Biology subjects

Frisbie, L.

Publications and source records attributed to Frisbie, L..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to dogs in Washington and Idaho: burden and risk factors

SARS-CoV-2 is believed to have emerged from an animal reservoir; however, the frequency of and risk factors for inter-species transmission remain unclear. We carried out a community-based study of pets in households with one or more confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans. Among 119 dogs and 57 cats with completed surveys, clinical signs consistent with SARS-CoV-2 were reported in 20 dogs (21%) and 19 cats (39%). Out of 81 dogs and 32 cats sampled for testing, 40% of dogs and 43% of cats were seropositive, and 5% of dogs and 8% of cats were PCR positive; this discordance may be due to delays in sampling. Respondents commonly reported close human-animal contact and willingness to take measures to prevent transmission to their pets. Reported preventative measures showed a slightly protective trend for both illness and seropositivity in pets, while sharing of beds and bowls had slight harmful effects.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Epigenetic reprogramming towards mesenchymal-epithelial transition in ovarian cancer-associated mesenchymal stem cells drives metastasis

Ovarian cancer develops early intra-peritoneal metastasis establishing a supportive tumor microenvironment (TME) through reprogramming normal mesenchymal stem cells into carcinoma-associated mesenchymal stem cells (CA-MSCs). CA-MSCs are the stromal stem cell of the TME, supporting cancer growth, increasing desmoplasia, angiogenesis and chemotherapy resistance. We demonstrate epigenetic reprogramming drives CA-MSC formation via enhancer-enriched DNA hypermethylation, altered chromatin accessibility and differential histone modifications inducing a partial mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) increasing adhesion to tumor cells. Direct CA-MSC:tumor cell interactions, confirmed in patient ascites, facilitate ovarian cancer metastasis through co-migration. WT1, a developmental mediator of MET, and EZH2, mediate CA-MSC epigenetic reprogramming. WT1 overexpression induces CA-MSC conversion while WT1 knock-down, along with EZH2 inhibition, blocks CA-MSC formation. EZH2 inhibition subsequently decreases intra-abdominal metastasis. SignificanceThis work presents a new paradigm of stromal reprogramming involving a partial mesenchymal to epithelial transition. Rather than a classic tumor cell epithelial to mesenchymal transition, metastasis relies on epigenetic rewiring of a CA-MSC allowing enhanced tumor cell binding and co-migration with tumor cells to form metastasis. Indeed, CA-MSCs in complex with tumor cells are abundant in patient ascites. Reversion of CA-MSCs to normal MSCs is observed in patients achieving complete response with neoadjuvant therapy. Identification of WT1 and EZH2 as mediators of the epigenetic reprogramming of CA-MSCs present potential targets to block the formation of CA-MSCs thus disrupting the TME and limiting ovarian cancer metastasis.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2017

A Model for Genome-First Care: Returning Secondary Genomic Findings to Participants and Their Healthcare Providers in a Large Research Cohort

BackgroundResearch cohorts with linked genomic data exist, or are being developed, at many research centers. Within any such \"sequenced cohort\" of more than 100 participants, it is likely that there are participants with previously undisclosed risk for life-threatening monogenic diseases that could be identified with targeted analysis of their existing data. Identification of such disease-associated findings are not usually primary to the enrollment research goals. At Geisinger Health System, MyCode(R) Community Health Initiative (MyCode) participants represent one such large sequenced cohort. Since 2013, MyCode participants in discovery research have been consented for secondary analysis of their existing research genomic sequences to allow delivery of medically actionable findings to them and their healthcare providers. This return of genomic results program was developed to manage an anticipated 3.5% of MyCode participants who will receive clinically confirmed genomic variants from an approved gene list out of more than 150,000 total participants. Risk-associated DNA sequences alone without any clinical parameter, prompt \"genome-first\" follow-up encounters.\n\nMethodsThis article describes our process for generating clinical grade results from research-based genomic sequencing data, delivering results to patients and their providers, facilitating targeted clinical evaluations of patients and promoting cascade testing of at-risk relatives. We also summarize our early data about the results generated during this process and our ability to contact patients and their providers to disclose the information.\n\nResultsThis process has been used to generate 343 results on 339 patients. 93% of patients with a result have been successfully contacted about their results as evidenced by direct interaction about their result with the research team or a healthcare provider. 222 healthcare providers have been notified of a result on one or more patient through this result delivery process.\n\nConclusionsHere we describe the existing GHS model to deliver genomic data into the electronic medical record and the clinical interactions that are prompted and supported. Elements of this genome-first care model can be applied in other healthcare settings and in national efforts, such as \"All of Us\", that wish to establish programs for returning genomic results to research participants.

genomics↗