scholarly journals Susceptibility of midge and mosquito vectors to SARS-CoV-2 by natural route of infection

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Velmurugan Balaraman ◽  
Barbara S. Drolet ◽  
Natasha N Gaudreault ◽  
William C. Wilson ◽  
Jeana Owens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Blood Meal ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Infected Blood ◽  
Bacterial Diseases ◽  
Culicoides Sonorensis ◽  
Insect Cell Lines ◽  
Intrathoracic Inoculation

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 is a recently emerged, highly contagious virus and the cause of the current pandemic. It is a zoonotic virus, although its animal origin is not clear yet. Person-to-person transmission occurs by inhalation of infected droplets and aerosols, or by direct contact with contaminated fomites. Arthropods transmit numerous viral, parasitic, and bacterial diseases; however, the potential role of arthropods in SARS-CoV-2 transmission is not fully understood. Thus far, a few studies have demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 replication is not supported in cells from certain insect species nor in certain species of mosquitoes after intrathoracic inoculation. In this study, we expanded the work of SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility to biting insects after ingesting a SARS-CoV-2infected blood meal. Species tested included Culicoides sonorensis biting midges, as well as Culex tarsalis and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes, all known biological vectors for numerous RNA viruses. Arthropods were allowed to feed on SARS-CoV-2 spiked blood and at various time points post infection analyzed for the presence of viral RNA and infectious virus. Additionally, cell lines derived from C. sonorensis (W8a), Ae. aegypti (C6/36), Cx. quinquefasciatus (HSU), and Cx. tarsalis (CxTrR2) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility. Our results indicate that none of the biting insects, nor the insect cell lines support SARS-CoV-2 replication. We conclude, that biting insect do not pose a risk for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to humans or animals following a SARS-CoV-2 infected blood meal.

scholarly journals Susceptibility of Midge and Mosquito Vectors to SARS-CoV-2

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Velmurugan Balaraman ◽  
Barbara S Drolet ◽  
Natasha N Gaudreault ◽  
William C Wilson ◽  
Jeana Owens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Culex Tarsalis ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Bacterial Diseases ◽  
Culicoides Sonorensis ◽  
Insect Cell Lines ◽  
Intrathoracic Inoculation

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 is a recently emerged, highly contagious virus and the cause of the current COVID-19 pandemic. It is a zoonotic virus, although its animal origin is not clear yet. Person-to-person transmission occurs by inhalation of infected droplets and aerosols, or by direct contact with contaminated fomites. Arthropods transmit numerous viral, parasitic, and bacterial diseases; however, the potential role of arthropods in SARS-CoV-2 transmission is not fully understood. Thus far, a few studies have demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 replication is not supported in cells from certain insect species nor in certain species of mosquitoes after intrathoracic inoculation. In this study, we expanded the work of SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility to biting insects after ingesting a SARS-CoV-2-infected bloodmeal. Species tested included Culicoides sonorensis (Wirth & Jones) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) biting midges, as well as Culex tarsalis (Coquillett) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), all known biological vectors for numerous RNA viruses. Arthropods were allowed to feed on SARS-CoV-2-spiked blood and at a time point postinfection analyzed for the presence of viral RNA and infectious virus. Additionally, cell lines derived from C. sonorensis (W8a), Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Culicidae) (C6/36), Cx. quinquefasciatus (HSU), and Cx. tarsalis (CxTrR2) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility. Our results indicate that none of the biting insects, nor the insect cell lines evaluated support SARS-CoV-2 replication, suggesting that these species are unable to be biological vectors of SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals Role of Plasmodium berghei ookinete surface and oocyst capsule protein, a novel oocyst capsule-associated protein, in ookinete motility

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhiko Nakayama ◽  
Yuta Kimura ◽  
Yu Kitahara ◽  
Akira Soga ◽  
Asako Haraguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Meal ◽  
Plasmodium Berghei ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Gliding Motility ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Oocyst Wall ◽  
Infected Blood ◽  
Capsule Formation

Abstract Background: Plasmodium sp., which causes malaria, must first develop in mosquitoes before being transmitted. Upon ingesting infected blood, gametes form in the mosquito lumen, followed by fertilization and differentiation of the resulting zygotes into motile ookinetes. Within 24 hours of blood ingestion, these ookinetes traverse mosquito epithelial cells and lodge below the midgut basal lamina, where they differentiate into sessile oocysts that are protected by a capsule. Methods: We identified an ookinete surface and oocyst capsule protein (OSCP) that is involved in ookinete motility as well as oocyst capsule formation. Results: We found that knockout of OSCP in parasite decreases ookinete gliding motility and gradually reduces the number of oocysts. On day 15 after blood ingestion, the oocyst wall was significantly thinner. Moreover, adding anti-OSCP antibodies decreased the gliding speed of wild type ookinetes in vitro. Adding anti-OSCP antibodies to an infected blood meal also resulted in decreased oocyst formation. Conclusion: These findings may be useful for the development of transmission-blocking tools for malaria.

