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Anellovirus infections are highly prevalent in mammals but prior to this study only a handful of anellovirus genomes had been identified in members of the Felidae family. Here characterise anelloviruses in pumas (Puma concolor), bobcats (Lynx rufus), Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), caracals (Caracal caracal) and domestic cats (Felis catus). The complete anellovirus genomes (n = 220) recovered from 149 individuals were diverse. ORF1 protein sequence similarity network analyses coupled with phylogenetic analyses, revealed two distinct clusters that are populated by felid-derived anellovirus sequences, a pattern mirroring that observed for the porcine anelloviruses. Of the two-felid dominant anellovirus groups, one includes sequences from bobcats, pumas, domestic cats and an ocelot, and the other includes sequences from caracals, Canada lynx, domestic cats and pumas. Coinfections of diverse anelloviruses appear to be common among the felids. Evidence of recombination, both within and between felid-specific anellovirus groups, supports a long coevolution history between host and virus.
Simona Kraberger; Laurel Ek. Serieys; Cécile Richet; Nicholas M. Fountain-Jones; Guy Baele; Jacqueline M. Bishop; Mary Nehring; Jacob S. Ivan; Eric S. Newkirk; John R. Squires; Michael C. Lund; Seth Pd. Riley; Christopher C. Wilmers; Paul D. van Helden; Koenraad Van Doorslaer; Melanie Culver; Sue VandeWoude; Darren P. Martin; Arvind Varsani. Complex evolutionary history of felid anelloviruses. Virology 2021, 562, 176 -189.
AMA StyleSimona Kraberger, Laurel Ek. Serieys, Cécile Richet, Nicholas M. Fountain-Jones, Guy Baele, Jacqueline M. Bishop, Mary Nehring, Jacob S. Ivan, Eric S. Newkirk, John R. Squires, Michael C. Lund, Seth Pd. Riley, Christopher C. Wilmers, Paul D. van Helden, Koenraad Van Doorslaer, Melanie Culver, Sue VandeWoude, Darren P. Martin, Arvind Varsani. Complex evolutionary history of felid anelloviruses. Virology. 2021; 562 ():176-189.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSimona Kraberger; Laurel Ek. Serieys; Cécile Richet; Nicholas M. Fountain-Jones; Guy Baele; Jacqueline M. Bishop; Mary Nehring; Jacob S. Ivan; Eric S. Newkirk; John R. Squires; Michael C. Lund; Seth Pd. Riley; Christopher C. Wilmers; Paul D. van Helden; Koenraad Van Doorslaer; Melanie Culver; Sue VandeWoude; Darren P. Martin; Arvind Varsani. 2021. "Complex evolutionary history of felid anelloviruses." Virology 562, no. : 176-189.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is associated with a range of clinical signs in felid species. Differences in disease processes are closely related to genetic variation in the envelope ( env ) region of the genome of six defined subgroups. The primary hosts of FeLV are domestic cats of the Felis genus that also harbor endogenous FeLV (enFeLV) elements stably integrated in their genomes. EnFeLV elements display 86% nucleotide identity to exogenous, horizontally transmitted FeLV (FeLV-A). Variation between enFeLV and FeLV-A is primarily in the long terminal repeat (LTR) and env regions, which potentiates generation of the FeLV-B recombinant subgroup during natural infection. The aim of this study was to examine recombination behavior of exogenous FeLV (exFeLV) and enFeLV in a natural FeLV epizootic. We previously described that of 65 individuals in a closed colony, 32 had productive FeLV-A infection, and 22 of these individuals had detectable circulating FeLV-B. We cloned and sequenced the env gene of FeLV-B, FeLV-A, and enFeLV spanning known recombination breakpoints and examined between 1-13 clones in 22 animals with FeLV-B to assess sequence diversity and recombination breakpoints. Our analysis revealed that FeLV-A circulating in the population, as well as enFeLV env sequences, are highly conserved. We documented many recombination breakpoints resulting in the production of unique FeLV-B genotypes. More than half of the cats harbored more than one FeLV-B variant, suggesting multiple recombination events between enFeLV and FeLV-A. We concluded that FeLV-B was predominantly generated de novo within each host, though we could not definitively rule out horizontal transmission, as nearly all cats harbored FeLV-B sequences that were genetically highly similar to those identified in other individual. This work represents a comprehensive analysis of endogenous-exogenous retroviral interactions with important insights into host-viral interactions that underlie disease pathogenesis in a natural setting. Importance Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a felid retrovirus with a variety of disease outcomes. Exogenous FeLV-A is the virus subgroup almost exclusively transmitted between cats. Recombination between FeLV-A and endogenous FeLV analogues in the cat genome may result in emergence of largely replication-defective, but highly virulent subgroups. FeLV-B is formed when the 3’ envelope ( env ) region of endogenous FeLV (enFeLV) recombines with that of the exogenous FeLV (exFeLV) during viral reverse transcription and integration. Both domestic cats and wild relatives of the Felis genus harbor enFeLV, which has been shown to limit FeLV-A disease outcome. However, enFeLV also contributes genetic material to the recombinant FeLV-B subgroup. This study evaluates endogenous-exogenous recombination outcomes in a naturally infected closed-colony of cats to determine mechanisms and risk of endogenous retroviral recombination during exogenous virus exposure that leads to enhanced virulence. While FeLV-A and enFeLV env regions were highly conserved from cat to cat, nearly all individuals with emergent FeLV-B had unique combinations of genotypes, representative of a wide range of recombination sites within env . The findings provide insight into unique recombination patterns for emergence of new pathogens and can be related to similar viruses across species.
