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Despite extensive studies on the role of tumor suppressor p53 protein and its homologues, p73 and p63, following their overexpression or cellular stress, very little is known about the regulation of the three proteins in cells during physiologic cell cycle progression. We report a role for p73 and p63 in supporting cellular proliferation through the transcriptional activation of the genes involved in G1-S and G2-M progression. We found that in MCF-7 cells, p73 and p63, but not p53, are modulated during the cell cycle with a peak in S phase, and their silencing determines a significant suppression of proliferation compared with the control. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis shows that in cycling cells, p73 and p63 are bound to the p53-responsive elements (RE) present in the regulatory region of cell cycle progression genes. On the contrary, when the cells are arrested in G0-G1, p73 detaches from the REs and it is replaced by p53, which represses the expression of these genes. When the cells move in S phase, p73 is recruited again and p53 is displaced or is weakly bound to the REs. These data open new possibilities for understanding the involvement of p73 and p63 in cancer. The elevated concentrations of p73 and p63 found in many cancers could cause the aberrant activation of cell growth progression genes and therefore contribute to cancer initiation or progression under certain conditions. [Cancer Res 2009;69(22):8563–71]

Supplementary Figure 5 from p73 and p63 Sustain Cellular Growth by Transcriptional Activation of Cell Cycle Progression Genes

Supplementary Figure 6 from p73 and p63 Sustain Cellular Growth by Transcriptional Activation of Cell Cycle Progression Genes

Supplementary Figure 3 from p73 and p63 Sustain Cellular Growth by Transcriptional Activation of Cell Cycle Progression Genes

Supplementary Figure 4 from p73 and p63 Sustain Cellular Growth by Transcriptional Activation of Cell Cycle Progression Genes

Supplementary Figure 2 from p73 and p63 Sustain Cellular Growth by Transcriptional Activation of Cell Cycle Progression Genes

Supplementary Figure 7 from p73 and p63 Sustain Cellular Growth by Transcriptional Activation of Cell Cycle Progression Genes

Supplementary Figure Legends 1-7 from p73 and p63 Sustain Cellular Growth by Transcriptional Activation of Cell Cycle Progression Genes

SARS-CoV-2 replication requires the synthesis of a set of structural proteins expressed through discontinuous transcription of ten subgenomic mRNAs (sgmRNAs). Here, we have fine-tuned droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assays to accurately detect and quantify SARS-CoV-2 genomic ORF1ab and sgmRNAs for the nucleocapsid (N) and spike (S) proteins. We analyzed 166 RNA samples from anonymized SARS-CoV-2 positive subjects and we observed a recurrent and characteristic pattern of sgmRNAs expression in relation to the total viral RNA content. Additionally, expression profiles of sgmRNAs, as determined by meta-transcriptomics sequencing of a subset of 110 RNA samples, were highly correlated with those obtained by ddPCR. By providing a comprehensive and dynamic snapshot of the levels of SARS-CoV-2 sgmRNAs in infected individuals, our results may contribute a better understanding of the dynamics of transcription and expression of the genome of SARS-CoV-2 and facilitate the development of more accurate molecular diagnostic tools for the stratification of COVID-19 patients., Oranger et al use digital droplet PCR to develop an assay that provides a dynamic snapshot of the levels of SARS-CoV-2 sub-genomic messanger RNA in infected individuals. This has the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy for COVID-19

The second messenger 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) regulates many nuclear processes including transcription1,2, pre-mRNA splicing3 and mitosis4. While most functions are attributed to protein kinase A (PKA)5,6, accumulating evidence suggests that not all nuclear cAMP-dependent effects are mediated by this kinase7, implying that other effectors are involved. Here we explore the nuclear roles of Exchange Protein Activated by cAMP 1 (EPAC1). We find that EPAC1 enters the nucleus through the synergy of two aminoacidic domains and there, in response to cAMP, forms reversible biomolecular condensates through liquid-liquid phase separation. This phenomenon depends on intrinsically disordered regions present at its amino-terminus and is independent of PKA. Finally, we demonstrate that nuclear EPAC1 condensates assemble at genomic loci on chromosome 6 and promote the transcription of a histone gene cluster. Collectively, our data reveal an unexpected mechanism through which cAMP contributes to nuclear spatial compartmentalization and promotes the transcription of specific genes.

