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Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2023Culex quinquefasciatus, a cosmopolitan, domestic, and highly anthropophilic mosquito, is a vector of pathogenic arboviruses such as West Nile virus and Rift Valley...
BACKGROUND
Culex quinquefasciatus, a cosmopolitan, domestic, and highly anthropophilic mosquito, is a vector of pathogenic arboviruses such as West Nile virus and Rift Valley virus, as well as lymphatic filariasis. The current knowledge on its reproductive physiology regarding vitellogenin expression in different tissues is still limited.
OBJECTIVES
In this study, we analysed the transcriptional profiles of vitellogenin genes in the fat body and ovaries of C. quinquefasciatus females during the first gonotrophic cycle.
METHODS
C. quinquefasciatus ovaries and/or fat bodies were dissected in different times during the first gonotrophic cycle and total RNA was extracted and used for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, quantitative real time-PCR, and in situ hybridisation.
FINDINGS
We confirmed the classical descriptions of the vitellogenic process in mosquitoes by verifying that vitellogenin genes are transcribed in the fat bodies of C. quinquefasciatus females. Using RNA in situ hybridisation approach, we showed that vitellogenin genes are also transcribed in developing ovaries, specifically by the follicle cells.
MAIN CONCLUSIONS
This is the first time that vitellogenin transcripts are observed in mosquito ovaries. Studies to determine if Vg transcripts are translated into proteins and their contribution to the reproductive success of the mosquito need to be further investigated.
Topics: Animals; Female; Culex; Vitellogenins; Ovary; Mosquito Vectors; Culicidae; RNA
PubMed: 37466532
DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760220143 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022The protozoan parasite spp. invades into tick oocytes and remains in the offspring. The transovarial transmission phenomenon of in ticks has been demonstrated...
The protozoan parasite spp. invades into tick oocytes and remains in the offspring. The transovarial transmission phenomenon of in ticks has been demonstrated experimentally, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. invasion into oocytes occurs along with the progression of oogenesis. In the present study, to find the key tick factor(s) for transmission, we focused on molecules involved in yolk protein precursor (vitellogenin, Vg) synthesis and Vg uptake, which are crucial events in tick oogenesis. With a tick- experimental model, the expression profiles of , , , , and , Vg synthesis-related genes, and Vg receptor () and autophagy-related gene 6 (), Vg uptake-related genes, were analyzed using real-time PCR using tissues collected during the preovipositional period in -infected ticks. The expression levels of () and decreased in the fat body of -infected ticks 1 day after engorgement. In the ovary, mRNA expression was significantly higher in -infected ticks than in uninfected ticks 1 and 2 days after engorgement and decreased 3 days after engorgement. expression was significantly lower in -infected ticks than in uninfected ticks 2 and 4 days after engorgement. had a lower gene expression in -infected ticks compared to uninfected ticks 2 days after engorgement. Additionally, western blot analysis using protein extracts from each collected tissue revealed that Vg-2 (HlVg-2) accumulate in the fat body and hemolymph of -infected ticks. These results suggest that Vg uptake from the hemolymph to the ovary was suppressed in the presence of . Moreover, knockdown ticks had a lower detection rate of DNA in the ovary and a significant reduction of DNA in the hemolymph compared with control ticks. Taken together, our results suggest that accumulated HlVg-2 is associated with infection or transmission in the tick body. These findings, besides previous reports on VgR, provide important information to elucidate the transovarial transmission mechanisms of pathogens in tick vectors.
Topics: Animals; Babesia; DNA; Fat Body; Female; Hemolymph; Ixodidae; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 35800383
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.908142 -
Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part... Jan 2023Eusociality has been commonly observed in distinct animal lineages. The reproductive division of labor is a particular feature, achieved by the coordination between...
Eusociality has been commonly observed in distinct animal lineages. The reproductive division of labor is a particular feature, achieved by the coordination between fertile and sterile castes within the same nest. The sociogenomic approach in social hymenopteran insects indicates that vitellogenin (Vg) has undergone neo-functionalization in sterile castes. Here, to know whether Vgs have distinct roles in nonreproductive castes in termites, we investigated the unique characteristics of Vgs in the rhinotermitid termite Reticulitermes speratus. The four Vgs were identified from R. speratus (RsVg1-4), and RsVg3 sequences were newly identified using the RACE method. Molecular phylogenetic analysis supported the monophyly of the four termite Vgs. Moreover, the termites Vg1-3 and Vg4 were positioned in two different clades. The dN/dS ratios indicated that the branch leading to the common ancestor of termite Vg4 was under weak purifying selection. Expression analyses among castes (reproductives, workers, and soldiers) and females (nymphs, winged alates, and queens) showed that RsVg1-3 was highly expressed in fertile queens. In contrast, RsVg4 was highly expressed in workers and female nonreproductives (nymphs and winged adults). Localization of RsVg4 messenger RNA was confirmed in the fat body of worker heads and abdomens. These results suggest that Vg genes are functionalized after gene duplication during termite eusocial transition and that Vg4 is involved in nonreproductive roles in termites.
