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Serap Aksoy - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The Spermatophore in Glossina Morsitans Morsitans: Insights into Male Contributions to Reproduction
Scientific Reports, 2016Co-Authors: Francesca Scolari, Veronika Michalkova, Emre Aksoy, Adly M. M. Abd-alla, Anna R. Malacrida, Joshua B Benoit, Peter Takac, Serap Aksoy, Geoffrey M. AttardoAbstract:Male Seminal Fluid Proteins (SFPs) transferred during copulation modulate female reproductive physiology and behavior, impacting sperm storage/use, ovulation, oviposition and remating receptivity. These capabilities make them ideal targets for developing novel methods of insect disease vector control. Little is known about the nature of SFPs in the viviparous tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae), vectors of Human and Animal African trypanosomiasis. In tsetse, male ejaculate is assembled into a capsule-like spermatophore structure visible post-copulation in the female uterus. We applied high-throughput approaches to uncover the composition of the spermatophore in Glossina Morsitans Morsitans . We found that both male accessory glands and testes contribute to its formation. The male accessory glands produce a small number of abundant novel proteins with yet unknown functions, in addition to enzyme inhibitors and peptidase regulators. The testes contribute sperm in addition to a diverse array of less abundant proteins associated with binding, oxidoreductase/transferase activities, cytoskeletal and lipid/carbohydrate transporter functions. Proteins encoded by female-biased genes are also found in the spermatophore. About half of the proteins display sequence conservation relative to other Diptera and low similarity to SFPs from other studied species, possibly reflecting both their fast evolutionary pace and the divergent nature of tsetse’s viviparous biology.
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An insight into the sialome of Glossina Morsitans Morsitans
BMC Genomics, 2010Co-Authors: Juliana Alves-silva, Serap Aksoy, Jose M C Ribeiro, Matthew Berriman, Marcelo B Soares, Jan Van Den Abbeele, Geoffrey Attardo, Lee R Haines, Michael J LehaneAbstract:Background Blood feeding evolved independently in worms, arthropods and mammals. Among the adaptations to this peculiar diet, these animals developed an armament of salivary molecules that disarm their host's anti-bleeding defenses (hemostasis), inflammatory and immune reactions. Recent sialotranscriptome analyses (from the Greek sialo = saliva) of blood feeding insects and ticks have revealed that the saliva contains hundreds of polypeptides, many unique to their genus or family. Adult tsetse flies feed exclusively on vertebrate blood and are important vectors of human and animal diseases. Thus far, only limited information exists regarding the Glossina sialome, or any other fly belonging to the Hippoboscidae. Results As part of the effort to sequence the genome of Glossina Morsitans Morsitans , several organ specific, high quality normalized cDNA libraries have been constructed, from which over 20,000 ESTs from an adult salivary gland library were sequenced. These ESTs have been assembled using previously described ESTs from the fat body and midgut libraries of the same fly, thus totaling 62,251 ESTs, which have been assembled into 16,743 clusters (8,506 of which had one or more EST from the salivary gland library). Coding sequences were obtained for 2,509 novel proteins, 1,792 of which had at least one EST expressed in the salivary glands. Despite library normalization, 59 transcripts were overrepresented in the salivary library indicating high levels of expression. This work presents a detailed analysis of the salivary protein families identified. Protein expression was confirmed by 2D gel electrophoresis, enzymatic digestion and mass spectrometry. Concurrently, an initial attempt to determine the immunogenic properties of selected salivary proteins was undertaken. Conclusions The sialome of G. m. Morsitans contains over 250 proteins that are possibly associated with blood feeding. This set includes alleles of previously described gene products, reveals new evidence that several salivary proteins are multigenic and identifies at least seven new polypeptide families unique to Glossina . Most of these proteins have no known function and thus, provide a discovery platform for the identification of novel pharmacologically active compounds, innovative vector-based vaccine targets, and immunological markers of vector exposure.
