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3. A Novel Expression Domain of extradenticle Underlies the Evolutionary Developmental Origin of the Chelicerate Patella.

Author

Klementz, Benjamin C, Brenneis, Georg, Hinne, Isaac A, Laumer, Ethan M, Neu, Sophie M, Hareid, Grace M, Gainett, Guilherme, Setton, Emily V W, Simian, Catalina, Vrech, David E, Joyce, Isabella, Barnett, Austen A, Patel, Nipam H, Harvey, Mark S, Peretti, Alfredo V, Gulia-Nuss, Monika, and Sharma, Prashant P

Abstract

Neofunctionalization of duplicated gene copies is thought to be an important process underlying the origin of evolutionary novelty and provides an elegant mechanism for the origin of new phenotypic traits. One putative case where a new gene copy has been linked to a novel morphological trait is the origin of the arachnid patella, a taxonomically restricted leg segment. In spiders, the origin of this segment has been linked to the origin of the paralog dachshund-2 , suggesting that a new gene facilitated the expression of a new trait. However, various arachnid groups that possess patellae do not have a copy of dachshund-2 , disfavoring the direct link between gene origin and trait origin. We investigated the developmental genetic basis for patellar patterning in the harvestman Phalangium opilio , which lacks dachshund-2. Here, we show that the harvestman patella is established by a novel expression domain of the transcription factor extradenticle. Leveraging this definition of patellar identity, we surveyed targeted groups across chelicerate phylogeny to assess when this trait evolved. We show that a patellar homolog is present in Pycnogonida (sea spiders) and various arachnid orders, suggesting a single origin of the patella in the ancestor of Chelicerata. A potential loss of the patella is observed in Ixodida. Our results suggest that the modification of an ancient gene, rather than the neofunctionalization of a new gene copy, underlies the origin of the patella. Broadly, this work underscores the value of comparative data and broad taxonomic sampling when testing hypotheses in evolutionary developmental biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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5. The highly improved genome ofIxodes scapulariswith X and Y pseudochromosomes

Author

Nuss, Andrew B, primary, Lomas, Johnathan S, additional, Reyes, Jeremiah B, additional, Garcia-Cruz, Omar, additional, Lei, Wenlong, additional, Sharma, Arvind, additional, Pham, Michael N, additional, Beniwal, Saransh, additional, Swain, Mia L, additional, McVicar, Molly, additional, Hinne, Isaac Amankona, additional, Zhang, Xingtan, additional, Yim, Won C, additional, and Gulia-Nuss, Monika, additional

Published
2023
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8. Cas9-mediated gene editing in the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, by embryo injection and ReMOT Control

Author

Sharma, Arvind, primary, Pham, Michael N., additional, Reyes, Jeremiah B., additional, Chana, Randeep, additional, Yim, Won C., additional, Heu, Chan C., additional, Kim, Donghun, additional, Chaverra-Rodriguez, Duverney, additional, Rasgon, Jason L., additional, Harrell, Robert A., additional, Nuss, Andrew B., additional, and Gulia-Nuss, Monika, additional

Published
2022
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11. Characterization of Anopheles stephensi Odorant Receptor 8, an Abundant Component of the Mouthpart Chemosensory Transcriptome

Author

Speth, Zachary, primary, Kaur, Gurlaz, additional, Mazolewski, Devin, additional, Sisomphou, Rayden, additional, Siao, Danielle Denise C., additional, Pooraiiouby, Rana, additional, Vasquez-Gross, Hans, additional, Petereit, Juli, additional, Gulia-Nuss, Monika, additional, Mathew, Dennis, additional, and Nuss, Andrew B., additional

Published
2021
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14. Blood Digestion by Trypsin-Like Serine Protease in the Lyme Disease Vector Tick, Ixodes Scapularis

Author

Reyes, Jeremiah, Ayala-Chavez, Cuauhtemoc, Nuss, Andrew, and Gulia-Nuss, Monika

Subjects
entomology
Abstract

Ixodes scapularis is the major vector of Lyme disease in the eastern United States. This species undergoes a life cycle consisting of eggs and three active stages: larva, nymph, and adult. Each active life stage takes a blood meal either for developing and molting to the next stage (larvae and nymphs) or for oviposition (adult females). This protein rich blood meal is the only food taken by Ixodes ticks. Most studies on blood digestion in ticks have shown that the initial stages of blood digestion are carried out by cathepsin proteases within endosomes of acidic digestive cells. However, in other hematophagous arthropods, the serine protease trypsin plays an important role in early protein degradation. In this study, we determined transcript expression of I. scapularis cathepsins and serine proteases, some with previously characterized roles in blood digestion. Gut pH was also determined and a trypsin-benzoyl-D, L-arginine 4-nitoanilide assay was used to measure active trypsin levels during blood digestion. Our data suggest that trypsin levels increase significantly after blood feeding and peaked in larvae, nymphs, and adults at 3, 1, and 1 days post host detachment, respectively. In addition, alkaline gut pH (8.0) conditions after I. scapularis blood feeding were similar to those required for trypsin activity in other arthropods suggesting these enzymes have an important and previously overlooked role in I. scapularis blood digestion.

Published
2019

15. A multi-omics approach for understanding blood digestion dynamics in Ixodes scapularisand identification of anti-tick vaccine targets

Author

Reyes, Jeremiah B., McVicar, Molly, Beniwal, Saransh, Sharma, Arvind, Tillett, Richard, Petereit, Juli, Nuss, Andrew, and Gulia-Nuss, Monika

Abstract

Ixodes scapularis,the black-legged tick,is a major arthropod vector that transmits the causative agents of Lyme disease and several other pathogens of human significance. The tick midgut is the main tissue involved in blood acquisition and digestion and the first organ to have contact with pathogens ingested through the blood meal. Gene expression in the midgut before, during, and after a blood meal may vary in response to the physiological changes due to blood feeding. A systems biology approach based on RNA and protein sequencing was used to gain insight into the changes in tick midgut transcripts and proteins during blood ingestion (unfed and partially fed) and digestion (1-, 2-, 7-, and 14 days post detachment from the host) by the Ixodes scapularisfemale ticks. A total of 2,726 differentially expressed transcripts, and 449 proteins were identified across the time points. Genes involved in detoxification of xenobiotics, proteases, protease inhibitors, metabolism, and immunity were differentially expressed in response to blood feeding. Similarly, proteins corresponding to the same groups were also differentially expressed. Nine genes from major gene categories were chosen as potential vaccine candidates, and, using RNA interference, the effect of these gene knockdowns on tick biology was investigated. Knockdown of these genes had variable negative impacts on tick physiology, such as the inability to engorge fully and to produce eggs and increased mortality. These and additional gene targets provide opportunities to explore novel tick control strategies.

