skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Explore Research Products in the PAR
It may take a few hours for recently added research products to appear in PAR search results.


  • NSF Public Access
  • Search Results
  • Urinary neopterin reflects immunological variation associated with age, helminth parasitism, and the microbiome in a wild primate
Title: Urinary neopterin reflects immunological variation associated with age, helminth parasitism, and the microbiome in a wild primate
Abstract Neopterin, a product of activated white blood cells, is a marker of nonspecific inflammation that can capture variation in immune investment or disease-related immune activity and can be collected noninvasively in urine. Mounting studies in wildlife point to lifetime patterns in neopterin related to immune development, aging, and certain diseases, but rarely are studies able to assess whether neopterin can capture multiple concurrent dimensions of health and disease in a single system. We assessed the relationship between urinary neopterin stored on filter paper and multiple metrics of health and disease in wild geladas (Theropithecus gelada), primates endemic to the Ethiopian highlands. We tested whether neopterin captures age-related variation in inflammation arising from developing immunity in infancy and chronic inflammation in old age, inflammation related to intramuscular tapeworm infection, helminth-induced anti-inflammatory immunomodulation, and perturbations in the gastrointestinal microbiome. We found that neopterin had a U-shaped relationship with age, no association with larval tapeworm infection, a negative relationship with metrics related to gastrointestinal helminth infection, and a negative relationship with microbial diversity. Together with growing research on neopterin and specific diseases, our results demonstrate that urinary neopterin can be a powerful tool for assessing multiple dimensions of health and disease in wildlife.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1854359 2235565 2010309 1723237
PAR ID:
10384744
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Nature Publishing Group
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Scientific Reports
Volume:
12
Issue:
1
ISSN:
2045-2322
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; (, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution)
    Identifying biomarkers of age-related changes in immune system functioning that can be measured non-invasively is a significant step in progressing research on immunosenescence and inflammaging in free-ranging and wild animal populations. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the suitability of two urinary compounds, neopterin and suPAR, as biomarkers of age-related changes in immune activation and inflammation in a free-ranging rhesus macaque ( Macaca mulatta ) population. We also investigated age-associated variation in gene transcription from blood samples to understand the underlying proximate mechanisms that drive age-related changes in urinary neopterin or suPAR. Neopterin was significantly positively correlated with age, and had a moderate within-individual repeatability, indicating it is applicable as a biomarker of age-related changes. The age-related changes in urinary neopterin are not apparently driven by an age-related increase in the primary signaler of neopterin, IFN-y, but may be driven instead by an age-related increase in both CD14+ and CD14− monocytes. suPAR was not correlated with age, and had low repeatability within-individuals, indicating that it is likely better suited to measure acute inflammation rather than chronic age-related increases in inflammation (i.e., “inflammaging”). Neopterin and suPAR had a correlation of 25%, indicating that they likely often signal different processes, which if disentangled could provide a nuanced picture of immune-system function and inflammation when measured in tandem. 
    more » « less
  2. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; et al (, Molecular Ecology Resources)
    ABSTRACT Helminths infect humans, livestock, and wildlife, yet remain understudied despite their significant impact on public health and agriculture. Because many of the most prevalent helminth‐borne diseases are zoonotic, understanding helminth transmission among wildlife could improve predictions and management of infection risks across species. A key challenge to understanding helminth transmission dynamics in wildlife is accurately and quantitatively tracking parasite load across hosts and environments. Traditional methods, such as visual parasite identification from environmental samples or infected hosts, are time‐consuming, while standard molecular techniques (e.g., PCR and qPCR) often lack the sensitivity to reliably detect lower parasite burdens. These limitations can underestimate the prevalence and severity of infection, hindering efforts to manage infectious diseases. Here, we developed a multiplexed droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay to quantify helminth loads in aquatic habitats using 18S rRNA target genes. UsingSchistocephalus solidusand their copepod hosts as a case study, we demonstrate ddPCR's sensitivity and precision. The assay is highly reproducible, reliably detecting target genes at concentrations as low as 1 pg of DNA in lab standards and field samples (multi‐species and eDNA). Thus, we provide a toolkit for quantifying parasite load in intermediate hosts and monitoring infection dynamics across spatio‐temporal scales in multiple helminth systems of concern for public health, agriculture, and conservation biology. 
