Journal Articles
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915
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Item Exposure to drinking water trihalomethanes and nitrate and the risk of brain tumours in young people(Elsevier Inc, 2021-09) Zumel-Marne A; Castaño-Vinyals G; Alguacil J; Villanueva CM; Maule M; Gracia-Lavedan E; Momoli F; Krewski D; Mohipp C; Petridou E; Bouka E; Merletti F; Migliore E; Piro S; Ha M; 't Mannetje A; Eng A; Aragones N; Cardis EBrain tumours (BTs) are one of the most frequent tumour types in young people. We explored the association between tap water, exposure to trihalomethanes (THM) and nitrate and neuroepithelial BT risk in young people. Analysis of tap water consumption were based on 321 cases and 919 appendicitis controls (10-24 years old) from 6 of the 14 participating countries in the international MOBI-Kids case-control study (2010-2016). Available historical residential tap water concentrations of THMs and nitrate, available from 3 countries for 86 cases and 352 controls and 85 cases and 343 for nitrate, respectively, were modelled and combined with the study subjects' personal consumption patterns to estimate ingestion and residential exposure levels in the study population (both pre- and postnatal). The mean age of participants was 16.6 years old and 56% were male. The highest levels and widest ranges for THMs were found in Spain (residential and ingested) and Italy and in Korea for nitrate. There was no association between BT and the amount of tap water consumed and the showering/bathing frequency. Odds Ratios (ORs) for BT in relation to both pre- and postnatal residential and ingestion levels of THMs were systematically below 1 (OR = 0.37 (0.08-1.73)) for postnatal average residential THMs higher than 66 μg/L. For nitrate, all ORs were above 1 (OR = 1.80 (0.91-3.55)) for postnatal average residential nitrate levels higher than 8.5 mg/L, with a suggestion of a trend of increased risk of neuroepithelial BTs with increasing residential nitrate levels in tap water, which appeared stronger in early in life. This, to our knowledge, is the first study on this topic in young people. Further research is required to clarify the observed associations.Item A novel gyrovirus is abundant in yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) chicks with a fatal respiratory disease.(2023-02) Wierenga JR; Morgan KJ; Hunter S; Taylor HS; Argilla LS; Webster T; Dubrulle J; Jorge F; Bostina M; Burga L; Holmes EC; McInnes K; Geoghegan JLYellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes), or hoiho in te reo Māori, are predicted to become extinct on mainland Aotearoa New Zealand in the next few decades, with infectious disease a significant contributor to their decline. A recent disease phenomenon termed respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) causing lung pathology has been identified in very young chicks. To date, no causative pathogens for RDS have been identified. In 2020 and 2021, the number of chick deaths from suspected RDS increased four- and five-fold, respectively, causing mass mortality with an estimated mortality rate of >90%. We aimed to identify possible pathogens responsible for RDS disease impacting these critically endangered yellow-eyed penguins. Total RNA was extracted from tissue samples collected during post-mortem of 43 dead chicks and subject to metatranscriptomic sequencing and histological examination. From these data we identified a novel and highly abundant gyrovirus (Anelloviridae) in 80% of tissue samples. This virus was most closely related to Gyrovirus 8 discovered in a diseased seabird, while other members of the genus Gyrovirus include Chicken anaemia virus, which causes severe disease in juvenile chickens. No other exogenous viral transcripts were identified in these tissues. Due to the high relative abundance of viral reads and its high prevalence in diseased animals, it is likely that this novel gyrovirus is associated with RDS in yellow-eyed penguin chicks.Item CHANGES IN THE LEVELS OF THEILERIA ORIENTALIS IKEDA TYPE INFECTION IN HAEMAPHYSALIS LONGICORNIS NYMPHS OVER A SIX-MONTH PERIOD.(1/09/2021) Zhao Y; Lawrence KE; Minor M; Gedye K; Wang B; Pomroy W; Potter MThis study aimed to investigate whether the infection intensity of Theileria orientalis Ikeda type organisms within Haemaphysalis longicornis larvae and nymph stages fluctuated over 6 mo after feeding as larvae on infected calves in the field. Naïve larvae, hatched from eggs, were fed on infected calves for 5 days while contained within cotton socks glued over the calves' ears. Larvae were first sampled immediately post-feeding and then sampled every 3 wk for 23 wk in total, after molting to nymphs. All larvae and nymphs were tested for T. orientalis Ikeda organisms using quantitative PCR. The qPCR results showed that the infection intensity of Haemaphysalis longicornis larvae and nymphs was not constant over the sampling period, and after initially dropping after molting to nymphs, it then rose with fasting to a maximum at 17 and 23 wk post-feeding. The significant rise in T. orientalis Ikeda organisms observed at 23 wk postfeeding may explain why more severe clinical cases of bovine theileriosis in New Zealand are seen in the spring when nymphs are the predominant instar questing.Item BfpI, BfpJ, and BfpK Minor Pilins Are Important for the Function and Biogenesis of Bundle-Forming Pili Expressed by Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli(American Society for Microbiology, 1/03/2016) Nisa S; Martinez de la Peña CF; De Masi L; Mulvey G; Tong J; Donnenberg MS; Armstrong GDItem Evaluating edge-of-range genetic patterns for tropical echinoderms, Acanthaster planci and Tripneustes gratilla, of the Kermadec Islands, southwest Pacific(ROSENSTIEL SCH MAR ATMOS SCI, 1/01/2014) Liggins L; Gleeson L; Riginos CEdge-of-range populations are often typified by patterns of low genetic diversity and