ABSTRACT: Investigation of RNA viruses in biting midges in the southeast of Para, in the municipalities of Canaa dos Carajas, Curionopolis, and Maraba.
Project description:The biting behavior observed in Carpenter ants infected by the specialized fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis s.l. is an example of a complex host behavioral manipulation by parasite. Though parasitic manipulation of host behavior is generally assumed to be due to the parasite’s gene expression, few studies have set out to test this. We experimentally infected Carpenter ants to collect tissue from both parasite and host during the time period when manipulated biting behavior is experienced. Upon observation of synchronized biting, samples were collected and subjected to RNA-Seq analyses. We also sequenced and annotated the O. unilateralis s.l. genome as a reference for the fungal reads. Our mixed transcriptomics approach, together with a comparative genomics study, shows that the majority of the fungal genes that are up-regulated during manipulated biting behavior are unique to the O. unilateralis s.l. genome. This study furthermore reveals that the fungal parasite might be regulating immune- and neuronal stress responses in the host during manipulated biting, as well as impairing its chemosensory communication and causing apoptosis. Moreover, we found genes up-regulated during manipulation that putatively encode for proteins with reported effects on behavioral outputs, proteins involved in various neuropathologies, and proteins involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids.
Project description:Gene expression in the hypothalamus and pre frontal cortex in pigs performing and receiving tail biting behaviour was compared with expression in pigs not performing or receiving tail biting
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of RNA samples from un-infected Rhesus Bone Marrow Derived Macrophages (RhBMDMs) exposed to IMDM complete media used as control were compared to RNA from RhBMDMs infected for 24 hr with 'dos' mutants of Mtb viz. MtbΔdosR, MtbΔdosS, or MtbΔdosT
Project description:The miRNA expression profiles in one pair of hTERT-positive gastric cancer tissue and an hTERT-negative para-cancerous tissue. The para-cancerous tissue is at least 5cm away from the cancer tisse. The expression of hTERT of identified by immunohistochemistry before RNA extraction for miRNA assay.
Project description:The history of human settlement in Southeast Asia has been complex and involved several distinct dispersal events. Here we report the analyses of 1825 individuals from Southeast Asia including new genome-wide genotype data for 146 individuals from three Mainland Southeast Asian (Burmese, Malay and Vietnamese) and four Island Southeast Asian (Dusun, Filipino, Kankanaey and Murut) populations. While confirming the presence of previously recognized major ancestry components in the Southeast Asian population structure, we highlight the Kankanaey Igorots from the highlands of the Philippine Mountain Province as likely the closest living representatives of the source population that may have given rise to the Austronesian expansion. This conclusion rests on independent evidence from various analyses of autosomal data and uniparental markers.
Project description:<p>Despite improved diagnostics, pulmonary pathogens in immunocompromised children frequently evade detection, leading to significant mortality. In this study, we performed RNA and DNA-based metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) on 41 lower respiratory samples collected from 34 children. We identified a rich cross-domain pulmonary microbiome containing bacteria, fungi, RNA viruses, and DNA viruses in each patient. Potentially pathogenic bacteria were ubiquitous among samples but could be distinguished as possible causes of disease by parsing for outlier organisms. Potential pathogens were detected in half of samples previously negative by clinical diagnostics. Ongoing investigation is needed to determine the pathogenic significance of outlier microbes in the lungs of immunocompromised children with pulmonary disease. Metatranscriptomic (RNA) sequencing libraries are reported in the manuscript and are included for this release.</p>