Eve A (2021) Development "An interview with Swathi Arur."

Eve A

[Development, 2021]

Swathi Arur is an Associate Professor for the Department of Genetics at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA, where she uses multidisciplinary approaches to understand female germline development and fertility. She has received numerous accolades, including the MD Anderson Distinguished Research Faculty Mentor Award in 2017. In 2020, she was elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Swathi joined the team at Development as an Academic Editor in 2020, and we met with her over Zoom to hear more about her life, her career and her love for <i>C. elegans</i>.

Dixon JR (2019) Dev Cell "TADs for Life: Chromatin Domain Organization Regulates Lifespan in C.elegans."

Dixon JR

[Dev Cell, 2019]

In this issue of Developmental Cell, Anderson etal. (2019) show that chromatin domain structure on the X chromosome in C.elegans is dispensable for dosage compensation but regulates longevity and thermotolerance. This study sheds light on the mechanisms of domain formation in C.elegans and how these features affect physiology.

Su C et al. (2020) Neurochem Int "Inhibitory Potency of 4- Substituted Sampangine Derivatives toward Cu2+ mediated aggregation of amyloid -peptide, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Alzheimer's Disease."

Tang H, Chen K, Li W, Su C, Chen Y

[Neurochem Int, 2020]

Cu²⁺ plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The dysregulation of Cu²⁺ can cause neuronal damage and aggravate development of AD. Moreover, a series of 4-substituted sampangine derivatives have been investigated as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and -amyloid (A) aggregation for the treatment of AD in our previous studies. In the present study, we reported that one of these derivatives SD-1 was able to modulate Cu²⁺-mediated multiple pathological elements in AD. The high selectivity of SD-1 for Cu²⁺ over other biologically relevant metal ions was demonstrated by ITC. Western blotting analysis, light-scattering study, DCF-DA assay and paralysis experiment indicated that SD-1 suppressed the formation of Cu²⁺-A species, alleviated the Cu²⁺-A species induced neurotoxicity and inhibited the production of ROS catalyzed by Cu²⁺-A species in SH-SY5Y cells over-expressing the Swedish mutant form of human APP (APPsw SH-SY5Y) and A42 transgenic C elegans (CL2020). Furthermore, SD-1 inhibited the expressions of NO, iNOS, TNF-, IL-1 and IL-6 induced by Cu²⁺ in BV2 microglial cells. Collectively, these findings provided valuable insights into the design and development of potent metal-chelating agents for AD treatment.

Fan PC et al. (1985) Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health "Experimental infection of subperiodic Brugia malayi in laboratory rats with emphasis on evaluation by four techniques."

Hsu YP, Huang CM, Wu CC, Ho CM, Fan PC

[Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 1985]

Infective larvae of subperiodic B. malayi from South Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia collected from laboratory-raised Ae. togoi mosquitoes after feeding on infected mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were inoculated subcutaneously into the groin areas of 15 SD and 36 LE rats. Blood was examined weekly by membrane filtration and thick smears starting 10 weeks post-infection. Microfilariae were found in 3 SD and 4 LE rats, the mf infection rate of 20% and 11% respectively. The prepatent period was significantly shorter in the SD rats (99-112 days) than those in the LE rats (110-153 days). The patent period was longer in the LE rats (208-703 days) than in the SD rats (236-543 days), and the mf density was similar (17.5 mf/20 c.mm blood against 16 mf/20 c.mm blood). At necropsy, 6 (3 female and 3 male) adult worms were recovered from 3 of 6 SD rats and 12 (9 female and 3 male) adult worms from 4 of 20 LE rats; all worms were found in the testes. The results of xenodiagnostic, histochemical staining and measuring spicules and protuberances, demonstrated clearly the difference between both species of Brugia. All dissected Ar. subalbatus mosquitoes exposed to B. pahangi became infected (100%), but none of those to subperiodic B. malayi were infected (0%). The mf of both species of Brugia in thick films stained with naphthol-AS-TR-phosphate showed that the excretory and anal pores of subperiodic B. malayi mf exhibited acid phosphatase activity and only a little activity was seen in other parts; while B. pahangi mf showed heavy diffuse acid phosphatase activity along the entire length of the body.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Gottschalk A et al. (2005) EMBO J "Identification and characterization of novel nicotinic receptor-associated proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans."

