Amplification and sequencing of entire tick mitochondrial genomes for a phylogenomic analysis.

The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has proven to be important for the taxonomy, systematics, and population genetics of ticks. However, current methods to generate mitogenomes can be cost-prohibitive at scale. To address this issue, we developed a cost-effective approach to amplify and sequence the whole mitogenome of individual tick specimens.

Metallated phthalocyanines and their hydrophilic derivatives for multi-targeted oncological photodynamic therapy.

Background And Aim: A photosensitizer (PS) delivery and comprehensive tumor targeting platform was developed that is centered on the photosensitization of key pharmacological targets in solid tumors (cancer cells, tumor vascular endothelium, and cellular and non-cellular components of the tumor microenvironment) before photodynamic therapy (PDT). Interstitially targeted liposomes (ITLs) encapsulating zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPC) and aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPC) were formulated for passive targeting of the tumor microenvironment. In previous work it was established that the PEGylated ITLs were taken up by cultured cholangiocarcinoma cells.

Strategies for Improving Photodynamic Therapy Through Pharmacological Modulation of the Immediate Early Stress Response.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally to noninvasive treatment modality that has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional cancer treatments. PDT induces hyperoxidative stress and disrupts cellular homeostasis in photosensitized cancer cells, resulting in cell death and ultimately removal of the tumor. However, various survival pathways can be activated in sublethally afflicted cancer cells following PDT.

Inhibition of the HIF-1 Survival Pathway as a Strategy to Augment Photodynamic Therapy Efficacy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-to-minimally invasive treatment modality that utilizes photoactivatable drugs called photosensitizers to disrupt tumors with locally photoproduced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Photosensitizer activation by light results in hyperoxidative stress and subsequent tumor cell death, vascular shutdown and hypoxia, and an antitumor immune response. However, sublethally afflicted tumor cells initiate several survival mechanisms that account for decreased PDT efficacy.

Attritional evaluation of lipophilic and hydrophilic metallated phthalocyanines for oncological photodynamic therapy.

Background And Aim: Oncological photodynamic therapy (PDT) relies on photosensitizers (PSs) to photo-oxidatively destroy tumor cells. Currently approved PSs yield satisfactory results in superficial and easy-to-access tumors but are less suited for solid cancers in internal organs such as the biliary system and the pancreas. For these malignancies, second-generation PSs such as metallated phthalocyanines are more appropriate.

De novo assembled salivary gland transcriptome and expression pattern analyses for Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi Neuman, 1897 male and female ticks.

Ticks secrete proteins in their saliva that change over the course of feeding to modulate the host inflammation, immune responses, haemostasis or may cause paralysis. RNA next generation sequencing technologies can reveal the complex dynamics of tick salivary glands as generated from various tick life stages and/or males and females. The current study represents 15,115 Illumina sequenced contigs of the salivary gland transcriptome from male and female Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi ticks of early, mid and late feeding stages from 1320 separate assemblies using three short read assemblers.

DNA methyltransferases expression in normal tissues and various human cancer cell lines, xenografts and tumors.

DNA methylation plays an important role in carcinogenesis and aberrant methylation patterns have been found in many tumors. Methylation is regulated by DNA methyltransferases (DNMT), catalyzing DNA methylation. Therefore inhibition of DNMT is an interesting target for anticancer treatment.

Transporter and Lysosomal Mediated (Multi)drug Resistance to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Potential Strategies to Overcome Resistance.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are a class of chemotherapeutic drugs that target specific protein kinases. These tyrosine kinase inhibitors constitute a relatively new class of drugs which target for instance Bcr-Abl, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (VEGFR). Despite some initial successes, the overall therapeutic benefit of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the clinic has been mixed.

Argasid and ixodid systematics: Implications for soft tick evolution and systematics, with a new argasid species list.

The systematics of the genera and subgenera within the soft tick family Argasidae is not adequately resolved. Different classification schemes, reflecting diverse schools of scientific thought that elevated or downgraded groups to genera or subgenera, have been proposed. In the most recent classification scheme, Argas and Ornithodoros are paraphyletic and the placement of various subgenera remains uncertain because molecular data are lacking.

Integrative taxonomy of Afrotropical Ornithodoros (Ornithodoros) (Acari: Ixodida: Argasidae).

Afrotropical Ornithodoros (Ornithodoros) ticks are revised based on qualitative morphology of females and nymphs, as well as tarsus I shape outlines of females measured in a geometric morphometric framework. These lines of evidence corroborate lineages based on 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence data. Four previously unrecognized species are described, along with a revived nomen nudum that was previously considered a synonym.

Notes on maternal behaviour in soft ticks: Specifically observed in Argas (Argas) striatus Bedford, 1932 and Argas (Secretargas) transgariepinus White, 1846.

Maternal behaviour (carrying of larvae on the opisthosoma) in ticks has thus far only been observed in Antricola (Parantricola) marginatus and was considered a unique derived adaptation of this genus. The authors extend this observation to two additional argasid species, namely Argas (Argas) striatus and Argas (Secretargas) transgariepinus. In addition, brooding behaviour over eggs were observed with A.

Sialotranscriptomics of Rhipicephalus zambeziensis reveals intricate expression profiles of secretory proteins and suggests tight temporal transcriptional regulation during blood-feeding.

