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Southern Sea Otter Rehabilitation: Lessons and Impacts from the Monterey Bay Aquarium. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jzbg3040047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
As biodiversity continues to decline across the globe, conservation of wildlife species and the ecosystems they inhabit is more important than ever. When species dwindle, ecosystems that depend on them are also impacted, often leading to a decrease in the life-giving services healthy ecosystems provide to humans, wildlife, and the global environment. Methods of wildlife conservation are complex and multi-faceted, ranging from education and advocacy to, research, restoration, and rehabilitation. Here, we review a conservation program focused on helping recover the federally listed threatened southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) population. We describe the development of unique rehabilitation methods and steps taken to advance the program’s conservation impact. Understanding this evolution can inform conservation efforts for other vulnerable species and their ecosystems.
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Transcriptome profiling of blood from common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the northern Gulf of Mexico to enhance health assessment capabilities. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272345. [PMID: 36001538 PMCID: PMC9401185 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272345] [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: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster and subsequent unusual mortality event, adverse health impacts have been reported in bottlenose dolphins in Barataria Bay, LA including impaired stress response and reproductive, pulmonary, cardiac, and immune function. These conditions were primarily diagnosed through hands-on veterinary examinations and analysis of standard diagnostic panels. In human and veterinary medicine, gene expression profiling has been used to identify molecular mechanisms underlying toxic responses and disease states. Identification of molecular markers of exposure or disease may enable earlier detection of health effects or allow for health evaluation when the use of specialized methodologies is not feasible. To date this powerful tool has not been applied to augment the veterinary data collected concurrently during dolphin health assessments. This study examined transcriptomic profiles of blood from 76 dolphins sampled in health assessments during 2013–2018 in the waters near Barataria Bay, LA and Sarasota Bay, FL. Gene expression was analyzed in conjunction with the substantial suite of health data collected using principal component analysis, differential expression testing, over-representation analysis, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Broadly, transcript profiles of Barataria Bay dolphins indicated a shift in immune response, cytoskeletal alterations, and mitochondrial dysfunction, most pronounced in dolphins likely exposed to Deepwater Horizon oiling. While gene expression profiles in Barataria Bay dolphins were altered compared to Sarasota Bay for all years, profiles from 2013 exhibited the greatest alteration in gene expression. Differentially expressed transcripts included genes involved in immunity, inflammation, reproductive failure, and lung or cardiac dysfunction, all of which have been documented in dolphins from Barataria Bay following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The genes and pathways identified in this study may, with additional research and validation, prove useful as molecular markers of exposure or disease to assist wildlife veterinarians in evaluating the health of dolphins and other cetaceans.
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3
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Bowen L, Manlove K, Roug A, Waters S, LaHue N, Wolff P. Using transcriptomics to predict and visualize disease status in bighorn sheep ( Ovis canadensis). CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 10:coac046. [PMID: 35795016 PMCID: PMC9252122 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Increasing risk of pathogen spillover coupled with overall declines in wildlife population abundance in the Anthropocene make infectious disease a relevant concern for species conservation worldwide. While emerging molecular tools could improve our diagnostic capabilities and give insight into mechanisms underlying wildlife disease risk, they have rarely been applied in practice. Here, employing a previously reported gene transcription panel of common immune markers to track physiological changes, we present a detailed analysis over the course of both acute and chronic infection in one wildlife species where disease plays a critical role in conservation, bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis). Differential gene transcription patterns distinguished between infection statuses over the course of acute infection and differential correlation (DC) analyses identified clear changes in gene co-transcription patterns over the early stages of infection, with transcription of four genes-TGFb, AHR, IL1b and MX1-continuing to increase even as transcription of other immune-associated genes waned. In a separate analysis, we considered the capacity of the same gene transcription panel to aid in differentiating between chronically infected animals and animals in other disease states outside of acute disease events (an immediate priority for wildlife management in this system). We found that this transcription panel was capable of accurately identifying chronically infected animals in the test dataset, though additional data will be required to determine how far this ability extends. Taken together, our results showcase the successful proof of concept and breadth of potential utilities that gene transcription might provide to wildlife disease management, from direct insight into mechanisms associated with differential disease response to improved diagnostic capacity in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kezia Manlove
- Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
| | - Annette Roug
- Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa
| | - Shannon Waters
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Nate LaHue
- Nevada Department of Wildlife, Reno, NV, 89512, USA
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4
