Identification and characterization of microRNAs expressed in the African malaria vector Anopheles funestus life stages using high throughput sequencing

Background: Over the past several years, thousands of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified in the genomes of various insects through cloning and sequencing or even by computational prediction. However, the number of miRNAs identified in anopheline species is low and little is known about their role. The mosquito Anopheles funestus is one of the dominant malaria vectors in Africa, which infects and kills millions of people every year. Therefore, small RNA molecules isolated from the four life stages (eggs, larvae, pupae and unfed adult females) of An. funestus were sequenced using next generation sequencing technology. Results: High throughput sequencing of four replicates in combination with computational analysis identified 107 mature miRNA sequences expressed in the An. funestus mosquito. These include 20 novel miRNAs without sequence identity in any organism and eight miRNAs not previously reported in the Anopheles genus but are known in non-anopheles mosquitoes. Finally, the changes in the expression of miRNAs during the mosquito development were determined and the analysis showed that many miRNAs have stage-specific expression, and are co-transcribed and co-regulated during development. Conclusions: This study presents the first direct experimental evidence of miRNAs in An. funestus and the first profiling study of miRNA associated with the maturation in this mosquito. Overall, the results indicate that miRNAs play important roles during the growth and development. Silencing such molecules in a specific life stage could decrease the vector population and therefore interrupt malaria transmission.IS

Role of microRNAs in gliomagenesis: Targeting miRNAs in glioblastoma multiforme therapy

Introduction: Gliomas consist of a very heterogeneous group of malignant tumors, accounting for 50 60% of primary brain tumors. Despite all the efforts of cytoreductive surgery in combination with intense chemoradiotherapy, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM, glioma grade IV) still has a dismal prognosis. Current research is focused on molecular targeting to overcome resistance to conventional therapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs, represent endogenous agents of RNA interference, dramatically changing expression of target proteins. Their role in brain physiology as well as GBM development has attracted intense research efforts pointing toward therapeutic potential and immediate targeting for sensitization of glioma cells to chemo and/or radiotherapy. Areas covered: This review is focused on the variable role of miRNAs in gliomagenesis and their possible clinical relevance in patient's survival and prognosis. It further addresses the potential application of selected miRNAs as therapeutic targets or agents in GMB, including data from clinical studies in other central nervous system tumors. Expert opinion: Although miRNA-targeted therapy is still in its initial stage and clinical trials with glioma/brain tumor patients are under recruitment or currently running, several miRNAs have been selected as promising tumor biomarkers, with increased potential to reduce disease progression in combination to conventional first-line therapy for gliomas. © 2012 Informa UK, Ltd

Equilibrium Points and Related Periodic Motions in the Restricted Three-Body Problem with Angular Velocity and Radiation Effects

The paper deals with a modification of the restricted three-body problem in which the angular velocity variation is considered in the case where the primaries are sources of radiation. In particular, the existence and stability of its equilibrium points in the plane of motion of the primaries are studied. We find that this problem admits the well-known five planar equilibria of the classical problem with the difference that the corresponding collinear points may be stable depending on the parameters of the problem. For all planar equilibria, sufficient parametric conditions for their stability have been established which are used for the numerical determination of the stability regions in various parametric planes. Also, for certain values of the parameters of the problem for which the equilibrium points are stable, the short and long period families have been computed. To do so, semianalytical expressions have been found for the determination of appropriate initial conditions. Special attention has been given to the continuation of the long period family, in the case of the classical restricted three-body problem, where we show numerically that periodic orbits of the short period family, which are bifurcation points with the long period family, are connected through the characteristic curve of the long period family

Esophageal Mucosa Innervation in Children With Nonerosive Reflux Disease

Introduction: Esophageal mucosa innervation in adults with nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) is more superficial compared with healthy volunteers. We delineated the esophageal mucosal innervation in pediatric NERD and controls. Methods: Distal and proximal pediatric esophageal biopsies were immunohistochemically stained with calcitonin gene-related peptide and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1. Results: Mucosal innervation was assessed in 18 controls (9M:9F, median age: 9 years) and 11 NERD patients (6M:5F, median age: 5 years). Calcitonin gene-related peptide positive nerve fibers were lying deep in the mucosa in both groups, P > 0.05 and did not coexpress transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1. Discussion: The pediatric esophageal mucosa in NERD displays deep lying nerve fibers, in contrast to adults

Esophageal Mucosa Innervation in Children With Nonerosive Reflux Disease

Introduction: Esophageal mucosa innervation in adults with nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) is more superficial compared with healthy volunteers. We delineated the esophageal mucosal innervation in pediatric NERD and controls. Methods: Distal and proximal pediatric esophageal biopsies were immunohistochemically stained with calcitonin gene-related peptide and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1. Results: Mucosal innervation was assessed in 18 controls (9M:9F, median age: 9 years) and 11 NERD patients (6M:5F, median age: 5 years). Calcitonin gene-related peptide positive nerve fibers were lying deep in the mucosa in both groups, P > 0.05 and did not coexpress transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1. Discussion: The pediatric esophageal mucosa in NERD displays deep lying nerve fibers, in contrast to adults