Gottschalk A, Anderson SD, Schafer WR, Schedletzky T, Yates JR, Almedom RB

[EMBO J, 2005]

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) mediate fast excitatory neurotransmission in neurons and muscles. To identify nAChR accessory proteins, which may regulate their expression or function, we performed tandem affinity purification of the levamisole-sensitive nAChR from Caenorhabditis elegans, mass spectrometry of associated components, and RNAi-based screening for effects on in vivo nicotine sensitivity. Among the proteins identified was the calcineurin A subunit TAX-6, which appeared to function as a negative regulator of nAChR activity. We also identified five proteins not previously linked to nAChR function, whose inactivation conferred nicotine resistance, implicating them as positive regulators of nAChR activity. Of these, the copine NRA-1 colocalized with the levamisole receptor at neuronal and muscle plasma membranes, and, when mutated, caused reduced synaptic nAChR expression. Loss of SOC-1, which acts in receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling, also reduced synaptic levamisole receptor levels, as did mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor EGL-15, and another RTK, CAM-1. Thus, tandem affinity purification is a viable approach to identify novel proteins regulating neurotransmitter receptor activity or expression in model systems like C. elegans.

Antol, Weronika et al. (2022) MicroPubl Biol

Sychta, Karolina, Prokop, Zofia M., Antol, Weronika, Palka, Joanna K., Dudek, Katarzyna

[MicroPubl Biol, 2022]

Caenorhabditis elegans is a model species, increasingly used in experimental evolution studies to investigate such major topics as: maintenance of genetic variation, host-pathogen interaction and coevolution, mutations, life history, evolution of reproductive systems, sexual selection (Gray and Cutter, 2014; Teotnio, Estes, Phillips, and Baer, 2017). Its reproductive system in the wild, known as androdioecy, involves mostly self-fertilization of hermaphrodites and occasionally outcrossing with males, which are generally rare (Stewart and Phillips, 2002). This system can be experimentally changed to dioecy, i.e., obligatory outcrossing, through genetic manipulations (see Table I in Anderson, Morran, and Phillips, 2010; Gray and Cutter, 2014).

Yu Z et al. (2013) J Hazard Mater "Inhibitions on the behavior and growth of the nematode progeny after prenatal exposure to sulfonamides at micromolar concentrations."

Zhang J, Deng H, Yin D, Chen X, Yu Z

[J Hazard Mater, 2013]

Sulfonamides are one typical antibiotic which is an emerging hazardous material to the ecological stability due to their continuously application and biological effects to non-target organisms. The parent-progeny transgenerational effects need investigations to indicate their long-term consequences. Currently, we tested the transgenerational effects of sulfadiazine (SD), sulfapyridine (SP) and sulfamethazine (SMZ) on L3 larva of Caenorhabditis elegans. The nematodes were exposed to aqueous sulfonamides at micromolar concentrations for 96 h, and then the effects on the behavior and growth in the exposed parent and unexposed progeny were measured. Results showed that SD, SP and SMZ inhibited three behavior indicators including body bending frequency (BBF), reversal movement (RM) and Omega turn (OT), and the growth indicator (body length, BL). Behavior indicators showed higher sensitivities than the growth indicator, and BBF had the highest sensitivity among the behavior indicators. Moreover, the effects of sulfonamides were also observed in the unexposed progeny with partially rescued or more severe inhibitions on the indicators. The behavior also showed higher sensitivity than the growth in the progeny. The transgenerational effects of sulfonamides indicated that parental exposure can multiply the harmful effects of antibiotic pollution in following generations and their potential ecological risks at environmental concentrations were further raised.

Wu Y et al. (2018) Mol Biol Cell "Single molecule dynamics of the P granule scaffold MEG-3 in the C. elegans zygote."

Griffin EE, Han B, Singh A, Gauvin TJ, Wu Y, Smith J

[Mol Biol Cell, 2018]

During the asymmetric division of the C. elegans zygote, germ (P) granules are disassembled in the anterior cytoplasm and stabilized/assembled in the posterior cytoplasm, leading to their inheritance by the germline daughter cell. P granule segregation depends on MEG-3 and MEG-4, which are enriched in P granules and in the posterior cytoplasm surrounding P granules. Here, we use single molecule imaging and tracking to characterize the reaction/diffusion mechanisms that underpin MEG-3::Halo segregation. We find that the anteriorly-enriched RNA-binding proteins MEX-5 and MEX-6 suppress the retention of MEG-3 in the anterior cytoplasm, leading to MEG-3 enrichment in the posterior. We provide evidence that MEX-5/6 may work in conjunction with PLK-1 kinase to suppress MEG-3 retention in the anterior. Surprisingly, we find that the retention of MEG-3::Halo in the posterior cytoplasm surrounding P granules does not contribute significantly to the maintenance of P granule asymmetry. Rather, our findings suggest that the formation of the MEG-3 concentration gradient and the segregation of P granules are two parallel manifestations of MEG-3's response to upstream polarity cues. Movie S1 Movie S1 near-TIRF imaging of PGL-1::GFP. Movie S2 Movie S2 near-TIRF imaging of MEG-3::Halo and PGL-1::GFP. Movie S3 Movie S3 near-TIRF imaging of Meg-3::meGFP. Movie S4 Movie S4 Spinning disk imaging of MEG-3::Halo and PGL-1::GFP. Movie S5 Movie S5 near-TIRF imaging of Meg-3::meGFP and PGL-1::GFP in an mbk-2(RNAi) embryo. Movie S6 Movie S6 near-TIRF imaging of Meg-3::meGFP and PGL-1::GFP in an mex-5/6(RNAi) embryo. Movie S7 Movie S7 near-TIRF imaging of Meg-3::meGFP and PGL-1::GFP in an mex-5(T186A);mex-6(RNAi) embryo. Movie S8 Movie S8 near-TIRF imaging of Meg-3::meGFP and PGL-1::GFP in an plk-1(RNAi) embryo. Movie S9 Movie S9 near-TIRF imaging of Meg-3::meGFP and PGL-1::GFP embryos. FD to PG transition. Movie S10 Movie S10 near-TIRF imaging of Meg-3::meGFP and PGL-1::GFP embryos. FD to PG to SD transition. Movie S11 Movie S11 near-TIRF imaging of Meg-3::meGFP and PGL-1::GFP embryos. SD to PG transition. Movie S12 Movie S12 near-TIRF imaging of Meg-3::meGFP and PGL-1::GFP embryos. SD to PG to SD transition.

