Characterization of the Rickettsia-like and Coxiella-like symbionts in the tick Dermacentor everestianus Hirst, 1926 (Acari: Ixodidae) from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Ningxin Li ◽  
Sisi Li ◽  
Duo Wang ◽  
Peng Yan ◽  
Wenying Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salivary Glands ◽  
Malpighian Tubules ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Anaplasma Ovis ◽  
Dermacentor Everestianus ◽  
Qinghai Tibet Plateau ◽  
Great Damage

The tick Dermacentor everestianus is widely distributed on the Tibetan Plateau of China, where adult ticks usually parasitize sheep, yaks and horses. D. everestianus is able to transmit many zoonotic pathogens, including Francisella tularensis, Anaplasma ovis and Rickettsia raoultii-like bacteria, and can cause great damage to animals and human health. However, the symbionts in D. everestianus have not yet been investigated, which has hindered our understanding of the relationships between this tick species and associated tick-borne pathogens. In the current study, the Rickettsia-like and Coxiella-like symbionts in D. everestianus were identified and characterized. The results indicated that both Rickettsia-like (RLS-Des) and Coxiella-like (CLS-Des) symbionts showed 100% infection rates and displayed vertical transmission in D. everestianus. The RLS-Des showed a relatively higher abundance than the CLS-Des in D. everestianus. No tissue specificity was found for the RLS-Des or CLS-Des. These symbionts can inhabit the ovaries, salivary glands, midguts, Malpighian tubules and testes of D. everestianus. During the development of D. everestianus, the density of the RLS-Des showed more obvious changes than did that of the CLS-Des. Dramatic changes in the density of the RLS-Des were detected in the midguts, ovaries, salivary glands and Malpighian tubules when female D. everestianus were engorged and detached from the host, which suggested the potential role of these symbionts in the reproduction and development of D. everestianus. The dynamic changes in the density of the CLS-Des during feeding and reproduction of D. everestianus suggest the involvement of the CLS-Des in the reproduction of D. everestianus. 

scholarly journals Vector-Borne Pathogens with Veterinary and Public Health Significance in Melophagus ovinus (Sheep Ked) from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 249
Author(s):  
Qing-Xun Zhang ◽  
Ye Wang ◽  
Ying Li ◽  
Shu-Yi Han ◽  
Bo Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Molecular Characterization ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Border Disease Virus ◽  
Public Health Significance ◽  
Melophagus Ovinus ◽  
Health Significance ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Qinghai Tibet Plateau

Melophagus ovinus (sheep ked) is a hematophagous ectoparasite that mainly parasitizes sheep. In addition to causing inflammation, wool loss, and skin damage to the animal hosts, M. ovinus also serves as a vector for a variety of pathogens and is highly likely to participate in the life and transmission cycle of pathogenic organisms. Herein, we investigated the presence and molecular characterization of vector-borne pathogens in M. ovinus from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. A total of 92 M. ovinus pools collected from the Qinghai province of China were screened for the presence of selected vector-borne pathogens. The overall positive rate of A. ovis, A. bovis, A. phagocytophilum, and T. ovis in M. ovinus was 39.1%, 17.4%, 9.8%, and 89.1%, respectively. All of the samples were negative for Border disease virus (BDV), other Anaplasma species, Babesia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Borrelia spp. Co-infection of different Anaplasma species and T. ovis occurred in 51.2% of all samples with T. ovis. The positive rates of A. ovis, A. bovis, and A. phagocytophilum in different regions and altitudes of the sampling sites were significantly different. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of target genes confirmed their identity with corresponding pathogens. Our results elucidate the occurrence and molecular characterization of Anaplasma spp. and Theileria spp. in M. ovinus, which could act as potential zoonotic reservoirs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the detection of A. bovis and A. phagocytophilum DNA in M. ovinus. This study gives the first extensive molecular survey of vector-borne pathogens with veterinary and public health significance in M. ovinus from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China.

scholarly journals Methane emissions by alpine plant communities in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 681-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangmin Cao ◽  
Xingliang Xu ◽  
Ruijun Long ◽  
Qilan Wang ◽  
Changting Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Atmospheric Methane ◽  
Closed Chamber ◽  
Methane Budget ◽  
Alpine Plant Communities ◽  
Regional Basis ◽  
Qinghai Tibet Plateau

For the first time to our knowledge, we report here methane emissions by plant communities in alpine ecosystems in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. This has been achieved through long-term field observations from June 2003 to July 2006 using a closed chamber technique. Strong methane emission at the rate of 26.2±1.2 and 7.8±1.1 μg CH 4 m −2  h −1 was observed for a grass community in a Kobresia humilis meadow and a Potentilla fruticosa meadow, respectively. A shrub community in the Potentilla meadow consumed atmospheric methane at the rate of 5.8±1.3 μg CH 4 m −2  h −1 on a regional basis; plants from alpine meadows contribute at least 0.13 Tg CH 4 yr −1 in the Tibetan Plateau. This finding has important implications with regard to the regional methane budget and species-level difference should be considered when assessing methane emissions by plants.

