Transcriptomic Exploration of the Vanessa cardui Immune System

Vanessa cardui, a polyphagous Nymphalid butterfly known as the painted lady, is an ideal species for understanding ecological interactions influencing immunity, but to date has few molecular resources available to examine the underlying physiological processes driving the regulatory mechanisms of these dynamics. Rapid technological advancements in sequencing technology have decreased sequencing costs to the point of feasibility for studying the molecular basis of ecological models such as V. cardui. To examine gene expression after infection with two unique pathogens, we acquired commercially available V. cardui, infected larvae in the lab with either Escherichia coli or Junonia coenia Densovirus (JcDNV), then sequenced the transcriptome to establish an immune profile for infected larvae and controls. Gene ontology (GO) and differential expression (DE) analyses pointed to an over-representation of genes associated with developmental and energy utilization pathways with no under-representation noted for any pathways after bacterial infection. For viral infection, there was also an over-representation of genes associated with metabolic and energy usage pathways and an under-representation of genes associated with pathways involved in regulatory processes and gene expression. When comparing viral and bacterial infections, there was an over-representation of genes associated with responses to biotic stimulus, defense responses, biosynthetic responses, and movement of cellular components, with an under-representation of genes associated with cellular processes and metabolic processes. Closer investigation revealed preexisting viral populations circulating in the commercially acquires specimens, potentially confounding results based on the proposed research design. However, the tools created from this investigation still hold value for further investigation into the immune response of V. cardui by providing another valuable transcriptomic resource that can be combined with the few existing, non-immune related, resources; making future investigations into any and all molecular functions more powerful and informative. In summary, this transcriptomic investigation pioneers efforts to bring powerful molecular biology tools to address ecological questions of caterpillar immunity

Simulation of the Interaction Between Striated Muscle UNC-45 and Transcription Factor GATA-4

Striated Muscle UNC-45, also known as UNC-45b, is an important protein that acts as a chaperone for myosin in cardiac and skeletal muscles, binding to myosin at its C-terminal UCS domain and regulating its assembly into thick filaments and sarcomeric structures. The UCS domain contains a large loop that is believed to be the first point of interaction between myosin and UNC-45b. GATA-4 is an essential transcription factor that facilitates transcription of several genes in cardiac development, particularly alpha-heavy chain myosin in heart tissue. Recently, studies have shown that there is interaction of GATA-4 with UNC-45b and that GATA-4 binds to the UCS domain. The implications of this interaction suggests that UNC-45b may play a role in not only the folding of myosin, but in the transcription of it as well. The aim of this study was to identify potential interaction interfaces between GATA-4 and the loop of UNC-45b and determine if the interactions are specific through computational models. Computational analysis suggests that the UCS loop is the preferential binding site of GATA-4 and that van der Waals packing is the primary method of binding

Letter from A[lexander] W. Drake to [Louie Strentzel] Muir, 1895 Jan 17.

January 17, 1895.Mrs. John Muir,Martinez, Cal.My dear Mrs. Muir,As I am confined at home by illness, I thought possibly you would pardon this letter by dictation, for I know it will be some time before I am able to write with my own hand, and I want to send you a copy of my Paderewski poem which I promised you, and which you see I have not forgotten. I enclose also a copy of a little poem called Kensal Green which is really a dirge that I wrote shortly after I buried my boy in London.I also want to tell you about the delightful opera season we are having in New York this winter. We have a wealth of talent - Nordica, Melba, Sybil Sanderson, Eames, the de Rezkes, Plancon and Maurel. We have heard the Huguenots, Faust, Don Giovanni,- in fact, we have had a splendid selection. I know how fond of music you are, and how much pleasure it would have given you. Perhaps one of these days you will come here in the winter and enjoy it all.08548 I hope you are having a pleasant season in Martinez I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the day in your home, and the kind hospitality of you and Mr. Muir. I hope the young ladies are well. My daughters are in school and very busy.I came home from the West with a renewed stock of health and have been very well indeed until two or three weeks ago when I caught this wretched cold which has made me very illindeed.Did you see the fine things said of Mr. Muir\u27s book in the New York newspapers? The Evening Post had a charming notice of it.I am sending you herewith one of our publications, called P\u27tit Matinic Monotones which is such a pretty bit of book making I thought you might care for it.With kind remembrance to all the members of your household, believe me to be, my dear Mrs. Muir,Yours very sincerely,Illegible0854

Letter from A[lexander] W. Drake to John Muir, 1895 Feb 18.

February 18, 1895Mr. John Muir,Martinez, Cal.Dear, Mr. Muir,I have Just received your kind letter of February 10th, and also a letter from Thomas Hill, giving us full permission to reproduce his-picture for the Century Magazine. The only request he makes is that we shall do the picture Justice in our reproduction. I hope to get something fine out of it. I am sorry, however, that we cannot have the original painting for the engraver to consult. It would-help him so much, as the photographs are so obscure in parts.I send you herewith a set of proofs and will you kindly indicate cm the margin such changes as you wish made, and put exact titles on them? If there are any of these that you think should be rejected, please mark them so and I will leave them out.With kind regards to all at Martinez as well as our mutual friends in San Francisco when you see them, I amYours sincerely,Illegeble0194

Letter from A[lexander] W. Drake to John Muir, 1895 Feb 4.

