Plant Protector: How plants strengthen their light-harvesting membranes against environmental stress

HELMHOLTZ ZENTRUM MÜNCHEN - GERMAN RESEARCH CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Research News

 

IMAGE: ARTISTIC RENDERING OF THE VIPP1 RING STRUCTURE COVERED IN LUSH PLANT LIFE, REPRESENTING THE CENTRAL ROLE OF VIPP1 IN CONSTRUCTING AND MAINTAINING THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC THYLAKOID MEMBRANES THAT ENABLE PLANTS TO... view more 

CREDIT: © HELMHOLTZ ZENTRUM MUENCHEN / BEN ENGEL

An international study led by Helmholtz Zentrum München has revealed the structure of a membrane-remodeling protein that builds and maintains photosynthetic membranes. These fundamental insights lay the groundwork for bioengineering efforts to strengthen plants against environmental stress, helping to sustaining human food supply and fight against climate change.

Plants, algae, and cyanobacteria perform photosynthesis, using the energy of sunlight to produce the oxygen and biochemical energy that power most life on Earth. They also adsorb carbon dioxide (CO?) from the atmosphere, counteracting the accumulation of this greenhouse gas. However, climate change is exposing photosynthetic organisms to increasing environmental stress, which inhibits their growth, and in the long term, endangers the food supply of humankind.

The important first steps of photosynthesis are performed within the thylakoid membranes, which contain protein complexes that harvest sunlight. For decades, it has been known that the protein VIPP1 (vesicle-inducing protein in plastids) is critical for forming thylakoid membranes in almost all photosynthetic organisms - from plants on land to algae and cyanobacteria in the ocean. However, it has remained a mystery how VIPP1 performs this essential function. In the latest issue of the journal Cell, a new study by an international consortium of researchers led by Ben Engel from the Helmholtz Pioneer Campus at Helmholtz Zentrum München reveals the structure and mechanism of VIPP1 with molecular detail.

Building and protecting photosynthetic membranes

The researchers used cryo-electron microscopy to generate the first high-resolution structure of VIPP1. Combining this structural analysis with functional assays revealed how VIPP1 assembles into an interwoven membrane coat that shapes the thylakoid membranes. The research group also used the cutting-edge approach of cryo-electron tomography to image VIPP1 coats within the native environment of algae cells. By using the structural information to make specific mutations to VIPP1, the researchers observed that the interaction of VIPP1 with thylakoid membranes is critical to maintain the structural integrity of these membranes under high-light stress. "Our study shows how VIPP1 plays a central role in both thylakoid biogenesis and adaptation of thylakoids to environmental changes," explains first author Tilak Kumar Gupta from the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry.

This study lays the foundation for a mechanistic understanding of thylakoid biogenesis and maintenance. It also provides new opportunities for engineering plants that are more resistant to extreme environmental conditions. "Insights into the molecular mechanisms controlling thylakoid remodeling are an important step towards developing crops that not only grow faster, have higher yield and resistance to environmental stress, but also absorb more atmospheric CO? to counteract climate change," says study leader Ben Engel.

International team research

This interdisciplinary study brought together the talents of research teams from the Technische Universität Kaiserslautern (Michael Schroda), Philipps-Universität Marburg (Jan Schuller), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Jörg Nickelsen), Okayama University in Japan (Wataru Sakamoto), McGill University in Canada (Mike Strauss), Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Till Rudack), the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (Wolfgang Baumeister and Jürgen Plitzko) and Helmholtz Zentrum München. "Our study covers a lot of new ground using a wide variety of techniques. This was only possible thanks to the tremendous collective efforts of the researchers in our international consortium," says Ben Engel.

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Study explores potential restoration of traditional practices tied to endangered species

Co-production of knowledge can direct recovery and sustainable harvesting of Marianas fruit bat and Micronesian cycad

UNIVERSITY OF GUAM

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IMAGE: THE TREE-LIKE CYCAD SPECIES KNOWN AS CYCAS MICRONESICA WAS ONCE THE MOST COMMON TREE IN GUAM'S LIMESTONE FORESTS AND A KEY PART OF THE CHAMORU DIET BUT HAS BECOME ENDANGERED... view more 

CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF GUAM

Are the traditional practices tied to endangered species at risk of being lost? The answer is yes, according to the authors of an ethnographic study published in the University of Guam peer-reviewed journal Pacific Asia Inquiry. But the authors also say a recovery plan can protect both the species as well as the traditional CHamoru practice of consuming them.

