Novel Sterile Insect Technology (SIT) program results in suppression of a field mosquito population and subsequently to reduced incidence of dengue

Background There is a steady rise in the global incidence of Aedes-borne arbovirus disease. It has become urgent to develop alternative solutions for mosquito vector control. We developed a new method of sterilization of male mosquitoes, with the goal to suppress a local Aedes aegypti population and to prevent the spread of dengue. Methods Sterile male mosquitoes were produced from a locally acquired Ae. aegypti colony by using a treatment that includes double-stranded RNA and thiotepa. A field study was conducted, with sterile mosquito releases being performed on a weekly basis in predefined areas. Two intervention periods (INT1 and INT2) were carried out, with treatment and control areas reversed between INT1 and INT2. Results During INT1, releases in the treated area resulted in up to 91.4% reduction of live progeny of field Ae. aegypti mosquitoes recorded over time, while the control neighborhoods (no releases of sterile male mosquitoes) remained highly infested. The successful implementation of the program during INT1 and INT2 were associated with a 15.9-fold and 13.7-fold lower incidences of dengue in the treated area compared to the control areas, respectively. Conclusions Our data show the success of this new SIT-based program in preventing the spread of dengue.

Post-Closure Performance Assessment for Deep Borehole Disposal of Cs/Sr Capsules

Post-closure performance assessment (PA) calculations suggest that deep borehole disposal of cesium (Cs)/strontium (Sr) capsules, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) waste form (WF), is safe, resulting in no releases to the biosphere over 10,000,000 years when the waste is placed in a 3–5 km deep waste disposal zone. The same is true when a hypothetical breach of a stuck waste package (WP) is assumed to occur at much shallower depths penetrated by through-going fractures. Cs and Sr retardation in the host rock is a key control over movement. Calculated borehole performance would be even stronger if credit was taken for the presence of the WP.

A lysosome specific theranostic NO donor inhibits cancer cells by stimuli responsive molecular self-decomposition with an on-demand fluorescence pattern

Mo-Nap-NO releases NO into lysosomes and activates an endogenous apoptosis pathway after being triggered by 460 nm light irradiation.

Changes in Nitric Oxide Releases of the Contralateral Acupoint during and after Laser Acupuncture at Bilateral Same-Name Acupoints in Human

Objective.The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of laser acupuncture (LA) at right Neiguan (RPC6)/left Neiguan (LPC6) acupoints on the releases of nitric oxide (NO) in the treated and contralateral/nontreated PC6, compared to the nonacupoint control area.Methods. 24 mW LA at RPC6, LPC6, and nonacupoint in 22 healthy subjects for 40 min: sterilized dialysis tube was taped to the nontreated PC6/nonacupoint during the treatment and immediately taped to the treated and nontreated PC6/nonacupoint after LA removal. NO-scavenging compound was injected into the tube for 40 min to absorb the molecular which was tested by spectrophotometry in a blinded fashion.Results. LA-induced NO releases over PC6 acupoints for the nontreated and treated sides all significantly increased after LA removal, but for the nontreated acupoints they did not change during LA stimulation. LA at RPC6 induced the more release of the NO at contralateral side than stimulating LPC6, but not on nonacupoints. The results suggest that LA-induced NO release over contralateral acupoint and NO release resulting from the lateralized specificity all are different and specific to the acupoint within different time course.Conclusions. LA-evoked NO release over acupoints could improve the neurogenic, endothelial activity of the vessel wall to further facilitate microcirculation.

Reductive nitrosylation of nickel(ii) complex by nitric oxide followed by nitrous oxide release

Ni(ii) complex of bis-(2-ethyl-4-methylimidazol-5-yl)methane in methanol undergoes reductive nitrosylation in presence of NO to afford the corresponding Ni(i)-nitrosyl intermediate. Subsequent reaction with additional NO releases N2O with Ni(ii)-nitrito complex formation.

CGRP receptor antagonist olcegepant (BIBN4096BS) does not prevent glyceryl trinitrate-induced migraine

There is a striking similarity between the migraine-provoking effect of the nitric oxide (NO) donor glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) and that of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). We tested the hypothesis that NO releases CGRP to cause the delayed migraine attack after GTN. Methods: In a double-blind-cross-over study, 13 migraine without aura (MO) patients were administered GTN 0.5 µg/kg/minute for 20 minutes and subsequently BIBN4096BS (olcegepant) 10 mg or placebo. Headache scores and development of MO were followed for 24 hours. Results: MO developed in seven of 13 with olcegepant and in nine of 13 with placebo ( p = 0.68). The headache scores were similar after the two treatments ( p = 0.58). Thus CGRP receptor blockade did not prevent GTN-induced migraine. Conclusions: The present study indicates that NO does not induce migraine by liberating CGRP. The most likely explanation for our findings is that CGRP has its effect higher than NO in the cascade of events leading to MO attacks.

Use of Wild Arachis Species/Introgression of Genes into A. hypogaea L.

