Project description:Milk-derived peptides and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) have gained interest as health-promoting food ingredients. However, the mechanisms by which these nutraceuticals modulate the function of biological systems often remain unclear. We utilized Caenorhabditis elegans to elucidate how milk-derived Protein powders rich in MFGM, previously used in a clinical trial, affect the physiology of this model organism. Our results demonstrate that Protein powders do not affect lifespan but promote the fitness of the animals. Surprisingly, gene expression analysis revealed that Protein powders decrease the expression of genes functioning on innate immunity, which also translates into reduced survival on pathogenic bacteria. One of the innate immunity-associated genes showing reduced expression upon Protein powder supplementation is cpr-3, the homolog of human cathepsin B. Interestingly, knockdown of cpr-3 enhances fitness, but not in Protein powder-treated animals, suggesting that protein powders contribute to fitness by downregulating the expression of this gene. In summary, this research highlights the value of C. elegans in testing the biological activity of food supplements and nutraceuticals. Furthermore, this study should encourage investigations into whether milk-derived peptides and MFGM mediate their beneficial effects through the modulation of cathepsin B expression in humans.
Project description:To investigate the impact transcription that the Spore Forming (SF) Community of bacteria have on the small intestine, B6 mice on a autoclaved diet that were germfree (GF) or colonized with the SF community were investigated. Using laser capture microdissection the intestinal epithelial cells on the villi and the crypts were dissected out and bulk RNA seq was performed.
Project description:The process of Saccharomyces cerevisiae spore germination includes breakage of dormancy, morphological changes and resumption of vegetative growth. We have determined the global transcriptional response during the first two hours of spore germination in response to rich growth medium and glucose alone, and identified possible transcription factors regulating the different transcriptional programs.
Project description:Bacterial spores play an important role in disease initiation, transmission and persistence. The outermost spore layer, the exosporium, is important as it is the first point of contact between the spore and the environment and may be involved in spore adherence, protection and germination. Clostridium sordellii is a highly lethal, spore forming pathogen that causes soft-tissue infections, enteritis and toxic-shock syndrome. Despite the importance of C. sordellii spores in disease, spore proteins from this bacterium have not been defined or interrogated functionally. In this study, we identified the C. sordellii outer spore proteome and two of the identified proteins, CSA and CSB, were characterised using a genetic and phenotypic approach. Both proteins were essential for the correct formation and positioning of the C. sordellii spore coat and exosporium. The absence of CSA reduced sporulation levels and increased spore sensitivity to heat, sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. By comparison, CSB was required for normal levels of spore adherence to cervical, but not vaginal, cells, with csb mutant spores having increased adherence properties. The establishment of a mouse infection model of the gastrointestinal tract for C. sordellii allowed the role of CSA and CSB to be interrogated in an infected host. Following the oral administration of spores to mice, the wild-type strain efficiently colonized the gastrointestinal tract, with the peak of bacterial numbers occurring at one day post-infection. Colonization was reduced by two logs at four days post-infection. By comparison, mice infected with the csb mutant did not show a reduction in bacterial numbers. The absence of CSB therefore allows the csb mutant to persist within the gastrointestinal tract. We conclude that C. sordellii outer spore proteins are important for the structural and functional integrity of spores, and for colonization and persistence during infection. Finally, Clostridium difficile, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus anthracis encode proteins with homology to CSA and CSB but these bacteria produce spores that are structurally dissimilar to those of C. sordellii, and the function of the proteins in these hosts is different to that in C. sordellii. These findings suggest that, despite their homology, spore proteins can have variable functions in different bacterial species which highlights the necessity of studying each spore protein in the cognate species from which it originates.
Project description:Gene expression profiles before and after spore formation of Lentinula edodes (L54)grown at sawdust. Keywords: time-course SAGE were used to generate tags from RNA of fruit bodies of L. edodes. RNA were extracted from the fruit bodies before and after spore observed. Gene expression profiles of both stages were compared to screen out genes may relate to spore formation.