Else Demeulenaere, lead author of the study and associate director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability, presented on their findings during the Marianas Terrestrial Conservation Conference on June 8.

Strong cultural ties

The researchers interviewed CHamorus about their recollections of preparing and eating the endangered fanihi, the fruit bat found only in the Mariana Islands, and the endangered fadang, a cycad endemic to Micronesia, as sources of food.

"Gathering and processing the [fadang] seeds into titiyas fadang was a family activity. Manåmko' spoke vividly about their exquisite taste and smell during my ethnobotanical research," Demeulenaere said. "CHamoru conservation managers told me they were afraid their kids would never acquire the taste of fanihi and hoped that one day the fanihi population would be restored so they could hunt them sustainably and restore this traditional practice."

Important roles in the ecosystem

Demeulenaere said the CHamoru culture's strong ties to these species only makes a stronger argument for preserving what are both ecologically important species in their own rights and important players in Guam's biodiversity.

"The fadang is a very special tree, as it belongs to the ancient genus Cycas, which originated during the Triassic Period, when dinosaurs were around. The leaves were most likely dinosaur food," Demeulenaere said.

The fadang, known scientifically as Cycas micronesica, was once the most common tree in Guam's limestone forests, but "an invasive scale insect has caused a rapid decline in the health of the cycad populations, which is further exacerbated by habitat loss," Demeulenaere said.

The fanihi, known scientifically as Pteropus mariannus, is an important seed disperser, she said, in particular for fadang seeds.

"They love to eat the seed coat of the fadang [...]," Demeulenaere said. "Restoration efforts consist of adding food sources for the fanihi in degraded forests. [Restoring the] fadang [population] is an important part of this effort."

Today, it is estimated that only 45 to 50 fruit bats remain in the wild in Guam -- down from 400-500 in 1984 and around 3,000 in the 1950s -- because of poaching and habitat destruction, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Restoration work moving forward

Most of the study's interviewees said they would like to eat fanihi again once the populations are restored. Endemic foods can also significantly contribute to food security in the region, the paper states. But scientist-led protection and restoration of limestone habitats as well as snake suppression are important to recover the species and make sustainable harvest possible.

Moving forward, Demeulenaere said, "A co-production of knowledge consisting of traditional holders and scientists can outline harvesting practices and the recovery actions."

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The full research paper can be found at https://www.uog.edu/center-for-island-sustainability/natural-resources.

CAPTION

A Mariana fruit bat, or fanihi, hangs upside down in its cage. Fanihi are important for seed dispersal in the Mariana Islands and were once common in CHamoru cuisine, but in Guam, it is estimated that only 45 to 50 fruit bats remain in the wild.

CREDIT

University of Guam

 

Cardiac atrophy findings may set course for preventing harm from long space flights

Team led by scientists at Cincinnati Children's discover molecular process behind dangerous loss of heart muscle

CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER

Research News

 

IMAGE: SCIENTISTS AT CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HAVE DISCOVERED A MOLECULAR PATHWAY THAT TRIGGERS POTENTIALLY FATAL CARDIAC ATROPHY. FINDING A WAY TO INTERRUPT THIS PROCESS COULD HELP PROTECT PEOPLE DURING SPACE TRAVEL. view more 

CREDIT: CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S

In many situations, heart muscle cells do not respond to external stresses in the same ways that skeletal muscle cells do. But under some conditions, heart and skeletal muscles can both waste away at fatally rapid rates, according to a new study led by experts at Cincinnati Children's.

The new findings, based on studies of mouse models, represent an important milestone in a long effort to prevent or even reverse cardiac atrophy, which can lead to fatal heart failure when the body loses large amounts of weight or experiences extended periods of weightlessness in space. Detailed findings were published online June 24, 2021, in Nature Communications.

"NASA is very interested in cardiac atrophy," says Jeffery Molkentin, PhD, Co-Director of the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children's. "It might be the single biggest issue for long-period space flights and astronaut health, especially when re-entering a higher-gravity situation, whether that's arriving at Mars or returning to Earth."

