Konarev AV et al. (2002) Phytochemistry "Serine proteinase inhibitors in the Compositae: distribution, polymorphism and properties."

Anisimova IN, Shewry PR, Vachrusheva TE, Konechnaya GY, Gavrilova VA, Lewis M, Konarev AV

[Phytochemistry, 2002]

Multiple molecular forms of inhibitors of trypsin (TI) and chymotrypsin (CI), which are typical digestive enzymes of insects, mammals and micro-organisms, and subtilisin (SI), a proteinase of many bacteria and phytopathogenic fungi, were identified in seeds and vegetative organs of the majority of 128 wild and cultivated species representing 65 genera of three of the subfamilies of the Compositae. Inhibitors with M(r) ranging from 7450 to 7800 and combining activities towards subtilisin and trypsin and/or chymotrypsin (T/C/SI) had the widest distribution and may be involved in plant defense mechanisms. They were found in many species of the subfamilies Carduoideae (genera Carthamus, Centaurea, Cirsium), Cichorioideae (Lactuca, Taraxacum) and Asteroideae (Helianthus, Cosmos, Bidens). Partial amino acid sequencing showed that the safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) T/C/SI and Cosmos bipinnatus T/C/SI, T/SI and C/SI belonged to the potato I inhibitor family. The most active, variable and heterogeneous inhibitors were found in species of the tribe Heliantheae, which is placed in the evolutionary advanced subfamily Asteroideae. Seeds of Helianthus species, Eclipta prostrata, Gailardia aristata, Zinnia elegans and Silphium perfoliatum contained various TI with M(r) ranging from 1500 to 14,750, with some also containing SI. H. annuus seeds contain a unique cyclic TI of M(r) 1514 and similar TI were also present in other Helianthus spp. and the related species Tithonia diversifolia. Zinnia elegans contained a TI with M(r) 11,350 which appeared to represent a novel type of inhibitor distantly related to the cereal subgroup of Bowman-Birk inhibitors. TI and T/SI varied widely in H. annuus lines and wild Helianthus species in their presence or absence and composition. Similar T/SI components were found in the cultivated diploid H. annuus and annual diploid species with the B genome but not in perennials with the A genome. Some T/SI, SI and TI were detected in vegetative organs of sunflower and other Compositae. Studies of the polymorphism and distribution of proteinase inhibitors are relevant to the evolution of protective protein systems and the mechanisms of resistance to pathogenic organisms in the Compositae and other plants.

K Omata et al. (1999) International C. elegans Meeting "Characterization of the neural circuit of C. elegans: model analysis of the touch response"

F Yonezawa, K Omata, K Kawamura

[International C. elegans Meeting, 1999]

In order to characterize the neural circuit of C. elagans, we construct a simple model by making use of the data table completed recently by Oshio et al . [1]. We assume that the signal of a neuron is calculated by the product of the signals from the neighboring neurons, and we investigate the touch sensitivity to continuous stimuli described by sinusoidal functions as defined in the rage from 0.0 to 1.0. We calculate the responses of the motor neurons by changing the frequencies of the stimuli. In our calculations, we change only the frequency w PLM for the input signal to the sensory neuron PLM, while the frequency for the other sensory neurons ALM, AVM and PVM is fixed to be a same value w 0 . We show that the output signals from the motor neurons A and B oscillate in time. We measure the minima of the oscillation for each w PLM value. The plot of the minima versus w PLM shows different hehaviors for the case of the neuron A and B. As for the signals from the neuron A, the values of the minima are widely distributed between 0.0 and 1.0 for all w PLM . As for the signals from the neuron B, on the other hand, the features are different for different w PLM values. (a) In the high frequency region of w PLM / w 0 0.4, the oscillation is simple harmonic and there exists only one minimum value (I min = 0.0). (b) As w PLM / w 0 is decreased, another minimum appears at a certain frequency, and the bifurcation takes place discontinuously. This behavior is different from usual continuous bifurcation observed in nonlinear systems. After a few discontinuous branching occur, signals with five periods can be seen in the intermediate frequency region of 0.3 w PLM / w 0 w PLM / w 0 [1] K. Oshio et al. ; C. elegans synaptic connectivity data'', Technical Report, CCEP, Keio Future No.1 (1998).

Ali MM et al. (2003) J Infect Dis "Immune responses directed against microfilariae correlate with severity of clinical onchodermatitis and treatment history."

