The mitochondrial genome of Smerinthus planus (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) and its comparative analysis with other Lepidoptera species.

In the present study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Smerinthus planus Walker (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) was sequenced and analyzed to add additional traits for expanding our knowledge on systematics and phylogenetics of world-wide studied Sphingidae moths. The mitochondrial genome is a circular double-stranded DNA molecule, 15368 bp in size. It includes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, twenty-two transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and an adenine (A) + thymine (T) rich region.

Immunological Function of the Antibacterial Peptide Attacin-Like in the Chinese Oak Silkworm, .

Background: Antibacterial peptides play important roles in the innate immune system of insects and are divided into four categories according to their structures. Although many antibacterial peptides have been reported in lepidopteran insects, the roles of an attacin-like gene in immune response of Antheraea pernyi remain unclear.

Objective: In this study, the cloning and immunological functions of an attacin-like gene from Antheraea pernyi were investigated.

Author Correction: Comparative Mitochondrial Genome Analysis of Eligma narcissus and other Lepidopteran Insects Reveals Conserved Mitochondrial Genome Organization and Phylogenetic Relationships.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Author Correction: Characterization of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Leucoma salicis (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) and Comparison with Other Lepidopteran Insects.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

The RNA-seq approach to discriminate gene expression profiles in response to Beauveria bassiana and Micrococcus luteus microbial pathogens on Actias selene (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae).

Actias selene (Hübner) is an important silk-spinning moth. Like other moths, it has innate immunity but no acquired immunity. However, there are few studies on immune-related genes of A.

Analysis of perioperative outcome and long-term survival rate of thoracic endovascular aortic repair in uncomplicated type B dissection: single-centre experience with 751 patients.

Objectives: To study the perioperative outcomes and long-term survival rates in patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for uncomplicated type B dissection.

Methods: A total of 751 patients with uncomplicated type B dissection who underwent TEVAR at our centre between May 2001 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. The mean age of all patients (619 males and 132 females) was 52.

Identification and function of a lebocin-like gene from the Chinese oak silkworm, Antheraea pernyi.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play important roles in the insect innate immune response. To investigate the role of a lebocin-like protein in the oak silkworm, Antheraea pernyi, in response to immune challenge, an Ap-lebocin-like gene with an open reading frame of 489 bp was identified. This gene encodes a protein of 162 amino acid residues and belongs to a family of proline-rich antimicrobial peptides.

Primary cardiac malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor: a case report.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors are rare sarcomas of children and adolescents, and they are aggressive tumors with a high rate of local recurrence. Here we report a case of a primary cardiac malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor without neurofibromatosis type I. A 53-year old woman presented having had cough, expectoration, and dyspnea for 20 days and was found to have a heart-involving tumor diagnosed as a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, a rare cardiac sarcoma of 9 × 4.

Molecular cloning and functional analysis of small heat shock protein 19.1 gene from the Chinese oak silkworm, Antheraea pernyi.

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are a class of highly conserved proteins that are ubiquitously found in all types of organisms, from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. In the current study, we identified and characterized the full-length cDNA encoding sHSP 19.1 from the oak silkworm, Antheraea pernyi.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of silkworm, Bombyx mori colleterial gland suggests their functional role in mucous secretion.

Colleterial glands (CG) present in the body of adult female of Bombyx mori, which can help adhere eggs on the surface of the host plants. Although this organ has been known for centuries, only morphology and its secretions have been studied. Their gene expression profiles and physiological roles remain largely unknown.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 6 can enhance epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway in Bombyx mori (Dazao).

The SOCS (Suppressor of cytokine signaling) family members are a potential negative regulator of cytokine signaling pathway and play a key role to maintain immunological functions in animals. SOCS-6 is an important member of the SOCS family, however the functions of this gene have rarely been explored among eukaryotes. Herein, we cloned and expressed SOCS-6 gene from Bombyx mori (Dazao) (BmSOCS-6), and anti-rabbit antibodies were prepared using purified recombinant BmSOCS-6 protein.

