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Derelle R, Verdonck R, Jacob S, Huet M, Akerman I, Philippe H, Legrand D. The macronuclear genomic landscape within Tetrahymena thermophila. Microb Genom 2024; 10:001175. [PMID: 38206129 PMCID: PMC10868616 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The extent of intraspecific genomic variation is key to understanding species evolutionary history, including recent adaptive shifts. Intraspecific genomic variation remains poorly explored in eukaryotic micro-organisms, especially in the nuclear dimorphic ciliates, despite their fundamental role as laboratory model systems and their ecological importance in many ecosystems. We sequenced the macronuclear genome of 22 laboratory strains of the oligohymenophoran Tetrahymena thermophila, a model species in both cellular biology and evolutionary ecology. We explored polymorphisms at the junctions of programmed eliminated sequences, and reveal their utility to barcode very closely related cells. As for other species of the genus Tetrahymena, we confirm micronuclear centromeres as gene diversification centres in T. thermophila, but also reveal a two-speed evolution in these regions. In the rest of the genome, we highlight recent diversification of genes coding for extracellular proteins and cell adhesion. We discuss all these findings in relation to this ciliate's ecology and cellular characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Derelle
- Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UAR2029, CNRS, Moulis, France
- Present address: NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Respiratory Infections, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Rik Verdonck
- Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UAR2029, CNRS, Moulis, France
- Present address: Centre for Environmental Sciences, Environmental Biology, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Staffan Jacob
- Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UAR2029, CNRS, Moulis, France
| | - Michèle Huet
- Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UAR2029, CNRS, Moulis, France
| | - Ildem Akerman
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Hervé Philippe
- Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UAR2029, CNRS, Moulis, France
| | - Delphine Legrand
- Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UAR2029, CNRS, Moulis, France
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2
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Van Lommel J, Holtof M, Tilleman L, Cools D, Vansteenkiste S, Polgun D, Verdonck R, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Vanden Broeck J. Post-feeding transcriptomics reveals essential genes expressed in the midgut of the desert locust. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1232545. [PMID: 37692997 PMCID: PMC10484617 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1232545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The digestive tract constitutes an important interface between an animal's internal and external environment. In insects, available gut transcriptome studies are mostly exploratory or look at changes upon infection or upon exposure to xenobiotics, mainly performed in species belonging to holometabolan orders, such as Diptera, Lepidoptera or Coleoptera. By contrast, studies focusing on gene expression changes after food uptake and during digestion are underrepresented. We have therefore compared the gene expression profiles in the midgut of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, between three different time points after feeding, i.e., 24 h (no active digestion), 10 min (the initial stage of feeding), and 2 h (active food digestion). The observed gene expression profiles were consistent with the polyphagous herbivorous lifestyle of this hemimetabolan (orthopteran) species. Our study reveals the upregulation of 576 genes 2 h post-feeding. These are mostly predicted to be associated with digestive physiology, such as genes encoding putative digestive enzymes or nutrient transporters, as well as genes putatively involved in immunity or in xenobiotic metabolism. The 10 min time point represented an intermediate condition, suggesting that the S. gregaria midgut can react rapidly at the transcriptional level to the presence of food. Additionally, our study demonstrated the critical importance of two transcripts that exhibited a significant upregulation 2 h post-feeding: the vacuolar-type H(+)-ATPase and the sterol transporter Niemann-Pick 1b protein, which upon RNAi-induced knockdown resulted in a marked increase in mortality. Their vital role and accessibility via the midgut lumen may make the encoded proteins promising insecticidal target candidates, considering that the desert locust is infamous for its huge migrating swarms that can devastate the agricultural production in large areas of Northern Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. In conclusion, the transcriptome datasets presented here will provide a useful and promising resource for studying the midgut physiology of S. gregaria, a socio-economically important pest species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Van Lommel
