Complete Mitochondrial Genome for (Diptera: Calliphoridae) from the Northern Territory, Australia.

The Australian sheep blowfly, , is a major sheep ectoparasite causing subcutaneous myiasis (flystrike), which can lead to reduced livestock productivity and, in severe instances, death of the affected animals. It is also a primary colonizer of carrion, an efficient pollinator, and used in maggot debridement therapy and forensic investigations. In this study, we report the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of from the Northern Territory (NT), Australia, where sheep are prohibited animals, unlike the rest of Australia.

Mitochondrial genomic investigation reveals a clear association between species and genotypes of Lucilia and geographic origin in Australia.

Background: Lucilia cuprina and L. sericata (family Calliphoridae) are globally significant ectoparasites of sheep. Current literature suggests that only one of these blowfly subspecies, L.

AT1R Activating Autoantibodies in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor activating autoantibodies (AT1R-AAs) have gained attention in solid organ transplant as non-HLA antibodies associated with rejection, vasculopathy, and graft dysfunction. These antibodies have also been reported in the context of pre-eclampsia, scleroderma, and isolated hypertension. Here, we present 3 post-hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) cases with patients demonstrating elevated levels of AT1R-AAs detected within the first year post-HSCT.

Effect of a New Head Lice Treatment, Abametapir Lotion, 0.74%, on Louse Eggs: A Randomized, Double-Blind Study.

Few head lice treatments have demonstrated effectiveness against louse eggs. Abametapir, a metalloproteinase inhibitor, is able to target metalloproteinases critical to egg hatching and louse development. In this double-blind, phase 2 study, 50 subjects aged ≥3 years with active head lice infestation were randomized to receive a single treatment of abametapir lotion, 0.

Clinical studies evaluating abametapir lotion, 0.74%, for the treatment of head louse infestation.

Background: There is a need for better control of head louse infestations. Abametapir is an inhibitor of metalloproteinases critical for louse survival and egg development. The efficacy of abametapir lotion, 0.

The Battle Against Flystrike - Past Research and New Prospects Through Genomics.

Flystrike, or cutaneous myiasis, is caused by blow fly larvae of the genus Lucilia. This disease is a major problem in countries with large sheep populations. In Australia, Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830) is the principal fly involved in flystrike.

Ovicidal Efficacy of Abametapir Against Eggs of Human Head and Body Lice (Anoplura: Pediculidae).

Studies were undertaken to determine the ovicidal efficacy of 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl (abametapir) against eggs of both human head and body lice. Head lice eggs of different ages (0-2, 3-5, and 6-8-d-old eggs) were exposed to varying concentrations of abametapir in isopropanol and concentration-dependent response relationships established based on egg hatch. One hundred percent of all abametapir-treated eggs failed to hatch at the 0.

A blow to the fly - Lucilia cuprina draft genome and transcriptome to support advances in biology and biotechnology.

The blow fly, Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830) is a parasitic insect of major global economic importance. Maggots of this fly parasitize the skin of animal hosts, feed on excretions and tissues, and cause severe disease (flystrike or myiasis). Although there has been considerable research on L.

Control of the sheep blowfly in Australia and New Zealand--are we there yet?

The last 50 years of research into infections in Australia and New Zealand caused by larvae of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, have significantly advanced our understanding of this blowfly and its primary host, the sheep. However, apart from some highly effective drugs it could be argued that no new control methodologies have resulted. This review addresses the major areas of sheep blowfly research over this period describing the significant outcomes and analyses, and what is still required to produce new commercial control technologies.

The immunobiology of myiasis infections--whatever happened to vaccination?

The current state of myiasis vaccine technologies are reviewed mainly in the primary research genera of Lucilia and Hypoderma. The importance of myiasis flies as primary causes of morbidity and mortality in agricultural species and man has not diminished despite the existence of good control strategies. However, the development of vaccines against myiasis infections has been relatively quiescent for more than 10 years despite the rapid development of genomic and proteomic analysis and of skills in data interpretation.

The ovicidal, larvacidal and adulticidal properties of 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl against Drosophila melanogaster.

Insecticide resistance has limited the number of available chemical options for insect pest control. Hence there is a need for new chemistries with novel modes of action. Here we investigate the mode of action for an insecticide that has not yet been released for commercial use.

The identification of candidate genes and SNP markers for classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy susceptibility.

Classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy is a transmissible prion disease that is fatal to cattle and is a human health risk due to its association with a strain of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). Mutations to the coding region of the prion gene (PRNP) have been associated with susceptibility to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in mammals including bovines and humans. Additional loci such as the retinoic acid receptor beta (RARB) and stathmin like 2 (STMN2) have also been associated with disease risk.

Development of molecular markers and linkage maps for the Carthamus species C. tinctorius and C. oxyacanthus.

A set of SSR and RFLP markers for safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) and jeweled distaff thistle (C. oxyacanthus) was generated from cDNA and genomic libraries and by mining public and proprietary sequence databases. In total, 1412 PCR-based markers and 75 RFLP markers were screened and polymorphic loci were mapped in an intraspecific F2 population of C.

The use of between session assignments in ADHD coaching with college students.

