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Multiomics Analysis Reveals Therapeutic Targets for Chronic Kidney Disease With Sarcopenia.

BACKGROUND: The presence of sarcopenia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with poor prognosis. The mechanism underlying CKD-induced muscle wasting has not yet been fully explored. This study investigates the influence of renal secretions on muscles using multiomics sequencing. METHODS: The kidney transcriptome analysis by RNA-seq and protein profiling by tandem mass tag (TMT), serum TMT and muscle TMT were performed in CKD established using 0.2% adenine and control mice. Spp1 recombinant protein was used to study its effect on myotube atrophy in&#xa0;vitro. In animal experiments on CKD, pharmacological inhibition of Spp1 was used to explore the role of Spp1 in skeletal muscle wasting. Transcriptome analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the gastrocnemius muscle following Spp1 pharmacological inhibition. RESULTS: In the renal transcriptome and TMT, 503 and 377 proteins/genes respectively were co-upregulated and co-downregulated. In the serum TMT of CKD and normal control (NC) mice, 22 upregulated and 7 downregulated differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) showed the same expression patterns as those in the kidney transcriptome and TMT analysis. Based on bioinformatics analysis and reported studies, we selected Spp1 for further validation. Spp1 recombinant protein was added to C2C12 myotubes in&#xa0;vitro, and the results indicated that Spp1 significantly increased the protein levels of the muscle atrophy marker (Murf-1) and promoted the smaller myotubes (all p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Compared with NC mice, Spp1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly upregulated in the kidneys of CKD mice, and the serum concentration of Spp1 was also markedly increased (all p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). In animal experiments, pharmacological inhibition of Spp1 increased the weights of gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05) and improved muscle atrophy phenotype. Transcriptome analysis showed that DEGs in the gastrocnemius muscle following Spp1 pharmacological inhibition were enriched in protein digestion and absorption, glucagon signalling pathway, apelin signalling pathway and ECM-receptor interaction pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first to establish a regulatory network of kidney-muscle crosstalk to explore the potential mechanism of CKD-related sarcopenia. Employing multiomics analysis, cellular assessment and animal experiments, we have identified that Spp1 could potentialy serve as a promising therapeutic target for CKD patients with sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia↗

Arabidopsis whole-transcriptome profiling defines the features of coordinated regulations that occur during secondary growth.

Secondary growth in the inflorescence stems of Arabidopsis plants was induced by a combination of short-day and long-day treatments. The induced stems were divided into three different stem developmental stages (i.e., immature, intermediate, and mature) with regard to secondary growth. Whole transcriptome microarrays were used to examine the changes in global gene expression occurring at the different stem developmental stages. Over 70% of the Arabidopsis transcriptome was expressed in the stem tissues. In the mature stems with secondary growth, 567 genes were upregulated 5-fold or higher and 530 were downregulated, when compared to immature stems (with no secondary growth) and 10-day old seedlings (with no inflorescence stem). The transcription phenotypes obtained from the stems at different developmental stages largely confirm the existing insights into the biochemical processes involved in the sequential events that lead to wood formation. The major difference found between the stems undergoing secondary growth and only primary growth was in the expression profiles of transcriptional regulation-and signal transduction-related genes. An analysis of several shoot apical meristem (SAM) activity-related gene expression patterns in the stems indicated that the genetic control of secondary meristem activity might be governed by a different mechanism from that of SAM. The current study established the expression patterns of many unknown genes and identified candidate genes that are involved in the genetic regulation of secondary growth. The findings described in this report should improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the growth and development of the stem.

Apoptosis↗

Intratumoral collagen correlates with histological grade and patient prognosis in breast cancer.

Histological grading, using the Nottingham Grading System (NGS), is a major prognostic indicator for breast cancer. NGS involves the scoring of cancer cell-related morphological features, yet it overlooks tumor microenvironment (TME) components such as collagen. Collagen proteins, integral to the extracellular matrix (ECM), influence tumor architecture and progression but their relationship with histological grade is not fully characterized. Here, we assessed intratumoral collagen deposition using Masson Trichrome staining of whole slides (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;166), proteomic profiling (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;2) and transcriptomic analyses of the METABRIC (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;1827) and TCGA-BRCA (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;753) cohorts. We showed that low-grade tumors display significantly higher intratumoral collagen deposition compared to high-grade tumors. Moreover, we demonstrated that collagen expression at the transcript and protein levels (Masson Trichrome) could discriminate Grade II carcinomas into distinct prognostic groups, in which patients with Grade II carcinomas with elevated levels of collagen expression were associated with lower pTNM stage and better survival outcomes. Our results support the inclusion of TME features, such as collagen deposition, to enhance prognostic accuracy in breast cancer.