AbdelRahman SI, Baraka OZ, Mackenzie CD, Sulaiman SM, Ali MM, Williams JF, Homeida MM

[J Infect Dis, 2003]

The induction of pathological changes in Onchocerca volvulus infections is directly related to the presence of the microfilarial stage of this filarial nematode. Patients with either of the 2 major forms of the clinical disease (i.e., asymptomatic/mild [n=12] and severe [n=16] dermatopathology) were studied. The cellular immune responses (cell proliferation) of those with severe disease were stronger (stimulation index [SI], 12.3+/-1.9) than those with mild dermatopathological effects (SI, 2.9+/-0.6) or control patients (SI, 4.5+/-0.4). Cytoadherence antibody responses were greatest (grade 4) in the clinically severe group and only weak (grades < or = 1) in the mild group or the control patients. Ivermectin treatment was followed by an increase in immune responsiveness in those with initially poor responses. Thus, the degree of dermatopathological effect is related to the host's immune response against microfilariae, and ivermectin augments such responses.

Wang C et al. (2018) Nat Commun "Author Correction: Small-molecule TFEB pathway agonists that ameliorate metabolic syndrome in mice and extend C. elegans lifespan."

Zhao T, Oswald NW, Li Y, Lin R, Wang C, Jaramillo J, Zhou A, McMillan EA, Douglas PM, MacMillan JB, Huang G, Luo M, Gao J, Mendiratta S, Lin Z, Wang Z, Niederstrasser H, Posner BA, Brekken RA, White MA

[Nat Commun, 2018]

The originally published version of this Article contained an error in the spelling of the author Nathaniel W. Oswald, which was incorrectly given as Nathaniel W. Olswald. This has now been corrected inboth the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.

Yang S et al. (2019) J Comput Biol "Three-Dimensional Embryonic Image Segmentation and Registration Based on Shape Index and Ellipsoid-Fitting Method."

Chen Y, Han X, Yang S

[J Comput Biol, 2019]

Quantitative analysis based on three-dimensional differential interference contrast (DIC) images is currently the mainstream in analyzing gene functions involved in early cell fate specifications. Segmentation and registration are the two most important steps in analysis. Many image segmentation methods have poor performance on embryonic DIC images because of the interference of egg shells, blurs, and nonuniform intensity background. A novel segmentation method is presented based on the shape index (SI) of local intensity variation in DIC images. To compute the SI, the intensity values of a local neighborhood are regarded as z coordinates over x-y planes. After calculating the SI for each pixel by evaluating the shape of intensity surface over the corresponding local neighborhood, SI thresholding is used to detect cytoplasm granules within embryonic boundaries. As a scalar and rotation invariant, the SI is both insensitive to directional changes and different ranges of intensity variations. Embryonic registration methods are usually based on the orientation of vertebrate anteroposterior (AP) axes computed from segmented embryonic boundaries. Due to the blur of marginal slices in DIC images, usually the segmented boundaries are incomplete, which may make the computed AP axes shift away from the correct orientation when using the principal component analysis method. A method calculating AP axes based on ellipsoid-fitting is proposed, which can achieve high accuracy when handling incomplete segmented boundaries. Using Worm Developmental Dynamics Database, we evaluated the performance of the proposed segmentation method and the computation of AP axes. Experimental results show that the two methods outperform existing methods.

Nawa Y et al. (1985) Parasite Immunol "Defective protective capacity of W/Wv mice against Strongyloides ratti infection and its reconstitution with bone marrow cells."

Kotani M, Nawa Y, Kiyota M, Korenaga M

[Parasite Immunol, 1985]

The susceptibility of congenitally anemic, and mast cell deficient W/Wv mice to infection with Strongyloides ratti was examined. After a primary infection, W/Wv mice showed greater and more persistent peak larval counts than did normal littermates. Worm expulsion was also slower in W/Wv mice than in +/+ mice. Furthermore, difference in susceptibility was expressed as early as 24 h after infection, suggesting not only that protective mechanisms of the gut but also of the connective tissue were defective in W/Wv mice. Reconstitution with bone marrow or spleen cells from +/+ mice was effective in restoring the protective response in W/Wv mice, whereas thymocytes or mesenteric lymph nodes had no effect. Both connective tissue and mucosal mast cells were repaired in W/Wv mice after marrow reconstitution and infection. Since relatively long incubation period was required for the expression of such reconstituting activities, bone marrow cells seem to contain precursor cells of the effector and/or regulator cells.

Casiraghi M et al. (2004) Int J Parasitol "Mapping the presence of Wolbachia pipientis on the phylogeny of filarial nematodes: evidence for symbiont loss during evolution."

