Review
Immunology
Assunta Liberti, Ojas Natarajan, Celine Grace F. Atkinson, Paolo Sordino, Larry J. Dishaw
Summary: The functional ecology of the gastrointestinal tract plays a crucial role in host physiology, with the immune system, particularly innate immunity, modulating the interaction between host and microbes in the gut. Utilizing diverse model systems, including invertebrates, can provide insights into the basic principles governing gut homeostasis. The use of multi-omics approaches to merge computational sciences, modeling, and experimental biology will be essential for further understanding how host effectors shape the ecology of microbial communities in ways that establish and maintain homeostasis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Miki Tokuoka, Kazuki Maeda, Kenji Kobayashi, Atsushi Mochizuki, Yutaka Satou
Summary: The study revealed how gene regulatory networks control gene expression dynamics in ascidian embryos, including the regulatory logic and core mechanism at the 32-cell stage, offering important insights into the operating principles of gene regulatory networks.
Article
Biology
William R. Jeffery, Bo Li, Mandy Ng, Lianwei Li, Spela Goricki, Li Ma
Summary: In Ciona intestinalis, while adult stem cells in the branchial sac vasculature proliferate and progenitor cells migrate to the site of distal injury, regeneration only occurs in the proximal fragments. By analyzing the transcriptome of regenerating animals, we found that the chaperone system genes hsp70, dnaJb4, and bag3 are significantly upregulated in the branchial sac vasculature following distal injury. The upregulation of these heat shock protein genes is crucial for regeneration.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Tsuyoshi Kawada, Tomohiro Osugi, Shin Matsubara, Tsubasa Sakai, Akira Shiraishi, Tatsuya Yamamoto, Honoo Satake
Summary: Omics studies, including mass spectrometry-based peptidomic studies, have contributed to the understanding of genomes, gene expressions, and gene functions. In the ascidian Ciona intestinalis Type A, these studies have detected specific neuropeptides and homologs of vertebrate neuropeptides and hypothalamic peptide hormones. Furthermore, through transcriptome analysis and machine learning, candidate G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) for these peptides have been identified. The comparative transcriptomics and peptide treatment experiments have provided insights into the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of specific peptides in Ciona follicular development and growth.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Drago, Anna Peronato, Nicola Franchi, Loriano Ballarin, Rigers Bakiu, Gianfranco Santovito
Summary: This study focuses on the characterization of stress granule components TIAR and TTP in the invertebrate chordate Ciona robusta under metal-induced stress conditions. The research reveals that metal exposure leads to a decrease in mRNA expression levels of TIAR and TTP, indicating an acute stress response in these organisms.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C-TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daria Wojciechowska, Milena Roszkowska, Lukasz Kaczmarek, Wieslawa Jarmuszkiewicz, Andonis Karachitos, Hanna Kmita
Summary: The activity of AOX in tardigrades can be monitored through observation of animal behavior, measurement of respiration, and inner membrane potential. Tardigrades, especially H. exemplaris, are considered a suitable whole-animal model for studying AOX.