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transcriptome analysis of reproductive tissue and intrauterine developmental stages of the tsetse fly Glossina Morsitans Morsitans
BMC Genomics, 2010Co-Authors: Geoffrey M. Attardo, Jose M C Ribeiro, Matthew Berriman, Serap AksoyAbstract:Background Tsetse flies, vectors of African trypanosomes, undergo viviparous reproduction (the deposition of live offspring). This reproductive strategy results in a large maternal investment and the deposition of a small number of progeny during a female's lifespan. The reproductive biology of tsetse has been studied on a physiological level; however the molecular analysis of tsetse reproduction requires deeper investigation. To build a foundation from which to base molecular studies of tsetse reproduction, a cDNA library was generated from female tsetse (Glossina Morsitans Morsitans) reproductive tissues and the intrauterine developmental stages. 3438 expressed sequence tags were sequenced and analyzed.
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molecular aspects of viviparous reproductive biology of the tsetse fly Glossina Morsitans Morsitans regulation of yolk and milk gland protein synthesis
Journal of Insect Physiology, 2006Co-Authors: Geoffrey M. Attardo, Patricia Stricklerdinglasan, Nurper Guz, Serap AksoyAbstract:Tsetse fly (Diptera: Glossinidae) viviparous reproductive physiology remains to be explored at the molecular level. Adult females carry their young in utero for the duration of embryonic and larval development, all the while supplying their offspring with nutrients in the form of a “milk” substance secreted from a modified accessory gland. Flies give birth to fully developed third instar larvae that pupariate shortly after birth. Here, we describe the spatial and temporal expression dynamics of two reproduction-associated genes and their products synthesized during the first and second gonotrophic cycles. The proteins studied include a putative yolk protein, Glossina Morsitans Morsitans yolk protein 1 (GmmYP1) and the major protein found in tsetse “milk” secretions (Glossina Morsitans Morsitans milk gland protein, GmmMGP). Developmental stage and tissue-specific expression of GmmYP1 show its presence exclusively in the reproductive tract of the fly during oogenesis, suggesting that GmmYP1 acts as a vitellogenic protein. Transcripts for GmmMGP are present only in the milk gland tissue and increase in coordination with the process of larvigenesis. Similarly, GmmMGP can be detected at the onset of larvigenesis in the milk gland, and is present during the full duration of pregnancy. Expression of GmmMGP is restricted to the adult stage and is not detected in the immature developmental stages. These phenomena indicate that the protein is transferred from mother to larvae as nourishment during its development. These results demonstrate that both GmmYP1 and GmmMGP are involved in tsetse reproductive biology, the former associated with the process of oogenesis and the latter with larvigenesis.
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Molecular characterization of iron binding proteins from Glossina Morsitans Morsitans (Diptera: Glossinidae)
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2006Co-Authors: Patricia M. Strickler-dinglasan, Geoffrey M. Attardo, Serap AksoyAbstract:Abstract The regulation of iron is critical for maintaining homeostasis in the tsetse fly (Diptera: Glossinidae), in which both adult sexes are strict blood feeders. We have characterized the cDNAs for two putative iron-binding proteins (IBPs) involved in transport and storage; transferrin ( GmmTsf1 ) and ferritin from Glossina Morsitans Morsitans. GmmTsf1 transcripts are detected in the female fat body and in adult reproductive tissues, and only in the adult developmental stage in a bloodmeal independent manner. In contrast, the ferritin heavy chain ( GmmFer1HCH ) and light chain ( GmmFer2LCH ) transcripts are expressed ubiquitously, suggesting a more general role for these proteins in iron transport and storage. Protein domain predictions for each IBP suggest both the conservation and loss of several motifs present in their vertebrate homologues. In concert with many other described insect transferrins (Tfs), putative secreted GmmTsf1 maintains 3 of the 5 residues necessary for iron-binding in the N-terminal lobe, but exhibits a loss of this iron-binding ability in the C-terminal lobe as well as a loss of large sequence blocks. Both putative GmmFer1HCH and GmmFer2LCH proteins have signal peptides, similar to other insect ferritins. GmmFer2LCH has lost the 5′UTR iron-responsive element (IRE) and, thus, translation is no longer regulated by cellular iron levels. On the other hand, GmmFer1HCH maintains both the conserved ferroxidase center and the 5′UTR IRE; however, transcript variants suggest a more extensive regulatory mechanism for this subunit.
