The Soybean Cyst Nematode Effector Cysteine Protease 1 (CPR1) Targets a Mitochondrial Soybean Branched-Chain Amino Acid Aminotransferase (GmBCAT1).

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN; ) facilitates infection by secreting a repertoire of effector proteins into host cells to establish a permanent feeding site composed of a syncytium of root cells. Among the diverse proteins secreted by the nematode, we were specifically interested in identifying proteases to pursue our goal of engineering decoy substrates that elicit an immune response when cleaved by an SCN protease. We identified a cysteine protease that we named Cysteine Protease 1 (CPR1), which was predicted to be a secreted effector based on transcriptomic data obtained from SCN esophageal gland cells, the presence of a signal peptide, and the lack of transmembrane domains.

Oral Microbiome in Health and Disease: Maintaining a Healthy, Balanced Ecosystem and Reversing Dysbiosis.

The oral microbiome is a complex and dynamic assemblage of microorganisms that normally exist within the mouth, contributing to host health via a number of mechanisms, including exclusion of harmful microbes and immune optimization [...

The genome and lifestage-specific transcriptomes of a plant-parasitic nematode and its host reveal susceptibility genes involved in trans-kingdom synthesis of vitamin B5.

Plant-parasitic nematodes are a major threat to crop production in all agricultural systems. The scarcity of classical resistance genes highlights a pressing need to find new ways to develop nematode-resistant germplasm. Here, we sequence and assemble a high-quality phased genome of the model cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii to provide a platform for the first system-wide dual analysis of host and parasite gene expression over time, covering all major parasitism stages.

Adjunctive dental therapies in caries-active children: Shifting the cariogenic salivary microbiome from dysbiosis towards non-cariogenic health.

Background: The oral microbiome is a complex assembly of microbial species, whose constituents can tilt the balance towards progression of oral disease or sustained health. Recently we identified sex-specific differences in the salivary microbiome contained within caries-active and caries-free children. In this study, we sought to ascertain if adjunctive dental therapies, including povidone iodine and chlorhexidine, were effective in shifting the cariogenic microbiome from dysbiosis to non-cariogenic health.

A chromosomal assembly of the soybean cyst nematode genome.

The soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines) is a sedentary plant parasite that exceeds billion USD annually in yield losses. This problem is exacerbated by H. glycines populations overcoming the limited sources of natural resistance in soybean and by the lack of effective and safe alternative treatments.

Esophageal Gland RNA-Seq Resource of a Virulent and Avirulent Population of the Soybean Cyst Nematode .

The soybean cyst nematode is the most economically devastating pathogen of soybean in the United States and threatens to become even more damaging through the selection of virulent nematode populations in the field that can overcome natural resistance mechanisms in soybean cultivars. This pathogen, therefore, demands intense transcriptomic/genomic research inquiries into the biology of its parasitic mechanisms. delivers effector proteins that are produced in specialized gland cells into the soybean root to enable infection.

Interconnections Between the Oral and Gut Microbiomes: Reversal of Microbial Dysbiosis and the Balance Between Systemic Health and Disease.

The human microbiota represents a complex array of microbial species that influence the balance between the health and pathology of their surrounding environment. These microorganisms impart important biological benefits to their host, such as immune regulation and resistance to pathogen colonization. Dysbiosis of microbial communities in the gut and mouth precede many oral and systemic diseases such as cancer, autoimmune-related conditions, and inflammatory states, and can involve the breakdown of innate barriers, immune dysregulation, pro-inflammatory signaling, and molecular mimicry.

Large tandem duplications affect gene expression, 3D organization, and plant-pathogen response.

Rapid plant genome evolution is crucial to adapt to environmental changes. Chromosomal rearrangements and gene copy number variation (CNV) are two important tools for genome evolution and sources for the creation of new genes. However, their emergence takes many generations.

SCNBase: a genomics portal for the soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines).

Soybean is an important worldwide crop, and farmers continue to experience significant yield loss due to the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines. This soil-borne roundworm parasite is rated the most important pathogen problem in soybean production. The infective nematodes enter into complex interactions with their host plant by inducing the development of specialized plant feeding cells that provide the parasites with nourishment.

Sex-specific differences in the salivary microbiome of caries-active children.

: Dental caries is a chronic disease affecting young children and has multi-factorial risk factors. The purpose of this work was to identify sex-specific differences in the salivary microbiota within caries-active children. : Saliva specimens were collected from 85 children (boys: 41; girls: 44) between the ages of 2-12 years.

The genome of the soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines) reveals complex patterns of duplications involved in the evolution of parasitism genes.

Background: Heterodera glycines, commonly referred to as the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), is an obligatory and sedentary plant parasite that causes over a billion-dollar yield loss to soybean production annually. Although there are genetic determinants that render soybean plants resistant to certain nematode genotypes, resistant soybean cultivars are increasingly ineffective because their multi-year usage has selected for virulent H. glycines populations.

Correction to: STATAWAARS: a promoter motif associated with spatial expression in the major effector-producing tissues of the plantparasitic nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported that one of the authors' names was erroneously changed during proofing and published incorrectly. In this Correction the incorrect and correct author name are shown. The original publication of this article has been corrected.

STATAWAARS: a promoter motif associated with spatial expression in the major effector-producing tissues of the plant-parasitic nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.

