The tapeworm interactome: inferring confidence scored protein-protein interactions from the proteome of Hymenolepis microstoma

BACKGROUND: Reference genome and transcriptome assemblies of helminths have reached a level of completion whereby secondary analyses that rely on accurate gene estimation or syntenic relationships can be now conducted with a high level of confidence. Recent public release of the v.3 assembly of the mouse bile-duct tapeworm, Hymenolepis microstoma, provides chromosome-level characterisation of the genome and a stabilised set of protein coding gene models underpinned by bioinformatic and empirical data. However, interactome data have not been produced. Conserved protein-protein interactions in other organisms, termed interologs, can be used to transfer interactions between species, allowing systems-level analysis in non-model organisms. RESULTS: Here, we describe a probabilistic, integrated network of interologs for the H. microstoma proteome, based on conserved protein interactions found in eukaryote model species. Almost a third of the 10,139 gene models in the v.3 assembly could be assigned interaction data and assessment of the resulting network indicates that topologically-important proteins are related to essential cellular pathways, and that the network clusters into biologically meaningful components. Moreover, network parameters are similar to those of single-species interaction networks that we constructed in the same way for S. cerevisiae, C. elegans and H. sapiens, demonstrating that information-rich, system-level analyses can be conducted even on species separated by a large phylogenetic distance from the major model organisms from which most protein interaction evidence is based. Using the interolog network, we then focused on sub-networks of interactions assigned to discrete suites of genes of interest, including signalling components and transcription factors, germline multipotency genes, and genes differentially-expressed between larval and adult worms. Results show not only an expected bias toward highly-conserved proteins, such as components of intracellular signal transduction, but in some cases predicted interactions with transcription factors that aid in identifying their target genes. CONCLUSIONS: With key helminth genomes now complete, systems-level analyses can provide an important predictive framework to guide basic and applied research on helminths and will become increasingly informative as new protein-protein interaction data accumulate

Effects of squash leaf trichome exudates and honey on adult feeding, survival, and fecundity of the squash bug (Heteroptera: Coreidae) egg parasitoid Gryon pennsylvanicum (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)

Citation: Olson, D., & Nechols, J. Effects of Squash Leaf Trichome Exudates and Honey on Adult Feeding, Survival, and Fecundity of the Squash Bug (Heteroptera: Coreidae) Egg Parasitoid Gryon pennsylvanicum (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Environmental Entomology, 24(2), 454-458. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/24.2.454A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine whether leaf exudates could be used as a source of adult nutrition for the squash bug, Auasa tristis (De Geer), egg parasitoid, Gryon pennsylvanicum (Ashmead), and to compare adult and progeny fitness traits when female Wasps were provided with squash leaves, a standard honey diet, a combination of leaves and honey, or water only Results showed that fecundity, progeny developmental rates, and progeny survival did not differ significantly when females were exposed to different dietary sources. Adult longevity was shorter on squash leaves without honey than on leaves with honey or the honey-only diet. However, reproductive fitness was not reduced because oviposition had been completed before death of the adult females. When only water was provided, parasitoid females lived only a few days. Observations showed that squash leaves have two kinds of trichomes (hair-like and peg-like), both of which produce droplets that are fed on by both sexes of G. pennsylvanicum. Nutrient analyses revealed that exudates from the hair-like trichomes are composed predominantly of monosaccharides (mainly glucose and galactose), and that the peg-like trichomes produce glucose and some protein. Thus, these trichomes appear to serve as extrafloral nectaries and may provide an important energy source for augmentatively released G. pennsylvanicum

A Connecticut Yankee At The Gates Of Heaven: A Study Of The Rites Surrounding The Death Of A Christian In The Connecticut Conference, United Church Of Christ, At The Beginning Of The Twenty-First Century

This dissertation examines the rites that members and churches of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ perform when a member of the community dies. A distinction between a “funeral” and “memorial service” is established, with a funeral defined as a rite provided by the Church at the death of a Christian that is both a rite of passage for the dead and a service of the worship of God for the living, and a memorial service identified as a communal gathering that focuses more on eulogizing and remembering the deceased and less on the overt worship of God. By examining the difference between the two, and by looking at historic liturgical sources, it is clear that in the Connecticut Conference at this time, most rites are memorial services rather than funerals. Assessment was made by means of a qualitative analysis of worship bulletins for rites at the time of death that were submitted by seventy-two of the Connecticut Conference churches, in which worship patterns, hymns and scriptures were identified in order to construct a “moment-in-time” snapshot of commonalities among churches in a tradition that cherishes individual expression and resists standard liturgies imposed from the denomination. In conclusion, a new set of death rites based on the findings of the research is offered

PROJECTED CONSUMPTION OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS

The U.S. consumption pattern of livestock products has changed considerably and is expected to keep changing. The first part of this paper reviews the consumption trends and the price and nonprice factors affecting those trends. In the second part, future consumption patterns are projected. The projections of the constant income elasticity model and the Tornquist functions are rejected due to recent trends which do not receive enough weight in these models. A third model which projects consumption shares is selected as a more accurate predictor. By the year 2010, national consumption of beef is estimated to decrease by 5 to 10%; pork to increase by up to 5%. Lamb and mutton will continue to be consumed less. Poultry consumption will increase dramatically while egg consumption will decrease.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Livestock Production/Industries,

A comparative Study of the Needs and Values of Prospective Teachers of Special Education and Regular Education

It was concluded in the present study that there were areas of significant difference between the prospective teachers of special education and the prospective teachers of regular education with regard to their needs and values. The two instruments used to obtain this information were the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule and the Allport Vernon Lindzey Study of Values. The tests were administered to both groups of prospective teachers in the initial stage of their preparation for the teaching profession