You are here:
Defining the Taxonomic Domain of Applicability of an Adverse Outcome Pathway Network Using Bioinformatics
Citation:
Jensen, M., D. Blatz, AND C. LaLone. Defining the Taxonomic Domain of Applicability of an Adverse Outcome Pathway Network Using Bioinformatics. SETAC North America 42nd Annual meeting, Portland, OR, November 14 - 18, 2021. https://doi.org/10.23645/epacomptox.17107541
Impact/Purpose:
Presentation to the SETAC North America 42nd Annual meeting November 2021. Public concerns regarding the impact of chemical stressors on honey bee populations have been recognized. Recently, biological pathway knowledge was gathered to understand how chemical stressors can lead to honey bee colony death/failure. Such knowledge can be used to inform research efforts by filling knowledge gaps and can provide possible mitigation strategies to reduce the likelihood of a chemical stressor causing harm to bee colonies. In addition to honey bees, there is also growing concern for other bee species, such as bumble bees. Efforts are underway to understand chemical impacts to these non-Apis species. To begin to evaluate similarities and differences in the biological pathways across bee species, the Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) tool was used. This web-based, publicly available tool can explore conservation of the pathway at the molecular level considering all pollinator species. Output from the SeqAPASS can be used to understand which chemical stressors are likely to impact many bee species, including non-Apis bees. The information from SeqAPASS can also be useful to develop approaches to lessen the chemical stressor impact on bees.
Description:
The adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework captures and organizes existing biological pathway knowledge from the literature to direct research efforts and aid in risk assessment. This existing knowledge along with continuously expanding sequence data may also be used to define the taxonomic relevance of an AOP, which can support extrapolation from tested species to other non-tested species. Recently, an AOP network was developed that links the activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor to colony death/failure in honey bees (Apis mellifera). While there have been growing concerns regarding chemical stressors impacting honey bees, there is also concern for other pollinator species, including non-Apis bees. Evaluation of the potential adverse effects on pollinators caused by chemical and non-chemical stressors is crucial, as population declines in these species could have significant economic and ecological consequences. Because AOPs are typically developed using existing knowledge from one, or handful, of species, there is a lack of knowledge regarding whether the pathways can be extrapolated to other untested species. To lay the foundation for defining the taxonomic domain of applicability (DOA) for this AOP network, which takes into account structural and functional conservation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) tool was used. Structural conservation of the proteins identified in the key events and key event relationships of the AOP network were evaluated using SeqAPASS to understand how broadly the AOP could be extrapolated to other pollinator species. SeqAPASS evaluations revealed conservation across Apis and non-Apis bees at the molecular initiating event and early key events of the AOP network. For late key events, other species-specific modulating factors can be considered to further define the taxonomic domain of applicability, such as differences in life-history, foraging activity, and colony size and structure. This work describes a path forward in incorporating bioinformatics to define the taxonomic DOA of an AOP, specifically focusing on adding lines of evidence for the structural conservation of key events and key event relationships. Additionally, defining the taxonomic domain of applicability for this AOP network provides insight relevant to filling research gaps and pesticide risk assessment for the protection of non-Apis bees and other pollinators.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Defining the Taxonomic Domain of Applicability of an Adverse Outcome Pathway Network Using Bioinformatics
JENSEN SETAC POSTER_STICS.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 429.739 KB, about PDF)