Humans↗

Genomics of helicobacter 2003.

Research on Helicobacter pylori has been driven by the field of genomics since the release of the first of two complete genome sequences in 1997. In this review we highlight progress made in the last year. New bioinformatics tools and methods promise better functional and strain comparative analyses of individual genes. Sequence-based methods of strain comparison documented the coevolution of H. pylori with human populations. Several comprehensive analyses of the bacterial transcriptome were undertaken as well as two sophisticated studies of the transcriptional response of specific host tissues in response to H. pylori infection using different mouse models of H. pylori diseases. Some progress was made in developing genetic tools for mutational analysis of the genes required for infection. Finally, proteomic approaches were refined to delineate surface exposed and secreted proteins that represent potential antigens. In summary, while we do not have the full story of H. pylori, significant progress in deciphering the genome into functional biology has been made.

Genetic Variation↗

Genome-wide analysis of the unfolded protein response in fibroblasts from congenital disorders of glycosylation type-I patients.

Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are a family of diseases characterized by defects of N-linked glycosylation. In CDG-I, several genetic defects cause a shortage of dolichol-linked oligosaccharides, which leads to underglycosylation of nascent glycoproteins. N-linked glycosylation is important for proper folding and trafficking of glycoproteins. Inhibition of glycosylation results in the buildup of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum, which induces a protective reaction known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). To investigate whether UPR components are induced in CDG, we have performed a transcriptome analysis of primary fibroblasts from unaffected control subjects and from CDG-I patients using oligonucleotide gene expression arrays. The stress imposed by CDG was also compared with the stress induced by tunicamycin and glucose deprivation. Whereas tunicamycin elicited a strong transcriptional response typical for the UPR, CDG fibroblasts displayed a qualitatively similar yet moderate induction of genes encoding components of the UPR. Among these genes, the PERK kinase inhibitor DNAJC3/P58(IPK) gene showed the highest induction throughout all CDG-I types tested. This was paralleled by elevated expression of genes involved in amino acid biosynthesis and transport, which defined a new component of the cellular response to glycosylation stress.

Cells, Cultured↗

Different patterns of TCR beta chain regulation following allo- and xeno-transplantation.

BACKGROUND: In the concordant hamster-to-rat cardiac xenograft model, recipients treated with cobra venom factor for the first 10 days following transplantation and daily with Cyclosporine A (CsA) do not reject their grafts. However, when CsA is withdrawn on day 40, an acute cellular rejection occurs within 4 +/- 1 days. Allografts performed in the same conditions are rejected within 18 +/- 4 days. METHODS: In this model, we have compared graft infiltrating T cells through both a quantitative (number of Vbeta transcripts) and qualitative (CDR3 length distribution) assessment of the T cell receptor (TCR) beta chain transcriptome in allo- and xeno-transplantations. RESULTS: We report striking differences in TCR usage at day 15 following allo- and xeno-transplantation as well as during rejection following CsA withdrawal. The number of Vbeta transcripts was high in both rejected allo- and xenografts. However, whereas in xenografts acute rejection occurred without skewing of Vbeta CDR3 length distribution, T cells infiltrating allografts during rejection after CsA interruption had a highly altered CDR3 length distribution pattern. In addition, using a correspondence factor analysis of the beta chain transcriptome, we show that some families can clusterize and can discriminate allo- or xeno-patterns at the level of both the number of Vbeta transcripts and the CDR3 length distribution. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that, in vivo, even in the hamster-to-rat concordant combination, the anti-xenograft T cell response is strong and will likely represent another challenge for xenotransplantation.

Animals↗

The transcriptional landscape of the mammalian genome.

This study describes comprehensive polling of transcription start and termination sites and analysis of previously unidentified full-length complementary DNAs derived from the mouse genome. We identify the 5' and 3' boundaries of 181,047 transcripts with extensive variation in transcripts arising from alternative promoter usage, splicing, and polyadenylation. There are 16,247 new mouse protein-coding transcripts, including 5154 encoding previously unidentified proteins. Genomic mapping of the transcriptome reveals transcriptional forests, with overlapping transcription on both strands, separated by deserts in which few transcripts are observed. The data provide a comprehensive platform for the comparative analysis of mammalian transcriptional regulation in differentiation and development.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Regulation of uptake hydrogenase and effects of hydrogen utilization on gene expression in Rhodopseudomonas palustris.

