scholarly journals Merozoite Proteins Discovered by qRT-PCR-Based Transcriptome Screening of Plasmodium falciparum

Author(s):  
Nan Hou ◽  
Shanshan Li ◽  
Ning Jiang ◽  
Xianyu Piao ◽  
Yu Ma ◽  
...  

The development of malaria vaccines and medicines depends on the discovery of novel malaria protein targets, but the functions of more than 40% of P. falciparum genes remain unknown. Asexual parasites are the critical stage that leads to serious clinical symptoms and that can be modulated by malaria treatments and vaccines. To identify critical genes involved in the development of Plasmodium parasites within erythrocytes, the expression profile of more than 5,000 genes distributed across the 14 chromosomes of the PF3D7 strain during its six critical developmental stages (merozoite, early-ring, late-ring, early trophozoite, late-trophozoite, and middle-schizont) was evaluated. Hence, a qRT-PCR-based transcriptome of the erythrocytic developmental process of P. falciparum was revealed. Weighted gene coexpression network analyses revealed that a large number of genes are upregulated during the merozoite release process. Further gene ontology analysis revealed that a cluster of genes is associated with merozoite and may be apical complex components. Among these genes, 135 were comprised within chromosome 14, and 80% of them were previously unknown in functions. Western blot and immunofluorescence assays using newly developed corresponding antibodies showed that some of these newly discovered proteins are highly expressed in merozoites. Further invasion inhibition assays revealed that specific antibodies against several novel merozoite proteins can interfere with parasite invasion. Taken together, our study provides a developmental transcriptome of the asexual parasites of P. falciparum and identifies a group of previously unknown merozoite proteins that may play important roles in the process of merozoite invasion.

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 3278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhineng Li ◽  
Yingjie Jiang ◽  
Daofeng Liu ◽  
Jing Ma ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
...  

Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) is a well-known traditional fragrant plant and a winter-flowering deciduous shrub that originated in China. The five different developmental stages of wintersweet, namely, flower-bud period (FB), displayed petal stage (DP), open flower stage (OF), later blooming period (LB), and wilting period (WP) were studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to determine the distribution characteristics of aroma-emitting nectaries. Results showed that the floral scent was probably emitted from nectaries distributed on the adaxial side of the innermost and middle petals, but almost none on the abaxial side. The nectaries in different developmental periods on the petals differ in numbers, sizes, and characteristics. Although the distribution of nectaries on different rounds of petals showed a diverse pattern at the same developmental periods, that of the nectaries on the same round of petals showed some of regularity. The nectary is concentrated on the adaxial side of the petals, especially in the region near the axis of the lower part of the petals. Based on transcriptional sequence and phylogenetic analysis, we report one nectary development related gene CpCRC (CRABS CLAW), and the other four YABBY family genes, CpFIL (FILAMENTOUS FLOWER), CpYABBY2, CpYABBY5-1, and CpYABBY5-2 in C. praecox (accession no. MH718960-MH718964). Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) results showed that the expression characteristics of these YABBY family genes were similar to those of 11 floral scent genes, namely, CpSAMT, CpDMAPP, CpIPP, CpGPPS1, CpGPPS2, CpGPP, CpLIS, CpMYR1, CpFPPS, CpTER3, and CpTER5. The expression levels of these genes were generally higher in the lower part of the petals than in the upper halves in different rounds of petals, the highest being in the innermost petals, but the lowest in the outer petals. Relative expression level of CpFIL, CpCRC, CpYABBY5-1, and CpLIS in the innermost and middle petals in OF stages is significant higher than that of in outer petals, respectively. SEM and qRT-PCR results in C. praecox showed that floral scent emission is related to the distribution of nectaries.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Graham ◽  
Kay Smith ◽  
Katrin MacKenzie ◽  
Linda Milne ◽  
Nikki Jennings ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The changing climate is altering timing of key fruit ripening processes and increasing the occurrence of fruit defects. This work aimed to expand our knowledge of the genetic control of the ripening process in raspberry by examining a biennial x primocane F1 population to determine if the progeny exhibited both primocane and biennial flowering modes, which if any was dominant, and to identify QTL and genome locations associated with fruit development to understand how developmental control in this population differs from a biennial x biennial F1 population previously studied. Results The progeny from this biennial x primocane population exhibited primocane fruiting completing their lifecycle in a single season and also fruiting on second-year wood not removed in season one. QTL associated with rate of fruit development were identified on both primocane and fruiting canes with both parents impacting. Conclusions Novel QTL associated with the developmental process of primocane fruiting were identified. These in the main, differed from developmental QTL for similar developmental stages on fruiting canes (second year canes) with only one significant overlap on linkage group 6. In general, the process of development on fruiting canes overall differed from that in a biennial x biennial population, with the differences being greatest on linkage groups 3 and 6 suggesting control of development differs in the different fruiting types. Further understanding will be achieved by examining genome regions linked to QTL to allow breeding to meet climate requirements for yield stability.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Wenkun Li ◽  
Qian Li ◽  
Jiang Ge ◽  
Yun Wang ◽  
Nanshan Li ◽  
...  

