87 research outputs found
Investigating iPSC derived macrophages as a model to study Mtb infection compared to alveolar macrophages, monocyte derived macrophages and THP-1 macrophages
No full textMycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) er fortsatt et omfattende folkehelseproblem for en stor del av verdens utviklingsland, og forårsaker mer enn 1,5 millioner dødsfall årlig. Imidlertid forblir mange aspekter av interaksjonene i vertspatogenet flyktige og vanskelige å forstå. Dette er delvis på grunn av patogenets relasjon til den alveolære makrofagen, som gir en tidlig replikativ nisje. Dette legger til rette for immununnvikelse og etablering av den la-tente sykdommen som antas å påvirke en fjerdedel av dagens verdensbefolkning. De unike egenskapene til den alveolære makrofagen og miljøet den er spesifikk for, hemmer vår forståelse av de tidlige interaksjonene ettersom in vitro-modeller av dette miljøet er vanskelige å simulere. Nyere fremskritt innen stamcellebaserte teknologier gir imidlertid en rekke nye celletyper for forskningsformål som, i teorien, kan imitere enhver celles-kjebne, inkludert den flyktige alveolære makrofagen. iPSC-avledede makrofager (iMAC) har nylig blitt brukt til tuberkuloserelatert forskning, men deres Mtb-induserte immunre-spons og potensielle rolle som en modellcellelinje for alveolære makrofager har ikke blitt evaluert. Derfor har denne oppgaven sammenlignet iMAC-er med alveolære makrofager, monocyttavledede makrofager og den etablerte TB- modellcellelinjen, THP1-makrofager, for å analysere deres egnethet som et verktøy for tuberkuloseforskning. For å gi en bred oversikt over de Mtb-induserte immunresponsene, ble mRNA-sekvensering utført for å sammenligne genuttrykket til ubehandlede og Mtb-behandlede celler. mRNA-sekvensering er et effektivt verktøy for en innledende granskning og gir data om en rekke biologiske prosesser. Dette er nyttig når man prøver å etablere oversikt over en celles immunre-spons.
Dataene som er analysert i denne oppgaven viser at Mtb-induserte endringer i genuttryk-ket til iMAC-er er svært sammenlignbare med AM-er og MDM-er i aspekter som inflam-matorisk respons, reseptoruttrykk og antigenpresentasjonsprosesser. Flere viktige for-skjeller er også observert, inkludert en mye sterkere type 1 interferonrespons og i ut-trykket av proteiner som kan påvirke celleskjebnen til T-celler som samhandler med iMAC-er. Selv om MDM-er viser et nærmere forhold til AM-er, har iMAC-er fordeler som homogenitet, reproduserbarhet og enkel manipulering, tidligere bare funnet i andre se-kundære cellelinjer som THP1. Videre viser denne oppgaven at iMAC-er er bedre egnet for AM- (og MDM)-emulering enn THP1-celler, som, selv om de er en veletablert celletype for tuberkuloseforskning, viser seg som en avviker sammenlignet med de andre cellene.
Selv om det kan trekkes en begrenset mengde spesifikke konklusjoner fra mRNA-uttrykksdata, tjener observasjonene som er gjort i denne oppgaven som en guide for forskere i å bestemme de spesifikke anvendelsene av iMAC-er. Videre fremhever datae-ne egenskaper som kan påvirke observasjoner i fremtidige iMAC-baserte eksperimenter. Forhåpentligvis kan denne oppgaven bidra til ytterligere forbedringer rettet mot å gjøre iMAC-er til en nøyaktig modellcellelinje, en sårt tiltrengt ressurs innen tuberkuloseforsk-ning
Bioinformatics Advances to Accelerate Omics Innovations and Applications in the Postgenomic Era
No full textNovel microelectrode arrays for in-vitro analysis of neural activity
No full textMicroelectrode arrays (MEAs) are extensively used for measuring neural activity in-vitro given their ability to monitor several neurons simultaneously unlike techniques such as patch clamp. However, MEAs still have limitations in acquiring high spatial resolution data due to limited number of channels that can be parallelly scanned, the need for bulky anti-aliasing filters, and limitations in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) arising from thermal noise. Commercially available MEAs rely on resistive or self-capacitive sensing scheme, but this research proposes a new approach to increase the number of sensing locations while reducing the channels and to increase SNR. Fundamental design aspects of a MEA such as the shape and size of electrodes are revisited. By employing traditional lithographic fabrication techniques, these arrays with various geometries are fabricated and characterized. Neural cultures are seeded on these novel MEAs to record neural activity in the electrical domain and concurrently Ca+2 Imaging is performed to correlate and verify the activity of a neuron
Sulphur-based spinel material as a cathode for Magnesium-ion battery
No full textLi-ion batteries have major disadvantages. One of which is the growth of dendrites (in case Li metal based batteries), a major safety issue. In addition to that, Li-ion batteries also use elements such as Co, and Li, which are regionally scarce. Mg-ion batteries are one of the alternatives for Li-ion batteries. However, the electrolyte and cathode materials for Mg-ion batteries, are still in developmental stages.In this study, the use of a sulphur-based spinel (also known as thiospinel) material as a cathode is explored. After literature review, MgMn2S4 and MgTi2S4 were identified as suitable cathode materials. Following which, the MgMn2S4 spinel is doped with Ti in the place of Mn at different doping ratios and the resulting combinations are evaluated for their stability, average intercalation voltage, volume change, spinel inversion and migration barriers. Two combinations MgMnTiS4 and MgMn0.75Ti1.25S4 are found to be stable with respect to the end members i.e. MgMn2S4 and MgTi2S4. Average voltages of 1.702 and 1.527 V (vs. Mg/Mg2+) are observed for MgMnTiS4 and MgMn0.75Ti1.25S4. However, spinel inversion is observed in MgMnTiS4. A volume change of 21.2, and 20% is observed in MgMnTiS4 and MgMn0.75Ti1.25S4, respectively
