A comprehensive benchmarking of WGS-based deletion structural variant callers.

Advances in whole-genome sequencing (WGS) promise to enable the accurate and comprehensive structural variant (SV) discovery. Dissecting SVs from WGS data presents a substantial number of challenges and a plethora of SV detection methods have been developed. Currently, evidence that investigators can use to select appropriate SV detection tools is lacking. In this article, we have evaluated the performance of SV detection tools on mouse and human WGS data using a comprehensive polymerase chain reaction-confirmed gold standard set of SVs and the genome-in-a-bottle variant set, respectively. In contrast to the previous benchmarking studies, our gold standard dataset included a complete set of SVs allowing us to report both precision and sensitivity rates of the SV detection methods. Our study investigates the ability of the methods to detect deletions, thus providing an optimistic estimate of SV detection performance as the SV detection methods that fail to detect deletions are likely to miss more complex SVs. We found that SV detection tools varied widely in their performance, with several methods providing a good balance between sensitivity and precision. Additionally, we have determined the SV callers best suited for low- and ultralow-pass sequencing data as well as for different deletion length categories.

Phagocytosis Is the Sole Arm of Drosophila melanogaster Known Host Defenses That Provides Some Protection Against Microsporidia Infection.

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites able to infest specifically a large range of species, including insects. The knowledge about the biology of microsporidial infections remains confined to mostly descriptive studies, including molecular approaches such as transcriptomics or proteomics. Thus, functional data to understand insect host defenses are currently lacking. Here, we have undertaken a genetic analysis of known host defenses of the Drosophila melanogaster using an infection model whereby Tubulinosema ratisbonensis spores are directly injected in this insect. We find that phagocytosis does confer some protection in this infection model. In contrast, the systemic immune response, extracellular reactive oxygen species, thioester proteins, xenophagy, and intracellular antiviral response pathways do not appear to be involved in the resistance against this parasite. Unexpectedly, several genes such as PGRP-LE seem to promote this infection. The prophenol oxidases that mediate melanization have different functions; PPO1 presents a phenotype similar to that of PGRP-LE whereas that of PPO2 suggests a function in the resilience to infection. Similarly, eiger and Unpaired3, which encode two cytokines secreted by hemocytes display a resilience phenotype with a strong susceptibility to T. ratisbonensis.

Population-scale detection of non-reference sequence variants using colored de Bruijn graphs.

MOTIVATION: With the increasing throughput of sequencing technologies, structural variant (SV) detection has become possible across tens of thousands of genomes. Non-reference sequence (NRS) variants have drawn less attention compared with other types of SVs due to the computational complexity of detecting them. When using short-read data, the detection of NRS variants inevitably involves a de novo assembly which requires high-quality sequence data at high coverage. Previous studies have demonstrated how sequence data of multiple genomes can be combined for the reliable detection of NRS variants. However, the algorithms proposed in these studies have limited scalability to larger sets of genomes. RESULTS: We introduce PopIns2, a tool to discover and characterize NRS variants in many genomes, which scales to considerably larger numbers of genomes than its predecessor PopIns. In this article, we briefly outline the PopIns2 workflow and highlight our novel algorithmic contributions. We developed an entirely new approach for merging contig assemblies of unaligned reads from many genomes into a single set of NRS using a colored de Bruijn graph. Our tests on simulated data indicate that the new merging algorithm ranks among the best approaches in terms of quality and reliability and that PopIns2 shows the best precision for a growing number of genomes processed. Results on the Polaris Diversity Cohort and a set of 1000 Icelandic human genomes demonstrate unmatched scalability for the application on population-scale datasets. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The source code of PopIns2 is available from https://github.com/kehrlab/PopIns2. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

PopDel identifies medium-size deletions simultaneously in tens of thousands of genomes.

Thousands of genomic structural variants (SVs) segregate in the human population and can impact phenotypic traits and diseases. Their identification in whole-genome sequence data of large cohorts is a major computational challenge. Most current approaches identify SVs in single genomes and afterwards merge the identified variants into a joint call set across many genomes. We describe the approach PopDel, which directly identifies deletions of about 500 to at least 10,000 bp in length in data of many genomes jointly, eliminating the need for subsequent variant merging. PopDel scales to tens of thousands of genomes as we demonstrate in evaluations on up to 49,962 genomes. We show that PopDel reliably reports common, rare and de novo deletions. On genomes with available high-confidence reference call sets PopDel shows excellent recall and precision. Genotype inheritance patterns in up to 6794 trios indicate that genotypes predicted by PopDel are more reliable than those of previous SV callers. Furthermore, PopDel's running time is competitive with the fastest tested previous tools. The demonstrated scalability and accuracy of PopDel enables routine scans for deletions in large-scale sequencing studies.

