Biomedical subjects

Gireesh Rajashekara

Publications and source records attributed to Gireesh Rajashekara.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2025

Host clustering of Campylobacter species and enteric pathogens in a longitudinal cohort of infants, family members and livestock in rural Eastern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Livestock are recognized as major reservoirs for Campylobacter species and other enteric pathogens, posing infection risks to humans. High prevalence of Campylobacter during early childhood has been linked to environmental enteric dysfunction and stunting, particularly in low-resource settings. METHODS: A total of 280 samples from Campylobacter positive households with complete metadata were analyzed by shotgun metagenomic sequencing followed by bioinformatic analysis via the CZ-ID metagenomic pipeline (Illumina mNGS Pipeline v7.1). Further statistical analyses in JMP PRO 16 explored the microbiome, emphasizing Campylobacter and other enteric pathogens. Two-way hierarchical clustering and split k-mer analysis examined host structuring, patterns of co-infections and genetic relationships. Principal component analysis was used to characterize microbiome composition across the seven sample types. RESULTS: The study identified that microbiome composition was strongly host-driven, with more than 3844 genera detected, and two principal components explaining 62% of the total variation. Twenty-one dominant (based on relative abundance) Campylobacter species showed distinct clustering patterns for humans, ruminants, and broad hosts. The broad-host cluster included the most prevalent species, C. jejuni, C. concisus, and C. coli, present across sample types and a sub-cluster within C. jejuni involving humans, chickens, and ruminants. Campylobacter species from chickens showed strong positive correlations with mothers (r = 0.76), siblings (r = 0.61) and infants (r = 0.54), while co-occurrence analysis found a higher likelihood (Pr > 0.5) of pairs such as C. jejuni with C. coli, C. concisus, and C. showae. Analysis of the top 50 most abundant microbial taxa showed a distinct cluster uniquely present in human stool and absent in all livestock. The study also found frequent co-occurrence of C. jejuni with other enteric pathogens such as Salmonella, and Shigella, particularly in human and chicken. Additionally, instances of Candidatus Campylobacter infans (C. infans) were identified co-occurring with Salmonella and Shigella species in stool samples from infants, mothers, and siblings. CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive analysis of Campylobacter diversity in humans and livestock in a low-resource setting revealed that infants can be exposed to multiple Campylobacter species early in life. C. jejuni is the dominant species with a propensity for co-occurrence with other notable enteric bacterial pathogens, including Salmonella, and Shigella, especially among infants. Video Abstract.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

CGHScan: finding variable regions using high-density microarray comparative genomic hybridization data.

BACKGROUND: Comparative genomic hybridization can rapidly identify chromosomal regions that vary between organisms and tissues. This technique has been applied to detecting differences between normal and cancerous tissues in eukaryotes as well as genomic variability in microbial strains and species. The density of oligonucleotide probes available on current microarray platforms is particularly well-suited for comparisons of organisms with smaller genomes like bacteria and yeast where an entire genome can be assayed on a single microarray with high resolution. Available methods for analyzing these experiments typically confine analyses to data from pre-defined annotated genome features, such as entire genes. Many of these methods are ill suited for datasets with the number of measurements typical of high-density microarrays. RESULTS: We present an algorithm for analyzing microarray hybridization data to aid identification of regions that vary between an unsequenced genome and a sequenced reference genome. The program, CGHScan, uses an iterative random walk approach integrating multi-layered significance testing to detect these regions from comparative genomic hybridization data. The algorithm tolerates a high level of noise in measurements of individual probe intensities and is relatively insensitive to the choice of method for normalizing probe intensity values and identifying probes that differ between samples. When applied to comparative genomic hybridization data from a published experiment, CGHScan identified eight of nine known deletions in a Brucella ovis strain as compared to Brucella melitensis. The same result was obtained using two different normalization methods and two different scores to classify data for individual probes as representing conserved or variable genomic regions. The undetected region is a small (58 base pair) deletion that is below the resolution of CGHScan given the array design employed in the study. CONCLUSION: CGHScan is an effective tool for analyzing comparative genomic hybridization data from high-density microarrays. The algorithm is capable of accurately identifying known variable regions and is tolerant of high noise and varying methods of data preprocessing. Statistical analysis is used to define each variable region providing a robust and reliable method for rapid identification of genomic differences independent of annotated gene boundaries.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2006

Attenuated bioluminescent Brucella melitensis mutants GR019 (virB4), GR024 (galE), and GR026 (BMEI1090-BMEI1091) confer protection in mice.