Topics: Female; Animals; Isoptera; Vitellogenins; Phylogeny; Nymph; Reproduction
PubMed: 35485990
DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23141 -
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination... Nov 2019Accumulation of nonylphenol (NP) in hepatopancreas, gonad, eyestalk, and muscle of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii following 72 h exposure to 100 µg/L NP,...
Accumulation of nonylphenol (NP) in hepatopancreas, gonad, eyestalk, and muscle of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii following 72 h exposure to 100 µg/L NP, and depuration of NP in these tissues at 0.5-192 h post exposure were examined. We also examined the expressions of vitellogenin (Vg) and vitellogenin receptor (VgR) of prawn following 0-20 days exposure to 0, 1, 10, and 100 µg/L NP. NP accumulation in hepatopancreas and gonad with high concentration, and low concentration in muscle, but depurated faster in eyestalk and muscle. The expressions of vitellogenin (Vg) and vitellogenin receptor (VgR) increased directly with dose and time. In conclusion, NP accumulated significantly in gonad together with high Vg and VgR expressions, and depurated slow in hepatopancreas and gonad when prawns were removed back to control water. The induction of Vg and VgR under NP exposure might be a stress response in M. rosenbergii.
Topics: Animals; Bioaccumulation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Egg Proteins; Fresh Water; Gene Expression; Gonads; Hepatopancreas; Metabolic Clearance Rate; Palaemonidae; Phenols; Receptors, Cell Surface; Vitellogenins; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 31531704
DOI: 10.1007/s00128-019-02714-x -
Royal Society Open Science Sep 2021A reduction in floral resource abundance and diversity is generally observed in agro-ecosystems, along with widespread exposure to pesticides. Therefore, a better...
A reduction in floral resource abundance and diversity is generally observed in agro-ecosystems, along with widespread exposure to pesticides. Therefore, a better understanding on how the availability and quality of pollen diets can modulate honeybee sensitivity to pesticides is required. For that purpose, we evaluated the toxicity of acute exposure and chronic exposures to field realistic and higher concentrations of azoxystrobin (fungicide) and sulfoxaflor (insecticide) in honeybees provided with pollen diets of differing qualities (named and pollens). We found that pollen intake reduced the toxicity of the acute doses of pesticides. Contrary to azoxystrobin, chronic exposures to sulfoxaflor increased by 1.5- to 12-fold bee mortality, which was reduced by pollen intake. Most importantly, the risk of death upon exposure to a high concentration of sulfoxaflor was significantly lower for the pollen diet when compared with the pollen diet. This reduced pesticide toxicity was associated with a higher gene expression of vitellogenin, a glycoprotein that promotes bee longevity, a faster sulfoxaflor metabolization and a lower concentration of the phytochemical -coumaric acid, known to upregulate detoxification enzymes. Thus, our study revealed that pollen quality can influence the ability of bees to metabolize pesticides and withstand their detrimental effects, providing another strong argument for the restoration of suitable foraging habitat.
PubMed: 34540259
DOI: 10.1098/rsos.210818 -
PLoS Biology May 2022Polyploid cells contain more than 2 copies of the genome and are found in many plant and animal tissues. Different types of polyploidy exist, in which the genome is...
Polyploid cells contain more than 2 copies of the genome and are found in many plant and animal tissues. Different types of polyploidy exist, in which the genome is confined to either 1 nucleus (mononucleation) or 2 or more nuclei (multinucleation). Despite the widespread occurrence of polyploidy, the functional significance of different types of polyploidy is largely unknown. Here, we assess the function of multinucleation in Caenorhabditis elegans intestinal cells through specific inhibition of binucleation without altering genome ploidy. Through single-worm RNA sequencing, we find that binucleation is important for tissue-specific gene expression, most prominently for genes that show a rapid up-regulation at the transition from larval development to adulthood. Regulated genes include vitellogenins, which encode yolk proteins that facilitate nutrient transport to the germline. We find that reduced expression of vitellogenins in mononucleated intestinal cells leads to progeny with developmental delays and reduced fitness. Together, our results show that binucleation facilitates rapid up-regulation of intestine-specific gene expression during development, independently of genome ploidy, underscoring the importance of spatial genome organization for polyploid cell function.
Topics: Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans; Cell Division; Cell Nucleus; Gene Expression; Polyploidy; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 35609035
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001597 -
Molecular Biology Reports Aug 2022Vitellogenin (Vtg) is the precursor of major yolk protein and plays a crucial role in the maturation of oocytes and the production of eggs in oviparous animals....
BACKGROUND
Vitellogenin (Vtg) is the precursor of major yolk protein and plays a crucial role in the maturation of oocytes and the production of eggs in oviparous animals. Vitellogenin receptor (VtgR) mediates the transport of Vtg explicitly to oocytes in the membrane. In a previous study, we found that miR-34 can regulate the expression of some eyestalk genes and affect reproduction in mud crab Scylla paramamosain, one of the most important economic crabs on the coasts of southern China.
