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Neatu R, Enekwa I, Thompson DJ, Schwalbe EC, Fois G, Abdelaal G, Veuger S, Frick M, Braubach P, Moschos SA. The Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis-Associated Single Nucleotide Polymorphism RS35705950 Is Transcribed in a MUC5B Promoter Associated Long Non-Coding RNA (AC061979.1). Noncoding RNA 2022; 8:ncrna8060083. [PMID: 36548182 PMCID: PMC9781688 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna8060083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
LncRNAs are involved in regulatory processes in the human genome, including gene expression. The rs35705950 SNP, previously associated with IPF, overlaps with the recently annotated lncRNA AC061979.1, a 1712 nucleotide transcript located within the MUC5B promoter at chromosome 11p15.5. To document the expression pattern of the transcript, we processed 3.9 TBases of publicly available RNA-SEQ data across 27 independent studies involving lung airway epithelial cells. Epithelial lung cells showed expression of this putative pancRNA. The findings were independently validated in cell lines and primary cells. The rs35705950 is found within a conserved region (from fish to primates) within the expressed sequence indicating functional importance. These results implicate the rs35705950-containing AC061979.1 pancRNA as a novel component of the MUC5B expression control minicircuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruxandra Neatu
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Ifeanyi Enekwa
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Dean J. Thompson
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Edward C. Schwalbe
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Giorgio Fois
- Institue of General Physiology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, D89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Gina Abdelaal
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Stephany Veuger
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Manfred Frick
- Institue of General Physiology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, D89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Peter Braubach
- Institute of Pathology, MHH Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Sterghios A. Moschos
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
- Correspondence:
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2
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Esmaeilishirazifard E, Usher L, Trim C, Denise H, Sangal V, Tyson GH, Barlow A, Redway KF, Taylor JD, Kremyda-Vlachou M, Davies S, Loftus TD, Lock MMG, Wright K, Dalby A, Snyder LAS, Wuster W, Trim S, Moschos SA. Bacterial Adaptation to Venom in Snakes and Arachnida. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0240821. [PMID: 35604233 PMCID: PMC9248900 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02408-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal venoms are considered sterile sources of antimicrobial compounds with strong membrane-disrupting activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, venomous bite wound infections are common in developing nations. Investigating the envenomation organ and venom microbiota of five snake and two spider species, we observed venom community structures that depend on the host venomous animal species and evidenced recovery of viable microorganisms from black-necked spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis) and Indian ornamental tarantula (Poecilotheria regalis) venoms. Among the bacterial isolates recovered from N. nigricollis, we identified two venom-resistant, novel sequence types of Enterococcus faecalis whose genomes feature 16 virulence genes, indicating infectious potential, and 45 additional genes, nearly half of which improve bacterial membrane integrity. Our findings challenge the dogma of venom sterility and indicate an increased primary infection risk in the clinical management of venomous animal bite wounds. IMPORTANCE Notwithstanding their 3 to 5% mortality, the 2.7 million envenomation-related injuries occurring annually-predominantly across Africa, Asia, and Latin America-are also major causes of morbidity. Venom toxin-damaged tissue will develop infections in some 75% of envenomation victims, with E. faecalis being a common culprit of disease; however, such infections are generally considered to be independent of envenomation. Here, we provide evidence on venom microbiota across snakes and arachnida and report on the convergent evolution mechanisms that can facilitate adaptation to black-necked cobra venom in two independent E. faecalis strains, easily misidentified by biochemical diagnostics. Therefore, since inoculation with viable and virulence gene-harboring bacteria can occur during envenomation, acute infection risk management following envenomation is warranted, particularly for immunocompromised and malnourished victims in resource-limited settings. These results shed light on how bacteria evolve for survival in one of the most extreme environments on Earth and how venomous bites must be also treated for infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Esmaeilishirazifard
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
- Westminster Genomic Services, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Louise Usher
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
- Westminster Genomic Services, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carol Trim
- School of Psychology and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Social Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - Hubert Denise
- EMBL-EBI European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Vartul Sangal
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
| | - Gregory H. Tyson
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Office of Research, Laurel, Maryland, USA
| | - Axel Barlow
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Keith F. Redway
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - John D. Taylor
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
- Westminster Genomic Services, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Myrto Kremyda-Vlachou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sam Davies
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Kstir Wright
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Dalby
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lori A. S. Snyder
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, London, United Kingdom
| | - Wolfgang Wuster
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Steve Trim
- Venomtech, Ltd., Sandwich, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - Sterghios A. Moschos
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
- Westminster Genomic Services, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
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Nitulescu GM, Paunescu H, Moschos SA, Petrakis D, Nitulescu G, Ion GND, Spandidos DA, Nikolouzakis TK, Drakoulis N, Tsatsakis A. Comprehensive analysis of drugs to treat SARS‑CoV‑2 infection: Mechanistic insights into current COVID‑19 therapies (Review). Int J Mol Med 2020; 46:467-488. [PMID: 32468014 PMCID: PMC7307820 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2020.4608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The major impact produced by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) focused many researchers attention to find treatments that can suppress transmission or ameliorate the disease. Despite the very fast and large flow of scientific data on possible treatment solutions, none have yet demonstrated unequivocal clinical utility against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19). This work represents an exhaustive and critical review of all available data on potential treatments for COVID‑19, highlighting their mechanistic characteristics and the strategy development rationale. Drug repurposing, also known as drug repositioning, and target based methods are the most used strategies to advance therapeutic solutions into clinical practice. Current in silico, in vitro and in vivo evidence regarding proposed treatments are summarized providing strong support for future research efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Horia Paunescu
- Faculty of Medicine, ′Carol Davila′ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sterghios A. Moschos
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University
- PulmoBioMed Ltd., Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | | | | | | | - Demetrios A. Spandidos
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion
| | | | - Nikolaos Drakoulis
- Research Group of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics, Faculty of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
