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Kwait R, Pinsky ML, Gignoux‐Wolfsohn S, Eskew EA, Kerwin K, Maslo B. Impact of putatively beneficial genomic loci on gene expression in little brown bats ( Myotis lucifugus, Le Conte, 1831) affected by white-nose syndrome. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13748. [PMID: 39310794 PMCID: PMC11413065 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide scans for selection have become a popular tool for investigating evolutionary responses in wildlife to emerging diseases. However, genome scans are susceptible to false positives and do little to demonstrate specific mechanisms by which loci impact survival. Linking putatively resistant genotypes to observable phenotypes increases confidence in genome scan results and provides evidence of survival mechanisms that can guide conservation and management efforts. Here we used an expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis to uncover relationships between gene expression and alleles associated with the survival of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) despite infection with the causative agent of white-nose syndrome. We found that 25 of the 63 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with survival were related to gene expression in wing tissue. The differentially expressed genes have functional annotations associated with the innate immune system, metabolism, circadian rhythms, and the cellular response to stress. In addition, we observed differential expression of multiple genes with survival implications related to loci in linkage disequilibrium with focal SNPs. Together, these findings support the selective function of these loci and suggest that part of the mechanism driving survival may be the alteration of immune and other responses in epithelial tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Kwait
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural ResourcesRutgers, The State University of New JerseyNew BrunswickNew JerseyUSA
| | - Malin L. Pinsky
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural ResourcesRutgers, The State University of New JerseyNew BrunswickNew JerseyUSA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of California Santa CruzSanta CruzCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Evan A. Eskew
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Data SciencesUniversity of IdahoMoscowIdahoUSA
| | - Kathleen Kerwin
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural ResourcesRutgers, The State University of New JerseyNew BrunswickNew JerseyUSA
| | - Brooke Maslo
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural ResourcesRutgers, The State University of New JerseyNew BrunswickNew JerseyUSA
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2
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Blejwas K, Beard L, Buchanan J, Lausen CL, Neubaum D, Tobin A, Weller TJ. COULD WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME MANIFEST DIFFERENTLY IN MYOTIS LUCIFUGUS IN WESTERN VERSUS EASTERN REGIONS OF NORTH AMERICA? A REVIEW OF FACTORS. J Wildl Dis 2023; 59:381-397. [PMID: 37270186 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-22-00050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
White-nose syndrome (WNS) has notably affected the abundance of Myotis lucifugus (little brown myotis) in North America. Thus far, substantial mortality has been restricted to the eastern part of the continent where the cause of WNS, the invasive fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has infected bats since 2006. To date, the state of Washington is the only area in the Western US or Canada (the Rocky Mountains and further west in North America) with confirmed cases of WNS in bats, and there the disease has spread more slowly than it did in Eastern North America. Here, we review differences between M. lucifugus in western and eastern parts of the continent that may affect transmission, spread, and severity of WNS in the West and highlight important gaps in knowledge. We explore the hypothesis that western M. lucifugus may respond differently to WNS on the basis of different hibernation strategies, habitat use, and greater genetic structure. To document the effect of WNS on M. lucifugus in the West most effectively, we recommend focusing on maternity roosts for strategic disease surveillance and monitoring abundance. We further recommend continuing the challenging work of identifying hibernation and swarming sites to better understand the microclimates, microbial communities, and role in disease transmission of these sites, as well as the ecology and hibernation physiology of bats in noncavernous hibernacula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Blejwas
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, PO Box 110024, Juneau, Alaska 99811, USA
- Except for the first author, all others are listed in alphabetical order
| | - Laura Beard
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, 260 Buena Vista, Lander, Wyoming 82520, USA
| | - Joseph Buchanan
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, PO Box 43200, Olympia, Washington 98501, USA
| | - Cori L Lausen
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, 202 B Avenue, Kaslo, British Columbia V0G 1M0, Canada
| | - Daniel Neubaum
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 711 Independent Ave., Grand Junction, Colorado 81507, USA
| | - Abigail Tobin
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, PO Box 43200, Olympia, Washington 98501, USA
| | - Theodore J Weller
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 1700 Bayview Drive, Arcata, California 95521, USA
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3
