The Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center (PGSC) provides a reliable source of disease free peromyscines, and is unmatched for the variety of Peromyscus species and mutants available. The PGSC provides animals for a variety of fields, including human infectious disease, behavioral studies, physiological adaptation, and genetic studies. Two developments should further enhance the interest in Peromyscus as an experimental organism. The NHGRI has selected, based on our submission of a white paper, to do a 6X sequence of one species and 2X sequence of 3 other species. This project is just underway at Baylor Medical College. In collaboration with Dr. Glenn (U. Georgia) a request was made to JGI/DOE for construction and sequencing of 50,000 Peromyscus EST clones. The EST clones have been made and quality assessments completed. This complete sequence data should be available within approximately one month. In addition, a first generation linkage map has revealed closer linkage relationships between Peromysus and Rattus than Peromyscus and Mus. Further linkage and chromosome painting analysis has allowed the construction of a linkage map that is chromosome based. These resources will enhance the importance of Peromyscus as a research tool in areas of gene discovery in the area of repetitive movement disorders, juvenile and adult ataxia, and epilepsy, gene expression in disease and environmental toxicology, and mechanisms of genomic imprinting, Peromyscus is a reservoir for two emerging infectious microorganisms. Hanta virus causes a disease with 40 percent mortality and is a potential bioterrorism agent. The causative agent of Lyme disease is also harbored in Peromyscus and nearly 15,000 cases occur annually. PGSC has provided animals for investigators studying these and other diseases such as Ehrlichiosis, babesiosis and plaque. The research aspect of the project is to continue the development of embryo cryopreservation methods and re- derivation of living animals in order to preserve rare mutants and germplasm for future use when needed and to decrease costs. Progress has been in obtaining an increase in embryo production using modifications of the hormonal treatment regimes used in mice. Embryos have been successfully frozen and thawed to undergo cell division. Future work will further refine these methods with the goal of re-derivation of living animals from frozen embryos.

Public Health Relevance

As a species, Peromyscus naturally occurs in diverse habitats offering unique models for studying genetic variation in relation to adaptation to particular environments. Naturally occurring mutants being maintained offer the opportunity to discover genes involved in several mutants of biomedical significance including two movement disorders. Peromyscus in the wild is a reservoir for two emerging infectious microorganisms.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Office of The Director, National Institutes of Health (OD)
Type
Animal (Mammalian and Nonmammalian) Model, and Animal and Biological Material Resource Grants (P40)
Project #
3P40OD010961-14S1
Application #
8848905
Study Section
National Center for Research Resources Initial Review Group (RIRG)
Program Officer
Mirochnitchenko, Oleg
Project Start
1999-07-01
Project End
2015-03-31
Budget Start
2014-06-01
Budget End
2015-03-31
Support Year
14
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$118,123
Indirect Cost
$37,493
Name
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
041387846
City
Columbia
State
SC
Country
United States
Zip Code
29208
Kenney-Hunt, Jane; Lewandowski, Adrienne; Glenn, Travis C et al. (2014) A genetic map of Peromyscus with chromosomal assignment of linkage groups (a Peromyscus genetic map). Mamm Genome 25:160-79
Shorter, Kimberly R; Owen, Amy; Anderson, Vanessa et al. (2014) Natural genetic variation underlying differences in Peromyscus repetitive and social/aggressive behaviors. Behav Genet 44:126-35
Shorter, Kimberly R; Anderson, Vanessa; Cakora, Patricia et al. (2014) Pleiotropic effects of a methyl donor diet in a novel animal model. PLoS One 9:e104942
Tarnawa, Edward D; Baker, Michael D; Aloisio, Gina M et al. (2013) Gonadal expression of Foxo1, but not Foxo3, is conserved in diverse Mammalian species. Biol Reprod 88:103