Article
Microbiology
L. Johanna Gebhard, Iain G. Duggin, Susanne Erdmann
Summary: Halorubrum lacusprofundi, a cold-adapted halophilic archaeon isolated from Antarctica, is a common subject for studying adaptation to cold environments and is a potential source for biotechnological products. It also serves as a great model to study virus-host interactions in a cold-adapted organism due to its susceptibility to various viruses and virus-like elements.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Qing Xu, Qing Du, Jian Gao, Lei Chen, Xiuzhu Dong, Jie Li
Summary: Researchers developed a genetic toolbox including libraries of promoters, ribosome binding sites, and neutral sites for precise gene expression in M. maripaludis. They successfully improved recombinant protein expression and modulated essential gene expression, establishing a solid foundation for further studies and biotechnological applications of M. maripaludis.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Sandra Pucciarelli, Daniela Sparvoli, Patrizia Ballarini, Angela Piersanti, Matteo Mozzicafreddo, Lucia Arregui, Cristina Miceli
Summary: Ciliates, including the Antarctic ciliate Euplotes focardii, assemble diverse microtubular structures in a single cell. Through genome sequencing, five beta-tubulin isotypes were identified in E. focardii. Antibody labeling and RNA interference experiments showed that these isotypes have different functions in the formation of microtubular structures, cilia regeneration, and cell division.
Article
Dermatology
Kai Wang, Zhongyuan Zhang, Deqian Meng, Ju Li
Summary: Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a chronic autoimmune disease with poorly defined pathogenic mechanisms. This study aimed to identify key genes related to JDM through bioinformatics analysis. A total of 128 differentially expressed genes (DEG) were identified, with functions and pathways enriched in response to virus, cell migration regulation, and immune responses. Twenty-one hub genes were selected, showing associations with inflammatory responses, complement, and signaling pathways. Further analysis revealed potential compounds to counteract the dysregulated molecular signature in JDM.
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Teruaki Tozaki, Aoi Ohnuma, Kotono Nakamura, Kazuki Hano, Masaki Takasu, Yuji Takahashi, Norihisa Tamura, Fumio Sato, Kyo Shimizu, Mio Kikuchi, Taichiro Ishige, Hironaga Kakoi, Kei-ichi Hirota, Natasha A. Hamilton, Shun-ichi Nagata
Summary: In this study, a test for detecting gene editing in horses was developed using amplicon sequencing and next-generation sequencing. The test was able to identify genetically modified racehorses and could also be used to confirm biological parentage and detect horses produced through prohibited reproductive practices.
Article
Plant Sciences
Carolina Galleguillos, Ian S. Acuna-Rodriguez, Cristian Torres-Diaz, Pedro E. Gundel, Marco A. Molina-Montenegro
Summary: The number of flowers in Colobanthus quitensis plants in water-deficit environments is associated with the expression levels of COR47 and IAA12 genes. The stress is alleviated and flowering is stimulated under watering conditions in growth chambers, eliminating the trade-off observed in the field. This study provides insights into the ecological constraints on plant reproduction along a water availability gradient.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Frida Lona-Durazo, Rohit Thakur, Erola Pairo-Castineira, Karen Funderburk, Tongwu Zhang, Michael A. Kovacs, Jiyeon Choi, Ian J. Jackson, Kevin M. Brown, Esteban J. Parra
Summary: Eye color varies greatly in populations with European ancestry, with the HERC2/OCA2 locus having the largest effect on eye color. Several candidate causal signals for eye color were identified, with colocalization with the expression or methylation profiles of melanocytes. Genetic correlations between eye and hair color suggest high genome-wide pleiotropy.
