Project description:In order to find out whether insects are suitable as a pure protein source and what potential problems or benefits can be expected, a 10-week feeding experiment was set up. In this experiment, the overall protein content were identical, while the protein content from soy and fishmeal was replaced with 25, 50, 75 and 100% insect meal. In order to evaluate the effect of the insect protein on the fish, fish size and weight were determined at the beginning and end of the experiment, and transcriptomic analyses of proximal intestine were performed. Finally, samples of the liver and intestine were examined histologically.
Project description:We studied the molecular mechanisms underlying the impact of pollen nutrients on honey bee (Apis mellifera) health and how those nutrients improve resistance to parasites. Using digital gene expression, we determined the changes in gene expression induced by pollen intake in worker bees parasitized or not by the mites Varroa destructor, known for suppressing immunity and decreasing lifespan of bees. bees with or without verroa, and fed or not fed pollen
Project description:This data is part of a miRNA platform comparison study. We compared the performance characteristics of four commercial miRNA array technologies and found that all platforms performed well in separate measures of performance. The Ambion and Agilent platforms were more accurate, whereas the Illumina and Exiqon platforms were more specific. Furthermore, the data analysis approach had a large impact on the performance, predominantly by improving precision. Performance of four (4) commercially available miRNA platforms was evaluated using 7 placenta samples spiked with synthetic microRNA spikes (in Latin-square design) absent in placenta. Platforms were primarily evaluated for accuracy and specificity.
Project description:We studied the molecular mechanisms underlying the impact of pollen nutrients on honey bee (Apis mellifera) health and how those nutrients improve resistance to parasites. Using digital gene expression, we determined the changes in gene expression induced by pollen intake in worker bees parasitized or not by the mites Varroa destructor, known for suppressing immunity and decreasing lifespan of bees.
Project description:This data is part of a miRNA platform comparison study. We compared the performance characteristics of four commercial miRNA array technologies and found that all platforms performed well in separate measures of performance. The Ambion and Agilent platforms were more accurate, whereas the Illumina and Exiqon platforms were more specific. Furthermore, the data analysis approach had a large impact on the performance, predominantly by improving precision.
Project description:This project addresses the question of impact of oil spills on lung health. Specifically the project will address the general hypothesis, which is upon oil/dispersant respiratory exposure there will be a higher carcinogenic potential of lung tissue.
Project description:The Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) is a pest of citrus and the primary insect vector of the bacterial pathogen, ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas), which is associated with citrus greening disease. Variability in CLas titer in insects collected from infected plants has been attributed in part to the host plant from which the insects were collected. CLas accumulates to high titers in infected Citrus macrophylla, and in D. citri feeding on the infected plants of this species. In contrast, in the citrus relative Murraya paniculata, CLas titers remain low in infected plants and in D. citri exposed to infected plants. In this study, top-down and bottom-up proteomics methods were used to investigate the impact of these different host plants on D. citri protein expression. Difference in gel electrophoresis (DIGE) was used to identify protein spots on two-dimensional gels that were larger in one of three insect sample classes compared to the other two: D. citri continuously reared on C. macrophylla, D. citri reared continuously on M. paniculata, and D. citri transferred to M. paniculata for five days feeding after continuous rearing on C. macrophylla. Peptide mass spectrometry was used to identify and quantify proteins in target spots upregulated in each sample class. Shotgun proteomics was used to identify and quantify proteins from analysis of tryptic peptide samples prepared from whole insects from four sample classes: the reciprocal host switch condition (D. citri transferred to C. macrophylla for five days feeding after continuous rearing on M. paniculata) in addition to the three sample classes used in DIGE analysis. Integration of the results of both analyses reveals proteins identified by separate experimental workflows to be upregulated in insects adapted to each host plant, and in insects adapting to a novel host plant. A peptidoglycan-degrading protein involved in the immune response to bacterial pathogens was found to be upregulated in M. paniculata-reared D. citri. In the absence of CLas infection, host plant factors specific to M. paniculata may prime the antibacterial immune response in D. citri. Understanding the insect proteins involved in the adaptation of D. citri to host plants with variation in their susceptibility to CLas will inform the development of control strategies aimed at stopping the spread of citrus greening disease.