Published
2024
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19. Additional file 1: Figure S1. of RNAi reveals proteins for metabolism and protein processing associated with Langat virus infection in Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick) ISE6 cells

Author

Grabowski, Jeffrey, Gulia-Nuss, Monika, Kuhn, Richard, and Hill, Catherine

Abstract

Summary of the process employed to select I. scapularis genes for RNAi knockdown experiments. Δ ISE6 proteins from the differential proteomic analysis at 36 hpi were analyzed. Proteins were selected based on (1) increased expression level, (2) strength of proteomic support (minimum 2 peptides identified from LC-MS-MS per protein) from proteins identified in Grabowski et al. [4], and (3) orthology to vertebrate/invertebrate proteins; * orthologous proteins identified in published proteomic studies [4–6, 8]. LGTV denotes proteins that exhibited increased expression following LGTV infection and LGTV & UV-LGTV denotes proteins that exhibited increased expression following both LGTV infection and UV-LGTV treatment. + proteins that exhibited increased expression following LGTV infection as compared to UV-LGTV treatment. FAH, fumarylacetoacetase; ERP29, endoplasmic reticulum protein 29; ALDH, 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase; VNN, pantetheine hydrolase; MDH2, malate dehydrogenase; PARP, poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase; CMPK, UMP-CMP kinase; ACAT1, acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase; Hypo195, hypothetical protein; Hypo576. The prefix “ISCW” denotes VectorBase accession IDs. Figure S2 Effect of pGEM dsRNA concentrations on ISE6 cell viability following transfection for 60 h. X-tremeGENE (Xtr) transfection reagent was used to optimize pGEM dsRNA (RNAi negative control) concentrations in ISE6 cells at 60 h post transfection. Cell viability readings were compared to the Xtr + OptiMEM (Opti) control (gray bar). Red boxes indicate increased or no significant decrease in ISE6 cell viability. RLU560,590, relative light units 560 nm excitation and 590 nm emission. Error bars represent SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using an unpaired t-test between Xtr + Opti control and each pGEM dsRNA concentration. *p value ≤ 0.05 and **p value ≤ 0.01. Results represent 3 technical replicates and 1 biological replicate (multiple biological replicates completed with 10 ng concentration). Figure S3 Effect of transfection with dsRNA on ISE6 cell viability. FAH, fumarylacetoacetase; ERP29, endoplasmic reticulum protein 29; ALDH, 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase; VNN, pantetheine hydrolase; MDH2, malate dehydrogenase; PARP, poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase; CMPK, UMP-CMP kinase; ACAT1, acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase; Hypo195, hypothetical protein; Hypo576, hypothetical protein; pGEM, pGEM plasmid (negative control; light gray bars); LGTV 3UTR, 3’ UTR of LGTV TP21 strain (positive control; dark gray bars), RLU560,590, relative light units 560 nm excitation and 590 nm emission. ISE6 cell viability following transfection with 10ng dsRNA for 60 h normalized to the negative control pGEM dsRNA. Results represent 2–5 technical replicates and 3 biological replicates. Error bars represent SEM and unpaired t-tests for comparison of cell viability of the negative pGEM control versus each gene of interest. Table S1 T7-tagged primers used to amplify cDNA and synthesize dsRNA. Table S2 Primers used to amplify cDNA for I. scapularis genes of interest by RT-qPCR. Table S3 Enrichment/cluster analysis of ISE6 proteins that exhibited increased expression following LGTV and UV-LGTV treatment. ISE6 proteins with increased expression following LGTV infection and/or UV-LGTV treatment from [4] were searched via DAVID enrichment analysis. For each cluster, the P value represents a modified Fisher Exact P value, and EASE score implemented in DAVID gene enrichment and functional annotation analysis. Enrichment (E) score of ≥ 1.3 is equal to P value of ≤ 0.05. Table S4 Nucleotide similarity of RT-PCR products amplified from I. scapularis and ISE6 cells and IscaW1 gene models. Table S5 Summary of statistically significant values corresponding to figures. (DOCX 329 kb)

Published
2017
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20. The sugar substitute erythritol shortens the lifespan of Aedes aegypti potentially by N-linked protein glycosylation.

Author

Sharma, Arvind, Reyes, Jeremiah, Borgmeyer, David, Ayala-Chavez, Cuauhtemoc, Snow, Katie, Arshad, Fiza, Nuss, Andrew, and Gulia-Nuss, Monika

Subjects
SUGAR substitutes, GLYCOSYLATION, AEDES aegypti, MOSQUITOES, METABOLISM, ERYTHRITOL
Abstract

Adult male and female mosquitoes consume sugar as floral and extrafloral nectar. Earlier work demonstrated that mosquito populations and their vector potential are dependent upon the availability of sugar sources. Thus, a novel method of vector control may involve targeting sugar-feeding mosquitoes. Multiple human-safe sugar substitutes are already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are readily available. However, plant-based sugar substitutes such as stevia (erythritol) have been shown to affect lifespan in other flies. Therefore, the current study was carried out to test the potential of commercially available sugar substitutes to adversely affect the survival, fecundity, and metabolism of adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Of the four sugar substitutes tested, erythritol (Stevia), sucralose (Splenda), aspartame (Equal), and saccharin (Sweet'N Low), only erythritol negatively affected mosquito longevity and fecundity. The effect on fecundity was probably due in part to a corresponding decrease in glycogen and lipid levels over time in mosquitoes fed on erythritol. Comparative mosquito head transcriptomes indicated upregulation of a gene in the mannose biosynthesis pathway in females fed on erythritol, suggesting that N-linked glycosylation might be responsible for the negative impact of erythritol feeding in mosquitoes. Mosquitoes preferred sucrose when a choice was given but were not averse to erythritol. Our results suggest the possibility of using erythritol alone or in combination with sucrose as a component of attractive toxic sugar baits for a human-safe approach for mosquito control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2020
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24. Genomic insights into the Ixodes scapularis tick vector of Lyme disease