Article
Developmental Biology
Vasileios Papadogiannis, Dorit Hockman, Silvia Mercurio, Claire Ramsay, Mark Hintze, Cedric Patthey, Andrea Streit, Sebastian M. Shimeld
Summary: The Estrogen Related Receptor (ERR) nuclear hormone receptor genes play diverse roles in vertebrate development. In embryos, ERR genes are expressed in various tissues, particularly the nervous system. Most jawed vertebrates and lampreys have four ERR paralogues, which are ancestrally linked to Estrogen Receptor genes. Conserved non-coding sequences in ERR introns are found to be regulatory and drive gene expression in the nervous system.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Tsuyoshi Kawada, Akira Shiraishi, Shin Matsubara, Akiko Hozumi, Takeo Horie, Yasunori Sasakura, Honoo Satake
Summary: The neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin are found in a wide range of vertebrates and invertebrates. In the ascidian Ciona intestinalis Type A, a vasopressin-related peptide called CiVP was identified, which plays a role in inducing oocyte maturation and ovulation. Through genetic modification of Ciona, it was found that CiVP is highly expressed in the cerebral ganglion and nerve tissues, and mutants lacking CiVP showed altered ovarian follicle growth and gene expression related to ovarian function. This study represents the first report of a vasopressin gene being studied in an invertebrate species, shedding light on its roles in biological processes.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Rin Iguchi, Kanae Usui, Satoshi Nakayama, Yasunori Sasakura, Toshio Sekiguchi, Michio Ogasawara
Summary: Bilateria share sequential steps in their digestive systems, and digestion occurs in a pre-absorption step within a chamber-like structure. Studies on the ascidian Ciona intestinalis type A have shown that pancreas-related exocrine digestive enzymes (XDEs) are exclusively expressed in the chamber-like bulging stomach. Recent research has also found that genes for pancreas-related transcription factors are expressed in the region near the stomach. This study investigated the gene expression of XDEs in the gastrointestinal region of C. intestinalis type A using whole-mount in situ hybridization, and found expression signals in a small number of gastrointestinal epithelial cells. Two pancreas-related transcription factor genes were also found to have multi-regional expression in the Ciona juvenile intestines. These results suggest that ascidians may have digestive regions corresponding to the vertebrate pancreas.
CELL AND TISSUE RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Zoology
Sabine R. Lovejoy
Summary: The vase tunicate, Ciona intestinalis, is a non-colonial ascidian species that negatively impacts aquatic structures and the shellfish industry through competition for resources. Analysis of its genome revealed its phylogenetic relationship with chordates, opening up potential molecular targets for controlling this invasive species. A new behavioural assay has been developed to study the effects of novel agents on the growth and development of C. intestinalis.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zoha Kamali, Jacob M. Keaton, Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard, Todd L. Edwards, Harold Snieder, Ahmad Vaez
Summary: This study identified 1880 likely causal genes for blood pressure and provided new insights into the genetic regulation of blood pressure, as well as potential opportunities for clinical application.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alfonso Ferrandez-Roldan, Marc Fabrega-Torrus, Gaspar Sanchez-Serna, Enya Duran-Bello, Marti Joaquin-Lluis, Paula Bujosa, Marcos Plana-Carmona, Jordi Garcia-Fernandez, Ricard Albalat, Cristian Canestro
Summary: The evolution of the appendicularian heart involved significant ancestral losses of cardiopharyngeal genes, leading to the deconstruction of the gene regulatory network and supporting a scenario where ancestral tunicates had a sessile ascidian-like adult lifestyle. These changes contributed to the acceleration of cardiogenesis and the redesign of the heart structure in appendicularians during their transition to a complete pelagic free-living style.
Article
Zoology
Yutaka Satou, Miki Tokuoka, Izumi Oda-Ishii, Sinichi Tokuhiro, Tasuku Ishida, Boqi Liu, Yuri Iwamura
Summary: The researchers have provided a high-quality gene/transcript model set for the latest Ciona robusta genome assembly, which serves as a fundamental biological resource for various studies.
ZOOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Alexander C. A. Fodor, Megan M. Powers, Kristin Andrykovich, Jiatai Liu, Elijah K. Lowe, C. Titus Brown, Anna Di Gregorio, Alberto Stolfi, Billie J. Swalla
Summary: Ascidians are invertebrate chordates with swimming tadpole larvae that have heads and tails, with the tail being crucial for larval locomotion. Some ascidian species have tailless larvae with disrupted genes, though the notochord gene regulatory network remains mostly intact in the tailless larvae. It is expected that tailless ascidians will eventually lose their larval gene networks and develop directly into adults.
