Shotgun and TMT-Labeled Proteomic Analysis of the Ovarian Proteins of an Insect Vector, Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

Aedes aegypti [Linnaeus in Hasselquist; yellow fever mosquito] transmits several viruses that infect millions of people each year, including Zika, dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and West Nile. Pathogen transmission occurs during blood feeding. Only the females blood feed as they require a bloodmeal for oogenesis; in the bloodmeal, holo-transferrin and hemoglobin provide the females with a high iron load.

Gene Sequences of Potential Targets of Insecticidal PF2 Lectin Identified from the Larval De Novo Transcriptome of the Mexican Bean Weevil (; Boheman 1833).

The available genomic and proteomic information of non-model organisms is often underrepresented in public databases hindering their study at molecular, cellular, and physiological levels. Information on (Mexican bean weevil) is poorly represented in databases, yet it is a major pest of common beans. We report the transcriptome of larvae; transcripts were sequenced using an Illumina RNA-Seq technology and assembled de novo identifying 29,029 unigenes with an average size of 1168 bp and an N50 value of 2196 bp.

Iron and Ferritin Deposition in the Ovarian Tissues of the Yellow Fever Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae).

Dengue, yellow fever, and Zika are viruses transmitted by yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti [Linnaeus (Diptera: Culicidae)], to thousands of people each year. Mosquitoes transmit these viruses while consuming a blood meal that is required for oogenesis. Iron, an essential nutrient from the blood meal, is required for egg development.

The impact of erythropoietin and iron status on brain myelination in the newborn rat.

Erythropoietin (Epo) drives iron (Fe) utilization for erythropoiesis, but the potentially resultant tissue iron deficiency (ID) can also impede brain development. Conversely, Epo binds to Epo receptors (EpoR) on immature brain oligodendrocytes and neurons, promoting growth and differentiation. The objective of the study was to examine the interaction between Epo and Fe on myelination in brain development during daily Epo treatment.

Characterization of Anopheles gambiae (African Malaria Mosquito) Ferritin and the Effect of Iron on Intracellular Localization in Mosquito Cells.

Ferritin is a 24-subunit molecule, made up of heavy chain (HC) and light chain (LC) subunits, which stores and controls the release of dietary iron in mammals, plants, and insects. In mosquitoes, dietary iron taken in a bloodmeal is stored inside ferritin. Our previous work has demonstrated the transport of dietary iron to the ovaries via ferritin during oogenesis.

Recognition and binding of the PF2 lectin to α-amylase from Zabrotes subfasciatus (Coleoptera:Bruchidae) larval midgut.

Amylases are an important family of enzymes involved in insect carbohydrate metabolism that are required for the survival of insect larvae. For this reason, enzymes from starch-dependent insects are targets for insecticidal control. PF2 (Olneya tesota) is a lectin that is toxic to Zabrotes subfasciatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) larvae.

The effect of bacterial challenge on ferritin regulation in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti.

Secreted ferritin is the major iron storage and transport protein in insects. Here, we characterize the message and protein expression profiles of yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) ferritin heavy chain homologue (HCH) and light chain homologue (LCH) subunits in response to iron and bacterial challenge. In vivo experiments demonstrated tissue-specific regulation of HCH and LCH expression over time post-blood meal (PBM).

Risk factors associated with anemia, iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in rural Nepali pregnant women.

We conducted a cross sectional study to investigate risk factors associated with severe anemia [hemoglobin (Hb) < 8.0 g dl(-1)] and poor iron status among Nepali pregnant women. Socio-demographic, anthropometric, health and dietary data were collected from 3,531 women living in the southeastern plains of Nepal.

Binding of PF2 lectin from Olneya tesota to gut proteins of Zabrotes subfasciatus larvae associated with the insecticidal mechanism.

Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman) is the main pest of common beans ( Phaselous vulgaris ). Wild legume seeds from Olneya tesota contain a lectin, PF2, that shows insecticidal activities against this insect. The binding of PF2 to midgut glycoproteins of 20-day-old larvae was evaluated using PF2 affinity chromatography.

Insect transferrins: multifunctional proteins.

Background: Many studies have been done evaluating transferrin in insects. Genomic analyses indicate that insects could have more than one transferrin. However, the most commonly studied insect transferrin, Tsf1, shows greatest homology to mammalian blood transferrin.

Bacterial recognition of thermal glycation products derived from porcine serum albumin with lactose.

Recently, glyco-therapy is proposed to prevent the interaction of bacterial lectins with host ligands (glycoconjugates). This interaction represents the first step in infection. Neoglycans referred to as PSA-Lac (PSA-Glu (β1-4) Gal) were obtained by conjugation of porcine serum albumin (PSA) with lactose at 80 °C, 100 °C and 120 ºC.

Insect ferritins: Typical or atypical?

