Project description:We report changes in H3K27ac following LPS stimulation in Detroit 562 cells. We were able to identified LPS-increased H3K27ac regions which correlated with RELA binding as well as gene up-regulation. This data set is relevant for airborne bacterial sensing as Detroit 562 cells are nasopharyngeal epithelial cells and LPS is a gram negative bacterial endotoxin.
Project description:Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) play a central role for tolerance against self and innocuous environmental antigens. However, the role of antigen-specificity for Treg-mediated tolerance is only incompletely understood. Here we show by direct ex vivo characterization of human CD4+ T cells, that the response against innocuous airborne antigens, such as plant pollen or fungal spores, is dominated by memory-like antigen-specific Treg. Surprisingly, breakdown of tolerance in atopic donors was not accompanied by a quantitatively or qualitatively altered Treg response, but instead correlated with a striking dichotomy of Treg versus Th2 target specificity. Allergenic proteins, are selectively targeted by Th2 cells, but not Treg. Thus human Treg specific for airborne antigens maintain tolerance at mucosal sites and the failure to generate specific Treg against a subgroup of antigens provides a window of opportunity for allergy development. PBMCs from sex and age matched birch pollen allergic patients and healthy controls, were stimulated (7h) with airborne fungal (A. fumigatus) or birch pollen antigen (birch) and sorted into antigen specific conventional and regulatory T cells according to their expression of CD154+ and CD137+ on CD4+ T cells, respectively. Number of samples per group in parentheses: Healthy controls stimulated with A. fumigatus (n=5), allergic patients stimulated with A. fumigatus (n=6), healthy controls stimulated with birch (n=6), allergic patients stimulated with birch (n=4).
Project description:In this study, we investigated the effects of organic vegetable juice supplementation on modulating the microbial community, and how its consumption ameliorates blood lipid profiles in diet-induced obese mice. Here, we analyzed the effect of organic vegetable juice on the microbial community and fatty acid synthesis via animal experiments using diet-induced obese mice and continuous colon simulation system. Organic vegetable juice supplement influenced intestinal bacterial composition from phylum to genus level, including decreased Proteobacteria in the ascending colon in the phylum. At the family level, Akkermansia which are associated with obesity, were significantly augmented in the transverse colon and descending colon compared to the control juice group. In addition, treatment with organic vegetable juice affected predicted lipid metabolism function genes related to lipid synthesis. Organic vegetable juice consumption did not have a significant effect on weight loss but helped reduce epididymis fat tissue and adipocytes. Additionally, blood lipid profiles, such as triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and glucose, were improved in the organic vegetable juice-fed group. Expression levels of genes related to lipid synthesis, including SREBP-1, PPARγ, C/EBPα, and Fas, were significantly decreased. Analysis of antioxidant markers, including 8-OHdG and MDA, in the vegetable juice group, indicated that blood lipid profiles were improved by the antioxidant effect. These results suggest that organic vegetable juice supplementation may modulate gut microbial community and reduce the potential role of hyperlipidemia in diet-obese mice.
Project description:Botrytis cinerea is the causing agent of grey mould on hundreds of plants cultivated in fields, tunnels and greenhouses worldwide, including economically important crops. Considering the central role of the fungal cell wall in the interaction between fungi and plants, the role of a conserved putative polysaccharide synthase in the physiology, development and virulence of B. cinerea was explored. To this aim, the BcCps1 gene was deleted and the mutant strain was characterized. In order to reveal the impact of the mutation on the fungal secretion, the exo-proteome of the wild type and mutant strains were prepared for comparative analysis of their contents.
Project description:Background: Honey bee is a major insect used for pollination of a number of commercial crops worldwide. However, the number of managed honey bee colonies has recently declined in several countries, and a number of possible causes are proposed. Although the use of honey bees for pollination can be considered as disruption of the habitat, its effects on honey bees' physiology have never been addressed. In Japan, more than 100 thousands colonies are annually used for pollination, and intriguingly 80% of them are used in greenhouses. Recently, honey bee colonies have often collapsed when they are introduced into greenhouses. Thus, to suppress colony collapses and maintain the number of worker bees in the colonies are essential for successful long-term pollination in greenhouses and recycling honey bee colonies. Honey bee hives were installed into strawberry and eggplant greenhouses, and then the gene expression profiles of the honey bees were examined at the different time periods. Total 16 samples with two replicates were analyzed.