A5088582272- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Diptera species taxonomy and behavior
- Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Studies on Chitinases and Chitosanases
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Viral Infections and Vectors
Yale University
2016-2025
Bocconi University
2022
Southern Connecticut State University
2019
Bard College
2016
Johns Hopkins University
2016
Ankara University
2012
Yale New Haven Health System
2011
Colorado State University
2009
Vehicle Technologies Office
2008
University of California, Berkeley
2001
Tsetse flies are the sole vectors of human African trypanosomiasis throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Both sexes adult tsetse feed exclusively on blood and contribute to disease transmission. Notable differences between other include obligate microbial symbioses, viviparous reproduction, lactation. Here, we describe sequence annotation 366-megabase Glossina morsitans genome. Analysis genome 12,308 predicted protein-encoding genes led multiple discoveries, including chromosomal integrations...
Expression of molecules with antiparasitic activity by genetically transformed symbiotic bacteria disease-transmitting insects may serve as a powerful approach to control certain arthropod-borne diseases. The endosymbiont the Chagas disease vector, Rhodnius prolixus , has been express cecropin A, peptide lethal parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi . In carrying bacteria, A expression results in elimination or reduction number T. method devised spread transgenic populations R. manner that mimics their...
Sodalis glossinidius is a maternally transmitted endosymbiont of tsetse flies ( Glossina spp.), an insect medical and veterinary significance. Analysis the complete sequence ' chromosome (4,171,146 bp, encoding 2,432 protein coding sequences) indicates reduced capacity 51%. Furthermore, contains 972 pseudogenes, inordinately high number compared with that other bacterial species. A proportion these pseudogenes are homologs known proteins function either in defense or transport metabolism...
ABSTRACT Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) are vectors for trypanosome parasites, the agents of deadly sleeping sickness disease in Africa. also harbor two maternally transmitted enteric mutualist endosymbionts: primary intracellular obligate Wigglesworthia glossinidia and secondary commensal Sodalis glossinidius . Both endosymbionts to intrauterine progeny through milk gland secretions viviparous female. We administered various antibiotics either continuously by per os supplementation...
Tsetse flies are the medically and agriculturally important vectors of African trypanosomes. Information on molecular biochemical nature tsetse/trypanosome interaction is lacking. Here we describe three antimicrobial peptide genes, attacin, defensin , diptericin from tsetse fat body tissue obtained by subtractive cloning after immune stimulation with Escherichia coli Differential regulation these genes shows system can discriminate not only between signals specific for bacteria trypanosome...
Abstract Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) harbour three different symbiotic organisms in addition to the pathogenic African trypanosomes they transmit. The two gut‐associated symbionts (primary, P; secondary, S) are enteric and nutritionally required, whereas third microorganism Wolbachia (family Rickettsiaceae) affects reproductive biology of insects it infects. bacteriome‐associated P‐symbiont ( Wigglesworthia glossinidia ) displays a concordant phylogeny with its host tsetse species,...
Tsetse flies, the sole vectors of African trypanosomes, have coevolved with mutualistic endosymbiont Wigglesworthia glossinidiae . Elimination renders tsetse sterile and increases their trypanosome infection susceptibility. We show that a peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP-LB) is crucial for symbiotic tolerance processes. pgrp-lb expressed in -harboring organ (bacteriome) midgut, its level expression correlates symbiont numbers. Adult cured infections significantly lower levels than...
Beneficial microbial symbionts serve important functions within their hosts, including dietary supplementation and maintenance of immune system homeostasis. Little is known about the mechanisms that enable these bacteria to induce specific host phenotypes during development into adulthood. Here we used tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans, its obligate mutualist, Wigglesworthia glossinidia, investigate co-evolutionary adaptations influence physiological processes. maternally transmitted tsetse's...
Abstract Many insects rely on the presence of symbiotic bacteria for proper immune system function. However, molecular mechanisms that underlie this phenomenon are poorly understood. Adult tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) house three vertically transmitted from mother to offspring during insect’s unique viviparous mode reproduction. Larval undergo intrauterine development in absence their obligate mutualist, Wigglesworthia, exhibit a compromised adulthood. In study, we characterize phenotype...
Wolbachia is a genus of endosymbiotic α-Proteobacteria infecting wide range arthropods and filarial nematodes. able to induce reproductive abnormalities such as cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), thelytokous parthenogenesis, feminization male killing, thus affecting biology, ecology evolution its hosts. The bacterial group has prompted research regarding potential for the control agricultural medical disease vectors, including Glossina spp., which transmits African trypanosomes, causative...
Ancient endosymbionts have been associated with extreme genome structural stability little differentiation in gene inventory between sister species. Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) harbor an obligate endosymbiont, Wigglesworthia, which has coevolved the Glossina radiation. We report on ~720-kb Wigglesworthia and its plasmid from morsitans compare them to those of symbiont brevipalpis. While there was overall high synteny two genomes, a large inversion noted. Furthermore, transcriptional...
Tsetse flies are vectors of the protozoan parasite African trypanosomes, which cause sleeping sickness disease in humans and nagana livestock. Although there no effective vaccines efficacious drugs against this parasite, vector reduction methods have been successful curbing disease, especially for nagana. Potential control that do not involve use chemicals is a genetic modification approach where engineered to be resistant allowed replace their susceptible natural counterparts, Sterile...
Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) vector pathogenic African trypanosomes, which cause sleeping sickness in humans and nagana domesticated animals. Additionally, tsetse harbors 3 maternally transmitted endosymbiotic bacteria that modulate their host's physiology. is highly resistant to infection with this phenotype depends on multiple physiological factors at the time of challenge. These include host age, density maternally-derived trypanolytic effector molecules present gut, symbiont status...
The viviparous tsetse fly utilizes proline as a hemolymph-borne energy source. In tsetse, biosynthesis of from alanine involves the enzyme alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGAT), which requires pyridoxal phosphate (vitamin B6) cofactor. This vitamin can be synthesized by tsetse's obligate symbiont, Wigglesworthia glossinidia. this study, we examined role Wigglesworthia-produced B6 for maintenance homeostasis, specifically during energetically expensive lactation period reproductive...
Symbiotic bacteria assist in maintaining homeostasis of the animal immune system. However, molecular mechanisms that underlie symbiont-mediated host immunity are largely unknown. Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) house maternally transmitted symbionts regulate development and function their host’s Herein we demonstrate obligate mutualist, Wigglesworthia, up-regulates expression odorant binding protein six gut intrauterine tsetse larvae. This process is necessary sufficient to induce systemic...