Biology subjects

Huang, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Huang, P..

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Membrane Protein Modification Modulates Big and Small Extracellular Vesicle Biodistribution and Tumorigenic Potential in Breast Cancers In Vivo

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released by cells to mediate intercellular communication under pathological and physiological conditions. While small EVs (sEVs; <100-200 nm, exosomes) are intensely investigated, the properties and functions of medium and large EVs (big EVs [bEVs]; >200 nm, microvesicles) are less well explored. Here, we identify bEVs and sEVs as distinct EV populations, and determine that bEVs are released in a greater bEV:sEV ratio in the aggressive human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype. PalmGRET, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based EV reporter, reveals dose- dependent EV biodistribution at non-lethal and physiological EV dosages, as compared to lipophilic fluorescent dyes. Remarkably, the bEVs and sEVs exhibit unique biodistribution profiles, et individually promote in vivo tumor growth in a syngeneic immunocompetent TNBC breast tumor murine model. The bEVs and sEVs share mass spectrometry (MS)- identified tumor progression-associated EV surface membrane proteins (tpEVSurfMEMs), which include SLC29A1, CD9 and CD44. tpEVSurfMEM depletion attenuates EV lung organotropism, alters biodistribution, and reduces protumorigenic potential. This study identifies distinct in vivo property and function of bEVs and sEVs in breast cancer, which suggest the significant role of bEVs in diseases, diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2022

A scalable screening platform for phenotypic subtyping of ALS patient-derived fibroblasts

A major challenge for understanding and treating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is that most patients have no known genetic cause. Even within defined genetic subtypes, patients display considerable clinical heterogeneity. It is unclear how to identify subsets of ALS patients that share common molecular dysregulation or could respond similarly to treatment. Here, we developed a scalable microscopy and machine learning platform to phenotypically subtype readily available, primary patient-derived fibroblasts. Application of our platform identified robust signatures for the genetic subtype FUS-ALS, allowing cell lines to be scored along a spectrum from FUS-ALS to non-ALS. Our FUS-ALS phenotypic score negatively correlates with age of diagnosis and provides information that is distinct from transcript profiling. Interestingly, the FUS-ALS phenotypic score can be used to identify sporadic patient fibroblasts that have consistent pathway dysregulation with FUS-ALS. Further, we showcase how the score can be used to evaluate the effects of ASO treatment on patient fibroblasts. Our platform provides an approach to move from genetic to phenotypic subtyping and a first step towards rational selection of patient subpopulations for targeted therapies.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2022

A pan-variant mRNA-LNP T cell vaccine protects HLA transgenic mice from mortality after infection with SARS-CoV-2 Beta

Clinically licensed COVID-19 vaccines ameliorate viral infection by inducing vaccinee production of neutralizing antibodies that bind to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein to inhibit viral cellular entry (Walsh et al., 2020; Baden et al., 2021), however the clinical effectiveness of these vaccines is transitory as viral variants arise that escape antibody neutralization (Tregoning et al., 2021; Willett et al., 2022). Vaccines that solely rely upon a T cell response to combat viral infection could be transformational because they can be based on highly conserved short peptide epitopes that hold the potential for pan-variant immunity, but a mRNA-LNP T cell vaccine has not been shown to be sufficient for effective antiviral prophylaxis. Here we show that a mRNA-LNP vaccine based on highly conserved short peptide epitopes activates a CD8+ and CD4+ T cell response that prevents mortality in HLA-A*02:01 transgenic mice infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant of concern (B.1.351). In mice vaccinated with the T cell vaccine, 24% of the nucleated cells in lung were CD8+ T cells on day 7 post infection. This was 5.5 times more CD8+ T cell infiltration of the lungs in response to infection compared to the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty(R) vaccine. Between days 2 and 7 post infection, the number of CD8+ T cells in the lung increased in mice vaccinated with the T cell vaccine and decreased in mice vaccinated with Comirnaty(R). The T cell vaccine did not produce neutralizing antibodies, and thus our results demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 viral infection can be controlled by a T cell response alone. Our results suggest that further study is merited for pan-variant T cell vaccines, and that T cell vaccines may be relevant for individuals that cannot produce neutralizing antibodies or to help mitigate Long COVID.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2022