Astronauts and cosmonauts have been exercising in orbit to minimize loss of muscle mass ever since doctors observed years ago that returning spacefarers have often been barely able to walk upon returning to Earth. Along the way, clinicians also have observed increased risk of heart trouble during the recovery period.

The new findings from Molkentin and colleagues help explain why the heart also is affected by muscle-wasting conditions, which in turn suggests potential new ways to prevent or treat the problem.

A three-pronged attack on heart cells

The research team studied mouse models in several ways to trace the withering of heart cells to a three-step molecular process.

Like skeletal muscle, the heart can either grow larger or smaller depending on workload. The new research identifies a process whereby the gene thrombospondin-1 can result in a dramatic loss of heart mass.

The overexpression of thrombospondin-1 in the hearts of mice lead to rapid and lethal loss of heart mass, called atrophy, by directly activating the signaling protein called PERK. Excessive PERK activity, in turn, triggers a response from the transcription factor ATF4, which together directly program the atrophy of heart muscle cells.

The longer these genes are active, the more severe the atrophy becomes. Eliminating or reducing the activity of these genes would block or reduce the atrophy response, which could be an attractive new strategy for addressing loss of heart muscle during extended periods of space travel.

"Our findings describe a new pathway of muscle mass loss," Molkentin says. "More research is needed to develop methods or drugs that can interrupt this signaling pathway through these genes to stop cardiac atrophy once detected."

Next steps

Researchers still need to confirm that the process observed in mice also occurs in people. More work also is needed to determine whether drugs exist (or need to be developed) that can safely manage the molecular activity the research team has identified.

In humans, even though we lack the ability to replace lost heart muscle tissue, it should be possible to rehabilitate weakened or atrophied heart muscle cells back to their original state.

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About this study

In addition to Molkentin, Cincinnati Children's researchers contributing to this study include co-first authors Davy Vanhoutte, PhD, and Tobias Schips, PhD, (now at Janssen Pharmaceuticals); Alexander Vo, BS, Kelly Grimes, PhD, Tanya Baldwin, PhD, Matthew Brody PhD, (now at the University of Michigan), Federica Accornero, PhD, (now at the Ohio State University), and Michelle Sargent, BS.

Funding sources for this study include the National Institutes of Health to Molkentin (2R01HL105924) and a grant from the German research foundation Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft to Schips (SCHI 1290/1-1).

Some good news for those with migraines

Three in five Canadians with migraines are in excellent mental health, despite experiencing what can often be a disabling disorder

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

Research News

 

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

TORONTO, ON - A new study from researchers at the University of Toronto found that 63% of Canadians with migraine headaches are able to flourish, despite the painful condition.

"This research provides a very hopeful message for individuals struggling with migraines, their families and health professionals," says lead author Esme Fuller-Thomson, who spent the last decade publishing on negative mental health outcomes associated with migraines, including suicide attempts, anxiety disorders and depression. "The findings of our study have contributed to a major paradigm shift for me. There are important lessons to be learned from those who are flourishing."

A migraine headache, which afflicts one in eight Americans, is the seventh most disabling disorder in the world. However, few studies have investigated the factors that are associated with mental health and well-being among those who experience them.

The University of Toronto study investigated optimal mental health in a large, representative sample of more than 2,000 Canadians with migraines. To be defined in excellent mental health, respondents had to achieve three things: 1) almost daily happiness or life satisfaction in the past month, 2) high levels of social and psychological well-being in the past month, and 3) freedom from generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorders, suicidal thoughts and substance dependence for at least the preceding full year.

"We were so encouraged to learn that more than three in every five migraineurs were in excellent mental health and had very high levels of well-being," says Fuller-Thomson, a Professor at both the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and the Department of Family & Community Medicine at U of T and who the director of U of T's Institute for Life Course and Aging.

Those experiencing migranes who had at least one person in their lives in whom they could confide were four times more likely to be in excellent mental health than those without a confidant. In addition, those who turned to their religious or spiritual beliefs to cope with everyday difficulties had 86% higher odds of excellent mental health than those who did not use spiritual coping. The researchers also found that poor physical health, functional limitations, and a history of depression were impediments to excellent mental health among those with migraines.