Katelyn Erbeck; Roderick B. Gagne; Simona Kraberger; Elliott S. Chiu; Melody Roelke-Parker; Sue VandeWoude. Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) endogenous and exogenous recombination events result in multiple FeLV-B subtypes during natural infection. Journal of Virology 2021, JVI0035321 .
AMA StyleKatelyn Erbeck, Roderick B. Gagne, Simona Kraberger, Elliott S. Chiu, Melody Roelke-Parker, Sue VandeWoude. Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) endogenous and exogenous recombination events result in multiple FeLV-B subtypes during natural infection. Journal of Virology. 2021; ():JVI0035321.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKatelyn Erbeck; Roderick B. Gagne; Simona Kraberger; Elliott S. Chiu; Melody Roelke-Parker; Sue VandeWoude. 2021. "Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) endogenous and exogenous recombination events result in multiple FeLV-B subtypes during natural infection." Journal of Virology , no. : JVI0035321.
Hunting can fundamentally alter wildlife population dynamics, but the consequences of hunting on pathogen transmission and evolution remain poorly understood. Here we present a study that leverages a unique landscape-scale experiment coupled with pathogen transmission tracing, network simulation and phylodynamics to provide insights into how hunting shapes viral dynamics in puma (Puma concolor). We show that removing hunting pressure enhances the role of males in transmission, increases the viral population growth rate and the role of evolutionary forces on the pathogen compared to when hunting was reinstated. Changes in transmission could be linked to short term social changes while the male population increased. These findings are supported through comparison with a region with stable hunting management over the same time period. This study shows that routine wildlife management can have impacts on pathogen transmission and evolution not previously considered.
Nicholas Fountain-Jones; Simona Kraberger; Roderick Gagne; Marie Gilbertson; Daryl Trumbo; Michael Charleston; Patricia Salerno; W. Chris Funk; Kevin Crooks; Ken Logan; Mat Alldredge; Simon Dellicour; Guy Baele; Xavier Didelot; Sue Vandewoude; Scott Carver; Meggan Craft. Hunting alters viral transmission and evolution. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleNicholas Fountain-Jones, Simona Kraberger, Roderick Gagne, Marie Gilbertson, Daryl Trumbo, Michael Charleston, Patricia Salerno, W. Chris Funk, Kevin Crooks, Ken Logan, Mat Alldredge, Simon Dellicour, Guy Baele, Xavier Didelot, Sue Vandewoude, Scott Carver, Meggan Craft. Hunting alters viral transmission and evolution. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas Fountain-Jones; Simona Kraberger; Roderick Gagne; Marie Gilbertson; Daryl Trumbo; Michael Charleston; Patricia Salerno; W. Chris Funk; Kevin Crooks; Ken Logan; Mat Alldredge; Simon Dellicour; Guy Baele; Xavier Didelot; Sue Vandewoude; Scott Carver; Meggan Craft. 2021. "Hunting alters viral transmission and evolution." , no. : 1.
We evaluated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) specificity for measuring seroantibody responses to two types of retroviral infections in domestic cats: feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline foamy virus (FFV). We compared the seroreactivity of specific pathogen-free (SPF) cat sera, sera from SPF cats inoculated with either FIV or FFV, and field isolates (e.g., shelter or privately owned cats). Sera from SPF cats experimentally infected with the cognate virus had significantly lower background in both FIV and FFV ELISAs compared to sera from negative field isolates. ELISA values for SPF cats exposed to either FIV or FFV tended to have higher OD values on the opposite ELISA antigen plate. FIV nonspecific background absorbance was greater than that of FFV, and 10 of 15 sera samples from FIV seronegative field samples were measured in the indeterminant range. These findings highlight that exposure to off-target pathogens elicit antibodies that may nonspecifically bind to antigens used in binding assays; therefore, validation using sera from SPF animals exposed during controlled infection results in the setting of a cutoff value that may be inappropriately low when applied to field samples. Our work also suggests that infection of domestic cats with pathogens other than FIV results in antibodies that cross-react with the FIV Gag antigen.
Alex Moskaluk; Mary Nehring; Sue VandeWoude. Serum Samples from Co-Infected and Domestic Cat Field Isolates Nonspecifically Bind FIV and Other Antigens in Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays. Pathogens 2021, 10, 665 .
AMA StyleAlex Moskaluk, Mary Nehring, Sue VandeWoude. Serum Samples from Co-Infected and Domestic Cat Field Isolates Nonspecifically Bind FIV and Other Antigens in Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays. Pathogens. 2021; 10 (6):665.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlex Moskaluk; Mary Nehring; Sue VandeWoude. 2021. "Serum Samples from Co-Infected and Domestic Cat Field Isolates Nonspecifically Bind FIV and Other Antigens in Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays." Pathogens 10, no. 6: 665.
Although the antibody response induced by primary vaccination with Fel-O-Vax® FIV (three doses, 2–4 weeks apart) is well described, the antibody response induced by annual vaccination with Fel-O-Vax® FIV (single dose every 12 months after primary vaccination) and how it compares to the primary antibody response has not been studied. Residual blood samples from a primary FIV vaccination study (n = 11), and blood samples from cats given an annual FIV vaccination (n = 10), were utilized. Samples from all 21 cats were tested with a commercially available PCR assay (FIV RealPCRTM), an anti-p24 microsphere immunoassay (MIA), an anti-FIV transmembrane (TM; gp40) peptide ELISA, and a range of commercially available point-of-care (PoC) FIV antibody kits. PCR testing confirmed all 21 cats to be FIV-uninfected for the duration of this study. Results from MIA and ELISA testing showed that both vaccination regimes induced significant antibody responses against p24 and gp40, and both anti-p24 and anti-gp40 antibodies were variably present 12 months after FIV vaccination. The magnitude of the antibody response against both p24 and gp40 was significantly higher in the primary FIV vaccination group than in the annual FIV vaccination group. The differences in prime versus recall post-vaccinal antibody levels correlated with FIV PoC kit performance. Two FIV PoC kits that detect antibodies against gp40, namely Witness® and Anigen Rapid®, showed 100% specificity in cats recently administered an annual FIV vaccination, demonstrating that they can be used to accurately distinguish vaccination and infection in annually vaccinated cats. A third FIV PoC kit, SNAP® Combo, had 0% specificity in annually FIV-vaccinated cats, and should not be used in any cat with a possible history of FIV vaccination. This study outlines the antibody response to inactivated Fel-O-Vax® FIV whole-virus vaccine, and demonstrates how best to diagnose FIV infection in jurisdictions where FIV vaccination is practiced.