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Bowen L, Waters S, Stott JL, Duncan A, Meyerson R, Woodhouse S. Baseline Gene Expression Levels in Falkland-Malvinas Island Penguins: Towards a New Monitoring Paradigm. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12020258. [PMID: 35207543 PMCID: PMC8880734 DOI: 10.3390/life12020258] [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: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Health diagnostics of wildlife have historically relied on the evaluation of select serum biomarkers and the identification of a contaminant or pathogen burden within specific tissues as an indicator of a level of insult. However, these approaches fail to measure the physiological reaction of the individual to stressors, thus limiting the scope of interpretation. Gene-based health diagnostics provide an opportunity for an alternate, whole-system, or holistic assessment of health, not only in individuals or populations but potentially in ecosystems. Seabirds are among the most threatened marine taxonomic groups in the world, with ~25% of this species currently listed as threatened or considered of special concern; among seabirds, the penguins (Family Spheniscidae) are the most threatened seabird Family. We used gene expression to develop baseline physiological indices for wild penguins in the Falkland-Malvinas Islands, and captive zoo penguins. We identified the almost complete statistical separation of penguin groups (gentoo Detroit Zoo, gentoo Falkland-Malvinas Islands, rockhopper Detroit Zoo, and rockhopper Falkland-Malvinas Islands) based on gene expression profiles. Implementation of long-term longitudinal studies would allow for the assessment of temporal increases or decreases of select transcripts and would facilitate interpretation of the drivers of change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizabeth Bowen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-530-574-4353
| | - Shannon Waters
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Jeffrey L. Stott
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Ann Duncan
- Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48067, USA;
| | | | - Sarah Woodhouse
- Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, 3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68107, USA;
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5
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Tinker MT, Bodkin JL, Bowen L, Ballachey B, Bentall G, Burdin A, Coletti H, Esslinger G, Hatfield BB, Kenner MC, Kloecker K, Konar B, Miles AK, Monson DH, Murray MJ, Weitzman BP, Estes JA. Sea otter population collapse in southwest Alaska: assessing ecological covariates, consequences, and causal factors. ECOL MONOGR 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Tim Tinker
- U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center 2885 Mission St. Santa Cruz California 95060 USA
| | - James L. Bodkin
- U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center 4210 University Dr. Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA
| | - Lizabeth Bowen
- U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center 3020 State University Drive Sacramento California 95819 USA
| | - Brenda Ballachey
- U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center 4210 University Dr. Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA
| | - Gena Bentall
- Sea Otter Savvy 1961 Main St. 199 Watsonville California 95076 USA
| | - Alexander Burdin
- Kamchatka Branch of Pacific Geographical Institute FED Russian Academy of Sciences Partizanskaya, 6 Petropavlovsk‐Kamchatsky 683000 Russia
| | - Heather Coletti
- Southwest Alaska Inventory and Monitoring Network National Park Service 4175 Geist Rd. Fairbanks Alaska 99709 USA
| | - George Esslinger
- U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center 4210 University Dr. Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA
| | - Brian B. Hatfield
- U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center 2885 Mission St. Santa Cruz California 95060 USA
| | - Michael C. Kenner
- U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center 2885 Mission St. Santa Cruz California 95060 USA
| | - Kimberly Kloecker
- U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center 4210 University Dr. Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA
| | - Brenda Konar
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks PO Box 757220 Fairbanks Alaska 99775 USA
| | - A. Keith Miles
- U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center 3020 State University Drive Sacramento California 95819 USA
| | - Daniel H. Monson
- U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center 4210 University Dr. Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA
| | | | - Benjamin P. Weitzman
- U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center 4210 University Dr. Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA
| | - James A. Estes
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California 130 McAllister Way Santa Cruz California 95060 USA
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6
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Meza Cerda MI, Gray R, Higgins DP. Cytokine RT-qPCR and ddPCR for immunological investigations of the endangered Australian sea lion ( Neophoca cinerea) and other mammals. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10306. [PMID: 33240637 PMCID: PMC7668205 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Measurement of cytokine gene expression by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is used widely to assess the immune system of animals and to identify biomarkers of disease, but its application is limited in wildlife species due to a lack of species-specific reagents. The free-ranging endangered Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) experiences significant clinical disease and high pup mortality due to intestinal hookworm infection. Developing immunological tools specific to the species will aid in the assessment of drivers of disease and its impact in population demographics. This study describes the development and validation of cross-reactive RT-qPCR assays to measure five important cytokines involved in innate and Th1/Th2 responses (IL-6, TNFα, IFNγ, IL-4 and IL-10) in unstimulated blood samples from a range of different mammalian species including the Australian sea lion. All RT-qPCR assays efficiencies ranged between 87% (Ovis aries TNFα) and 111% (Bos taurus IL-10) and had strong linearity (R2). IL-4 and IFNγ gene expression for N. cinerea fell below the dynamic range (and therefore quantifiable limits) of RT-qPCR assays but were able to be quantified using the novel droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). This study delivers new immunological tools for eco-immunologists studying cytokine gene expression in wildlife species and is to our knowledge, the first cytokine ddPCR approach to be reported in a pinniped species.
