Project description:Cynomolgus monkeys are well-established translational models for biomedical research and drug testing. To evaluate organ transcriptomes and gene expression variability in Cynomolgus monkeys, we used Customized NimbleGen Microarrays (Design ID: 120419_Cynomolgus_v5_TH_exp_HX12) for genome-wide gene expression profiling on 5 different tissues (heart, kidney, liver, lung, spleen) from 21 Cynomolgus monkeys. Cynomolgus monkey samples were derived from breeding centers located in the Philippines (3 females and 3 males), in Vietnam (2 females and 2 males), in China for animals from Mainland Southeast Asia (3 females), or in Mauritius (4 females and 4 males). Furthermore, genome-wide copy number variation was analyzed in tissue samples from the same animals using a custom NimbleGen 4.2 million probes comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) array to associate CNV genotypes with expression changes of proximal genes.
Project description:Compairsion of transcriptional profiles of heart and skeletal muscle tissue of fetal rhesus monkey exposed to maternal Bisphenol A or vehicle during early or late gestaion. Maternal exposure to the endocrine disrupting chemical, bisphenol A (BPA) affects the development of multiple organ systems in rodents and monkeys. However, effects of BPA exposure on cardiac and skeletal muscle development have not been assessed. Given that maternal BPA crosses placenta and reaches developing fetus, examining the physiological consequences of gestational exposure during development is of research significance. Therefore, we evaluate the effects of daily, oral BPA exposure of pregnant rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) on the fetal heart and skeletal muscle transcriptome. Pregnant monkeys were administered daily oral doses (400 µg/kg body weight) of BPA during early (50 –100 ± 2 days post conception, dpc) or late (100 ± 2 dpc - term), gestation. At the end of treatment, fetal heart tissues; left ventricle (LV), right ventricle (RV), left atrium (LA), right atrium (RA) and skeletal muscle; biceps femoris (BFM), were collected. Transcriptome expression was assessed using genome-wide microarray in each of the tissues and compared paired-wise between the BPA and matched control fetuses. Our results show that maternal BPA exposure alters transcriptional profile of several coding and non-coding genes in fetal heart and skeletal muscle.
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding regulatory RNAs that play key roles in many diverse biological processes such as spermatogenesis. However, no study has been performed on the miRNA transcriptome of developing porcine testes. Here, we employed Solexa deep sequencing technology to extend the repertoire of porcine testis miRNAs and extensively compare the expression patterns of the sexually immature and mature porcine testes. Solexa sequencing of two small RNA libraries derived from immature (30 days) and mature (180 days) pig testis samples yielded over 25 million high-quality reads. Overall, the two developmental stages had significantly different small RNA compositions. A custom data analysis pipeline identified 398 known and/or homologous conserved porcine miRNAs, 15 novel pig-specific miRNAs, and 56 novel candidate miRNAs. We further observed multiple mature miRNA variants (isomiRs) and identified a new bidirectional transcribed miRNA locus, ssc-mir-181a. One hundred twenty-two miRNAs were differentially expressed in the immature and mature testes, and 10 were validated using quantitative RT-PCR. Furthermore, GO and KEGG pathway analyses of the predicted miRNA targets further illustrate the likely roles for these differentially expressed miRNAs in spermatogenesis. This study is the first comparative profile of the miRNA transcriptome in immature and mature porcine testes using a deep sequencing approach, and it provides a useful resource for future studies on the role of miRNAs in spermatogenesis and male infertility treatment.
