BackgroundThe 152 extant species of kissing bug include important vectors of the debilitating, chronic, and often fatal Chagas disease, which affects several million people mainly in Central and South America. An understanding of the natural hosts of this speciose group of blood-feeding insects has and will continue to aid ongoing efforts to impede the spread of Chagas disease. However, information on kissing bug biology is piecemeal and scattered, developed using methods with varying levels of accuracy over more than 100 years. Existing host records are heavily biased towards well-studied primary vector species and are derived from primarily three different types of observations, associational, immunological or DNA-based, with varying reliability.MethodsWe gather a comprehensive and unparalleled number of sources reporting host associations via rigorous targeted searches of publication databases to review all known natural, or sylvatic, host records including information on how each record was collected. We integrate this information with novel host records obtained via attempted amplification and sequencing of a ∼160 base pair (bp) region of the vertebrate 12S mitochondrial gene from the gastrointestinal tract of 64 archival specimens of Triatominae representing 19 species collected primarily in sylvatic habitats throughout the southern United States and Central and South America during the past 10 years. We show the utility of this method for uncovering novel and under-studied groups of Triatominae hosts, as well as detecting the presence of the Chagas disease pathogen via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of a ∼400 bp sequence of the trypanosome 18S gene.ResultsNew host associations for several groups of arboreal mammals were determined including sloths, New World monkeys, coatis, arboreal porcupines and, for the first time as a host of any Triatominae, tayras. A thorough review of previously documented sylvatic hosts, organized by triatomine species and the type of observation (associational, antibody-based, or DNA-based), is presented in a phylogenetic context and highlights large gaps in our knowledge of Triatominae biology.ConclusionThe application of DNA-based methods of host identification towards additional species of Triatominae, including rarely collected species that may require use of archival specimens, is the most efficient and promising way to resolve recognized shortfalls.
Background: The 148 species of kissing bug include important vectors of the debilitating, chronic, and often fatal Chagas disease, which affects several million people in Central and South America. An understanding of the natural hosts of this speciose group of blood-feeding insects has and will continue to aid ongoing efforts to impede the spread of Chagas disease. However, information on kissing bug biology is piecemeal and scattered, developed using methods with varying levels of accuracy over more than 100 years. Existing host records are heavily biased towards well-studied primary vector species and are derived from primarily three different types of observations, associational, immunological or DNAbased, with varying reliability. Methods:We here gather a comprehensive and unparalleled number of sources reporting host associations via rigorous targeted searches of publication databases to review all known natural, or sylvatic, host records including information on how that record was collected. We integrate this information with novel host records obtained via attempted amplification and sequencing of a ~160 base pair (bp) region of the vertebrate 12S mitochondrial gene from the gastrointestinal tract of 64 archival specimens of Triatominae representing 19 species collected primarily in sylvatic habitats throughout the southern U.S. and Central and South America during the past 10 years. We show the utility of this method for uncovering novel and under-studied groups of Triatominae hosts, as well as detecting the presence of the Chagas disease pathogen via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of a ~400 bp sequence of the trypanosome 18S gene.Results: New host associations for several groups of arboreal mammals were determined including sloths, New World monkeys, coatis, arboreal porcupines and, for the first time as a host of any Triatominae, tayras. A thorough review of previously documented sylvatic hosts, organized by triatomine species and the type of observation (associational, antibody-based, or DNA-based), is presented in a phylogenetic context and highlights large gaps in our knowledge of Triatominae biology. Conclusion:The application of DNA-based methods of host identification towards additional species of Triatominae, including rarely collected species that may require use of archival specimens, is the most efficient and promising way to resolve recognized shortfalls.
Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are some of the most commonly consumed drugs currently available. In the United States alone, more than 30 billion over the counter NSAIDs are consumed annually, and more than 600 different products contain NSAIDs. These drugs are popular among all generations due to their ability to relieve pain, inflammation, and fevers. The enzymes cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX‐1 and COX‐2) synthesize prostaglandins, which are associated with the pain, swelling and fevers accompanying tissue damage or infection. NSAIDs lessen these effects by inhibiting COX‐1 and/or COX‐2 and reducing the synthesis of prostaglandins. However, previous studies show that there is a significant correlation between chronic NSAID use and cardiovascular disease, with a 1.3–3.36‐fold increase for risk of stroke. Diclofenac, another common NSAID, has been linked to a >95% population decline of the wild Oriental white‐backed vulture due to renal failure. Previously published data from our lab shows that mice treated with Diclofenac have proteasome dysfunction in heart, liver, and kidney tissues. The 26S proteasome is an ATP‐dependent multi‐catalytic protease, which is responsible for degrading 60–80% of intracellular proteins in all tissues. The proteasome degrades poly‐ubiquitinated proteins through the ubiquitin‐proteasome system (UPS). We hypothesize that proteasome dysfunction occurs in murine kidneys when the commonly used NSAID, ibuprofen, is administered to mice. Male and female eight‐week old mice were treated with ibuprofen (100mg/kg/day) for seven days, and then their kidneys were harvested. The activity of the three catalytic sites on the 26S proteasome, β1, β2, and β5, were measured in control vs ibuprofen kidney samples using biochemical activity assays. To determine protein expression levels of proteasome subunits and poly‐ubiquitinated proteins, western blots were carried out using the respective antibodies. Both male and female samples showed a significant decrease in β1 (caspase‐like) activity. Interestingly, female samples had a significant decrease in β2 (trypsin‐like) activity, while males did not, but males show a significant decrease in β5 (chymotrypsin‐like) activity, while females show no significant difference. We found no difference in free ubiquitin or poly‐ubiquitinated proteins in both males or females, as well as no changes in proteasome subunit expression in both males or females. Our results suggest that ibuprofen treatment causes proteasome dysfunction in murine kidneys in a gender dependent manner.Support or Funding InformationResearch was funded by 5P42ES004966 NIH grant and AHA16GRNT31350040 grant to Aldrin Gomes. A.Y.G. was supported by PREP@UCD, NIH 5R25GM116690‐03 to UC Davis.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Background: The 148 species of kissing bug include important vectors of the debilitating, chronic, and often fatal Chagas disease, which affects several million people in Central and South America. An understanding of the natural hosts of this speciose group of blood-feeding insects has and will continue to aid ongoing efforts to impede the spread of Chagas disease. However, information on kissing bug biology is piecemeal and scattered, developed using methods with varying levels of accuracy over more than 100 years. Existing host records are heavily biased towards well-studied primary vector species and are derived from primarily three different types of observations, associational, immunological or DNAbased, with varying reliability. Methods:We here gather a comprehensive and unparalleled number of sources reporting host associations via rigorous targeted searches of publication databases to review all known natural, or sylvatic, host records including information on how that record was collected. We integrate this information with novel host records obtained via attempted amplification and sequencing of a ~160 base pair (bp) region of the vertebrate 12S mitochondrial gene from the gastrointestinal tract of 64 archival specimens of Triatominae representing 19 species collected primarily in sylvatic habitats throughout the southern U.S. and Central and South America during the past 10 years. We show the utility of this method for uncovering novel and under-studied groups of Triatominae hosts, as well as detecting the presence of the Chagas disease pathogen via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of a ~400 bp sequence of the trypanosome 18S gene.Results: New host associations for several groups of arboreal mammals were determined including sloths, New World monkeys, coatis, arboreal porcupines and, for the first time as a host of any Triatominae, tayras. A thorough review of previously documented sylvatic hosts, organized by triatomine species and the type of observation (associational, antibody-based, or DNA-based), is presented in a phylogenetic context and highlights large gaps in our knowledge of Triatominae biology. Conclusion:The application of DNA-based methods of host identification towards additional species of Triatominae, including rarely collected species that may require use of archival specimens, is the most efficient and promising way to resolve recognized shortfalls.
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