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Affiliation(s)
- María-Ignacia Meza Cerda
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Rachael Gray
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Damien P Higgins
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
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7
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Bowen L, von Biela VR, McCormick SD, Regish AM, Waters SC, Durbin-Johnson B, Britton M, Settles ML, Donnelly DS, Laske SM, Carey MP, Brown RJ, Zimmerman CE. Transcriptomic response to elevated water temperatures in adult migrating Yukon River Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 8:coaa084. [PMID: 34512988 PMCID: PMC7486460 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) declines are widespread and may be attributed, at least in part, to warming river temperatures. Water temperatures in the Yukon River and tributaries often exceed 18°C, a threshold commonly associated with heat stress and elevated mortality in Pacific salmon. Untangling the complex web of direct and indirect physiological effects of heat stress on salmon is difficult in a natural setting with innumerable system challenges but is necessary to increase our understanding of both lethal and sublethal impacts of heat stress on populations. The goal of this study was to characterize the cellular stress response in multiple Chinook salmon tissues after acute elevated temperature challenges. We conducted a controlled 4-hour temperature exposure (control, 18°C and 21°C) experiment on the bank of the Yukon River followed by gene expression (GE) profiling using a 3'-Tag-RNA-Seq protocol. The full transcriptome was analysed for 22 Chinook salmon in muscle, gill and liver tissue. Both the 21°C and 18°C treatments induced greater activity in genes associated with protein folding (e.g. HSP70, HSP90 mRNA) processes in all tissues. Global GE patterns indicate that transcriptomic responses to heat stress were highly tissue-specific, underscoring the importance of analyzing multiple tissues for determination of physiological effect. Primary superclusters (i.e. groupings of loosely related terms) of altered biological processes were identified in each tissue type, including regulation of DNA damage response (gill), regulation by host of viral transcription (liver) and regulation of the force of heart contraction (muscle) in the 21°C treatment. This study provides insight into mechanisms potentially affecting adult Chinook salmon as they encounter warm water during their spawning migration in the Yukon River and suggests that both basic and more specialized cellular functions may be disrupted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizabeth Bowen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Vanessa R von Biela
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA
| | - Stephen D McCormick
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, 1 Migratory Way, Turner Falls, Massachusetts, 01376, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Amy M Regish
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, 1 Migratory Way, Turner Falls, Massachusetts, 01376, USA
| | - Shannon C Waters
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Blythe Durbin-Johnson
- University of California, Genome Center and Bioinformatics Core Facility, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Monica Britton
- University of California, Genome Center and Bioinformatics Core Facility, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Matthew L Settles
- University of California, Genome Center and Bioinformatics Core Facility, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Daniel S Donnelly
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA
| | - Sarah M Laske
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA
| | - Michael P Carey
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA
| | - Randy J Brown
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 101 12 Avenue, Room 110, Fairbanks, AK, 99701, USA
| | - Christian E Zimmerman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA
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8
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Bowen L, Longshore K, Wolff P, Klinger R, Cox M, Bullock S, Waters S, Miles AK. Gene Transcript Profiling in Desert Bighorn Sheep. WILDLIFE SOC B 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lizabeth Bowen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research CenterSacramento CA 95826 USA
| | - Kathleen Longshore
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research CenterSacramento CA 95826 USA
| | - Peregrine Wolff
- Nevada Department of Wildlife 6980 Sierra Center Parkway, Suite 120 Reno NV 89511 USA
| | - Robert Klinger
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research CenterOakhurst CA 93644 USA
| | - Michael Cox
- Nevada Department of Wildlife 6980 Sierra Center Pkwy. Suite 120 Reno NV 89511 USA
| | - Sarah Bullock
- Desert National Wildlife Refuge 16001 Corn Creek Road Las Vegas NV 89124 USA
| | - Shannon Waters
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research CenterSacramento CA 95826 USA
| | - A. Keith Miles
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research CenterSacramento CA 95826 USA
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9
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Peñín I, Figueroa-Cabañas ME, Guerrero-de la Rosa F, Soto-García LA, Álvarez-Martínez R, Flores-Morán A, Acevedo-Whitehouse K. Transcriptional Profiles of California Sea Lion Peripheral NK and CD +8 T Cells Reflect Ecological Regionalization and Infection by Oncogenic Viruses. Front Immunol 2019; 10:413. [PMID: 30915075 PMCID: PMC6422979 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The California sea lion is one of the few wild mammals prone to develop cancer, particularly urogenital carcinoma (UGC), whose prevalence is currently estimated at 25% of dead adult sea lions stranded along the California coastline. Genetic factors, viruses and organochlorines have been identified as factors that increase the risk of occurrence of this pathology. Given that no cases of UGC have as yet been reported for the species along its distribution in Mexican waters, the potential relevance of contaminants for the development of urogenital carcinoma is highlighted even more as blubber levels of organochlorines are more than two orders of magnitude lower in the Gulf of California and Mexican Pacific than in California. In vitro studies have shown that organochlorines can modulate anti-viral and tumor-surveillance activities of NK and cytotoxic T-cells of marine mammals, but little is known about the activity of these effectors in