This blog is devoted to BIOL 6988, a graduate level seminar in the biological sciences at Youngstown State University. While targeted towards graduate students, BIOL 6988 actively incorporates undergraduate participants in their scholastic endeavors in the biological sciences. This blog is intended as a educational tool not just for YSU students and faculty, but for anyone who wishes to contribute to an active-learning environment.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Brett shall send out his presentation as
a voice-over PowerPoint. This post represents the spot where grad
students in BIOL 6988 are to comment on his presentation.
Brett's presentation of his preliminary results of the profiling of the Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei secretome is one step closer to determining which extracellularly secreted proteins may be important in the pathogenesis of this fungus. Although bamboo rats in Southeast Asia are the known natural reservoir, the route of transmission has not been fully determined. Individuals affected by the fungus, typically those who are immunocompromised, are diagnosed with the infection talaromycosis. It is understood that T. marneffei is a thermally dimorphic fungus that exists as a mycelium at 25°C and as a yeast (infectious form, spread through conidia) at 37°C, reversibly transitioning between the two stages. Previous research has studied what controlled the fungus' dimorphism, infection models in cell lines and mice, and determining the virulence factors at play. Brett's research focuses on culturing the fungus at 25°C and 37°C and collecting the secreted proteins in their respective supernatants after centrifugation. The proteins were filtered and washed with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and run on sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) gels to determine proper loading volumes for adequate resolution of, and determination of, protein bands of interest. Brett was able to validate that his methodology worked and determine that proteins were differentially expressed between the two growth forms. Since the coronavirus is keeping everyone at home and unable to be on campus in their own research labs, further work on this project is on standby.
Considering the various comments from last week's seminar discussion, what are some other routes that Brett's research can follow after he has determined his proteins of interest? What do you think are possible ways that this data can be used in treatments for individuals affected with talaromycosis?
I really enjoyed listening to Brett's seminar presentation, especially because we work in the same lab with the same organism, but have completely different projects. I am excited to see how this project progresses and to see what he finds.
To answer your question Errek, I think that the next step in Brett's research is to possibly to Mass Spectrometry to further analyse the protein isolates. After he has determined proteins of interest, he could look at the gene expression to see if there is preferential expression towards a specific phase of the fungus. He could also knockout the protein to study the function of it. In doing this, virulence studies could be performed and this could ultimately be used to come up with treatment strategies for infected individuals.
I enjoyed Brett's seminar. When I saw the topic it first reminded me a bit of AIDS related fungal pneumonia. I believe the strain Brett is studying is different from that though. I don't know, either way the topic of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients is interesting. It's a shame the pandemic hit when it did because I would be interested to see further work from this study. Good stuff.
I found Bretts presentation to be very informative, especially on the background of T. marneffei. It is unfortunate that he was unable to continue his work at this stage because I am very interested to see how his results complement Justina`s. I think the suggestion of sending his proteins of interest to a company for further evaluation is an interesting idea. I also think bioinformatic analysis of the proteins to better understand them is needed. This will be vital in understanding their function as well as identifying them in other pathogenic species of fungi.
I always enjoy listening to seminar presentations that teach me about a topic I am unfamiliar with; very well done Brett. Once we are able to go back on campus I am interested to see what the rest of the results look like. However, what would be the next phase in this project? Does the question end with your project or will someone else pick up where you left off? If the ladder, what would the next student do to fully answer this question.
I found Brett's presentation so nice since we are in the same mycology class learning about the fungus he was presenting on. Having learnt the epidemiology of Talaromycosis, Brett's research work will be of so much importance in that the study on the host-pathogen interactions will be of great help in determination of the possible treatment methods that can be employed. The idea of expression of secretome proteins between different phases could also help understand what can be done to improve on the host response to the infection at each phase. The study on virulence factors will help understand the various complex mechanisms the pathogens use to survive and replicate inside the macrophages and if anything can be done about it to stop any further infection. Brett is doing a good job and i hope after this crisis is over he will be able to carry on with the remaining part of the project.
Brett's presentation had a lot of great background information with regards to T. marneffei itself. I do think that further studies will be the next step in developing a countermeasure that will help prevent the spread of the fungus. My main question is what would be the next logical step towards preventing infection after the Brett's study is complete? - Michael Deak
Brett's presentation was very informative, especially about the background of T. marneffei and where it originated. I definitely think more studies need to be done, and should start with determining the proteins isolates of interest. The results of the qRT-PCR would be interesting to see, as well as how this study could be used in developing treatments of the pathogenic fungi.
Brett's topic for presentation was very interesting as I am in same Mycology class and got to learn a lot about the thermally dimorphic fungus T.marneffei epidemiology endemic to South East Asia,morphology,treatment of the disease,the expression of secretome protein would help to improve host response to infection as well as the virulence studies could be used for treatment of talaromycosis
Brett did a good job creating an online presentation and highlighting the important details during his summary. It is interesting to see what his research covers since I always saw him and Justina working on their projects in the next lab over. After the future work of quantifying the differences in expression between the proteins during the two phases, it would be interesting to see research into how those proteins function. Some of the proteins might help researchers understand the interactions between the fungus and the host and treatments could be found to help individuals with talaromycosis.