Comprehensive structural analysis reveals broad-spectrum neutralizing antibodies against Omicron

The pandemic of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread around the world. Mutant strains of SARS-CoV-2 are constantly emerging. At present, Omicron variants have become mainstream. In this work, we carried out a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the reported spike protein antibodies, counting the antibodies epitopes and genotypes. We further comprehensively analyzed the impact of Omicron mutations on antibody epitopes and classified these antibodies according to their binding patterns. We found that the epitopes of one class of antibodies were significantly less affected by Omicron mutations than other classes. Binding and virus neutralization experiments show that such antibodies can effectively inhibit the immune escape of Omicron. Cryo-EM results show that this class of antibodies utilizes a conserved mechanism to neutralize SARS-CoV-2. Our results greatly help us deeply understand the impact of Omicron mutations. At the same time, it also provides guidance and insights for developing Omicron antibodies and vaccines.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Computationally Guided Design of Two Novel Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitors

The enzyme soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) has been found to play a role in many ailments such as inflammation, pain, renal function, pulmonary function, hypertension, and diabetes. Multiple sEH inhibitors have been developed to reduce the adverse effects of the ailments. Due to high inhibitory concentrations, there is urgent need for developing improved sEH inhibitors. In this study, two novel sEH inhibitors were designed via computational bioisosteric replacement and chemical intuition with the goal of increasing binding affinity, which can potentially decrease inhibitory concentration. The new drug candidates were found to have improved binding properties compared to existing drugs.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2022

Combined blockade of VEGF, Angiopoietin-2, and PD1 reprograms glioblastoma endothelial cells into quasi-antigen-presenting cells

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains a highly aggressive and uniformly fatal tumor, with a 5-year survival of <10%. Moreover, all randomized clinical trials with immune-checkpoint blockers have failed to date. Here we report that tumor endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction confers resistance to immunotherapy in preclinical GBM models. Anti-VEGF-therapy-induced vascular normalization is insufficient to fully restore the EC function and alleviate inflammatory edema induced by blocking programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1). Strikingly, concomitant blockade of angiopoietin 2 (Ang2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) reprograms dysfunctional ECs to quasi-antigen presenting cells and upregulates receptors required for cytotoxic T lymphocyte entry into the tumor. Blocking VEGF, Ang2, and PD1 induces durable anti-tumor response while controlling edema. Upregulation of the transcription factor T-bet is necessary for generating resident memory T cells elicited by this combination therapy. Moreover, a human GBM organoid model formed from human cancer cells, ECs, CD14 and CD8 cells recapitulated these findings. Our study reveals the role of Ang2 in resistance to VEGF and/or PD1-blockade and provides a compelling rationale for clinical evaluation of this combination in GBM patients.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Beneficial Effects of Bempedoic Acid Treatment in Polycystic Kidney Disease Cells and Mice

