Project description:To identify genes associated with citrus peel development and manifestation of peel disorders, we analyzed flavedo, albedo and juice sac tissues from five types of citrus fruit including, mandarin orange, navel orange, valencia orange, grapefruit and lemon. Fruits of five different citrus cultivars. Mature, healthy fruits of five different citrus cultivars (M-bM-^@M-^\ValenciaM-bM-^@M-^] and M-bM-^@M-^\NavelM-bM-^@M-^] orange [Citrus sinensis], mandarin [Citrus reticulata], lemon [Citrus M-CM-^W limon], grapefruit [Citrus M-CM-^W paradisi]) were purchased from a food market located in Davis, CA, USA. For all five types of fruit, three tissues (flavedo, albedo, and juice sacs) were compared separately. Each of the three tissues from each of the five types of fruit were sampled in three biological replicates, for a total of 45 samples. Samples were prepared from a 1 cm-thick equatorial disc and four sections (N, S, E, and W) were cut. Each section of flavedo, albedo, and juice sac tissue was dissected. gene expression variation underlying quality trait, different genotypes
Project description:Analysis of the effect of using a fruit and vegetable juice concentrate to reduce systemic inflammation in obesity. The hypothesis tested whether the presence of polyphenols in the fruit and vegetable juice concentrate could reduce the expression of systemic inflammatory genes in the blood of Obese patients with high levels of plasma CRP (≥3.0). Results provide evidence that systemic inflammatory genes/ and or pathways may be modulated by the fruit and vegetable juice concentrate.
Project description:The non-conventional yeast species Zygosaccharomyces bailii is remarkably tolerant to acetic acid, a highly important microbial inhibitory compound in Food Industry and Biotechnology. ZbHaa1 is the functional homologue of S. cerevisiae Haa1 and a bifunctional transcription factor able to modulate Z. bailii adaptive response to both acetic acid and copper stresses. RNA-Seq was used to investigate genomic transcription changes in Z. bailii during early response to sublethal concentrations of acetic acid (140 mM, pH 4.0) or copper (0.08 mM), and uncover the regulatory network activated by these stresses under ZbHaa1 control.
Project description:Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) cells can attach to both cantaloupe surface and food contact surfaces and promote biofilm growth. This study was to understand the impact of cantaloupe juice on the physiology and transcriptome of Lm planktonic cells and biofilm cells grown on stainless steel coupons using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), Cryo-Scanning Electron Microscopy (Cryo-SEM) and RNA Seq technology. Lm showed a strong autoaggregation phenotype when grown in cantaloupe juice at room temperature. It is interesting to note that Lm formed significantly more biofilms on stainless steel (SS) coupons when grown in cantaloupe juice than in TSB. SEM images revealed a different attachment profile of Lm on SS coupons. In TSB, Lm cells were mainly found in scratches/groves of the metal surface, whereas, in cantaloupe juice they attached to the smooth surface as well. Interestingly, Lm planktonic and biofilm cells in cantaloupe juice showed an elongated cell shape which might be a stress-induced phenotype in cantaloupe juice. Cantaloupe juice induced a distinct transcriptional profile of biofilm and planktonic cells of Lm from TSB. Functional annotation indicated that the significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs, Padj < 0.05, log2foldchange ≥ 1) from the comparison mainly participated in metabolism, signaling and stress response. Notably, certain pathways downregulated for planktonic cells were significantly upregulated for biofilm cells in cantaloupe juice compared to TSB, including ABC transporters, two-component system, quorum sensing, chemotaxis, and flagellar assembly. These data highlighted the interaction of Lm with food matrix (i.e., cantaloupe) and the role of food matrix on Lm survival and adaptation. These results provided the basis for future functional characterization of genes with potential roles in biofilm formation and persistence of Lm in cantaloupe juice, as well as for development of mitigation practices for Lm biofilms on produce and food contact surfaces.