Project description:Rhizopus microsporus is one of the most common agents of mucormycosis, a severe and emerging infection caused by Mucorales fungi that poses a significant clinical challenge, particularly due to the growing population of immunocompromised individuals. An substantial proportion of clinical isolates harbor bacterial endosymbionts, which regulate key fungal functions, such asexual sporulation. The strict dependence on endosymbionts for spore formation has limited a comprehensive understanding of endosymbiosis in R. microsporus biology. Here, we demonstrate that sporulation in endosymbiont-cured strains of this fungus, which previously harbored Mycetohabitans bacteria, can be induced by light. Interestingly, both light and endosymbionts regulate sporulation through the same regulatory pathway, and a high proportion of the genes upregulated by these signals are known to be involved in asexual sporulation in other fungi, including Mucorales. Light-induced sporulation enabled comparative assays to assess the impact of symbiosis on fungal traits. In addition to previously known effects on fungal fitness, this study reveals that germination is independent of endosymbionts, although their presence accelerates the process. Furthermore, it shows that asexual spores lacking endosymbionts exhibit a reduced virulence in a mouse model of mucormycosis. The discovery of light-induced sporulation in endosymbiont-free strains of R. microsporus paves the way for future comparative studies using genetically identical backgrounds, advancing our understanding of fungal-bacterial symbiosis and its role in fungal biology and human pathogenesis.
Project description:The goal of this study was to identify fungal gene expression changes during early stages of symbiosis establishment with its Burkholderia endosymbionts. Results: Leveraging this RNA-seq dataset we identified fungal genes utilized for symbiosis establishment with bacteria.
Project description:The aim of this study was to analyze potential brown planthopper (BPH) resistant genes in Rathu Heenati (RHT) by Affymetrix whole rice genome array,BPH susceptible and resistant rice varieties of TN1(Taichung Native 1)as control. All the resistant related genes derived from RHT will be analyzed according to the SSR markers interval flanked on the chromosome 3, 4, 6 and 10. It will be benefit to the gene clone and marker assistant breeding for Bph3 gene in the near future. We used microarrays to detail the global differential gene expression before and after brown planthopper attack in two different varieties, and identified distinct classes of high enriched genes induced by BPH or constituent in RHT
Project description:To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the rice plant-mediated interaction between brown planthopper (BPH) and striped stem borer (SSB), gene expression changes in rice plant response to infestation by SSB, BPH or both and control were analyzed by RNA-seq.
Project description:Nilaparvata lugens, the brown planthopper (BPH) sucks the rice phloem sap containing high sucrose to obtain carbon source. The comparative gene expression analyses were perfomed during feeding against starvation in order to determine sugar transporter and other feeding related gene expression.
Project description:Through transcriptome profiling using RNA-seq, we investigated the mechanisms behind bacterial endosymbiont (Burkholderia rhizoxinica) control over host (Rhizopus microsporus) reproductive biology. By analyzing differential expression across six different conditions, including fungal opposite mates growing independently with or without endosymbionts, as well as opposite mates growing together with endosymbionts (mating) or without endosymbionts (no mating), we were able to identify that endosymbionts control expression of a Ras signaling protein critical for sexual reproduction in many fungi (Ras2). As little is known regarding sexual reproduction in Mucoromycotina, we also used these data to investigate conservation of sex-related genes across all fungi, as well as predict potential genes involved in sensing of trisporic acid, the mating pheromone used by these fungi. 6 different conditions were analyzed, each consisting of two biological replicates. These included Rhizopus microsporus ATCC52813 (sex +) growing alone with endosymbionts, R. microsporus ATCC52814 (sex -) growing alone with endosymbionts, ATCC 52813 growing alone without endosymbionts, ATCC52814 growing alone without endosymbionts, ATCC52813 and ATCC52814 growing together with endosymbionts (successfully mating), and ATCC52813 and ATCC52814 growing together without endosymbionts (failure to mate). In each condition, fungi were cultivated on half-strength PDA and plugs of mycelium were placed at the edge of the plate. After 6 days, approximately 2.5 cm of tissue were harvested from the center of the plate. Each biological replicate consists of 5 plates which were pooled prior to RNA extraction to ensure sufficient tissue was collected.
Project description:Through transcriptome profiling using RNA-seq, we investigated the mechanisms behind bacterial endosymbiont (Burkholderia rhizoxinica) control over host (Rhizopus microsporus) reproductive biology. By analyzing differential expression across six different conditions, including fungal opposite mates growing independently with or without endosymbionts, as well as opposite mates growing together with endosymbionts (mating) or without endosymbionts (no mating), we were able to identify that endosymbionts control expression of a Ras signaling protein critical for sexual reproduction in many fungi (Ras2). As little is known regarding sexual reproduction in Mucoromycotina, we also used these data to investigate conservation of sex-related genes across all fungi, as well as predict potential genes involved in sensing of trisporic acid, the mating pheromone used by these fungi.
Project description:Rice infection with RRSV and RGSV causes severe symptoms and is transmitted by the brown planthopper, which feeds on the base of the rice stem and spreads the virus. We analyzed cell heterogeneity at the base of the rice stem after virus infection by single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).