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Docea AO, Tsatsakis A, Albulescu D, Cristea O, Zlatian O, Vinceti M, Moschos SA, Tsoukalas D, Goumenou M, Drakoulis N, Dumanov JM, Tutelyan VA, Onischenko GG, Aschner M, Spandidos DA, Calina D. A new threat from an old enemy: Re‑emergence of coronavirus (Review). Int J Mol Med 2020; 45:1631-1643. [PMID: 32236624 PMCID: PMC7169834 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2020.4555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The new outbreak of coronavirus from December 2019 has brought attention to an old viral enemy and has raised concerns as to the ability of current protection measures and the healthcare system to handle such a threat. It has been known since the 1960s that coronaviruses can cause respiratory infections in humans; however, their epidemic potential was understood only during the past two decades. In the present review, we address current knowledge on coronaviruses from a short history to epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestation of the disease, as well as treatment and prevention strategies. Although a great amount of research and efforts have been made worldwide to prevent further outbreaks of coronavirus‑associated disease, the spread and lethality of the 2019 outbreak (COVID‑19) is proving to be higher than previous epidemics on account of international travel density and immune naivety of the population. Only strong, joint and coordinated efforts of worldwide healthcare systems, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies and receptive national leaders will succeed in suppressing an outbreak of this scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca Oana Docea
- Department of Toxicology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Aristidis Tsatsakis
- Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow
- The State Education Institution of Higher Professional Training, The First Sechenov Moscow State Medical University under Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 119992 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | | | - Oana Cristea
- Department of Microbiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Ovidiu Zlatian
- Department of Microbiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Marco Vinceti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, I-41125 Modena, Italy
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Sterghios A. Moschos
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University
- PulmoBioMed Ltd., Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Dimitris Tsoukalas
- Metabolomic Medicine, Health Clinics for Autoimmune and Chronic Diseases, 10674 Athens
| | - Marina Goumenou
- Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Drakoulis
- Research Group of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics, Faculty of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Josef M. Dumanov
- Mycological Institute US EU, Subclinical Research Group, Sparta, NJ 07871, USA
| | - Victor A. Tutelyan
- Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow
- Federal Research Centre of Nutrition and Biotechnology, 109240 Moscow, Russia
| | - Gennadii G. Onischenko
- Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow
- The State Education Institution of Higher Professional Training, The First Sechenov Moscow State Medical University under Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 119992 Moscow, Russia
| | - Michael Aschner
- The State Education Institution of Higher Professional Training, The First Sechenov Moscow State Medical University under Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 119992 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Demetrios A. Spandidos
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Daniela Calina
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
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5
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Ul-Hasan S, Rodríguez-Román E, Reitzel AM, Adams RMM, Herzig V, Nobile CJ, Saviola AJ, Trim SA, Stiers EE, Moschos SA, Keiser CN, Petras D, Moran Y, Colston TJ. The emerging field of venom-microbiomics for exploring venom as a microenvironment, and the corresponding Initiative for Venom Associated Microbes and Parasites (iVAMP). Toxicon X 2019; 4:100016. [PMID: 32550573 PMCID: PMC7286055 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2019.100016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Venom is a known source of novel antimicrobial natural products. The substantial, increasing number of these discoveries have unintentionally culminated in the misconception that venom and venom-producing glands are largely sterile environments. Culture-dependent and -independent studies on the microbial communities in venom microenvironments reveal the presence of archaea, algae, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. Venom-centric microbiome studies are relatively sparse to date with the adaptive advantages that venom-associated microbes might offer to their hosts, or that hosts might provide to venom-associated microbes, remaining largely unknown. We highlight the potential for the discovery of venom microbiomes within the adaptive landscape of venom systems. The considerable number of convergently evolved venomous animals, juxtaposed with the comparatively few known studies to identify microbial communities in venom, provides new possibilities for both biodiversity and therapeutic discoveries. We present an evidence-based argument for integrating microbiology as part of venomics (i.e., venom-microbiomics) and introduce iVAMP, the Initiative for Venom Associated Microbes and Parasites (https://ivamp-consortium.github.io/), as a growing collaborative consortium. We express commitment to the diversity, inclusion and scientific collaboration among researchers interested in this emerging subdiscipline through expansion of the iVAMP consortium. Venom-microbiome studies as an integrative field of venomics and microbiology. Argument for multi-omics-based discovery through a microenvironment framework. Introduction of a venom-microbiome research consortium (iVAMP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabah Ul-Hasan
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Eduardo Rodríguez-Román
- Center for Microbiology and Cell Biology, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research. Caracas, 1020A, Venezuela
| | - Adam M Reitzel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - Rachelle M M Adams
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43212, USA
| | - Volker Herzig
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Clarissa J Nobile
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Anthony J Saviola
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Neurobiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Steven A Trim
- Venomtech Ltd, Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9ND, UK
| | - Erin E Stiers
- Department of Biological Science, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Sterghios A Moschos
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Carl N Keiser
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Daniel Petras
- Collaborative Mass Spectrometry Innovation Center, University of California, San Diego, USA.,Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - Yehu Moran
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
| | - Timothy J Colston
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
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Theotokis PI, Usher L, Kortschak CK, Schwalbe E, Moschos SA. Predicting oligonucleotide therapeutic efficacy at the population level. Hell J Nucl Med 2019; 22 Suppl 2:182. [PMID: 31802060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA-directed RNA interfering (RNAi) mediators that follow the classic Watson-Crick base pairing to bind to their molecular targets and exert their silencing capacities have been identified to be relatively insensitive to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The experimental evaluation of a few putative genomic SNPs in a quasi-species population is the only approach scientists have been employing so far for the experimental validation of the efficacy of oligonucleotide drugs on a given population. These studies are inherently constrained by the number of SNPs that can be experimentally supported in the context of an identified molecular target. MATERIALS AND METHODS To address this sampling limitation, we have developed a method to report the relative sensitivity of all known and unknown polymorphisms to a prospective therapeutic drug. The power of ultra-deep next generation sequencing (NGS) allows us to test drug effect in vitro on all possible SNPs of a molecular target, in a patient-free manner. We are presenting the technical details to our approach that is empowering unbiased pharmacodynamic studies at the population level for sequence-specific oligonucleotide drugs and genome editing tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pantazis I Theotokis
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, NE1 8ST, UK.