Lifelong Reduction in LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) Cholesterol due to a Gain-of-Function Mutation in LDLR.

BACKGROUND: Loss-of-function mutations in the LDL (low-density lipoprotein) receptor gene (LDLR) cause elevated levels of LDL cholesterol and premature cardiovascular disease. To date, a gain-of-function mutation in LDLR with a large effect on LDL cholesterol levels has not been described. Here, we searched for sequence variants in LDLR that have a large effect on LDL cholesterol levels. METHODS: We analyzed whole-genome sequencing data from 43 202 Icelanders. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms and structural variants including deletions, insertions, and duplications were genotyped using whole-genome sequencing-based data. LDL cholesterol associations were carried out in a sample of >100 000 Icelanders with genetic information (imputed or whole-genome sequencing). Molecular analyses were performed using RNA sequencing and protein expression assays in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphocytes. RESULTS: We discovered a 2.5-kb deletion (del2.5) overlapping the 3' untranslated region of LDLR in 7 heterozygous carriers from a single family. Mean level of LDL cholesterol was 74% lower in del2.5 carriers than in 101 851 noncarriers, a difference of 2.48 mmol/L (96 mg/dL; P=8.4×10-8). Del2.5 results in production of an alternative mRNA isoform with a truncated 3' untranslated region. The truncation leads to a loss of target sites for microRNAs known to repress translation of LDLR. In Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphocytes derived from del2.5 carriers, expression of alternative mRNA isoform was 1.84-fold higher than the wild-type isoform (P=0.0013), and there was 1.79-fold higher surface expression of the LDL receptor than in noncarriers (P=0.0086). We did not find a highly penetrant detrimental impact of lifelong very low levels of LDL cholesterol due to del2.5 on health of the carriers. CONCLUSIONS: Del2.5 is the first reported gain-of-function mutation in LDLR causing a large reduction in LDL cholesterol. These data point to a role for alternative polyadenylation of LDLR mRNA as a potent regulator of LDL receptor expression in humans.

Draft Genome Sequence of Tubulinosema ratisbonensis, a Microsporidian Species Infecting the Model Organism Drosophila melanogaster.

We present the draft genome sequence of Tubulinosema ratisbonensis, a microsporidium species infecting Drosophila melanogaster A total of 3,013 protein-encoding genes and an array of transposable elements were identified. This work represents a necessary step to develop a novel model of host-parasite relationships using the highly tractable genetic model D. melanogaster.

Phosphatidic acid as a limiting host metabolite for the proliferation of the microsporidium Tubulinosema ratisbonensis in Drosophila flies.

Microsporidia are located at the base of the fungal evolutionary tree. They are obligate intracellular parasites and harness host metabolism to fuel their growth and proliferation. However, how the infestation of cells affects the whole organism and how the organism contributes to parasite proliferation remain poorly understood. Here, we have developed a Tubulinosema ratisbonensis systemic infection model in the genetically amenable Drosophila melanogaster host, in which parasite spores obtained in a mammalian cell culture infection system are injected into adult flies. The parasites proliferate within flies and ultimately kill their hosts. As commonly observed for microsporidia infecting insects, T. ratisbonensis preferentially grows in the fat body and ultimately depletes the host metabolic stores. We find that supplementing the fly diet with yeast does not benefit the host but the parasite, which increases its proliferation. Unexpectedly, fatty acids and not carbohydrates or amino acids are the critical components responsible for this phenomenon. Our genetic dissection of host lipid metabolism identifies a crucial compound hijacked by T. ratisbonensis: phosphatidic acid. We propose that phosphatidic acid is a limiting precursor for the synthesis of the parasite membranes and, hence, of its proliferation.

Virulent and avirulent strains of Toxoplasma gondii which differ in their glycosylphosphatidylinositol content induce similar biological functions in macrophages.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) from several protozoan parasites are thought to elicit a detrimental stimulation of the host innate immune system aside their main function to anchor surface proteins. Here we analyzed the GPI biosynthesis of an avirulent Toxoplasma gondii type 2 strain (PTG) by metabolic radioactive labeling. We determined the biological function of individual GPI species in the PTG strain in comparison with previously characterized GPI-anchors of a virulent strain (RH). The GPI intermediates of both strains were structurally similar, however the abundance of two of six GPI intermediates was significantly reduced in the PTG strain. The side-by-side comparison of GPI-anchor content revealed that the PTG strain had only ∼ 34% of the protein-free GPIs as well as ∼ 70% of the GPI-anchored proteins with significantly lower rates of protein N-glycosylation compared to the RH strain. All mature GPIs from both strains induced comparable secretion levels of TNF-α and IL-12p40, and initiated TLR4/MyD88-dependent NF-κBp65 activation in macrophages. Taken together, these results demonstrate that PTG and RH strains differ in their GPI biosynthesis and possess significantly different GPI-anchor content, while individual GPI species of both strains induce similar biological functions in macrophages.

