scholarly journals Microbiome responses in a novel nematode defensive symbiosis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dylan Dahan ◽  
Gail M. Preston ◽  
Jordan Sealey ◽  
Kayla C. King
Keyword(s):  
Species Interactions ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Protective Properties ◽  
Minimal Impact ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Defensive Symbiosis ◽  
Micro Organisms ◽  
Microbiota Diversity

Abstract Background Bacteria adapted to live within animals can protect their hosts against harmful infections. Beyond antagonism with parasites, a ‘defensive’ bacterial symbiont could engage in additional interactions with other colonizing micro-organisms. A single bacterium might thus have cascading ecological impacts on the whole microbiome that are rarely investigated. Here, we assess the role of a symbiont as a driver of host-associated microbiota composition by using an experimentally-adapted bacterium with protective properties ( Enterococcus faecalis ) inside a nematode host model ( Caenorhabditis elegans ).Results An analysis of 16S rRNA data from C. elegans exposed to E. faecalis and subsequently reared in soil, reveal that E. faecalis presence and adaptation to host environment had minimal impact on microbiota diversity. In addition, the protective effects of E. faecalis against opportunistic Staphylococcus aureus pathogens were still maintained despite multi-species interactions within the microbiota.Conclusions Our results reveal the degree to which a novel, evolving symbiont can colonise and maintain its conferred phenotype (i.e., parasite-resistance) with minimal change to the host microbiome.

scholarly journals Impacts of a novel defensive symbiosis on the nematode host microbiome

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dylan Dahan ◽  
Gail M. Preston ◽  
Jordan Sealey ◽  
Kayla C. King
Keyword(s):  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Pathogen Resistance ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Minimal Impact ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Micro Organisms ◽  
Microbiota Diversity

Abstract Background: Bacteria adapted to live within animals can protect their hosts against harmful infections. Beyond antagonism with pathogens, a ‘defensive’ bacterial symbiont could engage in additional interactions with other colonizing micro-organisms. A single bacterium might thus have cascading ecological impacts on the whole microbiome that are rarely investigated. Here, we assess the role of a defensive symbiont as a driver of host-associated microbiota composition by using a bacterial species (Enterococcus faecalis) that was previously experimentally adapted (Enterococcus faecalis) to a nematode host model (Caenorhabditis elegans). Results: An analysis of 16S rRNA data from C. elegans exposed to E. faecalis and subsequently reared in soil, reveal that symbiont adaptation to host environment or its protective potential had minimal impact on microbiota diversity. Whilst the abundance of Pseudomonas was higher in the microbiota of hosts with protective E.faecalis (and another protective species tested), three other genera – Serratia, Klebsiella and Salinispora – were less abundant in hosts colonized by all E. faecalis strains. In addition, the protective effect of E. faecalis against opportunistic Staphylococcus aureus pathogens was maintained despite multi-species interactions within the microbiota. Conclusions: Our results reveal the degree to which a new, evolving symbiont can colonise and maintain its conferred phenotype (i.e., pathogen-resistance) with minimal disruption to the host microbiota diversity.

scholarly journals Impacts of a novel defensive symbiosis on the nematode host microbiome

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dylan Dahan ◽  
Gail M. Preston ◽  
Jordan Sealey ◽  
Kayla C. King
Keyword(s):  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Pathogen Resistance ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Minimal Impact ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Micro Organisms ◽  
Microbiota Diversity

Abstract Background: Bacteria adapted to live within animals can protect their hosts against harmful infections. Beyond antagonism with pathogens, a ‘defensive’ bacterial symbiont could engage in additional interactions with other colonizing micro-organisms. A single bacterium might thus have cascading ecological impacts on the whole microbiome that are rarely investigated. Here, we assess the role of a defensive symbiont as a driver of host-associated microbiota composition by using a bacterial species ( Enterococcus faecalis ) that was previously experimentally adapted ( Enterococcus faecalis ) to a nematode host model ( Caenorhabditis elegans ). Results: An analysis of 16S rRNA data from C. elegans exposed to E. faecalis and subsequently reared in soil, reveal that symbiont adaptation to host environment or its protective potential had minimal impact on microbiota diversity. Whilst the abundance of Pseudomonas was higher in the microbiota of hosts with protective E.faecalis (and another protective species tested), three other genera – Serratia, Klebsiella and Salinispora – were less abundant in hosts colonized by all E. faecalis strains. In addition, the protective effect of E. faecalis against opportunistic Staphylococcus aureus pathogens was maintained despite multi-species interactions within the microbiota. Conclusions: Our results reveal the degree to which a new, evolving symbiont can colonise and maintain its conferred phenotype (i.e., pathogen-resistance) with minimal disruption to the host microbiota diversity.

