Biology subjects

Gomez, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Gomez, C..

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Mapping interindividual dynamics of innate immune response at single-cell resolution

Common genetic variants modulate the cellular response to viruses and are implicated in a range of immune pathologies, including infectious and autoimmune diseases. The transcriptional antiviral response is known to vary between infected cells from a single individual, yet how genetic variants across individuals modulate the antiviral response (and its cell-to-cell variability) is not well understood. Here, we triggered the antiviral response in human fibroblasts from 68 healthy donors, and profiled tens of thousands of cells using single-cell RNA-seq. We developed GASPACHO (GAuSsian Processes for Association mapping leveraging Cell HeterOgeneity), the first statistical approach designed to identify dynamic eQTLs across a transcriptional trajectory of cell populations, without aggregating single-cell data into pseudo-bulk. This allows us to uncover the underlying architecture and variability of antiviral response across responding cells, and to identify more than two thousands eQTLs modulating the dynamic changes during this response. Many of these eQTLs colocalise with risk loci identified in GWAS of infectious and autoimmune diseases. As a case study, we focus on a COVID-19 susceptibility locus, colocalised with the antiviral OAS1 splicing QTL. We validated it in blood cells from a patient cohort and in the infected nasal cells of a patient with the risk allele, demonstrating the utility of GASPACHO to fine-map and functionally characterise a genetic locus. In summary, our novel analytical approach provides a new framework for delineation of the genetic variants that shape a wide spectrum of transcriptional responses at single-cell resolution.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2021

STRESS, an automated geometrical characterization of deformable particles for in vivo measurements of cell and tissue mechanical stresses

From cellular mechanotransduction to the formation of embryonic tissues and organs, mechanics has been shown to play an important role in the control of cell behavior and embryonic development. Most of our existing knowledge of how mechanics affects cell behavior comes from in vitro studies, mainly because measuring cell and tissue mechanics in 3D multicellular systems, and especially in vivo, remains challenging. Oil microdroplet sensors, and more recently gel microbeads, use surface deformations to directly quantify mechanical stresses within developing tissues, in vivo and in situ, as well as in 3D in vitro systems like organoids or multicellular spheroids. However, an automated analysis software able to quantify the spatiotemporal evolution of stresses and their characteristics from particle deformations is lacking. Here we develop STRESS (Surface Topography Reconstruction for Evaluation of Spatiotemporal Stresses), an analysis software to quantify the geometry of deformable particles of spherical topology, such as microdroplets or gel microbeads, that enables the automatic quantification of the temporal evolution of stresses in the system and the spatiotemporal features of stress inhomogeneities in the tissue. As a test case, we apply these new code to measure the temporal evolution of mechanical stresses using oil microdroplets in developing zebrafish tissues. Starting from a 3D timelapse of a droplet, the software automatically calculates the statistics of local anisotropic stresses, decouples the deformation modes associated with tissue- and cell-scale stresses, obtains their spatial features on the droplet surface and analyzes their spatiotemporal variations using spatial and temporal stress autocorrelations. The automated nature of the analysis will help users obtain quantitative information about mechanical stresses in a wide range of 3D multicellular systems, from developing embryos or tissue explants to organoids. Author summaryThe measurement of mechanical stresses in 3D multicellular systems, such as living tissues, has been very challenging because of a lack in technologies for this purpose. Novel microdroplet techniques enable direct, quantitative in situ measurements of mechanical stresses in these systems. However, computational tools to obtain mechanical stresses from 3D images of microdroplets in an automated and accurate manner are lacking. Here we develop STRESS, an automated analysis software to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of mechanical stresses from microdroplet deformations in a wide range of systems, from living embryonic tissues and tissue explants to organoids and multicellular spheroids.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2020

