Project description:Limited systems-level understanding of CO2 concentrating mechanism (CCM) and metabolic adaption in response to different CO2-level in wild oleaginous algae has hindered the development of microalgal feedstock and the knowledge of its role in global warming and oceanic acidification. Nannochloropsis are a group of small unicellular microalgae widely distributed in oceans and fresh water, which implies that it plays a crucial role in biogeochemical cycles impinged on global climate change. In addition, Nannochloropsis has been used for flue gas fixation in many large-scale and pilot-scale outdoor cultivation facilities for photosynthetic production of fuels and chemicals. To untangle the intricate genome-wide networks underlying CCM and metabolic adjustment under different CO2 concentrations in Nannochloropsis, we applied high-throughput mRNA-sequencing and reconstructed the structure and dynamics of the genome-wide functional network underlying robust microalgal CCM and in Nannochloropsis oceanica, by tracking the genome-wide, single-base-resolution transcript change for the complete time-courses of different CO2 concentrations.
Project description:Cyanobacteria are oxygenic photoautotrophs notable for their ability to utilize atmospheric CO2 as the major source of carbon. The prospect of using cyanobacteria in converting solar energy and high concentrations of CO2 (e.g. flue gas from coal power plants) efficiently into biomass and renewable energy sources is of interest to many research fields. In order to guide further advances in this area, a better understanding about the metabolic changes that occur under conditions of high CO2 is important. The objective of this study is to utilize genome-wide microarray expression profiling in the unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacterium Cyanothece 51142 grown in 8% CO2-enriched air and to determined the impact of high CO2 on cyanobacterial cell physiology and growth.
Project description:Odor-active volatile sulfur compounds are formed in heated food protein systems. In the present study, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was found to be the most abundant sulfur volatile in whey protein systems (whey protein isolate (WPI), a whey model system and single whey proteins) by Gas Chromatography-Flame Photometric Detector (GC-FPD) analysis after different heat treatments (60-90 C for 10 min, 90 C for 120 min and a UHT-like condition). Site-specific LC-MS/MS-based proteomic analysis was conducted to monitor desulfurization reactions in these protein systems to investigate the mechanism of H2S formation in heated WPI. H2S was detected in WPI after heating at 90 C for 10 min, and significantly increased at higher heat load (90 C for 120 min and the UHT treatment), which revealed the temperature- and time-dependence of heat-induced H2S generation in WPI. Cysteine (Cys) residues from beta-lactoglobulin were found to be responsible for the formation of H2S in heated WPI, presumably via beta-elimination.
Project description:GAS strains were grown in THY broth to early exponential phase and RNA extracted. cDNA was generated and the expression profiles were determined using the RMLgenechip. Comparisons between the sample groups allow the identification of genes differentially expressed between strains. This experiment compared pre- and post- mouse passaged GAS strains. Keywords: GAS comparison
Project description:This study investigated host genetic susceptibility to invasive group A streptococcal disease in the UK. Cases were either survivors recruited retrospectively through a patient group or identified from the a tissue bank at Imperial College London. Those recruited through the patient group had survived an episode of invasive GAS disease at a UK hospital since 1980 with microbiological confirmation obtained either through Public Health England or from the treating hospital. Those identified from the tissue bank had been diagnosed with invasive GAS disease at the Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK, since 2006. All cases aged less than 65 years without long-term medical conditions genome-wide genotyped using either the Illumina HumanCore or the Global Screening Array platform.
Project description:Adaptation of group A Streptococcus (GAS) to its human host is mediated by two component systems that transduce external stimuli to regulate bacterial physiology. Among such systems, CsrRS (also known as CovRS) is the most extensively characterized for its role in regulating ~10% of the GAS genome including several virulence genes. Here we show that extracellular magnesium and the human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 have opposing effects on phosphorylation of the response regulator CsrR by the receptor kinase CsrS. Genetic inactivation of CsrS phosphatase or kinase activity, respectively, had similar, but more pronounced effects on CsrR phosphorylation compared to growth in magnesium or LL-37. These changes in CsrR phosphorylation were correlated with repression or activation of CsrR-regulated genes as assessed by NanoString analysis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq) revealed CsrR binding at CsrRS-regulated promoters and lower affinity binding at many other locations on the GAS chromosome. Because ChIP-seq did not detect CsrR binding at promoters associated with some CsrR-regulated genes, we investigated whether these genes might be controlled indirectly by intermediate regulators whose expression is modulated by CsrR. Transcriptional profiling of mutant strains deficient in expression of either of two previously uncharacterized transcriptional regulators in the CsrR regulon indicated that one or both proteins participated in regulation of 22 of the 42 CsrR-regulated promoters for which no CsrR binding was detected by ChIP-seq. Taken together, these results illuminate CsrRS-mediated regulation of GAS gene expression through modulation of CsrR phosphorylation, CsrR binding to regulated promoters, and control of intermediate transcriptional regulators.
Project description:This pilot trial studies how well systems support mapping works in guiding self-management in stage I-III colorectal cancer survivors. Systems support mapping helps participants to see complex self-management activities on paper, which makes them more actionable. Behavioral interventions, such as systems support mapping, may help colorectal cancer survivors facilitate self-awareness, create motivation for behavior change, and guide self-management.