live, free-living sea lions. Here, we examine leukocyte transcriptional profiles of free-ranging adult California sea lions for eight genes (Eomes, Granzyme B, Perforin, Ly49, STAT1, Tbx21, GATA3, and FoxP3) selected for their key role in anti-viral and tumor-surveillance, and investigate patterns of transcription that could be indicative of differences in ecological variables and exposure to two oncogenic viruses: sea lion type one gammaherpesvirus (OtHV-1) and sea lion papillomavirus type 1 (ZcPV-1) and systemic inflammation. We observed regional differences in the expression of genes related to Th1 responses and immune modulation, and detected clear patterns of differential regulation of gene expression in sea lions infected by genital papillomavirus compared to those infected by genital gammaherpesvirus or for simultaneous infections, similar to what is known about herpesvirus and papillomavirus infections in humans. Our study is a first approach to profile the transcriptional patterns of key immune effectors of free-ranging California sea lions and their association with ecological regions and oncogenic viruses. The observed results add insight to our understanding of immune competence of marine mammals, and may help elucidate the marked difference in the number of cases of urogenital carcinoma in sea lions from US waters and other areas of their distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Peñín
- Unit for Basic and Applied Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Mónica E Figueroa-Cabañas
- Unit for Basic and Applied Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Fabiola Guerrero-de la Rosa
- Unit for Basic and Applied Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Luis A Soto-García
- Unit for Basic and Applied Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Roberto Álvarez-Martínez
- Unit for Basic and Applied Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Adriana Flores-Morán
- Unit for Basic and Applied Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse
- Unit for Basic and Applied Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico.,The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, CA, United States
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Drake KK, Aiello CM, Bowen L, Lewison RL, Esque TC, Nussear KE, Waters SC, Hudson PJ. Complex immune responses and molecular reactions to pathogens and disease in a desert reptile ( Gopherus agassizii). Ecol Evol 2019; 9:2516-2534. [PMID: 30891197 PMCID: PMC6405529 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune function plays an important role in an animal's defense against infectious disease. In reptiles, immune responses may be complex and counterintuitive, and diagnostic tools used to identify infection, such as induced antibody responses are limited. Recent studies using gene transcription profiling in tortoises have proven useful in identifying immune responses to various intrinsic and extrinsic stressors. As part of a larger experiment with Mojave desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii), we facilitated the transmission of the pathogenic bacteria, Mycoplasma agassizii (Myag), to naïve adults and measured innate and induced immune reactions over time. Specifically, we evaluated clinical condition, presence of Myag in the nasal/oral cavity, induced antibody responses specific to Myag, and measured molecular reactions (gene transcript profiles) in 15 captive tortoises classified as naïve, exposed, or infected and 14 wild tortoises for comparison. Myag was confirmed inside the nasal/oral cavity in exposed tortoises within 30-60 days of introduction to infected animals, yet we did not detect Myag specific induced antibody responses in these individuals until 420-595 days post exposure. Surprisingly, we found no overall differences in the gene transcript profiles between our experimental treatment groups throughout this study. This work highlights the complexities in assessing immune function and diagnosing pathogen related infections in tortoises and other reptiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Kristina Drake
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyHendersonNevada
- Department of BiologySan Diego State UniversitySan DiegoCalifornia
- Graduate Group in EcologyUniversity of California‐DavisDavisCalifornia
| | - Christina M. Aiello
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyHendersonNevada
- Department of BiologyPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvania
| | - Lizabeth Bowen
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyDavisCalifornia
| | | | - Todd C. Esque
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyHendersonNevada
| | | | - Shannon C. Waters
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyDavisCalifornia
| | - Peter J. Hudson
- Department of BiologyPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvania
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11
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Bowen L, Miles AK, Waters S, Gustine D, Joly K, Hilderbrand G. Using Gene Transcription to Assess Ecological and Anthropological Stressors in Brown Bears. ECOHEALTH 2018; 15:121-131. [PMID: 29168050 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-017-1287-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Increasingly, population- and ecosystem-level health assessments are performed using sophisticated molecular tools. Advances in molecular technology enable the identification of synergistic effects of multiple stressors on the individual physiology of different species. Brown bears (Ursus arctos) are an apex predator; thus, they are ideal candidates for detecting potentially ecosystem-level systemic perturbations using molecular-based tools. We used gene transcription to analyze 130 brown bear samples from three National Parks and Preserves in Alaska. Although the populations we studied are apparently stable in abundance and exist within protected and intact environments, differences in transcript profiles were noted. The most prevalent differences were among locations. The transcript patterns among groups reflect the influence of environmental factors, such as nutritional status, disease, and xenobiotic exposure. However, these profiles also likely represent baselines for each unique environment by which future measures can be made to identify early indication of population-level changes due to, for example, increasing Arctic temperatures. Some of those environmental changes are predicted to be potentially positive for brown bears, but other effects such as the manifestation of disease or indirect effects of oceanic acidification may produce negative impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizabeth Bowen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, University of California, Davis Field Station, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - A Keith Miles
