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High-efficiency genome-editing, transgene evaluation, and antimicrobial efficacy testing using Citrus medica L. hairy roots.

Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, associated with the fastidious bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), has a significant impact on citrus production worldwide. Conventional biochemical and genetic evaluation studies to identify potential disease resistance strategies have been mainly hindered due to the inability to culture CLas in a defined medium and the general recalcitrance of Citrus cultivars (grapefruits and oranges) to Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation. We previously demonstrated the utility of plant hairy roots to co-cultivate CLas. In this study, we developed a hairy root transformation system using citron (Citrus medica L.), which is highly amenable to Rhizobium-mediated hairy root transformation. The explant survival and hairy root transformation efficiencies were up to 100% and 73%, respectively, and transgenic roots can be attained in as little as 30-60 days. We demonstrate the utility of this citron-based hairy root transformation for rapid CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, transgene evaluation, and antimicrobial efficacy testing. The citron-based hairy root transformation system will significantly help the research community to speed-track the assessment of potential HLB disease resistance strategies.

Citrus↗

Structural variants linked to Alzheimer's disease and other common age-related clinical and neuropathologic traits.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder with substantial genetic influence. While genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous risk loci for late-onset AD (LOAD), the functional mechanisms underlying most of these associations remain unresolved. Large genomic rearrangements, known as structural variants (SVs), represent a promising avenue for elucidating such mechanisms within some of these loci. METHODS: By leveraging data from two ongoing cohort studies of aging and dementia, the Religious Orders Study and Rush Memory and Aging Project (ROS/MAP), we performed genome-wide association analysis testing 20,205 common SVs from 1088 participants with whole genome sequencing (WGS) data. A range of Alzheimer's disease and other common age-related clinical and neuropathologic traits were examined. RESULTS: First, we mapped SVs across 81 AD risk loci and discovered 22 SVs in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with GWAS lead variants and directly associated with the phenotypes tested. The strongest association was a deletion of an Alu element in the 3'UTR of the TMEM106B gene, in high LD with the respective AD GWAS locus and associated with multiple AD and AD-related disorders (ADRD) phenotypes, including tangles density, TDP-43, and cognitive resilience. The deletion of this element was also linked to lower TMEM106B protein abundance. We also found a 22-kb deletion associated with depression in ROS/MAP and bearing similar association patterns as GWAS SNPs at the IQCK locus. In addition, we leveraged our catalog of SV-GWAS to replicate and characterize independent findings in SV-based GWAS for AD and five other neurodegenerative diseases. Among these findings, we highlight the replication of genome-wide significant SVs for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), including markers for the 17q21.31 MAPT locus inversion and a 1483-bp deletion at the CYP2A13 locus, along with other suggestive associations, such as a 994-bp duplication in the LMNTD1 locus, suggestively linked to AD and a 3958-bp deletion at the DOCK5 locus linked to Lewy body disease (LBD) (P = 3.36 × 10-4). CONCLUSIONS: While still limited in sample size, this study highlights the utility of including analysis of SVs for elucidating mechanisms underlying GWAS loci and provides a valuable resource for the characterization of the effects of SVs in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis.

Humans↗

Postpericardiotomy syndrome: no evidence for a viral etiology.

BACKGROUND: Postpericardiotomy syndrome has been considered a disorder induced by viral infection. This conclusion is based on serologic criterions, but these may be unreliable following either cardiopulmonary bypass or transfusion therapy. Previous studies have not verified the proposed etiology either by isolation of viruses, or by detection of their genome. We sought, therefore, to clarify the role, if any, of viruses in this syndrome. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied prospectively 149 children aged from 6 months to 16 years who were undergoing open heart surgery. Blood samples were collected from all prior to operation, and again 7 to 10 days post-operatively, and 47 were sampled at the time of development of symptoms of pericardial involvement. Serums were analyzed for the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies to cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and Epstein-Barr virus. The polymerase chain reaction was used for amplification when assessing the genome of the enteroviruses. Cultures for viruses were established on samples of stool, urine, and throat swabs collected 7 days post-operatively, and at the time of postpericardial symptoms. Pericardial fluid obtained from 5 patients with the syndrome was cultured for viruses, and tested for enterovirus genome. On the basis of clinical and echocardiographic findings, 34 children were determined to have definite evidence of the syndrome, 13 were considered to have possible evidence, and the results from these patients were compared to those from patients with no pericardial symptoms, the latter being matched for age and transfusion status. We isolated viruses from one or more sites in five patients with definite evidence (16%), from one (9%) of those with possible evidence, and from seven (19%) of the controls. All serums and pericardial samples were negative for enterovirus genome. IgM antibodies were found in only 5 patients, three with symptoms of pericardial involvement and two without. Rates of seroconversion to IgG for the viruses were lower in the patients with symptoms of pericardial involvement compared to controls, but were strongly influenced by transfusion status. CONCLUSION: Our study has provided no evidence to support a viral etiology for the postpericardiotomy syndrome.

