38th Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology

The exhaustive data base provided by genomics of entomopathogens allows us to address the expression, interactions, and functions of the many ORFs uncovered. However, this multitude of genes exceeds the capacity for traditional molecular tools such as Northern blotting and protein expression. DNA microarrays provide a high throughput alternative for evaluating simultaneously the transcriptional profiles of all genes within a genome. For example, one DNA microarray hybridization is equivalent to up to 3,000 or more identical Northern blots, each probed with a different DNA fragment and allowing for comparison of global gene expression under different conditions (e.g. infected vs. uninfected cells). DNA microarrays have been applied to studies on single nucleotide changes (SNPs), loss or acquisition/amplification of DNA, diagnostics, identifying members of consortia and even DNA replication. This workshop introduces the methodology behind DNA microarray printing, sample preparation, hybridization and data analysis. Using insect viruses as examples, we will explore the application of this technology to viral gene expression and their use in research on other entomopathogens. Proteomics, following on the heels of this technology, allows researchers to track the synthesis of specific proteins under different conditions and to identify protein-protein partners in a complex milieu of many proteins.