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Esmaeilishirazifard E, Dariush A, Moschos SA, Keshavarz T. A novel antifungal property for the Bacillus licheniformis ComX pheromone and its possible role in inter-kingdom cross-talk. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:5197-5208. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9004-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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Esmaeilishirazifard E, De Vizio D, Moschos SA, Keshavarz T. Genomic and molecular characterization of a novel quorum sensing molecule in Bacillus licheniformis. AMB Express 2017; 7:78. [PMID: 28391484 PMCID: PMC5385187 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-017-0381-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Quorum sensing molecules (QSMs) are involved in the regulation of complicated processes helping bacterial populations respond to changes in their cell-density. Although the QS gene cluster (comQXPA) has been identified in the genome sequence of some bacilli, the QS system B. licheniformis has not been investigated in detail, and its QSM (ComX pheromone) has not been identified. Given the importance of this antagonistic bacterium as an industrial workhorse, this study was aimed to elucidate B. licheniformis NCIMB-8874 QS. The results obtained from bioinformatics studies on the whole genome sequence of this strain confirmed the presence of essential quorum sensing-related genes. Although polymorphism was verified in three proteins of this cluster, ComQ, precursor-ComX and ComP, the transcription factor ComA was confirmed as the most conserved protein. The cell–cell communication of B. licheniformis NCIMB-8874 was investigated through further elucidation of the ComX pheromone as 13-amino acid peptide. The peptide sequence of the pheromone has been described through biochemical characterisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Kumar
- Northumbria University, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Sterghios A Moschos
- Northumbria University, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear NE1 8ST, UK.
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Shah K, Bentley E, Tyler A, Richards KSR, Wright E, Easterbrook L, Lee D, Cleaver C, Usher L, Burton JE, Pitman JK, Bruce CB, Edge D, Lee M, Nazareth N, Norwood DA, Moschos SA. Field-deployable, quantitative, rapid identification of active Ebola virus infection in unprocessed blood. Chem Sci 2017; 8:7780-7797. [PMID: 29163915 PMCID: PMC5694917 DOI: 10.1039/c7sc03281a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The West African Ebola virus outbreak underlined the importance of delivering mass diagnostic capability outside the clinical or primary care setting in effectively containing public health emergencies caused by infectious disease. Yet, to date, there is no solution for reliably deploying at the point of need the gold standard diagnostic method, real time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), in a laboratory infrastructure-free manner. In this proof of principle work, we demonstrate direct performance of RT-qPCR on fresh blood using far-red fluorophores to resolve fluorogenic signal inhibition and controlled, rapid freeze/thawing to achieve viral genome extraction in a single reaction chamber assay. The resulting process is entirely free of manual or automated sample pre-processing, requires no microfluidics or magnetic/mechanical sample handling and thus utilizes low cost consumables. This enables a fast, laboratory infrastructure-free, minimal risk and simple standard operating procedure suited to frontline, field use. Developing this novel approach on recombinant bacteriophage and recombinant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; Lentivirus), we demonstrate clinical utility in symptomatic EBOV patient screening using live, infectious Filoviruses and surrogate patient samples. Moreover, we evidence assay co-linearity independent of viral particle structure that may enable viral load quantification through pre-calibration, with no loss of specificity across an 8 log-linear maximum dynamic range. The resulting quantitative rapid identification (QuRapID) molecular diagnostic platform, openly accessible for assay development, meets the requirements of resource-limited countries and provides a fast response solution for mass public health screening against emerging biosecurity threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavit Shah
- Westminster Genomic Services , Department of Biomedical Sciences , Faculty of Science and Technology , University of Westminster , 115 New Cavendish Str , London W1W 6UW , UK
- BGResearch Ltd. , 6 The Business Centre, Harvard Way, Harvard Industrial Estate , Kimbolton , Huntingdon PE28 0NJ , UK
| | - Emma Bentley
- Department of Biomedical Sciences , Faculty of Science and Technology , University of Westminster , 115 New Cavendish Str , London W1W 6UW , UK
| | - Adam Tyler
- BioGene Ltd. , 8 The Business Centre, Harvard Way, Harvard Industrial Estate , Kimbolton , Huntingdon PE28 0NJ , UK
| | - Kevin S R Richards
- Public Health England , National Infection Service , High Containment Microbiology Department , Porton Down , Salisbury , Wiltshire SP4 0JG , UK