Dolo H et al. (2019) PLoS Negl Trop Dis "Integrated seroprevalence-based assessment of Wuchereria bancrofti and Onchocerca volvulus in two lymphatic filariasis evaluation units of Mali with the SD Bioline Onchocerciasis/LF IgG4 Rapid Test."

Traore MO, Diallo AA, Dolo M, Diarra D, Dicko I, Zhang Y, Dolo H, Nutman TB, Coulibaly YI, Dembele B, Coulibaly SY, Coulibaly ME, Colebunders R, Dembele M, Soumaoro L, Doumbia SS, Goita S, Guindo B

[PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2019]

BACKGROUND: Mali has become increasingly interested in the evaluation of transmission of both Wuchereria bancrofti and Onchocerca volvulus as prevalences of both infections move toward their respective elimination targets. The SD Bioline Onchocerciasis/LF IgG4 Rapid Test was used in 2 evaluation units (EU) to assess its performance as an integrated surveillance tool for elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) and onchocericiasis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A cross sectional survey with SD Bioline Onchocerciasis/LF IgG4 Rapid Test was piggy-backed onto a transmission assessment survey (TAS) (using the immunochromatographic card test (ICT) Binax Filariasis Now test for filarial adult circulating antigen (CFA) detection) for LF in Mali among 6-7 year old children in 2016 as part of the TAS in two EUs namely Kadiolo-Kolondieba in the region of Sikasso and Bafoulabe -Kita-Oussoubidiagna-Yelimane in the region of Kayes. In the EU of Kadiolo- Kolondieba, of the 1,625 children tested, the overall prevalence of W. bancrofti CFA was 0.62% (10/1,625) [CI = 0.31-1.09]; while that of IgG4 to Wb123 was 0.19% (3/1,600) [CI = 0.04-0.50]. The number of positives tested with the two tests were statistically comparable (p = 0.09). In the EU of Bafoulabe-Kita-Oussoubidiagna-Yelimane, an overall prevalence of W. bancrofti CFA was 0% (0/1,700) and that of Wb123 IgG4 antibody was 0.06% (1/1,700), with no statistically significant difference between the two rates (p = 0.99). In the EU of Kadiolo- Kolondieba, the prevalence of Ov16-specific IgG4 was 0.19% (3/1,600) [CI = 0.04-0.50]. All 3 positives were in the previously O. volvulus-hyperendemic district of Kolondieba. In the EU of Bafoulabe-Kita-Oussoubidiagna-Yelimane, an overall prevalence of Ov16-specific IgG4 was 0.18% (3/1,700) [CI = 0.04-0.47]. These 3 Ov16 IgG4 positives were from previously O.volvulus-mesoendemic district of Kita. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The SD Bioline Onchocerciasis/LF IgG4 Rapid test appears to be a good tool for integrated exposure measures of LF and onchocerciasis in co-endemic areas.

Kisiel MJ et al. (1969) Nematologica "Influence of a growth factor from bacteria on the morphology of C. briggsae."

Nelson B, Zuckerman BM, Kisiel MJ

[Nematologica, 1969]

Several investigators have reported that nutritional or environmental factors induce morphological variations in the "so-called' bacteriophagous nematodes. For example, Nigon & Dougherty described a morphological mutant of the free-living, self-fertilizing, hermaphroditic nematode Rhabditis (Caenorhabditis) briggsae that ensued following heat-treatment of progeny cultured on bacteria. Also Anderson reported that certain diagnostic features of an Acrobeloides sp., specifically the shape of the labial probolae and tail, varied significantly when the nematodes were grown on bacterial cultures as compared to those grown in soil. The current paper describes a consistent morphological variation in Caenorhabditis briggsae grown axenically on a meridic medium containing a growth factor from a bacterium as compared with nematodes reared on a growth factor from liver extract.