1
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Lu H, Toyoda JH, Wise SS, Browning CL, Speer RM, Croom-Pérez TJ, Bolt A, Meaza I, Wise JP. A whale of a tale: whale cells evade the driving mechanism for hexavalent chromium-induced chromosome instability. Toxicol Sci 2024; 199:49-62. [PMID: 38539048 PMCID: PMC11057468 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Chromosome instability, a hallmark of lung cancer, is a driving mechanism for hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] carcinogenesis in humans. Cr(VI) induces structural and numerical chromosome instability in human lung cells by inducing DNA double-strand breaks and inhibiting homologous recombination repair and causing spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) bypass and centrosome amplification. Great whales are long-lived species with long-term exposures to Cr(VI) and accumulate Cr in their tissue, but exhibit a low incidence of cancer. Data show Cr(VI) induces fewer chromosome aberrations in whale cells after acute Cr(VI) exposure suggesting whale cells can evade Cr(VI)-induced chromosome instability. However, it is unknown if whales can evade Cr(VI)-induced chromosome instability. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that whale cells resist Cr(VI)-induced loss of homologous recombination repair activity and increased SAC bypass and centrosome amplification. We found Cr(VI) induces similar amounts of DNA double-strand breaks after acute (24 h) and prolonged (120 h) exposures in whale lung cells, but does not inhibit homologous recombination repair, SAC bypass, or centrosome amplification, and does not induce chromosome instability. These data indicate whale lung cells resist Cr(VI)-induced chromosome instability, the major driver for Cr(VI) carcinogenesis at a cellular level, consistent with observations that whales are resistant to cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Lu
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Jennifer H Toyoda
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Sandra S Wise
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Cynthia L Browning
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Rachel M Speer
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Tayler J Croom-Pérez
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Alicia Bolt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Idoia Meaza
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - John Pierce Wise
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
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2
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Bruck JN. The Cetacean Sanctuary: A Sea of Unknowns. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:335. [PMID: 38275795 PMCID: PMC10812626 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Housing cetaceans in netted sea pens is not new and is common for many accredited managed-care facilities. Hence, the distinction between sanctuary and sea pen is more about the philosophies of those who run these sanctuary facilities, the effects of these philosophies on the animals' welfare, and how proponents of these sanctuaries fund the care of these animals. Here, I consider what plans exist for cetacean sanctuaries and discuss the caveats and challenges associated with this form of activist-managed captivity. One goal for stakeholders should be to disregard the emotional connotations of the word "sanctuary" and explore these proposals objectively with the best interest of the animals in mind. Another focus should be related to gauging the public's understanding of proposed welfare benefits to determine if long-term supporters of donation-based sanctuary models will likely see their expectations met as NGOs and their government partners consider moving forward with cetacean sanctuary experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason N Bruck
- Department of Biology, Stephen F. Austin University, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962, USA
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3
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Mancini IAD, Levato R, Ksiezarczyk MM, Castilho MD, Chen M, van Rijen MHP, IJsseldijk LL, Kik M, van Weeren PR, Malda J. Microstructural differences in the osteochondral unit of terrestrial and aquatic mammals. eLife 2023; 12:e80936. [PMID: 38009703 PMCID: PMC10781421 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
During evolution, animals have returned from land to water, adapting with morphological modifications to life in an aquatic environment. We compared the osteochondral units of the humeral head of marine and terrestrial mammals across species spanning a wide range of body weights, focusing on microstructural organization and biomechanical performance. Aquatic mammals feature cartilage with essentially random collagen fiber configuration, lacking the depth-dependent, arcade-like organization characteristic of terrestrial mammalian species. They have a less stiff articular cartilage at equilibrium with a significantly lower peak modulus, and at the osteochondral interface do not have a calcified cartilage layer, displaying only a thin, highly porous subchondral bone plate. This totally different constitution of the osteochondral unit in aquatic mammals reflects that accommodation of loading is the primordial function of the osteochondral unit. Recognizing the crucial importance of the microarchitecture-function relationship is pivotal for understanding articular biology and, hence, for the development of durable functional regenerative approaches for treatment of joint damage, which are thus far lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina AD Mancini
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Regenerative Medicine Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Riccardo Levato
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Regenerative Medicine Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Centre UtrechtUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Marlena M Ksiezarczyk
- Regenerative Medicine Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Centre UtrechtUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Miguel Dias Castilho
- Regenerative Medicine Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Centre UtrechtUtrechtNetherlands
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of TechnologyEindhovenNetherlands
| | - Michael Chen
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of AdelaideAdelaideAustralia
| | - Mattie HP van Rijen
- Regenerative Medicine Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Centre UtrechtUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Lonneke L IJsseldijk
- Division of Pathology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Marja Kik
- Division of Pathology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - P René van Weeren
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Regenerative Medicine Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Jos Malda
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Regenerative Medicine Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Centre UtrechtUtrechtNetherlands
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4
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Castiglione GM, Chiu YLI, Gutierrez EDA, Van Nynatten A, Hauser FE, Preston M, Bhattacharyya N, Schott RK, Chang BSW. Convergent evolution of dim light vision in owls and deep-diving whales. Curr Biol 2023; 33:4733-4740.e4. [PMID: 37776863 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Animals with enhanced dim-light sensitivity are at higher risk of light-induced retinal degeneration when exposed to bright light conditions.1,2,3,4 This trade-off is mediated by the rod photoreceptor sensory protein, rhodopsin (RHO), and its toxic vitamin A chromophore by-product, all-trans retinal.5,6,7,8 Rod arrestin (Arr-1) binds to RHO and promotes sequestration of excess all-trans retinal,9,10 which has recently been suggested as a protective mechanism against photoreceptor cell death.2,11 We investigated Arr-1 evolution in animals at high risk of retinal damage due to periodic bright-light exposure of rod-dominated retinas. Here, we find the convergent evolution of enhanced Arr-1/RHO all-trans-retinal sequestration in owls and deep-diving whales. Statistical analyses reveal a parallel acceleration of Arr-1 evolutionary rates in these lineages, which is associated with the introduction of a rare Arr-1 mutation (Q69R) into the RHO-Arr-1 binding interface. Using in vitro assays, we find that this single mutation significantly enhances RHO-all-trans-retinal sequestration by ∼30%. This functional convergence across 300 million years of evolutionary divergence suggests that Arr-1 and RHO may play an underappreciated role in the photoprotection of the eye, with potentially vast clinical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianni M Castiglione
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada; Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada; Evolutionary Studies, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
| | - Yan L I Chiu
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Eduardo de A Gutierrez
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Alexander Van Nynatten
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Frances E Hauser
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Matthew Preston
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Nihar Bhattacharyya
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada; Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Ryan K Schott
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada; Department of Biology and Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada; Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA
| | - Belinda S W Chang
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada; Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada.
