scholarly journals Drosophila as a model system to unravel the layers of innate immunity to infection

Open Biology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 120075 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilias Kounatidis ◽  
Petros Ligoxygakis
Keyword(s):  
Innate Immunity ◽  
Germ Line ◽  
Fruit Fly ◽  
Model System ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Systemic Immune Activation ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Genomic Tools ◽  
Review Current

Summary Innate immunity relies entirely upon germ-line encoded receptors, signalling components and effector molecules for the recognition and elimination of invading pathogens. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster with its powerful collection of genetic and genomic tools has been the model of choice to develop ideas about innate immunity and host–pathogen interactions. Here, we review current research in the field, encompassing all layers of defence from the role of the microbiota to systemic immune activation, and attempt to speculate on future directions and open questions.

scholarly journals Are Engaged Workaholics Protected against Job-Related Negative Affect and Anxiety before Sleep? A Study of the Moderating Role of Gender

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Spagnoli ◽  
Cristian Balducci ◽  
Liliya Scafuri Kovalchuk ◽  
Francesco Maiorano ◽  
Carmela Buono
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Process Analysis ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Heavy Work ◽  
Conditional Process Analysis ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

Although the interplay between workaholism and work engagement could explain several open questions regarding the Heavy Work Investment (HWI) phenomenon, few studies have addressed this issue. Thus, with the purpose of filling this literature gap, the present study aimed at examining a model where job-related negative affect mediates the relationship between the interplay of workaholism and work engagement, and anxiety before sleep. Since gender could have a role in the way the interplay would impact on the theorized model, we also hypothesized a moderated role of gender on the specific connection concerning the interplay between workaholism and work engagement, in relation to job-related negative affect. Conditional process analysis was conducted on a sample of 146 participants, balanced for gender. Results supported the mediating model and indicated the presence of a moderated role of gender, such that engaged workaholic women reported significantly less job-related negative affect than disengaged workaholic women. On the contrary, the interplay between workaholism and work engagement did not seem significant for men. Results are discussed in light of the limitations and future directions of the research in this field, as well as the ensuing practical implications.

scholarly journals What can PIWI-interacting RNA research learn from chickens, and vice versa?

2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 641-648
Author(s):  
Xin Zhiguo Li
Keyword(s):  
Germ Line ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Fruit Fly ◽  
Model System ◽  
Arms Race ◽  
P Element ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Reproductive Efficiency ◽  
Common Features ◽  
Adaptive Immune

P-element induced wimpy testis (PIWI) interacting RNA (piRNA) are essential for fertility, by protecting the integrity of the germ-line genome via silencing of transposable elements (TE). Because new TE are constantly invading the host genome, piRNA-producing loci are under continuous pressure to undergo rapid evolution. This arms race between TE and piRNA is a prime example of the genome being more plastic than previously thought. Historically, the study of piRNA and TE has benefited from the use of diverse model organisms, including worms, fruit fly, zebrafish, frogs, and mice. In domestic chickens, we recently identified a new mode of piRNA acquisition in which the host hijacks and converts a pre-existing provirus into a piRNA-producing locus to defend against Avian leukosis virus, an adaptive immune strategy similar to the prokaryotic CRISPR–Cas [clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated (Cas)] system. This finding reveals a previously unrecognized mechanism of the host piRNA repertoire to rapidly evolve and target TE specifically. In this review, we will focus on both the unique and common features of chicken piRNA, as well as the advantages of using chickens as a model system, to address fundamental questions regarding piRNA acquisition in hosts. We will also comment on the potential application of piRNA for improving poultry health and reproductive efficiency.

scholarly journals Revisiting Centrioles in Nematodes—Historic Findings and Current Topics

Cells ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Schwarz ◽  
Prabhu Sankaralingam ◽  
Kevin O’Connell ◽  
Thomas Müller-Reichert
Keyword(s):  
Germ Line ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Assembly Factors ◽  
Centriole Assembly