Objective: To provide an analysis of the use of between session assignments (BSA) in ADHD coaching with college students. The article provides a description of the structure and process of using BSA in an academic setting.

Method: A brief survey of ADHD coaches is used to evaluate 13 coaching clients engaged in an 8-week structured program.

Biomedical applications of sheep models: from asthma to vaccines.

Although rodent models are very popular for scientific studies, it is becoming more evident that large animal models can provide unique opportunities for biomedical research. Sheep are docile in nature and large in size, which facilitates surgical manipulation, and their physiology is similar to humans. As a result, for decades they have been chosen for several models and continue to be used to study an ever-increasing array of applications.

Metalloproteases and egg-hatching in Pediculus humanus, the body (clothes) louse of humans (Phthiraptera: Insecta).

To investigate the biochemical components of egg-hatch in the body louse, Pediculus humanus, egg-shell-washings (ESW) were collected during the first 2 h post-hatching and analysed by gelatin SDS-PAGE. These ESW contained proteases with molecular mass in the range of 25-100 kDa; the most abundant proteases were approximately 25 kDa. The 3 main regions of protease activity in the one-dimensional gelatin SDS-PAGE gels resolved to at least 23 distinct regions of protease activity when analysed by two-dimensional gelatin SDS-PAGE, with iso-electric points spread over the entire 3 to 10 pH range.

Cells, cytokines and other molecules associated with rejection of gastrointestinal nematode parasites.

Infections with gastrointestinal nematodes represent a major problem for human health and animal health and production. The physical size of the parasite, its changing life-cycle stages and the relative inaccessibility to host cells pose unique challenges to the immune system, which has evolved specialized strategies for parasite control. This paper reviews the work performed in the authors' laboratories to identify components that are involved in the natural rejection response against ruminant gastrointestinal nematode parasites, in particular Haemonchus contortus in sheep.

Management of myiasis: current status and future prospects.

The management of myiasis in livestock has been an example of the success of modern chemical approaches for parasite control, yet in some cases remains extremely intractable, requiring the development of novel strategies. In addition, the growing and urgent need to develop integrated strategies that enhance the sustainability of livestock production systems drives the search for new techniques [see Int. J.

The comparative serum disposition kinetics of subcutaneous administration of doramectin, ivermectin and moxidectin in the Australian Merino sheep.

This study evaluates the comparative serum disposition kinetics of injectable formulations of doramectin (DRM), ivermectin (IVM) and moxidectin (MXD) in Australian Merino sheep. Thirty-six, 2-year-old sheep were allocated by weight into six groups of six animals. Animals in each group received 200 microg/kg of DRM, MXD, IVM or a combination of two of these drugs by subcutaneous (s.

Local immune responses in sensitized sheep following challenge infection with Teladorsagia circumcincta.

Sheep were sensitized by weekly infections with Teladorsagia circumcincta over a 9-week period. After a 12-week rest, sheep were divided into four groups and killed without challenge or 3, 5 and 10 days post challenge (DPC) with 50000 L3. Recovery of challenge larvae from abomasal scrapings was highest at 3 DPC while no parasites were recovered by 10 DPC.

Mechanisms of immunity to Haemonchus contortus infection in sheep.

In two separate experiments, sheep were immunized by nine to 12 weekly immunizing infections with 4000 Haemonchus contortus third stage larva (L3), drenched with anthelminthics and maintained free of H. contortus infection for a further 12 weeks. The anamnestic cellular immune responses in both the abomasal lymph node (ALN) and mucosa of the immunized sheep were examined 3 and 5 days post challenge with 50 000 H.

Role of oligosaccharides in the immune response of sheep vaccinated with Lucilia cuprina larval glycoprotein, peritrophin-95.

The larvae of the fly Lucilia cuprina cause a cutaneous myiasis in mammalian hosts, particularly sheep. The glycoprotein, peritrophin-95, isolated from Lucilia cuprina larval peritrophic matrix, is a candidate vaccine antigen. This protein induced an immune response in vaccinated sheep that inhibited larval growth.

Characterisation of proteases involved in egg hatching of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina.

A number of proteases were identified in the egg shell washings (ESW) collected during the egg hatching of Lucilia cuprina (sheep blowfly). Characterization of these proteases indicated a pH optima in a similar pH range that was optimal for L. cuprina egg hatching.

Cellular profiles in the abomasal mucosa and lymph node during primary infection with Haemonchus contortus in sheep.

Cellular changes in the abomasal tissue and draining abomasal lymph nodes were examined after primary infection of lambs with Haemonchus contortus for 3, 5 or 27-36 days. Infection with H. contortus larvae resulted in a rapid and selective increase in the percentage of CD4(+) T-cells in the abomasal lymph node at 3 days post-infection (PI).

The immunobiology of gastrointestinal nematode infections in ruminants.

The major gastrointestinal nematode parasites of ruminants all belong to the Order Strongylida and the family Trichostrongyloidea. Despite this close evolutionary relationship, distinct differences exist in the microenvironmental niches occupied by the developmental stages of the various parasites, which may account for the variable susceptibility of the different parasite species to the immune effector mechanisms generated by the host. In addition, different manifestations of resistance have been observed against the adult and larval stages of the same parasite species, and even against the same parasite stage.