Name: high-throughput transcriptome analysis for investigating host-pathogen interactions
Uploaded: 2022-03-05T12:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about High-Throughput Transcriptome Analysis for Investigating Host-Pathogen Interactions at JoVE.com

HN is funded by FAPESP (grant numbers: #2017/50137-3, 2012/19278-6, 2018/14933-2, 2018/21934-5, and 2013/08216-2) and CNPq (313662/2017-7).
We are particularly thankful to the following grants for fellows: ANAG (FAPESP Process 2019/13880-5), VEM (FAPESP Process 2019/16418-0), IMSC (FAPESP Process 2020/05284-0), APV (FAPESP Process 2019/27146-1) and, RLTO (CNPq Process 134204/2019-0).

The samples used in this protocol were approved by the ethics committees from both the Department of Microbiology of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of S&#227;o Paulo and the Federal University of Sergipe (Protocols: 54937216.5.0000.5467 and 54835916.2.0000.5546, respectively).
1. Docker desktop installation
NOTE: Steps to prepare the Docker environment are different among the operating systems (OSs). Therefore, Mac users must f...

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Infectious Diseases. 17 (4), 107-117 (2017).</li><li>Hua, C., Combe, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chikungunya+virus-associated+disease.">Chikungunya virus-associated disease.</a> Current Rheumatology Reports. 19 (11), 69 (2017).</li><li>Suhrbier, A., Jaffar-Bandjee, M. -. C., Gasque, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Arthritogenic+alphaviruses-an+overview.">Arthritogenic alphaviruses-an overview.</a> Nature Reviews Rheumatology. 8 (7), 420-429 (2012).</li><li>Nakaya, H. I., 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=Gene+profiling+of+chikungunya+virus+arthritis+in+a+mouse+model+reveals+significant+overlap+with+rheumatoid+arthritis.">Gene profiling of chikungunya virus arthritis in a mouse model reveals significant overlap with rheumatoid arthritis.</a> Arthritis and Rheumatism. 64 (11), 3553-3563 (2012).</li><li>Michlmayr, 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=Comprehensive+innate+immune+profiling+of+chikungunya+virus+infection+in+pediatric+cases.">Comprehensive innate immune profiling of chikungunya virus infection in pediatric cases.</a> Molecular Systems Biology. 14 (8), 7862 (2018).</li><li>Soares-Schanoski, A., 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=Systems+analysis+of+subjects+acutely+infected+with+the+Chikungunya+virus.">Systems analysis of subjects acutely infected with the Chikungunya virus.</a> PLOS Pathogens. 15 (6), 1007880 (2019).</li><li>Alexandersen, S., Chamings, A., Bhatta, T. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=SARS-CoV-2+genomic+and+subgenomic+RNAs+in+diagnostic+samples+are+not+an+indicator+of+active+replication.">SARS-CoV-2 genomic and subgenomic RNAs in diagnostic samples are not an indicator of active replication.</a> Nature Communications. 11 (1), 6059 (2020).</li><li>Wang, 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=The+SARS-CoV-2+subgenome+landscape+and+its+novel+regulatory+features.">The SARS-CoV-2 subgenome landscape and its novel regulatory features.</a> Molecular Cell. 81 (10), 2135-2147 (2021).</li><li>Wilson, J. A. C., 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=RNA-Seq+analysis+of+chikungunya+virus+infection+and+identification+of+granzyme+A+as+a+major+promoter+of+arthritic+inflammation.">RNA-Seq analysis of chikungunya virus infection and identification of granzyme A as a major promoter of arthritic inflammation.</a> PLOS Pathogens. 13 (2), 1006155 (2017).</li><li>Gon&#231;alves, A. N. A., 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=Assessing+the+impact+of+sample+heterogeneity+on+transcriptome+analysis+of+human+diseases+using+MDP+webtool.">Assessing the impact of sample heterogeneity on transcriptome analysis of human diseases using MDP webtool.</a> Frontiers in Genetics. 10, 971 (2019).</li><li>Russo, P. S. T., 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=CEMiTool:+a+Bioconductor+package+for+performing+comprehensive+modular+co-expression+analyses.">CEMiTool: a Bioconductor package for performing comprehensive modular co-expression analyses.</a> BMC Bioinformatics. 19 (1), 56 (2018).</li><li>Costa-Silva, J., Domingues, D., Lopes, F. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=RNA-Seq+differential+expression+analysis:+An+extended+review+and+a+software+tool.">RNA-Seq differential expression analysis: An extended review and a software tool.</a> PloS One. 12 (12), 0190152 (2017).</li><li>Seyednasrollah, F., Laiho, A., Elo, L. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+software+packages+for+detecting+differential+expression+in+RNA-seq+studies.">Comparison of software packages for detecting differential expression in RNA-seq studies.</a> Briefings in Bioinformatics. 16 (1), 59-70 (2015).</li><li>Zhang, B., Horvath, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+general+framework+for+weighted+gene+co-expression+network+analysis.">A general framework for weighted gene co-expression network analysis.</a> Statistical Applications in Genetics and Molecular Biology. 4, (2005).</li><li>Cheng, C. W., Beech, D. J., Wheatcroft, S. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Advantages+of+CEMiTool+for+gene+co-expression+analysis+of+RNA-seq+data.">Advantages of CEMiTool for gene co-expression analysis of RNA-seq data.</a> Computers in Biology and Medicine. 125, 103975 (2020).</li><li>Cardozo, L. E., 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=webCEMiTool:+Co-expression+modular+analysis+made+easy.">webCEMiTool: Co-expression modular analysis made easy.</a> Frontiers in Genetics. 10, 146 (2019).</li><li>de Lima, D. 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=Long+noncoding+RNAs+are+involved+in+multiple+immunological+pathways+in+response+to+vaccination.">Long noncoding RNAs are involved in multiple immunological pathways in response to vaccination.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 116 (34), 17121-17126 (2019).</li><li>Prada-Medina, C. A., 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=Systems+immunology+of+diabetes-tuberculosis+comorbidity+reveals+signatures+of+disease+complications.">Systems immunology of diabetes-tuberculosis comorbidity reveals signatures of disease complications.</a> Scientific Reports. 7 (1), 1999 (2017).</li><li>Chen, E. Y., 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=Enrichr:+interactive+and+collaborative+HTML5+gene+list+enrichment+analysis+tool.">Enrichr: interactive and collaborative HTML5 gene list enrichment analysis tool.</a> BMC Bioinformatics. 14, 128 (2013).</li><li>Kuleshov, M. 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The preparation of the sequencing libraries is a crucial step toward answering biological questions in the best possible way. The type of transcripts of interest of the study will guide which type of sequencing library will be chosen and drive bioinformatic analyses. For example, from the sequencing of a pathogen and host interaction, according to the type of sequencing, it is possible to identify sequences from both or just from the host transcripts.
Next-generation sequencing equipment, e.g....