Brett's presentation of his preliminary results of the profiling of the Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei secretome is one step closer to determining which extracellularly secreted proteins may be important in the pathogenesis of this fungus. Although bamboo rats in Southeast Asia are the known natural reservoir, the route of transmission has not been fully determined. Individuals affected by the fungus, typically those who are immunocompromised, are diagnosed with the infection talaromycosis. It is understood that T. marneffei is a thermally dimorphic fungus that exists as a mycelium at 25°C and as a yeast (infectious form, spread through conidia) at 37°C, reversibly transitioning between the two stages. Previous research has studied what controlled the fungus' dimorphism, infection models in cell lines and mice, and determining the virulence factors at play. Brett's research focuses on culturing the fungus at 25°C and 37°C and collecting the secreted proteins in their respective supernatants after centrifugation. The proteins were filtered and washed with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and run on sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) gels to determine proper loading volumes for adequate resolution of, and determination of, protein bands of interest. Brett was able to validate that his methodology worked and determine that proteins were differentially expressed between the two growth forms. Since the coronavirus is keeping everyone at home and unable to be on campus in their own research labs, further work on this project is on standby.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the various comments from last week's seminar discussion, what are some other routes that Brett's research can follow after he has determined his proteins of interest? What do you think are possible ways that this data can be used in treatments for individuals affected with talaromycosis?
I really enjoyed listening to Brett's seminar presentation, especially because we work in the same lab with the same organism, but have completely different projects. I am excited to see how this project progresses and to see what he finds.
DeleteTo answer your question Errek, I think that the next step in Brett's research is to possibly to Mass Spectrometry to further analyse the protein isolates. After he has determined proteins of interest, he could look at the gene expression to see if there is preferential expression towards a specific phase of the fungus. He could also knockout the protein to study the function of it. In doing this, virulence studies could be performed and this could ultimately be used to come up with treatment strategies for infected individuals.
I enjoyed Brett's seminar. When I saw the topic it first reminded me a bit of AIDS related fungal pneumonia. I believe the strain Brett is studying is different from that though. I don't know, either way the topic of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients is interesting. It's a shame the pandemic hit when it did because I would be interested to see further work from this study. Good stuff.
DeleteI found Bretts presentation to be very informative, especially on the background of T. marneffei. It is unfortunate that he was unable to continue his work at this stage because I am very interested to see how his results complement Justina`s. I think the suggestion of sending his proteins of interest to a company for further evaluation is an interesting idea. I also think bioinformatic analysis of the proteins to better understand them is needed. This will be vital in understanding their function as well as identifying them in other pathogenic species of fungi.
DeleteI always enjoy listening to seminar presentations that teach me about a topic I am unfamiliar with; very well done Brett. Once we are able to go back on campus I am interested to see what the rest of the results look like. However, what would be the next phase in this project? Does the question end with your project or will someone else pick up where you left off? If the ladder, what would the next student do to fully answer this question.
ReplyDeleteI found Brett's presentation so nice since we are in the same mycology class learning about the fungus he was presenting on. Having learnt the epidemiology of Talaromycosis, Brett's research work will be of so much importance in that the study on the host-pathogen interactions will be of great help in determination of the possible treatment methods that can be employed. The idea of expression of secretome proteins between different phases could also help understand what can be done to improve on the host response to the infection at each phase. The study on virulence factors will help understand the various complex mechanisms the pathogens use to survive and replicate inside the macrophages and if anything can be done about it to stop any further infection. Brett is doing a good job and i hope after this crisis is over he will be able to carry on with the remaining part of the project.
ReplyDeleteBrett's presentation had a lot of great background information with regards to T. marneffei itself. I do think that further studies will be the next step in developing a countermeasure that will help prevent the spread of the fungus. My main question is what would be the next logical step towards preventing infection after the Brett's study is complete? - Michael Deak
ReplyDeleteBrett's presentation was very informative, especially about the background of T. marneffei and where it originated. I definitely think more studies need to be done, and should start with determining the proteins isolates of interest. The results of the qRT-PCR would be interesting to see, as well as how this study could be used in developing treatments of the pathogenic fungi.
ReplyDeleteBrett's topic for presentation was very interesting as I am in same Mycology class and got to learn a lot about the thermally dimorphic fungus T.marneffei epidemiology endemic to South East Asia,morphology,treatment of the disease,the expression of secretome protein would help to improve host response to infection as well as the virulence studies could be used for treatment of talaromycosis
ReplyDeleteBrett did a good job creating an online presentation and highlighting the important details during his summary. It is interesting to see what his research covers since I always saw him and Justina working on their projects in the next lab over. After the future work of quantifying the differences in expression between the proteins during the two phases, it would be interesting to see research into how those proteins function. Some of the proteins might help researchers understand the interactions between the fungus and the host and treatments could be found to help individuals with talaromycosis.
ReplyDelete