Using single nucleus RNA-seq to determine the effect of immunosuppression on the transcriptional activity of resident CNS cells in a mouse model of CNS-TB

dc.contributor.advisorHockman, Dorit
dc.contributor.advisorJacobs, Muazzam
dc.contributor.advisorRaimondo, Joseph
dc.contributor.authorAmien, Ilyaas
dc.date.accessioned2025-11-07T09:19:46Z
dc.date.available2025-11-07T09:19:46Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.updated2025-11-06T11:18:52Z
dc.description.abstractTuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious cause of death worldwide and is particularly prevalent in South Africa. Central Nervous System TB (CNS-TB), specifically TB Meningitis (TBM) is the deadliest complication of the disease. Given the high co-prevalence of HIV and CNS-TB, many transcriptional studies have examined the immunocompromised response to CNS-TB, but none have done so atsingle cell resolution. Single nucleus RNA Sequencing (snRNA-seq) was used to determine the effect of immunosuppression on the transcriptional activity of resident CNS cells in a mouse model of CNS-TB. The model consisted of two mouse genotypes, namely Wildtype and TNF knockout (TNF-/- ). Mycobacterium Tuberculosis was injected into the somatosensory cortex of the treatment groups, with control samples receiving a saline injection. Brains were harvested at 9- and 17-days post inoculation. Following library generation, removal of ambient RNA and data processing using Seurat, differential gene expression analysis was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Oligodendrocytes had the most DEGs in the general TB response, whereas excitatory neurons had the highest DEGs in the immunocompromised TB response and with disease progression. Potential mechanisms by which these cell types contribute to the pathogenesis of CNS-TB were explored, such as excitotoxicity, demyelination and neurodegeneration. Pathways related to neurogenesis were identified in the immunocompromised TB response. The study adds to the body of knowledge by identifying cell type specific resident gene expression responses in the context of CNS-TB.
dc.identifier.apacitationAmien, I. (2025). <i>Using single nucleus RNA-seq to determine the effect of immunosuppression on the transcriptional activity of resident CNS cells in a mouse model of CNS-TB</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Human Biology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42145en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationAmien, Ilyaas. <i>"Using single nucleus RNA-seq to determine the effect of immunosuppression on the transcriptional activity of resident CNS cells in a mouse model of CNS-TB."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Human Biology, 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42145en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationAmien, I. 2025. Using single nucleus RNA-seq to determine the effect of immunosuppression on the transcriptional activity of resident CNS cells in a mouse model of CNS-TB. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Human Biology. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42145en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Amien, Ilyaas AB - Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious cause of death worldwide and is particularly prevalent in South Africa. Central Nervous System TB (CNS-TB), specifically TB Meningitis (TBM) is the deadliest complication of the disease. Given the high co-prevalence of HIV and CNS-TB, many transcriptional studies have examined the immunocompromised response to CNS-TB, but none have done so atsingle cell resolution. Single nucleus RNA Sequencing (snRNA-seq) was used to determine the effect of immunosuppression on the transcriptional activity of resident CNS cells in a mouse model of CNS-TB. The model consisted of two mouse genotypes, namely Wildtype and TNF knockout (TNF-/- ). Mycobacterium Tuberculosis was injected into the somatosensory cortex of the treatment groups, with control samples receiving a saline injection. Brains were harvested at 9- and 17-days post inoculation. Following library generation, removal of ambient RNA and data processing using Seurat, differential gene expression analysis was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Oligodendrocytes had the most DEGs in the general TB response, whereas excitatory neurons had the highest DEGs in the immunocompromised TB response and with disease progression. Potential mechanisms by which these cell types contribute to the pathogenesis of CNS-TB were explored, such as excitotoxicity, demyelination and neurodegeneration. Pathways related to neurogenesis were identified in the immunocompromised TB response. The study adds to the body of knowledge by identifying cell type specific resident gene expression responses in the context of CNS-TB. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Medicine LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2025 T1 - Using single nucleus RNA-seq to determine the effect of immunosuppression on the transcriptional activity of resident CNS cells in a mouse model of CNS-TB TI - Using single nucleus RNA-seq to determine the effect of immunosuppression on the transcriptional activity of resident CNS cells in a mouse model of CNS-TB UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42145 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/42145
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationAmien I. Using single nucleus RNA-seq to determine the effect of immunosuppression on the transcriptional activity of resident CNS cells in a mouse model of CNS-TB. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Human Biology, 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42145en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Human Biology
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectMedicine
dc.titleUsing single nucleus RNA-seq to determine the effect of immunosuppression on the transcriptional activity of resident CNS cells in a mouse model of CNS-TB
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMSc
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