METHODS AND RESULTS
In this study, firstly, we found that miR-34 can target at 3'-UTR of Vtg and VtgR genes by using bioinformatic tools and predicted miR-34 might depress the expression of Vtg and VtgR. Secondly, the relative luciferase activity of HEK293T cells co-transfected with miRNA mimic and pmir-RB-REPORTTM-Vtg/VtgR-3'UTR was significantly lower than those of cells co-transfected with mimic NC and pmir-RB-REPORTTM-Vtg/VtgR-3'UTR. Finally, in vivo experiments showed that agomiR-34 could repress the expression of Vtg and VtgR genes, while Antigomir-34 could promote the expression of these two genes.
CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm our hypothesis and previous published results that miR-34 may indirectly regulate ovarian development by binding to the 3'-UTR of Vtg and VtgR genes and inhibiting their expression.
Topics: 3' Untranslated Regions; Animals; Brachyura; Egg Proteins; HEK293 Cells; Humans; MicroRNAs; Receptors, Cell Surface; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 35715603
DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07530-x -
Insects May 2022() genes encode the major egg yolk protein precursor in arthropods. In this study, four were identified in (Coquillett). Sequence analysis showed that four had the...
() genes encode the major egg yolk protein precursor in arthropods. In this study, four were identified in (Coquillett). Sequence analysis showed that four had the conserved Vg domain. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that four were homologous to the Vgs of Tephritidae insects. The temporal and spatial expression patterns of were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and the four showed high expression levels in female adults, especially in the fat body. The expression of and was down-regulated by a low dosage (0.5 μg) of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), and , , and were up-regulated by a high dosage (1.0 and 2.0 μg) of 20E. The expression of and was up-regulated by 5 μg of juvenile hormone (JH), while all of the were down-regulated by a low and high dosage of JH. Expression of was down-regulated after 24 h of starvation and recovered to normal after nutritional supplementation. After micro-injection of the gene-specific double-stranded RNA, the ' expression was significantly suppressed, and ovarian development was delayed in females. The results indicate that RNA interference of reproduction-related genes is a potential pest control method that works by manipulating female fertility.
PubMed: 35621787
DOI: 10.3390/insects13050452 -
Poultry Science May 2022Dietary supplementation of green tea powder (GTP) changes egg quality of hens, however, whether these changes affect incubation is still unknown. This study was to...
Dietary supplementation of green tea powder (GTP) changes egg quality of hens, however, whether these changes affect incubation is still unknown. This study was to compare the proteomic difference of incubated eggs from hens with GTP supplemented or not. Huainan partridge chickens (1,080) at 35 wk of age were allocated into 2 groups, one group fed basal diet (CG) and one group fed basal diet plus 1% GTP (EG). After 4 wk feeding, artificially fertilized eggs were collected for yolk cholesterol determination and incubation. During incubation, 6 embryos from each group were randomly selected in each day for yolk protein extraction and quantification. Yolk cholesterol content was significantly lower, while the hatchability was significantly higher in EG than that of the CG group (P < 0.05). Yolk protein concentration at embryonic days (ED) of 0, 2, 6, and 13 showed significant changes and were selected for proteomic analysis by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Fifty-one differentially expressed (DE) protein spots were identified among different incubation stages between CG and EG group which were mainly classified into vitellogenin, immunoglobulin, and ovoinhibitor, and occupied 45.1, 23.5, and 15.7%, respectively, to the total DE proteins. Ovotransferrin, participated in extracellular sequestering of iron ion process, was significantly lower in EG group than that of the CG group (P < 0.05). Ig light chain precursor (Immunoglobulin) exhibited higher expression at ED6 in EG group as compared with that of the CG group, and was participated in immune response related processes. Ovoinhibitor, mainly involved in protease binding activity, showed lower abundance at ED13 in EG group as compared with that of the CG group. Vitellogenin-3, showed lower expression in EG group as compared with that of the CG group, was mainly participated in lipid transportation and localization according to GO enrichment. Chickens fed diet with GTP provided eggs more antioxidant ability that increased hatchability, indicated that GTP could be considered as additive in breeding layer.
Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Antioxidants; Chickens; Cholesterol; Diet; Egg Proteins; Egg Yolk; Female; Guanosine Triphosphate; Powders; Proteomics; Tea; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 35325830
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.101804 -
International Journal of Biological... 2019Hyperproteinemia is a severe metabolic disease characterized by abnormally elevated plasma protein concentrations (PPC). However, there is currently no reliable animal...
Hyperproteinemia is a severe metabolic disease characterized by abnormally elevated plasma protein concentrations (PPC). However, there is currently no reliable animal model for PPC, and the pathological mechanism of hyperproteinemia thus remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effects of hyperproteinemia on reproductive development in an invertebrate silkworm model with a controllable PPC and no primary disease effects. High PPC inhibited the synthesis of vitellogenin and 30K protein essential for female ovarian development in the fat body of metabolic tissues, and inhibited their transport through the hemolymph to the ovary. High PPC also induced programmed cell death in testis and ovary cells, slowed the development of germ cells, and significantly reduced the reproductive coefficient. Furthermore, the intensities and mechanisms of high-PPC-induced reproductive toxicity differed between sexes in this silkworm model.
Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Blood Proteins; Bombyx; Fat Body; Female; Hemolymph; Invertebrates; Male; Ovary; Reproduction; Testis; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 31592097
DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.33310