Rhodopseudomonas palustris is a purple, facultatively phototrophic bacterium that uses hydrogen gas as an electron donor for carbon dioxide fixation during photoautotrophic growth or for ammonia synthesis during nitrogen fixation. It also uses hydrogen as an electron supplement to enable the complete assimilation of oxidized carbon compounds, such as malate, into cell material during photoheterotrophic growth. The R. palustris genome predicts a membrane-bound nickel-iron uptake hydrogenase and several regulatory proteins to control hydrogenase synthesis. There is also a novel sensor kinase gene (RPA0981) directly adjacent to the hydrogenase gene cluster. Here we show that the R. palustris regulatory sensor hydrogenase HupUV acts in conjunction with the sensor kinase-response regulator protein pair HoxJ-HoxA to activate hydrogenase expression in response to hydrogen gas. Transcriptome analysis indicated that the HupUV-HoxJA regulatory system also controls the expression of genes encoding a predicted dicarboxylic acid transport system, a putative formate transporter, and a glutamine synthetase. RPA0981 had a small effect in repressing hydrogenase synthesis. We also determined that the two-component system RegS-RegR repressed expression of the uptake hydrogenase, probably in response to changes in intracellular redox status. Transcriptome analysis indicated that about 30 genes were differentially expressed in R. palustris cells that utilized hydrogen when growing photoheterotrophically on malate under nitrogen-fixing conditions compared to a mutant strain that lacked uptake hydrogenase. From this it appears that the recycling of reductant in the form of hydrogen does not have extensive nonspecific effects on gene expression in R. palustris.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Oxidative Stress Associated LncRNAs as Potential Biomarkers for Prognosis and Immune Responses in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients.

Long-chain non-coding RNA (lncRNA) significantly influences lung squamous cell carcinoma's (LUSC) prognostic value and immune infiltration. This study aimed to demonstrate how oxidative stress-related lncRNAs impact lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset gathered transcriptome information and related clinical data for LUSC. To build a prognostic model, 10 prognostic-related genes were identified using a series of bioinformatics analyses that compared the OS gene's aberrant expression in tumor and healthy tissues, as well as its association with malignancy. Subjects were stratified into high- and low-risk groups based on the median risk score derived from the 10-gene signature. While the mathematical risk model demonstrated limited independent predictive performance in the validation cohort (AUC ~ 0.5), functional and immunological evaluations revealed significant differences in the tumor microenvironment (TME) across risk strata. Specifically, high-risk patients exhibited distinct immune infiltration profiles and altered immunological scores relative to their low-risk counterparts. Therefore, rather than serving as a direct clinical prediction tool, this oxidative stress-related lncRNA signature provides valuable biological insights into the immune landscape of LUSC and highlights potential therapeutic targets for further mechanistic investigation.

Humans↗

Oxidative stress response in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Survival of pathogenic fungi inside human hosts depends on evasion from the host immune system and adaptation to the host environment. Among different insults that Paracoccidioides brasiliensis has to handle are reactive oxygen and nitrogen species produced by the human host cells, and by its own metabolism. Knowing how the parasite deals with reactive species is important to understand how it establishes infection and survives within humans. The initiative to describe the P. brasiliensis transcriptome fostered new approaches to study oxidative stress response in this organism. By examining genes related to oxidative stress response, one can evaluate the parasite's ability to face this condition and infer about possible ways to overcome this ability. We report the results of a search of the P. brasiliensis assembled expressed sequence tag database for homologous sequences involved in oxidative stress response. We described several genes coding proteins involved in antioxidant defense, for example, catalase and superoxide dismutase isoenzymes, peroxiredoxin, cytochrome c peroxidase, glutathione synthesis enzymes, thioredoxin, and the transcription factors Yap1 and Skn7. The transcriptome analysis of P. brasiliensis reveals a pathogen that has many resources to combat reactive species. Besides characterizing the antioxidant defense system in P. brasiliensis, we also compared the ways in which different fungi respond to oxidative damage, and we identified the basic features of this response.

Antioxidants↗

Genome assembly and annotation of the parasitoid jewel wasp Nasonia oneida.

