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Science in Action: SeqAPASS Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility
Citation:
Lalone, C., L. Gessner, M. Jones, J. Franzosa, AND C. Baghdikian. Science in Action: SeqAPASS Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility . U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC, EPA/600/F-19/019, 2019.
Impact/Purpose:
By necessity, human and environmental risk assessments for chemicals use a limited number of models to generate toxicity test data, which are then extrapolated to species of concern. Decreasing testing resources, international interest in reducing animal use, and increasing demand to evaluate chemicals in a more timely manner means increased demand for good predictive approaches to maximize the use of existing data. For some species, EPA has data regarding toxicity to certain chemicals. The Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) tool uses this data, along with publicly available protein sequence and structure information, to better understand the effects of chemicals on non-target species. This fact sheet will provide a summary of what SeqAPASS is, how it works, why it is needed, and how it has been used highlighting case study examples and providing appropriate references.
Description:
Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) is a fast, online screening tool that allows researchers and regulators to use available information about species’ sensitivity to chemicals to consistently predict chemical susceptibility for hundreds of other species. SeqAPASS uses available protein sequence and structural information to understand species susceptibility at the molecular level. Using existing data from model organisms to inform predictions reduces the need for additional resource-intensive toxicity testing. SeqAPASS minimizes the complexity of protein sequence and structural comparisons for species extrapolation, making the process more rapid and less daunting for scientists and regulators alike to help guide research and inform risk assessments.
URLs/Downloads:
SEQAPASS 508FACTSHEET_FINAL.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 396.665 KB, about PDF)ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=P100VZ2A.txt