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Moran ML, Boyd W, De La Cruz JL, Bertke AS, Ford WM. Oral Sampling of Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) Maternity Colonies for SARS-CoV-2 in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, USA. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:550. [PMID: 36830336 PMCID: PMC9951713 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The potential introduction of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, into North American bat populations is of interest to wildlife managers due to recent disease-mediated declines of several species. Populations of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) have collapsed due to white-nose syndrome (WNS), a disease caused by the introduction and spread of the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). Throughout much of the United States and southern Canada, large colonies of the species routinely established diurnal roosts in anthropogenic structures, thereby creating the potential for direct human contact and cross-species disease transmission. Given recent declines and the potential for further disease impacts, we collected oral swabs from eight little brown bat maternity colonies to assess the presence and prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR analysis. Little brown bat colonies in Maryland (n = 1), New Hampshire (n = 1), New Jersey (n = 2), New York (n = 1), Rhode Island (n = 2), and Virginia (n = 1) were taken during May-August, 2022. From 235 assayed individuals, no bat tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Our results indicate that little brown bats may not contract SARS-CoV-2 or that the virus persists at undetectable levels in populations of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast during summer months. Nonetheless, continued monitoring and future work addressing other seasons may still be warranted to conclusively determine infection status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L. Moran
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - William Boyd
- Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Jesse L. De La Cruz
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Andrea S. Bertke
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - W. Mark Ford
- U.S. Geological Survey, Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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Martin AM, Vonhof MJ, Henshaw M, Dreyer JM, Munster SK, Kirby L, Russell AL. Genetic Structure of the Vulnerable Tricolored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus). ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2023. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2022.24.2.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alynn M. Martin
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA
| | - Maarten J. Vonhof
- Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, 1903 W Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA
| | - Michael Henshaw
- Department of Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI 49401, USA
| | - Jessica M. Dreyer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, 1502 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Susan K. Munster
- Department of Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI 49401, USA
| | - Laura Kirby
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, 500 S. State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48409, USA
| | - Amy L. Russell
- Department of Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI 49401, USA
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5
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Dufresnes C, Dutoit L, Brelsford A, Goldstein-Witsenburg F, Clément L, López-Baucells A, Palmeirim J, Pavlinić I, Scaravelli D, Ševčík M, Christe P, Goudet J. Inferring genetic structure when there is little: population genetics versus genomics of the threatened bat Miniopterus schreibersii across Europe. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1523. [PMID: 36707640 PMCID: PMC9883447 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27988-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite their paramount importance in molecular ecology and conservation, genetic diversity and structure remain challenging to quantify with traditional genotyping methods. Next-generation sequencing holds great promises, but this has not been properly tested in highly mobile species. In this article, we compared microsatellite and RAD-sequencing (RAD-seq) analyses to investigate population structure in the declining bent-winged bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) across Europe. Both markers retrieved general patterns of weak range-wide differentiation, little sex-biased dispersal, and strong isolation by distance that associated with significant genetic structure between the three Mediterranean Peninsulas, which could have acted as glacial refugia. Microsatellites proved uninformative in individual-based analyses, but the resolution offered by genomic SNPs illuminated on regional substructures within several countries, with colonies sharing migrators of distinct ancestry without admixture. This finding is consistent with a marked philopatry and spatial partitioning between mating and rearing grounds in the species, which was suspected from marked-recaptured data. Our study advocates that genomic data are necessary to properly unveil the genetic footprints left by biogeographic processes and social organization in long-distant flyers, which are otherwise rapidly blurred by their high levels of gene flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Dufresnes
- Laboratory for Amphibian Systematic and Evolutionary Research, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ludovic Dutoit
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Alan Brelsford
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | | | - Laura Clément
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Adria López-Baucells
- Bat Research Area, Granollers Museum of Natural Sciences, Carrer Palaudaries 102, 08402, Granollers, Spain
| | - Jorge Palmeirim
- Department of Animal Biology, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Change - cE3c, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Igor Pavlinić
- Department of Zoology, Croatian Natural History Museum, Demetrova 1, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dino Scaravelli
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Martin Ševčík
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Philippe Christe
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Jérôme Goudet
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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6