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5
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de Greef E, Einfeldt AL, Miller PJO, Ferguson SH, Garroway CJ, Lefort KJ, Paterson IG, Bentzen P, Feyrer LJ. Genomics reveal population structure, evolutionary history, and signatures of selection in the northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:4919-4931. [PMID: 35947506 PMCID: PMC9804413 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Information on wildlife population structure, demographic history, and adaptations are fundamental to understanding species evolution and informing conservation strategies. To study this ecological context for a cetacean of conservation concern, we conducted the first genomic assessment of the northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus, using whole-genome resequencing data (n = 37) from five regions across the North Atlantic Ocean. We found a range-wide pattern of isolation-by-distance with a genetic subdivision distinguishing three subgroups: the Scotian Shelf, western North Atlantic, and Jan Mayen regions. Signals of elevated levels of inbreeding in the Endangered Scotian Shelf population indicate this population may be more vulnerable than the other two subgroups. In addition to signatures of inbreeding, evidence of local adaptation in the Scotian Shelf was detected across the genome. We found a long-term decline in effective population size for the species, which poses risks to their genetic diversity and may be exacerbated by the isolating effects of population subdivision. Protecting important habitat and migratory corridors should be prioritized to rebuild population sizes that were diminished by commercial whaling, strengthen gene flow, and ensure animals can move across regions in response to environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelien de Greef
- Department of BiologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada,Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of ManitobaWinnipegManitobaCanada
| | | | | | | | - Colin J. Garroway
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of ManitobaWinnipegManitobaCanada
| | - Kyle J. Lefort
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of ManitobaWinnipegManitobaCanada
| | - Ian G. Paterson
- Department of BiologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Paul Bentzen
- Department of BiologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Laura J. Feyrer
- Department of BiologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada,Fisheries and Oceans CanadaBedford Institute of OceanographyDartmouthNova ScotiaCanada
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6
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Linsky JMJ, Dunlop RA, Noad MJ, McMichael LA. A mammalian messenger RNA sex determination method from humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae) blubber biopsies. R Soc Open Sci 2022; 9:220556. [PMID: 36016912 PMCID: PMC9399696 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The large size of free-ranging mysticetes, such as humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), make capture and release health assessments unfeasible for conservation research. However, individual energetic condition or reproductive health may be assessed from the gene expression of remotely biopsied tissue. To do this, researchers must reliably extract RNA and interpret gene expression measurements within the context of an individual's sex. Here, we outline an RNA extraction protocol from blubber tissue and describe a novel mammalian RNA sex determination method. Our method consists of a duplex reverse transcription-quantitative (real-time) polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) with primer sets for a control gene (ACTB) and the X-chromosome inactivation gene (XIST). Products of each RT-qPCR had distinct melting temperature profiles based on the presence (female) or absence (male) of the XIST transcript. Using high-resolution melt analysis, reactions were sorted into one of two clusters (male/female) based on their melting profiles. We validated the XIST method by comparing results with a standard DNA-based method. With adequate quantities of RNA (minimum of approx. 9 ng µl-1), the XIST sex determination method shows 100% agreement with traditional DNA sex determination. Using the XIST method, future cetacean health studies can interpret gene expression within the context of an individual's sex, all from a single extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob M. J. Linsky
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Centre for Marine Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Rebecca A. Dunlop
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Centre for Marine Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Michael J. Noad
- Centre for Marine Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
| | - Lee A. McMichael
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
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7
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Pereiro X, Beriain S, Rodriguez L, Roiz-Valle D, Ruzafa N, Vecino E. Characteristics of Whale Müller Glia in Primary and Immortalized Cultures. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:854278. [PMID: 35360150 PMCID: PMC8964101 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.854278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Müller cells are the principal glial cells in the retina and they assume many of the functions carried out by astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and ependymal cells in other regions of the central nervous system. Müller cells express growth factors, neurotransmitter transporters and antioxidant agents that could fulfill important roles in preventing excitotoxic damage to retinal neurons. Vertebrate Müller cells are well-defined cells, characterized by a common set of features throughout the phylum. Nevertheless, several major differences have been observed among the Müller cells in distinct vertebrates, such as neurogenesis, the capacity to reprogram fish Müller glia to neurons. Here, the Müller glia of the largest adult mammal in the world, the whale, have been analyzed, and given the difficulties in obtaining cetacean cells for study, these whale glia were analyzed both in primary cultures and as immortalized whale Müller cells. After isolating the retina from the eye of a beached sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), primary Müller cell cultures were established and once the cultures reached confluence, half of the cultures were immortalized with the simian virus 40 (SV40) large T-antigen commonly used to immortalize human cell lines. The primary cell cultures were grown until cells reached senescence. Expression of the principal molecular markers of Müller cells (GFAP, Vimentin and Glutamine synthetase) was studied in both primary and immortalized cells at each culture passage. Proliferation kinetics of the cells were analyzed by time-lapse microscopy: the time between divisions, the time that cells take to divide, and the proportion of dividing cells in the same field. The karyotypes of the primary and immortalized whale Müller cells were also characterized. Our results shown that W21M proliferate more rapidly and they have a stable karyotype. W21M cells display a heterogeneous cell morphology, less motility and a distinctive expression of some typical molecular markers of Müller cells, with an increase in dedifferentiation markers like α-SMA and β-III tubulin, while they preserve their GS expression depending on the culture passage. Here we also discuss the possible influence of the animal's age and size on these cells, and on their senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xandra Pereiro
- Experimental Ophthalmo-Biology Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
- Begiker-Ophthalmology Research Group, BioCruces Health Research Institute, Cruces Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Sandra Beriain
- Experimental Ophthalmo-Biology Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
| | - Lara Rodriguez
- Experimental Ophthalmo-Biology Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
| | - David Roiz-Valle
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Institute of Oncology (IUOPA), University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Noelia Ruzafa
