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Tavares M, Sousa-Filho JC, Machado IA, Gonçales RA, Antunes D, Mendes-Frias A, Silvestre R, Carvalho A, Torrado E, Cunha C, Rodrigues F. Development of a Versatile Toolbox for Genetic Manipulation of Sporothrix brasiliensis. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0456422. [PMID: 36847570 PMCID: PMC10101026 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04564-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Sporothrix brasiliensis has emerged as the most virulent species in the Sporothrix schenckii complex, accounting for sporotrichosis. Albeit the new insights into the understanding of host-pathogen interactions and comparative genomics of this fungi, the lack of genetic tools has hindered significant advances in this field of research. Here, we established an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) system to transform different strains of S. brasiliensis. We report parameters that account for a transformation efficiency of 3,179 ± 1,171 transformants/co-cultivation, which include the use of A. tumefaciens AGL-1 in a 2:1 ratio (bacteria:fungi) during 72 h at 26°C. Our data show that a single-copy transgene is transferred to S. brasiliensis that is mitotically stable in 99% of cells after 10 generations without selective pressure. In addition, we created a plasmid toolkit that allows the establishment of fusion proteins of any S. brasiliensis gene of interest with sGFP or mCherry under the control of the GAPDH or H2A endogenous promoters. These modules allow different levels of expression of the desired fusion. Moreover, we successfully targeted these fluorescent proteins to the nucleus and used fluorescence-tagged strains to assess phagocytosis. Overall, our data show that the ATMT system is an easy-to-use and efficient genetic toolbox for studies on recombinant expression and gene function in S. brasiliensis. IMPORTANCE Sporotrichosis is the most prevalent subcutaneous mycosis worldwide and has recently become a public health concern. Although immunocompetent hosts are also prone to sporotrichosis, immunodeficient hosts often develop a more severe and disseminated form of disease. To date, the Rio de Janeiro state in Brazil is the most significant feline zoonotic transmission epicenter in the world, with more than 4,000 human and feline diagnosed cases. Cats play an essential role in the S. brasiliensis infection due to their high susceptibility and transmissibility to other felines and humans. S. brasiliensis is the most virulent etiological agent of sporotrichosis, causing the most severe clinical manifestations. Despite the increasing incidence of sporotrichosis, the identification of virulence traits important for disease establishment, development, and severity has been lacking. In this work, we established an efficient genetic toolbox to manipulate S. brasiliensis that will guide future studies to define new virulence mechanisms and a better understanding of host-pathogen interactions from a molecular perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Tavares
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Jorge Carlos Sousa-Filho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Ian Alves Machado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Daniela Antunes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Mendes-Frias
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Silvestre
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Egídio Torrado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Cristina Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernando Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
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3R measures in facilities for the production of genetically modified rodents. Lab Anim (NY) 2022; 51:162-177. [PMID: 35641635 DOI: 10.1038/s41684-022-00978-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Sociocultural changes in the human-animal relationship have led to increasing demands for animal welfare in biomedical research. The 3R concept is the basis for bringing this demand into practice: Replace animal experiments with alternatives where possible, Reduce the number of animals used to a scientifically justified minimum and Refine the procedure to minimize animal harm. The generation of gene-modified sentient animals such as mice and rats involves many steps that include various forms of manipulation. So far, no coherent analysis of the application of the 3Rs to gene manipulation has been performed. Here we provide guidelines from the Committee on Genetics and Breeding of Laboratory Animals of the German Society for Laboratory Animal Science to implement the 3Rs in every step during the generation of genetically modified animals. We provide recommendations for applying the 3Rs as well as success/intervention parameters for each step of the process, from experiment planning to choice of technology, harm-benefit analysis, husbandry conditions, management of genetically modified lines and actual procedures. We also discuss future challenges for animal welfare in the context of developing technologies. Taken together, we expect that our comprehensive analysis and our recommendations for the appropriate implementation of the 3Rs to technologies for genetic modifications of rodents will benefit scientists from a wide range of disciplines and will help to improve the welfare of a large number of laboratory animals worldwide.
