Koala retrovirus genetic diversity and transmission dynamics within captive koala populations

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (38) ◽  
pp. e2024021118
Author(s):  
Briony A. Joyce ◽  
Michaela D. J. Blyton ◽  
Stephen D. Johnston ◽  
Paul R. Young ◽  
Keith J. Chappell
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Antiretroviral Treatment ◽  
Sexual Transmission ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Additional Challenge ◽  
Management Approaches ◽  
Southeast Queensland ◽  
Koala Retrovirus

Koala populations are currently in rapid decline across Australia, with infectious diseases being a contributing cause. The koala retrovirus (KoRV) is a gammaretrovirus present in both captive and wild koala colonies that presents an additional challenge for koala conservation in addition to habitat loss, climate change, and other factors. Currently, nine different subtypes (A to I) have been identified; however, KoRV genetic diversity analyses have been limited. KoRV is thought to be exogenously transmitted between individuals, with KoRV-A also being endogenous and transmitted through the germline. The mechanisms of exogenous KoRV transmission are yet to be extensively investigated. Here, deep sequencing was employed on 109 captive koalas of known pedigree, housed in two institutions from Southeast Queensland, to provide a detailed analysis of KoRV transmission dynamics and genetic diversity. The final dataset included 421 unique KoRV sequences, along with the finding of an additional subtype (KoRV-K). Our analysis suggests that exogenous transmission of KoRV occurs primarily between dam and joey, with evidence provided for multiple subtypes, including nonendogenized KoRV-A. No evidence of sexual transmission was observed, with mating partners found to share a similar number of sequences as unrelated koala pairs. Importantly, both distinct captive colonies showed similar trends. These findings indicate that breeding strategies or antiretroviral treatment of females could be employed as effective management approaches in combating KoRV transmission.

On the sexual transmission dynamics of hepatitis B virus in China

2015 ◽  
Vol 369 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lan Zou ◽  
Shigui Ruan ◽  
Weinian Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Sexual Transmission ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
B Virus

scholarly journals Genomic epidemiology ofMycobacterium bovisinfection in sympatric badger and cattle populations in Northern Ireland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Assel Akhmetova ◽  
Jimena Guerrero ◽  
Paul McAdam ◽  
Liliana C.M. Salvador ◽  
Joseph Crispell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Population Genetic Structure ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Disease Persistence

AbstractBackgroundBovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a costly epidemiologically complex, multi-host, endemic disease. Lack of understanding of transmission dynamics may undermine eradication efforts. Pathogen whole genome sequencing improves epidemiological inferences, providing a means to determine the relative importance of inter- and intra- species host transmission for disease persistence. We sequenced an exceptional data set of 619Mycobacterium bovisisolates from badgers and cattle in a 100km2bTB ‘hotspot’ in Northern Ireland. Historical molecular subtyping data permitted the targeting of an endemic pathogen lineage, whose long-term persistence provided a unique opportunity to study disease transmission dynamics in unparalleled detail. Additionally, to assess whether badger population genetic structure was associated with the spatial distribution of pathogen genetic diversity, we microsatellite genotyped hair samples from 769 badgers trapped in this area.ResultsGraph transmission tree methods and structured coalescent analyses indicated the majority of bacterial diversity was found in the local cattle population. Results pointed to transmission from cattle to badger being more common than badger to cattle. Furthermore, the presence of significant badger population genetic structure in the landscape was not associated with the spatial distribution ofM. bovisgenetic diversity, suggesting that badger-to-badger transmission may not be a key determinant of disease persistence.SignificanceOur data were consistent with badgers playing a smaller role in the maintenance ofM. bovisinfection in this study site, compared to cattle. Comparison to other areas suggests thatM. bovistransmission dynamics are likely to be context dependent, and the role of wildlife difficult to generalise.

scholarly journals A59 Expansion of genetic diversity and interspecies transmission dynamics of swine influenza viruses in China

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziying Jin ◽  
Xiaohui Fan ◽  
Malik Peiris ◽  
Yi Guan ◽  
Huachen Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Swine Influenza ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
Interspecies Transmission

Highways block gene flow and cause a rapid decline in genetic diversity of desert bighorn sheep

2005 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1029-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clinton W. Epps ◽  
Per J. Palsbøll ◽  
John D. Wehausen ◽  
George K. Roderick ◽  
Rob R. Ramey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Gene Flow ◽  
Bighorn Sheep ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Desert Bighorn Sheep

Rapid Decline in HIV Viral Load When Introducing Raltegravir-Containing Antiretroviral Treatment Late in Pregnancy

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 714-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarina Westling ◽  
Karin Pettersson ◽  
Anneli Kaldma ◽  
Lars Navér
Keyword(s):  
Viral Load ◽  
Antiretroviral Treatment ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Hiv Viral Load ◽  
In Pregnancy

