Analysis of microbial dynamics in the soybean root-associated environments from community to single-cell levels.

Plant root-associated environments such as the rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and endosphere, are notably different from non-root-associated soil environments. However, the microbial dynamics in these spatially divided compartments remain unexplored. In this study, we propose a combinational analysis of single-cell genomics with 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Lack of significant associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms in LPAL2-LPA genetic region and all cancer incidence and mortality in Japanese population: The Japan public health center-based prospective study.

Background: High lipoprotein (a) level is an established cardiovascular risk, but its association with non-cardiovascular diseases, especially cancer, is controversial. Serum lipoprotein (a) levels vary widely by genetic backgrounds and are largely determined by the genetic variations of apolipoprotein (a) gene, LPA. In this study, we investigate the association between SNPs in LPA region and cancer incidence and mortality in Japanese.

Genome and Genetic Engineering of the House Cricket (): A Resource for Sustainable Agriculture.

The house cricket, , is one of the most farmed insects worldwide and the foundation of an emerging industry using insects as a sustainable food source. Edible insects present a promising alternative for protein production amid a plethora of reports on climate change and biodiversity loss largely driven by agriculture. As with other crops, genetic resources are needed to improve crickets for food and other applications.

Targeted single-cell genomics reveals novel host adaptation strategies of the symbiotic bacteria Endozoicomonas in Acropora tenuis coral.

Background: Endozoicomonas bacteria symbiosis with various marine organisms is hypothesized as a potential indicator of health in corals. Although many amplicon analyses using 16S rRNA gene have suggested the diversity of Endozoicomonas species, genome analysis has been limited due to contamination of host-derived sequences and difficulties in culture and metagenomic analysis. Therefore, the evolutionary and functional potential of individual Endozoicomonas species symbiotic with the same coral species remains unresolved.

Reproducible and sensitive micro-tissue RNA sequencing from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues for spatial gene expression analysis.

Spatial transcriptome analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) provides interactive information on morphology and gene expression, which is useful for clinical applications. However, despite the advantages of long-term storage at room temperature, FFPE tissues may be severely damaged by methylene crosslinking and provide less gene information than fresh-frozen tissues. In this study, we proposed a sensitive FFPE micro-tissue RNA-seq method that combines the punching of tissue sections (diameter: 100 μm) and the direct construction of RNA-seq libraries.

Validation of the application of gel beads-based single-cell genome sequencing platform to soil and seawater.

Single-cell genomics is applied to environmental samples as a method to solve the problems of current metagenomics. However, in the fluorescence-activated cell sorting-based cell isolation and subsequent whole genome amplification, the sorting efficiency and the sequence quality are greatly affected by the type of target environment, limiting its adaptability. Here, we developed an improved single-cell genomics platform, named SAG-gel, which utilizes gel beads for single-cell isolation, lysis, and whole genome amplification.

The Effect of Co-Culture of Two Coral Species on Their Bacterial Composition Under Captive Environments.

Coral symbionts are important members of the coral holobiont, and coral bacterial flora are essential in host health maintenance and coral conservation. Coral symbionts are affected by various environmental factors, such as seawater temperature, pH, and salinity. Although physicochemical and chemical factors have been highlighted as possible causes of these effects, the effects of water flow and the co-culture of different species corals have not been elucidated.

Exploring strain diversity of dominant human skin bacterial species using single-cell genome sequencing.

To understand the role of the skin commensal bacterial community in skin health and the spread of pathogens, it is crucial to identify genetic differences in the bacterial strains corresponding to human individuals. A culture-independent genomics approach is an effective tool for obtaining massive high-quality bacterial genomes. Here we present a single-cell genome sequencing to obtain comprehensive whole-genome sequences of uncultured skin bacteria from skin swabs.

Recovery of strain-resolved genomes from human microbiome through an integration framework of single-cell genomics and metagenomics.

Background: Obtaining high-quality (HQ) reference genomes from microbial communities is crucial for understanding the phylogeny and function of uncultured microbes in complex microbial ecosystems. Despite improvements in bioinformatic approaches to generate curated metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), existing metagenome binners obtain population consensus genomes but they are nowhere comparable to genomes sequenced from isolates in terms of strain level resolution. Here, we present a framework for the integration of single-cell genomics and metagenomics, referred to as single-cell (sc) metagenomics, to reconstruct strain-resolved genomes from microbial communities at once.

Comparative Analysis of Mitochondrial Genomes in Gryllidea (Insecta: Orthoptera): Implications for Adaptive Evolution in Ant-Loving Crickets.

Species of infraorder Gryllidea, or crickets, are useful invertebrate models for studying developmental biology and neuroscience. They have also attracted attention as alternative protein sources for human food and animal feed. Mitochondrial genomic information on related invertebrates, such as katydids, and locusts, has recently become available in attempt to clarify the controversial classification schemes, although robust phylogenetic relationships with emphasis on crickets remain elusive.

Development of an Inflammatory CD14 Dendritic Cell Subset in Humanized Mice.

Humanized mouse models are attractive experimental models for analyzing the development and functions of human dendritic cells (DCs) . Although various types of DC subsets, including DC type 3 (DC3s), have been identified in humans, it remains unclear whether humanized mice can reproduce heterogeneous DC subsets. CD14, classically known as a monocyte/macrophage marker, is reported as an indicator of DC3s.

High-Quality Draft Genome Sequence of a Bacterium Found in Coral from Okinawa, Japan.

-like organisms are important for the survival and functioning of corals, prompting an investigation of their complete genomes. Earlier reports of the genomes of these organisms remain incomplete. Here, we report a novel draft genome of bacterial strain SESOKO1, found in coral, using single-cell genome technology.

Draft Genome Sequence of sp. Strain KiyG1, Assembled from Single-Amplified Genomes Collected from Cape Kiyan, Okinawa, Japan.

The genus is a globally distributed group of microorganisms that live in shallow seabed regions. These organisms play several environmentally important roles and are also known producers of several active secondary metabolites with potential human applications. Here, we present a draft genome of sp.

Stereotyped B-cell response that counteracts antigenic variation of influenza viruses.

Influenza A subtypes are categorized into group 1 and group 2 based on the hemagglutinin (HA) sequence. Owing to the phylogenetic distance of HAs in different groups, antibodies that bind multiple HA subtypes across different groups are extremely rare. In this study, we demonstrated that an immunization with acid-treated HA antigen elicits germinal center (GC) B cells that bind multiple HA subtypes in both group 1 and group 2.

Evaluation of the effects of cell-dispensing using an inkjet-based bioprinter on cell integrity by RNA-seq analysis.

Bioprinting technology is expected to be applied in the fields of regenerative medicine and drug discovery. There are several types of bioprinters, especially inkjet-based bioprinter, which can be used not only as a printer for arranging cells but also as a precision cell-dispensing device with controlled cell numbers similar to a fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS). Precise cell dispensers are expected to be useful in the fields of drug discovery and single-cell analysis.

Single-cell genomics of uncultured bacteria reveals dietary fiber responders in the mouse gut microbiota.

Background: The gut microbiota can have dramatic effects on host metabolism; however, current genomic strategies for uncultured bacteria have several limitations that hinder their ability to identify responders to metabolic changes in the microbiota. In this study, we describe a novel single-cell genomic sequencing technique that can identify metabolic responders at the species level without the need for reference genomes, and apply this method to identify bacterial responders to an inulin-based diet in the mouse gut microbiota.

Results: Inulin-feeding changed the mouse fecal microbiome composition to increase Bacteroides spp.