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1.
NAR Genom Bioinform ; 6(4): lqae140, 2024 Sep.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39391613

RESUMO

Technological advances in high-throughput technologies improve our ability to explore the molecular mechanisms of life. Computational infrastructures for scientific applications fulfil a critical role in harnessing this potential. However, there is an ongoing need to improve accessibility and implement robust data security technologies to allow the processing of sensitive data, particularly human genetic data. Scientific clouds have emerged as a promising solution to meet these needs. We present three components of the Laniakea software stack, initially developed to support the provision of private on-demand Galaxy instances. These components can be adopted by providers of scientific cloud services built on the INDIGO PaaS layer. The Dashboard translates configuration template files into user-friendly web interfaces, enabling the easy configuration and launch of on-demand applications. The secret management and the encryption components, integrated within the Dashboard, support the secure handling of passphrases and credentials and the deployment of block-level encrypted storage volumes for managing sensitive data in the cloud environment. By adopting these software components, scientific cloud providers can develop convenient, secure and efficient on-demand services for their users.

2.
Int J Mol Sci ; 25(17)2024 Sep 05.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39273584

RESUMO

Multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) is a rare inborn error of metabolism affecting fatty acid and amino acid oxidation with an incidence of 1 in 200,000 live births. MADD has three clinical phenotypes: severe neonatal-onset with or without congenital anomalies, and a milder late-onset form. Clinical diagnosis is supported by urinary organic acid and blood acylcarnitine analysis using tandem mass spectrometry in newborn screening programs. MADD is an autosomal recessive trait caused by biallelic mutations in the ETFA, ETFB, and ETFDH genes encoding the alpha and beta subunits of the electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF) and ETF-coenzyme Q oxidoreductase enzymes. Despite significant advancements in sequencing techniques, many patients remain undiagnosed, impacting their access to clinical care and genetic counseling. In this report, we achieved a definitive molecular diagnosis in a newborn by combining whole-genome sequencing (WGS) with RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Whole-exome sequencing and next-generation gene panels fail to detect variants, possibly affecting splicing, in deep intronic regions. Here, we report a unique deep intronic mutation in intron 1 of the ETFDH gene, c.35-959A>G, in a patient with early-onset lethal MADD, resulting in pseudo-exon inclusion. The identified variant is the third mutation reported in this region, highlighting ETFDH intron 1 vulnerability. It cannot be excluded that these intronic sequence features may be more common in other genes than is currently believed. This study highlights the importance of incorporating RNA analysis into genome-wide testing to reveal the functional consequences of intronic mutations.


Assuntos
Flavoproteínas Transferidoras de Elétrons , Íntrons , Proteínas Ferro-Enxofre , Deficiência Múltipla de Acil Coenzima A Desidrogenase , Oxirredutases atuantes sobre Doadores de Grupo CH-NH , Humanos , Deficiência Múltipla de Acil Coenzima A Desidrogenase/genética , Flavoproteínas Transferidoras de Elétrons/genética , Oxirredutases atuantes sobre Doadores de Grupo CH-NH/genética , Proteínas Ferro-Enxofre/genética , Íntrons/genética , Recém-Nascido , Mutação , Masculino , Feminino , Sequenciamento Completo do Genoma
3.
Front Aging Neurosci ; 16: 1437278, 2024.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39086756

RESUMO

Introduction: The deregulation of lncRNAs expression has been associated with neuronal damage in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but how or whether they can influence its onset is still unknown. We investigated 2 RNA-seq datasets consisting, respectively, of the hippocampal and fusiform gyrus transcriptomic profile of AD patients, matched with non-demented controls. Methods: We performed a differential expression analysis, a gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and a pathway enrichment analysis of two RNA-seq datasets. Results: We found deregulated lncRNAs in common between hippocampus and fusiform gyrus and deregulated gene groups associated to functional pathways related to neurotransmission and memory consolidation. lncRNAs, co-expressed with known AD-related coding genes, were identified from the prioritized modules of both brain regions. Discussion: We found common deregulated lncRNAs in the AD hippocampus and fusiform gyrus, that could be considered common signatures of AD pathogenesis, providing an important source of information for understanding the molecular changes of AD.