- Experimental Ophthalmo-Biology Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
- Begiker-Ophthalmology Research Group, BioCruces Health Research Institute, Cruces Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Elena Vecino
- Experimental Ophthalmo-Biology Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
- Begiker-Ophthalmology Research Group, BioCruces Health Research Institute, Cruces Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain
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8
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Ochiai M, Nguyen HT, Kurihara N, Hirano M, Tajima Y, Yamada TK, Iwata H. Directly Reprogrammed Neurons as a Tool to Assess Neurotoxicity of the Contaminant 4-Hydroxy-2',3,5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (4'OH-CB72) in Melon-Headed Whales. Environ Sci Technol 2021; 55:8159-8168. [PMID: 34061511 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Whales accumulate high levels of environmental pollutants. Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and their metabolites (OH-PCBs) could be linked to abnormal behavior, which may lead to mass stranding of marine mammals. Whales may thus suffer from adverse effects such as neuronal dysfunction, yet testing the neurotoxicity of these compounds has never been feasible for these species. This study established neurons chemically reprogrammed from fibroblasts of mass stranded melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra) and used them for in vitro neurotoxicity assays. Exposure to 4-hydroxy-2',3,5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (4'OH-CB72), a metabolite of PCBs, caused apoptosis in the reprogrammed neurons. Transcriptome analysis of 4'OH-CB72-treated whale neurons showed altered expressions of genes associated with oxidative phosphorylation, chromatin degradation, axonal transport, and neurodegenerative diseases. These results suggest that 4'OH-CB72 exposure may induce neurodegeneration through disrupted apoptotic processes. A comparison of the results with human reprogrammed neurons revealed the specific effects on the whale neurons. Our noninvasive approach using fibroblast-derived neurons is useful for hazard and risk assessments of neurotoxicity in whales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Ochiai
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama City, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Hoa Thanh Nguyen
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama City, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Nozomi Kurihara
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1, Yoshida, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan
| | - Masashi Hirano
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama City, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Yuko Tajima
- Division of Vertebrates, Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science, 4-1-1, Amakubo, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0005, Japan
| | - Tadasu K Yamada
- Division of Vertebrates, Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science, 4-1-1, Amakubo, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0005, Japan
| | - Hisato Iwata
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama City, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
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9
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Keller AG, Apprill A, Lebaron P, Robbins J, Romano TA, Overton E, Rong Y, Yuan R, Pollara S, Whalen KE. Characterizing the culturable surface microbiomes of diverse marine animals. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2021; 97:6157762. [PMID: 33681975 PMCID: PMC8012112 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiab040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilm-forming bacteria have the potential to contribute to the health, physiology, behavior and ecology of the host and serve as its first line of defense against adverse conditions in the environment. While metabarcoding and metagenomic information furthers our understanding of microbiome composition, fewer studies use cultured samples to study the diverse interactions among the host and its microbiome, as cultured representatives are often lacking. This study examines the surface microbiomes cultured from three shallow-water coral species and two whale species. These unique marine animals place strong selective pressures on their microbial symbionts and contain members under similar environmental and anthropogenic stress. We developed an intense cultivation procedure, utilizing a suite of culture conditions targeting a rich assortment of biofilm-forming microorganisms. We identified 592 microbial isolates contained within 15 bacterial orders representing 50 bacterial genera, and two fungal species. Culturable bacteria from coral and whale samples paralleled taxonomic groups identified in culture-independent surveys, including 29% of all bacterial genera identified in the Megaptera novaeangliae skin microbiome through culture-independent methods. This microbial repository provides raw material and biological input for more nuanced studies which can explore how members of the microbiome both shape their micro-niche and impact host fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail G Keller
- Department of Biology, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, PA, 19041-1392, USA
| | - Amy Apprill
- Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - Philippe Lebaron
- Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Microbiennes, USR 3579 Sorbonne Université (UPMC) Paris 6 et CNRS Observatoire Océanologique, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Jooke Robbins
- Center for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway Ave., Provincetown, MA, 02657, USA
| | - Tracy A Romano
- Mystic Aquarium, a division of Sea Research Foundation Inc., 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT, 06355, USA
| | - Ellysia Overton
- Department of Biology, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, PA, 19041-1392, USA
| | - Yuying Rong
- Department of Biology, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, PA, 19041-1392, USA
| | - Ruiyi Yuan
- Department of Biology, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, PA, 19041-1392, USA
| | - Scott Pollara
- Department of Biology, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, PA, 19041-1392, USA
| | - Kristen E Whalen
- Department of Biology, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, PA, 19041-1392, USA
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10
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Suzuki A, Suzuki M. Antimicrobial Activity of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis Isolated from a Stranded Cuvier's Beaked Whale ( Ziphius cavirostris) against Gram-Positive and -Negative Bacteria. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020243. [PMID: 33503966 PMCID: PMC7911499 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we isolated and characterized Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis) subsp. lactis from a female Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) stranded in Shizuoka, Japan. Only five isolates (CBW1-5), grown on Lactobacilli de Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) agar plates prepared using 50% artificial seawater, were positive in L. lactis species-specific primer PCR. Their 16S rRNA sequences were highly similar to those of L. lactis subsp. lactis JCM 5805T. The Gram reaction, motility, gas production from glucose, catalase production, and growth conditions were consistent with those of the type strain. Additionally, carbohydrate utilization of the strains was consistent with previously reported marine organism-derived strains. The pH-neutralized cell-free culture supernatant of strain CBW2 inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis ATCC 6051 and Vibrio alginolyticus ATCC 17749, whereas protease treatment eliminated or diminished its inhibitory activity. The strain possesses a precursor of the nisin structural gene (nisA), which showed 100% homology with nisin Z, and nisin biosynthesis-related genes (nisB, nisC, nisT, nisP, nisF, nisI, and nisRK), suggesting that the strain produces a nisin-like substance. This study provides fundamental information on whale-derived L. lactis subsp. lactis which may be useful for reducing the carriage of B. subtilis subsp. subtilis and V. alginolyticus.
