----------------------------------------------------------------------- BIOINFORMATICS COLLOQUIUM School of Computational Sciences George Mason University ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Gene Expression in Soybean Roots Upon Invasion by the Soybean Cyst Nematode Benjamin Matthews USDA Soybean Genomics & Improvement Laboratory matthewb@ba.ars.usda.gov Tuesday, April 19, 2005 4:30 pm Bull Run Hall 131, Prince William Campus The soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, is the major pest of soybean and causes an estimated one billion dollars in damage each year in the US. Genes expressed in soybean roots in response to SCN invasion were monitored using microarrays. Roots were harvested from two independent biological samples of susceptible soybean, cv. Kent. roots at 6 and 12 hr, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 days after infection by SCN strain NL1-RHp and compared with uninfected controls and with the resistant, cv. Peking, at the same time points. Furthermore, laser capture microdissection and EST analysis were used to study gene expression specifically in syncytial cells (feeding cells) formed by SCN in the susceptible cv. Kent. Gene and microarray databases were constructed and posted online. The databases are supported with online analytical processing capabilities (OLAP), so scientists can mine the data without importing the data into third-party software. These results are being used to identify genes and pathways important to the defense response and to develop new approaches for broadening the resistance of soybean against SCN attack. See our web site at http://bldg6.arsusda.gov/benlab for further information. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Refreshments are served at 4:00 pm. Find the schedule and directions at http://www.binf.gmu.edu/colloq.html