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The Science of the Total Environment Jan 2024Arguably the most ecologically and economically valuable pollinators worldwide, honey bees play a significant role in food production and enrich biodiversity through... (Review)
Review
Arguably the most ecologically and economically valuable pollinators worldwide, honey bees play a significant role in food production and enrich biodiversity through pollination. Varroa destructor is an invasive ectoparasitic mite that attacks and feeds on European honey bee, Apis mellifera. Because literature on the effectiveness and sustainability of various treatment modalities available for Varroa mite control in honey bee colonies are scattered, this scoping review was conducted to serve as a guiding document with a focus on: (1) identifying the detrimental impact Varroa mites have on the European honey bee; (2) determining current methods for Varroa mite control and their limitations; (3) examining current market landscape and key players in the pesticide market; and (4) identifying opportunities for more sustainable Varroa mite control methods. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, 397 articles published between 1998 and 2022 were screened; of which 65 articles were retained using inclusion/exclusion criteria, which were systematically analyzed in-depth, information extracted, and included in this scoping review. The results suggest that Varroa mites are one of the predominant causes of global honey bee decline as they lack natural resistance to Varroa mites, thereby negatively affecting honey bee reproduction and immunity, killing broods, and transmitting pathogenic viruses to colonies. Further, our findings suggest that: apiarists have many options for Varroa control, but no method has proven to be effective, safe and nonpersistent in the environment; adoption of nano-pesticides and development of sustainable alternatives to traditional pesticides are key drivers for growing pesticide market; and nano-pesticides may have potential to serve as an effective, safe and non-ecopersistent pesticide for Varroa mite and associated virus control. In conclusion, this review highlights an unmet need for effective and sustainable control strategies and tools for Varroa mite and virus control.
Topics: Bees; Animals; Varroidae; Pesticides; Immunity, Innate; Host-Parasite Interactions
PubMed: 37778563
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167492 -
Microbiology Spectrum Aug 2023House dust mites (HDMs) are a major source of indoor allergens that cause airway allergic disease. , a predominant species of HDMs in China, has demonstrated pathogenic...
House dust mites (HDMs) are a major source of indoor allergens that cause airway allergic disease. , a predominant species of HDMs in China, has demonstrated pathogenic role in allergic disorders. Exosomes derived from human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid have been strongly associated with allergic respiratory diseases progression. However, the pathogenic role of -derived exosomes in allergic airway inflammation has remained unclear until now. Here, was stirred overnight in phosphate-buffered saline, and the supernatant was used to extract exosomes by ultracentrifugation. Then, shotgun liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and small RNA sequencing were performed to identify proteins and microRNAs contained in exosomes. Immunoblotting, Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated the specific immunoreactivity of -specific serum IgE antibody against exosomes, and exosomes were found to induce allergic airway inflammation in a mouse model. In addition, exosomes invaded 16-HBE bronchial epithelial cells and NR8383 alveolar macrophages to release the inflammation-related cytokines interleukin-33 (IL-33), thymic stromal lymphopoietin, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-6, and comparative transcriptomic analysis of 16-HBE and NR8383 cells revealed that immune pathways and immune cytokines/chemokines were involved in the sensitization of exosomes. Taken together, our data demonstrate that exosomes are immunogenic and may induce allergic airway inflammation via bronchial epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages. , a predominant species of house dust mites in China, has displayed pathogenic role in allergic disorders, and exosomes derived from human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid have been strongly associated with allergic respiratory diseases progression. However, the pathogenic role of -derived exosomes in allergic airway inflammation has remained unclear until now. This study, for the first time, extracted exosomes from , and sequenced their protein cargo and microRNAs using shotgun liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and small RNA sequencing. -derived exosomes trigger allergen-specific immune responses and present satisfactory immunogenicity, as revealed by immunoblotting, Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and may induce allergic airway inflammation via bronchial epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages. Our data provide insights into the mechanisms of allergic airway inflammation caused with -derived exosomes and the treatment of house dust mite-induced allergic airway inflammation.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Humans; Dermatophagoides farinae; Exosomes; Inflammation; Allergens; Cytokines; MicroRNAs; Respiratory Tract Diseases
PubMed: 37314339
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05054-22 -
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular... Aug 2023The Arachnida subclass of Acari comprises many harmful pests that threaten agriculture as well as animal health, including herbivorous spider mites, the bee parasite... (Review)
Review
The Arachnida subclass of Acari comprises many harmful pests that threaten agriculture as well as animal health, including herbivorous spider mites, the bee parasite Varroa, the poultry mite Dermanyssus and several species of ticks. Especially in agriculture, acaricides are often used intensively to minimize the damage they inflict, promoting the development of resistance. Beneficial predatory mites used in biological control are also subjected to acaricide selection in the field. The development and use of new genetic and genomic tools such as genome and transcriptome sequencing, bulked segregant analysis (QTL mapping), and reverse genetics via RNAi or CRISPR/Cas9, have greatly increased our understanding of the molecular genetic mechanisms of resistance in Acari, especially in the spider mite Tetranychus urticae which emerged as a model species. These new techniques allowed to uncover and validate new resistance mutations in a larger range of species. In addition, they provided an impetus to start elucidating more challenging questions on mechanisms of gene regulation of detoxification associated with resistance.