To date there are several studies focusing on the importance of gut microbiome for human health, however the selection of a universal sampling matrix representative of the microbial biodiversity associated to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, still represents a challenge. Here we present a study in which, through a deep metabarcoding analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, we compared two sampling matrices, feces (F) and colonic lavage liquid (LL), in order to evaluate their accuracy to represent the complexity of the human gut microbiome. A training set of 37 volunteers was attained and paired F and LL samples were collected from each subject. A preliminary absolute quantification of total 16S rDNA, performed by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), confirmed that sequencing and taxonomic analysis were performed on same total bacterial abundance obtained from the two sampling methods. The taxonomic analysis of paired samples revealed that, although specific taxa were predominantly or exclusively observed in LL samples, as well as other taxa were detectable only or were predominant in stool, the microbiomes of the paired samples F and LL in the same subject hold overlapping taxonomic composition. Moreover, LL samples revealed a higher biodiversity than stool at all taxonomic ranks, as demonstrated by the Shannon Index and the Inverse Simpson’s Index. We also found greater inter-individual variability than intra-individual variability in both sample matrices. Finally, functional differences were unveiled in the gut microbiome detected in the F and LL samples. A significant overrepresentation of 22 and 13 metabolic pathways, mainly occurring in Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, was observed in gut microbiota detected in feces and LL samples, respectively. This suggests that LL samples may allow for the detection of microbes adhering to the intestinal mucosal surface as members of the resident flora that are not easily detectable in stool, most likely representative of a diet-influenced transient microbiota. This first comparative study on feces and LL samples for the study of the human gut microbiome demonstrates that the use of both types of sample matrices may represent a possible choice to obtain a more complete view of the human gut microbiota in response to different biological and clinical questions.

Various next generation sequencing (NGS) based strategies have been successfully used in the recent past for tracing origins and understanding the evolution of infectious agents, investigating the spread and transmission chains of outbreaks, as well as facilitating the development of effective and rapid molecular diagnostic tests and contributing to the hunt for treatments and vaccines. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic poses one of the greatest global threats in modern history and has already caused severe social and economic costs. The development of efficient and rapid sequencing methods to reconstruct the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent of COVID-19, has been fundamental for the design of diagnostic molecular tests and to devise effective measures and strategies to mitigate the diffusion of the pandemic.Diverse approaches and sequencing methods can, as testified by the number of available sequences, be applied to SARS-CoV-2 genomes. However, each technology and sequencing approach has its own advantages and limitations. In the current review, we will provide a brief, but hopefully comprehensive, account of currently available platforms and methodological approaches for the sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 genomes. We also present an outline of current repositories and databases that provide access to SARS-CoV-2 genomic data and associated metadata. Finally, we offer general advice and guidelines for the appropriate sharing and deposition of SARS-CoV-2 data and metadata, and suggest that more efficient and standardized integration of current and future SARS-CoV-2-related data would greatly facilitate the struggle against this new pathogen. We hope that our ‘vademecum’ for the production and handling of SARS-CoV-2-related sequencing data, will contribute to this objective.

The Yes-associated protein (YAP), one of the major effectors of the Hippo pathway together with its related protein WW-domain-containing transcription regulator 1 (WWTR1; also known as TAZ), mediates a range of cellular processes from proliferation and death to morphogenesis. YAP and WW-domain-containing transcription regulator 1 (WWTR1; also known as TAZ) regulate a large number of target genes, acting as coactivators of DNA-binding transcription factors or as negative regulators of transcription by interacting with the nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylase complexes. YAP is expressed in self-renewing embryonic stem cells (ESCs), although it is still debated whether it plays any crucial roles in the control of either stemness or differentiation. Here we show that the transient downregulation of YAP in mouse ESCs perturbs cellular homeostasis, leading to the inability to differentiate properly. Bisulfite genomic sequencing revealed that this transient knockdown caused a genome-wide alteration of the DNA methylation remodeling that takes place during the early steps of differentiation, suggesting that the phenotype we observed might be due to the dysregulation of some of the mechanisms involved in regulation of ESC exit from pluripotency. By gene expression analysis, we identified two molecules that could have a role in the altered genome-wide methylation profile: the long noncoding RNA ephemeron, whose rapid upregulation is crucial for the transition of ESCs into epiblast, and the methyltransferase-like protein Dnmt3l, which, during the embryo development, cooperates with Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b to contribute to the de novo DNA methylation that governs early steps of ESC differentiation. These data suggest a new role for YAP in the governance of the epigenetic dynamics of exit from pluripotency.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia affecting the elderly population worldwide. We have performed a comprehensive transcriptome profiling of Late-Onset AD (LOAD) patients using second generation sequencing technologies, identifying 2,064 genes, 47 lncRNAs and 4 miRNAs whose expression is specifically deregulated in the hippocampal region of LOAD patients. Moreover, analyzing the hippocampal, temporal and frontal regions from the same LOAD patients, we identify specific sets of deregulated miRNAs for each region, and we confirm that the miR-132/212 cluster is deregulated in each of these regions in LOAD patients, consistent with these miRNAs playing a role in AD pathogenesis. Notably, a luciferase assay indicates that miR-184 is able to target the 3’UTR NR4A2 - which is known to be involved in cognitive functions and long-term memory and whose expression levels are inversely correlated with those of miR-184 in the hippocampus. Finally, RNA editing analysis reveals a general RNA editing decrease in LOAD hippocampus, with 14 recoding sites significantly and differentially edited in 11 genes. Our data underline specific transcriptional changes in LOAD brain and provide an important source of information for understanding the molecular changes characterizing LOAD progression.

Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs) are key proteins for hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal and for survival of differentiating progenitor cells. However, their specific role in myeloid cell maturation has been poorly investigated. Here we show that ADAR1 is present at basal level in the primary myeloid leukemia cells obtained from patients at diagnosis as well as in myeloid U-937 and THP1 cell lines and its expression correlates with the editing levels. Upon phorbol-myristate acetate or Vitamin D3/granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-driven differentiation, both ADAR1 and ADAR2 enzymes are upregulated, with a concomitant global increase of A-to-I RNA editing. ADAR1 silencing caused an editing decrease at specific ADAR1 target genes, without, however, interfering with cell differentiation or with ADAR2 activity. Remarkably, ADAR2 is absent in the undifferentiated cell stage, due to its elimination through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, being strongly upregulated at the end of the differentiation process. Of note, peripheral blood monocytes display editing events at the selected targets similar to those found in differentiated cell lines. Taken together, the data indicate that ADAR enzymes play important and distinct roles in myeloid cells.

Summary The ATP-gated ionotropic P2X7 receptor regulates T follicular helper (Tfh) cell abundance in the Peyer’s patches (PPs) of the small intestine; deletion of P2rx7, encoding for P2X7, in Tfh cells results in enhanced IgA secretion and binding to commensal bacteria. Here, we show that Tfh cell activity is important for generating a diverse bacterial community in the gut and that sensing of microbiota-derived extracellular ATP via P2X7 promotes the generation of a proficient gut ecosystem for metabolic homeostasis. The results of this study indicate that Tfh cells play a role in host-microbiota mutualism beyond protecting the intestinal mucosa by induction of affinity-matured IgA and suggest that extracellular ATP constitutes an inter-kingdom signaling molecule important for selecting a beneficial microbial community for the host via P2X7-mediated regulation of B cell help., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • P2X7 receptor activity in Tfh cells is important for shaping the gut microbiota • Control of secretory IgA by Tfh cells promotes a healthy gut ecosystem • Lack of P2X7 in Tfh cells results in selection of an obesogenic microbiota • Sensing of extracellular ATP by P2X7 in Tfh cells promotes host metabolic balance, Gut commensals contribute to host metabolic homeostasis. ATP released by bacteria limits IgA secretion in the small intestine via the P2X7 receptor expressed in T follicular helper cells. Perruzza et al. show that this regulatory mechanism is important for shaping a diverse microbiota that promote host metabolic homeostasis.

