Project description:Flatfish have evolved their visual system to meet the demands of their environment through a fascinating process of metamorphosis. This morphological transformation involves a significant change in lifestyle from pelagic to benthic, accompanied by changes in body structure to achieve an asymmetrical flat shape. However, the fundamental change lies in the migration of one eye from its original position to the opposite location on the body. Although the role of thyroid hormone in triggering flatfish metamorphosis is well established, the specific gene regulatory network responsible for this extraordinary eye migration is still unknown. Here we show a global view through the creation of a general map of gene expression during the metamorphic process, encompassing both migrant and non-migrant eyes. Our research uncovers significant differences between migrant and non-migrant eyes of turbot in the pre-metamorphic and climax phases, emphasizing genetic disparities crucial for benthic adaptation.
Project description:The gut microbiota exerts profound influence on poultry immunity and metabolism through mechanisms that yet need to be elucidated. Here we used conventional and germ-free chickens to explore the influence of the gut microbiota on transcriptomic along the gut-lung axis in poultry. Our results demonstrated a differential regulation of genes associated with innate immunity and metabolism in the spleen of germ-free birds.
Project description:The gut microbiota exerts profound influence on poultry immunity and metabolism through mechanisms that yet need to be elucidated. Here we used conventional and germ-free chickens to explore the influence of the gut microbiota on transcriptomic along the gut-lung axis in poultry. Our results demonstrated a differential regulation of genes associated with innate immunity and metabolism in the lungs of germ-free birds.
Project description:The gut microbiota exerts profound influence on poultry immunity and metabolism through mechanisms that yet need to be elucidated. Here we used conventional and germ-free chickens to explore the influence of the gut microbiota on transcriptomic along the gut-lung axis in poultry. Our results demonstrated a differential regulation of genes associated with innate immunity and metabolism in the caeca of germ-free birds.
Project description:The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of genotypic variation on both early microbial colonization of the gut and functional development of intestinal tissue. From two genetically diverse chicken lines intestinal content samples were taken for microbiota analyzes and intestinal tissue samples were extracted for gene expression analyzes, both at three subsequent time-points (days 0, 4, and 16). 1-day-old chicks (Lines X and Y) were housed in a floor pen system in which the chicks had ad libitum access to feed and water. At days 0, 4 and 16, 80 birds of each line X and line Y were sacrificed for tissue sampling, in total 240 birds per line. Subsequently, samples from these 80 birds were pooled in 8 pools of ten birds.
Project description:Light is the primary environmental cue in resetting the phase of circadian pacemaker in vertebrates. In birds, the effect of light is partly mediated by modulating the levels of circadian genes in the pineal gland. To further elucidate the mechanism by which light resets the circadian clock, we studied gene expression in the chicken pineal gland under acutely extended light period. Three paradigms of treatments were used in this study. For each paradigm, chicks were assigned at random to control treatment (control groups) or light treatment (light groups). All birds in control groups were given 12 h light and 12 h dark period (LD 12:12). Light-on time is referred to as Zeitgeber Time 0 (ZT0). In paradigm 1, birds in the light group (n =25 for each of the groups in each paradigm) were acclimated to LD 12:12 for one week in the same light scheme as were the control birds, then exposed to light for 2 h during the subjective late night (ZT22 to ZT24) on the last day. All birds (including the controls) were sacrificed at ZT0. Pineal glands were dissected and 5-6 pineal glands were pooled for the preparation of one RNA sample. In paradigm 2, birds in the light group were acclimated as in paradigm 1 for one week, then exposed to light for 2 h during the early subjective night (ZT12 to ZT14) on the last day. All birds (including controls) were sacrificed at ZT14. The pineal glands were also pooled as before. In paradigm 3, birds in the light group (n = 25) were kept in LD 15:9 cycle all the time, and all birds (including controls) were sacrificed at ZT14. Similarly, 5-6 pineal glands in the same treatment were pooled.