Displaying publications 2141 - 2160 of 8211 in total

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  1. Understanding thermostability factors of Aspergillus niger PhyA phytase: a molecular dynamics study
    Noorbatcha IA, Sultan AM, Salleh HM, Amid A
    Protein J, 2013 Apr;32(4):309-16.
    PMID: 23636517 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-013-9489-y
    Molecular dynamics simulation was used to study the dynamic differences between native Aspergillus niger PhyA phytase and a mutant with 20 % greater thermostability. Atomic root mean square deviation, radius of gyration, and number of hydrogen bonds and salt bridges are examined to determine thermostability factors. The results suggest that, among secondary structure elements, loops have the most impact on the thermal stability of A. niger phytase. In addition, the location rather than the number of hydrogen bonds is found to have an important contribution to thermostability. The results also show that salt bridges may have stabilizing or destabilizing effect on the enzyme and influence its thermostability accordingly.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger/genetics; Fungal Proteins/genetics; 6-Phytase/genetics
  2. Fulltext The R2R3-MYB gene family in banana (Musa acuminata): Genome-wide identification, classification and expression patterns
    Pucker B, Pandey A, Weisshaar B, Stracke R
    PLoS One, 2020;15(10):e0239275.
    PMID: 33021974 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239275
    The R2R3-MYB genes comprise one of the largest transcription factor gene families in plants, playing regulatory roles in plant-specific developmental processes, defense responses and metabolite accumulation. To date MYB family genes have not yet been comprehensively identified in the major staple fruit crop banana. In this study, we present a comprehensive, genome-wide analysis of the MYB genes from Musa acuminata DH-Pahang (A genome). A total of 285 R2R3-MYB genes as well as genes encoding three other classes of MYB proteins containing multiple MYB repeats were identified and characterised with respect to structure and chromosomal organisation. Organ- and development-specific expression patterns were determined from RNA-Seq data. For 280 M. acuminata MYB genes for which expression was found in at least one of the analysed samples, a variety of expression patterns were detected. The M. acuminata R2R3-MYB genes were functionally categorised, leading to the identification of seven clades containing only M. acuminata R2R3-MYBs. The encoded proteins may have specialised functions that were acquired or expanded in Musa during genome evolution. This functional classification and expression analysis of the MYB gene family in banana establishes a solid foundation for future comprehensive functional analysis of MaMYBs and can be utilized in banana improvement programmes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plant Proteins/genetics*; Transcription Factors/genetics*; Musa/genetics
  3. Fulltext Transcriptomic analysis of resistant and susceptible banana corms in response to infection by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4
    Zhang L, Cenci A, Rouard M, Zhang D, Wang Y, Tang W, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2019 06 03;9(1):8199.
    PMID: 31160634 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44637-x
    Fusarium wilt disease, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, especially by tropical race 4 (Foc TR4), is threatening the global banana industry. Musa acuminata Pahang, a wild diploid banana that displays strong resistance to Foc TR4, holds great potential to understand the underlying resistance mechanisms. Microscopic examination reports that, in a wounding inoculation system, the Foc TR4 infection processes in roots of Pahang (resistant) and a triploid cultivar Brazilian (susceptible) were similar by 7 days post inoculation (dpi), but significant differences were observed in corms of both genotypes at 14 dpi. We compare transcriptomic responses in the corms of Pahang and Brazilian, and show that Pahang exhibited constitutive defense responses before Foc TR4 infection and inducible defense responses prior to Brazilian at the initial Foc TR4 infection stage. Most key enzymatic genes in the phenylalanine metabolism pathway were up-regulated in Brazilian, suggesting that lignin and phytotoxin may be triggered during later stages of Foc TR4 infection. This study unravels a few potential resistance candidate genes whose expression patterns were assessed by RT-qPCR assay and improves our understanding the defense mechanisms of Pahang response to Foc TR4.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plant Diseases/genetics*; Musa/genetics*; Disease Resistance/genetics
  4. Fulltext Identification and characterization of jasmonic acid- and linolenic acid-mediated transcriptional regulation of secondary laticifer differentiation in Hevea brasiliensis
    Loh SC, Othman AS, Veera Singham G
    Sci Rep, 2019 10 04;9(1):14296.