4.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 18034, 2024 08 04.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39098967

RESUMO

The greater amberjack Seriola dumerili is a promising candidate for aquaculture production. This study compares the ovary transcriptome of greater amberjack sampled in the wild (WILD) with hatchery-produced breeders reared in aquaculture sea cages in the Mediterranean Sea. Among the seven sampled cultured fish, three were classified as reproductively dysfunctional (DysF group), while four showed no signs of reproductive alteration (NormalF group). The DysF fish showed 1,166 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) compared to WILD females, and 755 DEGs compared to the NormalF. According to gene ontology (GO) analysis, DysF females exhibited enrichment of genes belonging to the biological categories classified as Secreted, ECM-receptor interaction, and Focal adhesion. Protein-protein interaction analysis revealed proteins involved in the biological categories of ECM-receptor interaction, Enzyme-linked receptor protein signaling, Wnt signal transduction pathways, and Ovulation cycle. KEGG pathway analysis showed DEGs involved in 111 pathways, including Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, Steroid hormone biosynthesis, Cell cycle, Oocyte meiosis, Necroptosis, Ferroptosis, Apoptosis, Autophagy, Progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, Endocytosis and Phagosome, as well as Hedgehog, Apelin, PPAR, Notch, and GnRH signalling pathways. Additionally, DysF females exhibited factors encoded by upregulated genes associated with hypogonadism and polycystic ovary syndrome in mammals. This study -which is part of a broader research effort examining the transcriptome of the entire reproductive axis in greater amberjack of both sexes-, enhances our comprehension of the mechanisms underlying the appearance of reproductive dysfunctions when fish are reared under aquaculture conditions.


Assuntos
Ovário , Transcriptoma , Animais , Feminino , Ovário/metabolismo , RNA Mensageiro/genética , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Aquicultura , Peixes/genética , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Ontologia Genética
5.
Ann Ist Super Sanita ; 60(2): 85-88, 2024.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38984621

RESUMO

The "Investigating and translating genomic evidence for public health response to SARS-CoV-2 (INSIDE SARS-CoV-2)" project is part of the initiative "Joint science and technology cooperation call for joint project proposals for the years 2021-2023" promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Republic of India. To start the project activities, the pandemic response and the epidemiological situation in Italy and in India, together with the genomic surveillance strategies for SARS-CoV-2 virus in the two countries, are here described.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , Genômica , Saúde Pública , SARS-CoV-2 , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Humanos , Itália/epidemiologia , SARS-CoV-2/genética , Índia/epidemiologia , Pandemias , Cooperação Internacional , Genoma Viral
6.
Microorganisms ; 12(6)2024 May 28.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38930472

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: The endometrium remains a difficult tissue for the analysis of microbiota, mainly due to the low bacterial presence and the sampling procedures. Among its pathologies, endometrial cancer has not yet been completely investigated for its relationship with microbiota composition. In this work, we report on possible correlations between endometrial microbiota dysbiosis and endometrial cancer. METHODS: Women with endometrial cancer at various stages of tumor progression were enrolled together with women with a benign polymyomatous uterus as the control. Analyses were performed using biopsies collected at two specific endometrial sites during the surgery. This study adopted two approaches: the absolute quantification of the bacterial load, using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), and the analysis of the bacterial composition, using a deep metabarcoding NGS procedure. RESULTS: ddPCR provided the first-ever assessment of the absolute quantification of bacterial DNA in the endometrium, confirming a generally low microbial abundance. Metabarcoding analysis revealed a different microbiota distribution in the two endometrial sites, regardless of pathology, accompanied by an overall higher prevalence of pathogenic bacterial genera in cancerous tissues. CONCLUSIONS: These results pave the way for future studies aimed at identifying potential biomarkers and gaining a deeper understanding of the role of bacteria associated with tumors.

