@article{roche_montague_wang_dickey_ruiz-lambides_brent_platt_horvath_2023, title={Yearly variation coupled with social interactions shape the skin microbiome in free-ranging rhesus macaques}, volume={11}, ISSN={["2165-0497"]}, DOI={10.1128/spectrum.02974-23}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT While skin microbes are known to mediate human health and disease, there has been minimal research on the interactions between skin microbiota, social behavior, and year-to-year effects in non-human primates—important animal models for translational biomedical research. To examine these relationships, we analyzed skin microbes from 78 rhesus macaques living on Cayo Santiago Island, Puerto Rico. We considered age, sex, and social group membership, and characterized social behavior by assessing dominance rank and patterns of grooming as compared to nonsocial behaviors. To measure the effects of a shifting environment, we sampled skin microbiota (based on sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA V4 region) and assessed weather across sampling periods between 2013 and 2015. We hypothesized that, first, monkeys with similar social behavior and/or in the same social group would possess similar skin microbial composition due, in part, to physical contact, and, second, microbial diversity would differ across sampling periods. We found significant phylum-level differences between social groups in the core microbiome as well as an association between total grooming rates and alpha diversity in the complete microbiome, but no association between microbial diversity and measures of rank or other nonsocial behaviors. We also identified alpha and beta diversity differences in microbiota and differential taxa abundance across two sampling periods. Our findings indicate that social dynamics interact with yearly environmental changes to shape the skin microbiota in rhesus macaques, with potential implications for understanding the factors affecting the microbiome in humans, which share many biological and social characteristics with these animals. IMPORTANCE Primate studies are valuable for translational and evolutionary insights into the human microbiome. The majority of primate microbiome studies focus on the gut, so less is known about the factors impacting the microbes on skin and how their links affect health and behavior. Here, we probe the impact of social interactions and the yearly environmental changes on food-provisioned, free-ranging monkeys living on a small island. We expected animals that lived together and groomed each other would have more similar microbes on their skin, but surprisingly found that the external environment was a stronger influence on skin microbiome composition. These findings have implications for our understanding of the human skin microbiome, including potential manipulations to improve health and treat disease. Primate studies are valuable for translational and evolutionary insights into the human microbiome. The majority of primate microbiome studies focus on the gut, so less is known about the factors impacting the microbes on skin and how their links affect health and behavior. Here, we probe the impact of social interactions and the yearly environmental changes on food-provisioned, free-ranging monkeys living on a small island. We expected animals that lived together and groomed each other would have more similar microbes on their skin, but surprisingly found that the external environment was a stronger influence on skin microbiome composition. These findings have implications for our understanding of the human skin microbiome, including potential manipulations to improve health and treat disease.}, number={5}, journal={MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM}, author={Roche, Christina E. and Montague, Michael J. and Wang, JiCi and Dickey, Allison N. and Ruiz-Lambides, Angelina and Brent, Lauren J. N. and Platt, Michael L. and Horvath, Julie E.}, year={2023} }
 @article{dhar_roche_levine_2021, title={Developing mitochondrial DNA field-compatible tests}, volume={52}, ISSN={1064-3389 1547-6537}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2021.1904709}, DOI={10.1080/10643389.2021.1904709}, abstractNote={Abstract Nucleic acid-based molecular detection of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been used for the detection of eukaryotic pathogens, genetic markers, and biomedical studies in humans and animals, forensic investigation, conservation biology, and environmental monitoring. Currently available molecular mtDNA testing is predominately dependent on relatively expensive laboratory equipment, which limits test applicability for on-site field testing. Recent technical advances in molecular testing of mtDNA using microfluidic chip technology and paper-based methods, and assays based on isothermal nucleic acid amplification show promise for field assay development. Microfluidic and paper-based components for mtDNA sample preparation and isothermal amplification establish the groundwork for targeted detection. The goal is on-site field detection mtDNA assays that combine sample processing, assay setup, and visual representation of the presence of mtDNA. This review examines advantages and disadvantages of alternative field-compatible tests for on-site detection of mtDNA. Despite challenges, developing an integrated “sample-through detection” field test platform is the future direction for mtDNA molecular detection in environmental samples. Graphical Abstract}, number={17}, journal={Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Dhar, Bidhan C. and Roche, Christina E. and Levine, Jay F.}, year={2021}, month={Apr}, pages={1–41} }