Biology subjects

Goossens, E.

Publications and source records attributed to Goossens, E..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Ecosystem Links: Macrophytes, Snail Preferences, and Trematode Transmission in Man-Made Water Bodies

Freshwater snails act as obligate intermediate hosts for trematode parasites that cause trematodiases threatening public and veterinary health, and biodiversity conservation. Therefore, interest has re-emerged in snails as a target for disease control, yet their ecology is poorly understood. We studied the relationship between physical and chemical water parameters, macroinvertebrates, macrophytes, land use, and snail abundance, diversity, and infection rate in man-made reservoirs in eastern Zimbabwe. We observed no significant relationship between water quality parameters or macroinvertebrates and snail communities, but a significant association existed between specific macrophytes and snail species. Schistosome-competent snails (i.e., Biomphalaria pfeifferi and bulinids) were most associated with emergent Cladium mariscus, whereas Physella acuta was associated with submerged oxygen weed, Lagarosiphon major. This offers a possibility to incorporate the management of macrophytes in integrated snail control schemes. Diversity of freshwater snail species significantly varied across land use types with the lowest observed diversity in the commercial tobacco farm section, dominated by invasive exotic P. acuta and Pseudosuccinea columella, as compared to the less impacted conserved area, reflecting the adverse effects of agriculture on biodiversity. Out of the 547 schistosome host snails, 88 were shedding cercariae (16.1%) of various types, including schistosomes and amphistomes. We did not find any significant associations between macroinvertebrate or macrophyte diversity and snails and their infection rate.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

X-chromosome loss rescues Sertoli cell maturation and spermatogenesis in Klinefelter syndrome

Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY) causes infertility with a testicular histology comprising two types of Sertoli cell-only tubules, representing mature and immature-like Sertoli cells, and occasionally focal spermatogenesis. Here, we show that the immature Sertoli cells highly expressed XIST and have two X-chromosomes, while the mature Sertoli cells lack XIST expression and have only one X-chromosome. Sertoli cells supporting focal spermatogenesis also lack XIST expression and the additional X-chromosome, while the spermatogonia expressed XIST despite having only one X-chromosome. XIST was expressed in Sertoli cells until puberty, where a gradual loss was observed. Our results suggest that a micro-mosaic loss of the additional X-chromosome is needed for Sertoli cells to mature and to allow focal spermatogenesis.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2024

Partial rejuvenation of the spermatogonial stem cell niche after gender-affirming hormone therapy in transwomen

Although the impact of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) on spermatogenesis in trans women has already been studied, data on its precise effects on the testicular environment is poor. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize, through histological and transcriptomic analysis, the spermatogonial stem cell niche of 106 trans women who underwent standardized GAHT, comprising estrogens and cyproterone acetate. A partial dedifferentiation of Sertoli cells was observed, marked by the co-expression of androgen receptor and anti-Mullerian hormone which mirrors the situation in peripubertal boys. The Leydig cells also exhibited a distribution analogous to peripubertal tissue, accompanied by a reduced insulin-like factor 3 expression. Although most peritubular myoid cells expressed alpha-smooth muscle actin 2, the expression pattern was disturbed. Besides this, fibrosis was particularly evident in the tubular wall and the lumen was collapsing in most participants. A spermatogenic arrest was also observed in all participants. The transcriptomic profile of transgender tissue confirmed a loss of mature characteristics - a partial rejuvenation - of the spermatogonial stem cell niche and, in addition, detected inflammation processes occurring in the samples. The present study shows that GAHT changes the spermatogonial stem cell niche by partially rejuvenating the somatic cells and inducing fibrotic processes. These findings are important to further understand how estrogens and testosterone suppression affect the testis environment, and in the case of orchidectomized testes as medical waste material, their potential use in research.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Testicular mosaicism in non-mosaic postpubertal Klinefelter patients with focal spermatogenesis and in non-mosaic prepubertal Klinefelter boys

The aim of the study is to investigate testicular mosaicism in non-mosaic postpubertal Klinefelter Syndrome patients and in non-mosaic prepubertal Klinefelter boys Testes of the males with non-mosaic Klinefelter Syndrome at different developmental stages were used. Immunohistochemical and fluorescent in situ hybridization analyses were applied for X chromosome ploidy in testis-specific cells in testicular biopsy samples from non-mosaic Klinefelter Syndrome patients. According to our findings, all analyzed spermatogonia in both postpubertal and prepubertal non-mosaic Klinefelter Syndrome patients have a 46,XY karyotype. However, while the Sertoli cells surrounding spermatogonia in postpubertal samples also have a 46,XY karyotype, the Sertoli cells surrounding spermatogonia in prepubertal samples have a 47,XXY karyotype. Peritubular myoid cells and Leydig cells may also have mosaicism in both postpubertal patients and prepubertal boys. In conclusion, we confirmed in situ using cell-specific markers that testicular mosaicism exists in non-mosaic Klinefelter Syndrome patients. Therefore, we hypothesize that focal spermatogenesis seen in some postpubertal Klinefelter Syndrome patients originates from euploid spermatogonia and Sertoli cells. Additionally, our findings suggest that only spermatogonia that have lost their X chromosome can survive. Furthermore, our data suggest that spermatogonia lose the extra X chromosome during fetal or neonatal life, while Sertoli cells lose it around puberty. These findings will lay the groundwork for new studies on exactly when and by which mechanism an extra X chromosome is lost in spermatogonia and Sertoli cells.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2020

The quorum sensing peptide EntF* promotes colorectal cancer metastasis in mice: a new factor in the microbiome-host interaction.

BackgroundColorectal cancer, one of the most common malignancies worldwide, is associated with a high mortality rate, mainly caused by metastasis. Comparative metagenome-wide analyses between healthy individuals and cancer patients suggest a role for the human intestinal microbiota. Nevertheless, which microbial molecules are involved in this communication is largely unknown, with current studies mainly focusing on short chain fatty acids and amino acid metabolites as potential mediators. However, quorum sensing peptides are not yet considered in this microbiome-host interaction: their in vivo presence nor any in vivo host-effect have been reported. ResultsFor the first time, we showed that a quorum sensing peptide metabolite, EntF* produced by intestinal microbiota (E. faecium), is present in the blood circulation of mice. Moreover, it significantly promotes colorectal cancer metastasis in vivo, with metastatic lesions found in both liver and lung tissues, using an orthotopic mice model evaluating bioluminescence as well as macroscopic and microscopic presence of metastatic tumour nodules. In vitro tests on E-cadherin expression levels thereby indicated that the first, second, sixth and tenth amino acid of EntF* were critical for the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) effect, responsible for tumour metastasis. ConclusionThis paper adds a new group of molecules, the quorum sensing peptides, as an additional causative factor explaining the microbiome-host interaction. The presence of a selected quorum sensing peptide (metabolite) in the mouse was proven for the first time and its in vivo effect on colorectal metastasis was demonstrated. We anticipate our in vivo results to be a starting point for broader microbiome-health investigations, not only limited to colorectal cancer metastasis, but also for developing novel bio-therapeutics in other disease areas, giving due attention to the QSP produced by the microbiome.

molecular biology↗