Project description:Leaf shape is a spectacularly diverse trait that influences various aspects of plant physiology, and is even correlated with crop yield and quality in multiple species. However, only a few genetic dissections of leaf shape have been accomplished at a species-wide level. Here, we perform an initial characterization of leaf shape variation in Ipomoea batatas, the sweetpotato, at multiple scales of analysis. We use a transcriptomic survey to identify gene expression changes associated with two commonly studied leaf shape traits--circularity and aspect ratio using 19 individuals (accession) of sweetpotato. We comprehensively describe the remarkable morphological diversity in leaf shape in sweetpotato, and identify 147 differentially regulated genes associated with circularity and aspect ratio, providing an initial set of hypotheses regarding the genetic basis of leaf shape in this species.
Project description:We have previously shown that skull bone marrow derived myeloid cells are different from their blood derived counterparts. Whether or not cues from the CNS microenvironment differentially shape the skull bone marrow niche relative to peripheral bone marrow niches is unknown. To test this, we performed scRNAseq of skull and peripheral bone marrow niches.
Project description:Fungi exhibit substantial morphological and genetic diversity, often associated with cryptic species differing in ecological niches. Penicillium roqueforti is used as a starter culture for blue-veined cheeses, being responsible for their flavor and color, but is also a common spoilage organism in various foods. Different types of blue-veined cheeses are manufactured and consumed worldwide, displaying specific organoleptic properties. These features may be due to the different manufacturing methods and/or to the specific P. roqueforti strains used. Substantial morphological diversity exists within P. roqueforti and, although not taxonomically valid, several technological names have been used for strains on different cheeses (e.g., P. gorgonzolae, P. stilton). A worldwide P. roqueforti collection from 120 individual blue-veined cheeses and 21 other substrates was analyzed here to determine (i) whether P. roqueforti is a complex of cryptic species, by applying the Genealogical Concordance Phylogenetic Species Recognition criterion (GC-PSR), (ii) whether the population structure assessed using microsatellite markers correspond to blue cheese types, and (iii) whether the genetic clusters display different morphologies. GC-PSR multi-locus sequence analyses showed no evidence of cryptic species. The population structure analysis using microsatellites revealed the existence of highly differentiated populations, corresponding to blue cheese types and with contrasted morphologies. This suggests that the population structure has been shaped by different cheese-making processes or that different populations were recruited for different cheese types. Cheese-making fungi thus constitute good models for studying fungal diversification under recent selection.
Project description:Eight temperate phages were characterized after mitomycin C induction of six Clostridium difficile isolates corresponding to six distinct PCR ribotypes. The hypervirulent C. difficile strain responsible for a multi-institutional outbreak (NAP1/027 or QCD-32g58) was among these prophage-containing strains. Observation of the crude lysates by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the presence of three phages with isometric capsids and long contractile tails (Myoviridae family), as well as five phages with long noncontractile tails (Siphoviridae family). TEM analyses also revealed the presence of a significant number of phage tail-like particles in all the lysates. Southern hybridization experiments with restricted prophage DNA showed that C. difficile phages belonging to the family Myoviridae are highly similar and most likely related to previously described prophages phiC2, phiC5, and phiCD119. On the other hand, members of the Siphoviridae phage family are more genetically divergent, suggesting that they originated from distantly related ancestors. Our data thus suggest that there are at least three genetically distinct groups of temperate phages in C. difficile; one group is composed of highly related myophages, and the other two groups are composed of more genetically heterogeneous siphophages. Finally, no gene homologous to genes encoding C. difficile toxins or toxin regulators could be identified in the genomes of these phages using DNA hybridization. Interestingly, each unique phage restriction profile correlated with a specific C. difficile PCR ribotype.
Project description:Human populations harbour sequence variants even within essential genes. As a result of random X chromosome inactivation (XCI) and epigenetically stable XCI propagation, X-linked variation gives rise to genetically diverse clones that co-exist within XX individuals. Whether interactions between such clones shape the deployment of X-linked diversity remains to be explored. To address this question, we focus on benign coding variation in the X-linked STAG2 gene. Mouse models reveal that clones expressing Stag2 variants contribute to tissues such as skin and brain at the expected frequencies, but show reduced contributions to the haematopoietic stem and progenitor cell pool, and severely defective lymphoid specification. Unexpectedly, the absence of Xvariant clones from the lymphoid compartment is due not to cell-intrinsic defects, but requires competitive interactions with Xwt clones: in the absence of Xwt, Xvariant cells generate normal numbers of functional lymphocytes. X-linked competition has hallmarks of non-cell-autonomous 'cell competition', known to operate in a range of biological processes including embryonic development, aging, and cancer. These findings show that interactions between genetically diverse clones that may operate in any XX individual can shape the contribution of X-linked diversity to specific cell types and tissues.
