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Gene Profiles of Host Biological Processes Targeted by Yersinia pestis
Author(s) -
Miller StacyAnn,
Muhie Seid,
Juibitu Meskerem,
Moyler Candace,
Hammamieh Rasha,
Jett Marti
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.666.3
Subject(s) - yersinia pestis , biology , gene , microarray , pathogen , plague (disease) , microrna , microarray analysis techniques , host (biology) , virology , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , virulence , medicine , pathology
Yesrsinia pestis is a gram negative bacterium and is the causative agent of the bacterial disease plague. The bacterium is transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected flea or by inhalation of aerosolized infective droplets. Y.pestis causes deadly acute infection and has the ability to genetically manipulate the host and can potentially be used as a biological warfare weapon. Due to this it has been placed on the category A select agent list. One of the most important steps that will allow us to diagnosis plague early and quickly is understanding the early host responses at the molecular level. Our research focuses on defining the molecular events/network systems involved in the host‐pathogen interactions to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets for pathogenic agents. We exposed non‐human primates by aerosol to CO92 Y. pestis/sham at different lengths of time. We have collected whole blood, plasma, Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) and various tissues from infected and control NHPs. RNA is isolated using the TRIZOL method and overall RNA integrity was confirmed by spectrophotometery and the Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer. Using gene expression microarray, microRNA microarray and miRNA real time PCR, we have identified genes that were differentially expressed in reponse to the pathogen. Functional annotaion of these genes revelealed an enrichement in genes coding for the transcription HIF‐1 pathway, molecular transport and apoptosis in Y.pestis infected monkeys. These findings provide a better understanding of the systemic progression of illness and a more in‐depth characterization of the dynamics of regulatory networks that are vital in the host‐pathogen interactions. Our aim is to eventually identify markers that will predict the eventual course of impending illness.