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, University of California, Davis Field Station, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Shannon Waters
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, University of California, Davis Field Station, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Dave Gustine
- National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park, PO Box 170, Moose, WY, 83012, USA
| | - Kyle Joly
- National Park Service, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, 4175 Geist Road, Fairbanks, AK, 99709, USA
| | - Grant Hilderbrand
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA
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12
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Jones SJ, Haulena M, Taylor GA, Chan S, Bilobram S, Warren RL, Hammond SA, Mungall KL, Choo C, Kirk H, Pandoh P, Ally A, Dhalla N, Tam AKY, Troussard A, Paulino D, Coope RJN, Mungall AJ, Moore R, Zhao Y, Birol I, Ma Y, Marra M, Jones SJM. The Genome of the Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni). Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8120379. [PMID: 29232880 PMCID: PMC5748697 DOI: 10.3390/genes8120379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The northern sea otter inhabits coastal waters of the northern Pacific Ocean and is the largest member of the Mustelidae family. DNA sequencing methods that utilize microfluidic partitioned and non-partitioned library construction were used to establish the sea otter genome. The final assembly provided 2.426 Gbp of highly contiguous assembled genomic sequences with a scaffold N50 length of over 38 Mbp. We generated transcriptome data derived from a lymphoma to aid in the determination of functional elements. The assembled genome sequence and underlying sequence data are available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) under the BioProject accession number PRJNA388419.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Jones
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | | | - Gregory A Taylor
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Simon Chan
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Steven Bilobram
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - René L Warren
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - S Austin Hammond
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Karen L Mungall
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Caleb Choo
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Heather Kirk
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Pawan Pandoh
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Adrian Ally
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Noreen Dhalla
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Angela K Y Tam
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Armelle Troussard
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Daniel Paulino
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Robin J N Coope
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Andrew J Mungall
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Richard Moore
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Yongjun Zhao
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Inanc Birol
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Yussanne Ma
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Marco Marra
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Steven J M Jones
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
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Tsai MA, Chen IH, Wang JH, Chou SJ, Li TH, Leu MY, Ho HK, Yang WC. A probe-based qRT-PCR method to profile immunological gene expression in blood of captive beluga whales ( Delphinapterus leucas). PeerJ 2017; 5:e3840. [PMID: 28970970 PMCID: PMC5622604 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokines are fundamental for a functioning immune system, and thus potentially serve as important indicators of animal health. Quantitation of mRNA using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is an established immunological technique. It is particularly suitable for detecting the expression of proteins against which monoclonal antibodies are not available. In this study, we developed a probe-based quantitative gene expression assay for immunological assessment of captive beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) that is one of the most common cetacean species on display in aquariums worldwide. Six immunologically relevant genes (IL-2Rα, -4, -10, -12, TNFα, and IFNγ) were selected for analysis, and two validated housekeeping genes (PGK1 and RPL4) with stable expression were used as reference genes. Sixteen blood samples were obtained from four animals with different health conditions and stored in RNAlater™ solution. These samples were used for RNA extraction followed by qRT-PCR analysis. Analysis of gene transcripts was performed by relative quantitation using the comparative Cq method with the integration of amplification efficiency and two reference genes. The expression levels of each gene in the samples from clinically healthy animals were normally distributed. Transcript outliers for IL-2Rα, IL-4, IL-12, TNFα, and IFNγ were noticed in four samples collected from two clinically unhealthy animals. This assay has the potential to identify immune system deviation from normal state, which is caused by health problems. Furthermore, knowing the immune status of captive cetaceans could help both trainers and veterinarians in implementing preventive approaches prior to disease onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-An Tsai
- Department of Biology, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - I-Hua Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Jiann-Hsiung Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Jen Chou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Hsien Li
- Department of Biology, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Yih Leu
- Department of Biology, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Kuan Ho
- Department of Biology, Hi-Scene World Enterprise Co. Ltd., Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Wei Cheng Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan
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14