P. Van Den Bossche - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Transmissibility, by Glossina Morsitans Morsitans, of Trypanosoma congolense strains during the acute and chronic phases of infection
Acta tropica, 2009Co-Authors: Justin Masumu, K. Akoda, P. Van Den BosscheAbstract:Abstract In order to verify whether chronic trypanosomal infections can affect the transmissibility of Trypanosoma congolense by tsetse flies, batches of Glossina Morsitans Morsitans were fed on mice infected with the same level of parasitemia (108.1 trypanosomes/ml of blood) of two cloned low virulent T. congolense strains during the acute and the chronic phases of infection. Results showed that the proportions of procyclic infections in flies that were fed during the acute phase (32.6% and 45.4% for isolates 1 and 2, respectively) were significantly higher (χ2 = 4.7, P 0.05). The results of this study suggest that T. congolense loses part of its transmissiblity by tsetse flies during the chronic phase of infection.
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Age prevalence of trypanosomal infections in female Glossina Morsitans Morsitans (Diptera : Glossinidae) on the plateau area of eastern Zambia
Onderstepoort J Vet Res, 2007Co-Authors: C. Kubi, M. Billiouw, P. Van Den BosscheAbstract:KUBI, C., VAN DEN BOSSCHE, P. & BILLIOUW, M. 2007. Age prevalence of trypanosomal infections in female Glossina Morsitans Morsitans (Diptera: Glossinidae) on the plateau area of eastern Zambia. Onderstepoort Journal of Veter inary Research, 74:223–229 Trypanosomal infections in female Glossina Morsitans Morsitans were investigated in an area in the Eastern Province of Zambia between 1992 and 1994. A total of 4 416 flies were captured, aged using the ovarian ageing method and screened for trypanosomal infections in both the mouthparts, salivary glands and the midgut. Congolense-type infections were identified in 4.8 % of the flies. Vivax-type and immature infections were identified in 1.8 % and 6.8 % of the flies, respectively. The prevalence of con golense-type, vivax-type and immature infections increased with age. For vivax-type infections the age-prevalence relationship could be described by a model assuming a constant per capita rate of infection. For congolense-type and midgut infections, a polynomial term was added to the model significantly improving the fit. The per capita at which flies become infected was significantly higher for immature compared to mature infections. Observations strongly suggest that tsetse acquire new midgut infections at any age and that maturation of these infections is not limited to those obtained during the first blood meal.
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the transmission of mixed trypanosoma brucei brucei t congolense infections by tsetse Glossina Morsitans Morsitans
Veterinary Parasitology, 2004Co-Authors: P. Van Den Bossche, R De Deken, J Brandt, S Geerts, Dirk Geysen, D BerkvensAbstract:Laboratory experiments and field observations clearly show that tsetse flies can be carriers of mixed trypanosome infections. Question remains how easy it is for the tsetse fly to acquire such a mixed infection during the first bloodmeal. This is of particular importance in the epidemiology of Trypanosoma brucei s.l., often a cryptic infection and difficult to transmit to non-teneral tsetse flies. To determine the transmission rate of T. brucei as part of a mixed infection, teneral Glossina Morsitans Morsitans were fed once on cattle with a mixed (Trypanosoma brucei brucei/Trypanosoma congolense) or single (T. brucei) infection. Of the 140 flies fed on animals with a mixed infection and examined 30 days later, 4 had a metacylic T. brucei infection, 29 a T. congolense infection and 13 a mixed T. brucei/T. congolense infection. There was no significant difference between the transmission rate of T. brucei as a single or as part of a mixed infection. The high proportion of mixed T.b. brucei/T. congolense infections was explained best by a model implying that if a fly is refractory to T. congolense, it is also refractory to T.b. brucei and vice versa. Hence, results suggest that the transmission of T.b. brucei is affected mainly by the vectorial capacity of flies and not by concurrent trypanosome infections in the host.
