Name: identification of metabolically active bacteria in the gut of the generalist spodoptera littoralis via dna stable isotope probing using 13c-glucose
Uploaded: 2013-11-13T20:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Identification of Metabolically Active Bacteria in the Gut of the Generalist Spodoptera littoralis via DNA Stable Isotope Probing Using 13C-Glucose at JoVE.co

We thank Angelika Berg for laboratory assistance. This work was supported and financed by the Max Planck Society and the Jena School for Microbial Communication (JSMC).

1. Insect Rearing
<ol>
	<li>Purchase or obtain eggs clutches of Spodoptera littoralis from your own rearing. Maintain them in sterile Petri dishes at room temperature (RT) until hatching.</li>
	<li>Prepare the artificial diet for the insects rearing as follows:
	<ol>
		<li>Soak 500 g ground white beans overnight in 100 ml of water.</li>
		<li>Add 9.0 g ascorbic acid and 75 g agar to 1,000 ml distilled H2O and afterwards boil it.</li>
		<li>Let the mixture to cool down and when it solidifies (to a wh...

<ol>
	<li>Pais, R., Lohs, C., Wu, Y. N., Wang, J. W., Aksoy, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+obligate+mutualist+Wigglesworthia+glossinidia+influences+reproduction,+digestion,+and+immunity+processes+of+its+host,+the+tsetse+fly.">The obligate mutualist Wigglesworthia glossinidia influences reproduction, digestion, and immunity processes of its host, the tsetse fly.</a> Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74, 5965-5974 (2008).</li><li>Freitak, D., Heckel, D. G., Vogel, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dietary-dependent+trans-generational+immune+priming+in+an+insect+herbivore.">Dietary-dependent trans-generational immune priming in an insect herbivore.</a> Proc. Biol. Sci. 276, 2617-2624 (2009).</li><li>Dillon, R. J., Vennard, C. T., Charnley, A. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Note:+Gut+bacteria+produce+components+of+a+locust+cohesion+pheromone.">A Note: Gut bacteria produce components of a locust cohesion pheromone.</a> J. Appl. Microbiol. 92, 759-763 (2002).</li><li>Douglas, A. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nutritional+interactions+in+insect-microbial+symbioses:+Aphids+and+their+symbiotic+bacteria+Buchnera.">Nutritional interactions in insect-microbial symbioses: Aphids and their symbiotic bacteria Buchnera.</a> Annu. Rev. Entomol. 43, 17-37 (1998).</li><li>Reichardt, N., Barclay, A. R., Weaver, L. T., Morrison, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Use+of+stable+isotopes+to+measure+the+metabolic+activity+of+the+human+intestinal+microbiota.">Use of stable isotopes to measure the metabolic activity of the human intestinal microbiota.</a> Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 77, 8009-8014 (2011).</li><li>Dumont, M. G., Murrell, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stable+isotope+probing+-+linking+microbial+identity+to+function.">Stable isotope probing - linking microbial identity to function.</a> Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 3, 499-504 (2005).</li><li>Gil, R., Latorre, A., Moya, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bacterial+endosymbionts+of+insects:+insights+from+comparative+genomics.">Bacterial endosymbionts of insects: insights from comparative genomics.</a> Environ. Microbiol. 6, 1109-1122 (2004).</li><li>Brune, A., VH, R. e. s. h., Card&#233;, R. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Encyclopedia of Insects. , 1132 (2005).</li><li>Breznak, J. A., Brune, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Role+of+microorganisms+in+the+digestion+of+lignocellulose+by+termites.">Role of microorganisms in the digestion of lignocellulose by termites.</a> Annu. Rev. Entomol. 39, 453-487 (1994).</li><li>Broderick, N. A., Raffa, K. F., Goodman, R. M., Handelsman, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Census+of+the+bacterial+community+of+the+gypsy+moth+larval+midgut+by+using+culturing+and+culture-independent+methods.">Census of the bacterial community of the gypsy moth larval midgut by using culturing and culture-independent methods.</a> Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70, 293-300 (2004).</li><li>Funke, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rapid+hydrolysis+of+quorum-sensing+molecules+in+the+gut+of+lepidopteran+larvae.">Rapid hydrolysis of quorum-sensing molecules in the gut of lepidopteran larvae.</a> Chembiochem. 9, 1953-1959 (2008).</li><li>Tang, X. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Complexity+and+variability+of+gut+commensal+microbiota+in+polyphagous+lepidopteran+larvae.">Complexity and variability of gut commensal microbiota in polyphagous lepidopteran larvae.</a> PloS One. 7, (2012).</li><li>Amann, R. I., Ludwig, W., Schleifer, K. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Phylogenetic+identification+and+in-situ+detection+of+individual+microbial-cells+without+cultivation.">Phylogenetic identification and in-situ detection of individual microbial-cells without cultivation.</a> Microbiol. Rev. 59, 143-169 (1995).</li><li>Olsen, G. J., Lane, D. J., Giovannoni, S. J., Pace, N. R., Stahl, D. 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H., Conrad, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+situ+stable+isotope+probing+of+methanogenic+archaea+in+the+rice+rhizosphere.">In situ stable isotope probing of methanogenic archaea in the rice rhizosphere.</a> Science. 309, 1088-1090 (2005).</li><li>Radajewski, S., Ineson, P., Parekh, N. R., Murrell, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stable-isotope+probing+as+a+tool+in+microbial+ecology.">Stable-isotope probing as a tool in microbial ecology.</a> Nature. 403, 646-649 (2000).</li><li>Lueders, T., Pommerenke, B., Friedrich, M. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stable-isotope+probing+of+microorganisms+thriving+at+thermodynamic+limits:+Syntrophic+propionate+oxidation+in+flooded+soil.">Stable-isotope probing of microorganisms thriving at thermodynamic limits: Syntrophic propionate oxidation in flooded soil.</a> Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70, 5778-5786 (2004).</li><li>Kunapuli, U., Lueders, T., Meckenstock, R. U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+use+of+stable+isotope+probing+to+identify+key+iron-reducing+microorganisms+involved+in+anaerobic+benzene+degradation.">The use of stable isotope probing to identify key iron-reducing microorganisms involved in anaerobic benzene degradation.</a> ISME J. 1, 643-653 (2007).</li><li>Fuhrer, T., Fischer, E., Sauer, U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Experimental+identification+and+quantification+of+glucose+metabolism+in+seven+bacterial+species.">Experimental identification and quantification of glucose metabolism in seven bacterial species.</a> J. Bacteriol. 187, 1581-1590 (2005).</li><li>Dunford, E. A., Neufeld, J. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=DNA+Stable-Isotope+Probing+(DNA-SIP).">DNA Stable-Isotope Probing (DNA-SIP).</a> J. Vis. Exp. (42), (2010).</li><li>Yamasaki, S., Nomura, N., Nakajima, T., Uchiyama, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cultivation-independent+identification+of+candidate+dehalorespiring+bacteria+in+tetrachloroethylene+degradation.">Cultivation-independent identification of candidate dehalorespiring bacteria in tetrachloroethylene degradation.</a> Environ. Sci. Technol. 46, 7709-7716 (2012).</li><li>Lueders, T., Manefield, M., Friedrich, M. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enhanced+sensitivity+of+DNA-+and+rRNA-based+stable+isotope+probing+by+fractionation+and+quantitative+analysis+of+isopycnic+centrifugation+gradients.">Enhanced sensitivity of DNA- and rRNA-based stable isotope probing by fractionation and quantitative analysis of isopycnic centrifugation gradients.</a> Environ. Microbiol. 6, 73-78 (2004).</li><li>Ishak, H. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bacterial+diversity+in+Solenopsis+invicta+and+Solenopsis+geminata+ant+colonies+characterized+by+16S+amplicon+454+pyrosequencing.">Bacterial diversity in Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis geminata ant colonies characterized by 16S amplicon 454 pyrosequencing.</a> Microb. Ecol. 61, 821-831 (2011).</li><li>Sun, Y., Wolcott, R. D., Dowd, S. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tag-encoded+FLX+amplicon+pyrosequencing+for+the+elucidation+of+microbial+and+functional+gene+diversity+in+any+environment.">Tag-encoded FLX amplicon pyrosequencing for the elucidation of microbial and functional gene diversity in any environment.</a> Methods Mol. Biol. 733, 129-141 (2011).</li><li>Kuczynski, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Using+QIIME+to+Analyze+16S+rRNA+Gene+sequences+from+microbial+communities.">Using QIIME to Analyze 16S rRNA Gene sequences from microbial communities.</a> Curr. Protoc. Microbiol. Chapter 1, Unit1E 5 (2012).</li><li>Dillon, R. J., Dillon, V. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+gut+bacteria+of+insects:+nonpathogenic+interactions.">The gut bacteria of insects: nonpathogenic interactions.</a> Annu. Rev. Entomol. 49, 71-92 (2004).</li><li>Neufeld, J. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=DNA+stable-isotope+probing.">DNA stable-isotope probing.</a> Nat. Protoc. 2, 860-866 (2007).</li><li>Dumont, M. G., Murrell, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stable+isotope+probing+-+linking+microbial+identity+to+function.">Stable isotope probing - linking microbial identity to function.</a> Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 3, 499-504 (2005).</li></ol>