MotivationClinical applications of genome re-sequencing technologies typically generate large amounts of data that need to be carefully annotated and interpreted to identify genetic variants potentially associated with pathological conditions. In this context, accurate and reproducible methods for the functional annotation and prioritization of genetic variants are of fundamental importance.ResultsIn this article, we present VINYL, a flexible and fully automated system for the functional annotation and prioritization of genetic variants. Extensive analyses of both real and simulated datasets suggest that VINYL can identify clinically relevant genetic variants in a more accurate manner compared to equivalent state of the art methods, allowing a more rapid and effective prioritization of genetic variants in different experimental settings. As such we believe that VINYL can establish itself as a valuable tool to assist healthcare operators and researchers in clinical genomics investigations.Availability and implementationVINYL is available at http://beaconlab.it/VINYL and https://github.com/matteo14c/VINYL.Supplementary informationSupplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Rigoni et al. report that hypomorphic Rag2R229Q mutation is associated with altered microbiota composition and defects in the gut–blood barrier and suggest that intestinal microbes may play a critical role in the distinctive immune dysregulation of Omenn syndrome., Omenn syndrome (OS) is caused by hypomorphic Rag mutations and characterized by a profound immunodeficiency associated with autoimmune-like manifestations. Both in humans and mice, OS is mediated by oligoclonal activated T and B cells. The role of microbial signals in disease pathogenesis is debated. Here, we show that Rag2R229Q knock-in mice developed an inflammatory bowel disease affecting both the small bowel and colon. Lymphocytes were sufficient for disease induction, as intestinal CD4 T cells with a Th1/Th17 phenotype reproduced the pathological picture when transplanted into immunocompromised hosts. Moreover, oral tolerance was impaired in Rag2R229Q mice, and transfer of wild-type (WT) regulatory T cells ameliorated bowel inflammation. Mucosal immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency in the gut resulted in enhanced absorption of microbial products and altered composition of commensal communities. The Rag2R229Q microbiota further contributed to the immunopathology because its transplant into WT recipients promoted Th1/Th17 immune response. Consistently, long-term dosing of broad-spectrum antibiotics (ABXs) in Rag2R229Q mice ameliorated intestinal and systemic autoimmunity by diminishing the frequency of mucosal and circulating gut-tropic CCR9+ Th1 and Th17 T cells. Remarkably, serum hyper-IgE, a hallmark of the disease, was also normalized by ABX treatment. These results indicate that intestinal microbes may play a critical role in the distinctive immune dysregulation of OS.

Comprehensive studies of the biodiversity of the microbial epilithic community on monuments may provide critical insights for clarifying factors involved in the colonization processes. We carried out a high-throughput investigation of the communities colonizing the medieval church of San Leonardo di Siponto (Italy) by Illumina-based deep sequencing. The metagenomic analysis of sequences revealed the presence of Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. Bacteria were Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes and Candidatus Saccharibacteria. The predominant phylum was Actinobacteria, with the orders Actynomycetales and Rubrobacteriales, represented by the genera Pseudokineococcus, Sporichthya, Blastococcus, Arthrobacter, Geodermatophilus, Friedmanniella, Modestobacter, and Rubrobacter, respectively. Cyanobacteria sequences showing strong similarity with an uncultured bacterium sequence were identified. The presence of the green algae Oocystaceae and Trebuxiaceae was revealed. The microbial diversity was explored at qualitative and quantitative levels, evaluating the richness (the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs)) and the abundance of reads associated with each OTU. The rarefaction curves approached saturation, suggesting that the majority of OTUs were recovered. The results highlighted a structured community, showing low diversity, made up of extremophile organisms adapted to desiccation and UV radiation. Notably, the microbiome appeared to be composed not only of microorganisms possibly involved in biodeterioration but also of carbonatogenic bacteria, such as those belonging to the genus Arthrobacter, which could be useful in bioconservation. Our investigation demonstrated that molecular tools, and in particular the easy-to-run next-generation sequencing, are powerful to perform a microbiological diagnosis in order to plan restoration and protection strategies.

The possible existence of yet undiscovered human tumorigenic viruses is still under scrutiny. The development of large-scale sequencing technologies, coupled with bioinformatics techniques for the characterization of metagenomic sequences, have provided an invaluable tool for the detection of unknown, infectious, tumorigenic agents, as demonstrated by several recent studies. However, discoveries of novel viruses possibly associated with tumorigenesis are scarce at best. Here, we apply a rigorous bioinformatics workflow to investigate in depth tumor metagenomes from a small but carefully selected cohort of immunosuppressed patients. While a variegated bacterial microbiome was associated with each tumor, no evidence of the presence of putative oncoviruses was found. These results are consistent with the major findings of several recent papers and suggest that new human tumorigenic viruses are not common even in immunosuppressed populations.

Historically, genome-wide and molecular characterization of the genus Listeria has concentrated on the important human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes and a small number of closely related species, together termed Listeria sensu strictu. More recently, a number of genome sequences for more basal, and nonpathogenic, members of the Listeria genus have become available, facilitating a wider perspective on the evolution of pathogenicity and genome level evolutionary dynamics within the entire genus (termed Listeria sensu lato). Here, we have sequenced the genomes of additional Listeria fleischmannii and Listeria newyorkensis isolates and explored the dynamics of genome evolution in Listeria sensu lato. Our analyses suggest that acquisition of genetic material through gene duplication and divergence as well as through lateral gene transfer (mostly from outside Listeria) is widespread throughout the genus. Novel genetic material is apparently subject to rapid turnover. Multiple lines of evidence point to significant differences in evolutionary dynamics between the most basal Listeria subclade and all other congeners, including both sensu strictu and other sensu lato isolates. Strikingly, these differences are likely attributable to stochastic, population-level processes and contribute to observed variation in genome size across the genus. Notably, our analyses indicate that the common ancestor of Listeria sensu lato lacked flagella, which were acquired by lateral gene transfer by a common ancestor of Listeria grayi and Listeria sensu strictu, whereas a recently functionally characterized pathogenicity island, responsible for the capacity to produce cobalamin and utilize ethanolamine/propane-2-diol, was acquired in an ancestor of Listeria sensu strictu.