    PMID: 31586098 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50800-1
    Hevea brasiliensis remains the primary crop commercially exploited to obtain latex, which is produced from the articulated secondary laticifer. Here, we described the transcriptional events related to jasmonic acid (JA)- and linolenic acid (LA)-induced secondary laticifer differentiation (SLD) in H. brasiliensis clone RRIM 600 based on RNA-seq approach. Histochemical approach proved that JA- and LA-treated samples resulted in SLD in H. brasiliensis when compared to ethephon and untreated control. RNA-seq data resulted in 86,614 unigenes, of which 2,664 genes were differentially expressed in JA and LA-induced secondary laticifer harvested from H. brasiliensis bark samples. Among these, 450 genes were unique to JA and LA as they were not differentially expressed in ethephon-treated samples compared with the untreated samples. Most transcription factors from the JA- and LA-specific dataset were classified under MYB, APETALA2/ethylene response factor (AP2/ERF), and basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) gene families that were involved in tissue developmental pathways, and we proposed that Bel5-GA2 oxidase 1-KNOTTED-like homeobox complex are likely involved in JA- and LA-induced SLD in H. brasiliensis. We also discovered alternative spliced transcripts, putative novel transcripts, and cis-natural antisense transcript pairs related to SLD event. This study has advanced understanding on the transcriptional regulatory network of SLD in H. brasiliensis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plant Proteins/genetics; Transcription Factors/genetics; Hevea/genetics
  5. A 12-residue epitope displayed on phage T7 reacts strongly with antibodies against foot-and-mouth disease virus
    Wong CL, Yong CY, Muhamad A, Syahir A, Omar AR, Sieo CC, et al.
    Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2018 May;102(9):4131-4142.
    PMID: 29564523 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-8921-9
    Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a major threat to the livestock industry worldwide. Despite constant surveillance and effective vaccination, the perpetual mutations of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) pose a huge challenge to FMD diagnosis. The immunodominant region of the FMDV VP1 protein (residues 131-170) displayed on phage T7 has been used to detect anti-FMDV in bovine sera. In the present study, the functional epitope was further delineated using amino acid sequence alignment, homology modelling and phage display. Two highly conserved regions (VP1145-152 and VP1159-170) were identified among different FMDV serotypes. The coding regions of these two epitopes were fused separately to the T7 genome and displayed on the phage particles. Interestingly, chimeric phage displaying the VP1159-170 epitope demonstrated a higher antigenicity than that displaying the VP1131-170 epitope. By contrast, phage T7 displaying the VP1145-152 epitope did not react significantly with the anti-FMDV antibodies in vaccinated bovine sera. This study has successfully identified a smaller functional epitope, VP1159-170, located at the C-terminal end of the structural VP1 protein. The phage T7 displaying this shorter epitope is a promising diagnostic reagent to detect anti-FMDV antibodies in vaccinated animals.
    Matched MeSH terms: Epitopes/genetics; Bacteriophage T7/genetics; Capsid Proteins/genetics
  6. Cell surface display system for Lactococcus lactis: a novel development for oral vaccine
    Raha AR, Varma NR, Yusoff K, Ross E, Foo HL
    Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2005 Jul;68(1):75-81.
    PMID: 15635459
    The food-grade Lactococcus lactis is a potential vector to be used as a live vehicle for the delivery of heterologous proteins for vaccine and pharmaceutical purposes. We constructed a plasmid vector pSVac that harbors a 255-bp single-repeat sequence of the cell wall-binding protein region of the AcmA protein. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli and expression of the gene fragment was driven by the T7 promoter of the plasmid. SDS-PAGE showed the presence of the putative AcmA' fragment and this was confirmed by Western blot analysis. The protein was isolated and purified using a His-tag affinity column. When mixed with a culture of L. lactis MG1363, ELISA and immunofluorescence assays showed that the cell wall-binding fragment was anchored onto the outer surface of the bacteria. This indicated that the AcmA' repeat unit retained the active site for binding onto the cell wall surface of the L. lactis cells. Stability assays showed that the fusion proteins (AcmA/A1, AcmA/A3) were stably docked onto the surface for at least 5 days. The AcmA' fragment was also shown to be able to strongly bind onto the cell surface of naturally occurring lactococcal strains and Lactobacillus and, with less strength, the cell surface of Bacillus sphericus. The new system designed for cell surface display of recombinant proteins on L. lactis was evaluated for the expression and display of A1 and A3 regions of the VP1 protein of enterovirus 71 (EV71). The A1 and A3 regions of the VP1 protein of EV71 were cloned upstream to the cell wall-binding domains of AcmA protein and successfully expressed as AcmA/A1 and AcmA/A3. Whole-cell ELISA showed the successful display of VP1 protein epitopes of EV71 on the surface of L. lactis. The success of the anchoring system developed in this study for docking the A1 and A3 epitopes of VP1 onto the surface of L. lactis cells opens up the possibilities of peptide and protein display for not only Lactococcus but also for other gram-positive bacteria. This novel way of displaying epitopes on the cell surface of L. lactis and other related organisms should be very useful in the delivery of vaccines and other useful proteins.