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michiel Holtof
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Dorien Cools
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Seppe Vansteenkiste
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Daria Polgun
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Verdonck
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Environmental Biology, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Cayuela H, Jacob S, Schtickzelle N, Verdonck R, Philippe H, Laporte M, Huet M, Bernatchez L, Legrand D. Transgenerational plasticity of dispersal‐related traits in a ciliate: genotype‐dependency and fitness consequences. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Cayuela
- Dépt de Biologie, Inst. de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Univ. Laval, Pavillon Charles‐Eugène‐Marchand Québec QC Canada
- Dept of Ecology and Evolution, Univ. of Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Staffan Jacob
- Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station (UAR 2029), National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paul Sabatier Univ. (UPS) Moulis France
| | - Nicolas Schtickzelle
- Univ. Catholique de Louvain, Earth and Life Inst., Biodiversity Research Centre Louvain‐la‐Neuve Belgium
| | - Rik Verdonck
- Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station (UAR 2029), National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paul Sabatier Univ. (UPS) Moulis France
| | - Hervé Philippe
- Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station (UAR 2029), National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paul Sabatier Univ. (UPS) Moulis France
- Dépt de Biochimie, Centre Robert‐Cedergren, Univ. de Montréal Montréal QC Canada
| | - Martin Laporte
- Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parc (MFFP) du Québec Québec QC Canada
| | - Michèle Huet
- Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station (UAR 2029), National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paul Sabatier Univ. (UPS) Moulis France
| | - Louis Bernatchez
- Dépt de Biologie, Inst. de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Univ. Laval, Pavillon Charles‐Eugène‐Marchand Québec QC Canada
| | - Delphine Legrand
- Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station (UAR 2029), National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paul Sabatier Univ. (UPS) Moulis France
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4
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Ragionieri L, Verdonck R, Verlinden H, Marchal E, Vanden Broeck J, Predel R. Schistocerca neuropeptides - An update. J Insect Physiol 2022; 136:104326. [PMID: 34767790 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2021.104326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We compiled a comprehensive list of 67 precursor genes encoding neuropeptides and neuropeptide-like peptides using the Schistocerca gregaria genome and several transcriptome datasets. 11 of these 67 precursor genes have alternative transcripts, bringing the total number of S. gregaria precursors identified in this study to 81. Based on this precursor information, we used different mass spectrometry approaches to identify the putative mature, bioactive peptides processed in the nervous system of S. gregaria. The thereby generated dataset for S. gregaria confirms significant conservation of the entire neuropeptidergic gene set typical of insects and also contains precursors typical of Polyneoptera only. This is in striking contrast to the substantial losses of peptidergic systems in some holometabolous species. The neuropeptidome of S. gregaria, apart from species-specific sequences within the known range of variation, is quite similar to that of Locusta migratoria and even to that of less closely related Polyneoptera. With the S. gregaria peptidomics data presented here, we have thus generated a very useful source of information that could also be relevant for the study of other polyneopteran species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lapo Ragionieri
- University of Cologne, Department of Biology, Institute for Zoology, Zülpicher Str. 47b, 50674 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Rik Verdonck
- Division of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Centre for Environmental Sciences, Environmental Biology, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Heleen Verlinden
- Division of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elisabeth Marchal
- Division of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Division of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Reinhard Predel
- University of Cologne, Department of Biology, Institute for Zoology, Zülpicher Str. 47b, 50674 Cologne, Germany.