scholarly journals Role of Plasmodium berghei ookinete surface and oocyst capsule protein, a novel oocyst capsule-associated protein, in ookinete motility

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhiko Nakayama ◽  
Yuta Kimura ◽  
Yu Kitahara ◽  
Akira Soga ◽  
Asako Haraguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Meal ◽  
Plasmodium Berghei ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Gliding Motility ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Oocyst Wall ◽  
Infected Blood ◽  
Capsule Formation

Abstract Background Plasmodium sp., which causes malaria, must first develop in mosquitoes before being transmitted. Upon ingesting infected blood, gametes form in the mosquito lumen, followed by fertilization and differentiation of the resulting zygotes into motile ookinetes. Within 24 h of blood ingestion, these ookinetes traverse mosquito epithelial cells and lodge below the midgut basal lamina, where they differentiate into sessile oocysts that are protected by a capsule. Methods We identified an ookinete surface and oocyst capsule protein (OSCP) that is involved in ookinete motility as well as oocyst capsule formation. Results We found that knockout of OSCP in parasite decreases ookinete gliding motility and gradually reduces the number of oocysts. On day 15 after blood ingestion, the oocyst wall was significantly thinner. Moreover, adding anti-OSCP antibodies decreased the gliding speed of wild-type ookinetes in vitro. Adding anti-OSCP antibodies to an infected blood meal also resulted in decreased oocyst formation. Conclusion These findings may be useful for the development of a transmission-blocking tool for malaria. Graphical abstract

scholarly journals Transfection of Culicoides sonorensis biting midge cell lines with Wolbachia pipientis

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnab Ghosh ◽  
Dane Jasperson ◽  
Lee W. Cohnstaedt ◽  
Corey L. Brelsfoard
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Shell Vial ◽  
Wolbachia Pipientis ◽  
Immune Genes ◽  
Culicoides Sonorensis ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Population Suppression

Abstract Background Biting midges of the genus Culicoides vector multiple veterinary pathogens and are difficult to control. Endosymbionts particularly Wolbachia pipientis may offer an alternative to control populations of Culicoides and/or impact disease transmission in the form of population suppression or replacement strategies. Methods Culicoides sonorensis cell lines were transfected with a Wolbachia infection using a modified shell vial technique. Infections were confirmed using PCR and cell localization using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The stability of Wolbachia infections and density was determined by qPCR. qPCR was also used to examine immune genes in the IMD, Toll and JACK/STAT pathways to determine if Wolbachia were associated with an immune response in infected cells. Results Here we have transfected two Culicoides sonorensis cell lines (W3 and W8) with a Wolbachia infection (walbB) from donor Aedes albopictus Aa23 cells. PCR and FISH showed the presence of Wolbachia infections in both C. sonorensis cell lines. Infection densities were higher in the W8 cell lines when compared to W3. In stably infected cells, genes in the immune Toll, IMD and JAK/STAT pathways were upregulated, along with Attacin and an Attacin-like anti-microbial peptides. Conclusions The successful introduction of Wolbachia infections in C. sonorensis cell lines and the upregulation of immune genes, suggest the utility of using Wolbachia for a population replacement and/or population suppression approach to limit the transmission of C. sonorensis vectored diseases. Results support the further investigation of Wolbachia induced pathogen inhibitory effects in Wolbachia-infected C. sonorensis cell lines and the introduction of Wolbachia into C. sonorensis adults via embryonic microinjection to examine for reproductive phenotypes and host fitness effects of a novel Wolbachia infection.

Glioblastoma invasion and NMDA receptors: A novel prospect

2019 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 250-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
DN Nandakumar ◽  
P Ramaswamy ◽  
C Prasad ◽  
D Srinivas ◽  
K Goswami
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Transcript Level ◽  
Glioblastoma Cells ◽  
Invasion And Migration ◽  
Matrigel Invasion ◽  
Nmdar Activation ◽  
And Migration

Purpose Glioblastoma cells create glutamate-rich tumor microenvironment, which initiates activation of ion channels and modulates downstream intracellular signaling. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs; a type of glutamate receptors) have a high affinity for glutamate. The role of NMDAR activation on invasion of glioblastoma cells and the crosstalk with α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) is yet to be explored. Main methods LN18, U251MG, and patient-derived glioblastoma cells were stimulated with NMDA to activate NMDAR glutamate receptors. The role of NMDAR activation on invasion and migration and its crosstalk with AMPAR were evaluated. Invasion and migration of glioblastoma cells were investigated by in vitro trans-well Matrigel invasion and trans-well migration assays, respectively. Expression of NMDARs and AMPARs at transcript level was evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results We determined that NMDA stimulation leads to enhanced invasion in LN18, U251MG, and patient-derived glioblastoma cells, whereas inhibition of NMDAR using MK-801, a non-competitive antagonist of the NMDAR, significantly decreased the invasive capacity. Concordant with these findings, migration was significantly augmented by NMDAR in both cell lines. Furthermore, NMDA stimulation upregulated the expression of GluN2 and GluA1 subunits at the transcript level. Conclusions This study demonstrated the previously unexplored role of NMDAR in invasion of glioblastoma cells. Furthermore, the expression of the GluN2 subunit of NMDAR and the differential overexpression of the GluA1 subunit of AMPAR in both cell lines provide a plausible rationale of crosstalk between these calcium-permeable subunits in the glutamate-rich microenvironment of glioblastoma.