Background: Ticks secrete a diverse mixture of secretory proteins into the host to evade its immune response and facilitate blood-feeding, making secretory proteins attractive targets for the production of recombinant anti-tick vaccines. The largely neglected tick species, Rhipicephalus zambeziensis, is an efficient vector of Theileria parva in southern Africa but its available sequence information is limited. Next generation sequencing has advanced sequence availability for ticks in recent years and has assisted the characterisation of secretory proteins.

The Cytidine Analog Fluorocyclopentenylcytosine (RX-3117) Is Activated by Uridine-Cytidine Kinase 2.

Fluorocyclopentenylcytosine (RX-3117) is an orally available cytidine analog, currently in Phase I clinical trial. RX-3117 has promising antitumor activity in various human tumor xenografts including gemcitabine resistant tumors. RX-3117 is activated by uridine-cytidine kinase (UCK).

An update of the tsetse fly (Diptera: Glossinidae) distribution and African animal trypanosomosis prevalence in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

An unpredicted outbreak of African animal trypanosomosis or nagana in 1990 in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal necessitated an emergency control programme, utilising the extensive cattledipping system in the area, as well as a reassessment of the tsetse and trypanosomosis problem in the province. Since 1990, sporadic blood sampling of cattle at the dip tanks in the naganainfested areas were undertaken to identify trypanosome species involved and to determine the infection prevalence in cattle. The distribution and species composition of the tsetse populations in the area were also investigated.

Ancestral reconstruction of tick lineages.

Ancestral reconstruction in its fullest sense aims to describe the complete evolutionary history of a lineage. This depends on accurate phylogenies and an understanding of the key characters of each parental lineage. An attempt is made to delineate our current knowledge with regard to the ancestral reconstruction of the tick (Ixodida) lineage.

De novo assembly and annotation of the salivary gland transcriptome of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus male and female ticks during blood feeding.

Tick secretory proteins modulate haemostasis, inflammation and immune responses of the host and are attractive recombinant anti-tick vaccine candidates. Yet, many of the proteins have not been characterised due to the limited sequence availability for ticks and other arthropods for homology-based annotation. To address this limitation, we sequenced the salivary glands of the economically important adult male and female Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks during feeding.

Next-generation sequencing as means to retrieve tick systematic markers, with the focus on Nuttalliella namaqua (Ixodoidea: Nuttalliellidae).

Nuclear ribosomal RNA (18S and 28S rRNA) and mitochondrial genomes are commonly used in tick systematics. The ability to retrieve these markers using next-generation sequencing was investigated using the tick Nuttalliella namaqua. Issues related to nuclear markers may be resolved using this approach, notably, the monotypic status of N.

The host preferences of Nuttalliella namaqua (Ixodoidea: Nuttalliellidae): a generalist approach to surviving multiple host-switches.

Nuttalliella namaqua has been described as a "living fossil" and the closest extant species to the ancestral tick lineage. It was previously proposed that the Nuttalliella lineage parasitized reptile-like mammals in the Permian and had to switch hosts several times due to mass or host lineage extinctions. Extant hosts include girdled lizards and murid rodents.

The mitochondrial genomes of Nuttalliella namaqua (Ixodoidea: Nuttalliellidae) and Argas africolumbae (Ixodoidae: Argasidae): estimation of divergence dates for the major tick lineages and reconstruction of ancestral blood-feeding characters.

Ixodida are composed of hard (Ixodidae), soft (Argasidae) and the monotypic Nuttalliellidae (Nuttalliella namaqua) tick families. Nuclear 18S rRNA analysis suggested that N. namaqua was the closest extant relative to the last common ancestral tick lineage.

Nuttalliella namaqua (Ixodoidea: Nuttalliellidae): first description of the male, immature stages and re-description of the female.

Nuttalliella namaqua is the only species of the enigmatic third tick family. Females possess features of hard and soft ticks and have been designated as the "missing link" between the main tick families. Its position at the base of the tick tree suggests that some of the features unique to hard and soft ticks were present in the ancestral tick lineage.

Nuttalliella namaqua: a living fossil and closest relative to the ancestral tick lineage: implications for the evolution of blood-feeding in ticks.

Ticks are monophyletic and composed of the hard (Ixodidae) and soft (Argasidae) tick families, as well as the Nuttalliellidae, a family with a single species, Nuttalliella namaqua. Significant biological differences in lifestyle strategies for hard and soft ticks suggest that various blood-feeding adaptations occurred after their divergence. The phylogenetic relationships between the tick families have not yet been resolved due to the lack of molecular data for N.

Coexpression of α-l-arabinofuranosidase and β-glucosidase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Monoterpenes are important aroma compounds in grape varieties such as Muscat, Gewürztraminer and Riesling, and are present as either odourless, glycosidically bound complexes or free aromatic monoterpenes. Commercial enzymes can be used to release the monoterpenes, but they commonly consist of crude extracts that often have unwanted and unpredictable side-effects on wine aroma. This project aims to address these problems by the expression and secretion of the Aspergillus awamoriα-l-arabinofuranosidase in combination with either the β-glucosidases from Saccharomycopsis fibuligera or from Aspergillus kawachii in the industrial yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae VIN13.