Dynamics of Dual Specificity Phosphatases and Their Interplay with Protein Kinases in Immune Signaling
No full textDual specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) have a well-known role as regulators of the immune response through the modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Yet the precise interplay between the various members of the DUSP family with protein kinases is not well understood. Recent multi-omics studies characterizing the transcriptomes and proteomes of immune cells have provided snapshots of molecular mechanisms underlying innate immune response in unprecedented detail. In this study, we focus on deciphering the interplay between members of the DUSP family with protein kinases in immune cells using publicly available omics datasets. Our analysis resulted in the identification of potential DUSP-mediated hub proteins including MAPK7, MAPK8, AURKA, and IGF1R. Furthermore, we analyzed the association of DUSP expression with TLR4 signaling and identified VEGF, FGFR, and SCF-KIT pathway modules to be regulated by the activation of TLR4 signaling. Finally, we identified several important kinases including LRRK2, MAPK8, and cyclin-dependent kinases as potential DUSP-mediated hubs in TLR4 signaling. The findings from this study have the potential to aid in the understanding of DUSP signaling in the context of innate immunity. Further, this will promote the development of therapeutic modalities for disorders with aberrant DUSP signaling
Author Correction: Small Molecule Accurate Recognition Technology (SMART) to Enhance Natural Products Research
No full textAn amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper
The Role of Omics Approaches to Characterize Molecular Mechanisms of Rare Ovarian Cancers: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives
No full textRare ovarian cancers are ovarian cancers with an annual incidence of less than 6 cases per 100,000 women. They generally have a poor prognosis due to being delayed diagnosis and treatment. Exploration of molecular mechanisms in these cancers has been challenging due to their rarity and research efforts being fragmented across the world. Omics approaches can provide detailed molecular snapshots of the underlying mechanisms of these cancers. Omics approaches, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, can identify potential candidate biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and screening of rare gynecological cancers and can aid in identifying therapeutic targets. The integration of multiple omics techniques using approaches such as proteogenomics can provide a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Further, omics approaches can provide clues towards developing immunotherapies, cancer recurrence, and drug resistance in tumors; and form a platform for personalized medicine. The current review focuses on the application of omics approaches and integrative biology to gain a better understanding of rare ovarian cancers
MultiOMICs landscape of SARS-CoV-2-induced host responses in human lung epithelial cells
No full textCOVID-19 pandemic continues to remain a global health concern due to the emergence of newer variants. Several multiOmics studies have produced extensive evidence on host-pathogen interactions and potential therapeutic targets. Nonetheless, an increased understanding of host signaling networks regulated by post-translational modifications and their ensuing effect on the cellular dynamics is critical to expanding the current knowledge on SARS-CoV-2 infections. Through an unbiased transcriptomics, proteomics, acetylomics, phosphoproteomics, and exometabolome analysis of a lung-derived human cell line, we show that SARS-CoV-2 Norway/Trondheim-S15 strain induces time-dependent alterations in the induction of type I IFN response, activation of DNA damage response, dysregulated Hippo signaling, among others. We identified interplay of phosphorylation and acetylation dynamics on host proteins and its effect on the altered release of metabolites, especially organic acids and ketone bodies. Together, our findings serve as a resource of potential targets that can aid in designing novel host-directed therapeutic strategies
Serum autoantibody profiling of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients reveals NUBP2 as a potential diagnostic marker
No full textIntroductionOral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC), a common malignancy of the head and neck region, is frequently diagnosed at advanced stages, necessitating the development of efficient diagnostic methods. Profiling autoantibodies generated against tumor-associated antigens have lately demonstrated a promising role in diagnosis, predicting disease course, and response to therapeutics and relapse.MethodsIn the current study, we, for the first time, aimed to identify and evaluate the diagnostic value of autoantibodies in serum samples of patients with OSCC using autoantibody profiling by an immunome protein array. The utility of anti-NUBP2 antibody and tissue positivity in OSCC was further evaluated.Results and discussionWe identified a total of 53 autoantibodies with significant differential levels between OSCC and control groups, including 25 that were increased in OSCC and 28 that were decreased. These included autoantibodies against Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1), nucleotide-binding protein 2 (NUBP2), and protein pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 (PYCR1), among others. Immunohistochemical validation indicated positive staining of NUBP2 in a large majority of cases (72%). Further, analysis of OSCC data available in TCGA revealed higher NUBP2 expression correlated with better disease-free patient survival. In conclusion, the differential serum autoantibodies identified in the current study, including those for NUBP2, could be used as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis or as screening biomarkers for OSCC pending investigation in a larger cohort
- …
