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Olafson PU, Aksoy S, Attardo GM, Buckmeier G, Chen X, Coates CJ, Davis M, Dykema J, Emrich SJ, Friedrich M, Holmes CJ, Ioannidis P, Jansen EN, Jennings EC, Lawson D, Martinson EO, Maslen GL, Meisel RP, Murphy TD, Nayduch D, Nelson DR, Oyen KJ, Raszick TJ, Ribeiro JMC, Robertson HM, Rosendale AJ, Sackton TB, Saelao P, Swiger SL, Sze SH, Tarone AM, Taylor DB, Warren WC, Waterhouse RM, Weirauch MT, Werren JH, Wilson RK, Zdobnov EM, Benoit JB. Publisher Correction: The genome of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, reveals potential mechanisms underlying reproduction, host interactions, and novel targets for pest control. BMC Biol 2021; 19:150. [PMID: 34325695 PMCID: PMC8320157 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01098-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pia U Olafson
- Livestock Arthropod Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Kerrville, TX, USA.
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Geoffrey M Attardo
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Greta Buckmeier
- Livestock Arthropod Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Kerrville, TX, USA
| | - Xiaoting Chen
- The Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Craig J Coates
- Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Megan Davis
- Livestock Arthropod Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Kerrville, TX, USA
| | - Justin Dykema
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Scott J Emrich
- Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Markus Friedrich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Christopher J Holmes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Panagiotis Ioannidis
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Evan N Jansen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Emily C Jennings
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Daniel Lawson
- The European Molecular Biology Laboratory, The European Bioinformatics Institute, The Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK
| | | | - Gareth L Maslen
- The European Molecular Biology Laboratory, The European Bioinformatics Institute, The Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Richard P Meisel
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Terence D Murphy
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Dana Nayduch
- Arthropod-borne Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - David R Nelson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kennan J Oyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Tyler J Raszick
- Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - José M C Ribeiro
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Hugh M Robertson
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | - Timothy B Sackton
- Informatics Group, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Perot Saelao
- Livestock Arthropod Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Kerrville, TX, USA
| | - Sonja L Swiger
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Stephenville, TX, USA
| | - Sing-Hoi Sze
- Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Aaron M Tarone
- Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - David B Taylor
- Agroecosystem Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Wesley C Warren
- University of Missouri, Bond Life Sciences Center, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Robert M Waterhouse
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - John H Werren
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Richard K Wilson
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Evgeny M Zdobnov
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Olafson PU, Aksoy S, Attardo GM, Buckmeier G, Chen X, Coates CJ, Davis M, Dykema J, Emrich SJ, Friedrich M, Holmes CJ, Ioannidis P, Jansen EN, Jennings EC, Lawson D, Martinson EO, Maslen GL, Meisel RP, Murphy TD, Nayduch D, Nelson DR, Oyen KJ, Raszick TJ, Ribeiro JMC, Robertson HM, Rosendale AJ, Sackton TB, Saelao P, Swiger SL, Sze SH, Tarone AM, Taylor DB, Warren WC, Waterhouse RM, Weirauch MT, Werren JH, Wilson RK, Zdobnov EM, Benoit JB. The genome of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, reveals potential mechanisms underlying reproduction, host interactions, and novel targets for pest control. BMC Biol 2021; 19:41. [PMID: 33750380 PMCID: PMC7944917 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-00975-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, is a major blood-feeding pest of livestock that has near worldwide distribution, causing an annual cost of over $2 billion for control and product loss in the USA alone. Control of these flies has been limited to increased sanitary management practices and insecticide application for suppressing larval stages. Few genetic and molecular resources are available to help in developing novel methods for controlling stable flies. Results This study examines stable fly biology by utilizing a combination of high-quality genome sequencing and RNA-Seq analyses targeting multiple developmental stages and tissues. In conjunction, 1600 genes were manually curated to characterize genetic features related to stable fly reproduction, vector host interactions, host-microbe dynamics, and putative targets for control. Most notable was characterization of genes associated with reproduction and identification of expanded gene families with functional associations to vision, chemosensation, immunity, and metabolic detoxification pathways. Conclusions The combined sequencing, assembly, and curation of the male stable fly genome followed by RNA-Seq and downstream analyses provide insights necessary to understand the biology of this important pest. These resources and new data will provide the groundwork for expanding the tools available to control stable fly infestations. The close relationship of Stomoxys to other blood-feeding (horn flies and Glossina) and non-blood-feeding flies (house flies, medflies, Drosophila) will facilitate understanding of the evolutionary processes associated with development of blood feeding among the Cyclorrhapha. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-00975-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia U Olafson
- Livestock Arthropod Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Kerrville, TX, USA.
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Geoffrey M Attardo
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Greta Buckmeier
- Livestock Arthropod Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Kerrville, TX, USA
| | - Xiaoting Chen
- The Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Craig J Coates
- Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Megan Davis
- Livestock Arthropod Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Kerrville, TX, USA
| | - Justin Dykema
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Scott J Emrich
- Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Markus Friedrich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Christopher J Holmes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Panagiotis Ioannidis
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Evan N Jansen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Emily C Jennings
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Daniel Lawson
- The European Molecular Biology Laboratory, The European Bioinformatics Institute, The Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK
| | | | - Gareth L Maslen
- The European Molecular Biology Laboratory, The European Bioinformatics Institute, The Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Richard P Meisel
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Terence D Murphy
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Dana Nayduch
- Arthropod-borne Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - David R Nelson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kennan J Oyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Tyler J Raszick
- Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - José M C Ribeiro
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Hugh M Robertson
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | - Timothy B Sackton
- Informatics Group, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Perot Saelao
- Livestock Arthropod Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Kerrville, TX, USA
| | - Sonja L Swiger
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Stephenville, TX, USA
| | - Sing-Hoi Sze
- Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Aaron M Tarone
- Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - David B Taylor
- Agroecosystem Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Wesley C Warren
- University of Missouri, Bond Life Sciences Center, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Robert M Waterhouse
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - John H Werren
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Richard K Wilson
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Evgeny M Zdobnov
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Bockoven AA, Coates CJ, Eubanks MD. Colony‐level behavioural variation correlates with differences in expression of the
foraging
gene in red imported fire ants. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:5953-5960. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Craig J. Coates
- Department of Entomology Texas A&M University College Station TX USA
| | - Micky D. Eubanks
- Department of Entomology Texas A&M University College Station TX USA
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4
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Abstract
Although many insects successfully live in dangerous environments exposed to diverse communities of microbes, they are often exploited and killed by specialist pathogens. Studies of host-pathogen interactions (HPI) provide valuable insights into the dynamics of the highly aggressive coevolutionary arms race between entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and their arthropod hosts. The host defenses are designed to exclude the pathogen or mitigate the damage inflicted while the pathogen responds with immune evasion and utilization of host resources. EPF neutralize their immediate surroundings on the insect integument and benefit from the physiochemical properties of the cuticle and its compounds that exclude competing microbes. EPF also exhibit adaptations aimed at minimizing trauma that can be deleterious to both host and pathogen (eg, melanization of hemolymph), form narrow penetration pegs that alleviate host dehydration and produce blastospores that lack immunogenic sugars/enzymes but facilitate rapid assimilation of hemolymph nutrients. In response, insects deploy an extensive armory of hemocytes and macromolecules, such as lectins and phenoloxidase, that repel, immobilize, and kill EPF. New evidence suggests that immune bioactives work synergistically (eg, lysozyme with antimicrobial peptides) to combat infections. Some proteins, including transferrin and apolipophorin III, also demonstrate multifunctional properties, participating in metabolism, homeostasis, and pathogen recognition. This review discusses the molecular intricacies of these HPI, highlighting the interplay between immunity, stress management, and metabolism. Increased knowledge in this area could enhance the efficacy of EPF, ensuring their future in integrated pest management programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- T M Butt
- Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - C J Coates
- Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom
| | | | - N A Ratcliffe
- Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom; Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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5