Mark Westman; Dennis Yang; Jennifer Green; Jacqueline Norris; Richard Malik; Yasmin Parr; Mike McDonald; Margaret Hosie; Sue VandeWoude; Craig Miller. Antibody Responses in Cats Following Primary and Annual Vaccination against Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) with an Inactivated Whole-Virus Vaccine (Fel-O-Vax® FIV). Viruses 2021, 13, 470 .
AMA StyleMark Westman, Dennis Yang, Jennifer Green, Jacqueline Norris, Richard Malik, Yasmin Parr, Mike McDonald, Margaret Hosie, Sue VandeWoude, Craig Miller. Antibody Responses in Cats Following Primary and Annual Vaccination against Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) with an Inactivated Whole-Virus Vaccine (Fel-O-Vax® FIV). Viruses. 2021; 13 (3):470.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Westman; Dennis Yang; Jennifer Green; Jacqueline Norris; Richard Malik; Yasmin Parr; Mike McDonald; Margaret Hosie; Sue VandeWoude; Craig Miller. 2021. "Antibody Responses in Cats Following Primary and Annual Vaccination against Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) with an Inactivated Whole-Virus Vaccine (Fel-O-Vax® FIV)." Viruses 13, no. 3: 470.
SARS-CoV-2 spillback from humans into domestic and wild animals has been well-documented. We compared variants of cell culture-expanded SARS-CoV-2 inoculum and virus recovered from four species following experimental exposure. Five nonsynonymous changes in nsp12, S, N and M genes were near fixation in the inoculum, but reverted to wild-type sequences in RNA recovered from dogs, cats and hamsters within 1-3 days post-exposure. Fourteen emergent variants were detected in viruses recovered from animals, including substitutions at spike positions H69, N501, and D614, which also vary in human lineages of concern. The rapidity of in vitro and in vivo SARS-CoV-2 selection reveals residues with functional significance during host-switching, illustrating the potential for spillback reservoir hosts to accelerate evolution, and demonstrating plasticity of viral adaptation in animal models. One-Sentence Summary SARS-CoV-2 variants rapidly arise in non-human hosts, revealing viral evolution and potential risk for human reinfection.
Laura Bashor; Roderick B. Gagne; Angela Bosco-Lauth; Richard Bowen; Mark Stenglein; Sue VandeWoude. SARS-CoV-2 evolution in animals suggests mechanisms for rapid variant selection. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleLaura Bashor, Roderick B. Gagne, Angela Bosco-Lauth, Richard Bowen, Mark Stenglein, Sue VandeWoude. SARS-CoV-2 evolution in animals suggests mechanisms for rapid variant selection. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLaura Bashor; Roderick B. Gagne; Angela Bosco-Lauth; Richard Bowen; Mark Stenglein; Sue VandeWoude. 2021. "SARS-CoV-2 evolution in animals suggests mechanisms for rapid variant selection." , no. : 1.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is associated with a range of clinical signs in felid species. The primary hosts of FeLV are domestic cats of the Felis genus that also harbor endogenous FeLV (enFeLV) elements stably integrated in their genomes. EnFeLV elements display 86% nucleotide identity to exogenous, horizontally transmitted FeLV (FeLV-A). Variation between enFeLV and FeLV-A is primarily in the long terminal repeat (LTR) and env regions, which potentiates generation of FeLV-B recombinant subtypes during natural infection with enhanced virulence. The aim of this study was to examine exogenous FeLV (exFeLV) and enFeLV recombination events in a natural FeLV epizootic. We previously described that of 32 individuals in a closed colony with productive FeLV-A infection, 22 had detectable circulating FeLV-B. We cloned and sequenced the env gene of FeLV-B, FeLV-A, and enFeLV spanning known recombination breakpoints, examining between 1-13 clones per individual to assess sequence diversity and recombination sites. We documented multiple recombination breakpoints resulting in the production of unique FeLV-B genotypes. At least half of the cats harbored more than one FeLV-B variant, and almost all animals had variants similar to those recovered from at least one other individual in the colony. This analysis reveals that FeLV-B is predominantly generated de novo within each host, though horizontal transmission may be inferred based upon FeLV-B sequence identities between individuals. This work represents a comprehensive analysis of endogenous-exogenous retroviral interactions with important insights into host-viral interactions that underlie disease pathogenesis in a natural setting. Importance Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a felid retrovirus associated with a variety of disease outcomes. Exogenous FeLV-A is the most common horizontally transmitted virus subgroup. Domestic cats (Felis catus) harbor endogenous copies of FeLV (enFeLV) in their genomes. Recombination between FeLV-A and enFeLV may result in emergence of largely replication-defective, but highly virulent recombinant strains. FeLV-B, the most common recombinant form, results when enFeLV env recombines with FeLV-A during FeLV replication. This study evaluated endogenous-exogenous recombination outcomes in a naturally-infected closed colony of domestic cats to determine recombination sites and FeLV-B genotypic heterogeneity associated with enhanced disease virulence. While FeLV-A and enFeLV genotypes were highly conserved, a large number of unique FeLV-B variants were identified in association with predicted recombination hotspots. The findings provide insight into recombination events between viral and host genomes that result in new, and potentially more pathogenic, viral strains.