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5
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Verlinden H, Sterck L, Li J, Li Z, Yssel A, Gansemans Y, Verdonck R, Holtof M, Song H, Behmer ST, Sword GA, Matheson T, Ott SR, Deforce D, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Van de Peer Y, Vanden Broeck J. First draft genome assembly of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria. F1000Res 2020; 9:775. [PMID: 33163158 PMCID: PMC7607483 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.25148.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: At the time of publication, the most devastating desert locust crisis in decades is affecting East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and South-West Asia. The situation is extremely alarming in East Africa, where Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia face an unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods. Most of the time, however, locusts do not occur in swarms, but live as relatively harmless solitary insects. The phenotypically distinct solitarious and gregarious locust phases differ markedly in many aspects of behaviour, physiology and morphology, making them an excellent model to study how environmental factors shape behaviour and development. A better understanding of the extreme phenotypic plasticity in desert locusts will offer new, more environmentally sustainable ways of fighting devastating swarms. Methods: High molecular weight DNA derived from two adult males was used for Mate Pair and Paired End Illumina sequencing and PacBio sequencing. A reliable reference genome of Schistocerca gregaria was assembled using the ABySS pipeline, scaffolding was improved using LINKS. Results: In total, 1,316 Gb Illumina reads and 112 Gb PacBio reads were produced and assembled. The resulting draft genome consists of 8,817,834,205 bp organised in 955,015 scaffolds with an N50 of 157,705 bp, making the desert locust genome the largest insect genome sequenced and assembled to date. In total, 18,815 protein-encoding genes are predicted in the desert locust genome, of which 13,646 (72.53%) obtained at least one functional assignment based on similarity to known proteins. Conclusions: The desert locust genome data will contribute greatly to studies of phenotypic plasticity, physiology, neurobiology, molecular ecology, evolutionary genetics and comparative genomics, and will promote the desert locust's use as a model system. The data will also facilitate the development of novel, more sustainable strategies for preventing or combating swarms of these infamous insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen Verlinden
- Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Lieven Sterck
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Genomics, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.,Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent University - VIB, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
| | - Jia Li
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Genomics, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.,Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent University - VIB, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
| | - Zhen Li
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Genomics, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.,Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent University - VIB, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
| | - Anna Yssel
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Yannick Gansemans
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.,NXTGNT, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Rik Verdonck
- Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.,Station d' Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR 5321 CNRS et Université Paul Sabatier, Moulis, 09200, France
| | - Michiel Holtof
- Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Hojun Song
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, TX 77843-2475, USA
| | - Spencer T Behmer
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, TX 77843-2475, USA
| | - Gregory A Sword
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, TX 77843-2475, USA
| | - Tom Matheson
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Swidbert R Ott
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Dieter Deforce
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.,NXTGNT, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Filip Van Nieuwerburgh
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.,NXTGNT, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Yves Van de Peer
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Genomics, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.,Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent University - VIB, Ghent, 9052, Belgium.,Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
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6
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Verlinden H, Sterck L, Li J, Li Z, Yssel A, Gansemans Y, Verdonck R, Holtof M, Song H, Behmer ST, Sword GA, Matheson T, Ott SR, Deforce D, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Van de Peer Y, Vanden Broeck J. First draft genome assembly of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria. F1000Res 2020; 9:775. [PMID: 33163158 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.25148.