12707
2012
eng
308-311
8
article
1
2016-02-15
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Harmonine, a defence compound from the harlequin ladybird, inhibits mycobacterial growth and demonstrates multi-stage antimalarial activity
The harlequin ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis has been introduced in many countries as a biological control agent, but has become an invasive species threatening the biodiversity of native ladybirds. Its invasive success has been attributed to its vigorous resistance against diverse pathogens. This study demonstrates that harmonine ((17R,9Z)-1,17-diaminooctadec-9-ene), which is present in H. axyridis haemolymph, displays broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity that includes human pathogens. Antibacterial activity is most pronounced against fast-growing mycobacteria and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and the growth of both chloroquine-sensitive and -resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains is inhibited. Harmonine displays gametocytocidal activity, and inhibits the exflagellation of microgametocytes and zygote formation. In an Anopheles stephensi mosquito feeding model, harmonine displays transmission-blocking activity.
Biology Letters
10.1098/rsbl.2011.0760
21937493
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-127079
Biology Letters (2012) 8, 308–311 doi:10.1098/rsbl.2011.0760
Christian Rene Röhrich
Che Julius Ngwa
Jochen Wiesner
Henrike Schmidtberg
Thomas Degenkolb
Christian Kollewe
Rainer Fischer
Gabriele Pradel
Andreas Vilcinskas
eng
uncontrolled
insect immunity
eng
uncontrolled
antimicrobial activity
eng
uncontrolled
harmonine
eng
uncontrolled
harmonia axyridis
Mikroorganismen, Pilze, Algen
open_access
Institut für Molekulare Infektionsbiologie
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/12707/308.full.pd.pdf
12190
2013
eng
256
14
article
1
2015-11-12
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Changes in the transcriptome of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum during the initial phase of transmission from the human to the mosquito
Background: The transmission of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum from the human to the mosquito is mediated by dormant sexual precursor cells, the gametocytes, which become activated in the mosquito midgut. Because gametocytes are the only parasite stages able to establish an infection in the mosquito, they play a crucial role in spreading the tropical disease. The human-to-mosquito transmission triggers important molecular changes in the gametocytes, which initiate gametogenesis and prepare the parasite for life-cycle progression in the insect vector.
Results: To better understand gene regulations during the initial phase of malaria parasite transmission, we focused on the transcriptome changes that occur within the first half hour of parasite development in the mosquito. Comparison of mRNA levels of P. falciparum gametocytes before and 30 min following activation using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) identified 126 genes, which changed in expression during gametogenesis. Among these, 17.5% had putative functions in signaling, 14.3% were assigned to cell cycle and gene expression, 8.7% were linked to the cytoskeleton or inner membrane complex, 7.9% were involved in proteostasis and 6.4% in metabolism, 12.7% were cell surface-associated proteins, 11.9% were assigned to other functions, and 20.6% represented genes of unknown function. For 40% of the identified genes there has as yet not been any protein evidence. For a subset of 27 genes, transcript changes during gametogenesis were studied in detail by real-time RT-PCR. Of these, 22 genes were expressed in gametocytes, and for 15 genes transcript expression in gametocytes was increased compared to asexual blood stage parasites. Transcript levels of seven genes were particularly high in activated gametocytes, pointing at functions downstream of gametocyte transmission to the mosquito. For selected genes, a regulated expression during gametogenesis was confirmed on the protein level, using quantitative confocal microscopy.
Conclusions: The obtained transcriptome data demonstrate the regulations of gene expression immediately following malaria parasite transmission to the mosquito. Our findings support the identification of proteins important for sexual reproduction and further development of the mosquito midgut stages and provide insights into the genetic basis of the rapid adaption of Plasmodium to the insect vector.