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Jenkins PD, Sealy SG. The problems of resolving historical specimen data, focusing on a specimen of Myotis austroriparius (Mammalia, Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) collected by Thomas Drummond. CAN J ZOOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2021-0211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The geographical itineraries of Thomas Drummond’s two separate expeditions to Canada (1825–1827) and the United States of America (1831–1835) are used to provide historical context for the specimens collected and their localities. The coordinates for these locations are estimated and their geographical positions mapped. The difficulties of resolving various problems with historical specimens are explored and several examples are provided, including the contentious origin and identification of a southeastern myotis, Myotis austroriparius (Rhoads, 1897) (NHMUK 1837.4.8.127). Information about type specimens is discussed and the geographical position of several type localities of rodents and a mustelid in the Rocky Mountains and a lagomorph in the USA are refined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina D. Jenkins
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
| | - Spencer G. Sealy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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7
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Summer Populations of Northern Long-eared Bat in an Eastern Kentucky Forest Following Arrival of White-nose Syndrome. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 2022. [DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-187.1.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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8
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OUP accepted manuscript. J Mammal 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyac019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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9
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Blejwas KM, Pendleton GW, Kohan ML, Beard LO. The Milieu Souterrain Superficiel as hibernation habitat for bats: implications for white-nose syndrome. J Mammal 2021; 102:1110-1127. [PMID: 34393669 PMCID: PMC8357076 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed that western populations of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) in North America exhibit different hibernation behavior than their eastern counterparts. Understanding these differences is essential for assessing the risk white-nose syndrome (WNS) poses to western bat populations. We used acoustic monitoring and radiotelemetry to study the overwintering behavior of little brown bats near Juneau, Alaska during 2011-2014. Our objectives were to identify the structures they use for hibernation, measure the microclimates within those structures, and determine the timing of immergence and emergence and the length of the hibernation season. We radiotracked 10 little brown bats to underground hibernacula dispersed along two ridge systems. All hibernacula were ≤ 24.2 km from where the bats were captured. Eight bats hibernated in the "Milieu Souterrain Superficiel" (MSS), a network of air-filled underground voids between the rock fragments found in scree (talus) deposits. Two bats hibernated in holes in the soil beneath the root system of a tree or stump (rootball). At least two hibernacula in the MSS were reused in subsequent years. Average MSS and rootball temperatures were warmer and more stable than ambient temperature and were well below the optimal growth range of the fungus that causes WNS. Temperatures in the MSS dropped below freezing, but MSS temperatures increased with depth, indicating bats could avoid subfreezing temperatures by moving deeper into the MSS. Relative humidity (RH) approached 100% in the MSS and under rootballs and was more stable than ambient RH, which also was high, but dropped substantially during periods of extreme cold. Acoustic monitoring revealed that bats hibernated by late October and began emerging by the second week of April; estimates of minimum length of the hibernation season ranged from 156 to 190 days. The cold temperatures, dispersed nature of the hibernacula, and close proximity of hibernacula to summering areas may slow the spread and reduce the impacts of WNS on local populations of little brown bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen M Blejwas
- Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Threatened, Endangered and Diversity Program, Juneau, AK, USA
| | - Grey W Pendleton
- Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Threatened, Endangered and Diversity Program, Juneau, AK, USA
| | - Michael L Kohan
- Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Threatened, Endangered and Diversity Program, Juneau, AK, USA
| | - Laura O Beard
- Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Threatened, Endangered and Diversity Program, Juneau, AK, USA
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10
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Landscape Genetic Connectivity and Evidence for Recombination in the North American Population of the White-Nose Syndrome Pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7030182. [PMID: 33802538 PMCID: PMC8001231 DOI: 10.3390/jof7030182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
White-Nose Syndrome is an ongoing fungal epizootic caused by epidermal infections of the fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (P. destructans), affecting hibernating bat species in North America. Emerging early in 2006 in New York State, infections of P. destructans have spread to 38 US States and seven Canadian Provinces. Since then, clonal isolates of P. destructans have accumulated genotypic and phenotypic variations in North America. Using microsatellite and single nucleotide polymorphism markers, we investigated the population structure and genetic relationships among P. destructans isolates from diverse regions in North America to understand its pattern of spread, and to test hypotheses about factors that contribute to transmission. We found limited support for genetic isolation of P. destructans populations by geographic distance, and instead identified evidence for gene flow among geographic regions. Interestingly, allelic association tests revealed evidence for recombination in the North American P. destructans population. Our landscape genetic analyses revealed that the population structure of P. destructans in North America was significantly influenced by anthropogenic impacts on the landscape. Our results have important implications for understanding the mechanism(s) of P. destructans spread.
