Project description:We sequenced total RNA from Dirofilaria immitis in order to generate the first tissue-specific gene expression profile of a filarial nematode and its Wolbachia endosymbiont.
Project description:We characterized the miRNA composition of the nucleus and the cytoplasm of uninfected cells and compared it with the one of cells infected with the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia strain wMelPop-CLA. We found an overall increase of small RNAs between 18 and 28 nucleotides in both cellular compartments in Wolbachia-infected cells and identified specific miRNAs induced and/or suppressed by the Wolbachia infection. We discuss the mechanisms that the cell may use to shuttle miRNAs between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. In addition, we identified piRNAs that changed their abundance in response to Wolbachia infection. The miRNAs and piRNAs identified in this study provide promising leads for investigations into the host-endosymbiont interactions and for better understanding of how Wolbachia manipulates the host miRNA machinery in order to facilitate its persistent replication in infected cells.
Project description:We investigated tissue-specific regulation of gene expression in a long lived Drosophila IIS mutant (dilp2-3,5) compared to its control (wDah). As in the majority of Drosophila laboratory strains, the endosymbiont Wolbachia was present; in the absence of Wolbachia, life extension through dilp2-3,5 is abrogated (Grönke et al. 2010). To control for this, we additionally included strains of the same genotypes that lacked Wolbachia (dilp2-3,5T, wDahT). We quantified gene expression concurrently on the level of the proteome and the transcriptome, in four key tissues: brain, gut, fat body, and muscle. Proteome quantification was carried out on five biological replicates per experimental group. Corresponding transcriptome quantification was carried out on three biological replicates per experimental group, and published on GEO (accession number *GSE122190*)