How do histone modifications contribute to transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in C. elegans?

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 1019-1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel M. Woodhouse ◽  
Alyson Ashe
Keyword(s):  
Histone Modifications ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Histone Methyltransferases ◽  
Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Gene Regulatory

Gene regulatory information can be inherited between generations in a phenomenon termed transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI). While examples of TEI in many animals accumulate, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has proven particularly useful in investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon. In C. elegans and other animals, the modification of histone proteins has emerged as a potential carrier and effector of transgenerational epigenetic information. In this review, we explore the contribution of histone modifications to TEI in C. elegans. We describe the role of repressive histone marks, histone methyltransferases, and associated chromatin factors in heritable gene silencing, and discuss recent developments and unanswered questions in how these factors integrate with other known TEI mechanisms. We also review the transgenerational effects of the manipulation of histone modifications on germline health and longevity.

Centrosome Aurora A gradient ensures single polarity axis in C. elegans embryos

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 1243-1253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukriti Kapoor ◽  
Sachin Kotak
Keyword(s):  
Symmetry Breaking ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Cell Cortex ◽  
Axis Formation ◽  
Aurora A Kinase ◽  
Aurora A ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Cell Embryo ◽  
Polarity Establishment

Cellular asymmetries are vital for generating cell fate diversity during development and in stem cells. In the newly fertilized Caenorhabditis elegans embryo, centrosomes are responsible for polarity establishment, i.e. anterior–posterior body axis formation. The signal for polarity originates from the centrosomes and is transmitted to the cell cortex, where it disassembles the actomyosin network. This event leads to symmetry breaking and the establishment of distinct domains of evolutionarily conserved PAR proteins. However, the identity of an essential component that localizes to the centrosomes and promotes symmetry breaking was unknown. Recent work has uncovered that the loss of Aurora A kinase (AIR-1 in C. elegans and hereafter referred to as Aurora A) in the one-cell embryo disrupts stereotypical actomyosin-based cortical flows that occur at the time of polarity establishment. This misregulation of actomyosin flow dynamics results in the occurrence of two polarity axes. Notably, the role of Aurora A in ensuring a single polarity axis is independent of its well-established function in centrosome maturation. The mechanism by which Aurora A directs symmetry breaking is likely through direct regulation of Rho-dependent contractility. In this mini-review, we will discuss the unconventional role of Aurora A kinase in polarity establishment in C. elegans embryos and propose a refined model of centrosome-dependent symmetry breaking.

The role of intracanal medicaments in inhibition of bacteria isolated from root canals of infected primary molars

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Dr. Maha Abdul- Kareem Mahmood ◽  
Dr. Huda Elias Ali ◽  
Dr. Haraa Khairi Abdul-Kadher
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Streptococcus Mutans ◽  
Normal Saline ◽  
Root Canal ◽  
Primary Teeth ◽  
Primary Molars ◽  
Root Canals ◽  
Etiologic Agents ◽  
Micro Organisms

Microbes are considered as the primary etiologic agents in endodontic diseases.Disinfection of the root canal is obtained by the combined effect of biomechanicalpreparation, irrigation and intra canal medicament. The aim of the present study wasto assess the antimicrobial activity of intracanal medicaments (formocresol andEndosepton) against two micro organisms (Streptococcus mutans and staphylococcusaureus) isolated from 15 necrotic pulps of primary molars indicated for pulpectomyprocedure. The samples were cultured, and purified using microbiological evaluation.Broth dilution test was performed in our study by preparing test tubes containing10 ml of BHI broth (pH. 7) which then inoculated with strains of the tested bacteriaand incubated at 37 C° for 24 h. After over night incubaction, ten fold dilution weremade in test tubes containing 9 ml of normal saline by adding 1 ml of the inoculum tothe first tube . Then from dilution 10-1 , 0.1 ml of cell suspension was added to 9.9 mlof formocresol and endosepton, then 0.1 ml was taken and spread on duplicates ofBHI agar plates at different intervals and incubated aerobically for 24 h. at 37 C°.Colonies on the plates were counted after incubation and CFU/mL (colony formingunit) was calculated. Our results indicating that there were no significant differencesbetween the intracanal medicaments, but there were high significant differencesbetween the intervals time of the study. We concluded that both materials had greatantibacterial effect against the pathogens commonly isolated from necrotic pulpaltissue of primary teeth.

