scholarly journals Whole-genome sequences shed light onto demographic history and contemporaneous genetic erosion of free-ranging jaguar (Panthera onca) populations

Author(s):  
Gustavo Lorenzana ◽  
Henrique Figueiró ◽  
Christopher Kaelin ◽  
Greg Barsh ◽  
Jeremy Johnson ◽  
...  

The vast amount of data contained in a single genome represents a detailed record of past events in that lineage and may forecast its evolutionary potential in the face of environmental changes. Here we employed whole-genome sequence (WGS) data to infer the demographic history and assess signals of recent inbreeding in jaguar (Panthera onca) populations. We analyzed whole genomes from 13 individuals (nine of which are reported here for the first time) sampled in seven different biomes across the species’ range, including its northernmost extreme in the Mexico/USA border region. We modelled demographic history using the PSMC method, and analyzed long runs of homozygosity (ROH) to assess signals of population bottlenecks and inbreeding. PSMC plots were very consistent among individuals, indicating that the jaguar lineage had an effective population size of up 100,000 individuals ca. 1 million years ago, then sharply declined and rebounded during the Late Pleistocene, followed by a more gradual decline in the last 40,000 years. This decline was more pronounced in the North/Central American genomes, likely reflecting population bottlenecks during the south-north colonization towards the edge of the species’ current range. The ROH analysis revealed a relatively small burden for most jaguars, indicating a recent history of outbreeding and large-scale connectivity among regional populations. However, northern range-edge individuals and those from severely fragmented populations showed signals of recent bottlenecks and, in the latter case, inbreeding. Our results illustrate the power of WGS data to survey and monitor the genetic erosion triggered by anthropogenic habitat fragmentation.

Author(s):  
Gustavo P. Lorenzana ◽  
Henrique V. Figueiró ◽  
Christopher B. Kaelin ◽  
Gregory S. Barsh ◽  
Jeremy Johnson ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 365-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam P. Levine ◽  
Melanie M.Y. Chan ◽  
Omid Sadeghi-Alavijeh ◽  
Edwin K.S. Wong ◽  
H. Terence Cook ◽  
...  

BackgroundPrimary membranoproliferative GN, including complement 3 (C3) glomerulopathy, is a rare, untreatable kidney disease characterized by glomerular complement deposition. Complement gene mutations can cause familial C3 glomerulopathy, and studies have reported rare variants in complement genes in nonfamilial primary membranoproliferative GN.MethodsWe analyzed whole-genome sequence data from 165 primary membranoproliferative GN cases and 10,250 individuals without the condition (controls) as part of the National Institutes of Health Research BioResource–Rare Diseases Study. We examined copy number, rare, and common variants.ResultsOur analysis included 146 primary membranoproliferative GN cases and 6442 controls who were unrelated and of European ancestry. We observed no significant enrichment of rare variants in candidate genes (genes encoding components of the complement alternative pathway and other genes associated with the related disease atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome; 6.8% in cases versus 5.9% in controls) or exome-wide. However, a significant common variant locus was identified at 6p21.32 (rs35406322) (P=3.29×10−8; odds ratio [OR], 1.93; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.53 to 2.44), overlapping the HLA locus. Imputation of HLA types mapped this signal to a haplotype incorporating DQA1*05:01, DQB1*02:01, and DRB1*03:01 (P=1.21×10−8; OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.66 to 2.89). This finding was replicated by analysis of HLA serotypes in 338 individuals with membranoproliferative GN and 15,614 individuals with nonimmune renal failure.ConclusionsWe found that HLA type, but not rare complement gene variation, is associated with primary membranoproliferative GN. These findings challenge the paradigm of complement gene mutations typically causing primary membranoproliferative GN and implicate an underlying autoimmune mechanism in most cases.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiru Han ◽  
Jacob E Munro ◽  
Anthony Kocoski ◽  
Alyssa E Barry ◽  
Melanie Bahlo

Short tandem repeats (STRs) are highly informative genetic markers that have been used extensively in population genetics analysis. They are an important source of genetic diversity and can also have functional impact. Despite the availability of bioinformatic methods that permit large-scale genome-wide genotyping of STRs from whole genome sequencing data, they have not previously been applied to sequencing data from large collections of malaria parasite field samples. Here, we have genotyped STRs using HipSTR in more than 3,000 Plasmodium falciparum and 174 Plasmodium vivax published whole-genome sequence data from samples collected across the globe. High levels of noise and variability in the resultant callset necessitated the development of a novel method for quality control of STR genotype calls. A set of high-quality STR loci (6,768 from P. falciparum and 3,496 from P. vivax) were used to study Plasmodium genetic diversity, population structures and genomic signatures of selection and these were compared to genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping data. In addition, the genome-wide information about genetic variation and other characteristics of STRs in P. falciparum and P. vivax have been made available in an interactive web-based R Shiny application PlasmoSTR (https://github.com/bahlolab/PlasmoSTR).