DNA proficient mismatch repair colon cancer (pMMR CC) is the most common subtype of sporadic CC. We aimed to investigate the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in pMMR CC carcinogenesis. In the present study, we conducted transcriptomic analysis of lncRNAs-mRNAs in five low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN), five high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN), four pMMR CC, and five normal control (NC) tissues. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment pathway, and coexpression network analyses were performed to elucidate the functions of lncRNAs and mRNAs as well as their interactions. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to validate five dysregulated lncRNAs in a large set of colon tissues. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to evaluate the performance of the candidate lncRNAs. A set of 5783 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 4483 differentially expressed mRNAs were detected among the LGIN, HGIN, pMMR CC, and NC samples. These differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs were assigned to 275 significant GO terms and 179 significant KEGG enriched pathways. qRT-PCR confirmed that the expression of five selected lncRNAs (ENST00000521815, ENST00000603052, ENST00000609220, NR_026543, and ENST00000545920) were consistent with the microarray data. ROC analysis showed that four lncRNAs (ENST00000521815, ENST00000603052, ENST00000609220, and NR_026543) had larger area under the ROC curve (AUC) values compared to serum carcinoembryonic antigens, thereby distinguishing NC from pMMR CC. In conclusion, several lncRNAs play various roles in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence and may serve as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of pMMR CC.


mSphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Poppy C. S. Sephton-Clark ◽  
Jose F. Muñoz ◽  
Elizabeth R. Ballou ◽  
Christina A. Cuomo ◽  
Kerstin Voelz

ABSTRACTRhizopus delemaris an invasive fungal pathogen responsible for the frequently fatal disease mucormycosis. Germination, a crucial mechanism by which infectious spores ofRhizopus delemarcause disease, is a key developmental process that transforms the dormant spore state into a vegetative one. The molecular mechanisms that underpin this transformation may be key to controlling mucormycosis; however, the regulation of germination remains poorly understood. This study describes the phenotypic and transcriptional changes that take place over the course of germination. This process is characterized by four distinct stages: dormancy, isotropic swelling, germ tube emergence, and hyphal growth. Dormant spores are shown to be transcriptionally unique, expressing a subset of transcripts absent in later developmental stages. A large shift in the expression profile is prompted by the initiation of germination, with genes involved in respiration, chitin, cytoskeleton, and actin regulation appearing to be important for this transition. A period of transcriptional consistency can be seen throughout isotropic swelling, before the transcriptional landscape shifts again at the onset of hyphal growth. This study provides a greater understanding of the regulation of germination and highlights processes involved in transformingRhizopus delemarfrom a single-cellular to multicellular organism.IMPORTANCEGermination is key to the growth of many organisms, including fungal spores. Mucormycete spores exist abundantly within the environment and germinate to form hyphae. These spores are capable of infecting immunocompromised individuals, causing the disease mucormycosis. Germination from spore to hyphae within patients leads to angioinvasion, tissue necrosis, and often fatal infections. This study advances our understanding of how spore germination occurs in the mucormycetes, identifying processes we may be able to inhibit to help prevent or treat mucormycosis.