7.
Biomolecules ; 14(4)2024 Mar 28.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38672428

RESUMO

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease with prevalent mitochondrial dysfunctions affecting both upper and lower motor neurons in the motor cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. Despite mitochondria having their own genome (mtDNA), in humans, most mitochondrial genes are encoded by the nuclear genome (nDNA). Our study aimed to simultaneously screen for nDNA and mtDNA genomes to assess for specific variant enrichment in ALS compared to control tissues. Here, we analysed whole exome (WES) and whole genome (WGS) sequencing data from spinal cord tissues, respectively, of 6 and 12 human donors. A total of 31,257 and 301,241 variants in nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes were identified from WES and WGS, respectively, while mtDNA reads accounted for 73 and 332 variants. Despite technical differences, both datasets consistently revealed a specific enrichment of variants in the mitochondrial Control Region (CR) and in several of these genes directly associated with mitochondrial dynamics or with Sirtuin pathway genes within ALS tissues. Overall, our data support the hypothesis of a variant burden in specific genes, highlighting potential actionable targets for therapeutic interventions in ALS.


Assuntos
Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica , DNA Mitocondrial , Sirtuínas , Medula Espinal , Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica/genética , Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica/metabolismo , Humanos , Medula Espinal/metabolismo , Medula Espinal/patologia , DNA Mitocondrial/genética , Sirtuínas/genética , Sirtuínas/metabolismo , Masculino , Feminino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Mitocôndrias/genética , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Núcleo Celular/genética , Núcleo Celular/metabolismo , Idoso , Sequenciamento do Exoma
8.
Commun Biol ; 7(1): 491, 2024 Apr 23.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38654143

RESUMO

Ribonucleotides represent the most common non-canonical nucleotides found in eukaryotic genomes. The sources of chromosome-embedded ribonucleotides and the mechanisms by which unrepaired rNMPs trigger genome instability and human pathologies are not fully understood. The available sequencing technologies only allow to indirectly deduce the genomic location of rNMPs. Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) may overcome such limitation, revealing the sites of rNMPs incorporation in genomic DNA directly from raw sequencing signals. We synthesized two types of DNA molecules containing rNMPs at known or random positions and we developed data analysis pipelines for DNA-embedded ribonucleotides detection by ONT. We report that ONT can identify all four ribonucleotides incorporated in DNA by capturing rNMPs-specific alterations in nucleotide alignment features, current intensity, and dwell time. We propose that ONT may be successfully employed to directly map rNMPs in genomic DNA and we suggest a strategy to build an ad hoc basecaller to analyse native genomes.


Assuntos
DNA , Sequenciamento por Nanoporos , Ribonucleotídeos , Sequenciamento por Nanoporos/métodos , Ribonucleotídeos/genética , DNA/genética , Humanos , Análise de Sequência de DNA/métodos , Nanoporos
9.
Microbiome ; 12(1): 47, 2024 Mar 07.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38454513

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Macroalgae, especially reds (Rhodophyta Division) and browns (Phaeophyta Division), are known for producing various halogenated compounds. Yet, the reasons underlying their production and the fate of these metabolites remain largely unknown. Some theories suggest their potential antimicrobial activity and involvement in interactions between macroalgae and prokaryotes. However, detailed investigations are currently missing on how the genetic information of prokaryotic communities associated with macroalgae may influence the fate of organohalogenated molecules. RESULTS: To address this challenge, we created a specialized dataset containing 161 enzymes, each with a complete enzyme commission number, known to be involved in halogen metabolism. This dataset served as a reference to annotate the corresponding genes encoded in both the metagenomic contigs and 98 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) obtained from the microbiome of 2 red (Sphaerococcus coronopifolius and Asparagopsis taxiformis) and 1 brown (Halopteris scoparia) macroalgae. We detected many dehalogenation-related genes, particularly those with hydrolytic functions, suggesting their potential involvement in the degradation of a wide spectrum of halocarbons and haloaromatic molecules, including anthropogenic compounds. We uncovered an array of degradative gene functions within MAGs, spanning various bacterial orders such as Rhodobacterales, Rhizobiales, Caulobacterales, Geminicoccales, Sphingomonadales, Granulosicoccales, Microtrichales, and Pseudomonadales. Less abundant than degradative functions, we also uncovered genes associated with the biosynthesis of halogenated antimicrobial compounds and metabolites. CONCLUSION: The functional data provided here contribute to understanding the still largely unexplored role of unknown prokaryotes. These findings support the hypothesis that macroalgae function as holobionts, where the metabolism of halogenated compounds might play a role in symbiogenesis and act as a possible defense mechanism against environmental chemical stressors. Furthermore, bacterial groups, previously never connected with organohalogen metabolism, e.g., Caulobacterales, Geminicoccales, Granulosicoccales, and Microtrichales, functionally characterized through MAGs reconstruction, revealed a biotechnologically relevant gene content, useful in synthetic biology, and bioprospecting applications. Video Abstract.