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Devanna ◽  
Xiaowei Sylvia Chen ◽  
Joses Ho ◽  
Dario Gajewski ◽  
Alessandro Gialluisi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTNext generation sequencing has opened the way for the large scale interrogation of cohorts at the whole exome, or whole genome level. Currently, the field largely focuses on potential disease causing variants that fall within coding sequences and that are predicted to cause protein sequence changes, generally discarding non-coding variants. However non-coding DNA makes up ~98% of the genome and contains a range of sequences essential for controlling the expression of protein coding genes. Thus, potentially causative non-coding variation is currently being overlooked. To address this, we have designed an approach to assess variation in one class of non-coding regulatory DNA; the 3′UTRome. Variants in the 3'UTR region of genes are of particular interest because 3'UTRs are responsible for modulating protein expression levels via their interactions with microRNAs. Furthermore they are amenable to large scale analysis as 3′UTR-microRNA interactions are based on complementary base pairing and as such can be predicted in silico at the genome-wide level. We report a strategy for identifying and functionally testing variants in microRNA binding sites within the 3'UTRome and demonstrate the efficacy of this pipeline in a cohort of language impaired children. Using whole exome sequence data from 43 probands, we extracted variants that lay within 3'UTR microRNA binding sites. We identified a common variant (SNP) in a microRNA binding site and found this SNP to be associated with an endophenotype of language impairment (non-word repetition). We showed that this variant disrupted microRNA regulation in cells and was linked to altered gene expression in the brain, suggesting it may represent a risk factor contributing to SLI. This work demonstrates that biologically relevant variants are currently being under-investigated despite the wealth of next-generation sequencing data available and presents a simple strategy for interrogating non-coding regions of the genome. We propose that this strategy should be routinely applied to whole exome and whole genome sequence data in order to broaden our understanding of how non-coding genetic variation underlies complex phenotypes such as neurodevelopmental disorders.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
PingHsun Hsieh ◽  
Krishna R Veeramah ◽  
Joseph Lachance ◽  
Sarah A Tishkoff ◽  
Jeffrey D Wall ◽  
...  

African Pygmies practicing a mobile hunter-gatherer lifestyle are phenotypically and genetically diverged from other anatomically modern humans, and they likely experienced strong selective pressures due to their unique lifestyle in the Central African rainforest. To identify genomic targets of adaptation, we sequenced the genomes of four Biaka Pygmies from the Central African Republic and jointly analyzed these data with the genome sequences of three Baka Pygmies from Cameroon and nine Yoruba famers. To account for the complex demographic history of these populations that includes both isolation and gene flow, we fit models using the joint allele frequency spectrum and validated them using independent approaches. Our two best-fit models both suggest ancient divergence between the ancestors of the farmers and Pygmies, 90,000 or 150,000 years ago. We also find that bi-directional asymmetric gene-flow is statistically better supported than a single pulse of unidirectional gene flow from farmers to Pygmies, as previously suggested. We then applied complementary statistics to scan the genome for evidence of selective sweeps and polygenic selection. We found that conventional statistical outlier approaches were biased toward identifying candidates in regions of high mutation or low recombination rate. To avoid this bias, we assigned P-values for candidates using whole-genome simulations incorporating demography and variation in both recombination and mutation rates. We found that genes and gene sets involved in muscle development, bone synthesis, immunity, reproduction, cell signaling and development, and energy metabolism are likely to be targets of positive natural selection in Western African Pygmies or their recent ancestors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley T Endres ◽  
Khurshida Begum ◽  
Hua Sun ◽  
Seth T Walk ◽  
Ali Memariani ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The epidemic Clostridioides difficile ribotype 027 strain resulted from the dissemination of 2 separate fluoroquinolone-resistant lineages: FQR1 and FQR2. Both lineages were reported to originate in North America; however, confirmatory large-scale investigations of C difficile ribotype 027 epidemiology using whole genome sequencing has not been undertaken in the United States. Methods Whole genome sequencing and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis was performed on 76 clinical ribotype 027 isolates obtained from hospitalized patients in Texas with C difficile infection and compared with 32 previously sequenced worldwide strains. Maximum-likelihood phylogeny based on a set of core genome SNPs was used to construct phylogenetic trees investigating strain macro- and microevolution. Bayesian phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses were used to incorporate temporal and geographic variables with the SNP strain analysis. Results Whole genome sequence analysis identified 2841 SNPs including 900 nonsynonymous mutations, 1404 synonymous substitutions, and 537 intergenic changes. Phylogenetic analysis separated the strains into 2 prominent groups, which grossly differed by 28 SNPs: the FQR1 and FQR2 lineages. Five isolates were identified as pre-epidemic strains. Phylogeny demonstrated unique clustering and resistance genes in Texas strains indicating that spatiotemporal bias has defined the microevolution of ribotype 027 genetics. Conclusions Clostridioides difficile ribotype 027 lineages emerged earlier than previously reported, coinciding with increased use of fluoroquinolones. Both FQR1 and FQR2 ribotype 027 epidemic lineages are present in Texas, but they have evolved geographically to represent region-specific public health threats.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
John P. Jakupciak ◽  
Jeffrey M. Wells ◽  
Richard J. Karalus ◽  
David R. Pawlowski ◽  
Jeffrey S. Lin ◽  
...  