Project description:Cynomolgus monkeys are well-established translational models for biomedical research and drug testing. Cynomolgus monkeys are outbred species and exhibit substantial levels of genetic variation which can affect the outcome and interpretation of biomedical studies. Copy number variations (CNVs) are a significant source of genetic diversity and a comprehensive understanding of the genomic impact of CNVs on phenotypic traits is limited. A custom 4.2 million probes comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) array (Design-ID: 120405_Cynomolgus5_CGH_UX1) has been designed on the basis of the Cynomolgus monkey genome (Ebeling et al. (2011) Genome Research; PMID: 21862625) to assess genome-wide copy number variation among Cynomolgus monkeys. Using Cynomolgus monkey specific NimbleGen CGH Microarrays we profiled the genomes of 21 Cynomolgus monkeys. Germline DNA from 21 Cynomolgus monkeys with different origin was tested against a Cynomolgus monkey reference. Cynomolus monkey samples were derived from breeding centers located in the Philippines (3 females and 3 males), in Vietnam (2 males and 2 females), in China for animals from Mainland Southeast Asia (3 females), or in Mauritius (4 females and 4 males). Furthermore genome-wide expression profiles were analyzed in 5 vitally important tissue samples (heart, kidney, liver, lung, spleen) from the same animals using a custom Cynomolgus monkey specific NimbleGen gene expression microarray (design ID: 120419_Cynomolgus_v5_TH_exp_HX12) to associate CNV genotypes with expression changes of proximal genes using a cis expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTL) mapping approach. Expression data have been deposited at the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) under accession numbers GSE76560. The array CGH results analyzed in this study are further described in Gschwind A.R. et al. (2016) "Diversity and regulatory impact of copy number variation in the primate Macaca fascicularis". under submission
Project description:Compairsion of transcriptional profiles of heart and skeletal muscle tissue of fetal rhesus monkey exposed to maternal Bisphenol A or vehicle during early or late gestaion. Maternal exposure to the endocrine disrupting chemical, bisphenol A (BPA) affects the development of multiple organ systems in rodents and monkeys. However, effects of BPA exposure on cardiac and skeletal muscle development have not been assessed. Given that maternal BPA crosses placenta and reaches developing fetus, examining the physiological consequences of gestational exposure during development is of research significance. Therefore, we evaluate the effects of daily, oral BPA exposure of pregnant rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) on the fetal heart and skeletal muscle transcriptome. Pregnant monkeys were administered daily oral doses (400 M-BM-5g/kg body weight) of BPA during early (50 M-bM-^@M-^S100 M-BM-1 2 days post conception, dpc) or late (100 M-BM-1 2 dpc - term), gestation. At the end of treatment, fetal heart tissues; left ventricle (LV), right ventricle (RV), left atrium (LA), right atrium (RA) and skeletal muscle; biceps femoris (BFM), were collected. Transcriptome expression was assessed using genome-wide microarray in each of the tissues and compared paired-wise between the BPA and matched control fetuses. Our results show that maternal BPA exposure alters transcriptional profile of several coding and non-coding genes in fetal heart and skeletal muscle. Pregnant rhesus monkey were administered a daily oral dose of 400 M-NM-<g/kg. body weight of Bisphenol A (BPA) or vehicle (CON) either during early (50M-bM-^@M-^S100 M-BM-1 2 days) or late (100 M-BM-1 2 daysM-bM-^@M-^Sterm) gestation. Gene expression profiles of each of the heart chambers (left ventricle, LV; right ventricle, RV; left atrium, LA; and right atrium, RA) and skeletal muscle (biceps femoris, BFM) were analyzed using microarrays and compared between the BPA exposed and matched control fetuses. A total of 12 samples were analyzed for each tissue; LV, RV, LA, RA and BFM. This includes 6 samples at each time period (early vs. late gestation) and 3 biological replicates for each treatment (BPA, n=3; control, n=3).
Project description:Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus that has emerged as a significant public health concern due to its ability to cause severe arthralgia and occasionally fatal cases. The virus has been shown to infect a wide range of tissues, including the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and brain, leading to a spectrum of clinical manifestations.This study aims to investigate the impact of CHIKV infection on the transcriptome of various organs in rhesus monkeys and mice, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of CHIKV in different host species.The transcriptome analysis revealed significant alterations in gene expression across the infected tissues in both species.
Project description:Factors delivered to offspring in colostrum within two days of birth support neonatal porcine uterine development. The uterine mRNA transcriptome is affected by age and nursing during this period. Whether uterine microRNA (miRNA) expression is affected similarly is unknown. Objectives were to: 1) determine effects of age and nursing on porcine uterine miRNA expression between birth and postnatal day (PND) 2 using small RNA sequencing (smRNA-Seq) and; 2) define affected miRNA-mRNA interactions and associated biological processes using integrated target prediction analysis.
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding regulatory RNAs that play key roles in many diverse biological processes such as spermatogenesis. However, no study has been performed on the miRNA transcriptome of developing porcine testes. Here, we employed Solexa deep sequencing technology to extend the repertoire of porcine testis miRNAs and extensively compare the expression patterns of the sexually immature and mature porcine testes. Solexa sequencing of two small RNA libraries derived from immature (30 days) and mature (180 days) pig testis samples yielded over 25 million high-quality reads. Overall, the two developmental stages had significantly different small RNA compositions. A custom data analysis pipeline identified 398 known and/or homologous conserved porcine miRNAs, 15 novel pig-specific miRNAs, and 56 novel candidate miRNAs. We further observed multiple mature miRNA variants (isomiRs) and identified a new bidirectional transcribed miRNA locus, ssc-mir-181a. One hundred twenty-two miRNAs were differentially expressed in the immature and mature testes, and 10 were validated using quantitative RT-PCR. Furthermore, GO and KEGG pathway analyses of the predicted miRNA targets further illustrate the likely roles for these differentially expressed miRNAs in spermatogenesis. This study is the first comparative profile of the miRNA transcriptome in immature and mature porcine testes using a deep sequencing approach, and it provides a useful resource for future studies on the role of miRNAs in spermatogenesis and male infertility treatment. microRNA profiling and discovery in two small RNA cDNA libraries derived from sexually immature (30-day) and mature (180-day) pig testes.