Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gleidson Silva-Oliveira, Iron F. De Paula, Jorge M. Medina, Michele Alves-Bezerra, Katia C. Gondim
Summary: Rhodnius prolixus, a vector of Chagas disease, relies on insulin receptor for regulating nutrient metabolism and egg production after a blood meal. Knockdown of RhoprIR leads to increased longevity, reduced lipid storage, smaller ovaries, decreased oviposition, and alterations in gene expression related to lipid metabolism. These findings highlight the critical role of insulin receptor in nutrient homeostasis and reproduction in blood-fed adult females.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY OF LIPIDS
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Daiene Lopes Moreira Nunes, Maria Fernanda Carvalho-Araujo, Suellen Silva-Cabral, Thamara Rios, Alessandra Catarina Chagas-Lima, Gessica de Sousa, Isabela Ramos, Suzete A. O. Gomes, Georgia C. Atella
Summary: This study investigated the impact of T. rangeli infection on lipid metabolism in R. prolixus. The results showed that infected insects had decreased levels of TAG, MAG, PE, and PC in the fat body, as well as increased levels of free fatty acids in the hemolymph. Additionally, the size of lipid droplets in infected fat bodies decreased, and a significant number of parasites were found adhered to the organ surface. The transcript levels of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase gene were upregulated, while the lipophorin receptor gene was downregulated in response to infection.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fernanda Almeida-Oliveira, Samara Santos-Araujo, Luiz Fernando Carvalho-Kelly, Alessa Macedo-Silva, Jose Roberto Meyer-Fernandes, Katia C. Gondim, David Majerowicz
Summary: ATP synthase plays an important role in mitochondrial metabolism, but recent research suggests it may also be involved in lipophorin binding and lipid metabolism. This study used a functional genetics approach to explore the roles of ATP synthase in lipid metabolism in the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus. The results showed that knockdown of ATP synthase subunits impaired ovarian development, reduced egg-laying, and increased triacylglycerol accumulation in the fat body, suggesting a direct role of ATP synthase in lipid metabolism and lipophorin physiology.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Agustina Pascual, Rolando Rivera-Pomar
Summary: The study analyzes the maternal gene expression in R. prolixus during oogenesis and early embryogenesis and proposes three times of action for maternal genes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Areej N. Al-Dailami, Ian Orchard, Angela B. Lange
Summary: Within the blood-gorging insect Rhodnius prolixus, corticotropin-releasing factor/diuretic hormones (CRF/DHs) modulate feeding, diuresis, and reproduction. This study explores the role of Rhopr-CRF/DH in female reproduction and reveals its co-localization with the glycoprotein hormone GPB5. Knockdown of Rhopr-CRF/DH-R2, the receptor for Rhopr-CRF/DH, accelerates egg production and alters the expression of vitellogenin and its receptor, suggesting the involvement of the CRF-signaling pathway in reproduction.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jimena Leyria, Alessandra A. Guarneri, Marcelo G. Lorenzo, Marcela Nouzova, Fernando G. Noriega, Samiha A. M. Benrabaa, Francisco Fernandez-Lima, Lilian Valadares Tose, Ian Orchard, Angela B. Lange, Paul O. Mireji
Summary: The study demonstrates the significant impact of mating on the egg development and egg laying rates in Rhodnius prolixus females. Mated females have increased egg production capacity and lay eggs earlier after a blood meal compared to virgins. However, virgin females have a higher survival rate than mated females. Mating also influences the locomotory activity of females. These findings provide potential targets for developing novel strategies to control R. prolixus populations.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Petter F. Entringer, David Majerowicz, Katia C. Gondim
Summary: Insects, such as the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus, rely on dietary cholesterol for cell membrane composition and hormone production. This study found that both the anterior and posterior midguts of R. prolixus can absorb cholesterol from ingested blood, with the anterior midgut absorbing more. Additionally, the fat body and ovaries of the insects also incorporate and store cholesterol, with active cholesterol transport being indicated at low temperatures.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Bruno Moraes, Valdir Braz, Samara Santos-Araujo, Isadora A. Oliveira, Larissa Bomfim, Isabela Ramos, Katia C. Gondim
Summary: The study demonstrates the significance of de novo fatty acid synthesis in the metabolism of Rhodnius prolixus insects. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) plays a central role in digestion, lipid synthesis and storage, as well as reproductive success in these insects.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vitor Lima Coelho, Tarcisio Fontenele de Brito, Ingrid Alexandre de Abreu Brito, Maira Arruda Cardoso, Mateus Antonio Berni, Helena Maria Marcolla Araujo, Michael Sammeth, Attilio Pane
Summary: This study presents the stage-specific transcriptomes of Rhodnius prolixus during oogenesis, significantly improving the genome annotations for over 9000 genes and discovering more than 2000 novel genes. The data reveals key genes involved in germline development, genome integrity, and early embryonic development, shedding new light on the biological processes in this medically relevant insect.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fabian O. Ramos, Jimena Leyria, Marcela Nouzova, Leonardo L. Fruttero, Fernando G. Noriega, Lilian E. Canavoso
Summary: The study demonstrates the critical role of JH signaling in lipid storage in oocytes, by regulating the expression of Vg and Lp genes in the fat body and by modulating the expression of LpR and VgR genes in ovaries.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Pilar Ameijeiras, Natalia Capriotti, Sheila Ons, Pedro L. Oliveira, Marcos Sterkel
Summary: Blood-feeding in triatomines influences various physiological processes, and different feeding habits shape gene functions accordingly. The regulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level is crucial in the gut of triatomines. Through RNA interference, the importance of eIF3m in Rhodnius prolixus physiology was evaluated.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Laure-Alix Clerbaux, Hayley Schultz, Samara Roman-Holba, Dan Fu Ruan, Ronald Yu, Abigail M. Lamb, Guido T. Bommer, Jennifer A. Kennell
Summary: Our study reveals that loss of miR-33 in flies leads to elevated TAG levels and identified genes involved in TAG synthesis as direct targets of miR-33. Mutants of miR-33 showed increased survival upon starvation but greater sensitivity to oxidative stress. Furthermore, miR-33 is a negative regulator of cuticle pigmentation and its deficiency leads to a reduction in interfollicular stalk cells during oogenesis.
DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Maria Giovanna Riparbelli, Veronica Persico, Giuliano Callaini
Summary: During early oogenesis in Drosophila, there are specific spatial interactions between somatic and germ cells, indicating inherent asymmetry between the anterior and posterior regions of the egg chambers. The oocyte is located at the posterior end, giving the egg chamber distinct asymmetry.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
P. V. P. Nascimento, F. Almeida-Oliveira, A. Macedo-Silva, P. Ausina, C. Motinha, M. Sola-Penna, D. Majerowicz
Summary: 20-hydroxyecdysone plays a crucial role in regulating moulting and metamorphosis in insects, as well as in influencing the physiological regulation and lipid metabolism of adult insects. The genome of Rhodnius prolixus reveals a potential duplication of the HNF4 gene. Treatment with 20-hydroxyecdysone increases the storage of triacylglycerol in the fat bodies of adult female insects.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
T. Atella, P. R. Bittencourt-Cunha, M. F. C. Araujo, L. Silva-Cardoso, C. M. Maya-Monteiro, G. C. Atella
Summary: This study investigates the interaction between the Chagas disease parasite and its insect vector, revealing that the parasite modifies the lipid flux and metabolism of its host through increased lipid delivery from the fat body to the midgut.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Felipe B. Saraiva, Michele Alves-Bezerra, David Majerowicz, Lisvane Paes-Vieira, Valdir Braz, Muriel G. M. D. Almeida, Jose Roberto Meyer-Fernandes, Katia C. Gondim
Summary: In this study, the regulation of R. prolixus ACC expression and de novo lipogenesis activity in adult females under different nutritional and metabolic conditions was investigated. The blood meal induces the utilization of diet-derived amino acids by de novo lipogenesis in the fat body, and the control of this activity does not occur at the RhoprACC gene or protein expression level. These results provide insights into the synthesis and regulation of lipids in insects, particularly in the context of blood feeding and metabolic changes.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
P. V. P. Nascimento, F. Almeida-Oliveira, A. Macedo-Silva, P. Ausina, C. Motinha, M. Sola-Penna, D. Majerowicz
Summary: 20-hydroxyecdysone plays a crucial role in regulating moulting and metamorphosis in insects, as well as in influencing the physiological regulation and lipid metabolism of adult insects. The genome of Rhodnius prolixus reveals a potential duplication of the HNF4 gene. Treatment with 20-hydroxyecdysone increases the storage of triacylglycerol in the fat bodies of adult female insects.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fernanda Almeida-Oliveira, Bryon F. Tuthill, Katia C. Gondim, David Majerowicz, Laura Palanker Musselman
Summary: The study demonstrates the important role of HNF4 in regulating lipid metabolism and ovarian development in fruit flies. Overexpression of dHNF4 in the fat body or ovary can lead to phenotypic effects on oogenesis.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Petter F. Entringer, David Majerowicz, Katia C. Gondim
Summary: Insects, such as the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus, rely on dietary cholesterol for cell membrane composition and hormone production. This study found that both the anterior and posterior midguts of R. prolixus can absorb cholesterol from ingested blood, with the anterior midgut absorbing more. Additionally, the fat body and ovaries of the insects also incorporate and store cholesterol, with active cholesterol transport being indicated at low temperatures.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jairo R. Temerozo, Natalia Fintelman-Rodrigues, Monique Cristina dos Santos, Eugenio D. Hottz, Carolina Q. Sacramento, Aline de Paula Dias da Silva, Samuel Coelho Mandacaru, Emilly Caroline dos Santos Moraes, Monique R. O. Trugilho, Joao S. M. Gesto, Marcelo Alves Ferreira, Felipe Betoni Saraiva, Lohanna Palhinha, Remy Martins-Goncalves, Isaclaudia Gomes Azevedo-Quintanilha, Juliana L. Abrantes, Cassia Righy, Pedro Kurtz, Hui Jiang, Hongdong Tan, Carlos Morel, Dumith Chequer Bou-Habib, Fernando A. Bozza, Patricia T. Bozza, Thiago Moreno L. Souza
Summary: This study found that critically ill COVID-19 patients had higher expression levels of HERV-K genes in tracheal aspirates. Increased HERV-K levels were associated with early mortality, inflammation, and coagulopathy.