Arboviruses, such as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and zika, have been widely associated with several endemic outbreaks and have emerged as one of the main pathogens responsible for infecting humans in the last decades1,2. Individuals infected with the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) often have fever, headache, rash, polyarthralgia, and arthritis3,4,5. Viruses can subvert the gene expression of the cell and influence various host signaling pathways. Recently, blood transcriptome studies utilized RNA-seq to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with acute CHIKV infection in comparison with convalescence6 or healthy controls7. CHIKV-infected children had up-regulated genes that are involved in innate immunity, such as the ones related to cellular sensors for viral RNA, JAK/STAT signaling, and toll-like receptor signaling pathways6. Adults acutely infected with CHIKV also showed induction of genes related to innate immunity, such as the ones related to monocytes and dendritic cell activation, and to antiviral responses7. The signaling pathways enriched with down-regulated genes included the ones related to adaptive immunity, such as T cell activation and differentiation and enrichment in T and B cells7.
Several methods can be used to analyze transcriptome data of host and pathogen genes. Often, RNA-seq library preparation starts with the enrichment of mature poly-A transcripts. This step removes most of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and in some of the cases viral/bacterial RNAs. However, when the biological question involves the pathogen transcript detection and RNA are sequenced independent of the previous selection, many other different transcripts could be detected by sequencing. For example, subgenomic mRNAs have been shown to be an important factor to verify the severity of the diseases8. In addition, for certain viruses such as CHIKV and SARS-CoV-2, even poly-A enriched libraries generate viral reads that can be utilized in downstream analyses9,10. When focused on the analysis of the host transcriptome, researchers can investigate the biological perturbation across samples, identify differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways, and generate co-expression modules7,11,12. This protocol highlights transcriptome analyses of CHIKV-infected patients and healthy individuals using different bioinformatic approaches (Figure 1A). Data from a previously published study7 consisting of 20 healthy and 39 CHIKV acutely infected individuals were used to generate the representative results.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>CEMiTool</td>
			<td>Computational Systems Biology Laboratory</td>
			<td>1.12.2</td>
			<td>Discovery and the analysis of co-expression gene modules in a fully automatic manner, while providing a user-friendly HTML report with high-quality graphs.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EdgeR</td>
			<td>Bioconductor (Maintainer: Yunshun Chen [yuchen at wehi.edu.au])</td>
			<td>3.30.3</td>
			<td>Differential expression analysis of RNA-seq expression profiles with biological replication</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EnhancedVolcano</td>
			<td>Bioconductor (Maintainer: Kevin Blighe [kevin at clinicalbioinformatics.co.uk])</td>
			<td>1.6.0</td>
			<td>Publication-ready volcano plots with enhanced colouring and labeling</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FastQC</td>
			<td>Babraham Bioinformatics</td>
			<td>0.11.9</td>
			<td>Aims to provide a simple way to do some quality control checks on raw sequence data coming from high throughput sequencing</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FeatureCounts</td>
			<td>Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research</td>
			<td>2.0.0</td>
			<td>Assign mapped sequencing reads to specified genomic features</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MDP</td>
			<td>Computational Systems Biology Laboratory</td>
			<td>1.8.0</td>
			<td>Molecular Degree of Perturbation calculates scores for transcriptome data samples based on their perturbation from controls</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>R</td>
			<td>R Core Group</td>
			<td>4.0.3</td>
			<td>Programming language and free software environment for statistical computing and graphics</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>STAR</td>
			<td>Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research</td>
			<td>2.7.6a</td>
			<td>Aligner designed to specifically address many of the challenges of RNA-seq data mapping using a strategy to account for spliced alignments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bowtie2</td>
			<td>Johns Hopkins University</td>
			<td>2.4.2</td>
			<td>Ultrafast and memory-efficient tool for aligning sequencing reads to long reference sequences</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trimmomatic</td>
			<td>THE USADEL LAB</td>
			<td>0.39</td>
			<td>Trimming adapter sequence tasks for Illumina paired-end and single-ended data</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Get Docker</td>
			<td>Docker</td>
			<td>20.10.2</td>
			<td>Create a bioinformatic environment reproducible and predictable (https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>WSL2-Kernel</td>
			<td>Windows</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl2-kernel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Get Docker Linux</td>
			<td>Docker</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/ubuntu/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Docker Linux Repository</td>
			<td>Docker</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/ubuntu/#install-using-the-repository</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MDP Website</td>
			<td>Computational Systems Biology Laboratory</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>https://mdp.sysbio.tools</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Enrichr Website</td>
			<td>MaayanLab</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>https://maayanlab.cloud/Enrichr/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>webCEMiTool</td>
			<td>Computational Systems Biology Laboratory</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>https://cemitool.sysbio.tools/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>gProfiler</td>
			<td>Bioinformatics, Algorithmics and Data Mining Group</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>https://biit.cs.ut.ee/gprofiler/gost</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>goseq</td>
			<td>Bioconductor (Maintainer: Matthew Young [my4 at sanger.ac.uk])</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>http://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/goseq.html</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SRA NCBI study</td>
			<td>NCBI</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA507472/</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