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11
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Graïc JM, Peruffo A, Grandis A, Cozzi B. Topographical and structural characterization of the V1-V2 transition zone in the visual cortex of the long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas (Traill, 1809). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2020; 304:1105-1118. [PMID: 33119932 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The visual system of cetaceans is at best poorly understood. With a handful of electrophysiological studies and a limited number of histological preparations from well-preserved specimen, the investigation of the principles underlying the cortical organization in cetaceans remains a challenge. In the course of our current investigation, we identified the transition from V2 to V1 in the long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas, only recognizable through immunocytochemistry, and a similar if not homologue transition in the sheep Ovis aries. Our results emphasize the importance of differential pattern recognition in which the application of different markers uncovers a diversity in a delphinid's cortex, formerly widely considered as uniform and archetypal. In fact, the evidence that we present suggests the existence of relatively unacknowledged areas beyond the well-known sensory territories in cetaceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Marie Graïc
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Antonella Peruffo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Annamaria Grandis
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - Bruno Cozzi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro (PD), Italy
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12
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Xie M, Gol'din P, Herdina AN, Estefa J, Medvedeva EV, Li L, Newton PT, Kotova S, Shavkuta B, Saxena A, Shumate LT, Metscher BD, Großschmidt K, Nishimori S, Akovantseva A, Usanova AP, Kurenkova AD, Kumar A, Arregui IL, Tafforeau P, Fried K, Carlström M, Simon A, Gasser C, Kronenberg HM, Bastepe M, Cooper KL, Timashev P, Sanchez S, Adameyko I, Eriksson A, Chagin AS. Secondary ossification center induces and protects growth plate structure. eLife 2020; 9:55212. [PMID: 33063669 PMCID: PMC7581430 DOI: 10.7554/elife.55212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Growth plate and articular cartilage constitute a single anatomical entity early in development but later separate into two distinct structures by the secondary ossification center (SOC). The reason for such separation remains unknown. We found that evolutionarily SOC appears in animals conquering the land - amniotes. Analysis of the ossification pattern in mammals with specialized extremities (whales, bats, jerboa) revealed that SOC development correlates with the extent of mechanical loads. Mathematical modeling revealed that SOC reduces mechanical stress within the growth plate. Functional experiments revealed the high vulnerability of hypertrophic chondrocytes to mechanical stress and showed that SOC protects these cells from apoptosis caused by extensive loading. Atomic force microscopy showed that hypertrophic chondrocytes are the least mechanically stiff cells within the growth plate. Altogether, these findings suggest that SOC has evolved to protect the hypertrophic chondrocytes from the high mechanical stress encountered in the terrestrial environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Xie
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pavel Gol'din
- Department of Evolutionary Morphology, Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of NAS of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Anna Nele Herdina
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Anatomy, MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jordi Estefa
- Science for Life Laboratory and Uppsala University, Subdepartment of Evolution and Development, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ekaterina V Medvedeva
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Phillip T Newton
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Svetlana Kotova
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russian Federation.,Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Boris Shavkuta
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Aditya Saxena
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States
| | - Lauren T Shumate
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Brian D Metscher
- Department of Theoretical Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karl Großschmidt
- Bone and Biomaterials Research, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Shigeki Nishimori
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Anastasia Akovantseva
- Institute of Photonic Technologies, Research center "Crystallography and Photonics", Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Anna P Usanova
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | | | - Anoop Kumar
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Paul Tafforeau
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France
| | - Kaj Fried
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mattias Carlström
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - András Simon
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christian Gasser
- Department of Solid Mechanics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Henry M Kronenberg
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Murat Bastepe
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Kimberly L Cooper
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States
| | - Peter Timashev
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russian Federation.,Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Moscow, Russian Federation.,Institute of Photonic Technologies, Research center "Crystallography and Photonics", Moscow, Russian Federation.,Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskiye Gory 1-3, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Sophie Sanchez
- Science for Life Laboratory and Uppsala University, Subdepartment of Evolution and Development, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala, Sweden.,European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France.,Sorbonne Université - CR2P - MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, Paris, France
| | - Igor Adameyko
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neuroimmunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anders Eriksson
- Department of Mechanics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andrei S Chagin
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russian Federation
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13
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Morell M, Vogl AW, IJsseldijk LL, Piscitelli-Doshkov M, Tong L, Ostertag S, Ferreira M, Fraija-Fernandez N, Colegrove KM, Puel JL, Raverty SA, Shadwick RE. Echolocating Whales and Bats Express the Motor Protein Prestin in the Inner Ear: A Potential Marker for Hearing Loss. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:429. [PMID: 32851016 PMCID: PMC7396497 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Prestin is an integral membrane motor protein located in outer hair cells of the mammalian cochlea. It is responsible for electromotility and required for cochlear amplification. Although prestin works in a cycle-by-cycle mode up to frequencies of at least 79 kHz, it is not known whether or not prestin is required for the extreme high frequencies used by echolocating species. Cetaceans are known to possess a prestin coding gene. However, the expression and distribution pattern of the protein in the cetacean cochlea has not been determined, and the contribution of prestin to echolocation has not yet been resolved. Here we report the expression of the protein prestin in five species of echolocating whales and two species of echolocating bats. Positive labeling in the basolateral membrane of outer hair cells, using three anti-prestin antibodies, was found all along the cochlear spiral in echolocating species. These findings provide morphological evidence that prestin can have a role in cochlear amplification in the basolateral membrane up to 120–180 kHz. In addition, labeling of the cochlea with a combination of anti-prestin, anti-neurofilament, anti-myosin VI and/or phalloidin and DAPI will be useful for detecting potential recent cases of noise-induced hearing loss in stranded cetaceans. This study improves our understanding of the mechanisms involved in sound transduction in echolocating mammals, as well as describing an optimized methodology for detecting cases of hearing loss in stranded marine mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Morell
- Zoology Department, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Inserm Unit 1051, Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Büsum, Germany
| | - A Wayne Vogl