Objective: We analyzed the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 2 ( EBNA2 ) gene, which contains the most variable region of the viral genome, in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and control subjects to verify whether virus genetic variants are involved in disease development. Methods: A seminested PCR approach and Sanger sequencing were used to analyze EBNA2 in 53 patients and 38 matched healthy donors (HDs). High-throughput sequencing by Illumina MiSeq was also applied in a subgroup of donors (17 patients and 17 HDs). Patients underwent gadolinium-enhanced MRI and human leucocyte antigen typing. Results: MS risk significantly correlated with an excess of 1.2 allele (odds ratio [OR] = 5.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.84–14.32; p = 0.016) and underrepresentation of 1.3B allele (OR = 0.23; 95% CI 0.08–0.51; p = 0.0006). We identified new genetic variants, mostly 1.2 allele- and MS-associated (especially amino acid variation at position 245; OR = 9.4; 95% CI 1.19–78.72; p = 0.0123). In all cases, the consensus sequence from deep sequencing confirmed Sanger sequencing (including the cosegregation of newly identified variants with known EBNA2 alleles) and showed that the extent of genotype intraindividual variability was higher than expected: rare EBNA2 variants were detected in all HDs and patients with MS (range 1–17 and 3–19, respectively). EBNA2 variants did not seem to correlate with human leucocyte antigen typing or clinical/MRI features. Conclusions: Our study unveils a strong association between Epstein-Barr virus genomic variants and MS, reinforcing the idea that Epstein-Barr virus contributes to disease development.

Eukaryotic cells contain a population of mitochondria, variable in number and shape, which in turn contain multiple copies of a tiny compact genome (mtDNA) whose expression and function is strictly coordinated with the nuclear one. mtDNA copy number varies between different cell or tissues types, both in response to overall metabolic and bioenergetics demands and as a consequence or cause of specific pathological conditions. Here we present a novel and reliable methodology to assess the effective mtDNA copy number per diploid genome by investigating off-target reads obtained by whole-exome sequencing (WES) experiments. We also investigate whether and how mtDNA copy number correlates with mitochondrial mass, respiratory activity and expression levels. Analyzing six different tissues from three age- and sex-matched human individuals, we found a highly significant linear correlation between mtDNA copy number estimated by qPCR and the frequency of mtDNA off target WES reads. Furthermore, mtDNA copy number showed highly significant correlation with mitochondrial gene expression levels as measured by RNA-Seq as well as with mitochondrial mass and respiratory activity. Our methodology makes thus feasible, at a large scale, the investigation of mtDNA copy number in diverse cell-types, tissues and pathological conditions or in response to specific treatments., This work was supported by Ministero dell'Istruzione, Università e Ricerca (projects PRIN-2009, Micromap [PON01_02589], Virtualab [PON01_01297]) and by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (progetto strategico “Medicina personalizzata”, progetto strategico “Invecchiamento”, progetto bandiera “Epigen”).

Nowadays DNA meta-barcoding is a powerful instrument capable of quickly discovering the biodiversity of an environmental sample by integrating the DNA barcoding approach with High Throughput Sequencing technologies. It mainly consists of the parallel reading of informative genomic fragment/s able to discriminate living entities. Although this approach has been widely studied, it still needs optimization in some necessary steps requested in its advanced accomplishment. A fundamental element concerns the standardization of bioinformatic analyses pipelines. The aim of the present study was to underline a number of critical parameters of laboratory material preparation and taxonomic assignment pipelines in DNA meta-barcoding experiments using the cytochrome oxidase subunit-I (

ALS is a devastating and debilitating human disease characterized by the progressive death of upper and lower motor neurons. Although much effort has been made to elucidate molecular determinants underlying the onset and progression of the disorder, the causes of ALS remain largely unknown. In the present work, we have deeply sequenced whole transcriptome from spinal cord ventral horns of post-mortem ALS human donors affected by the sporadic form of the disease (which comprises ~90% of the cases but which is less investigated than the inherited form of the disease). We observe 1160 deregulated genes including 18 miRNAs and show that down regulated genes are mainly of neuronal derivation while up regulated genes have glial origin and tend to be involved in neuroinflammation or cell death. Remarkably, we find strong deregulation of SNAP25 and STX1B at both mRNA and protein levels suggesting impaired synaptic function through SNAP25 reduction as a possible cause of calcium elevation and glutamate excitotoxicity. We also note aberrant alternative splicing but not disrupted RNA editing.

