Adenoviral Vector Driven by a Minimal Rad51 Promoter Is Selective for p53-Deficient Tumor Cells

Background: The full length Rad51 promoter is highly active in cancer cells but not in normal cells. We therefore set out to assess whether we could confer this tumor-selectivity to an adenovirus vector. Methodology/Principal Findings: Expression of an adenovirally-vectored luciferase reporter gene from the Rad51 promoter was up to 50 fold higher in cancer cells than in normal cells. Further evaluations of a panel of truncated promoter mutants identified a 447 bp minimal core promoter element that retained the full tumor selectivity and transcriptional activity of the original promoter, in the context of an adenovirus vector. This core Rad51 promoter was highly active in cancer cells that lack functional p53, but less active in normal cells and in cancer cell lines with intact p53 function. Exogenous expression of p53 in a p53 null cell line strongly suppressed activity of the Rad51 core promoter, underscoring the selectivity of this promoter for p53-deficient cells. Follow-up experiments showed that the p53-dependent suppression of the Rad51 core promoter was mediated via an indirect, p300 coactivator dependent mechanism. Finally, transduction of target cells with an adenovirus vector encoding the thymidine kinase gene under transcriptional control of the Rad51 core promoter resulted in efficient killing of p53 defective cancer cells, but not of normal cells, upon addition of ganciclovir. Conclusions/Significance: Overall, these experiments demonstrated that a small core domain of the Rad51 promoter ca

Proctophyllodes musicus Vitzthum

Proctophyllodes musicus Vitzthum Ex Turdus migratorius (American robin): TN, Blount Co., Tremont, 21 May 2001, P. Super; NC, Haywood Co., Purchase Knob, 5 Jul. 2002, P. Super; NC, Swain Co., Oconaluftee, 15 May 2003, P. Super; TN, Sevier Co., Sugarlands Visitor Center, 31 Mar. 2004, P. Super.Published as part of Reeves, Will K., Durden, Lance A., Ritzi, Christopher M., Beckham, Katy R., Super, Paul E & Oconnor, Barry M., 2007, Ectoparasites and other ectosymbiotic arthropods of vertebrates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, pp. 31-68 in Zootaxa 1392 on page 55, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27368

Prolistrophorus bakeri Radford

Prolistrophorus bakeri (Radford) Ex Sigmodon hispidus (hispid cotton rat): 2 M, 2 F, TN, Sevier Co., near Wear Cove, Collector unknown, 17 Nov. 1991. Prolistrophorus bakeri mainly occurs on the hispid cotton rat but it has also been recorded from the rice rat, Oryzomys palustris, as recorded by Fain & Hyland (1974). This appears to be the first record of this mite from the Park.Published as part of Reeves, Will K., Durden, Lance A., Ritzi, Christopher M., Beckham, Katy R., Super, Paul E & Oconnor, Barry M., 2007, Ectoparasites and other ectosymbiotic arthropods of vertebrates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, pp. 31-68 in Zootaxa 1392 on page 53, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27368

Spinturnix americanus Banks

<i>Spinturnix americanus</i> (Banks) <p> Ex <i>Myotis lucifugus</i> (little brown myotis): 1N, TN, Blount Co., Parson Branch, 17 Jun. 2002, TN Tech. Univ. group, L­2937;1M, TN, Blount Co., Abram’s Creek, 19 Jun. 2002, TN Tech. Univ. group, L­2922.</p> <p> <i>Spinturnix</i> spp. are obligate ectoparasites of bats (Radovsky 1985). A partially characterized <i>Spiroplasma</i> sp. and a bacterium nearly identical to <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> were detected in a related species, <i>Spinturnix psi</i> (Reeves et al., 2006b).</p>Published as part of <i>Reeves, Will K., Durden, Lance A., Ritzi, Christopher M., Beckham, Katy R., Super, Paul E & Oconnor, Barry M., 2007, Ectoparasites and other ectosymbiotic arthropods of vertebrates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, pp. 31-68 in Zootaxa 1392</i> on pages 57-58, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/273680">10.5281/zenodo.273680</a&gt

Solenopotes ferrisi Fahrenholz

Solenopotes ferrisi (Fahrenholz) Ex Odocoileus virginianus (white­tailed deer): TN, Blount Co., Cade’s Cove, 1983–1984 (Hribar et al. 1986, Durden et al. 1997 a). This sucking louse is widely distributed in North America as an ectoparasite of cervids, especially Odocoileus spp. (Kim et al. 1986, Durden & Musser 1994).Published as part of Reeves, Will K., Durden, Lance A., Ritzi, Christopher M., Beckham, Katy R., Super, Paul E & Oconnor, Barry M., 2007, Ectoparasites and other ectosymbiotic arthropods of vertebrates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, pp. 31-68 in Zootaxa 1392 on page 34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27368