Article
Physiology
Bruno Moraes, Valdir Braz, Samara Santos-Araujo, Isadora A. Oliveira, Larissa Bomfim, Isabela Ramos, Katia C. Gondim
Summary: The study demonstrates the significance of de novo fatty acid synthesis in the metabolism of Rhodnius prolixus insects. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) plays a central role in digestion, lipid synthesis and storage, as well as reproductive success in these insects.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Juliana Georg da Silva, Glenda Culuchi, Cristiane Pinheiro Pestana, Haroldo Cid da Silva, Felipe Betoni Saraiva, Tatiana Kugelmeier, Daniel Rouede, Ana Cristina Araujo Pinto, Thalita Pissinati, Ana Paula D'Alincourt Assef, Claudio Marcos Rocha-de-Souza, Thamirys Rachel Tavares e Oliveira, Jose Procopio M. Senna
Summary: This study analyzed the nasal colonization of two species of Old World monkeys (cynomolgus and rhesus) and one New World monkey (squirrel monkey) in a breeding colony at Fiocruz, Brazil. Nine different species of Staphylococcus were identified, with S. aureus being the main isolate. Spa typing revealed a new spa type (t20455) that had not been previously found in Brazil.
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Valdir Braz, Lukas Selim, Geyse Gomes, Manoel Luis Costa, Claudia Mermelstein, Katia C. Gondim
Summary: Rhodnius prolixus is a blood-feeding insect that undergoes molting and develops into a winged adult form after five nymphal stages. After molting, the protein content in the midgut decreases and digestion is completed fifteen days later. Meanwhile, proteins and triacylglycerols in the fat body decrease while increasing in the ovary and flight muscle. Lipogenesis is most efficient in the fat body, while the flight muscle and ovary have low rates of lipid synthesis. The flight muscle develops gradually after molting, with an increase in lipid droplets and muscle fiber size. The fat body shows a different pattern, with a decrease in droplet size followed by an increase. Mobilization of substrates from the midgut and fat body to the ovary and flight muscle prepares R. prolixus adults for feeding and reproduction.
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Allana Faria-Reis, Samara Santos-Araujo, Jessica Pereira, Thamara Rios, David Majerowicz, Katia Gondim, Isabela Ramos
Summary: Insects with high reproductive rates are significant vectors for various vector-borne diseases. Finding molecular targets for insect reproduction is strategically critical. This study discovered the importance of proteasome activity in oogenesis and reproductive success of Rhodnius prolixus, the vector of Chagas Disease.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fernanda Almeida-Oliveira, Samara Santos-Araujo, Luiz Fernando Carvalho-Kelly, Alessa Macedo-Silva, Jose Roberto Meyer-Fernandes, Katia C. Gondim, David Majerowicz
Summary: ATP synthase plays an important role in mitochondrial metabolism, but recent research suggests it may also be involved in lipophorin binding and lipid metabolism. This study used a functional genetics approach to explore the roles of ATP synthase in lipid metabolism in the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus. The results showed that knockdown of ATP synthase subunits impaired ovarian development, reduced egg-laying, and increased triacylglycerol accumulation in the fat body, suggesting a direct role of ATP synthase in lipid metabolism and lipophorin physiology.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jessica Pereira, Samara Santos-Araujo, Larissa Bomfim, Katia Calp B. Gondim, David B. Majerowicz, Attilio B. Pane, Isabela B. Ramos
Summary: This study investigates the role of the autophagy/UPS adaptor protein p62 in Chagas disease vector insects and finds that silencing the p62 gene does not result in any apparent phenotypes.
Editorial Material
Physiology
Katia C. Gondim, Natraj Krishnan, Petros T. Damos, Amr A. Mohamed, Mohammad Mehrabadi, Maria L. Simoes
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Iron F. De Paula, Samara Santos-Araujo, David Majerowicz, Isabela Ramos, Katia C. Gondim
Summary: The energy stored in fatty acids plays a crucial role in important activities of insects. A study on Rhodnius prolixus showed that the CPT1 gene is essential for lipid metabolism and resistance to starvation.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)