Adolescent↗

Multicenter initiative seeking critical genes in respiratory papillomatosis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the host genes that govern susceptibility to recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). RRP is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) 6 and 11. Millions of babies are exposed during the birthing process, but relatively few develop the disease and the aggressiveness of the course is highly variable. Genetically encoded host susceptibility is postulated. Determining the host genes that govern susceptibility will enhance our understanding not only of RRP but also of host-viral interaction in general. STUDY DESIGN: A genome-wide association study on familial triads consisting of an RRP-affected child and his or her parents. Using the HapMap data from the human genome project, we will identify those alleles that are over-transmitted by the parents to their affected offspring as compared to those alleles that are under-transmitted. METHODS: Approximately 400 patients and their parents will be recruited through a collaboration between the Center for Genomic Sciences and the RRP Task Force. DNA will be extracted from blood specimens and viral typing will be performed on biopsy specimens. Patients will be genotyped using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and compared to their respective parents' genotype using the transmission disequilibrium test. Both a genome scan and a candidate gene approach will be utilized. RESULTS Institutional Review Board authorization has been obtained at three hospitals and the process is underway at 18 more. Patient and parent recruitment has begun. Specimens have been forwarded to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where the DNA has been extracted and is being stored. CONCLUSIONS: A novel approach combining a nationwide patient resource and the mapping power of the sub-centimorgan human haplotype map has been developed to elucidate the biological mechanisms of RRP by determining the genetically encoded susceptibilities of host-virus interaction.

Child↗

Bootstrap, Bayesian probability and maximum likelihood mapping: exploring new tools for comparative genome analyses.

BACKGROUND: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) played an important role in shaping microbial genomes. In addition to genes under sporadic selection, HGT also affects housekeeping genes and those involved in information processing, even ribosomal RNA encoding genes. Here we describe tools that provide an assessment and graphic illustration of the mosaic nature of microbial genomes. RESULTS: We adapted the Maximum Likelihood (ML) mapping to the analyses of all detected quartets of orthologous genes found in four genomes. We have automated the assembly and analyses of these quartets of orthologs given the selection of four genomes. We compared the ML-mapping approach to more rigorous Bayesian probability and Bootstrap mapping techniques. The latter two approaches appear to be more conservative than the ML-mapping approach, but qualitatively all three approaches give equivalent results. All three tools were tested on mitochondrial genomes, which presumably were inherited as a single linkage group. CONCLUSIONS: In some instances of interphylum relationships we find nearly equal numbers of quartets strongly supporting the three possible topologies. In contrast, our analyses of genome quartets containing the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. indicate that a large part of the cyanobacterial genome is related to that of low GC Gram positives. Other groups that had been suggested as sister groups to the cyanobacteria contain many fewer genes that group with the Synechocystis orthologs. Interdomain comparisons of genome quartets containing the archaeon Halobacterium sp. revealed that Halobacterium sp. shares more genes with Bacteria that live in the same environment than with Bacteria that are more closely related based on rRNA phylogeny. Many of these genes encode proteins involved in substrate transport and metabolism and in information storage and processing. The performed analyses demonstrate that relationships among prokaryotes cannot be accurately depicted by or inferred from the tree-like evolution of a core of rarely transferred genes; rather prokaryotic genomes are mosaics in which different parts have different evolutionary histories. Probability mapping is a valuable tool to explore the mosaic nature of genomes.