"Health professionals who are treating individuals with migraines need to consider their patients' physical health needs and possible social isolation in their treatment plans" says co-author Marta Sadkowski, a recent nursing graduate from the University of Toronto.

The researchers examined a nationally representative sample of 2,186 Canadian community-dwelling adults who reported that they had been diagnoses with migraines by a health professional. The data were drawn from Statistics Canada's Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health. This research was published online ahead of press this month in the Annals of Headache Medicine.

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Throwing shade: Measuring how much trees, buildings cool cities

3D digital city model analyzes effects of blocking sunlight

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Research News

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio - When the summer sun blazes on a hot city street, our first reaction is to flee to a shady spot protected by a building or tree.

A new study is the first to calculate exactly how much these shaded areas help lower the temperature and reduce the "urban heat island" effect.

Researchers created an intricate 3D digital model of a section of Columbus and determined what effect the shade of the buildings and trees in the area had on land surface temperatures over the course of one hour on one summer day.

"We can use the information from our model to formulate guidelines for community greening and tree planting efforts, and even where to locate buildings to maximize shading on other buildings and roadways," said Jean-Michel Guldmann, co-author of the study and professor emeritus of city and regional planning at The Ohio State University.

"This could have significant effects on temperatures at the street and neighborhood level."

For example, a simulation run by the researchers in one Columbus neighborhood found on a day with a high of 93.33 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature could have been 4.87 degrees lower if the young trees already in that area were fully grown and 20 more fully grown trees had been planted.

Guldmann conducted the study with Yujin Park, who did the work as a doctoral student at Ohio State and is now an assistant professor of city and regional planning at Chung-Ang University in South Korea, and Desheng Liu, a professor of geography at Ohio State.

Their work was published online recently in the journal Computers, Environment and Urban Systems.

Researchers have long known about the urban heat island effect, in which buildings and roadways absorb more heat from the sun than rural landscapes, releasing it and increasing temperatures in cities.

One recent study found that in 60 U.S. cities, urban summer temperatures were 2.4 degrees F higher than rural temperatures - and Columbus was one of the top 10 cities with the most intense summer urban heat islands.

For this new study, Guldmann and his colleagues selected a nearly 14-square-mile area of northern Columbus that had a wide range of land uses, including single-family homes, apartment buildings, commercial and business complexes, industrial areas, recreational parks and natural areas. More than 25,000 buildings were in the study area.

The researchers created a 3D model of the study area using 2D land cover maps of Columbus, as well as LiDAR data collected by the city of Columbus from an airplane. LiDAR is a laser sensor that detects the shape of objects. Combining this data resulted in a 3D model showing the exact heights and widths of buildings and trees.

They then turned to computer software that calculated the shadows cast by each of the buildings and trees in the study area over the course of a one-hour period - 11 a.m. to noon - on Sept. 14, 2015.

In addition, the researchers had data on land surface temperatures in the study area for the same date and time. That data came from a NASA satellite that uses Thermal Infrared Sensors to measure land surface temperatures at a resolution of 30 by 30 meters (about 98 by 98 feet). That resulted in surface temperatures for 39,715 points in the study area.

With that data in hand, the researchers conducted a statistical analysis to determine precisely how the shade cast by buildings and trees affected surface temperatures on that September day.

Results showed that, as expected, buildings turned up the heat in the area, but that the shadows cast by them also had a significant cooling effect on temperatures, particularly if they shaded the rooftops of adjacent buildings.

The statistical model could precisely calculate those effects, both positive and negative. For example, a 1% increase in the area of a building led to surface temperature increases between 2.6% and 3% on average.

But an increase of 1% in the area of a shaded rooftop led to temperature decreases between 0.13% and 0.31% on average.

Shade on roadways and parking lots also significantly decreased temperatures.

"We learned that greater heat-mitigation effects can be obtained by maximizing the shade on building rooftops and roadways," Guldmann said.

Results also showed the importance of green spaces and water for lowering temperatures. Grassy areas, both shaded and exposed, showed significant heat-reducing effects. However, the impact of shaded grass was stronger than that of grass exposed to direct sunlight.

The volume of tree canopies and the area of water bodies also had significant cooling effects.