The gut of most insects harbors a rich and complex microbial community; typically 107-109 prokaryotic cells lodge there, outnumbering the host&#39;s own cells in most cases. Thus, the insect gut is a &#34;hot spot&#34; for diverse microbial activities, representing multiple aspects of microbial relationships, from pathogenesis to obligate mutualism27. Although many studies have described an amazing variety of insect gut microbial communities, characterization of the metabolic activity of ...

Insect-bacterial symbiotic associations are known for a great number of insect species7. In these symbiotic associations, microorganisms play important roles in the growth and development of insects. Microbes have been shown to contribute to insect reproduction1, pheromone biosynthesis3, nutrition, including the synthesis of essential amino acids4, and digestion of inaccessible food to the host. Despite the vast variety of gut-bacterial associations, much less is known about the functional role they play in favor of the insect. Only in case of the termites, the symbiotic digestion of lignocellulose carried out by prokaryotes, protozoa, and fungi, has been widely studied8,9. In contrast to this, little is known about the symbiotic association present in the gut of generalist insects i.e. the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis. Moreover, due to their frequent shift of plant hosts, generalist insects and their gut associated bacterial communities are permanently exposed to new challenges linked to their feeding habits consuming plants with a plethora of phytochemicals. Beside this, the gut environment in lepidopterans, represents per se a harsh environment for the growth of bacteria because of the high gut pH10. Particularly in the case of S. littoralis, it ranges from 10.5 in the foregut, ca. 9 in the midgut to pH almost 7 in the hindgut11. On the other hand, the bacterial community associated with the gut of S. littoralis is simple. Tang, Freitak, et al.12 reported a maximum of 36 phylotypes belonging to a total of 7 different bacterial species as the only members of the bacterial community associated with this insect. Besides this, no complicated rearing procedure is required for the insect growth in the laboratory. Furthermore, this and the short life cycle of the insect facilitate multi-generational studies, turning this species into an ideal model system for studying gut-microbe interactions.
With the advent of PCR-based sequencing technologies, the number of studies dealing with gut biota of several organisms (i.e. humans, insects, or marine organisms) has increased. Moreover, the results are independent from isolation and cultivation of the gut harbored bacteria as in the past. Almost 99% of bacteria are not cultivable and the simulation of the environmental conditions prevailing in the gut is difficult12. By using PCR, 16S rRNA gene fragments (a widely used phylogenetic gene marker among bacteria) could be selectively amplified from a mixed DNA template of gut bacterial communities, sequenced, and cloned. With this information, the user is able to identify the bacterial species after retrieving the sequence information from public databases13,14. Nevertheless, the sequencing approaches to describe bacterial communities remain insufficient due to lack of information on the intrinsic metabolic contribution of the individual species within the community.
Stable-isotope probing (SIP) is a promising culture-free technique. It is often used in environmental microbiology to analyze microbial phylogenies linked to particular metabolic activities. This is achieved by tracking stable, isotope labeled atoms from substrates into microbial biomarkers, such as phospholipid-derived fatty acids, DNA, and RNA5. When considering nucleic acids, the methodology is based upon the separation of 13C-labeled DNA or RNA from the unlabeled DNA by density-gradient ultracentrifugation6. Due to this direct connection between the DNA label and metabolic activity, a down&#173;stream molecular analysis of the nucleic acids identifies the species and provides information on metabolic activities. Moreover, combination of DNA-SIP and pyrosequencing as applied by Pilloni, von Netzer, et al.15, permits a particular simple and sensitive identification of the bacterial species present in the heavy 13C-labeled DNA fraction. Up to now, this technique has been applied to describe the bacterial communities involved in biogeochemical processes in the soil under aerobic16,17 and anaerobic conditions18,19. Besides of the use in environmental science, the technique has been applied in medical sciences as reported by Reichardt, et al.5, who described the metabolic activities of different phylogenetic groups of the human intestinal microbiota in response to a nondigestible carbohydrate.
Here we use 13C-glucose to &#39;label&#39; the DNA of the metabolically active bacterial species in the gut. Glucose is a sugar utilized by most bacterial species along the widespread Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathway, although exceptions are known20. This justifies the use of 13C-glucose as a reliable metabolic probe that provides a link between metabolites of interest and the carbon source along established pathways. Depending on the scientific question, other substrates, i.e. 13C-methane, 13CO2, or plants raised under a 13CO2 atmosphere, can be used to address metabolic activities.
At this point, we present the protocol applied in the metabolic characterization of the gut bacterial community of a generalist insect, namely S. littoralis (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). Moreover, the technique was coupled to pyrosequencing, which in turn allows the identification of insect gut bacterial community with high resolution and precision. As the main substrate, 13C-labeled glucose was utilized during the experiments.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="872"> 
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:384px;">Dumont #5 Mirror Finish Forceps</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">11251-23</td>
			<td style="width:151px;"> </td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Vannas Spring Scissors</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>15000-00</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Speed Vacuum Concentrator 5301</td>
			<td>Eppendorf Germany</td>
			<td>5305 000.304</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Plastic pestle</td>
			<td>Carl Roth GmbH Co. Germany</td>
			<td>P986.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">NanoVue spectrophotometer</td>
			<td>GE HealthCare, UK</td>
			<td>28-9569-58</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Mastercycler pro/thermocycler</td>
			<td>Eppendorf Germany</td>
			<td>6321 000.515</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Agagel Standard Horizontal Gel Electrophoresis chamber</td>
			<td>Biometra</td>
			<td>Discontinued</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ultracentrifuge (Optima L-90K)</td>
			<td>Beckman</td>
			<td>A20684</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ultracentrifuge rotor (NVT 90)</td>
			<td>Beckman</td>
			<td>362752</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">HPLC pump</td>
			<td>Agilent</td>
			<td>1100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Quick-Seal, Polyallomer tube</td>
			<td>Beckman</td>
			<td>342412</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Transilluminator UVstar 15 </td>
			<td>Biometra</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