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11
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Gignoux-Wolfsohn SA, Pinsky ML, Kerwin K, Herzog C, Hall M, Bennett AB, Fefferman NH, Maslo B. Genomic signatures of selection in bats surviving white-nose syndrome. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:5643-5657. [PMID: 33476441 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Rapid evolution of advantageous traits following abrupt environmental change can help populations recover from demographic decline. However, for many introduced diseases affecting longer-lived, slower reproducing hosts, mortality is likely to outpace the acquisition of adaptive de novo mutations. Adaptive alleles must therefore be selected from standing genetic variation, a process that leaves few detectable genomic signatures. Here, we present whole genome evidence for selection in bat populations that are recovering from white-nose syndrome (WNS). We collected samples both during and after a WNS-induced mass mortality event in two little brown bat populations that are beginning to show signs of recovery and found signatures of soft sweeps from standing genetic variation at multiple loci throughout the genome. We identified one locus putatively under selection in a gene associated with the immune system. Multiple loci putatively under selection were located within genes previously linked to host response to WNS as well as to changes in metabolism during hibernation. Results from two additional populations suggested that loci under selection may differ somewhat among populations. Through these findings, we suggest that WNS-induced selection may contribute to genetic resistance in this slowly reproducing species threatened with extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Gignoux-Wolfsohn
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Malin L Pinsky
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Kathleen Kerwin
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Carl Herzog
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY, USA
| | - MacKenzie Hall
- Endangered and Nongame Species Program, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Trenton, NJ, USA
| | | | - Nina H Fefferman
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.,National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis, University of Tennessee, Tennessee, TN, USA
| | - Brooke Maslo
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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12
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Yi X, Donner DM, Marquardt PE, Palmer JM, Jusino MA, Frair J, Lindner DL, Latch EK. Major histocompatibility complex variation is similar in little brown bats before and after white-nose syndrome outbreak. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:10031-10043. [PMID: 33005361 PMCID: PMC7520216 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
White-nose syndrome (WNS), caused by the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), has driven alarming declines in North American hibernating bats, such as little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus). During hibernation, infected little brown bats are able to initiate anti-Pd immune responses, indicating pathogen-mediated selection on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. However, such immune responses may not be protective as they interrupt torpor, elevate energy costs, and potentially lead to higher mortality rates. To assess whether WNS drives selection on MHC genes, we compared the MHC DRB gene in little brown bats pre- (Wisconsin) and post- (Michigan, New York, Vermont, and Pennsylvania) WNS (detection spanning 2014-2015). We genotyped 131 individuals and found 45 nucleotide alleles (27 amino acid alleles) indicating a maximum of 3 loci (1-5 alleles per individual). We observed high allelic admixture and a lack of genetic differentiation both among sampling sites and between pre- and post-WNS populations, indicating no signal of selection on MHC genes. However, post-WNS populations exhibited decreased allelic richness, reflecting effects from bottleneck and drift following rapid population declines. We propose that mechanisms other than adaptive immunity are more likely driving current persistence of little brown bats in affected regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueling Yi
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Wisconsin‐MilwaukeeMilwaukeeWIUSA
| | - Deahn M. Donner
- Northern Research StationUSDA Forest ServiceRhinelanderWIUSA
| | | | | | - Michelle A. Jusino
- Northern Research StationUSDA Forest ServiceMadisonWIUSA
- Department of Plant PathologyUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
| | - Jacqueline Frair
- Roosevelt Wild Life StationSUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNYUSA
| | | | - Emily K. Latch
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Wisconsin‐MilwaukeeMilwaukeeWIUSA
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13
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Population Connectivity Predicts Vulnerability to White-Nose Syndrome in the Chilean Myotis ( Myotis chiloensis) - A Genomics Approach. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:2117-2126. [PMID: 32327452 PMCID: PMC7263680 DOI: 10.1534/g3.119.401009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Despite its peculiar distribution, the biology of the southernmost bat species in the world, the Chilean myotis (Myotis chiloensis), has garnered little attention so far. The species has a north-south distribution of c. 2800 km, mostly on the eastern side of the Andes mountain range. Use of extended torpor occurs in the southernmost portion of the range, putting the species at risk of bat white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease responsible for massive population declines in North American bats. Here, we examined how geographic distance and topology would be reflected in the population structure of M. chiloensis along the majority of its range using a double digestion RAD-seq method. We sampled 66 individuals across the species range and discovered pronounced isolation-by-distance. Furthermore, and surprisingly, we found higher degrees of heterozygosity in the southernmost populations compared to the north. A coalescence analysis revealed that our populations may still not have reached secondary contact after the Last Glacial Maximum. As for the potential spread of pathogens, such as the fungus causing WNS, connectivity among populations was noticeably low, especially between the southern hibernatory populations in the Magallanes and Tierra del Fuego, and more northerly populations. This suggests the probability of geographic spread of the disease from the north through bat-to-bat contact to susceptible populations is low. The study presents a rare case of defined population structure in a bat species and warrants further research on the underlying factors contributing to this. See the graphical abstract here. https://doi.org/10.25387/g3.12173385
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Genome-Wide Changes in Genetic Diversity in a Population of Myotis lucifugus Affected by White-Nose Syndrome. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:2007-2020. [PMID: 32276959 PMCID: PMC7263666 DOI: 10.1534/g3.119.400966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Novel pathogens can cause massive declines in populations, and even extirpation of hosts. But disease can also act as a selective pressure on survivors, driving the evolution of resistance or tolerance. Bat white-nose syndrome (WNS) is a rapidly spreading wildlife disease in North America. The fungus causing the disease invades skin tissues of hibernating bats, resulting in disruption of hibernation behavior, premature energy depletion, and subsequent death. We used whole-genome sequencing to investigate changes in allele frequencies within a population of Myotis lucifugus in eastern North America to search for genetic resistance to WNS. Our results show low FST values within the population across time, i.e., prior to WNS (Pre-WNS) compared to the population that has survived WNS (Post-WNS). However, when dividing the population with a geographical cut-off between the states of Pennsylvania and New York, a sharp increase in values on scaffold GL429776 is evident in the Post-WNS samples. Genes present in the diverged area are associated with thermoregulation and promotion of brown fat production. Thus, although WNS may not have subjected the entire M. lucifugus population to selective pressure, it may have selected for specific alleles in Pennsylvania through decreased gene flow within the population. However, the persistence of remnant sub-populations in the aftermath of WNS is likely due to multiple factors in bat life history.
