Genetic components influencing the feline - human social bond

描述（由申请人提供）：几十年来，家猫在动物辅助干预（AAI）中的作用在护理中得到了广泛认可，特别是在改善老年人、痴呆症患者和自闭症儿童的生活质量方面。然而，尽管有证据表明AAI在安抚儿童和其他益处方面的功效，但人类与动物相互作用的机制尚不清楚，特定的环境影响和遗传相互作用对人类和动物行为的影响仍不清楚。许多猫品种是遗传不同，并选择不同的气质和“个性”，使个别动物或品种更好或更坏的AAI。影响单胺神经递质通路基因（编码代谢5-羟色胺和儿茶酚胺的酶）的基因突变正在许多人类和动物研究中进行调查，以了解行为的遗传成分。在人类、灵长类动物、啮齿类动物和狗的这些生物学途径中，各种行为，如大胆、寻求新奇和侵略性，都与基因的遗传变异有关。本R 03要求的目的是调查遗传变异对猫在AAI和人-动物相互作用中的作用的影响。一个深入的，~ 10倍的覆盖率，猫基因组的遗传序列已经与NHGRI的资金，允许在猫的行为基因的遗传变异的详细研究。我们的中心假设是，猫神经递质通路基因的遗传变异影响猫的气质，使他们或多或少适合AAI和发展积极的人与动物的相互作用。将实现两个具体目标。具体目标1：表征猫种群中行为相关基因的遗传变异。首席研究员先前在加州大学戴维斯分校进行的猫科动物遗传学研究已经产生了一个广泛的家猫DNA样本数据集，包括来自加州大学戴维斯分校合作研究者（长期伴侣动物行为学家）或多或少有利于AAI的品种的猫。具体目标2：确定自闭症儿童中积极的猫-人社会关系的行为属性。加州大学戴维斯分校M.I.N.D.该研究所有一项关于自闭症的大型研究（CHARGE），包括约1300个家庭，其中包括关于他们宠物的信息。将进行一项调查，以确定猫的成功属性，似乎影响自闭症患者的反应和沟通。未来的研究可以将患者拥有的猫的遗传变异与其在AAI中的有效性联系起来，同时考虑猫的神经递质的表达水平。 公共卫生相关性：这些研究将专注于开发调查和遗传工具，以帮助选择最有效的猫或猫品种，为自闭症儿童成功的动物辅助干预（AAI）。从收容所种群中识别出的特定猫，无论是品种还是个体，都可以被选择为自闭症儿童的潜在伴侣和家庭的特定需求，以更好地促进AAI的目标，潜在地改善患者的生活质量，在一个具有更明确和高度选择性行为的物种中，对神经递质基因的研究应该有助于解释这些复杂的途径，澄清人类和其他物种的过程。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The role of domestic cats in animal-assisted interventions (AAI) has been well- recognized in nursing care for decades, especially improving the quality of life for the elderly, dementia patients, and autistic children. However, despite evidence of efficacy of AAI in calming children and other benefits, the mechanisms of how the human-animal interactions work are unknown, and the specific environmental influences and genetic interactions on human and animal behavior remain unclarified. Many cat breeds are genetically distinct and are selected for different temperaments and "personalities", making individual animals or breeds better or worse for AAI. The genetic mutations affecting monoamine neurotransmitter pathway genes, which encode enzymes that metabolize serotonin and the catecholamines, are under investigation in a host of human and animal studies to understand the genetic components of behavior. Various behaviors, such as boldness, novelty seeking, and aggression have been linked to genetic variation of the genes within these biological pathways in humans, primates, rodents, and dogs. The objective of this R03 request is to investigate the influence of genetic variation in a cat's role in AAI and human-animal interactions. An in-depth, ~10X coverage, genetic sequence of the cat genome has been produced with NHGRI funding, allowing detailed studies of the genetic variation of behavioral genes in the cat. Our central hypothesis is that genetic variations in the feline neurotransmitter pathway genes affect a cat's temperament, making them more or less suitable for AAI and developing positive human-animal interactions. Two specific aims will be conducted. Specific Aim 1: Characterize the genetic variation of behavioral-related genes in cat populations. The principal investigator's previous feline genetic studies at UC Davis have produced an extensive dataset of domestic cat DNA samples, including cats from breeds shown to be more or less conducive for AAI by the UC Davis co-investigators, long-term companion animal behaviorists. Specific Aim 2: Determine the behavioral attributes of a positive feline-human social bond in autistic children. The UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute has a large study focusing on autism (CHARGE), encompassing ~1300 families that includes information on their pets. A survey will be conducted that will determine the successful attributes of cats that appear to influence the responsiveness and communication of autistic patients. Future studies could associate the genetic variations of patient-owned cats and their effectiveness in AAI, also considering the expression levels of the neurotransmitters of the cats. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: These studies will focus on developing survey and genetic tools to help select the most effective cats, or cat breeds, for successful animal-assisted interventions (AAI) for autistic children. Specific cats, whether breeds or individuals, identified from shelter populations, could be selected for potential companions for the autistic child and the specific needs of the families to better facilitate the goals of AAI, potentially improving the quality of life of the patients, the families and the cat. The investigation of neurotransmitter genes in a species with more defined and highly selected behaviors should help decipher these complex pathways, clarifying the process in humans and other species.