| | - Edward Wright
- Department of Biomedical Sciences , Faculty of Science and Technology , University of Westminster , 115 New Cavendish Str , London W1W 6UW , UK
| | - Linda Easterbrook
- Public Health England , National Infection Service , High Containment Microbiology Department , Porton Down , Salisbury , Wiltshire SP4 0JG , UK
| | - Diane Lee
- Fluorogenics LIMITED , Building 227, Tetricus Science Park, Dstl Porton Down , Salisbury , Wiltshire SP4 0JQ , UK
| | - Claire Cleaver
- Fluorogenics LIMITED , Building 227, Tetricus Science Park, Dstl Porton Down , Salisbury , Wiltshire SP4 0JQ , UK
| | - Louise Usher
- Westminster Genomic Services , Department of Biomedical Sciences , Faculty of Science and Technology , University of Westminster , 115 New Cavendish Str , London W1W 6UW , UK
| | - Jane E Burton
- Public Health England , National Infection Service , High Containment Microbiology Department , Porton Down , Salisbury , Wiltshire SP4 0JG , UK
| | - James K Pitman
- Public Health England , National Infection Service , High Containment Microbiology Department , Porton Down , Salisbury , Wiltshire SP4 0JG , UK
| | - Christine B Bruce
- Public Health England , National Infection Service , High Containment Microbiology Department , Porton Down , Salisbury , Wiltshire SP4 0JG , UK
| | - David Edge
- BioGene Ltd. , 8 The Business Centre, Harvard Way, Harvard Industrial Estate , Kimbolton , Huntingdon PE28 0NJ , UK
| | - Martin Lee
- Fluorogenics LIMITED , Building 227, Tetricus Science Park, Dstl Porton Down , Salisbury , Wiltshire SP4 0JQ , UK
| | - Nelson Nazareth
- BioGene Ltd. , 8 The Business Centre, Harvard Way, Harvard Industrial Estate , Kimbolton , Huntingdon PE28 0NJ , UK
| | - David A Norwood
- Diagnostic Systems Division and Virology Division , United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases , Fort Detrick , MD 21701-5011 , USA
| | - Sterghios A Moschos
- Westminster Genomic Services , Department of Biomedical Sciences , Faculty of Science and Technology , University of Westminster , 115 New Cavendish Str , London W1W 6UW , UK
- Department of Biomedical Sciences , Faculty of Science and Technology , University of Westminster , 115 New Cavendish Str , London W1W 6UW , UK
- Department of Applied Sciences , Faculty of Health and Life Sciences , Northumbria University , C4.03 Ellison Building, Ellison Place , Newcastle Upon Tyne , Tyne and Wear NE1 8ST , UK . ; Tel: +44(0) 191 215 6623
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Theotokis PI, Usher L, Kortschak CK, Schwalbe E, Moschos SA. Profiling the Mismatch Tolerance of Argonaute 2 through Deep Sequencing of Sliced Polymorphic Viral RNAs. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2017; 9:22-33. [PMID: 29246301 PMCID: PMC5602524 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2017.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2017] [Revised: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Low allelic and clonal variability among endogenous RNAi targets has focused mismatch tolerance studies to RNAi-active guide strands. However, the inherent genomic instability of RNA viruses such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) gives rise to quasi-species mutants within discrete clones: this facilitates mismatch tolerance studies from a target perspective. We recently quantified the slicing imprecision of Argonaute 2 using small interfering RNA (siRNA) analogs of the DNA-directed RNAi drug TT-034 and next-generation sequencing of 5' RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE-SEQ). Here, we present an open-source, customizable, and computationally light RACE-SEQ bioinformatic pipeline, describing adaptations that semiquantitatively report the impact of RNAi hybridization site mismatches from the target perspective. The analysis shows that Argonaute 2 has a substitution-specific, 3- to 5-log activity window between fully complementary targets and targets with mismatches across positions 10-11. It further focuses the endonucleotic Slicer imprecision around positions 13-17, demonstrating its dependence on guide strand central region complementarity, and potentiation by even a single mismatch. We further propose pharmacogenomics value in testing endogenous targets using recombinant replicon systems and RACE-SEQ to report the pharmacodynamics of sequence-specific oligonucleotide therapeutics against all possible polymorphisms in a population, in a minimally biased, patient-free manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pantazis I Theotokis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK
| | - Louise Usher
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK; Westminster Genomic Services, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK
| | - Christopher K Kortschak
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK
| | - Ed Schwalbe
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Sterghios A Moschos
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK; Westminster Genomic Services, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK; Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear NE1 8ST, UK.
