Transcriptomic profiling of fibropapillomatosis in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from South Texas

ABSTRACTSea turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a tumor promoting disease that is one of several threats globally to endangered sea turtle populations. The prevalence of FP is highest in green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) populations, and historically has shown considerable temporal growth. FP tumors can significantly affect the ability of turtles to forage for food and avoid predation and can grow to debilitating sizes. In the current study, based in South Texas, we have applied transcriptome sequencing to FP tumors and healthy control tissue to study the gene expression profiles of FP. By identifying differentially expressed turtle genes in FP, and matching these genes to their closest human ortholog we draw on the wealth of human based knowledge, specifically human cancer, to identify new insights into the biology of sea turtle FP. We show that several genes aberrantly expressed in FP tumors have known tumor promoting biology in humans, including CTHRC1 and NLRC5, and provide support that disruption of the Wnt signaling pathway is a feature of FP. Further, we profiled the expression of current targets of immune checkpoint inhibitors from human oncology in FP tumors and identified potential candidates for future studies.

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Transcriptomic Profiling of Fibropapillomatosis in Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) From South Texas

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2021.630988 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Nicholas B. Blackburn ◽

Ana Cristina Leandro ◽

Nina Nahvi ◽

Mariana A. Devlin ◽

Marcelo Leandro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Human Cancer ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Wnt Signaling Pathway ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

South Texas ◽

Green Sea Turtles ◽

Healthy Control

Sea turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a tumor promoting disease that is one of several threats globally to endangered sea turtle populations. The prevalence of FP is highest in green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) populations, and historically has shown considerable temporal growth. FP tumors can significantly affect the ability of turtles to forage for food and avoid predation and can grow to debilitating sizes. In the current study, based in South Texas, we have applied transcriptome sequencing to FP tumors and healthy control tissue to study the gene expression profiles of FP. By identifying differentially expressed turtle genes in FP, and matching these genes to their closest human ortholog we draw on the wealth of human based knowledge, specifically human cancer, to identify new insights into the biology of sea turtle FP. We show that several genes aberrantly expressed in FP tumors have known tumor promoting biology in humans, including CTHRC1 and NLRC5, and provide support that disruption of the Wnt signaling pathway is a feature of FP. Further, we profiled the expression of current targets of immune checkpoint inhibitors from human oncology in FP tumors and identified potential candidates for future studies.

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The cell type-specific effect of TAp73 isoforms on the cell cycle and apoptosis

Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters ◽

10.2478/s11658-008-0011-z ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jitka Holcakova ◽

Pavla Ceskova ◽

Roman Hrstka ◽

Petr Muller ◽

Lenka Dubska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Transcriptional Activity ◽

Human Cancer ◽

Binding Capacity ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Specific Effect ◽

P53 Family ◽

Null Cell

Abstractp73, a member of the p53 family, exhibits activities similar to those of p53, including the ability to induce growth arrest and apoptosis. p73 influences chemotherapeutic responses in human cancer patients, in association with p53. Alternative splicing of the TP73 gene produces many p73 C- and N-terminal isoforms, which vary in their transcriptional activity towards p53-responsive promoters. In this paper, we show that the C-terminal spliced isoforms of the p73 protein differ in their DNA-binding capacity, but this is not an accurate predictor of transcriptional activity. In different p53-null cell lines, p73β induces either mitochondrial-associated or death receptor-mediated apoptosis, and these differences are reflected in different gene expression profiles. In addition, p73 induces cell cycle arrest and p21WAF1 expression in H1299 cells, but not in Saos-2. This data shows that TAp73 isoforms act differently depending on the tumour cell background, and have important implications for p73-mediated therapeutic responses in individual human cancer patients.

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Kernel Alignment k-NN for Human Cancer Classification Using the Gene Expression Profiles

Artificial Neural Networks – ICANN 2009 - Lecture Notes in Computer Science ◽

10.1007/978-3-642-04277-5_20 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 195-204

Author(s):

Manuel Martín-Merino ◽

Javier de las Rivas

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Human Cancer ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Cancer Classification

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Identification of Papilloma-Like Virus Particles in Cell Lines Derived from Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia Mydas) With Fibropapilloma

Microscopy and Microanalysis ◽

10.1017/s1431927600025915 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 4 (S2) ◽

pp. 1158-1159

Author(s):

Yuanan Lu ◽

Vivek R. Nerurkar ◽

Tina M. Weatherby ◽

Richard Yanagihara

Keyword(s):

Cell Lines ◽

Soft Tissues ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

Green Sea Turtle ◽

Virus Particles ◽

Green Sea Turtles ◽

Multiple Organs ◽

Isolation And Characterization

The near epidemic occurrence of fibropapilloma in green sea turtle (Chelonia my das) (Figure 1) significantly threatens the survival of this species which is protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Although collective evidence suggests a viral etiology, the causative virus of green sea turtle fibropapilloma has not been isolated. To facilitate the isolation and characterization of the causative virus(es), we established 13 cell lines from multiple organs/tissues (tumor, kidney, lung, heart, gall bladder, testis, and skin) of green sea turtles with fibropapilloma. Serial subcultivation of cell lines derived from lungs, testis, eye soft tissues and tumors resulted in the formation of tumor-like aggregates, which attained sizes of 1-2 mm in diameter within two weeks (Figure 2). Media from such cultures, when inoculated onto cells derived from healthy turtle embryos, produced similar tumor-like aggregates, suggesting the presence of a transmissible agent.

