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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Vector Mosquito Surveillance Using Centers For Disease Control And Prevention Autocidal Gravid Ovitraps In San Antonio, Texas, Joel A. Obregón, Michelle A. Ximenez, Estefany E. Villalobos, Megan R. Wise De Valdez
Vector Mosquito Surveillance Using Centers For Disease Control And Prevention Autocidal Gravid Ovitraps In San Antonio, Texas, Joel A. Obregón, Michelle A. Ximenez, Estefany E. Villalobos, Megan R. Wise De Valdez
Biology Faculty Publications
Mosquito surveillance in large urban areas of the southern USA that border Mexico has become increasingly important due to recent transmission of Zika virus and chikungunya virus in the Americas as well as the continued threat of dengue and West Nile viruses. The vectors of these viruses, Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus, co-occur in residential areas, requiring vector control entities to deploy several different trap types, often expensive and labor-intensive, to surveil these ecologically different species. We evaluated the use of a single trap type, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention autocidal gravid …
Diet, Digestion And Energy Intake In Captive Common Marmosets (Callithrix Jacchus): Research And Management Implications, Michael L. Power, Jessica Adams, Kirsten Solonika, Ricki J. Colman, Corinna N. Ross, Suzette D. Tardif
Diet, Digestion And Energy Intake In Captive Common Marmosets (Callithrix Jacchus): Research And Management Implications, Michael L. Power, Jessica Adams, Kirsten Solonika, Ricki J. Colman, Corinna N. Ross, Suzette D. Tardif
Biology Faculty Publications
Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are susceptible to intestinal inflammation which leads to chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and vitamin D deficiency. We examined food intake and digestion in three mixed-sex groups of adult marmosets maintained on three commercial base diets. Animals underwent two consecutive 4-day digestion trials. Body mass stayed constant. Feces and diet were assayed for Mn, fat, and gross energy (GE). Apparent digestibility of dry matter (ADDM) was calculated by the total collection method and from dietary and fecal Mn; the methods produced correlated results (r = 0.658, p < 0.001). Apparent digestibility of energy (ADE) was calculated from ADDM and the GE of feces and diet; apparent digestibility of fat (ADfat) was calculated from ADDM and fecal fat. ADDM and ADE varied by diet (p < 0.001). We found poor digesters on all three diets. The concentration of fecal fat was inversely related to ADE (r = −0.729, p < 0.001). High fecal fat (>10%) was associated with ADfat of zero, consistent …
Adaptation Of A Microbial Detection Array As A Monitoring Tool Revealed The Presence 2 Of Mosquito-Borne Viruses And Insect-Specific Viruses In Field-Collected Mosquitoes, Estelle Martin, Monica K. Boruck, James Thissen, Selene Garcia -Luna, Mona Hwang, Megan R. Wise De Valdez, Crystal J. Jaing, Gabriel L. Hamer, Matthias Frank
Adaptation Of A Microbial Detection Array As A Monitoring Tool Revealed The Presence 2 Of Mosquito-Borne Viruses And Insect-Specific Viruses In Field-Collected Mosquitoes, Estelle Martin, Monica K. Boruck, James Thissen, Selene Garcia -Luna, Mona Hwang, Megan R. Wise De Valdez, Crystal J. Jaing, Gabriel L. Hamer, Matthias Frank
Biology Faculty Publications
Several mosquito-borne diseases affecting humans are emerging or re-emerging in the United States. The early detection of pathogens in mosquito populations is essential to prevent and control the spread of these diseases. In this study, we tested the potential applicability of the Lawrence Livermore Microbial Detection Array (LLMDA) to enhance bio-surveillance by detecting microbes present in Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and Culex mosquitoes that are major vector species globally, including in Texas. The sensitivity and reproducibility of the LLMDA was tested in mosquito samples spiked with different concentrations of dengue virus (DENV) revealing a detection limit of >100 but <1000 pfu/mL. Additionally, field-collected mosquitoes from Chicago, Illinois and College Station, Texas of known infection status (West Nile virus (WNV) and Culex flavivirus (CxFLAV) positive) were tested on the LLMDA to confirm its efficiency. Mosquito field samples of unknown infection status, collected in San Antonio, TX and the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV), TX were run on the LLMDA and further confirmed by PCR or qPCR. The analysis of the field samples with the LLMDA revealed the presence of cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) in Ae. …
Getting To The Root Of Selenium Hyperaccumulation—Localization And Speciation Of Root Selenium And Its Effects On Nematodes, Christine N. Prins, Laura J. Hantzis, Jose R. Valdez Barillas, Jennifer J. Cappa, Sirine C. Fakra, Cecilia Milano De Tomasel, Diana H. Wall, Elizabeth A. H. Pilon-Smits
Getting To The Root Of Selenium Hyperaccumulation—Localization And Speciation Of Root Selenium And Its Effects On Nematodes, Christine N. Prins, Laura J. Hantzis, Jose R. Valdez Barillas, Jennifer J. Cappa, Sirine C. Fakra, Cecilia Milano De Tomasel, Diana H. Wall, Elizabeth A. H. Pilon-Smits
Biology Faculty Publications
Elemental hyperaccumulation protects plants from many aboveground herbivores. Little is known about effects of hyperaccumulation on belowground herbivores or their ecological interactions. To examine effects of plant selenium (Se) hyperaccumulation on nematode root herbivory, we investigated spatial distribution and speciation of Se in hyperaccumulator roots using X-ray microprobe analysis, and effects of root Se concentration on root-associated nematode communities. Perennial hyperaccumulators Stanleya pinnata and Astragalus bisulcatus, collected from a natural seleniferous grassland contained 100–1500 mg Se kg−1 root dry weight (DW). Selenium was concentrated in the cortex and epidermis of hyperaccumulator roots, with lower levels in the stele. The …
Ideating Idna: Lessons And Limitations From Leeches In Legacy Collections, M. E. Siddall, M. Barkdull, M. Tessler, M. R. Brugler, Elizabeth Borda, E. Hekkala
Ideating Idna: Lessons And Limitations From Leeches In Legacy Collections, M. E. Siddall, M. Barkdull, M. Tessler, M. R. Brugler, Elizabeth Borda, E. Hekkala
Biology Faculty Publications
Indirect methods for conducting faunal inventories present great promise, and genomic inventories derived from environmental sources (eDNA) are improving. Invertebrate ingested DNA (iDNA) from terrestrial leeches in the family Haemadipsidae has shown potential for surveying vertebrates and biodiversity monitoring in protected areas. Here we present an initial, and critical, evaluation of the limitations and biases of current iDNA protocols for biodiversity monitoring using both standard and NGS barcoding approaches. Key findings include the need for taxon relevant multi-locus markers and reference databases. In particular, the limitations of available reference databases have profound potential to mislead and bias eDNA and iDNA …