Author

Gulia-Nuss, Monika, Nuss, Andrew B., Meyer, Jason M., Sonenshine, Daniel E., Roe, R. Michael, Waterhouse, Robert M., Sattelle, David B., de la Fuente, Jose, Ribeiro, Jose M., Megy, Karine, Thimmapuram, Jyothi, Miller, Jason R., Walenz, Brian P., Koren, Sergey, Hostetler, Jessica B., Thiagarajan, Mathangi, Joardar, Vinita S., Hannick, Linda I., Bidwell, Shelby, Hammond, Martin P., Young, Sarah, Zeng, Qiandong, Abrudan, Jenica L., Almeida, Francisca C., Ayllon, Nieves, Bhide, Ketaki, Bissinger, Brooke W., Bonzon-Kulichenko, Elena, Buckingham, Steven D., Caffrey, Daniel R., Caimano, Melissa J., Croset, Vincent, Driscoll, Timothy, Gilbert, Don, Gillespie, Joseph J., Giraldo-Calderon, Gloria I., Grabowski, Jeffrey M., Jiang, David, Khalil, Sayed M. S., Kim, Donghun, Kocan, Katherine M., Koci, Juraj, Kuhn, Richard J., Kurtti, Timothy J., Lees, Kristin, Lang, Emma G., Kennedy, Ryan C., Kwon, Hyeogsun, Perera, Rushika, Qi, Yumin, Radolf, Justin D., Sakamoto, Joyce M., Sanchez-Gracia, Alejandro, Severo, Maiara S., Silverman, Neal, Simo, Ladislav, Tojo, Marta, Tornador, Cristian, Van Zee, Janice P., Vazquez, Jesus, Vieira, Filipe G., Villar, Margarita, Wespiser, Adam R., Yang, Yunlong, Zhu, Jiwei, Arensburger, Peter, Pietrantonio, Patricia V., Barker, Stephen C., Shao, Renfu, Zdobnov, Evgeny M., Hauser, Frank, Grimmelikhuijzen, Cornelis J. P., Park, Yoonseong, Rozas, Julio, Benton, Richard, Pedra, Joao H. F., Nelson, David R., Unger, Maria F., Tubio, Jose M. C., Tu, Zhijian Jake, Robertson, Hugh M., Shumway, Martin, Sutton, Granger, Wortman, Jennifer R., Lawson, Daniel, Wikel, Stephen K., Nene, Vishvanath M., Fraser, Claire M., Collins, Frank H., Birren, Bruce, Nelson, Karen E., Caler, Elisabet, Hill, Catherine A., Gulia-Nuss, Monika, Nuss, Andrew B., Meyer, Jason M., Sonenshine, Daniel E., Roe, R. Michael, Waterhouse, Robert M., Sattelle, David B., de la Fuente, Jose, Ribeiro, Jose M., Megy, Karine, Thimmapuram, Jyothi, Miller, Jason R., Walenz, Brian P., Koren, Sergey, Hostetler, Jessica B., Thiagarajan, Mathangi, Joardar, Vinita S., Hannick, Linda I., Bidwell, Shelby, Hammond, Martin P., Young, Sarah, Zeng, Qiandong, Abrudan, Jenica L., Almeida, Francisca C., Ayllon, Nieves, Bhide, Ketaki, Bissinger, Brooke W., Bonzon-Kulichenko, Elena, Buckingham, Steven D., Caffrey, Daniel R., Caimano, Melissa J., Croset, Vincent, Driscoll, Timothy, Gilbert, Don, Gillespie, Joseph J., Giraldo-Calderon, Gloria I., Grabowski, Jeffrey M., Jiang, David, Khalil, Sayed M. S., Kim, Donghun, Kocan, Katherine M., Koci, Juraj, Kuhn, Richard J., Kurtti, Timothy J., Lees, Kristin, Lang, Emma G., Kennedy, Ryan C., Kwon, Hyeogsun, Perera, Rushika, Qi, Yumin, Radolf, Justin D., Sakamoto, Joyce M., Sanchez-Gracia, Alejandro, Severo, Maiara S., Silverman, Neal, Simo, Ladislav, Tojo, Marta, Tornador, Cristian, Van Zee, Janice P., Vazquez, Jesus, Vieira, Filipe G., Villar, Margarita, Wespiser, Adam R., Yang, Yunlong, Zhu, Jiwei, Arensburger, Peter, Pietrantonio, Patricia V., Barker, Stephen C., Shao, Renfu, Zdobnov, Evgeny M., Hauser, Frank, Grimmelikhuijzen, Cornelis J. P., Park, Yoonseong, Rozas, Julio, Benton, Richard, Pedra, Joao H. F., Nelson, David R., Unger, Maria F., Tubio, Jose M. C., Tu, Zhijian Jake, Robertson, Hugh M., Shumway, Martin, Sutton, Granger, Wortman, Jennifer R., Lawson, Daniel, Wikel, Stephen K., Nene, Vishvanath M., Fraser, Claire M., Collins, Frank H., Birren, Bruce, Nelson, Karen E., Caler, Elisabet, and Hill, Catherine A.

Abstract

Ticks transmit more pathogens to humans and animals than any other arthropod. We describe the 2.1 Gbp nuclear genome of the tick, Ixodes scapularis (Say), which vectors pathogens that cause Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, babesiosis and other diseases. The large genome reflects accumulation of repetitive DNA, new lineages of retro-transposons, and gene architecture patterns resembling ancient metazoans rather than pancrustaceans. Annotation of scaffolds representing similar to 57% of the genome, reveals 20,486 protein-coding genes and expansions of gene families associated with tick-host interactions. We report insights from genome analyses into parasitic processes unique to ticks, including host 'questing', prolonged feeding, cuticle synthesis, blood meal concentration, novel methods of haemoglobin digestion, haem detoxification, vitellogenesis and prolonged off-host survival. We identify proteins associated with the agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis, an emerging disease, and the encephalitis-causing Langat virus, and a population structure correlated to life-history traits and transmission of the Lyme disease agent.

