Project description:Acinetobacter johnsonii C6 originates from creosote-polluted groundwater and performs ecological and evolutionary interactions with Pseudomonas putida in biofilms. The draft genome of A. johnsonii C6 is 3.7 Mbp and was shaped by mobile genetic elements. It reveals genes facilitating the biodegradation of aromatic hydrocarbons and resistance to antimicrobials and metals.
Project description:Whole genome DNA microarray designed for the probiotic L. johnsonii strain NCC533 was used for comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) of L. johnsonii ATCC 33200T, L. johnsonii BL261, L. gasseri ATCC 33323T and L. iatae BL263 (CECT 7394T). In these experiments, the fluorescence ratio distributions obtained with L. iatae and L. gasseri showed characteristic inter-species profiles. The percentage of conserved L. johnsonii NCC533 genes was about 83% in the L. johnsonii strains comparisons and decreased to 51% and 47% for L. iatae and L. gasseri, respectively. These results confirmed the separate status of L. iatae from L. johnsonii at the level of species, and also that it is closer to L. johnsonii than L. gasseri.
Project description:Whole genome DNA microarray designed for the probiotic L. johnsonii strain NCC533 was used for comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) of L. johnsonii ATCC 33200T, L. johnsonii BL261, L. gasseri ATCC 33323T and L. iatae BL263 (CECT 7394T). In these experiments, the fluorescence ratio distributions obtained with L. iatae and L. gasseri showed characteristic inter-species profiles. The percentage of conserved L. johnsonii NCC533 genes was about 83% in the L. johnsonii strains comparisons and decreased to 51% and 47% for L. iatae and L. gasseri, respectively. These results confirmed the separate status of L. iatae from L. johnsonii at the level of species, and also that it is closer to L. johnsonii than L. gasseri. L. johnsonii, L. gasseri, and L. iatae strains were hybridized versus L. johnsonii NCC533, some with replicates
Project description:The dengue virus (DENV) cause frequent epidemics infecting ~390 million people annually in over 100 countries. There are no approved vaccines or antiviral drugs for treatment of infected patients. However, there is a novel approach to control transmission of DENV by the mosquito vectors, Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus, using Wolbachia symbiont. The wMelPop strain of Wolbachia suppresses DENV transmission and shortens the mosquito life span. However, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. To clarify this mechanism, either naïve Ae. albopictus (C6/36) or wMelPop-C6/36 cells were infected with DENV2. Analysis of host transcript profiles by RNAseq revealed that the presence of wMelPop had profound effects on mosquito host cell transcription in response to DENV2 infection. The viral RNA evolved from wMelPop-C6/36 contained low frequency mutations (~25%) within the coding region of transmembrane domain-1 (TMD1) of E protein. Mutations with >97 % frequencies were distributed within other regions of E, NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NS5POL) domain, the TMDs of NS2A, NS2B, and NS4B. Moreover, while DENV2-infected naïve C6/36 cells showed syncytia formation, DENV2-infected wMelPop-C6/36 cells did not. The Wolbachia-induced mutant DENV2 can readily infect and replicate in naïve C6/36 cells; whereas, in the mutant DENV2- infected BHK-21 or Vero cells, the virus replication was delayed. In LLC-MK2 cells, the mutant failed to produce plaques. Additionally, in BHK-21 cells, many mutations in the viral genome reverted to WT and compensatory mutations in NS3 gene appeared. Our results suggest that wMelPop impacts significantly the interactions of DENV2 with mosquito and mammalian host cells.
Project description:Exposure to dogs in early infancy has been shown to reduce the risk of childhood allergic disease development and dog-ownership is associated with a distinct house dust microbial exposure. Here we demonstrate, using murine models, that exposure of mice toM-BM- dog-associated house dust protects against ovalbumin or cockroach allergen mediated airway pathology. Protected animals exhibited significant reductions in the total number of airway T cells, down-regulation of Th2-related airway responses as well as mucin secretion. Following house dust exposure, the cecal microbiome of protected animals was extensively restructured with significant enrichment of, amongst others, Lactobacillus johnsonii. Supplementation of wild type animals with L. johnsonii protected them against both airway allergen challenge or infection with respiratory syncytial virus. L. johnsonii mediated protection wasM-BM- associated with significant reductions in the total number and proportion of activated CD11c+/CD11b+ and CD11c+/CD8+ cells, as well as significantly reduced airway Th2 cytokine expression. Our results reveal that exposure to dog-associated household dust results in protection against airway allergen challenge and a distinct GI microbiome composition. Moreover the study identifies L. johnsonii as a pivotal species within the gastrointestinal tract capable of influencing adaptive immunity at remote mucosal surfaces in a manner that is protective against a variety of respiratory insults. The G2 PhyloChip microarray platform (commercially available from Second Genome, Inc.) was used to profile cecal gut bacteria from 29 mice: 7 controls, 5 gavaged with dust from homes with pets, 5 gavaged with dust from homes with no pets, 4 CRA-challenged, 4 gavaged with L. johnsonii, and 4 gavaged with L. johnsonii prior to CRA challenge. The PhyloChip was also used to profile 1 house dust sample collected from a home with dogs