticity and adaptation. Parasites are potent stressors with profound physiological and ecological effects on their host, but there is little understanding in how parasites may influence host methylation states. Here, we estimate epigenetic diversity and differentiation among 21 populations of red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica) in north-east Scotland and test for association of gastrointestinal parasite load (caecal nematode Trichostrongylus tenuis) with hepatic genome-wide and locus-specific methylation states. Following methylation-sensitive AFLP (MSAP), 129 bands, representing 73 methylation-susceptible and 56 nonmethylated epiloci, were scored across 234 individuals. The populations differed significantly in genome-wide methylation levels and were also significantly epigenetically (FSC = 0.0227; P < 0.001) and genetically (FSC = 0.0058; P < 0.001) differentiated. Parasite load was not associated with either genome-wide methylation levels or epigenetic differentiation. Instead, we found eight disproportionately differentiated epilocus-specific methylation states (FST outliers) using bayescan software and significant positive and negative association of 35 methylation states with parasite load from bespoke generalized estimating equations (GEE), simple logistic regression (sam) and Bayesian environmental analysis (bayenv2). Following Sanger sequencing, genome mapping and geneontology (go) annotation, some of these epiloci were linked to genes involved in regulation of cell cycle, signalling, metabolism, immune system and notably rRNA methylation, histone acetylation and small RNAs. These findings demonstrate an epigenetic signature of parasite load in populations of a wild bird and suggest intriguing physiological effects of parasite-associated cytosine methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius A Wenzel
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Building, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
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Meitern R, Andreson R, Hõrak P. Profile of whole blood gene expression following immune stimulation in a wild passerine. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:533. [PMID: 24972896 PMCID: PMC4092216 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 06/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immunoecology aims to explain variation among hosts in the strength and efficacy of immunological defences in natural populations. This requires development of biomarkers of the activation of the immune system so that they can be collected non-lethally and sampled from small amounts of easily obtainable tissue. We used transcriptome profiling in wild greenfinches (Carduelis chloris) to detect whole blood transcripts that most profoundly indicate upregulation of antimicrobial defences during acute phase response. The more general aim of this study was to obtain a functional annotation of a substantial portion of the greenfinch transcriptome that would enable to gain access to more specific genomic tools in subsequent studies. The birds received either bacterial lipopolysaccharide or saline injections and RNA-seq transcriptional profiling was performed 12 h after treatment to provide initial functional annotation of the transcriptome and assess whole blood response to immune stimulation. Results A total of 66,084 transcripts were obtained from de novo Trinty assembly, out of which 23,153 could be functionally annotated. Only 1,911 of these were significantly upregulated or downregulated. The manipulation caused marked upregulation of several transcripts related to immune activation. These included avian-specific antimicrobial agents avidin and gallinacin, but also some more general host response genes, such as serum amyloid A protein, lymphocyte antigen 75 and copper-transporting ATPase 1. However, links with avian immunity for most differentially regulated transcripts remained rather hypothetical, as a large set of differentially expressed transcripts lacked functional annotation. Conclusions This appears to be the first large scale transcriptional profiling of immune function in passerine birds. The transcriptomic data obtained suggest novel markers for the assessment of the immunological state of wild passerines. Characterizing the function of those possible novel infection markers would assist future vertebrate genome annotation. The extensive sequence information collected enables to identify possible target and housekeeping genes needed to gain access to more specific genomic tools in future studies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-533) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Meitern
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, Tartu University, Vanemuise 46, 51014 Tartu, Estonia.
