Life Sciences Commons^™

Cell Lines Having Enhanced Cell Longevity And Protein Expression, Bruce Allen Webb, Jeremy Kroemer

Entomology Faculty Patents

It is the object of the current invention to provide methods and compositions relating to the expression of vankyrin proteins in cell lines to increase their viability, longevity and capacity for protein production. The inventors have discovered that the expression of P-ank-1 and I²-ank-3 proteins in cell culture has increased the cells' longevity and capacity for endogenous and/or heterologous target protein production. Specifically, the present invention relates to the enhanced expression of endogenous and/or heterologous target proteins/polypeptides in recombinant cells that are also expressing P-ank-1 and/or I²-ank-3 protein compared to expression host cells that are not …

New Views On Strand Asymmetry In Insect Mitochondrial Genomes, Shu-Jun Wei, Min Shi, Xue-Xin Chen, Michael J. Sharkey, Cornelis Van Achterberg, Gong-Yin Ye, Jun-Hua He

Entomology Faculty Publications

Strand asymmetry in nucleotide composition is a remarkable feature of animal mitochondrial genomes. Understanding the mutation processes that shape strand asymmetry is essential for comprehensive knowledge of genome evolution, demographical population history and accurate phylogenetic inference. Previous studies found that the relative contributions of different substitution types to strand asymmetry are associated with replication alone or both replication and transcription. However, the relative contributions of replication and transcription to strand asymmetry remain unclear. Here we conducted a broad survey of strand asymmetry across 120 insect mitochondrial genomes, with special reference to the correlation between the signs of skew values and …

Bed Bug Deterrence, Kenneth F. Haynes, Mark H. Goodman, Michael F. Potter

Entomology Faculty Publications

A recent study in BMC Biology has determined that the immature stage of the bed bug (the nymph) signals its reproductive status to adult males using pheromones and thus avoids the trauma associated with copulation in this species. The success of this nymphal strategy of deterrence is instructive. Against the background of increasing problems with bed bugs, this research raises the question whether pheromones might be used to control them.

See research article: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/8/121.

Comparative Mitogenomics Of Braconidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) And The Phylogenetic Utility Of Mitochondrial Genomes With Special Reference To Holometabolous Insects, Shu-Jun Wei, Min Shi, Michael J. Sharkey, Cornelis Van Achterberg, Xue-Xin Chen

Entomology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Animal mitochondrial genomes are potential models for molecular evolution and markers for phylogenetic and population studies. Previous research has shown interesting features in hymenopteran mitochondrial genomes. Here, we conducted a comparative study of mitochondrial genomes of the family Braconidae, one of the largest families of Hymenoptera, and assessed the utility of mitochondrial genomic data for phylogenetic inference at three different hierarchical levels, i.e., Braconidae, Hymenoptera, and Holometabola.

RESULTS: Seven mitochondrial genomes from seven subfamilies of Braconidae were sequenced. Three of the four sequenced A+T-rich regions are shown to be inverted. Furthermore, all species showed reversal of strand asymmetry, suggesting …

A Brain-Specific Cytochrome P450 Responsible For The Majority Of Deltamethrin Resistance In The Qtc279 Strain Of Tribolium Castaneum, Fang Zhu, R. Parthasarathy, Hua Bai, Katharina Woithe, Martin Kaussmann, Ralf Nauen, Douglas A. Harrison, Subba R. Palli

Entomology Faculty Publications

Cytochrome P450-mediated detoxification is one of the most important mechanisms involved in insecticide resistance. However, the molecular basis of this mechanism and the physiological functions of P450s associated with insecticide resistance remain largely unknown. Here, we exploited the functional genomics and reverse genetic approaches to identify and characterize a P450 gene responsible for the majority of deltamethrin resistance observed in the QTC279 strain of Tribolium castaneum. We used recently completed whole-genome sequence of T. castaneum to prepare custom microarrays and identified a P450 gene, CYP6BQ9, which showed more than a 200-fold higher expression in the deltamethrin-resistant QTC279 strain when compared …

Socio-Environmental And Endocrine Influences On Developmental And Caste-Regulatory Gene Expression In The Eusocial Termite Reticulitermes Flavipes, Matthew R. Tarver, Xuguo Zhou, Michael E. Scharf

Entomology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Strict regulation of caste differentiation, at the molecular level, is thought to be important to maintain social structure in insect societies. Previously, a number of extrinsic and intrinsic factors have been shown to influence caste composition in termite colonies. One important factor is the influence of nestmates; in particular, soldier termites are known to inhibit hormone-dependent worker-to-soldier differentiation. However, soldier influences on nestmates at the molecular level are virtually unknown. Here, to test the hypothesis that soldiers can influence nestmate gene expression, we investigated the impact of four treatments on whole-body gene expression in totipotent Reticulitermes flavipes workers: (i) …