Assuntos
Anti-Infecciosos , Microbiota , Rodófitas , Alga Marinha , Rodófitas/genética , Rodófitas/metabolismo , Microbiota/genética , Bactérias/genética , Bactérias/metabolismo , Alga Marinha/genética , Alga Marinha/metabolismo , Metagenoma , Halogênios/metabolismo
10.
Front Microbiol ; 15: 1343572, 2024.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38419630

RESUMO

Metagenomics, Metabolomics, and Metaproteomics have significantly advanced our knowledge of microbial communities by providing culture-independent insights into their composition and functional potential. However, a critical challenge in this field is the lack of standard and comprehensive metadata associated with raw data, hindering the ability to perform robust data stratifications and consider confounding factors. In this comprehensive review, we categorize publicly available microbiome data into five types: shotgun sequencing, amplicon sequencing, metatranscriptomic, metabolomic, and metaproteomic data. We explore the importance of metadata for data reuse and address the challenges in collecting standardized metadata. We also, assess the limitations in metadata collection of existing public repositories collecting metagenomic data. This review emphasizes the vital role of metadata in interpreting and comparing datasets and highlights the need for standardized metadata protocols to fully leverage metagenomic data's potential. Furthermore, we explore future directions of implementation of Machine Learning (ML) in metadata retrieval, offering promising avenues for a deeper understanding of microbial communities and their ecological roles. Leveraging these tools will enhance our insights into microbial functional capabilities and ecological dynamics in diverse ecosystems. Finally, we emphasize the crucial metadata role in ML models development.

11.
RNA Biol ; 21(1): 1-14, 2024 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38090878

RESUMO

In mammals, RNA editing events involve the conversion of adenosine (A) in inosine (I) by ADAR enzymes or the hydrolytic deamination of cytosine (C) in uracil (U) by the APOBEC family of enzymes, mostly APOBEC1. RNA editing has a plethora of biological functions, and its deregulation has been associated with various human disorders. While the large-scale detection of A-to-I is quite straightforward using the Illumina RNAseq technology, the identification of C-to-U events is a non-trivial task. This difficulty arises from the rarity of such events in eukaryotic genomes and the challenge of distinguishing them from background noise. Direct RNA sequencing by Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) permits the direct detection of Us on sequenced RNA reads. Surprisingly, using ONT reads from wild-type (WT) and APOBEC1-knock-out (KO) murine cell lines as well as in vitro synthesized RNA without any modification, we identified a systematic error affecting the accuracy of the Cs call, thereby leading to incorrect identifications of C-to-U events. To overcome this issue in direct RNA reads, here we introduce a novel machine learning strategy based on the isolation Forest (iForest) algorithm in which C-to-U editing events are considered as sequencing anomalies. Using in vitro synthesized and human ONT reads, our model optimizes the signal-to-noise ratio improving the detection of C-to-U editing sites with high accuracy, over 90% in all samples tested. Our results suggest that iForest, known for its rapid implementation and minimal memory requirements, is a promising tool to denoise ONT reads and reliably identify RNA modifications.