The jewel wasp, Nasonia (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), is a well-established model system for evolutionary genetics and host-microbial interactions. Here, we present the genome of N. oneida, a species lacking prior genomic characterization, using 10&#xd7;&#x2009;Genomics linked-read (400&#xd7;&#x2009;coverage), Illumina short-read (120&#xd7;&#x2009;coverage), and transcriptome data (30&#xd7;&#x2009;coverage). The assembled genome size is 267&#x2009;Mb, comprising 4,675 scaffolds, with a scaffold N50 of 1&#x2009;Mb and 98.40% Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologues (BUSCOs) completeness score. Annotation revealed 32.29% (86.46&#x2009;Mb) of repetitive sequences and 14,221 protein-coding genes. Comparative genomics of N. oneida with 15 other hymenopteran species validated the presence of 5,939 gene families shared among them, including 3643 single-copy and 2296 multicopy gene families. This study provides the first de novo assembly of N. oneida, providing a significant addition to the growing repertoire of molecular tools for comparative genomics and functional studies to understand the evolution of closely related species as well as the evolution of parasitic wasps.

Animals↗

Spatial transcriptomic analysis of mouse parathyroid gland cells expressing an activating variant of Gcm2.

Glial cells missing 2 (GCM2) is an essential transcription factor for the development of parathyroid glands. Germline GCM2 variants that repress or enhance transcriptional activity predispose a subset of patients to hypoparathyroidism or hyperparathyroidism, respectively. A recurrent germline heterozygous activating missense variant of GCM2, p.Y394S has been identified in some patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. A genetically engineered knock-in mouse model of this variant corresponding to p.Y392S in the mouse Gcm2 gene (Gcm2 +/Y392S) did not show obvious parathyroid tumors. However, in GCM2-binding site mediated luciferase reporter assays in HEK293 cells, the mouse and the human variant both exhibited enhanced transcriptional activity. Therefore, we assessed the effect of this variant on gene expression in vivo in parathyroid glands from Gcm2 +/Y392S and WT mice. Using the 10x Genomics Visium platform, spatially resolved transcriptomic analysis was performed on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tracheal tissue sections of Gcm2 +/Y392S and WT mice to capture RNA from parathyroid glands together with other cell types in the tissue sections. Transcriptome sequence data analysis detected 8 different clusters in the tissue sections based on similarity of gene expression profiles. Cluster-1, which contained parathyroid gland cells expressing Pth and Gcm2, was further evaluated for transcripts that were differentially expressed more than 2-fold in Gcm2 +/Y392S compared to WT. Increased transcript level of Lgals3 (galectin-3) was seen in Gcm2 +/Y392S parathyroid gland cells which is among markers of parathyroid carcinoma. Galectin-3 protein was detected in available FFPE human parathyroid samples of patients with germline heterozygous activating GCM2 variants, p.Y394S (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;4/10) or p.L379Q (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;2/2). These results indicate a potential for growth and malignancy of parathyroid glands expressing GCM2 variants. The transcriptomic data of mouse parathyroid gland cells generated in this study can serve as a valuable resource for investigating genes and pathways in normal or abnormal parathyroid gland growth and physiology.

GCM2, gene↗

Genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and numbers.

OBJECTIVE: To review the advances in clinically useful molecular biologic techniques and to identify their applications in clinical practice, as presented at the 11th Annual William Beaumont Hospital DNA Symposium. DATA SOURCES: The 8 manuscripts submitted were reviewed, and their major findings were compared with literature on the same or related topics. STUDY SELECTION: Manuscripts address the use of molecular techniques in microbiology to evaluate infectious disease and epidemiology; molecular microbiology methods, including rapid-cycle real-time polymerase chain reaction; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma as a potential therapeutic target in inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer; the effect of nonapoptotic doses of the bisbenizamide dye Hoechst 33342 on luciferase expression in plasmid-transfected BC3H-1 myocytes; the routine use of cystic fibrosis screening and its challenges; and the use of flow cytometry and/or chromosomal translocation in the diagnostic evaluation of hematopoietic malignancies. DATA SYNTHESIS: Three current issues related to the use of molecular tests in clinical laboratories are (1) the restriction on introducing new tests secondary to existing patents or licenses; (2) the preanalytic variables for the different specimen types currently in use, including whole blood, plasma, serum, fresh or frozen tissues, and free-circulating DNA; and (3) the interpretation of studies evaluating the association of complex diseases with a single mutation or single-nucleotide polymorphism. Molecular methods have had a major impact on infectious disease through the rapid identification of organisms, the evaluation of outbreaks, and the characterization of drug resistance when compared with standard culture techniques. The activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma stimulated by thiazolidinedione is useful in the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus and may have value in preventing inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer. Hoechst 33342 binding to adenine-thymine-rich regions in the minor groove of DNA is a fluorescent stain for DNA and initiates apoptosis at >10 microg/mL. Lower doses of Hoechst 33342 promote luciferase expression by a mechanism that may involve binding to cryptic promoters facilitated by dye-associated misalignment of the tertiary structure of DNA. The routine use of cystic fibrosis screening is complicated by the more than 1000 mutations associated with the disease. The use of 4-color flow cytometry and the detection of chromosomal translocation are both invaluable aids in establishing the diagnosis of lymphoid or myeloid hematopoietic malignancies. CONCLUSIONS: The current postgenomic era will continue to emphasize the use of microarrays and database software for genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic screening in the search for useful clinical assays. The number of molecular pathologic techniques will expand as additional disease-associated mutations are defined.

