Project description:In the present study, we report for the first time a proteomic profile of Buthotus saulcyi, Odontobuthus doriae and Androctonus crassicauda scorpion venom with the aim of looking ahead and determining the structural and functional characteristics of these compounds for use as medical tools. Molecular weight determination of isolated proteins was performed in order to better describe the B. saulcyi, O. doriae and A. crassicauda raw toxin proteins by both polyacrylamide electrophoresis and two-dimensional electrophoresis. 2D-PAGE data from the B. saulcyi, O. doriae and A. crassicauda raw toxin showed a molecular weight between 3.6 and 205 kDa (for B. saulcyi), 6.6 to 205 kDa (for O. doriae) and 6.6-109 kDa (for A. crassicauda). Then 14, 14 and 21 fractions of crude toxins were isolated using HPLC and their protein content was estimated for B. saulcyi, O. doriae and A. crassicauda, respectively. SDS-PAGE analysis of selected fractions of crude toxin showed 9 protein bands with a molecular weight between 13 and 217 kDa for B. saulcyi, 10 protein bands with a molecular weight between 3.8 to182 kDa for O. doriae and 5 protein bands with a molecular weight between 5.99 and 41.65 kDa for A. crassicauda. In case of B. saulcyi, the fraction 7 (F7) showed more cytotoxicity than other isolated fractions. Subsequently, the amino acid sequencing of fraction 7 led us to two protein bands designated as p3 and p4 peptide. For O. doriae, the peptide fraction of F17, obtained from the crude venoms of O. doriae scorpion, was found to be more cytotoxic than the crude venoms and other isolated fractions. Furthermore, F5 demonstrated significant anti-proliferative and apoptotic activity. Therefore, we performed PAGE on fraction F5 and found 5 protein bands. The two protein bands, each from fraction F5 that marked as P1 and P2 were selected for amino acid sequencing. The three peptide fractions F17, obtained from the crude venoms of A. crassicauda scorpion, was found to be more cytotoxic than the crude venoms and other isolated fractions. Furthermore, F17 demonstrated significant anti-proliferative and apoptotic activity. This makes this fraction better candidate for searching the peptide that might be used for selective killing of cancerous cells. Therefore, we performed PAGE on fractionsF17, and found 2 protein bands. One protein band from fraction F17 that marked as P5 was selected for amino acid sequencing. Finally, these protein bands were removed and molecular mass and amino acid sequence analysis was performed using Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). In-silico studies of P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5 for protein sequence alignment showed the most similarity with Hemoglobin beta-2 chain protein, Chaperonin HSP60, Chrysophsin2, pheromone-bound protein 2 and Trypsin- like serine proteinase, respectively
Project description:Azole resistance was induced in vitro by growth of a susceptible C. parapsilosis isolate in the presence of voriconazole. Whole genome microarrays were used to compare the transcriptional response of the voriconizole-resistant and susceptible isolates.
Project description:Azole resistance was induced in vitro by growth of a susceptible C. parapsilosis isolate in the presence of posaconazole. Whole genome microarrays were used to compare the transcriptional response of the posaconazole-resistant and susceptible isolates.
Project description:Azole resistance was induced in vitro by growth of a susceptible C. parapsilosis isolate in the presence of fluconazole. Whole genome microarrays were used to compare the transcriptional response of the fluconazole-resistant and susceptible isolates.
Project description:The present study describes a novel mechanism of antifungal resistance affecting the susceptibility of both the azole and echinocandin antifungals in an azole-resistant isolate from a matched pair of C. parapsilosis isolates obtained from a patient with prosthetic valve endocarditis. Transcriptome analysis indicated differential expression of several genes in the resistant isolate including upregulation of ERG1, ERG2, ERG5, ERG6, ERG11, ERG24, ERG25, ERG27, DAP1 and UPC2, of the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway. Whole genome sequencing revealed a mutation in the ERG3 gene leading to a G111R amino acid substitution in the resistant isolate. Subsequent introduction of this allele in the native ERG3 locus in the susceptible isolate resulted in a fluconazole MIC of >64 mg/ml and a caspofungin MIC of 8 mg/ml. Corresponding allelic replacement of the wildtype allele for the mutant allele in the resistant isolate resulted in a drop in MIC to 1 mg/ml for both fluconazole and caspofungin. Sterol profiles indicated a loss of sterol demethylase activity as a result of this mutation. This work demonstrate that this G111R mutation is wholly responsible for the resistant phenotype in the C. parapsilosis resistant isolate and is the first report of this multidrug resistance mechanism.
Project description:We performed RNA-sequencing of Bgh-infected barley leaves at two different time-points after infection to examine gene expression in the barley powdery mildew isolate DH14 during plant pathogenesis.
Project description:description Blastocystis sp. is a highly prevalent anaerobic eukaryotic parasite of humans and animals. The genome of several representatives has been sequenced revealing specific traits such as an intriguing 3’-end processing of primary transcripts. We have acquired a first high-throughput proteomics dataset on the difficult to cultivate ST4 isolate WR1 and detected 2,761 proteins. We evidenced for the first time by proteogenomics a functional termination codon derived from transcript polyadenylation for seven different key cellular components.
Project description:Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici (Pgt), the causal agent of stem rust disease in wheat, is one of the most destructive pathogens and can cause severe yield losses. Here, we utilize Hi-C sequencing technology to scaffold and phase the haplotypes for the genome assembly of a US Pgt isolate 99KS76A-1.
Project description:ETEC is an important human pathogen. Although the mechanism of diarrhea is known in ETEC, the regulatory networks are less understood. This study was conducted to understand the global expression of ETEC isolate E24377A under different growth and environemental conditions. ETEC isolate E24377A was grown in the presence of several chemical signals, including bile salts, glucose, and pre-conditioned media (PCM) from other enteric pathogens. E24377A was also grown to different densities, to see if a quorum sensing mechanism was in place