The use of wild Arachis L. in cultivar improvement programs has been considered an option for more than 50 yr. Both A. Krapovickas and W.C. Gregory, independently, made interspecific hybridizations in the 1940s. However, only three cultivars have been released as a result of interspecific hybridizations, and only one of those has a clearly identifiable genetic component from the wild species. Several breeding lines have been reported and several germplasm releases are documented from Texas, North Carolina, and ICRISAT. At least four potential options exist for transferring genes from wild Arachis to the cultigen: a) The hexaploid pathway consists of crossing a diploid wild species directly with A. hypogaea, doubling the chromosome number to the hexaploid level, then backcrossing for several generations to restore the tetraploid condition. Several options are possible in this pathway involving various crossing schemes prior to crossing a diploid hybrid with A. hypogaea. North Carolina and ICRISAT have had success with this pathway. b) The diploid/tetraploid pathway has been the most successful in Texas to date. This pathway involves crossing diploid species (two to several), doubling the chromosome number of the hybrid, then crossing to A. hypogaea and backcrossing with selection for the desired character. This pathway is most successful when both A-and B-genome species are involved. Germplasm lines and a cultivar have been released in Texas using this pathway. c) Another diploid/tetraploid pathway could be to double chromosome numbers of diploid species and cross the amphiploids directly with A. hypogaea. Several attempts have been made with this technique, but no germplasm releases have been reported, in large part because sterility is too great when both A and B genomes are not included in the hybrid. Many of the sections/species of wild Arachis are so greatly isolated from A. hypogaea that plant transformation will be the likely method to introduce genes into the cultigen. d) Molecular methods of “inserting” genes into peanut that have been modestly successful and include use of Agrobacterium spp., electroporation, and direct DNA delivery techniques such as the gene gun, whiskers, and sonication. No releases have resulted.

SURVEY AND RELEASE OF PARASITOIDS (HYMENOPTERA) ATTACKING HOUSE AND STABLE FLIES (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE) IN DAIRY OPERATIONS

In 1995, Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), a commercially available pupal parasitoid of the house fly, Musca domestica L., and stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), was purchased to examine the status of wasps being sold to Manitoba producers. Percentage of pupae parasitized, numbers of parasitoids per pupa, total parasitoids, and parasitoid sex ratio were determined for each shipment of parasitoids received. To determine the extent to which these wasps could successfully parasitize house flies and stable flies, parasitoids were released weekly in four Manitoba dairy barns and levels of parasitism estimated. In 10 622 freeze-killed sentinel house fly pupae, 2.2% were parasitized throughout the season by N. vitripennis, and 5.8% were parasitized by eight other species of parasitoids. Of 11 897 naturally occurring house fly and stable fly pupae, 0.6% were parasitized by N. vitripennis, and 3.4% by eight other species of parasitoids. In four barns where there were no releases of N. vitripennis, 1.1% of 11 779 sentinel pupae were parasitized by four species of parasitoids and 3.8% of 8384 naturally occurring house fly and stable fly pupae were parasitized by nine species. The release of an estimated 3 648 093 N. vitripennis did not result in substantial parasitism in either sentinel pupae or naturally occurring pupae. In 1996, live sentinel house fly pupae (n = 50 842) and house fly and stable fly pupae occurring naturally (n = 4691) were collected in two of the nonrelease barns from the 1995 study to examine the activity of endemic parasitoids. Of the sentinel and naturally occurring pupae sampled, 4.0% and 9.4% were parasitized, respectively. Phygadeuon fumator Gravenhörst (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) was the most abundant parasitoid, accounting for 97.4% and 79.9% of parasitoids collected from sentinel pupae and naturally occurring pupae, respectively. Other parasitoids included Urolepis rufipes (Ashmead), Muscidifurax raptor Girault and Sanders, Muscidifurax zaraptor Kogan and Legner, Spalangia subpunctata Först, Spalangia cameroni Perkins, Spalangia nigra Latreille, and a species of Trichomalopsis Crawford (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae).

NO releases bombesin-like immunoreactivity from enteric synaptosomes by cross-activation of protein kinase A

The effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the release of bombesin-like immunoreactivity (BLI) was examined in synaptosomes of rat small intestine. The NO donor S-nitroso- N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP; 10−7 to 10−4 M) significantly stimulated BLI release. In the presence of the NO scavenger oxyhemoglobin (10−3 M) or the guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ (10−5 M), SNAP-induced BLI release was antagonized. In addition, SNAP increased the synaptosomal cGMP content and elevation of cGMP levels by zaprinast (3 × 10−5 M), an inhibitor of the cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) type 5, and increased basal and SNAP-induced BLI release. NO-induced BLI release was blocked by Rp-adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphorothioate (3 × 10−5 M and 10−4 M), an inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A, whereas KT-5823 (3 × 10−6 M) and Rp-8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cGMP (5 × 10−5M), inhibitors of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase G, had no effect. Because cGMP inhibits the cAMP-specific PDE3, thereby increasing cAMP levels, the role of PDE3 was investigated. Trequinsin (10−8 M), a specific blocker of PDE3, stimulated basal BLI release but had no additive effect on NO-induced release, suggesting a similar mechanism of action. These data demonstrate that because of a cross-activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A by endogenous cGMP BLI can be released by NO from enteric synaptosomes.