ADPKD has few therapeutic options. Tolvaptan slows disease but has side effects limiting its tolerability. Bempedoic acid (BA), an ATP citrate-lyase (ACLY) inhibitor FDA-approved for hypercholesterolemia, catalyzes a key step in fatty acid/sterol synthesis important for cell proliferation. BA is activated by very long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (FATP2) expressed primarily in kidney and liver. BA also activates AMPK. We hypothesized that BA could be a novel ADPKD therapy by inhibiting cyst growth, proliferation, injury, and metabolic dysregulation via ACLY inhibition and AMPK activation. Pkd1-null kidney cell lines derived from mouse proximal tubule (PT) and collecting duct (IMCD) were grown in 2D or 3D Matrigel cultures and treated {+/-} BA, {+/-} SB-204990 (another ACLY inhibitor) or with Acly shRNA before cyst analysis, immunoblotting or mitochondrial assays using MitoSox and MitoTracker staining. Pkd1fl/fl;Pax8-rtTA;Tet-O-Cre C57BL/6J mice were induced with doxycycline injection on postnatal days 10 and 11 (P10-P11) and then treated {+/-} BA (30 mg/kg/d) {+/-} tolvaptan (30-100 mg/kg/d) by gavage from P12-21. Disease severity was determined by % total-kidney-weight-to-bodyweight (%TKW/BW) and BUN levels at euthanasia (P22). Kidney and liver homogenates were immunoblotted for expression of key biomarkers. ACLY expression and activity were upregulated in Pkd1-null PT and IMCD-derived cells vs. controls. Relative to controls, both BA and SB-204990 inhibited cystic growth in Pkd1-null kidney cells, as did Acly knockdown. BA inhibited mitochondrial superoxide production and promoted mitochondrial elongation, suggesting improved mitochondrial function. In ADPKD mice, BA reduced %TKW/BW and BUN to a similar extent as tolvaptan vs. untreated controls. Addition of BA to tolvaptan caused a further reduction in %TKW/BW and BUN vs. tolvaptan alone. BA generally reduced ACLY and stimulated AMPK activity in kidneys and livers vs. controls. BA also inhibited mTOR and ERK signaling and reduced kidney injury markers. In liver, BA treatment, both alone and together with tolvaptan, increased mitochondrial biogenesis while inhibiting apoptosis. We conclude that BA and ACLY inhibition inhibited cyst growth in vitro, and BA decreased ADPKD severity in vivo. Combining BA with tolvaptan further improved various ADPKD disease parameters. Repurposing BA may be a promising new ADPKD therapy, having beneficial effects alone and along with tolvaptan.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2022

Nardilysin-Regulated Scission Mechanism Activates Polo-like Kinase 3 to Suppress the Development of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) develops through step-wise genetic and molecular alterations including Kras mutation and inactivation of apoptotic pathways. Here, we find that development of anoikis resistance and metastasis of KrasG12D-driven PDAC in mice is accelerated by deleting Plk3, explaining the often reduced Plk3 expression in human PDAC. Importantly, a 41 kDa Plk3 (p41Plk3) that contained the entire kinase domain at the N-terminus (1-353 aa) is activated by scission of the precursor p72Plk3 at Arg354 by metalloendopeptidase Nardilysin (NRDC), and the resulting p32Plk3 C-terminal Polo-box domain (PBD) was quickly removed by proteasome degradation preventing the p41Plk3 inhibition by PBD. We found that p41Plk3 is the activated form of Plk3 that regulates a feedforward mechanism to promote anoikis and suppress PDAC and metastasis. p41Plk3 phosphorylates c-Fos on Thr164, which in turn, induces expression of Plk3 and pro-apoptotic genes. These findings uncovered an NRDC-regulated post-translational mechanism (PTM) that activates Plk3, establishing a prototypic regulation by scission mechanism.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Apicosome: newly identified cell-type-specific organelle in mouse cochlear and vestibular hair cells

Cochlear and vestibular hair cells in the inner ear are highly specialized sensory receptors for sound waves and acceleration of body movements; these cells can perform their specialized functions because of their distinctive morphology and some unique organelles that they harbor. Here, we report a serendipitous identification in the mouse of a hair-cell-specific organelle, which we name "apicosome." The apicosome was recognized by anti-FLRT1 antibodies but contains no FLRT1, and the organelle presents several distinctive characteristics: (1) the apicosome typically appears as a single entity ([~]500 nm in diameter), but occasionally as two entities, in hair cells; (2) it first appears in the subapical region at the neural side at embryonic day (E) 17-18 in cochlear hair cells, subsequently descends to the perinuclear region during the first postnatal week, and completely disappears around postnatal day (P) 10; (3) in vestibular hair cells, it can be detected in the subapical region of neonatal (P3) cells and persists in adult hair cells although it becomes smaller and more distant from the subapical region; (4) the timing of apicosome translocation and disappearance during development is correlated in kinocilium maintenance; (5) the organelle is potentially associated with microtubules; and (6) the appearance of the apicosome is irregular in supernumerary hair cells and this is likely linked to anomalous lateral inhibition. Thus, our study identifies a previously undescribed organelle in sensory hair cells and lays the foundation for further characterization of this specialized structure potentially linked to hair-cell development and morphogenesis.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Kynurenic acid promotes A1 to A2 astrocyte conversion against HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder

Although extensive astrocyte activation is present in the CNS of patients suffering from HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), little is known about the contribution of reactive astrocytes to HAND neuropathology. Here, we report that the imbalance between neurotoxic (A1 astrocytes) and protective astrocytes (A2 astrocytes) occurring in HIV-1 gp120 transgenic mice impedes the resolution of inflammation in the CNS, perpetuating neuron damage and cognitive deficits. Kynurenic acid (KYNA), a tryptophan metabolite with 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (7nAChR) inhibitory property, blunts gp120-induced A1 astrocyte activation while promoting A2 astrocyte formation through blockade of 7nAChR/JAK2/STAT3 signaling activation. Meanwhile, we provide evidence that 7nAChR deletion and tryptophan administration convert astrocyte phenotypes, ultimately facilitating neuronal and cognitive improvement in the gp120tg mice. These initial and determinant findings mark a turning point in our understanding of the role of 7nAChR in gp120-mediated astrocyte activation, which opens new opportunities to control reactive astrocyte generation through KYNA and tryptophan administration as a pharmacological approach for treating HAND.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Mechanical vibration modulates regional cerebral blood flow and biomechanical co-variance network in a frequency-dependent manner

Human brain experiences vibration of certain frequency during various physical activities such as vehicle transportation and machine operation or accidents, which may cause traumatic brain injury or other brain diseases. However, little is known about what happened to brain after vibration stimuli. Here, with a custom-built electromagnetic actuator, vibration was induced in the brain while cerebral blood flow (CBF) and brain stiffness were measured at 20, 30, 40 Hz for 52 healthy volunteers. With increasing frequency, multiple regions of the brain showed increasingly reduced CBF, while the size of such regions also expanded. The vibration-induced CBF reduction regions largely fell inside the brains default mode network (DMN), with about 58 or 46 % overlap at 30 or 40 Hz, respectively. By establishing a biomechanical co-variance network based on tissue stiffness, analysis of small-world properties and modularity showed an increased disruption of the network with increased frequency. These findings demonstrate frequency-dependent features of vibration modulation to brain. Furthermore, the overlap between CBF reduction regions and DMN, and the vibration-induced decrease of biomechanical network connections suggest a interweaved relationship between blood flow, tissue stiffness, and cognitive functions. These may provide critical insights into the mechanical stimulus to brain and vibration-induced brain pathologies.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

IFNA pathway drives the more aggressive phenotype of KRASG12D-mutant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas via IFNAR1/STAT3 activation

Activating mutations of KRAS play critical roles in the initiation and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Accumulating evidence indicates that distinct KRAS alleles associate with different prognoses, but the underlying mechanisms are not known. We established isogenic KRAS mutants (KRASG12D, KRASG12V, and KRASWT) using a KRASG12R patient-derived PDAC cell line by CRISPR/Cas9 knock-in. We used these isogenic cell lines, a collection of characterized human PDAC patient-derived cell lines, and murine PDAC models to study the role of these KRAS alleles in vitro and in vivo. We verified that the growth of KRASG12D cells is more aggressive compared to KRASG12V isogenic cells in vitro and in vivo using orthotopic mouse models. Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) activation was the most significant difference between KRASG12D and KRASG12V isogenic PDACs. Furthermore, activation of interferon-alpha (IFNA)/IFNA receptor (IFNAR)1/STAT3 signaling in the cancer cells mediated the more aggressive phenotype of KRASG12D PDACs. Conversely, inhibition of IFNAR1 in patient-derived PDAC cells suppressed tumor growth. Finally, IFNAR1 blockade was also effective in murine PDAC models and induced a significant increase in survival when combined with immune checkpoint blockade therapy. We conclude that the IFNA pathway and IFNAR1/STAT3 axis contribute to a more aggressive tumor progression in human KRASG12D PDACs and that IFNAR1 inhibition is a potential therapeutic target for overcoming resistance to immunotherapy in PDAC. One Sentence SummaryIFNA pathway drives the more aggressive phenotype of KRASG12D-mutant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas via IFNAR1/STAT3 activation.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Inflammasome targeting with an NLRP3 agonist therapy is feasible but ineffective in murine hepatocellular carcinoma models with liver damage