Topics: Animals; Bees; Acaricides; Ticks; Chromosome Mapping; Tetranychidae; Predatory Behavior
PubMed: 37391089
DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2023.103981 -
Systematic Biology Aug 2023A fundamental aspect of symbiotic relationships is host specificity, ranging from extreme specialists associated with only a single host species to generalists...
A fundamental aspect of symbiotic relationships is host specificity, ranging from extreme specialists associated with only a single host species to generalists associated with many different species. Although symbionts with limited dispersal capabilities are expected to be host specialists, some are able to associate with multiple hosts. Understanding the micro- and macro-evolutionary causes of variations in host specificity is often hindered by sampling biases and the limited power of traditional evolutionary markers. Here, we studied feather mites to address the barriers associated with estimates of host specificity for dispersal-limited symbionts. We sampled feather mites (Proctophyllodidae) from a nearly comprehensive set of North American breeding warblers (Parulidae) to study mite phylogenetic relationships and host-symbiont codiversification. We used pooled-sequencing (Pool-Seq) and short-read Illumina technology to interpret results derived from a traditional barcoding gene (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1) versus 11 protein-coding mitochondrial genes using concatenated and multispecies coalescent approaches. Despite the statistically significant congruence between mite and host phylogenies, mite-host specificity varies widely, and host switching is common regardless of the genetic marker resolution (i.e., barcode vs. multilocus). However, the multilocus approach was more effective than the single barcode in detecting the presence of a heterogeneous Pool-Seq sample. These results suggest that presumed symbiont dispersal capabilities are not always strong indicators of host specificity or of historical host-symbiont coevolutionary events. A comprehensive sampling at fine phylogenetic scales may help to better elucidate the microevolutionary filters that impact macroevolutionary processes regulating symbioses, particularly for dispersal-limited symbionts. [Codiversification; cophylogenetics; feather mites; host switching; pooled sequencing; species delineation; symbiosis, warblers.].
Topics: Animals; Phylogeny; Host Specificity; Mites; Biological Evolution; Symbiosis
PubMed: 36960591
DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syad014 -
Open Veterinary Journal Dec 2023Skin diseases are usually chronic in nature but not life-threatening. They affect the well-being and pose a threat to the general health of the affected animals.
BACKGROUND
Skin diseases are usually chronic in nature but not life-threatening. They affect the well-being and pose a threat to the general health of the affected animals.
AIM
This study aimed to investigate epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of ectoparasitic infestations in dogs in a number of Egyptian governorates.
METHODS
Ninety dogs (58 males and 32 females) aged from 1 month to 11 years from 6 Egyptian governorates were clinically examined during the years 2022 and 2023. Skin scraping samples were taken from all examined dogs, and deep ear swab specimens from five dogs suspected to have ear mites were obtained and parasitologically examined. Different ectoparasites were classified according to their morphological features. Twenty dogs were treated in four different patterns of administration of local, systemic, and supportive medications.
RESULTS
The prevalence of ectoparasite infestation in examined dogs was 64% (58/90). The majority of ectoparasitic infestations (50/58) were single, while the rest (8/58) were mixed. Nine species of ectoparasites of fourtaxa were identified: a tick species (); which had the highest prevalence among isolated ectoparasites from dogs (29%, 26/90), three flea species (, and ) isolated from 18 out of 90 cases (20%), two types of dog chewing louse species ( and ) isolated from 2/90 (2.2%) and three mite species: (18/90, 20%), (5/90, 6%) and (2/90, 2.2%). The logistic regression analysis of the potential risk factors associated with the prevalence of ectoparasites in dogs revealed that age, breed, housing environment, habitat, and season were the significant factors affecting the prevalence of ectoparasites ( < 0.05) in contrast dog gender did not have a significant effect. Treated dogs showed variations in recovery times and dogs that received ancillary treatment showed rapid skin improvement and hair regrowth. Doramectin was effective against ticks and fleas, but fluralaner was more effective against mites.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of ectoparasites in dogs in Egypt could be considered high and necessitates efforts toward accurate diagnosis, treatment, and control to reduce their impact on animal and public health.