Published
2016
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25. Genomic insights into the Ixodes scapularis tick vector of Lyme disease

Author

Biochemistry, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Gulia-Nuss, Monika, Nuss, Andrew B., Meyer, Jason M., Sonenshine, Daniel E., Roe, R. Michael, Waterhouse, Robert M., Sattelle, David B., de la Fuente, Jose, Ribeiro, Jose M., Megy, Karine, Thimmapuram, Jyothi, Miller, Jason R., Walenz, Brian P., Koren, Sergey, Hostetler, Jessica B., Thiagarajan, Mathangi, Joardar, Vinita S., Hannick, Linda I., Bidwell, Shelby, Hammond, Martin P., Young, Sarah, Zeng, Qiandong, Abrudan, Jenica L., Almeida, Francisca C., Ayllon, Nieves, Bhide, Ketaki, Bissinger, Brooke W., Bonzon-Kulichenko, Elena, Buckingham, Steven D., Caffrey, Daniel R., Caimano, Melissa J., Croset, Vincent, Driscoll, Timothy, Gilbert, Don, Gillespie, Joseph J., Giraldo-Calderon, Gloria I., Grabowski, Jeffrey M., Jiang, David, Khalil, Sayed M. S., Kim, Donghun, Kocan, Katherine M., Koci, Juraj, Kuhn, Richard J., Kurtti, Timothy J., Lees, Kristin, Lang, Emma G., Kennedy, Ryan C., Kwon, Hyeogsun, Perera, Rushika, Qi, Yumin, Radolf, Justin D., Sakamoto, Joyce M., Sanchez-Gracia, Alejandro, Severo, Maiara S., Silverman, Neal, Simo, Ladislav, Tojo, Marta, Tornador, Cristian, Van Zee, Janice P., Vazquez, Jesus, Vieira, Filipe G., Villar, Margarita, Wespiser, Adam R., Yang, Yunlong, Zhu, Jiwei, Arensburger, Peter, Pietrantonio, Patricia V., Barker, Stephen C., Shao, Renfu, Zdobnov, Evgeny M., Hauser, Frank, Grimmelikhuijzen, Cornelis J. P., Park, Yoonseong, Rozas, Julio, Benton, Richard, Pedra, Joao H. F., Nelson, David R., Unger, Maria F., Tubio, Jose M. C., Tu, Zhijian Jake, Robertson, Hugh M., Shumway, Martin, Sutton, Granger, Wortman, Jennifer R., Lawson, Daniel, Wikel, Stephen K., Nene, Vishvanath M., Fraser, Claire M., Collins, Frank H., Birren, Bruce, Nelson, Karen E., Caler, Elisabet, Hill, Catherine A., Biochemistry, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Gulia-Nuss, Monika, Nuss, Andrew B., Meyer, Jason M., Sonenshine, Daniel E., Roe, R. Michael, Waterhouse, Robert M., Sattelle, David B., de la Fuente, Jose, Ribeiro, Jose M., Megy, Karine, Thimmapuram, Jyothi, Miller, Jason R., Walenz, Brian P., Koren, Sergey, Hostetler, Jessica B., Thiagarajan, Mathangi, Joardar, Vinita S., Hannick, Linda I., Bidwell, Shelby, Hammond, Martin P., Young, Sarah, Zeng, Qiandong, Abrudan, Jenica L., Almeida, Francisca C., Ayllon, Nieves, Bhide, Ketaki, Bissinger, Brooke W., Bonzon-Kulichenko, Elena, Buckingham, Steven D., Caffrey, Daniel R., Caimano, Melissa J., Croset, Vincent, Driscoll, Timothy, Gilbert, Don, Gillespie, Joseph J., Giraldo-Calderon, Gloria I., Grabowski, Jeffrey M., Jiang, David, Khalil, Sayed M. S., Kim, Donghun, Kocan, Katherine M., Koci, Juraj, Kuhn, Richard J., Kurtti, Timothy J., Lees, Kristin, Lang, Emma G., Kennedy, Ryan C., Kwon, Hyeogsun, Perera, Rushika, Qi, Yumin, Radolf, Justin D., Sakamoto, Joyce M., Sanchez-Gracia, Alejandro, Severo, Maiara S., Silverman, Neal, Simo, Ladislav, Tojo, Marta, Tornador, Cristian, Van Zee, Janice P., Vazquez, Jesus, Vieira, Filipe G., Villar, Margarita, Wespiser, Adam R., Yang, Yunlong, Zhu, Jiwei, Arensburger, Peter, Pietrantonio, Patricia V., Barker, Stephen C., Shao, Renfu, Zdobnov, Evgeny M., Hauser, Frank, Grimmelikhuijzen, Cornelis J. P., Park, Yoonseong, Rozas, Julio, Benton, Richard, Pedra, Joao H. F., Nelson, David R., Unger, Maria F., Tubio, Jose M. C., Tu, Zhijian Jake, Robertson, Hugh M., Shumway, Martin, Sutton, Granger, Wortman, Jennifer R., Lawson, Daniel, Wikel, Stephen K., Nene, Vishvanath M., Fraser, Claire M., Collins, Frank H., Birren, Bruce, Nelson, Karen E., Caler, Elisabet, and Hill, Catherine A.

Abstract

Ticks transmit more pathogens to humans and animals than any other arthropod. We describe the 2.1 Gbp nuclear genome of the tick, Ixodes scapularis (Say), which vectors pathogens that cause Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, babesiosis and other diseases. The large genome reflects accumulation of repetitive DNA, new lineages of retro-transposons, and gene architecture patterns resembling ancient metazoans rather than pancrustaceans. Annotation of scaffolds representing similar to 57% of the genome, reveals 20,486 protein-coding genes and expansions of gene families associated with tick-host interactions. We report insights from genome analyses into parasitic processes unique to ticks, including host 'questing', prolonged feeding, cuticle synthesis, blood meal concentration, novel methods of haemoglobin digestion, haem detoxification, vitellogenesis and prolonged off-host survival. We identify proteins associated with the agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis, an emerging disease, and the encephalitis-causing Langat virus, and a population structure correlated to life-history traits and transmission of the Lyme disease agent.

