From EST to novel spider silk gene identification for production of spidroin-based biomaterials.

A cDNA library from a pool of all the seven silk glands from a tropical spider species was constructed. More than 1000 expressed sequence tag (EST) clones were created. Almost 65% of the EST clones were identified and around 50% were annotated.

Differential transcriptomic analyses revealed genes and signaling pathways involved in iono-osmoregulation and cellular remodeling in the gills of euryhaline Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus.

Background: The Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus has the ability to adapt to a broad range of environmental salinities and has long been used for investigating iono-osmoregulation. However, to date most studies have focused mainly on several key molecules or parameters hence yielding a limited perspective of the versatile iono-osmoregulation in the euryhaline fish. This study aimed to capture transcriptome-wide differences between the freshwater- and seawater-acclimated gills of the Mozambique tilapia.

Expression of key ion transporters in the gill and esophageal-gastrointestinal tract of euryhaline Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus acclimated to fresh water, seawater and hypersaline water.

The ability of euryhaline Mozambique tilapia to tolerate extreme environmental salinities makes it an excellent model for investigating iono-regulation. This study aimed to characterize and fill important information gap of the expression levels of key ion transporters for Na(+) and Cl(-) in the gill and esophageal-gastrointestinal tract of Mozambique tilapia acclimated to freshwater (0 ppt), seawater (30 ppt) and hypersaline (70 ppt) environments. Among the seven genes studied, it was found that nkcc2, nkcc1a, cftr, nka-α1 and nka-α3, were more responsive to salinity challenge than nkcc1b and ncc within the investigated tissues.

Molecular cloning, DNA sequence analysis, and expression of cDNA sequence of RNA genomic segment 6 (S6) that encodes a viral outer capsid protein of threadfin aquareovirus (TFV).

The genome segment 6 (S6) of threadfin reovirus (TFV) was cloned and sequenced. The entire S6 nucleotide sequence is 2056 bp long with an open reading frame that encodes a protein of 653 amino acids. Sequence analysis of the TFV S6 genome revealed that the 5'-terminal sequence, GTTTTA and the 3'-terminal sequence, ATTCATC of the plus strand is common to other genome segments of TFV.

Generation of two-color transgenic zebrafish using the green and red fluorescent protein reporter genes gfp and rfp.

Two tissue-specific promoters were used to express both green fluorescent protein (GFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) in transgenic zebrafish embryos. One promoter (CK), derived from a cytokeratin gene, is active specifically in skin epithelia in embryos, and the other promoter (MLC) from a muscle-specific gene encodes a myosin light chain 2 polypeptide. When the 2 promoters drove the 2 reporter genes to express in the same embryos, both genes were faithfully expressed in the respective tissues, skin or muscle.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to a grouper iridovirus.

A panel of six monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against a grouper iridovirus (SGIV) were produced by immunization of Balb/c mice with purified virus preparations. Isotyping test revealed all the mAbs were IgG1. None of the mAbs possessed the ability to neutralize SGIV in cell cultures.

Antigenic characterization of a marine fish iridovirus from grouper, Epinephelus spp.

Iridoviruses, recognized as causative agents of serious systemic diseases, have been identified from more than 20 fish species. Antigenic properties of a pathogenic iridovirus isolated from grouper, Epinephelus spp., in Singapore (SGIV) were investigated using rabbit IgG against the virus.