Katelyn Erbeck; Roderick B. Gagne; Simona Kraberger; Elliott S. Chiu; Melody Roelke Parker; Sue VandeWoude. Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) endogenous and exogenous recombination events result in multiple FeLV-B subtypes during natural infection. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleKatelyn Erbeck, Roderick B. Gagne, Simona Kraberger, Elliott S. Chiu, Melody Roelke Parker, Sue VandeWoude. Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) endogenous and exogenous recombination events result in multiple FeLV-B subtypes during natural infection. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKatelyn Erbeck; Roderick B. Gagne; Simona Kraberger; Elliott S. Chiu; Melody Roelke Parker; Sue VandeWoude. 2021. "Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) endogenous and exogenous recombination events result in multiple FeLV-B subtypes during natural infection." , no. : 1.
The inability to communicate how infectious diseases are transmitted in human environments has triggered avoidance of interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. We define a metric, Effective ReBreathed Volume (ERBV), that encapsulates how infectious pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, transport in air. ERBV separates environmental transport from other factors in the chain of infection, allowing quantitative comparisons among situations. Particle size affects transport, removal onto surfaces, and elimination by mitigation measures, so ERBV is presented for a range of exhaled particle diameters: 1, 10, and 100 μm. Pathogen transport depends on both proximity and confinement. If interpersonal distancing of 2 m is maintained, then confinement, not proximity, dominates rebreathing after 10–15 min in enclosed spaces for all but 100 μm particles. We analyze strategies to reduce this confinement effect. Ventilation and filtration reduce person-to-person transport of 1 μm particles (ERBV1) by 13–85% in residential and office situations. Deposition to surfaces competes with intentional removal for 10 and 100 μm particles, so the same interventions reduce ERBV10 by only 3–50%, and ERBV100 is unaffected. Prior knowledge of size-dependent ERBV would help identify transmission modes and effective interventions. This framework supports mitigation decisions in emerging situations, even before other infectious parameters are known.
Tami C. Bond; Angela Bosco-Lauth; Delphine K. Farmer; Paul W. Francisco; Jeffrey R. Pierce; Kristen M. Fedak; Jay M. Ham; Shantanu H. Jathar; Sue VandeWoude. Quantifying Proximity, Confinement, and Interventions in Disease Outbreaks: A Decision Support Framework for Air-Transported Pathogens. Environmental Science & Technology 2021, 55, 2890 -2898.
AMA StyleTami C. Bond, Angela Bosco-Lauth, Delphine K. Farmer, Paul W. Francisco, Jeffrey R. Pierce, Kristen M. Fedak, Jay M. Ham, Shantanu H. Jathar, Sue VandeWoude. Quantifying Proximity, Confinement, and Interventions in Disease Outbreaks: A Decision Support Framework for Air-Transported Pathogens. Environmental Science & Technology. 2021; 55 (5):2890-2898.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTami C. Bond; Angela Bosco-Lauth; Delphine K. Farmer; Paul W. Francisco; Jeffrey R. Pierce; Kristen M. Fedak; Jay M. Ham; Shantanu H. Jathar; Sue VandeWoude. 2021. "Quantifying Proximity, Confinement, and Interventions in Disease Outbreaks: A Decision Support Framework for Air-Transported Pathogens." Environmental Science & Technology 55, no. 5: 2890-2898.
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) serve as markers of ancient viral infections and provide invaluable insight into host and viral evolution. ERVs have been exapted to assist in performing basic biological functions, including placentation, immune modulation, and oncogenesis. A subset of ERVs share high nucleotide similarity to circulating horizontally transmitted exogenous retrovirus (XRV) progenitors. In these cases, ERV–XRV interactions have been documented and include ( a) recombination to result in ERV–XRV chimeras, ( b) ERV induction of immune self-tolerance to XRV antigens, ( c) ERV antigen interference with XRV receptor binding, and ( d) interactions resulting in both enhancement and restriction of XRV infections. Whereas the mechanisms governing recombination and immune self-tolerance have been partially determined, enhancement and restriction of XRV infection are virus specific and only partially understood. This review summarizes interactions between six unique ERV–XRV pairs, highlighting important ERV biological functions and potential evolutionary histories in vertebrate hosts.
Elliott S. Chiu; Sue VandeWoude. Endogenous Retroviruses Drive Resistance and Promotion of Exogenous Retroviral Homologs. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences 2021, 9, 225 -248.
AMA StyleElliott S. Chiu, Sue VandeWoude. Endogenous Retroviruses Drive Resistance and Promotion of Exogenous Retroviral Homologs. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences. 2021; 9 (1):225-248.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElliott S. Chiu; Sue VandeWoude. 2021. "Endogenous Retroviruses Drive Resistance and Promotion of Exogenous Retroviral Homologs." Annual Review of Animal Biosciences 9, no. 1: 225-248.
Predator–prey interactions present heightened opportunities for pathogen spillover, as predators are at risk of exposure to infectious agents harbored by prey. Epizootics with high morbidity and mortality have been recorded following prey-to-predator spillover events, which have had significant conservation implications for sensitive species. Using felids as a detailed case study, we have documented both virulent and clinically silent infections in apex predators following transfer of microbes from prey. We draw on these examples and others to examine the mechanisms that determine frequency and outcome of predator exposure to prey-based pathogens. We propose that predator–prey dynamics should be more thoroughly considered in empirical research and disease dynamic modeling approaches in order to reveal answers to outstanding questions relating to pathogen bioaccumulation.
