Genetic components influencing the feline - human social bond

描述(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的认可，特别是提高了老年人、痴呆症患者和自闭症儿童的生活质量。然而，尽管有证据表明AAI在镇静儿童和其他方面的有效性和其他好处，但人与动物相互作用的机制尚不清楚，特定的环境和基因相互作用对人类和动物行为的影响仍不清楚。许多猫品种在基因上是不同的，并根据不同的性情和“个性”进行选择，这使得单个动物或品种对AAI来说是好是坏。影响单胺类神经递质途径基因的基因突变正在进行大量的人类和动物研究，以了解行为的遗传成分。单胺类神经递质途径基因编码代谢5-羟色胺和儿茶酚胺的酶。在人类、灵长类动物、啮齿动物和狗身上，各种行为，如大胆、寻求新奇和攻击性，都与这些生物途径中基因的遗传变异有关。本R03请求的目的是调查遗传变异对猫在AAI和人与动物相互作用中的作用的影响。在NHGRI的资助下，已经产生了深度的、~10倍覆盖范围的猫基因组的遗传序列，从而可以详细研究猫的行为基因的遗传变异。我们的中心假设是，猫神经递质途径基因的遗传变异会影响猫的脾气，使它们或多或少适合人工智能，并发展积极的人与动物之间的互动。将实现两个具体目标。具体目标1：研究猫科动物群体中行为相关基因的遗传变异。这位首席研究员之前在加州大学戴维斯分校进行的猫基因研究已经产生了大量的家猫DNA样本数据集，其中包括加州大学戴维斯分校的联合调查员、长期陪伴动物行为学家的猫，这些猫来自或多或少有利于人工智能的品种。具体目标2：确定自闭症儿童中积极的猫与人的社会纽带的行为属性。加州大学戴维斯分校M.I.N.D.研究所有一项关于自闭症的大型研究，涵盖了大约1300个家庭，其中包括他们宠物的信息。将进行一项调查，以确定猫的成功属性似乎会影响自闭症患者的反应和沟通。未来的研究可能会将患者拥有的猫的基因变异与它们在人工智能中的有效性联系起来，并考虑到猫的神经递质的表达水平。 公共卫生相关性：这些研究将侧重于开发调查和遗传工具，以帮助选择最有效的猫或猫品种，以成功地对自闭症儿童进行动物辅助干预(AAI)。可以选择特定的猫，无论是品种还是个体，从收容所中识别出来，作为自闭症儿童和家庭的特定需求的潜在伴侣，以更好地促进人工智能的目标，潜在地改善患者、家庭和猫的生活质量。对具有更明确和高度选择性行为的物种的神经递质基因的研究，应该有助于破译这些复杂的途径，澄清人类和其他物种的这一过程。

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.