Biology subjects

Morgan, W. H.

Publications and source records attributed to Morgan, W. H..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Accelerated Limbal Epithelial Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using a Defined Keratinocyte Serum-Free Medium

PurposeTreatment of bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is challenging due to the limited autologous stem cell sources. This study aimed to differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) using a defined keratinocyte serum-free medium (DKSFM). MethodsA fully characterized hiPSC line was committed to ectodermal differentiation using Essential 6 (E6) medium supplemented with 10 {micro}M Y-27632 (Day 1), 10 {micro}M SB-505124 plus 50 ng/ml bFGF (Day 2) and 25 ng/ml BMP-4 (Days 3 and 4). Differentiation was continued in DKSFM for an additional 21 days. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and/or immunocytochemistry (ICC) for pluripotency, proliferation, LESC, and corneal epithelial markers were performed on samples collected at days 5, 10, 15, and 25 (D5 to D25) and compared with undifferentiated hiPSCs (UD). ResultsqPCR revealed a significant decrease in the expression of OCT4 and NANOG and a significant increase in ABCG2 and TP63 following ectodermal induction (i.e., D5), compared with UD (P < 0.05). The expression levels of Ki67, ABCG2, TP63, and CK14 were significantly higher at D10, compared with D5 and D25 (P < 0.05). The ratio of p63-positive cells was 71% and 56% in D10 and D15 cells, respectively (P < 0.05). DiscussionOur method resulted in a limited but rapid differentiation of hiPSCs into LESC-like cells. The LESC-like cells appeared as early as 5 days following ectodermal induction and their population peaked after 10 days. Upon further optimization and validation, DKSFM can be used for rapid limbal epithelial differentiation of hiPSCs.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2021

Impacts of dams on freshwater turtles: a global review to identify conservation solutions

Background and Research AimsDams impact freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity. Freshwater turtles are at direct and indirect risk due to changes caused by damming including the loss of terrestrial and aquatic nesting habitats, changes to food availability and blocking movement. Effective management of these impacts requires robust evidence in order to gain an understanding of conservation solutions that work. MethodsWe reviewed the global scientific literature that evaluated the impact of dams on freshwater turtles, and carried out additional searches of literature published in seventeen languages for studies evaluating actions to mitigate dam impacts. ResultsThe search produced 47 published articles documenting dam impacts on 30 freshwater turtle species from seven families (Chelidae, Chelydridae, Emydidae, Geoemydidae, Kinosternidae, Podocnemididae and Trionychidae) in 13 countries. Few studies were found from Europe and Asia and none from Africa. Most studies were from temperate latitudes, where studies focused more on adults and less threatened species compared with tropical latitudes. More than half of the studies (57%, n = 27) suggested actions to help mitigate dam impacts. Yet, only five studies (three temperate and two tropical) documented the effect of interventions (dam removal, flow management, artificial pond maintenance and community-based action). ConclusionThese findings demonstrate a serious lack of documented evidence evaluating mitigation actions for dam impacts on freshwater turtles. Implications for Conservation: This lack of evidence reinforces the importance of strengthening and maintaining robust long-term studies needed to develop effective and adaptive conservation actions for this group of threatened vertebrates particularly in tropical regions.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2021

Tapping into non-English-language science for the conservation of global biodiversity

The widely held assumption that any important scientific information would be available in English underlies the underuse of non-English-language science across disciplines. However, non-English-language science is expected to bring unique and valuable scientific information, especially in disciplines where the evidence is patchy, and for emergent issues where synthesising available evidence is an urgent challenge. Yet such contribution of non-English-language science to scientific communities and the application of science is rarely quantified. Here we show that non-English-language studies provide crucial evidence for informing global biodiversity conservation. By screening 419,680 peer-reviewed papers in 16 languages, we identified 1,234 non-English-language studies providing evidence on the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation interventions, compared to 4,412 English-language studies identified with the same criteria. Relevant non-English-language studies are being published at an increasing rate, and can expand the geographical (by 12-25%) and taxonomic (by 5-32%) coverage of English-language evidence, especially in biodiverse regions, albeit often based on less robust study designs. Our results show that synthesising non-English-language studies is key to overcoming the widespread lack of local, context-dependent evidence and facilitating evidence-based conservation globally. We urge wider disciplines to rigorously reassess the untapped potential of non-English-language science in informing decisions to address other global challenges.

scientific communication and education↗