2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (23) ◽  
pp. 8114-8126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Southey-Pillig ◽  
David G. Davies ◽  
Karin Sauer

ABSTRACT Phenotypic and genetic evidence supporting the notion of biofilm formation as a developmental process is growing. In the present work, we provide additional support for this hypothesis by identifying the onset of accumulation of biofilm-stage specific proteins during Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm maturation and by tracking the abundance of these proteins in planktonic and three biofilm developmental stages. The onset of protein production was found to correlate with the progression of biofilms in developmental stages. Protein identification revealed that proteins with similar function grouped within similar protein abundance patterns. Metabolic and housekeeping proteins were found to group within a pattern separate from virulence, antibiotic resistance, and quorum-sensing-related proteins. The latter were produced in a progressive manner, indicating that attendant features that are characteristic of biofilms such as antibiotic resistance and virulence may be part of the biofilm developmental process. Mutations in genes for selected proteins from several protein production patterns were made, and the impact of these mutations on biofilm development was evaluated. The proteins cytochrome c oxidase, a probable chemotaxis transducer, a two-component response regulator, and MexH were produced only in mature and late-stage biofilms. Mutations in the genes encoding these proteins did not confer defects in growth, initial attachment, early biofilm formation, or twitching motility but were observed to arrest biofilm development at the stage of cell cluster formation we call the maturation-1 stage. The results indicated that expression of theses genes was required for the progression of biofilms into three-dimensional structures on abiotic surfaces and the completion of the biofilm developmental cycle. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis confirmed the detectable change in expression of the respective genes ccoO, PA4101, and PA4208. We propose a possible mechanism for the role of these biofilm-specific proteins in biofilm formation.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerardo Carrera-Castaño ◽  
Julián Calleja-Cabrera ◽  
Mónica Pernas ◽  
Luis Gómez ◽  
Luis Oñate-Sánchez

The ability of a seed to germinate and establish a plant at the right time of year is of vital importance from an ecological and economical point of view. Due to the fragility of these early growth stages, their swiftness and robustness will impact later developmental stages and crop yield. These traits are modulated by a continuous interaction between the genetic makeup of the plant and the environment from seed production to germination stages. In this review, we have summarized the established knowledge on the control of seed germination from a molecular and a genetic perspective. This serves as a “backbone” to integrate the latest developments in the field. These include the link of germination to events occurring in the mother plant influenced by the environment, the impact of changes in the chromatin landscape, the discovery of new players and new insights related to well-known master regulators. Finally, results from recent studies on hormone transport, signaling, and biophysical and mechanical tissue properties are underscoring the relevance of tissue-specific regulation and the interplay of signals in this crucial developmental process.


2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (7) ◽  
pp. 2325-2335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magee Allegrucci ◽  
F. Z. Hu ◽  
K. Shen ◽  
J. Hayes ◽  
Garth D. Ehrlich ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Streptococcus pneumoniae is among the most common pathogens associated with chronic otitis media with effusion, which has been hypothesized to be a biofilm disease. S. pneumoniae has been shown to form biofilms, however, little is known about the developmental process, the architecture, and the changes that occur upon biofilm development. In the current study we made use of a continuous-culture biofilm system to characterize biofilm development of 14 different S. pneumoniae strains representing at least 10 unique serotypes. The biofilm development process was found to occur in three distinct stages, including initial attachment, cluster formation, and biofilm maturation. While all 14 pneumococcal strains displayed similar developmental stages, the mature biofilm architecture differed significantly among the serotypes tested. Overall, three biofilm architectural groups were detected based on biomass, biofilm thickness, and cluster size. The biofilm viable cell counts and total protein concentration increased steadily over the course of biofilm development, reaching ∼8 × 108 cells and ∼15 mg of protein per biofilm after 9 days of biofilm growth. Proteomic analysis confirmed the presence of distinct biofilm developmental stages by the detection of multiple phenotypes over the course of biofilm development. The biofilm development process was found to correlate not only with differential production of proteins but also with a dramatic increase in the number of detectable proteins, indicating that biofilm formation by S. pneumoniae may be a far more complex process than previously anticipated. Protein identification revealed that proteins involved in virulence, adhesion, and resistance were more abundant under biofilm growth conditions. A possible role of the identified proteins in biofilm formation is discussed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Tan ◽  
X.-R. Zhou ◽  
B.-P. Pang

AbstractQuantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) has been used extensively to analyze gene expression and decipher gene function. To obtain the optimal and stable normalization factors for qRT-PCR, selection and validation of reference genes should be conducted in diverse conditions. In insects, more and more studies confirmed the necessity and importance of reference gene selection. In this study, eight traditionally used reference genes in Galeruca daurica (Joannis) were assessed, using qRT-PCR, for suitability as normalization genes under different experimental conditions using four statistical programs: geNorm, Normfinder, BestKeeper and the comparative ΔCt method. The genes were ranked from the most stable to the least stable using RefFinder. The optimal suite of recommended reference genes was as follows: succinate dehydrogenase (SDHA) and tubulin-alpha (TUB-α) for temperature-treated larvae; ribosomal protein L32, SDHA and glutathione S-transferase were best for all developmental stages; ACT and TUB-α for male and female adults; SDHA and TUB-α were relatively stable and expressed in different tissues, both diapause and non-diapause adults. Reference gene evaluation was validated using expression of two target genes: the P450 CYP6 gene and the heat shock protein gene Hsp70. These results confirm the importance of custom reference gene selection when studies are conducted under diverse experimental conditions. A standardized qRT-PCR analysis procedure for gene functional studies is provided that could be useful in studies on other insect species.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Afsoon Afshari ◽  
Ramin Yaghobi ◽  
Mohammad hossin Karimi ◽  
Jvad Mowla

Abstract Background: HCC can lead to liver failure, rendering liver transplant. Since miRNAs can receive early evaluation before clinical symptoms are manifested, they might be detected as biomarkers of several disorders. Therefore, in the present study, alterations in miRNAs as biomarkers were detected in LT patients with HCC.Methods: Fourteen tissue samples composed of 5 rejected and 9 non-rejected ones were used for studying the microRNAs expression pattern by LNA-array probe. The result was evaluated by qRT-PCR on 30 other tissue samples composed of 10 rejected and 20 non-rejected ones for the selected miRNAs. All samples were collected from liver transplanted patients with HCC. Results: The study results revealed that in rejected patients compared to non-rejected ones, hsa-miR-3158-5p, -4449, -4511, and -4633-5p were up-regulated and hsa-miR-122-3p, -194-5p, 548as-3p, and -4284 were down-regulated. Conclusion: It was concluded that the tissue levels of specific miRNAs (especially hsa-miR-3158-5p, -4449, -194-5p and -548as-3p) correlated well with the development of HCC, which could be further studied as biomarkers.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Gu ◽  
Jia Guo ◽  
Jinglei Zhai ◽  
Guihai Feng ◽  
Xianning Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract The mammalian embryo must undergo dramatic morphogenetic changes to invade the uterine endometrium and achieve implantation. Thus, recapitulation of implantation using in vitro systems is crucial for revealing the mechanisms controlling early development and the main problems compromising human fertility. Experimental systems based on two-dimensional (2D) platforms cannot fully recapitulate the in vivo 3D microenvironments of the embryo. Therefore, here we use collagen grafted onto polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based on the uterine mechanics and microstructure to establish a uterus-inspired 3D niche (U3N). Our U3N enables mouse embryos to form egg cylinders at high rate and reach the developmental stages of heartbeat. Moreover, a unique interface forms between the embryo and collagen, showing the invasion of trophoblasts into collagen fires, which simulate the developmental process of implantation. Our findings highlight embryo-substrate interaction as a key characteristic of post-implantation development in vitro and as an important design parameter of 3D conditions for embryo culture.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document