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Morey JS, Burek Huntington KA, Campbell M, Clauss TM, Goertz CE, Hobbs RC, Lunardi D, Moors AJ, Neely MG, Schwacke LH, Van Dolah FM. De novo transcriptome assembly and RNA-Seq expression analysis in blood from beluga whales of Bristol Bay, AK. Mar Genomics 2017; 35:77-92. [PMID: 28802692 DOI: 10.1016/j.margen.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Assessing the health of marine mammal sentinel species is crucial to understanding the impacts of environmental perturbations on marine ecosystems and human health. In Arctic regions, beluga whales, Delphinapterus leucas, are upper level predators that may serve as a sentinel species, potentially forecasting impacts on human health. While gene expression profiling from blood transcriptomes has widely been used to assess health status and environmental exposures in human and veterinary medicine, its use in wildlife has been limited due to the lack of available genomes and baseline data. To this end we constructed the first beluga whale blood transcriptome de novo from samples collected during annual health assessments of the healthy Bristol Bay, AK stock during 2012-2014 to establish baseline information on the content and variation of the beluga whale blood transcriptome. The Trinity transcriptome assembly from beluga was comprised of 91,325 transcripts that represented a wide array of cellular functions and processes and was extremely similar in content to the blood transcriptome of another cetacean, the bottlenose dolphin. Expression of hemoglobin transcripts was much lower in beluga (25.6% of TPM, transcripts per million) than has been observed in many other mammals. A T12A amino acid substitution in the HBB sequence of beluga whales, but not bottlenose dolphins, was identified and may play a role in low temperature adaptation. The beluga blood transcriptome was extremely stable between sex and year, with no apparent clustering of samples by principle components analysis and <4% of genes differentially expressed (EBseq, FDR<0.05). While the impacts of season, sexual maturity, disease, and geography on the beluga blood transcriptome must be established, the presence of transcripts involved in stress, detoxification, and immune functions indicate that blood gene expression analyses may provide information on health status and exposure. This study provides a wealth of transcriptomic data on beluga whales and provides a sizeable pool of preliminary data for comparison with other studies in beluga whale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanine S Morey
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA; Jardon and Howard Technologies Incorporated, 2710 Discovery Drive, Orlando, FL 32826, USA.
| | | | | | - Tonya M Clauss
- Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker Street, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA
| | | | - Roderick C Hobbs
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, WA 95115, USA
| | - Denise Lunardi
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Amanda J Moors
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
| | - Marion G Neely
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA; Jardon and Howard Technologies Incorporated, 2710 Discovery Drive, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Lori H Schwacke
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
| | - Frances M Van Dolah
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
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Drake KK, Bowen L, Lewison RL, Esque TC, Nussear KE, Braun J, Waters SC, Miles AK. Coupling gene-based and classic veterinary diagnostics improves interpretation of health and immune function in the Agassiz's desert tortoise ( Gopherus agassizii). CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2017; 5:cox037. [PMID: 28835840 PMCID: PMC5550616 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cox037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The analysis of blood constituents is a widely used tool to aid in monitoring of animal health and disease. However, classic blood diagnostics (i.e. hematologic and plasma biochemical values) often do not provide sufficient information to determine the state of an animal's health. Field studies on wild tortoises and other reptiles have had limited success in drawing significant inferences between blood diagnostics and physiological and immunological condition. However, recent research using gene transcription profiling in the threatened Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) has proved useful in identifying immune or physiologic responses and overall health. To improve our understanding of health and immune function in tortoises, we evaluated both standard blood diagnostic (body condition, hematologic, plasma biochemistry values, trace elements, plasma proteins, vitamin A levels) and gene transcription profiles in 21 adult tortoises (11 clinically abnormal; 10 clinically normal) from Clark County, NV, USA. Necropsy and histology evaluations from clinically abnormal tortoises revealed multiple physiological complications, with moderate to severe rhinitis or pneumonia being the primary cause of morbidity in all but one of the examined animals. Clinically abnormal tortoises had increased transcription for four genes (SOD, MyD88, CL and Lep), increased lymphocyte production, biochemical enzymes and organics, trace elements of copper, and decreased numbers of leukocytes. We found significant positive correlations between increased transcription for SOD and increased trace elements for copper, as well as genes MyD88 and Lep with increased inflammation and microbial insults. Improved methods for health assessments are an important element of monitoring tortoise population recovery and can support the development of more robust diagnostic measures for ill animals, or individuals directly impacted by disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Kristina Drake
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Las Vegas Field Station, 160 N. Stephanie Street, Henderson, NV 89074, USA
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
- Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - Lizabeth Bowen
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Davis Field Station, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - Rebecca L. Lewison
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Todd C. Esque
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Las Vegas Field Station, 160 N. Stephanie Street, Henderson, NV 89074, USA
| | - Kenneth E. Nussear
- Department of Geography, University of Nevada-Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Josephine Braun
- Wildlife Disease Laboratories, Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, PO Box 120551, San Diego, CA 92112, USA
| | - Shannon C. Waters
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Davis Field Station, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - A. Keith Miles