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15
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Jensen AM, O'Neil NP, Iwaniuk AN, Burg TM. Landscape effects on the contemporary genetic structure of Ruffed Grouse ( Bonasa umbellus) populations. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:5572-5592. [PMID: 31160983 PMCID: PMC6540679 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The amount of dispersal that occurs among populations can be limited by landscape heterogeneity, which is often due to both natural processes and anthropogenic activity leading to habitat loss or fragmentation. Understanding how populations are structured and mapping existing dispersal corridors among populations is imperative to both determining contemporary forces mediating population connectivity, and informing proper management of species with fragmented populations. Furthermore, the contemporary processes mediating gene flow across heterogeneous landscapes on a large scale are understudied, particularly with respect to widespread species. This study focuses on a widespread game bird, the Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus), for which we analyzed samples from the western extent of the range. Using three types of genetic markers, we uncovered multiple factors acting in concert that are responsible for mediating contemporary population connectivity in this species. Multiple genetically distinct groups were detected; microsatellite markers revealed six groups, and a mitochondrial marker revealed four. Many populations of Ruffed Grouse are genetically isolated, likely by macrogeographic barriers. Furthermore, the addition of landscape genetic methods not only corroborated genetic structure results, but also uncovered compelling evidence that dispersal resistance created by areas of unsuitable habitat is the most important factor mediating population connectivity among the sampled populations. This research has important implications for both our study species and other inhabitants of the early successional forest habitat preferred by Ruffed Grouse. Moreover, it adds to a growing body of evidence that isolation by resistance is more prevalent in shaping population structure of widespread species than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M. Jensen
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of LethbridgeLethbridgeAlbertaCanada
| | - Nicholas P. O'Neil
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural NeuroscienceUniversity of LethbridgeLethbridgeAlbertaCanada
| | - Andrew N. Iwaniuk
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural NeuroscienceUniversity of LethbridgeLethbridgeAlbertaCanada
| | - Theresa M. Burg
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of LethbridgeLethbridgeAlbertaCanada
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Weller TJ, Rodhouse TJ, Neubaum DJ, Ormsbee PC, Dixon RD, Popp DL, Williams JA, Osborn SD, Rogers BW, Beard LO, McIntire AM, Hersey KA, Tobin A, Bjornlie NL, Foote J, Bachen DA, Maxell BA, Morrison ML, Thomas SC, Oliver GV, Navo KW. A review of bat hibernacula across the western United States: Implications for white-nose syndrome surveillance and management. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205647. [PMID: 30379854 PMCID: PMC6209190 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Efforts to conserve bats in the western United States have long been impeded by a lack of information on their winter whereabouts, particularly bats in the genus Myotis. The recent arrival of white-nose syndrome in western North America has increased the urgency to characterize winter roost habitats in this region. We compiled 4,549 winter bat survey records from 2,888 unique structures across 11 western states. Myotis bats were reported from 18.5% of structures with 95% of aggregations composed of ≤10 individuals. Only 11 structures contained ≥100 Myotis individuals and 6 contained ≥500 individuals. Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) were reported from 38% of structures, with 72% of aggregations composed of ≤10 individuals. Aggregations of ≥100 Townsend’s big-eared bats were observed at 41 different caves or mines across 9 states. We used zero-inflated negative binomial regression to explore biogeographic patterns of winter roost counts. Myotis counts were greater in caves than mines, in more recent years, and in more easterly longitudes, northerly latitudes, higher elevations, and in areas with higher surface temperatures and lower precipitation. Townsend’s big-eared bat counts were greater in caves, during more recent years, and in more westerly longitudes. Karst topography was associated with higher Townsend’s big-eared bat counts but did not appear to influence Myotis counts. We found stable or slightly-increasing trends over time in counts for both Myotis and Townsend’s big-eared bats from 82 hibernacula surveyed ≥5 winters since 1990. Highly-dispersed winter roosting of Myotis in the western USA complicates efforts to monitor population trends and impacts of disease. However, our results reveal opportunities to monitor winter population status of Townsend’s big-eared bats across this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore J. Weller
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Arcata, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Thomas J. Rodhouse
- National Park Service Upper Columbia Basin Network, Bend, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Daniel J. Neubaum
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Terrestrial Section, Grand Junction, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Patricia C. Ormsbee
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Eugene, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Rita D. Dixon
- Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, Idaho, United States of America
| | - Diana L. Popp
- Oregon State University – Cascades Campus, Human & Ecosystem Resiliency & Sustainability Lab, Bend, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Jason A. Williams
- Nevada Department of Wildlife, Ely, Nevada, United States of America
| | - Scott D. Osborn
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Nongame Wildlife Program, Wildlife Branch, Sacramento, California, United States of America