high-throughput transcriptome analysis for investigating host-pathogen interactions

Pathogens can cause a wide variety of infectious diseases. The biological processes induced by the host in response to infection determine the severity of the disease.&#160;To study such processes, researchers can use high-throughput sequencing techniques (RNA-seq) that measure the dynamic changes of the host transcriptome at different stages of infection, clinical outcomes, or disease severity.This investigation can lead to a better understanding of the diseases, as well as uncovering potential drug targets and treatments. The protocol presented here describes a complete pipeline to analyze RNA-sequencing data from raw reads to functional analysis. The pipeline is divided into five steps: (1) quality control of the data; (2) mapping and annotation of genes; (3) statistical analysis to identify differentially expressed genes and co-expressed genes; (4) determination of the molecular degree of the perturbation of samples; and (5) functional analysis. Step 1 removes technical artifacts that may impact the quality of downstream analyses. In step 2, genes are mapped and annotated according to standard library protocols.&#160;The statistical analysis in step 3 identifies genes that are differentially expressed or co-expressed in infected samples, in comparison with non-infected ones. Sample variability and the presence of potential biological outliers are verified using the molecular degree of perturbation approach in step 4. Finally, the functional analysis in step 5 reveals the pathways associated with the disease phenotype. The presented pipeline aims to support researchers through the RNA-seq data analysis from host-pathogen interaction studies and drive future&#160;in vitro or in vivo experiments, that are essential to understand the molecular mechanism of infections.

The computing environment for transcriptome analyses was created and configured on the Docker platform. This approach allows beginner Linux users to use Linux terminal systems without a priori management knowledge. The Docker platform uses the resources of the host OS to create a service container that includes specific users&#39; tools (Figure 1B). A container based on the Linux OS Ubuntu 20.04 distribution was created and it was fully configured for transcriptomic analyses, which is access...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about High-Throughput Transcriptome Analysis for Investigating Host-Pathogen Interactions at JoVE.com

High-Throughput Transcriptome Analysis for Investigating Host-Pathogen Interactions

The protocol presented here describes a complete pipeline to analyze RNA-sequencing transcriptome data from raw reads to functional analysis, including quality control and preprocessing steps to advanced statistical analytical approaches.

Pathogens can cause a wide variety of infectious diseases. The biological processes induced by the host in response to infection determine the severity of ...

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