In the simulation run in the Columbus neighborhood, the researchers calculated that if the current trees there were fully grown, the temperature on a 93.33-degree F day would be 3.48 degrees lower (89.85 degrees).

But that's not all. The simulation showed that if the neighborhood had 20 more full-grown trees, the temperature would be another 1.39 degrees lower.

"We've long known that the shade of trees and buildings can provide cooling," Guldmann said.

"But now we can more precisely measure exactly what that effect will be in specific instances, which can help us make better design choices and greening strategies to mitigate the urban heat island effect."

Better mental health supports for nurses needed, study finds

Pandemic deepened anxiety and depression among nurses -- those working in long-term care affected the most

UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Research News

 

Working in the highly charged environment of COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the mental health of nurses, according to a new survey by researchers at the University of British Columbia and the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto.

The findings, described recently in the Annals of Epidemiology, is the first to compare Canadian nurses' mental health prior to and during the pandemic.

"Whether they worked in acute care settings, in community care or in long-term care homes, nurses experienced high rates of depression and anxiety as the pandemic accelerated," says lead researcher Dr. Farinaz Havaei, a professor of nursing at UBC who studies health systems and workplace psychological health and safety.

Prior to the pandemic, two out of 10 nurses reported that they felt depressed. By April 2020, this had increased, with three out of 10 nurses reporting they felt depressed.

And prior to the pandemic, three out of 10 nurses said they were feeling anxious, whereas during the COVID-19 outbreak, four out of 10 now reported they felt anxious.

"Heavy workloads, inadequate staffing and the mental and emotional stress of dealing with human suffering and death--these factors contributed to the decline in nurses' well-being," she added.

The survey was conducted in September 2019 and again in April and June the following year, drawing more than 10,000 respondents.

Long-term care nurses affected the most

While the pandemic affected many nurses, those in the long-term care (LTC) sector felt the greatest strain, with six out of 10 reporting anxiety in April, compared to four out of every 10 nurses in the acute care and community care sectors.

However, when surveyed two months later, LTC nurses reported their outlook had improved. In that survey, four out of 10 (37 per cent) reported they felt anxiety and three out of 10 (27 per cent) said they felt depressed.

Havaei says the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on LTC nurses isn't surprising given that COVID-19 hit the long-term care sector the hardest, adding that the apparent improvement in late spring could be related to some nurses leaving their jobs due to poor mental health.

"By the time we conducted the third survey round, many of the LTC nurses--likely burnt out by the strain of caring for ill patients--had quit their jobs, reducing the amount of reported mental health problems."

Mental health supports

Although the research draws on data from a single province--British Columbia--the findings highlight the need to critically examine the supports available for nurses across Canada, says study co-author Dr. Peter Smith, a senior scientist at the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto.

"Healthcare workers have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 response," says Dr. Smith. "Studies have shown that, when workers feel protected through adequate and effective infection control practices and personal protective equipment, rates of anxiety and depression are lower."

Dr. Smith added: "We need to ensure for the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic, and for pandemics in the future, that we have adequate systems and resources to quickly and effectively protect workers on the frontline. We also need to understand the effect that the prolonged period of high anxiety and stress has already had on frontline workers who didn't feel protected."

Dr. Havaei explains, poor nurse mental health has devastating costs for healthcare organizations and patients through increased nurse absenteeism, "presenteeism"--and turnover.

"Preliminary analysis from our other research shows that poor nurse mental health decreases the quality and safety of patient care delivery by as much as 10-fold. There is an urgent need for better mental health supports and resources for nurses, especially those who work in long-term care," adds Dr. Havaei.

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Starting the day off with chocolate could have unexpected benefits

Researchers find time of day eating milk chocolate can impact regulation of body weight

BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL

Research News

 

WHO Frank A. J. L. Scheer, PhD, MSc, Neuroscientist and Marta Garaulet, PhD, Visiting Scientist, both of the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital. Drs. Scheer and Garaulet are co-corresponding authors of a new paper published in The FASEB Journal.

WHAT Eating milk chocolate every day may sound like a recipe for weight gain, but a new study of postmenopausal women has found that eating a concentrated amount of chocolate during a narrow window of time in the morning may help the body burn fat and decrease blood sugar levels.

