Project description:In Neisseria meningitidis iron responsive gene regulation is mediated primarily by the Ferric Uptake Regulator (Fur) protein. When complexed with iron, Fur represses gene expression by preventing transcription initiation. Fur can also indirectly activate gene expression via the repression of regulatory small RNAs (sRNA). One such Fur-and iron-regulated sRNA, NrrF, was previously identified in N. meningitidis and shown to repress expression of the sdhA and sdhC genes encoding subunits of the succinate dehydrogenase complex. In the majority of Gram-negative bacteria sRNA-mediated regulation requires a cofactor RNA-binding protein (Hfq) for proper gene regulation and stabilization. In this study we examined the role of Hfq in NrrF-mediated regulation of the succinate dehydrogenase genes in N. meningitidis and the effect of an hfq- mutation on iron-responsive gene regulation more broadly. We first demonstrated that the stability of Nrrf as well as the regulation of sdhC and sdhA in vivo was unaltered in the hfq- mutant. Secondly, we established that iron responsive gene regulation of the Fur-regulated sodB gene was dependent on Hfq. Finally, we demonstrate that in N. meningitidis Hfq functions to control expression of both ORFs and intergenic regions via iron independent mechanisms. Collectively these studies demonstrate that in N. meningitidis iron and NrrF mediated regulation of sdhC and sdhA can occur independently of Hfq, although Hfq functions more globally to control regulation of other N. meningitidis genes primarily by iron-independent mechanisms. RNA was isolated from wild-type MC58 Neisseria meningitidis, from an hfq- mutant, and from a complemented hfq- mutant under both iron-replete and iron-deplete conditions. Three biological replicates were analyzed for each strain and condition were analyzed.
Project description:In Neisseria meningitidis iron responsive gene regulation is mediated primarily by the Ferric Uptake Regulator (Fur) protein. When complexed with iron, Fur represses gene expression by preventing transcription initiation. Fur can also indirectly activate gene expression via the repression of regulatory small RNAs (sRNA). One such Fur-and iron-regulated sRNA, NrrF, was previously identified in N. meningitidis and shown to repress expression of the sdhA and sdhC genes encoding subunits of the succinate dehydrogenase complex. In the majority of Gram-negative bacteria sRNA-mediated regulation requires a cofactor RNA-binding protein (Hfq) for proper gene regulation and stabilization. In this study we examined the role of Hfq in NrrF-mediated regulation of the succinate dehydrogenase genes in N. meningitidis and the effect of an hfq- mutation on iron-responsive gene regulation more broadly. We first demonstrated that the stability of Nrrf as well as the regulation of sdhC and sdhA in vivo was unaltered in the hfq- mutant. Secondly, we established that iron responsive gene regulation of the Fur-regulated sodB gene was dependent on Hfq. Finally, we demonstrate that in N. meningitidis Hfq functions to control expression of both ORFs and intergenic regions via iron independent mechanisms. Collectively these studies demonstrate that in N. meningitidis iron and NrrF mediated regulation of sdhC and sdhA can occur independently of Hfq, although Hfq functions more globally to control regulation of other N. meningitidis genes primarily by iron-independent mechanisms.
Project description:Protein secretion into extracellular space is an important virulence mechanism both among Gram negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Prevotella intermedia, an important species associated with periodontitis, is known to be resistant to several antibiotics. Since P. intermedia is a part of normal oral microbiota, its complete elimination is not possible. Despite the remarkable clinical significance P. intermedia has, little is known about the molecular basis for its virulence. The aim of this study was to characterize the secretome of P. intermedia in biofilm and planktonic life mode. Proteins in the secretome preparations were identified by nanoLC-ESI-MS/MS. The biofilm secretome showed 109 proteins while the planktonic secretome showed 136 proteins. The biofilm and the planktonic secretomes contained 17 and 33 signal-peptide bearing proteins, 13 and 18 lipoproteins, respectively. Proteins with predicted virulence potential were 39 in biofilm and 44 in planktonic secretomes, respectively. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the biofilm secretome displayed a markedly higher percent proteins compared to planktonic secretome in terms of cellular amino acid metabolic process, nitrogen compound metabolic process, protein binding and methyltransferase and kinase activities. In conclusion, this study revealed differences in the protein profiles of P. intermedia biofilm and planktonic secretomes. This may set a basis for asking further questions into molecular mechanisms how this species exerts its virulence potential in the oral cavity.
Project description:Obesity is an independent risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC) although the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. Dietary nutrients play a key role in both the prevention and promotion of CRC. While iron is an essential nutrient, excess iron is associated with carcinogenesis. Unlike the systemic compartment, the intestinal lumen lacks an efficient system to regulate iron. In conditions when dietary iron malabsorption and intestinal inflammation co-exist, greater luminal iron is associated with increased intestinal inflammation and a shift in the gut microbiota to more pro-inflammatory strains. However, treatments designed to reduce luminal, including diet restriction and chelation, are associated with lower intestinal inflammation and the colonization of protective gut microbes. Obesity is associated with inflammation-induced, hepcidin-mediated, iron metabolism dysfunction characterized by iron deficiency and dietary iron malabsorption. Obesity is also linked to intestinal inflammation. Currently, there is a fundamental gap in understanding how altered iron metabolism impacts CRC risk in obesity.
The investigator’s objective is to conduct a crossover controlled feeding trial of: 1) a "Typical American" diet with "high" heme/non-heme iron", 2) a "Typical American" diet with "low" iron, and 3) a Mediterranean diet with "high" non heme iron and examine effects on colonic and systemic inflammation and the gut microbiome.
Project description:To explore the role of circRNAs in the regulation of β-thalassemia and provide new evidence and targets for the treatment of β-thalassemia, circRNAs expression profiling was analyzed from patients with β-thalassemia intermedia and major.