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Bass D, Christison KW, Stentiford GD, Cook LSJ, Hartikainen H. Environmental DNA/RNA for pathogen and parasite detection, surveillance, and ecology. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:285-304. [PMID: 36759269 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Detection of pathogens, parasites, and other symbionts in environmental samples via eDNA/eRNA (collectively eNA) is an increasingly important source of information about their occurrence and activity. There is great potential for using such detections as a proxy for infection of host organisms in connected habitats, for pathogen monitoring and surveillance, and for early warning systems for disease. However, many factors require consideration, and appropriate methods developed and verified, in order that eNA detections can be reliably interpreted and adopted for surveillance and assessment of disease risk, and potentially inclusion in international standards, such as the World Organisation for Animal Health guidelines. Disease manifestation results from host-symbiont-environment interactions between hosts, demanding a multifactorial approach to interpretation of eNA signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bass
- International Centre of Excellence for Aquatic Animal Health, The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth, UK; Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK.
| | - Kevin W Christison
- Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Private Bag X2, Vlaeberg, 8012, South Africa
| | - Grant D Stentiford
- International Centre of Excellence for Aquatic Animal Health, The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth, UK; Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK
| | - Lauren S J Cook
- International Centre of Excellence for Aquatic Animal Health, The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth, UK; Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham Hill, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Hanna Hartikainen
- University of Nottingham, School of Life Sciences, University Park, NG7 2RD, Nottingham, UK
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Sasser KT, Weber JN. A Call For More Ecologically And Evolutionarily Relevant Studies of Immune Costs. Evol Ecol 2023; 37:203-214. [PMID: 37608798 PMCID: PMC10443930 DOI: 10.1007/s10682-022-10213-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
What are the relative costs and benefits of mounting immune responses? Practitioners of ecoimmunology have grappled with this central question since the field's inception with the main tension being how to make tractable methodological choices that maintain the ecological relevance of induced and measured immune costs. Here, we point out two methodological approaches that we feel are underrepresented in the field, describe risks associated with neglecting these methods, and suggest modern techniques that maximize both the diversity and ecological relevance of collected data. First, it is commonly assumed that frequently used and experimentally convenient immune stimulants will induce ecologically relevant immune responses in study organisms. This can be a dangerous assumption. Even if a stimulant's general immune response properties are well characterized, it is critical to also measure the type and scale of immune responses induced by live pathogens. Second, patterns of immune defenses evolve like other traits, thus a comparative approach is essential to understand what forces shape immune variation. Finally, we describe modern genetic and immunological approaches that will soon become essential tools for ecoimmunologists, and present case studies that exemplify the utility of our recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristofer Trey Sasser
- University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, USA. Current address: University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- 430 Lincoln Dr, Birge Hall, Madison WI, 53706
| | - Jesse N Weber
- University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- 430 Lincoln Dr, Birge Hall, Madison WI, 53706
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