Project description:Our data demonstrate the suitability of target capture technology for purifying very low quantities of Leptospira DNA from biological samples where the human genome is in vast excess. This enables deep sequencing of partial Leptospira genomes directly from clinical samples using next generation technologies and genotyping.
Project description:Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a major world health problem with over 400,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Despite advances in surgery and chemo-radiotherapy, the 5 year survival has remained roughly constant at approximately 50% for several decades. The disease is characterized by both clinical and genetic heterogeneity, so elucidating the molecular basis of this heterogeneity would have significant clinical implications. It is well recognized that OSCCs from Asia that are associated with betel quid chewing are phenotypically distinct from those from the West that are predominantly caused by smoking/drinking, but the genetic basis of these differences are largely unknown. The aim of this study is to examine the most related genetic factors, carcinogenic related pathways, and molecular processes that might be responsible for the phenotypic heterogeneity of OSCC between UK and Sri Lankan population groups. Methods: We have compared the gene expression profiles of OSCCs and normal oral mucosal tissues from both Sri Lankan and UK individuals using Affymetrix gene expression arrays. Results: The gene expression profiles of UK and Sri Lankan OSCC are similar in many respects to other oral cancer expression profiles reported in the literature and were mainly similar to each other. However, genes involved in tumor invasion, metastasis and recurrence were more obviously associated with UK tumors as opposed to those from Sri Lanka. Interestingly, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) revealed a highly activated cell-mediated immune response in both Sri Lankan normal and tumor samples relative to UK cohorts, which may, in part, explain the less aggressive behavior of these betel quid-induced OSCCs. Conclusion: The development of OSCCs in both UK and Sri Lankan populations appears largely mediated by similar biological pathways despite the differences related to race, ethnicity, lifestyle, and/or exposure to environmental carcinogens. However, IPA revealed a highly activated M-bM-^@M-^\Cell-mediated Immune ResponseM-bM-^@M-^] in Sri Lankan normal and tumor samples relative to UK cohorts. It seems likely, therefore, that any future attempts to personalize treatment for OSCC patients will need to be different in Western and Asian countries to reflect differences in gene expression and the immune status of the patients. All biopsy specimens of OSCC and normal oral mucosa were harvested with appropriate ethical approval and informed consent of individual patients (LREC 0769). Identical protocols for tissue collection and processing were used in both countries. OSCC samples were obtained from sequential incident cases treated by a single consultant surgeon from 2001 to 2004 at University Hospital of Birmingham, NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK, and Kandy General Hospital, Kandy, Sri Lanka. A total of 21 UK and 27 Sri Lankan samples yielded RNA of sufficient quality and quantity for microarray analysis. In addition, 8 normal oral mucosa specimens (five samples from UK & three samples from Sri Lankan population) were also profiled. All normal samples were from non-smokers, who did not chew betel quid and did not consume in excess of the national recommended weekly gender allowance of alcohol. Normal samples were taken from individuals with no history of cancer and had no first degree relatives with a history of cancer.
Project description:Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a major world health problem with over 400,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Despite advances in surgery and chemo-radiotherapy, the 5 year survival has remained roughly constant at approximately 50% for several decades. The disease is characterized by both clinical and genetic heterogeneity, so elucidating the molecular basis of this heterogeneity would have significant clinical implications. It is well recognized that OSCCs from Asia that are associated with betel quid chewing are phenotypically distinct from those from the West that are predominantly caused by smoking/drinking, but the genetic basis of these differences are largely unknown. The aim of this study is to examine the most related genetic factors, carcinogenic related pathways, and molecular processes that might be responsible for the phenotypic heterogeneity of OSCC between UK and Sri Lankan population groups. Methods: We have compared the gene expression profiles of OSCCs and normal oral mucosal tissues from both Sri Lankan and UK individuals using Affymetrix gene expression arrays. Results: The gene expression profiles of UK and Sri Lankan OSCC are similar in many respects to other oral cancer expression profiles reported in the literature and were mainly similar to each other. However, genes involved in tumor invasion, metastasis and recurrence were more obviously associated with UK tumors as opposed to those from Sri Lanka. Interestingly, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) revealed a highly activated cell-mediated immune response in both Sri Lankan normal and tumor samples relative to UK cohorts, which may, in part, explain the less aggressive behavior of these betel quid-induced OSCCs. Conclusion: The development of OSCCs in both UK and Sri Lankan populations appears largely mediated by similar biological pathways despite the differences related to race, ethnicity, lifestyle, and/or exposure to environmental carcinogens. However, IPA revealed a highly activated “Cell-mediated Immune Response” in Sri Lankan normal and tumor samples relative to UK cohorts. It seems likely, therefore, that any future attempts to personalize treatment for OSCC patients will need to be different in Western and Asian countries to reflect differences in gene expression and the immune status of the patients.