Journal Article↗

Genomic characterization and therapeutic potential of five broad-spectrum lytic bacteriophages against multidrug-resistant avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC).

UNLABELLED: Colibacillosis, caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), results in substantial economic losses in global poultry production. The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) APEC poses zoonotic risks through horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. Bacteriophage therapy emerges as a safe alternative to antibiotherapy; however, comprehensive characterization of phages targeting MDR-APEC from diverse geographical regions remains limited. We isolated five lytic bacteriophages from poultry fecal samples collected from five Indian states and characterized them through morphological analysis, physiological stability testing, whole-genome sequencing, and in vivo efficacy assessment. Host range was determined against APEC isolates, and therapeutic potential was validated in the Galleria mellonella infection model. All phages showed Myovirus-like morphology and stability across physiologically relevant temperatures (up to 55°C-70°C) and pH conditions (3-11). Phages were classified as Escherichia phage vB_EcoM_fRPOT1, vB_EcoM_fDMYT1, vB_EcoM_fBSZT1, vB_EcoM_fUAMT1, and vB_EcoM_fPKPT2. Their genome size ranges from 170 to 356 kb, belonging to three distinct genera: Dhakavirus, Gaprivervirus, and Asteriusvirus. Genomic analysis confirmed the absence of antimicrobial resistance, virulence, toxin, or lysogeny genes. Fifty-one APEC strains were isolated, of which 23 (45.1%) were MDR. Individual phages lysed 37%-51% of tested APEC and 17%-39% of MDR strains. Three phages (fBSZT1, fUAMT1, and fPKPT2) significantly improved larval survival to 60%-80% at an MOI of 10 in G. mellonella infection models compared to the untreated control. This study establishes a well-characterized phage bank targeting MDR-APEC strains, providing a foundation for developing phage-based interventions to reduce antibiotic dependency and mitigate AMR transmission risks under the One Health framework. IMPORTANCE: The overuse of antibiotics in poultry farming has created a crisis. The multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria threaten both animal health and human safety through the food chain. When antibiotics fail, farmers face devastating losses, and resistant bacteria can transfer to humans through consumption or environmental contamination. Bacteriophages offer a practical solution as they kill target bacteria without harming beneficial microbes or leaving chemical residues. Our comprehensive characterization confirms that these five phages are safe and effective as they lack any resistance or toxin genes and rescue 60%-80% of infected larvae. This represents a characterized phage bank targeting the specific resistant strains in Indian poultry. By providing a validated alternative to antibiotics, this work supports sustainable food production while reducing the spread of antimicrobial resistance from farms to humans.

Animals↗

Phylogenetic analysis of T-Box genes demonstrates the importance of amphioxus for understanding evolution of the vertebrate genome.

The duplication of preexisting genes has played a major role in evolution. To understand the evolution of genetic complexity it is important to reconstruct the phylogenetic history of the genome. A widely held view suggests that the vertebrate genome evolved via two successive rounds of whole-genome duplication. To test this model we have isolated seven new T-box genes from the primitive chordate amphioxus. We find that each amphioxus gene generally corresponds to two or three vertebrate counterparts. A phylogenetic analysis of these genes supports the idea that a single whole-genome duplication took place early in vertebrate evolution, but cannot exclude the possibility that a second duplication later took place. The origin of additional paralogs evident in this and other gene families could be the result of subsequent, smaller-scale chromosomal duplications. Our findings highlight the importance of amphioxus as a key organism for understanding evolution of the vertebrate genome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Comprehensive detection of single base changes in human genomic DNA using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and a GC clamp.