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The importance of cattle as a food source for Glossina Morsitans Morsitans in Katete district, Eastern Province, Zambia
Acta tropica, 1997Co-Authors: P. Van Den Bossche, C StaakAbstract:The feeding habits of Glossina Morsitans Morsitans in the Eastern Province of Zambia were studied. A total of 687 meals were identified. Results show that 75.1% of the meals were taken on cattle. These results are discussed in relation to the published data on feeding patterns of Glossina Morsitans Morsitans and the control of tsetse or tsetse-transmitted trypanosomosis in the study area.
Geoffrey M. Attardo - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The Spermatophore in Glossina Morsitans Morsitans: Insights into Male Contributions to Reproduction
Scientific Reports, 2016Co-Authors: Francesca Scolari, Veronika Michalkova, Emre Aksoy, Adly M. M. Abd-alla, Anna R. Malacrida, Joshua B Benoit, Peter Takac, Serap Aksoy, Geoffrey M. AttardoAbstract:Male Seminal Fluid Proteins (SFPs) transferred during copulation modulate female reproductive physiology and behavior, impacting sperm storage/use, ovulation, oviposition and remating receptivity. These capabilities make them ideal targets for developing novel methods of insect disease vector control. Little is known about the nature of SFPs in the viviparous tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae), vectors of Human and Animal African trypanosomiasis. In tsetse, male ejaculate is assembled into a capsule-like spermatophore structure visible post-copulation in the female uterus. We applied high-throughput approaches to uncover the composition of the spermatophore in Glossina Morsitans Morsitans . We found that both male accessory glands and testes contribute to its formation. The male accessory glands produce a small number of abundant novel proteins with yet unknown functions, in addition to enzyme inhibitors and peptidase regulators. The testes contribute sperm in addition to a diverse array of less abundant proteins associated with binding, oxidoreductase/transferase activities, cytoskeletal and lipid/carbohydrate transporter functions. Proteins encoded by female-biased genes are also found in the spermatophore. About half of the proteins display sequence conservation relative to other Diptera and low similarity to SFPs from other studied species, possibly reflecting both their fast evolutionary pace and the divergent nature of tsetse’s viviparous biology.
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transcriptome analysis of reproductive tissue and intrauterine developmental stages of the tsetse fly Glossina Morsitans Morsitans
BMC Genomics, 2010Co-Authors: Geoffrey M. Attardo, Jose M C Ribeiro, Matthew Berriman, Serap AksoyAbstract:Background Tsetse flies, vectors of African trypanosomes, undergo viviparous reproduction (the deposition of live offspring). This reproductive strategy results in a large maternal investment and the deposition of a small number of progeny during a female's lifespan. The reproductive biology of tsetse has been studied on a physiological level; however the molecular analysis of tsetse reproduction requires deeper investigation. To build a foundation from which to base molecular studies of tsetse reproduction, a cDNA library was generated from female tsetse (Glossina Morsitans Morsitans) reproductive tissues and the intrauterine developmental stages. 3438 expressed sequence tags were sequenced and analyzed.
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molecular aspects of viviparous reproductive biology of the tsetse fly Glossina Morsitans Morsitans regulation of yolk and milk gland protein synthesis
Journal of Insect Physiology, 2006Co-Authors: Geoffrey M. Attardo, Patricia Stricklerdinglasan, Nurper Guz, Serap AksoyAbstract:Tsetse fly (Diptera: Glossinidae) viviparous reproductive physiology remains to be explored at the molecular level. Adult females carry their young in utero for the duration of embryonic and larval development, all the while supplying their offspring with nutrients in the form of a “milk” substance secreted from a modified accessory gland. Flies give birth to fully developed third instar larvae that pupariate shortly after birth. Here, we describe the spatial and temporal expression dynamics of two reproduction-associated genes and their products synthesized during the first and second gonotrophic cycles. The proteins studied include a putative yolk protein, Glossina Morsitans Morsitans yolk protein 1 (GmmYP1) and the major protein found in tsetse “milk” secretions (Glossina Morsitans Morsitans milk gland protein, GmmMGP). Developmental stage and tissue-specific expression of GmmYP1 show its presence exclusively in the reproductive tract of the fly during oogenesis, suggesting that GmmYP1 acts as a vitellogenic protein. Transcripts for GmmMGP are present only in the milk gland tissue and increase in coordination with the process of larvigenesis. Similarly, GmmMGP can be detected at the onset of larvigenesis in the milk gland, and is present during the full duration of pregnancy. Expression of GmmMGP is restricted to the adult stage and is not detected in the immature developmental stages. These phenomena indicate that the protein is transferred from mother to larvae as nourishment during its development. These results demonstrate that both GmmYP1 and GmmMGP are involved in tsetse reproductive biology, the former associated with the process of oogenesis and the latter with larvigenesis.
