Molecular identity crisis: environmental DNA metabarcoding meets traditional taxonomy-assessing biodiversity and freshwater mussel populations (Unionidae) in Alabama.

The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) to assess aquatic biodiversity is a growing field with great potential for monitoring and managing threatened species, like freshwater mussel (Unionidae) populations. Freshwater mussels are globally imperiled and serve essential roles in aquatic systems as a food source and as a natural water filter making their management essential for ecosystem health. Unfortunately, mussel populations are often understudied, and challenges exist to accurately and efficiently describe the full suite of species present.

Induced IL-10 splice altering approach to antiviral drug discovery.

Ebola virus causes an acute hemorrhagic fever lethal in primates and rodents. The contribution of host immune factors to pathogenesis has yet to be determined and may reveal efficacious targets for potential treatment. In this study, we show that the interleukin (IL)-10 signaling pathway modulates Ebola pathogenesis.

Alternative splice forms of CTLA-4 induced by antisense mediated splice-switching influences autoimmune diabetes susceptibility in NOD mice.

Activated and regulatory T cells express the negative co-stimulatory molecule cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) that binds B7 on antigen-presenting cells to mediate cellular responses. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the CTLA-4 gene have been found to affect alternative splicing and are linked to autoimmune disease susceptibility or resistance. Increased expression of a soluble splice form (sCTLA-4), lacking the transmembrane domain encoded by exon 3, has been shown to accelerate autoimmune pathology.

Five-step process for screening antisense compounds for efficacy: gene target IL-12Rb2.

Antisense technologies are widely used for the inhibition of gene expression. Although traditionally the AUG start codon of the open reading frame is targeted to disrupt ribosome assembly and initiation, an emerging approach is targeting sequences to disrupt pre-mRNA splicing. The primary advantage to using this approach is a positive read-out for an antisense effect through detection of a novel splice product, but additional benefit can be found in generating a novel splice product with altered functional properties.