Fatty acid- and retinol-binding protein 6 does not control worm fatty acid content in Caenorhabditis elegans but might play a role in Haemonchus contortus parasitism.

Background: Nematodes have lost the ability to synthesise necessary lipids de novo and have complementally evolved the capacity to acquire fatty acids and their derivatives from a diet or host animal. Nematode-specific fatty acid- and retinol-binding protein (FAR) family is one approach that facilitates lipid acquisition, representing an Achilles heel and potential target against roundworms of socioeconomic significance. However, little is known about their detailed functional roles in either free-living or parasitic nematodes.

Analysis of sheep peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to Echinococcus granulosus microRNA-71 overexpression.

Cyst echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus granulosus, remains a zoonotic disease posing a great threat to public health and meat production industry. Sheep infected with E. granulosus show relatively high abundance of egr-miR-71 in the sera, but its role is unknown.

Transthyretin-Like Protein TTR-31 Plays Roles in Post-Embryonic Larval Development and Potentially Apoptosis of Germ Cells.

Transthyretin (TTR)-like proteins play multi-function roles in nematode and are important component of excretory/secretory product in . In this study, we functionally characterised a secretory transthyretin-like protein in the barber's pole worm . A full-length of transthyretin-like protein-coding gene () was identified in this parasitic nematode, representing a counterpart of in .

Acyl-CoA oxidase ACOX-1 interacts with a peroxin PEX-5 to play roles in larval development of Haemonchus contortus.

Hypobiosis (facultative developmental arrest) is the most important life-cycle adaptation ensuring survival of parasitic nematodes under adverse conditions. Little is known about such survival mechanisms, although ascarosides (ascarylose with fatty acid-derived side chains) have been reported to mediate the formation of dauer larvae in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we investigated the role of a key gene acox-1, in the larval development of Haemonchus contortus, one of the most important parasitic nematodes that employ hypobiosis as a routine survival mechanism.

The trypsin inhibitor-like domain is required for a serine protease inhibitor of Haemonchus contortus to inhibit host coagulation.

Haemonchus contortus, a blood-feeding nematode, inhibits blood coagulation at the site of infection to facilitate blood-sucking and digesting for successful parasitism. However, the mechanism underlying anti-coagulation at the host-parasite interface is largely unknown. In the current study, Hc-spi-i8, which has two greatly different transcripts named Hc-spi-i8a and Hc-spi-i8b, respectively, was described.

Functional characterization of a novel gene, Hc-dhs-28 and its role in protecting the host after Haemonchus contortus infection through regulation of diapause formation.

Haemonchus contortus could enter the diapause stage to avoid hostile conditions, however the inducing mechanism still remains poorly understood. A similar dauer strategy exists in Caenorhabditis elegans, and dauer phenomones, which are produced through a four step cycle of peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation, are essential in this stage. In this study, a novel gene, Hc-dhs-28, was identified and characterised.

Development of SYBR Green real-time PCR for diagnosis of fasciolosis in sheep.

Fasciolosis is commonly diagnosed by microscopic detection of egg following sedimentation. However, this technique is time-consuming when a large number of samples must be processed and requires sufficient experience. Quantitative real-time PCR based on the detection of liver fluke ribosomal DNA in feces has been introduced, which is more accurate and liable to reflect the presence of flukes in hosts.

Recombinant HcGAPDH Protein Expressed on Probiotic Spores Protects Sheep from Infection by Inducing both Humoral and Cell-Mediated Responses.

Probiotic are effective in controlling pathogens. Live probiotic bacteria improve the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota, leading to a reduction in pathogen colonization. However, it remains largely unknown how probiotics regulate the host's immunologic responses and protect the host from parasitic infection.

Hc-hrg-2, a glutathione transferase gene, regulates heme homeostasis in the blood-feeding parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus.

Background: Haemonchus contortus, a blood-feeding parasite, is constantly surrounded by large quantities of heme released from the catabolism of host red blood cells. To cope with the toxicity of free heme, H. contortus needs to uptake and detoxify the heme, a process believed to be paramount for parasite survival.

Improved photoelectric performance of all-inorganic perovskite through different additives for green light-emitting diodes.

The exceptional optical and electronic properties of all-inorganic cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr) perovskite make it an ideal new optoelectronic material, but low surface coverage limits its performance. The morphological characteristics of thin films have a great influence on the performance of perovskite light emitting diodes, especially at low coverage, and an inhomogeneous surface will lead to current leakage. To tackle this problem, the widespread adoption of composite layers including polymers poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and organic insulating poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and all-inorganic perovskites is an effective way to increase the surface coverage and uniformity of perovskite films and improve the performance of perovskite light emitting devices.

Characterization and function analysis of a novel gene, Hc-maoc-1, in the parasitic nematode Haemonochus contortus.

Background: Enoyl-CoA hydratase (MAOC) is required for the biosynthesis of the fatty acid-derive side chains of the ascaroside via peroxisome β-oxidation in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The derivative of dideoxy-sugar, ascarylose is used as dauer pheromones or daumones to induce development of the stress-resistant dauer larvae stage.

Methods: Hc-maoc-1 gene was obtained by searching the Wellcome Trusts Sanger Institute's H.