-
International Journal of Environmental... May 2024Besides being vectors of the onchocerciasis parasite, blackflies are a source of nuisance in onchocerciasis-endemic communities. We investigated the experience of...
Community Perceptions of Blackfly Nuisance and Acceptability of the "Slash and Clear" Vector Control Approach in the Ntui Health District of Cameroon: A Qualitative Study.
Besides being vectors of the onchocerciasis parasite, blackflies are a source of nuisance in onchocerciasis-endemic communities. We investigated the experience of residents in the Ntui Health District (Cameroon) regarding blackfly nuisance and assessed their perceptions of a novel "Slash and Clear" (S&C) intervention for blackfly control. Focus group discussions were conducted before and after S&C implementation (respectively, in February 2022 and December 2023). Blackflies were known to emerge from the river areas and cause disease. To prevent blackfly bites, the population often covered their body with protective clothing and applied various substances (kerosene, oil, or lemon) to their skin. Post-intervention data showed reduced blackfly nuisance, and the willingness to sustain blackfly control in the long-term was unanimous among community leaders and members, including the village volunteers who implemented the S&C intervention. In conclusion, blackfly nuisance is evident in the Ntui onchocerciasis focus of Cameroon and led to a panoply of coping practices, some of which could be detrimental to their health. Implementing S&C for blackfly control is well accepted and could sustainably alleviate the nuisance caused by blackflies while simultaneously breaking the onchocerciasis transmission cycle.
Topics: Cameroon; Animals; Simuliidae; Humans; Onchocerciasis; Insect Control; Female; Male; Adult; Insect Vectors; Middle Aged; Focus Groups; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Young Adult; Insect Bites and Stings
PubMed: 38928904
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060658 -
Brain Sciences Jun 2024Neuropathic pain arises from injuries to the nervous system in diseases such as diabetes, infections, toxicity, and traumas. The underlying mechanism of neuropathic pain... (Review)
Review
Neuropathic pain arises from injuries to the nervous system in diseases such as diabetes, infections, toxicity, and traumas. The underlying mechanism of neuropathic pain involves peripheral and central pathological modifications. Peripheral mechanisms entail nerve damage, leading to neuronal hypersensitivity and ectopic action potentials. Central sensitization involves a neuropathological process with increased responsiveness of the nociceptive neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) to their normal or subthreshold input due to persistent stimuli, leading to sustained electrical discharge, synaptic plasticity, and aberrant processing in the CNS. Current treatments, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, aim to alleviate symptoms but often face challenges due to the complexity of neuropathic pain. Neuromodulation is emerging as an important therapeutic approach for the treatment of neuropathic pain in patients unresponsive to common therapies, by promoting the normalization of neuronal and/or glial activity and by targeting cerebral cortical regions, spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia, and nerve endings. Having a better understanding of the efficacy, adverse events and applicability of neuromodulation through pre-clinical studies is of great importance. Unveiling the mechanisms and characteristics of neuromodulation to manage neuropathic pain is essential to understand how to use it. In the present article, we review the current understanding supporting dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord neuromodulation as a therapeutic approach for neuropathic pain.
PubMed: 38928589
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14060589 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Varicose veins (VVs) are the most common manifestation of chronic venous disease (CVD) and appear as abnormally enlarged and tortuous superficial veins. VVs result from...
Varicose veins (VVs) are the most common manifestation of chronic venous disease (CVD) and appear as abnormally enlarged and tortuous superficial veins. VVs result from functional abnormalities in the venous circulation of the lower extremities, such as venous hypertension, venous valve incompetence, and venous reflux. Previous studies indicate that enhanced angiogenesis and inflammation contribute to the progression and onset of VVs; however, dysregulations in signaling pathways associated with these processes in VVs patients are poorly understood. Therefore, in our study, we aimed to identify key regulators of angiogenesis and inflammation that are dysregulated in patients with VVs. Expression levels of 18 genes were analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using real-time PCR, as well as plasma levels of 6 proteins were investigated using ELISA. Higher levels of , , , TGF-alpha, TGF-beta 1, and VEGF-A, as well as lower levels of and VEGF-C, were found to be statistically significant in the VV group compared to the control subjects without VVs. None of the analyzed factors was associated with the venous localization of the varicosities. The presented study identified dysregulations in key angiogenesis- and inflammation-related factors in PBMC and plasma from VVs patients, providing new insight into molecular mechanisms that could contribute to the development of VVs and point out promising candidates for circulatory biomarkers of this disease.
Topics: Humans; Varicose Veins; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Inflammation; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Adult; Aged; Gene Expression Regulation; Angiogenesis
PubMed: 38928491
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126785 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that significantly impacts quality of life by disrupting CD4 T cell immune homeostasis. The identification of a...