| | - Bruce W. Rogers
- Western Cave Conservancy, Newcastle, California, United States of America
| | - Laura O. Beard
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Nongame Program, Lander, Wyoming, United States of America
| | - Angela M. McIntire
- Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Kimberly A. Hersey
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Abigail Tobin
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington, United States of America
| | - Nichole L. Bjornlie
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Nongame Program, Lander, Wyoming, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Foote
- National Speleological Society, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Dan A. Bachen
- Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, Montana, United States of America
| | - Bryce A. Maxell
- Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, Montana, United States of America
| | - Michael L. Morrison
- Texas A&M University, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Shawn C. Thomas
- Bat Conservation International, Subterranean Program, Olympia, Washington, United States of America
| | - George V. Oliver
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Kirk W. Navo
- Colorado Division of Wildlife, Monte Vista, Colorado, United States of America
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Mortality of Little Brown Bats ( Myotis lucifugus carissima) Naturally Exposed to Microcystin-LR. J Wildl Dis 2018; 55:266-269. [PMID: 30216129 DOI: 10.7589/2018-02-047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We describe a die-off of little brown bats ( Myotis lucifugus carissima) associated with acute intoxication with microcystin-LR in 2016 at Scofield Reservoir in Utah, US. High levels of this cyanotoxin in water from the reservoir and gastrointestinal content of bats supported this diagnosis.
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Davy CM, Donaldson ME, Rico Y, Lausen CL, Dogantzis K, Ritchie K, Willis CK, Burles DW, Jung TS, McBurney S, Park A, McAlpine DF, Vanderwolf KJ, Kyle CJ. Prelude to a panzootic: Gene flow and immunogenetic variation in northern little brown myotis vulnerable to bat white-nose syndrome. Facets (Ott) 2017. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2017-0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungus that causes bat white-nose syndrome (WNS) recently leaped from eastern North America to the Pacific Coast. The pathogen’s spread is associated with the genetic population structure of a host ( Myotis lucifugus). To understand the fine-scale neutral and immunogenetic variation among northern populations of M. lucifugus, we sampled 1142 individuals across the species’ northern range. We used genotypes at 11 microsatellite loci to reveal the genetic structure of, and directional gene flow among, populations to predict the likely future spread of the pathogen in the northwest and to estimate effective population size ( Ne). We also pyrosequenced the DRB1-like exon 2 of the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in 160 individuals to explore immunogenetic selection by WNS. We identified three major neutral genetic clusters: Eastern, Montane Cordillera (and adjacent sampling areas), and Haida Gwaii, with admixture at intermediate areas and significant substructure west of the prairies. Estimates of Ne were unexpectedly low (289–16 000). Haida Gwaii may provide temporary refuge from WNS, but the western mountain ranges are not barriers to its dispersal in M. lucifugus and are unlikely to slow its spread. Our major histocompatibility complex (MHC) data suggest potential selection by WNS on the MHC, but gene duplication limited the immunogenetic analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M. Davy
- Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E9, Canada
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada
| | - Michael E. Donaldson
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada
- Forensic Science Department, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada
| | - Yessica Rico
- Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada
- Catedrático CONACYT, Instituto de Ecología A.C., Centro Regional del Bajío, Avenida Lázaro Cárdenas 253, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 61600, México
| | - Cori L. Lausen
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, P.O. Box 606, Kaslo, BC V0G 1M0, Canada
| | - Kathleen Dogantzis
- Forensic Science Department, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada
| | - Kyle Ritchie
- Forensic Science Department, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada
| | - Craig K.R. Willis
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E9, Canada
| | - Douglas W. Burles
- Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve/Haida Heritage Site, P.O. Box 37, Queen Charlotte City, BC V0T 1S0, Canada
| | - Thomas S. Jung
- Yukon Department of Environment, P.O. Box 2703, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2C6, Canada
| | - Scott McBurney
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Atlantic Region, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PEI C1A 4P3, Canada
| | - Allysia Park
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Atlantic Region, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PEI C1A 4P3, Canada
| | - Donald F. McAlpine
- New Brunswick Museum, 277 Douglas Avenue, Saint John, NB E2K 1E5, Canada
| | - Karen J. Vanderwolf
- New Brunswick Museum, 277 Douglas Avenue, Saint John, NB E2K 1E5, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Federation, 350 Promenade Michael Cowpland Drive, Kanata, ON K2M 2G4, Canada
| | - Christopher J. Kyle
- Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada
- Forensic Science Department, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada
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Talbot B, Vonhof MJ, Broders HG, Fenton B, Keyghobadi N. Range-wide genetic structure and demographic history in the bat ectoparasite Cimex adjunctus. BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:268. [PMID: 27927166 PMCID: PMC5142389 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0839-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Evolutionary histories of parasite and host populations are intimately linked such that their spatial genetic structures may be correlated. While these processes have been relatively well studied in specialist parasites and their hosts, less is known about the ecological and evolutionary consequences of relationships between generalist ectoparasites and their hosts. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic structure and demographic history of a bat ectoparasite, Cimex adjunctus, whose host affinity is weak but the biology of the potential hosts have been well studied. This ectoparasite has been hypothesized to rely on its hosts for dispersal due to its low inherent dispersal potential. Here we describe genetic diversity and demographic history in C. adjunctus through most of its range in North America. We investigated variation at the cytochrome c oxidase 1 mitochondrial gene and nine microsatellite markers, and tested the prediction that genetic diversity in C. adjunctus is spatially structured. We also tested the prediction that demographic history in C. adjunctus is characterized by range and demographic expansion as a consequence of post-Pleistocene climate warming. Results We found stronger spatial structuring of genetic diversity in C. adjunctus than has been quantified in two of its hosts, but contrast in amount of variation explained by host association with different genetic markers (i.e., nuclear vs mitochondrial DNA). Also, C. adjunctus’ history is not primarily characterized by demographic and range expansion, as is the case with two of its key hosts. Conclusions Our study shows different patterns of genetic structure and demographic history in C. adjunctus than have been detected in two of its key hosts. Our results suggest an effect of a loose parasite-host relationship and anti-parasitism strategies on genetic structure and post-Pleistocene recovery of population size. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0839-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Talbot
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, Canada.
| | - Maarten J Vonhof
- Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, 1903 W Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | - Hugh G Broders
- Department of Biology, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Brock Fenton
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, Canada
| | - Nusha Keyghobadi
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, Canada
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20
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Patrick LE, Just JM, Vonhof MJ. Non-invasive bat species identification from mixed-species samples using a microarray. CONSERV GENET RESOUR 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s12686-016-0613-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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21
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First Detection of Bat White-Nose Syndrome in Western North America. mSphere 2016; 1:mSphere00148-16. [PMID: 27504499 PMCID: PMC4973635 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00148-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
White-nose syndrome (WNS) represents one of the most consequential wildlife diseases of modern times. Since it was first documented in New York in 2006, the disease has killed millions of bats and threatens several formerly abundant species with extirpation or extinction. The spread of WNS in eastern North America has been relatively gradual, inducing optimism that disease mitigation strategies could be established in time to conserve bats susceptible to WNS in western North America. The recent detection of the fungus that causes WNS in the Pacific Northwest, far from its previous known distribution, increases the urgency for understanding the long-term impacts of this disease and for developing strategies to conserve imperiled bat species. White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emerging fungal disease of bats caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Since it was first detected near Albany, NY, in 2006, the fungus has spread across eastern North America, killing unprecedented numbers of hibernating bats. The devastating impacts of WNS on Nearctic bat species are attributed to the likely introduction of P. destructans from Eurasia to naive host populations in eastern North America. Since 2006, the disease has spread in a gradual wavelike pattern consistent with introduction of the pathogen at a single location. Here, we describe the first detection of P. destructans in western North America in a little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) from near Seattle, WA, far from the previously recognized geographic distribution of the fungus. Whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses indicated that the isolate of P. destructans from Washington grouped with other isolates of a presumed clonal lineage from the eastern United States. Thus, the occurrence of P. destructans in Washington does not likely represent a novel introduction of the fungus from Eurasia, and the lack of intensive surveillance in the western United States makes it difficult to interpret whether the occurrence of P. destructans in the Pacific Northwest is disjunct from that in eastern North America. Although there is uncertainty surrounding the impacts of WNS in the Pacific Northwest, the presence of the pathogen in western North America could have major consequences for bat conservation. IMPORTANCE White-nose syndrome (WNS) represents one of the most consequential wildlife diseases of modern times. Since it was first documented in New York in 2006, the disease has killed millions of bats and threatens several formerly abundant species with extirpation or extinction. The spread of WNS in eastern North America has been relatively gradual, inducing optimism that disease mitigation strategies could be established in time to conserve bats susceptible to WNS in western North America. The recent detection of the fungus that causes WNS in the Pacific Northwest, far from its previous known distribution, increases the urgency for understanding the long-term impacts of this disease and for developing strategies to conserve imperiled bat species.