Article
Immunology
Andrew Nuss, Arvind Sharma, Monika Gulia-Nuss
Summary: Ticks are obligate blood-sucking arthropods that are important vectors of pathogens affecting humans and animals worldwide. Despite the growing burden of tick-borne diseases, research on ticks has lagged due to challenges in applying genetic tools, such as CRISPR-Cas9, for stable genetic transformations. Successful germline editing with CRISPR-Cas9 in ticks has yet to be achieved.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hao-Shan Chen, Xiao-Long Zhang, Rong-Rong Yang, Guang-Ling Wang, Xin-Yue Zhu, Yuan-Fang Xu, Dan-Yang Wang, Na Zhang, Shou Qiu, Li-Jie Zhan, Zhi-Ming Shen, Xiao-Hong Xu, Gang Long, Chun Xu
Summary: Cell-type-specific recording and manipulation is crucial for understanding neural circuits. This study describes molecular tools that access cell types based on genetics and connectivity, and demonstrates their utility in neural recording and manipulations.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Liang Sun, Yongjun Tan, Caiyan Chen
Summary: Rice is a major source of dietary cadmium (Cd) and excessive accumulation of Cd in rice grains poses serious threats to agricultural sustainability and human health. This review summarizes the progress in understanding the physiological mechanisms and genetic nature of Cd accumulation in rice, as well as the strategies and outcomes of low-Cd rice breeding over the past decade. Challenges in developing Cd-safe rice varieties remain, and future success in breeding low-Cd rice varieties is discussed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luis M. M. San-Jose, Elvire Bestion, Felix Pellerin, Murielle Richard, Lucie Di Gesu, Jordi Salmona, Laurane Winandy, Delphine Legrand, Camille Bonneaud, Olivier Guillaume, Olivier Calvez, Kathryn R. Elmer, Andrey A. Yurchenko, Hans Recknagel, Jean Clobert, Julien Cote
Summary: Although animal dispersal plays key roles in ecological and evolutionary processes, its genetic basis, particularly in vertebrates, is poorly understood. This study investigated the genetic basis of natal dispersal in the common lizard using quantitative genetics, genome-wide sequencing, and transcriptome sequencing. The results suggest the heritability of dispersal and highlight the involvement of neurotransmitters and circadian pathways in regulating dispersal and shaping dispersal syndromes. These findings have implications for understanding dispersal behavior in vertebrates.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ana Leticia Hilario Garcia, Melissa Rosa de Souza, Juliana Picinini, Solange Soares, Paula Rohr, Rafael Linden, Anelise Schneider, Maria Perpetua Mota Freitas, Helenita Correa Ely, Larissa Daniele Bobermin, Andre Quincozes dos Santos, Daiana Dalberto, Juliana da Silva
Summary: This study evaluated genetic instability in individuals with dental fluorosis and found higher frequencies of nuclear abnormality, oxidative DNA damage, decreased telomere length, and significant changes in gene expression patterns. The findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring of populations with a high incidence of dental fluorosis to enhance understanding of the correlation between genomic instability and health problems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Luigi Russi, Gianpiero Marconi, Nicoletta Ferradini, Beatrice Farda, Marika Pellegrini, Loretta Pace
Summary: The present study characterized the genetic structure and rhizosphere microbiota diversity of Artemisia eriantha. The results showed a close relationship among different plant populations and variations in rhizosphere microbiota diversity across different regions. This study provides the first evidence of the association between Artemisia eriantha plants and microbiota communities.
Article
Psychology, Biological
S. N. Thornton
Summary: Optimal physiological function is achieved through activation, inhibition, and modulation of gene cascades, maintaining the organism in a relatively healthy state. However, changes in physiological health state may require further intervention to ensure short-term physiological functions, which may not be ideal for long-term survival.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Hanh-Dung Thai, Loc Thi Binh Xuan Do, Xuan Thi Nguyen, Tao Xuan Vu, Huyen Thi Thanh Tran, Huy Quang Nguyen, Van-Tuan Tran
Summary: In this study, an ATMT system based on the histidine auxotrophic mechanism was established for A. niger by deleting the hisB gene. The results showed that the ATMT system could achieve 300 transformants per 10^7 fungal spores under optimal transformation conditions. The system was successfully applied for expressing a fluorescent protein-encoding gene and gene targeting in A. niger.
ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Simon Roux, Blair G. Paul, Sarah C. Bagby, Stephen Nayfach, Michelle A. Allen, Graeme Attwood, Ricardo Cavicchioli, Ludmila Chistoserdova, Robert J. Gruninger, Steven J. Hallam, Maria E. Hernandez, Matthias Hess, Wen-Tso Liu, Tim A. McAllister, Michelle A. O'Malley, Xuefeng Peng, Virginia Rich, Scott R. Saleska, Emiley A. Eloe-Fadrosh
Summary: Researchers have analyzed over 30,000 DGRs from public metagenomes, establishing six major DGR lineages, three of which are primarily encoded by phages, and demonstrating that DGRs are responsible for a significant proportion of amino acid changes in some organisms. These results highlight the constraints under which DGRs evolve, and reveal the distinct roles that these elements play in natural communities.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Simao Coelho, Jongho Baek, James Walsh, J. Justin Gooding, Katharina Gaus
Summary: Two-photon direct laser writing enables nanometer-accuracy fabrication of three-dimensional structures, providing high-resolution imaging possibilities for optical microscopy.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Timothy J. Williams, Michelle A. Allen, Pratibha Panwar, Ricardo Cavicchioli
Summary: Uncultivated microbial clades, known as microbial dark matter, are believed to have important yet uncharacterized functions in nutrient cycling. Using metagenomes from an Antarctic lake, researchers generated 12 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) for four dark matter phyla, revealing their potential roles in hydrogen and sulfide production, nitrate reduction, sulfate reduction, and carbon dioxide fixation. These microbial clades contribute to sulfur cycling, degradation of complex organic matter, ammonification, and chemolithoautotrophic carbon dioxide fixation in diverse global environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Khawar S. Siddiqui, Anne Poljak, Haluk Ertan, Wallace Bridge
Summary: This article introduces a method for determining enzyme activity based on isothermal titration calorimetry, which can solve the problem of most enzymes being unsuitable for spectrophotometric assays. The method is suitable for teaching laboratory classes and provides a flexible and easy-to-use method for studying the functional characteristics of uncharacterized enzymes.
BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bill Soderstrom, Matthew J. Pittorino, Daniel O. Daley, Iain G. Duggin
Summary: During infection, some uropathogenic Escherichia coli exhibit filamentation, a stress response that promotes bacterial dispersal and survival. This process involves dynamic repositioning of FtsZ division rings and the distribution of DamX protein throughout the cell envelope.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kristie Stefanoska, Mehul Gajwani, Amanda R. P. Tan, Holly Ahel, Prita R. Asih, Alexander Volkerling, Anne Poljak, Arne Ittner
Summary: Hyperphosphorylation of neuronal tau protein is a characteristic of neurodegenerative tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease. This study reveals that tau phosphorylation is regulated by interdependence, where initial site-specific phosphorylation triggers subsequent multi-site phosphorylation. The interdependence of specific tau residues determines the propagation of phosphorylation, and targeting the master sites and p38 tau kinase can effectively reduce hyperphosphorylation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emmanuel Prikas, Esmeralda Paric, Prita R. Asih, Kristie Stefanoska, Holly Stefen, Thomas Fath, Anne Poljak, Arne Ittner
Summary: Microtubule-associated protein tau plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. This study used proximity-labelling proteomics to examine tau interactions in neurons and mouse brains. The results show that tau interacts with proteins involved in cytoskeletal regulation, synaptic vesicle regulation, and postsynaptic receptor regulation. These interactions are related to Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and prion disease. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that tau interacts with N-ethylmaleimide sensitive fusion protein (NSF) and reduces its activity, leading to altered trafficking of AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPAR) and enhanced memory formation.
