TY - BOOK

T1 - Paleogenomics of Cinchona barks

T2 - On the chemical and genomic diversity of historical Fever tree barks

AU - Canales, Nataly Olivia Allasi

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - The fever tree (Rubiaceae: Cinchona spp.) has been widely used to treat malariafor hundreds of years due to the content of quinoline compounds that arestored in the bark. Originally from the Andes and known by indigenous peoplesfor its ameliorating effect on high recurrent fevers, the native Cinchona forestswere heavily harvested and later on plantations were established in othertropical countries. Despite the economic and pharmaceutical importance ofthe fever tree, taxonomic issues have prevented elucidation of the evolutionaryhistory of the Cinchona genus and the potential relation with its chemicaldiversity. Furthermore, with the advent of palaeogenomics, it is now possibleto obtain, analyse and authenticate DNA from historical samples, which areoften lacking both vouchers and information about provenance.This PhDproject is using historical Cinchona barks as a model of wood museomicsaiming to provide new perspectives on the origin, application, and importanceof the fever tree. In this thesis, it is shown that quinoline alkaloids in historicalbark samples remain stable 150 years later, bringing museum specimens tolife and casting new light on the chemical diversity and selection history ofthe fever tree. A first draft genome of Cinchona pubescens is presented and itis suggested that genome skimming may provide more accurate phylogeneticresolution than a commercial global target capture kit. Finally, it is shown howgenomic approaches can be used to trace samples of unknown provenanceback to their origin.

AB - The fever tree (Rubiaceae: Cinchona spp.) has been widely used to treat malariafor hundreds of years due to the content of quinoline compounds that arestored in the bark. Originally from the Andes and known by indigenous peoplesfor its ameliorating effect on high recurrent fevers, the native Cinchona forestswere heavily harvested and later on plantations were established in othertropical countries. Despite the economic and pharmaceutical importance ofthe fever tree, taxonomic issues have prevented elucidation of the evolutionaryhistory of the Cinchona genus and the potential relation with its chemicaldiversity. Furthermore, with the advent of palaeogenomics, it is now possibleto obtain, analyse and authenticate DNA from historical samples, which areoften lacking both vouchers and information about provenance.This PhDproject is using historical Cinchona barks as a model of wood museomicsaiming to provide new perspectives on the origin, application, and importanceof the fever tree. In this thesis, it is shown that quinoline alkaloids in historicalbark samples remain stable 150 years later, bringing museum specimens tolife and casting new light on the chemical diversity and selection history ofthe fever tree. A first draft genome of Cinchona pubescens is presented and itis suggested that genome skimming may provide more accurate phylogeneticresolution than a commercial global target capture kit. Finally, it is shown howgenomic approaches can be used to trace samples of unknown provenanceback to their origin.

M3 - Ph.D. thesis

BT - Paleogenomics of Cinchona barks

PB - Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen

ER -