Molecular Evidence For A Functional Ecdysone Signaling System In Brugia Malayi, George Tzertzinis, Ana L. Egaña, Subba Reddy Palli, Marc Robinson-Rechavi, Chris R. Gissendanner, Canhui Liu, Thomas R. Unnasch, Claude V. Maina

Entomology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Filarial nematodes, including Brugia malayi, the causative agent of lymphatic filariasis, undergo molting in both arthropod and mammalian hosts to complete their life cycles. An understanding of how these parasites cross developmental checkpoints may reveal potential targets for intervention. Pharmacological evidence suggests that ecdysteroids play a role in parasitic nematode molting and fertility although their specific function remains unknown. In insects, ecdysone triggers molting through the activation of the ecdysone receptor: a heterodimer of EcR (ecdysone receptor) and USP (Ultraspiracle).

METHODS AND FINDINGS: We report the cloning and characterization of a B. malayi EcR homologue (Bma-EcR). Bma-EcR dimerizes with …

Mitochondrial Phylogenomics Of The Bivalvia (Mollusca): Searching For The Origin And Mitogenomic Correlates Of Doubly Uniparental Inheritance Of Mtdna, Hélène Doucet-Beaupré, Sophie Breton, Eric G. Chapman, Pierre U. Blier, Arthur E. Bogan, Donald T. Stewart, Walter R. Hoeh

Entomology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Doubly uniparental inheritance (DUI) is an atypical system of animal mtDNA inheritance found only in some bivalves. Under DUI, maternally (F genome) and paternally (M genome) transmitted mtDNAs yield two distinct gender-associated mtDNA lineages. The oldest distinct M and F genomes are found in freshwater mussels (order Unionoida). Comparative analyses of unionoid mitochondrial genomes and a robust phylogenetic framework are necessary to elucidate the origin, function and molecular evolutionary consequences of DUI. Herein, F and M genomes from three unionoid species, Venustaconcha ellipsiformis, Pyganodon grandis and Quadrula quadrula have been sequenced. Comparative genomic analyses were carried out on these …

Morphology And Systematics Of Braconid Wasps, Charles Andrew Boring

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The following morphological structures of the ovipositor of Homolobus truncator (Say) (Hymenoptera : Braconidae) are described and hypotheses of their functions are proposed: a series of sharp ridges on the distal surface of the notch helps maintain a grip on the inner surface of the host cuticle; the sperone directs eggs away from the inner surface of the ventral valves; a flap-like structure on each ventral valve covers the portal through which eggs pass; the valvillus maintains position of the egg within the ovipositor and acts against the egg to force it out; ctenidia on the inner surface of the …

Impact Of Dietary Diversification On Invasive Slugs And Biological Control With Notes On Slug Species Of Kentucky, Anna K. Thomas

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Increasing introductions of non-native terrestrial slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) are a concern to North American regulatory agencies as these generalists impact the yield and reduce the aesthetic value of crop plants. Understanding how the increase in diversification in North American cropping systems affects non-native gastropods and finding effective biological control options are imperative for pest management; however, little research has been done in this area. This study tested the hypothesis that dietary diversification affects the biological control capacity of a generalist predator and allows the slug pest Deroceras reticulatum (Müller) (Stylommatophora: Agriolimacidae) to more effectively fulfill its nutritional requirements. Results showed …

Distribution Of Eastern Hemlock, Tsuga Canadensis, In Eastern Kentucky And The Susceptibility To Invasion By The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Adelges Tsugae, Joshua Taylor Clark

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive non-native insect, is threatening eastern hemlock in Kentucky. This study examined three techniques to map the distribution of eastern hemlock using decision trees, remote sensing, and species distribution modeling. Accuracy assessments showed that eastern hemlock was best modeled using a decision tree without incorporating satellite radiance. Using the distribution from the optimal model, risk maps for susceptibility to hemlock woolly adelgid infestation were created using two species distribution models. Environmental variables related to dispersal were used to build the models and their contributions to the models assessed. The models showed similar spatial distributions of …

Creating An Interactive And Dichotomous Key To The World Subfamilies Of Braconidae, Kacie Jo Johansen

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Members of Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) are mostly parasitoids of other holometabolous insects. It is a large family with a little over 18,000 described species and many more to be described. Subfamily classification in this group has been unstable and resolution of phylogenetic history at the subfamily level has been problematic. Since 1993, no new keys to the subfamilies of Braconidae have been produced. Many taxonomic and phylogenetic changes have taken place since then, including a recent phylogeny proposing 47 subfamilies and representing the most robust and resolved analysis to date. A pressing need for new keys to the world subfamilies …