    Matched MeSH terms: Escherichia coli/genetics; Muramidase/genetics; Lactococcus lactis/genetics*
  7. Optimisation of signal peptide for recombinant protein secretion in bacterial hosts
    Low KO, Muhammad Mahadi N, Md Illias R
    Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2013 May;97(9):3811-26.
    PMID: 23529680 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-013-4831-z
    Escherichia coli-the powerhouse for recombinant protein production-is rapidly gaining status as a reliable and efficient host for secretory expression. An improved understanding of protein translocation processes and its mechanisms has inspired and accelerated the development of new tools and applications in this field and, in particular, a more efficient secretion signal. Several important characteristics and requirements are summarised for the design of a more efficient signal peptide for the production of recombinant proteins in E. coli. General approaches and strategies to optimise the signal peptide, including the selection and modification of the signal peptide components, are included. Several challenges in the secretory production of recombinant proteins are discussed, and research approaches designed to meet these challenges are proposed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/genetics; Escherichia coli/genetics; Recombinant Proteins/genetics
  8. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis for beta-thalassemia using single-cell DNA analysis for codons 17 and 26 of beta-globin gene
    Nasri NW, Jamal AR, Abdullah NC, Razi ZR, Mokhtar NM
    Arch Med Res, 2009 Jan;40(1):1-9.
    PMID: 19064120 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2008.10.008
    Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of monogenic autosomal hereditary disorders following assisted conception usually involves the removal of one or two blastomeres from preimplantation embryos. However, the amount of DNA from a single blastomere is insufficient to amplify the region of interest. Hence, the whole genome amplification (WGA) method is performed prior to amplifying the genes of interest before analysis of DNA material through polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA/genetics*; beta-Thalassemia/genetics; beta-Globins/genetics*
  9. Plasmodium inui is not closely related to other quartan Plasmodium species
    Kissinger JC, Collins WE, Li J, McCutchan TF
    J Parasitol, 1998 Apr;84(2):278-82.
    PMID: 9576499
    Plasmodium inui (Halberstaedter and von Prowazek, 1907), a malarial parasite of Old World monkeys that occurs in isolated pockets throughout the Celebes, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, has traditionally been considered to be related more closely to Plasmodium malariae of humans (and its primate counterpart Plasmodium brasilianum), than to other primate Plasmodium species. This inference was made in part because of the similarities in the periodicities or duration of the asexual cycle in the blood, the extended sporogonic cycle, and the longer period of time for development of the pre-erythrocytic stages in the liver. Both P. inui and P. malariae have quartan (72 hr) periodicities associated with their asexual cycle, whereas other primate malarias, such as Plasmodium fragile and Plasmodium cynomolgi, are associated with tertian periodicities (48 hr), and Plasmodiumn knowlesi, with a quotidian (24 hr) periodicity. Phylogenetic analyses of portions of orthologous small subunit ribosomal genes reveal that P. inui is actually more closely related to the Plasmodium species of the "vivax-type" lineage than to P. malariae. Ribosomal sequence analysis of many different, geographically isolated, antigenically distinct P. inui isolates reveals that the isolates are nearly identical in sequence and thus members of the same species.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmodium/genetics; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics; RNA, Protozoan/genetics
  10. Fulltext Phylogeographical pattern and evolutionary history of an important Peninsular Malaysian timber species, Neobalanocarpus heimii (Dipterocarpaceae)
    Tnah LH, Lee SL, Ng KK, Lee CT, Bhassu S, Othman RY
    J Hered, 2013 Jan-Feb;104(1):115-26.