In vivo bioluminescence imaging is a persuasive approach to investigate a number of issues in microbial pathogenesis. Previously, we have applied bioluminescence imaging to gain greater insight into Brucella melitensis pathogenesis. Endowing Brucella with bioluminescence allowed direct visualization of bacterial dissemination, pattern of tissue localization, and the contribution of Brucella genes to virulence. In this report, we describe the pathogenicity of three attenuated bioluminescent B. melitensis mutants, GR019 (virB4), GR024 (galE), and GR026 (BMEI1090-BMEI1091), and the dynamics of bioluminescent virulent bacterial infection following vaccination with these mutants. The virB4, galE, and BMEI1090-BMEI1091 mutants were attenuated in interferon regulatory factor 1-deficient (IRF-1(-/-)) mice; however, only the GR019 (virB4) mutant was attenuated in cultured macrophages. Therefore, in vivo imaging provides a comprehensive approach to identify virulence genes that are relevant to in vivo pathogenesis. Our results provide greater insights into the role of galE in virulence and also suggest that BMEI1090 and downstream genes constitute a novel set of genes involved in Brucella virulence. Survival of the vaccine strain in the host for a critical period is important for effective Brucella vaccines. The galE mutant induced no changes in liver and spleen but localized chronically in the tail and protected IRF-1(-/-) and wild-type mice from virulent challenge, implying that this mutant may serve as a potential vaccine candidate in future studies and that the direct visualization of Brucella may provide insight into selection of improved vaccine candidates.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Nuclear and mitochondrial localization signals overlap within bovine herpesvirus 1 tegument protein VP22.

VP22, a tegument protein of bovine herpesvirus 1, accumulates in the nucleus of infected and transiently transfected cells. Previous studies indicated a possible regulatory function of VP22 within nuclei, but how VP22 enters nuclei is unknown. Despite the abundance of basic residues within this protein, no classic nuclear localization signal (NLS) motif has been identified. To identify the signal directing nuclear accumulation, a series of truncations, internal deletions, and point mutations were constructed. Fluorescence microscopy of cells transfected with VP22 constructs indicated that a sequence of 103 residues is necessary and sufficient for nuclear localization. This NLS sequence is conformation-sensitive in contrast to a classical sequential NLS. Energy depletion assays and co-immunoprecipitation suggested that this NLS sequence also binds histone H4, resulting in nuclear retention of VP22. In addition, a mitochondrial targeting sequence was identified at the C-terminal 49 amino acids, which overlapped the sequence required for nuclear targeting. Our findings demonstrate the diversity of VP22 protein to localize within the cell and provide the opportunity for VP22 to direct cargo specifically to different subcellular compartments.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Temporal analysis of pathogenic events in virulent and avirulent Brucella melitensis infections.

Despite progress in mouse models of brucellosis, much remains unknown regarding Brucella dissemination and tissue localization. Here, we report the dynamics of Brucella infection in individual mice using bioluminescent Brucella melitensis. Bioluminescent imaging of infected interferon regulatory factor-1 knockout (IRF-1(-/-)) mice identified acute infection in many tissues. Brucella was found to replicate in the salivary glands of IRF-1(-/-) and wild-type C57BL/6 mice suggesting a previously unknown tissue preference. Establishing a niche in this region may have relevance in humans where infection can result from ingestion of few bacteria. Sublethal infection of IRF-1(-/-) mice resulted in chronic Brucella localization in tail joints, an infection parallel to osteoarticular brucellosis in humans. Importantly, bioluminescent imaging rapidly identified attenuated EZ::TN/lux mutants in infected mice and revealed differences in dissemination, thereby defining the contribution of Brucella genes to virulence and tissue localization. Surprisingly, a virB mutant, though defective in persistence, disseminated similarly to virulent Brucella, suggesting bacterial spread is independent of VirB proteins that are important for intracellular survival. Together, our results reveal kinetics of acute and chronic Brucella infection in individual mice that parallels human infection as well as readily identified attenuated bacteria. Our approach facilitates identifying virulence determinants that may control tissue specific replication and may help develop therapeutics to overcome Brucella-induced chronic debilitating conditions.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Unraveling Brucella genomics and pathogenesis in immunocompromised IRF-1-/- mice.