Co-inhibition of programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) pathway has shown efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NLRP3 is a component of the inflammasome involved in the initiation, development, and progression of multiple cancers. We examined whether adding an NLRP3 agonist to dual PD-1/VEGFR inhibitors is feasible and can address treatment resistance in orthotopic HCC in mice with underlying liver damage. Mice with established tumors were treated with an NLRP3 agonist alone, combination of anti-VEGFR2 or the multikinase inhibitor regorafenib with anti-PD1 antibodies, or their combination. In all models tested, NLRP3 agonist therapy showed acceptable toxicity but no effect on tumor growth delay, disease morbidity, or survival. Pharmacodynamic analyses confirmed the effects of NLRP3 agonist therapy on inflammasome, evidenced by a significant elevation in plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1{beta}. However, these changes were not detectable in tumor tissues, where we detected increased expression of immunosuppressive markers IL-6, KC/GRO, CCL9, and IL-18, and immune checkpoint molecules (PD1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4) after NLRP3 agonist therapy. Thus, modulation of the inflammasome with a novel NLRP3 agonist was feasible in mice with orthotopic HCC and liver damage but did not enhance efficacy when combined with anti-PD1/VEGFR therapies.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2022

Computational Design of Two New Vitamin K Epoxide Reductase Inhibitors

Vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR) inhibitors are commonly used to treat atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke. However, due to the side effects and poor absorbance of existing drugs, there is urgent need for developing better VKOR inhibitor drugs. In this work, computational bioisosteric replacement and chemical intuition were used to design two novel VKOR inhibitors. The new candidates are predicted to have improved ADMET and binding properties compared to existing drugs.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2022

Intracellular Energy Controls Dynamics of Stress-induced Ribonucleoprotein Granules

Energy metabolism and membraneless organelles have been implicated in human diseases including neurodegeneration. How energy stress regulates ribonucleoprotein particles such as stress granules (SGs) is still unclear. Here we identified a unique type of granules formed under energy stress and uncovered the mechanisms by which the dynamics of diverse stress-induced granules are regulated. Severe energy stress induced the rapid formation of energy-associated stress granules (eSGs), whereas moderate energy stress delayed the clearance of conventional SGs. The formation of eSGs or the clearance of conventional SGs was regulated by the mTOR-4EBP1-eIF4E pathway or eIF4A1, involving eIF4F complex assembly or RNA condensation, respectively. In ALS patients neurons or cortical organoids, the eSG formation was enhanced, and conventional SG clearance was impaired. These results reveal a critical role for intracellular energy in the regulation of diverse granules and suggest that an imbalance in these dynamics may contribute to the pathogenesis of relevant diseases.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Proteomic profiling identifies co-regulated expression of splicing factors as a characteristic feature of intravenous leiomyomatosis

Intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVLM) is a rare benign smooth muscle tumour that is characterised by intravenous growth in the uterine and pelvic veins. Previous DNA copy number and transcriptomic studies have shown that IVLM harbours unique genomic and transcriptomic alterations when compared to uterine leiomyoma (uLM), which may account for their distinct clinical behaviour. Here we undertake the first comparative proteomic analysis of IVLM and other smooth muscle tumours (comprising uLM, soft tissue leiomyoma and benign metastasising leiomyoma) utilising data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry. We show that, at the protein level, IVLM is defined by the unique co-regulated expression of splicing factors. In particular, IVLM is enriched in two clusters composed of co-regulated proteins from the hnRNP, LSm, SR and Sm classes of the spliceosome complex. One of these clusters (Cluster 3) is associated with key biological processes including nascent protein translocation and cell signalling by small GTPases. Taken together, our study provides evidence of co-regulated expression of splicing factors in IVLM compared to other smooth muscle tumours which suggests a possible role for alternative splicing in the pathogenesis of IVLM.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Superficial white matter microstructure affects processing speed in cerebral small vessel disease

