Search Results (5)

Mosquito-borne arboviruses include several pathogens that are responsible for many diseases of significant public health burden. Mosquitoes also host many insect-specific viruses that cannot replicate in vertebrate cells. These insect-specific viruses persist in nature predominantly via vertical transmission (VT), and they exhibit high VT rates (VTRs). Cell-fusing agent virus (CFAV), an insect-specific orthoflavivirus, shows high VTRs in naturally infected mosquitoes but not in artificially infected mosquitoes. To determine whether the high VTRs are due to transovarial transmission, we investigated VT and ovary infection patterns in naturally CFAV-infected Aedes aegypti (Bangkok) mosquitoes. VT was monitored by detecting CFAV among the progeny by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and ovary infection was determined by in situ hybridization using a virus-specific probe. We showed that in CFAV-positive mosquitoes, ovarian follicles were infected, suggesting that VT occurs by transovarial transmission in naturally infected mosquitoes. Additionally, mosquitoes harbored dormant, non-replicative CFAV that remained below the detection level. These results suggested that CFAV persists via VT in nature and has the potential to remain dormant in diapausing mosquitoes during unfavorable conditions. Understanding this VT mechanism is crucial for comprehending the persistence of insect-specific viruses (and potentially dual-host arboviruses) in their natural environment. Full article

The importance of carbon footprint (CF) analysis in the agricultural and food industries as a fundamental element of the means to achieve sustainable food production is emphasized here. In this study, flour production in Poland and the technological processes were characterized. This study’s aim was to determine and compare flour production CF for different companies. The production stages were examined, and aspects related to transportation and storage were analyzed. The obtained data made it possible to identify areas of potential improvement to increase the efficiency of production and logistics processes and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The results showed that flour production CF_av ranges from 0.042 to 0.080 kg CO_2eq/kg of product (in different companies). The results obtained for individual plants did not differ. One method of reducing CF was through the use of renewable energy sources. Photovoltaics (share of 17–20%) has significantly reduced flour production CF by 13–15%. The decrease was significant from March to October due to the country’s climatic conditions. The work highlights CF’s importance as a tool to reduce environmental impacts and optimize production costs while pointing out the need to customize the calculation methodology to the specifics of the product and process. Full article

Metagenomic analysis of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes from diverse geographical regions of India revealed the presence of several insect viruses of human interest. Most abundant reads found in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were of Phasi Charoen-like virus (PCLV), Choristoneura fumiferana granulovirus (CfGV), Cell fusing agent virus (CFAV), and Wenzhou sobemo-like virus 4 (WSLV4), whereas WSLV4 and CfGV constituted the highest percentage of reads in Ae. albopictus viromes. Other reads that were of low percentage included Hubei mosquito virus 2 (HMV2), Porcine astrovirus 4 (PAstV4), and Wild Boar astrovirus (WBAstV). PCLV and CFAV, which were found to be abundant in Ae. aegypti viromes were absent in Ae. albopictus viromes. Among the viromes analyzed, Ae. aegypti sampled from Pune showed the highest percentage (79.82%) of viral reads, while Ae. aegypti mosquitoes sampled from Dibrugarh showed the lowest percentage (3.47%). Shamonda orthobunyavirus (SHAV), African swine fever virus (ASFV), Aroa virus (AROAV), and Ilheus virus (ILHV), having the potential to infect vertebrates, including humans, were also detected in both mosquito species, albeit with low read numbers. Reads of gemykibivirus, avian retrovirus, bacteriophages, herpesviruses, and viruses infecting protozoans, algae, etc., were also detected in the mosquitoes. A high percentage of reads in the Ae. albopictus mosquito samples belonged to unclassified viruses and warrant further investigation. The data generated in the present work may not only lead to studies to explain the influence of these viruses on the replication and transmission of viruses of clinical importance but also to find applications as biocontrol agents against pathogenic viruses. Full article

Background: Evogliptin tartrate inhibits dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), boosting glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) secretion and improving insulin release and glucose tolerance, while also exerting anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Methods: Forty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into (N = 10 in each): (1) naïve, (2) complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) inflammation + evogliptin tartrate (once for 10 mg/kg) (CFAE), (3) CFA + vehicle (same volume with normal saline with evogliptin tartrate/once) (CFAV), and (4) CFA + indomethacin (5 mg/mL/kg/1 time) (CFAI) groups. CFA was injected subcutaneously into rat plantar regions, and medications (evogliptin tartrate, vehicle, and indomethacin) were administered orally for 5 days. Post treatment, blood from the heart and plantar inflammatory tissue were collected to assess inflammatory cytokines. Evogliptin tartrate effects on controlling inflammation and pain were evaluated by measuring rat plantar paw thickness, paw withdrawal threshold, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) resting membrane potential, DRG action potential firing, and cytokine (TNF-α and IL-1β) levels. Results: Compared with the naïve group, plantar paw thickness, cytokine (TNF-α and IL-1β) levels, DRG resting membrane potential, and DRG action potential firing increased, whereas the paw withdrawal threshold decreased in all CFA groups. However, CFAE and CFAI rats showed recovery. The degree of CFAE recovery resembled that observed in the CFAI group. Conclusions: Evogliptin tartrate mirrored the anti-inflammatory pain relief of indomethacin. We aim to broaden its use as an anti-inflammatory drug or pain relief drug. Full article

Classical insect-specific flaviviruses (cISFs) have been widely detected in different countries in the last decades. Here, we characterize the near full-length genomes of two cISFs detected in mosquitoes collected in the city of Macapá, state of Amapá, Amazon region of Brazil. A total of 105 pools of female mosquitos were analyzed by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis identified three strains of cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) and two of Culex flavivirus (CxFV). All sequences were obtained from pools of Culex sp., except for one sequence of CFAV detected in a pool of Aedes aegypti. Both CxFV strains are phylogenetically related to a strain isolated in 2012 in the Southeast region of Brazil. The CFAV strains are the first of this species to be identified in Brazil and one of them is highly divergent from other strains of CFAV that have been detected worldwide. In conclusion, CFAV and CxFV, circulate in mosquitoes in Brazil. One strain of CFAV is highly divergent from others previously described, suggesting that a novel strain of CFAV is present in this region. Full article