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lonneke L IJsseldijk
- Division of Pathology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Ling Tong
- Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Sonja Ostertag
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Marisa Ferreira
- Marine Animal Tissue Bank, Portuguese Wildlife Society, Estação de Campo de Quiaios, Figueira da Foz, Portugal.,Centro Reabilitação Animais Marinhos, CPRAM, Ecomare, Estrada Do Porto de Pesca Costeira, Gafanha da Nazaré, Portugal
| | - Natalia Fraija-Fernandez
- Marine Zoology Unit, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Science Park, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Kathleen M Colegrove
- Zoological Pathology Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Brookfield, IL, United States
| | - Jean-Luc Puel
- Inserm Unit 1051, Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Stephen A Raverty
- Zoology Department, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Animal Health Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
| | - Robert E Shadwick
- Zoology Department, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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14
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Sayama Y, Sano M, Kaneko MK, Kato Y. Epitope Analysis of an Anti- Whale Podoplanin Monoclonal Antibody, PMab-237, Using Flow Cytometry. Monoclon Antib Immunodiagn Immunother 2020; 39:17-22. [PMID: 31934820 PMCID: PMC7044787 DOI: 10.1089/mab.2019.0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Podoplanin (PDPN) is a small mucin-type transmembrane glycoprotein, which was first discovered in podocytes of the kidney. PDPN is a specific lymphatic endothelial marker and is also known as T1alpha, a marker of lung type I alveolar cells, or Aggrus, a platelet aggregation-inducing factor. PDPN possesses three platelet aggregation-stimulating (PLAG) domains and PLAG-like domains (PLDs), which bind to C-type lectin-like receptor-2. Previously, we developed a novel anti-whale PDPN (wPDPN) monoclonal antibody (mAb) PMab-237 using the Cell-Based Immunization and Screening (CBIS) method and the RIEDL tag of Arg-Ile-Glu-Asp-Leu sequence. PMab-237 detected wPDPN by flow cytometry, western blot, and immunohistochemical analyses. However, the specific binding epitope of PMab-237 for wPDPN remains unknown. In this study, deletion mutants and point mutants of wPDPN with N-terminal RIEDL tag were produced to analyze the PMab-237 epitope using flow cytometry. The analysis of deletion mutants showed that the N-terminus of the PMab-237 epitope exists between the 80th amino acid (AA) and the 85th AA of wPDPN. In addition, the analysis of point mutants demonstrated that the critical epitope of PMab-237 includes Leu82 and Thr84 of wPDPN, indicating that the PMab-237 epitope is located in the PLD of wPDPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Sayama
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masato Sano
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Mika K Kaneko
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yukinari Kato
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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15
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Ohishi K, Amano M, Nakamatsu K, Miyazaki N, Tajima Y, Yamada TK, Matsuda A, Ochiai M, Matsuishi TF, Taru H, Iwao H, Maruyama T. Serologic survey of Brucella infection in cetaceans inhabiting along the coast of Japan. J Vet Med Sci 2019; 82:43-46. [PMID: 31748439 PMCID: PMC6983672 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.19-0481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A serologic investigation of Brucella infection was performed in 7 species of cetaceans inhabiting along the coast of Japan. A total of 32 serum samples were examined by
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using Brucella abortus and B. canis antigens. One serum sample from five melon-headed whales
(Peponocephala electra) was positive for B. abortus. No serum sample showed positive for B. canis. The ELISA-positive melon-headed whale
serum demonstrated a strong band appearance only against B. abortus antigens in Western blot analysis. Many detected bands were discrete, while some of them had a smeared
appearance. The present results indicate that Brucella infection occurred in melon-headed whale population and the bacterial antigenicity is more similar to that of
B. abortus than B. canis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazue Ohishi
- Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Polytechnic University, 1583 Iiyama, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0297, Japan
| | - Masao Amano
- Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
| | - Ken Nakamatsu
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Miyazaki
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan
| | - Yuko Tajima
- National Museum of Nature and Science, 4-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0005, Japan
| | - Tadasu K Yamada
- National Museum of Nature and Science, 4-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0005, Japan
| | - Ayaka Matsuda
- Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, Japan
| | - Mari Ochiai
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Takashi F Matsuishi
- Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, Japan.,Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, Japan
| | - Hajime Taru
- Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History, 499 Iryuda, Odawara, Kanagawa 250-0031, Japan
| | - Hajime Iwao
- Niigata City Aquarium, 5932-445 Nishifunami, Chuo-ku, Niigata, Niigata 951-8101, Japan
| | - Tadashi Maruyama
- School of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitazato, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
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16
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Wang B, Sullivan TN, Pissarenko A, Zaheri A, Espinosa HD, Meyers MA. Lessons from the Ocean: Whale Baleen Fracture Resistance. Adv Mater 2019; 31:e1804574. [PMID: 30450716 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201804574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Revised: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Whale baleen is a keratin-based biological material; it provides life-long (40-100 years) filter-feeding for baleen whales in place of teeth. This study reveals new aspects of the contribution of the baleen's hierarchical structure to its fracture toughness and connects it to the unique performance requirements, which require anisotropy of fracture resistance. Baleen plates are subjected to competing external effects of hydration and varying loading rates and demonstrate a high fracture toughness in transverse loading, which is the most important direction in the filtering function; in the longitudinal direction, the toughness is much lower since delamination and controlled flexure are expected and desirable. The compressive strength is also established and results support the fracture toughness measurements: it is also highly anisotropic, and exhibits a ductile-to-brittle transition with increasing strain rate in the dry condition, which is absent in the hydrated condition, conferring impact resistance to the baleen. Using 3D-printing prototypes that replicate the three principal structural features of the baleen plate (hollow medulla, mineralized tubules, and sandwich-tubular structure) are created, and the role of its structure in determining its mechanical behavior is demonstrated. These findings suggest new bioinspired engineering materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wang
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | | | | | - Alireza Zaheri
- Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Horacio D Espinosa
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Marc A Meyers
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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17
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Abstract
The One Environmental Health research approach, a subspecialty of the One Health initiative, focuses on toxic chemicals. Distinct disciplines work together to give a holistic perspective of a health concern through discrete disciplines, including, but not limited to, public health and the medical and veterinary sciences. In this article, we illustrate the concept of One Environmental Health with two case studies. One case study focuses on alligators and contributions to the field of endocrine disruption. The other case study focuses on whales and contributions to understanding carcinogenic metals. Both studies illustrate how the health of sentinel organisms has the potential to inform about the health of humans and the ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Pérez
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, 505 S. Hancock Street, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - John Pierce Wise Sr.
