A5018096622- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- interferon and immune responses
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Myxozoan Parasites in Aquatic Species
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions
- Helminth infection and control
- Gut microbiota and health
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- Insects and Parasite Interactions
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
2020-2025
University of Colorado Denver
2020-2024
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
2021-2024
University of Iowa
2016-2024
Children's Hospital Colorado
2024
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2022
Abstract Recent advances in long-read sequencing technology have allowed for single-molecule of entire mitochondrial genomes, opening the door direct investigation genome architecture and recombination. We used PacBio to reassemble genomes from two species New Zealand freshwater snails, Potamopyrgus antipodarum estuarinus. These assemblies revealed a ∼1.7 kb structure within both that was previously undetected by an assembly short reads likely corresponding large noncoding region commonly...
Abstract Organisms featuring wide trait variability and occurring in a range of habitats, such as the ovoviviparous New Zealand freshwater snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum , are ideal models to study adaptation. Since mid‐19th century, P. characterized by extremely variable shell morphology, has successfully invaded aquatic areas on four continents. Because these obligately wholly asexual invasive populations harbor low genetic diversity compared mixed sexual/asexual native range, we...
On January 24, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) identified first case COVID-19 attributed to B.1.427 B.1.429 variants. To improve convenience sampling identify track emerging variants, CDPHE established a 30-site statewide sentinel surveillance system.
Surveillance for emerging pathogens is critical developing early warning systems to guide preparedness efforts future outbreaks of associated disease. To better define the epidemiology and burden respiratory disease acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), as well provide actionable data public health interventions, we developed a multimodal surveillance program in Colorado, USA, enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). Timely local, state, national outreach was possible because prospective syndromic AFM asthma-like...
Sensing of viral double-stranded RNA by MDA5 triggers abundant but transient interferon-stimulated gene (ISGs) expression. If dsRNA synthesis is made persistent transgenically expressing a picornaviral RNA-dependent polymerase (RdRp) in mice, lifelong activation and marked, global ISG upregulation result. This confers robust protection from diseases contrast to numerous other chronic hyperactivation states, the mice suffer no autoimmune consequences. Here we find they further confound...
Key unanswered questions in biology center on the causes, consequences, and maintenance of sexual reproduction (sex). Genome-driven processes are central to evolutionary genetic mechanisms inherent sex, making genomic resources a fundamental part answering these questions. We present first genome assembly for species that is uniquely well-suited study (a)sex nature, Potamopyrgus antipodarum. This New Zealand snail unusual featuring multiple separate transitions from obligately asexual...
Reciprocal co-evolving interactions between hosts and parasites are a primary source of strong selection that can promote rapid often population- or genotype-specific evolutionary change. These host-parasite also major disease. Despite their importance, very little is known about the genomic basis in natural populations, especially animals. Here, we use gene expression sequence evolution approaches to take critical steps towards characterizing freshwater snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum its...
Polyploidy is increasingly recognized as a driver of biological diversity. How and why polyploidization affects gene expression critical to understanding the link between ploidy elevation diversification. In polyploid plants, multiple studies have demonstrated that can confer major but variable consequences for expression, ranging from gene-by-gene alterations entirely silenced genomes. By contrast, animal polyploids remain largely uncharacterized. Accordingly, how animals respond manage...
Resident microbes (microbiota) can shape host organismal function and adaptation in the face of environmental change. Invasion new habitats exposes hosts to novel selection pressures, but little is known about impact on microbiota host-microbiome relationship (e.g., how rapidly microbial associations are formed, whether influence invasion success). We used high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing New Zealand (native) European (invasive) populations freshwater snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum found...
In July 2021, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) laboratory identified a cluster five Salmonella enterica serotype Thompson isolates related to one another within allele difference, using whole genome multilocus sequence typing (wgMLST). These isolates, submitted public health as is routine process for confirmatory testing Salmonella, were highly those in 2020 multistate investigation, during which traceback was conducted sushi-grade tuna salmon; common supplier...
How does asexual reproduction influence genome evolution? Although is it clear that genomic structural variation common and important in natural populations, we know very little about how one of the most fundamental eukaryotic traits-mode inheritance-influences structure. We address this question with New Zealand freshwater snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum, which features multiple separately derived obligately lineages coexist compete otherwise similar sexual lineages. used whole-genome...
