Assembly and phylogeographical analysis of novel Taenia solium mitochondrial genomes suggest stratification within the African-American genotype.

Background: Taenia solium is a parasite of public health concern, causing human taeniasis and cysticercosis. Two main genotypes have been identified: Asian and African-American. Although characterizing T.

The 4E-BP growth pathway regulates the effect of ambient temperature on metabolism and lifespan.

Changes in body temperature can profoundly affect survival. The dramatic longevity-enhancing effect of cold has long been known in organisms ranging from invertebrates to mammals, yet the underlying mechanisms have only recently begun to be uncovered. In the nematode , this process is regulated by a thermosensitive membrane TRP channel and the DAF-16/FOXO transcription factor, but in more complex organisms the underpinnings of cold-induced longevity remain largely mysterious.

Mifepristone Reduces Food Palatability and Affects Drosophila Feeding and Lifespan.

The Drosophila GeneSwitch system facilitates the spatial and temporal control of gene expression through dietary supplementation of mifepristone (RU486). Because experimental and control groups differ only by treatment with RU486, confounding results from using flies of different genetic backgrounds are eliminated, making GeneSwitch especially useful in studies of aging. However, the effect of RU486 itself on longevity has not been well characterized, particularly in relation to nutritional states known to affect lifespan.

Acidic Food pH Increases Palatability and Consumption and Extends Drosophila Lifespan.

Background: Despite the prevalent use of Drosophila as a model in studies of nutrition, the effects of fundamental food properties, such as pH, on animal health and behavior are not well known.

Objectives: We examined the effect of food pH on adult Drosophila lifespan, feeding behavior, and microbiota composition and tested the hypothesis that pH-mediated changes in palatability and total consumption are required for modulating longevity.

Methods: We measured the effect of buffered food (pH 5, 7, or 9) on male gustatory responses (proboscis extension), total food intake, and male and female lifespan.