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: At the time of publication, the most devastating desert locust crisis in decades is affecting East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and South-West Asia. The situation is extremely alarming in East Africa, where Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia face an unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods. Most of the time, however, locusts do not occur in swarms, but live as relatively harmless solitary insects. The phenotypically distinct solitarious and gregarious locust phases differ markedly in many aspects of behaviour, physiology and morphology, making them an excellent model to study how environmental factors shape behaviour and development. A better understanding of the extreme phenotypic plasticity in desert locusts will offer new, more environmentally sustainable ways of fighting devastating swarms. Methods: High molecular weight DNA derived from two adult males was used for Mate Pair and Paired End Illumina sequencing and PacBio sequencing. A reliable reference genome of Schistocerca gregaria was assembled using the ABySS pipeline, scaffolding was improved using LINKS. Results: In total, 1,316 Gb Illumina reads and 112 Gb PacBio reads were produced and assembled. The resulting draft genome consists of 8,817,834,205 bp organised in 955,015 scaffolds with an N50 of 157,705 bp, making the desert locust genome the largest insect genome sequenced and assembled to date. In total, 18,815 protein-encoding genes are predicted in the desert locust genome, of which 13,646 (72.53%) obtained at least one functional assignment based on similarity to known proteins. Conclusions: The desert locust genome data will contribute greatly to studies of phenotypic plasticity, physiology, neurobiology, molecular ecology, evolutionary genetics and comparative genomics, and will promote the desert locust's use as a model system. The data will also facilitate the development of novel, more sustainable strategies for preventing or combating swarms of these infamous insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen Verlinden
- Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Lieven Sterck
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Genomics, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.,Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent University - VIB, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
| | - Jia Li
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Genomics, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.,Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent University - VIB, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
| | - Zhen Li
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Genomics, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.,Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent University - VIB, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
| | - Anna Yssel
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Yannick Gansemans
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.,NXTGNT, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Rik Verdonck
- Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.,Station d' Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR 5321 CNRS et Université Paul Sabatier, Moulis, 09200, France
| | - Michiel Holtof
- Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Hojun Song
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, TX 77843-2475, USA
| | - Spencer T Behmer
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, TX 77843-2475, USA
| | - Gregory A Sword
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, TX 77843-2475, USA
| | - Tom Matheson
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Swidbert R Ott
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Dieter Deforce
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.,NXTGNT, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Filip Van Nieuwerburgh
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.,NXTGNT, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Yves Van de Peer
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Genomics, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.,Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent University - VIB, Ghent, 9052, Belgium.,Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
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7
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Lismont E, Verbakel L, Vogel E, Corbisier J, Degroot GN, Verdonck R, Verlinden H, Marchal E, Springael JY, Vanden Broeck J. Can BRET-based biosensors be used to characterize G-protein mediated signaling pathways of an insect GPCR, the Schistocerca gregaria CRF-related diuretic hormone receptor? Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 122:103392. [PMID: 32387240 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are membrane-bound receptors that are considered prime candidates for the development of novel insect pest management strategies. However, the molecular signaling properties of insect GPCRs remain poorly understood. In fact, most studies on insect GPCR signaling are limited to analysis of fluctuations in the secondary messenger molecules calcium (Ca2+) and/or cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). In the current study, we characterized a corticotropin-releasing factor-related diuretic hormone (CRF-DH) receptor of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria. This Schgr-CRF-DHR is mainly expressed in the nervous system and in brain-associated endocrine organs. The neuropeptide Schgr-CRF-DH induced Ca2+-dependent aequorin-based bioluminescent responses in CHO cells co-expressing this receptor with the promiscuous Gα16 protein. Furthermore, when co-expressed with the cAMP-dependent bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based CAMYEL biosensor in HEK293T cells, this receptor elicited dose-dependent agonist-induced responses with an EC50 in the nanomolar range (4.02 nM). In addition, we tested if vertebrate BRET-based G protein biosensors, can also be used to detect direct Gα protein subunit activation by an insect GPCR. Therefore, we analyzed ten different human BRET-based G protein biosensors, representing members of all four Gα protein subfamilies; Gαs, Gαi/o, Gαq/11 and Gα12/13. Our data demonstrate that stimulation of Schgr-CRF-DHR by Schgr-CRF-DH can dose-dependently activate Gαi/o and Gαs biosensors, while no significant effects were observed with the Gαq/11 and Gα12/13 biosensors. Our study paves the way for future biosensor-based studies to analyze the signaling properties of insect GPCRs in both fundamental science and applied research contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Els Lismont
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lina Verbakel
