KLF regulation of insulin pathway genes.

Alteration in lipid metabolism can result in fat accumulation in adipose tissues, which may lead to two most important human diseases, obesity and diabetes. A shift in lipid metabolism deregulates signaling pathways which regulates obesity and/or diabetes. In this study, we examined the components of insulin/ TGF-β pathways and their genetic interaction with Krüppel-like transcription factors (KLFs).

Complete Genome Sequence of Mycobacteriophage Faze9.

Mycobacteriophage Faze9 is a novel lytic phage that was isolated from soil collected in Scranton, PA, using the host mc155. Faze9 has a double-stranded DNA genome composed of 67,503 kbp, has a G+C content of 68.9%, encodes 91 predicted proteins, and is closely related to mycobacteriophages in the B2 subcluster.

Salts and energy balance: A special role for dietary salts in metabolic syndrome.

Background: Dietary salts sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg2), and calcium (Ca2) are important in metabolic diseases. Yet, we do not have sufficient understanding on the salts global molecular network in these diseases. In this systematic review we have pooled information to identify the general effect of salts on obesity, insulin resistance and hypertension.

Effects of insect growth regulators on the mosquito-parasitic nematode Romanomermis iyengari.

Pyriproxyfen, a juvenile hormone analogue, diflubenzuron, a chitin synthesis inhibitor, and azadirachtin, an ecdysone agonist, are three insect growth regulators (IGRs) considered as selective and effective insecticides for mosquitoes. Romanomermis iyengari (Welch) is a mosquito-parasitic mermithid that can provide biological control against many medically important mosquito species. The compatibility of these two control tactics was tested by evaluating the sublethal effects of exposure to IGR on nematode developmental stages (preparasitic, parasitic, and preparasitic + parasitic) using Culex pipiens larvae as the host.

Effect of malathion on larval competition between Aedes albopictus and Aedes atropalpus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and Aedes atropalpus (Coquillett) (Diptera: Culicidae) are container-dwelling mosquito species that are well established in the eastern United States. Interspecific larval competition studies have shown Ae. albopictus to be a superior competitor over many species.

Krüppel-like family of transcription factors: an emerging new frontier in fat biology.

In mammals, adipose tissue stores energy in the form of fat. The ability to regulate fat storage is essential for the growth, development and reproduction of most animals, thus any abnormalities caused by excess fat accumulation can result in pathological conditions which are linked to several interrelated diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity. In recent years significant effort has been applied to understand basic mechanism of fat accumulation in mammalian system.

Resistance to wheat streak mosaic virus in transgenic wheat engineered with the viral coat protein gene.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) plants were stably transformed with the coat protein (CP) gene of wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) by the biolistic method. Eleven independently transformed plant lines were obtained and five were analyzed for gene expression and resistance to WSMV. One line showed high resistance to inoculations of two WSMV strains.