Targeted cancer therapy induces APOBEC fuelling the evolution of drug resistance

Introductory paragraphThe clinical success of targeted cancer therapy is limited by drug resistance that renders cancers lethal in patients1-4. Human tumours can evolve therapy resistance by acquiring de novo genetic alterations and increased heterogeneity via mechanisms that remain incompletely understood1. Here, through parallel analysis of human clinical samples, tumour xenograft and cell line models and murine model systems, we uncover an unanticipated mechanism of therapy-induced adaptation that fuels the evolution of drug resistance. Targeted therapy directed against EGFR and ALK oncoproteins in lung cancer induced adaptations favoring apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide (APOBEC)-mediated genome mutagenesis. In human oncogenic EGFR-driven and ALK-driven lung cancers and preclinical models, EGFR or ALK inhibitor treatment induced the expression and DNA mutagenic activity of APOBEC3B via therapy-mediated activation of NF-{kappa}B signaling. Moreover, targeted therapy also mediated downregulation of certain DNA repair enzymes such as UNG2, which normally counteracts APOBEC-catalyzed DNA deamination events. In mutant EGFR-driven lung cancer mouse models, APOBEC3B was detrimental to tumour initiation and yet advantageous to tumour progression during EGFR targeted therapy, consistent with TRACERx data demonstrating subclonal enrichment of APOBEC-mediated mutagenesis. This study reveals how cancers adapt and drive genetic diversity in response to targeted therapy and identifies APOBEC deaminases as future targets for eliciting more durable clinical benefit to targeted cancer therapy.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Dissecting mutational mechanisms underpinning signatures caused by replication errors and endogenous DNA damage

Mutational signatures are imprints of pathophysiological processes arising through tumorigenesis. Here, we generate isogenic CRISPR-Cas9 knockouts ({Delta}) of 43 genes in human induced pluripotent stem cells, culture them in the absence of added DNA damage, and perform wholegenome sequencing of 173 daughter subclones. {Delta}OGG1, {Delta}UNG, {Delta}EXO1, {Delta}RNF168, {Delta}MLH1, {Delta}MSH2, {Delta}MSH6, {Delta}PMS1, and {Delta}PMS2 produce marked mutational signatures indicative of being critical mitigators of endogenous DNA changes. Detailed analyses reveal that 8-oxo-dG removal by different repair proteins is sequence-context-specific while uracil clearance is sequencecontext-independent. Signatures of mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency show components of C>A transversions due to oxidative damage, T>C and C>T transitions due to differential misincorporation by replicative polymerases, and T>A transversions for which we propose a reverse template slippage model. {Delta}MLH1, {Delta}MSH6, and {Delta}MSH2 signatures are similar to each other but distinct from {Delta}PMS2. We validate these gene-specificities in cells from patients with Constitutive Mismatch Repair Deficiency Syndrome. Based on these experimental insights, we develop a classifier, MMRDetect, for improved clinical detection of MMR-deficient tumors.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

100+ years of bird survey data reveal changes in functional fingerprints indexing ecosystem health of a tropical montane forest through time

Ecologically relevant traits of organisms inhabiting an ecosystem determine its functional fingerprint. Quantifying changes in the shape, volume and shifts in the position of functional fingerprints can provide information about the effects of diversity loss or gain through time, and is a promising means to monitor ecological integrity. This, however, is seldom possible owing to limitations in historical surveys and lack of data on organismal traits, particularly in diverse tropical regions. Using detailed bird surveys from four time periods across more than one century and morphological traits of 233 species, we quantified changes in the avian functional fingerprint of a tropical montane forest site in the Andes of Colombia. We found that 79% of the variation in functional space, regardless of time period, was described by three major axes summarizing body size, dispersal ability, and habitat breadth. Changes in species composition caused significant alterations of the functional fingerprint of the assemblage, with 35 – 60% reductions in functional richness and dispersion. Owing to species extirpations and to novel additions to the assemblage, functional space is currently smaller and at least 11% different to what it was a century ago, with fewer large-sized species, more good dispersers, and fewer habitat specialists. Extirpated species had high values of functional uniqueness and distinctiveness, resulting in large reductions of functional richness and dispersion after their loss, implying potentially important consequences for ecosystem functioning. Conservation efforts aimed at maintaining ecosystem function must move beyond maintaining species numbers to designing strategies for the maintenance of ecological function by identifying and conserving species with traits conferring high vulnerability.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.View Full Text

ecology↗

bioRxiv2020

A novel gonorrhea vaccine composed of MetQ lipoprotein formulated with CpG shortens experimental murine infection