Cheyletus eruditus Shrank

Cheyletus eruditus (Shrank) * Ex Sciurus carolinensis (gray squirrel): 1 F, TN, Sevier Co., Sugarlands on US 441, 19 Dec. 2005, W.K. Reeves, L­ 3329 Cheyletus eruditus is a predatory mite that commonly occurs in house dust and stored food products. It can infest mammals and probably feeds on other small arthropods mainly in mammal fur and nests (Whitaker & Wilson 1974, Nutting 1985, McGarry 1989).Published as part of Reeves, Will K., Durden, Lance A., Ritzi, Christopher M., Beckham, Katy R., Super, Paul E & Oconnor, Barry M., 2007, Ectoparasites and other ectosymbiotic arthropods of vertebrates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, pp. 31-68 in Zootaxa 1392 on page 46, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27368

Demodex phylloides Czokor

Demodex phylloides Czokor Ex Sus scrofa (feral hog): NC, Swain Co. 1979–1980 (Smith et al. 1982). Demodex phylloides is a host specific parasite of hogs and can cause skin lesions (Nutting 1976, 1985) Demodex folliculorum (Simon) Ex Homo sapiens (human): NC, Swain Co., Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 3 Jan. 2002, W. K. Reeves, L­ 3025. Demodex folliculorum is one of two species of Demodex of humans.Published as part of Reeves, Will K., Durden, Lance A., Ritzi, Christopher M., Beckham, Katy R., Super, Paul E & Oconnor, Barry M., 2007, Ectoparasites and other ectosymbiotic arthropods of vertebrates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, pp. 31-68 in Zootaxa 1392 on page 47, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27368

Analges

Analges n. spp. Ex Carduelis tristis (American goldfinch): TN, Blount Co., Cades Cove, 23 Jun. 2006, P. Super. Ex Certhia americana (brown creeper): TN, Sevier Co., Newfound Gap, 24 Apr. 2002, P. Super. Ex Hylocichla mustelina (wood thrush): TN, Blount Co., Tremont, 19 Jun. 2002, P. Super. Ex Melospiza melodia (song sparrow): TN, Blount Co., Cades Cove, 19 Jun. 2001, P. Super. Several new species of Analgeswere collected in the Park. These mites live on the downy feathers of birds.Published as part of Reeves, Will K., Durden, Lance A., Ritzi, Christopher M., Beckham, Katy R., Super, Paul E & Oconnor, Barry M., 2007, Ectoparasites and other ectosymbiotic arthropods of vertebrates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, pp. 31-68 in Zootaxa 1392 on page 46, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27368

Hystrichopsylla tahavuana

Hystrichopsylla tahavuana Jordan Ex shrew nest: 1 M, NC, Swain Co., Indian Gap, 25 Jul. 1948, D. W. Pfitzer (Pfitzer 1950, Lewis 1974, Benton 1980, Durden & Kollars 1997). This relatively large flea parasitizes small mammals (Durden & Kollars 1997). It is most common on insectivores, especially moles, in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. The GSMNP record and the additional Tennessee records are from high elevations along the Appalachians; the next closest records are from Pennsylvania (Lewis 1974, Benton 1980, Durden & Kollars 1997).Published as part of Reeves, Will K., Durden, Lance A., Ritzi, Christopher M., Beckham, Katy R., Super, Paul E & Oconnor, Barry M., 2007, Ectoparasites and other ectosymbiotic arthropods of vertebrates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, pp. 31-68 in Zootaxa 1392 on page 42, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27368

Androlaelaps casalis Berlese

Androlaelaps casalis (Berlese) Ex Ochrotomys nuttalli (golden mouse): TN, Sevier Co., near Cosby, 1964­1966(Linzey 1968; Linzey & Linzey 1968). Androlaelaps casalis is a facultative ectoparasite of Nearctic mammals(Whitaker &Wilson 1974,Radovsky 1985).Published as part of Reeves, Will K., Durden, Lance A., Ritzi, Christopher M., Beckham, Katy R., Super, Paul E & Oconnor, Barry M., 2007, Ectoparasites and other ectosymbiotic arthropods of vertebrates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, pp. 31-68 in Zootaxa 1392 on page 51, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27368