identification of metabolically active bacteria in the gut of the generalist spodoptera littoralis via dna stable isotope probing using 13c-glucose

Guts of most insects are inhabited by complex communities of symbiotic nonpathogenic bacteria. Within such microbial communities it is possible to identify commensal or mutualistic bacteria species. The latter ones, have been observed to serve multiple functions to the insect, i.e. helping in insect reproduction1, boosting the immune response2, pheromone production3, as well as nutrition, including the synthesis of essential amino acids4, among others. &#160; &#160;
Due to the importance of these associations, many efforts have been made to characterize the communities down to the individual members. However, most of these efforts were either based on cultivation methods or relied on the generation of 16S rRNA gene fragments which were sequenced for final identification. Unfortunately, these approaches only identified the bacterial species present in the gut and provided no information on the metabolic activity of the microorganisms.
To characterize the metabolically active bacterial species in the gut of an insect, we used stable isotope probing (SIP) in vivo employing 13C-glucose as a universal substrate. This is a promising culture-free technique that allows the linkage of microbial phylogenies to their particular metabolic activity. This is possible by tracking stable, isotope labeled atoms from substrates into microbial biomarkers, such as DNA and RNA5. The incorporation of 13C isotopes into DNA increases the density of the labeled DNA compared to the unlabeled (12C) one. In the end, the 13C-labeled DNA or RNA is separated by density-gradient ultracentrifugation from the 12C-unlabeled similar one6. Subsequent molecular analysis of the separated nucleic acid isotopomers provides the connection between metabolic activity and identity of the species.
Here, we present the protocol used to characterize the metabolically active bacteria in the gut of a generalist insect (our model system), Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). The phylogenetic analysis of the DNA was done using pyrosequencing, which allowed high resolution and precision in the identification of insect gut bacterial community. As main substrate, 13C-labeled glucose was used in the experiments. The substrate was fed to the insects using an artificial diet.

To achieve sufficient labeling of the metabolically active bacteria present in the insect gut, the insect must be exposed to the 13C-rich substrate for a previously optimized period sufficient to allow the separation of the labeled heavier fraction easily from the unlabeled lighter one. In our case, 13C-glucose was supplemented in the artificial diet at a final concentration of 10 mM for 1 day (Figure 1A). The same amount of normal glucose (Figure 1B) was supplied i...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Identification of Metabolically Active Bacteria in the Gut of the Generalist Spodoptera littoralis via DNA Stable Isotope Probing Using 13C-Glucose at JoVE.co

Identification of Metabolically Active Bacteria in the Gut of the Generalist Spodoptera littoralis via DNA Stable Isotope Probing Using 13C-Glucose

The active bacterial community associated with the gut of Spodoptera littoralis, was determined by stable-isotope-probing (SIP) coupled to pyrosequencing. Using this methodology, identification of the metabolically active bacteria species within the community was done with high resolution and precision.

