Project description:Plethodontid salamanders are the largest family of salamanders and are classic models for studying the effect of rapidly evolving courtship pheromones on mating behavior and reproductive success. Despite interests in plethodontid reproduction, very little is known about the molecular composition of salamander gametes, as the extraordinary sizes of their genomes have impaired the development of various omic-scale resources. To identify what proteins may be expressed in salamander sperm, we performed DIA-MS on sperm samples from two plethodontid species, Plethodon shermani and Desmognathus ocoee. As the first detailed study of salamander sperm, this study partially fills in a critical taxonomic gap in the study of fertilization proteins in vertebrates.
Project description:The salamander microRNA expression between mid-bud limb regenerating blastemas (17 days post amputation) and non-regenerating stump tissues was compared by microarray analysis.
Project description:We explore whether a low-energy diet intervention for Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) improves liver disease by means of modulating the gut microbiome. 16 individuals were given a low-energy diet (880 kcal, consisting of bars, soups, and shakes) for 12 weeks, followed by a stepped re-introduction to whole for an additional 12 weeks. Stool samples were obtained at 0, 12, and 24 weeks for microbiome analysis. Fecal microbiome were measured using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Positive control (Zymo DNA standard D6305) and negative control (PBS extraction) were included in the sequencing. We found that low-energy diet improved MASH disease without lasting alterations to the gut microbiome.
Project description:Tadpoles of the anuran species Rana pirica can undergo predator-specific morphological responses. Exposure to a predation threat by larvae of the salamander Hynobius retardatus results in formation of a bulgy body (bulgy morph) with a higher tail. The objective of the present study was to use Affymetrix Xenopus Genechip to profile gene expression in the tail tissue by different predation threat. Tadpoles of Rana pirica treated with larvae salamander for 8days (brainS1, brainS2, brainS3) were analyzed with triplicate. Controls were cultured for 8days without larvae salamander (brainC1,brainC2,brainC3,brainC4,brainC5,brainC6). Brains from tadpoles after 8days of each treatment were dissected for RNA extraction and gene expression analysis using Affymetrix Xenopus Genechip arrays.