Project description:The effects of two years' winter warming on the overall fungal functional gene structure in Alaskan tundra soil were studies by the GeoChip 4.2 Resuts showed that two years' winter warming changed the overall fungal functional gene structure in Alaskan tundra soil.
Project description:To date little is known about the transcriptome of Hammondia hammondi, the nearest extant relative of Toxoplasma gondii. In this study we used an existing microarray to query Toxoplasma gondii and Hammondia hammondi transcript abundance in sporulated oocysts.
Project description:To date little is known about the transcriptome of Hammondia hammondi, the nearest extant relative of Toxoplasma gondii. In this study we used an existing microarray to query Toxoplasma gondii and Hammondia hammondi transcript abundance in sporulated oocysts. Oocysts of the VEG strain of Toxoplasma gondii, and the HhCatGer041 strain of Hammondia hammondi, were isolated from cat feces by sucrose flotation, and sporulated for ~3-6 months in 2% sulfuric acid. RNA was isolated from Bleach-treated oocyst preparations using the Trizol reagent. RNA was biotinylated for hybridization to Toxo 169 Affymetrix chips using the Illumina Total Prep RNA labeling kit (Ambion). For each species 3 separate RNA isolations were performed on the same batch of oocysts and hybridized to individual microarrays.
Project description:Background: Muscle responses to exercise are complex, and potentially include acute responses to exercise-induced injury as well as longer-term adaptive training responses. Using Alaskan sled dogs as an experimental model, changes in muscle gene expression were analyzed to better understand the temporal changes that occur after severe exercise. Methods: Dogs were randomly assigned to undertake in a 160 km run (n=9), or to remain at rest (n=4). Biceps femoris muscle was obtained by needle biopsy from the unexercised dogs and two dogs at each of 2, 6 and 12 hours after the exercise and from 3 dogs 24 hours after exercise. RNA was extracted and microarray analysis used to define gene transcriptional changes. Results: Nine hundred sixty three transcripts exhibited statistically significant change over time after exercise as compared to the unexercised dogs. The changes in gene expression after exercise occurred in a clear temporal pattern and included transcripts with increased expression 2 hours after exercise with a return towards resting levels by 6 hours after exercise. Other transcripts demonstrated increased expression which peaked at six hours after exercise, while other transcripts showed sustained induction or repression over the 24 hours after exercise. Increases in a number of known transcriptional regulators, including PPAR-α, CERM and CEBPD, were observed 2-hours after exercise. Pathway analysis demonstrated coordinated changes in expression of genes with known functional relationships, including genes involved in muscle remodeling and growth, intermediary metabolism and immune regulation. Conclusion: Sustained endurance exercise by Alaskan sled dogs induces coordinated changes in gene expression with a clear temporal pattern. RNA expression profiling has the potential to identify novel regulatory mechanisms and responses to exercise stimuli.