To find out about the effects of eating milk chocolate at different times of day, researchers from the Brigham collaborated with investigators at the University of Murcia in Spain. Together, they conducted a randomized, controlled, cross-over trial of 19 postmenopausal women who consumed either 100g of chocolate in the morning (within one hour after waking time) or at night (within one hour before bedtime). They compared weight gain and many other measures to no chocolate intake.

Researchers report that among the women studied:

• Morning or nighttime chocolate intake did not lead to weight gain;
• Eating chocolate in the morning or in the evening can influence hunger and appetite, microbiota composition, sleep and more;
• A high intake of chocolate during the morning hours could help to burn fat and reduce blood glucose levels.
• Evening/night chocolate altered next-morning resting and exercise metabolism.

"Our findings highlight that not only 'what' but also 'when' we eat can impact physiological mechanisms involved in the regulation of body weight," said Scheer.

"Our volunteers did not gain weight despite increasing caloric intake. Our results show that chocolate reduced ad libitum energy intake, consistent with the observed reduction in hunger, appetite and the desire for sweets shown in previous studies," said Garaulet.

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Study shows potential dangers of sweeteners

New research: Sweeteners could cause gut bacteria to invade the intestine

ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY

Research News

 

New research has discovered that common artificial sweeteners can cause previously healthy gut bacteria to become diseased and invade the gut wall, potentially leading to serious health issues.

The study, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, is the first to show the pathogenic effects of some of the most widely used artificial sweeteners - saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame - on two types of gut bacteria, E. coli (Escherichia coli) and E. faecalis (Enterococcus faecalis).

Previous studies have shown that artificial sweeteners can change the number and type of bacteria in the gut, but this new molecular research, led by academics from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), has demonstrated that sweeteners can also make the bacteria pathogenic. It found that these pathogenic bacteria can attach themselves to, invade, and kill Caco-2 cells, which are epithelial cells that line the wall of the intestine.

It is known that bacteria such as E. faecalis which cross the intestinal wall can enter the blood stream and congregate in the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, causing a number of infections including septicaemia.

This new study discovered that at a concentration equivalent to two cans of diet soft drink, all three artificial sweeteners significantly increased the adhesion of both E. coli and E. faecalis to intestinal Caco-2 cells, and differentially increased the formation of biofilms.

Bacteria growing in biofilms are less sensitive to antimicrobial resistance treatment and are more likely to secrete toxins and express virulence factors, which are molecules that can cause disease.

Additionally, all three sweeteners caused the pathogenic gut bacteria to invade Caco-2 cells found in the wall of the intestine, with the exception of saccharin which had no significant effect on E. coli invasion.

Senior author of the paper Dr Havovi Chichger, Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: "There is a lot of concern about the consumption of artificial sweeteners, with some studies showing that sweeteners can affect the layer of bacteria which support the gut, known as the gut microbiota.

"Our study is the first to show that some of the sweeteners most commonly found in food and drink - saccharin, sucralose and aspartame - can make normal and 'healthy' gut bacteria become pathogenic. These pathogenic changes include greater formation of biofilms and increased adhesion and invasion of bacteria into human gut cells.

"These changes could lead to our own gut bacteria invading and causing damage to our intestine, which can be linked to infection, sepsis and multiple-organ failure.

"We know that overconsumption of sugar is a major factor in the development of conditions such as obesity and diabetes. Therefore, it is important that we increase our knowledge of sweeteners versus sugars in the diet to better understand the impact on our health."

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Water vole genome will help boost conservation of one of UK's most endangered mammals

WELLCOME TRUST SANGER INSTITUTE

Research News

A new tool to help conserve one of the UK's most threatened mammals has been released today, with the publication of the first high-quality reference genome for the European water vole. The genome was generated by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, in collaboration with animal conservation charity the Wildwood Trust, as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project.

The genome, published today (24 June 2021) through Wellcome Open Research, is openly available as a reference for researchers seeking to assess water vole population genetics, better understand how the species has evolved and to manage reintroduction efforts.