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, 505 S. Hancock Street, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
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18
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Geoghegan JL, Pirotta V, Harvey E, Smith A, Buchmann JP, Ostrowski M, Eden JS, Harcourt R, Holmes EC. Virological Sampling of Inaccessible Wildlife with Drones. Viruses 2018; 10:v10060300. [PMID: 29865228 PMCID: PMC6024715 DOI: 10.3390/v10060300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing interest in characterizing the viromes of diverse mammalian species, particularly in the context of disease emergence. However, little is known about virome diversity in aquatic mammals, in part due to difficulties in sampling. We characterized the virome of the exhaled breath (or blow) of the Eastern Australian humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). To achieve an unbiased survey of virome diversity, a meta-transcriptomic analysis was performed on 19 pooled whale blow samples collected via a purpose-built Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV, or drone) approximately 3 km off the coast of Sydney, Australia during the 2017 winter annual northward migration from Antarctica to northern Australia. To our knowledge, this is the first time that UAVs have been used to sample viruses. Despite the relatively small number of animals surveyed in this initial study, we identified six novel virus species from five viral families. This work demonstrates the potential of UAVs in studies of virus disease, diversity, and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jemma L Geoghegan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Vanessa Pirotta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Erin Harvey
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Alastair Smith
- Heliguy Scientific Pty Ltd., Sydney, NSW 2204, Australia.
| | - Jan P Buchmann
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Martin Ostrowski
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - John-Sebastian Eden
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
- Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Centre for Virus Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
| | - Robert Harcourt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Edward C Holmes
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
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19
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Goldbogen JA, Cade DE, Boersma AT, Calambokidis J, Kahane-Rapport SR, Segre PS, Stimpert AK, Friedlaender AS. Using Digital Tags With Integrated Video and Inertial Sensors to Study Moving Morphology and Associated Function in Large Aquatic Vertebrates. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2018; 300:1935-1941. [PMID: 28971623 DOI: 10.1002/ar.23650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The anatomy of large cetaceans has been well documented, mostly through dissection of dead specimens. However, the difficulty of studying the world's largest animals in their natural environment means the functions of anatomical structures must be inferred. Recently, non-invasive tracking devices have been developed that measure body position and orientation, thereby enabling the detailed reconstruction of underwater trajectories. The addition of cameras to the whale-borne tags allows the sensor data to be matched with real-time observations of how whales use their morphological structures, such as flukes, flippers, feeding apparatuses, and blowholes for the physiological functions of locomotion, feeding, and breathing. Here, we describe a new tag design with integrated video and inertial sensors and how it can be used to provide insights to the function of whale anatomy. This technology has the potential to facilitate a wide range of discoveries and comparative studies, but many challenges remain to increase the resolution and applicability of the data. Anat Rec, 300:1935-1941, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California
| | - D E Cade
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California
| | - A T Boersma
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California
| | | | - S R Kahane-Rapport
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California
| | - P S Segre
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California
| | - A K Stimpert
- Vertebrate Ecology Laboratory, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California
| | - A S Friedlaender
- Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon
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20
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Goldbogen JA, Cade DE, Calambokidis J, Friedlaender AS, Potvin J, Segre PS, Werth AJ. How Baleen Whales Feed: The Biomechanics of Engulfment and Filtration. Ann Rev Mar Sci 2017; 9:367-386. [PMID: 27620830 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-122414-033905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Baleen whales are gigantic obligate filter feeders that exploit aggregations of small-bodied prey in littoral, epipelagic, and mesopelagic ecosystems. At the extreme of maximum body size observed among mammals, baleen whales exhibit a unique combination of high overall energetic demands and low mass-specific metabolic rates. As a result, most baleen whale species have evolved filter-feeding mechanisms and foraging strategies that take advantage of seasonally abundant yet patchily and ephemerally distributed prey resources. New methodologies consisting of multi-sensor tags, active acoustic prey mapping, and hydrodynamic modeling have revolutionized our ability to study the physiology and ecology of baleen whale feeding mechanisms. Here, we review the current state of the field by exploring several hypotheses that aim to explain how baleen whales feed. Despite significant advances, major questions remain about the processes that underlie these extreme feeding mechanisms, which enabled the evolution of the largest animals of all time.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California 93950; , ,
| | - D E Cade
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California 93950; , ,
| | - J Calambokidis
- Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, Washington 98501;
| | - A S Friedlaender
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon 97365;
| | - J Potvin
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri 63103;
| | - P S Segre
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California 93950; , ,
| | - A J Werth
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, Virginia 23943;
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Maldonado MT, Surma S, Pakhomov EA. Southern Ocean biological iron cycling in the pre-whaling and present ecosystems. Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci 2016; 374:rsta.2015.0292. [PMID: 29035257 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2015.0292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to create the first model of biological iron (Fe) cycling in the Southern Ocean food web. Two biomass mass-balanced Ecopath models were built to represent pre- and post-whaling ecosystem states (1900 and 2008). Functional group biomasses (tonnes wet weight km-2) were converted to biogenic Fe pools (kg Fe km-2) using published Fe content ranges. In both models, biogenic Fe pools and consumption in the pelagic Southern Ocean were highest for plankton and small nektonic groups. The production of plankton biomass, particularly unicellular groups, accounted for the highest annual Fe demand. Microzooplankton contributed most to biological Fe recycling, followed by carnivorous zooplankton and krill. Biological Fe recycling matched previous estimates, and, under most conditions, could entirely meet the Fe demand of bacterioplankton and phytoplankton. Iron recycling by large baleen whales was reduced 10-fold by whaling between 1900 and 2008. However, even under the 1900 scenario, the contribution of whales to biological Fe recycling was negligible compared with that of planktonic consumers. These models are a first step in examining oceanic-scale biological Fe cycling, highlighting gaps in our present knowledge and key questions for future research on the role of marine food webs in the cycling of trace elements in the sea.This article is part of the themed issue 'Biological and climatic impacts of ocean trace element chemistry'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria T Maldonado
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2207 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Szymon Surma
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Evgeny A Pakhomov
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2207 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