Introduction Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) platforms have radically changed the field of genomics and are routinely applied to a variety of functional genomics problems. Although NGS has markedly accelerated multiple areas of genomics research it is a massively parallel process and generates unprecedented volumes of data which present challenges and opportunities for data management, storage, and, most importantly, analysis and interpretation. The Molecular Biodiversity Laboratory (MoBiLab), located in Bari at the CNR-IBBE, is a NGS research infrastructure, realized within the LifeWatch European infrastructure for Biodiversity. In MoBiLab, skills and advanced facilities for molecular and bioinformatics analyses are integrated to provide the scientific community with services and counselling for molecular biodiversity studies. MoBiLab has started the set up of a quality management system based on Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs) accompanied by a Laboratory Information Management System (L.I.M.S.) in order to assure the highest levels of reliability, reproducibility and traceability of the results. Methods GLPs are considered a quality system aimed at ensuring safety, reliability and reproducibility of the non-clinical tests on chemicals intended for the use on human, animal and environment. GLPs are mandatory in OECD countries for preclinical tests, but may be also considered as a reference for laboratory management systems outside their main scope, that can be referred to as “GLP-like” quality systems. The L.I.M.S. is a computer system capable of handling the Acquisition stages-Processing-Storage of all data generated by a laboratory and/or processes, minimizing the risk of errors and increasing the information security. Results The internal quality system of MoBiLab has been designed by taking into account the progressive evolution of Good Research Practices. The team has first outlined a description of the main process by means of a Supplier-Input-Process-Output-Customer-like flowchart which includes the person in charge for the activity and the related documented information (Standard Operation Procedures, SOP, and records). After having identified the SOPs, researchers were provided with a template and with the instructions to draft them. In parallel, management procedures were defined by the whole team, drafted, and supported by flowcharts and other quality tools. MoBiLab, in collaboration with the Italian company Eusoft, started to develop and optimize a L.I.M.S. platform for managing all the laboratory activities through a suite of integrated modules. The platform is structured starting from the SIPOC-like flowchart and the modules are developed and customized in agreement to the SOPs. A CAPA (Corrective Action/Preventive Action) system is also going to be implemented within the LIMS. Conclusions and Perspectives The implementation of some Lean tools in the production process of the MoBiLab will be the next task of the project.

Nickel acts as cofactor for a number of enzymes of many bacteria species. Its homeostasis is ensured by proteins working as ion efflux or accumulation systems. These mechanisms are also generally adopted to counteract life-threatening high extra-cellular Ni2+ concentrations. Little is known regarding nickel tolerance in the genus Sphingobium. We studied the response of the novel Sphingobium sp. ba1 strain, able to adapt to high Ni2+ concentrations. Differential gene expression in cells cultured in 10 mM Ni2+, investigated by RNA-seq analysis, identified 118 differentially expressed genes. Among the 90 up-regulated genes, a cluster including genes coding for nickel and other metal ion efflux systems (similar to either cnrCBA, nccCBA or cznABC) and for a NreB-like permease was found. Comparative analyses among thirty genomes of Sphingobium species show that this cluster is conserved only in two cases, while in the other genomes it is partially present or even absent. The differential expression of genes encoding proteins which could also work as Ni2+-accumulators (HupE/UreJ-like protein, NreA and components of TonB-associated transport and copper-homeostasis systems) was also detected. The identification of Sphingobium sp. ba1 strain adaptive mechanisms to nickel ions, can foster its possible use for biodegradation of poly-aromatic compounds in metal-rich environments.

Scientific Reports 5: Article number: 1494110.1038/srep14941; published online: October092015; updated: February082016. The original version of this Article contained typographical errors in the inosinome database link ‘ http://srv00.recas.ba.infn.it/editing’ which was incorrectly given as ‘ http://srv00.ibbe.cnr.it/editing/’. These errors have now been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.