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Song S, Lu R, Cheng Y, Zhang T, Gu L, Yu K, Zhou M, Li D. Developmental analysis of reconstructed embryos of second-generation cloned transgenic goats. Reprod Domest Anim 2022; 57:473-480. [PMID: 35043471 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
To improve the efficiency of the production of transgenic cloned goats by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), the development of reconstructed embryos of first-generation (G1) and second-generation (G2) cloned transgenic goats were compared and analyzed. Primary transgenic fetal fibroblasts were used as donor cells for G1 somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). When the G1 transgenic embryos developed to 35 days in the recipient goats, transgenic fetal fibroblasts were isolated from them and used as donor cells for the G2 clone. In the G1 clones, the average fusion rate of reconstructed embryos was 73.62±2.9%, the average development rate (2-4 cells) was 33.96±2.36%, and the pregnancy rate of transplant recipients was 31.91%. In the G2 clones, the average fusion rate of the reconstructed embryos was 90.29±2.03%, the average development rate was 66.46±3.30%, and the pregnancy rate was 58.14%. These results indicate that in the G2 clones, the fusion rate of eggs, the development rate of reconstructed embryos, and the pregnancy rate of transplant recipients were significantly higher than those of G1 clones. We believe these results will lay a solid foundation for the efficient production of transgenic cloned animals in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaozheng Song
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Health and Nursing, Wuxi Taihu University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rui Lu
- Jiangsu Food and Pharmaceutical Science College, Huaian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yong Cheng
- Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Animal Transgenesis and Biopharming, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Animal Transgenesis and Biopharming, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Leying Gu
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Health and Nursing, Wuxi Taihu University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kangying Yu
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Health and Nursing, Wuxi Taihu University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingming Zhou
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Health and Nursing, Wuxi Taihu University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Health and Nursing, Wuxi Taihu University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
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Gettemans J. Site-Specific Fluorescent Labeling, Single-Step Immunocytochemistry, and Delivery of Nanobodies into Living Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2446:373-393. [PMID: 35157284 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2075-5_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The smallest natural antibody fragments currently available are single-domain antibodies obtained from camelid species and sharks (variable new antigen receptors). These molecules consist of a single amino acid chain of ~120 amino acids that adopts a typical immunoglobulin fold. Single-domain antibodies (nanobodies) are monovalent and can be isolated from immunized animals, from naïve libraries, or from synthetic libraries. Importantly, their complete DNA sequences are readily obtained by default, which greatly facilitates their rapid manipulation for various applications. Here, a PCR-based protocol for inserting a sortase A recognition sequence at the carboxy-terminus of a nanobody is described. Subsequently, a sortase A-catalyzed biochemical reaction results in tagging of the nanobody with a short carboxy-terminal amino acid sequence that carries a non-canonical residue (propargyl glycine). This allows click chemistry to be performed with an azido-derivatized fluorophore, with the ensuing fluorescent nanobody being covalently and site-specifically labeled. The labeled nanobody can be used directly for immunocytochemistry, omitting the classical secondary antibody step. Also described are methods for delivery of fluorescent nanobodies into the cytoplasm of mammalian cells by photoporation, a very low-toxicity approach involving laser light and graphene quantum dots. The combined protocol embodies a novel route for studying protein function in living cells at high resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Gettemans
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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Andreana M, Sturtzel C, Spielvogel CP, Papp L, Leitgeb R, Drexler W, Distel M, Unterhuber A. Toward Quantitative in vivo Label-Free Tracking of Lipid Distribution in a Zebrafish Cancer Model. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:675636. [PMID: 34277618 PMCID: PMC8280786 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.675636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells often adapt their lipid metabolism to accommodate the increased fatty acid demand for membrane biogenesis and energy production. Upregulation of fatty acid uptake from the environment of cancer cells has also been reported as an alternative mechanism. To investigate the role of lipids in tumor onset and progression and to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers, lipids are ideally imaged directly within the intact tumor tissue in a label-free way. In this study, we investigated lipid accumulation and distribution in living zebrafish larvae developing a tumor by means of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy. Quantitative textural features based on radiomics revealed higher lipid accumulation in oncogene-expressing larvae compared to healthy ones. This high lipid accumulation could reflect an altered lipid metabolism in the hyperproliferating oncogene-expressing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Andreana
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Caterina Sturtzel
- Innovative Cancer Models, St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria.,Zebrafish Platform Austria for Preclinical Drug Screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens P Spielvogel
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Christian Doppler Laboratory for Applied Metabolomics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Laszlo Papp
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rainer Leitgeb
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Christian Doppler Laboratory OPTRAMED, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Drexler
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Distel
- Innovative Cancer Models, St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria.,Zebrafish Platform Austria for Preclinical Drug Screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria
| | - Angelika Unterhuber
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Liu C, Hirakawa H, Katsube T, Fang Y, Tanaka K, Nenoi M, Fujimori A, Wang B. Altered Induction of Reactive Oxygen Species by X-rays in Hematopoietic Cells of C57BL/6-Tg (CAG-EGFP) Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6929. [PMID: 34203224 PMCID: PMC8268547 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous work pointed to a critical role of excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in increased radiation hematopoietic death in GFP mice. Meanwhile, enhanced antioxidant capability was not demonstrated in the mouse model of radio-induced adaptive response (RAR) using rescue of radiation hematopoietic death as the endpoint. ROS induction by ex vivo X-irradiation at a dose ranging from 0.1 to 7.5 Gy in the nucleated bone marrow cells was comparatively studied using GFP and wild type (WT) mice. ROS induction was also investigated in the cells collected from mice receiving a priming dose (0.5 Gy) efficient for RAR induction in WT mice. Significantly elevated background and increased induction of ROS in the cells from GFP mice were observed compared to those from WT mice. Markedly lower background and decreased induction of ROS were observed in the cells collected from WT mice but not GFP mice, both receiving the priming dose. GFP overexpression could alter background and induction of ROS by X-irradiation in hematopoietic cells. The results provide a reasonable explanation to the previous study on the fate of cells and mice after X-irradiation and confirm enhanced antioxidant capability in RAR. Investigations involving GFP overexpression should be carefully interpreted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuihua Liu
- Molecular and Cellular Radiation Biology Group, Department of Charged Particle Therapy Research, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan; (C.L.); (H.H.); (Y.F.)