    PMID: 23132907 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/ess076
    Tectonic movements, climatic oscillations, and marine transgressions during the Cenozoic have had a dramatic effect on the biota of the tropical rain forest. This study aims to reveal the phylogeography and evolutionary history of a Peninsular Malaysian endemic tropical timber species, Neobalanocarpus heimii (Dipterocarpaceae). A total of 32 natural populations of N. heimii, with 8 samples from each population were investigated. Fifteen haplotypes were identified from five noncoding chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) regions. Overall, two major genealogical cpDNA lineages of N. heimii were elucidated: a widespread southern and a northern region. The species is predicted to have survived in multiple refugia during climatic oscillations: the northwestern region (R1), the northeastern region (R2), and the southern region (R3). These putative glacial refugia exhibited higher levels of genetic diversity, population differentiation, and the presence of unique haplotypes. Recolonization of refugia R1 and R2 could have first expanded into the northern region and migrated both northeastwards and northwestwards. Meanwhile, recolonization of N. heimii throughout the southern region could have commenced from refugia R3 and migrated toward the northeast and northwest, respectively. The populations of Tersang, Pasir Raja, and Rotan Tunggal exhibited remarkably high haplotype diversity, which could have been the contact zones that have received an admixture of gene pools from the northerly and also southerly regions. As a whole, the populations of N. heimii derived from glacial refugia and contact zones should be considered in the conservation strategies in order to safeguard the long-term survival of the species.
    Matched MeSH terms: Haplotypes/genetics; DNA, Chloroplast/genetics; Dipterocarpaceae/genetics*
  11. Genetic Diversity and Demographic History of an Upper Hill Dipterocarp (Shorea platyclados): Implications for Conservation
    Ng CH, Lee SL, Tnah LH, Ng KKS, Lee CT, Diway B, et al.
    J Hered, 2019 12 17;110(7):844-856.
    PMID: 31554011 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esz052
    Southeast Asian rainforests at upper hill elevations are increasingly vulnerable to degradation because most lowland forest areas have been converted to different land uses. As such, understanding the genetics of upper hill species is becoming more crucial for their future management and conservation. Shorea platyclados is an important, widespread upper hill dipterocarp in Malaysia. To elucidate the genetic structure of S. platyclados and ultimately provide guidelines for a conservation strategy for this species, we carried out a comprehensive study of the genetic diversity and demographic history of S. platyclados. Twenty-seven populations of S. platyclados across its range in Malaysia were genotyped at 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci and sequenced at seven noncoding chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) regions. A total of 303 alleles were derived from the microsatellite loci, and 29 haplotypes were identified based on 2892 bp of concatenated cpDNA sequences. The populations showed moderately high genetic diversity (mean HE = 0.680 for microsatellite gene diversity and HT = 0.650 for total haplotype diversity) and low genetic differentiation (FST = 0.060). Bayesian clustering divided the studied populations into two groups corresponding to western and eastern Malaysia. Bottleneck analysis did not detect any recent bottleneck events. Extended Bayesian skyline analyses showed a model of constant size for the past population history of this species. Based on our findings, priority areas for in situ and ex situ conservation and a minimum population size are recommended for the sustainable utilization of S. platyclados.
    Matched MeSH terms: Genetics, Population*; Dipterocarpaceae/genetics*
  12. Sequence polymorphisms of mtDNA HV1, HV2, and HV3 regions in the Malay population of Peninsular Malaysia
    Nur Haslindawaty AR, Panneerchelvam S, Edinur HA, Norazmi MN, Zafarina Z
    Int J Legal Med, 2010 Sep;124(5):415-26.