Role of Antheraea pernyi serpin 12 in prophenoloxidase activation and immune responses.

Serine protease inhibitors play a key role in the immune system of invertebrates by controlling proteolytic cascades. Besides its importance, the knowledge on immune functions of serpins in most of insects is fragmentary. In the present study, we identified serpin-12 from Antheraea pernyi encoding a predicted 402 amino acid residue protein (Apserpin-12).

Immune function of a Rab-related protein by modulating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

The Rab-family GTPases mainly regulate intracellular vesicle transport, and play important roles in the innate immune response in invertebrates. However, the function and signal transduction of Rab proteins in immune reactions remain unclear in silkworms. In this study, we analyzed a Rab-related protein of silkworm Bombyx mori (BmRABRP) by raising antibodies against its bacterially expressed recombinant form.

Identification and function of cAMP response element binding protein in Oak silkworm Antheraea pernyi.

Cyclic AMP response element binding (CREB) proteins participate in the regulation of many biological processes. However, little is known about their role in immune regulation in the Oak silkworm (Antheraea pernyi). In this study, a CREB gene was identified in A.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 2-12 regulates antimicrobial peptides and ecdysteroid signaling pathways in Bombyx mori (Dazao).

Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) are a potent negative regulator of diverse cytokine-related responses to maintain various physiological processes in animals. Here, we obtained the SOCS2-12 gene sequence of Bombyx mori (Dazao) (BmSOCS2-12) from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) to study its expression profile in different tissues, as well as in the immune tissues following larval exposure to pathogens. Further, we investigated the role of BmSOCS2-12 in producing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and as a regulator of ecdysteroid signaling transduction.

Cathepsin L-like protease can regulate the process of metamorphosis and fat body dissociation in Antheraea pernyi.

Cathepsins are a group of protease, located in lysosome and play a vital role in physiological process. Here, we reported cathepsin L-like protease (Ap-cathL), which contained an open reading frame of 1155 bp and encoding 385 amino acid residues protein. The I29 inhibitor domain and peptidase C1A (clan CA of cysteine proteases, papain family C1 subfamily) putative conserved domains were detected in Ap-cathL.

Cathepsin O is involved in the innate immune response and metamorphosis of Antheraea pernyi.

Cathepsins are key members of mammalian papain-like cysteine proteases that play an important role in the immune response. In this study, a fragment of cDNA encoding cathepsin O proteinase (ApCathepsin O) was cloned from Antheraea pernyi. It contains an open reading frame of 1170bp and encodes a protein with 390 amino acid residues, including a conserved I29 inhibitor domain and a peptidase C1A (clan CA of cysteine proteases, papain family C1 subfamily) domain.

Mitochondrial genome of (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) and comparative analysis with other Lepidopterans.

In this study, a complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence of Abraxas suspecta (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is isolated and characterized. The complete DNA is 15,547 bp length and contains 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 23 putative transfer RNA (tRNA) genes including an extra tRNAAsn (AUU), 13 protein-coding genes and an adenine (A) + thymine (T)-rich region. The nucleotide composition and gene organization are identical to those of other lepidopteran, except for the presence of an extra copy of trnN (AUU).

Comparative mitochondrial genome analysis of Daphnis nerii and other lepidopteran insects reveals conserved mitochondrial genome organization and phylogenetic relationships.

In the present study, the complete sequence of the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Daphnis nerii (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) is described. The mitogenome (15,247 bp) of D.nerii encodes13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) and an adenine (A) + thymine (T)-rich region.

Serpin-14 negatively regulates prophenoloxidase activation and expression of antimicrobial peptides in Chinese oak silkworm Antheraea pernyi.

Genes encoding proteins of serpins superfamily are widely distributed in invertebrates. In insects, serpins play important roles in regulating immune responses and other physiological processes. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of cDNA of Apserpin-14 from Chinese oak silkworm (Antheraea pernyi).