A comprehensive knowledge of all the factors involved in splicing, both proteins and RNAs, and of their interaction network is crucial for reaching a better understanding of this process and its functions. A large part of relevant information is buried in the literature or collected in various different databases. By hand-curated screenings of literature and databases, we retrieved experimentally validated data on 71 human RNA-binding splicing regulatory proteins and organized them into a database called ‘SpliceAid-F’ (http://www.caspur.it/SpliceAidF/). For each splicing factor (SF), the database reports its functional domains, its protein and chemical interactors and its expression data. Furthermore, we collected experimentally validated RNA–SF interactions, including relevant information on the RNA-binding sites, such as the genes where these sites lie, their genomic coordinates, the splicing effects, the experimental procedures used, as well as the corresponding bibliographic references. We also collected information from experiments showing no RNA–SF binding, at least in the assayed conditions. In total, SpliceAid-F contains 4227 interactions, 2590 RNA-binding sites and 1141 ‘no-binding’ sites, including information on cellular contexts and conditions where binding was tested. The data collected in SpliceAid-F can provide significant information to explain an observed splicing pattern as well as the effect of mutations in functional regulatory elements.

Nowadays DNA meta-barcoding is a powerful instrument capable of quickly discovering the biodiversity of an environmental sample by integrating the DNA barcoding approach with High Throughput Sequencing technologies. It mainly consists of the parallel reading of informative genomic fragment/s able to discriminate living entities. Although this approach has been widely studied, it still needs optimization in some necessary steps requested in its advanced accomplishment. A fundamental element concerns the standardization of bioinformatic analyses pipelines. The aim of the present study was to underline a number of critical parameters of laboratory material preparation and taxonomic assignment pipelines in DNA meta-barcoding experiments using the cytochrome oxidase subunit-I (coxI) barcode region, known as a suitable molecular marker for animal species identification. We compared nine taxonomic assignment pipelines, including a custom in-house method, based on Hidden Markov Models. Moreover, we evaluated the potential influence of universal primers amplification bias in qPCR, as well as the correlation between GC content with taxonomic assignment results. The pipelines were tested on a community of known terrestrial invertebrates collected by pitfall traps from a chestnut forest in Italy. Although the present analysis was not exhaustive and needs additional investigation, our results suggest some potential improvements in laboratory material preparation and the introduction of additional parameters in taxonomic assignment pipelines. These include the correct setup of OTU clustering threshold, the calibration of GC content affecting sequencing quality and taxonomic classification, as well as the evaluation of PCR primers amplification bias on the final biodiversity pattern. Thus, careful attention and further validation/optimization of the above-mentioned variables would be required in a DNA meta-barcoding experimental routine.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latently infects the majority of the human population and is implicated as a causal or contributory factor in numerous diseases. We sequenced 27 complete EBV genomes from a cohort of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy controls from Italy, although no variants showed a statistically significant association with MS. Taking advantage of the availability of ∼130 EBV genomes with known geographical origins, we reveal a striking geographic distribution of EBV sub-populations with distinct allele frequency distributions. We discuss mechanisms that potentially explain these observations, and their implications for understanding the association of EBV with human disease.

Adenine to Inosine RNA editing is a widespread co- and post-transcriptional mechanism mediated by ADAR enzymes acting on double stranded RNA. It has a plethora of biological effects, appears to be particularly pervasive in humans with respect to other mammals and is implicated in a number of diverse human pathologies. Here we present the first human inosinome atlas comprising 3,041,422 A-to-I events identified in six tissues from three healthy individuals. Matched directional total-RNA-Seq and whole genome sequence datasets were generated and analysed within a dedicated computational framework, also capable of detecting hyper-edited reads. Inosinome profiles are tissue specific and edited gene sets consistently show enrichment of genes involved in neurological disorders and cancer. Overall frequency of editing also varies, but is strongly correlated with ADAR expression levels. The inosinome database is available at: http://srv00.recas.ba.infn.it/editing.

Adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing, catalyzed by the ADAR enzyme family, acts on dsRNA structures within pre-mRNA molecules. Editing of the coding part of the mRNA may lead to recoding, amino acid substitution in the resulting protein, possibly modifying its biochemical and biophysical properties. Altered RNA editing patterns have been observed in various neurological pathologies. Here, we present a comprehensive study of recoding by RNA editing in Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of irreversible dementia. We have used a targeted resequencing approach supplemented by a microfluidic-based high-throughput PCR coupled with next-generation sequencing to accurately quantify A-to-I RNA editing levels in a preselected set of target sites, mostly located within the coding sequence of synaptic genes. Overall, editing levels decreased in AD patients’ brain tissues, mainly in the hippocampus and to a lesser degree in the temporal and frontal lobes. Differential RNA editing levels were observed in 35 target sites within 22 genes. These results may shed light on a possible association between the neurodegenerative processes typical for AD and deficient RNA editing.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephrotoxic and potentially carcinogenic mycotoxin produced by several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium . It is one of the major mycotoxins contaminating grain, grapes and a variety of food products, and the development of methods for reducing pre- and post-harvest contamination has drawn considerable attention. In the current study, we isolated and sequenced the genome of a novel free-living Acinetobacter strain able to degrade OTA. Biochemical studies suggest that the degradation reaction proceeds via peptide bond hydrolysis.