    PMID: 20502908 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-010-0469-x
    The uniparentally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is in the limelight for the past two decades, in studies relating to demographic history of mankind and in forensic kinship testing. In this study, human mtDNA hypervariable segments 1, 2, and 3 (HV1, HV2, and HV3) were analyzed in 248 unrelated Malay individuals in Peninsular Malaysia. Combined analyses of HV1, HV2, and HV3 revealed a total of 180 mtDNA haplotypes with 149 unique haplotypes and 31 haplotypes occurring in more than one individual. The genetic diversity was estimated to be 99.47%, and the probability of any two individuals sharing the same mtDNA haplotype was 0.93%. The most frequent mtDNA haplotype (73, 146, 150, 195, 263, 315.1C, 16140, 16182C, 16183C, 16189, 16217, 16274, and 16335) was shared by 11 (4.44%) individuals. The nucleotide diversity and mean of pair-wise differences were found to be 0.036063 ± 0.020101 and 12.544022 ± 6.230486, respectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics*; Genetics, Population; Complementarity Determining Regions/genetics*
  13. Paternal lineage affinity of the Malay subethnic and Orang Asli populations in Peninsular Malaysia
    SharifahNany RahayuKarmilla S, Aedrianee AR, Nur Haslindawaty AR, Nur Azeelah A, Panneerchelvam S, Norazmi MN, et al.
    Int J Legal Med, 2018 Jul;132(4):1087-1090.
    PMID: 29052042 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-017-1697-0
    Peninsular Malaysia is populated by the Malays, Chinese, Indians, and Orang Asli. We have analyzed 17 Y-STRs loci for 243 randomly unrelated individuals, which include 153 Malays (7 Acheh, 13 Champa, 11 Rawa, 9 Kedah, 23 Minang, 15 Bugis, 43 Kelantan, 14 Jawa, and 18 Bugis) and 90 Orang Asli [54 Semang (16 Kensiu, 13 Lanoh, 25 Bateq); 30 Senoi (21 Semai, 9 Che Wong); and 6 Proto-Malay (6 Orang Kanaq)] from selected settlements in Peninsular Malaysia using the AmpFlSTR Yfiler™ kit (Applied Biosystems™). The overall haplotype diversity is 0.9966, i.e., 0.9984 for the Malays and 0.9793 for the Orang Asli. A total of 158 haplotypes (65.02%) were individually unique. The p value and pairwise Rst analysis was calculated to show the genetic structure of the samples with other world populations (from YHRD website). Based on the Y-STR data, Champa, Acheh, Kedah, Minang, and Kelantan are clustered together. Lanoh and Kensiu (Semang) are very closely related, suggesting similar paternal ancestry. Jawa Malays and Indonesian Java, plus the Bugis Malays and Australian Aborigines shared high degree of paternal lineage affinity. This study presents data for very precious relict groups, who are the earliest inhabitants of Peninsular Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups/genetics*; Genetics, Population*
  14. The role of tyrosine hydroxylase gene variants in suicide attempt in schizophrenia
    Hu J, Chan LF, Souza RP, Tampakeras M, Kennedy JL, Zai C, et al.
    Neurosci Lett, 2014 Jan 24;559:39-43.
    PMID: 24275212 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2013.11.025
    Evidence has shown that attempted suicide in psychiatric disorders is a complex interplay of genes and environment. Noradrenergic dysfunction due to abnormalities in the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene has been implicated in the pathogenesis of suicidal behavior in mood disorders. However, suicide is a leading cause of mortality in schizophrenia too. Recent evidence suggests that TH gene variants may also increase the risk of suicide attempts in schizophrenia patients, although the interaction with established clinical risk factors is unclear. This study aimed to identify TH gene variants conferring risk for suicide attempt in schizophrenia while accounting for the interaction between this gene and clinical risk factors. We performed analysis on four TH SNPs (rs11564717, rs11042950, rs2070762, rs689) and the common TCAT repeat (UniSTS:240639) for 234 schizophrenia patients (51 suicide attempters and 183 non-attempters). Clinical risk factors and ethnic stratification were included as covariates. Single marker analysis identified the SNP rs11564717 (p=0.042) and the TCAT(6) (p=0.004) as risk variants for suicide attempt. We also identified the haplotype A-A-A-G as a risk factor for suicide attempt (p=0.0025). In conclusion, our findings suggest that TH polymorphisms may contribute to the risk of attempted suicide in schizophrenia even after accounting for established clinical risk factors and ethnic stratification. Further larger scale studies are needed to confirm these findings and to understand the mechanisms underlying the role of TH gene variants in suicide attempt in schizophrenia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Schizophrenia/genetics*; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/genetics*; Genetic Variation/genetics*
  15. Fulltext Comprehensive functional profiling of long non-coding RNAs through a novel pan-cancer integration approach and modular analysis of their protein-coding gene association networks
    Walters K, Sarsenov R, Too WS, Hare RK, Paterson IC, Lambert DW, et al.