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Moschos SA. Ebola Check: Delivering molecular diagnostics at the point of need. Hell J Nucl Med 2015; 18 Suppl 1:144. [PMID: 26665227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Accepted: 10/10/2013] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The 2013-5 global outbreak of Ebolavirus disease brought to sharp focus the need for diagnostic capacity to be equitably available on a global scale: from the most under-developed areas of resource-limited countries in West Africa to high volume international travel hubs in Europe and the USA. Quick detection of the causal agent of disease is pivotal to containment, contact tracing and clinical action to protect healthcare workers, communities and patients. Nucleic acid testing (NAT) by real time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has emerged as the preferred method for reliable patient status confirmation. Presently, this is served through advanced clinical molecular laboratory testing in a <8hr manual process that requires 3.5ml venous blood samples. To meet the demand in West Africa, this has necessitated large-scale mobile laboratory and volunteer biomedical scientist deployment: a solution that has proven eventually adequate, albeit temporary against future re-emergence of this and other haemorrhagic fever disease agents prevalent in the region. The EbolaCheck consortium was formed in August 2014 to address the need for delivering NAT at the point of care. We have developed a novel platform technology that can QUantitatively, RAPidly IDentify (QuRapID) known RNA or DNA targets in viruses, bacteria, or eukaryotic cells directly in crude biofluids, including whole blood, in under 40min using a 5 microliter sample. The portable, battery-operated system lacks microfluidics, pumps or other sensitive/high cost parts making it suitable for the environmental and economic challenges of resource-limited countries. The simple, safe, 5-step sample-to-answer process requires minimal training and informs frontline healthcare workers of diagnostic status, whilst reporting remotely epidemiologically relevant results. Data on biosafety level 2 surrogate Ebolavirus templates presented in encapsulated or enveloped viruses indicate performance comparable to clinical laboratory testing and utility beyond filoviruses. Emerging performance data on live Ebolavirus, non-human primate disease model and patient samples, as well as future development plans will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterghios A Moschos
- Westminster Genomic Services, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Str., London, W1W 6UW, UK
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Moschos SA, Frick M, Taylor B, Turnpenny P, Graves H, Spink KG, Brady K, Lamb D, Collins D, Rockel TD, Weber M, Lazari O, Perez-Tosar L, Fancy SA, Lapthorn C, Green MX, Evans S, Selby M, Jones G, Jones L, Kearney S, Mechiche H, Gikunju D, Subramanian R, Uhlmann E, Jurk M, Vollmer J, Ciaramella G, Yeadon M. Uptake, efficacy, and systemic distribution of naked, inhaled short interfering RNA (siRNA) and locked nucleic acid (LNA) antisense. Mol Ther 2011; 19:2163-8. [PMID: 21971426 PMCID: PMC3242665 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2011.206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2011] [Accepted: 08/30/2011] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) promise specific correction of disease-causing gene expression. Therapeutic implementation, however, has been forestalled by poor delivery to the appropriate tissue, cell type, and subcellular compartment. Topical administration is considered to circumvent these issues. The availability of inhalation devices and unmet medical need in lung disease has focused efforts in this tissue. We report the development of a novel cell sorting method for quantitative, cell type-specific analysis of siRNA, and locked nucleic acid (LNA) ASO uptake and efficacy after intratracheal (i.t.) administration in mice. Through fluorescent dye labeling, we compare the utility of this approach to whole animal and whole tissue analysis, and examine the extent of tissue distribution. We detail rapid systemic access and renal clearance for both therapeutic classes and lack of efficacy at the protein level in lung macrophages, epithelia, or other cell types. We nevertheless observe efficient redirection of i.t. administered phosphorothioate (PS) LNA ASO to the liver and kidney leading to targeted gene knockdown. These data suggest delivery remains a key obstacle to topically administered, naked oligonucleotide efficacy in the lung and introduce inhalation as a potentially viable alternative to injection for antisense administration to the liver and kidneys.