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jaeyoon Chung, Anjali Das, Xinyu Sun, Debora R. Sobreira, Yuk Yee Leung, Catherine Igartua, Sahar Mozaffari, Yi-Fan Chou, Sam Thiagalingam, Jesse Mez, Xiaoling Zhang, Gyungah R. Jun, Thor D. Stein, Brian W. Kunkle, Eden R. Martin, Margaret A. Pericak-Vance, Richard Mayeux, Jonathan L. Haines, Gerard D. Schellenberg, Marcelo A. Nobrega, Kathryn L. Lunetta, Jayant M. Pinto, Li-San Wang, Carole Ober, Lindsay A. Farrer
Summary: Variants in the MGMT gene are associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), particularly in women. Multi-omics analyses suggest that this association may be mediated by the regulation of MGMT expression.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Cinzia Ferrario, Michela Sugni, Ildiko M. L. Somorjai, Loriano Ballarin
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biology
Anna Peronato, Nicola Franchi, Loriano Ballarin
Review
Environmental Sciences
Amalia Rosner, Jean Armengaud, Loriano Ballarin, Stephanie Barnay-Verdier, Francesca Cima, Ana Varela Coelho, Isabelle Domart-Coulon, Damjana Drobne, Anne-Marie Geneviere, Anita Jemec Kokalj, Ewa Kotlarska, Daniel Mark Lyons, Tali Mass, Guy Paz, Ksenia Pazdro, Lorena Peric, Andreja Ramsak, Sebastian Rakers, Baruch Rinkevich, Antonietta Spagnuolo, Michela Sugni, Sebastien Cambier
Summary: Assessment of environmental stressors involves quantifying their impacts on various indicators such as species density, growth rates, reproduction, behavior, and physiology, as well as host-pathogen interactions and immunocompetence. Environmental stress may induce sublethal effects like mutations and epigenetic signatures, affecting offspring via transgenerational inheritance.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Drago, Anna Peronato, Nicola Franchi, Loriano Ballarin, Rigers Bakiu, Gianfranco Santovito
Summary: This study focuses on the characterization of stress granule components TIAR and TTP in the invertebrate chordate Ciona robusta under metal-induced stress conditions. The research reveals that metal exposure leads to a decrease in mRNA expression levels of TIAR and TTP, indicating an acute stress response in these organisms.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C-TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biology
Loriano Ballarin, Matteo Cammarata, Pierangelo Luporini
Article
Fisheries
A. Peronato, G. Minervini, M. Tabarelli, L. Ballarin, N. Franchi
Summary: The study identified a novel protein member, BsC1qDC, in the innate immunity of the compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri, which is actively transcribed by immunocytes. Injection of Bacillus clausii cells modulates its transcription, suggesting its involvement in immune responses such as phagocytosis and degranulation.
DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Loriano Ballarin, Arzu Karahan, Alessandra Salvetti, Leonardo Rossi, Lucia Manni, Baruch Rinkevich, Amalia Rosner, Ayelet Voskoboynik, Benyamin Rosental, Laura Canesi, Chiara Anselmi, Annalisa Pinsino, Begum Ece Tohumcu, Anita Jemec Kokalj, Andraz Dolar, Sara Novak, Michela Sugni, Ilaria Corsi, Damjana Drobne
Summary: The interplay between stem cells and the immune system has broad implications, ranging from basic physiology and ecology to translational research, contributing significantly to ecotoxicology, biotechnology, and medicine. The interaction between these cell types is crucial for processes like regeneration and directly impacts organism functions and ability to adapt to environmental changes. By bridging these two disciplines, new integrated and transformative approaches can be developed to address fundamental equations in biology.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Baruch Rinkevich, Loriano Ballarin, Pedro Martinez, Ildiko Somorjai, Oshrat Ben-Hamo, Ilya Borisenko, Eugene Berezikov, Alexander Ereskovsky, Eve Gazave, Denis Khnykin, Lucia Manni, Olga Petukhova, Amalia Rosner, Eric Rottinger, Antonietta Spagnuolo, Michela Sugni, Stefano Tiozzo, Bert Hobmayer
Summary: Adult stem cells in various animals exhibit diverse activities and phenotypes, with some being rare, morphologically undifferentiated, and undergoing asymmetric cell division. They play roles in maintaining tissue homeostasis, repair, and regeneration, potentially making up a substantial portion of animal cells.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Review
Biology
P. Martinez, L. Ballarin, A. V. Ereskovsky, E. Gazave, B. Hobmayer, L. Manni, E. Rottinger, S. G. Sprecher, S. Tiozzo, A. Varela-Coelho, B. Rinkevich