Project description:Pathogenic Leptospira spp. are the causative agents of the zoonotic disease leptospirosis. During infection, Leptospira are confronted with deadly reactive oxygen species (ROS). Withstanding ROS produced by the host innate immunity is an important strategy evolved by pathogenic Leptospira for persisting in and colonizing hosts. The peroxide stress regulator, PerR, represses genes involved in ROS defenses in L. interrogans. We have performed RNA sequencing in WT and perR mutant strains to characterize the L. interrogans adaptive response to hydrogen peroxide. We showed that Leptospira solicit three main peroxidase machineries (catalase, cytochrome C peroxidase and peroxiredoxin) and heme to adapt to peroxide stress as well as canonical chaperones of the heat shock response, and DNA repair. Determining the PerR regulon allowed to identify the PerR-dependent mechanisms of the peroxide adaptive response and has revealed a regulatory network involving other transcriptional regulators, two-component systems and sigma factors as well as non-coding RNAs that putatively orchestrate, in concert with PerR, this adaptive response. Our findings provide comprehensive insight into the mechanisms required by pathogenic Leptospira to overcome infection-related oxidants. This will participate in framing future hypothesis-driven studies to identify and decipher novel virulence mechanisms.
Project description:The overall goal of these experiments was to determine how human endothelial cells respond to pathogenic Leptospira interrogans. Leptospira interrogans causes leptospirosis, the most widespread zoonotic infection in the world. A hallmark of leptospirosis is widespread endothelial damage, which in severe cases leads to hemorrhage. In these experiments, we infected two endothelial cell lines with pathogenic Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola strain Ca12-005, and as controls, with the non-pathogenic Leptospira biflexa serovar Patoc strain Pfra. As additional controls, uninfected cells were also included in the analyses.
Project description:The overall goal of these experiments was to determine how human endothelial cells respond to pathogenic Leptospira interrogans. Leptospira interrogans causes leptospirosis, the most widespread zoonotic infection in the world. A hallmark of leptospirosis is widespread endothelial damage, which in severe cases leads to hemorrhage. In these experiments, we infected two endothelial cell lines with pathogenic Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola strain Ca12-005, and as controls, with the non-pathogenic Leptospira biflexa serovar Patoc strain Pfra. As additional controls, uninfected cells were also included in the analyses.
Project description:Leptospira are emerging zoonotic pathogens transmitted from animals to humans typically through contaminated environmental sources of water and soil. Transcriptional regulation of pathogenic Leptospira spp. underlying the adaptive response to different hosts and environmental conditions remains elusive. In this study, we provide the first global Transcriptional Start Site (TSS) map of a Leptospira species. RNA was obtained from the pathogen Leptospira interrogans grown at 30° (optimal in vitro temperature) and 37°C (host temperature) and selectively enriched for 5' ends of native transcripts. Primary TSS (pTSS) was identified for 2,865 genes, accounting for 67% of the total genome. The majority of the TSSs were located between 0 to 10 nucleotides from the translational start site. Comparative dRNA-seq analysis revealed conservation of most pTSS at 30° and 37°C. Promoter prediction algorithms allow the identification of the binding sites of the alternative sigma factor sigma 54. However, other motifs were not identified indicating that Leptospira consensus promoter sequences are inherently different from the E. coli model. RNA sequencing also identified 277 and 226 putative small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) at 30°C and 37°C, respectively, including 8 validated sRNAs by Northern blots. These results provide the first global view of transcriptional start sites and the repertoire of sRNAs in L. interrogans, and will establish a foundation for future experimental work on gene regulation under various environmental conditions including those in the host.