Theodor Boveri is considered as the “father” of centrosome biology. Boveri’s fundamental findings have laid the groundwork for decades of research on centrosomes. Here, we briefly review his early work on centrosomes and his first description of the centriole. Mainly focusing on centriole structure, duplication, and centriole assembly factors in C. elegans, we will highlight the role of this model in studying germ line centrosomes in nematodes. Last but not least, we will point to future directions of the C. elegans centrosome field.

scholarly journals Drosophila as a Model to Study Brain Innate Immunity in Health and Disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 3922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu Lye ◽  
Stanislava Chtarbanova
Keyword(s):  
Innate Immunity ◽  
Neural Development ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Adaptive Immune System ◽  
Fruit Fly ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Inflammatory Reactions ◽  
Genomic Tools ◽  
Drosophila Brain ◽  
Health And Disease

Innate immunity is the first line of defense against invading pathogens and plays an essential role in defending the brain against infection, injury, and disease. It is currently well recognized that central nervous system (CNS) infections can result in long-lasting neurological sequelae and that innate immune and inflammatory reactions are highly implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration. Due to the conservation of the mechanisms that govern neural development and innate immune activation from flies to mammals, the lack of a classical adaptive immune system and the availability of numerous genetic and genomic tools, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster presents opportunities to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with immune function in brain tissue and how they relate to infection, injury and neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we present an overview of currently identified innate immune mechanisms specific to the adult Drosophila brain.

scholarly journals Attention Aware Systems

2006 ◽  
pp. 38-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Roda ◽  
Julie Thomas
Keyword(s):  
User Interfaces ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Attentional Processes ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Computer Studies ◽  
Review Current ◽  
Selection Of

Much information science research has focused on the design of systems enabling users to access, communicate, and use information quickly and efficiently. However the users’ ability to exploit this information is seriously limited by finite human cognitive resources. In cognitive psychology, the role of attentional processes in allocating cognitive resources has been demonstrated to be crucial. Attention is often defined as the set of processes guiding the selection of the environmental stimuli to be attended. Access to information therefore is not only regulated by its availability but also by the users’ choice to attend the information—this choice being governed by attentional processes. Recently several researchers and practitioners in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) have concentrated on the design of systems capable of adapting to, and supporting, human attentional processes. These systems, that often rely on very different technologies and theories, and that are designed for a range of applications, are called attention-aware systems (AAS). In the literature, these systems have also been referred to as Attentive User Interfaces (Vertegaal, 2003). However, we prefer using the former name as it stresses the fact that issues related to attention are relevant to the design of the system as a whole rather than limited to the interface. The recent interest in this field is testified by the publication of special issues in academic journals (e.g., Communication of the ACM, 46(3), 2003; International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 58(5), 2003) and by the organisation of specialised fora of discussion (e.g., the workshop on “Designing for Attention”; Roda & Thomas, 2004). In this article, we discuss the rationale for AASs and their role within current HCI research, we briefly review current research in AASs, and we highlight some open questions for their design.

On Future Directions in Pathology

1982 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 274-277
Author(s):  
Benjamin F. Trump ◽  
Irene K. Berezesky ◽  
Raymond T. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Clinical Pathology ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Diagnostic Pathology ◽  
The Past ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Organ Systems ◽  
The Many

The role of electron microscopy and associated techniques is assured in diagnostic pathology. At the present time, most of the progress has been made on tissues examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and correlated with light microscopy (LM) and by cytochemistry using both plastic and paraffin-embedded materials. As mentioned elsewhere in this symposium, this has revolutionized many fields of pathology including diagnostic, anatomic and clinical pathology. It began with the kidney; however, it has now been extended to most other organ systems and to tumor diagnosis in general. The results of the past few years tend to indicate the future directions and needs of this expanding field. Now, in addition to routine EM, pathologists have access to the many newly developed methods and instruments mentioned below which should aid considerably not only in diagnostic pathology but in investigative pathology as well.

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