Cystic Fibrosis↗

Immunoreactivity and differential developmental expression of known and putative Chlamydia trachomatis membrane proteins for biologically variant serovars representing distinct disease groups.

Chlamydia trachomatis is an intracellular bacterium that causes ocular and urogenital diseases worldwide. Membrane proteins have only been partially characterized, and the discovery of a nine-member polymorphic membrane protein gene family has enhanced interest in defining their function. We previously reported two putative insertion sequence-like elements in pmpC for biovariant Ba and one each for G and L2, suggesting horizontal gene transfer. Because of this and the tissue tropism differences for these biovariants, we analyzed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR pmpC expression relative to immunogenic protein genes ompA, groEL and gseA throughout development. Sera from infected adolescents were reacted by immunoblot against recombinant (r)PmpC and rMOMP. ompA and groEL revealed different developmental transcriptome profiles among the biovariants. pmpC expression occurred at 2 h, peaked at 18 for L2 (at 24 for Ba and G), with the highest mRNA levels throughout development for L2. pmpC expression as a function of time paralleled ompA expression with higher mRNA levels compared with groEL later in development. Only sera from D-, E- and G-infected patients reacted to rPmpC; all infected patients reacted to rMOMP. pmpC expression during logarithmic growth suggests a role in membrane building and/or integrity, which is supported by the presence of a signal peptidase and C-terminal phenylalanine in PmpC. Because phylogenetic analyses of pmpC segregate serovars according to tissue tropism, we speculate that biovariant transcriptome differences may contribute to this tropism. The heterogeneous biovariant pmpC expression throughout development and differential PmpC immunoreactivity also suggest a role for pmpC in antigenic variation.

Adolescent↗

Low-Grade Myofibroblastic Sarcoma Represents an Epigenetically Distinct Myofibroblastic Tumor With USP6 Upregulation and Stable Genome.

Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma (LGMS) is a rare, indolent mesenchymal neoplasm exhibiting myofibroblastic differentiation, with a propensity for local recurrence. The molecular basis of LGMS and its precise relationship with other histological mimics have remained largely undefined. To address this gap, we conducted the first comprehensive multiomics analysis of 6 LGMS cases, integrating whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and Illumina Methylation EPICv2 array profiling with comparative analysis against public sarcoma methylation cohorts and related fibroblastic tumors. Clinically, patients (median age 35.5 years) presented with small tumors (median size 1.45 cm), predominantly located in the head and neck, displaying classic histological features of diffusely infiltrative spindle cell fascicles with patchy mononuclear inflammation. Two of the 5 patients with follow-up developed local recurrence, and none metastasized (median follow-up duration 92.5 months). Genomically, all LGMS exhibited a low tumor mutational burden (median 2.31 mut/Mb) and a minimal fraction of genome altered, with TP53 and TSC2 deletions and NTRK1 and ERBB3 amplifications found in a subset of cases. No pathogenic fusions were detected. Transcriptomic profiling revealed a distinct signature featuring prominent USP6 overexpression and upregulation of inflammatory and immune-related genes, including CD274 (PD-L1), and enrichment of inflammatory and interferon-gamma response signatures. Epigenetically, LGMS formed a unique methylation cluster closest to inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, with numerous differentially methylated regions and higher immune infiltration, particularly monocytes, compared with other fibroblastic tumors. These findings establish LGMS as a genomically stable, epigenetically distinct myofibroblastic sarcoma driven by USP6 overexpression and an inflammation-enriched transcriptome. They support its recognition as a standalone entity, facilitate integration into methylation-based sarcoma classifiers for improved diagnostic precision, and nominate USP6-associated pathways and immune checkpoint blockade as promising therapeutic strategies for recurrent or unresectable disease.

