1,731 research outputs found
Ffunctional genomics in an invasive tephritid model pest species, the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata
No full textGene discovery and functional genomics in an invasive tephritid model pest species, the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata
No full textThe medfly is a highly invasive agricultural pest that has become a model insect for the development of biological control programmes. Despite research into the behavior and classical and population genetics of this organism, the quantity of sequence data available is limited. We used an expressed sequence tag (EST) approach to obtain detailed information on transcriptome signatures that relate to a variety of physiological systems in the medfly. Given that the study was based on normalized cDNA libraries from embryos and adult heads we have obtain information relating to reproduction, sex determination, and chemosensory perception.
Over 21,000 high-quality ESTs were obtained from the embryo and head libraries. Clustering analyses resulted in almost 12,000 unique sequences or transcripts. These assembled sequences represent a wide range of biological processes and molecular functions. Of particular interest are the sequences that share homology with Drosophila genes involved in sex determination, olfaction, and reproductive behaviour.
The sequences obtained in this study represent the first major dataset of expressed genes in a tephritid species of agricultural importance. This resource provides essential information to support the investigation of numerous questions regarding the biology of the medfly and other related species and also constitutes an invaluable tool for the annotation of complete genome sequences. Our study has revealed intriguing findings regarding the transcript regulation of sex determination genes, as well as insights into the comparative genomics of genes implicated in chemosensory reception and reproductio
RIC-HSCT for MF/SS
No full textAdvanced-stage mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome (MF/SS) have a poor prognosis. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), particularly using a reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen, is a promising treatment for advanced-stage MF/SS. We performed RIC-HSCT in nine patients with advanced MF/SS. With a median follow-up period of 954days after HSCT, the estimated 3-year overall survival was 85.7% (95% confidence interval, 33.4-97.9%) with no non-relapse mortality. Five patients relapsed after RIC-HSCT; however, in four patients whose relapse was detected only from the skin, persistent complete response was achieved in one patient, and the disease was manageable in other three patients by the tapering of immunosuppressants and donor lymphocyte infusion, suggesting that graft-versus-lymphoma effect and "down-staging" effect from advanced stage to early stage by HSCT improve the prognosis of advanced-stage MF/SS. These results suggest that RIC-HSCT is an effective treatment for advanced MF/SS
ESTs for Pests: A genomic approach to medfly control
No full textGenome projects of various insect species have been vigorously promoted in the last decade. Among model organisms, genome sequences have been completed in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster, the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, the domesticated silkworm Bombyx mori, the honeybee Apis mellifera and the major arbovirus vector, Aedes aegypti.
Although an important goal of any sequence project is to obtain a genomic sequence and to identify a complete set of genes, the ultimate goal is to gain an understanding of the expression of these genes, their life-stage and tissue-specificity and regulation, and to predict the biochemical function and cellular role of each gene product. An even more ambitious goal is to understand the myriad of interactions within the genome and its products as a whole. Genome information provides powerful tools for understanding biological mechanisms and functions and is essential for biology, medical sciences and agriculture.
To date genome projects have not been applied to any fruitfly species of the family Tephritidae, despite their great agriculture importance as invasive pests and target species for intensive control. Exploring the genome of tephritids will make a strong impact on our knowledge of their biology, allowing exploitation in biotechnology efforts for improving methodologies in pest control.
Among tephritids, the most notorious species is the Mediterranean fruitfly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata. Given that it was the first true fruitfly species to extend its species range, the medfly has been the subject of the majority of tephritid genetic studies over the last two decades and has become a model species for the study of invasion processes and for the development and refinement of control methods, particularly the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). Despite research into the behaviour and classical and population genetics of this organism, the quantity of sequence data available is limited. We have utilized an expressed sequence tag (EST) approach to obtain detailed information on transcriptome signatures that relate to a variety of physiological systems in the medfly; this information emphasizes on reproduction, sex determination, and chemosensory perception, since the study was based on normalized cDNA libraries from embryos and adult heads. A total of 21,253 high-quality ESTs were obtained from the embryo and head libraries. Clustering analyses performed separately for each library resulted in 5201 embryo and 6684 head transcripts. Considering an estimated 19% overlap in the transcriptomes of the two libraries, they represent about 9614 unique transcripts involved in a wide range of biological processes and molecular functions. Of particular interest are the sequences that share homology with Drosophila genes involved in sex determination, olfaction, and reproductive behaviour.