Identification of Metabolically Active Bacteria in the Gut of the Generalist Spodoptera littoralis via DNA Stable Isotope Probing Using 13C-Glucose

Guts of most insects are inhabited by complex communities of symbiotic nonpathogenic bacteria. Within such microbial communities it is possible to ...

identification-metabolically-active-bacteria-gut-generalist

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Biology

Extracting DNA from the Gut Microbes of the Termite (Zootermopsis Angusticollis) and Visualizing Gut Microbes

Termites are among the few animals known to have the capacity to subsist solely by consuming wood.  The termite gut tract contains a dense and species-rich microbial population that assists in the degradation of lignocellulose predominantly into acetate, the key nutrient fueling termite metabolism (Odelson &amp; Breznak, 1983).  Within these microbial populations are bacteria, methanogenic archaea and, in some ("lower") termites, eukaryotic protozoa. Thus, termites are excellent research subjects for studying the interactions among microbial species and the numerous biochemical functions they perform to the benefit of their host.  The species composition of microbial populations in termite guts as well as key genes involved in various biochemical processes has been explored using molecular techniques (Kudo et al., 1998; Schmit-Wagner et al., 2003; Salmassi &amp; Leadbetter, 2003). These techniques depend on the extraction and purification of high-quality nucleic acids from the termite gut environment.  The extraction technique described in this video is a modified compilation of protocols developed for extraction and purification of nucleic acids from environmental samples (Mor  et al., 1994; Berthelet et al., 1996; Purdy et al., 1996; Salmassi &amp; Leadbetter, 2003; Ottesen et al. 2006) and it produces DNA from termite hindgut material suitable for use as template for polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Extracting DNA from the Gut Microbes of the Termite Zootermopsis Angusticollis and Visualizing Gut Microbes

This video illustrates the technique for extracting DNA from the species of microbes resident in the termite hindgut. The preparation of a wet mount slide, which is useful for visualizing the gut microbial community is also illustrated, and a tour through the species-rich gut environment is given.

Termites are among the few animals known to have the capacity to subsist solely by consuming wood.  The termite gut tract contains a dense and ...

DNA Stable-Isotope Probing (DNA-SIP)

DNA stable-isotope probing (DNA-SIP) is a powerful technique for identifying active microorganisms that assimilate particular carbon substrates and nutrients into cellular biomass. As such, this cultivation-independent technique has been an important methodology for assigning metabolic function to the diverse communities inhabiting a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic environments. Following the incubation of an environmental sample with stable-isotope labelled compounds, extracted nucleic acid is subjected to density gradient ultracentrifugation and subsequent gradient fractionation to separate nucleic acids of differing densities. Purification of DNA from cesium chloride retrieves labelled and unlabelled DNA for subsequent molecular characterization (e.g. fingerprinting, microarrays, clone libraries, metagenomics). This JoVE video protocol provides visual step-by-step explanations of the protocol for density gradient ultracentrifugation, gradient fractionation and recovery of labelled DNA. The protocol also includes sample SIP data and highlights important tips and cautions that must be considered to ensure a successful DNA-SIP analysis.

DNA Stable-Isotope Probing DNA-SIP

DNA stable-isotope probing is a cultivation-independent method to identify and characterize active communities of microorganisms that are capable of utilizing specific substrates. Assimilation of substrate enriched in heavy isotope leads to incorporation of labelled atoms into microbial biomass. Density gradient ultracentrifugation retrieves labelled DNA for downstream molecular analyses.

DNA stable-isotope probing (DNA-SIP) is a powerful technique for identifying active microorganisms that assimilate particular carbon substrates and ...