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Zhang X, Crippen TL, Coates CJ, Wood TK, Tomberlin JK. Effect of Quorum Sensing by Staphylococcus epidermidis on the Attraction Response of Female Adult Yellow Fever Mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti aegypti (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Culicidae), to a Blood-Feeding Source. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143950. [PMID: 26674802 PMCID: PMC4682952 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti, the principal vector of yellow fever and dengue fever, is responsible for more than 30,000 deaths annually. Compounds such as carbon dioxide, amino acids, fatty acids and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been widely studied for their role in attracting Ae. aegypti to hosts. Many VOCs from humans are produced by associated skin microbiota. Staphyloccocus epidermidis, although not the most abundant bacteria according to surveys of relative 16S ribosomal RNA abundance, commonly occurs on human skin. Bacteria demonstrate population level decision-making through quorum sensing. Many quorum sensing molecules, such as indole, volatilize and become part of the host odor plum. To date, no one has directly demonstrated the link between quorum sensing (i.e., decision-making) by bacteria associated with a host as a factor regulating arthropod vector attraction. This study examined this specific question with regards to S. epidermidis and Ae. aegypti. Pairwise tests were conducted to examine the response of female Ae. aegypti to combinations of tryptic soy broth (TSB) and S. epidermidis wildtype and agr- strains. The agr gene expresses an accessory gene regulator for quorum sensing; therefore, removing this gene inhibits quorum sensing of the bacteria. Differential attractiveness of mosquitoes to the wildtype and agr- strains was observed. Both wildtype and the agr- strain of S. epidermidis with TSB were marginally more attractive to Ae. aegypti than the TSB alone. Most interestingly, the blood-feeder treated with wildtype S. epidermidis/TSB attracted 74% of Ae. aegypti compared to the agr- strain of S. epidermidis/TSB (P ≤ 0.0001). This study is the first to suggest a role for interkingdom communication between host symbiotic bacteria and mosquitoes. This may have implications for mosquito decision-making with regards to host detection, location and acceptance. We speculate that mosquitoes "eavesdrop" on the chemical discussions occurring between host-associated microbes to determine suitability for blood feeding. We believe these data suggest that manipulating quorum sensing by bacteria could serve as a novel approach for reducing mosquito attraction to hosts, or possibly enhancing the trapping of adults at favored oviposition sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyang Zhang
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843, United States of America
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
| | - Tawni L. Crippen
- Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, College Station, Texas, 77843, United States of America
| | - Craig J. Coates
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843, United States of America
| | - Thomas K. Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States of America
| | - Jeffery K. Tomberlin
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843, United States of America
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6
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Abstract
Pesticides currently in widespread use often lack species specificity and also become less effective as resistance emerges. Consequently, there is a pressing need to develop novel agents that are narrowly targeted and safe to humans. A cell-based screening platform was designed to discover compounds that are lethal to mosquito (Anopheles and Aedes) cells but show little or no activity against other insect (Drosophila) or human cell lines. Mosquito-specific, aqueous-stable cytotoxins were recovered at rare frequencies. Three of these were profiled for structure-activity relationships and also assessed in whole-animal toxicity assays. In at least one test case, species-specific cytotoxicity seen in culture effectively translated to the whole-animal level, with potent toxicity against Anopheles yet none against Drosophila. Therefore, this initiative has the potential to advance novel mosquitocidal agents and, in a broader sense, could establish a versatile platform for developing customized pesticides that selectively target other disease vectors as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A O'Neal
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Cell Biology, Dallas, TX, USA
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7
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Owens JB, Urschitz J, Stoytchev I, Dang NC, Stoytcheva Z, Belcaid M, Maragathavally KJ, Coates CJ, Segal DJ, Moisyadi S. Chimeric piggyBac transposases for genomic targeting in human cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2012; 40:6978-91. [PMID: 22492708 PMCID: PMC3413120 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2012] [Revised: 03/23/2012] [Accepted: 03/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Integrating vectors such as viruses and transposons insert transgenes semi-randomly and can potentially disrupt or deregulate genes. For these techniques to be of therapeutic value, a method for controlling the precise location of insertion is required. The piggyBac (PB) transposase is an efficient gene transfer vector active in a variety of cell types and proven to be amenable to modification. Here we present the design and validation of chimeric PB proteins fused to the Gal4 DNA binding domain with the ability to target transgenes to pre-determined sites. Upstream activating sequence (UAS) Gal4 recognition sites harbored on recipient plasmids were preferentially targeted by the chimeric Gal4-PB transposase in human cells. To analyze the ability of these PB fusion proteins to target chromosomal locations, UAS sites were randomly integrated throughout the genome using the Sleeping Beauty transposon. Both N- and C-terminal Gal4-PB fusion proteins but not native PB were capable of targeting transposition nearby these introduced sites. A genome-wide integration analysis revealed the ability of our fusion constructs to bias 24% of integrations near endogenous Gal4 recognition sequences. This work provides a powerful approach to enhance the properties of the PB system for applications such as genetic engineering and gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse B. Owens
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Information and Computer Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, Entomology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 and Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Johann Urschitz
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Information and Computer Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, Entomology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 and Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Ilko Stoytchev
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Information and Computer Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, Entomology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 and Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Nong C. Dang
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Information and Computer Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, Entomology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 and Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Zoia Stoytcheva
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Information and Computer Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, Entomology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 and Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Mahdi Belcaid
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Information and Computer Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, Entomology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 and Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Kommineni J. Maragathavally
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Information and Computer Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, Entomology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 and Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Craig J. Coates
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Information and Computer Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, Entomology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 and Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - David J. Segal
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Information and Computer Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, Entomology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 and Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Stefan Moisyadi
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Information and Computer Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, Entomology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 and Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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8
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Ketchum HR, Teel PD, Coates CJ, Strey OF, Longnecker MT. Genetic variation in 12S and 16S mitochondrial rDNA genes of four geographically isolated populations of Gulf Coast ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). J Med Entomol 2009; 46:482-489. [PMID: 19496417 DOI: 10.1603/033.046.0311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis was examined in a 303-bp region of the 16S and 12S mitochondrial rDNA genes to study haplotype frequencies among populations of Gulf Coast ticks collected from Refugio Co., TX, Payne Co., OK, and two sites in Osage Co., KS. Seven haplotypes were identified from the 16S rDNA gene fragment, whereas only two haplotypes were detected from the 12S fragment. Only the results from the 16S rDNA fragment are discussed. Haplotype diversity was greatest in Kansas (site 1), where three of the four haplotypes detected were unique to this site. All Gulf Coast tick populations shared the fourth haplotype. Two haplotypes were determined for Texas and Oklahoma populations, one of which appeared only in Texas, whereas the other was shared. Nei's haplotype diversity (h) indicated that the Texas population was relatively homogeneous (15%), whereas the remaining populations were heterogeneous (42-59%), although the Bonferroni confidence interval found no significant differences (P < 0.05). Nucleotide sequencing of the seven haplotypes and subsequent phylogenetic analysis using neighbor joining showed a monophyletic relationship among these haplotypes. One haplotype, shared by both Oklahoma and Kansas (site 2), was basal to the remaining haplotypes and formed a distinct clade. Two haplotypes, both from Kansas (site 1), formed a unique clade, whereas the remaining four haplotypes were unresolved polytomies.
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Affiliation(s)
- H R Ketchum
- Texas A&M University, Department of Entomology, 412 Heep Center, TAMU 2475, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA.
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9
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Medina F, Li H, Vinson SB, Coates CJ. Genetic Transformation of Midgut Bacteria from the Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta). Curr Microbiol 2009; 58:478-82. [DOI: 10.1007/s00284-008-9350-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2008] [Accepted: 12/16/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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10
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Abstract
Insertional mutagenesis can be achieved by a variety of approaches, including both random and targeted methods. In contrast to chemical mutagenesis, insertional mutagens provide a molecular tag, thereby allowing rapid identification of the mutated genomic region. Integration into defined genomic locations has great utility for both gene insertion and mutagenesis. Our laboratories have explored targeted integration through the use of transposases coupled to defined DNA-binding domains. This technology holds great promise for targeted insertional mutagenesis by biasing integration events to regions recognized by the chosen DNA-binding domain. Herein, we provide a brief background on targeted transposon integration and detailed protocols for testing chimeric transposases in both mammalian cell culture and insect embryos.
