scholarly journals Genomic islands and the evolution of livestock-associated Staphylococcus aureus genomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Relangi Tulasi Rao ◽  
Shivani Sharma ◽  
Natesan Sivakumar ◽  
Kannan Jayakumar
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Genomic Islands ◽  
Bacterial Genomes ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Niche Adaptation ◽  
Major Donors

Abstract Background: Genomic Islands (GIs) are commonly believed to be relics of horizontal transfer and associated with specific metabolic capacities, including virulence of the strain. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays a vital role in the acquisition of GIs and the evolution and adaptation of bacterial genomes. Objective: The present study was designed to predict the GIs and role of HGT in evolution of livestock-associated Staphylococcus aureus (LA-SA). Methods: GIs were predicted with two methods namely, Ensemble algorithm for Genomic Island Detection (EGID) tool, and Seq word Sniffer script. Functional characterization of GI elements was performed with clustering of orthologs. The putative donor predictions of GIs was done with the aid of the pre_GI database. Results: The present study predicted a pan of 46 GIs across the LA-SA genomes. Functional characterization of GI sequences revealed few unique results like the presence of metabolic operons like leuABCD and folPK genes in GIs and showed the importance of GIs in the adaptation to the host niche. The developed framework for GI donor prediction results revealed Rickettsia and Mycoplasma as the major donors of GI elements. Conclusions: The role of GIs during the evolutionary race of LA-SA could be concluded from the present study. Niche adaptation of LA-SA enhanced presumably due to these GIs. Future studies could focus on the evolutionary relationships between Rickettsia and Mycoplasma sp. with S. aureus and also the evolution of Leucine/Isoleucine mosaic operon (leuABCD).

scholarly journals Molecular and Functional Characterization of a ToxR-Regulated Lipoprotein from a Clinical Isolate of Aeromonas hydrophila

2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (7) ◽  
pp. 3742-3755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lakshmi Pillai ◽  
Jian Sha ◽  
Tatiana E. Erova ◽  
Amin A. Fadl ◽  
Bijay K. Khajanchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virulence Factor ◽  
Aeromonas Hydrophila ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Affinity Column ◽  
Serum Resistance ◽  
Classical Pathway ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
T7 Promoter

ABSTRACT Human diseases caused by species of Aeromonas have been classified into two major groups: septicemia and gastroenteritis. In this study, we reported the molecular and functional characterization of a new virulence factor, ToxR-regulated lipoprotein, or TagA, from a diarrheal isolate, SSU, of Aeromonas hydrophila. The tagA gene of A. hydrophila exhibited 60% identity with that of a recently identified stcE gene from Escherichia coli O157:H7, which encoded a protein (StcE) that provided serum resistance to the bacterium and prevented erythrocyte lysis by controlling classical pathway of complement activation by cleaving the complement C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH). We purified A. hydrophila TagA as a histidine-tagged fusion protein (rTagA) from E. coli DE3 strain using a T7 promoter-based pET30 expression vector and nickel affinity column chromatography. rTagA cleaved C1-INH in a time-dependent manner. The tagA isogenic mutant of A. hydrophila, unlike its corresponding wild-type (WT) or the complemented strain, was unable to cleave C1-INH, which is required to potentiate the C1-INH-mediated lysis of host and bacterial cells. We indeed demonstrated colocalization of C1-INH and TagA on the bacterial surface by confocal fluorescence microscopy, which ultimately resulted in increased serum resistance of the WT bacterium. Likewise, we delineated the role of TagA in contributing to the enhanced ability of C1-INH to inhibit the classical complement-mediated lysis of erythrocytes. Importantly, we provided evidence that the tagA mutant was significantly less virulent in a mouse model of infection (60%) than the WT bacterium at two 50% lethal doses, which resulted in 100% mortality within 48 h. Taken together, our data provided new information on the role of TagA as a virulence factor in bacterial pathogenesis. This is the first report of TagA characterization from any species of Aeromonas.

scholarly journals Functional Characterization of Spliceosomal Introns and Identification of U2, U4, and U5 snRNAs in the Deep-Branching Eukaryote Entamoeba histolytica

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 940-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie A. Davis ◽  
Michael P. S. Brown ◽  
Upinder Singh
Keyword(s):  
Entamoeba Histolytica ◽  
Splice Site ◽  
Expressed Sequence Tag ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Spliceosomal Introns ◽  
Accurate Expression ◽  
Eukaryotic Organisms

ABSTRACT Pre-mRNA splicing is essential to ensure accurate expression of many genes in eukaryotic organisms. In Entamoeba histolytica, a deep-branching eukaryote, approximately 30% of the annotated genes are predicted to contain introns; however, the accuracy of these predictions has not been tested. In this study, we mined an expressed sequence tag (EST) library representing 7% of amoebic genes and found evidence supporting splicing of 60% of the testable intron predictions, the majority of which contain a GUUUGU 5′ splice site and a UAG 3′ splice site. Additionally, we identified several splice site misannotations, evidence for the existence of 30 novel introns in previously annotated genes, and identified novel genes through uncovering their spliced ESTs. Finally, we provided molecular evidence for the E. histolytica U2, U4, and U5 snRNAs. These data lay the foundation for further dissection of the role of RNA processing in E. histolytica gene expression.

