Solving the 250-year-old mystery of the origin and global spread of the German cockroach, .

The origin of the German cockroach, , is enigmatic, in part because it is ubiquitous worldwide in human-built structures but absent from any natural habitats. The first historical records of this species are from ca. 250 years ago (ya) from central Europe (hence its name).

as a Model for Studying Human Neurodegenerative Disorders: Viral Capsid Protein Expression.

In this article, we briefly describe human neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) and the experimental models used to study them. The main focus is the yeast as an experimental model used to study neurodegenerative processes. We review recent experimental data on the aggregation of human neurodegenerative disease-related proteins in yeast cells.

Identification and functional characterization of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, short interspersed nuclear elements.

In recent decades, experimental data has accumulated indicating that short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) can play a significant functional role in the regulation of gene expression in the host genome. In addition, molecular markers based on SINE insertion polymorphisms have been developed and are widely used for genetic differentiation of populations of eukaryotic organisms. Using routine bioinformatics analysis and publicly available genomic DNA and small RNA-seq data, we first described nine SINEs in the genome of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica.

Drosophila Evolution over Space and Time (DEST): A New Population Genomics Resource.

Drosophila melanogaster is a leading model in population genetics and genomics, and a growing number of whole-genome data sets from natural populations of this species have been published over the last years. A major challenge is the integration of disparate data sets, often generated using different sequencing technologies and bioinformatic pipelines, which hampers our ability to address questions about the evolution of this species. Here we address these issues by developing a bioinformatics pipeline that maps pooled sequencing (Pool-Seq) reads from D.

R2 and Non-Site-Specific R2-Like Retrotransposons of the German Cockroach, .

The structural and functional organization of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster and the full-length R2 non-LTR retrotransposon (integrated into a specific site of 28S ribosomal RNA genes) of the German cockroach, , is described. A partial sequence of the R2 retrotransposon of the cockroach is also analyzed. The analysis of previously published next-generation sequencing data from the genome reveals a new type of retrotransposon closely related to R2 retrotransposons but with a random distribution in the genome.

Intracellular Localization of Densovirus (BgDV1) Capsid Proteins.

Densovirus genome replication and capsid assembly take place in the nucleus of the infected cells. However, the mechanisms underlying such processes as the delivery of virus proteins to the nucleus and the export of progeny virus from the nucleus remain elusive. It is evident that nuclear transport signals should be involved in these processes.

Double Stranded RNA in Human Seminal Plasma.

Recently, human semen was shown to contain cell-free nucleic acids, such as DNA, long single stranded RNA, and small RNAs-miRNA and piRNA. The RNAs have been suggested to have potential biological roles as communication molecules between cells and in the temporal and spatial regulation of gene expression in the male reproductive system. Here we demonstrate that human seminal plasma contains a variety of cell-free dsRNAs, describe a robust method to isolate this type of nucleic acid in preparative amounts, and discuss the potential biological roles of these molecules in inheritance.

Effects of recombination on densovirus phylogeny.

Densoviruses are a group of arthropod-infecting viruses with a small single-stranded linear DNA genome. These viruses constitute the subfamily Densovirinae of the family Parvoviridae. While recombination in between vertebrate-infecting parvoviruses has been investigated, to date, no systematic analysis of recombination has been carried out for densoviruses.

Phylogenetic information content of Copepoda ribosomal DNA repeat units: ITS1 and ITS2 impact.

The utility of various regions of the ribosomal repeat unit for phylogenetic analysis was examined in 16 species representing four families, nine genera, and two orders of the subclass Copepoda (Crustacea). Fragments approximately 2000 bp in length containing the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) 18S and 28S gene fragments, the 5.8S gene, and the internal transcribed spacer regions I and II (ITS1 and ITS2) were amplified and analyzed.

Hierarchical genetic analysis of German cockroach (Blattella germanica) populations from within buildings to across continents.