In vitro Reconstitution of the Active T. castaneum Telomerase

Efforts to isolate the catalytic subunit of telomerase, TERT, in sufficient quantities for structural studies, have been met with limited success for more than a decade. Here, we present methods for the isolation of the recombinant Tribolium castaneum TERT (TcTERT) and the reconstitution of the active T. castaneum telomerase ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex in vitro.
Telomerase is a specialized reverse transcriptase1 that adds short DNA repeats, called telomeres, to the 3' end of linear chromosomes2 that serve to protect them from end-to-end fusion and degradation. Following DNA replication, a short segment is lost at the end of the chromosome3 and without telomerase, cells continue dividing until eventually reaching their Hayflick Limit4. Additionally, telomerase is dormant in most somatic cells5 in adults, but is active in cancer cells6 where it promotes cell immortality7.
The minimal telomerase enzyme consists of two core components: the protein subunit (TERT), which comprises the catalytic subunit of the enzyme and an integral RNA component (TER), which contains the template TERT uses to synthesize telomeres8,9. Prior to 2008, only structures for individual telomerase domains had been solved10,11. A major breakthrough in this field came from the determination of the crystal structure of the active12, catalytic subunit of T. castaneum telomerase, TcTERT1.
Here, we present methods for producing large quantities of the active, soluble TcTERT for structural and biochemical studies, and the reconstitution of the telomerase RNP complex in vitro for telomerase activity assays. An overview of the experimental methods used is shown in Figure 1.

In vitro Reconstitution of the Active T. castaneum Telomerase

Efforts to isolate the catalytic subunit of telomerase, TERT, in sufficient quantities for structural studies, have been met with limited success for more than a decade. Here, we present methods for the isolation of the recombinant Tribolium castaneum TERT (TcTERT) and the reconstitution of the active T. castaneum telomerase ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex in vitro.

Efforts to isolate the catalytic subunit of telomerase, TERT, in sufficient quantities for structural studies, have been met with limited success for more ...

Visualization of DNA Replication in the Vertebrate Model System DT40 using the DNA Fiber Technique

Maintenance of replication fork stability is of utmost importance for dividing cells to preserve viability and prevent disease. The processes involved not only ensure faithful genome duplication in the face of endogenous and exogenous DNA damage but also prevent genomic instability, a recognized causative factor in tumor development.
Here, we describe a simple and cost-effective fluorescence microscopy-based method to visualize DNA replication in the avian B-cell line DT40. This cell line provides a powerful tool to investigate protein function in vivo by reverse genetics in vertebrate cells1. DNA fiber fluorography in DT40 cells lacking a specific gene allows one to elucidate the function of this gene product in DNA replication and genome stability. Traditional methods to analyze replication fork dynamics in vertebrate cells rely on measuring the overall rate of DNA synthesis in a population of pulse-labeled cells. This is a quantitative approach and does not allow for qualitative analysis of parameters that influence DNA synthesis. In contrast, the rate of movement of active forks can be followed directly when using the DNA fiber technique2-4. In this approach, nascent DNA is labeled in vivo by incorporation of halogenated nucleotides (Fig 1A). Subsequently, individual fibers are stretched onto a microscope slide, and the labeled DNA replication tracts are stained with specific antibodies and visualized by fluorescence microscopy (Fig 1B). Initiation of replication as well as fork directionality is determined by the consecutive use of two differently modified analogues. Furthermore, the dual-labeling approach allows for quantitative analysis of parameters that influence DNA synthesis during the S-phase, i.e. replication structures such as ongoing and stalled forks, replication origin density as well as fork terminations. Finally, the experimental procedure can be accomplished within a day, and requires only general laboratory equipment and a fluorescence microscope.

DT40, a model vertebrate genetic system, provides a powerful tool to analyze protein function. Here we describe a simple method that allows qualitative analysis of parameters that influence DNA synthesis during the S-phase in DT40 cells at the single molecule level.

Maintenance of replication fork stability is of utmost importance for dividing cells to preserve viability and prevent disease. The processes involved not ...

Super-resolution Imaging of the Cytokinetic Z Ring in Live Bacteria Using Fast 3D-Structured Illumination Microscopy (f3D-SIM)

Imaging of biological samples using fluorescence microscopy has advanced substantially with new technologies to overcome the resolution barrier of the diffraction of light allowing super-resolution of live samples. There are currently three main types of super-resolution techniques &#8211; stimulated emission depletion (STED), single-molecule localization microscopy (including techniques such as PALM, STORM, and GDSIM), and structured illumination microscopy (SIM). While STED and single-molecule localization techniques show the largest increases in resolution, they have been slower to offer increased speeds of image acquisition. Three-dimensional SIM (3D-SIM) is a wide-field fluorescence microscopy technique that offers a number of advantages over both single-molecule localization and STED. Resolution is improved, with typical lateral and axial resolutions of 110 and 280 nm, respectively and depth of sampling of up to 30 &#181;m from the coverslip, allowing for imaging of whole cells. Recent advancements (fast 3D-SIM) in the technology increasing the capture rate of raw images allows for fast capture of biological processes occurring in seconds, while significantly reducing photo-toxicity and photobleaching. Here we describe the use of one such method to image bacterial cells harboring the fluorescently-labelled cytokinetic FtsZ protein to show how cells are analyzed and the type of unique information that this technique can provide.