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Elise Vogel
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | - Rik Verdonck
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Heleen Verlinden
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elisabeth Marchal
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium; Imec, Kapeldreef 75, B-3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean-Yves Springael
- Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM) Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Campus Erasme, 808 Route de Lennik, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
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8
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Eloot S, D'Asseler Y, De Bondt P, Verdonck R. Combining SPECT Medical Imaging and Computational Fluid Dynamics for Analyzing Blood and Dialysate Flow in Hemodialyzers. Int J Artif Organs 2018; 28:739-49. [PMID: 16049908 DOI: 10.1177/039139880502800713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [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] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
For a better insight in dialyzer efficiency with respect to local mass transport in a low flux dialyzer (Fresenius F6HPS), blood and dialysate flow distributions were visualized with computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations, which were validated with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. To visualize blood-side flow while avoiding transport through the fiber membrane, a bolus of 99m-Technetium labeled MAA (Macro Aggregated Albumin) was injected in the flow using an electronic valve. Water was used to simulate blood, but flow rate was adjusted according to laws of dynamic similarity to account for the viscosity difference (factor 2.75). For the visualization of dialysate flow, a bolus of 99m-Technetium labeled DMSA (Dimercaptosuccinic Acid) was injected, while pressurized air in the blood compartment avoided transmembrane flow. For each test series, 3D acquisitions were made on a two respectively three-headed SPECT camera. By evaluating the images at different time steps, dynamic 3D intensity plots were obtained, which were further used to derive local flow velocities. Additionally, three-dimensional CFD models were developed for simulating the overall blood and dialysate flow, respectively. In both models, the whole fiber compartment was defined as a porous medium with overall axial and radial permeability derived theoretically and from in vitro tests. With the imaging as well as with the computational technique, a homogeneous blood flow distribution was found, while vortices and fluid stagnation were observed in the dialyzer inlet manifold. The non-homogeneous dialysate distribution, as found with SPECT imaging, implies the occurrence of non-efficient sites with respect to mass transfer. The discrepancy between the dialysate results of both techniques indicated that the assumption of a constant fiber bundle permeability in the CFD model was too optimistic. In conclusion, medical imaging techniques like SPECT are very helpful to validate CFD models, which can be further applied for dialyzer design and optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Eloot
- Hydraulics Laboratory, Institute for Biomedical Technology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
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9
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Abstract
In differential peptidomics, peptide profiles are compared between biological samples and the resulting expression levels are correlated to a phenotype of interest. This, in turn, allows us insight into how peptides may affect the phenotype of interest. In quantitative differential peptidomics, both label-based and label-free techniques are often employed. Label-based techniques have several advantages over label-free methods, primarily that labels allow for various samples to be pooled prior to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, reducing between-run variation. Here, we detail a method for performing quantitative peptidomics using stable amine-binding isotopic and isobaric tags.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt Boonen
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wouter De Haes
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Research Group of Molecular and Functional Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joris Van Houtven
- Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT), STADIUS Center for Dynamical Systems, Signal Processing and Data Analytics Department, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Verdonck
- Research Group of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Geert Baggerman
- Center for Proteomics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dirk Valkenborg
- Center for Proteomics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Liliane Schoofs
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Verdonck R, De Haes W, Cardoen D, Menschaert G, Huhn T, Landuyt B, Baggerman G, Boonen K, Wenseleers T, Schoofs L. Fast and Reliable Quantitative Peptidomics with labelpepmatch. J Proteome Res 2016; 15:1080-9. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b00845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Gerben Menschaert
- Research
Group of Bio-informatics and Computational Genomics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas Huhn
- Chemistry
Department, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | | | - Geert Baggerman
- CFP/CeProMa, Antwerp University, Antwerp, Belgium
- Applied Bio & Molecular Systems, Vito, Mol, Belgium
| | - Kurt Boonen
- Biology