Project description:Human populations harbour sequence variants even within essential genes. As a result of random X chromosome inactivation (XCI) and epigenetically stable XCI propagation, X-linked variation gives rise to genetically diverse clones that co-exist within XX individuals. Whether interactions between such clones shape the deployment of X-linked diversity remains to be explored. To address this question, we focus on benign coding variation in the X-linked STAG2 gene. Mouse models reveal that clones expressing Stag2 variants contribute to tissues such as skin and brain at the expected frequencies, but show reduced contributions to the haematopoietic stem and progenitor cell pool, and severely defective lymphoid specification. Unexpectedly, the absence of Xvariant clones from the lymphoid compartment is due not to cell-intrinsic defects, but requires competitive interactions with Xwt clones: in the absence of Xwt, Xvariant cells generate normal numbers of functional lymphocytes. X-linked competition has hallmarks of non-cell-autonomous 'cell competition', known to operate in a range of biological processes including embryonic development, aging, and cancer. These findings show that interactions between genetically diverse clones that may operate in any XX individual can shape the contribution of X-linked diversity to specific cell types and tissues.
Project description:A global map of genetic diversity in Babesia microti reveals strong population structure and identifies variants associated with clinical relapse
Project description:Dinoflagellates are an intriguing group of eukaryotes, showing many unusual morphological and genetic features. Some groups of dinoflagellates are morphologically highly uniform, despite indications of genetic diversity. The species Amphidinium carterae is abundant and cosmopolitan in marine environments, grows easily in culture, and has therefore been used as a 'model' dinoflagellate in research into dinoflagellate genetics, polyketide production and photosynthesis. We have investigated the diversity of 'cryptic' species of Amphidinium that are morphologically similar to A. carterae, including the very similar species Amphidinium massartii, based on light and electron microscopy, two nuclear gene regions (LSU rDNA and ITS rDNA) and one mitochondrial gene region (cytochrome b). We found that six genetically distinct cryptic species (clades) exist within the species A. massartii and four within A. carterae, and that these clades differ from one another in molecular sequences at levels comparable to other dinoflagellate species, genera or even families. Using primers based on an alignment of alveolate ketosynthase sequences, we isolated partial ketosynthase genes from several Amphidinium species. We compared these genes to known dinoflagellate ketosynthase genes and investigated the evolution and diversity of the strains of Amphidinium that produce them.
Project description:BACKGROUND: The past decade has seen a remarkable increase in the number of recognized mouse lemur species (genus Microcebus). As recently as 1994, only two species of mouse lemur were recognized according to the rules of zoological nomenclature. That number has now climbed to as many as fifteen proposed species. Indeed, increases in recognized species diversity have also characterized other nocturnal primates--galagos, sportive lemurs, and tarsiers. Presumably, the movement relates more to a previous lack of information than it does to any recent proclivity for taxonomic splitting. Due to their nocturnal habits, one can hypothesize that mouse lemurs will show only minimal variation in pelage coloration as such variation should be inconsequential for the purposes of mate and/or species recognition. Even so, current species descriptions for nocturnal strepsirrhines place a good deal of emphasis on relatively fine distinctions in pelage coloration. RESULTS: Here, we report results from a multi-year study of mouse lemur populations from Beza Mahafaly in southern Madagascar. On the basis of morphological and pelage variation, we initially hypothesized the presence of up to three species of mouse lemurs occurring sympatrically at this locality, one of which appeared to be undescribed. Genetic analysis reveals definitively, however, that all three color morphs belong to a single recognized species, Microcebus griseorufus. Indeed, in some cases, the three color morphs can be characterized by identical mitochondrial haplotypes. CONCLUSION: Given these results, we conclude that investigators should always proceed with caution when using a single data source to identify novel species. A synthetic approach that combines morphological, genetic, geographic, and ecological data is most likely to reveal the true nature of species diversity.
Project description:This study used morphological characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA to investigate the phylogeny of Passiflora species. The samples were collected from various regions of East Malaysia, and discriminant function analysis based on linear combinations of morphological variables was used to classify the Passiflora species. The biplots generated five distinct groups discriminated by morphological variables. The group consisted of cultivars of P. edulis with high levels of genetic similarity; in contrast, P. foetida was highly divergent from other species in the morphological biplots. The final dataset of aligned sequences from nine studied Passiflora accessions and 30 other individuals obtained from GenBank database (NCBI) yielded one most parsimonious tree with two strongly supported clades. Maximum parsimony (MP) tree showed the phylogenetic relationships within this subgenus Passiflora support the classification at the series level. The constructed phylogenic tree also confirmed the divergence of P. foetida from all other species and the closeness of wild and cultivated species. The phylogenetic relationships were consistent with results of morphological assessments. The results of this study indicate that ITS region analysis represents a useful tool for evaluating genetic diversity in Passiflora at the species level.