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Degenerative disc disease and progressive sagittal malalignment can both contribute to degenerative cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy. For patients with symptoms refractory to conservative management, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a thoroughly-vetted intervention shown to improve pain and disability measures. Hyperlordotic implants can also help restore cervical sagittal balance through anterior column realignment (ACR).A consecutive bi-institutional series of patients who underwent ACDF with hyperlordotic polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implants between 2014-2016 was reviewed. All included patients underwent ACDF between C3-C7 inclusive of a hyperlordotic PEEK cervical implant (10° lordosis), and had ≥12-months of radiographic follow-up. Lateral radiographs were analyzed to compare pre- and postoperative cervical parameters.Forty-six patients were included (mean age, 58.0 years; male, 35%). Mean body mass index (BMI) was 28.3 kg/mOur study demonstrates that hyperlordotic PEEK implants used for ACR effectively contribute to restoration of cervical lordosis in patients undergoing ACDF, potentially reducing the need for additional posterior surgery.

Tracheal stenosis is a rare occurrence but maybe life threatening. Severity of this condition varies with the length of the affected trachea and the degree of luminal narrowing. Asymptomatic cases present with the highest risk as they may be diagnosed for the first time at the time of intubation. Proper history taking with a special note of any previous hospitalization or intubation, clinical examination and radiological investigations may help us prevent complications that may arise from this condition. A case of incidental finding of tracheal stenosis leading to inability to intubate in a paediatric patient posted for pyeloplasty is reported here. Keywords: Anaesthesia, Paediatric, Tracheal stenosis.

The aims of this study were to determine: (i) whether sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed individually in pens display less intense sexual behaviour than sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed in a group, and (ii) whether these treatments vary the sexual response in anoestrous goats. Five males were housed either individually in pens (2 × 2 m) or together in a pen (5 × 6 m) and received artificially long days (16 h/light/day/2.5 months). Males were exposed to females (n = 50/group) for 15 days. Plasma testosterone did not differ between males. Male sexual behaviour was recorded on days 0-2 after introduction to females. On days 0-2, nudging was higher in males in group than those individual. On days 0 and 2 anogenital sniffing were higher in males in group, on day 1 was similar between males. Mounting attempts were similar between groups. On day 1 mounts with intromission did not differ but on day 2 were more in males in group. On day 0 self-urination were more in males in group, but on days 1 and 2 were similar between groups. On day 0 flehmen were more in males individually but on days 1-2 were similar between groups. Interval increases the words to first oestrus differ significantly between females, whereas ovulatory responses were similar. Thus, sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed individually showed less sexual behaviour that those photo-stimulated housed in group but did not show reduced ability to induce ovulatory responses in anoestrous females; these responses resembled those induced by group-housed males.Highlights Plasma testosterone concentration is high in sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed in group or individually during the rest sexual. Sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed in group or individually display sexual behaviour in spring. Sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed in group or individually induce sexual response in anoestrous female goats.

Time series data have been applied for forest disturbance detection. The validation of detected changes is challenging partially because the validation data are often not readily available. Unlike multi-temporal change analysis, time series analysis not only detects areas of change but also reports time of change. Both spatial and temporal accuracy are therefore important for the accuracy assessment. Ayuquila River Basin (ARB) is one of the early action areas in Mexico for the implementation of REDD+ initiatives under UNFCCC. In ARB, shifting cultivation and cattle grazing often take place, resulting in degraded forestland. Sub-annual forest disturbance detection and estimation contribution to the improved local forest management and REDD+ implementation. Landsat-based NDVI time series data covering 1999–2018 were analysed using linear regression and the breakpoints of change and the magnitude of change were detected. Breakpoints with magnitude of change ranging from (−0.05) to (−0.2) were verified during a field campaign in October 2018. Here the magnitude of change is related with NDVI differences. Areas with magnitude of change higher than (−0.2) were identified as false changes. Verification data were generated by visually interpreting time series Landsat images of 2016–2018. In this way, areas with forest loss were identified. By stratified random sampling, 683 points were applied for the verification including 511 points of forests and 172 points of forest loss. It yields 75.84% for the overall accuracy of the change detection; for the detected forest loss as a category, the user’s accuracy is 88.89% and the producer’s accuracy is 0.46%. A possible reason for the very low producer’s accuracy is that the selected magnitude value (−0.2) is too low and some of the detected changes were filtered out.