scholarly journals Identification of an isoflavonoid transporter required for the nodule establishment of the Rhizobium-Fabaceae symbiotic interaction

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanda Biala-Leonhard ◽  
Laura Zanin ◽  
Stefano Gottardi ◽  
Rita de Brito Francisco ◽  
Silvia Venuti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Signaling Cascades ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
White Lupin ◽  
Symbiotic Interaction ◽  
Phosphate Availability ◽  
Rhizobial Symbiosis

Nitrogen (N) as well as Phosphorus (P) are key nutrients determining crop productivity. Legumes have developed strategies to overcome nutrient limitation by e.g., forming a symbiotic relationship with N-fixing rhizobia and the release of P-mobilizing exudates and are thus able to grow without supply of N or P fertilizers. The legume-rhizobial symbiosis starts with root release of isoflavonoids, that act as signaling molecules perceived by compatible bacteria. Subsequently, bacteria release nod factors, which induce signaling cascades allowing the formation of functional N-fixing nodules. We report here the identification and functional characterization of a plasma membrane-localized MATE-type transporter (LaMATE2) involved in the release of genistein from white lupin roots. The LaMATE2 expression in the root is upregulated under N deficiency as well as low phosphate availability, two nutritional deficiencies that induce the release of this isoflavonoid. LaMATE2 silencing reduced genistein efflux and even more the formation of symbiotic nodules, supporting the crucial role of LaMATE2 in isoflavonoid release and nodulation. Furthermore, silencing of LaMATE2 limited the P-solubilization activity of lupin root exudates. Transport assays in yeast vesicles demonstrated that LaMATE2 acts as a proton-driven isoflavonoid transporter.

Audiovisual Advertising

2021 ◽  
pp. 774-793
Author(s):  
Madelijn Strick
Keyword(s):  
Film Music ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Moderating Factors ◽  
Short Films ◽  
Cognitive Involvement ◽  
Plot Structure

Narrative advertisements (i.e. ads that resemble short films that include characters, drama, and plot structure) are increasingly popular on TV and on the Internet. As in almost any film, music can play a vital role in the experience and impact of narrative ads. This chapter identifies psychological transportation as an important mediator between music and persuasion by narrative ads. Transportation refers to a strong emotional and cognitive involvement in the ad, a sense of being “lost” in the narrative. Previous studies show that transportation plays a mediating role in various aspects of persuasion, such as changing viewers’ beliefs, attitudes, and even behavior. This chapter begins with an overview of the literature on psychological transportation, focusing on its essential elements, moderating factors, and consequences for persuasion. The author then discusses the intriguing possibility that music plays an important role in promoting psychological transportation into narrative ads and reviews initial experimental evidence supporting this idea. Special attention will be paid to the role of “moving” (i.e. intensely emotional and chills-evoking) music, as it appears to be particularly effective in eliciting psychological transportation. Finally, the chapter closes with some enduring questions to be addressed in future studies.

scholarly journals Towards functional characterization of archaeal genomic dark matter

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 389-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kira S. Makarova ◽  
Yuri I. Wolf ◽  
Eugene V. Koonin
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Hypothetical Proteins ◽  
Experimental Characterization ◽  
Functional Prediction ◽  
Bacterial Genomes ◽  
Substantial Fraction ◽  
Quantitative Characteristics

Abstract A substantial fraction of archaeal genes, from ∼30% to as much as 80%, encode ‘hypothetical' proteins or genomic ‘dark matter'. Archaeal genomes typically contain a higher fraction of dark matter compared with bacterial genomes, primarily, because isolation and cultivation of most archaea in the laboratory, and accordingly, experimental characterization of archaeal genes, are difficult. In the present study, we present quantitative characteristics of the archaeal genomic dark matter and discuss comparative genomic approaches for functional prediction for ‘hypothetical' proteins. We propose a list of top priority candidates for experimental characterization with a broad distribution among archaea and those that are characteristic of poorly studied major archaeal groups such as Thaumarchaea, DPANN (Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota and Nanohaloarchaeota) and Asgard.

scholarly journals Functional Characterization of a Na+-Coupled Dicarboxylate Carrier Protein from Staphylococcus aureus

2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (15) ◽  
pp. 5189-5194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason A. Hall ◽  
Ana M. Pajor
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Structural Analysis ◽  
Transport Properties ◽  
Sequence Homology ◽  
Cytoplasmic Membrane ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Carrier Protein ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Reaction Sequence

ABSTRACT We have cloned and functionally characterized a Na+-coupled dicarboxylate transporter, SdcS, from Staphylococcus aureus. This carrier protein is a member of the divalent anion/Na+ symporter (DASS) family and shares significant sequence homology with the mammalian Na+/dicarboxylate cotransporters NaDC-1 and NaDC-3. Analysis of SdcS function indicates transport properties consistent with those of its eukaryotic counterparts. Thus, SdcS facilitates the transport of the dicarboxylates fumarate, malate, and succinate across the cytoplasmic membrane in a Na+-dependent manner. Furthermore, kinetic work predicts an ordered reaction sequence with Na+ (K 0.5 of 2.7 mM) binding before dicarboxylate (Km of 4.5 μM). Because this transporter and its mammalian homologs are functionally similar, we suggest that SdcS may serve as a useful model for DASS family structural analysis.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document