Published
2016

26. Genomic insights into the Ixodes scapularis tick vector of Lyme disease

Author

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (US), National Institutes of Health (US), Department of Health and Human Services (US), Australian Research Council, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España), National Science Foundation (US), Xunta de Galicia, European Commission, Department of Agriculture (US), Texas AgriLife Research, European Research Council, Swiss National Science Foundation, Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal), Lundbeck Foundation, Gulia-Nuss, Monika, Nuss, Andrew B., Meyer, Jason M., Sonenshine, Daniel E., Roe, R. Michael, Waterhouse, Robert M., Sattelle, David B., Fuente, José de la, Ribeiro, Jose M., Megy, Karine, Thimmapuram, Jyothi, Miller, Jason R., Walenz, Brian P., Koren, Sergey, Hostetler, Jessica B., Thiagarajan, Mathangi, Joardar, Vinita S., Hannick, Linda I., Bidwell, Shelby, Hammond, Martin P., Young, Sarah, Zeng, Qiandong, Abrudan, Jenica L., Almeida, Francisca C., Ayllón, Nieves, Bhide, Ketaki, Bissinger, Brooke W., Bonzón-Kulichenko, Elena, Buckingham, Steven D., Caffrey, Daniel R., Caimano, Melissa J., Croset, Vincent, Driscoll, Timothy, Gilbert, Don, Gillespie, Joseph J., Giraldo-Calderón, Gloria I., Grabowski, Jeffrey M., Jiang, David, Khalil, Sayed M .S., Kim, Donghun, Kocan, Katherine M., Koči, Juraj, Kuhn, Richard J., Kurtti, Timothy J., Lees, Kristin, Lang, Emma G., Kennedy, Ryan C., Kwon, Hyeogsun, Perera, Rushika, Qi, Yumin, Radolf, Justin D., Sakamoto, Joyce M., Sánchez-Gracia, Alejandro, Severo, Maiara S., Silverman, Neal, Šimo, Ladislav, Tojo, Marta, Tornador, Cristian, Van Zee, Janice P., Vázquez, Jesús, Vieira, Filipe G., Villar, Margarita, Wespiser, Adam R., Yang, Yunlong, Zhu, Jiwei, Arensburger, Peter, Pietrantonio, Patricia V., Barker, Stephen C., Shao, Renfu, Zdobnov, Evgeny M., Hauser, Frank, Grimmelikhuijzen, Cornelis J. P., Park, Yoonseong, Rozas, Julio, Benton, Richard, Pedra, Joao H. F., Nelson, David R., Unger, Maria F., Tubio, Jose M. C., Tu, Zhijian, Robertson, Hugh M., Shumway, Martin, Sutton, Granger, Wortman, Jennifer R., Lawson, Daniel, Wikel, Stephen K., Nene, Vishvanath M., Fraser, Claire M., Collins, Frank H., Birren, Bruce, Nelson, Karen E., Caler, Elisabet, Hill, Catherine A., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (US), National Institutes of Health (US), Department of Health and Human Services (US), Australian Research Council, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España), National Science Foundation (US), Xunta de Galicia, European Commission, Department of Agriculture (US), Texas AgriLife Research, European Research Council, Swiss National Science Foundation, Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal), Lundbeck Foundation, Gulia-Nuss, Monika, Nuss, Andrew B., Meyer, Jason M., Sonenshine, Daniel E., Roe, R. Michael, Waterhouse, Robert M., Sattelle, David B., Fuente, José de la, Ribeiro, Jose M., Megy, Karine, Thimmapuram, Jyothi, Miller, Jason R., Walenz, Brian P., Koren, Sergey, Hostetler, Jessica B., Thiagarajan, Mathangi, Joardar, Vinita S., Hannick, Linda I., Bidwell, Shelby, Hammond, Martin P., Young, Sarah, Zeng, Qiandong, Abrudan, Jenica L., Almeida, Francisca C., Ayllón, Nieves, Bhide, Ketaki, Bissinger, Brooke W., Bonzón-Kulichenko, Elena, Buckingham, Steven D., Caffrey, Daniel R., Caimano, Melissa J., Croset, Vincent, Driscoll, Timothy, Gilbert, Don, Gillespie, Joseph J., Giraldo-Calderón, Gloria I., Grabowski, Jeffrey M., Jiang, David, Khalil, Sayed M .S., Kim, Donghun, Kocan, Katherine M., Koči, Juraj, Kuhn, Richard J., Kurtti, Timothy J., Lees, Kristin, Lang, Emma G., Kennedy, Ryan C., Kwon, Hyeogsun, Perera, Rushika, Qi, Yumin, Radolf, Justin D., Sakamoto, Joyce M., Sánchez-Gracia, Alejandro, Severo, Maiara S., Silverman, Neal, Šimo, Ladislav, Tojo, Marta, Tornador, Cristian, Van Zee, Janice P., Vázquez, Jesús, Vieira, Filipe G., Villar, Margarita, Wespiser, Adam R., Yang, Yunlong, Zhu, Jiwei, Arensburger, Peter, Pietrantonio, Patricia V., Barker, Stephen C., Shao, Renfu, Zdobnov, Evgeny M., Hauser, Frank, Grimmelikhuijzen, Cornelis J. P., Park, Yoonseong, Rozas, Julio, Benton, Richard, Pedra, Joao H. F., Nelson, David R., Unger, Maria F., Tubio, Jose M. C., Tu, Zhijian, Robertson, Hugh M., Shumway, Martin, Sutton, Granger, Wortman, Jennifer R., Lawson, Daniel, Wikel, Stephen K., Nene, Vishvanath M., Fraser, Claire M., Collins, Frank H., Birren, Bruce, Nelson, Karen E., Caler, Elisabet, and Hill, Catherine A.

Abstract

Ticks transmit more pathogens to humans and animals than any other arthropod. We describe the 2.1 Gbp nuclear genome of the tick, Ixodes scapularis (Say), which vectors pathogens that cause Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, babesiosis and other diseases. The large genome reflects accumulation of repetitive DNA, new lineages of retro-transposons, and gene architecture patterns resembling ancient metazoans rather than pancrustaceans. Annotation of scaffolds representing ∼57% of the genome, reveals 20,486 protein-coding genes and expansions of gene families associated with tick–host interactions. We report insights from genome analyses into parasitic processes unique to ticks, including host ‘questing’, prolonged feeding, cuticle synthesis, blood meal concentration, novel methods of haemoglobin digestion, haem detoxification, vitellogenesis and prolonged off-host survival. We identify proteins associated with the agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis, an emerging disease, and the encephalitis-causing Langat virus, and a population structure correlated to life-history traits and transmission of the Lyme disease agent.