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Las Vegas Field Station, 160 N. Stephanie Street, Henderson, NV 89074, USA
- Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95618, USA
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16
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Morey JS, Neely MG, Lunardi D, Anderson PE, Schwacke LH, Campbell M, Van Dolah FM. RNA-Seq analysis of seasonal and individual variation in blood transcriptomes of healthy managed bottlenose dolphins. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:720. [PMID: 27608714 PMCID: PMC5016863 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3020-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The blood transcriptome can reflect both systemic exposures and pathological changes in other organs of the body because immune cells recirculate through the blood, lymphoid tissues, and affected sites. In human and veterinary medicine, blood transcriptome analysis has been used successfully to identify markers of disease or pathological conditions, but can be confounded by large seasonal changes in expression. In comparison, the use of transcriptomic based analyses in wildlife has been limited. Here we report a longitudinal study of four managed bottlenose dolphins located in Waikoloa, Hawaii, serially sampled (approximately monthly) over the course of 1 year to establish baseline information on the content and variation of the dolphin blood transcriptome. Results Illumina based RNA-seq analyses were carried out using both the Ensembl dolphin genome and a de novo blood transcriptome as guides. Overall, the blood transcriptome encompassed a wide array of cellular functions and processes and was relatively stable within and between animals over the course of 1 year. Principal components analysis revealed moderate clustering by sex associated with the variation among global gene expression profiles (PC1, 22 % of variance). Limited seasonal change was observed, with < 2.5 % of genes differentially expressed between winter and summer months (FDR < 0.05). Among the differentially expressed genes, cosinor analysis identified seasonal rhythmicity for the observed changes in blood gene expression, consistent with studies in humans. While the proportion of seasonally variant genes in these dolphins is much smaller than that reported in humans, the majority of those identified in dolphins were also shown to vary with season in humans. Gene co-expression network analysis identified several gene modules with significant correlation to age, sex, or hematological parameters. Conclusions This longitudinal analysis of healthy managed dolphins establishes a preliminary baseline for blood transcriptome analysis in this species. Correlations with hematological parameters, distinct from muted seasonal effects, suggest that the otherwise relatively stable blood transcriptome may be a useful indicator of health and exposure. A robust database of gene expression in free-ranging and managed dolphins across seasons with known adverse health conditions or contaminant exposures will be needed to establish predictive gene expression profiles suitable for biomonitoring. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-3020-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanine S Morey
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Sciences, National Ocean Service, NOAA, 331 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC, 29412, USA.
| | - Marion G Neely
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Sciences, National Ocean Service, NOAA, 331 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC, 29412, USA
| | - Denise Lunardi
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, via L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Paul E Anderson
- Department of Computer Science, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, 29424, USA
| | - Lori H Schwacke
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Sciences, National Ocean Service, NOAA, 331 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC, 29412, USA
| | | | - Frances M Van Dolah
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Sciences, National Ocean Service, NOAA, 331 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC, 29412, USA. .,Present Address: Graduate Program in Marine Biology, University of Charleston, Charleston, SC, 29412, USA.
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17
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Sitt T, Bowen L, Lee CS, Blanchard MT, McBain J, Dold C, Stott JL. Longitudinal evaluation of leukocyte transcripts in killer whales (Orcinus Orca). Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2016; 175:7-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2016.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2015] [Revised: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Gene Transcript Profiling in Sea Otters Post-Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: A Tool for Marine Ecosystem Health Assessment. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse4020039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Selection of suitable reference genes for normalization of quantitative RT-PCR in peripheral blood samples of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Sci Rep 2015; 5:15425. [PMID: 26486099 PMCID: PMC4614023 DOI: 10.1038/srep15425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantitative RT-PCR is often used as a research tool directed at gene transcription. Selection of optimal housekeeping genes (HKGs) as reference genes is critical to establishing sensitive and reproducible qRT-PCR-based assays. The current study was designed to identify the appropriate reference genes in blood leukocytes of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) for gene transcription research. Seventy-five blood samples collected from 7 bottlenose dolphins were used to analyze 15 candidate HKGs (ACTB, B2M, GAPDH, HPRT1, LDHB, PGK1, RPL4, RPL8, RPL18, RPS9, RPS18, TFRC, YWHAZ, LDHA, SDHA). HKG stability in qRT-PCR was determined using geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and comparative delta Ct algorithms. Utilization of RefFinder, which combined all 4 algorithms, suggested that PGK1, HPRT1 and RPL4 were the most stable HKGs in bottlenose dolphin blood. Gene transcription perturbations in blood can serve as an indication of health status in cetaceans as it occurs prior to alterations in hematology and chemistry. This study identified HKGs that could be used in gene transcript studies, which may contribute to further mRNA relative quantification research in the peripheral blood leukocytes in captive cetaceans.
