Comparative genomics of ten clinical Candida albicans strains
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ABSTRACT: Candida albicans is the most common fungal pathogen in humans. C.albicans tolerates aneuploidy of all of its chromosomes. Genome plasticity is a hallmark of C.albicans. It is an adaptation strategy of this species. But questions like the extent of such genomic variability, which genes contribute to the divergence, and what mechanisms drive the adaptive genetic change, are not well answered yet. We used array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) to investigate the diversity of gene contents of 10 clinical C.albicans strains, of various anatomical origins and genotypes. One self to self hybridization was included as a control.
Project description:To investigate the diversity of gene contents of Candida albicans strain by array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH; aCGH). the srd1 null mutant Candida albicans strain CaLY202 was selected to carry out the comparative genomics microarray. Two-condition experiment, CaLY202 vs.SN152. Biological replicates: 2 control, 2 transfected, independently grown and harvested. One replicate per array.
Project description:To investigate the diversity of gene contents of Candida albicans strain by array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH; aCGH). A fluconazole-resistant variant Candida albicans strain CaLY188 was selected to carry out the comparative genomics microarray. Two-condition experiment, CaLY188 vs.SN152. Biological replicates: 2 control, 2 transfected, independently grown and harvested. One replicate per array.
Project description:To investigate the diversity of gene contents of Candida albicans strain by array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH; aCGH). A fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans strain CaLY350 was selected to carry out the comparative genomics microarray. Two-condition experiment, CaLY350 vs.SN152. Biological replicates: 2 control, 2 transfected, independently grown and harvested. One replicate per array.
Project description:Chaperones have essential role in assist nascent peptides folding, prevent proteins aggregation and maintain cellular protein homeostasis. Considering spatial and temporal features of chaperones regulating in vivo, changes in single or combined chaperone-depleted E.coli strain is needed to be put into understand at transcriptional level. Here, we utilized expression microarrays to investigate global transcriptional response upon deletion of single or multiple chaperones in E. coli for understanding the transcriptional network affected by chaperones. To identify prokaryotic expression profiles in deletion of chaperones, several E.coli mutants were constructed in the following: Z116 (△tig 37℃), Z125(△dnaK37℃), Z625(△tig△dnaK 37℃ or 30℃), Z629(△tig△dnaK 30℃), NM (C-domain of tig was deleted 37℃), MC (N-domain of tig was deleted 37℃), NC (M-domain of tig was deleted 37℃). Two types of cDNA mixtures containing Cy3-labeled (or Cy5-labeled) control DNA (from BW25113) and Cy5-labeled (or Cy3-labeled) DNA targets (from mutant strain) were hybridized with E.coli microarrays in a dye-swap strategy. E.coli gene expression data of chaperone DnaK deletant compared control WT (BW25113). Please note that other mutant microarray data will be added in the future.
Project description:Erythroid differentiation-associated gene (EDAG), a hematopoietic tissue-specific transcription regulator, plays a key role in maintaining the homeostasis of hematopoietic lineage commitment. However, the mechanism and genes regulated by EDAG remain unknown.Here, we performed genome-wide parallel expression analyses of 32D cells stably transfected with EDAG. Total RNA from the control 32D cells and 32D/EDAG cells were used to generate target cDNA, and then hybridized to 36k Mouse Genome Array Genechips, representing about 25000 characterized murine genes.
Project description:Mediator is an essential, evolutionarily conserved co-regulator of RNA polymerase II. Studies in model yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe showed remarkably conserved roles for Mediator despite high species divergence, and thus whether Mediator contributed to establishment of species-specific gene expression programs within related fungal species remains an open question. Here we show that in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans, the Mediator middle domain subunit Med31 has a conserved role with non-pathogenic model yeasts in regulation of Ace2-dependent cytokinesis genes and stress responses, but also additional roles in the transcription of genes associated with virulence traits: genes related to filamentous growth and gene families expanded in pathogenic vs non-pathogenic yeasts, such as the ALS adhesins and the FGR6 family of filamentous growth regulators. Consistently, Med31 is required for two key virulence attributes of C. albicans: filamentous growth and biofilm formation. Unlike our data in C. albicans, no role for Med31 in adhesin expression has been reported in model yeasts. To show biological relevance for the control over adhesin gene expression, we demonstrate that ALS1 is a relevant Med31 target for development of biofilms. Collectively, our data supports a role for Med31 in shaping species-specific gene expression in related fungal species. Two-color experimental design comparing cells with a ?med31 mutation with a control strain in which the MED31 gene was reintroduced. RNA from each replicate came from independent cultures.