Jennifer L. Malmberg; Lauren A. White; Sue VandeWoude. Bioaccumulation of Pathogen Exposure in Top Predators. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 2021, 36, 411 -420.
AMA StyleJennifer L. Malmberg, Lauren A. White, Sue VandeWoude. Bioaccumulation of Pathogen Exposure in Top Predators. Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 2021; 36 (5):411-420.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJennifer L. Malmberg; Lauren A. White; Sue VandeWoude. 2021. "Bioaccumulation of Pathogen Exposure in Top Predators." Trends in Ecology & Evolution 36, no. 5: 411-420.
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are increasingly recognized for biological impacts on host cell function and susceptibility to infectious agents, particularly in relation to interactions with exogenous retroviral progenitors (XRVs). ERVs can simultaneously promote and restrict XRV infections using different mechanisms that are virus- and host-specific. The majority of endogenous-exogenous retroviral interactions have been evaluated in experimental mouse or chicken systems which are limited in their ability to extend findings to naturally infected outbred animals. Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) has a relatively well-characterized endogenous retrovirus with a coexisting virulent exogenous counterpart and is endemic worldwide in domestic cats. We have previously documented an association between endogenous FeLV LTR copy number and abrogated exogenous FeLV in naturally infected cats and experimental infections in tissue culture. Analyses described here examine limited FeLV replication in experimentally infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We further examine NCBI Sequence Read Archive RNA transcripts to evaluate enFeLV transcripts and RNA interference precursors. We find that lymphoid-derived tissues, which are experimentally less permissive to exogenous FeLV infection, transcribe higher levels of enFeLV under basal conditions. Transcription of enFeLV-LTR segments is significantly greater than other enFeLV genes. We documented transcription of a 21-nt miRNA just 3′ to the enFeLV 5′-LTR in the feline miRNAome of all datasets evaluated (n=27). Our findings point to important biological functions of enFeLV transcription linked to solo LTRs distributed within the domestic cat genome, with potential impacts on domestic cat exogenous FeLV susceptibility and pathogenesis.ImportanceEndogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are increasingly implicated in host cellular processes and susceptibility to infectious agents, specifically regarding interactions with exogenous retroviral progenitors (XRVs). Exogenous feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and its endogenous counterpart (enFeLV) represent a well characterized, naturally occurring XRV-ERV dyad. We have previously documented an abrogated FeLV infection in both naturally infected cats and experimental fibroblast infections that harbor higher enFeLV proviral loads. Using an in silico approach, we provide evidence of miRNA-transcription that are produced in tissues most important for FeLV infection, replication, and transmission. Our findings point to important biological functions of enFeLV transcription linked to solo-LTRs distributed within the feline genome, with potential impacts on domestic cat exogenous FeLV susceptibility and pathogenesis. This body of work provides additional evidence of RNAi as a mechanism of viral interference and is a demonstration of ERV exaptation by the host to defend against related XRVs.
Elliott S. Chiu; Sue Vandewoude. Endogenous feline leukemia virus siRNA transcription may interfere with exogenous FeLV infection. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleElliott S. Chiu, Sue Vandewoude. Endogenous feline leukemia virus siRNA transcription may interfere with exogenous FeLV infection. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElliott S. Chiu; Sue Vandewoude. 2021. "Endogenous feline leukemia virus siRNA transcription may interfere with exogenous FeLV infection." , no. : 1.
Outbreaks of infectious disease can have serious consequences for wildlife population health, especially species of conservation concern. The endangered Florida panther, for example, experienced an outbreak of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) in 2002-04, and continues to be affected by this deadly virus. Ongoing management efforts aim to mitigate the effects of FeLV on panthers, but with limited information about which strategies may be most effective and efficient. Such uncertainties can benefit from linking management with simulation models in order to optimize conservation efforts for populations of concern. We used a simulation-based approach to determine optimal FeLV management strategies. We simulated use of proactive FeLV management strategies (i.e., proactive vaccination) and several reactive strategies, including reactive vaccination and test-and-removal. Vaccination strategies accounted for partial vaccine immunity, including when using single or boosted inoculations. We compared the effectiveness of these different strategies in mitigating the number of FeLV mortalities and the duration of outbreaks. Results showed that inadequate proactive vaccination can paradoxically increase the number of disease-induced mortalities in FeLV outbreaks, most likely due to effects of partial vaccine immunity. Combinations of proactive vaccination with reactive test-and-removal or vaccination had a synergistic effect in reducing impacts of FeLV outbreaks. Temporary spatial restrictions, however, were unlikely to be effective under realistic conditions. Synthesis and applications: Management-informed disease simulations demonstrated both unexpected negative consequences and synergies with active management strategies for a deadly virus in Florida panthers. We recommend a combination of proactive and reactive management approaches, and suggest prioritizing boosted vaccination over broad distribution of unboosted inoculations. Our results highlight the importance of integrating management and modeling approaches to aid in conservation of at-risk species.
Marie L.J. Gilbertson; Dave Onorato; Mark W. Cunningham; Sue Vandewoude; Meggan E. Craft. Paradoxes and synergies: optimizing management of a deadly virus in an endangered carnivore. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleMarie L.J. Gilbertson, Dave Onorato, Mark W. Cunningham, Sue Vandewoude, Meggan E. Craft. Paradoxes and synergies: optimizing management of a deadly virus in an endangered carnivore. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarie L.J. Gilbertson; Dave Onorato; Mark W. Cunningham; Sue Vandewoude; Meggan E. Craft. 2021. "Paradoxes and synergies: optimizing management of a deadly virus in an endangered carnivore." , no. : 1.
