ARGONAUTE2 Localizes to Sites of Sporocysts in the Schistosome-Infected Snail, .

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small regulatory RNA that are generated via core protein machinery. The miRNAs direct gene-silencing mechanisms to mediate an essential role in gene expression regulation. In mollusks, miRNAs have been demonstrated to be required to regulate gene expression in various biological processes, including normal development, immune responses, reproduction, and stress adaptation.

Hypothalamic transcriptome response to simulated diel earthen pond hypoxia cycles in channel catfish ().

Commercial culture of channel catfish () occurs in earthen ponds that are characterized by diel swings in dissolved oxygen concentration that can fall to severe levels of hypoxia, which can suppress appetite and lead to suboptimal growth. Given the significance of the hypothalamus in regulating these processes in other fishes, an investigation into the hypothalamus transcriptome was conducted to identify specific genes and expression patterns responding to hypoxia. Channel catfish in normoxic water were compared with catfish subjected to 12 h of hypoxia (20% oxygen saturation; 1.

Development of CRISPR/Cas13a-based assays for the diagnosis of Schistosomiasis.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a disease that significantly impacts human health in the developing world. Effective diagnostics are urgently needed for improved control of this disease. CRISPR-based technology has rapidly accelerated the development of a revolutionary and powerful diagnostics platform, resulting in the advancement of a class of ultrasensitive, specific, cost-effective and portable diagnostics, typified by applications in COVID-19/cancer diagnosis.

Reference genomes of channel catfish and blue catfish reveal multiple pericentric chromosome inversions.

Background: Channel catfish and blue catfish are the most important aquacultured species in the USA. The species do not readily intermate naturally but F hybrids can be produced through artificial spawning. F hybrids produced by mating channel catfish female with blue catfish male exhibit heterosis and provide an ideal system to study reproductive isolation and hybrid vigor.

Identification of miracidia attractant candidates in infected using behaviour-guided comparative proteomics.

Schistosomiasis, caused by infection with digenetic trematodes, is one of the deadliest neglected tropical diseases in the world. The lifecycle involves the miracidial infection of an intermediate freshwater snail host, such as . Dispersing snail host-derived miracidia attractants has been considered a method of minimising intermediate host infections and, by extension, human schistosomiasis.

Identification of Putative Neuropeptides That Alter the Behaviour of Cercariae.

Elucidating the infectivity of , one of the main etiological agents of human schistosomiasis, requires an improved understanding of the behavioural mechanisms of cercariae, the non-feeding mammalian infective stage. This study investigated the presence and effect of cercariae-derived putative neuropeptides on cercarial behaviour when applied externally. Cercariae were peptidomically analysed and 11 neuropeptide precursor proteins, all of which were specific to the genus and most of which highly expressed in the cercarial stage, were identified in cercariae for the first time.

Transcriptomic Response of to Variably Inhibitory Environmental Isolates of .

is a mycotoxigenic fungus that is a threat to food and feed safety due to its common infection of maize, a global staple crop. A proposed strategy to combat this threat is the use of biological control bacteria that can inhibit the fungus and reduce mycotoxin contamination. In this study, the effect of multiple environmental isolates of on was examined transcriptome analysis.

Transcriptomic Responses of to Lactam and Lactone Xenobiotics.

The important cereal crops of maize, rye, and wheat constitutively produce precursors to 2-benzoxazolinone, a phytochemical having antifungal effects towards many species. However, can tolerate 2-benzoxazolinone by converting it into non-toxic metabolites through the synergism of two previously identified gene clusters, and . Inspired by the induction of these two clusters upon exposure to 2-benzoxazolinone, RNA sequencing experiments were carried out by challenging individually with 2-benzoxazolinone and three related chemical compounds, 2-oxindole, 2-coumaranone, and chlorzoxazone.

Analysis of rhodopsin G protein-coupled receptor orthologs reveals semiochemical peptides for parasite (Schistosoma mansoni) and host (Biomphalaria glabrata) interplay.

Schistosomiasis is a medically significant disease caused by helminth parasites of the genus Schistosoma. The schistosome life cycle requires chemically mediated interactions with an intermediate (aquatic snail) and definitive (human) host. Blocking parasite development within the snail stage requires improved understanding of the interactions between the snail host and the Schistosoma water-borne free-living form (miracidium).

Occupational Therapy Utilization in Veterans With Dementia: A Retrospective Review of Root Cause Analyses of Falls Leading to Adverse Events.

Introduction: Falls in persons with dementia are associated with increased mortality. Occupational therapy (OT) is a rehabilitation discipline, which has, among its goals, the promotion of safety and fall prevention in older adults and those with dementia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate root cause analysis (RCA) data to identify causes of falls with adverse events in patients with dementia who were referred to or receiving OT services within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Pyrrocidine, a molecular off switch for fumonisin biosynthesis.

Sarocladium zeae is a fungal endophyte of maize and can be found co-inhabiting a single seed with Fusarium verticillioides, a major mycotoxigenic food safety threat. S. zeae produces pyrrocidines A and B that inhibit the growth of F.

