Project description:Understanding the regulatory roles of small RNAs (sRNAs) in Mycobacterium marinum is crucial for elucidating its pathogenesis. Here, we present transcriptome profiles of M. marinum strains with deletions and completions of sRNA B11. Through RNA sequencing analysis, we identified significant alterations in gene expression patterns between the B11-deleted and completed strains.
Project description:Mycobacterium marinum infection in zebrafish (Danio rerio) has been widely used to study human tuberculosis because the bacteria causing these two diseases are close relatives. We studied the zebrafish immune response to M. marinum infection through a whole-genome level transcriptome analysis. In addition, we carried out a medium-scale forward genetic screen to identify genes underlying defense mechanisms against M. marinum infection in zebrafish. Our aim was to gain more information about the genetic mechanisms important in the immune defense against human tuberculosis. In this screen, we identified a mutant zebrafish line with impaired resistance to a low-dose M. marinum infection. In this line, the transcriptome analysis at 14 days post infection revealed decreased expression of a gene homologous to human UNC119 which has been shown to have a role in T cell activation.
