Project description:Microarray comparative genome hybridization (mCGH) data was collected from one Neisseria cinerea, two Neisseria lactamica, two Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and 48 Neisseria meningitidis isolates. For N. meningitidis, these isolates are from diverse clonal complexes, invasive and carriage strains, and all major serogroups. The microarray platform represented N. meningitidis strains MC58, Z2491, and FAM18 and N. gonorrhoeae FA1090.
Project description:Commensal bacteria are crucial in maintaining host physiological homeostasis, immune system development, and protection against pathogens. Despite their significance, the factors influencing persistent bacterial colonization and their impact on the host still need to be fully understood. Animal models have served as valuable tools to investigate these interactions, but most have limitations. The bacterial genus Neisseria, which includes both commensal and pathogenic species, has been studied from a pathogenicity to humans’ perspective, but lacks models that study immune responses in the context of long-term persistence. Neisseria musculi, a recently described natural commensal of mice, offers a unique opportunity to study long-term host-commensal interactions. In this study, for the first time we have used this model to study the transcriptional, phenotypic, and functional dynamics of immune cell signatures in the mucosal and systemic tissue of mice in response to Neisseria musculi colonization. We found key genes and pathways vital for immune homeostasis in palate tissue, validated by flow cytometry of immune cells from lung, blood and spleen. This study offers a novel avenue for advancing our understanding of host-bacteria dynamics and may provide a platform for developing efficacious interventions against mucosal persistence by pathogenic Neisseria.
Project description:Species of the Neisseria genus harbor close relationships with their mamallian hosts, including humans. The outcome of these interactions can result in commensalism, asymptomatic carriage, or acute inflammatory responses. Little is known of the mechanisms Neisseria use to maintain and shape their host niche in the context of asymptomatic infection or long term commensal colonization and persistence. To identify novel host interaction factors contributing to host persistence, a Tn5 transposon library was created in Neisseria musculi, and inoculated into a permissive strain of laboratory mice (CAST/EiJ). At various time points post inoculation, transposon mutants were recovered from fecal and oral samples, and analyzed to identifiy mutants incapable of maintaining a host niche at either site.
Project description:PFGRC has developed a cost effective alternative to complete genome sequencing in order to study the genetic differences between closely related species and/or strains. The comparative genomics approach combines Gene Discovery (GD) and Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) techniques, resulting in the design and production of species microarrays that represent the diversity of a species beyond just the sequenced reference strain(s) used in the initial microarray design. These species arrays may then be used to interrogate hundreds of closely related strains in order to further unravel their evolutionary relationships. The Neissiria are among most deadly pathogens world-wide. The infections and outbreaks caused by this pathogens is quite frequent despite existing diagnostic network and therapeutic means. Therefore, developing reliable diagnostic tools and efficient (broad-spectrum) therapeutics for Neisseria meningitidis remain a public health priority for every country in world today. The comparative genomics study will provide the largest hitherto genomic data sets regarding this pathogen.These large data sets will enable us as well as other members of scientific community to conduct comprehensive data mining in the form of gene association studies with statistical power and significance.
Project description:The zur regulon in Neisseria meningitidis was elucidated in the strain MC58 using a zur knockout strain and conditions which activate Zur ( zinc supplementation in the medium)
Project description:The overall goals and objectives of this study are to investigate the transcriptomics of Neisseria gonorrhoeae using RNA-seq. This work will look at gene expression, start points of transcription, transcriptional termination, and differences between these in different conditions and between strains and growing cultures over time.
Project description:We report 293 Neisseria gonorrhoeae genes that show differential transcript abundance in response to 15 mM hydrogen peroxide treatment by RNA-Seq. We analyze the major physiological functional groups of genes affected by hydrogen peroxide exposure. In addition, we analyze which genes in our hydrogen peroxide-responsive set of genes belong to major known transcriptional regulatory circuits like iron homeostasis, anaerobiosis and others. We annotate which of the 293 hydrogen peroxide-responsive genes belong to operons. We annotate global transcriptional start sites and identify transcriptional start sites that are only present in hydrogen peroxide-treated bacteria. We validate the RNA-Seq data for a subset of representative genes by RT-qPCR and whether transcript abundance in this same subset of genes differs upon treatement with other reactive oxygen species encountered during infection, like organic peroxide, super oxide anion, and bleach.
Project description:Wild type Neisseria gonorrhoea strain FA1090 and N. meningitidis strain MC58 were grown on normal GC plate at either 35 degree celsius (for control samples) or 40 degree celsius (for test samples)