| | - Hirokazu Hirakawa
- Molecular and Cellular Radiation Biology Group, Department of Charged Particle Therapy Research, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan; (C.L.); (H.H.); (Y.F.)
| | - Takanori Katsube
- Dietary Effects Research Group, Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan; (T.K.); (K.T.)
| | - Yaqun Fang
- Molecular and Cellular Radiation Biology Group, Department of Charged Particle Therapy Research, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan; (C.L.); (H.H.); (Y.F.)
| | - Kaoru Tanaka
- Dietary Effects Research Group, Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan; (T.K.); (K.T.)
| | - Mitsuru Nenoi
- Human Resources Development Center, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan;
| | - Akira Fujimori
- Molecular and Cellular Radiation Biology Group, Department of Charged Particle Therapy Research, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan; (C.L.); (H.H.); (Y.F.)
| | - Bing Wang
- Dietary Effects Research Group, Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan; (T.K.); (K.T.)
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Falk MJ. The pursuit of precision mitochondrial medicine: Harnessing preclinical cellular and animal models to optimize mitochondrial disease therapeutic discovery. J Inherit Metab Dis 2021; 44:312-324. [PMID: 33006762 PMCID: PMC7994194 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondria share extensive evolutionary conservation across nearly all living species. This homology allows robust insights to be gained into pathophysiologic mechanisms and therapeutic targets for the heterogeneous class of primary mitochondrial diseases (PMDs) through the study of diverse in vitro cellular and in vivo animal models. Dramatic advances in genetic technologies, ranging from RNA interference to achieve graded knock-down of gene expression to CRISPR/Cas-based gene editing that yields a stable gene knock-out or targeted mutation knock-in, have enabled the ready establishment of mitochondrial disease models for a plethora of individual nuclear gene disorders. These models are complemented and extended by the use of pharmacologic inhibitor-based stressors to characterize variable degrees, onset, duration, and combinations of acute on chronic mitochondrial dysfunction in individual respiratory chain enzyme complexes or distinct biochemical pathways within mitochondria. Herein is described the rationale for, and progress made in, "therapeutic cross-training," a novel approach meant to improve the validity and rigor of experimental conclusions when testing therapies by studying treatment effects in multiple, evolutionarily-distinct species, including Caenorhabditis elegans (invertebrate, worm), Danio rerio (vertebrate, zebrafish), Mus musculus (mammal, mouse), and/or human patient primary fibroblast cell line models of PMD. The goal of these preclinical studies is to identify lead therapies from candidate molecules or library screens that consistently demonstrate efficacy, with minimal toxicity, in specific subtypes of mitochondrial disease. Conservation of in vitro and in vivo therapeutic effects of lead molecules across species has proven extensive, where molar concentrations found to be toxic or efficacious in one species are often consistent with therapeutic effects at similar doses seen in other mitochondrial disease models. Phenotypic outcome studies in all models are prioritized at the level of survival and function, to reflect the ultimate goal of developing highly potent therapies for human mitochondrial disease. Lead compounds that demonstrate significant benefit on gross phenotypes may be further scrutinized in these same models to decipher their cellular targets, mechanism(s), and detailed biochemical effects. High-throughput, automated technologic advances will be discussed that enable efficient, parallel screening in a diverse array of mitochondrial disease disorders and overarching subclasses of compounds, concentrations, libraries, and combinations. Overall, this therapeutic cross-training approach has proven valuable to identify compounds with optimal potency and safety profiles among major biochemical subtypes or specific genetic etiologies of mitochondrial disease. This approach further supports rational prioritization of lead compounds, target concentrations, and specific disease phenotypes, outcomes, and subgroups to optimally inform the design of clinical trials that test their efficacy in human mitochondrial disease subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marni J. Falk
- Mitochondrial Medicine Frontier Program, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- Corresponding Author: Marni J. Falk, M.D., The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, ARC1002c, 3615 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, Office 1-267-426-4961, Fax 1-267-476-2876,
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