Drosophila brachyenteron regulates gene activity and morphogenesis in the gut

Development ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 122 (12) ◽  
pp. 3707-3718 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.B. Singer ◽  
R. Harbecke ◽  
T. Kusch ◽  
R. Reuter ◽  
J.A. Lengyel
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Locus ◽  
Malpighian Tubules ◽  
Gene Activity ◽  
Phenotypic Characterization ◽  
Gut Development ◽  
Allelic Series ◽  
Genes Encoding

Chromosomal region 68D/E is required for various aspects of Drosophila gut development; within this region maps the Brachyury homolog T-related gene (Trg), DNA of which rescues the hindgut defects of deficiency 68D/E. From a screen of 13,000 mutagenized chromosomes we identified six non-complementing alleles that are lethal over deficiencies of 68D/E and show a hindgut phenotype. These mutations constitute an allelic series and are all rescued to viability by a Trg transgene. We have named the mutant alleles and the genetic locus they define brachyenteron (byn); phenotypic characterization of the strongest alleles allows determination of the role of byn in embryogenesis. byn expression is activated by tailless, but byn does not regulate itself. byn expression in the hindgut and anal pad primordia is required for the regulation of genes encoding transcription factors (even-skipped, engrailed, caudal, AbdominalB and orthopedia) and cell signaling molecules (wingless and decapentaplegic). In byn mutant embryos, the defective program of gene activity in these primordia is followed by apoptosis (initiated by reaper expression and completed by macrophage engulfment), resulting in severely reduced hindgut and anal pads. Although byn is not expressed in the midgut or the Malpighian tubules, it is required for the formation of midgut constrictions and for the elongation of the Malpighian tubules.

scholarly journals Effects of Local and Systemic Immune Challenges on the Expression of Selected Salivary Genes in the Malaria Mosquito Anopheles coluzzii

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1300
Author(s):  
Giulia Bevivino ◽  
Bruno Arcà ◽  
Fabrizio Lombardo
Keyword(s):  
Salivary Gland ◽  
Salivary Glands ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Transcript Abundance ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Anopheles Coluzzii ◽  
Transcriptional Modulation ◽  
Immune Challenges

Salivary glands play a crucial tripartite role in mosquito physiology. First, they secrete factors that greatly facilitate both sugar and blood meal acquisition. Second, the transmission of pathogens (parasites, bacteria and viruses) to the vertebrate host requires both the recognition and invasion of the salivary glands. Third, they produce immune factors that both protect the organ from invading pathogens and are also able to exert their activity in the crop and the midgut when saliva is re-ingested during feeding. Studies on mosquito sialomes have revealed the presence of several female and/or male salivary gland-specific or enriched genes whose function is completely unknown so far. We focused our attention on these orphan genes, and we selected, according to sequence and structural features, a shortlist of 11 candidates with potential antimicrobial properties. Afterwards, using qPCR, we investigated their expression profile at 5 and 24 h after an infectious sugar meal (local challenge) or thoracic microinjection (systemic challenge) of Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, EC) or Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, SA) bacteria. We observed a general increase in the transcript abundance of our salivary candidates between 5 and 24 h after local challenge. Moreover, transcriptional modulation was determined by the nature of the stimulus, with salivary gland-enriched genes (especially hyp15 upon SA stimulus) upregulated shortly after the local challenge and later after the systemic challenge. Overall, this work provides one of the first contributions to the understanding of the immune role of mosquito salivary glands. Further characterization of salivary candidates whose expression is modulated by immune challenge may help in the identification of possible novel antimicrobial peptides.

scholarly journals Comparisons of lung and gluteus transcriptome profiles between yaks at different ages

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Wei Xin ◽  
Zhi-Xin Chai ◽  
Cheng-Fu Zhang ◽  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
Yong Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Function ◽  
Muscle Injury ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Immune System Activation ◽  
System Activation ◽  
Qinghai Tibet Plateau ◽  
Activation Status

Abstract The yak, Bos grunniens, is the only large mammal in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and has been bred to provide meat, milk, and transportation. Previous studies indicate that the immune system contributes to the yak’s adaptation to high-altitude environments. In order to further investigate changes in immune function during yak development, we compared the transcriptome profiles of gluteus and lung tissues among yaks at 6, 30, 60, and 90 months of age. Analyses of significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in lung tissues revealed that immune function was more activated at 6-months and less activated at 90-months than in the 30 and 60-month-old animals. DEG exploration in gluteal tissues revealed that immune functions were more highly activated at both 6 and 90-months, compared with 30 and 60-months. Immune system activation in the muscle and lung tissues of 30-month-old yaks may increase their resistance to infections, while decreased may be due to aging. Furthermore, the higher immune activation status in the gluteal tissues in 90-month-old yaks could be due to muscle injury and subsequent regeneration, which is supported by the fact that 5 unigenes related with muscle injury and 3 related to muscle regeneration displayed greater expression levels at 90-months than at 30 and 60-months. Overall, the present study highlights the important role of the immune system in yak development, which will facilitate future investigations.

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