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Molecular characterization of iron binding proteins from Glossina Morsitans Morsitans (Diptera: Glossinidae)
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2006Co-Authors: Patricia M. Strickler-dinglasan, Geoffrey M. Attardo, Serap AksoyAbstract:Abstract The regulation of iron is critical for maintaining homeostasis in the tsetse fly (Diptera: Glossinidae), in which both adult sexes are strict blood feeders. We have characterized the cDNAs for two putative iron-binding proteins (IBPs) involved in transport and storage; transferrin ( GmmTsf1 ) and ferritin from Glossina Morsitans Morsitans. GmmTsf1 transcripts are detected in the female fat body and in adult reproductive tissues, and only in the adult developmental stage in a bloodmeal independent manner. In contrast, the ferritin heavy chain ( GmmFer1HCH ) and light chain ( GmmFer2LCH ) transcripts are expressed ubiquitously, suggesting a more general role for these proteins in iron transport and storage. Protein domain predictions for each IBP suggest both the conservation and loss of several motifs present in their vertebrate homologues. In concert with many other described insect transferrins (Tfs), putative secreted GmmTsf1 maintains 3 of the 5 residues necessary for iron-binding in the N-terminal lobe, but exhibits a loss of this iron-binding ability in the C-terminal lobe as well as a loss of large sequence blocks. Both putative GmmFer1HCH and GmmFer2LCH proteins have signal peptides, similar to other insect ferritins. GmmFer2LCH has lost the 5′UTR iron-responsive element (IRE) and, thus, translation is no longer regulated by cellular iron levels. On the other hand, GmmFer1HCH maintains both the conserved ferroxidase center and the 5′UTR IRE; however, transcript variants suggest a more extensive regulatory mechanism for this subunit.
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analysis of fat body transcriptome from the adult tsetse fly Glossina Morsitans Morsitans
Insect Molecular Biology, 2006Co-Authors: Geoffrey M. Attardo, Patricia Stricklerdinglasan, S A H Perkin, E Caler, Maria De Fatima Bonaldo, Marcelo B Soares, N Elsayeed, Serap AksoyAbstract:Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidia) are vectors of pathogenic African trypanosomes. To develop a foundation for tsetse physiology, a normalized expressed sequence tag (EST) library was constructed from fat body tissue of immune-stimulated Glossina Morsitans Morsitans. Analysis of 20,257 high-quality ESTs yielded 6372 unique genes comprised of 3059 tentative consensus (TC) sequences and 3313 singletons (available at http://aksoylab.yale.edu). We analysed the putative fat body transcriptome based on homology to other gene products with known functions available in the public domain. In particular, we describe the immune-related products, reproductive function related yolk proteins and milk-gland protein, iron metabolism regulating ferritins and transferrin, and tsetse's major energy source proline biosynthesis. Expression analysis of the three yolk proteins indicates that all are detected in females, while only the yolk protein with similarity to lipases, is expressed in males. Milk gland protein, apparently important for larval nutrition, however, is primarily synthesized by accessory milk gland tissue.