Assuntos
Edição de RNA , RNA , Camundongos , Animais , Humanos , RNA/genética , Sequência de Bases , Desaminases APOBEC/genética , Mamíferos/genética , Análise de Sequência de RNA
12.
J Exp Clin Cancer Res ; 42(1): 244, 2023 Sep 21.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37735434

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant among gliomas with an inevitable lethal outcome. The elucidation of the physiology and regulation of this tumor is mandatory to unravel novel target and effective therapeutics. Emerging concepts show that the minor subset of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) accounts for tumorigenicity, representing the true target for innovative therapies in GBM. METHODS: Here, we isolated and established functionally stable and steadily expanding GSCs lines from a large cohort of GBM patients. The molecular, functional and antigenic landscape of GBM tissues and their derivative GSCs was highlited in a side-by-side comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic characterization by ANOVA and Fisher's exact tests. GSCs' physio-pathological hallmarks were delineated by comparing over time in vitro and in vivo their expansion, self-renewal and tumorigenic ability with hierarchical linear models for repeated measurements and Kaplan-Meier method. Candidate biomarkers performance in discriminating GBM patients' classification emerged by classification tree and patients' survival analysis. RESULTS: Here, distinct biomarker signatures together with aberrant functional programs were shown to stratify GBM patients as well as their sibling GSCs population into TCGA clusters. Of importance, GSCs cells were demonstrated to fully resemble over time the molecular features of their patient of origin. Furthermore, we pointed out the existence of distinct GSCs subsets within GBM classification, inherently endowed with different self-renewal and tumorigenic potential. Particularly, classical GSCs were identified by more undifferentiated biological hallmarks, enhanced expansion and clonal capacity as compared to the more mature, relatively slow-propagating mesenchymal and proneural cells, likely endowed with a higher potential for infiltration either ex vivo or in vivo. Importantly, the combination of DCX and EGFR markers, selectively enriched among GSCs pools, almost exactly predicted GBM patients' clusters together with their survival and drug response. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we report that an inherent enrichment of distinct GSCs pools underpin the functional inter-cluster variances displayed by GBM patients. We uncover two selectively represented novel functional biomarkers capable of discriminating GBM patients' stratification, survival and drug response, setting the stage for the determination of patient-tailored diagnostic and prognostic strategies and, mostly, for the design of appropriate, patient-selective treatment protocols.


Assuntos
Glioblastoma , Glioma , Humanos , Glioblastoma/genética , Glioblastoma/terapia , Células-Tronco , Biomarcadores , Carcinogênese
13.
Nat Commun ; 14(1): 5521, 2023 09 08.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37684224

RESUMO

The second messenger cyclic AMP regulates many nuclear processes including transcription, pre-mRNA splicing and mitosis. While most functions are attributed to protein kinase A, accumulating evidence suggests that not all nuclear cyclic AMP-dependent effects are mediated by this kinase, implying that other effectors may be involved. Here we explore the nuclear roles of Exchange Protein Activated by cyclic AMP 1. We find that it enters the nucleus where forms reversible biomolecular condensates in response to cyclic AMP. This phenomenon depends on intrinsically disordered regions present at its amino-terminus and is independent of protein kinase A. Finally, we demonstrate that nuclear Exchange Protein Activated by cyclic AMP 1 condensates assemble at genomic loci on chromosome 6 in the proximity of Histone Locus Bodies and promote the transcription of a histone gene cluster. Collectively, our data reveal an unexpected mechanism through which cyclic AMP contributes to nuclear spatial compartmentalization and promotes the transcription of specific genes.


Assuntos
AMP Cíclico , Histonas , Histonas/genética , Núcleo Celular , Proteínas Nucleares , Proteínas Quinases Dependentes de AMP Cíclico
14.
Int J Mol Sci ; 24(15)2023 Jul 31.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37569667

RESUMO

Microcephalic Osteodysplastic Primordial Dwarfism type II (MOPDII) represents the most common form of primordial dwarfism. MOPD clinical features include severe prenatal and postnatal growth retardation, postnatal severe microcephaly, hypotonia, and an increased risk for cerebrovascular disease and insulin resistance. Autosomal recessive biallelic loss-of-function genomic variants in the centrosomal pericentrin (PCNT) gene on chromosome 21q22 cause MOPDII. Over the past decade, exome sequencing (ES) and massive RNA sequencing have been effectively employed for both the discovery of novel disease genes and to expand the genotypes of well-known diseases. In this paper we report the results both the RNA sequencing and ES of three patients affected by MOPDII with the aim of exploring whether differentially expressed genes and previously uncharacterized gene variants, in addition to PCNT pathogenic variants, could be associated with the complex phenotype of this disease. We discovered a downregulation of key factors involved in growth, such as IGF1R, IGF2R, and RAF1, in all three investigated patients. Moreover, ES identified a shortlist of genes associated with deleterious, rare variants in MOPDII patients. Our results suggest that Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies can be successfully applied for the molecular characterization of the complex genotypic background of MOPDII.


