A5089952929- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Genetic Syndromes and Imprinting
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- RNA modifications and cancer
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Estrogen and related hormone effects
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factors
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Hormonal and reproductive studies
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
2020-2025
University of Illinois System
2025
University of Utah
2013-2017
University of Virginia
2009-2016
Center for Infectious Disease Research
2005-2007
University of Washington
2003-2005
Genome editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system requires presence of guide RNAs bound to Cas9 endonuclease as a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex in cells, which cleaves host cell genome at sites specified by RNAs. New genetic material may be introduced during repair double-stranded break via homology dependent (HDR) if suitable DNA templates are delivered with CRISPR components. Early methods used plasmid or viral vectors make these components cell, however newer approaches recombinant protein...
Here, we describe an RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq)-based approach that accurately detects even modest maternal or paternal allele expression biases at the tissue level, which call noncanonical genomic imprinting effects. We profile in arcuate nucleus (ARN) and dorsal raphe of female mouse brain as well skeletal muscle (mesodermal) liver (endodermal). Our study uncovers hundreds autosomal X-linked Noncanonical is highly tissue-specific enriched ARN, but rare liver. These effects are reproducible...
ABSTRACT The ability of unencapsulated (nontypeable) Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) to cause systemic disease in healthy children has been recognized only the past decade. To determine extent similarity among invasive nontypeable isolates, we compared strain R2866 with 16 additional NTHi isolates from blood and spinal fluid, 17 nasopharyngeal or throat children, 19 middle ear aspirates. strains were evaluated for presence several genetic loci that affect bacterial surface structures...
ABSTRACT The gram-negative bacterium Haemophilus influenzae is a human-restricted commensal of the nasopharynx that can also be associated with disease. majority H. respiratory isolates lack genes for capsule production and are nontypeable (NTHI). Whereas encapsulated strains known to belong serotype-specific phylogenetic groups, structure NTHI population has not been previously described. A total 656 strains, including 322 have typed by multilocus sequence typing found 359 types (ST). We...
Sexually naïve, hormone-primed, C57BL/6J female mice are not receptive to mating attempts by conspecific males. Repeated experience with sexually active males and concurrent treatment estradiol progesterone gradually increases receptivity over the course of five trials maximal levels. Ovarian hormones activate their cognate nuclear steroid receptors estrogen receptor-α receptor induce sexual receptivity. Nuclear recruit coactivators transcription that include histone acetyltransferases...
As for many human diseases, the incidence of obesity and its associated health risks are sexually dimorphic: worldwide rate is higher in women. Sex differences metabolism, appetite, body composition, fat deposition contributing biological factors. Gonadal hormones regulate development dimorphic traits humans animals, and, addition, studies mice indicate a role direct genetic effects sex chromosome dosage on weight, fat, circadian timing feeding behavior. Specifically, either with 2 X...
Noncanonical genomic imprinting can cause biased expression of one parental allele in a tissue; however, the functional relevance such biases is unclear. To investigate ethological roles for noncanonical dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) and tyrosine hydroxylase (Th), we use machine learning to decompose naturalistic foraging maternal paternal mutant heterozygous mice. We uncover distinct versus alleles on foraging, where affect sons while daughters are under allelic control. Each controls specific...
Abstract We have previously shown that C3 binding to serum-resistant nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) strain R2866 is slower than a serum-sensitive strain. Ab-dependent classical pathway activation required for complement-dependent killing of NTHi. To further characterize the mechanism(s) serum resistance R2866, we compared complement component C4b with variant, R3392. show relative R3392 was delayed, suggesting regulation complement. Increased deposition on independent amount and...
Haemophilus influenzae is subject to phase variation mediated by changes in the length of simple sequence repeat regions within several genes, most which encode either surface proteins or enzymes involved synthesis lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The translational that have been described thus far all consist tandemly repeated tetranucleotides. We describe an octanucleotide region a putative LPS biosynthetic gene, losA. Approximately 20 percent nontypeable H. strains contain copies losA and losB...
Sex differences in pituitary growth hormone (GH) are well documented and coordinate maturation growth. GH its receptor also produced the brain where they may impact cognitive function synaptic plasticity, estradiol produces Gh sex rat hippocampus. In mice, circulating increases mRNA female but not male medial preoptic area (mPOA); therefore, additional factors regulate sexually dimorphic expression brain. Thus, we hypothesized that chromosomes interact with to promote GH. Here, assessed...
In translational bypassing, a peptidyl-tRNA::ribosome complex skips over number of nucleotides in messenger sequence and resumes protein chain elongation after “landing site” downstream the bypassed region. The present experiments demonstrate that “scans” processively through This conclusion rests on three observations. ( i ) When two potential sites” are present, product shows virtually all ribosomes land at first none second. ii such with landing sites, presence terminator triplet phase...
Male sexual behavior (MSB) is modulated by gonadal steroids, yet this relationship highly variable across species and between individuals. A significant percentage (~30%) of B6D2F1 hybrid male mice demonstrate MSB after long-term orchidectomy (herein referred to as "maters"), providing an opportunity examine the mechanisms that underlie individual differences in steroidal regulation MSB. Use gene expression arrays comparing maters non-maters has provided a first pass look at genetic...
Abstract Genomic imprinting in the brain is theorized to provide parental control over offspring social behaviors. Noncanonical genomic a form of epigenetic regulation which one gene’s alleles, either that maternal or paternal inheritance, exhibits bias towards higher expression allele compared other. This can differ depending on tissue type, and degree even vary across anatomical domains within same tissue. Dopa decarboxylase ( Ddc ) tyrosine hydroxylase Th are both noncanonically imprinted...
SUMMARY Dopa decarboxylase (DDC) regulates the synthesis of monoaminergic neurotransmitters and is linked to psychiatric metabolic disorders. Ddc exhibits complex genomic imprinting effects that have not been functionally studied. Here, we investigate different noncanonical at cellular level with a focus on . Using allele-specific reporter mice, found dominant expression maternal allele in subpopulations cells 14 52 brain regions, paternal or adrenal cell subpopulations. Maternal versus null...