Project description:The species Staphylococcus (S.) aureus harbors 19 superantigen gene loci, six of which are located in the enterotoxin gene cluster (egc). While these egc superantigens are far more prevalent in clinical S. aureus isolates than non-egc superantigens, they are not a prominent cause of toxic shock. Moreover, neutralizing antibodies against egc superantigens are very rare, even among carriers of egc-positive S. aureus strains. In search of an explanation we have tested two non-exclusive hypotheses: 1) egc and non-egc superantigens have unique intrinsic properties and drive the immune system into different directions; 2) egc and non-egc-superantigens are released by S. aureus under different conditions, which shape the immune response. A comparison of three egc (SEI, SElM and SElO) and three non-egc superantigens (SEB, SElQ, TSST-1) revealed that both induced proliferation of human PBMC with comparable potency and elicited similar Th1/Th2-cytokine signatures. This was supported by gene expression analysis of PBMC stimulated with one representative superantigen from each group (SEI and SEB). They induced very similar transcriptional changes, especially of inflammation-associated gene networks, corresponding to a very strong Th1- and Th17-dominated immune response. In contrast, the regulation of superantigen release differed markedly between both superantigen groups. Egc-encoded proteins were secreted by S. aureus during exponential growth, while non-egc superantigens were released in the stationary phase. We conclude that the distinct biological behavior of egc and non-egc superantigens is not due to their intrinsic properties, which are very similar, but caused by their differential release by S. aureus. Experiment Overall Design: PBMCs from 3 healthy blood donors were purified and treated with Medium (control) and recombinant staphylococcal superantigens SEB and SEI. After 6 hours of treatment, total RNA was extracted and hybridized to Affymetrix GeneChip Arrays.
Project description:Transcriptome alterations of leukocytes from soldiers who underwent eight-weeks of Army Ranger training (RASP, Ranger Assessment and Selection Program) were analyzed to evaluate impacts of battlefield-like stress on the immune response. About 1,400 transcripts were differentially expressed between pre- and post-RASP leukocytes. Upon functional analysis, immune response was the most enriched biological process, and most of the transcripts associated with the immune response were down-regulated. Microbial pattern recognition, chemotaxis, antigen presentation, and T-cell activation were among the most down-regulated immune processes. Post-RASP leukocytes exposed ex vivo to Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) showed a markedly impaired immune response to this superantigen compared to pre-RASP leukocytes, consistent with suppression of the immune response revealed by transcriptome analyses.
Project description:RNASeq identified several pathways that were differentially expressed/regulated in the small intestines that correlated with intestinal failure during toxic shock syndrome caused by staphylococcal superantigen in a humanized mouse model
Project description:PURPOSE: To provide a detailed gene expression profile of the normal postnatal mouse cornea. METHODS: Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) was performed on postnatal day (PN)9 and adult mouse (6 week) total corneas. The expression of selected genes was analyzed by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: A total of 64,272 PN9 and 62,206 adult tags were sequenced. Mouse corneal transcriptomes are composed of at least 19,544 and 18,509 unique mRNAs, respectively. One third of the unique tags were expressed at both stages, whereas a third was identified exclusively in PN9 or adult corneas. Three hundred thirty-four PN9 and 339 adult tags were enriched more than fivefold over other published nonocular libraries. Abundant transcripts were associated with metabolic functions, redox activities, and barrier integrity. Three members of the Ly-6/uPAR family whose functions are unknown in the cornea constitute more than 1% of the total mRNA. Aquaporin 5, epithelial membrane protein and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) omega-1, and GST alpha-4 mRNAs were preferentially expressed in distinct corneal epithelial layers, providing new markers for stratification. More than 200 tags were differentially expressed, of which 25 mediate transcription. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to providing a detailed profile of expressed genes in the PN9 and mature mouse cornea, the present SAGE data demonstrate dynamic changes in gene expression after eye opening and provide new probes for exploring corneal epithelial cell stratification, development, and function and for exploring the intricate relationship between programmed and environmentally induced gene expression in the cornea. Keywords: other
Project description:Bacterial superantigens are virulence factors that cause toxic shock syndrome. Here, the genome-wide, temporal response of mice to lethal intranasal staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) was investigated in six tissues (PBMC, lung, spleen, kidney, heart, Liver).The earliest responses and largest number of affected genes occurred in tissues (PBMCs, spleen and lung) with the highest content of both T-cells and monocyte/macrophages, the direct cellular targets of SEB. In contrast, the response of liver, kidney and heart was delayed and involved fewer genes, but revealed a dominant genetic program that was seen in all 6 tissues. Many of the 85 uniquely annotated transcripts participating in this shared genomic response have not been previously linked to SEB. Global gene-expression changes measured serially across multiple organs identified new candidate mechanisms of SEB-induced death.
Project description:The species Staphylococcus (S.) aureus harbors 19 superantigen gene loci, six of which are located in the enterotoxin gene cluster (egc). While these egc superantigens are far more prevalent in clinical S. aureus isolates than non-egc superantigens, they are not a prominent cause of toxic shock. Moreover, neutralizing antibodies against egc superantigens are very rare, even among carriers of egc-positive S. aureus strains. In search of an explanation we have tested two non-exclusive hypotheses: 1) egc and non-egc superantigens have unique intrinsic properties and drive the immune system into different directions; 2) egc and non-egc-superantigens are released by S. aureus under different conditions, which shape the immune response. A comparison of three egc (SEI, SElM and SElO) and three non-egc superantigens (SEB, SElQ, TSST-1) revealed that both induced proliferation of human PBMC with comparable potency and elicited similar Th1/Th2-cytokine signatures. This was supported by gene expression analysis of PBMC stimulated with one representative superantigen from each group (SEI and SEB). They induced very similar transcriptional changes, especially of inflammation-associated gene networks, corresponding to a very strong Th1- and Th17-dominated immune response. In contrast, the regulation of superantigen release differed markedly between both superantigen groups. Egc-encoded proteins were secreted by S. aureus during exponential growth, while non-egc superantigens were released in the stationary phase. We conclude that the distinct biological behavior of egc and non-egc superantigens is not due to their intrinsic properties, which are very similar, but caused by their differential release by S. aureus.