Exploring the transcriptomic data of the Australian paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus

Ixodes holocyclus is the paralysis tick commonly found in Australia. I. holocyclus does not cause paralysis in the primary host – bandicoots, but markedly affects secondary hosts such as companion animals, livestock and humans. Holocyclotoxins are the neurotoxin molecules in I. holocyclus responsible for paralysis symptoms. There is a limited understanding of holocyclotoxins due to the difficulties in purifying and expressing these toxins in vitro. Next-generation sequencing technologies were utilised for the first time to generate transcriptome data from two cDNA samples –salivary glands samples collected from female adult ticks engorged on paralysed companion animals and on bandicoots. Contigencoded proteins in each library were annotated according to their best BLAST match against several databases and functionally assigned into six protein categories: housekeeping, transposable elements, pathogen-related, hypothetical, secreted and novel. The “secreted protein” category is comprised of ten protein families: enzymes, protease inhibitors, antigens, mucins, immunity-related, lipocalins, glycinerich, putative secreted, salivary and toxin-like. Comparisons of contig representation between the two libraries reveal the differential expression of tick proteins collected from different hosts. This study provides a preliminary description of the I. holocyclus tick salivary gland transcriptome

Exploring the Transcriptomic Data of the Australian Paralysis Tick, Ixodes Holocyclus

Ixodes holocyclus is the paralysis tickcommonly found in Australia. I. holocyclus does notcause paralysis in the primary host – bandicoots, butmarkedly affects secondary hosts such as companionanimals, livestock and humans. Holocyclotoxins are theneurotoxin molecules in I. holocyclus responsible forparalysis symptoms. There is a limited understanding ofholocyclotoxins due to the difficulties in purifying andexpressing these toxins in vitro. Next-generationsequencing technologies were utilised for the first time togenerate transcriptome data from two cDNA samples –salivary glands samples collected from female adult ticksengorged on paralysed companion animals and onbandicoots. Contig-encoded proteins in each librarywere annotated according to their best BLAST matchagainst several databases and functionally assigned intosix protein categories: housekeeping, transposableelements, pathogen-related, hypothetical, secreted andnovel. The “secreted protein” category is comprised often protein families: enzymes, protease inhibitors,antigens, mucins, immunity-related, lipocalins, glycinerich,putative secreted, salivary and toxin-like.Comparisons of contig representation between the twolibraries reveal the differential expression of tickproteins collected from different hosts. This studyprovides a preliminary description of the I. holocyclustick salivary gland transcriptome

Cost-effectiveness of replacing skeletal traction by interlocked intramedullary nailing for femoral shaft fractures in a provincial trauma hospital in Cambodia

In this article the costs and effectiveness of introducing the SIGN nailing system for femoral shaft fractures in a provincial trauma hospital in Cambodia are compared to those of Perkin’s traction treatment. At an average cost per patient of $1,107 in the traction group and$888 in the nail group (p < 0.01), and with better clinical outcomes in the nail group, internal fixation is more cost-effective than conservative treatment

Prediction of setup times for an advanced upper limb functional electrical stimulation system

Introduction: Rehabilitation devices take time to don, and longer or unpredictable setup time impacts on usage. This paper reports on the development of a model to predict setup time for upper limb functional electrical stimulation. Methods: Participants’ level of impairment (Fugl Meyer-Upper Extremity Scale), function (Action Research Arm Test) and mental status (Mini Mental Scale) were measured. Setup times for each stage of the setup process and total setup times were recorded. A predictive model of setup time was devised using upper limb impairment and task complexity. Results: Six participants with stroke were recruited, mean age 60 (�17) years and mean time since stroke 9.8 (�9.6) years. Mean Fugl Meyer-Upper Extremity score was 31.1 (�6), Action Research Arm Test 10.4 (�7.9) and Mini Mental Scale 26.1 (�2.7). Linear regression analysis showed that upper limb impairment and task complexity most effectively predicted setup time (51% as compared with 39%) (F(2,21) ¼ 12.782, adjusted R2 ¼ 0.506; p<.05). Conclusions: A model to predict setup time based on upper limb impairment and task complexity accounted for 51% of the variation in setup time. Further studies are required to test the model in real-world settings and to identify other contributing factors

Gene silencing in tick cell lines using small interfering or long double-stranded RNA

Gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) is an important research tool in many areas of biology. To effectively harness the power of this technique in order to explore tick functional genomics and tick-microorganism interactions, optimised parameters for RNAi-mediated gene silencing in tick cells need to be established. Ten cell lines from four economically important ixodid tick genera (Amblyomma, Hyalomma, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus including the sub-species Boophilus) were used to examine key parameters including small interfering RNA (siRNA), double stranded RNA (dsRNA), transfection reagent and incubation time for silencing virus reporter and endogenous tick genes. Transfection reagents were essential for the uptake of siRNA whereas long dsRNA alone was taken up by most tick cell lines. Significant virus reporter protein knockdown was achieved using either siRNA or dsRNA in all the cell lines tested. Optimum conditions varied according to the cell line. Consistency between replicates and duration of incubation with dsRNA were addressed for two Ixodes scapularis cell lines; IDE8 supported more consistent and effective silencing of the endogenous gene subolesin than ISE6, and highly significant knockdown of the endogenous gene 2I1F6 in IDE8 cells was achieved within 48 h incubation with dsRNA. In summary, this study shows that gene silencing by RNAi in tick cell lines is generally more efficient with dsRNA than with siRNA but results vary between cell lines and optimal parameters need to be determined for each experimental system