Effects of High Intensity Statin Therapy in the Treatment of Diabetic Dyslipidemia in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marija Vavlukis ◽  
Sasko Kedev
Keyword(s):  
Statin Therapy ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Incident Diabetes ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Pcsk9 Inhibitors ◽  
Diabetic Dyslipidemia ◽  
Patients With Diabetes

Background: Diabetic dyslipidemia has specifics that differ from dyslipidemia in patients without diabetes, which contributes to accelerated atherosclerosis equally as dysglycemia. The aim of this study was to deduce the interdependence of diabetic dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), therapeutic strategies and the risk of diabetes development with statin therapy. Method: We conducted a literature review of English articles through PubMed, PubMed Central and Cochrane, on the role of diabetic dyslipidemia in atherosclerosis, the antilipemic treatment with statins, and the role of statin therapy in newly developed diabetes, by using key words: atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, diabetic dyslipidemia, CVD, statins, nicotinic acid, fibrates, PCSK9 inhibitors. Results: hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia cannot be treated separately in patients with diabetes. It seems that dyslipidemia plays one of the key roles in the development of atherosclerosis. High levels of TG, decreased levels of HDL-C and increased levels of small dense LDL- C particles in the systemic circulation are the most specific attributes of diabetic dyslipidemia, all of which originate from an inflated flux of free fatty acids occurring due to the preceding resistance to insulin, and exacerbated by elevated levels of inflammatory adipokines. Statins are a fundamental treatment for diabetic dyslipidemia, both for dyslipidemia and for CVD prevention. The use of statin treatment with high intensity is endorsed for all diabetes-and-CVD patients, while a moderate - intensity treatment can be applied to patients with diabetes, having additional risk factors for CVD. Statins alone are thought to possess a small, although of statistical significance, risk of incident diabetes, outweighed by their benefits. Conclusion: As important as hyperglycemia and glycoregulation are in CVD development in patients with diabetes, diabetic dyslipidemia plays an even more important role. Statins remain the cornerstone of antilipemic treatment in diabetic dyslipidemia, and their protective effects in CVD progression overcome the risk of statin- associated incident diabetes.

Anti-toxicant Properties of Saffron and Relevance to Protection from Toxins and Drugs

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-283
Author(s):  
Kyriaki Hatziagapiou ◽  
George I. Lambrou
Keyword(s):  
Redox Reactions ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Reactive Oxygen ◽  
Crocus Sativus ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Nitrogen Species ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Crocus Sativus L

Background: Reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species, which are collectively called reactive oxygen nitrogen species, are inevitable by-products of cellular metabolic redox reactions, such as oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, phagocytosis, reactions of biotransformation of exogenous and endogenous substrata in endoplasmic reticulum, eicosanoid synthesis, and redox reactions in the presence of metal with variable valence. Among medicinal plants there is a growing interest in Crocus sativus L. It is a perennial, stemless herb, belonging to Iridaceae family, cultivated in various countries such as Greece, Italy, Spain, Israel, Morocco, Turkey, Iran, India, China, Egypt and Mexico. Objective: The present study aims to address the anti-toxicant role of Crocus sativus L. in the cases of toxin and drug toxification. Materials and Methods: An electronic literature search was conducted by the two authors from 1993 to August 2017. Original articles and systematic reviews (with or without meta-analysis), as well as case reports were selected. Titles and abstracts of papers were screened by a third reviewer to determine whether they met the eligibility criteria, and full texts of the selected articles were retrieved. Results: The authors focused on literature concerning the role of Crocus Sativus L. as an anti-toxicant agent. Literature review showed that Saffron is a potent anti-toxicant agent with a plethora of applications ranging from anti-oxidant properties, to chemotherapy protective effects. Conclusion: Literature findings represented in current review herald promising results for using Crocus Sativus L. and/or its active constituents as anti-toxicant, chemotherapy-induced protection and toxin protection.

scholarly journals Characterization of Caenorhabditis elegans Homologs of the Down Syndrome Candidate Gene DYRK1A

Genetics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 163 (2) ◽  
pp. 571-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
William B Raich ◽  
Celine Moorman ◽  
Clay O Lacefield ◽  
Jonah Lehrer ◽  
Dusan Bartsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Trisomy 21 ◽  
Gene Dosage ◽  
Inducible Promoters ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Dual Specificity ◽  
Specificity Protein