Department, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Verlinden H, Vleugels R, Verdonck R, Urlacher E, Vanden Broeck J, Mercer A. Pharmacological and signalling properties of a D2-like dopamine receptor (Dop3) in Tribolium castaneum. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2015; 56:9-20. [PMID: 25449128 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2014] [Revised: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter in the central nervous system of vertebrates and invertebrates. Despite their evolutionary distance, striking parallels exist between deuterostomian and protostomian dopaminergic systems. In both, signalling is achieved via a complement of functionally distinct dopamine receptors. In this study, we investigated the sequence, pharmacology and tissue distribution of a D2-like dopamine receptor from the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (TricaDop3) and compared it with related G protein-coupled receptors in other invertebrate species. The TricaDop3 receptor-encoding cDNA shows considerable sequence similarity with members of the Dop3 receptor class. Real time qRT-PCR showed high expression in both the central brain and the optic lobes, consistent with the role of dopamine as neurotransmitter. Activation of TricaDop3 expressed in mammalian cells increased intracellular Ca(2+) signalling and decreased NKH-477 (a forskolin analogue)-stimulated cyclic AMP levels in a dose-dependent manner. We studied the pharmacological profile of the TricaDop3 receptor and demonstrated that the synthetic vertebrate dopamine receptor agonists, 2 - amino- 6,7 - dihydroxy - 1,2,3,4 - tetrahydronaphthalene hydrobromide (6,7-ADTN) and bromocriptine acted as agonists. Methysergide was the most potent of the antagonists tested and showed competitive inhibition in the presence of dopamine. This study offers important information on the Dop3 receptor from Tribolium castaneum that will facilitate functional analyses of dopamine receptors in insects and other invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen Verlinden
- Department of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - Rut Vleugels
- Department of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Verdonck
- Department of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elodie Urlacher
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Department of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alison Mercer
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Andersson O, Badisco L, Hansen AH, Hansen SH, Hellman K, Nielsen PA, Olsen LR, Verdonck R, Abbott NJ, Vanden Broeck J, Andersson G. Characterization of a novel brain barrier ex vivo insect-based P-glycoprotein screening model. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2014; 2:e00050. [PMID: 25505597 PMCID: PMC4186439 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 02/25/2014] [Revised: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In earlier studies insects were proposed as suitable models for vertebrate blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability prediction and useful in early drug discovery. Here we provide transcriptome and functional data demonstrating the presence of a P-glycoprotein (Pgp) efflux transporter in the brain barrier of the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria). In an in vivo study on the locust, we found an increased uptake of the two well-known Pgp substrates, rhodamine 123 and loperamide after co-administration with the Pgp inhibitors cyclosporine A or verapamil. Furthermore, ex vivo studies on isolated locust brains demonstrated differences in permeation of high and low permeability compounds. The vertebrate Pgp inhibitor verapamil did not affect the uptake of passively diffusing compounds but significantly increased the brain uptake of Pgp substrates in the ex vivo model. In addition, studies at 2°C and 30°C showed differences in brain uptake between Pgp-effluxed and passively diffusing compounds. The transcriptome data show a high degree of sequence identity of the locust Pgp transporter protein sequences to the human Pgp sequence (37%), as well as the presence of conserved domains. As in vertebrates, the locust brain–barrier function is morphologically confined to one specific cell layer and by using a whole-brain ex vivo drug exposure technique our locust model may retain the major cues that maintain and modulate the physiological function of the brain barrier. We show that the locust model has the potential to act as a robust and convenient model for assessing BBB permeability in early drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Andersson
- EntomoPharm, R&D Medicon Village, S-223 81, Lund, Sweden
| | - Liesbeth Badisco
- Department of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Steen Honoré Hansen
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karin Hellman
- EntomoPharm, R&D Medicon Village, S-223 81, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Line Rørbæk Olsen
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rik Verdonck
- Department of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Leuven, Belgium
| | - N Joan Abbott
- BBB Group, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London Franklin Wilkins Building, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Department of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Leuven, Belgium
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Wynant N, Santos D, Verdonck R, Spit J, Van Wielendaele P, Vanden Broeck J. Identification, functional characterization and phylogenetic analysis of double stranded RNA degrading enzymes present in the gut of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2014; 46:1-8. [PMID: 24418314 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2013.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Revised: 12/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/27/2013] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) has become a widely used reverse genetics tool in eukaryotes and holds great potential to contribute to the development of novel strategies for insect pest control. While previous studies clearly demonstrated that injection of dsRNA into the body cavity of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, is highly effective to induce gene silencing effects, we observed that the RNAi response is much less sensitive to orally delivered dsRNA. In line with this, we report on the presence of a potent dsRNA degrading activity in the midgut juice. Four different dsRNase sequences that belong to the DNA/RNA Non-specific Nuclease superfamily were retrieved from a transcriptome database of the desert locust. Surprisingly, we have found that, in the publicly available eukaryote nucleotide sequence databases, the presence of this group of enzymes is restricted to insects and crustaceans. Nonetheless, phylogenetic analyses predict a common origin of these enzymes with the Endonuclease G (EndoG) Non-specific Nucleases that display a widespread taxonomic distribution. Moreover, in contrast to the Sg-endoG transcript, the four Sg-dsRNase transcripts appear to be specifically expressed in the gut. Finally, by means of RNAi, we provide evidence for an important contribution of dsRNase2 to the dsRNA degrading activity that is present in the gut lumen of S. gregaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Wynant