Cellular RNA labeling using light-up aptamers that bind to and activate fluorogenic molecules has gained interest in recent years as an alternative to protein-based RNA labeling approaches. Aptamer-based systems are genetically encodable and cover the entire visible spectrum. However, the relatively weak nature of the non-covalent aptamer-fluorogen interaction limits the utility of these systems in that multiple copies of the aptamer are often required, and in most cases the aptamer must be expressed on a second scaffold such as a transfer RNA. We propose that these limitations can be averted through covalent RNA labeling, and here we describe a photoaffinity approach in which the aptamer ligand is functionalized with a photoactivatable reactive group such that irradiation with UV light results in covalent attachment to the RNA of interest. In addition to the robustness of the covalent linkage, this approach benefits from the ability to temporally control RNA labeling. To demonstrate this method, we incorporated a photoaffinity linker onto malachite green and fused the malachite green aptamer to a specific mRNA reporter of interest. We observed markedly improved sensitivity for fixed cell imaging of mRNA using this approach compared to in situ hybridization. Additionally, we demonstrate visualization of RNA dynamics in live cells using an mRNA having only a single copy of the aptamer, minimizing perturbation of the structure and localization. Our initial biological application utilizes the photoaffinity labeling approach to monitor RNA stress granule dynamics and we envision future application of this method for a wide range of investigations into the cellular localization, dynamics, and protein binding properties of cellular RNAs.

Birds that are active in the winter must continually meet their metabolic needs to survive many months of cold temperatures. Overwintering insects inhabiting trees provide an important food source for these birds. The objective of this study was to test whether or not winter birds present in the deciduous forest surrounding the Saint Francis University campus would forage more on tree-dwelling insects if there was a supplemental food source provided in the area. We used frozen mealworms placed in trees as surrogate overwintering insects and measured the foraging success of birds on these insects during a three-week period in the winter of 2014. Mealworm predation was compared across three sites differing in supplemented food sources: sunflower seeds, suet, and no provided food (control). Each site had four mealworms placed in holes drilled in 16 surrounding trees for a total of 64 mealworms per site. The consumption of these mealworms was measured during the experiment to analyze whether provided food sources influence the foraging behavior of birds in the winter. Observations after three weeks indicated that the predation rates were 78%, 72% and 69% at the seed, control and suet sites, respectively. The bird counts reveal a greater number of birds visiting the suet site compared to the control and the seed site. Birds appear to prey on insects inhabiting trees independently of foraging on supplemental food sources, or perhaps different species of birds forage on tree insects compared to those that visit feeders.

Studies on the spatial relationship between mother and young in the domestic goat (Capra hircus) have suggested that nursing behaviour is infrequent immediately post-partum, owing to “hiding” behaviour in the kids. We hypothesized that: (1) nursing frequency is low during the first 2–5 days post-partum, compared to subsequent days and weeks; and (2) nursing variables are related to milk yield of the mother and weight of the kids. Nursing behaviour was determined in 12 creole goat-kid pairs during the first 6 h post-partum and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days post-partum. No increases in nursing frequency and total nursing time were observed at the end of the first week post-partum, rather these variables decreased. The percentage of nursing attempts rejected and nursing episode terminations by the mother increased from 14 day post-partum. Some nursing variables were positively correlated with milk yield. The weight of kids was positively correlated with the milk yield of the dams. The results of the present study suggest that more intense nursing behaviour is evident during the first week post-partum and is thereafter reduced, as the post-partum period progresses.

Termination of transcription of short non-coding RNAs is carried out in yeast by the Nab3-Nrd1-Sen1 complex. Nab3 and Nrd1 are hnRNP-like proteins that dimerize and bind RNA with sequence specificity. We show here that an essential region of Nab3 that is predicted to be prion-like based upon its sequence bias, formed amyloid-like filaments. A similar region from Nrd1 also assembled into filaments in vitro. The purified Nab3 domain formed a macroscopic gel whose lattice organization was observed by X-ray fiber diffraction. Filaments were resistant to dissociation in anionic detergent, bound the fluorescent dye thioflavin T, and showed a β-sheet rich structure by circular dichroism spectroscopy, similar to human amyloid β which served as a reference amyloid. A version of the Nab3 domain with a mutation that impairs its termination function, also formed fibers as observed by electron microscopy. Using a protein fragment interaction assay, the purified Nab3 domain was seen to interact with itself in living yeast. A similar observation was made for full length Nab3. These results suggest that the Nab3 and Nrd1 RNA-binding proteins can attain a complex polymeric form and raise the possibility that this property is important for organizing their functional state during termination. These findings are congruent with recent work showing that RNA binding proteins with low complexity domains form a dynamic subcellular matrix in which RNA metabolism takes place but can also aberrantly yield pathological aggregated particles.