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Differential haemoparasite intensity between black sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus) morphs suggests an adaptive function for polymorphism. PLoS One 2013; 8:e81607. [PMID: 24391707 PMCID: PMC3876978 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research suggests that genes coding for melanin based colouration may have pleiotropic properties, in particular conveying raised immune function. Thus adaptive function of polymorphism may be associated with parasite resistance. The black sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus is a polymorphic raptor with two morphs. Over most of its range the light morph is commonest, however within the recently colonised Western Cape of South Africa the dark morph predominates. The species breeds in winter throughout South Africa, however unlike in the rest of the species' South African range, the Western Cape experiences a winter rainfall regime, where arthropod vectors which transmit haematozoan parasites may be more abundant. We hypothesise that the higher frequency of dark morph birds in this region may be due to their improved parasite resistance, which enables them to cope with higher parasite pressure. If so, we predict that dark morph black sparrowhawks would have lower parasite burdens than light morph birds. Within our population the prevalence of the two most common haematozoan parasites was high, with 72% of adults infected with Haemoproteus nisi and 59% of adults infected with Leucocytozoon toddi. We found no difference in prevalence for either parasite between adult morphs, or between chicks of different parental morphs. However, within adults infected with H. nisi, infection intensity was significantly higher in light morphs than dark morphs. This suggests that dark morphs have lower parasite loads than light morphs due to resistance rather than morph-specific habitat exploitation. Greater resistance to Haemoproteus parasites may therefore be one of the mechanisms through which dark morph black sparrowhawks have a selective advantage in this region and may explain why they are most common in our study area. In other regions, the cost to benefit ratio may be in favour of the light morph, where parasites are less abundant or virulent.
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Martínez-Padilla J, Redpath SM, Zeineddine M, Mougeot F. Insights into population ecology from long-term studies of red grouseLagopus lagopus scoticus. J Anim Ecol 2013; 83:85-98. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jesus Martínez-Padilla
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales; Department of Evolutionary Biology; José Guitérrez Abascal 2 28006 Madrid Spain
| | - Steve M. Redpath
- ACES; Department of Biological Sciences; University of Aberdeen; Zoology Building Tillydrone Av. Aberdeen AB24 2TZ UK
| | - Mohammed Zeineddine
- ACES; Department of Biological Sciences; University of Aberdeen; Zoology Building Tillydrone Av. Aberdeen AB24 2TZ UK
| | - François Mougeot
- EEZA-CSIC; La Cañada de San Urbano; 04120 Almeria Spain
- IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM); Ronda de Toledo s/n 13005 Ciuada Real Spain
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Wenzel MA, Webster LMI, Paterson S, Mougeot F, Martínez-Padilla J, Piertney SB. A transcriptomic investigation of handicap models in sexual selection. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-012-1442-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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17
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A. White
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Cornell University; Corson Hall Ithaca New York 14853-2701 USA
- CMPG Lab; Institute of Ecology and Evolution; University of Bern; Baltzerstrasse 6 CH-3012 Bern Switzerland
| | - Sarah E. Perkins
- Cardiff School of Biosciences; Biomedical Sciences Building Museum Avenue Cardiff CF10 3AX UK
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Lenz TL, Eizaguirre C, Rotter B, Kalbe M, Milinski M. Exploring local immunological adaptation of two stickleback ecotypes by experimental infection and transcriptome-wide digital gene expression analysis. Mol Ecol 2012; 22:774-86. [PMID: 22971109 PMCID: PMC3579235 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2012.05756.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2012] [Revised: 07/10/2012] [Accepted: 07/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the extent of local adaptation in natural populations and the mechanisms that allow individuals to adapt to their native environment is a major avenue in molecular ecology research. Evidence for the frequent occurrence of diverging ecotypes in species that inhabit multiple ecological habitats is accumulating, but experimental approaches to understanding the biological pathways as well as the underlying genetic mechanisms are still rare. Parasites are invoked as one of the major selective forces driving evolution and are themselves dependent on the ecological conditions in a given habitat. Immunological adaptation to local parasite communities is therefore expected to be a key component of local adaptation in natural populations. Here, we use next-generation sequencing technology to compare the transcriptome-wide response of experimentally infected three-spined sticklebacks from a lake and a river population, which are known to evolve under selection by distinct parasite communities. By comparing overall gene expression levels as well as the activation of functional pathways in response to parasite exposure, we identified potential differences between the two stickleback populations at several levels. Our results suggest locally adapted patterns of gene regulation in response to parasite exposure, which may reflect different local optima in the trade-off between the benefits and the disadvantages of mounting an immune response because of quantitative differences of the local parasite communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias L Lenz
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany.
