Clusters of 5S rRNAs in the intergenic region of ubiquitin genes in Tetrahymena pyriformis

Here, we report the molecular analysis of two independent 5S rRNA clusters found in the intergenic region of two ubiquitin genomic clones isolated from Tetrahymena pyriformis. Each cluster contains two 120-bp-long coding regions organized in tandem with 142/145-bp-long spacers.

Molecular diversity of bla genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli isolates

Dissertation presented to obtain a Ph.D. degree in Biology, speciality Microbiology, by Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Bisphenol A at the reference level counteracts doxorubicin transcriptional effects on cancer related genes in HT29 cells

Human exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) results mainly from ingestion of food and beverages. Information regarding BPA effects on colon cancer, one of the major causes of death in developed countries, is still scarce. Likewise, little is known about BPA drug interactions although its potential role in doxorubicin (DOX) chemoresistance has been suggested. This study aims to assess potential interactions between BPA and DOX on HT29 colon cancer cells. HT29 cell response was evaluated after exposure to BPA, DOX, or co-exposure to both chemicals. Transcriptional analysis of several cancer-associated genes (c-fos, AURKA, p21, bcl-xl and CLU) shows that BPA exposure induces slight up-regulation exclusively of bcl-xl without affecting cell viability. On the other hand, a sub-therapeutic DOX concentration (40nM) results in highly altered c-fos, bcl-xl, and CLU transcript levels, and this is not affected by co-exposure with BPA. Conversely, DOX at a therapeutic concentration (4μM) results in distinct and very severe transcriptional alterations of c-fos, AURKA, p21 and CLU that are counteracted by co-exposure with BPA resulting in transcript levels similar to those of control. Co-exposure with BPA slightly decreases apoptosis in relation to DOX 4μM alone without affecting DOX-induced loss of cell viability. These results suggest that BPA exposure can influence chemotherapy outcomes and therefore emphasize the necessity of a better understanding of BPA interactions with chemotherapeutic agents in the context of risk assessment.

Bisphenol A alters transcript levels of biomarker genes for major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder is a moderately heritable disorder characterized by one or more major depressive episodes. Laboratory tests to suport MDD diagnosis are not available. Diagnosis and treatment are based on various signs and symptoms not always fitting into strict diagnostic categories. Research for biological markers of neuropsychiatric disorders has been a challenge.

Identification of mating type genes in the bipolar basidiomycetous yeast rhodosporidium toruloides: first insight into the MAT Locus structure of the sporidiobolales

Eukaryotic Cell, Vol.7, Nº6

The role of functional polymorphisms in immune response genes as biomarkers of BCG Immunotherapy outcome in bladder cancer: Establishment of a predictive profile in a Southern Europe population

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of genetic polymorphisms in the context of BCG immunotherapy outcome and create a predictive profile that may allow discriminating the risk of recurrence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a dataset of 204 patients treated with BCG, we evaluate 42 genetic polymorphisms in 38 genes involved in the BCG mechanism of action, using Sequenom MassARRAY technology. Stepwise multivariate Cox Regression was used for data mining. RESULTS: In agreement with previous studies we observed that gender, age, tumor multiplicity and treatment scheme were associated with BCG failure. Using stepwise multivariate Cox Regression analysis we propose the first predictive profile of BCG immunotherapy outcome and a risk score based on polymorphisms in immune system molecules (SNPs in TNFA-1031T/C (rs1799964), IL2RA rs2104286 T/C, IL17A-197G/A (rs2275913), IL17RA-809A/G (rs4819554), IL18R1 rs3771171 T/C, ICAM1 K469E (rs5498), FASL-844T/C (rs763110) and TRAILR1-397T/G (rs79037040) in association with clinicopathological variables. This risk score allows the categorization of patients into risk groups: patients within the Low Risk group have a 90% chance of successful treatment, whereas patients in the High Risk group present 75% chance of recurrence after BCG treatment. CONCLUSION: We have established the first predictive score of BCG immunotherapy outcome combining clinicopathological characteristics and a panel of genetic polymorphisms. Further studies using an independent cohort are warranted. Moreover, the inclusion of other biomarkers may help to improve the proposed model.

Estudo dos genes humanos tipo Mob: hsMo4A e hsMob4B

Dissertação apresentada para a obtenção do grau de Doutor em Biologia,especialidade Genética Molecular pela Universidade Nova de Lisboa,Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Hox genes control the specification of global vertebral domains

Dissertação apresentada para obtenção do grau de doutor em Biologia pelo Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Genetic relationships of Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains isolated from a diphtheria case and carriers by restriction fragment length polymorphism of rRNA genes

In the present study we report the results of an analysis, based on ribotyping of Corynebacterium diphtheriae intermedius strains isolated from a 9 years old child with clinical diphtheria and his 5 contacts. Quantitative analysis of RFLPs of rRNA was used to determine relatedness of these 7 C.diphtheriae strains providing support data in the diphtheria epidemiology. We have also tested those strains for toxigenicity in vitro by using the Elek's gel diffusion method and in vivo by using cell culture method on cultured monkey kidney cell (VERO cells). The hybridization results revealed that the 5 C.diphtheriae strains isolated from contacts and one isolated from the clinical case (nose case strain) had identical RFLP patterns with all 4 restriction endonucleases used, ribotype B. The genetic distance from this ribotype and ribotype A (throat case strain), that we initially assumed to be responsible for the illness of the patient, was of 0.450 showing poor genetic correlation among these two ribotypes. We found no significant differences concerned to the toxin production by using the cell culture method. In conclusion, the use of RFLPs of rRNA gene was successful in detecting minor differences in closely related toxigenic C.diphtheriae intermedius strains and providing information about genetic relationships among them.

The genetic basis of morphological change in convergent evolution of natural populations: identifying candidate genes behind convergent evolution in blind cavefish astyanax mexicanus

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D. degree in Biology at the Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

Cultura de tecidos de Hypericum foliosum e análise de genes associados à biossíntese de hipericinas

Tese apresentada à Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Genética Molecular e Biomedicina

Functional studies on BolA and related genes: increasing the understanding of a protein with pleiotropic effects

Dissertation presented to obtain a Doctoral degree in Biology by Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica

Genética e mecanismos moleculares na miocardiopatia hipertrófica: papel dos genes CSRP3 e TCAP

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Genética Molecular e Biomedicina