Project description:Characteization host-microbiome interactions in patients with allergic (model: atopic dermatitis) and autoimmune (model: psoriasis) diseases by integration of microarray transcriptome data with 16S microbial profiling. 6mm punch biopsies were collected from the skin of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis patients alongside healthy volunteers, and subjected to analysis using Affymetrix Human Gene ST 2.1 arrays.
Project description:Amphibian populations around the world are threatened by an emerging infectious pathogen, the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). How can a fungal skin infection kill such a broad range of amphibian hosts? And why are certain species particularly susceptible to the impacts of Bd? Here we use a genomics approach to understand the genetic response of multiple susceptible frog species to Bd infection. We characterize the transcriptomes of two closely-related endangered frog species (Rana muscosa and Rana sierrae) and analyze whole genome expression profiles from frogs in controlled Bd-infection experiments. We integrate the Rana results with a comparable dataset from a more distantly-related susceptible species (Silurana tropicalis). We demonstrate that Bd-infected frogs show massive disruption of skin function and show no evidence of a robust immune response. The genetic response to infection is shared across the focal susceptible species, suggesting a common effect of Bd on susceptible frogs. A total of five (12-plex) chips were analyzed from 60 samples comprising 2 conditions (control and infected), 3 tissues (skin, liver and spleen) and 2 timepoints (early and late). Three biological replicates were used for each condition and tissue at each time point. Twentyfour arrays were analyzed for skin samples, 24 for liver, and 12 for spleen. The same dye, Cy5, was used for all samples.
Project description:Here we report a direct tRNA sequencing protocol and software to simultaneously examine the composition and biological activity of naturally occurring microbial communities. Our analysis of mouse gut microbiome with tRNA-seq and 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicons revealed comparable microbial community structures, and additional physiological insights into the microbiome through tRNA abundance and modifications.
Project description:Amphibian populations around the world are threatened by an emerging infectious pathogen, the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). How can a fungal skin infection kill such a broad range of amphibian hosts? And why are certain species particularly susceptible to the impacts of Bd? Here we use a genomics approach to understand the genetic response of multiple susceptible frog species to Bd infection. We characterize the transcriptomes of two closely-related endangered frog species (Rana muscosa and Rana sierrae) and analyze whole genome expression profiles from frogs in controlled Bd-infection experiments. We integrate the Rana results with a comparable dataset from a more distantly-related susceptible species (Silurana tropicalis). We demonstrate that Bd-infected frogs show massive disruption of skin function and show no evidence of a robust immune response. The genetic response to infection is shared across the focal susceptible species, suggesting a common effect of Bd on susceptible frogs.
Project description:The objectives of this study were to establish a microbiome profile for oral epithelial dysplasia using archival lesion swab samples to characterize the community variations and the functional potential of the microbiome using 16S rRNA gene sequencing
Project description:Opioids such as morphine have many beneficial properties as analgesics, however, opioids may induce multiple adverse gastrointestinal symptoms. We have recently demonstrated that morphine treatment results in significant disruption in gut barrier function leading to increased translocation of gut commensal bacteria. However, it is unclear how opioids modulate the gut homeostasis. By using a mouse model of morphine treatment, we studied effects of morphine treatment on gut microbiome. We characterized phylogenetic profiles of gut microbes, and found a significant shift in the gut microbiome and increase of pathogenic bacteria following morphine treatment when compared to placebo. In the present study, wild type mice (C57BL/6J) were implanted with placebo, morphine pellets subcutaneously. Fecal matter were taken for bacterial 16s rDNA sequencing analysis at day 3 post treatment. A scatter plot based on an unweighted UniFrac distance matrics obtained from the sequences at OTU level with 97% similarity showed a distinct clustering of the community composition between the morphine and placebo treated groups. By using the chao1 index to evaluate alpha diversity (that is diversity within a group) and using unweighted UniFrac distance to evaluate beta diversity (that is diversity between groups, comparing microbial community based on compositional structures), we found that morphine treatment results in a significant decrease in alpha diversity and shift in fecal microbiome at day 3 post treatment compared to placebo treatment. Taxonomical analysis showed that morphine treatment results in a significant increase of potential pathogenic bacteria. Our study shed light on effects of morphine on the gut microbiome, and its role in the gut homeostasis.
Project description:The human gut is colonized by trillions of microorganisms that influence human health and disease through the metabolism of xenobiotics, including therapeutic drugs and antibiotics. The diversity and metabolic potential of the human gut microbiome have been extensively characterized, but it remains unclear which microorganisms are active and which perturbations can influence this activity. Here, we use flow cytometry, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and metatranscriptomics to demonstrate that the human gut contains distinctive subsets of active and damaged microorganisms, primarily composed of Firmicutes, which display marked temporal variation. Short-term exposure to a panel of xenobiotics resulted in significant changes in the physiology and gene expression of this active microbiome. Xenobiotic-responsive genes were found across multiple bacterial phyla, encoding novel candidate proteins for antibiotic resistance, drug metabolism, and stress response. These results demonstrate the power of moving beyond DNA-based measurements of microbial communities to better understand their physiology and metabolism. RNA-Seq analysis of the human gut microbiome during exposure to antibiotics and therapeutic drugs.