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Pathak AK, Biarnes MC, Murphy L, Cattadori IM. Snapshot of spatio-temporal cytokine responses to single and co-infections with helminths and bacteria. RESULTS IN IMMUNOLOGY 2011; 1:95-102. [PMID: 24371558 DOI: 10.1016/j.rinim.2011.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2011] [Revised: 10/21/2011] [Accepted: 10/31/2011] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cytokines play a key role in maintaining communication between organs and in so doing modulate the interaction between concurrent infections. The extent of these effects depends on the properties of the organ infected and the intensity and type of infections. To determine systemic bystander effects among organs, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 gene expression was quantified at 7 days post-challenge in directly infected and uninfected organs during single and co-infections with the respiratory bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica and the gastrointestinal helminths Graphidium strigosum and Trichostrongylus retortaeformis. Results showed that cytokine expression in a specific organ was influenced by the type of infection occurring in another organ, and this bystander effect was more apparent in some organs than others. Within the same organ the relative cytokine expression was consistent across infections, although some cytokines were more affected by bystander effects than others. For the infected gastrointestinal tract, a stronger cytokine response was observed in the tissue that harbored the majority of helminths (i.e. duodenum and fundus). Overall, co-infections altered the intensity but to a lesser extent the relative cytokine profile against the focal infection, indicating clear bystander effects and low organ compartmentalization. However, organs appear to actively modulate cytokine expression to avoid potential immuno-pathological consequences.
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Key Words
- AR-1, autoregressive function of order 1
- B, B. bronchiseptica single infection
- BG, B. bronchiseptica+G. strigosum dual-infection
- BT, B. bronchiseptica+T. retortaeformis dual-infection
- BTG, B. bronchiseptica+T. retortaeformis+G. strigosum triple infection
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
- Bystander effects
- Co-infections
- Cytokine gene expression
- DPI, days post-infection
- GLM, generalized linear models
- Graphidium strigosum
- IFN-γ, Interferon-gamma
- IL-10, Interleukin-10
- IL-4, Interleukin-4
- LME-REML, linear mixed effect models with restricted maximum likelihood
- SI, small intestine
- T, T. retortaeformis single infection
- TG, T. retortaeformis+G. strigosum dual helminth co-infection
- Trichostrongylus retortaeformis
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashutosh K Pathak
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA ; Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Michael C Biarnes
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Lisa Murphy
- Division of Animal Production and Public Health, Veterinary School, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Isabella M Cattadori
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA ; Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Paterson
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK.
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Pemberton JM, Beraldi D, Craig BH, Hopkins J. Digital gene expression analysis of gastrointestinal helminth resistance in Scottish blackface lambs. Mol Ecol 2011; 20:910-9. [PMID: 21324010 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2010.04992.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Digital gene expression (DGE) analysis offers a route to gene discovery which by-passes the need to develop bespoke arrays for nonmodel species, and is therefore a potentially valuable tool for molecular ecologists. Scottish blackface sheep, which vary in resistance to the common abomasal parasitic nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta, were trickle-infected with L3 larvae over 3 months to mimic the natural progression of infection. DGE was performed on abomasal lymph node tissue after the resolution of infection in resistant animals. Susceptible (low resistance) animals showed a large number of differentially expressed genes associated with inflammation and cell activation, but generally few differentially regulated genes in either the susceptible or the resistant group were directly involved in the adaptive immune function. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that both resistance and susceptibility are active responses to infection and that susceptibility is associated with dysfunction in T cell differentiation and regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Pemberton
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK.
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