DNA-elucidated life cycle of a highly pathogenic avian nematode: (Spirurida: Acuariidae) and its morphological development from infective third-stage larva to adult.

Gibson, 1968 is an acuariid nematode associated with lethal cases of streptocarosis of diverse aquatic birds in North America and Europe. This study reports as an agent causing severe and fatal necrosis of the oesophagus and proventriculus of anatids, i.e.

Description of Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) tartakovskyi using scanning electron microscopy, with notes on the morphology of Pavlovskyella sensu stricto and Theriodoros subgenera.

Accumulation of DNA sequence data and its use in systematics of the family Argasidae reveals new incongruencies between genera and subgenera, since several groups defined by classical taxonomy appear to be paraphyletic, which is the case of the subgenus Pavlovskyella. In order to identify morphological characters unique to one of the monophyletic groupings within Pavlovskyella and improve its system, we describe all active stages of Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) tartakovskyi, a species with an incomplete original description. Larvae, nymphs, males and females from Iran were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Common analysis of direct RNA sequencinG CUrrently leads to misidentification of mC at GCU motifs.

RNA modifications, such as methylation, can be detected with Oxford Nanopore Technologies direct RNA sequencing. One commonly used tool for detecting 5-methylcytosine (mC) modifications is Tombo, which uses an "Alternative Model" to detect putative modifications from a single sample. We examined direct RNA sequencing data from diverse taxa including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and animals.

Common Analysis of Direct RNA SequencinG CUrrently Leads to Misidentification of 5-Methylcytosine Modifications at GCU Motifs.

RNA modifications, such as méthylation, can be detected with Oxford Nanopore Technologies direct RNA sequencing. One commonly used tool for detecting 5-methylcytosine (mC) modifications is Tombo, which uses an "Alternative Model" to detect putative modifications from a single sample. We examined direct RNA sequencing data from diverse taxa including virus, bacteria, fungi, and animals.

X-treme loss of sequence diversity linked to neo-X chromosomes in filarial nematodes.

The sequence diversity of natural and laboratory populations of Brugia pahangi and Brugia malayi was assessed with Illumina resequencing followed by mapping in order to identify single nucleotide variants and insertions/deletions. In natural and laboratory Brugia populations, there is a lack of sequence diversity on chromosome X relative to the autosomes (πX/πA = 0.2), which is lower than the expected (πX/πA = 0.

DIPLOTRIAENA OBTUSA (NEMATODA: DIPLOTRIAENIDAE) FROM BARN SWALLOWS (HIRUNDO RUSTICA) AND CLIFF SWALLOWS (PETROCHELIDON PYRRHONOTA) COLLECTED DURING MORTALITY EVENTS IN THE UPPER MIDWEST, USA.

Several mortality events involving barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) and cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) were reported in the Upper Midwestern states in 2017 and 2018. Barn swallow mortality followed unseasonal cold snaps, with the primary cause of death being emaciation with concurrent air sac nematodiasis. Lesions in cliff swallows were consistent with blunt force trauma from suspected car impacts.

Structure, Hydration, and Interactions of Native and Hydrophobically Modified Phytoglycogen Nanoparticles.

Phytoglycogen is a highly branched polymer of glucose produced as soft, compact nanoparticles by sweet corn. Properties such as softness, porosity, and mechanical integrity, combined with nontoxicity and biodegradability, make phytoglycogen nanoparticles ideal for applications involving the human body, ranging from skin moisturizing and rejuvenation agents in personal care formulations to functional therapeutics in biomedicine. To further broaden the range of applications, phytoglycogen nanoparticles can be chemically modified with hydrophobic species such as octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA).

A Meta-Analysis of Transcriptomics Reveals a Stage-Specific Transcriptional Response Shared Across Different Hosts.

is a genus containing obligate, intracellular endosymbionts with arthropod and nematode hosts. Numerous studies have identified differentially expressed transcripts in endosymbionts that potentially inform the biological interplay between these endosymbionts and their hosts, albeit with discordant results. Here, we re-analyze previously published RNA-Seq transcriptomics data sets using a single workflow consisting of the most up-to-date algorithms and techniques, with the aim of identifying trends or patterns in the pan- transcriptional response.

Complete Genome Sequence of Bp, the Endosymbiont of Brugia pahangi FR3.

Lymphatic filariasis is a devastating disease caused by filarial nematode roundworms, which contain obligate endosymbionts. Here, we assembled the genome of Bp, the endosymbiont of the filarial nematode , from Illumina, Pacific Biosciences, and Oxford Nanopore data. The complete, circular genome is 1,072,967 bp.

Nearly Complete Genome Sequence of Brugia pahangi FR3.

is a zoonotic parasite that is closely related to human-infecting filarial nematodes. Here, we report the nearly complete genome of , including assemblies of four autosomes and an X chromosome, with only seven gaps. The Y chromosome is still not completely assembled.

Nearly Complete Genome Sequence of Brugia malayi Strain FR3.

Lymphatic filariasis affects ∼120 million people and can result in elephantiasis and hydrocele. Here, we report the nearly complete genome sequence of the best-studied causative agent of lymphatic filariasis, The assembly contains four autosomes, an X chromosome, and only eight gaps but lacks a contiguous sequence for the known Y chromosome.

Sex chromosome evolution in parasitic nematodes of humans.

Sex determination mechanisms often differ even between related species yet the evolution of sex chromosomes remains poorly understood in all but a few model organisms. Some nematodes such as Caenorhabditis elegans have an XO sex determination system while others, such as the filarial parasite Brugia malayi, have an XY mechanism. We present a complete B.

Drug Repurposing of Bromodomain Inhibitors as Potential Novel Therapeutic Leads for Lymphatic Filariasis Guided by Multispecies Transcriptomics.