Michael J Lehane - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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An Investigation into the Protein Composition of the Teneral Glossina Morsitans Morsitans Peritrophic Matrix
2016Co-Authors: Clair Rose, Michael J Lehane, Lee R Haines, Rodrigo Belmonte, Stuart D. Armstrong, Gemma Molyneux, Jonathan Wastling, Alvaro Acosta-serranoAbstract:Background: Tsetse flies serve as biological vectors for several species of African trypanosomes. In order to survive, proliferate and establish a midgut infection, trypanosomes must cross the tsetse fly peritrophic matrix (PM), which is an acellular gut lining surrounding the blood meal. Crossing of this multi-layered structure occurs at least twice during parasite migration and development, but the mechanism of how trypanosomes do so is not understood. In order to better comprehend the molecular events surrounding trypanosome penetration of the tsetse PM, a mass spectrometry-based approach was applied to investigate the PM protein composition using Glossina Morsitans Morsitans as a model organism. Methods: PMs from male teneral (young, unfed) flies were dissected, solubilised in urea/SDS buffer and the proteins precipitated with cold acetone/TCA. The PM proteins were either subjected to an in-solution tryptic digestion or fractionated on 1D SDS-PAGE, and the resulting bands digested using trypsin. The tryptic fragments from both preparations were purified and analysed by LC-MS/MS. Results: Overall, nearly 300 proteins were identified from both analyses, several of those containing signature Chitin Binding Domains (CBD), including novel peritrophins and peritrophin-like glycoproteins, which are essential in maintaining PM architecture and may act as trypanosome adhesins. Furthermore, 27 proteins from the tsetse secondary endosymbiont, Sodalis glossinidius, were also identified, suggesting this bacterium is probably in close association with the tsetse PM
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An investigation into the protein composition of the teneral Glossina Morsitans Morsitans peritrophic matrix.
Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2014Co-Authors: Clair Rose, Michael J Lehane, Lee R Haines, Rodrigo Belmonte, Stuart D. Armstrong, Gemma Molyneux, Jonathan Wastling, Alvaro Acosta-serranoAbstract:Tsetse flies serve as biological vectors for several species of African trypanosomes. In order to survive, proliferate and establish a midgut infection, trypanosomes must cross the tsetse fly peritrophic matrix (PM), which is an acellular gut lining surrounding the blood meal. Crossing of this multi-layered structure occurs at least twice during parasite migration and development, but the mechanism of how trypanosomes do so is not understood. In order to better comprehend the molecular events surrounding trypanosome penetration of the tsetse PM, a mass spectrometry-based approach was applied to investigate the PM protein composition using Glossina Morsitans Morsitans as a model organism.PMs from male teneral (young, unfed) flies were dissected, solubilised in urea/SDS buffer and the proteins precipitated with cold acetone/TCA. The PM proteins were either subjected to an in-solution tryptic digestion or fractionated on 1D SDS-PAGE, and the resulting bands digested using trypsin. The tryptic fragments from both preparations were purified and analysed by LC-MS/MS.Overall, nearly 300 proteins were identified from both analyses, several of those containing signature Chitin Binding Domains (CBD), including novel peritrophins and peritrophin-like glycoproteins, which are essential in maintaining PM architecture and may act as trypanosome adhesins. Furthermore, 27 proteins from the tsetse secondary endosymbiont, Sodalis glossinidius, were also identified, suggesting this bacterium is probably in close association with the tsetse PM.To our knowledge this is the first report on the protein composition of teneral G. m. Morsitans, an important vector of African trypanosomes. Further functional analyses of these proteins will lead to a better understanding of the tsetse physiology and may help identify potential molecular targets to block trypanosome development within the tsetse
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expression of chemosensory proteins in the tsetse fly Glossina Morsitans Morsitans is related to female host seeking behaviour
Insect Molecular Biology, 2012Co-Authors: Renhu Liu, Matthew Berriman, Stella Lehane, Michael J Lehane, Christiane Hertzfowler, Linda M Field, Jingjiang ZhouAbstract:Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are a class of soluble proteins present in high concentrations in the sensilla of insect antennae. It has been proposed that they play an important role in insect olfaction by mediating interactions between odorants and odorant receptors. Here we report, for the first time, the presence of five CSP genes in the tsetse fly Glossina Morsitans Morsitans, a major vector transmitting nagana in livestock. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR showed that three of the CSPs are expressed in antennae. One of them, GmmCSP2, is transcribed at a very high level and could be involved in olfaction. We also determined expression in the antennae of both males and females at different life stages and with different blood feeding regimes. The transcription of GmmCSP2 was lower in male antennae than in females, with a sharp increase in 10-week-old flies, 48 h after a bloodmeal. Thus there is a clear relationship between CSP gene transcription and host searching behaviour. Genome annotation and phylogenetic analyses comparing G. Morsitans Morsitans CSPs with those of other Diptera showed rapid evolution after speciation of mosquitoes.