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11
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Abstract
Transposons are mobile genetic elements that can be used to integrate transgenes into host cell genomes. The piggyBac transposon system has been used for transgenesis of insects and for germline mutagenesis in mice. We compared transposition activity of piggyBac with Sleeping Beauty (SB), a widely used transposon system for preclinical gene therapy studies. An engineered piggyBac transposon with minimal length 5' and 3' terminal repeats exhibited greater transposition activity in transfected cultured human cells than a well-characterized hyperactive SB system. PiggyBac excision was very precise as evidenced by the typical absence of "footprint" mutations at the site of transposon excision. We mapped 575 piggyBac integration sites in human cells to determine site selectivity of genomic integration. PiggyBac demonstrated non-random integration site selectivity that differed from that previously reported for SB, including a higher preference for integrations in regions surrounding transcriptional start sites and within long terminal repeat elements. Importantly, overproduction inhibition was not observed with piggyBac, a major limitation of the SB system. This permitted the generation of combination "helper-independent" piggyBac transposase-transposon vectors that exhibited a 2-fold increase of transposition activity in human cells as compared with cells transfected with separate transposon and transposase plasmids. We conclude that piggyBac is a transposon system with certain properties, including high efficiency and lack of overproduction inhibition that are advantageous in preclinical development of transposon-based gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew H Wilson
- 1Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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12
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Middleton FR, Boardman DR, Coates CJ. k-Wiring of supracondylar humeral fractures. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2007; 88:414. [PMID: 17393602 PMCID: PMC1964631 DOI: 10.1308/rcsann.2006.88.4.414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- F R Middleton
- Orthopaedic Department, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, Surrey.
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13
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Shinohara ET, Kaminski JM, Segal DJ, Pelczar P, Kolhe R, Ryan T, Coates CJ, Fraser MJ, Handler AM, Yanagimachi R, Moisyadi S. Active integration: new strategies for transgenesis. Transgenic Res 2007; 16:333-9. [PMID: 17340207 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-007-9077-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents novel methods for producing transgenic animals, with a further emphasis on how these techniques may someday be applied in gene therapy. There are several passive methods for transgenesis, such as pronuclear microinjection (PNI) and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection-Mediated Transgenesis (ICSI-Tr), which rely on the repair mechanisms of the host for transgene (tg) insertion. ICSI-Tr has been shown to be an effective means of creating transgenic animals with a transfection efficiency of approximately 45% of animals born. Furthermore, because this involves the injection of the transgene into the cytoplasm of oocytes during fertilization, limited mosaicism has traditionally occurred using this technique. Current active transgenesis techniques involve the use of viruses, such as disarmed retroviruses which can insert genes into the host genome. However, these methods are limited by the size of the sequence that can be inserted, high embryo mortality, and randomness of insertion. A novel active method has been developed which combines ICSI-Tr with recombinases or transposases to increase transfection efficiency. This technique has been termed "Active Transgenesis" to imply that the tg is inserted into the host genome by enzymes supplied into the oocyte during tg introduction. DNA based methods alleviate many of the costs and time associated with purifying enzyme. Further studies have shown that RNA can be used for the transposase source. Using RNA may prevent problems with continued transposase activity that can occur if a DNA transposase is integrated into the host genome. At present piggyBac is the most effective transposon for stable integration in mammalian systems and as further studies are done to elucidate modifications which improve piggyBac's specificity and efficacy, efficiency in creating transgenic animals should improve further. Subsequently, these methods may someday be used for gene therapy in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric T Shinohara
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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KOLHE RAVINDRA, Kaminski J, Ambati B, Singh N, Yanagimachi R, Barrett J, Pelczar P, Wu C, Meir Y, Coates CJ, Moisyadi S. PiggyBac Enhanced Transgenesis and Transfection. FASEB J 2007. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.lb86-b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- RAVINDRA KOLHE
- Medical College Georgia1410 laney walker blvd., CN‐3138AAugustaGA30912
| | - Joseph Kaminski
- Medical College Georgia1410 laney walker blvd., CN‐3138AAugustaGA30912
| | - Bala Ambati
- Medical College Georgia1410 laney walker blvd., CN‐3138AAugustaGA30912
| | - Nirbhai Singh
- Medical College Georgia1410 laney walker blvd., CN‐3138AAugustaGA30912
| | - Ryuzo Yanagimachi
- University of HawaiiJohn A. Burns School of MedicineEast‐West Road 1960HonoluluHI96822
| | - John Barrett
- Medical College Georgia1410 laney walker blvd., CN‐3138AAugustaGA30912
| | - Pawel Pelczar
- University of ZurichInst of Laboratory Animal SciencesZurichSwitzerland
| | - Chiung‐Yuan Wu
- Medical College Georgia1410 laney walker blvd., CN‐3138AAugustaGA30912
| | - Yaa‐Jyuhn Meir
- Medical College Georgia1410 laney walker blvd., CN‐3138AAugustaGA30912
| | - Craig J Coates
- Texas A&M UniversityDepartment of EntomologyCollege StationTX77843
| | - Stefan Moisyadi
- University of HawaiiJohn A. Burns School of MedicineEast‐West Road 1960HonoluluHI96822
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15
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KOLHE RAVINDRA, Kaminski J, Singh N, Yanagimachi R, Pelczar P, Wu C, Meir Y, Coates CJ, Moisyadi S, Ambati B. Extended‐release of Flt intraceptors in the cornea inhibit injury‐induced corneal angiogenesis. FASEB J 2007. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.lb86-c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- RAVINDRA KOLHE
- Medical College Georgia1410 laney walker blvd., CN‐3138AAugustaGA30912
| | - Joseph Kaminski
- Medical College Georgia1410 laney walker blvd., CN‐3138AAugustaGA30912
| | - Nirbhai Singh
- Medical College Georgia1410 laney walker blvd., CN‐3138AAugustaGA30912
| | | | - Pawel Pelczar
- University of ZurichInst. of Laboratory Animal SciencesZurichSwitzerland
| | - Chiung‐Yuan Wu
- Medical College Georgia1410 laney walker blvd., CN‐3138AAugustaGA30912
| | - Yaa‐Jyuhn Meir
- Medical College Georgia1410 laney walker blvd., CN‐3138AAugustaGA30912
| | - Craig J Coates
- Texas A&M UniversityDepartment of EntomologyCollege StationTX77843
| | | | - Bala Ambati
- Medical College Georgia1410 laney walker blvd., CN‐3138AAugustaGA30912
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16
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Wu SCY, Meir YJJ, Coates CJ, Handler AM, Pelczar P, Moisyadi S, Kaminski JM. piggyBac is a flexible and highly active transposon as compared to sleeping beauty, Tol2, and Mos1 in mammalian cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006; 103:15008-13. [PMID: 17005721 PMCID: PMC1622771 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0606979103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 255] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2006] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
A nonviral vector for highly efficient site-specific integration would be desirable for many applications in transgenesis, including gene therapy. In this study we directly compared the genomic integration efficiencies of piggyBac, hyperactive Sleeping Beauty (SB11), Tol2, and Mos1 in four mammalian cell lines. piggyBac demonstrated significantly higher transposition activity in all cell lines whereas Mos1 had no activity. Furthermore, piggyBac transposase coupled to the GAL4 DNA-binding domain retains transposition activity whereas similarly manipulated gene products of Tol2 and SB11 were inactive. The high transposition activity of piggyBac and the flexibility for molecular modification of its transposase suggest the possibility of using it routinely for mammalian transgenesis.