BMC Genomics
10.1186/1471-2164-14-256
1471-2164
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-121905
BMC Genomics 2013, 14:256. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-14-256
Che Julius Ngwa
Matthias Scheuermayer
Gunnar Rudolf Mair
Selina Kern
Thomas Brügl
Christine Clara Wirth
Makoah Nigel Aminake
Jochen Wiesner
Rainer Fischer
Andreas Vilcinskas
Gabriele Pradel
eng
uncontrolled
parasitophorous vacuole
eng
uncontrolled
sexual development
eng
uncontrolled
gametocyte
eng
uncontrolled
transcriptome
eng
uncontrolled
signal peptide peptidase
eng
uncontrolled
host cell interface
eng
uncontrolled
alpha-tubulin-II
eng
uncontrolled
life-cycle
eng
uncontrolled
protein kinases
eng
uncontrolled
in-vitro
eng
uncontrolled
erythroyte invation
eng
uncontrolled
blocking antibodies
eng
uncontrolled
malaria
eng
uncontrolled
plasmodium falciparum
eng
uncontrolled
gametogenesis
eng
uncontrolled
mosquito
eng
uncontrolled
transmission
Medizin und Gesundheit
open_access
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/12190/008_Ngwa_BMC_Genomics.pdf
12527
2015
eng
540
16
article
1
2016-01-25
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Scrutinizing the immune defence inventory of Camponotus floridanus applying total transcriptome sequencing
Background
Defence mechanisms of organisms are shaped by their lifestyle, environment and pathogen pressure. Carpenter ants are social insects which live in huge colonies comprising genetically closely related individuals in high densities within nests. This lifestyle potentially facilitates the rapid spread of pathogens between individuals. In concert with their innate immune system, social insects may apply external immune defences to manipulate the microbial community among individuals and within nests. Additionally, carpenter ants carry a mutualistic intracellular and obligate endosymbiotic bacterium, possibly maintained and regulated by the innate immune system. Thus, different selective forces could shape internal immune defences of Camponotus floridanus.
Results
The immune gene repertoire of C. floridanus was investigated by re-evaluating its genome sequence combined with a full transcriptome analysis of immune challenged and control animals using Illumina sequencing. The genome was re-annotated by mapping transcriptome reads and masking repeats. A total of 978 protein sequences were characterised further by annotating functional domains, leading to a change in their original annotation regarding function and domain composition in about 8 % of all proteins. Based on homology analysis with key components of major immune pathways of insects, the C. floridanus immune-related genes were compared to those of Drosophila melanogaster, Apis mellifera, and other hymenoptera. This analysis revealed that overall the immune system of carpenter ants comprises many components found in these insects. In addition, several C. floridanus specific genes of yet unknown functions but which are strongly induced after immune challenge were discovered. In contrast to solitary insects like Drosophila or the hymenopteran Nasonia vitripennis, the number of genes encoding pattern recognition receptors specific for bacterial peptidoglycan (PGN) and a variety of known antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes is lower in C. floridanus. The comparative analysis of gene expression post immune-challenge in different developmental stages of C. floridanus suggests a stronger induction of immune gene expression in larvae in comparison to adults.
Conclusions
The comparison of the immune system of C. floridanus with that of other insects revealed the presence of a broad immune repertoire. However, the relatively low number of PGN recognition proteins and AMPs, the identification of Camponotus specific putative immune genes, and stage specific differences in immune gene regulation reflects Camponotus specific evolution including adaptations to its lifestyle.
BMC Genomics
10.1186/s12864-015-1748-1
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-125279
BMC Genomics (2015) 16:540 DOI 10.1186/s12864-015-1748-1
Shishir K. Gupta
Maria Kupper
Carolin Ratzka
Heike Feldhaar
Andreas Vilcinskas
Roy Gross
Thomas Dandekar
Frank Förster
eng
uncontrolled
immune system
eng
uncontrolled
transcriptome
eng
uncontrolled
carpenter ant
eng
uncontrolled
camponotus floridanus
eng
uncontrolled
re-annotation
Medizin und Gesundheit
open_access
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Förderzeitraum 2015
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/12527/Gupta_10.1186_s12864-015-1748-1.pdf