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Responses of tsetse flies, Glossina Morsitans Morsitans and Glossina pallidipes, to baits of various size
Medical and veterinary entomology, 2011Co-Authors: Stephen J. Torr, Michael J Lehane, Andrew Chamisa, Glyn A. Vale, Jenny M. LindhAbstract:Recent studies of Palpalis group tsetse [Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (Diptera: Glossinidae) in Kenya] suggest that small (0.25 × 0.25 m) insecticide-treated targets will be more cost-effective than the larger (≥1.0 × 1.0 m) designs currently used to control tsetse. Studies were undertaken in Zimbabwe to assess whether small targets are also more cost-effective for the Morsitans group tsetse, Glossina Morsitans Morsitans and Glossina pallidipes. Numbers of tsetse contacting targets of 0.25 × 0.25 m or 1.0 × 1.0 m, respectively, were estimated using arrangements of electrocuting grids which killed or stunned tsetse as they contacted the target. Catches of G. pallidipes and G. m. Morsitans at small (0.25 × 0.25 m) targets were, respectively, ∼1% and ∼6% of catches at large (1.0 × 1.0 m) targets. Hence, the tsetse killed per unit area of target was greater for the larger than the smaller target, suggesting that small targets are not cost-effective for use against Morsitans group species. The results suggest that there is a fundamental difference in the host-orientated behaviour of Morsitans and Palpalis group tsetse and that the former are more responsive to host odours, whereas the latter seem highly responsive to visual stimuli.
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An insight into the sialome of Glossina Morsitans Morsitans
BMC Genomics, 2010Co-Authors: Juliana Alves-silva, Serap Aksoy, Jose M C Ribeiro, Matthew Berriman, Marcelo B Soares, Jan Van Den Abbeele, Geoffrey Attardo, Lee R Haines, Michael J LehaneAbstract:Background Blood feeding evolved independently in worms, arthropods and mammals. Among the adaptations to this peculiar diet, these animals developed an armament of salivary molecules that disarm their host's anti-bleeding defenses (hemostasis), inflammatory and immune reactions. Recent sialotranscriptome analyses (from the Greek sialo = saliva) of blood feeding insects and ticks have revealed that the saliva contains hundreds of polypeptides, many unique to their genus or family. Adult tsetse flies feed exclusively on vertebrate blood and are important vectors of human and animal diseases. Thus far, only limited information exists regarding the Glossina sialome, or any other fly belonging to the Hippoboscidae. Results As part of the effort to sequence the genome of Glossina Morsitans Morsitans , several organ specific, high quality normalized cDNA libraries have been constructed, from which over 20,000 ESTs from an adult salivary gland library were sequenced. These ESTs have been assembled using previously described ESTs from the fat body and midgut libraries of the same fly, thus totaling 62,251 ESTs, which have been assembled into 16,743 clusters (8,506 of which had one or more EST from the salivary gland library). Coding sequences were obtained for 2,509 novel proteins, 1,792 of which had at least one EST expressed in the salivary glands. Despite library normalization, 59 transcripts were overrepresented in the salivary library indicating high levels of expression. This work presents a detailed analysis of the salivary protein families identified. Protein expression was confirmed by 2D gel electrophoresis, enzymatic digestion and mass spectrometry. Concurrently, an initial attempt to determine the immunogenic properties of selected salivary proteins was undertaken. Conclusions The sialome of G. m. Morsitans contains over 250 proteins that are possibly associated with blood feeding. This set includes alleles of previously described gene products, reveals new evidence that several salivary proteins are multigenic and identifies at least seven new polypeptide families unique to Glossina . Most of these proteins have no known function and thus, provide a discovery platform for the identification of novel pharmacologically active compounds, innovative vector-based vaccine targets, and immunological markers of vector exposure.