Understanding the population structure of species that disperse primarily by human transport is essential to predicting and controlling human-mediated spread of invasive species. The German cockroach (Blattella germanica) is a widespread urban invader that can actively disperse within buildings but is spread solely by human-mediated dispersal over longer distances; however, its population structure is poorly understood. Using microsatellite markers we investigated population structure at several spatial scales, from populations within single apartment buildings to populations from several cities across the U.

Human steroid and oxysterol 7α-hydroxylase CYP7B1: substrate specificity, azole binding and misfolding of clinically relevant mutants.

Oxysterols and neurosteroids are important signaling molecules produced by monooxygenases of the cytochrome P450 family that realize their effect through nuclear receptors. CYP7B1 catalyzes the 6- or 7-hydroxylation of both steroids and oxysterols and thus is involved in the metabolism of neurosteroids and bile acid synthesis, respectively. The dual physiological role of CYP7B1 is evidenced from different diseases, liver failure and progressive neuropathy, caused by enzyme malfunction.

The family Parvoviridae.

A set of proposals to rationalize and extend the taxonomy of the family Parvoviridae is currently under review by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). Viruses in this family infect a wide range of hosts, as reflected by the longstanding division into two subfamilies: the Parvovirinae, which contains viruses that infect vertebrate hosts, and the Densovirinae, encompassing viruses that infect arthropod hosts. Using a modified definition for classification into the family that no longer demands isolation as long as the biological context is strong, but does require a near-complete DNA sequence, 134 new viruses and virus variants were identified.

Endonuclease domain of the Drosophila melanogaster R2 non-LTR retrotransposon and related retroelements: a new model for transposition.

The molecular mechanisms of the transposition of non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons are not well understood; the key questions of how the 3'-ends of cDNA copies integrate and how site-specific integration occurs remain unresolved. Integration depends on properties of the endonuclease (EN) domain of retrotransposons. Using the EN domain of the Drosophila R2 retrotransposon as a model for other, closely related non-LTR retrotransposons, we investigated the EN domain and found that it resembles archaeal Holliday-junction resolvases.

Protein interactomics based on direct molecular fishing on paramagnetic particles: experimental simulation and SPR validation.

We describe an experimental approach for direct molecular fishing of prey protein on the surface of two types of paramagnetic particles (PMP) having different size and composition. Human microsomal cytochrome b(5) (b(5)) and its known partner human cytochrome P450 3A5 (CYP3A5) were used as bait and prey proteins, respectively. For assessing the level of unspecific binding of background proteins, α-fetoprotein (aFP) was used.

Expression strategy of densonucleosis virus from the German cockroach, Blattella germanica.

Blattella germanica densovirus (BgDNV) is an autonomous parvovirus that infects the German cockroach. BgDNV possesses three mRNAs for NS proteins, two of which are splice variants of the unspliced transcript. The unspliced variant encodes open reading frame 5 (ORF5) (NS3), while NSspl1 encodes ORF3 (NS1) and ORF4 (NS2) and NSspl2 encodes the C-proximal half of NS1.

Structure and molecular evolution of the ribosomal DNA external transcribed spacer in the cockroach genus Blattella.

The ribosomal DNA (rDNA) cluster of insects contains several hundred repeating structural-functional units and, therefore, is a typical example of a multigene family. Eukaryotic ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes (18S, 5.8S, and 28S like) are arranged in tandemly repeated clusters in the nucleolus organizers, separated by several spacers, namely the nontranscribed spacer, the external transcribed spacer (ETS), and the internal transcribed spacers.

Population genetic structure in german cockroaches (blattella germanica): differentiated islands in an agricultural landscape.

Although a number of species live syanthropically with humans, few rely entirely on humans for their survival and distribution. Unlike other cosmopolitan human commensals, the German cockroach (Blattella germanica), an insect of both public and livestock health concern, is considered incapable of dispersal outside human dwellings. Patterns of genetic association are therefore constrained and may not be associated with distance.

Population genetic structure of the German cockroach (Blattodea: Blattellidae) in apartment buildings.

The German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattodea: Blattellidae), is a major residential pest with the potential to vector various pathogens and produce and disseminate household allergens. Understanding population genetic structure and differentiation of this important pest is critical to efforts to eradicate infestations, yet little is known in this regard.