Identification and functional analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi genes that encode proteins of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthetic pathway.

BACKGROUND: Trypanosoma cruzi is a protist parasite that causes Chagas disease. Several proteins that are essential for parasite virulence and involved in host immune responses are anchored to the membrane through glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) molecules. In addition, T. cruzi GPI anchors have immunostimulatory activities, including the ability to stimulate the synthesis of cytokines by innate immune cells. Therefore, T. cruzi genes related to GPI anchor biosynthesis constitute potential new targets for the development of better therapies against Chagas disease. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In silico analysis of the T. cruzi genome resulted in the identification of 18 genes encoding proteins of the GPI biosynthetic pathway as well as the inositolphosphorylceramide (IPC) synthase gene. Expression of GFP fusions of some of these proteins in T. cruzi epimastigotes showed that they localize in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Expression analyses of two genes indicated that they are constitutively expressed in all stages of the parasite life cycle. T. cruzi genes TcDPM1, TcGPI10 and TcGPI12 complement conditional yeast mutants in GPI biosynthesis. Attempts to generate T. cruzi knockouts for three genes were unsuccessful, suggesting that GPI may be an essential component of the parasite. Regarding TcGPI8, which encodes the catalytic subunit of the transamidase complex, although we were able to generate single allele knockout mutants, attempts to disrupt both alleles failed, resulting instead in parasites that have undergone genomic recombination and maintained at least one active copy of the gene. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Analyses of T. cruzi sequences encoding components of the GPI biosynthetic pathway indicated that they are essential genes involved in key aspects of host-parasite interactions. Complementation assays of yeast mutants with these T. cruzi genes resulted in yeast cell lines that can now be employed in high throughput screenings of drugs against this parasite.

Fly culture collapse disorder: detection, prophylaxis and eradication of the microsporidian parasite Tubulinosema ratisbonensis infecting Drosophila melanogaster.

Drosophila melanogaster is a robust model to investigate many biological problems. It is however prone to some infections, which may endanger fly stocks if left unchecked for. One such infection is caused by an obligate fungal intracellular parasite, Tubulinosema ratisbonensis, which can be found in laboratory stocks. Here, we identify and briefly characterize a T. ratisbonensis strain that was infesting our Drosophila cultures and that required intensive measures to contain and eradicate the infection. We describe the phenotypes of infested stocks. We also report PCR-based techniques that allow the detection of infested stocks with a high sensitivity. We have developed a high-throughput qPCR assay that allows the efficient parallel screening of a large number of potentially-infested stocks. We also have investigated several prophylactic measures to prevent the further contamination of stocks, namely UV-exposure, ethanol treatment, bleaching, and desiccation. Bleaching was found to kill all spores. Other treatments were less effective but were found to be sufficient to prevent further contamination of noninfested stocks. Two treatments were efficacious in curing infested stocks (1) bleaching of eggs and subsequent raising of the larvae in clean vials; (2) fumagillin treatment. These cures only work on stocks that have not become too weak to withstand the procedures.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositols of Toxoplasma gondii induce matrix metalloproteinase-9 production and degradation of galectin-3.

Toxoplasma gondii glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) bind to galectin-3 to induce TNF-α production in macrophages via Toll-like receptors 2 and 4. Here we show that T. gondii GPIs stimulate human macrophages to synthesize matrix metalloproteinase-9 in a TNF-α-dependent pathway and degrade extracellular galectin-3.

Binding of Toxoplasma gondii glycosylphosphatidylinositols to galectin-3 is required for their recognition by macrophages.

We showed that the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α by macrophages in response to Toxoplasma gondii glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) requires the expression of both Toll-like receptors TLR2 and TLR4, but not of their co-receptor CD14. Galectin-3 is a ß-galactoside-binding protein with immune-regulatory effects, which associates with TLR2. We demonstrate here by using the surface plasmon resonance method that the GPIs of T. gondii bind to human galectin-3 with strong affinity and in a dose-dependent manner. The use of a synthetic glycan and of the lipid moiety cleaved from the GPIs shows that both parts are involved in the interaction with galectin-3. GPIs of T. gondii also bind to galectin-1 but with a lower affinity and only through the lipid moiety. At the cellular level, the production of TNF-α induced by T. gondii GPIs in macrophages depends on the expression of galectin-3 but not of galectin-1. This study is the first identification of a galectin-3 ligand of T. gondii origin, and galectin-3 might be a co-receptor presenting the GPIs to the TLRs on macrophages.