We present a simple, efficient extension of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis that allows the detection of nearly any sequence change in a defined fragment of DNA. The fragment can be obtained either by means of the polymerase chain reaction or by restriction digestion of genomic DNA. With restriction fragments of genomic DNA, sequence information is not required, and covalent modifications in genomic DNA that are lost in a PCR, such as methylation, are detectable. We describe how a GC clamp (an arbitrary, G+C-rich sequence of 30 to 60 bp) can be attached to a selected restriction fragment present in a digest of genomic DNA. The GC clamp alters the melting properties of the fragment; this change greatly increases the fraction of possible mutations that is detectable. In a 272-bp HaeIII fragment from the human beta-globin gene, we were able to detect 13 of 13 mutations tested in human genomic DNA. Four additional mutations in cloned plasmids were analyzed. The data agree with a simple theoretical model for DGGE, which predicts how two fragments, differing at a single (specified) base pair, are resolved in a gradient gel as a function of running time for the gel. The calculation assists in the design of probes and gel conditions that aid in the detection of sequence changes.

Base Composition↗

Restriction endonucleases for pulsed field mapping of bacterial genomes.

Fundamental to many bacterial genome mapping strategies currently under development is the need to cleave the genome into a few large DNA fragments that can be resolved by pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Identification of endonucleases that infrequently cut a genome is of key importance in this process. We show that the tetranucleotide CTAG is extremely rare in most bacterial genomes with G+C contents above 45%. As a consequence, most of the sixteen bacterial genomes we have tested are cleaved less than once every 100,000 base pairs by one or more endonucleases that have CTAG in their recognition sequences: Xba I (TCTAGA), Spe I (ACTAGT), Avr II (CCTAGG) and Nhe I (GCTAGC). Similarly, CCG and CGG are the rarest trinucleotides in many genomes with G+C content of less than 45%. Thus, Sma I (CCCGGG), Rsr II (CGGWCCG), Nae I (GCCGGC) and Sac II (CCGCGG) are often suitable endonucleases for producing fragments that average over 100,000 base pairs from such genomes. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis of the fragments that result from cleavage with endonucleases that cleave only a few times per genome should assist in the physical mapping of many prokaryotic genomes.

Base Composition↗

A vector with transcriptional terminators increases efficiency of cloning of an RNA virus by reverse transcription long polymerase chain reaction.

Full-length cDNA clones of RNA viruses are advantageous for maintaining the genomic sequence without the generation of diversity by accumulation of sequence mutations during productive virus replication. They permit in vitro manipulation of the genomic clone to test the effect of sequence changes on the phenotype of reactivated virus. Infectious cDNA clones have been produced by ligation of subgenomic clones but are sometimes difficult to generate in a single cloning operation. We used reverse-transcription to synthesize full-length cDNA from genomic RNA of Coxsackievirus B3 of the Picornavirus family and enzymatically amplified this by long PCR. Five different cloning vectors were used to clone the long PCR product, including the vector Lorist6 which contains transcriptional terminators on either side of the cloning site to prevent transcription of inserts in E. coli. No recombinant colonies were obtained from any of the vectors lacking transcriptional terminators but three full-length clones were obtained using Lorist6. The results suggest that transcriptional terminators increase the recovery of cDNA clones of the 7.4 kb Coxsackie virus genome in this cosmid vector, without resort to phage packaging, representing an advance over previous methods and advantages in the molecular manipulation of these viruses.

Animals↗

Asymptomatic excretion of rotavirus before and after rotavirus diarrhea in children in day care centers.

A 12-month prospective study of diarrhea in children in day care centers (DCCs) provided an opportunity to evaluate the duration of excretion of rotavirus from children before and after episodes of diarrhea caused by rotavirus. Ninety-nine episodes of rotavirus diarrhea occurred in 94 children. Asymptomatic rotavirus excretion occurred in 50% of children tested on the day before diarrhea occurred, 31% two days before diarrhea, and 9% in days 3 through 5 before diarrhea. Two children had positive specimens 11 and 13 days, respectively, before illness. During the week after cessation of diarrhea, 32% had positive specimens; 12% had positive stool specimens during the second week after diarrhea episodes. Electrophoretic testing of rotavirus RNA from stool specimens showed different electrophoretic migration patterns of the genomic RNA among the pairs tested, but the genomic RNA was the same within each pair of symptomatic and asymptomatic specimens. Excretion of rotavirus before and after diarrhea is common in children in DCCs; the role that asymptomatic excretion plays in the spread of this disease within DCCs is unknown.