To better understand the transcriptomic interplay of organisms associated with lymphatic filariasis, we conducted multispecies transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) on the filarial nematode , its endosymbiont Bm, and its laboratory vector across the entire life cycle. In Bm, transcription of the noncoding 6S RNA suggests that it may be a regulator of bacterial cell growth, as its transcript levels correlate with bacterial replication rates. For , the transcriptional response reflects the stress that infection exerts on the mosquito with indicators of increased energy demand.

Multispecies Transcriptomics Data Set of Brugia malayi, Its Endosymbiont Bm, and Aedes aegypti across the B. malayi Life Cycle.

Here, we present a comprehensive transcriptomics data set of Brugia malayi, its Wolbachia endosymbiont Bm, and its vector host. This study samples from 16 stages across the entire B. malayi life cycle, including stage 1 through 4 larvae, adult males and females, embryos, immature microfilariae, and mature microfilariae.

Targeted enrichment outperforms other enrichment techniques and enables more multi-species RNA-Seq analyses.

Enrichment methodologies enable the analysis of minor members in multi-species transcriptomic data. We compared the standard enrichment of bacterial and eukaryotic mRNA to a targeted enrichment using an Agilent SureSelect (AgSS) capture for Brugia malayi, Aspergillus fumigatus, and the Wolbachia endosymbiont of B. malayi (wBm).

Tissue-specific transcriptomics and proteomics of a filarial nematode and its Wolbachia endosymbiont.

Background: Filarial nematodes cause debilitating human diseases. While treatable, recent evidence suggests drug resistance is developing, necessitating the development of novel targets and new treatment options. Although transcriptomic and proteomic studies around the nematode life cycle have greatly enhanced our knowledge, whole organism approaches have not provided spatial resolution of gene expression, which can be gained by examining individual tissues.

Concurrent transcriptional profiling of Dirofilaria immitis and its Wolbachia endosymbiont throughout the nematode life cycle reveals coordinated gene expression.

Background: Dirofilaria immitis, or canine heartworm, is a filarial nematode parasite that infects dogs and other mammals worldwide. Current disease control relies on regular administration of anthelmintic preventives, however, relatively poor compliance and evidence of developing drug resistance could warrant alternative measures against D. immitis and related human filarial infections be taken.

Co-evolution between an endosymbiont and its nematode host: Wolbachia asymmetric posterior localization and AP polarity establishment.

While bacterial symbionts influence a variety of host cellular responses throughout development, there are no documented instances in which symbionts influence early embryogenesis. Here we demonstrate that Wolbachia, an obligate endosymbiont of the parasitic filarial nematodes, is required for proper anterior-posterior polarity establishment in the filarial nematode B. malayi.

Intraperitoneal development of the filarial nematode Brugia malayi in the Mongolian jird (Meriones unguiculatus).

In the present study, we describe intraperitoneal development of the FR3 strain of Brugia malayi in Mongolian jirds (Meriones unguiculatus). The third molt for male worms occurred between 4 and 7 days postinfection (dpi) and between 4 and 8 dpi for females. The fourth and final molt occurred between days 21 and 29 for males and 25 and 34 for females, considerably earlier than the times reported for subcutaneous infection models using cats and jirds.

A deep sequencing approach to comparatively analyze the transcriptome of lifecycle stages of the filarial worm, Brugia malayi.

Background: Developing intervention strategies for the control of parasitic nematodes continues to be a significant challenge. Genomic and post-genomic approaches play an increasingly important role for providing fundamental molecular information about these parasites, thus enhancing basic as well as translational research. Here we report a comprehensive genome-wide survey of the developmental transcriptome of the human filarial parasite Brugia malayi.

The NIH-NIAID Filariasis Research Reagent Resource Center.

Filarial worms cause a variety of tropical diseases in humans; however, they are difficult to study because they have complex life cycles that require arthropod intermediate hosts and mammalian definitive hosts. Research efforts in industrialized countries are further complicated by the fact that some filarial nematodes that cause disease in humans are restricted in host specificity to humans alone. This potentially makes the commitment to research difficult, expensive, and restrictive.

Midgut barrier imparts selective resistance to filarial worm infection in Culex pipiens pipiens.

Mosquitoes in the Culex pipiens complex thrive in temperate and tropical regions worldwide, and serve as efficient vectors of Bancroftian lymphatic filariasis (LF) caused by Wuchereria bancrofti in Asia, Africa, the West Indies, South America, and Micronesia. However, members of this mosquito complex do not act as natural vectors for Brugian LF caused by Brugia malayi, or for the cat parasite B. pahangi, despite their presence in South Asia where these parasites are endemic.

Using an intravenous catheter to carry out abdominal lavage in the gerbil.

Abdominal lavage is used in laboratory rodents for a variety of applications but carries an inherent risk of abdominal organ laceration; therefore, personnel carrying out this procedure must have considerable expertise. In this paper, the authors describe an improved method for delivering sterile media to and collecting peritoneal fluids from dark-clawed Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) that had been peritoneally infected with filarial nematode parasites (genus Brugia). To carry out this gravity-assisted technique, the authors used a catheter to introduce sterile media into the peritoneal cavity of each gerbil and then to passively drain peritoneal fluid and larval worms for collection.

Identification and phylogenetic analysis of Dirofilaria ursi (Nematoda: Filarioidea) from Wisconsin black bears (Ursus americanus) and its Wolbachia endosymbiont.

Dirofilaria ursi is a filarial nematode of American black bears (Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780) that is vectored by black flies (Simuliidae) in many parts of the United States. In northwestern Wisconsin, the prevalence of microfilaremic bears during the fall hunting season was 21% (n = 47). Unsheathed blood microfilariae from Wisconsin bears possess characters consistent with the original description of D.