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Exploring MicroRNA Biomarkers for Parkinson’s Disease from mRNA Expression Profiles

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells7120245 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. 245 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Y-h. Taguchi ◽

Hsiuying Wang

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Principal Component ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Microarray Gene Expression ◽

Kegg Pathways ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Physical Examinations

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by both motor and nonmotor features. The diagnose of PD is based on a review of patients’ signs and symptoms, and neurological and physical examinations. So far, no tests have been devised that can conclusively diagnose PD. In this study, we explore both microRNA and gene biomarkers for PD. Microarray gene expression profiles for PD patients and healthy control are analyzed using a principal component analysis (PCA)-based unsupervised feature extraction (FE). 244 genes are selected to be potential gene biomarkers for PD. In addition, we implement these genes into Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, and find that the 15 microRNAs (miRNAs), hsa-miR-92a-3p, 16-5p, 615-3p, 877-3p, 100-5p, 320a, 877-5p, 23a-3p, 484, 23b-3p, 15a-5p, 324-3p, 19b-3p, 7b-5p and 505-3p, significantly target these 244 genes. These miRNAs are shown to be significantly related to PD. This reveals that both selected genes and miRNAs are potential biomarkers for PD.

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So Close, yet so Far: Discrepancies between Uveal and Other Melanomas. A Position Paper from UM Cure 2020

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers11071032 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1032 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Manuel Rodrigues ◽

Leanne de Koning ◽

Sarah Coupland ◽

Aart Jochemsen ◽

Richard Marais ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Melanoma ◽

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Surveillance Strategy ◽

Rare Tumour ◽

Mutation Burden ◽

Medical Oncologists ◽

Melanoma Subtypes

Despite much progress in our understanding of uveal melanoma (UM) over the past decades, this rare tumour is still often misclassified. Although UM, like other melanomas, is very probably derived from melanocytes, it is drastically different from cutaneous melanoma and most other melanoma subtypes in terms of epidemiology, aetiology, biology and clinical features, including an intriguing metastatic hepatotropism. UM carries distinctive prognostic chromosome alterations, somatic mutations and gene expression profiles, allowing an active tailored surveillance strategy and dedicated adjuvant clinical trials. There is no standard systemic treatment for disseminated UM at present. In contrast to cutaneous melanoma, UMs are not BRAF-mutated, thus curtailing the use of B-Raf inhibitors. Although these tumours are characterised by some immune infiltrates, immune checkpoint inhibitors are rarely effective, possibly due to a low mutation burden. UM patients across the world not only face rare cancer-related issues (e.g., specific management strategies, access to information and to expert centres), but also specific UM problems, which can be exacerbated by the common misconception that it is a subtype of cutaneous melanoma. As a European Consortium dedicated to research on UM and awareness on the disease, “UM Cure 2020” participants urge medical oncologists, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory agencies to acknowledge UM as a melanoma with specific issues, in order to accelerate the development of new therapies for patients.

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Red blood cell osmotic fragility in healthy loggerhead and green sea turtles

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation ◽

10.1177/1040638720957117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (6) ◽

pp. 908-911

Author(s):

Rebecca Radisic ◽

Sean D. Owens ◽

Charles A. Manire ◽

Nicole Montgomery ◽

Doug Mader ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Cell ◽

Red Blood Cell ◽

Sea Turtles ◽

Osmotic Fragility ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

Green Sea Turtles ◽

Nacl Concentration ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Rehabilitation Facilities

Loggerhead ( Caretta caretta; Cc) and green sea ( Chelonia mydas; Cm) turtles admitted to rehabilitation facilities may require blood transfusions for supportive treatment of disorders resulting in life-threatening anemia, but, considering the unique erythrocyte chemistry of sea turtles, standardized donor red blood cell (RBC) storage protocols have not been established. Prolonged cold storage and the effects of various anticoagulant-preservative solutions have been associated with increased RBC osmotic fragility across a broad range of species. Increased RBC fragility in stored RBC products has been associated with acute transfusion reactions. The osmotic fragility test is used to measure erythrocyte resistance to hemolysis while being exposed to a series of dilutions of a saline solution. We obtained baseline measurements for osmotic fragility in healthy Cc and Cm. Osmotic fragility testing was performed on samples from 10 Cc to 10 Cm. Fifty percent (50%) RBC hemolysis was identified at a mean NaCl concentration of 0.38% in both species. Results of our study will help guide future studies evaluating optimal storage solutions for sea turtle blood products.

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Predation on green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, hatchlings by invasive rats

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc18087 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 423 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Markus Gronwald ◽

Quentin Genet ◽

Margaux Touron

Keyword(s):

Food Source ◽

Sea Turtles ◽

Rattus Rattus ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

French Polynesia ◽

Camera Traps ◽

Green Sea Turtle ◽

Green Sea Turtles ◽

Invasive Rats

We used camera traps to identify invasive Rattus rattus as predators at a green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, nest in French Polynesia. The footage shows that the hatchlings are a familiar food source for rats and that the control of invasive rats has to be considered for the protection of endangered green sea turtles.

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