Project description:To evaluate the differential potential affected by SMARCE1 -MD/MD(R42A) , we performed RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) of Smarce1-MD and control Smarce1-MD (R42A) embrynoic body.
Project description:Primary objectives: The primary objective is to investigate circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) via deep sequencing for mutation detection and by whole genome sequencing for copy number analyses before start (baseline) with regorafenib and at defined time points during administration of regorafenib for treatment efficacy in colorectal cancer patients in terms of overall survival (OS).
Primary endpoints: circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) via deep sequencing for mutation detection and by whole genome sequencing for copy number analyses before start (baseline) with regorafenib and at defined time points during administration of regorafenib for treatment efficacy in colorectal cancer patients in terms of overall survival (OS).
Project description:BackgroundThe success of herbivorous insects has been shaped largely by their association with microbes. Seed parasitism is an insect feeding strategy involving intimate contact and manipulation of a plant host. Little is known about the microbial associates of seed-parasitic insects. We characterized the bacterial symbionts of Megastigmus (Hymenoptera: Torymidae), a lineage of seed-parasitic chalcid wasps, with the goal of identifying microbes that might play an important role in aiding development within seeds, including supplementing insect nutrition or manipulating host trees. We screened multiple populations of seven species for common facultative inherited symbionts. We also performed culture independent surveys of larvae, pupae, and adults of M. spermotrophus using 454 pyrosequencing. This major pest of Douglas-fir is the best-studied Megastigmus, and was previously shown to manipulate its tree host into redirecting resources towards unfertilized ovules. Douglas-fir ovules and the parasitoid Eurytoma sp. were also surveyed using pyrosequencing to help elucidate possible transmission mechanisms of the microbial associates of M. spermotrophus.ResultsThree wasp species harboured Rickettsia; two of these also harboured Wolbachia. Males and females were infected at similar frequencies, suggesting that these bacteria do not distort sex ratios. The M. spermotrophus microbiome is dominated by five bacterial OTUs, including lineages commonly found in other insect microbiomes and in environmental samples. The bacterial community associated with M. spermotrophus remained constant throughout wasp development and was dominated by a single OTU - a strain of Ralstonia, in the Betaproteobacteria, comprising over 55% of all bacterial OTUs from Megastigmus samples. This strain was also present in unparasitized ovules.ConclusionsThis is the first report of Ralstonia being an abundant and potentially important member of an insect microbiome, although other closely-related Betaproteobacteria, such as Burkholderia, are important insect symbionts. We speculate that Ralstonia might play a role in nutrient recycling, perhaps by redirecting nitrogen. The developing wasp larva feeds on megagametophyte tissue, which contains the seed storage reserves and is especially rich in nitrogen. Future studies using Ralstonia-specific markers will determine its distribution in other Megastigmus species, its mode of transmission, and its role in wasp nutrition.
Project description:Marek’s disease virus (MDV) is an oncovirus causing tumor disease known as Marek’s disease (MD) in chicken. Breeding of chickens genetically resistant to MD is considered a vital augment to better control MD. To find the mechanism underlying the genetic resistance to MD, a genomic structural variation, copy number variation (CNV), was examined in inbred MD-resistant and -susceptible chicken lines by using the comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) technique. A total of 45 copy number variation regions (CNVRs) were found spanning across 3,297,038 bp in length of the chicken genome in 4 lines of chickens. Ten CNVRs were selectively confirmed with quantitative real-time PCR. The comparison between the resistant and susceptible chicken lines revealed 28 differentially presented CNVRs, which are functionally involved in immune response, cell proliferation in midbrain, G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathway, and protein-glutamine gamma-glutamyltransferase activity. Two CNVRs that are related with MD-resistance and –susceptibility were also found transmitted to descendent recombinant congenic lines that differ in susceptibility to MD. A positive correlation was identified between the CNVRs and gene expression, indicating the importance of gene expression dosage in disease resistance. We also found the overlapping between the CNVR region and the Marek’s disease trait related quantitative trait loci (QTLs). In conclusion, our data provided additional information elucidating one of possible mechanisms underlying of genetic resistance to MD. The findings may eventually lead to better strategies for genetic improvement of resistance to MD in poultry. L63: highly resistant to MD; L72: highly susceptible to MD; RCS-L: moderate resistant to MD; RCS-M: moderate susceptible to MD