The European water vole (Arvicola amphibius) is a small semi-aquatic mammal that lives on the banks of freshwater habitats and in wetlands. The species is native to Europe, west Asia, Russia and Kazakhstan. While the water vole's conservation status is 'least concern' worldwide*, populations in the United Kingdom have declined to such an extent that the species is considered nationally endangered. Habitat loss and predation by the American mink, an invasive alien species, have reduced the UK population from 7.3 million in 1990 to an estimated 132,000 in 2018**.

Water voles gained full legal protection in the UK in 2008. There have been a number of conservation projects in the UK aimed at supporting water vole populations, including efforts at habitat restoration and to control the population of American mink. There are also efforts to reintroduce the water vole in a number of restored urban and wild habitats, as well as mitigate the impact of new development***.

European water voles returned to Britain from ice-free refuges in Iberia and Eastern Europe after the last ice age, with these two clades contributing to genetic diversity in UK populations. This diversity may be apparent in certain traits, such as the black fur of Scottish water voles, which is distinct from those in England that tend to have brown fur. But the full wealth of genetic diversity cannot be estimated by appearance alone. It is also unknown how much diversity has been lost as a result of the recent population crash.

Hazel Ryan, Senior Conservation Officer at the Wildwood Trust, said: "Water voles are amazing animals and we don't fully understand what ecosystems lose without them. They are industrious habitat managers, almost like miniature beavers in the way they fell stems, make burrows and alter the landscape. We suspect that some water vole populations have become inbred in recent decades owing to shrinking numbers and the fragmentation of populations through habitat loss. The reference genome offers us a way to better understand genetic diversity for reintroductions and consider mixing individuals to ensure populations have the best chance to thrive."

To sequence the European water vole reference genome, a blood sample was taken from a live male A. amphibius individual that was part of the captive breeding population of the Wildwood Trust in Kent, UK. DNA was extracted from this sample and sequenced by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute on Pacific Biosciences SEQUEL I and Illumina HiSeq X instruments.

Professor Rob Ogden, Director of Conservation Science at the University of Edinburgh, said: "Understanding the genetic diversity and structure of water vole populations is an important aspect of their conservation in the UK, and is central to international guidelines on the movement of wildlife for conservation management. The release of the water vole genome provides a comprehensive set of genetic tools to support the future sustainability of the species in the UK."

The water vole genome is published as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project, which will see partner organisations sequence and assemble the genomes of 70,000 animal, plant, fungal and protist species across Britain and Ireland.

Professor Mark Blaxter, Programme Lead for the Darwin Tree of Life project at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: "The European water vole is a prime example of a British species whose genetic diversity we're in danger of losing before we've had chance to fully record it. This high-quality Arvicola amphibius reference genome will allow us to do that, as well as support ongoing conservation efforts to preserve existing populations and reintroduce new ones in a way that ensures these populations are genetically robust."

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Notes to Editors:

* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
** Population estimate by Natural England
*** For more information, visit the Wildwood Trust website

Publication:

Angus I. Carpenter, Michelle Smith and Craig Corton. (2021). The genome sequence of the European water vole, Arvicola amphibius Linnaeus 1758. Wellcome Open Research. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16753.1

Funding:

The Darwin Tree of Life Project is funded by Wellcome.

Selected websites:

About Wildwood Trust

Wildwood Trust opened in 1999 as a centre of excellence for the conservation of British wildlife, and was established as a registered charity in 2002. Wildwood is Kent's best British wildlife park. Home to over 200 native animals, past and present and set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland where visitors can see bears, wolves, bison, deer, owls, foxes, red squirrels, wild boar, lynx, wild horses, badgers and beavers plus many more.

As one of the leading British animal conservation charities in the UK, Wildwood Trust is dedicated to saving Britain's most threatened wildlife. Wildwood Trust has taken part in many ground-breaking conservation programmes to date, which include, saving the water vole, using wild horses to help restore Kent's most precious nature reserves, bringing the extinct European beaver back to Britain and returning the hazel dormouse & red squirrel to areas where they have been made extinct.

The Wellcome Sanger Institute

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Study examines 'red flag' gun laws and state efforts to block local legislation

While some state legislators argue red flag laws are unconstitutional, legal scholars outline how they can reduce gun violence and still protect constitutional rights

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

Research News

 

"Red flag" gun laws--which allow law enforcement to temporarily remove firearms from a person at risk of harming themselves or others--are gaining attention at the state and federal levels, but are under scrutiny by legislators who deem them unconstitutional. A new analysis by legal scholars at NYU School of Global Public Health describes the state-by-state landscape for red flag legislation and how it may be an effective tool to reduce gun violence, while simultaneously protecting individuals' constitutional rights.