    BMC Genomics, 2019 Jun 03;20(1):454.
    PMID: 31159744 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5850-7
    BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as crucial regulators of cellular processes in diseases such as cancer, although the functions of most remain poorly understood. To address this, here we apply a novel strategy to integrate gene expression profiles across 32 cancer types, and cluster human lncRNAs based on their pan-cancer protein-coding gene associations. By doing so, we derive 16 lncRNA modules whose unique properties allow simultaneous inference of function, disease specificity and regulation for over 800 lncRNAs.

    RESULTS: Remarkably, modules could be grouped into just four functional themes: transcription regulation, immunological, extracellular, and neurological, with module generation frequently driven by lncRNA tissue specificity. Notably, three modules associated with the extracellular matrix represented potential networks of lncRNAs regulating key events in tumour progression. These included a tumour-specific signature of 33 lncRNAs that may play a role in inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition through modulation of TGFβ signalling, and two stromal-specific modules comprising 26 lncRNAs linked to a tumour suppressive microenvironment and 12 lncRNAs related to cancer-associated fibroblasts. One member of the 12-lncRNA signature was experimentally supported by siRNA knockdown, which resulted in attenuated differentiation of quiescent fibroblasts to a cancer-associated phenotype.

    CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the study provides a unique pan-cancer perspective on the lncRNA functional landscape, acting as a global source of novel hypotheses on lncRNA contribution to tumour progression.

    Matched MeSH terms: Neoplasms/genetics*; RNA, Messenger/genetics*; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics*
  16. Current Genetic and Epigenetic Insights into Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
    Alam F, Kamal MA, Islam MA, Banu S
    Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets, 2019;19(6):717-718.
    PMID: 31530259 DOI: 10.2174/187153031906190724104004
    Matched MeSH terms: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/genetics*; Genetics/trends*
  17. Evaluation of mitogenome sequence concordance, heteroplasmy detection, and haplogrouping in a worldwide lineage study using the Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel
    Strobl C, Churchill Cihlar J, Lagacé R, Wootton S, Roth C, Huber N, et al.
    Forensic Sci Int Genet, 2019 09;42:244-251.
    PMID: 31382159 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2019.07.013
    The emergence of Massively Parallel Sequencing technologies enabled the analysis of full mitochondrial (mt)DNA sequences from forensically relevant samples that have, so far, only been typed in the control region or its hypervariable segments. In this study, we evaluated the performance of a commercially available multiplex-PCR-based assay, the Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel (Thermo Fisher Scientific), for the amplification and sequencing of the entire mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) from even degraded forensic specimens. For this purpose, more than 500 samples from 24 different populations were selected to cover the vast majority of established superhaplogroups. These are known to harbor different signature sequence motifs corresponding to their phylogenetic background that could have an effect on primer binding and, thus, could limit a broad application of this molecular genetic tool. The selected samples derived from various forensically relevant tissue sources and were DNA extracted using different methods. We evaluated sequence concordance and heteroplasmy detection and compared the findings to conventional Sanger sequencing as well as an orthogonal MPS platform. We discuss advantages and limitations of this approach with respect to forensic genetic workflow and analytical requirements.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics*; Forensic Genetics/methods
  18. Iron-associated protein interaction networks reveal the key functional modules related to survival and virulence of Pasteurella multocida
    Jatuponwiphat T, Chumnanpuen P, Othman S, E-Kobon T, Vongsangnak W
    Microb Pathog, 2019 Feb;127:257-266.
