Project description:Comparative genomic hybridization of 9 Norwegian E. faecalis baby isolates with E. faecalis V583 as a reference strain using an E. faecalis V583 oligo array. Total gene content was analyzed by whole genome microarrays.
Project description:The Zika virus (ZIKV) represents an important global health threat due to its unusual association with congenital Zika syndrome. ZIKV strains are phylogenetically grouped into the African and Asian lineages. However, the viral determinants underlying the phenotypic differences between the lineages remain unknown. Here, multiple sequence alignment revealed a highly conserved residue at position 21 of the pre-membrane (prM) protein, which is glutamic acid and lysine in the Asian and African lineages, respectively. Using reverse genetics, we generated a recombinant virus carrying an E21K mutation based on the genomic backbone of the Asian lineage strain FSS13025 (termed E21K). The E21K mutation significantly increased viral replication in multiple neural cells lines with a higher ratio of M to prM production. Animal studies showed E21K exhibited increased neurovirulence in suckling mice, leading to more severe defects in mouse brains through causing more neural cell death and destruction of the hippocampus integrity. Moreover, the E21K substitution enhanced neuroinvasiveness in interferon (IFN) α/β receptor knockout mice, as indicated by the increased mortality, enhanced replication in mouse brains. The global transcriptional analysis showed E21K infection profoundly altered neuron development networks and induced stronger antiviral immune response than WT in both neural cells and mouse brains. More importantly, the reverse K21E mutation based on the genomic backbone of the African strain MR766 caused less mouse neurovirulence. Overall, our findings support the 21st residue of prM functions as a determinant for neurovirulence and neuroinvasiveness of the African lineage of ZIKV.
Project description:The Zika virus (ZIKV) represents an important global health threat due to its unusual association with congenital Zika syndrome. ZIKV strains are phylogenetically grouped into the African and Asian lineages. However, the viral determinants underlying the phenotypic differences between the lineages remain unknown. Here, multiple sequence alignment revealed a highly conserved residue at position 21 of the pre-membrane (prM) protein, which is glutamic acid and lysine in the Asian and African lineages, respectively. Using reverse genetics, we generated a recombinant virus carrying an E21K mutation based on the genomic backbone of the Asian lineage strain FSS13025 (termed E21K). The E21K mutation significantly increased viral replication in multiple neural cells lines with a higher ratio of M to prM production. Animal studies showed E21K exhibited increased neurovirulence in suckling mice, leading to more severe defects in mouse brains through causing more neural cell death and destruction of the hippocampus integrity. Moreover, the E21K substitution enhanced neuroinvasiveness in interferon (IFN) α/β receptor knockout mice, as indicated by the increased mortality, enhanced replication in mouse brains. The global transcriptional analysis showed E21K infection profoundly altered neuron development networks and induced stronger antiviral immune response than WT in both neural cells and mouse brains. More importantly, the reverse K21E mutation based on the genomic backbone of the African strain MR766 caused less mouse neurovirulence. Overall, our findings support the 21st residue of prM functions as a determinant for neurovirulence and neuroinvasiveness of the African lineage of ZIKV.
Project description:Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide, but incidence and mortality rates show large variations across different countries. Variation in risk factors between different populations, including environmental and host factors influencing gastric cancer risk, have been reported but little is known about the biological differences between gastric cancers from different geographic locations. We set out to study genomic instability patterns of gastric cancers obtained from patients from United Kingdom (UK) and South Africa (SA). DNA was isolated from 67 gastric adenocarcinomas, 33 UK patients, 9 Caucasian SA patients and 25 native SA patients. Microsatellite instability and chromosomal instability were analyzed by PCR and microarray comparative genomic hybridization, respectively. Data was analyzed by supervised univariate and multivariate analyses as well as unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis. Tumors from Caucasian and native SA patients showed significantly more microsatellite instable tumors (p<0.05). For the microsatellite stable tumors, geographical origin of the patients correlated with cluster membership, derived from unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis (p=0.001). Several chromosomal alterations showed significantly different frequencies in tumors from UK patients and native SA patients, but not between UK patients and Caucasian SA patients and between native and Caucasian SA patients. In conclusion, gastric cancers from South African and UK patients show differences in genetic instability patterns, indicating possible different biological mechanisms underlying the disease. 67 gastric adenocarcinomas, 33 UK patients, 9 Caucasian SA patients and 25 native SA patients.