Child Day Care Centers↗

Occurrence of MEN 2a in familial Hirschsprung's disease: a new indication for genetic testing of the RET proto-oncogene.

PURPOSE: The association of the rare hereditary cancer syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2a (MEN 2a) with Hirschsprung's disease, both linked to germline mutations in the RET proto-oncogene, has been reported recently. With the widespread availability of genetic screening for MEN 2a, it is necessary to define the indications for genetic testing of MEN 2a and population subgroups at high risk for inheriting the disease. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of Hirschsprung's disease in MEN 2a and investigate the value of genetic analysis for MEN 2a in children with familial Hirschsprung's disease. METHODS: The ethnically diverse study group consisted of unselected consecutive patients (n=426) at risk for hereditary medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) referred to a single laboratory for genetic testing. Analysis used genomic DNA and a polymerase chain reaction-based heteroduplex mutation detection strategy for exons 10, 11, 13, and 14 of the RET proto-oncogene followed by direct DNA sequencing. Significance of RET genotype-phenotype correlation was determined by Fisher's two-tailed Exact test and a 2 x 2 contingency table. RESULTS: Thirty-six distinctly new MEN 2a kindreds were identified. Hirschsprung's disease cosegregated among siblings with MEN 2a in 15 patients from 6 of the 36 (17%) families. The extent of aganglionosis in the 15 patients ranged from midrectum to duodenum. Of the 15 patients with Hirschsprung's disease, 10 (six boys, four girls) underwent thyroidectomy for MTC (n=5) or C-cell hyperplasia (n = 5) at ages 2 to 47 years (mean, 15.6 years), and the remaining five patients died in childhood of complications related to the aganglionosis. In retrospect, Hirschsprung's disease was the presenting feature of MEN 2a in five of the six families rather than MTC or pheochromocytoma. In all six MEN 2a families expressing Hirschsprung's disease, the RET mutation predisposing to the combined phenotype occurred in exon 10 at codons 609 (n=2), 618 (n=3), or 620 (n = 1). By contrast, the MEN 2a with Hirschsprung's phenotype was not found in any of the 22 families with a RETexon 11, 13, or 14 mutation (P=.0007). CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that Hirschsprung's disease is a phenotypic marker for MEN 2a and possibly more common than originally appreciated. The expression of Hirschsprung's disease with MEN 2a may be uniquely linked to RETexon 10 mutations. The authors recommend that (1) patients affected with MEN 2a may be counseled regarding the potential risk of Hirschsprung's disease in offspring and (2) a family history of MTC be explored in children with familial Hirschsprung's disease and genetic screening for MEN 2a be considered.

Adolescent↗

The potential of comparative genomic hybridization as a tool in the differential diagnosis of matrix-producing bone lesions.

Matrix-producing bone lesions consist of a wide variety of benign and malignant conditions. With respect to morphology, an overlap exists between benign and malignant bone tumors that causes difficulties in the final determination of the tumor. This study was conducted to show the potential of comparative genomic hybridization as a tool in the differential diagnosis of matrix-producing bone lesions. Thirty benign bone tumors were evaluated by conventional comparative genomic hybridization. To test its diagnostic reliability, 5 additional cases were analyzed, all with differential diagnostic difficulties related to morphology and radiology. All were ultimately diagnosed as malignant sarcomas, and unbalanced alterations were detected. In contrast benign tumors or tumor-like lesions did not reveal any chromosomal alterations. Comparative genomic hybridization is a useful adjunct in the complicated differential diagnostic algorithms of matrix-producing bone tumors.

Adolescent↗

Vesivirus viremia and seroprevalence in humans.

