Abstract: Uncovering the neural correlates and evolutionary drivers of behavioral and cognitive traits has been held back by traditional perspectives on which correlations to look for—in particular,anthropocentric conceptions of cognition and coarse-grained brain measurements. We welcome our colleagues’ comments on our overview of the field and their suggestions for how to move forward. Here, we counter, clarify, and extend some points, focusing on the merits of looking for the “best�...
Abstract: The tropics are either the center of origin or domestication of many of the economically important crops currently cultivated in the world (Phalan et al., 2013; Fern and Fern, 2014; Laurance et al., 2014). Abiotic stresses, such as drought, chilling, and nutrient deficiency, are the major constraints for plant growth and productivity (Zhu, 2016). Therefore, an improved understanding of the physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses and tolerance mechanisms, along with the ...
Abstract: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs), which play key roles in helping the host immune system fight pathogen invasions. Systematic information on TLRs at the genome-wide level and expression profiling in response to endophytic colonization is very important to understand their functions but is currently lacking in this field. Here, a total of two TLR genes were identified and characterized in Diaphorina citri. The TLR genes of D. citri were clustered ...
Abstract: Tungiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by skin-penetrating female Tunga penetrans fleas. Although tungiasis causes severe health problems, its ecology is poorly understood and morphological descriptions of the larvae are unavailable. To identify T. penetrans immature stages and sites where they develop, diagnostic PCRs are required. However, flea larvae feed on soil organic matter rich in PCR inhibitors. Here, three DNA preparation methods, including a soil DNA kit that r...
Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are single stranded gene regulators of 18–25 bp in length. They play a crucial role in regulating several biological processes in insects. However, the functions of miRNA in Glossina pallidipes, one of the biological vectors of African animal trypanosomosis in sub-Saharan Africa, remain poorly characterized. We used a combination of both molecular biology and bioinformatics techniques to identify miRNA genes at different developmental stages (larvae, pupae, ten...
Abstract: Reliable molecular identification of vertebrate species from morphologically unidentifiable tissue is critical for the prosecution of illegally-traded wildlife products, conservation-based biodiversity research, and identification of blood-meal hosts of hematophagous invertebrates. However, forensic identification of vertebrate tissue relies on sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) ‘barcode’ gene, which remains costly for purposes of screening large numbers...
Abstract: Multiple regulatory mechanisms including post-translational modifcations (PTMs) confer complexity to the simpler genomes and proteomes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). PTMs such as glycosylation play a signifcant role in Mtb adaptive processes. The glycoproteomic patterns of clinical isolates of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) representing the lineages 3, 4, 5 and 7 were characterized by mass spectrometry. A total of 2944 glycosylation events were discovered in 13...
Abstract: Anopheles mosquitoes are colonized by diverse microorganisms that may influence hosts‟ biology and vectorial capacity. Resident Anopheles bacterial symbionts isolated from these hosts are known to influence traits such as generational fitness, survival, host seeking,and infectivity of pathogens such asPlasmodium falciparum.Eukaryotic symbionts such as fungi residing in the gut of Anopheles gambiaecould confer similar phenotypes, but are undexplored. It was hypothesized that fungi...
Abstract: Industrial rearing of insects, especially the black soldier fly, is gaining momentum in recent years because of the increase in food and feed insecurity, high prices of animal feeds and animal proteins, and population growth. This in turn has led to increased global demand for alternative sources of protein apart from traditional livestock products. This study focused on evaluating the gut microbial community dynamics of both the layer and broiler chickens that have been fed on BSF...
Abstract: Arthropod borne viruses (arboviruses) are transmitted by blood sucking arthropods. Disease outbreaks caused by arboviruses are sporadic and unpredictable. Arboviral disease outbreaks in Kenya have confirmed the presence of a number of arboviral diseases within the human and animal populace. Currently, there are no approved or specific therapies for arboviral infections; treatment is limited to palliative care. Early detection and vector control are important strategies in control o...
Abstract: Maize lethal necrosis (MLN) disease caused by a dual infection of maize with Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and any cereal potyvirus such as Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV), Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) or Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) was first reported in Kenya in 2011 in Bomet County. This study was aimed at determining the presence and genetic variability of MCMV and SCMV in cereal crops,wild and domesticated grasses and the spatial distribution of alternative hosts in...
Abstract: Reliable molecular identification of vertebrate species from morphologically unidentifiable tissue is critical to the prosecution of illegally traded wildlife products to limit their trade, as well us for surveillance to inform conservation policies and identification of blood-meal hosts. Currently, this is mainly dependent on sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) ‘barcode’ genes, which remains costly for purposes of screening large numbers of unknown samples a...
Abstract: Rule-based classifiers have one major advantage over other classes of supervised learning algorithms: interpretability. They provide a means to read into a model and find how the features co-act in order to come to a classification outcome. This in turn enables the researcher to visualize the feature interactions and evaluate the key features that discern between different decision classes. The rules generated from these algorithms, however, can be very many and their analysis is n...
Abstract: Background Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is an emerging tool in ecological monitoring of aquatic habitats. When applied correctly, it can overcome the limitations of traditional aquatic sampling methods. This current study develops and validates a protocol for using eDNA analysis to detect and quantify mosquito larvae in laboratory and controlled field setting. Methods Species-specific PCR primers were designed from An. gambiae s.l and An. funestus, and qPCR primers for An. gam...
The genus Capsicum ( sweet and hot pepper) is an incredible intra and inter-specific diversity in fruit type, color, shape, taste and biochemical content. Molecular biology techniques based on DNA analysis are being adopted in the modern study of plant breeding. The aim of this study was to assess the applicability of SSR techniques in transferability assessment and diversity of placental length and type in genus Capsicum . This study analyzed 19 accessions of Capsicum species obtained from d...