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are a typical feature of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). This condition contributes to about 50% of dementias worldwide, a massive health burden in aging. Microstructural alterations in the deep white matter (DWM) have been widely examined in CSVD. However, little is known about abnormalities in the superficial white matter (SWM) and their relevance for processing speed, the main cognitive deficit in CSVD. In this paper, 141 patients with CSVD were studied. Processing speed was assessed by the completion time of the Trail Making Test Part A. White matter abnormalities were assessed by WMH burden (lesion volume on T2-FLAIR) and diffusion MRI, including DTI and free-water (FW) imaging microstructure measures. The results of our study indicate that the superficial white matter may play a particularly important role in cognitive decline in CSVD. SWM imaging measures resulted in a large contribution to processing speed, despite a relatively small WMH burden in the SWM. SWM FW had the strongest association with processing speed among all imaging markers and, unlike the other diffusion MRI measures, significantly increased between two patient subgroups with the lowest WMH burdens (possibly representing early stages of disease). When comparing two patient subgroups with the highest WMH burdens, the involvement of WMH in the SWM was accompanied by significant differences in processing speed and white matter microstructure. Given significant effects of WMH volume and regional FW on processing speed, we performed a mediation analysis. SWM FW was found to fully mediate the association between WMH volume and processing speed, while no mediation effect of DWM FW was observed. Overall, our findings identify SWM abnormalities in CSVD and suggest that the SWM has an important contribution to processing speed. Results indicate that FW in the SWM is a sensitive marker of microstructural changes associated with cognition in CSVD. This study extends the current understanding of CSVD-related dysfunction and suggests that the SWM, as an understudied region, can be a potential target for monitoring pathophysiological processes in future research.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Identification and characterization of 19 predicted Myb-family DNA binding proteins in Magnaporthe oryzae concerning growth, conidiation, and pathogenicity

Proteins with DNA binding Myb domains have been suggested in regulating development and stress responses. Magnaporthe oryzae is considered the most destructive pathogen of rice. We screened the genome for genes with Myb domains encoding since these can be needed for pathogenesis. We found Myb1-19. Only MoMyb1 was previously shown to be involved in pathogenesis. We succeeded in deleting 12 of the other 18 genes. MoMyb2 deletion affected mainly growth, while MoMyb13 or MoMyb15 deletions gave additional defects in conidiation and plant infection. However, RT-qPCR showed that none of the 19 Myb genes are negligibly expressed. Instead, they have different expression profiles hours post-infection when infecting rice plants. Considering this, the unchanged infection phenotype for 9 gene deletions surprised us, and we extended the analysis to expression co-regulation of all 19 Myb proteins and found 5 co-regulated groups of predicted Myb-domain proteins. MoMyb13 or MoMyb15 are discussed and motivated as candidates for further, more detailed studies with aims also outside of plant pathology. Referring to what is found in other eukaryotes, we finally discuss possible redundancy or compensatory regulations for many of the other Myb genes hiding or compensating for the effect of many complete deletions. IMPORTANCEMagnaporthe oryzae is considered the most important rice pathogen limiting rice production. Our study attempts to find all genes encoding a DNA-binding gene family called Myb, and we found 19, many of which have not been studied before. The Myb gene family is suspected to regulate stress responses the pathogen needs to overcome plant defenses. Inhibiting or disturbing these genes, if they are indeed regulatory, can open new ways of controlling the pathogen and learning more about its physiology and ecology.

microbiology↗