Bats are primary reservoirs for multiple lethal human viruses, such as Ebola, Nipah, Hendra, rabies, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East syndrome-related (MERS-CoV), and, most recently, SARS-CoV-2. The innate immune systems of these immensely abundant, anciently diverged mammals remain insufficiently characterized. While bat genomes contain many endogenous retroviral elements indicative past exogenous infections, little is known about restrictions to extant...
To assess the household secondary infection risk (SIR) of B.1.1.7 (Alpha) and non-Alpha lineages severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among children.During January to April 2021, we prospectively followed households with a SARS-CoV-2 infection. We collected questionnaires, serial nasopharyngeal swabs for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing whole genome sequencing, blood samples serology testing. calculated SIRs by primary case age (pediatric vs...
Abstract In adults, viral load and disease severity can differ by SARS-CoV-2 variant, patterns less understood in children. We evaluated symptomatology, cycle threshold (Ct) values, variants among 2,299 pediatric patients (0–21 years of age) Colorado, USA, to determine whether children infected with Delta or Omicron had different symptom Ct values than during earlier variants. Children the periods lower those pre-Delta, <1 year age older Hospitalized symptomatic asymptomatic patients....
Abstract Snail-borne trematodes represent a large, diverse, and evolutionarily, ecologically, medically important group of parasites, often imposing strong selection on their hosts causing host morbidity mortality. Even so, there are very few genomic transcriptomic resources available for this animal group. We help to fill gap by providing transcriptome from trematode metacercariae infecting two congeneric snail species, Potamopyrgus antipodarum P. estuarinus. This genus New Zealand snails...
Potamopyrgus antipodarum , a New Zealand freshwater snail, is powerful system to study the maintenance of sexual reproduction. Obligate asexual P. (herein, Pa ) lineages include both triploids and tetraploids that are products multiple separate transitions from diploid ancestors. Distinct polyploid coexist compete; these can be considered replicated natural experiments. We have shown harmful mutations accumulating at higher rate in than Pa, demonstrating utility this as model for...
Abstract Reciprocal coevolving interactions between hosts and parasites are a primary source of strong selection that can promote rapid often population- or genotype-specific evolutionary change. These host-parasite also major disease. Despite their importance, very little is known about the genomic basis in natural populations, especially animals. Here, we use gene expression sequence evolution approaches to take critical steps towards characterizing freshwater snail Potamopyrgus...
Abstract We have sequenced, assembled, and analyzed the nuclear mitochondrial genomes transcriptomes of Potamopyrgus estuarinus kaitunuparaoa, two prosobranch snail species native to New Zealand that together span continuum from estuary freshwater. These are closest known relatives freshwater antipodarum—a model for studying evolution sex, host–parasite coevolution, biological invasiveness—and thus provide key evolutionary context understanding its unusual biology. The P. kaitunuparaoa very...
Background: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) detected an increase in Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (KPC-CRE) infections October 2022. We investigated patient epidemiological links isolate relatedness to characterize interfacility transmission KPC-CRE the Denver metro area inform regional prevention strategies. Methods: defined a case as polymerase chain reaction detection KPC from clinical or screening...
Why sexual reproduction is so common when asexual should be much more efficient and less costly remains an open question in evolutionary biology. Comparisons between otherwise similar taxa allow us to characterize the genetic architecture underlying asexuality, which can, turn, illuminate how this reproductive mode transition occurred mechanisms by it maintained or disrupted. Here, we used transcriptome sequencing compare patterns of ovarian gene expression actively reproducing obligately...
Abstract Snail-borne trematodes represent a large, diverse, and evolutionarily, ecologically, medically important group of parasites, often imposing strong selection on their hosts causing host morbidity mortality. Even so, there are very few genomic transcriptomic resources available for this animal group. We help to fill gap by providing transcriptome from trematode metacercariae infecting two congeneric snail species, Potamopyrgus antipodarum P . estuarinus This genus New Zealand snails...
Potamopyrgus antipodarum , a New Zealand freshwater snail, is powerful system to study the maintenance of sexual reproduction. Obligate asexual P. (herein, Pa ) lineages include both triploids and tetraploids that are products multiple separate transitions from diploid ancestors. Distinct polyploid coexist compete; these can be considered replicated natural experiments. We have shown harmful mutations accumulating at higher rate in than Pa, demonstrating utility this as model for...
Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (e.g., dsRNA) activate expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), which protect hosts from infection. Although transient ISG upregulation is essential for effective innate immunity, constitutive activation typically causes harmful autoimmunity in mice and humans, often including severe developmental abnormalities. We have shown that transgenic expressing a picornavirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) outside the viral context (RdRP mice) exhibit...