Fast, efficient and reproducible genetic transformation of Phaseolus spp. by Agrobacterium rhizogenes

This transformation procedure generates, with high efficiency (70-90%), hairy roots in cultivars, landraces and accessions of Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) and other Phaseolus spp. Hairy roots rapidly develop after wounding young plantlets with Agrobacterium rhizogenes, at the cotyledon node, and keeping the plants in high-humidity conditions. Callogenesis always precedes hairy-root formation, and after 15 days, when roots develop at wounded sites, the stem with the normal root is cleaved below the hairy root zone. Transgenic roots and nodules co-transformed with a binary vector can be easily identified using a reporter gene. This procedure, in addition to inducing robust transgenic hairy roots that are susceptible to being nodulated by rhizobia and to fixing nitrogen efficiently, sets the foundation for a high-throughput functional genomics approach on the study of root biology and root-microbe interactions. This protocol can be completed within 30 days.     

Extensive Unexplored Human Microbiome Diversity Revealed by Over 150,000 Genomes from Metagenomes Spanning Age,Geography, and Lifestyle

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TLR9-independent activation of B lymphocytes by bacterial DNA

The intracellular Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is unique in its ability to recognize single-stranded DNA unmethylated at CpG motifs. Work from this laboratory showed that plasmid DNA is spontaneously internalized in B lymphocytes. This event is followed by the upregulation of costimulatory molecules and the acquisition of antigen presenting function by these cells. However, it is not known whether this phenomenon depends on TLR9. Because of the relevant role played by DNA-based drugs in immunotherapy and vaccination, and the central role of TLR9 signaling by CpG motifs, we decided to investigate whether signaling through TLR9 is a prerequisite for spontaneous transgenesis of lymphocytes. Here we found that transgene expression and upregulation of CD40 and CD86 costimulatory molecules was not inhibited by chloroquine treatment. Spontaneous transgenesis also occurred in B lymphocytes from TLR9-/- mice, and the injection of TLR9-/- transgenic B lymphocytes in C57Bl/6 mice induced both CD4 and CD8 T cell responses comparable to those induced by wild-type B lymphocytes. Collectively, these results suggest that plasmid DNA activates mammalian B lymphocytes through a TLR9 independent pathway.     

Agrobacterium rhizogenes transformation of the Phaseolus spp.: a tool for functional genomics

A fast, reproducible, and efficient transformation procedure employing Agrobacterium rhizogenes was developed for Phaseolus vulgaris L. wild accessions, landraces, and cultivars and for three other species belonging to the genus Phaseolus: P. coccineus, P. lunatus, and P. acutifolius. Induced hairy roots are robust and grow quickly. The transformation frequency is between 75 and 90% based on the 35-S promoter-driven green fluorescent protein and beta-glucuronidase expression reporter constructs. When inoculated with Rhizobium tropici, transgenic roots induce normal determinate nodules that fix nitrogen as efficiently as inoculated standard roots. The A. rhizogenes-induced hairy root transformation in the genus Phaseolus sets the foundation for functional genomics programs focused on root physiology, root metabolism, and root-microbe interactions.     

Molecular cloning, characterization and regulation of two different NADH-glutamate synthase cDNAs in bean nodules

NADH-dependent glutamate synthase (NADH-GOGAT) is a key enzyme in primary ammonia assimilation in Phaseolus vulgaris nodules. Two different types of cDNA clones of PvNADH-GOGAT were isolated from the nodule cDNA libraries. The full-length cDNA clones of PvNADH-GOGAT-I (7.4 kb) and PvNADH-GOGAT-II (7.0 kb), which displayed an 83% homology between them, were isolated using cDNA library screening, 'cDNA library walking' and RT-PCR amplification. Southern analysis employing specific 5' cDNA probes derived from PvNADH-GOGAT-I and PvNADH-GOGAT-II indicated the existence of a single copy of each gene in the bean genome. Both these proteins contain ∼100 amino acid sequences theoretically addressing each isoenzyme to different subcellular compartments. RT-PCR analysis indicated that PvNADH-GOGAT-II expression is higher than PvNADH-GOGAT-I during nodule development. Expression analysis by RT-PCR also revealed that both of these genes are differentially regulated by sucrose. On the other hand, the expression of PvNADH-GOGAT-I , but not PvNADH-GOGAT-II, was inhibited with nitrogen compounds. In situ hybridization and promoter expression analyses demonstrated that the NADH-GOGAT-I and -II genes are differentially expressed in bean root and nodule tissues. In silico analyses of the NADH-GOGAT promoters revealed the presence of potential cis elements in them that could mediate differential tissue-specific, and sugar and amino acid responsive expression of these genes.     