Abstract The pathology of trisomy 21/Down syndrome includes cognitive and memory deficits. Increased expression of the dual-specificity protein kinase DYRK1A kinase (DYRK1A) appears to play a significant role in the neuropathology of Down syndrome. To shed light on the cellular role of DYRK1A and related genes we identified three DYRK/minibrain-like genes in the genome sequence of Caenorhabditis elegans, termed mbk-1, mbk-2, and hpk-1. We found these genes to be widely expressed and to localize to distinct subcellular compartments. We isolated deletion alleles in all three genes and show that loss of mbk-1, the gene most closely related to DYRK1A, causes no obvious defects, while another gene, mbk-2, is essential for viability. The overexpression of DYRK1A in Down syndrome led us to examine the effects of overexpression of its C. elegans ortholog mbk-1. We found that animals containing additional copies of the mbk-1 gene display behavioral defects in chemotaxis toward volatile chemoattractants and that the extent of these defects correlates with mbk-1 gene dosage. Using tissue-specific and inducible promoters, we show that additional copies of mbk-1 can impair olfaction cell-autonomously in mature, fully differentiated neurons and that this impairment is reversible. Our results suggest that increased gene dosage of human DYRK1A in trisomy 21 may disrupt the function of fully differentiated neurons and that this disruption is reversible.

scholarly journals Role of endocannabinoid CB1 receptors in Streptozotocin-induced uninephrectomised Wistar rats in diabetic nephropathy

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayarami Reddy Medapati ◽  
Deepthi Rapaka ◽  
Veera Raghavulu Bitra ◽  
Santhosh Kumar Ranajit ◽  
Girija Sankar Guntuku ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Nephropathy ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Beta ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Cb1 Receptors ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Renal Hypertrophy ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha

Abstract Background The endocannabinoid CB1 receptor is known to have protective effects in kidney disease. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the potential agonistic and antagonistic actions and to determine the renoprotective potential of CB1 receptors in diabetic nephropathy. The present work investigates the possible role of CB1 receptors in the pathogenesis of diabetes-induced nephropathy. Streptozotocin (STZ) (55 mg/kg, i.p., once) is administered to uninephrectomised rats for induction of experimental diabetes mellitus. The CB1 agonist (oleamide) and CB1 antagonist (AM6545) treatment were initiated in diabetic rats after 1 week of STZ administration and were given for 24 weeks. Results The progress in diabetic nephropathy is estimated biochemically by measuring serum creatinine (1.28±0.03) (p < 0.005), blood urea nitrogen (67.6± 2.10) (p < 0.001), urinary microprotein (74.62± 3.47) (p < 0.005) and urinary albuminuria (28.31±1.17) (p < 0.0001). Renal inflammation was assessed by estimating serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (75.69±1.51) (p < 0.001) and transforming growth factor beta (8.73±0.31) (p < 0.001). Renal morphological changes were assessed by estimating renal hypertrophy (7.38± 0.26) (p < 0.005) and renal collagen content (10.42± 0.48) (p < 0.001). Conclusions From the above findings, it can be said that diabetes-induced nephropathy may be associated with overexpression of CB1 receptors and blockade of CB1 receptors might be beneficial in ameliorating the diabetes-induced nephropathy. Graphical abstract

scholarly journals Syndecan Transmembrane Domain Specifically Regulates Downstream Signaling Events of the Transmembrane Receptor Cytoplasmic Domain

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 7918
Author(s):  
Jisun Hwang ◽  
Bohee Jang ◽  
Ayoung Kim ◽  
Yejin Lee ◽  
Joonha Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Cytoplasmic Domain ◽  
Nih3t3 Cells ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Downstream Signaling ◽  
Downstream Effectors ◽  
Signaling Events

Despite the known importance of the transmembrane domain (TMD) of syndecan receptors in cell adhesion and signaling, the molecular basis for syndecan TMD function remains unknown. Using in vivo invertebrate models, we found that mammalian syndecan-2 rescued both the guidance defects in C. elegans hermaphrodite-specific neurons and the impaired development of the midline axons of Drosophila caused by the loss of endogenous syndecan. These compensatory effects, however, were reduced significantly when syndecan-2 dimerization-defective TMD mutants were introduced. To further investigate the role of the TMD, we generated a chimera, 2eTPC, comprising the TMD of syndecan-2 linked to the cytoplasmic domain of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR). This chimera exhibited SDS-resistant dimer formation that was lost in the corresponding dimerization-defective syndecan-2 TMD mutant, 2eT(GL)PC. Moreover, 2eTPC specifically enhanced Tyr 579 and Tyr 857 phosphorylation in the PDGFR cytoplasmic domain, while the TMD mutant failed to support such phosphorylation. Finally, 2eTPC, but not 2eT(GL)PC, induced phosphorylation of Src and PI3 kinase (known downstream effectors of Tyr 579 phosphorylation) and promoted Src-mediated migration of NIH3T3 cells. Taken together, these data suggest that the TMD of a syndecan-2 specifically regulates receptor cytoplasmic domain function and subsequent downstream signaling events controlling cell behavior.

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