Gun violence is a significant public health problem in the U.S., with more than 38,000 people killed by firearms each year. Following several mass shootings this spring, President Biden urged Congress to pass legislation to reduce gun violence, including a red flag law--also known as a "extreme risk protection order" law--at the federal level and legislation to incentivize states to pass their own. In June, the Department of Justice published model legislation to help states craft their own red flag laws.

"Research shows that prior to an attempted suicide or homicide, there are warning signs that a shooter intends to act," said Jennifer Pomeranz, assistant professor of public health policy and management at NYU School of Global Public Health and the lead author of the study, which was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. "Removing firearms during crisis situations allows for mental health intervention or law enforcement investigation, and can prevent tragedies from occurring."

In May 2020, Oklahoma passed the nation's first law preempting or blocking local governments from enacting their own red flag laws. The state's "anti-red flag" bill was one of several proposed across the country based on arguments that red flag laws are unconstitutional. Legal scholars have evaluated constitutional arguments supporting and opposing red flag laws, and while lower courts have upheld the laws, to date there is limited case law on their constitutionality.

To better understand the current landscape of red flag laws, the researchers gathered and analyzed all state red flag laws and related preemption bills and laws proposed or enacted as of July 1, 2020. They found that 19 states and the District of Columbia enacted a total of 43 red flag laws for both temporary and final orders; the majority were enacted between 2018 and 2020. They also identified five preemption bills in four states (Alaska, Georgia, Minnesota, and Kansas with two bills) and one that was signed into law (Oklahoma).

State legislators had a variety of rationales for wanting to stop local governments from passing red flag laws. The four most common concerns were based on constitutional law:

• The First Amendment: State legislators argued that red flag laws violated the First Amendment, which protects against unwarranted government interference with expression; however, threats of violence, intimidation, harm, or death are not protected.
• The Second Amendment: State legislators also argued that red flag laws violate the right to bear arms for self-defense. If a firearm is removed under a protection order, the respondent would temporarily not be able to exercise this right, but the Supreme Court has confirmed that some people may be "disqualified" from possessing firearms.
• The Fourth Amendment: Two states introducing preemptive bills pointed to the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures and requires probable cause to issue a warrant. All laws required probable cause (or higher) for a warrant; one law allowed for warrantless firearm removal, which the Supreme Court considers reasonable when a person is armed and presently dangerous.
• The Fifth Amendment: State legislators argued that red flag laws violate the right to due process, which requires procedures that provide notice, an opportunity to be heard, and appeal. However, all existing red flag laws provide these due process protections, including requiring strict or heightened burden of proof standards for final orders removing firearms.

The researchers found that red flag laws are similar to other civil laws that protect people from harming themselves or others, including laws for involuntary commitment and removing children from unfit parents. Red flag laws provide the same or even more procedural due process than do some of these laws that confine or remove individuals--as opposed to their property--against their will.

"Without judicial determination that red flag gun laws are unconstitutional, it is premature for states to block the ability of local governments to temporarily remove firearms from people in crisis situations," said Gilberto Ochoa, a research intern at NYU School of Global Public Health and the study's coauthor.

"States have drafted red flag laws in an effort to allow authorities to restrict or remove firearms from people at risk to themselves or others, while simultaneously protecting their constitutional right. As such, there are strong arguments in favor of enacting these laws, rather than preempting them," Pomeranz concluded.

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About the NYU School of Global Public Health

At the NYU School of Global Public Health (NYU GPH), we are preparing the next generation of public health pioneers with the critical thinking skills, acumen, and entrepreneurial approaches necessary to reinvent the public health paradigm. Devoted to employing a nontraditional, interdisciplinary model, NYU GPH aims to improve health worldwide through a unique blend of global public health studies, research, and practice. The School is located in the heart of New York City and extends to NYU's global network on six continents. Innovation is at the core of our ambitious approach, thinking and teaching. For more, visit: http://publichealth.nyu.edu/