Published
2016

27. Genomic insights into the Ixodes scapularis tick vector of Lyme disease

Author

Gulia-Nuss, Monika, primary, Nuss, Andrew B., additional, Meyer, Jason M., additional, Sonenshine, Daniel E., additional, Roe, R. Michael, additional, Waterhouse, Robert M., additional, Sattelle, David B., additional, de la Fuente, José, additional, Ribeiro, Jose M., additional, Megy, Karine, additional, Thimmapuram, Jyothi, additional, Miller, Jason R., additional, Walenz, Brian P., additional, Koren, Sergey, additional, Hostetler, Jessica B., additional, Thiagarajan, Mathangi, additional, Joardar, Vinita S., additional, Hannick, Linda I., additional, Bidwell, Shelby, additional, Hammond, Martin P., additional, Young, Sarah, additional, Zeng, Qiandong, additional, Abrudan, Jenica L., additional, Almeida, Francisca C., additional, Ayllón, Nieves, additional, Bhide, Ketaki, additional, Bissinger, Brooke W., additional, Bonzon-Kulichenko, Elena, additional, Buckingham, Steven D., additional, Caffrey, Daniel R., additional, Caimano, Melissa J., additional, Croset, Vincent, additional, Driscoll, Timothy, additional, Gilbert, Don, additional, Gillespie, Joseph J., additional, Giraldo-Calderón, Gloria I., additional, Grabowski, Jeffrey M., additional, Jiang, David, additional, Khalil, Sayed M. S., additional, Kim, Donghun, additional, Kocan, Katherine M., additional, Koči, Juraj, additional, Kuhn, Richard J., additional, Kurtti, Timothy J., additional, Lees, Kristin, additional, Lang, Emma G., additional, Kennedy, Ryan C., additional, Kwon, Hyeogsun, additional, Perera, Rushika, additional, Qi, Yumin, additional, Radolf, Justin D., additional, Sakamoto, Joyce M., additional, Sánchez-Gracia, Alejandro, additional, Severo, Maiara S., additional, Silverman, Neal, additional, Šimo, Ladislav, additional, Tojo, Marta, additional, Tornador, Cristian, additional, Van Zee, Janice P., additional, Vázquez, Jesús, additional, Vieira, Filipe G., additional, Villar, Margarita, additional, Wespiser, Adam R., additional, Yang, Yunlong, additional, Zhu, Jiwei, additional, Arensburger, Peter, additional, Pietrantonio, Patricia V., additional, Barker, Stephen C., additional, Shao, Renfu, additional, Zdobnov, Evgeny M., additional, Hauser, Frank, additional, Grimmelikhuijzen, Cornelis J. P., additional, Park, Yoonseong, additional, Rozas, Julio, additional, Benton, Richard, additional, Pedra, Joao H. F., additional, Nelson, David R., additional, Unger, Maria F., additional, Tubio, Jose M. C., additional, Tu, Zhijian, additional, Robertson, Hugh M., additional, Shumway, Martin, additional, Sutton, Granger, additional, Wortman, Jennifer R., additional, Lawson, Daniel, additional, Wikel, Stephen K., additional, Nene, Vishvanath M., additional, Fraser, Claire M., additional, Collins, Frank H., additional, Birren, Bruce, additional, Nelson, Karen E., additional, Caler, Elisabet, additional, and Hill, Catherine A., additional

Published
2016
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28. RNAi reveals proteins for metabolism and protein processing associated with Langat virus infection in Ixodes scapularis (blacklegged tick) ISE6 cells.

Author

Grabowski, Jeffrey M., Gulia-Nuss, Monika, Kuhn, Richard J., and Hill, Catherine A.

Subjects
*IXODES scapularis, *TICK-borne diseases, *FLAVIVIRUSES, *ENCEPHALITIS, *INFECTIOUS disease transmission
Abstract

Background: Tick-borne flaviviruses (TBFs) cause thousands of human cases of encephalitis worldwide each year, with some TBF infections progressing to hemorrhagic fever. TBFs are of medical and veterinary importance and strategies to reduce flavivirus transmission by the tick vector may have significant application. Analyses of the proteome of ISE6 cells derived from the black legged tick, Ixodes scapularis infected with the TBF, Langat virus (LGTV), have provided insights into proteins and cellular processes involved with LGTV infection. Methods: RNA interference (RNAi)-induced knockdown of transcripts was used to investigate the role of ten tick proteins in the LGTV infection cycle in ISE6 cells. LGTV-infected cells were separately transfected with dsRNA corresponding to each gene of interest and the effect on LGTV genome replication and release of infectious virus was assessed by RT-qPCR and plaque assays, respectively. Results: RNAi-induced knockdown of transcripts for two enzymes that likely function in amino acid, carbohydrate, lipid, terpenoid/polykeytide and vitamin metabolism, and a transcript for one protein of unknown function were associated with decreased replication of the LGTV genome and release of infectious virus from cells. The knockdown of transcripts for five enzymes predicted to function in metabolism, a protein likely associated with folding, sorting and degradation, and a protein of unknown function was associated with a decrease only in the amount of infectious LGTV released from cells. Conclusions: These data suggest tick proteins potentially associated with metabolism and protein processing may be involved in LGTV infection of ISE6 cells. Our study provides information to begin to elucidate the function of these proteins and identify targets for the development of new interventions aimed at controlling the transmission of TBFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2017
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31. Nature Communications