Topics: Male; Female; Animals; Dogs; Egypt; Prevalence; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Ticks; Mites; Siphonaptera; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38292710
DOI: 10.5455/OVJ.2023.v13.i12.13 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023DEK protein is highly expressed in asthma. However, the mechanism of DEK on mitophagy in asthma has not been fully understood. This study aims to investigate the role...
DEK protein is highly expressed in asthma. However, the mechanism of DEK on mitophagy in asthma has not been fully understood. This study aims to investigate the role and mechanism of DEK in asthmatic airway inflammation and in regulating PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and apoptosis. PINK1-Parkin mitophagy, NLRP3 inflammasome, and apoptosis were examined after gene silencing or treatment with specific inhibitors (MitoTEMPO, MCC950, and Ac-DEVD-CHO) in house dust mite (HDM) or recombinant DEK (rmDEK)-induced WT and DEK-/- asthmatic mice and BEAS-2B cells. The regulatory role of DEK on ATAD3A was detected using ChIP-sequence and co-immunoprecipitation. rmDEK promoted eosinophil recruitment, and co-localization of TOM20 and LC3B, MFN1 and mitochondria, LC3B and VDAC, and ROS generation, reduced protein level of MnSOD in HDM induced-asthmatic mice. Moreover, rmDEK also increased DRP1 expression, PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and apoptosis. These effects were partially reversed in DEK mice. In BEAS-2B cells, siDEK diminished the Parkin, LC3B, and DRP1 translocation to mitochondria, mtROS, TOM20, and mtDNA. ChIP-sequence analysis showed that DEK was enriched on the ATAD3A promoter and could positively regulate ATAD3A expression. Additionally, ATAD3A was highly expressed in HDM-induced asthma models and interacted with DRP1, and siATAD3A could down-regulate DRP1 and mtDNA-mediated mitochondrial oxidative damage. Conclusively, DEK deficiency alleviates airway inflammation in asthma by down-regulating PINK1-Parkin mitophagy, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and apoptosis. The mechanism may be through the DEK/ATAD3A/DRP1 signaling axis. Our findings may provide new potential therapeutic targets for asthma treatment.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Asthma; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; DNA, Mitochondrial; Inflammasomes; Inflammation; Mitophagy; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; Protein Kinases; Pyroglyphidae; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
PubMed: 38274803
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1289774 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2023Mites are mass-cultured to manufacture allergen extracts for allergy diagnostics and therapeutic treatment. This study focused on characterizing the growth, the allergen...
Mites are mass-cultured to manufacture allergen extracts for allergy diagnostics and therapeutic treatment. This study focused on characterizing the growth, the allergen profile, and the microbiome of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus cultures. Mite population, protein profile, total protein content and major allergen levels (Der p 1, Der p 2, Der p 23) were monitored at different times of three independent cultures. The allergenicity was studied by immunoblot using a pool of sera from allergic patients. Mite microbiome was characterized by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene from 600 adult mites from the last day of the culture. Endotoxin content was also analyzed. The cultures had a fast and unrelenting evolution. Mite density, total protein content, major allergen levels and the allergenicity were increased progressively during the cultures. Regarding the microbiome studies, the results confirm the presence of non-pathogenic bacteria, being firmicutes and actinobacteria the most common bacterial taxa, with a very low content of Gram-negative bacteria and endotoxin content. The allergenicity and levels of the main allergens in the mite cultures are objective methods useful to monitor the mite culture that help to produce standardized allergen extracts. The high presence of Gram-positive bacteria found limits the possibility for vaccine contamination by bacterial endotoxins.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Humans; Allergens; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Hypersensitivity; Endotoxins; Microbiota
PubMed: 37391439
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37045-9 -
Allergy Aug 2023Exacerbations of asthma are thought to be strongly dependent on reactivation of allergen-induced lung tissue-resident and circulatory memory CD4 T cells. Strategies that...