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17
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Abstract
Genetic transformation systems based on Mos1 and piggyBac transposable elements are used to achieve stable chromosomal integration. However, integration sites are randomly distributed in the genome and transgene expression can be influenced by position effects. We developed a novel technology that utilizes chimeric transposases to direct integration into specific sites on a target DNA molecule. The Gal4 DNA binding domain was fused to the NH(2) terminus of the Mos1 and piggyBac transposases and a target plasmid was created that contained upstream activating sequences (UAS), to which the Gal4 DBD binds with high affinity. The transpositional activity of the Gal4-Mos1 transposase was 12.7-fold higher compared to controls where the Gal4-UAS interaction was absent and 96% of the recovered transposition products were identical, with integration occurring at the same TA site. In a parallel experiment, a Gal4-piggyBac transposase resulted in an 11.6-fold increase in transpositional activity compared to controls, with 67% of the integrations occurring at a single TTAA site. This technology has the potential to minimize nonspecific integration events that may result in insertional mutagenesis and reduced fitness. Site-directed integration will be advantageous to the manipulation of genomes, study of gene function, and for the development of gene therapy techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Maragathavally
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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18
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Li H, Medina F, Vinson SB, Coates CJ. Isolation, characterization, and molecular identification of bacteria from the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) midgut. J Invertebr Pathol 2006; 89:203-9. [PMID: 16039667 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2005.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2004] [Revised: 05/09/2005] [Accepted: 05/22/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria were isolated and cultured from the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) midgut. The small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene, (16s rRNA gene, approximately 1500 bp) was amplified from bacterial genomic DNA using the polymerase chain reaction and consensus sequence primers. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed 10 unique profiles, indicating that at least 10 different bacteria are present in red imported fire ant midguts. The 16s rRNA gene sequence was determined for these isolates and queried against the NCBI genetic database. The results identified all isolates to at least the genus level. Antibiotic resistance profiles and biochemical activities were also determined for these species. This work provides the basis for a wider characterization of bacterial distributions in fire ant colonies and provides strains suitable for genetic manipulation to develop novel methods of fire ant control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiwen Li
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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19
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Kolb AF, Coates CJ, Kaminski JM, Summers JB, Miller AD, Segal DJ. Site-directed genome modification: nucleic acid and protein modules for targeted integration and gene correction. Trends Biotechnol 2005; 23:399-406. [PMID: 15982766 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2005.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2004] [Revised: 05/04/2005] [Accepted: 06/08/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
A variety of technological advances in recent years have made permanent genetic manipulation of an organism a technical possibility. As the details of natural biological processes for genome modification are elucidated, the enzymes catalyzing these events (transposases, recombinases, integrases and DNA repair enzymes) are being harnessed or modified for the purpose of intentional gene modification. Targeted integration and gene repair can be mediated by the DNA-targeting specificity inherent to a particular enzyme, or rely on user-designed specificities. Integration sites can be defined by using DNA base-pairing or protein-DNA interaction as a means of targeting. This review will describe recent progress in the development of 'user-targetable' systems, particularly highlighting the application of custom DNA-binding proteins or nucleic acid homology to confer specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas F Kolb
- Hannah Research Institute, Hannah Research Park, Ayr, UK, KA6 5HL
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20
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Pledger DW, Coates CJ. Mutant Mos1 mariner transposons are hyperactive in Aedes aegypti. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2005; 35:1199-207. [PMID: 16102425 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2005.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2005] [Revised: 05/23/2005] [Accepted: 06/10/2005] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The development of genetic strategies to control the spread of mosquito-borne diseases through the use of class II transposons has been hampered by suboptimal rates of transformation and the absence of post-integration mobility for all transposons evaluated to date. Two Mos1 mariner transposase mutants were produced by the site-directed mutagenesis of amino acids, E137 and E264, to K and R, respectively. The effects of these mutations on the transpositional activities of Mos1-derived transposon constructs were evaluated by interplasmid transposition assays in Escherichia coli and Aedes aegypti. The transpositional activities of two Mos1 transposons, one with imperfect wild type inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) and another that contained two perfectly matched 3' ITRs, were increased when the mutant transposases were supplied in trans in E. coli. The use of the perfect repeat transposon with wild type transposase did not result in an increase in transposition frequency in Ae. aegypti. However, an improvement in the integrity of the transposition process did occur, as evidenced by a lower rate of recombination events in which the transgene was transferred. An increase in the transpositional activity of the perfect repeat transposon was observed in the mosquito in the presence of either mutant transposase, and in the case of the E264R transposase, the observed increase in transposition frequency was also accompanied by a further improvement in the integrity of transposition. We discuss the possible contributions of these mutant residues to the transposition of the perfect repeat Mos1 transposon, the implications of these results with respect to the molecular evolution of Mos1, and the potential uses of the perfect repeat transposon and mutant transposases for the improvement of Mos1 mediated germ line transformation of Ae. aegypti.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Pledger
- Department of Biology (MSC-158), Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA
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21
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Coates CJ, Kaminski JM, Summers JB, Segal DJ, Miller AD, Kolb AF. Site-directed genome modification: derivatives of DNA-modifying enzymes as targeting tools. Trends Biotechnol 2005; 23:407-19. [PMID: 15993503 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2005.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2004] [Revised: 04/14/2005] [Accepted: 06/14/2005] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The modification of mammalian genomes is an important goal in gene therapy and animal transgenesis. To generate stable genetic and biochemical changes, the therapeutic genes or transgenes need to be incorporated into the host genome. Ideally, the integration of the foreign gene should occur at sites that ensure their continual expression in the absence of any unwanted side effects on cellular metabolism. In this article, we discuss the opportunities provided by natural DNA-modifying enzymes, such as transposases, recombinases and integrases, to mediate the stable integration of foreign genes into host genomes. In addition, we discuss the approaches that have been taken to improve the efficiency and to modify the site-specificity of these enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig J Coates
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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22
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Cônsoli FL, Tian HS, Vinson SB, Coates CJ. Differential gene expression during wing morph differentiation of the ectoparasitoid Melittobia digitata (Hym., Eulophidae). Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2005; 138:229-39. [PMID: 15275658 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2004.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2003] [Revised: 04/06/2004] [Accepted: 04/07/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Melittobia digitata is an ectoparasitoid of solitary bees and wasps that displays a trade-off between reproduction and dispersion through the development of two wing morphs (long and short wing morphs (LWM and SWM)). The morph differentiation of this species is an exceptional adaptation to maximize host exploitation and habitat colonization, and an understanding of the mechanisms underlying this developmental process will shed light on how nutrients or environmental elicitors alter regulatory pathways leading to physiological and metabolic changes resulting in such drastic developmental rearrangements. Here we describe the differential gene expression between SWM and LWM larvae of M. digitata in order to unravel the molecular mechanisms controlling the morph differentiation in this minute parasitoid and pinpoint the pathways involved in the regulation of this developmental process. The suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) methodology was used to isolate differentially expressed genes using mRNA populations collected soon after morph development commitment. Dot blot analysis of 384 clones from a forward SSH library identified approximately 200 differentially expressed clones, including those transcripts present in very low abundance. Further DNA sequence analysis of a sub-population of 42 clones revealed 31 putatively unique transcripts, from which 5 were further analyzed by Northern blot analysis and semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The complete cDNA of one of these transcripts, a putative metalloprotease, was fully sequenced and is described. The role of the putative differentially expressed genes during the wing morph differentiation of M. digitata is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- F L Cônsoli
- Department of Entomology, Entomology Research Lab, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA.
