Prachee Avasthi, Tara Essock-Burns, Galo Garcia III, Jase Gehring, David Q. Matus, David G. Mets, and Ryan York
TE
+3
Published: May 03, 2023
Constraining motile microorganisms for live imaging often requires costly microfluidics or optical traps to keep them in view. We used patterned stamps and agar to make versatile, inexpensive “microchambers” and offer a way to predict the right chamber size for a given organism.
Adair L. Borges, Rachel J. Dutton, Elizabeth A. McDaniel, Atanas Radkov, Taylor Reiter, and Emily C.P. Weiss
RD
+4
Published: Jul 19, 2023
We sampled cheese microbial communities to discover bacteriophages with unusual genome chemistries. We isolated 114 bacterial host strains and 17 phages, and identified one phage with a probable arabinose hypermodification of hydroxymethylcytosine.
It is commonly assumed that phenotypes arise from the cumulative effects of many independent genes. However, we show that by accounting for dependent and nonlinear biological relationships, we can generate models that predict phenotypes with great accuracy.
Genetic models of complex traits often rely on incorrect assumptions that drivers of trait variation are additive and independent. An information theoretic framework for analyzing trait variation can better capture phenomena like allelic dominance and gene-gene interaction.
Prachee Avasthi, Ben Braverman, Tara Essock-Burns, Galo Garcia III, Cameron Dale MacQuarrie, David Q. Matus, David G. Mets, and Ryan York
BB
TE
+7
Published: Jun 23, 2023
We’re crossing C. reinhardtii and C. smithii algae for high-throughput genotype-phenotype mapping. In preparation, we’re comparing the parents to uncover unique species-specific phenotypes.
Prachee Avasthi, Feridun Mert Celebi, Keith Cheveralls, Seemay Chou, Ilya Kolb, and David Q. Matus
KC
SC
AH
+5
Published: Dec 02, 2023
Machine learning is a powerful tool for classifying images in a time series, such as the developmental stages of embryos. We built a classifier using only bright-field microscopy images to infer nematode embryonic stages at high throughput.
We’ve developed an easy-to-assemble apparatus and software for the automated collection of visible biological phenotypes such as growth, macroscopic morphology, motion, reflectance, and fluorescence.
Prachee Avasthi, Brae M. Bigge, Ilya Kolb, David G. Mets, Manon Morin, Austin H. Patton, and Ryan York
BB
IK
DM
+5
Published: Mar 06, 2024
We outline a comparative approach to investigate protein function by correlating the presence or absence of a protein with species-level phenotypes. We applied this strategy to a novel actin isoform in fungi but didn’t find an association with any of the phenotypes we considered.
Prachee Avasthi, Brae M. Bigge, Ben Braverman, Tara Essock-Burns, Ryan Lane, David G. Mets, Austin H. Patton, and Ryan York
BB
TE
+7
Published: May 31, 2024
To test its utility in analyzing biological samples, we built an open-source Raman spectrometer and collected spectra from chilis, beer, and algae. We could stratify samples, classify replicates, and link spectra with quantitative traits of beer (ABV) and chilis (perceived heat).
Adair L. Borges, Seemay Chou, Ilya Kolb, Ryan Lane, David G. Mets, and Kira E. Poskanzer
KC
SC
IK
+4
Published: Jul 26, 2024
Sensory disorders are clinically common, debilitating conditions. But mouse behavioral models are often insufficient. We demonstrate that label-free, minimally-invasive brain imaging in mice could be a promising avenue for sensory research or drug discovery efforts.
We assembled a comprehensive E. coli antimicrobial resistance phenotypes-genotype resource. This dataset will aid large-scale genetic studies on anti-microbial resistance and support research in phylogenetics and other fields.