Project description:The capacity to sense and transduce temperature signals pervades all aspects of biology, and temperature exerts powerful control over the development and virulence of diverse pathogens. In the leading fungal pathogen of humans, Candida albicans, temperature has a profound impact on morphogenesis, a key virulence trait. Many cues that induce the transition from yeast to filamentous growth are contingent on a minimum temperature of 37ºC, while further elevatation to 39ºC serves as an independent inducing cue. The molecular chaperone Hsp90 is a key regulator of C. albicans temperature-dependent morphogenesis, as induction of filamentous growth requires relief from Hsp90-mediated repression of the morphogenetic program. Compromise of Hsp90 function genetically, pharmacologically, or by elevated temperature induces filamentation in a manner that depends on protein kinase A (PKA) signaling, but is independent of the terminal transcription factor, Efg1. Here, we determine that despite morphological and regulatory differences, inhibition of Hsp90 induces a transcriptional profile similar to that induced by other filamentation cues, and does so in a manner that is independent of Efg1. Further, we identify Hms1 as a transcriptional regulator required for morphogenesis induced by elevated temperature or compromise of Hsp90 function. Hms1 functions downstream of the cyclin Pcl, and the cyclin-dependent kinase Pho85, both of which are required for temperature-dependent filamentation. Upon Hsp90 inhibition, Hms1 binds to DNA elements involved in filamentous growth, including UME6 and RBT5, and regulates their expression, providing a mechanism through which Pho85, Pcl1, and Hms1 govern morphogenesis. Consistent with the importance of morphogenetic flexibility with virulence, deletion of C. albicans HMS1 attenuates virulence in a metazoan model of infection. Thus, we establish a new mechanism through which Hsp90 orchestrates C. albicans morphogenesis, and define novel regulatory circuitry governing a temperature-dependent developmental program, with broad implications for temperature sensing and virulence of microbial pathogens. Two-color experimental design testing the effect of geldanamycin on wild type of delta-efg1 cells. RNA from each replicate came from independent cultures.
Project description:A mutant of L. plantarumWCFS1 (deletion of lp_2991) was compared with the wildtype grown in standard MRS broth. Cells were sampled at OD1 for mRNA extraction. Knockout vs wildtype. Technical replicates (same mRNA isolation) used for a dye swap.
Project description:New antifungal drugs are urgently needed due to the currently limited selection, the emergence of drug resistance, and the toxicity of several commonly used drugs. To identify drug leads, we screened small molecules using a Saccharomyces reporter bioassay in which the yeast heterologously expresses Hik1, a group III hybrid histidine kinase (HHK) from Magnaporthe grisea. Group III HHKs are integral in fungal cell physiology, and highly conserved throughout this kingdom; they are absent in mammals, making them an attractive drug target. Our screen identified compounds 13 and 33, which showed robust activity against numerous fungal genera including Candida, Cryptococcus and molds such as Aspergillus and Rhizopus. Drug-resistant Candida from patients were also highly susceptible to compounds 13 and 33. While the compounds do not act directly on HHKs, microarray analysis showed that compound 13 induced transcripts associated with oxidative stress, and compound 33, transcripts linked with heavy metal stress. Both compounds were highly active against Candida biofilm, in vitro and in vivo, and exerted synergy with fluconazole, which was inactive alone. Thus, we identified potent, broad-spectrum antifungal drug leads from a small molecule screen using a high-throughput, yeast reporter bioassay. Two-color experimental design testing the effects of 2 antifungal compounds (13 and 33) after 0, 20, 40 60 min. In the referred publication, the t=20, 40, 60 data was normalized against the t=0 data