LKR/SDH Plays Important Roles throughout the Tick Life Cycle Including a Long Starvation Period

BACKGROUND:Lysine-ketoglutarate reductase/saccharopine dehydrogenase (LKR/SDH) is a bifunctional enzyme catalyzing the first two steps of lysine catabolism in plants and mammals. However, to date, the properties of the lysine degradation pathway and biological functions of LKR/SDH have been very little described in arthropods such as ticks. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We isolated and characterized the gene encoding lysine-ketoglutarate reductase (LKR, EC 1.5.1.8) and saccharopine dehydrogenase (SDH, EC 1.5.1.9) from a tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, cDNA library that encodes a bifunctional polypeptide bearing domains similar to the plant and mammalian LKR/SDH enzymes. Expression of LKR/SDH was detected in all developmental stages, indicating an important role throughout the tick life cycle, including a long period of starvation after detachment from the host. The LKR/SDH mRNA transcripts were more abundant in unfed and starved ticks than in fed and engorged ticks, suggesting that tick LKR/SDH are important for the starved tick. Gene silencing of LKR/SDH by RNAi indicated that the tick LKR/SDH plays an integral role in the osmotic regulation of water balance and development of eggs in ovary of engorged females. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:Transcription analysis and gene silencing of LKR/SDH indicated that tick LKR/SDH enzyme plays not only important roles in egg production, reproduction and development of the tick, but also in carbon, nitrogen and water balance, crucial physiological processes for the survival of ticks. This is the first report on the role of LKR/SDH in osmotic regulation in animals including vertebrate and arthropods

"Now I know the terrain": phenomenological exploration of CFTs learning on evidence-based practice

Couple and family therapists are rarely the focus of research yet are critical for positive outcomes in therapy. The attempts to integrate evidence-based approaches into the practice of couple and family therapy have been controversial resulting in passionate and at times divisive dialogue. The aims of this research project were to explore what do couple and family therapists experience when learning an evidence-based approach to working with couples and families. A total of 14 couple and family therapists were interviewed about their experience with learning an evidence-based approach. The research was guided methodologically by interpretive phenomenological analysis. Three themes emerged from the participants’ experiences including: the supports and challenges in learning; the embodiment of a therapy practice; and the experience of shame while learning

Psychotherapie-Berufsausbildung in Österreich: Basis- und soziodemographische Hintergrunddaten aus einer SPRISTAD-Pilotstudie (Society of Psychotherapy Research Interest Section on Therapist Training and Development) [Psychotherapy training in Austria: Baseline and socio-demographic background data from a SPRISTAD (Society of Psychotherapy Research Interest Section on Therapist Training and Development)-Pilotstudy]

Zusammenfassung Fragestellung: Betrachtung der Voraussetzungen von Psychotherapieausbildungskandidaten8 in Österreich durch Befragung zu Beginn ihrer Ausbildung. Methode: Psychotherapieausbildungskandidaten in Österreich wurden zu Beginn der Ausbildung bezüglich ihrer soziodemographischen Hintergrunddaten und ihren bisherigen Bildungswegen befragt. Diese Hintergrunddaten wurden im Rahmen der internationalen Studie zu Training und beruflicher Entwicklung von Psychotherapeuten (Society of Psychotherapy Research Interest Section on Therapist Training and Development (SPRISTAD)) mit der Trainee Background Information Form (TBIF) erfasst. Ergebnisse: Die Gruppe der 197 befragten Psychotherapieausbildungskandidaten aus Österreich besteht zu einem Großteil aus Frauen, aus Personen mit hoher Schulbildung und mit zufriedenstellender, finanziell abgesicherter Lebenssituation. Bei einem Drittel der Befragten zeigt sich ein „second career“ Muster, welches zum vorwiegend berufsbegleitenden österreichischen Ausbildungsangebot passt. Die Kandidaten weisen einen hohen Anteil an beruflichen Vorerfahrungen im psychosozialen Feld auf. Diskussion: Da es sich um eine explorative Studie handelt, können die Ergebnisse der Hintergrunddaten als Ausgangspunkt für weiterführende Forschung im Bereich Psychotherapieausbildung und Kompetenzentwicklung gesehen werden. In der Diskussion wird sowohl auf nationale Bedingungen als auch Möglichkeiten für zukünftige interdisziplinäre Forschung eingegangen