Bacterial surface lipoproteins are emerging as attractive vaccine candidates due to their biological importance and the feasibility of their large-scale production for vaccine manufacturing. The global prevalence of gonorrhea, resistance to antibiotics, and serious consequences to reproductive and neonatal health necessitate development of effective vaccines. Reverse vaccinology identified the surface-displayed L-methionine binding lipoprotein MetQ (NGO2139) and its homolog GNA1946 (NMB1946) as gonococcal and meningococcal vaccine candidates, respectively. Here, we assessed the suitability of MetQ for inclusion in a gonorrhea vaccine by examining MetQ conservation, its function in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) pathogenesis, and its ability to induce protective immune responses using a female murine model of lower genital tract infection. In-depth bioinformatics, phylogenetics and mapping the most prevalent Ng polymorphic amino acids to the GNA1946 crystal structure revealed remarkable MetQ conservation: ~97% Ng isolates worldwide possess a single MetQ variant. Mice immunized with rMetQ-CpG (n=40), a vaccine containing a tag-free version of MetQ formulated with CpG, exhibited robust, antigen-specific antibody responses in serum and at the vaginal mucosae including secretory IgA. Consistent with the activity of CpG as a Th1-stimulating adjuvant, the serum IgG1/IgG2a ratio of 0.38 indicated a Th1 bias. Combined data from two independent challenge experiments demonstrated that rMetQ-CpG immunized mice cleared infection faster than control animals (vehicle, p<0.0001; CpG, p=0.002) and had lower Ng burden (vehicle, p=0.03; CpG, p<0.0001). We conclude rMetQ-CpG induces a protective immune response that accelerates bacterial clearance from the murine lower genital tract and represents an attractive component of a gonorrhea subunit vaccine.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Unveiling Crucivirus Diversity by Mining Metagenomic Data

The discovery of cruciviruses revealed the most explicit example of a common protein homologue between DNA and RNA viruses to date. Cruciviruses are a novel group of circular Rep-encoding ssDNA (CRESS-DNA) viruses that encode capsid proteins (CPs) that are most closely related to those encoded by RNA viruses in the family Tombusviridae. The apparent chimeric nature of the two core proteins encoded by crucivirus genomes suggests horizontal gene transfer of CP genes between DNA and RNA viruses. Here, we identified and characterized 451 new crucivirus genomes and ten CP-encoding circular genetic elements through de novo assembly and mining of metagenomic data. These genomes are highly diverse, as demonstrated by sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis of subsets of the protein sequences they encode. Most of the variation is reflected in the replication associated protein (Rep) sequences, and much of the sequence diversity appears to be due to recombination. Our results suggest that recombination tends to occur more frequently among groups of cruciviruses with relatively similar capsid proteins, and that the exchange of Rep protein domains between cruciviruses is rarer than gene exchange. Altogether, we provide a comprehensive and descriptive characterization of cruciviruses. IMPORTANCEViruses are the most abundant biological entities on Earth. In addition to their impact on animal and plant health, viruses have important roles in ecosystem dynamics as well as in the evolution of the biosphere. Circular Rep-encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA viruses are ubiquitous in nature, many are agriculturally important, and are viruses that appear to have multiple origins from prokaryotic plasmids. CRESS-DNA viruses such as the cruciviruses, have homologues of capsid proteins (CPs) encoded by RNA viruses. The genetic structure of cruciviruses attests to the transfer of capsid genes between disparate groups of viruses. However, the evolutionary history of cruciviruses is still unclear. By collecting and analyzing cruciviral sequence data, we provide a deeper insight into the evolutionary intricacies of cruciviruses. Our results reveal an unexpected diversity of this virus group, with frequent recombination as an important determinant of variability.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Progressive shifts in the gut microbiome reflect prediabetes and diabetes development in a treatment-naive Mexican cohort