PROBLEM: Brucellosis causes abortion in domestic animals and Malta fever in humans. Comparison of Brucella species genomes may reveal potential virulence mechanisms. Engineering bioluminescent Brucella would permit monitoring bacterial dissemination. METHOD OF STUDY: Microarray of the B. melitensis genome allowed comparison of gene content from six Brucella species. Bioluminescent B. melitensis strains were developed using transposon mutagenesis permitting the study of pathogenic Brucella in mice. Monitoring bacterial dissemination as well as organ localization permits evaluating the role of genes and genomic islands in mutant bacteria. RESULTS: Comparative genomic analysis revealed 217 ORFs altered in five Brucella species and were often found in islands. Bioluminescent bacteria disseminated from the injection site to liver, spleen, inguinal lymph nodes, testes and submanibular region. CONCLUSIONS: Genomic islands contribute to Brucella pathogenicity. Biophotonic imaging suggests that Brucella dissemination in mice parallels acute and chronic infections of humans.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Comparative whole-genome hybridization reveals genomic islands in Brucella species.

Brucella species are responsible for brucellosis, a worldwide zoonotic disease causing abortion in domestic animals and Malta fever in humans. Based on host preference, the genus is divided into six species. Brucella abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis are pathogenic to humans, whereas B. ovis and B. neotomae are nonpathogenic to humans and B. canis human infections are rare. Limited genome diversity exists among Brucella species. Comparison of Brucella species whole genomes is, therefore, likely to identify factors responsible for differences in host preference and virulence restriction. To facilitate such studies, we used the complete genome sequence of B. melitensis 16M, the species highly pathogenic to humans, to construct a genomic microarray. Hybridization of labeled genomic DNA from Brucella species to this microarray revealed a total of 217 open reading frames (ORFs) altered in five Brucella species analyzed. These ORFs are often found in clusters (islands) in the 16M genome. Examination of the genomic context of these islands suggests that many are horizontally acquired. Deletions of genetic content identified in Brucella species are conserved in multiple strains of the same species, and genomic islands missing in a given species are often restricted to that particular species. These findings suggest that, whereas the loss or gain of genetic material may be related to the host range and virulence restriction of certain Brucella species for humans, independent mechanisms involving gene inactivation or altered expression of virulence determinants may also contribute to these differences.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Denitrification genes regulate Brucella virulence in mice.

Brucella is the causative agent of the zoonotic disease brucellosis, which is endemic in many parts of the world. Genome sequencing of B. suis and B. melitensis revealed that both are complete denitrifiers. To learn more about the role of denitrification in these animal pathogens, a study of the role of denitrification in the closely related B. neotomae was undertaken. In contrast to B. suis and B. melitensis, it was found that B. neotomae is a partial denitrifier that can reduce nitrate to nitrite but no further. Examination of the B. neotomae genome showed that a deletion in the denitrification gene cluster resulted in complete loss of nirV and the partial deletion of nirK and nnrA. Even though the nor operon is intact, a norC-lacZ promoter fusion was not expressed in B. neotomae. However, the norC-lacZ fusion was expressed in the related denitrifier Agrobacterium tumefaciens, suggesting that the lack of expression in B. neotomae is due to inactivation of NnrA. A narK-lacZ promoter fusion was found to exhibit nitrate-dependent expression consistent with the partial denitrifier phenotype. Complementation of the deleted region in B. neotomae by using nirK, nirV, and nnrA from B. melitensis restored the ability of B. neotomae to reduce nitrite. There was a significant difference in the death of IRF-1-/- mice when infected with B. neotomae containing nirK, nirV, and nnrA and those infected with wild-type B. neotomae. The wild-type strain killed all the infected mice, whereas most of the mice infected with B. neotomae containing nirK, nirV, and nnrA survived.

Adaptation, Physiological↗