    PMID: 30550841 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.12.013
    Pasteurella multocida causes respiratory infectious diseases in a multitude of birds and mammals. A number of virulence-associated genes were reported across different strains of P. multocida, including those involved in the iron transport and metabolism. Comparative iron-associated genes of P. multocida among different animal hosts towards their interaction networks have not been fully revealed. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the iron-associated genes from core- and pan-genomes of fourteen P. multocida strains and to construct iron-associated protein interaction networks using genome-scale network analysis which might be associated with the virulence. Results showed that these fourteen strains had 1587 genes in the core-genome and 3400 genes constituting their pan-genome. Out of these, 2651 genes associated with iron transport and metabolism were selected to construct the protein interaction networks and 361 genes were incorporated into the iron-associated protein interaction network (iPIN) consisting of nine different iron-associated functional modules. After comparing with the virulence factor database (VFDB), 21 virulence-associated proteins were determined and 11 of these belonged to the heme biosynthesis module. From this study, the core heme biosynthesis module and the core outer membrane hemoglobin receptor HgbA were proposed as candidate targets to design novel antibiotics and vaccines for preventing pasteurellosis across the serotypes or animal hosts for enhanced precision agriculture to ensure sustainability in food security.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/genetics*; Pasteurella multocida/genetics*; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics
  19. Indel-informed Bayesian analysis suggests cryptic population structure between Plasmodium knowlesi of humans and long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in Malaysian Borneo
    Wilcox JS, Kerschner A, Hollocher H
    Infect Genet Evol, 2019 11;75:103994.
    PMID: 31421245 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.103994
    Plasmodium knowlesi is an important causative agent of malaria in humans of Southeast Asia. Macaques are natural hosts for this parasite, but little is conclusively known about its patterns of transmission within and between these hosts. Here, we apply a comprehensive phylogenetic approach to test for patterns of cryptic population genetic structure between P. knowlesi isolated from humans and long-tailed macaques from the state of Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo. Our approach differs from previous investigations through our exhaustive use of archival 18S Small Subunit rRNA (18S) gene sequences from Plasmodium and Hepatocystis species, our inclusion of insertion and deletion information during phylogenetic inference, and our application of Bayesian phylogenetic inference to this problem. We report distinct clades of P. knowlesi that predominantly contained sequences from either human or macaque hosts for paralogous A-type and S-type 18S gene loci. We report significant partitioning of sequence distances between host species across both types of loci, and confirmed that sequences of the same locus type showed significantly biased assortment into different clades depending on their host species. Our results support the zoonotic potential of Plasmodium knowlesi, but also suggest that humans may be preferentially infected with certain strains of this parasite. Broadly, such patterns could arise through preferential zoonotic transmission of some parasite lineages or a disposition of parasites to transmit within, rather than between, human and macaque hosts. Available data are insufficient to address these hypotheses. Our results suggest that the epidemiology of P. knowlesi may be more complicated than previously assumed, and highlight the need for renewed and more vigorous explorations of transmission patterns in the fifth human malarial parasite.
    Matched MeSH terms: RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics*; DNA, Protozoan/genetics; Plasmodium knowlesi/genetics
  20. A DNA based visual and colorimetric aggregation assay for the early growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation by using unmodified gold nanoparticles
    Ramanathan S, Gopinath SCB, Arshad MKM, Poopalan P, Anbu P
    Mikrochim Acta, 2019 07 18;186(8):546.
    PMID: 31321546 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-019-3696-y
    A genomic DNA-based colorimetric assay is described for the detection of the early growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, which is the protruding reason for non-small cell lung cancer. A DNA sequence was designed and immobilized on unmodified gold nanoparticles (GNPs). The formation of the respective duplex indicates the presence of an EGFR mutation. It is accompanied by the aggregation of the GNPs in the presence of monovalent ions, and it indicates the presence of an EGFR mutation. This is accompanied by a color change from red (520 nm) to purple (620 nm). Aggregation was evidenced by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The limit of detection is 313 nM of the mutant target strand. A similar peak shift was observed for 2.5 μM concentrations of wild type target. No significant peak shift was observed with probe and non-complementary DNA. Graphical abstract Schematic representation of high-specific genomic DNA sequence on gold nanoparticle (GNP) aggregation with sodium chloride (NaCl). It illustrates the detection method for EGFR mutation on lung cancer detection. Red and purple colors of tubes represent dispersed and aggregated GNP, respectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics; Lung Neoplasms/genetics; ErbB Receptors/genetics*
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