Biology subjects

McNeil, R.

Publications and source records attributed to McNeil, R..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Habitat complexity alters the strength of sexual selection on brain size in a livebearing fish

Animals often reproduce in complex environments, which should generate selection for both enhanced detectability in signaling traits and improved cognitive processing abilities. However, the extent to which signaling and cognitive traits have evolved to overcome the challenges of interacting in complex habitats remains understudied. We examined whether habitat complexity influences sexual selection in the pygmy halfbeak, Dermogenys collettei, a small livebearing freshwater fish. Using free-swimming arenas, we created low- and high-complexity environments and observed mating behaviors in mixed-sex groups. While the opportunity for sexual selection did not differ significantly between environments for either sex, we observed positive selection gradients for both male and female brain size in open arenas, but not in complex habitats. Interestingly, no clear selection on male or female ornamentation was detected in either environment. Our findings suggest that habitat complexity may limit selection pressures on cognitive traits, such as brain size, without significantly affecting visual ornamentations role in mating success.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2024

Early prediction of preeclampsia using the first trimester vaginal microbiome

Preeclampsia is a severe obstetrical syndrome which contributes to 10-15% of all maternal deaths. Although the mechanisms underlying systemic damage in preeclampsia--such as impaired placentation, endothelial dysfunction, and immune dysregulation--are well studied, the initial triggers of the condition remain largely unknown. Furthermore, although the pathogenesis of preeclampsia begins early in pregnancy, there are no early diagnostics for this life-threatening syndrome, which is typically diagnosed much later, after systemic damage has already manifested. Here, we performed deep metagenomic sequencing and multiplex immunoassays of vaginal samples collected during the first trimester from 124 pregnant individuals, including 62 who developed preeclampsia with severe features. We identified multiple significant associations between vaginal immune factors, microbes, clinical factors, and the early pathogenesis of preeclampsia. These associations vary with BMI, and stratification revealed strong associations between preeclampsia and Bifidobacterium spp., Prevotella timonensis, and Sneathia vaginalis. Finally, we developed machine learning models that predict the development of preeclampsia using this first trimester data, collected ~5.7 months prior to clinical diagnosis, with an auROC of 0.78. We validated our models using data from an independent cohort (MOMS-PI), achieving an auROC of 0.80. Our findings highlight robust associations among the vaginal microbiome, local host immunity, and early pathogenic processes of preeclampsia, paving the way for early detection, prevention and intervention for this devastating condition.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Spatially resolved single-cell analysis uncovers protein kinase C-& expressing microglia with anti-tumor activity in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a brain tumor that poses a formidable challenge to treatment options available. The tumor microenvironment (TME) in GBM is highly complex, marked by immunosuppression and cellular heterogeneity. Understanding the cellular interactions and their spatial organization within the TME is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies. In this study, we integrated single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics in a GBM mouse model to unravel the spatial landscape of the brain TME. We identified a previously unrecognized microglia subtype expressing protein kinase C{delta} (PKC{delta}) associated with potent anti-tumor functions. The presence of PKC{delta}-expressing microglia was confirmed in resected human GBM specimens. Elevating tumoral PKC{delta} expression using niacin or adeno-associated virus in mice enhanced the phagocytosis of GBM cells by microglia in culture and increased the lifespan of mice with intracranial GBM. These findings were corroborated in analyses of the TCGA GBM datasets where low PKC{delta} samples showed negative pathway enrichment for apoptosis, phagocytosis, and immune signaling pathways, as well as lower levels of immune cell infiltration overall. Our study underscores the importance of integrating spatial context to unravel the TME, resulting in the identification of previously unrecognized subsets of microglia with anti-tumor functions. These findings provide valuable insights for advancing innovative immunotherapeutic strategies in GBM.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2022

Spatial transcriptomics reveals distinct and conserved tumor core and edge architectures that predict survival and targeted therapy response

We performed the first integrative single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis on HPV-negative oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) to comprehensively characterize tumor core (TC) and leading edge (LE) transcriptional architectures. We show that the TC and LE are characterized by unique transcriptional profiles, cellular compositions, and ligand-receptor interactions. We demonstrate that LE regions are conserved across multiple cancers while TC states are more tissue specific. Additionally, we found our LE gene signature is associated with worse clinical outcomes while the TC gene signature is associated with improved prognosis across multiple cancer types. Finally, using an in silico modeling approach, we describe spatially-regulated patterns of cell development in OSCC that are predictably associated with drug response. Our work provides pan-cancer insights into TC and LE biologies, a platform for data exploration (http://www.pboselab.ca/spatial_OSCC/) and is foundational for developing novel targeted therapies.

cancer biology↗