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23
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Gray CE, Coates CJ. Cloning and characterization of cDNAs encoding putative CTCFs in the mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae. BMC Mol Biol 2005; 6:16. [PMID: 15985163 PMCID: PMC1174870 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2199-6-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2005] [Accepted: 06/28/2005] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background One of the many ascribed functions of CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) in vertebrates is insulation of genes via enhancer-blocking. Insulation allows genes to be shielded from "cross-talk" with neighboring regulatory elements. As such, endogenous insulator sequences would be valuable elements to enable stable transgene expression. Recently, CTCF joined Su(Hw), Zw5, BEAF32 and GAGA factor as a protein associated with insulator activity in the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster. To date, no known insulators have been described in mosquitoes. Results We have identified and characterized putative CTCF homologs in the medically-important mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae. These genes encode polypeptides with eleven C2H2 zinc fingers that show significant similarity to those of vertebrate CTCFs, despite at least 500 million years of divergence. The mosquito CTCFs are constitutively expressed and are upregulated in early embryos and in the ovaries of blood-fed females. We have uncovered significant bioinformatics evidence that CTCF is widespread, at least among Drosophila species. Finally, we show that the An. gambiae CTCF binds two known insulator sequences. Conclusion Mosquito CTCFs are likely orthologous to the widely-characterized vertebrate CTCFs and potentially also serve an insulating function. As such, CTCF may provide a powerful tool for improving transgene expression in these mosquitoes through the identification of endogenous binding sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine E Gray
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, MS 2475, College Station, TX 77843-2475 USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, Texas A&M University, MS 2475, College Station, TX 77843-2475 USA
| | - Craig J Coates
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, MS 2475, College Station, TX 77843-2475 USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, Texas A&M University, MS 2475, College Station, TX 77843-2475 USA
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Adelman ZN, Jasinskiene N, Vally KJM, Peek C, Travanty EA, Olson KE, Brown SE, Stephens JL, Knudson DL, Coates CJ, James AA. Formation and loss of large, unstable tandem arrays of the piggyBac transposable element in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Transgenic Res 2005; 13:411-25. [PMID: 15587266 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-004-6067-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The Class II transposable element, piggyBac, was used to transform the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. In two transformed lines only 15-30% of progeny inherited the transgene, with these individuals displaying mosaic expression of the EGFP marker gene. Southern analyses, gene amplification of genomic DNA, and plasmid rescue experiments provided evidence that these lines contained a high copy number of piggyBac transformation constructs and that much of this DNA consisted of both donor and helper plasmids. A detailed analysis of one line showed that the majority of piggyBac sequences were unit-length donor or helper plasmids arranged in a large tandem array that could be lost en masse in a single generation. Despite the presence of a transposase source and many intact donor elements, no conservative (cut and paste) transposition of piggyBac was observed in these lines. These results reveal one possible outcome of uncontrolled and/or unexpected recombination in this mosquito, and support the conclusion that further investigation is necessary before transposable elements such as piggyBac can be used as genetic drive mechanisms to move pathogen-resistance genes into mosquito populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zach N Adelman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA
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25
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Mohammed A, Coates CJ. Promoter and piggyBac activities within embryos of the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella, Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Gene 2004; 342:293-301. [PMID: 15527988 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2004.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2004] [Revised: 07/26/2004] [Accepted: 08/12/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Potato production in tropical and subtropical countries suffers from damage caused by the potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella. The aim of this research was the development of the components required for a germline transformation system for the PTM. We tested three components that are critical to genetic transformation systems for insects: promoter activity, marker gene expression, and transposable element function. We compared the transcriptional activities of five different promoters, hsp70, hsp82, actin5C, polyubiquitin and immediate early 1 gene (ie1), within PTM embryos. The ie1 promoter, flanked by the hr5 enhancer element, showed a very high level of transcriptional activity compared to the other promoters. The fluorescence activity of EGFP was also determined and transient expression of EGFP was detected in 57% of injected embryos. The transpositional activity of the piggyBac transposable element was tested in an interplasmid transposition assay. The piggyBac element was shown to be mobile within the embryonic soma of the PTM with a transposition frequency of 4.2 x 10(-5) transpositions/donor plasmid. Incorporating a transactivator plasmid expressing the immediate early protein (IE1) from the Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus enhanced the efficiency of piggyBac mobility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Mohammed
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA
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26
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Chowdhury MH, Julian AM, Coates CJ, Coté GL. Detection of differences in oligonucleotide-influenced aggregation of colloidal gold nanoparticles using absorption spectroscopy. J Biomed Opt 2004; 9:1347-1357. [PMID: 15568957 DOI: 10.1117/1.1803847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
A rapid, simple, and reproducible assay is described that can be used to detect differences in the ability of oligonucleotides to influence the aggregation of colloidal gold nanoparticles. The aggregation reaction of the gold colloid was monitored through UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. Single isolated colloidal gold particles have a surface plasmon resonance manifested as a single absorbance peak at approximately 520 nm, and aggregated gold complexes develop new red-shifted peaks/shoulders depending on the nature and extent of the aggregated complex. A simple ratiometric study of the area under the single and aggregated plasmon resonance peaks thus gives information about the extent of the aggregation. It is postulated that differences in dynamic flexibility of the oligonucleotides affect their influence on the aggregation state of the gold nanoparticles. The results of this study provide new clues toward unraveling the causes behind the preferential affinity of the Hermes transposable element for certain insertion sites compared to other sequences that also contain recognizable target sites. The technique is robust and thus can potentially be used to study similar questions for numerous transposable elements and target sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa H Chowdhury
- Texas A&M University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 233 Zachry Engineering Center, College Station, Texas 77843-3120, USA.
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27
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Bradleigh Vinson S, Coates CJ. Differential gene expression between alate and dealate queens in the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2004; 34:937-949. [PMID: 15350613 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2004.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2004] [Accepted: 06/17/2004] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The transition of fire ant queens from alates to dealates, following a mating flight, is associated with numerous important physiological changes. A molecular analysis of gene expression differences that occur between alates and dealates was performed using the suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) method. 983 SSH clones were arrayed and screened by dot blot hybridization, followed by Northern blot analysis for selected clones. Gene expression profiles throughout fire ant development were determined using semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR). The cytochrome c oxidase subunit II and STARS (striated muscle activator of Rho signaling) transcripts were expressed at higher levels in dealates compared to alates and may be involved in the programmed cell death of the flight muscles. Three different vitellogenin genes and two unique yellow g-like genes were identified that may be closely associated with the reproductive system and/or nutrient transport. Two putative antibacterial peptides, abaecin and hymenoptaecin precursors, were highly expressed in dealate queens, suggesting that they are present as an immune system component during this important stage of fire ant development. The genes identified in this study may be utilized as novel targets for fire ant control and will also provide molecular markers for studies of other social insects.
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Gray CE, Coates CJ. High-level gene expression in Aedes albopictus cells using a baculovirus Hr3 enhancer and IE1 transactivator. BMC Mol Biol 2004; 5:8. [PMID: 15251037 PMCID: PMC487899 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2199-5-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2004] [Accepted: 07/13/2004] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes aegypti is the key vector of both the Yellow Fever and Dengue Fever viruses throughout many parts of the world. Low and variable transgene expression levels due to position effect and position effect variegation are problematic to efforts to create transgenic laboratory strains refractory to these viruses. Transformation efficiencies are also less than optimal, likely due to failure to detect expression from all integrated transgenes and potentially due to limited expression of the transposase required for transgene integration. RESULTS Expression plasmids utilizing three heterologous promoters and three heterologous enhancers, in all possible combinations, were tested. The Hr3/IE1 enhancer-transactivator in combination with each of the constitutive heterologous promoters tested increased reporter gene expression significantly in transiently transfected Aedes albopictus C7-10 cells. CONCLUSIONS The addition of the Hr3 enhancer to expression cassettes and concomitant expression of the IE1 transactivator gene product is a potential method for increasing the level of transgene expression in insect systems. This mechanism could also potentially be used to increase the level of transiently-expressed transposase in order to increase the number of integration events in transposon-mediated transformation experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine E Gray
- Department of Entomology, MS 2475, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475 USA
- Genetics Interdisciplinary Program, MS 2475, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475 USA
| | - Craig J Coates
- Department of Entomology, MS 2475, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475 USA
- Genetics Interdisciplinary Program, MS 2475, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475 USA
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Pledger DW, Fu YQ, Coates CJ. Analyses of cis -acting elements that affect the transposition of Mos1 mariner transposons in vivo. Mol Genet Genomics 2004; 272:67-75. [PMID: 15221453 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-004-1032-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2004] [Accepted: 06/02/2004] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The left (5') inverted terminal repeat (ITR) of the Mos1 mariner transposable element was altered by site-directed mutagenesis so that it exactly matched the nucleotide sequence of the right (3') ITR. The effects on the transposition frequency resulting from the use of two 3' ITRs, as well as those caused by the deletion of internal portions of the Mos1 element, were evaluated using plasmid-based transposition assays in Escherichia coli and Aedes aegypti. Donor constructs that utilized two 3' ITRs transposed with greater frequency in E. coli than did donor constructs with the wild-type ITR configuration. The lack of all but 10 bp of the internal sequence of Mos1 did not significantly affect the transposition frequency of a wild-type ITR donor. However, the lack of these internal sequences in a donor construct that utilized two 3' ITRs resulted in a further increase in transposition frequency. Conversely, the use of a donor construct with two 3' ITRs did not result in a significant increase in transposition in Ae. aegypti. Furthermore, deletion of a large portion of the internal Mos1 sequence resulted in the loss of transposition activity in the mosquito. The results of this study indicate the possible presence of a negative regulator of transposition located within the internal sequence, and suggest that the putative negative regulatory element may act to inhibit binding of the transposase to the left ITR. The results also indicate that host factors which are absent in E. coli, influence Mos1 transposition in Ae. aegypti.
