Morphology and molecular phylogeny of two new species of Spirostrombidium (Ciliophora,Oligotrichia), with a key to the species of Spirostrombidium

Microscopic methods were used to investigate the morphological characterization of two novel oligotrich ciliates, Spirostrombidium paraurceolare sp. nov. and Spirostrombidium faurefremieti sp. nov., isolated from a mangrove wetland in Zhanjiang and an intertidal sandy beach in Qingdao, respectively. Spirostrombidium paraurceolare sp. nov. is characterized by three thigmotactic and 8–10 buccal membranelles, the girdle kinety spiralling around cell with one and a half whorls, and located at right anterior third of dorsal side anteriorly. Spirostrombidium faurefremieti sp. nov. can be recognized by a prominently deep and broad buccal cavity, two thigmotactic and 15–19 buccal membranelles, and the girdle kinety spiralling around cell with two whorls. The small subunit ribosomal RNA genes of these two species were sequenced and compared with those of their congeners to reveal nucleotide differences. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the genus Spirostrombidium is non-monophyletic. Spirostrombidium faurefremieti sp. nov. falls into a clade comprising most congeners, but Spirostrombidium paraurceolare sp. nov. branches off and groups with Varistrombidium kielum with moderate support. A key to the identification of Spirostrombidium species is also provided.www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AB96BEE6-BE3A-4B95-B75A-3469B1C53ABB2     

Integrated analysis of genetic,genomic and proteomic data

The rapid expansion of methods for measuring biological data ranging from DNA sequence variations to mRNA expression and protein abundance presents the opportunity to utilize multiple types of information jointly in the study of human health and disease. Organisms are complex systems that integrate inputs at myriad levels to arrive at an observable phenotype. Therefore, it is essential that questions concerning the etiology of phenotypes as complex as common human diseases take the systemic nature of biology into account, and integrate the information provided by each data type in a manner analogous to the operation of the body itself. While limited in scope, the initial forays into the joint analysis of multiple data types have yielded interesting results that would not have been reached had only one type of data been considered. These early successes, along with the aforementioned theoretical appeal of data integration, provide impetus for the development of methods for the parallel, high-throughput analysis of multiple data types. The idea that the integrated analysis of multiple data types will improve the identification of biomarkers of clinical endpoints, such as disease susceptibility, is presented as a working hypothesis.     

Proteomic biomarker discovery for the monogenic disease cystic fibrosis

Proteomics was initially viewed as a promising new scientific discipline to study complex disorders such as polygenic, infectious and environment-related diseases. However, the first attempts to understand a monogenic disease such as cystic fibrosis (CF) by proteomics-based approaches have proved quite rewarding. In CF, the impairment of a unique protein, the CF transmembrane conductance regulator, does not completely explain the complex and variable CF clinical phenotype. The great advances in our knowledge about the molecular and cellular consequences of such impairment have not been sufficient to be translated into effective treatments, and CF patients are still dying due to chronic progressive lung dysfunction. The progression of proteomics application in CF will certainly unravel new proteins that could be useful as biomarkers either to elucidate CF basic mechanisms and to better monitor the disease progression, or to promote the development of novel therapeutic strategies against CF. This review will summarize the recent technological advances in proteomics and the first results of its application to address the most important issues in the CF field.     

Estrogen Receptor β Signaling Induces Autophagy and Downregulates Glut9 Expression

Glut9 is highly expressed in the human kidney proximal convoluted tubular and plays a crucial role in the regulation of plasma urate levels. The gene effects were stronger among women. Our results show that 17-β-estradiol (E2) through ER (estrogen receptor) β downregulates Glut9 protein expression on human renal tubular epithelial cell line (HK2). Intriguingly, E2 does not affect the expression of Glut9 mRNA. ERβ is linked to PTEN, the PTEN gene negatively regulates the PI3K/AKT pathway, and the PI3K/AKT pathway inhibition may lead to autophagy. Further study indicates that ERβ may affect the expression of Glut9 though autophagy.     

A heat‐inducible CRE/LOXP gene induction system in medaka

We established three lines of transgenic medaka, a heat‐shock element (HSE) monitor line (hse‐GFP line), heat‐inducible driver lines (hse‐cre lines), and effector lines (gapdh‐loxP[DsRed]‐GFP lines). We employed these to comprehensively analyze gene induction at different time points in various tissues. These analyses demonstrate a good response of synthetic HSEs by heat treatment during embryogenesis and the mosaic gene induction by cre/loxP‐mediated recombination, thus providing practical information regarding the feasibility of a heat‐inducible cre/loxP‐mediated system in medaka. We also activated recombination by local heat‐treatment using a metal probe and an infrared laser. Our results collectively indicate that these lines allow us to perform lineage tracing and mosaic analysis and provide the platform to investigate gene functions at later developmental stage and adult. genesis 51:59–67, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Biallelic genome modification in F0 Xenopus tropicalis embryos using the CRISPR/Cas system

Gene inactivation is an important tool for correlation of phenotypic and genomic data, allowing researchers to infer normal gene function based on the phenotype when the gene is impaired. New and better approaches are needed to overcome the shortfalls of existing methods for any significant acceleration of scientific progress. We have adapted the CRISPR/Cas system for use in Xenopus tropicalis and report on the efficient creation of mutations in the gene encoding the enzyme tyrosinase, which is responsible for oculocutaneous albinism. Biallelic mutation of this gene was detected in the F₀ generation, suggesting targeting efficiencies similar to that of TALENs. We also find that off‐target mutagenesis seems to be negligible, and therefore, CRISPR/Cas may be a useful system for creating genome modifications in this important model organism. genesis 51:827–834. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.