scholarly journals Hsa_circ_0005273 facilitates breast cancer tumorigenesis by regulating YAP1-hippo signaling pathway

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuehui Wang ◽  
Changle Ji ◽  
Jiashu Hu ◽  
Xiaochong Deng ◽  
Wenfang Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Circular Rnas ◽  
Hippo Signaling ◽  
Hippo Signaling Pathway ◽  
Potential Biomarker

Abstract Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of endogenous RNAs, have shown to participate in the development of breast cancer (BC). Hsa_circ_0005273 is a circRNA generated from several exons of PTK2. However, the potential functional role of hsa_circ_0005273 in BC remains largely unknown. Here we aim to evaluate the role of hsa_circ_0005273 in BC. Methods The expression level of hsa_circ_0005273 and miR-200a-3p were examined by RT-qPCR in BC tissues and cell lines. The effect of knocking down hsa_circ_0005273 in BC cell lines were evaluated by examinations of cell proliferation, migration and cell cycle. In addition, xenografts experiment in nude mice were performed to evaluate the effect of hsa_circ_0005273 in BC. RNA immunoprecipitation assay, RNA probe pull-down assay, luciferase reporter assay and fluorescence in situ hybridization were conducted to confirm the relationship between hsa_circ_0005273, miR-200a-3p and YAP1. Results Hsa_circ_0005273 is over-expressed in BC tissues and cell lines, whereas miR-200a-3p expression is repressed. Depletion of hsa_circ_0005273 inhibited the progression of BC cells in vitro and in vivo, while overexpression of hsa_circ_0005273 exhibited the opposite effect. Importantly, hsa_circ_0005273 upregulated YAP1 expression and inactivated Hippo pathway via sponging miR-200a-3p to promote BC progression. Conclusions Hsa_circ_0005273 regulates the miR-200a-3p/YAP1 axis and inactivates Hippo signaling pathway to promote BC progression, which may become a potential biomarker and therapeutic target.

scholarly journals The inhibitory role of synthesized Nickel oxide nanoparticles against Hep-G2, MCF-7, and HT-29 cell lines: the inhibitory role of NiO NPs against Hep-G2, MCF-7, and HT-29 cell lines

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-453
Author(s):  
Mohammad Amin Jadidi Kouhbanani ◽  
Yasin Sadeghipour ◽  
Mina Sarani ◽  
Erfan Sefidgar ◽  
Saba Ilkhani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nickel Oxide ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Oxide Nanoparticles ◽  
Hep G2 ◽  
Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles ◽  
Inhibitory Role ◽  
Nio Nps ◽  
Ht 29 ◽  
Mcf 7

scholarly journals Epigenomic Analysis of RAD51 ChIP-seq Data Reveals cis-regulatory Elements Associated with Autophagy in Cancer Cell Lines

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2547
Author(s):  
Keunsoo Kang ◽  
Yoonjung Choi ◽  
Hyeonjin Moon ◽  
Chaelin You ◽  
Minjin Seo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Regulation ◽  
Homologous Recombination ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
E Box ◽  
Autophagy Pathway ◽  
Mcf 7

RAD51 is a recombinase that plays a pivotal role in homologous recombination. Although the role of RAD51 in homologous recombination has been extensively studied, it is unclear whether RAD51 can be involved in gene regulation as a co-factor. In this study, we found evidence that RAD51 may contribute to the regulation of genes involved in the autophagy pathway with E-box proteins such as USF1, USF2, and/or MITF in GM12878, HepG2, K562, and MCF-7 cell lines. The canonical USF binding motif (CACGTG) was significantly identified at RAD51-bound cis-regulatory elements in all four cell lines. In addition, genome-wide USF1, USF2, and/or MITF-binding regions significantly coincided with the RAD51-associated cis-regulatory elements in the same cell line. Interestingly, the promoters of genes associated with the autophagy pathway, such as ATG3 and ATG5, were significantly occupied by RAD51 and regulated by RAD51 in HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines. Taken together, these results unveiled a novel role of RAD51 and provided evidence that RAD51-associated cis-regulatory elements could possibly be involved in regulating autophagy-related genes with E-box binding proteins.

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