Project description:BackgroundTrematodes have a complex life cycle with animal host changes and alternation of parthenogenetic and hermaphrodite generations. The parthenogenetic generation of the worm (rediae) from the first intermediate host Littorina littorea was used for chromosome spreads production. Karyotype description of parasitic flatworm Himasthla elongata Mehlis, 1831 (Digenea: Himasthlidae) based on fluorochrome banding and 18S rDNA mapping.ResultsChromosome spreads were obtained from cercariae embryos and redial tissue suspensions with high pressure squash method.74.4 % of the analysed spreads contained 12 chromosome pairs (2n = 24). Chromosome classification was performed according to the morphometry and nomenclature published. H. elongata spread chromosomes had a rather bead-like structure. Ideograms of DAPI-banded chromosomes contained 130 individual bands. According to flow cytometry data, the H. elongata genome contains 1.25 pg of DNA, so one band contains, on average, 9.4 Mb of DNA. Image bank captures of individual high-resolution DAPI-banded chromosomes were provided. Differential DAPI- and CMA3-staining revealed the chromatin areas that differed in AT- or GC-content. Both dyes stained chromosomes all along but with varying intensities in different areas. FISH revealed that vast majority (95.0 %) of interphase nuclei contained one signal for 18S rDNA. This corresponded to the number of nucleoli per cell detected by observations in vivo. The rDNA signal was observed on one or two homologs of chromosome 10 in 72.2 % of analysed chromosome spreads, therefore chromosome 10 possessed the main rDNA cluster and minor ones on chromosomes 3 and 6, that corresponds with AgNOR results.ConclusionsHimasthla elongata chromosomes variations presented as image bank. Differential chromosome staining with fluorochromes and FISH used for 18S rDNA mapping let us to conclude: (1) Himasthla elongata karyotype is 2n = 24; (2) chromosome number deviates from the previously studied echinostomatids (2n = 14-22); (3). Chromosome 10 possesses the main rDNA cluster with the minor ones existing on chromosomes 3 and 6.
Project description:We analyzed the heat-induced gene expression at the transcriptomic levels using RNA-sequencing and bioinformatic analysis for Paulownia elongata plants.
Project description:Paulownia elongata is a fast-growing tree species native to China that is grown in different climates, types of soils, and can be easily re-grown. The versatility of the P. elongata species makes it an ideal candidate for biofuel production. High soil salinity is known to inhibit plant growth dramatically or lead to death. Salinity in soil is a detrimental abiotic stress affecting crop production worldwide and a hindrance for potential crop candidates used for biofuel production. The purpose of this study was to characterize the salt-induced transcriptome of P. elongata. Transcriptome differences in response to salt stress were determined by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) using next generation sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. A total of 646 genes were found to have significant altered expression in response to salt stress, and expression levels of a selective subset of these genes were chosen and confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of salt-induced transcriptome analysis in P. elongata. The current study indicates that the differential expression of certain genes may have an important role in the adaptation of P. elongata in response to salt stress. Functional characterization of these genes will assist in future development of salt tolerance in P. elongata, which could be used to enhance biofuel production.