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Tsitsiou E, Williams AE, Moschos SA, Patel K, Rossios C, Jiang X, Adams OD, Macedo P, Booton R, Gibeon D, Chung KF, Lindsay MA. Transcriptome analysis shows activation of circulating CD8+ T cells in patients with severe asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2011; 129:95-103. [PMID: 21917308 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2011.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2011] [Revised: 08/08/2011] [Accepted: 08/12/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although previous studies have implicated tissue CD4(+) T cells in the development and maintenance of the inflammatory response in asthmatic patients, little is known about the role of CD8(+) T cells. There is now accumulating evidence that microRNAs and other noncoding RNAs are important regulators of T-cell function. OBJECTIVES We sought to use transcriptomics to determine the activation state of circulating CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in patients with nonsevere and severe asthma. METHODS mRNA and noncoding RNA expression in circulating T cells was measured by means of microarray, quantitative real-time PCR, or both. RESULTS Comparison of mRNA expression showed widespread changes in the circulating CD8(+) but not CD4(+) T cells from patients with severe asthma. No changes were observed in the CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in patients with nonsevere asthma versus those in healthy control subjects. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the changes in CD8(+) T-cell mRNA expression were associated with multiple pathways involved in T-cell activation. As with mRNAs, we also observed widespread changes in expression of noncoding RNA species, including natural antisense, pseudogenes, intronic long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and intergenic lncRNAs in CD8(+) T cells from patients with severe asthma. Measurement of the microRNA expression profile showed selective downregulation of miR-28-5p in CD8(+) T cells and reduction of miR-146a and miR-146b in both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. CONCLUSIONS Severe asthma is associated with the activation of circulating CD8(+) T cells but not CD4(+) T cells. This response is correlated with the downregulation of miR-146a/b and miR-28-5p, as well as changes in the expression of multiple species of lncRNA that might regulate CD8(+) T-cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Tsitsiou
- Respiratory Research Group, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
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Abstract
Two of the most promising and complex areas in biologics development, either as research tools or potential therapeutics, are cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) and RNA interference (RNAi) modulators. Consequently, the combined application of these technologies in pursuit of improved delivery profiles for RNAi cargoes presents its own unique challenges. Direct access to the targeted tissue is luxury not always available to the researcher; however, the example of lung presents an excellent opportunity for presenting methodologies relevant to understanding the local impact of CPP-conjugated RNAi modulators. This chapter therefore expands upon updated protocols established on the study of the function of endogenous RNAi and the utility of CPPs in the delivery of short interfering RNA (siRNA) to therapeutically relevant cells in the lung. Methods for sample collection, preservation, and processing are provided with a view to facilitate qualitative and quantitative analysis of delivery. In addition, a protocol for mapping siRNA delivery by in situ hybridisation is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterghios A Moschos
- Biotherapeutics, Pfizer Global Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Sandwich, Kent, UK
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Abstract
The accessibility to topical administration through inhalation, combined with its large surface area, has led to speculation that the lung might offer an ideal target for the application of oligonucleotide based therapeutics. In this review, we shall critically examine the challenges facing antisense and siRNA based approaches for target validation in vivo and as potential therapeutics. In particular, we shall discuss the antisense and siRNA based approaches in relation to factors such as delivery, distribution, stability, off-target effects, unwanted immune responses and the selection of the optimum mRNA targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterghios A Moschos
- Respiratory Research Group, Wythenshawe Hospital, School of Translational Medicine, University of Manchester, M23 9LT, UK
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Perry MM, Moschos SA, Williams AE, Shepherd NJ, Larner-Svensson HM, Lindsay MA. Rapid changes in microRNA-146a expression negatively regulate the IL-1beta-induced inflammatory response in human lung alveolar epithelial cells. J Immunol 2008; 180:5689-98. [PMID: 18390754 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.180.8.5689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 364] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression by microRNAs (miRNAs) has been implicated in the regulation of chronic physiological and pathological responses. In this report, we demonstrate that changes in the expression of miRNAs can also regulate acute inflammatory responses in human lung alveolar epithelial cells. Thus, stimulation with IL-1beta results in a rapid time- and concentration-dependent increase in miRNA-146a and, to a lesser extent, miRNA-146b expression, although these increases were only observed at high IL-1beta concentration. Examination of miRNA function by overexpression and inhibition showed that increased miRNA-146a expression negatively regulated the release of the proinflammatory chemokines IL-8 and RANTES. Subsequent examination of the mechanism demonstrated that the action of miRNA-146a was mediated at the translational level and not through the down-regulation of proteins involved in the IL-1beta signaling pathway or chemokine transcription or secretion. Overall, these studies indicate that rapid increase in miRNA-146a expression provides a novel mechanism for the negative regulation of severe inflammation during the innate immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark M Perry
- Biopharmaceutics Research Group, Airways Disease, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Abstract
The therapeutic application of siRNA (short interfering RNA) shows promise as an alternative approach to small-molecule inhibitors for the treatment of human disease. However, the major obstacle to its use has been the difficulty in delivering these large anionic molecules in vivo. A potential approach to solving this problem is the chemical conjugation of siRNA to the cationic CPPs (cell-penetrating peptides), Tat-(48–60) (transactivator of transcription) and penetratin, which have been shown previously to mediate protein and peptide delivery in a host of animal models. In this transaction, we review recent studies on the utility of siRNA for the investigation of protein function in the airways/lung. We show that, despite previous studies showing the utility of cationic CPPs in vitro, conjugation of siRNA to Tat-(48–60) and penetratin failed to increase residual siRNA-mediated knockdown of p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) (MAPK14) mRNA in mouse lung in vivo. Significantly, we will also discuss potential non-specific actions and the induction of immunological responses by CPPs and their conjugates and how this might limit their application for siRNA-mediated delivery in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Moschos