Genetic Diversity of Integrase (IN) Sequences in Antiretroviral Treatment-Naive and Treatment-Experienced HIV Type 2 Patients

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 1003-1007 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Xu ◽  
J. Anderson ◽  
B. Ferns ◽  
P. Cook ◽  
A. Wildfire ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Antiretroviral Treatment ◽  
Treatment Naïve

scholarly journals Genetic diversity and evolutionary insights of respiratory syncytial virus A ON1 genotype: global and local transmission dynamics

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkata R. Duvvuri ◽  
Andrea Granados ◽  
Paul Rosenfeld ◽  
Justin Bahl ◽  
Alireza Eshaghi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
Syncytial Virus ◽  
Global And Local ◽  
Local Transmission

Use of AFLP Markers to Assess Genetic Diversity in Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) Populations from North Carolina and Georgia

Weed Science ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aman Chandi ◽  
Susana R. Milla-Lewis ◽  
David L. Jordan ◽  
Alan C. York ◽  
James D. Burton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
North Carolina ◽  
Total Variation ◽  
Significant Variation ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Geographic Region ◽  
Palmer Amaranth ◽  
Aflp Markers ◽  
Amaranthus Palmeri ◽  
Management Approaches

Glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth is a serious problem in southern cropping systems. Much phenotypic variation is observed in Palmer amaranth populations with respect to plant growth and development and susceptibility to herbicides. This may be related to levels of genetic diversity existing in populations. Knowledge of genetic diversity in populations of Palmer amaranth may be useful in understanding distribution and development of herbicide resistance. Research was conducted to assess genetic diversity among and within eight Palmer amaranth populations collected from North Carolina and Georgia using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Pair-wise genetic similarity (GS) values were found to be relatively low, averaging 0.34. The highest and the lowest GS between populations were 0.49 and 0.24, respectively, while the highest and the lowest GS within populations were 0.56 and 0.36, respectively. Cluster and principal coordinate (PCO) analyses grouped individuals mostly by population (localized geographic region) irrespective of response to glyphosate or gender of individuals. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) results when populations were nested within states revealed significant variation among and within populations within states while variation among states was not significant. Variation among and within populations within state accounted for 19 and 77% of the total variation, respectively, while variation among states accounted for only 3% of the total variation. The within population contribution towards total variation was always higher than among states and among populations within states irrespective of response to glyphosate or gender of individuals. These results are significant in terms of efficacy of similar management approaches both in terms of chemical and biological control in different areas infested with Palmer amaranth.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic Diversity of Koala Retrovirus within a Wild Koala Population

2016 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. J. Chappell ◽  
J. C. Brealey ◽  
A. A. Amarilla ◽  
D. Watterson ◽  
L. Hulse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Phylogenetic Diversity ◽  
Germ Line ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Hypervariable Region ◽  
Sequence Divergence ◽  
The United States ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Amino Acid Sequence Divergence ◽  
Koala Retrovirus

ABSTRACT Koala populations are in serious decline across many areas of mainland Australia, with infectious disease a contributing factor. Koala retrovirus (KoRV) is a gammaretrovirus present in most wild koala populations and captive colonies. Five subtypes of KoRV (A to E) have been identified based on amino acid sequence divergence in a hypervariable region of the receptor binding domain of the envelope protein. However, analysis of viral genetic diversity has been conducted primarily on KoRV in captive koalas housed in zoos in Japan, the United States, and Germany. Wild koalas within Australia have not been comparably assessed. Here we report a detailed analysis of KoRV genetic diversity in samples collected from 18 wild koalas from southeast Queensland. By employing deep sequencing we identified 108 novel KoRV envelope sequences and determined their phylogenetic diversity. Genetic diversity in KoRV was abundant and fell into three major groups; two comprised the previously identified subtypes A and B, while the third contained the remaining hypervariable region subtypes (C, D, and E) as well as four hypervariable region subtypes that we newly define here (F, G, H, and I). In addition to the ubiquitous presence of KoRV-A, which may represent an exclusively endogenous variant, subtypes B, D, and F were found to be at high prevalence, while subtypes G, H, and I were present in a smaller number of animals. IMPORTANCE Koala retrovirus (KoRV) is thought to be a significant contributor to koala disease and population decline across mainland Australia. This study is the first to determine KoRV subtype prevalence among a wild koala population, and it significantly expands the total number of KoRV sequences available, providing a more precise picture of genetic diversity. This understanding of KoRV subtype prevalence and genetic diversity will be important for conservation efforts attempting to limit the spread of KoRV. Furthermore, KoRV is one of the only retroviruses shown to exist in both endogenous (transmitted vertically to offspring in the germ line DNA) and exogenous (horizontally transmitted between infected individuals) forms, a division of fundamental evolutionary importance.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document