Possible bite-induced abscess and osteomyelitis in Lufengosaurus (Dinosauria: sauropodomorph) from the Lower Jurassic of the Yimen Basin, China

We report an osseous abnormality on a specimen of the sauropod dinosaur Lufengosaurus huenei from the Fengjiahe Formation in Yuxi Basin, China. A gross pathological defect occurs on the right third rib, which was subjected to micro-computed tomographic imaging as an aid in diagnosis. The analysis of pathological characteristics and the shape of the abnormality is incompatible with impact or healed trauma, such as a common rib fracture, and instead suggests focal penetration of the rib, possibly due to a failed predator attack. The identification of characteristics based on gross morphology and internal micro-morphology presented by the specimen, suggests an abscess with osteomyelitis as the most parsimonious explanation. Osteomyelitis is a severe infection originating in the bone marrow, usually resulting from the introduction of pyogenic (pus-producing) bacteria into the bone. Micro-tomographic imaging of the lesion suggests a degree of healing and bone remodelling following post-traumatic wound infection with evidence of sclerotic bone formation at the site of pathological focus, indicating that L. huenei survived the initial trauma. However, as osteomyelitis can express through widespread systemic effects, including a lowering of immune response and overall condition, this disease may have been a contributing factor to the eventual death of the individual

Cholecystectomy and the risk of colorectal cancer in Italy

In two case-control studies from Italy covering 3533 cases of colorectal cancer and 7062 hospital controls, the odds ratios were 1.04 after cholecystectomy for colorectal, 1.08 for colon and 1.03 for rectal cancers. The results did not differ significantly by gender, colon subsite or time since diagnosis

Chronic Granulomatous Disease; fundamental stages in our understanding of CGD

It has been 50 years since chronic granulomatous disease was first reported as a disease which fatally affected the ability of children to survive infections. Various milestone discoveries from the insufficient ability of patients' leucocytes to destroy microbial particles to the underlying genetic predispositions through which the disease is inherited have had important consequences. Longterm antibiotic prophylaxis has helped to fight infections associated with chronic granulomatous disease while the steady progress in bone marrow transplantation and the prospect of gene therapy are hailed as long awaited permanent treatment options. This review unearths the important findings by scientists that have led to our current understanding of the disease

Differential responses of osteoblasts and macrophages upon Staphylococcus aureus infection

Background Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is one of the primary causes of bone infections which are often chronic and difficult to eradicate. Bacteria like S. aureus may survive upon internalization in cells and may be responsible for chronic and recurrent infections. In this study, we compared the responses of a phagocytic cell (i.e. macrophage) to a non-phagocytic cell (i.e. osteoblast) upon S. aureus internalization. Results We found that upon internalization, S. aureus could survive for up to 5 and 7 days within macrophages and osteoblasts, respectively. Significantly more S. aureus was internalized in macrophages compared to osteoblasts and a significantly higher (100 fold) level of live intracellular S. aureus was detected in macrophages compared to osteoblasts. However, the percentage of S. aureus survival after infection was significantly lower in macrophages compared to osteoblasts at post-infection days 1–6. Interestingly, macrophages had relatively lower viability in shorter infection time periods (i.e. 0.5-4 h; significant at 2 h) but higher viability in longer infection time periods (i.e. 6–8 h; significant at 8 h) compared to osteoblasts. In addition, S. aureusinfection led to significant changes in reactive oxygen species production in both macrophages and osteoblasts. Moreover, infected osteoblasts had significantly lower alkaline phosphatase activity at post-infection day 7 and infected macrophages had higher phagocytosis activity compared to non-infected cells. Conclusions S. aureus was found to internalize and survive within osteoblasts and macrophages and led to differential responses between osteoblasts and macrophages. These findings may assist in evaluation of the pathogenesis of chronic and recurrent infections which may be related to the intracellular persistence of bacteria within host cells

Female Sexual Polymorphism and Fecundity Consequences of Male Mating Harassment in the Wild

Genetic and phenotypic variation in female response towards male mating attempts has been found in several laboratory studies, demonstrating sexually antagonistic co-evolution driven by mating costs on female fitness. Theoretical models suggest that the type and degree of genetic variation in female resistance could affect the evolutionary outcome of sexually antagonistic mating interactions, resulting in either rapid development of reproductive isolation and speciation or genetic clustering and female sexual polymorphisms. However, evidence for genetic variation of this kind in natural populations of non-model organisms is very limited. Likewise, we lack knowledge on female fecundity-consequences of matings and the degree of male mating harassment in natural settings. Here we present such data from natural populations of a colour polymorphic damselfly. Using a novel experimental technique of colour dusting males in the field, we show that heritable female colour morphs differ in their propensity to accept male mating attempts. These morphs also differ in their degree of resistance towards male mating attempts, the number of realized matings and in their fecundity-tolerance to matings and mating attempts. These results show that there may be genetic variation in both resistance and tolerance to male mating attempts (fitness consequences of matings) in natural populations, similar to the situation in plant-pathogen resistance systems. Male mating harassment could promote the maintenance of a sexual mating polymorphism in females, one of few empirical examples of sympatric genetic clusters maintained by sexual conflict