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Dulce Santos
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Verdonck
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jornt Spit
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter Van Wielendaele
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
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14
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Dillen S, Verdonck R, Zels S, Van Wielendaele P, Vanden Broeck J. Identification of the short neuropeptide F precursor in the desert locust: evidence for an inhibitory role of sNPF in the control of feeding. Peptides 2014; 53:134-9. [PMID: 24128610 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2013.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2013] [Revised: 09/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Peptides of the short neuropeptide F (sNPF) family have been shown to modulate feeding behavior in a wide variety of insect species. While these peptides stimulate feeding and food-searching behavior in Drosophila melanogaster and Apis mellifera, an opposite effect has recently been demonstrated in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria. In this study, we elaborate on these observations with the identification of the nucleotide sequence encoding the Schgr-sNPF precursor and the study of its role in the regulation of locust feeding behavior. We confirm that both Schgr-sNPF-like peptides, previously identified in mass spectrometric studies, are genuine precursor-encoded peptides. RNA interference mediated silencing of the Schgr-sNPF precursor transcript generates novel evidence for an inhibitory role of Schgr-sNPF in the regulation of feeding in S. gregaria. Furthermore, we show that starvation reduces the Schgr-sNPF precursor transcript level in the optic lobes, the primary visual centers of the locust brain. Our data indicate that Schgr-sNPF exerts an inhibitory effect on food uptake in the desert locust, which contrasts with effects of sNPF reported for several other insect species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senne Dillen
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Verdonck
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sven Zels
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter Van Wielendaele
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Belgium.
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Boerjan B, Cardoen D, Verdonck R, Caers J, Schoofs L. Insect omics research coming of age1This review is part of a virtual symposium on recent advances in understanding a variety of complex regulatory processes in insect physiology and endocrinology, including development, metabolism, cold hardiness, food intake and digestion, and diuresis, through the use of omics technologies in the postgenomic era. CAN J ZOOL 2012. [DOI: 10.1139/z2012-010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
As more and more insect genomes are fully sequenced and annotated, omics technologies, including transcriptomic, proteomic, peptidomics, and metobolomic profiling, as well as bioinformatics, can be used to exploit this huge amount of sequence information for the study of different biological aspects of insect model organisms. Omics experiments are an elegant way to deliver candidate genes, the function of which can be further explored by genetic tools for functional inactivation or overexpression of the genes of interest. Such tools include mainly RNA interference and are currently being developed in diverse insect species. In this manuscript, we have reviewed how omics technologies were integrated and applied in insect biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Boerjan
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dries Cardoen
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Entomology, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Verdonck
- Research Group of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jelle Caers
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liliane Schoofs
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
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Abstract
Early excision of heterotopic ossification was performed in 8 patients at an average of 10.2 months after total hip arthroplasty. All patients received a single irradiation dose of 7Gy the day before the operation, followed by oral indomethacin (3x25mg/day) for six weeks. Continuous passive mobilization under epidural anesthesia was started immediately post-operatively. At an average follow-up of 2 years none of them had radiographic or clinical evidence of recurrence. Consequently we recommend resection as soon as there are severe clinical implications, even when bone scans indicate immaturity of the heterotopic ossification and provided that the resection is combined with proper non-surgical treatment consisting of irradiation and oral indomethacin and immediate extensive rehabilitation program. (Hip International 2002; 4: 383-7).
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Uyttendaele D, Van Dooren J, Verdonck R, Claessens H. [Blind nailing of diaphysial fractures of the tibia. Indications and follow-up]. Acta Orthop Belg 1977; 43:29-37. [PMID: 883494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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