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Werth AJ, Harriss RW, Rosario MV, George JC, Sformo TL. Hydration affects the physical and mechanical properties of baleen tissue. R Soc Open Sci 2016; 3:160591. [PMID: 27853579 PMCID: PMC5099004 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Baleen, an anisotropic oral filtering tissue found only in the mouth of mysticete whales and made solely of alpha-keratin, exhibits markedly differing physical and mechanical properties between dried or (as in life) hydrated states. On average baleen is 32.35% water by weight in North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) and 34.37% in bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus). Baleen's wettability measured by water droplet contact angles shows that dried baleen is hydrophobic whereas hydrated baleen is highly hydrophilic. Three-point flexural bending tests of mechanical strength reveal that baleen is strong yet ductile. Dried baleen is brittle and shatters at about 20-30 N mm-2 but hydrated baleen is less stiff; it bends with little force and absorbed water is squeezed out when force is applied. Maximum recorded stress was 4× higher in dried (mean 14.29 N mm-2) versus hydrated (mean 3.69 N mm-2) baleen, and the flexural stiffness was >10× higher in dried (mean 633N mm-2) versus hydrated (mean 58 N mm-2) baleen. In addition to documenting hydration's powerful effects on baleen, this study indicates that baleen is far more pliant and malleable than commonly supposed, with implications for studies of baleen's structure and function as well as its susceptibility to oil or other hydrophobic pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. Werth
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943, USA
- Author for correspondence: Alexander J. Werth e-mail:
| | - Robert W. Harriss
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943, USA
| | | | - J. Craig George
- Department of Wildlife Management, North Slope Borough, Barrow, AK 99723, USA
| | - Todd L. Sformo
- Department of Wildlife Management, North Slope Borough, Barrow, AK 99723, USA
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Garrigue C, Clapham PJ, Geyer Y, Kennedy AS, Zerbini AN. Satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered South Pacific humpback whales. R Soc Open Sci 2015; 2:150489. [PMID: 26716006 PMCID: PMC4680621 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.150489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The humpback whale population of New Caledonia appears to display a novel migratory pattern characterized by multiple directions, long migratory paths and frequent pauses over seamounts and other shallow geographical features. Using satellite-monitored radio tags, we tracked 34 whales for between 5 and 110 days, travelling between 270 and 8540 km on their southward migration from a breeding ground in southern New Caledonia. Mean migration speed was 3.53±2.22 km h(-1), while movements within the breeding ground averaged 2.01±1.63 km h(-1). The tag data demonstrate that seamounts play an important role as offshore habitats for this species. Whales displayed an intensive use of oceanic seamounts both in the breeding season and on migration. Seamounts probably serve multiple and important roles as breeding locations, resting areas, navigational landmarks or even supplemental feeding grounds for this species, which can be viewed as a transient component of the seamount communities. Satellite telemetry suggests that seamounts represent an overlooked cryptic habitat for the species. The frequent use by humpback whales of such remote locations has important implications for conservation and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Garrigue
- Opération Cétacés, Nouméa, New Caledonia
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement UMR ENTROPIE, IRD, Perpignan, France
- Author for correspondence: Claire Garrigue e-mail:
| | - Phillip J. Clapham
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ygor Geyer
- Instituto Aqualie, Projeto Monitoramento de Baleias por Satélite, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Amy S. Kennedy
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alexandre N. Zerbini
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Instituto Aqualie, Projeto Monitoramento de Baleias por Satélite, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA, USA
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Wise CF, Wise SS, Thompson WD, Perkins C, Wise JP. Chromium Is Elevated in Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) Skin Tissue and Is Genotoxic to Fin Whale Skin Cells. Biol Trace Elem Res 2015; 166:108-17. [PMID: 25805270 PMCID: PMC4470778 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-015-0311-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is present in the marine environment and is a known carcinogen and reproductive toxicant. Cr(VI) is the form of chromium that is well absorbed through the cell membrane. It is also the most prevalent form in seawater. We measured the total Cr levels in skin biopsies obtained from healthy free-ranging fin whales from the Gulf of Maine and found elevated levels relative to marine mammals in other parts of the world. The levels in fin whale biopsies ranged from 1.71 to 19.6 μg/g with an average level of 10.07 μg/g. We also measured the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of Cr(VI) in fin whale skin cells. We found that particulate and soluble Cr(VI) are both cytotoxic and genotoxic to fin whale skin cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The concentration range used in our cell culture studies used environmentally relevant concentrations based on the biopsy measurements. These data suggest that Cr(VI) may be a concern for whales in the Gulf of Maine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine F. Wise
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA
- Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA
- Department of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA
| | - Sandra S. Wise
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA
- Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA
- Department of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA
| | - W. Douglas Thompson
- Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA
- Department of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA
| | - Christopher Perkins
- Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - John Pierce Wise
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA
- Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA
- Department of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA
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Thompson LA, Romano TA. Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) granulocytes and monocytes display variable responses to in vitro pressure exposures. Front Physiol 2015; 6:128. [PMID: 25999860 PMCID: PMC4422025 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2015.00128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
While it is widely known that marine mammals possess adaptations which allow them to make repetitive and extended dives to great depths without suffering ill effects seen in humans, the response of marine mammal immune cells to diving is unknown. Renewed interest in marine mammal dive physiology has arisen due to reports of decompression sickness-like symptoms and embolic damage in stranded and by-caught animals, and there is concern over whether anthropogenic activities can impact marine mammal health by disrupting adaptive dive responses and behavior. This work addresses the need for information concerning marine mammal immune function during diving by evaluating granulocyte and monocyte phagocytosis, and granulocyte activation in belugas (n = 4) in comparison with humans (n = 4), with and without in vitro pressure exposures. In addition, the potential for additional stressors to impact immune function was investigated by comparing the response of beluga cells to pressure between baseline and stressor conditions. Granulocyte and monocyte phagocytosis, as well as granulocyte activation, were compared between pressure exposed and non-exposed cells for each condition, between different pressure profiles and between conditions using mixed generalized linear models (α = 0.05). The effects of pressure varied between species as well by depth, compression/decompression rates, and length of exposures, and condition for belugas. Pressure induced changes in granulocyte and monocyte function in belugas could serve a protective function against dive-related pathologies and differences in the response between humans and belugas could reflect degrees of dive adaptation. The alteration of these responses during physiologically challenging conditions may increase the potential for dive-related in jury and disease in marine mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Thompson
- Research and Veterinary Services, Mystic Aquarium, A Division of Sea Research Foundation Inc. Mystic, CT, USA
| | - Tracy A Romano