Summary: Stem cell niches (SCNs) in vertebrates are well-defined, but little is known about the SCNs in aquatic invertebrates. The variability of niche architecture in aquatic or marine animal groups may be influenced by life strategies such as regeneration or asexual reproduction. Comparative analysis of invertebrate SCNs will contribute to the future understanding of their functional characterization.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Drago, Diana Ferro, Rigers Bakiu, Loriano Ballarin, Gianfranco Santovito
Summary: This study aims to investigate the molecular architecture and function of Prdxs in marine invertebrates, as well as to clarify their protective role against metal-induced stress. The results show that the expression of Prdx2, -3, and -4 is correlated to metal accumulation, and the increase in enzyme activity after Zn exposure is slower compared to Cu and Cd.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Giovanna Romano, Mariana Almeida, Ana Varela Coelho, Adele Cutignano, Luis G. Goncalves, Espen Hansen, Denis Khnykin, Tali Mass, Andreja Ramsak, Miguel S. Rocha, Tiago H. Silva, Michela Sugni, Loriano Ballarin, Anne-Marie Geneviere
Summary: Aquatic invertebrates are an important source of biomaterials and bioactive natural products. This review analyzes the literature from 2010 to 2019 on natural products from marine invertebrate phyla. It also discusses the role of symbiotic microorganisms and macro-organisms in the synthesis of secondary metabolites, as well as the application of omics tools in understanding the biosynthesis of these compounds. The study and utilization of aquatic invertebrate stem cells may hold promise for improving the biodiscovery pipeline.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Nicola Franchi, Loriano Ballarin, Francesca Cima
Summary: By analyzing the transcriptome of Botryllus schlosseri, a colonial ascidian, we discovered a transcript for a new styelin-like antimicrobial peptide called botryllin. This gene is constantly transcribed by circulating cytotoxic morula cells (MCs) and the resulting pre-propeptide is cleaved to form a mature peptide. In silico translation of the transcript yielded a synthetic peptide that displayed strong bactericidal activity against bacteria and yeast cells, causing damage to both the plasma membrane and cell wall. Monoclonal antibodies were produced against the putative amino acid sequences of the propeptide and mature peptide, and they were found to label the granular content of MCs. Upon degranulation of MCs triggered by foreign substances, the antibodies detected extracellular nets containing trapped bacteria near the remains of MCs. These findings suggest that the botryllin gene encodes an antimicrobial peptide involved in protecting B. schlosseri from invasions by foreign cells.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Giacomo Bovo, Loriano Ballarin
Summary: This study investigates the subcellular distribution of BsRBL in the cosmopolitan ascidian B. schlosseri during immune responses. The effects of interfering with this protein on the process of generation change were also examined. The results confirm the requirement of BsRBL for a correct generation change and raise new questions about its roles in Botryllus biology.
Article
Biology
Amalia Rosner, Loriano Ballarin, Stephanie Barnay-Verdier, Ilya Borisenko, Laura Drago, Damjana Drobne, Maria Concetta Eliso, Zoya Harbuzov, Annalisa Grimaldi, Tamar Guy-Haim, Arzu Karahan, Iseult Lynch, Maria Giulia Lionetto, Pedro Martinez, Kahina Mehennaoui, Elif Oruc Ozcan, Annalisa Pinsino, Guy Paz, Baruch Rinkevich, Antonietta Spagnuolo, Michela Sugni, Sebastien Cambier
Summary: Aquatic invertebrates are important for (eco)toxicological assessments due to their ethical, cost-effective, and repeatable testing options. However, current standardized protocols mainly focus on a limited number of aquatic invertebrate species, limiting the scope of basic ecotoxicological studies. This review emphasizes the need for a broader taxonomic approach and the use of diverse scientific techniques to comprehensively assess the impact of chemicals in aquatic environments.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Laura Drago, Giulia Perin, Gianfranco Santovito, Loriano Ballarin
Summary: This study investigated the role of TIAR in the non-embryonic development of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. The results showed that the progression of the blastogenetic cycle was delayed in injected colonies, and the degranulation of cytotoxic cells and phagocytosis by circulating phagocytes, which are fundamental processes of innate immunity, were also negatively affected.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)