Background: Plant-parasitic nematodes cause severe damage to a wide range of crop and forest species worldwide. The migratory endoparasitic nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, (pinewood nematode) is a quarantine pathogen that infects pine trees and has a hugely detrimental economic impact on the forestry industry. Under certain environmental conditions large areas of infected trees can be destroyed, leading to damage on an ecological scale.

Oral microbiota species in acute apical endodontic abscesses.

Background And Objectives: Acute apical abscesses are serious endodontic diseases resulting from pulpal infection with opportunistic oral microorganisms. The objective of this study was to identify and compare the oral microbiota in patients (N=18) exhibiting acute apical abscesses, originating from the demographic region in Portland, Oregon. The study hypothesis is that abscesses obtained from this demographic region may contain unique microorganisms not identified in specimens from other regions.

The cyst nematode effector protein 10A07 targets and recruits host posttranslational machinery to mediate its nuclear trafficking and to promote parasitism in Arabidopsis.

Plant-parasitic cyst nematodes synthesize and secrete effector proteins that are essential for parasitism. One such protein is the 10A07 effector from the sugar beet cyst nematode, Heterodera schachtii, which is exclusively expressed in the nematode dorsal gland cell during all nematode parasitic stages. Overexpression of H.

Children with severe early childhood caries: streptococci genetic strains within carious and white spot lesions.

Background And Objectives: Mutans streptococci (MS) are one of the major microbiological determinants of dental caries. The objectives of this study are to identify distinct MS and non-MS streptococci strains that are located at carious sites and non-carious enamel surfaces in children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC), and assess if cariogenic MS and non-cariogenic streptococci might independently exist as primary bacterial strains on distinct sites within the dentition of individual children.

Design: Dental plaque from children (N=20; aged 3-6) with S-ECC was collected from carious lesions (CLs), white spot lesions (WSLs) and non-carious enamel surfaces.

Members of the Meloidogyne avirulence protein family contain multiple plant ligand-like motifs.

Sedentary plant-parasitic nematodes engage in complex interactions with their host plants by secreting effector proteins. Some effectors of both root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) and cyst nematodes (Heterodera and Globodera spp.

Mining novel effector proteins from the esophageal gland cells of Meloidogyne incognita.

Meloidogyne incognita is one of the most economically damaging plant pathogens in agriculture and horticulture. Identifying and characterizing the effector proteins which M. incognita secretes into its host plants during infection is an important step toward finding new ways to manage this pest.

Mutans streptococci genetic strains in children with severe early childhood caries: follow-up study at one-year post-dental rehabilitation therapy.

Background: Genotypic strains of cariogenic mutans streptococci (MS) may vary in important virulence properties. In previous published studies, we identified 39 MS strains from pediatric patients undergoing full-mouth dental rehabilitation, including the removal and/or repair of carious lesions and application of antimicrobial rinse and fluoride varnish.

Objectives: The objectives of this current 1-year follow-up study are to assess the variability of MS strains that occur at 1-year post-rehabilitation and characterize the xylitol-resistance properties of MS strains that predominate.

Isolation of whole esophageal gland cells from plant-parasitic nematodes for transcriptome analyses and effector identification.

Esophageal glands of plant-parasitic nematodes are highly specialized cells whose gene expression products include secreted effector proteins, which govern nematode parasitism of host plants. Therefore, elucidating the transcriptomes of esophageal glands with the goal of identifying nematode effectors is a promising avenue to understanding nematode parasitism and its evolutionary origins as well as to devising nematode control strategies. We have developed a method to separate and isolate individual esophageal gland cells from multiple species of plant-parasitic nematodes while preserving RNA quality.

Children with severe early childhood caries: pilot study examining mutans streptococci genotypic strains after full-mouth caries restorative therapy.

Purpose: Genotypic strains of mutans streptococci (MS) may vary in important virulence properties and be differentially affected by specific components of full-mouth caries restorative therapy. The purpose of this pilot study was to identify mutans streptococci strains that predominate following caries restorative therapy.

Methods: Plaque from 7 children with severe early childhood caries was collected before and following therapy.

The Arabidopsis microRNA396-GRF1/GRF3 regulatory module acts as a developmental regulator in the reprogramming of root cells during cyst nematode infection.

The syncytium is a unique plant root organ whose differentiation is induced by plant-parasitic cyst nematodes to create a source of nourishment. Syncytium formation involves the redifferentiation and fusion of hundreds of root cells. The underlying regulatory networks that control this unique change of plant cell fate are not understood.

Elastomeric-ligated vs self-ligating appliances: a pilot study examining microbial colonization and white spot lesion formation after 1 year of orthodontic treatment.

Aim: To (1) evaluate the use of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-driven bioluminescence for quantification of total plaque bacteria in orthodontic patients, (2) compare plaque bacteria amounts at the bracket-tooth interface with use of elastomeric-ligated and self-ligating brackets after 1 year of orthodontic treatment, and (3) analyze formation of white spot lesions by photographic evaluation and laser-light fluorescence (DIAGNOdent).

Methods: Thirteen subjects had fixed orthodontic appliances placed where lateral incisors were bonded with either elastomeric-ligated or self-ligating brackets. Plaque bacteria were collected from incisor surfaces after 1 year and quantified using plating methods and ATP-driven bioluminescence.