Insects transmit millions of cases of disease each year, and cost millions of dollars in agricultural losses. The control of insect-borne diseases is vital for numerous developing countries, and the management of agricultural insect pests is a very serious business for developed countries. Control methods should target insect-specific traits in order to avoid non-target effects, especially in mammals.

Knockdown of proteins involved in iron metabolism limits tick reproduction and development.

Ticks are among the most important vectors of a wide range of human and animal diseases. During blood feeding, ticks are exposed to an enormous amount of free iron that must be appropriately used and detoxified. However, the mechanism of iron metabolism in ticks is poorly understood.

Iron loaded ferritin secretion and inhibition by CI-976 in Aedes aegypti larval cells.

Ferritin is a multimer of 24 subunits of heavy and light chains. In mammals, iron taken into cells is stored in ferritin or incorporated into iron-containing proteins. Very little ferritin is found circulating in mammalian serum; most is retained in the cytoplasm.

Differential regulation of transferrin 1 and 2 in Aedes aegypti.

Available evidence has shown that transferrins are involved in iron metabolism, immunity and development in eukaryotic organisms including insects. Here we characterize the gene and message expression profile of Aedes aegypti transferrin 2 (AaTf2) in response to iron, bacterial challenge and life stage. We show that AaTf2 shares a low similarity with A.

Insecticidal action of PF2 lectin from Olneya tesota (Palo Fierro) against Zabrotes subfasciatus larvae and midgut glycoconjugate binding.

Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman) is the main pest of common beans (Phaselous vulgaris). Some wild legume seeds may contain lectins with insecticidal activities against this insect. The larval developments of Z.

Fate of blood meal iron in mosquitoes.

Iron is an essential element of living cells and organisms as a component of numerous metabolic pathways. Hemoglobin and ferric-transferrin in vertebrate host blood are the two major iron sources for female mosquitoes. We used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and radioisotope labeling to quantify the fate of iron supplied from hemoglobin or as transferrin in Aedes aegypti.

The unique regulation of Aedes aegypti larval cell ferritin by iron.

Mosquitoes must blood feed in order to complete their life cycle. The blood meal provides a high level of iron that is required for egg development. We are interested in developing control strategies that interfere with this process.

Iron metabolism in insect disease vectors: mining the Anopheles gambiae translated protein database.

All animals require iron for survival. This requirement reflects the role of this mineral as a cofactor of numerous proteins. However, under physiological conditions, Fe(2+) oxidizes to Fe(3+) encouraging the formation of toxic free radicals.

Regulation of the ribonucleotide reductase small subunit (R2) in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti.

Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) catalyzes the formation of deoxyribonucleotides, a rate limiting step in DNA synthesis. Class I RNR is a tetramer that consists of two subunits, R1 and R2; enzymatic activity requires association of R1 with R2. The R2 subunit is of special interest because it dictates the interaction with R1 that is required for enzymatic activity expression, and it is expressed only during the S phase of the cell cycle.

Secreted ferritin: mosquito defense against iron overload?

The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, must blood feed in order to complete her life cycle. The blood meal provides a high level of iron that is required for egg development. We are interested in developing control strategies that interfere with this process.

Effects of sham air and cigarette smoke on A549 lung cells: implications for iron-mediated oxidative damage.

Inhalation of airborne pollution particles that contain iron can result in a variety of detrimental changes to lung cells and tissues. The lung iron burden can be substantially increased by exposure to cigarette smoke, and cigarette smoke contains iron particulates, as well as several environmental toxins, that could influence intracellular iron status. We are interested in the effects of environmental contaminants on intracellular iron metabolism.

Aedes aegypti ferritin.

Diseases transmitted by hematophagous (blood-feeding) insects are responsible for millions of human deaths worldwide. In hematophagous insects, the blood meal is important for regulating egg maturation. Although a high concentration of iron is toxic for most organisms, hematophagous insects seem unaffected by the iron load in a blood meal.

Biliary excretion of [(GS)(2)AsSe](-) after intravenous injection of rabbits with arsenite and selenate.

It has been shown that the seleno-bis (S-glutathionyl) arsinium ion, [(GS)(2)AsSe](-), is the major arsenic and selenium excretory product in bile of rabbits treated with arsenite and selenite [Gailer, J., Madden, S., Buttigieg, G.

Structured RNA upstream of insect cap distal iron responsive elements enhances iron regulatory protein-mediated control of translation.

Iron regulatory protein (IRP) blocks ribosomal assembly by binding to an iron responsive element (IRE) located proximal (<60 nts) to the mRNA cap, thereby repressing translation. Constructs with IREs located 60-100 nts from the cap permit ribosomal assembly but the ribosomes pause at IRE/IRP complexes resulting in partial repression of translation. However, insect ferritin mRNAs have cap-distal IREs located 90-156 nts from the cap.