Humans↗

Assessment of two methods for handling blood in collection tubes with RNA stabilizing agent for surveillance of gene expression profiles with high density microarrays.

Genome-wide expression studies of human blood samples in the context of epidemiologic surveillance are confronted by numerous challenges-one of the foremost being the capability to produce reliable detection of transcript levels. This led us to consider the Paxgene Blood RNA System, which consists of a stabilizing additive in an evacuated blood collection tube (PAX tube) and a sample processing kit (PAX kit). The PAX tube contains a solution that inhibits RNA degradation and gene induction as blood is drawn into the tube. The stability of RNA in PAX tubes under conditions for practical clinical applications has been determined by RT-PCR, but has not been assessed at the transcriptome level on Affymetrix microarrays. Here, we report a quality assured and controlled protocol that is capable of producing reliable gene expression profiles using the GeneChip system with RNA isolated from PAX tubes. Using this protocol, we compared quality metrics and gene-expression profiles of RNA, extracted from blood in PAX tubes that sat at room temperature for 2 h, with that of blood in PAX tubes incubated at room temperature for 9 h followed by storage at -20 degrees C for 6 days. Of numerous metrics, differences between the two handling methods were detected for the level of DNA contamination, RNA yield, and double stranded cDNA yield. Analysis of variance of gene-expression revealed small but significant differences between the handling methods. These results contribute to the determination of protocols for clinical studies and progress us towards the goal of using the transcriptome in diagnosis and surveillance.

Blood Specimen Collection↗

EST analysis of cDNA libraries from the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria (Cordyceps) bassiana. I. Evidence for stage-specific gene expression in aerial conidia, in vitro blastospores and submerged conidia.

The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria (Cordyceps) bassiana holds much promise as a pest biological control agent. B. bassiana produces at least three in vitro single cell infectious propagules, including aerial conidia, vegetative cells termed blastospores and submerged conidia, that display different morphological, biochemical and virulence properties. Populations of aerial conidia, blastospores and submerged conidia were produced on agar plates, rich liquid broth cultures and under conditions of nutrient limitation in submerged cultures, respectively. cDNA libraries were generated from mRNA isolated from each B. bassiana cell type and approximately 2,500 5' end sequences were determined from each library. Sequences derived from aerial conidia clustered into 284 contigs and 963 singlets, with those derived from blastospores and submerged conidia forming 327 contigs with 788 singlets, and 303 contigs and 1,079 contigs, respectively. Almost half (40-45 %) of the sequences in each library displayed either no significant similarity (e value >10(-4)) or similarity to hypothetical proteins found in the NCBI database. The expressed sequence tag dataset also included sequences representing a significant portion of proteins in cellular metabolism, information storage and processing, transport and cell processes, including cell division and posttranslational modifications. Transcripts encoding a diverse array of pathogenicity-related genes, including proteases, lipases, esterases, phosphatases and enzymes producing toxic secondary metabolites, were also identified. Comparative analysis between the libraries identified 2,416 unique sequences, of which 20-30 % were unique to each library, and only approximately 6 % of the sequences were shared between all three libraries. The unique and divergent representation of the B. bassiana transcriptome in the cDNA libraries from each cell type suggests robust differential gene expression profiles in response to environmental conditions.

Animals↗

Dynamic allelic expression in mouse mammary glands across the adult developmental cycle.

The mammary gland, which primarily develops postnatally, undergoes significant changes during pregnancy and lactation to facilitate milk production. Through the generation and analysis of 480 transcriptomes, we provide the most detailed allelic expression map of the mammary gland, cataloguing cell-type-specific expression from ex-vivo&#xa0;purified cell populations over 10 developmental stages, enabling comparative analysis. The work identifies genes involved in the mammary gland cycle, parental-origin-specific and genetic background-specific expression at cellular and temporal resolution, genes associated with human lactation disorders and breast cancer. Genomic imprinting, a mechanism regulating gene expression based on parental origin, is crucial for controlling gene dosage and stem cell potential throughout development. The analysis identified 25 imprinted genes monoallelically expressed in the mammary gland, with several showing allele-specific expression in distinct cell types. No novel imprinted genes were identified and the absence of biallelically expressed imprinted genes suggests that, unlike in brain, selective absence of imprinting does not regulate gene dosage in the mammary gland. This research highlights transcriptional dynamics within mammary gland cells and identifies novel candidate genes potentially significant in the tissue during pregnancy and lactation. Overall, this comprehensive atlas represents a valuable resource for future studies on expression and transcriptional dynamics in mammary cells.

Animals↗