The sequences obtained in this study represent the first major dataset of expressed genes in a tephritid species of agricultural importance. This resource provides essential information to support the investigation of numerous questions regarding the biology of the medfly and other related species and also constitutes an invaluable tool for the annotation of complete genome sequences. Our study has revealed intriguing findings regarding the transcript regulation of sex determination genes, as well as insights into the comparative genomics of genes implicated in chemosensory reception and reproduction
Identificazione di geni e genomica funzionale in Ceratitis capitata (Medfly) (Diptera, Tephritidae)
No full textCeratitis capitata, dittero invasivo e altamente dannoso per la frutticoltura in diversi paesi, è considerata la specie modello per lo sviluppo di programmi di controllo biologico. La quantità di sequenze della specie attualmente disponibili in banca dati è limitata, nonostante siano state condotte, nelle due ultime decadi, numerose ricerche genetiche e molecolari, indirizzate principalmente allo studio delle popolazioni naturali ed alla costruzione di mappe geniche e cromosomiche. Allo scopo di colmare le lacune nel campo delle conoscenze molecolari su questa specie, è stato scelto un approccio basato su EST (Expressed Sequence Tag) che offre dettagliate informazioni su sequenze correlate a diversi sistemi fisiologici di C. capitata. Dalle due librerie (di embrioni e di teste) sono stati ottenuti più di 21.000 EST di alta qualità e dall‟analisi di clustering sono derivate circa 12.000 sequenze uniche (trascritti). Queste sequenze assemblate rappresentano una notevole risorsa per lo studio di processi biologici e di funzioni molecolari. Di particolare interesse per programmi di controllo biologico sono le sequenze che condividono omologia con geni di Drosophila melanogaster coinvolti nella determinazione del sesso, nei meccanismi legati all‟olfatto e nel comportamento riproduttivo. Le sequenze ottenute in questo studio rappresentano la prima banca dati di geni espressi in una specie di ditteri tefritidi di importanza agraria. Questo database costituisce una risorsa essenziale per sviluppare ricerche su argomenti riguardanti la biologia di C. capitata e di altre specie correlate. Rappresenta inoltre un potente mezzo per supportare l‟annotazione delle sequenze del genoma completo
Preparation of mono-sized epoxy/MF microcapsulesin the appearance of polyvinyl alcohol as co-emulsifier
No full textFor epoxy microcapsules embedded in concrete as mechanic-triggered self-healing adhesive, globular shape with uniform size is the basic requirement to ensure the solid shell broken and the liquid core released at a designed stress. In this paper, monodispersed melamine\u96formaldehyde (MF) resin-walled epoxy E-51 microcapsules were successfully fabricated in an in situ polycondensation process, in which a certain amount of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution was added as coemulsifier to control the microcapsules\u92 shape and size. Detail investigation shows, with the cooperation of PVA, the microcapsule morphologies and size distribution were ease to be adjusted by the parameters such as emulsifying agents, agitation rate, pH value and acidification time
A functional genomics initiative for Ceratitis capitata, the model species in fruitfly pest control.
No full textACT Family Violence Intervention Program review
No full textThis paper reports on a review of the Australian Capital Territory’s Family Violence Intervention Program, which provides an interagency response to family violence matters.
The scope of the review was to analyse the program’s activities and outcomes using 2007–08 data provided by participating agencies, supported by in-depth interviews with key stakeholders including victims whose matters had been finalised in court. After the completion of this report, additional data from 2008–09 and 2009–10 was made available by some Family Violence Intervention Program (FVIP) participating agencies. Although not within the scope of this evaluation, these data pointed to some preliminary improvements in the FVIP
NF membrane fouling by aluminum and iron coagulant residuals after coagulation-MF pretreatment
No full textThe effects of coagulant residuals on fouling of a nanofiltration (NF) membrane were investigated. Experiments were carried out with a laboratory-scale microfiltration (MF)-NF setup and a pilot MF-NF plant. In the laboratory-scale experiments, NF feed water was pretreated with poly-aluminum chloride (PACl) or alum followed by MF. NF membrane permeability declined when the feed water contained residual aluminum at 18 μg/L or more, but not when it was lower than 9 μg/L. When pretreated with ferric chloride, no substantial decline of NF membrane permeability was observed: residual iron did not affect the permeability. When SiO2 was added to the water before the pretreatment with PACl, the NF membrane permeability declined at about double the speed. Thermodynamic calculations and elemental analysis of foulants recovered from the membranes indicated that the majority of inorganic foulants were compounds composed of aluminum, silicate, and possibly potassium. In the pilot plant, NF feed was pretreated by PACl. Transmembrane pressure for NF doubled over 4.5 months of operation. Although the aluminum concentration in the NF feed was not high (30 μg/L), analysis of membrane foulants revealed excessive accumulation of aluminum and silicate, also suggesting that aluminum residuals caused the membrane fouling by alumino-silicates or aluminum hydroxide
A functional genomics initiative for the model species, Ceratitis capitata: a tool for improving pest control.
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