- Research and Veterinary Services, Mystic Aquarium, A Division of Sea Research Foundation Inc. Mystic, CT, USA
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Jackson JA, Steel DJ, Beerli P, Congdon BC, Olavarría C, Leslie MS, Pomilla C, Rosenbaum H, Baker CS. Global diversity and oceanic divergence of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Proc Biol Sci 2014; 281:20133222. [PMID: 24850919 PMCID: PMC4046397 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.3222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) annually undertake the longest migrations between seasonal feeding and breeding grounds of any mammal. Despite this dispersal potential, discontinuous seasonal distributions and migratory patterns suggest that humpbacks form discrete regional populations within each ocean. To better understand the worldwide population history of humpbacks, and the interplay of this species with the oceanic environment through geological time, we assembled mitochondrial DNA control region sequences representing approximately 2700 individuals (465 bp, 219 haplotypes) and eight nuclear intronic sequences representing approximately 70 individuals (3700 bp, 140 alleles) from the North Pacific, North Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere. Bayesian divergence time reconstructions date the origin of humpback mtDNA lineages to the Pleistocene (880 ka, 95% posterior intervals 550-1320 ka) and estimate radiation of current Northern Hemisphere lineages between 50 and 200 ka, indicating colonization of the northern oceans prior to the Last Glacial Maximum. Coalescent analyses reveal restricted gene flow between ocean basins, with long-term migration rates (individual migrants per generation) of less than 3.3 for mtDNA and less than 2 for nuclear genomic DNA. Genetic evidence suggests that humpbacks in the North Pacific, North Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere are on independent evolutionary trajectories, supporting taxonomic revision of M. novaeangliae to three subspecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Jackson
- Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Debbie J Steel
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
| | - P Beerli
- Department of Scientific Computing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Bradley C Congdon
- School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia
| | - Carlos Olavarría
- School of Biological Sciences, Auckland University, 3a Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand Fundación CEQUA, Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - Matthew S Leslie
- Ocean Giants Program, Global Conservation-Marine, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460, USA Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, 79th Street and Central Park West, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cristina Pomilla
- Ocean Giants Program, Global Conservation-Marine, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460, USA Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, 79th Street and Central Park West, New York, NY, USA
| | - Howard Rosenbaum
- Ocean Giants Program, Global Conservation-Marine, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460, USA Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, 79th Street and Central Park West, New York, NY, USA
| | - C Scott Baker
- Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA School of Biological Sciences, Auckland University, 3a Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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Baizer JS, Sherwood CC, Noonan M, Hof PR. Comparative organization of the claustrum: what does structure tell us about function? Front Syst Neurosci 2014; 8:117. [PMID: 25071474 PMCID: PMC4079070 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The claustrum is a subcortical nucleus present in all placental mammals. Many anatomical studies have shown that its inputs are predominantly from the cerebral cortex and its outputs are back to the cortex. This connectivity thus suggests that the claustrum serves to amplify or facilitate information processing in the cerebral cortex. The size and the complexity of the cerebral cortex varies dramatically across species. Some species have lissencephalic brains, with few cortical areas, while others have a greatly expanded cortex and many cortical areas. This evolutionary diversity in the cerebral cortex raises several questions about the claustrum. Does its volume expand in coordination with the expansion of cortex and does it acquire new functions related to the new cortical functions? Here we survey the organization of the claustrum in animals with large brains, including great apes and cetaceans. Our data suggest that the claustrum is not always a continuous structure. In monkeys and gorillas there are a few isolated islands of cells near the main body of the nucleus. In cetaceans, however, there are many isolated cell islands. These data suggest constraints on the possible function of the claustrum. Some authors propose that the claustrum has a more global role in perception or consciousness that requires intraclaustral integration of information. These theories postulate mechanisms like gap junctions between claustral cells or a “syncytium” to mediate intraclaustral processing. The presence of discontinuities in the structure of the claustrum, present but minimal in some primates, but dramatically clear in cetaceans, argues against the proposed mechanisms of intraclaustral processing of information. The best interpretation of function, then, is that each functional subdivision of the claustrum simply contributes to the function of its cortical partner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan S Baizer
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Chet C Sherwood
- The Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University Washington, DC, USA
| | - Michael Noonan
- Animal Behavior, Ecology and Conservation, Canisius College Buffalo Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY, USA
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Guzmán-Verri C, González-Barrientos R, Hernández-Mora G, Morales JA, Baquero-Calvo E, Chaves-Olarte E, Moreno E. Brucella ceti and brucellosis in cetaceans. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2012; 2:3. [PMID: 22919595 PMCID: PMC3417395 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2012.00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2011] [Accepted: 01/12/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the first case of brucellosis detected in a dolphin aborted fetus, an increasing number of Brucella ceti isolates has been reported in members of the two suborders of cetaceans: Mysticeti and Odontoceti. Serological surveys have shown that cetacean brucellosis may be distributed worldwide in the oceans. Although all B. ceti isolates have been included within the same species, three different groups have been recognized according to their preferred host, bacteriological properties, and distinct genetic traits: B. ceti dolphin type, B. ceti porpoise type, and B. ceti human type. It seems that B. ceti porpoise type is more closely related to B. ceti human isolates and B. pinnipedialis group, while B. ceti dolphin type seems ancestral to them. Based on comparative phylogenetic analysis, it is feasible that the B. ceti ancestor radiated in a terrestrial artiodactyl host close to the Raoellidae family about 58 million years ago. The more likely mode of transmission of B. ceti seems to be through sexual intercourse, maternal feeding, aborted fetuses, placental tissues, vertical transmission from mother to the fetus or through fish or helminth reservoirs. The B. ceti dolphin and porpoise types seem to display variable virulence in land animal models and low infectivity for humans. However, brucellosis in some dolphins and porpoises has been demonstrated to be a severe chronic disease, displaying significant clinical and pathological signs related to abortions, male infertility, neurobrucellosis, cardiopathies, bone and skin lesions, strandings, and death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Guzmán-Verri
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad NacionalHeredia, Costa Rica
| | | | | | - Juan-Alberto Morales
- Cátedra de Patología, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad NacionalHeredia, Costa Rica
| | - Elías Baquero-Calvo
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad NacionalHeredia, Costa Rica
| | - Esteban Chaves-Olarte
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad NacionalHeredia, Costa Rica
- Facultad de Microbiología, Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Costa RicaSan José, Costa Rica
| | - Edgardo Moreno
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad NacionalHeredia, Costa Rica
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa RicaSan José, Costa Rica
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