Many RNA-binding proteins possess domains with a biased amino acid content. A common property of these low complexity domains (LCDs) is that they assemble into an ordered amyloid form, juxtaposing RNA recognition motifs in a subcellular compartment in which RNA metabolism is focused. Yeast Nab3 is one such protein that contains RNA-binding domains and a low complexity, glutamine/proline-rich, prion-like domain that can self-assemble. Nab3 also contains a region of structural homology to human hnRNP-C that resembles a leucine zipper which can oligomerize. Here we show that the LCD and the human hnRNP-C homology domains of Nab3 were experimentally separable, as cells were viable with either segment, but not when both were missing. In exploiting the lethality of deleting these regions of Nab3, we were able to test if heterologous prion-like domains known to assemble into amyloid, could substitute for the native sequence. Those from the hnRNP-like protein Hrp1, the canonical prion Sup35, or the epsin-related protein Ent2, could rescue viability and enable the new Nab3 chimeric protein to support transcription termination. Other low complexity domains from RNA-binding, termination-related proteins or a yeast prion, could not. As well, an unbiased genetic selection revealed a new protein sequence that could rescue the loss of Nab3’s essential domain via multimerization. This new sequence and Sup35’s prion domain could also rescue the lethal loss of Hrp1’s prion-like domain when substituted for it. This suggests there are different cross-functional classes of amyloid-forming LCDs and that appending merely any assembly-competent LCD to Nab3 does not restore function or rescue viability. The analysis has revealed the functional complexity of LCDs and provides a means by which the differing classes of LCD can be dissected and understood.

Laromustine is an experimental sulfonylhydrazine prodrug with clinical potential against acute myelogenous leukemia and glioblastoma multiforme. Cytotoxicity is largely due to DNA crosslinking activity from an electrophilic subspecies of laromustine generated in situ. However, methylisocyanate, another electrophile cogenerated upon base-catalyzed activation of laromustine, induces acute toxicity in cultured leukemia cells. Isocyanate-mediated cytotoxicity likely involves apoptotic processes revealed in experiments presented herein showing PARP cleavage, caspase 3/7 activation, and annexin-V staining. We demonstrate that compounds that yield methylisocyanate, including laromustine, cause substantial dysregulation of gene transcription patterns that are not observed with a derivative of laromustine that possesses the DNA crosslinking activity but not the methylisocyanate. Purified mRNA from promyelocytic HL60 cells treated with either 100 µM agent or an equivalent volume of DMSO was measured using real-time RT-PCR experiments and GeneChip analyses. Among the nearly 3,000 genes dysregulated upon exposure to both laromustine and its methylisocyanate-bearing analog, BCL2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) emerged as a promising candidate for further investigation. This anti-apoptotic gene was significantly upregulated in these conditions. So as to assess the significance its gene product in cell death or survival in cultured cells treated with laromustine, a stable cell line expressing an shRNA construct to knock down BAG3 was engineered from HL60 cells using lentiviruses. Preliminary evidence suggests that these cells are more susceptible to the cytotoxic effects of laromustine. These data suggest that BAG3 may be part of a defensive strategy for promyelocytic leukemia cells to survive treatment with laromustine. Citation Format: Stanley R. Clarke, Allie H. Naccara, Amanda J. Loya, Sam W. Marchant, Xiaoou Wang, Thomas J. LaJoie, Jordyn N. Smith, Kevin P. Rice. Relationship between BAG3 expression and the cytotoxicity of laromustine in HL60 cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 266.

