Background: Diaphorina citri is an insect vector of "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus" (CLas), the gram-negative bacterial pathogen associated with citrus greening disease. Control measures rely on pesticides with negative impacts on the environment, natural ecosystems, and human and animal health. In contrast, gene-targeting methods have the potential to specifically target the vector species and/or reduce pathogen transmission.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFis the causative agent of Chagas disease, a zoonotic infectious disease considered a leading cause of cardiomyopathy, disability, and premature death in the Americas. This parasite spends its life between a mammalian host and an arthropod vector, undergoing essential transitions among different developmental forms. How senses microenvironmental changes that trigger cellular responses necessary for parasite survival has remained largely unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNutritional metals (NM) are essential for neurodevelopment and cognitive performance during growth. Nevertheless, epidemiological evidence regarding the associations between NM and brain function remains understudied, particularly among adolescents. Therefore, the objective of this pilot study was to examine the effects of NM biomarkers such as iron (Fe), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), and copper (Cu) on neurobehavioral functions among a group of rural Bangladeshi adolescents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOff-host periods are critical for ticks, representing a period when environmental stress, particularly dehydration, can impact tick survival. To prevent dehydration, ticks must be able to detect and move into high humidity areas to allow for water vapor uptake. Ionotropic receptor 93a (Ir93a), which is highly expressed in the front forelegs (location of Haller s organ), increases expression following dehydration, suggesting a role in humidity detection.
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