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Affiliation(s)
- D W Pledger
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA
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Jasinskiene N, Coates CJ, Ashikyan A, James AA. High efficiency, site-specific excision of a marker gene by the phage P1 cre-loxP system in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Nucleic Acids Res 2003; 31:e147. [PMID: 14602940 PMCID: PMC275584 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gng148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2003] [Accepted: 10/01/2003] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The excision of specific DNA sequences from integrated transgenes in insects permits the dissection in situ of structural elements that may be important in controlling gene expression. Furthermore, manipulation of potential control elements in the context of a single integration site mitigates against insertion site influences of the surrounding genome. The cre-loxP site-specific recombination system has been used successfully to remove a marker gene from transgenic yellow fever mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti. A total of 33.3% of all fertile families resulting from excision protocols showed evidence of cre-loxP-mediated site-specific excision. Excision frequencies were as high as 99.4% within individual families. The cre recombinase was shown to precisely recognize loxP sites in the mosquito genome and catalyze excision. Similar experiments with the FLP/FRT site-specific recombination system failed to demonstrate excision of the marker gene from the mosquito chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nijole Jasinskiene
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, 3205 McGaugh Hall, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA
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O'Brochta DA, Sethuraman N, Wilson R, Hice RH, Pinkerton AC, Levesque CS, Bideshi DK, Jasinskiene N, Coates CJ, James AA, Lehane MJ, Atkinson PW. Gene vector and transposable element behavior in mosquitoes. J Exp Biol 2003; 206:3823-34. [PMID: 14506218 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.00638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYThe development of efficient germ-line transformation technologies for mosquitoes has increased the ability of entomologists to find, isolate and analyze genes. The utility of the currently available systems will be determined by a number of factors including the behavior of the gene vectors during the initial integration event and their behavior after chromosomal integration. Post-integration behavior will determine whether the transposable elements being employed currently as primary gene vectors will be useful as gene-tagging and enhancer-trapping agents. The post-integration behavior of existing insect vectors has not been extensively examined. Mos1 is useful as a primary germ-line transformation vector in insects but is inefficiently remobilized in Drosophila melanogaster and Aedes aegypti. Hermes transforms D. melanogaster efficiently and can be remobilized in this species. This element is also useful for creating transgenic A. aegypti, but its mode of integration in mosquitoes results in the insertion of flanking plasmid DNA. Hermes can be remobilized in the soma of A. aegypti and transposes using a common cut-and-paste mechanism; however, the element does not remobilize in the germ line. piggyBac can be used to create transgenic mosquitoes and occasionally integrates using a mechanism other than a simple cut-and-paste mechanism. Preliminary data suggest that remobilization is infrequent. Minos also functions in mosquitoes and, like the other gene vectors,appears to remobilize inefficiently following integration. These results have implications for future gene vector development efforts and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A O'Brochta
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, MD 20742-4450, USA.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND While public health leaders recommend screening for partner violence, the predictive value of this practice is unknown. The purpose of this study was to test the ability of a brief three-question violence screen to predict violence against women in the ensuing months. METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study of adult women participating in the Colorado Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a population-based, random-digit-dialing telephone survey. During 8 monthly cohorts, 695 women participated in the BRFSS; 409 women participated in follow-up telephone interviews approximately 4 months later. Violent events during the follow-up period, measured using a modified 28-item Conflict Tactics Scale, were compared between women who initially screened positive and those who screened negative. RESULTS Among BRFSS respondents, 8.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]=6.3%-10.5%) had an initial positive screen. During the follow-up period, women who screened positive were 46.5 times (5.4-405) more likely to experience severe physical violence, 11.7 times (5.0- 27.3) more likely to experience physical violence, 3.6 (2.4-5.2) times more likely to experience verbal aggression, and 2.5 times (1.2-5.1) more likely to experience sexual coercion. In a multivariate model, separation from one's spouse and a positive screen were significant independent predictors of physical violence. CONCLUSIONS A brief violence screen identifies a subset of women at high risk for verbal, physical, and sexual partner abuse over the following 4 months. Women with a positive screen who are separated from their spouse are at highest risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Koziol-McLain
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
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Coates CJ, Jasinskiene N, Morgan D, Tosi LR, Beverley SM, James AA. Purified mariner (Mos1) transposase catalyzes the integration of marked elements into the germ-line of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2000; 30:1003-1008. [PMID: 10989286 DOI: 10.1016/s0965-1748(00)00110-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Derivatives of the mariner transposable element, Mos1, from Drosophila mauritiana, can integrate into the germ-line of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Previously, the transposase required to mobilize Mos1 was provided in trans by a helper plasmid expressing the enzyme under the control of the D. psuedoobscura heat-shock protein 82 promoter. Here we tested whether purified recombinant Mos1 transposase could increase the recovery of Ae. aegypti transformants. Mos1 transposase was injected into white-eyed, kh(w)/kh(w), Ae. aegypti embryos with a Mos1 donor plasmid containing a copy of the wild-type allele of the D. melanogaster cinnabar gene. Transformed mosquitoes were recognized by partial restoration of eye color in the G(1) animals and confirmed by Southern analyses of genomic DNA. At Mos1 transposase concentrations approaching 100 nM, the rate of germ-line transformants arising from independent insertions in G(0) animals was elevated 2-fold compared to that seen in experiments with helper plasmids. Furthermore, the recovery of total G(1) transformants was increased 7.5-fold over the frequency seen with co-injected helper plasmid. Southern blot analyses and gene amplification experiments confirmed the integration of the transposons into the mosquito genome, although not all integrations were of the expected cut-and-paste type transposition. The increased frequency of germ-line integrations obtained with purified transposase will facilitate the generation of Mos1 transgenic mosquitoes and the application of transgenic approaches to the biology of this important vector of multiple pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Coates
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, CA 92697-3900, Irvine, USA
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Abstract
The Hermes transposable element is derived from the house fly, Musca domestica, and can incorporate into the germline of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Preliminary Southern analyses indicated that Hermes integrated along with the marker gene into the mosquito genomic DNA. Here we show that Hermes integrations are accompanied by the integration of the donor plasmid as well. In addition, breaks in the donor plasmid DNAs do not occur precisely, or at the end of the terminal inverted repeats, and are accompanied by small deletions in the plasmids. Furthermore, integrations do not cause the typical 8-bp duplications of the target site DNA. No integrations are observed in the absence of a source of Hermes transposase. The Hermes transposase clearly did not catalyse precise cut-and-paste transposition in these transformed lines. It may have integrated the transposon through general recombination or through a partial replicative transposition mechanism. The imprecision of Hermes integration may result from interactions of the transposase with an endogenous hAT-like element in the mosquito genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Jasinskiene
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA
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Johnson BW, Olson KE, Allen-Miura T, Rayms-Keller A, Carlson JO, Coates CJ, Jasinskiene N, James AA, Beaty BJ, Higgs S. Inhibition of luciferase expression in transgenic Aedes aegypti mosquitoes by Sindbis virus expression of antisense luciferase RNA. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1999; 96:13399-403. [PMID: 10557332 PMCID: PMC23959 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.23.13399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A rapid and reproducible method of inhibiting the expression of specific genes in mosquitoes should further our understanding of gene function and may lead to the identification of mosquito genes that determine vector competence or are involved in pathogen transmission. We hypothesized that the virus expression system based on the mosquito-borne Alphavirus, Sindbis (Togaviridae), may efficiently transcribe effector RNAs that inhibit expression of a targeted mosquito gene. To test this hypothesis, germ-line-transformed Aedes aegypti that express luciferase (LUC) from the mosquito Apyrase promoter were intrathoracically inoculated with a double subgenomic Sindbis (dsSIN) virus TE/3'2J/anti-luc (Anti-luc) that transcribes RNA complementary to the 5' end of the LUC mRNA. LUC activity was monitored in mosquitoes infected with either Anti-luc or control dsSIN viruses expressing unrelated antisense RNAs. Mosquitoes infected with Anti-luc virus exhibited 90% reduction in LUC compared with uninfected and control dsSIN-infected mosquitoes at 5 and 9 days postinoculation. We demonstrate that a gene expressed from the mosquito genome can be inhibited by using an antisense strategy. The dsSIN antisense RNA expression system is an important tool for studying gene function in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- B W Johnson