Identifying drivers of transmission prior to an epidemic—especially of an emerging pathogen—is a formidable challenge for proactive disease management efforts. To overcome this gap, we tested a novel approach hypothesizing that an apathogenic virus could elucidate drivers of transmission processes, and thereby predict transmission dynamics of an analogously transmitted virulent pathogen. We evaluated this hypothesis in a model system, the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi), using apathogenic feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) to predict transmission dynamics for another retrovirus, pathogenic feline leukemia virus (FeLV). We derived a transmission network using FIV whole genome sequences, and used exponential random graph models to determine drivers structuring this network. We used the identified drivers to predict transmission pathways among panthers; simulated FeLV transmission using these pathways and three alternate modeling approaches; and compared predictions against empirical data collected during a historical FeLV outbreak in panthers. FIV transmission was primarily driven by panther age class and distances between panther home range centroids. Prospective FIV-based predictions of FeLV transmission dynamics performed at least as well as simpler, often retrospective approaches, with evidence that FIV-based predictions could capture the spatial structuring of the observed FeLV outbreak. Our finding that an apathogenic agent can predict transmission of an analogously transmitted pathogen is an innovative approach that warrants testing in other host-pathogen systems to determine generalizability. Use of such apathogenic agents holds promise for improving predictions of pathogen transmission in novel host populations, and can thereby revolutionize proactive pathogen management in human and animal systems.Significance StatementPredicting infectious disease transmission dynamics is fraught with assumptions which limit our ability to proactively develop targeted control strategies. We show that transmission of non-disease causing (apathogenic) agents provides invaluable insight into drivers of transmission prior to outbreaks of more serious diseases. Integrating genomic and network approaches, we tested an apathogenic virus as a proxy for predicting transmission dynamics of a deadly virus in the Florida panther. We found that apathogenic virus-based predictions of pathogen transmission dynamics performed at least as well as simpler transmission models, and offered the advantage of prospectively identifying the underlying management-relevant drivers of transmission. Our innovative approach offers an opportunity to proactively design disease control strategies in at-risk animal and human populations.
Marie L.J. Gilbertson; Nicholas M. Fountain-Jones; Jennifer L. Malmberg; Roderick B. Gagne; Justin S. Lee; Simona Kraberger; Sarah Kechejian; Raegan Petch; Elliott Chiu; Dave Onorato; Mark W. Cunningham; Kevin R. Crooks; W. Chris Funk; Scott Carver; Sue Vandewoude; Kimberly VanderWaal; Meggan E. Craft. Transmission of one predicts another: Apathogenic proxies for transmission dynamics of a fatal virus. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleMarie L.J. Gilbertson, Nicholas M. Fountain-Jones, Jennifer L. Malmberg, Roderick B. Gagne, Justin S. Lee, Simona Kraberger, Sarah Kechejian, Raegan Petch, Elliott Chiu, Dave Onorato, Mark W. Cunningham, Kevin R. Crooks, W. Chris Funk, Scott Carver, Sue Vandewoude, Kimberly VanderWaal, Meggan E. Craft. Transmission of one predicts another: Apathogenic proxies for transmission dynamics of a fatal virus. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarie L.J. Gilbertson; Nicholas M. Fountain-Jones; Jennifer L. Malmberg; Roderick B. Gagne; Justin S. Lee; Simona Kraberger; Sarah Kechejian; Raegan Petch; Elliott Chiu; Dave Onorato; Mark W. Cunningham; Kevin R. Crooks; W. Chris Funk; Scott Carver; Sue Vandewoude; Kimberly VanderWaal; Meggan E. Craft. 2021. "Transmission of one predicts another: Apathogenic proxies for transmission dynamics of a fatal virus." , no. : 1.
Urban expansion can fundamentally alter wildlife movement and gene flow, but how urbanization alters pathogen spread is poorly understood. Here, we combine high resolution host and viral genomic data with landscape variables to examine the context of viral spread in puma (Puma concolor) from two contrasting regions: one bounded by the wildland urban interface (WUI) and one unbounded with minimal anthropogenic development (UB). We found landscape variables and host gene flow explained significant amounts of variation of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) spread in the WUI, but not in the unbounded region. The most important predictors of viral spread also differed; host spatial proximity, host relatedness, and mountain ranges played a role in FIV spread in the WUI, whereas roads might have facilitated viral spread in the unbounded region. Our research demonstrates how anthropogenic landscapes can alter pathogen spread, providing a more nuanced understanding of host-pathogen relationships to inform disease ecology in free-ranging species.
Nicholas M. Fountain-Jones; Simona Kraberger; Roderick B. Gagne; Daryl R. Trumbo; Patricia E. Salerno; W. Chris Funk; Kevin Crooks; Roman Biek; Mathew Alldredge; Ken Logan; Guy Baele; Simon Dellicour; Holly B. Ernest; Sue VandeWoude; Scott Carver; Meggan E. Craft. Host relatedness and landscape connectivity shape pathogen spread in the puma, a large secretive carnivore. Communications Biology 2021, 4, 1 -9.
AMA StyleNicholas M. Fountain-Jones, Simona Kraberger, Roderick B. Gagne, Daryl R. Trumbo, Patricia E. Salerno, W. Chris Funk, Kevin Crooks, Roman Biek, Mathew Alldredge, Ken Logan, Guy Baele, Simon Dellicour, Holly B. Ernest, Sue VandeWoude, Scott Carver, Meggan E. Craft. Host relatedness and landscape connectivity shape pathogen spread in the puma, a large secretive carnivore. Communications Biology. 2021; 4 (1):1-9.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas M. Fountain-Jones; Simona Kraberger; Roderick B. Gagne; Daryl R. Trumbo; Patricia E. Salerno; W. Chris Funk; Kevin Crooks; Roman Biek; Mathew Alldredge; Ken Logan; Guy Baele; Simon Dellicour; Holly B. Ernest; Sue VandeWoude; Scott Carver; Meggan E. Craft. 2021. "Host relatedness and landscape connectivity shape pathogen spread in the puma, a large secretive carnivore." Communications Biology 4, no. 1: 1-9.