- Biopharmaceutics Research Group, Airways Disease, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW3 6LY, UK
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Moschos SA, Williams AE, Perry MM, Birrell MA, Belvisi MG, Lindsay MA. Expression profiling in vivo demonstrates rapid changes in lung microRNA levels following lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation but not in the anti-inflammatory action of glucocorticoids. BMC Genomics 2007; 8:240. [PMID: 17640343 PMCID: PMC1940008 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-8-240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2007] [Accepted: 07/17/2007] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background At present, nothing is known of the role of miRNAs in the immune response in vivo despite the fact that inflammation is thought to underlie multiple acute and chronic diseases. In these circumstances, patients are commonly treated with corticosteroids such as dexamethasone. Results To address this question, we have examined the differential expression of 104 miRNAs using real-time PCR during the innate immune response in mouse lung following exposure to aerosilised lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Following challenge, we observed rapid and transient increase in both the mean (4.3-fold) and individual levels of miRNA expression (46 miRNAs) which peaked at 3 hrs. Crucially, this increase was correlated with a reduction in the expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC) and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2, suggesting a potential role for miRNAs in the regulation of inflammatory cytokine production. Examination of the individual miRNA expression profiles showed time dependent increases in miR-21, -25, -27b, -100, 140, -142-3p, -181c, 187, -194, -214, -223 and -224. Corticosteroid studies showed that pre-treatment with dexamethasone at concentrations that inhibited TNF-α production, had no effect either alone or upon the LPS-induced miRNA expression profile. Conclusion We have shown that the LPS-induced innate immune response is associated with widespread, rapid and transient increases in miRNA expression in the mouse lung and we speculate that these changes might be involved in the regulation of the inflammatory response. In contrast, the lack of effect of dexamethasone in either control or challenged animals implies that the actions of glucocorticoids per se are not mediated through changes in miRNAs expression and that LPS-induced increases in miRNA expression are not mediated via classical inflammatory transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterghios A Moschos
- Biopharmaceutics Research Group, Airway Diseases Unit, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London SW3 6LY, UK
| | - Andrew E Williams
- Biopharmaceutics Research Group, Airway Diseases Unit, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London SW3 6LY, UK
| | - Mark M Perry
- Biopharmaceutics Research Group, Airway Diseases Unit, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London SW3 6LY, UK
| | - Mark A Birrell
- Respiratory Pharmacology, Airway Diseases Unit, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London SW3 6LY, UK
| | - Maria G Belvisi
- Respiratory Pharmacology, Airway Diseases Unit, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London SW3 6LY, UK
| | - Mark A Lindsay
- Biopharmaceutics Research Group, Airway Diseases Unit, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London SW3 6LY, UK
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Abstract
Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a novel class of short double stranded RNA that mediate the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Previous studies have implicated changes in miRNA expression in the regulation of development and the induction of diseases such as cancer. However, although miRNAs have been implicated in the process of aging in C. elegans, nothing is known of their role in mammalian tissues. Results To address this question, we have used a highly-sensitive, semi-quantitative RT-PCR based approach to measure the expression profile of 256 of the 493 currently identified miRNAs in the lungs from 6 month (adult) and 18 month (aged) old female BALB/c mice. We show that, despite the characteristic changes in anatomy and gene expression associated with lung aging, there were no significant changes in the expression of 256 miRNAs. Conclusion Overall, these results show that miRNA transcription is unchanged during lung aging and suggests that stable expression of miRNAs might instead buffer age related changes in the expression of protein-encoding genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew E Williams
- Biopharmaceutics Research Group, Airway Disease, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, SW3 6LY, UK
| | - Mark M Perry
- Biopharmaceutics Research Group, Airway Disease, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, SW3 6LY, UK
| | - Sterghios A Moschos
- Biopharmaceutics Research Group, Airway Disease, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, SW3 6LY, UK
| | - Mark A Lindsay
- Biopharmaceutics Research Group, Airway Disease, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, SW3 6LY, UK
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Williams AE, Moschos SA, Perry MM, Barnes PJ, Lindsay MA. Maternally imprinted microRNAs are differentially expressed during mouse and human lung development. Dev Dyn 2007; 236:572-80. [PMID: 17191223 PMCID: PMC2582151 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered class of noncoding genes that regulate the translation of target mRNA. More than 300 miRNAs have now been discovered in humans, although the function of most is still unknown. A highly sensitive, semiquantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method was used to reveal the differential expression of several miRNAs during the development of both mouse and human lung. Of note was the up-regulation in neonatal mouse and fetal human lung of a maternally imprinted miRNA cluster located at human chromosome 14q32.31 (mouse chromosome 12F2), which includes the miR-154 and miR-335 families and is situated within the Gtl2-Dio3 domain. Conversely, several miRNAs were up-regulated in adult compared with neonatal/fetal lung, including miR-29a and miR-29b. Differences in the spatial expression patterns of miR-154, miR-29a, and miR-26a was demonstrated using in situ hybridization of mouse neonatal and adult tissue using miRNA-specific locked nucleic acid (LNA) probes. Of interest, miR-154 appeared to be localized to the stroma of fetal but not adult lungs. The overall expression profile was similar for mouse and human tissue, suggesting evolutionary conservation of miRNA expression during lung development and demonstrating the importance of maternally imprinted miRNAs in the developmental process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew E Williams
- Biopharmaceutics Research Group, Airway Disease, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
