Project description:Purpose: Transcriptional profiling of Oryza sativa japonica Nipponbare roots after one, three and seven days post inoculation with Azoarcus olearius BH72 (vs. non-inoculated controls) to understand the changes in transcriptomic response of rice roots to colonization by bacterial endophyte at initial stages of interaction; Additional set-up was included in which bacterial growth was boosted (through increasing 20-times carbon source - malic acid in the plant's hydroponic medium) to study rice roots transcriptome during enhanced colonization by the endophyte after three days post inoculation. Methods: Rice root mRNA profiles after one day, three days (including additional set-ups for boosted colonization), and seven days post inoculation with Azoarcus olearius BH72 and corresponding non-inoculated controls were generated by RNA sequencing, in triplicates, using Illumina NextSeq 500. Raw reads were then filtered, trimmed (PHRED > 33) and mapped onto IRGSP-1 version of Oryza sativa ssp. japonica cv. Nipponbare genome using CLC Genomics Workbench 8.5.1 (Qiagen, Germany). Expression of 17 selected genes was confirmed via RT-qPCR. Results: Using the RNA-Seq technology we obtained transcriptomic data from 24 sequencing libraries, with an average 46,181,160 clean reads per library, of which 87% or more were mapped onto the Oryza sativa ssp. japonica cv. Nipponbare IRGSP-1.0 genome (Fig. S3). We considered genes as differentially regulated (DEG) that exhibited at least 1.5-fold-change in expression level between Azo-colonized and non-colonized roots and FDR<0.05. Conclusions: Bacteria appeared to short-circuit the initial root defense responses for a compatible interaction during endophytic establishment, involving previously unknown putative rice candidate genes.
Project description:RNASeq of roots from two genotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana plants, Col-0 and myb36-2 grown axenically or with a 41 member bacterial Synthetic Community (SynCom) to explore the interaction between the root diffusion barriers and the root microbiome.
Project description:H. seropedicae is a diazotrophic and endophytic bacterium that associates with economically important grasses promoting plant growth and increasing productivity. To identify genes related to bacterial ability to colonize and promote plant growth wheat seedlings growing hydroponically in Hoaglandâs medium were inoculated with H. seropedicae the bacteria and incubated for 3 days. mRNA from the bacteria present in the root surface and in the plant medium were purified, depleted from rRNA and used for RNA-seq profiling. RT-qPCR analyses were conducted to confirm regulation of selected genes. Comparison of RNA profile of bacteria attached to the root and planktonic revealed an extensive metabolic adaptation to the epiphytic life style.
Project description:Endophytic fungi are root-inhabiting fungi that can promote plant growth in a variety of ways. They can directly stimulate plant growth by producing phytohormones, such as auxin and gibberellins. They can also indirectly promote plant growth by helping plants to acquire nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and by protecting plants from pests and pathogens.In this study, we used a proteomic approach to identify the proteins that are expressed in rice plants after they are treated with endophytic fungi. We found that the treatment with endophytic fungi resulted in the expression of a number of proteins involved in plant growth, nutrient acquisition, and defense. These results suggest that endophytic fungi can promote plant growth and improve plant resilience to stress.
Project description:Background and study aims
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commoncancers among humans worldwide. Recent studies demonstrated that the composition of the bacterial community in the human gut, as well as inflammation occurring in the gut, are some of the factors that modify the risk of an individual to develop CRC. The human gut is home to more than 1000 bacterial species, including health-promoting species and disease-causing species.
The consumption of rice bran, a by-product of rice milling, was previously shown to positively modify bacterial composition in the gut among healthy adults. The protective effect of a long-term rice bran consumption against CRC among individuals known to have higher risk of CRC, such as older individuals who are regular smokers and having a family history of CRC, needs to be established.
This study aims to investigate whether the implementation of a 24-week dietary programme involving rice bran consumption among adults at high risk of CRC is feasible, and whether it has any effect in inducing a health-promoting modification of the bacterial community, as well as a reduction of inflammation, in the gut of these individuals.
Who can participate?
Chinese adults of either gender, who are aged 50 or above and are categorised to be in the high risk CRC group by the Asian-Pacific Colorectal Screening tool, in which classification is based on age, smoking status and family history of CRC.
What does the study involve?
After the recruited subjects were screened for eligibility of study participation and written informed consent had been obtained from them, they were randomly assigned into either Group A or Group B. Participants in Group A were given packets of rice bran and were asked to consume 30 grams of the rice bran at 24-hour intervals for 24 weeks. Participants in Group B were given packets of rice powder that has similar appearance and colour as the rice bran, and were asked to consume 30 grams of the rice powder, also at 24-hour intervals for 24 weeks. All participants were asked to provide a stool sample and blood sample at various time points during the study, namely just before rice bran consumption, as well as 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks after the start of rice bran consumption. Laboratory tests were conducted on these samples. All participants were also instructed to complete a log book, detailing the date and time of rice bran or rice powder intake each day, and the amount consumed. The participants also completed a faecal diary where they documented the frequency of egestion, and the shape and amount of stool egested each day, as well as the occurrence of any abdominal discomfort or pain.