Pathogenic caliciviruses of the genus Vesivirus circulate in oceanic ecosystems and spread to and among terrestrial mammals. Isolation of Vesivirus from natural and laboratory infections in humans led to this investigation of Vesivirus seroprevalence and viremia. Sera from four groups were tested for antibodies to Vesivirus as follows: blood donors whose units were cleared for donation, blood donors whose units were not accepted for donation solely because of elevated blood liver alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations, patients with clinical hepatitis of unknown but suspected infectious cause, and patients with clinical hepatitis of unknown cause but associated with blood transfusion or dialysis. Additionally, sera were tested for Vesivirus genome by three methods: dot-blot and two reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods. The calculated seroprevalence against Vesivirus virions within these groups (N = 765) was 12%, 21%, 29%, and 47%, respectively (P < 0.001 for group differences). Additionally, 11 (9.8%) of 112 sera tested yielded RT-PCR amplicons that by nucleotide sequence were distinct from each other and related to known Vesivirus. These data indicate that some blood donors in the population tested have serologic evidence of previous Vesivirus infection and some also have Vesivirus viremia. These results justify further investigation of an association between Vesivirus infection and illness in humans.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene mutations: do they play a role in the aetiology of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis?

BACKGROUND: Previous work suggests that cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutations may be implicated in the aetiology of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergilosis (ABPA). OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency of CF gene mutations in asthmatics with ABPA of varying severity with asthmatics who were skin prick test (SPT)-positive to Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) without evidence of ABPA and asthmatics SPT-negative to Af. METHODS: Thirty-one Caucasian patients with ABPA were identified, together with asthmatics SPT positive to Af without evidence of ABPA (n = 23) and SPT negative to Af (n = 28). Genomic DNA was tested for 16 CF mutations accounting for approximately 85% of CF alleles in Caucasian New Zealanders. RESULTS: Four (12.9%) ABPA patients were found to be carriers of a CF mutation (DeltaF508 n = 3, R117H n = 1), one (4.3%) asthmatic SPT positive to Af without ABPA (DeltaF508), and one (3.6%) asthmatic SPT negative to Af (R117H). All patients with a CF mutation had normal sweat chloride (< 40 mM). There was no significant difference between the frequency of CF mutations in the ABPA patients and asthmatics without ABPA. However, the frequency of CF mutations in the ABPA patients was significantly different (P = 0.0125) to the expected carrier rate in the general population. CONCLUSION: These results lend further support to a possible link between CF mutations and ABPA.

Adult↗

Evaluation of Cryptosporidium parvum genotyping techniques.

We evaluated the specificity and sensitivity of 11 previously described species differentiation and genotyping PCR protocols for detection of Cryptosporidium parasites. Genomic DNA from three species of Cryptosporidium parasites (genotype 1 and genotype 2 of C. parvum, C. muris, and C. serpentis), two Eimeria species (E. neischulzi and E. papillata), and Giardia duodenalis were used to evaluate the specificity of primers. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the genotyping primers was tested by using genomic DNA isolated from known numbers of oocysts obtained from a genotype 2 C. parvum isolate. PCR amplification was repeated at least three times with all of the primer pairs. Of the 11 protocols studied, 10 amplified C. parvum genotypes 1 and 2, and the expected fragment sizes were obtained. Our results indicate that two species-differentiating protocols are not Cryptosporidium specific, as the primers used in these protocols also amplified the DNA of Eimeria species. The sensitivity studies revealed that two nested PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) protocols based on the small-subunit rRNA and dihydrofolate reductase genes are more sensitive than single-round PCR or PCR-RFLP protocols.

Animals↗

Improvement on genetic transformation in the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora and its quantification on dung samples.

An improved DNA-mediated transformation system for nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora based on hygromycin B resistance was developed. The transformation frequency varied between 34 and 175 transformants per microg linearized DNA and 93% of the transformants were stable for drug resistance when tested 100 randomly selected transformants. More than 2000 transformants were obtained by transformation of the fungus with pBChygro in the presence of HindIII and among them, one, YMF1.00110, which lost its ability of forming predacious structure, was isolated. Southern analysis showed that the plasmid DNA had integrated into the genome of all tested transformants (including YMF 1.00110) except one. The transformant tagged with hph gene could be re-isolated and quantified from dung samples based on the resistance of hygromycin B. All the results suggested that the method of restriction enzyme mediated integration (REMI) should facilitate not only the insertional mutagenesis for tagging and analysis genes of interest but also the ecological investigation of tagged fungi in a given environment.

Animals↗