Super-resolution Imaging of the Cytokinetic Z Ring in Live Bacteria Using Fast 3D-Structured Illumination Microscopy f3D-SIM

Spatiotemporal information about dynamic proteins inside live cells is crucial for understanding biology. A type of super-resolution microscopy called fast 3D-structured illumination microscopy (f3D-SIM) reveals unique information about the cytokinetic Z ring in bacteria: both its bead-like appearance and the rapid dynamics of FtsZ within the ring.

Imaging of biological samples using fluorescence microscopy has advanced substantially with new technologies to overcome the resolution barrier of the ...

Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assay for the Identification of Arabidopsis Protein-DNA Interactions In Vivo

Intricate gene regulatory networks orchestrate biological processes and developmental transitions in plants. Selective transcriptional activation and silencing of genes mediate the response of plants to environmental signals and developmental cues. Therefore, insights into the mechanisms that control plant gene expression are essential to gain a deep understanding of how biological processes are regulated in plants. The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) technique described here is a procedure to identify the DNA-binding sites of proteins in genes or genomic regions of the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. The interactions with DNA of proteins of interest such as transcription factors, chromatin proteins or posttranslationally modified versions of histones can be efficiently analyzed with the ChIP protocol. This method is based on the fixation of protein-DNA interactions in vivo, random fragmentation of chromatin, immunoprecipitation of protein-DNA complexes with specific antibodies, and quantification of the DNA associated with the protein of interest by PCR techniques. The use of this methodology in Arabidopsis has contributed significantly to unveil transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that control a variety of plant biological processes. This approach allowed the identification of the binding sites of the Arabidopsis chromatin protein EBS to regulatory regions of the master gene of flowering FT. The impact of this protein in the accumulation of particular histone marks in the genomic region of FT was also revealed through ChIP analysis.

Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assay for the Identification of Arabidopsis Protein-DNA Interactions In Vivo

Chromatin immunoprecipitation is a powerful technique for the identification of DNA binding sites of Arabidopsis proteins in vivo. This procedure includes chromatin cross-linking and fragmentation, immunoprecipitation with selective antibodies against the protein of interest, and qPCR analysis of bound DNA. We describe a simple ChIP assay optimized for Arabidopsis plants.

Intricate gene regulatory networks orchestrate biological processes and developmental transitions in plants. Selective transcriptional activation and ...

Amplification, Next-generation Sequencing, and Genomic DNA Mapping of Retroviral Integration Sites

Retroviruses exhibit signature integration preferences on both the local and global scales. Here, we present a detailed protocol for (1) generation of diverse libraries of retroviral integration sites using ligation-mediated PCR (LM-PCR) amplification and next-generation sequencing (NGS), (2) mapping the genomic location of each virus-host junction using BEDTools, and (3) analyzing the data for statistical relevance. Genomic DNA extracted from infected cells is fragmented by digestion with restriction enzymes or by sonication. After suitable DNA end-repair, double-stranded linkers are ligated onto the DNA ends, and semi-nested PCR is conducted using primers complementary to both the long terminal repeat (LTR) end of the virus and the ligated linker DNA. The PCR primers carry sequences required for DNA clustering during NGS, negating the requirement for separate adapter ligation. Quality control (QC) is conducted to assess DNA fragment size distribution and adapter DNA incorporation prior to NGS. Sequence output files are filtered for LTR-containing reads, and the sequences defining the LTR and the linker are cropped away. Trimmed host cell sequences are mapped to a reference genome using BLAT and are filtered for minimally 97% identity to a unique point in the reference genome. Unique integration sites are scrutinized for adjacent nucleotide (nt) sequence and distribution relative to various genomic features. Using this protocol, integration site libraries of high complexity can be constructed from genomic DNA in three days. The entire protocol that encompasses exogenous viral infection of susceptible tissue culture cells to integration site analysis can therefore be conducted in approximately one to two weeks. Recent applications of this technology pertain to longitudinal analysis of integration sites from HIV-infected patients.