high genetic differentiation relative to populations within the core of a species range. The "core-periphery hypothesis," also known as the "central-marginal hypothesis," predicts that these genetic patterns at the edge-of-range are a consequence of reduced population size and connectivity toward a species range periphery. It is unclear, however, how these expectations relate to high dispersal marine species that can conceivably maintain high abundance and high connectivity at their range edge. In the present study, we characterize the genetic patterns of two tropical echinoderm populations in the Kermadec Islands, the edge of their southwest Pacific range, and compare these genetic patterns to those from populations throughout their east Indian and Pacific ranges. We find that the populations of both Acanthaster planci (Linnaeus, 1758) and Tripneustes gratilla (Linnaeus, 1758) are represented by a single haplotype at the Kermadec Islands (based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase C subunit I). Such low genetic diversity concurs with the expectations of the "core-periphery hypothesis." Furthermore, the haplotypic composition of both populations suggests they have been founded by a small number of colonists with little subsequent immigration. Thus, local reproduction and self-recruitment appear to maintain these populations despite the ecologically marginal conditions of the Kermadec Islands for these tropical species. Understanding rates of self-recruitment vs reliance on connectivity with populations outside of the Kermadec Islands has implications for the persistence of these populations and range stability of these echinoderm species.© 2014 Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science of the University of Miami.Item The population genetic structure of the urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii in New Zealand with links to Australia(1/09/2021) Thomas LJ; Liggins L; Banks SC; Beheregaray LB; Liddy M; McCulloch GA; Waters JM; Carter L; Byrne M; Cumming RA; Lamare MDThe diadematid sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii occurs in Australia and New Zealand and has undergone recent southward range extension in Australia as a result of regional warming. Clarifying the population genetic structure of this species across its New Zealand range would allow a better understanding of recent and future mechanisms driving range changes in the species. Here, we use microsatellite DNA data to assess connectivity and genetic structure in 385 individuals from 14 locations across the Australian and New Zealand ranges of the species. We detected substantial genetic differentiation among C. rodgersii populations from Australia and New Zealand. However, the population from Port Stephens (located north of Newcastle), Australia, strongly clustered with New Zealand samples. This suggests that the New Zealand populations recently originated from this area, likely via larval transport in the Tasman Front flow that arises in this region. The weak population genetic structure and relatively low genetic diversity detected in New Zealand (global Fst = 0.0021) relative to Australia (global Fst = 0.0339) is consistent with the former population’s inferred history of recent climate-driven expansion. Population-level inbreeding is low in most populations, but were higher in New Zealand (global Fis = 0.0833) than in Australia (global Fis = 0.0202), suggesting that self-recruitment is playing an increasingly important role in the New Zealand region. Our results suggest that C. rodgersii is likely to spread southwards as ocean temperatures increase; therefore, it is crucial that researchers develop a clearer understanding of how New Zealand ecosystems will be reshaped by this species (and others) under climate change.Item Seascape features, rather than dispersal traits, predict spatial genetic patterns in co-distributed reef fishes(Wiley, 2015) Liggins L; Treml EA; Possingham HP; Riginos CAim: To determine which seascape features have shaped the spatial genetic patterns of coral reef fishes, and to identify common patterns among species related to dispersal traits [egg type and pelagic larval duration (PLD)]. Location: Indian and Pacific Oceans, including the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Methods: We sampled coral reef fishes with differing dispersal traits (Pomacentrus coelestis, Dascyllus trimaculatus, Hailchoeres hortulanus and Acanthurus triostegus) and characterized spatial (mtDNA) genetic patterns using AMOVA-clustering and measures of genetic differentiation. Similarity in the spatial genetic patterns among species was assessed using the congruence among distance matrices method and the seascape features associated with the genetic differentiation of each species were identified using multiple regression of distance matrices (MRDM) and stepwise model selection. Results: Similar spatial genetic patterns were found for P. coelestis and H. hortulanus, despite their differing egg type (benthic versus pelagic). MRDM indicated that geographical distance was underlying their correlated genetic patterns. Species with pelagic eggs (A. triostegus and H. hortulanus) also had correlated patterns of genetic differentiation (Dest); however, a common underlying seascape feature could not be inferred. Additionally, the common influence of the Torres Strait and the Lydekker/Weber's line was identified for the genetic patterns of differentiation for P. coelestis and A. triostegus, despite their differing dispersal traits, and the uncorrelated spatial genetic patterns of these species. Main conclusions: Our study demonstrates the value of a quantitative, hypothesis-testing framework in comparative phylogeography. We found that dispersal traits (egg type and PLD) did not predict which species had similar spatial genetic patterns or which seascape features were associated with these patterns. Furthermore, even in the