Project description:Here we report a direct tRNA sequencing protocol and software to simultaneously examine the composition and biological activity of naturally occurring microbial communities. Our analysis of mouse gut microbiome with tRNA-seq and 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicons revealed comparable microbial community structures, and additional physiological insights into the microbiome through tRNA abundance and modifications.
Project description:Clinical treatment protocols for infertility with in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) provide a unique opportunity to assess the human vaginal microbiome in defined hormonal milieu. Herein, we have investigated the association of circulating ovarian-derived estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) concentrations to the vaginal microbiome. Thirty IVF-ET patients were enrolled in this study, after informed consent. Blood was drawn at four time points during the IVF-ET procedure. In addition, if a pregnancy resulted, blood was drawn at 4-to-6 weeks of gestation. The serum concentrations of E2 and P4 were measured. Vaginal swabs were obtained in different hormonal milieu. Two independent genome-based technologies (and the second assayed in two different ways) were employed to identify the vaginal microbes. The vaginal microbiome underwent a transition with a decrease in E2 (and/or a decrease in P4). Novel bacteria were found in the vagina of 33% of the women undergoing IVF-ET. Our approach has enabled the discovery of novel, previously unidentified bacterial species in the human vagina in different hormonal milieu. While the relationship of hormone concentration and vaginal microbes was found to be complex, the data support a shift in the microbiome of the human vagina during IVF-ET therapy using standard protocols. The data also set the foundation for further studies examining correlations between IVF-ET outcome and the vaginal microbiome within a larger study population.
Project description:We examined the potential for characterization of host, pathogen and microbiome interactions at a molecular level and identification of novel, outcome-relevant biomarkers in a single, easily obtained, clinical specimen using total RNA-seq.
Project description:Advances in high-throughput sequencing have facilitated remarkable insights into the diversity and functioning of naturally occurring microbes; however, current sequencing strategies are insufficient to reveal physiological states of microbial communities associated with protein translation dynamics. Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are core components of protein synthesis machinery, present in all living cells, and are phylogenetically tractable, which make them ideal targets to gain physiological insights into environmental microbes. Here we report a direct sequencing approach, tRNA-seq, and a software suite, tRNA-seq-tools, to recover sequences, abundance profiles, and post-transcriptional modifications of microbial tRNA transcripts. Our analysis of cecal samples using tRNA-seq distinguishes high-fat- and low-fat-fed mice in a comparable fashion to 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicons, and reveals taxon- and diet-dependent variations in tRNA modifications. Our results provide taxon-specific in situ insights into the dynamics of tRNA gene expression and post-transcriptional modifications within complex environmental microbiomes.
Project description:RNA internal modifications play critical role in development of multicellular organisms and their response to environmental cues. Using nanopore direct RNA sequencing (DRS), we constructed a large in vitro epitranscriptome (IVET) resource from plant cDNA library labeled with m6A, m1A and m5C respectively. Furthermore, after transfer learning, the pre-trained model was used to detect additional RNA internal modification such as m1A, hm5C, m7G and Ψ modification. Finally, we illustrated a global view of epitranscriptome with m6A, m1A, m5C, m7G and Ψ modification in rice seedlings under normal and high salinity environment. In summary, we provided a strategy for creating IVET resource from cDNA library and developed a computational method that use IVET-based transfer learning termed TandemMod for profiling epitranscriptome landscape with co-occupancy of multiple types of RNA modification in plants responsive to environmental signal.
Project description:Despite its biological importance, transfer RNA (tRNA) could not be adequately sequenced due to the abundant presence of post-transcriptional modifications and extensive structure that interfere with cDNA synthesis and adapter ligation. We achieve efficient and quantitative tRNA sequencing by removing base methylations using engineered demethylases and using a highly processive thermo-stable reverse transcriptase without the need for adapter ligation (DMTRT-tRNA-seq). Our method should be applicable for biological investigations of tRNA in all organisms. Development of tRNA-Seq method