African Swine Fever (ASF) was reported in domestic pigs in China in 2018. This highly contagious viral infection with no effective vaccine reached pandemic proportions by 2019, substantially impacting protein availability in the same region where the COVID-19 pandemic subsequently emerged. We discuss the genesis, spread, and wide-reaching impacts of an epidemic in a vital livestock species, noting parallels and potential contributions to ignition of COVID-19. We speculate about follow-on impacts of these pandemics on global public health infrastructure and suggest intervention strategies using a cost: benefit approach for low-risk, massive-impact events. We note that substantive changes in how the world reacts to potential threats will be required to overcome catastrophes driven by climate change, food insecurity, lack of surveillance infrastructure and other gaps. We note that a One Health approach creating collaborative processes connecting expertise in human, animal, and environmental health is essential for combating future global health crises.
Sue VandeWoude; Claire Tucker; Anna Claire Fagre; George Wittemyer; Tracy Webb; Edward Okoth. Parallel pandemics illustrate the need for One Health solutions. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleSue VandeWoude, Claire Tucker, Anna Claire Fagre, George Wittemyer, Tracy Webb, Edward Okoth. Parallel pandemics illustrate the need for One Health solutions. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSue VandeWoude; Claire Tucker; Anna Claire Fagre; George Wittemyer; Tracy Webb; Edward Okoth. 2021. "Parallel pandemics illustrate the need for One Health solutions." , no. : 1.
Predator-prey interactions present heightened opportunities for pathogen spillover, as predators are exposed to novel parasites through consumption of prey harboring potentially infectious agents. Epizootics with high morbidity and mortality have been recorded following prey-to-predator spillover events with significant conservation implications, particularly for sensitive species. However, relatively few virulent infections following prey consumption are reported, given the very large number of exposures that presumably occur. Further, many transmitted agents are infectious but clinically silent and thus go unrecognized. Mechanisms that determine outcome of predator exposure to prey-based pathogens therefore represent an important, understudied component of disease dynamics that should be considered in modeling approaches and empirical research to better understand disease risk and emergence, particularly in vulnerable or threatened species.
Jennifer Malmberg; Lauren White; Sue Vandewoude. Predation-Driven Spillover: Pathogen Bioaccumulation in Top Predators. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleJennifer Malmberg, Lauren White, Sue Vandewoude. Predation-Driven Spillover: Pathogen Bioaccumulation in Top Predators. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJennifer Malmberg; Lauren White; Sue Vandewoude. 2020. "Predation-Driven Spillover: Pathogen Bioaccumulation in Top Predators." , no. : 1.
Despite many career opportunities available to veterinarians in research related fields and requirements for training in research methodologies by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA COE), formal approaches to development of veterinary curriculum related to research topics have not been widely reported. Colorado State University (CSU) offers a one-credit course that introduces first-year veterinary students to skills and career opportunities in research. Here we provide information about the course structure and content, and report outcomes of survey data that assesses the impact of the course on student appreciation and understanding of the research process. We found that most United States (US) veterinary colleges do not offer a didactic course on the research process. Student opinions of veterinary researchers were generally high, though a proportion of students (30%–40%) would have preferred a practice management class to a course on research principles. Nearly 25% of students reported that they were significantly influenced to consider research careers after taking the course. We document that this one-credit seminar course improved veterinary student perceptions of their understanding of the research process and resulted in self-reported influence of career choice.
Elliott S. Chiu; Elizabeth W. Goldsmith; Caroline S. Moon; Sue Vandewoude. A Model Course to Enhance Veterinary Student Exposure to Research. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 2020, 47, 445 -451.
AMA StyleElliott S. Chiu, Elizabeth W. Goldsmith, Caroline S. Moon, Sue Vandewoude. A Model Course to Enhance Veterinary Student Exposure to Research. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education. 2020; 47 (4):445-451.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElliott S. Chiu; Elizabeth W. Goldsmith; Caroline S. Moon; Sue Vandewoude. 2020. "A Model Course to Enhance Veterinary Student Exposure to Research." Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 47, no. 4: 445-451.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) can infect a variety of felid species. Only the primary domestic cat host and related small cat species harbor a related endogenous virus in their genomes. Previous studies noted a negative association between the endogenous virus copy number and exogenous virus infection in domestic cats. This report shows that puma cells, which lack endogenous FeLV, produce more virus more rapidly than domestic cat fibroblasts following cell culture challenge. We document a strong association between domestic cat cell susceptibility and FeLV long terminal repeat (LTR) copy number, similar to observations in natural FeLV infections. Viral replication does not, however, correlate with FeLV env copy number, suggesting that this effect is specific to FeLV-LTR elements. This discovery indicates a protective capacity of the endogenous virus against the exogenous form, either via direct interference or indirectly via gene regulation, and may suggest evolutionary outcomes of retroviral endogenization.
Elliott S. Chiu; Sue VandeWoude. Presence of Endogenous Viral Elements Negatively Correlates with Feline Leukemia Virus Susceptibility in Puma and Domestic Cat Cells. Journal of Virology 2020, 94, 1 .