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20
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Bowen L, Miles AK, Stott J, Waters S, Atwood T. Enhanced biological processes associated with alopecia in polar bears (Ursus maritimus). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 529:114-120. [PMID: 26005754 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Populations of wildlife species worldwide experience incidents of mass morbidity and mortality. Primary or secondary drivers of these events may escape classical detection methods for identifying microbial insults, toxin exposure, or additional stressors. In 2012, 28% of polar bears sampled in a study in the southern Beaufort Sea region of Alaska had varying degrees of alopecia that was concomitant with reduced body condition. Concurrently, elevated numbers of sick or dead ringed seals were detected in the southern Beaufort, Chukchi, and Bering seas in 2012, resulting in the declaration of an unusual mortality event (UME) by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The primary and possible ancillary causative stressors of these events are unknown, and related physiological changes within individual animals have been undetectable using classical diagnostic methods. Here we present an emerging technology as a potentially guiding investigative approach aimed at elucidating the circumstances responsible for the susceptibility of certain polar bears to observed conditions. Using transcriptomic analysis we identified enhanced biological processes including immune response, viral defense, and response to stress in polar bears with alopecia. Our results support an alternative mechanism of investigation into the causative agents that, when used proactively, could serve as an early indicator for populations and species at risk. We suggest that current or classical methods for investigation into events of unusual morbidity and mortality can be costly, sometimes unfocused, and often inconclusive. Advances in technology allow for implementation of a holistic system of surveillance and investigation that could provide early warning of health concerns in wildlife species important to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizabeth Bowen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Davis, CA 95826, USA.
| | - A Keith Miles
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Davis, CA 95826, USA
| | - Jeffrey Stott
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Shannon Waters
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Davis, CA 95826, USA
| | - Todd Atwood
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
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21
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Bowen L, Miles AK, Drake KK, Waters SC, Esque TC, Nussear KE. Integrating Gene Transcription-Based Biomarkers to Understand Desert Tortoise and Ecosystem Health. ECOHEALTH 2015; 12:501-512. [PMID: 25561383 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-014-0998-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2013] [Revised: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 11/30/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Tortoises are susceptible to a wide variety of environmental stressors, and the influence of human disturbances on health and survival of tortoises is difficult to detect. As an addition to current diagnostic methods for desert tortoises, we have developed the first leukocyte gene transcription biomarker panel for the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), enhancing the ability to identify specific environmental conditions potentially linked to declining animal health. Blood leukocyte transcript profiles have the potential to identify physiologically stressed animals in lieu of clinical signs. For desert tortoises, the gene transcript profile included a combination of immune or detoxification response genes with the potential to be modified by biological or physical injury and consequently provide information on the type and magnitude of stressors present in the animal's habitat. Blood from 64 wild adult tortoises at three sites in Clark County, NV, and San Bernardino, CA, and from 19 captive tortoises in Clark County, NV, was collected and evaluated for genes indicative of physiological status. Statistical analysis using a priori groupings indicated significant differences among groups for several genes, while multidimensional scaling and cluster analyses of transcription C T values indicated strong differentiation of a large cluster and multiple outlying individual tortoises or small clusters in multidimensional space. These analyses highlight the effectiveness of the gene panel at detecting environmental perturbations as well as providing guidance in determining the health of the desert tortoise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizabeth Bowen
- United States Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, University of California, Davis Field Station, The Barn, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - A Keith Miles
- United States Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, University of California, Davis Field Station, The Barn, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - K Kristina Drake
- United States Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, University of California, Davis Field Station, The Barn, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- United States Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Nevada Field Stations, Henderson, NV, USA
| | - Shannon C Waters
- United States Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, University of California, Davis Field Station, The Barn, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Todd C Esque
- United States Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Nevada Field Stations, Henderson, NV, USA
| | - Kenneth E Nussear
- United States Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Nevada Field Stations, Henderson, NV, USA
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23
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Garshelis DL, Johnson CB. Prolonged recovery of sea otters from the Exxon Valdez oil spill? A re-examination of the evidence. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2013; 71:7-19. [PMID: 23639486 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2012] [Revised: 03/03/2013] [Accepted: 03/17/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) suffered major mortality after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1989. We evaluate the contention that their recovery spanned over two decades. A model based on the otter age-at-death distribution suggested a large, spill-related population sink, but this has never been found, and other model predictions failed to match empirical data. Studies focused on a previously-oiled area where otter numbers (~80) stagnated post-spill; nevertheless, post-spill abundance exceeded the most recent pre-spill count, and population trends paralleled an adjacent, unoiled-lightly-oiled area. Some investigators posited that otters suffered chronic effects by digging up buried oil residues while foraging, but an ecological risk assessment indicated that exposure levels via this pathway were well below thresholds for toxicological effects. Significant confounding factors, including killer whale predation, subsistence harvests, human disturbances, and environmental regime shifts made it impossible to judge recovery at such a small scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Garshelis
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
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