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22
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Vonhof MJ, Amelon SK, Currie RR, McCracken GF. Genetic structure of winter populations of the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) prior to the white nose syndrome epidemic: implications for the risk of disease spread. CONSERV GENET 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-016-0841-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Lilley TM, Johnson JS, Ruokolainen L, Rogers EJ, Wilson CA, Schell SM, Field KA, Reeder DM. White-nose syndrome survivors do not exhibit frequent arousals associated with Pseudogymnoascus destructans infection. Front Zool 2016; 13:12. [PMID: 26949407 PMCID: PMC4778317 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-016-0143-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND White-nose syndrome (WNS) has devastated bat populations in North America, with millions of bats dead. WNS is associated with physiological changes in hibernating bats, leading to increased arousals from hibernation and premature consumption of fat reserves. However, there is evidence of surviving populations of little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) close to where the fungus was first detected nearly ten years ago. RESULTS We examined the hibernation patterns of a surviving population of little brown myotis and compared them to patterns in populations before the arrival of WNS and populations at the peak of WNS mortality. Despite infection with Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative fungal agent, the remnant population displayed less frequent arousals from torpor and lower torpid body temperatures than bats that died from WNS during the peak of mortality. The hibernation patterns of the remnant population resembled pre-WNS patterns with some modifications. CONCLUSIONS These data show that remnant populations of little brown myotis do not experience the increase in periodic arousals from hibernation typified by bats dying from WNS, despite the presence of the fungal pathogen on their skin. These patterns may reflect the use of colder hibernacula microclimates by WNS survivors, and/or may reflect differences in how these bats respond to the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lasse Ruokolainen
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Science, Metapopulation Research Centre, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 1, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Cali Ann Wilson
- Biology Department, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837 USA
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Field KA, Johnson JS, Lilley TM, Reeder SM, Rogers EJ, Behr MJ, Reeder DM. The White-Nose Syndrome Transcriptome: Activation of Anti-fungal Host Responses in Wing Tissue of Hibernating Little Brown Myotis. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1005168. [PMID: 26426272 PMCID: PMC4591128 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
White-nose syndrome (WNS) in North American bats is caused by an invasive cutaneous infection by the psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). We compared transcriptome-wide changes in gene expression using RNA-Seq on wing skin tissue from hibernating little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) with WNS to bats without Pd exposure. We found that WNS caused significant changes in gene expression in hibernating bats including pathways involved in inflammation, wound healing, and metabolism. Local acute inflammatory responses were initiated by fungal invasion. Gene expression was increased for inflammatory cytokines, including interleukins (IL) IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17C, IL-20, IL-23A, IL-24, and G-CSF and chemokines, such as Ccl2 and Ccl20. This pattern of gene expression changes demonstrates that WNS is accompanied by an innate anti-fungal host response similar to that caused by cutaneous Candida albicans infections. However, despite the apparent production of appropriate chemokines, immune cells such as neutrophils and T cells do not appear to be recruited. We observed upregulation of acute inflammatory genes, including prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 (cyclooxygenase-2), that generate eicosanoids and other nociception mediators. We also observed differences in Pd gene expression that suggest host-pathogen interactions that might determine WNS progression. We identified several classes of potential virulence factors that are expressed in Pd during WNS, including secreted proteases that may mediate tissue invasion. These results demonstrate that hibernation does not prevent a local inflammatory response to Pd infection but that recruitment of leukocytes to the site of infection does not occur. The putative virulence factors may provide novel targets for treatment or prevention of WNS. These observations support a dual role for inflammation during WNS; inflammatory responses provide protection but excessive inflammation may contribute to mortality, either by affecting torpor behavior or causing damage upon emergence in the spring. White-nose syndrome is the most devastating epizootic wildlife disease of mammals in history, having killed millions of hibernating bats in North America since 2007. We have used next-generation RNA sequencing to provide a survey of the gene expression changes that accompany this disease in the skin of bats infected with the causative fungus. We identified possible new mechanisms that may either provide protection or contribute to mortality, including inflammatory immune responses. Contrary to expectations that hibernation represents a period of dormancy, we found that gene expression pathways were responsive to the environment. We also examined which genes were expressed in the pathogen and identified several classes of genes that could contribute to the virulence of this disease. Gene expression changes in the host were associated with local inflammation despite the fact that the bats were hibernating. However, we found that hibernating bats with white-nose syndrome lack some of the responses known to defend other mammals from fungal infection. We propose that bats could be protected from white-nose syndrome if these responses could be established prior to hibernation or if treatments could block the virulence factors expressed by the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth A. Field
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Joseph S. Johnson
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Thomas M. Lilley
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Sophia M. Reeder
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth J. Rogers
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Melissa J. Behr
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - DeeAnn M. Reeder
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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