Environmental DNA and RNA as Records of Human Exposome, Including Biotic/Abiotic Exposures and Its Implications in the Assessment of the Role of Environment in Chronic Diseases

Abstract

<jats:p>Most of environment-related diseases often result from multiple exposures of abiotic and/or biotic stressors across various life stages. The application of environmental DNA/RNA (eDNA/eRNA) to advance ecological understanding has been very successfully used. However, the eminent extension of eDNA/eRNA-based approaches to estimate human exposure to biotic and/or abiotic environmental stressors to understand the environmental causes of chronic diseases has yet to start. Here, we introduce the potential of eDNA/eRNA for bio-monitoring of human exposome and health effects in the real environmental or occupational settings. This review is the first of its kind to discuss how eDNA/eRNA-based approaches can be applied for assessing the human exposome. eDNA-based exposome assessment is expected to rely on our ability to capture the genome- and epigenome-wide signatures left behind by individuals in the indoor and outdoor physical spaces through shedding, excreting, etc. Records of eDNA/eRNA exposome may reflect the early appearance, persistence, and presence of biotic and/or abiotic-exposure-mediated modifications in these nucleic acid molecules. Functional genome- and epigenome-wide mapping of eDNA offer great promise to help elucidate the human exposome. Assessment of longitudinal exposure to physical, biological, and chemical agents present in the environment through eDNA/eRNA may enable the building of an integrative causal dynamic stochastic model to estimate environmental causes of human health deficits. This model is expected to incorporate key biological pathways and gene networks linking individuals, their geographic locations, and random multi-hits of environmental factors. Development and validation of monitoring of eDNA/eRNA exposome should seriously be considered to introduce into safety and risk assessment and as surrogates of chronic exposure to environmental stressors. Here we highlight that eDNA/eRNA reflecting longitudinal exposure of both biotic and abiotic environmental stressors may serve as records of human exposome and discuss its application as molecular tools for understanding the toxicogenomics basis of environment-related health deficits.</jats:p>

A chrono-physiological management protocol in form of simultaneous shifting of both lighting-cycle and feeding-time can enhance the production performance of heat-stressed goat kids

“…The homeotherm's body is described as an open thermodynamic system that continuously exchanges energy with its external environment [4]. In general, the term "external stressor including environment" is broad and may include both biotic and abiotic stressors [5]. Out of all external environmental stressors, heat stress is the most detrimental stressor to different ruminants' species (such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels) [6][7][8].…”

Metformin-Induced Epigenetic Toxicity in Zebrafish: Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Studies

“…Therefore, it may be a valuable early toxicological warning signal to recognize and identify biomarkers before those irreversible abnormalities. Molecular biomarkers, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodeling, and noncoding RNA related to epigenetic methods, have received widespread attention as early warning indicators of pollutant exposure. , Among these factors, DNA methylation can change the homeostasis of the genome, leading to conformational changes in chromatin DNA, alterations in DNA stability, and the abnormal expression of structural and functional proteins. These changes will cause normal cell cycle inhibition, abnormal differentiation, and cell apoptosis. , To date, environmental contaminants, including trace elements, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and endocrine disruptors (EDCs) have been found to induce DNA methylation via in vitro and in vivo assays. , These results indicate that DNA methylation may be an important biomarker of environmental chemical exposure and consequent changes to the aquatic ecosystem. − …”

“…Molecular biomarkers, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodeling, and noncoding RNA related to epigenetic methods, have received widespread attention as early warning indicators of pollutant exposure. 16,17 Among these factors, DNA methylation can change the homeostasis of the genome, leading to conformational changes in chromatin DNA, alterations in DNA stability, and the abnormal expression of structural and functional proteins. These changes will cause normal cell cycle inhibition, abnormal differentiation, and cell apoptosis.…”