absence of visually similar, or correlated spatial genetic patterns, our approach enabled us to identify seascape features that had a common influence on the spatial genetic patterns of co-distributed species.Item Functional beta diversity of New Zealand fishes: Characterising morphological turnover along depth and latitude gradients, with derivation of functional bioregions(1/09/2021) Myers EMV; Eme D; Liggins L; Harvey ES; Roberts CD; Anderson MJChanges in the functional structures of communities are rarely examined along multiple large-scale environmental gradients. Here, we describe patterns in functional beta diversity for New Zealand marine fishes versus depth and latitude, including broad-scale delineation of functional bioregions. We derived eight functional traits related to food acquisition and locomotion and calculated complementary indices of functional beta diversity for 144 species of marine ray-finned fishes occurring along large-scale depth (50–1200 m) and latitudinal gradients (29°–51°S) in the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone. We focused on a suite of morphological traits calculated directly from in situ Baited Remote Underwater Stereo-Video (stereo-BRUV) footage and museum specimens. We found that functional changes were primarily structured by depth followed by latitude, and that latitudinal functional turnover decreased with increasing depth. Functional turnover among cells increased with increasing depth distance, but this relationship plateaued for greater depth distances (>750 m). In contrast, functional turnover did not change significantly with increasing latitudinal distance at 700–1200 m depths. Shallow functional bioregions (50–100 m) were distinct at different latitudes, whereas deeper bioregions extended across broad latitudinal ranges. Fishes in shallow depths had a body shape conducive to efficient propulsion, while fishes in deeper depths were more elongated, enabling slow, energy-efficient locomotion, and had large eyes to enhance vision. Environmental filtering may be a primary driver of broad-scale patterns of functional beta diversity in the deep sea. Greater environmental homogeneity may lead to greater functional homogeneity across latitudinal gradients at deeper depths (700–1200 m). We suggest that communities living at depth may follow a ‘functional village hypothesis’, whereby similar key functional niches in fish communities may be maintained over large spatial scales.Item Soil properties impacting denitrifier community size, structure and activity in New Zealand dairy-grazed pastures(Copernicus Publications, 22/09/2017) Jha N; Saggar S; Giltrap D; Tillman R; Deslippe J; N/AAbstract. Denitrification is an anaerobic respiration process that is the primary contributor of the nitrous oxide (N O) produced from grassland soils. Our objective was to gain insight into the relationships between denitrifier community size, structure, and activity for a range of pasture soils. We collected 10 dairy pasture soils with contrasting soil textures, drainage classes, management strategies (effluent irrigation or non-irrigation), and geographic locations in New Zealand, and measured their physicochemical characteristics. We measured denitrifier abundance by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and assessed denitrifier diversity and community structure by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) of the nitrite reductase (nirS, nirK) and N O reductase (nosZ) genes. We quantified denitrifier enzyme activity (DEA) using an acetylene inhibition technique. We investigated whether varied soil conditions lead to different denitrifier communities in soils, and if so, whether they are associated with different denitrification activities and are likely to generate different N 2 O emissions. Differences in the physicochemical characteristics of the soils were driven mainly by soil mineralogy and the management practices of the farms. We found that nirS and nirK communities were strongly structured along gradients of soil water and phosphorus (P) contents. By contrast, the size and structure of the nosZ community was unrelated to any of the measured soil characteristics. In soils with high water content, the richnesses and abundances of nirS, nirK, and nosZ genes were all significantly positively correlated with DEA. Our data suggest that management strategies to limit N O emissions through denitrification are likely to be most im- 2 2 2 portant for dairy farms on fertile or allophanic soils during wetter periods. Finally, our data suggest that new techniques that would selectively target nirS denitrifiers may be the most effective for limiting N O emissions through denitrification across a wide range of soil types.Item The Use of Stereology Method to Estimate the Volume of Feto-Maternal Exchange Area of the Bovine Placentome during Gestation.(2016-11) Adeyinka FD; Laven RA; de Nicolo G; Lawrence KE; Parkinson TJThe functional surface areas of the feto-maternal unit of the bovine placentomes were quantified from Day 100 to 260 of gestation by using stereology. This study was achieved using intact placentomes obtained from an abattoir. There was no change in volume and surface densities of binucleate cells, fetal trophoblast, fetal and maternal tissues, and maternal epithelium with gestation age, although the total volume of these components increased with gestation age from Day 126 to 260. The total surface area of the feto-maternal interface increased in a similar pattern as the placentomal components without a change in the fetal to maternal tissue ratio when estimated with stereology. This is one of the recent studies in cattle to quantify and describe the functional surface area of intact placentomes at different stages of gestation and it emphasised the differences between the yak and cattle placentomal development. Anat Rec, 299:1571-1577, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.