Stella Lehane - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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expression of chemosensory proteins in the tsetse fly Glossina Morsitans Morsitans is related to female host seeking behaviour
Insect Molecular Biology, 2012Co-Authors: Renhu Liu, Matthew Berriman, Stella Lehane, Michael J Lehane, Christiane Hertzfowler, Linda M Field, Jingjiang ZhouAbstract:Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are a class of soluble proteins present in high concentrations in the sensilla of insect antennae. It has been proposed that they play an important role in insect olfaction by mediating interactions between odorants and odorant receptors. Here we report, for the first time, the presence of five CSP genes in the tsetse fly Glossina Morsitans Morsitans, a major vector transmitting nagana in livestock. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR showed that three of the CSPs are expressed in antennae. One of them, GmmCSP2, is transcribed at a very high level and could be involved in olfaction. We also determined expression in the antennae of both males and females at different life stages and with different blood feeding regimes. The transcription of GmmCSP2 was lower in male antennae than in females, with a sharp increase in 10-week-old flies, 48 h after a bloodmeal. Thus there is a clear relationship between CSP gene transcription and host searching behaviour. Genome annotation and phylogenetic analyses comparing G. Morsitans Morsitans CSPs with those of other Diptera showed rapid evolution after speciation of mosquitoes.
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characterisations of odorant binding proteins in the tsetse fly Glossina Morsitans Morsitans
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 2010Co-Authors: Renhu Liu, Matthew Berriman, Stella Lehane, Michael J Lehane, Christiane Hertzfowler, J A Pickett, Linda M Field, Jingjiang ZhouAbstract:Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) play an important role in insect olfaction by mediating interactions between odorants and odorant receptors. We report for the first time 20 OBP genes in the tsetse fly Glossina Morsitans Morsitans. qRT-PCR revealed that 8 of these genes were highly transcribed in the antennae. The transcription of these genes in the antennae was significantly lower in males than in females and there was a clear correlation between OBP gene transcription and feeding status. Starvation over 72 h post-blood meal (PBM) did not significantly affect the transcription. However, the transcription in the antennae of 10-week-old flies was much higher than in 3-day-old flies at 48 h PBM and decreased sharply after 72 h starvation, suggesting that the OBP gene expression is affected by the insect’s nutritional status. Sequence comparisons with OBPs of other Dipterans identified several homologs to sex pheromone-binding proteins and OBPs of Drosophila melanogaster.
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differential expression of fat body genes in Glossina Morsitans Morsitans following infection with trypanosoma brucei brucei
International Journal for Parasitology, 2008Co-Authors: Michael J Lehane, Wendy Gibson, Stella LehaneAbstract:Abstract To determine which fat body genes were differentially expressed following infection of Glossina Morsitans Morsitans with Trypanosoma brucei brucei we generated four suppression subtractive hybridisation (SSH) libraries. We obtained 52 unique gene fragments (SSH clones) of which 30 had a known orthologue at E − 05 or less. Overall the characteristics of the orthologues suggest: (i) that trypanosome infection has a considerable effect on metabolism in the tsetse fly; (ii) that self-cured flies are mounting an oxidative stress response; and (iii) that self-cured flies are displaying increased energy usage. The three most consistently differentially expressed genes were further analysed by gene knockdown (RNAi). Knockdown of Glossina transferrin transcripts, which are upregulated in self-cured flies compared with flies infected with trypanosomes, results in a significant increase in the number of trypanosome infections establishing in the fly midgut, suggesting transferrin plays a role in the protection of tsetse flies from trypanosome infection.