BACKGROUND
Exacerbations of asthma are thought to be strongly dependent on reactivation of allergen-induced lung tissue-resident and circulatory memory CD4 T cells. Strategies that broadly inhibit multiple T cell populations might then be useful to limit asthma. Accordingly, we tested whether targeting CD3 during exposure to inhaled allergen could prevent the accumulation of lung-localized effector memory CD4 T cells and block exacerbations of asthmatic inflammation.
METHODS
House dust mite-sensitized and repetitively challenged BL/6 mice were transiently treated therapeutically with F(ab')2 anti-CD3ε and memory T cell responses and lung inflammation were assessed. PBMCs from HDM-allergic donors were examined for the effect of anti-CD3 on expansion of allergen-reactive T cells.
RESULTS
Allergen-sensitized mice undergoing exacerbations of asthma were protected from lung inflammation by transient therapeutic treatment with F(ab')2 anti-CD3. Regardless of whether sensitized mice underwent a secondary or tertiary recall response to inhaled allergen, anti-CD3 inhibited all phenotypes of effector memory CD4 T cells in the lung tissue and lung vasculature by 80%-90%, including those derived from tissue-resident and circulatory memory T cells. This did not depend on Treg cells suggesting it was primarily a blocking effect on memory T cell signaling. Correspondingly, anti-CD3 also strongly inhibited proliferation of human allergen-reactive memory CD4 T cells from allergic individuals. In contrast, the number of surviving tissue-resident memory CD4 T cells that were maintained in the lungs at later times was not robustly reduced by anti-CD3.
CONCLUSION
Anti-CD3 F(ab')2 administration at the time of allergen exposure represents a viable strategy for limiting the immediate activity of allergen-responding memory T cells and asthma exacerbations.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Humans; Memory T Cells; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Th2 Cells; Asthma; Hypersensitivity; Allergens; Pneumonia; Pyroglyphidae; Disease Models, Animal
PubMed: 36951658
DOI: 10.1111/all.15722 -
Annual Review of Phytopathology Sep 2023is a family of plant-infecting viruses that have multiple positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genomic segments. Kitaviruses are assigned into the genera , , and ,... (Review)
Review
is a family of plant-infecting viruses that have multiple positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genomic segments. Kitaviruses are assigned into the genera , , and , mainly on the basis of the diversity of their genomic organization. Cell-to-cell movement of most kitaviruses is provided by the 30K family of proteins or the binary movement block, considered an alternative movement module among plant viruses. Kitaviruses stand out for producing conspicuously unusual locally restricted infections and showing deficient or nonsystemic movement likely resulting from incompatible or suboptimal interactions with their hosts. Transmission of kitaviruses is mediated by mites of many species of the genus and at least one species of eriophyids. Kitavirus genomes encode numerous orphan open reading frames but RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and the transmembrane helix-containing protein, generically called SP24, typify a close phylogenetic link with arthropod viruses. Kitaviruses infect a large range of host plants and cause diseases of economic concern in crops such as citrus, tomato, passion fruit, tea, and blueberry.
Topics: Animals; Phylogeny; RNA Viruses; Plant Viruses; Mites; Genome, Viral; Plant Diseases
PubMed: 37217202
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-021622-121351 -
International Journal of Rheumatic... Oct 2023Demodex folliculorum is a commensal mite that inhabits the orifices of cutaneous pilosebaceous follicles. Overgrowth of these organisms can lead to Demodex folliculitis,...
Demodex folliculorum is a commensal mite that inhabits the orifices of cutaneous pilosebaceous follicles. Overgrowth of these organisms can lead to Demodex folliculitis, which typically presents as papules and pustules predominantly involving the temples, cheeks, and occasionally the chest. We present a 51-year-old woman with iatrogenic Demodex folliculitis secondary to immunosuppressive treatment for an autoimmune connective tissue disease. Histopathological exam of a skin biopsy, which revealed follicular Demodex mites, confirmed the diagnosis. The eruption was treated with oral ivermectin and topical metronidazole gel, and the patient's immunosuppressive regimen was decreased, resulting in marked improvement in the eruption within 6 weeks and no worsening of her underlying autoimmune disorder. This case emphasizes the importance of considering Demodex folliculitis in the differential diagnosis of a new onset rash in the context of immunosuppressive treatment.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Female; Middle Aged; Mite Infestations; Folliculitis; Skin; Mites; Iatrogenic Disease
PubMed: 37096969
DOI: 10.1111/1756-185X.14708