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that significantly impacts quality of life by disrupting CD4 T cell immune homeostasis. The identification of a low-side-effect drug for RA treatment is urgently needed. Our previous study suggests that paramyosin (-Pmy) has immunomodulatory effects, but its potential effect on CD4 T cell response in RA remains unclear. In this study, we used a murine model to investigate the role of r-Pmy in regulating CD4 T cell differentiation in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Additionally, we assessed the impact of r-Pmy on CD4 T cell differentiation towards the Th1 and Th17 phenotypes, which are associated with inflammatory responses in arthritis, using in vitro assays. The results demonstrated that r-Pmy administration reduced arthritis severity by inhibiting Th1 and Th17 response while enhancing Treg response. Prophylactic administration of -Pmy showed superior efficacy on CIA compared to therapeutic administration. Furthermore, in vitro assays demonstrated that r-Pmy could inhibit the differentiation of CD4 T cells into Th1 and Th17 while inducing the production of Tregs, suggesting a potential mechanism underlying its therapeutic effects. This study suggests that -Pmy may ameliorate CIA by restoring the immune balance of CD4 T cells and provides new insights into the mechanism through which helminth-derived proteins exert their effects on autoimmune diseases.
Topics: Animals; Trichinella spiralis; Arthritis, Experimental; Mice; Cell Differentiation; Tropomyosin; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Th17 Cells; Th1 Cells; Male; Helminth Proteins; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Disease Models, Animal; Mice, Inbred DBA
PubMed: 38928413
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126706 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases () play a variety of physiological roles, including pesticide resistance, plant allelochemical detoxification, and hormone metabolism... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases () play a variety of physiological roles, including pesticide resistance, plant allelochemical detoxification, and hormone metabolism catalysis. However, limited information is available on the classification and expression profiles of the gene family in aphid species. This is the first study to identify the cytochrome P450 gene family in 19 aphid species at the whole genome level. A total of 1100 genes were identified in 19 aphid species. Three hundred genes belonged to six cereal crop aphid species, which were further classified into four subfamilies according to the phylogenetic relationship. The conserved motifs, exon-intron structures, and genomic organization of the same subfamilies were similar. Predictions of subcellular localization revealed that the endoplasmic reticulum harbored the majority of CYP450 proteins. In and , the increase in the gene was primarily caused by segmental duplication events. However, only tandem duplication occurred in the gene family of , , and . Synteny analysis found three continuous colinear gene pairs among six cereal crop aphid species. Furthermore, we obtained the expression profiles of four cereal crop aphids, including , , and . Differential expression analysis provided growth stage specificity genes, tissue specificity genes, organ specificity genes and some detoxification metabolic genes among these four cereal crop aphids. Meanwhile, their expression patterns were showed. The related functions and pathways of were revealed by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Above all, we picked the differentially expressed genes from all of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). These differentially expressed genes provided some new potential candidates for aphid control and management. This work establishes the foundation for further investigations into the regulatory functions of the gene family in aphid species and beyond.
Topics: Aphids; Animals; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Phylogeny; Multigene Family; Edible Grain; Genome, Insect; Gene Expression Profiling; Synteny; Insect Proteins
PubMed: 38928374
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126668 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Unlike sedentary plant-parasitic nematodes, migratory plant endoparasitic nematodes (MPENs) are unable to establish permanent feeding sites, and all developmental stages... (Review)
Review
Unlike sedentary plant-parasitic nematodes, migratory plant endoparasitic nematodes (MPENs) are unable to establish permanent feeding sites, and all developmental stages (except eggs) can invade and feed on plant tissues and can be easily overlooked because of the unspecific symptoms. They cause numerous economic losses in agriculture, forestry, and horticulture. In order to understand the pathogenetic mechanism of MPENs, here we describe research on functions and host targets focused on currently identified effectors from six MPENs, namely , spp., , , , and . This information will provide valuable insights into understanding MPEN effectors and for future fostering advancements in plant protection.
Topics: Animals; Plant Diseases; Host-Parasite Interactions; Plants; Nematoda; Helminth Proteins
PubMed: 38928141
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126435 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Chloroquine (CQ) is a 4-aminoquinoline derivative largely employed in the management of malaria. CQ treatment exploits the drug's ability to cross the erythrocyte...