Nab3 and Nrd1 are yeast heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP)-like proteins that heterodimerize and bind RNA. Genetic and biochemical evidence reveals that they are integral to the termination of transcription of short non-coding RNAs by RNA polymerase II. Here we define a Nab3 mutation (nab3Δ134) that removes an essential part of the protein's C terminus but nevertheless can rescue, in trans, the phenotype resulting from a mutation in the RNA recognition motif of Nab3. This low complexity region of Nab3 appears intrinsically unstructured and can form a hydrogel in vitro. These data support a model in which multiple Nrd1-Nab3 heterodimers polymerize onto substrate RNA to effect termination, allowing complementation of one mutant Nab3 molecule by another lacking a different function. The self-association property of Nab3 adds to the previously documented interactions between these hnRNP-like proteins, RNA polymerase II, and the nascent transcript, leading to a network of nucleoprotein interactions that define a higher order Nrd1-Nab3 complex. This was underscored from the synthetic phenotypes of yeast strains with pairwise combinations of Nrd1 and Nab3 mutations known to affect their distinct biochemical activities. The mutations included a Nab3 self-association defect, a Nab3-Nrd1 heterodimerization defect, a Nrd1-polymerase II binding defect, and an Nab3-RNA recognition motif mutation. Although no single mutation was lethal, cells with any two mutations were not viable for four such pairings, and a fifth displayed a synthetic growth defect. These data strengthen the idea that a multiplicity of interactions is needed to assemble a higher order Nrd1-Nab3 complex that coats specific nascent RNAs in preparation for termination.

Nab3 is an RNA-binding protein whose function is important for terminating transcription by RNA polymerase II. It co-assembles with Nrd1, and the resulting heterodimer of these heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein-C (hnRNP)-like proteins interacts with the nascent transcript and RNA polymerase II. Previous genetic analysis showed that a short carboxyl-terminal region of Nab3 is functionally important for termination and is located far from the Nab3 RNA recognition domain in the primary sequence. The domain is structurally homologous to hnRNP-C from higher organisms. Here we provide biochemical evidence that this short region is sufficient to enable self-assembly of Nab3 into a tetrameric form in a manner similar to the cognate region of human hnRNP-C. Within this region, there is a stretch of low complexity protein sequence (16 glutamines) adjacent to a putative α-helix that potentiates the ability of the conserved region to self-assemble. The glutamine stretch and the final 18 amino acids of Nab3 are both important for termination in living yeast cells. The findings herein describe an additional avenue by which these hnRNP-like proteins can polymerize on target transcripts. This process is independent of, but acts in concert with, the interactions of the proteins with RNA and RNA polymerase and extends the relationship of Nab3 as a functional orthologue of a higher eukaryotic hnRNP.

The yeast IMD2 gene encodes an enzyme involved in GTP synthesis. Its expression is controlled by guanine nucleotides through a set of alternate start sites and an intervening transcriptional terminator. In the off state, transcription results in a short non-coding RNA that starts upstream of the gene. Transcription terminates via the Nrd1-Nab3-Sen1 complex and is degraded by the nuclear exosome. Using a sensitive terminator read-through assay, we identified trans-acting Terminator Override (TOV) genes that operate this terminator. Four genes were identified: the RNA polymerase II phosphatase SSU72, the RNA polymerase II binding protein PCF11, the TRAMP subunit TRF4 and the hnRNP-like, NAB3. The TOV phenotype can be explained by the loss of function of these gene products as described in models in which termination and RNA degradation are coupled to the phosphorylation state of RNA polymerase II's repeat domain. The most interesting mutations were those found in NAB3, which led to the finding that the removal of merely three carboxy-terminal amino acids compromised Nab3's function. This region of previously unknown function is distant from the protein's well-known RNA binding and Nrd1 binding domains. Structural homology modeling suggests this Nab3 'tail' forms an α-helical multimerization domain that helps assemble it onto an RNA substrate.