Transcriptome and binding data indicate that citral inhibits single strand DNA-binding proteins.

The mechanism of phytotoxicity of citral was probed in Arabidopsis thaliana using RNA-Seq and in silico binding analyses. Inhibition of growth by 50% by citral downregulated transcription of 9156 and 5541 genes in roots and shoots, respectively, after 1 h. Only 56 and 62 genes in roots and shoots, respectively, were upregulated.

Comparative study of excretory-secretory proteins released by Schistosoma mansoni-resistant, susceptible and naïve Biomphalaria glabrata.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a harmful neglected tropical disease caused by infection with Schistosoma spp., such as Schistosoma mansoni. Schistosoma must transition within a molluscan host to survive.

Transcriptome responses to the natural phytotoxin t-chalcone in Arabidopsis thaliana L.

Background: New modes of action are needed for herbicides. The flavonoid synthesis intermediate t-chalcone causes apoptosis-like symptoms in roots and bleaching of shoots of Arabidospsis, suggesting a unique mode of action as a phytotoxin.

Results: Using RNA-Seq, transcriptome changes were monitored in Arabidopsis seedlings during the first 24 h of exposure (at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h) to 21 μm t-chalcone (I dose), examining effects on roots and shoots separately.

Kunitz-type protease inhibitor as a vaccine candidate against schistosomiasis mansoni.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a vaccine against schistosomiasis, which is a major challenge due to the complex lifecycle of the causative schistosome parasite.

Methods: SmKI-1 is a 16-kDa Kunitz-type protease inhibitor present in the excretory-secretory products and tegument of adult worms and eggs of Schistosoma mansoni. Two independent vaccine trials were performed in mice to determine the efficacy of rSmKI-1 in developing protective immunity.

Genome Sequences of Three Strains of for the Biological Control of Aflatoxin.

Aflatoxin is a carcinogenic contaminant of many commodities that are infected by Nonaflatoxigenic strains of have been utilized as biological control agents. Here, we report the genome sequences from three biocontrol strains. This information will be useful in developing markers for postrelease monitoring of these fungi.

A novel duplex ddPCR assay for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica: proof of concept in an experimental mouse model.

The current World Health Organization strategic plan targets the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem by 2025 and accurate diagnostics will play a pivotal role in achieving this goal. DNA-based detection methods provide a viable alternative to some of the commonly used tests, notably microscopy and serology, for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. The detection of parasite cell-free DNA in different clinical samples is a recent valuable advance, which provides significant benefits for accurate disease diagnosis.

The channel catfish genome sequence provides insights into the evolution of scale formation in teleosts.

Catfish represent 12% of teleost or 6.3% of all vertebrate species, and are of enormous economic value. Here we report a high-quality reference genome sequence of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), the major aquaculture species in the US.

Circulating miRNAs: Potential Novel Biomarkers for Hepatopathology Progression and Diagnosis of Schistosomiasis Japonica in Two Murine Models.

Background: Schistosomiasis remains a major public health issue, with an estimated 230 million people infected worldwide. Novel tools for early diagnosis and surveillance of schistosomiasis are currently needed. Elevated levels of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are commonly associated with the initiation and progression of human disease pathology.

Metabolomic and transcriptomic insights into how cotton fiber transitions to secondary wall synthesis, represses lignification, and prolongs elongation.

Background: The morphogenesis of single-celled cotton fiber includes extreme elongation and staged cell wall differentiation. Designing strategies for improving cotton fiber for textiles and other uses relies on uncovering the related regulatory mechanisms. In this research we compared the transcriptomes and metabolomes of two Gossypium genotypes, Gossypium barbadense cv Phytogen 800 and G.

Development of a Large Set of Microsatellite Markers in Zapote Mamey (Pouteria sapota (Jacq.) H.E. Moore & Stearn) and Their Potential Use in the Study of the Species.

Pouteria sapota is known for its edible fruits that contain unique carotenoids, as well as for its fungitoxic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity. However, its genetics is mostly unknown, including aspects about its genetic diversity and domestication process. We did high-throughput sequencing of microsatellite-enriched libraries of P.

Specific humoral response of hosts with variable schistosomiasis susceptibility.

The schistosome blood flukes are some of the largest global causes of parasitic morbidity. Further study of the specific antibody response during schistosomiasis may yield the vaccines and diagnostics needed to combat this disease. Therefore, for the purposes of antigen discovery, sera and antibody-secreting cell (ASC) probes from semi-permissive rats and sera from susceptible mice were used to screen a schistosome protein microarray.

The affinity of magnetic microspheres for Schistosoma eggs.

Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitic disease of humans, with two species primarily causing the intestinal infection: Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicum. Traditionally, diagnosis of schistosomiasis is achieved through direct visualisation of eggs in faeces using techniques that lack the sensitivity required to detect all infections, especially in areas of low endemicity. A recently developed method termed Helmintex™ is a very sensitive technique for detection of Schistosoma eggs and exhibits 100% sensitivity at 1.