Large-scale genomics projects are identifying biomarkers to detect human disease.B. pseudomalleiandB. malleiare two closely related select agents that cause melioidosis and glanders. Accurate characterization of metagenomic samples is dependent on accurate measurements of genetic variation between isolates with resolution down to strain level. Often single biomarker sensitivity is augmented by use of multiple or panels of biomarkers. In parallel with single biomarker validation, advances in DNA sequencing enable analysis of entire genomes in a single run: population-sequencing. Potentially, direct sequencing could be used to analyze an entire genome to serve as the biomarker for genome identification. However, genome variation and population diversity complicate use of direct sequencing, as well as differences caused by sample preparation protocols including sequencing artifacts and mistakes. As part of a Department of Homeland Security program in bacterial forensics, we examined how to implement whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis as a judicially defensible forensic method for attributing microbial sample relatedness; and also to determine the strengths and limitations of whole genome sequence analysis in a forensics context. Herein, we demonstrate use of sequencing to provide genetic characterization of populations: direct sequencing of populations.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuai Sun ◽  
Yue Wang ◽  
Xiao Du ◽  
Lei Li ◽  
Xiaoning Hong ◽  
...  

AbstractMekong tiger perch (Datnioides undecimradiatus) is one ornamental fish and a vulnerable species, which belongs to order Lobotiformes. Here, we report a ∼595 Mb D. undecimradiatus genome, which is the first whole genome sequence in the order Lobotiformes. Based on this genome, the phylogenetic tree analysis suggested that Lobotiformes and Sciaenidae are closer than Tetraodontiformes, resolving a long-time dispute. We depicted the pigment synthesis pathway in Mekong tiger perch and result confirmed that this pathway had evolved from the shared whole genome duplication. We also estimated the demographic history of Mekong tiger perch, showing the effective population size suffered a continuous reduction possibly related to the contraction of immune-related genes. Our study provided a reference genome resource for the Lobotiformes, as well as insights into the phylogeny of Eupercaria and biological conservation.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Galewski ◽  
J. Mitchell McGrath

Abstract Diversification on the basis of utilization is a hallmark of Beta vulgaris (beet). Crop improvement and management activities are segregated by crop type, preserving unique genome diversity and differentiation, with occasional introgressions between diverged lineages for specific traits. Full interfertility is typically retained in crosses between these groups and more traits may be accessible if the genetic basis of crop type lineage were known, along with available genetic markers to effect efficient transfer (e.g., via backcrossing). Beta vulgaris L. (2n =18) is a species complex composed of diverged lineages (e.g., crop types), including table, leaf (chard), fodder, and sugar beet. Using population genetic and statistical methods with whole genome sequence data from pooled samples of 23 beet cultivars and breeding lines, relationships were determined between populations based on identity-by-state and shared genetic variation among lineages. Distribution of genetic variation within and between crop types showed extensive shared (e.g. non-unique) genetic variation. Lineage specific variation (e.g. apomorphy) within crop types supported a shared demographic history within each crop type, while principal components analysis revealed strong crop type differentiation. Relative contributions of specific chromosomes to genome wide differentiation were ascertained, with each chromosome revealing a different pattern of differentiation with respect to crop type. Inferred population size history inferences for each crop type helped integrate selection history for each lineage, and highlighted potential genetic bottlenecks in the development of cultivated beet lineages. A complex evolutionary history of cultigroups in Beta vulgaris was demonstrated, involving lineage divergence as a result of selection and reproductive isolation. Clear delineation of crop types was obfuscated by historical gene flow and common ancestry (e.g. admixture and introgression, and sorting of ancestral polymorphism) which served to share genome variation between crop types and, likely, important phenotypic characters. Table beet was well differentiated as a crop type, and shared more genetic variation within than among crop types. The sugar beet group was not quite as well differentiated as the table beet group. Fodder and chard groups were intermediate between the table and chard groups, perhaps the result of less intensive selection for their end use.


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