Author

Adam R. Wespiser, Don Gilbert, Vincent Croset, Joseph J. Gillespie, Renfu Shao, Timothy J. Kurtti, Julio Rozas, Hugh M. Robertson, Stephen C. Barker, Karen E. Nelson, Ketaki Bhide, Yoonseong Park, Brooke W. Bissinger, Patricia V. Pietrantonio, Joao H. F. Pedra, Janice P. Van Zee, Peter Arensburger, Hyeogsun Kwon, Timothy P. Driscoll, Daniel Lawson, Ryan C. Kennedy, Emma G. Lang, David Jiang, Jessica B. Hostetler, Jesús Vázquez, Zhijian Jake Tu, José de la Fuente, Bruce W. Birren, Juraj Koči, David R. Nelson, Catherine A. Hill, Brian P. Walenz, Frank Hauser, Cornelis J. P. Grimmelikhuijzen, Mathangi Thiagarajan, Andrew B. Nuss, Richard Benton, Linda Hannick, Kristin Lees, Stephen K. Wikel, Daniel R. Caffrey, Evgeny M. Zdobnov, Jason R. Miller, Elisabet Caler, Melissa J. Caimano, José M. C. Ribeiro, Jeffrey M. Grabowski, Elena Bonzón-Kulichenko, Monika Gulia-Nuss, Marta Tojo, Daniel E. Sonenshine, Joyce M. Sakamoto, Rushika Perera, Sergey Koren, R. Michael Roe, Nieves Ayllón, Qiandong Zeng, Jyothi Thimmapuram, Katherine M. Kocan, Jenica L. Abrudan, Gloria I. Giraldo-Calderón, Margarita Villar, David B. Sattelle, Alejandro Sánchez-Gracia, Francisca C. Almeida, Donghun Kim, Granger G. Sutton, Richard J. Kuhn, Maiara S. Severo, Sayed M.S. Khalil, Jiwei Zhu, Cristian Tornador, Shelby L. Bidwell, Vinita Joardar, Jose M. C. Tubio, Robert M. Waterhouse, Justin D. Radolf, Martin Hammond, Sarah Young, Steven D. Buckingham, Frank H. Collins, Yumin Qi, Ladislav Šimo, Maria F. Unger, Jason M. Meyer, Karyn Megy, Neal S. Silverman, Filipe G. Vieira, Martin Shumway, Jennifer R. Wortman, Claire M. Fraser, Yunlong Yang, Vishvanath Nene, Waterhouse, Robert, Zdobnov, Evgeny, University of Nevada, Partenaires INRAE, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University [East Lansing], Michigan State University System-Michigan State University System, Department Biotechnology, University of São Paulo (USP), Department of Biological Sciences, The Open University [Milton Keynes] (OU), North Carolina State University, Center for High Performance Simulation and Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Université de Genève (UNIGE), Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics [Lausanne] (SIB), Université de Lausanne (UNIL), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University College of London [London] (UCL), SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University [Stillwater], National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Deseases (NIAID), University of Cambridge [UK] (CAM), VectorBase, Purdue University, J. Craig Venter Institute [La Jolla, USA] (JCVI), University of Notre Dame [Indiana] (UND), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Fundación Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), University of Massachusetts Medical School [Worcester] (UMASS), University of Massachusetts System (UMASS), University of Connecticut (UCONN), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University [Blacksburg], Department of Biology, Indiana University [Bloomington], Indiana University System-Indiana University System, Department of Biochemistry [Blacksburg], Virginia Tech [Blacksburg], Agricultural Research Center, Texas A&M University System, Minnesota State University, University of Manchester [Manchester], Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California [San Francisco] (UCSF), University of California-University of California, Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), Penn State System-Penn State System, University of California [Riverside] (UCR), University of California, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela [Spain] (USC ), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra [Barcelona] (UPF), University of Barcelona, California State Polytechnic University [Pomona] (CAL POLY POMONA), University of Queensland [Brisbane], University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (KU), University of Tennessee, Universidade de Vigo, Cancer Genome Project, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute [Cambridge], University of Illinois, University of Illinois System, Quinnipiac University, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services (NIAID, NIH, DHHS) [N01-AI30071, HHSN272200900007C, HHSN266200400001C, 5R01GM77117-5], NIH-NIAID [HHSN266200400039C, HHSN272200900039C], Australian Research Council [DP120100240], Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion of Spain [BFU2007-6292, BFU2010-15484, BIO2009-07990, BIO2012-37926], NIH [1R01AI090062, 1R21AI096268, HHSN272200900040C, R01AI017828, R01AI043006], NSF [IOS-0949194], Xunta de Galicia of Spain [10PXIB918057PR], EU FP7 ANTIGONE [278976], USDA-NRI/CREES [2008-35302-18820], Texas AgriLife Research Vector Biology grant, European Research Council Starting Independent, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Biochemistry, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, NIH - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (Estados Unidos), National Institutes of Health (Estados Unidos), Australian Research Council, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España), United States of Department of Health & Human Services, National Science Foundation (Estados Unidos), Xunta de Galicia (España), Unión Europea. Comisión Europea, United States Department of Agriculture. National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Texas AgriLife Research, European Research Council, Swiss National Science Foundation, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal), Lundbeck Foundation, Broad Genomics Platform, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (US), National Institutes of Health (US), Department of Health and Human Services (US), National Science Foundation (US), Xunta de Galicia, European Commission, Department of Agriculture (US), Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds, Gulia-Nuss, Monika, and Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portugal)

Subjects
0301 basic medicine, beetle tribolium-castaneum, Langat virus, [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio], General Physics and Astronomy, PROTEIN, CATTLE TICK, Xenopus laevis, Lyme disease, anaplasma-phagocytophilum infection, Lyme Disease/transmission, ddc:576.5, BEETLE TRIBOLIUM-CASTANEUM, Genetics, Lyme Disease, Genome, Multidisciplinary, biology, Ecology, cattle tick, evolutionary analyses, CHEMOSENSORY RECEPTORS, Babesiosis, Genomics, drosophila, 3. Good health, Ixodes/genetics, DROSOPHILA, Ixodes scapularis, LIFE-STYLE, chemosensory receptors, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, life-style, Human granulocytic anaplasmosis, boophilus-microplus, united-states, protein, Science, Ligand-Gated Ion Channels/genetics, UNITED-STATES, Tick, ANAPLASMA-PHAGOCYTOPHILUM INFECTION, Article, General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Arachnid Vectors/genetics, 03 medical and health sciences, BOOPHILUS-MICROPLUS, parasitic diseases, medicine, Animals, Ixodes, Gene Expression Profiling, General Chemistry, Ligand-Gated Ion Channels, Genome/genetics, Oocytes, biology.organism_classification, medicine.disease, bacterial infections and mycoses, EVOLUTIONARY ANALYSES, 030104 developmental biology, Arachnid Vectors
Abstract

