Biology subjects

Firth, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Firth, J..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

HPAI virus transmission is shaped by inter-specific social network structure

The emergence of zoonotic and epizootic diseases has had devastating consequences for human and animal health, including wildlife conservation. Yet, surveillance of multi-host disease systems is particularly challenging due to complex transmission pathways across many species. Social network analysis has been applied to simple transmission systems, but empirical applications to wild, multi-species systems are scarce. Here, we combined high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) viral genomes, a zoonotic virus of pandemic potential, with a large citizen-science database of wild bird co-occurrence to test how multi-species social network structure predicts transmission dynamics. We linked viral genetic distance, 20,103 pairwise comparisons between 214 unique genomes from 172 dyads of 20 host species, to co-occurrence network metrics for those species. Both relative species association and raw co-occurrence frequency predicted lower maximum viral genetic divergence, more similar viruses between more associated species, beyond what would be expected through random mixing and independently of sequencing effort. Time and space between samples were also strong predictors of genetic similarity. Our results suggest that network models can be used to detect pathogen transmission through communities of wild birds, offering real prospects for wildlife disease surveillance and prediction.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2023

Social and environmental transmission spread different sets of gut microbes in wild mice

Gut microbes shape many aspects of organismal biology, yet how these key bacteria transmit among hosts in natural populations remains poorly understood. Recent work in mammals has emphasized either transmission through social contacts or indirect transmission through environmental contact, but the relative importance of different routes has not been directly assessed. Here, we used a novel RFID-based tracking system to collect long-term high resolution data on social relationships, space use and microhabitat in a wild population of mice (Apodemus sylvaticus), while regularly characterising their gut microbiota. Through probabilistic modelling of the resulting data, we identify positive and statistically distinct signals of social and environmental transmission, captured by social networks and overlap in home ranges respectively. Strikingly, microbes with distinct biological attributes drove these different transmission signals. While aerotolerant spore-forming bacteria drove the effect of shared space use, a mix of taxa but especially anaerobic bacteria underpinned the social networks effect on gut microbiota similarity. These findings provide the first evidence for parallel social and environmental transmission of gut microbes that involve biologically distinct subsets of the mammalian gut microbiota. List of contributionsO_LIAura Raulo designed the study, helped develop the new RFID tracking technology, collected the data from Wytham, completed all laboratory analyses on gut microbiota profiling prior to sequencing, developed analytical methods, analysed the data and wrote the manuscript C_LIO_LIPaul Burkner helped design the Bayesian probabilistic modeling framework and provided feedback on the manuscript C_LIO_LIJarrah Dale helped collect field data using RFID loggers C_LIO_LIHolly English helped collect field data using RFID loggers and provided feedback on home range analyses C_LIO_LIGenevieve Finerty helped with home range analysis and the analysis of microhabitat variation and provided feedback on the manuscript C_LIO_LICurt Lamberth led development of RFID tracking devices and helped collect field data from Wytham C_LIO_LIJosh Firth supervised the research project, developed social network analysis methods and provided feedback on the analyses and the manuscript C_LIO_LITim Coulson supervised the research project and provided feedback on the analyses and the manuscript C_LIO_LISarah Knowles supervised the research project, helped develop the tracking technology and design the study, collected data from Wytham, planned and supervised laboratory methods, developed analytical methods and provided feedback on analyses and the manuscript. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2020

Social networks strongly predict the gut microbiota of wild mice

The mammalian gut teems with beneficial microbes, yet how hosts acquire these symbionts remains poorly understood. Research in primates suggests that microbes can be picked up via social contact, but the role of social interactions in non-group-living species remains unexplored. Here, we use a passive tracking system to collect high resolution spatiotemporal activity data from wild mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). Social network analysis revealed social association strength to be the strongest predictor of microbiota similarity among individuals, controlling for factors including spatial proximity and kinship, which had far smaller or nonsignificant effects. This social effect was limited to interactions involving males (male-male and male-female), implicating sex-dependent behaviours as driving processes. Social network position also predicted microbiota richness, with well-connected hub individuals having the most diverse microbiotas. Overall, these findings suggest social contact provides a key transmission pathway for gut symbionts even in relatively asocial mammals, that strongly shapes the adult gut microbiota. This work underlines the potential for individuals to pick up beneficial symbionts as well as pathogens from social interactions.

ecology↗