Guerrero R, Bandi C, Franceschi A, Pocacqua V, Gardner SL, Casiraghi M, Martin C, Bain O

[Int J Parasitol, 2004]

Wolbachia pipientis is a bacterial endosymbiont associated with arthropods and filarial nematodes. In filarial nematodes, W. pipientis has been shown to play an important role in the biology of the host and in the immuno-pathology of filariasis. Several species of filariae, including the most important parasites of humans and animals (e.g. Onchocerca volvulus, Wuchereria bancrofti and Dirofilaria immitis) have been shown to harbour these bacteria. Other filarial species, including an important rodent species (Acanthocheilonema viteae), which has been used as a model for the study of filariasis, do not appear to harbour these symbionts. There are still several open questions about the distribution of W. pipientis in filarial nematodes. Firstly the number of species examined is still limited. Secondly, it is not clear whether the absence of W. pipientis in negative species could represent an ancestral characteristic or the result of a secondary loss. Thirdly, several aspects of the phylogeny of filarial nematodes are still unclear and it is thus difficult to overlay the presence/absence of W. pipientis on a tree representing filarial evolution. Here we present the results of a PCR screening for W. pipientis in 16 species of filariae and related nematodes, representing different families/subfamilies. Evidence for the presence of W. pipientis is reported for five species examined for the first time (representing the genera Litomosoides, Litomosa and Dipetalonema); original results on the absence of this bacterium are reported for nine species; for the remaining two species, we have confirmed the absence of W. pipientis recently reported by other authors. In the positive species, the infecting W. pipientis bacteria have been identified through 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. In addition to the screening for W. pipientis in 16 species, we have generated phylogenetic reconstructions based on mitochondrial gene sequences (12S rDNA; COI), including a total of 28 filarial species and related spirurid nematodes. The mapping of the presence/absence of W. pipientis on the trees generated indicates that these bacteria have possibly been lost during evolution along some lineages of filarial nematodes.

Lewis JA (1981) Worm Breeder's Gazette "Modified Ficoll Method for Cleaning Worms"

Lewis JA

[Worm Breeder's Gazette, 1981]

I have made two modifications in the Ficoll method I originally described in WBG, vol. 3, #2. First, all Ficoll solutions are made 0. 1 M in NaCl to avoid shocking osmoticalIy sensitive worms like unc-29( e1072). Second, after sedimenting worms through 15% w/w Ficoll 400 ( 15', 300 x g), the worms are diluted with an equal volume of 0.1 M NaCl and floated on 35% w/w Ficoll (15', 300 x g) before washing 2x with 0.1 M NaCl. The Ficoll sedimentation removes dead or degenerated worms, cuticles, bacteria. The flotation removes crystalline debris sometimes occurring in worm cultures. We also find that special care to pipette out the last residue of bacterial medium (e.g. 3XD) before resuspending bacteria for worm growth is most conducive to obtaining uncontaminated worms.

Li Z et al. (2018) Pak J Pharm Sci "Cellulase-assisted extraction and anti-ultraviolet activity of polysaccharides from the root of Flammulina velutipes on Caenorhabditis elegans."

Chen M, Lin L, Zhang Y, Wang T, Cui H, Wang C, Li Z

[Pak J Pharm Sci, 2018]

We investigated the cellulase-assisted extraction and anti-ultraviolet activity of water-soluble polysaccharides from the root of Flammulina velutipes on Caenorhabditis elegans. A Box-Behnken design experiment with three factors and three levels, including enzymolysis temperature, microwave time, and microwave power, was designed on the basis of the results of single-factor experiments. For improving the polysaccharide yield of F. velutipes root, the following optimal extraction conditions were used: 52.67C enzymolysis temperature, 80s microwave time, and 144 W microwave power. Under optimal conditions, the actual measured value of the yield was 2.01% (w/w) and the predicted value was 2.06% (w/w). One fraction (FRP-2) was isolated and purified, and its characteristics were analyzed. The average mean molecular weight of FRP-2 was measured to be 2.60x10⁵ Da, and its monosaccharide composition is mainly glucose. The sugar units are present both in the -configuration and -configuration. Moreover, FRP-2 exhibited certain anti-ultraviolet activity to C. elegans when the polysaccharide concentration ranged between 0.05mg/mL and 0.20mg/mL.

Zhao C et al. (1993) Worm Breeder's Gazette "Cloning of the lin-32 Gene"

Emmons SW, Zhao C

[Worm Breeder's Gazette, 1993]

Cloning of the lin-32 gene Connie Zhao and Scott W. Emmons, Department of Molecular Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, NY 10461