Dual Functions of Mss51 Couple Synthesis of Cox1 to Assembly of Cytochrome c Oxidase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mitochondria

Functional interactions of the translational activator Mss51 with both the mitochondrially encoded COX1 mRNA 5′-untranslated region and with newly synthesized unassembled Cox1 protein suggest that it has a key role in coupling Cox1 synthesis with assembly of cytochrome c oxidase. Mss51 is present at levels that are near rate limiting for expression of a reporter gene inserted at COX1 in mitochondrial DNA, and a substantial fraction of Mss51 is associated with Cox1 protein in assembly intermediates. Thus, sequestration of Mss51 in assembly intermediates could limit Cox1 synthesis in wild type, and account for the reduced Cox1 synthesis caused by most yeast mutations that block assembly. Mss51 does not stably interact with newly synthesized Cox1 in a mutant lacking Cox14, suggesting that the failure of nuclear cox14 mutants to decrease Cox1 synthesis, despite their inability to assemble cytochrome c oxidase, is due to a failure to sequester Mss51. The physical interaction between Mss51 and Cox14 is dependent upon Cox1 synthesis, indicating dynamic assembly of early cytochrome c oxidase intermediates nucleated by Cox1. Regulation of COX1 mRNA translation by Mss51 seems to be an example of a homeostatic mechanism in which a positive effector of gene expression interacts with the product it regulates in a posttranslational assembly process.     

Rye Affects Bacterial Translocation,Intestinal Viscosity,Microbiota Composition and Bone Mineralization in Turkey Poults

Previously, we have reported that rye significantly increased both viscosity and Clostridium perfringens proliferation when compared with corn in an in vitro digestive model. Two independent trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of rye as a source of energy on bacterial translocation, intestinal viscosity, gut microbiota composition, and bone mineralization, when compared with corn in turkey poults. In each experiment, day-of-hatch, turkey poults were randomly assigned to either a corn or a rye diet (n = 0 /group). At 10 d of age, in both experiments, 12 birds/group were given an oral gavage dose of fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d). After 2.5 h of oral gavage, blood and liver samples were collected to evaluate the passage of FITC-d and bacterial translocation (BT) respectively. Duodenum, ileum and cecum gut sections were collected to evaluate intestinal viscosity and to enumerate gut microbiota. Tibias were collected for observation of bone parameters. Broilers fed with a rye diet showed increased (p<0.05) intestinal viscosity, BT, and serum FITC-d. Bacterial enumeration revealed that turkey poults fed with rye had increased the number of total lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in all three sections of the gastrointestinal tract evaluated when compared to turkey poults fed with corn. Turkey poults fed with rye also had significantly higher coliforms in duodenum and ileum but not in the ceca, whereas the total number of anaerobes increased only in duodenum. A significant reduction in bone strength and bone mineralization was observed in turkey poults fed with rye when compared with corn fed turkey poults. In conclusion, rye evoked mucosal damage in turkey poults that increased intestinal viscosity, increased leakage through the intestinal tract, and altered the microbiota composition and bone mineralization. Studies to evaluate dietary inclusion of selected Direct-Fed Microbial (DFM) candidates that produce exogenous enzymes in rye fed turkey poults are currently being evaluated.     

Temporal Shifts in Conspicuousness: Mate Attraction Displays of the Texas Field Cricket, Gryllus texensis

Conspicuous mate attraction displays can simultaneously draw the attention of potential mates and predators, placing the signaller in peril of becoming prey. The balance between these countervailing forms of selection has the potential to shape mate attraction displays. Male Texas field crickets (Gryllus texensis; Orthoptera) signal acoustically to attract mates. Mating signals also attract acoustically orienting parasitoid flies (Ormia ochracea; Tachinidae). Both the abundance of female crickets and parasitoid flies fluctuates throughout the night. We show mate attraction displays exhibit diel shifts that correlate positively with expected female cricket presence and negatively with expected parasitoid fly activity. During early evening, when parasitoids are most common and mating is scarce, crickets signal less often and with reduced conspicuousness. During the second half of the evening, when sexually receptive females are abundant and parasitoids are scarce, crickets signal more often and with enhanced conspicuousness. These diel shifts in mate attraction displays do not appear to result from male crickets detecting parasitoid flies or female crickets and altering their behaviour accordingly. Males in close proximity to parasitoid flies or female crickets do not signal differently than lone males. Instead, diel pattern shifts in mate attraction displays appear to be a selective response to trade‐offs between natural selection via parasitism and sexual selection via mate choice.