Assuntos
Nanismo , Microcefalia , Osteocondrodisplasias , Humanos , Feminino , Gravidez , Microcefalia/genética , Exoma/genética , Transcriptoma , Retardo do Crescimento Fetal/genética , Nanismo/genética , Osteocondrodisplasias/genética , Genótipo , Mutação
15.
Sci Rep ; 13(1): 13662, 2023 08 22.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37608044

RESUMO

Reproductive dysfunctions have been recently documented in male greater amberjack Seriola dumerili caught from the wild and reared in captivity. In the present study, we compared testis transcriptome in wild fish (WILD), hatchery-produced fish with apparently normal spermatogenesis (Normal Farmed; NormalF) and hatchery-produced fish with evident reproductive dysfunction (Dysfunctional Farmed; DysF). Gene expression analysis identified 2157, 1985 and 74 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in DysF vs WILD, NormalF vs DysF and NormalF vs WILD comparisons, respectively. In DysF, a dysregulation of several interconnected biological processes, including cell assembly, steroidogenesis and apoptosis was found. Gene enrichment of progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, oocyte meiosis and cell cycle pathways were identified in the DysF vs NormalF comparison. Most of the DEGs involved in the enriched pathways were downregulated in DysF. The comparison of NormalF vs WILD showed that most of the DEGs were downregulated in NormalF, including a gene that encodes for a regulatory protein with a protective role in apoptosis regulation (ptpn6), indicating that spermatogenesis was dysfunctional also in the apparently "normal" hatchery-produced fish. Hence, rearing of male greater amberjack in captivity, from eggs produced by captive breeders, did not prevent the appearance of reproductive dysfunctions, and these dysfunctions involved several biological processes and metabolic pathways.


Assuntos
Perciformes , Testículo , Masculino , Animais , Espermatogênese/genética , Meiose/genética , RNA Mensageiro/genética
16.
Genes (Basel) ; 14(8)2023 07 31.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37628619

RESUMO

The 16S rRNA amplicon-based sequencing approach represents the most common and cost-effective strategy with great potential for microbiome profiling. The use of second-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies has led to protocols based on the amplification of one or a few hypervariable regions, impacting the outcome of the analysis. Nowadays, comparative studies are necessary to assess different amplicon-based approaches, including the full-locus sequencing currently feasible thanks to third-generation sequencing (TGS) technologies. This study compared three different methods to achieve the deepest microbiome taxonomic characterization: (a) the single-region approach, (b) the multiplex approach, covering several regions of the target gene/region, both based on NGS short reads, and (c) the full-length approach, which analyzes the whole length of the target gene thanks to TGS long reads. Analyses carried out on benchmark microbiome samples, with a known taxonomic composition, highlighted a different classification performance, strongly associated with the type of hypervariable regions and the coverage of the target gene. Indeed, the full-length approach showed the greatest discriminating power, up to species level, also on complex real samples. This study supports the transition from NGS to TGS for the study of the microbiome, even if experimental and bioinformatic improvements are still necessary.


Assuntos
Benchmarking , Microbiota , RNA Ribossômico 16S/genética , Biologia Computacional , Microbiota/genética , Tecnologia
17.
Biology (Basel) ; 12(8)2023 Aug 13.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37627011

RESUMO

Gene and genome comparison represent an invaluable tool to identify evolutionarily conserved sequences with possible functional significance. In this work, we have analyzed orthologous genes encoding subunits and assembly factors of the V-ATPase complex, an important enzymatic complex of the vacuolar and lysosomal compartments of the eukaryotic cell with storage and recycling functions, respectively, as well as the main pump in the plasma membrane that energizes the epithelial transport in insects. This study involves 70 insect species belonging to eight insect orders. We highlighted the conservation of a short sequence in the genes encoding subunits of the V-ATPase complex and their assembly factors analyzed with respect to their exon-intron organization of those genes. This study offers the possibility to study ultra-conserved regulatory elements under an evolutionary perspective, with the aim of expanding our knowledge on the regulation of complex gene networks at the basis of organellar biogenesis and cellular organization.