The interrelationship between IgAs and microbiota diversity is still unclear. Here we show that BALB/c mice had higher abundance and diversity of IgAs than C57BL/6 mice and that this correlated with increased microbiota diversity. We show that polyreactive IgAs mediated the entrance of non-invasive bacteria to Peyer's patches, independently of CX3CR1(+) phagocytes. This allowed the induction of bacteria-specific IgA and the establishment of a positive feedback loop of IgA production. Cohousing of mice or fecal transplantation had little or no influence on IgA production and had only partial impact on microbiota composition. Germ-free BALB/c, but not C57BL/6, mice already had polyreactive IgAs that influenced microbiota diversity and selection after colonization. Together, these data suggest that genetic predisposition to produce polyreactive IgAs has a strong impact on the generation of antigen-specific IgAs and the selection and maintenance of microbiota diversity.

Cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of primary diseases of the myocardium, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), with higher morbidity and mortality. These diseases are genetically diverse and associated with rare mutations in a large number of genes, many of which overlap among the phenotypes. To better investigate the genetic overlap between these three phenotypes and to identify new genotype-phenotype correlations, we designed a custom gene panel consisting of 115 genes known to be associated with cardiomyopathic phenotypes and channelopathies. A cohort of 38 unrelated patients, 16 affected by DCM, 14 by HCM and 8 by ARVC, was recruited for the study on the basis of more severe phenotypes and family history of cardiomyopathy and/or sudden death. We detected a total of 142 rare variants in 40 genes, and all patients were found to be carriers of at least one rare variant. Twenty-eight of the 142 rare variants were also predicted as potentially pathogenic variants and found in 26 patients. In 23 out of 38 patients, we found at least one novel potential gene-phenotype association. In particular, we detected three variants in OBSCN gene in ARVC patients, four variants in ANK2 gene and two variants in DLG1, TRPM4, and AKAP9 genes in DCM patients, two variants in PSEN2 gene and four variants in AKAP9 gene in HCM patients. Overall, our results confirmed that cardiomyopathic patients could carry multiple rare gene variants; in addition, our investigation of the genetic overlap among cardiomyopathies revealed new gene-phenotype associations. Furthermore, as our study confirms, data obtained using targeted next-generation sequencing could provide a remarkable contribution to the molecular diagnosis of cardiomyopathies, early identification of patients at risk for arrhythmia development, and better clinical management of cardiomyopathic patients.

Here we announce the draft genome sequences of 6 Listeria monocytogenes strains from ricotta cheese produced in a dairy processing plant located in southern Italy and potentially involved in a multistate outbreak of listeriosis in the United States.

We report the sequence of the guinea pig p53 cDNA. The comparative analysis of the coding and noncoding regions of p53 cDNAs of all available complete vertebrate sequences has allowed us to single out new conserved signals possibly involved in p53 functional activity. We have focused our attention on the most variable region of the protein, the proline (P)-rich domain, suggested to play a fundamental role in antiproliferative pathways. In this domain we have identified the PXXXXP repeated motif and singled out a common consensus sequence that can be considered a signature for mammalian p53: PXXXXPX{0,4}PX{0,9}PA(T,P,I,)(S,P)WPL. We have demonstrated the significance of the PXXXXP motif in SH3-binding protein and suggested its structure to be a loop. Also, the 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of the guinea pig were sequenced, and this study represents the first detailed structural analysis of the UTRs of the p53 mRNAs available in literature. The 5' UTR of guinea pig (233 nt) can be folded into a stable secondary structure resembling that predicted in mouse. The 3' UTR of guinea pig is 771 nt long and shows higher similarity with human than with rodent sequences, having a region of about 350 nt that is deleted in rat and mouse. In the 3' UTR we have identified the presence of a mammalian-wide interspersed repeat sequence and of a cytoplasmic polyadenylation element, which could be involved in translational activation by promoting polyadenylation of mRNA, providing information about a possible mechanism of regulation of p53 expression mediated by the 3' UTR of the mRNA. The observations presented here could open new avenues to targeted mutations and experimental approaches useful in investigating new regulation mechanisms of p53 translation, activity, and stability.