Project description:Toxocariasis is an important, neglected zoonosis caused mainly by Toxocara canis. Although our knowledge of helminth molecular biology is improving through completed draft genome projects, there is limited detailed information on the molecular biology of Toxocara species. Here, transcriptomic sequencing of male and female adult T. canis and comparative analyses were conducted. For each sex, two-thirds (66-67%) of quality-filtered reads mapped to the gene set of T. canis, and at least five reads mapped to each of 16,196 (87.1%) of all 18,596 genes, and 321 genes were specifically transcribed in female and 1467 in male T. canis. Genes differentially transcribed between the two sexes were identified, enriched biological processes and pathways linked to these genes established, and molecules associated with reproduction and development predicted. In addition, small RNA pathways involved in reproduction were characterized, but there was no evidence for piwi RNA pathways in adult T. canis. The results of this transcriptomic study should provide a useful basis to support investigations of the reproductive biology of T. canis and related nematodes.
Project description:Using WGBS we investigated blood DNA methylation profiles of Canis lupus dingo and determined putative regulatory elements (unmethlated regions (UMRs) and lowly methylated regions (LMRs).
Project description:Using WGBS we investigated blood DNA methylation profiles of Canis lupus basenji and determined putative regulatory elements (unmethlated regions, UMRs, and lowly methylated regions, LMRs).
Project description:Brucella melitensis and Brucella canis differ by ~75 genes yet B. melitensis is highly virulent for humans while B. canis is considered rarely pathogenic. No identified bacterial factors or mechanisms account for this difference in virulence. To identify functional differences of these two bacteria, gene transcription was examined during infection of murine macrophages and compared to bacteria grown in broth. Our analysis identified transcriptional differences in macrophage infection between B. melitensis and B. canis genes involved in iron transport. Increased transcription of the TonB, enterobactin, and ferric anguibactin transport systems were observed in B. canis but not B. melitensis during infection of macrophages. Therefore, iron appears as an important requirement during the first 24h of infection by B. canis but not for B. melitensis and provides strategies for controlling these pathogens. Comparison of total bacterial RNA from Brucella canis infected murine macrophages to broth grown bacteria
Project description:Brucella melitensis and Brucella canis differ by ~75 genes yet B. melitensis is highly virulent for humans while B. canis is considered rarely pathogenic. No identified bacterial factors or mechanisms account for this difference in virulence. To identify functional differences of these two bacteria, gene transcription was examined during infection of murine macrophages and compared to bacteria grown in broth. Our analysis identified transcriptional differences in macrophage infection between B. melitensis and B. canis genes involved in iron transport. Increased transcription of the TonB, enterobactin, and ferric anguibactin transport systems were observed in B. canis but not B. melitensis during infection of macrophages. Therefore, iron appears as an important requirement during the first 24h of infection by B. canis but not for B. melitensis and provides strategies for controlling these pathogens. comparison of total bacterial RNA from Brucella canis infected murine macrophages and broth grown bacteria