Publications by authors named "Caina Ning"
Functional characterization of three G protein-coupled acetylcholine receptors in parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis.
Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist
December 2023
Article Synopsis
- - The study identified three metabotropic acetylcholine receptors (TsGAR-1, -2, and -3) in the parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis and explored their physiological roles and genetic relationships.
- - TsGAR-1 and -2 are distinct from mammalian receptors, while TsGAR-3 is similar to mammalian-type receptors, and all three were found to trigger a G protein pathway when activated by acetylcholine.
- - The unique pharmacological profiles of TsGAR-1 and -2, along with their evolutionary distance from mammalian counterparts, suggest they could be important targets for creating new drugs to combat nematode infections.
Isolation and electrophysiological recording of Ixodes ricinus synganglion neurons.
J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods
December 2023
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the central nervous system of hard ticks, focusing on the synganglion, which is a merged nerve mass.
- Researchers successfully isolated neurons from the synganglion and measured their electrical activity in response to substances like acetylcholine, nicotine, and muscarine using advanced techniques.
- Results showed that acetylcholine generated significant inward currents and increased calcium levels in neurons, while nicotine and muscarine caused non-reversible calcium increases, helping to lay groundwork for further studies on tick neurobiology and potential tick control.
Salivary glands are vital to tick feeding success and also play a crucial role in tick-borne pathogen transmission. In previous studies of Ixodes scapularis salivary glands, we demonstrated that saliva-producing type II and III acini are innervated by neuropeptidergic axons which release different classes of neuropeptides via their terminals (Šimo et al., 2009b, 2013).
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