Project description:Thymomas are one of the most rarely diagnosed malignancies. To better understand its biology and to identify therapeutic targets, we performed next-generation RNA sequencing. The RNA was sequenced from 13 thymic malignancies and 3 normal thymus glands. Validation of microRNA expression was performed on a separate set of 35 thymic malignancies. For cell-based studies, a thymoma cell line was used. Hierarchical clustering revealed 100% concordance between gene expression clusters and WHO subtype. A substantial differentiator was a large microRNA cluster on chr19q13.42 that was significantly overexpressed in all A and AB tumors and whose expression was virtually absent in the other thymomas and normal tissues. Overexpression of this microRNA cluster activates the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Treatment of a thymoma AB cell line with a panel of PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors resulted in marked reduction of cell viability. A large microRNA cluster on chr19q13.42 is a transcriptional hallmark of type A and AB thymomas. Furthermore, this cluster activates the PI3K pathway, suggesting the possible exploration of PI3K inhibitors in patients with these subtypes of tumor. This work has led to the initiation of a phase II clinical trial of PI3K inhibition in relapsed or refractory thymomas. 13 thymic malignancies and 3 Normal Thymus RNA-Sequenced in triplicate
Project description:Thymomas are one of the most rarely diagnosed malignancies. To better understand its biology and to identify therapeutic targets, we performed next-generation RNA sequencing. The RNA was sequenced from 13 thymic malignancies and 3 normal thymus glands. Validation of microRNA expression was performed on a separate set of 35 thymic malignancies. For cell-based studies, a thymoma cell line was used. Hierarchical clustering revealed 100% concordance between gene expression clusters and WHO subtype. A substantial differentiator was a large microRNA cluster on chr19q13.42 that was significantly overexpressed in all A and AB tumors and whose expression was virtually absent in the other thymomas and normal tissues. Overexpression of this microRNA cluster activates the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Treatment of a thymoma AB cell line with a panel of PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors resulted in marked reduction of cell viability. A large microRNA cluster on chr19q13.42 is a transcriptional hallmark of type A and AB thymomas. Furthermore, this cluster activates the PI3K pathway, suggesting the possible exploration of PI3K inhibitors in patients with these subtypes of tumor. This work has led to the initiation of a phase II clinical trial of PI3K inhibition in relapsed or refractory thymomas.
Project description:Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide, but incidence and mortality rates show large variations across different countries. Variation in risk factors between different populations, including environmental and host factors influencing gastric cancer risk, have been reported but little is known about the biological differences between gastric cancers from different geographic locations. We set out to study genomic instability patterns of gastric cancers obtained from patients from United Kingdom (UK) and South Africa (SA). DNA was isolated from 67 gastric adenocarcinomas, 33 UK patients, 9 Caucasian SA patients and 25 native SA patients. Microsatellite instability and chromosomal instability were analyzed by PCR and microarray comparative genomic hybridization, respectively. Data was analyzed by supervised univariate and multivariate analyses as well as unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis. Tumors from Caucasian and native SA patients showed significantly more microsatellite instable tumors (p<0.05). For the microsatellite stable tumors, geographical origin of the patients correlated with cluster membership, derived from unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis (p=0.001). Several chromosomal alterations showed significantly different frequencies in tumors from UK patients and native SA patients, but not between UK patients and Caucasian SA patients and between native and Caucasian SA patients. In conclusion, gastric cancers from South African and UK patients show differences in genetic instability patterns, indicating possible different biological mechanisms underlying the disease.