We sought to discover subtypes of glioblastoma (GBM) defined by quantitative imaging features and to identify their canonical signaling pathways. Preoperative MR imaging from 121 Stanford patients with de novo, focal, unilateral GBM were analyzed. Two board-certified neuroradiologists and a neurosurgeon reached consensus in delineating Regions-of-Interest (ROIs) around areas of enhancement in each T1 post-contrast MR. We extracted 138 quantitative image features representing signal intensity and morphology of each lesion. We then used Consensus Clustering to define subtypes in the Stanford group. Next, Prediction Analysis for Microarrays (PAM) and the In-Group Proportion (IGP) statistic were used to validate the reproducibility and robustness of our subtype classification in a second cohort of subjects from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, n = 145). Finally, to map imaging subtypes to particular molecular signaling pathways, we performed Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) on pathway activity estimates derived from analysis of TCGA tumor copy number and RNA sequencing data with the PARADIGM algorithm. Consensus Clustering analysis of the training set identified three clusters whose validity was confirmed in the TCGA cohort (p < 0.0001, p< 0.0001, p = 0.015). Cluster sizes for the TCGA validation cohort (i.e. 45%, 21% and 35%) were similar to those in the Stanford training set (57%, 17% and 26%). Cluster 1 was associated with 49 overexpressed pathways (FDR < 5%) including Wnt, hypoxia, apoptosis, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis signaling pathways while Cluster 2 was characterized by downregulation of these pathways (FDR < 5%). No pathway was significantly associated with Cluster 3. We identified three distinct, robust clusters of focal, unilateral GBM defined by quantitative image signatures. Subtypes identified in a homogeneous Stanford training set were validated in the heterogeneous multi-institutional TCGA data set. Two of our three clusters had significant associations with canonical signaling pathways.

The population dynamics, persistence, and efficacy of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (Oswego strain) applied to control the clover root curculio, Sitona hispidulus (F.), were investigated in a Pennsylvania alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) field. Nematodes established and persisted following application rates of 2.5, 7, and 15 billion infective juveniles per hectare. Significant differences in nematode densities between treatments were not observed beyond 43 d after application, indicating that application rate likely did not affect long-term persistence. In the third field season, plots that received the original 15-billion nematodes per ha treatment were split into clover root curculio-excluded and clover root curculio-present subplots to assess the effect of this insect on nematode persistence. Nematode populations were significantly lower in the curculio-excluded plots by October, suggesting that the nematodes recycled through that host. However, nematode populations were not significantly different by April of the fourth field season. Nematode efficacy throughout the study was inconsistent. In the first field season, emergence of clover root curculio adults was significantly reduced in plots receiving the 15 billion nematode per ha treatment. However, alfalfa taproot ratings for clover root curculio feeding injury indicated that scarring was reduced only in the 7 billion nematodes per ha treatments. No significant reductions in taproot injury were observed in the second field season, but by the third year, significant reductions in root injury were evident in the plots that originally received 7 and 15 billion nematodes per ha.

Laromustine is an experimental anticancer prodrug that demonstrated significant activity against acute myeloid leukemia in human clinical trials. Upon base-catalyzed activation, laromustine yields two reactive, electrophilic species in situ: 90CE, which can chloroethylate the O6 position of guanine in DNA causing lethal interstrand crosslinks, and methyl isocyanate, which can carbamoylate biochemically relevant nucleophiles, such as cysteine sulfhydryl groups. Previous in vitro and ex vivo investigations into laromustine’s molecular mechanism of action reveal several biochemical consequences of methyl isocyanate, many of which may explain either the acute cytotoxicity of the drug’s carbamoylating activity or the observed synergism with the cytotoxicity of guanine O6 chloroethylation. The combined activities of the electrophilic subspecies of laromustine are believed to induce apoptosis in leukemia cells. Presented herein are extensive flow cytometry experiments using FITC-AnnexinV and propidium iodide suggesting a dose-dependent cytotoxicity that includes apoptotosis. So as to gain a more complete understanding of the drug’s toxicity, an investigation into how laromustine modulates gene transcription in HL60 cells is also carried out and reported here. Total mRNA was harvested from cultured HL60 cells treated with sub-lethal doses of laromustine or analogs lacking either carbamoylating or chloroethylating activity. These samples were subjected to GeneChip analyses against control mRNA. More than 4,000 genes were significantly dysregulated upon the cells’ exposure to laromustine. The analog of laromustine possessing only carbamoylating activity caused the dysregulation of nearly 3,000 genes, the vast majority of which were also dysregulated in response to laromustine. 90CE, which lacks carbamoylating activity but retains chloroethylating activity, understood to be principally responsible for therapeutic cytotoxicity, demonstrated very little effect on gene transcription in HL60 cells. Preliminary analysis of gene pathways affected by laromustine suggests that among the altered pathways, those associated with cancer progression, the G1/S checkpoint, and hematological disorders are particularly stressed. The carbamoylating activity of laromustine is responsible for most of these effects. Identifying genetic pathways disrupted by this potentially useful drug may inform clinical strategies or identify potential targets for co-therapeutic agents. Citation Format: Amanda J. Loya, Dylan J. Cincotta, Abdel Elkahloun, David Bodine, Kevin P. Rice. Transcriptional analysis of human leukemia cells treated with the experimental anticancer drug laromustine [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2109. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2109