February 4, 1895.Mr. John Muir,Martinez, Cal.Bear Mr. Muir,The box containing the three sketches of the tributaries of the Muir Glacier, together with the duplicate photograph of Thorns Hill\u27s picture, reached me Saturday and I am much obliged to you, I have already written you about the copyright in the Hill picture, but in the mean time it has been put in the engraver\u27s hands, ft there should be any hitch about it, it would fce too bad. but I do not suppose there will be any difficulty, as you own the picture.One more favor-will you kindly tell me which of the pictures already made to illustrate the discovery of Muir Glacier should be rejected and which you think we might use? I want to use any that you think will answer the purpose as they have already been made and paid for, but on the other hand, I do not want to use them if they are misleading- You will know better than anyone else which we would better reject. Kindly mark the proofs end return to me, as soon as convenient. I believe you have a set of them.Illegible0194

Letter from A[lexander] W. Drake to John Muir, 1880 Dec 24.

[letterhead] New York, Dec 24 1880Mr John MuirDear SirMany thanks for your kind and prompt attention to my request. I think the Photograph sent will be of very much use. We are pushing your article along and hope to publish it in an early number. It may interest you to know that the [Nee?] articles are on the list for March and April Wishing you the [comfts?] of the Season I remainYours very Sincerely A. W. Drake0096

Letter from A[lexander] W. Drake to John Muir, 1877 Aug 16.

[letterhead] New York, Aug 16th 1877.John Muir Esq.. Dear Sir, I have just read your article on “The Humming bird of the California water falls” and am delighted with it. It offers a fine field for illustrations. I write to see if you know of any picture of the bird that has been published and if so if you will please give me the title of the book in which it appeared! Your sketches will be of great use to our article – to work from and if not too much trouble I would like you to make several others of which I send the following [ but?] No 1 One of this bird or birds flying about in the [ spray?][in margin: 00750] 2 [letterhead] 2 Diving in foaming ed[illegible] 3 A view under water of the three Ouzels feeding at bottom of the lake. This will make a novel and striking picture. 4 Ouzels flying under water (this is important.) 5 Ouzel entering a white torrent 5 Ouzel swooping down the incline of cascades. As none of one bird artists here have seen the Ouzel it would be impossible for them to give any idea of how he flies without a sketch to guide them[in margin: 00750][Page 2]3 [letterhead]I fear I am asking a great deal of you but will try and make such good cuts of the different subjects that you will feel it has not been in vain. Your sketches need not be finished but [illegible] [diagrams?] to guide our men in pulling on the wood. I can send you sketches in most cases I think of the subject we draw so that there will be no mistakes. Hoping that you may be able to find time to draw these I [illegible] Yours Truly A.W. Drake.[in margin: I enclose a copy of [portion?] of [illegible] thinking you might need it for sketching.][in margin: 00750

Letter from A[lexander] W. Drake to John Muir, 1895 Feb 14.

February 14, 1895.Mr. John Muir,Martinet, Cal.Dear Mr. Muir,Glad to know that the article is on the way Ihope you have not forgotten to tell me which pictures wewould better reject. It will be a great help to me. I havethe Hill picture of Muir Glacier in the hands of a splendidengraver and hope to get a good result. I will send you aproof as soon as it is finished.Yours sincerely.Illegible 44beneath the gl. The form of the front also changed, being much more regular than formerly. A bold cape jutted far out from near the center.If you have a canoe you may visit the exposed section of the [buried?] forest--on the W side of the inlet--slumps acres from 2 to 20 ft high of Menzies [Mertin?] & Paton spruce some with the bark on & the ground still showing bed of humus with needles & cones, a complete section of the ancient forest floor--wh. had been buried beneath a grand wash of assorted moraine material 150 roughly [abraded?] deposited by flood waters. & then washed out by the western river outlet of the gl. showing that though the gl is now receding It was once still more shrunken than now. & then after remaining far back from its present position long enough for trees several cents old, at least 2 generations of them it advanced, now receding again but notwithstanding these fluctuations the recessions & shallowing far exceed the advances & swellings. As shown by the traces on mtns, & once reached to Juan de Fuca0791

Letter from A[lexander] W. Drake to John Muir, 1895 Feb 18.

February 18, 1895Mr. John Muir,Martinez, Cal.Dear, Mr. Muir,I have Just received your kind letter of February 10th, and also a letter from Thomas Hill, giving us full permission to reproduce his-picture for the Century Magazine. The only request he makes is that we shall do the picture Justice in our reproduction. I hope to get something fine out of it. I am sorry, however, that we cannot have the original painting for the engraver to consult. It would-help him so much, as the photographs are so obscure in parts.I send you herewith a set of proofs and will you kindly indicate cm the margin such changes as you wish made, and put exact titles on them? If there are any of these that you think should be rejected, please mark them so and I will leave them out.With kind regards to all at Martinez as well as our mutual friends in San Francisco when you see them, I amYours sincerely,Illegeble0194