AMA StyleElliott S. Chiu, Sue VandeWoude. Presence of Endogenous Viral Elements Negatively Correlates with Feline Leukemia Virus Susceptibility in Puma and Domestic Cat Cells. Journal of Virology. 2020; 94 (21):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElliott S. Chiu; Sue VandeWoude. 2020. "Presence of Endogenous Viral Elements Negatively Correlates with Feline Leukemia Virus Susceptibility in Puma and Domestic Cat Cells." Journal of Virology 94, no. 21: 1.
The inability to communicate how infectious diseases are transmitted in human environments has triggered avoidance of interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. We define a metric, Effective ReBreathed Volume (ERBV), that encapsulates how infectious pathogens transport in air. This measure distinguishes environmental transport from other factors in the chain of infection, thus allowing quantitative comparisons of the riskiness of different situations for any pathogens transported in air, including SARS-CoV-2. Particle size is a key factor in transport, removal onto surfaces, and elimination by mitigation measures, so ERBV is presented for a range of exhaled particle diameters: 1 μm, 10 μm, and 100 μm. Pathogen transport is enhanced by two separate but interacting effects: proximity and confinement. Confinement in enclosed spaces overwhelms proximity after 10–15 minutes for all but the largest particles. Therefore, we review plausible strategies to reduce the confinement effect. Changes in standard ventilation and filtration can reduce person-to-person transport of 1-μm particles (ERBV1) by 13-85% in residential and commercial situations. Deposition to surfaces competes with intentional removal for 10-μm and 100-μm particles, so the same interventions reduce ERBV10 by only 3-50%, and ERBV100 is unaffected. Determining transmission modes is critical to identify intervention effectiveness, and would be accelerated with prior knowledge of ERBV. When judiciously selected, the interventions examined can provide substantial reduction in risk, and the conditions for selection are identified. The framework of size-dependent ERBV supports analysis and mitigation decisions in an emerging situation, even before other infectious parameters are well known.
Tami C. Bond; Angela Bosco-Lauth; Delphine K. Farmer; Paul W. Francisco; Jeffrey R. Pierce; Kristen M. Fedak; Jay M. Ham; Shantanu H. Jathar; Sue Vandewoude. Quantifying proximity, confinement, and interventions in disease outbreaks: a decision support framework for air-transported pathogens. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleTami C. Bond, Angela Bosco-Lauth, Delphine K. Farmer, Paul W. Francisco, Jeffrey R. Pierce, Kristen M. Fedak, Jay M. Ham, Shantanu H. Jathar, Sue Vandewoude. Quantifying proximity, confinement, and interventions in disease outbreaks: a decision support framework for air-transported pathogens. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTami C. Bond; Angela Bosco-Lauth; Delphine K. Farmer; Paul W. Francisco; Jeffrey R. Pierce; Kristen M. Fedak; Jay M. Ham; Shantanu H. Jathar; Sue Vandewoude. 2020. "Quantifying proximity, confinement, and interventions in disease outbreaks: a decision support framework for air-transported pathogens." , no. : 1.
While feline leukemia virus (FeLV) has been shown to infect felid species other than the endemic domestic cat host, differences in FeLV susceptibility among species has not been evaluated. Previous reports have noted a negative correlation between enFeLV copy number and exogenous FeLV infection outcomes in domestic cats. Since felids outside the genus Felis do not harbor enFeLV genomes, we hypothesized absence of enFeLV results in more severe disease consequences in felid species lacking these genomic elements. We infected primary fibroblasts isolated from domestic cats (Felis catus) and pumas (Puma concolor) with FeLV and quantitated proviral and viral antigen loads. Domestic cat enFeLV env and LTR copy numbers were determined for each individual and compared to FeLV viral outcomes. FeLV proviral and antigen levels were also measured in 6 naturally infected domestic cats and 11 naturally infected Florida panthers (P. concolor coryi). We demonstrated that puma fibroblasts are more permissive to FeLV than domestic cat cells, and domestic cat FeLV restriction was highly related to enFeLV LTR copy number. Terminal tissues from FeLV-infected Florida panthers and domestic cats had similar exFeLV proviral copy numbers, but Florida panther tissues have higher FeLV antigen loads. Our work indicates enFeLV LTR elements negatively regulate exogenous FeLV replication. Further, Puma concolor lacking enFeLV are more permissive to FeLV infection than domestic cats, suggesting endogenization can play a beneficial role in mitigating exogenous retroviral infections. Conversely, presence of endogenous retroelements may relate to new host susceptibility during viral spillover events.ImportanceFeline leukemia virus (FeLV) can infect a variety of felid species. Only the primary domestic cat host and related small cat species harbor a related endogenous virus in their genomes. Previous studies noted a negative association between the endogenous virus copy number and exogenous virus infection in domestic cats. This report shows that puma cells, which lack endogenous FeLV, produce more virus more rapidly than domestic cat fibroblasts following cell culture challenge. We document a strong association between domestic cat cell susceptibility and FeLV long terminal repeat (LTR) copy number, similar to observations in natural FeLV infections. Viral replication does not, however, correlate with FeLV env copy number, suggesting this effect is specific to FeLV LTR elements. This discovery indicates a protective capacity of the endogenous virus against the exogenous form, either via direct interference or indirectly via gene regulation, and may suggest evolutionary outcomes of retroviral endogenization.
Elliott S. Chiu; Sue Vandewoude. Presence of endogenous viral elements negatively correlates with FeLV susceptibility in puma and domestic cat cells. bioRxiv 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleElliott S. Chiu, Sue Vandewoude. Presence of endogenous viral elements negatively correlates with FeLV susceptibility in puma and domestic cat cells. bioRxiv. 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElliott S. Chiu; Sue Vandewoude. 2020. "Presence of endogenous viral elements negatively correlates with FeLV susceptibility in puma and domestic cat cells." bioRxiv , no. : 1.