Chloroquine (CQ) is a 4-aminoquinoline derivative largely employed in the management of malaria. CQ treatment exploits the drug's ability to cross the erythrocyte membrane, inhibiting heme polymerase in malarial trophozoites. Accumulation of CQ prevents the conversion of heme to hemozoin, causing its toxic buildup, thus blocking the survival of Plasmodium parasites. Recently, it has been reported that CQ is able to exert antiviral properties, mainly against HIV and SARS-CoV-2. This renewed interest in CQ treatment has led to the development of new studies which aim to explore its side effects and long-term outcome. Our study focuses on the effects of CQ in non-parasitized red blood cells (RBCs), investigating hemoglobin (Hb) functionality, the anion exchanger 1 (AE1) or band 3 protein, caspase 3 and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B) activity, intra and extracellular ATP levels, and the oxidative state of RBCs. Interestingly, CQ influences the functionality of both Hb and AE1, the main RBC proteins, affecting the properties of Hb oxygen affinity by shifting the conformational structure of the molecule towards the R state. The influence of CQ on AE1 flux leads to a rate variation of anion exchange, which begins at a concentration of 2.5 μM and reaches its maximum effect at 20 µM. Moreover, a significant decrease in intra and extracellular ATP levels was observed in RBCs pre-treated with 10 µM CQ vs. erythrocytes under normal conditions. This effect is related to the PTP-1B activity which is reduced in RBCs incubated with CQ. Despite these metabolic alterations to RBCs caused by exposure to CQ, no signs of variations in oxidative state or caspase 3 activation were recorded. Our results highlight the antithetical effects of CQ on the functionality and metabolism of RBCs, and encourage the development of new research to better understand the multiple potentiality of the drug.
Topics: Erythrocytes; Humans; Chloroquine; Hemoglobins; Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte; Adenosine Triphosphate; Antimalarials; Caspase 3
PubMed: 38928131
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126424 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Parasites are very widely distributed in the environment and form complex relationships with their hosts, forming host-parasite systems [...].
Parasites are very widely distributed in the environment and form complex relationships with their hosts, forming host-parasite systems [...].
Topics: Humans; Parasitic Diseases; Animals; Host-Parasite Interactions; Parasites
PubMed: 38928081
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126373 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024In nature, plants have developed a series of resistance mechanisms to face various external stresses. As understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant...
In nature, plants have developed a series of resistance mechanisms to face various external stresses. As understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant resistance continues to deepen, exploring endogenous resistance in plants has become a hot topic in this field. Despite the multitude of studies on plant-induced resistance, how plants respond to stress under natural conditions remains relatively unclear. To address this gap, we investigated Chinese pine () using pine caterpillar () under natural conditions. Healthy Chinese pine trees, approximately 10 years old, were selected for studying induced resistance in Huangtuliangzi Forestry, Pingquan City, Chengde City, Hebei Province, China. Pine needles were collected at 2 h and 8 h after feeding stimulation (FS) via 10 pine caterpillars and leaf clipping control (LCC), to simulate mechanical damage caused by insect chewing for the quantification of plant hormones and transcriptome and metabolome assays. The results show that the different modes of treatments significantly influence the contents of JA and SA in time following treatment. Three types of differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were found to be involved in the initial response, namely phenolic acids, lipids, and flavonoids. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis indicated that 722 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are positively related to feeding stimulation and the specific enriched pathways are plant hormone signal transduction and flavonoid biosynthesis, among others. Two TIFY transcription factors ( and ) and a MYB transcription factor () were found to be involved in the interaction between plant hormones, mainly in the context of JA signal transduction and flavonoid biosynthesis. The results of this study provide an insight into how JA activates, serving as a reference for understanding the molecular mechanisms of resistance formation in conifers responding to mandibulate insects.
Topics: Pinus; Animals; Signal Transduction; Plant Growth Regulators; Flavonoids; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Larva; Transcriptome; Moths; Biosynthetic Pathways; Plant Leaves; East Asian People
PubMed: 38928063
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126354 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024The identification of novel drug targets in plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) is imperative due to the loss of traditional nematicides and a lack of replacements....
The identification of novel drug targets in plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) is imperative due to the loss of traditional nematicides and a lack of replacements. Chemosensation, which is pivotal for PPNs in locating host roots, has become a focus in nematode behavioral research. However, its underlying molecular basis is still indistinct in such a diverse group of PPNs. To characterize genes participating in chemosensation in the Javanese root-knot nematode , RNA-sequencing of the second-stage juveniles (J2s) treated with tomato root exudate (TRE) for 1 h and 6 h was performed. Genes related to chemosensation in . mainly responded to TRE treatment at 1 h. Moreover, a gene ontology (GO) analysis underscored the significance of the neuropeptide G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway. Consequently, the repertoire of putative neuropeptides in . , including FMRFamide-like peptides (FLPs), insulin-like peptides (ILPs), and neuropeptide-like peptides (NLPs), were outlined based on a homology analysis. The gene , harboring two neuropeptides, was significantly up-regulated at 1 h TRE treatment. Through peptide synthesis and J2 treatment, one of the two neuropeptides (MjFLP-14-2) was proven to influence the J2 chemotaxis towards tomato root tips. Overall, our study reinforces the potential of nematode neuropeptides as novel targets and tools for root-knot nematode control.
Topics: Animals; Tylenchoidea; Neuropeptides; Plant Roots; Solanum lycopersicum; Plant Diseases; Chemotaxis; Helminth Proteins
PubMed: 38928010
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126300