Project description:We compare the transcriptome of gnotobiotic Ae. aegypti generated by contaminating axenic (bacteria-free) larvae with bacterial isolates found in natural mosquito breeding sites. We focused on four bacterial isolates (Lysobacter, Flavobacterium, Paenibacillus and Enterobacteriaceae) and found that different gnotobiotic treatments resulted in massive transcriptomic changes throughout the mosquito development.
Project description:Understanding the molecular determinants of the mosquitoes’ competence to host the viruses holds promise to prevent their transmission. We performed transcriptomic analysis with data obtained from RNA-seq of dengue- or naïve- infected mosquitoes on day 1, 2, and 7 post infections
Project description:Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis for which current standard chemotherapeutic treatment options offer little survival benefit. In recent years, receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK)s have garnered interest as therapeutic targets to augment or replace standard chemotherapeutic therapies because of their high expression levels in various cancers and their ability to promote cell growth, migration, and survival. Met and Ron, which are homologous RTKs activated by the ligands hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and macrophage stimulating protein (MSP), respectively, are over-activated in many of the least treatable cancers. In pancreatic adenocarcinoma, Met expression is linked to poor patient survival and Ron expression is generally higher in tumor samples relative to normal tissue, although its prognostic significance in pancreatic cancer remains unclear. Despite the structural homology between Met and Ron, studies that have directly compared the functional outcomes of these systems in any context are limited. To address this, we sought to determine if the HGF/Met and MSP/Ron systems produce overlapping or divergent contributions towards a malignant phenotype by performing a characterization of MSP and HGF driven signaling, behavioral, and transcriptomic responses in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. We found HGF and MSP both encouraged cell migration and activated the MAPK/Erk pathway both at the transcript and protein level. HGF uniquely increased proliferation in addition to regulating a wider variety of transcripts compared to MSP. Although HGF and MSP produced a differing breadth of responses, overlapping pro-cancer signaling, behavioral, and transcriptional effects suggest dual inhibition of the MSP/Ron and HGF/Met systems in pancreatic cancer may provide a more complete anti-cancer effect compared to individually targeting either system.
Project description:The primary defence against mosquitoes and other disease vectors is often the application of a repellent. Despite their common use, the mechanism(s) underlying the activity of repellents is not fully understood, with even the mode of action of DEET having been reported to be via different mechanisms; e.g. interference with olfactory receptor neurones or actively detected by olfactory receptor neurones on the antennae or maxillary palps. In this study, we discuss a novel mechanism for repellence, one of P450 inhibition. Thirteen essential oil extracts from Colombian plants were assayed for potency as P450 inhibitors, using a kinetic fluorometric assay, and for repellency using a modified World Health Organisation Pesticide Evaluations Scheme (WHOPES) arm-in cage assay with Stegomyia (Aedes) aegypti mosquitoes. Bootstrap analysis on the inhibition analysis revealed a significant correlation between P450-inhibition and repellent activity of the oils.
Project description:Ron (Mst1r), the receptor for MSP is highly expressed in colonic epithelial cells, especially in immature cell types, such as stem cells, TA cells and immature enterocytes. To identify genes that can be induced by MSP in mouse colonic epithelial cells, we performed bulk RNA-seq using day2 colon spheroids.
Project description:Transcriptomic analysis of mosquito larvae exposed to LC50 of Cry11Aa toxin from Bti at different times was conducted to determine defense response pathways in order to better understand the toxin's mode of action and identify possible cellular targets to enhance toxin activity.
Project description:This microarray was performed in attempt to find (novel) related genes in the msp/ron signaling pathway during embryonic development Embryos from mutant versus wild type crosses were raised in standard E3 medium at 28 degrees Celcius. At 3 dpf and 6 dpf total RNA from (n=30) msp mutant versus wild type embryos was isolated using the Rnaesy mini kit (Qiagen) according to the manufactures protocol.
Project description:Mosquito eggshells show remarkable diversity in physical properties and structure consistent with adaptations to the wide variety of environments exploited by these insects. We applied proteomic, transcriptomic, and hybridization in situ techniques to identify gene products and pathways that participate in the assembly of the Aedes aegypti eggshell. Aedes aegypti population density is low during cold and dry seasons and increases immediately after rainfall. The survival of embryos through unfavorable periods is a key factor in the persistence of their populations. The work described here supports integrated vector control approaches that target eggshell formation and result in Ae. aegypti drought-intolerant phenotypes for public health initiatives directed to reduce mosquito-borne diseases.A total of 130 proteins were identified from the combined mass spectrometric analyses of eggshell preparations.Classification of proteins according to their known and putative functions revealed the complexity of the eggshell structure. Three novel Ae. aegypti vitelline membrane proteins were discovered. Odorant-binding and cysteine-rich proteins that may be structural components of the eggshell were identified. Enzymes with peroxidase, laccase and phenoloxidase activities also were identified, and their likely involvements in cross-linking reactions that stabilize the eggshell structure are discussed.