- Arthropod-Borne and Infectious Diseases Laboratory (AIDL), Department of Microbiology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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Pinkerton AC, Whyard S, Mende HA, Coates CJ, O'Brochta DA, Atkinson PW. The Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, contains multiple members of the hAT family of transposable elements. Insect Mol Biol 1999; 8:423-434. [PMID: 10620037 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2583.1999.00137.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Members of the hAT transposable element family are mobile in non-host insect species and have been used as transformation vectors in some of these species. We report that the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, contains at least two types of insect hAT elements called Homer and a Homer-like element (HLE). The Homer element is 3789 bp in size and contains 12-bp imperfect inverted terminal repeats. The Homer element contains a long open reading frame (ORF) that encodes a putative transposase. Three different copies of this long ORF were recovered from the B. tryoni genome and, upon transcription and translation in an in vitro system, all produced transposase. The HLE is an incomplete element since no 3' inverted terminal repeat (ITR) was found. Homer and the HLE are as related to one another as either is to the other insect hAT elements such as Hermes, hobo, hermit and hopper. The structure and distribution of these two Homer elements is described.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Pinkerton
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside 92521-0314, USA
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James AA, Beerntsen BT, Capurro MDL, Coates CJ, Coleman J, Jasinskiene N, Krettli AU. Controlling malaria transmission with genetically-engineered, Plasmodium-resistant mosquitoes: milestones in a model system. Parassitologia 1999; 41:461-71. [PMID: 10697903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
We are developing transgenic mosquitoes resistant to malaria parasites to test the hypothesis that genetically-engineered mosquitoes can be used to block the transmission of the parasites. We are developing and testing many of the necessary methodologies with the avian malaria parasite, Plasmodium gallinaceum, and its laboratory vector, Aedes aegypti, in anticipation of engaging the technical challenges presented by the malaria parasite, P. falciparum, and its major African vector, Anopheles gambiae. Transformation technology will be used to insert into the mosquito a synthetic gene for resistance to P. gallinaceum. The resistance gene will consist of a promoter of a mosquito gene controlling the expression of an effector protein that interferes with parasite development and/or infectivity. Mosquito genes whose promoter sequences are capable of sex- and tissue-specific expression of exogenous coding sequences have been identified, and stable transformation of the mosquito has been developed. We now are developing the expressed effector portion of the synthetic gene that will interfere with the transmission of the parasites. Mouse monoclonal antibodies that recognize the circumsporozoite protein of P. gallinaceum block sporozoite invasion of mosquito salivary glands, as well as abrogate the infectivity of sporozoites to a vertebrate host, the chicken, Gallus gallus, and block sporozoite invasion and development in susceptible cell lines in vitro. Using the genes encoding these antibodies, we propose to clone and express single-chain antibody constructs (scFv) that will serve as the effector portion of the gene that interferes with transmission of P. gallinaceum sporozoites.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A James
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine 92697-3900, USA.
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Coates CJ, Jasinskiene N, Pott GB, James AA. Promoter-directed expression of recombinant fire-fly luciferase in the salivary glands of Hermes-transformed Aedes aegypti. Gene 1999; 226:317-25. [PMID: 9931506 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1119(98)00557-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Molecular genetic analyses of biological properties characteristic of insect vectors of disease, such as hematophagy and competence for pathogens, require the ability to isolate and characterize genes involved in these processes. We have been working to develop molecular approaches for studying the promoter function of genes that are expressed specifically in the adult salivary glands of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Genomic DNA fragments containing cis-acting promoter elements from the Maltase-like I (MalI) and Apyrase (Apy) genes were cloned so as to direct the expression of the reporter gene, luciferase (luc). The function of the promoters was assayed transiently in cultured insect cells and by germ-line transformation of Ae. aegypti. MalI and Apy DNA fragments consisting of at least 650 nucleotides (nt) of DNA immediately adjacent to the 5'-end of the initiation codon of the mosquito genes directed constitutive expression of the luc reporter gene in cultured cells. When introduced into Ae. aegypti chromosomes, approximately 1.5 kilobases (kb) of each promoter were able to direct the predicted developmental-, sex- and tissue-specific expression of the reporter gene in patterns identical to those determined for the respective endogenous genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Coates
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA
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Coates CJ, Jasinskiene N, Miyashiro L, James AA. Mariner transposition and transformation of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998; 95:3748-51. [PMID: 9520438 PMCID: PMC19908 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.7.3748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 290] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The mariner transposable element is capable of interplasmid transposition in the embryonic soma of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. To determine if this demonstrated mobility could be utilized to genetically transform the mosquito, a modified mariner element marked with a wild-type allele of the Drosophila melanogaster cinnabar gene was microinjected into embryos of a kynurenine hydroxylase-deficient, white-eyed recipient strain. Three of 69 fertile male founders resulting from the microinjected embryos produced families with colored-eyed progeny individuals, a transformation rate of 4%. The transgene-mediated complementation of eye color was observed to segregate in a Mendelian manner, although one insertion segregates with the recessive allele (female-determining) of the sex-determining locus, and a separate insertion is homozygous lethal. Molecular analysis of selected transformed families demonstrated that a single complete copy of the construct had integrated independently in each case and that it had done so in a transposase-mediated manner. The availability of a mariner transformation system greatly enhances our ability to study and manipulate this important vector species.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Coates
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Bio Sci II, Room 3205, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA
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Jasinskiene N, Coates CJ, Benedict MQ, Cornel AJ, Rafferty CS, James AA, Collins FH. Stable transformation of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, with the Hermes element from the housefly. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998; 95:3743-7. [PMID: 9520437 PMCID: PMC19907 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.7.3743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 245] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the world's most important vector of yellow fever and dengue viruses. Work is currently in progress to control the transmission of these viruses by genetically altering the capacity of wild Ae. aegypti populations to support virus replication. The germ-line transformation system reported here constitutes a major advance toward the implementation of this control strategy. A modified Hermes transposon carrying a 4.7-kb fragment of genomic DNA that includes a wild-type allele of the Drosophila melanogaster cinnabar (cn) gene was used to transform a white-eyed recipient strain of Ae. aegypti. Microinjection of preblastoderm mosquito embryos with this construct resulted in 50% of the emergent G0 adults showing some color in their eyes. Three transformed families were recovered, each resulting from an independent insertion event of the cn+-carrying transposon. The cn+ gene functioned as a semidominant transgene and segregated in Mendelian ratios. Hermes shows great promise as a vector for efficient, heritable, and stable transformation of this important mosquito vector species.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Jasinskiene
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Bio Sci II, Room 3205, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA
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Coates CJ. The Caring Efficacy Scale: nurses' self-reports of caring in practice settings. Adv Pract Nurs Q 1998; 3:53-9. [PMID: 9485781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The Caring Efficacy Scale (CES) assesses belief in one's ability to express a caring orientation and to develop caring relationships with clients or patients. This article describes the development of this Likert-type self-report scale to assess nurses' caring efficacy. It also discusses a preliminary reliability and validity study assessing the caring efficacy of novice and experienced nurses from three nursing programs: baccalaureate, nursing doctorate, and master's. The CES was found to have high internal consistency, and it possessed significant positive relationships with a measure of clinical competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Coates