We aimed to determine whether the daily exchange of photo-stimulated males among subgroups of females improved the reproductive response of anestrous goats exposed to males. Bucks were rendered sexually active during the rest season by exposure to 2.5 months of long days from November 1st. In April, males (n=3) were put in contact with three subgroups of anestrous goats (one male per 12 females) where they remained throughout the study, constituting the fixed-group. Other males (n=3) were put in contact with three subgroups of females (one male per 11-12 females) and were rotated daily among them, constituting the rotated-group. The sexual behavior of all males was registered from 08:00 to 09:00 on days 0, 1, 2, and 8 after exchanging the males from the subgroups of females. Ovulation and pregnancy rates were determined by transrectal ultrasonography. The occurrences of ano-genital sniffing, nudging (days 1, 2, and 8), and mounting attempts (days 2 and 8) were greater in the rotated than in the fixed-group (P0.05). The proportion of pregnant females and the fertility at kidding did not differ between those from the rotated (79% and 59%) and fixed-group (83% and 61%; P>0.05). We conclude that the daily exchange of photo-stimulated males among subgroups induced an increase of their sexual behavior, but does not improve the pregnancy rates in seasonal anestrous goats.

The experimental anticancer drug laromustine, which demonstrates moderate clinical efficacy against acute myelogenous leukemia and glioblastoma multiforme, yields two reactive electrophiles in situ. Therapeutic cytotoxicity is principally due to a 2-chloroethylating species that can cause lethal DNA crosslinks. However, the second electrophile, methyl isocyanate, triggers acute toxicity in cultured cancer cells and synergizes with the cogenerated 2-chloroethylating activity. The mechanism by which laromustine kills cancer cells likely includes apoptosis. We measured changes in transcription for 88 genes relating to this cell death pathway cultured human promyelocytic (HL-60) cells using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR. Cultured cells were treated with drug for six hours before harvesting mRNA for analysis. Of these genes, the expression of BAG3, whose encoded protein is also known as CAIR-1 or Bis, was increased by more than 300 fold in cells exposed to laromustine. By forming a complex with heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), it is thought that BAG3 promotes anti-apoptotic activity by interfering with protein chaperones and release of cytochrome-c. We are also examining effects on the entire transcriptome upon treatment with laromustine using GeneChip Microarrays. Finally, we have created a stable BAG3 knockdown cell line using an shRNA construct via lentiviral transfection. Substantial differences in laromustine-induced cytotoxicity in differing BAG3 backgrounds would suggest a mechanistic role in a cell's defense against laromustine and possibly an improved clinical approach. Citation Format: Kevin P. Rice, Amanda J. Loya, Kayla M. Gross. The role of BAG3 in human leukemia cells’ response to the experimental anticancer drug laromustine. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4777.

The infectivity and reproductive potential of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Oswego strain), at different concentrations, was studied. Seventy to 80.0% mortality to late instar larvae of the clover root curculio, Sitona hispidulus, and 40.0-76.0% mortality to pupae, was observed at concentrations of 15-100 infective juveniles. There were no significant differences in mortality among nematode concentrations. LC(50) levels of 4.0 and 21.4 nematodes were determined for clover root curculio larvae and pupae, respectively. Nematodes did not cause significant mortality to adult or first instar clover root curculio. H. bacteriophora was able to complete its development and reproduce in 74.0-95.0% of clover root curculio late instar larvae and pupae. Reproductive potential in curculio larvae and pupae ranged from 0 to 7040 infective juveniles per host. Larvae exposed to 100 nematodes had a reproductive potential significantly higher than in those larvae exposed to 15 and 50 nematodes. Reproductive potential in pupae decreased with an increased nematode dose, indicating potential crowding effects. Host larval and pupal mass were positively correlated with nematode progeny production.