Article
Biology
Conall Mc Guinness, James C. Walsh, Charles Bayly-Jones, Michelle A. Dunstone, Michelle P. Christie, Craig J. Morton, Michael W. Parker, Till Bocking
Summary: This study investigates the assembly process of PFO in forming ring-shaped pores through single-molecule fluorescence imaging. The results show that the formation of PFO dimers promotes the growth of irreversible oligomers, and the insertion of oligomers and pore formation are influenced by the number of subunits.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katharine A. Michie, Stephen J. Harrop, Harry W. Rathbone, Krystyna E. Wilk, Chang Ying Teng, Kerstin Hoef-Emden, Roger G. Hiller, Beverley R. Green, Paul M. G. Curmi
Summary: In addition to the membrane-bound light-harvesting antenna, the cryptophyte algae have a unique antenna system located in the thylakoid lumen. This antenna system consists of alpha beta protomers with different combinations of chromophores. The diversity of the alpha subunit gene family produces a range of antenna proteins with differing spectral properties.
Article
Microbiology
Charlotte Abell-King, Ariana Costas, Iain G. Duggin, Bill Soderstrom
Summary: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when a uropathogenic microbe enters the urinary tract and causes infection. UTIs are common, with at least 150 million people affected annually, and can often recur due to antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Women are disproportionately affected by UTIs, with an estimated 60% experiencing at least one in their lifetime.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hannah J. Brown, Iain G. Duggin
Summary: Tubulin superfamily proteins play important roles in cellular functions such as morphology, division, and motility. The study of archaeal CetZ proteins reveals their diverse functions, including regulation of cell shape and potentially other unknown functions. The research also suggests the association of CetZ proteins among archaea and their possible origin via horizontal transfer. Furthermore, the study uncovers the relationship between CetZ proteins and functions related to the cell surface, biosynthesis, and motility.
Article
Microbiology
L. Johanna Gebhard, Iain G. Duggin, Susanne Erdmann
Summary: Halorubrum lacusprofundi, a cold-adapted halophilic archaeon isolated from Antarctica, is a common subject for studying adaptation to cold environments and is a potential source for biotechnological products. It also serves as a great model to study virus-host interactions in a cold-adapted organism due to its susceptibility to various viruses and virus-like elements.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Megha Patro, Iain G. Duggin, Sonja-Verena Albers, Solenne Ithurbide
Summary: This study investigates the impact of auxotrophic mutations and the presence of plasmids on the cell shape of Haloferax volcanii. The results show that most auxotrophic strains have variations in cell shape parameters and the presence of plasmids also impacts these parameters. The Delta hdrB strains and hdrB selection markers have the most influence on H. volcanii cell shape.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Satoshi Hosoki, Gurpreet K. Hansra, Tharusha Jayasena, Anne Poljak, Karen A. Mather, Vibeke S. Catts, Ruslan Rust, Abhay Sagare, Jason C. Kovacic, Amy Brodtmann, Anders Wallin, Berislav V. Zlokovic, Masafumi Ihara, Perminder S. Sachdev
Summary: This review examines the role of large and small vessel disease in vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) and considers the underlying pathophysiological processes that lead to vascular brain injury. It discusses the potential of key molecules involved in these processes as molecular biomarkers and the challenges in translating these biomarkers into clinical application.
NATURE REVIEWS NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Guillaume Longatte, Fabio Lisi, Xueqian Chen, James Walsh, Wenqian Wang, Nicholas Ariotti, Till Boecking, Katharina Gaus, J. Justin Gooding
Summary: Single molecule experiments have gained significant attention recently. Many of these studies involve encapsulating a single molecule into nanoscale containers. The encapsulation efficiency of single molecules is an important parameter to consider, and previous theories have focused on encapsulating single molecules into perfectly sized monodispersed containers. However, experimental nanocontainers often have a size distribution and may require encapsulating a single binding pair instead of a single molecule. This study extends the Poisson distribution theory to predict the encapsulation efficiency of two different molecules in an association equilibrium, taking into account the container size distribution and the effect of adsorption to the container.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