We describe a protocol for amplifying retroviral integration sites from the genomic DNA of infected cells, sequencing the amplified virus-host junctions, and then mapping these sequences to a reference genome. We also describe techniques to quantify the distribution of integration sites relative to various genomic annotations using BEDTools.

Retroviruses exhibit signature integration preferences on both the local and global scales. Here, we present a detailed protocol for (1) generation of ...

Experimental Protocol for Using Drosophila As an Invertebrate Model System for Toxicity Testing in the Laboratory

Emergent properties and external factors (population-level and ecosystem-level interactions, in particular) play important roles in mediating ecologically-important endpoints, though they are rarely considered in toxicological studies. D. melanogaster is emerging as a toxicology model for the behavioral, neurological, and genetic impacts of toxicants, to name a few. More importantly, species in the genus Drosophila can be utilized as a model system for an integrative framework approach to incorporate emergent properties and answer ecologically-relevant questions in&#160;toxicology research. The aim of this paper is to provide a protocol for exposing species in the genus Drosophila to pollutants to be used as a model system for a range of phenotypic outputs and ecologically-relevant questions. More specifically, this protocol can be used to 1) link multiple biological levels of organization and understand the impact of toxicants on both individual- and population-level fitness; 2) test the impact of toxicants at different stages of developmental exposure; 3) test multigenerational and evolutionary implications of pollutants; and 4) test multiple contaminants and stressors simultaneously.

Experimental Protocol for Using Drosophila As an Invertebrate Model System for Toxicity Testing in the Laboratory

In this paper, we provide a detailed protocol for exposing species in the genus Drosophila to pollutants with the goal of studying the impact of exposure on a range of phenotypic outputs at different developmental stages and for more than one generation.

Emergent properties and external factors (population-level and ecosystem-level interactions, in particular) play important roles in mediating ...

Establishing Stable Binary Cultures of Symbiotic Saccharibacteria from the Oral Cavity

Many bacterial species cannot be cultured in the laboratory using standard methods, posing a significant barrier to studying the majority of microbial diversity on earth. Novel approaches are required to culture these uncultured bacteria so that investigators can effectively study their physiology and lifestyle using the powerful tools available in the laboratory. The Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) is one of the largest groups of uncultivated bacteria, comprising ~15% of the living diversity on earth. The first isolate of this group was a member of the Saccharibacteria phylum, 'Nanosynbacter lyticus' strain TM7x. TM7x is an unusually small bacterium that lives as a symbiont in direct contact with a bacterial host, Schaalia odontolytica, strain XH001. Taking advantage of the unusually small cell size and its lifestyle as a symbiotic organism, we developed a protocol to rapidly culture Saccharibacteria from dental plaque. This protocol will show how to filter a suspension of dental plaque through a 0.2 &#181;m filter, then concentrate the collected Saccharibacteria cells and infect a culture of host organisms. The resulting coculture can be passaged as any normal bacterial culture and infection is confirmed by PCR. The resulting binary culture can be maintained in the laboratory and used for future experiments. While contamination is a possibility, the binary culture can be purified by either further filtering and reinfection of host, or by plating the binary culture and screening for infected colonies. We hope this protocol can be expanded to other sample types and environments, leading to the cultivation of many more species in the CPR.

We demonstrate a method for isolating difficult-to-grow members of the novel bacterial phylum, Saccharibacteria, by filtering dental plaque and co-culturing with host bacteria.

Many bacterial species cannot be cultured in the laboratory using standard methods, posing a significant barrier to studying the majority of microbial ...

Identification of Alternative Splicing and Polyadenylation in RNA-seq Data

As well as the typical analysis of RNA-Seq to measure differential gene expression (DGE) across experimental/biological conditions, RNA-seq data can also be utilized to explore other complex regulatory mechanisms at the exon level. Alternative splicing and polyadenylation play a crucial role in the functional diversity of a gene by generating different isoforms to regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, and limiting analyses to the whole gene level can miss this important regulatory layer. Here, we demonstrate detailed step by step analyses for identification and visualization of differential exon and polyadenylation site usage across conditions, using Bioconductor and other packages and functions, including DEXSeq, diffSplice from the Limma package, and rMATS.

Alternative splicing (AS) and alternative polyadenylation (APA) expand the diversity of transcript isoforms and their products. Here, we describe bioinformatic protocols to analyze bulk RNA-seq and 3' end sequencing assays to detect and visualize AS and APA varying across experimental conditions.

As well as the typical analysis of RNA-Seq to measure differential gene expression (DGE) across experimental/biological conditions, RNA-seq data can also ...