18.
Microorganisms ; 11(5)2023 May 22.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37317333

RESUMO

The filamentous fungus Aphanocladium album is known as a hyperparasite of plant pathogenic fungi; hence, it has been studied as a possible agent for plant protection. Chitinases secreted by A. album have proven to be essential for its fungicidal activity. However, no complete analysis of the A. album chitinase assortment has been carried out, nor have any of its chitinases been characterized yet. In this study, we report the first draft assembly of the genome sequence of A. album (strain MX-95). The in silico functional annotation of the genome allowed the identification of 46 genes encoding chitinolytic enzymes of the GH18 (26 genes), GH20 (8 genes), GH75 (8 genes), and GH3 (4 genes) families. The encoded proteins were investigated by comparative and phylogenetic analysis, allowing clustering in different subgroups. A. album chitinases were also characterized according to the presence of different functional protein domains (carbohydrate-binding modules and catalytic domains) providing the first complete description of the chitinase repertoire of A. album. A single chitinase gene was then selected for complete functional characterization. The encoded protein was expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris, and its activity was assayed under different conditions of temperature and pH and with different substrates. It was found that the enzyme acts mainly as a chitobiosidase, with higher activity in the 37-50 °C range.

19.
Commun Biol ; 6(1): 443, 2023 04 22.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37087497

RESUMO

Accurate and timely monitoring of the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for identifying and tracking potentially more transmissible/virulent viral variants, and implement mitigation strategies to limit their spread. Here we introduce HaploCoV, a novel software framework that enables the exploration of SARS-CoV-2 genomic diversity through space and time, to identify novel emerging viral variants and prioritize variants of potential epidemiological interest in a rapid and unsupervised manner. HaploCoV can integrate with any classification/nomenclature and incorporates an effective scoring system for the prioritization of SARS-CoV-2 variants. By performing retrospective analyses of more than 11.5 M genome sequences we show that HaploCoV demonstrates high levels of accuracy and reproducibility and identifies the large majority of epidemiologically relevant viral variants - as flagged by international health authorities - automatically and with rapid turn-around times.Our results highlight the importance of the application of strategies based on the systematic analysis and integration of regional data for rapid identification of novel, emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2. We believe that the approach outlined in this study will contribute to relevant advances to current and future genomic surveillance methods.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , Humanos , COVID-19/diagnóstico , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Estudos Retrospectivos , SARS-CoV-2/genética
20.
Front Microbiol ; 14: 1157164, 2023.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37020718

RESUMO

The maintenance of intestinal barrier function is essential for preventing different pathologies, such as the leaky gut syndrome (LGS), which is characterized by the passage of harmful agents, like bacteria, toxins, and viruses, into the bloodstream. Intestinal barrier integrity is controlled by several players, including the gut microbiota. Various molecules, called postbiotics, are released during the natural metabolic activity of the microbiota. Postbiotics can regulate host-microbe interactions, epithelial homeostasis, and have overall benefits for our health. In this work, we used in vitro and in vivo systems to demonstrate the role of Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM I-5220-derived postbiotic (LP-PBF) in preserving intestinal barrier integrity. We demonstrated in vitro that LP-PBF restored the morphology of tight junctions (TJs) that were altered upon Salmonella typhimurium exposure. In vivo, LP-PBF protected the gut vascular barrier and blocked S. typhimurium dissemination into the bloodstream. Interestingly, we found that LP-PBF interacts not only with the host cells, but also directly with S. typhimurium blocking its biofilm formation, partially due to the presence of biosurfactants. This study highlights that LP-PBF is beneficial in maintaining gut homeostasis due to the synergistic effect of its different components. These results suggest that LP-PBF could be utilized in managing several pathologies displaying an impaired intestinal barrier function.

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