Ticks transmit more pathogens to humans and animals than any other arthropod. We describe the 2.1 Gbp nuclear genome of the tick, Ixodes scapularis (Say), which vectors pathogens that cause Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, babesiosis and other diseases. The large genome reflects accumulation of repetitive DNA, new lineages of retro-transposons, and gene architecture patterns resembling ancient metazoans rather than pancrustaceans. Annotation of scaffolds representing ∼57% of the genome, reveals 20,486 protein-coding genes and expansions of gene families associated with tick–host interactions. We report insights from genome analyses into parasitic processes unique to ticks, including host ‘questing’, prolonged feeding, cuticle synthesis, blood meal concentration, novel methods of haemoglobin digestion, haem detoxification, vitellogenesis and prolonged off-host survival. We identify proteins associated with the agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis, an emerging disease, and the encephalitis-causing Langat virus, and a population structure correlated to life-history traits and transmission of the Lyme disease agent., This project has been funded in part with federal funds from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services (NIAID, NIH, DHHS) under contract numbers N01-AI30071, HHSN272200900007C, HHSN266200400001C and 5R01GM77117-5. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the official views of the NIH. Additional grants and contracts supporting work described in this manuscript were from the NIH-NIAID (HHSN266200400039C and HHSN272200900039C) to F.H.C., and a subcontract under HHSN272200900039C to C.A.H. and J.M.M., the Australian Research Council Discovery Project (DP120100240) to S.C.B. and R.S., the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain (BFU2007–6292; BFU2010–15484) to J.R., BIO2009–07990 and BIO2012–37926 to J.V. NIH-1R01AI090062 to Y.P., L.S., and J.K., NIH 1R21AI096268 and NSF IOS-0949194 to R.M.R., the Xunta de Galicia of Spain (10PXIB918057PR) to J.M.C.T. and M.T., BFU2011–23896 and EU FP7 ANTIGONE (278976) to J.F., the USDA-NRI/CREES (2008-35302-18820) and Texas AgriLife Research Vector Biology grant to P.V.P. and European Research Council Starting Independent Researcher Grant (205202) to R.B., J.M.R was supported by the intramural program of the NIAID, R.M.W. by a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship PIOF-GA-2011–303312, E.M.Z. by Swiss National Science Foundation awards 31003A-125350 and 31003A-143936, J.M.G. by an NIH-NCATS award TL1 TR000162 and NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (DGE 1333468), V.C. by a Boehringer Ingelheim Ph.D. Fellowship, F.G.V. by a Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal fellowship (SFRH/BD/22360/2005), C.J.P.G. and F.H. by The Lundbeck Foundation (Denmark), and J.J.G. by NIH awards HHSN272200900040C, R01AI017828 and R01AI043006. Support from the Broad Genomics Platform is gratefully acknowledged.

Published
2016

32. A novel expression domain of extradenticle underlies the evolutionary developmental origin of the chelicerate patella.

Author

Klementz BC, Brenneis G, Hinne IA, Laumer EM, Neu SM, Hareid GM, Gainett G, Setton EVW, Simian C, Vrech DE, Joyce I, Barnett AA, Patel NH, Harvey MS, Peretti AV, Gulia-Nuss M, and Sharma PP

Abstract

Neofunctionalization of duplicated gene copies is thought to be an important process underlying the origin of evolutionary novelty and provides an elegant mechanism for the origin of new phenotypic traits. One putative case where a new gene copy has been linked to a novel morphological trait is the origin of the arachnid patella, a taxonomically restricted leg segment. In spiders, the origin of this segment has been linked to the origin of the paralog dachshund-2 , suggesting that a new gene facilitated the expression of a new trait. However, various arachnid groups that possess patellae do not have a copy of dachshund-2 , disfavoring the direct link between gene origin and trait origin. We investigated the developmental genetic basis for patellar patterning in the harvestman Phalangium opilio , which lacks dachshund-2 . Here, we show that the harvestman patella is established by a novel expression domain of the transcription factor extradenticle . Leveraging this definition of patellar identity, we surveyed targeted groups across chelicerate phylogeny to assess when this trait evolved. We show that a patellar homolog is present in Pycnogonida (sea spiders) and various arachnid orders, suggesting a single origin of the patella in the ancestor of Chelicerata. A potential loss of the patella is observed in Ixodida. Our results suggest that the modification of an ancient gene, rather than the neofunctionalization of a new gene copy, underlies the origin of the patella. Broadly, this work underscores the value of comparative data and broad taxonomic sampling when testing hypotheses in evolutionary developmental biology.

Published
2024
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33. Validation of a heat-inducible Ixodes scapularis HSP70 promoter and developing a tick-specific 3xP3 promoter sequence in ISE6 cells.

Author

Pham M, Hoffmann HH, Kurtti TJ, Chana R, Garcia-Cruz O, Aliabadi S, and Gulia-Nuss M

Abstract

Ixodes scapularis is an important vector of many pathogens, including the causative agent of Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis, and anaplasmosis. The study of gene function in I. scapularis and other ticks has been hampered by the lack of genetic tools, such as an inducible promoter to permit temporal control over transgenes encoding protein or double-stranded RNA expression. Studies of vector-pathogen relationships would also benefit from the capability to activate anti-pathogen genes at different times during pathogen infection and dissemination. We have characterized an intergenic sequence upstream of the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene that can drive Renilla luciferase expression and mCherry fluorescence in the I. scapularis cell line ISE6. In another construct, we replaced the Drosophila melanogaster minimal HSP70 promoter in the synthetic 3xP3 promoter with a minimal portion of the I. scapularis HSP70 promoter and generated an I. scapularis specific 3xP3 (Is3xP3) promoter. Both promoter constructs, IsHSP70 and Is3xP3, allow for heat-inducible expression of mCherry fluorescence in ISE6 cells with an approximately 10-fold increase in the percentage of fluorescent positive cells upon exposure to a 2 h heat shock. These promoters described here will be valuable tools for gene function studies and temporal control of gene expression, including anti-pathogen genes.

Published
2023
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34. Effect of anti-fat body antibodies on reproductive capacity of mosquito Anopheles stephensi and transmission blocking of Plasmodium vivax.

Author

Gulia-Nuss M, Mundhalia A, and Gakhar SK

Subjects
Animals, Anopheles immunology, Anopheles parasitology, Antibodies immunology, Blotting, Western, Cross Reactions, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Fertility drug effects, Humans, Immune Sera, Insect Vectors, Malaria blood, Malaria transmission, Plasmodium vivax pathogenicity, Rabbits, Anopheles physiology, Antibodies pharmacology, Fat Body immunology, Malaria prevention & control, Plasmodium vivax physiology
Abstract

Effect of anti-mosquito-fat body antibodies on the development of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium vivax has been studied by feeding Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes with infected blood supplemented with serum from immunized rabbits. Immunogenic polypeptides were identified by western blot. Mosquitoes that ingested anti-fat body antibodies along with infectious blood meal had significantly fewer oocysts than the mosquitoes in the control group. Effect of anti-mosquito fat body antibodies on fecundity, hatchability, mortality and engorgement of mosquitoes has also been reported. A significant reduction in fecundity and hatchability was observed, however, effect on mortality and engorgement was variable and statistically insignificant. Results indicated that fat body antibodies have the potential to disrupt reproductive physiology of malaria vector An. stephensi.

Published
2011

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