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a global epidemic that affects more than 8% of the worlds population and is a leading cause of death in Mexico. Diet and lifestyle are known to contribute to the onset of T2D. However, the role of the gut microbiome in T2D progression remains uncertain. Associations between microbiome composition and diabetes are confounded by medication use, diet, and obesity. Here we present data on a treatment-naive cohort of 405 Mexican individuals across varying stages of T2D severity. Associations between gut bacteria and more than 200 clinical variables revealed a defined set of bacterial genera that were consistent biomarkers of T2D prevalence and risk. Specifically, gradual increases in blood glucose levels, beta cell dysfunction, and the accumulation of measured T2D risk factors was correlated with the relative abundances of four bacterial genera. In a cohort of 25 individuals, T2D treatment - predominantly metformin - reliably returned the microbiome to the normoglycemic community state. Deep clinical characterization allowed us to broadly control for confounding variables, indicating that these microbiome patterns were independent of common T2D comorbidities, like obesity or cardiovascular disease. Thus, our work provides the first solid evidence for a direct link between the gut microbiome and T2D in a critically high-risk population. Whether or not these T2D-associated changes in the gut contribute to the etiology of T2D or its comorbidities remains to be seen.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Cooperate-and-radiate co-evolution between ants and plants

Mutualisms may be \"key innovations\" that spur diversification in one partner lineage, but no study has evaluated whether mutualism accelerates diversification in both interacting lineages. Recent research suggests that plants that attract ant mutualists for defense or seed dispersal have higher diversification rates than non-ant associated plant lineages. We ask whether the reciprocal is true: does the ecological interaction between ants and plants also accelerate diversification in ants? In other words, do ants and plants cooperate-and-radiate? We used a novel text-mining approach to determine which ant species associate with plants in defensive or seed dispersal mutualisms. We investigated patterns of trait evolution and lineage diversification using phylogenetic comparative methods on a large, recent species-level ant phylogeny. We found that ants that associate mutualistically with plants have elevated diversification rates compared to non-mutualistic ants, suggesting that ants and plants cooperate-and-radiate.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Diverse Mechanisms of Resistance in Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae at a Health Care System in Silicon Valley, California

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are emerging as a major health threat in North America. The mechanism of resistance to carbapenems has therapeutic and public health implications. We comprehensively characterized the underlying mechanisms of carbapenem resistance in CRE isolates recovered between 2013 and 2016 at a health system in Northern California. Genotypic methods were used to detect carbapenemases and plasmid-encoded cephalosporinases, and mass spectrometry was used to quantify relative porin levels for OmpC and OmpF and their analogs. MICs for imipenem-relebactam, meropenem-vaborbactam, ceftazidime-avibactam, and ceftolozane-tazobactam were measured. Whole genome sequencing was used for strain typing. A carbapenemase gene encoding blaOXA-48 like, blaNDM, blaKPC, blaSME, blaIMP, and blaVIM was detected in 38.7% (24/62) of CRE isolates. Porin levels was down at least 2-fold in 91.9% (57/62) of isolates. Including carbapenemase genes and porin loss, the mechanism of resistance was identified in 95.2% (59/62) of CRE isolates. Of the carbapenemase gene-positive isolates, blaKPC -positive isolates were 100% susceptible to ceftazidime-avibactam, meropenem-vaborbactam, and imipenem-relebactam; blaOXA-48 like-positive isolates were 100% susceptible to ceftazidime-avibactam; and blaSME-positive isolates were 100% susceptible to meropenem-vaborbactam and ceftolozane-tazobactam. 100% (38/38), 92.1% (35/38), 89.5% (34/38), and 31.6% (12/38) of carbapenemase gene-negative CRE isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime-avibactam, meropenem-vaborbactam, imipenem-relebactam, and ceftolozane-tazobactam, respectively. None of the CRE strains were genetically identical. In conclusion, at this health system in Silicon Valley, carbapenemase-producing CRE occurred sporadically and were mediated by diverse mechanisms. Nucleic acid testing for blaOXA-48 like, blaNDM, blaKPC, blaIMP, and blaVIM was sufficient to distinguish between carbapenemase-producing and non-producing CRE and accurately predicted susceptibility to ceftazidime-avibactam, meropenem-vaborbactam and imipenem-relebactam.

microbiology↗