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Turner JJ, Jones SW, Moschos SA, Lindsay MA, Gait MJ. MALDI-TOF mass spectral analysis of siRNA degradation in serum confirms an RNAse A-like activity. Mol Biosyst 2007; 3:43-50. [PMID: 17216055 PMCID: PMC2682774 DOI: 10.1039/b611612d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic siRNA duplexes are used widely as reagents for silencing of mRNA targets in cells and are being developed for in vivo use. Serum stability is a major concern if siRNA is to be used for therapeutic delivery within blood circulation. We have developed the use of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry as a rapid and convenient analytical tool to identify the most vulnerable sites within siRNA to serum degradation. Using this approach, we found that one siRNA duplex (Dh3) with UpA sequences close to one end was particularly vulnerable to rapid cleavage. This produced a fragment of mass consistent with the presence of a 2',3'-cyclic phosphate that was slowly hydrolysed to a 2'-(3'-)phosphate on extended incubation. Substitution of these sites with 2'-O-methyl U residues prevented cleavage and confirmed that the major pathway for initial degradation is via cleavage by an RNAse A-like activity. Mass spectral analysis was used to follow the serum degradation of siRNA over more prolonged periods to show the accumulation of many fragments, almost all showing cleavage following pyrimidine nucleoside residues. Overall, the MALDI-TOF mass spectral analysis technique should prove useful for preliminary screening of the serum stability of siRNA duplexes and for identification of the most vulnerable cleavage sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J. Turner
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 2QH
| | - Simon W. Jones
- AstraZeneca R & D, Respiratory and Inflammation Research Area, Alderley park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK
| | - Sterghios A. Moschos
- Biopharmaceutics Research Group, Airways Disease, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK SW3 6LY
| | - Mark A. Lindsay
- Biopharmaceutics Research Group, Airways Disease, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK SW3 6LY
| | - Michael J. Gait
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 2QH
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Moschos SA, Bramwell VW, Somavarapu S, Alpar HO. Modulating the adjuvanticity of alum by co-administration of muramyl di-peptide (MDP) or Quil-A. Vaccine 2006; 24:1081-6. [PMID: 16219395 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2005] [Revised: 08/22/2005] [Accepted: 09/05/2005] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The characterization of the immunological cascades of the innate immune system activated by pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMP) recognized by pattern recognition receptors (PRR) have allowed the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the immunomodulatory properties of adjuvants. Thus, the combinatorial use of adjuvants with specific, complementary functions is investigated to achieve tailored immune responses to subunit vaccines. We have previously shown how combinatorial administration of chitosan and cholera toxin B or muramyl-di-peptide (MDP) intranasally, but not intramuscularly, can allow small doses of MDP which, when administered alone cannot adjuvantise Helicobacter pylori urease (rUre), achieve an immunomodulatory effect through the specific physiological effect of chitosan. The aim of this study was to investigate if in the context of rUre the adjuvantising effect of MDP could be realized via the intramuscular route by combination with aluminium hydroxide, as compared with the routinely used veterinary adjuvant combination of alum and Quil-A. Serum IgG kinetics were comparable between the two adjuvant combination groups. However, the alum + MDP combination afforded higher antigen-specific recall responses in splenocyte cultures, associated with elevated release of the type I immune response cytokines IFN-gamma and IL-2. This data suggests that the adjuvanticity of MDP can be modulated in the context of alum in a manner dissimilar to that of Quil-A, achieving a balancing effect on the responses elicited by alum adjuvantisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterghios A Moschos
- Centre for Drug Delivery Research, Department of Pharmaceutics, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
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Moschos SA, Bramwell VW, Somavarapu S, Alpar HO. Comparative immunomodulatory properties of a chitosan-MDP adjuvant combination following intranasal or intramuscular immunisation. Vaccine 2005; 23:1923-30. [PMID: 15734064 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2004.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2004] [Accepted: 10/18/2004] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
As the precise functions of adjuvants become clearer, opportunities are presented in their complementary use for the induction of tailored immune responses to subunit vaccines. Here we comparatively investigate the immunological outcome following intranasal or intramuscular immunisation with Helicobacter pylori urease admixed to a chitosan and muramyl di-peptide (MDP) combination. MDP appeared to limit the antigenicity of rUre by either administration route. Nasal administration of the combined adjuvant formulation resulted in an up-regulation of type I recall responses in splenocytes as opposed to adjuvantisation with chitosan alone. In contrast, intramuscular immunisation appeared to limit the responsiveness to the antigen when adjuvanted with chitosan and even more so when chitosan was combined with MDP, suggesting that the mechanism of adjuvantisation and adjuvant synergy differed depending on the immunisation route. Recognising the benefit of improved delivery of MDP intranasally due to the specific physiological effects of chitosan, we discuss the impact of the newly identified pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) role of MDP with respect to the adjuvanticity of proposed chemical variants of this peptide adjuvant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterghios A Moschos
- Centre for Drug Delivery Research, Department of Pharmaceutics, The School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, University of London, London, WC1N 1AX, UK
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Abstract
Modern peptide and protein subunit vaccines suffer from poor immunogenicity and require the use of adjuvants. However, none of the currently licensed adjuvants can elicit cell-mediated immunity or are suitable for mucosal immunization. In this study we explored the immunological effect of nasal co-administration of adjuvants with distinct functions: cholera toxin subunit B, a potent mucosal adjuvant that induces strong humoral responses, muramy di-peptide (MDP), an adjuvant known to elicit cell mediated immunity but rarely used nasally, and chitosan, an adjuvant that achieves specific physiological effects on mucosal membranes that improve antigen uptake. Groups of five female BALB/c mice received on days 1 and 56 nasal instillations of the recombinant Helicobacter pylori antigen urease admixed to single or multiple adjuvant combinations. Serum IgG kinetics were followed over 24 weeks. At the conclusion of the experiment, local antibody responses were determined and antigen-specific recall responses in splenocyte cultures were assayed for proliferation and cytokine production. The combination of adjuvants was shown to further contribute to the increased antigenicity of recombinant H. pylori urease. The data presented here outline and support facilitation of increased immunomodulation by an adjuvant previously defined as an effective mucosal adjuvant (chitosan) for another adjuvant (MDP) that is not normally effective via this route.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Moschos
- Centre for Drug Delivery Research, Department of Pharmaceutics, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, London, UK
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