    more » « less
  3. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; (, Journal of Animal Ecology)
    Abstract Animal space use and spatial overlap can have important consequences for population‐level processes such as social interactions and pathogen transmission. Identifying how environmental variability and inter‐individual variation affect spatial patterns and in turn influence interactions in animal populations is a priority for the study of animal behaviour and disease ecology. Environmental food availability and macroparasite infection are common drivers of variation, but there are few experimental studies investigating how they affect spatial patterns of wildlife.Bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) are a tractable study system to investigate spatial patterns of wildlife and are amenable to experimental manipulations. We conducted a replicated, factorial field experiment in which we provided supplementary food and removed helminths in vole populations in natural forest habitat and monitored vole space use and spatial overlap using capture–mark–recapture methods.Using network analysis, we quantified vole space use and spatial overlap. We compared the effects of food supplementation and helminth removal and investigated the impacts of season, sex and reproductive status on space use and spatial overlap.We found that food supplementation decreased vole space use while helminth removal increased space use. Space use also varied by sex, reproductive status and season. Spatial overlap was similar between treatments despite up to threefold differences in population size.By quantifying the spatial effects of food availability and macroparasite infection on wildlife populations, we demonstrate the potential for space use and population density to trade‐off and maintain consistent spatial overlap in wildlife populations. This has important implications for spatial processes in wildlife including pathogen transmission. 
    more » « less
  4. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; et al (, The Journals of Gerontology: Series A)
    Abstract The geroscience hypothesis suggests that addressing the fundamental mechanisms driving aging biology will prevent or mitigate the onset of multiple chronic diseases, for which the largest risk factor is advanced age. Research that investigates the root causes of aging is therefore of critical importance given the rising healthcare burden attributable to age-related diseases. The third annual Midwest Aging Consortium symposium was convened as a showcase of such research performed by investigators from institutions across the Midwestern United States. This report summarizes the work presented during a virtual conference across topics in aging biology, including immune function in the lung—particularly timely given the Corona Virus Immune Disease-2019 pandemic—along with the role of metabolism and nutrient-regulated pathways in cellular function with age, the influence of senescence on stem cell function and inflammation, and our evolving understanding of the mechanisms underlying observation of sex dimorphism in aging-related outcomes. The symposium focused on early-stage and emerging investigators, while including keynote presentations from leaders in the biology of aging field, highlighting the diversity and strength of aging research in the Midwest. 
    more » « less
  5. ; (, Psychosomatic Medicine)
    ABSTRACT ObjectiveInflammation may be an integral physiological mechanism through which discrimination impacts cardiovascular health and contributes to racial health disparities. Limited research has examined psychosocial factors that protect against the negative effects of discrimination on inflammation. Perceived control is a promising possible protective factor, given that it has been shown to moderate the relationship between other psychosocial stressors and physiological outcomes. This study thus tested whether systemic inflammation mediated the link between discrimination and cardiovascular health and whether perceived control moderated this relationship. MethodsData for this project included 347 non-Hispanic/Latinx Black adults (mean [standard deviation] age = 51.64 [11.24] years; 33% female) taken from the Midlife in the United States study. Perceived control and daily discrimination were assessed via self-report, and inflammation was measured via circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), fibrinogen, and tumor necrosis factor α. Cardiovascular health was measured by morbidity of cardiovascular conditions: heart disease, hypertension, and/or stroke. ResultsCRP (indirect effect:b =0.004, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.001–0.007) and fibrinogen (indirect effect:b =0.002, 95% CI = 0.0003–0.005) mediated the link between discrimination and cardiovascular conditions. Perceived control moderated the relationship between discrimination and CRP (F(1, 293) = 4.58, ΔR2= 0.013,b= −0.02, SE = 0.01,p= .033). CRP mediated the link between discrimination and cardiovascular conditions only for those who reported low levels of perceived control (Index = −0.003, 95% CI = −0.007 to −0.0001). ConclusionFindings provide empirical evidence of inflammation as a mechanism linking discrimination to cardiovascular conditions among Black Americans. Additionally, perceived control may be protective. Findings could suggest beliefs about control as a potential intervention target to help reduce the negative effects of discrimination on cardiovascular health among Black Americans. 
    more » « less
  • Citation Formats
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago
  • BibTeX
  • Save / Share this Record
  • Send to Email