Plasmodium falciparum dolichol phosphate mannose synthase represents a novel clade.

Dolichol phosphate mannose synthase (DPM) catalyzes the reaction between dolichol phosphate (Dol-P) and guanosine diphosphate mannose (GDP-Man) to form dolichol-phosphate-mannose (Dol-P-Man). This molecule acts as mannose donor for N-glycosylation and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthesis. The Plasmodium falciparum DPM1 (Pfdpm1) possesses a single predicted transmembrane region near the N-, but not the C-terminus. Here we show that the cloned Pfdpm1 gene failed to complement a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant indicating that the parasite gene does not belong to the baker's yeast group, as was previously assumed. Furthermore, Pfdpm1 was unable to complement a mouse mutant deficient in DPM but efficiently complements the Schizosaccharomyces pombe fission yeast mutant, indicating a difference between fission yeast and mammalian DPM genes. Therefore, we reanalyzed the hydrophobicity scales of all known DPMs and consequently reclassify the DPM clade into six major novel subgroups. Furthermore, we show that Pfdpm1 represents a unique enzyme among these subgroups.

Identification of the archaeal alg7 gene homolog (encoding N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase) of the N-linked glycosylation system by cross-domain complementation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The Mv1751 gene product is thought to catalyze the first step in the N-glycosylation pathway in Methanococcus voltae. Here, we show that a conditional lethal mutation in the alg7 gene (N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was successfully complemented with Mv1751, highlighting a rare case of cross-domain complementation.

An efficient method to express GPI-anchor proteins in insect cells.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) constitute a class of glycolipids that have various functions, the most basic being to attach proteins to the surface of eukaryotic cells. GPIs have to be taken into account, when expressing surface antigens from parasitic protozoa in heterologous systems. The synthesis of the GPI-anchors was previously reported to be drastically decreased to almost background level following baculovirus infection. Here we describe a new method to express GPI-anchor proteins in insect cells relying on using of a supplementary baculovirus construct that overexpresses the N-acetylglucosaminyl phosphatidylinositol de-N-acetylase, the enzyme catalyzing the second step in the GPI biosynthetic pathway.

Toxoplasma gondii grown in human cells uses GalNAc-containing glycosylphosphatidylinositol precursors to anchor surface antigens while the immunogenic Glc-GalNAc-containing precursors remain free at the parasite cell surface.

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous parasite that infects nearly all warm-blooded animals. Developmental switching in T. gondii, from the virulent tachyzoite to the relatively quiescent bradyzoite stage, is responsible for the disease propagation after alteration of the immune status of the carrier. The redifferentiation event is characterized by an over expression of a tachyzoite specific set of glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored surface antigens and free GPIs. T. gondii grown in animal cells uses two glycosylphosphatidylinositol precursors to anchor the parasite surface proteins. The first form has an N-acetylgalactosamine residue bound to a conserved three-mannosyl core glycan, while the second structure contains an additional terminal glucose linked to the N-acetylgalactosamine side branch. Sera from persons infected with T. gondii reacted only with the glucose-N-acetylgalactosamine-containing structure. Here we report that T. gondii cultured in human cells uses predominantly the N-acetylgalactosamine-containing structure to anchor the parasite surface antigens. On the other hand, glycosylphosphatidylinositol structures having an additional terminal glucose are found exclusively on the parasite cell surface as free glycolipids participating in the production of cytokines that are implicated in the pathogenesis of T. gondii. We also provide evidence that such free glycosylphosphatidylinositols are restricted mainly to the lipid microdomains in the parasite cell surface membrane and mostly associated with proteins involved in the parasite motility as well as invasion of the host cell.

High-level expression of the Toxoplasma gondii STT3 gene is required for suppression of the yeast STT3 gene mutation.

N-linked glycosylation is the most frequent modification of secretory proteins. The central reaction of this process in eukaryotic cells is catalyzed by the hetero-oligomeric protein complex oligosaccharyltransferase (OST). The gene STT3 gene encodes a protein, which is the most conserved among the components of the OST. In this report, we describe the isolation and functional characterization of a STT3 homologue from Toxoplasma gondii. The topology of the TgStt3p is similar to that of the yeast Stt3p with 47% identity. We demonstrate that high level expression of the homologues gene is required to completely suppress the defect caused by a stt3 mutation in yeast, suggesting that homologous Stt3 proteins can serve analogous functions in distantly related eukaryotic cells regardless of their degree of conservation.