- School of Nursing, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, USA
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Abstract
We report the cloning and primary characterization of both cDNA and genomic fragments from the white gene of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Comparisons of the conceptual translation product with white genes from four other species within the order Diptera show that the Ae. aegypti gene is most similar to the white gene of the mosquito vector of human malaria, Anopheles gambiae (86% identity and 92% similarity). The analysis of the primary sequence of genomic DNA at the 5'-end of the coding region revealed the presence of an intron that is also present in An. gambiae, but not in the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster. The isolated clones of the Ae. aegypti white gene will enable the construction of a marker gene for use in the development of a germline transformation system for this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Coates
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine 92697-3900, USA
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Abstract
Because the University of Colorado (CU) School of Nursing Nursing Doctorate (ND) Program initiated an innovative nursing educational reform, emerging program evaluation challenges were addressed to ensure successful implementation and program quality. The study's purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of the ND professional clinical residency (fourth and final year) from the students' perspectives. Therefore, this evaluation was exploratory and inductive to focus on the primary questions: "How does one become an ND nurse during the residency?" (process) and "What is an ND nurse?" (outcome). Additionally, an explanation of how interactive processes affected residency experiences was addressed. The narrative inquiry framework made available a special access to the human experiences of time, order, and change during the residency process. Ten students in the first CU ND Program residency participated. Narrative data for qualitative analysis were obtained from students' monthly written vignettes and verbal sharing of their clinical experiences during conferences. Vignette formats directed students to describe significant residency experiences and share reflections on the events. One finding suggested that students' formative progression through the residency occurred in four phases similar to cognitive development theories. Additional findings confirmed students' growth toward and summative attainment of ND outcome behaviors, including holistic clinical proficiency, client advocacy, and promotion of professional growth for colleagues.
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Affiliation(s)
- S L Howell
- School of Nursing, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, USA
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Coates CJ, Turney CL, Frommer M, O'Brochta DA, Atkinson PW. Interplasmid transposition of the mariner transposable element in non-drosophilid insects. Mol Gen Genet 1997; 253:728-33. [PMID: 9079884 DOI: 10.1007/s004380050377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Plasmid-based transposition assays were performed in developing embryos of the Australian sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina and the Queensland fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni, using the mariner transposable element from Drosophila mauritiana. Transposition products were recovered that were identical in structure to those recovered from D. melanogaster. Only sequences delimited by the mariner terminal repeats were transposed and all insertions occurred at TA residues, and duplicated these. These are the hallmarks of mariner transpositions observed in the chromosomes of D. melanogaster and D. mauritiana, indicating that the plasmid-based assays are accurate indicators of mariner transposition activity. The recovery of precise transposition products from L. cuprina and B. tryoni demonstrates that mariner should be capable of producing germline transformants in these species. The results obtained from these assays suggests that they will be extremely useful in determining if mariner can transpose in other non-drosophilid insects and for investigating factors that might affect mariner transposition frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Coates
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Division of Entomology, Canberra, Australia
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Sarkar A, Coates CJ, Whyard S, Willhoeft U, Atkinson PW, O'Brochta DA. The Hermes element from Musca domestica can transpose in four families of cyclorrhaphan flies. Genetica 1997; 99:15-29. [PMID: 9226434 DOI: 10.1007/bf02259495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Transgenic insect technology will provide opportunities to explore the basic biology of a broad range of insect species in ways that will prove insightful and important. It is also a technology that will provide opportunities to manipulate the genotypes of insects of practical significance to the health and welfare of humans. The Hermes transposable element from the housefly, Musca domestica, is a short inverted repeat-type element related to hobo from Drosophila melanogaster, Ac from Zea mays, and Tam3 from Antirrhinum majus. It has potential to become a versatile and efficient broad host-range insect transformation vector. The ability of Hermes to transpose when introduced into five species of diptera from four divergent families was tested using an in vivo, interplasmid transpositional recombination assay. Hermes was capable of transposing in all species tested, demonstrating that Hermes has a broad host-range. In addition, the rates of transposition were sufficiently high in all species tested to suggest that Hermes will be an efficient gene transfer vector in a wide range of insect species. The Hermes element also revealed a pattern of integration into the target substrate that permitted factors determining integration site selection to be identified. Primary nucleotide sequence of the integration site played a role as did proximity to preferred integration sites and the nucleosomal organization of the target.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sarkar
- Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park 20742-4450, USA
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Coates CJ, Howells AJ, O'Brochta DA, Atkinson PW. The 5' regulatory region from the Drosophila pseudoobscura hsp82 gene results in a high level of reporter gene expression in Lucilia cuprina embryos. Gene X 1996; 175:199-201. [PMID: 8917099 DOI: 10.1016/0378-1119(96)00149-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously examined the efficiency of two Drosophila melanogaster promoters to enable reporter gene expression in embryos of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina. Both the hsp70 heat-shock promoter and the actin5C promoter resulted in low levels of expression of a reporter gene in these embryos. In this study, the D. pseudoobscura hsp82 promoter (phsp82) was tested for its ability to direct the expression of the Escherichia coli chloramphenicol acetyltransferase-encoding gene (cat). We report that the level of CAT activity in L. cuprina embryos was comparable to that obtained with the same construct in D. melanogaster, indicating that phsp82 functions efficiently in this non-drosophilid insect. The results suggest that phsp82 may be utilised in other non-drosophilid insects in which poor expression levels are obtained from constructs containing the hsp70 or actin5C promoters.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Coates
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, Australia
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49
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Abstract
A genetic marker for identifying transgenic Musca domestica by changes in eye color is described. The Drosophila melanogaster tryptophan oxygenase gene, vermilion (v), was tested for its ability to genetically complement the mutant tryptophan oxygenase gene in houseflies homozygous for green (ge). The v cDNA, placed under the control of the hsp82 promoter of D. pseudoobscura was transiently expressed in M. domestica embryos homozygous for the tryptophan oxygenase gene, ge, resulting in the rescue of adult eye color. The use of a gene from D. melanogaster to complement an eye color mutant in Musca provides the opportunity to develop a gene vector system for M. domestica and a select group of other non-drosophilid insects in which homologous mutations exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- L D White
- Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park 20742-3351, USA
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Coates CJ, Johnson KN, Perkins HD, Howells AJ, O'Brochta DA, Atkinson PW. The hermit transposable element of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, belongs to the hAT family of transposable elements. Genetica 1996; 97:23-31. [PMID: 8851880 DOI: 10.1007/bf00132577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
We report the cloning of hermit, a member of the hAT family of transposable elements from the genome of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina. Hermit is 2716 bp long and is 49% homologous to the autonomous hobo element, HFL1, at the nucleic acid level. Hermit has 15 bp terminal inverted repeats that share 10 bp with the terminal inverted repeats of HFL1. Conceptual translation reveals a 583 residue open reading frame (ORF) that is 64% similar and 42% identical to the HFL1 ORF. However, the sequence of the hermit element contains two frameshifts within the putative ORF, indication that hermit is an inactive element. Analysis of L. cuprina strains from within and outside Australia suggested that hermit is present as a single copy in all the genomes analysed.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Coates
- Division of Entomology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, Australia
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