Biology subjects

Hawkins, F.

Publications and source records attributed to Hawkins, F..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Exploring the use of state of nature metrics to screen global business operations for ecological sensitivity and to select priority sites for disclosure

Businesses are increasingly encouraged to disclose their nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities. A common component of sustainability reporting is screening operational sites for ecologically sensitivity to identify locations for further evaluation and action. However, with 600+ biodiversity metrics available, selecting and interpreting appropriate metrics remains challenging for business. We developed a simple screening framework informed by the Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures guidance, grouping eleven widely used global biodiversity metrics into four complementary [&prime]baskets[&prime], representing different aspects of biodiversity. We created hypothetical but realistic mining, onshore wind energy and agricultural companies, to assess how metric choice, buffer size, scoring approach and sensitivity thresholds influence screening outcomes. Our basket framework consistently identified similar high-priority sites across metric combinations, but site rankings varied with methodological choices. We recommend clearer guidance on metric selection and application, alongside greater transparency from business regarding assumptions, methods and limitations when screening sites for ecological sensitivity.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2026

Global threat abatement potential for terrestrial vertebrates

1.AimThe Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) metric was developed to support setting and measuring progress towards science-based targets for species conservation, in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The STAR metric quantifies the potential reduction in species global extinction risk achievable through actions to abate threats (START) and restore habitat (STARR). The STAR metric is used across multiple sectors to assess contributions to nature-positive species outcomes and implement action for biodiversity. Here we present a substantially enhanced global estimate of START for terrestrial vertebrates. Developed in response to user demand, this work integrates advancements in methodology and data quality, increased spatial resolution, and addition of reptile species. LocationGlobal Time PeriodCurrent Major taxa studiedTerrestrial vertebrates MethodsSTART was estimated at 1km2 resolution for 9,100 species of threatened and Near Threatened birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, using IUCN Red List assessments (version 2025-1) and area of habitat (AOH) maps generated using an advanced data-driven methodology and satellite-derived land-cover data. AOH maps were validated using a two-stage protocol using species observation data. ResultsThe six countries with the highest estimated START scores, and therefore the largest individual potential to reduce global extinction risk via tackling threats nationally were Brazil, Madagascar, Indonesia, Mexico, Ecuador and Colombia (each contributing over 5% of global estimated START). The threat with the greatest individual potential to reduce extinction risk was annual and perennial non-timber crops (21.2% of global START). Main conclusionsTargeted actions to tackle a few high-impact threats in a few discrete locations, and cumulative effort across multiple areas with lower individual potential, are both required to meaningfully reduce species extinction risk through threat abatement. This global scale estimation of START enables consistent scoping of conservation opportunity over large areas and provides the critical initial data to support planning and action.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2021

Recapitulate Human Cardio-pulmonary Co-development Using Simultaneous Multilineage Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells

The extensive crosstalk between the developing heart and lung is pivotal for their proper morphogenesis and maturation. However, there remains a lack of model systems for investigating the critical cardio-pulmonary mutual interaction during human embryogenesis. Here, we reported a novel stepwise strategy for directing simultaneous induction of both mesoderm-derived cardiac and endoderm-derived lung epithelial lineages within a single differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) via temporal specific tuning of WNT and TGF-{beta} signaling in the absence of exogenous growth factors. Using 3D suspension culture, we established concentric cardio-pulmonary micro-Tissues (Ts), and observed expedited alveolar maturation in the presence of cardiac accompany. Upon withdrawal of WNT agonist, the cardiac and pulmonary components within each dual-lineage T effectively segregated from each other with concurrent initiation of cardiac contraction. We expect our multilineage differentiation model to offer an experimentally tractable system for investigating human cardio-pulmonary interplay and tissue boundary formation during embryogenesis.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2020

SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Human Lung Alveolar Type 2 Cells Elicits a Rapid Epithelial-Intrinsic Inflammatory Response

The most severe and fatal infections with SARS-CoV-2 result in the acute respiratory distress syndrome, a clinical phenotype of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that is associated with virions targeting the epithelium of the distal lung, particularly the facultative progenitors of this tissue, alveolar epithelial type 2 cells (AT2s). Little is known about the initial responses of human lung alveoli to SARS-CoV-2 infection due in part to inability to access these cells from patients, particularly at early stages of disease. Here we present an in vitro human model that simulates the initial apical infection of the distal lung epithelium with SARS-CoV-2, using AT2s that have been adapted to air-liquid interface culture after their derivation from induced pluripotent stem cells (iAT2s). We find that SARS-CoV-2 induces a rapid global transcriptomic change in infected iAT2s characterized by a shift to an inflammatory phenotype predominated by the secretion of cytokines encoded by NF-kB target genes, delayed epithelial interferon responses, and rapid loss of the mature lung alveolar epithelial program. Over time, infected iAT2s exhibit cellular toxicity that can result in the death of these key alveolar facultative progenitors, as is observed in vivo in COVID-19 lung autopsies. Importantly, drug testing using iAT2s confirmed an antiviral dose-response to remdesivir and demonstrated the efficacy of TMPRSS2 protease inhibition, validating a putative mechanism used for viral entry in human alveolar cells. Our model system reveals the cell-intrinsic responses of a key lung target cell to infection, providing a physiologically relevant platform for further drug development and facilitating a deeper understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Human iPSC-derived alveolar and airway epithelial cells can be cultured at air-liquid interface and express SARS-CoV-2 host factors

Development of an anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic is hindered by the lack of physiologically relevant model systems that can recapitulate host-viral interactions in human cell types, specifically the epithelium of the lung. Here, we compare induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived alveolar and airway epithelial cells to primary lung epithelial cell controls, focusing on expression levels of genes relevant for COVID-19 disease modeling. iPSC-derived alveolar epithelial type II-like cells (iAT2s) and iPSC-derived airway epithelial lineages express key transcripts associated with lung identity in the majority of cells produced in culture. They express ACE2 and TMPRSS2, transcripts encoding essential host factors required for SARS-CoV-2 infection, in a minor subset of each cell sub-lineage, similar to frequencies observed in primary cells. In order to prepare human culture systems that are amenable to modeling viral infection of both the proximal and distal lung epithelium, we adapt iPSC-derived alveolar and airway epithelial cells to two-dimensional air-liquid interface cultures. These engineered human lung cell systems represent sharable, physiologically relevant platforms for SARS-CoV-2 infection modeling and may therefore expedite the development of an effective pharmacologic intervention for COVID-19.

molecular biology↗