Project description:To investigate the anti-candidiasis mechanisms of action of Lcr35 strain, a prophylactic and a curative treatments have been implemented in the C. elegans experimental model
Project description:Modulation of gut microbiota through probiotic supplementation is an interesting strategy to prevent obesity We use microarrays to study the global genome expression of C. elegans fed with the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium animalis sbsp. lactis CECT 8145
Project description:Sphingolipids are important lipids and integral members of membranes, where they form small microdomains called lipid rafts. These rafts are enriched in cholesterol and sphingolipids, which influences biophysical properties. Interestingly, the membranes of the biomedical model organism Caenorhabditis elegans contain only low amounts of cholesterol. Sphingolipids in C. elegans are based on an unusual C17iso branched sphingoid base. In order to analyze and the sphingolipidome of C. elegans in more detail, we performed fractionation of lipid extracts and depletion of glycero- and glycerophospholipids together with in-depth analysis using UPLC-UHR-ToF-MS. In total we were able to detect 82 different sphingolipids from different classes, including several isomeric species.
Project description:Modulation of gut microbiota through probiotic supplementation is an interesting strategy to prevent obesity We use microarrays to study the global genome expression of C. elegans fed with the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium animalis sbsp. lactis CECT 8145 Wild type strain N2 of C. elegans was cutured in Nematode Growth medium (NGM, control fed) or NGM with a bacterial lawn fed of the strain B. animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145, until reach young adult stage. Worm population were age-synchronized. RNA was isolated from each populations (control and treated) using RNAasy Kit (Qiagen) and hybridizated on Affymetrix microarrays.
Project description:The eukaryotic nucleus not only encloses meters of DNA, but also requires DNA to be differentially packaged in a cell-specific manner. Advances in chromosome-capture techniques have made great progress in understanding intra-chromosomal interactions. Yet, the mechanistic identities of homologous or non-homologous inter-chromosomal contacts (HCCs or NHCCs) remain elusive. Recently, two long non-coding RNA loci, CISTR-ACT and FIRRE, have been observed at NHCCs and implicated in human disease. Based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we developed an allele-specific CRISPR live-cell DNA imaging technique, named SNP-CLING, to describe primary locus characteristics across space and time. We observed allele-specific gene positioning, frequencies of HCCs or NHCCs, their motility and stability, and their positioning at the distinct sub-nuclear compartment of the nucleolus. Collectively, we define allele-specific locus properties and dynamics, and uncover an important new layer of genome organization in live cells.
Project description:Background: In the last decade, much attention has been drawn to probiotic bacteria in the context of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), since the potential of certain strains to attenuate inflammation was demonstrated in several animal experiments and clinical studies. Data in humans elucidating the molecular mechanism of probiotic action are still scarce. To this end, we used an organ culture system of human colon mucosa and investigated the gene expression profiles after treatment with different probiotic bacteria in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)/ionomycin (IO)) stimulated samples using whole genome microarrays. Moreover, we analyzed changes occurring in the intestinal explants cultured for 8 hours when compared to fresh, directly frozen mucosa, in order to infer the suitability of the system to study an inflammatory stimulus and likely antiinflammatory responses. Results: Culturing intestinal colon fragments during 8 hours elicited differential gene expression in 283 genes, 229 upregulated and 54 downregulated. Upregulated genes were predominantly related to apoptosis, whereas downregulated genes encoded mitochondrial proteins. No specific enrichment of genes related to inflammation or immune response could be detected, confirming the suitability of the system to further study the inmunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory properties of Lactobacillus casei BL23 (BL23), L.plantarum 299v (LP299v) and L.plantarum 299v (A-) (LP299v (A-)), a mutant strain with reduced adhesive properties to enterocytes. Intestinal explants were stimulated with PMA/IO for 3 hours and subsequently incubated with probiotic bacteria for 4 h. ANOVA analysis (p ? 0,01) revealed 205 differentially expressed genes between Control, PMA/IO (Inflamed), and the 3 bacterial treatments. Most importantly, a number of PMA/IO induced genes related to immune response and immune system process such as IL-2, IFN-?, IL17A and pro-inflammatory cytokines CXCL9 and CXCL11 were downregulated by BL23, LP299v and LP299v (A-). The behaviour of the three Lactobacillus strains was quite similar, although their presence induced differential expression of a small number of genes in a strain dependent manner. Conclusion: The human colon organ culture was found to be a suitable model for the study of inflammatory/anti-inflammatory stimuli, and therefore it constitutes a valuable tool to determine the inmunomodulatory effect of probiotic bacteria. The global transcriptional profile evoked by strains BL23, LP299v and LP299v (A-) in artificially inflamed tissue indicated a clear homeostasis restoring effect, including a decrease of the signals produced by activated T cells. Macroscopically healthy colonic intestinal tissue was obtained at surgery from 3 patients. Intestinal explants were treated with PMA and ionomycin for 3 h to induce pro-inflammatory conditions. Then, culture medium was changed and replaced with either medium or medium containing either Lactobacillus casei BL23, Lactobacillus plantarum 299v, or a nonadherent mutant of L. plantarum 299v (A-) and incubated for further 4 hours. In parallel, control intestinal explants were cultured without any treatment of PMA/ionomycin or probiotic bacteria and compared to directly frozen tissue in order to evaluate changes in gene expression which are due solely to the culture conditions.
Project description:Background: Based on 32 Escherichia coli and Shigella genome sequences, we have developed an E. coli pan-genome microarray. Publicly available genomes were annotated in a consistent manor to define all currently known genes potentially present in the species. The chip design was evaluated by hybridization of DNA from two sequenced E. coli strains, K-12 MG1655 (a commensal) and O157:H7 EDL933 (an enterotoxigenic E. coli). A dual channel and single channel analysis approach was compared for the comparative genomic hybridization experiments. Moreover, the microarray was used to characterize four unsequenced probiotic E. coli strains, currently marketed for beneficial effects on the human gut flora. Results: Based on the genomes included in this study, we were able to group together 2,041 genes that were present in all 32 genomes. Furthermore, we predict that the size of the E. coli core genome will approach ~1,560 essential genes, considerably less than previous estimates. Although any individual E. coli genome contains between 4,000 and 5,000 genes, we identified more than twice as many (11,872) distinct gene groups in the total gene pool (âpan-genomeâ) examined for microarray design. Benchmarking of the design based on sequenced control strain samples demonstrated a high sensitivity and relatively low false positive rate. Moreover, the array was highly sufficient to investigate the gene content of apathogenic isolates, despite the strong bias towards pathogenic E. coli strains that have been sequenced so far. Our analysis of four probiotic E. coli strains demonstrate that they share a gene pool very similar to the E. coli K-12 strains but also show significant similarity with enteropathogenic strains. Nonetheless, virulence genes were largely absent. Strain-specific genes found in probiotic E. coli but absent in E. coli K12 were most frequently phage-related genes, transposases and other genes related to mobile DNA, and metabolic enzymes or factors that may offer colonization fitness, which together with their asymptomatic nature may explain their nature. Conclusion: This high-density microarray provides an excellent tool for characterizing either DNA content or gene expression from unknown E. coli strains. Factorial design: Each of four test samples (G 1/2, G3/10, G 4/9, G5) are co-hybridized with two control strain samples (K-12 MG1655 and O157:H7 EDL933). Additional replicate co-hybridizations are included of the two control strain samples (O157:H7 EDL933 vs. K-12 MG1655).