Biology subjects

Quigley, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Quigley, C..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Rehoming laboratory rats: Exploring perceptions of rehomers, animal technicians and biomedical researchers

Laboratory animals can be rehomed at the end of a study. However, there is relatively little research on stakeholders perceptions of rehoming. We explored the views of three key groups: the people who volunteer to rehome these animals, the animal technicians who care for these animals prior to rehoming, and the researchers who are normally responsible for most of the interactions between people and these animals. To do this, we carried out a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews. Our aim was to obtain insights that could inform reflection and guide future research priorities around rehoming programmes. Our study demonstrated support for laboratory rodent rehoming in all stakeholder groups. Rehomers and technicians comments focused chiefly on the potential benefits of rehoming to the animal and benefits to institutional openness. Researchers made similar comments, but in this group, these comments were tempered by concerns around the welfare of the animals after rehoming, the fate of animals that cannot be rehomed, rehomers health and well-being, and the potential risks associated with the transparency of individuals and the institutions use of animals in research. We discuss these themes in the context of the ethics of laboratory animal use, manifesting a Culture of Care, and challenges around enhancing institutional openness on animal research.

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2025

A systemically delivered AAV-CFTR gene therapy for cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common monogenic lung disease and results from mutations in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR). There have been over 2000 variants identified in patients that result in loss of function of the CFTR protein leading to systemic disease and respiratory failure in adolescence. While some variants encode proteins with residual activity that can be corrected or potentiated by CFTR modulators, at least 10% of CF individuals cannot tolerate the modulators or have nonsense mutations which fail to make any protein. For all people with CF, a mutation agnostic gene replacement strategy could provide a cure for CF lung disease. Here, we propose using a systemic route of administration to deliver a functional CFTR minigene cargo with a lung tropic AAV capsid. This would serve to reach multiple organs, most importantly the lung epithelium, and would provide a functional CFTR transgene that could be expressed in any cell type with a ubiquitous promoter. To achieve this, we generated the smallest CFTR minigene tested in an AAV delivery to date. We demonstrate its expression and function following transfection in cell-based assays and restoration of function in primary CF airway cells after viral delivery. Furthermore, we identify an AAV capsid that can transduce alveolar and airway epithelium with systemic delivery in non-human primates. These data provide tools for delivering a functional CFTR minigene that fits within the packaging capacity of an AAV and demonstrate lung transduction with an AAV following systemic delivery in a large animal model. This strategy first and foremost can reach target airway cells by circumventing the strong mucosal barrier in CF airways but may also provide a method by which to restore CFTR function in additional CF affected organs.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2019

Genetic Diversity and Phylogenetic Relationships of Annual and Perennial Glycine Species

We estimated average genetic diversity of two Glycine annual and six perennial species based upon 76 orthologous gene sets and performed phylogenetic analysis, divergence analysis and tests for departure from neutrality of the eight species using 52 orthologous gene sets. In addition, 367 orthologous gene sets were used to estimate the relationships of 11 G. canescens accessions. Among the perennials, G. canescens showed the highest nucleotide diversity and the other perennials except G. tomentella had higher nucleotide diversity than the two annuals. Phylogenetic analysis of the Glycine showed a similar genome grouping with the previous report except G. cyrtoloba and G. stenophita formed a sister clade in the study. Divergence analysis supported the phylogenetic relationships, G. falcata was the most divergent from G. max, followed by G. cyrtoloba, G. syndetika, G. tomentella D3, G. stenophita and G. canescens. Neutrality selection tests within species showed that most genes were subjected to a recent directional selection due to a selective sweep or rapid population expansion. Although most gene sequence had negative and significant Tajimas D, the sequences were homogeneous in the levels of polymorphism and divergence between G. max and other Glycine species based on the HKA test, thus, Glycine perennials may have experienced very similar evolutionary selection as inferred by trans-specific mutation analysis. The greater genetic diversity of most perennial Glycine species and their origins from the warmer and drier climates of Australia suggested the perennials as potential sources of heat and drought resistance that will be of value in the face of climate change.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2017

A genetic-based algorithm for recovery: A pilot study

Exercise training creates a number of physical challenges to the body, the overcoming of which drives exercise adaptation. The balance between sufficient stress and recovery is a crucial, but often under-explored, area within exercise training. Genetic variation can also predispose some individuals to a greater need for recovery after exercise. In this pilot study, 18 male soccer players underwent a repeated sprint training session. Countermovement jump (CMJ) heights were recorded immediately pre-and post-training, and at 24-and 48-hours post-training. The reduction in CMJ height was greatest at all post-training time points in subjects with a larger number of gene variants associated with a reduced exercise recovery. This suggests that knowledge of genetic information can be important in individualizing recovery timings and modalities in athletes following training.

genetics↗