Objective: To evaluate the predatory capacity of the Odonata, Hemianax ephippiger nymph as a biocontrol agent for the freshwater snail Lymnaea natalensis, intermediate host of Fasciola gigantica. Methods: Observations...Objective: To evaluate the predatory capacity of the Odonata, Hemianax ephippiger nymph as a biocontrol agent for the freshwater snail Lymnaea natalensis, intermediate host of Fasciola gigantica. Methods: Observations on the searching, attacking and devouring of the snails with a series of laboratory-based predation experiments, whose aims were to determine daily predation rate, differential predation on small-, medium- and large-sized snails were carried out. Results: Laboratory evaluation revealed that, the Odonata nymph could kill and consume all three sizes of snails. Searching and handling time of the predator differed depending on snail size and predator vulnerability. The predation rate varied also with respect to snail size and density.Conclusions: Our observations suggested that the predator Hemianax ephippiger may be a suitable bio-control agent of Lymnaea natalensis snail population.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the predatory potential of the Odonata nymph on freshwater snails that serve as intermediate hosts for Schistosoma species(Bulinus truncatus and Biomphalaria alexandrina).Methods:Observations on ...Objective:To evaluate the predatory potential of the Odonata nymph on freshwater snails that serve as intermediate hosts for Schistosoma species(Bulinus truncatus and Biomphalaria alexandrina).Methods:Observations on the searching,attacking and devouring of the two snail types with series of laboratory-based predation experiments,whose aims were to determine daily predation rate,differential predation,prey preference considering small-,mediumand large-sized snails were conducted.Results:Laboratory evaluation revealed that,the Odonata nymph could kill and consume the two intermediate hosts.The number of snails consumed differed according to the snail type,size and density.The times taken for searching and handling times were dependent on the snail size,type and satiation of the predator.The predation rate varied also with respect to snail type,size and density.This study also evaluated that Odonata nymphs consumed more Bulinus truncatus than Biomphalaria alexandrina per unit time,and that there may be a preference for smaller than larger snails.Conclusions:According to our observation,the predator,Hemianax ephippiger nymph may be a suitable biocontrol agent in connection with Schistosoma intermediate hosts.展开更多
Background: Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are considered ideal candidates for both research and cellular therapydue to ease of access, large yield, feasibility, and efficacy in preclinical and clinical studies. Un...Background: Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are considered ideal candidates for both research and cellular therapydue to ease of access, large yield, feasibility, and efficacy in preclinical and clinical studies. Unlike the subcutaneousabdominal fat depot, breast ASCs features are still not well recognized, limiting their possible therapeutic use. ASCswere found to exert immunomodulatory and antioxidative activities for maintaining homeostasis and functionality ofdiseased/damaged tissues. This study aims to investigate the immunomodulatory and antioxidative potentials of breastversus abdominal isolated ASCs to find out which anatomical site provides ASCs with better immunoregulatory andoxidative stress resistance capabilities.Methods: ASCs were isolated from abdominal and breast tissues. Gene expression analysis was conducted for a panelof immunomodulatory and antioxidative genes, as well as adipokines and proliferation genes. Flow cytometric analysisof a group of immunomodulatory surface proteins was also performed. Finally, the significantly expressed genes haveundergone protein-protein interaction and functional enrichment in silico analyses.Results: Our results revealed similar morphological and phenotypic characteristics for both breast and abdominalASCs. However, a significant elevation in the expression of two potent immunosuppressive genes, IL-10 and IDO aswell as the expression of the multifaceted immunomodulatory adipokine, visfatin, was detected in breast versusabdominal ASCs. Moreover, a significant overexpression of the antioxidative genes, GPX1, SIRT5, and STAT3 and theproliferation marker, Ki67, was also observed in breast ASCs relative to abdominal ones. In silico analysis showed thatboth of the differentially upregulated immunomodulatory and antioxidative mediators integratively involved inmultiple biological processes and pathways indicating their functional association.Conclusion: Breast ASCs possess superior immunomodulatory and antioxidative capabilities over abdominal ASCs. Ourfindings shed light on the possible therapeutic applications of breast ASCs in immune-related and oxidative stressassociateddiseases.展开更多
文摘Objective: To evaluate the predatory capacity of the Odonata, Hemianax ephippiger nymph as a biocontrol agent for the freshwater snail Lymnaea natalensis, intermediate host of Fasciola gigantica. Methods: Observations on the searching, attacking and devouring of the snails with a series of laboratory-based predation experiments, whose aims were to determine daily predation rate, differential predation on small-, medium- and large-sized snails were carried out. Results: Laboratory evaluation revealed that, the Odonata nymph could kill and consume all three sizes of snails. Searching and handling time of the predator differed depending on snail size and predator vulnerability. The predation rate varied also with respect to snail size and density.Conclusions: Our observations suggested that the predator Hemianax ephippiger may be a suitable bio-control agent of Lymnaea natalensis snail population.
基金Supported by Theodor Bilharz Research Institute,Imbaba,Giza,Egypt(Grant No.94M)
文摘Objective:To evaluate the predatory potential of the Odonata nymph on freshwater snails that serve as intermediate hosts for Schistosoma species(Bulinus truncatus and Biomphalaria alexandrina).Methods:Observations on the searching,attacking and devouring of the two snail types with series of laboratory-based predation experiments,whose aims were to determine daily predation rate,differential predation,prey preference considering small-,mediumand large-sized snails were conducted.Results:Laboratory evaluation revealed that,the Odonata nymph could kill and consume the two intermediate hosts.The number of snails consumed differed according to the snail type,size and density.The times taken for searching and handling times were dependent on the snail size,type and satiation of the predator.The predation rate varied also with respect to snail type,size and density.This study also evaluated that Odonata nymphs consumed more Bulinus truncatus than Biomphalaria alexandrina per unit time,and that there may be a preference for smaller than larger snails.Conclusions:According to our observation,the predator,Hemianax ephippiger nymph may be a suitable biocontrol agent in connection with Schistosoma intermediate hosts.
基金This work was funded by the National Research Centre,Cairo,Egypt(grant no.11010122)the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology in Egypt“Jesor initiative”(grant no.1057).
文摘Background: Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are considered ideal candidates for both research and cellular therapydue to ease of access, large yield, feasibility, and efficacy in preclinical and clinical studies. Unlike the subcutaneousabdominal fat depot, breast ASCs features are still not well recognized, limiting their possible therapeutic use. ASCswere found to exert immunomodulatory and antioxidative activities for maintaining homeostasis and functionality ofdiseased/damaged tissues. This study aims to investigate the immunomodulatory and antioxidative potentials of breastversus abdominal isolated ASCs to find out which anatomical site provides ASCs with better immunoregulatory andoxidative stress resistance capabilities.Methods: ASCs were isolated from abdominal and breast tissues. Gene expression analysis was conducted for a panelof immunomodulatory and antioxidative genes, as well as adipokines and proliferation genes. Flow cytometric analysisof a group of immunomodulatory surface proteins was also performed. Finally, the significantly expressed genes haveundergone protein-protein interaction and functional enrichment in silico analyses.Results: Our results revealed similar morphological and phenotypic characteristics for both breast and abdominalASCs. However, a significant elevation in the expression of two potent immunosuppressive genes, IL-10 and IDO aswell as the expression of the multifaceted immunomodulatory adipokine, visfatin, was detected in breast versusabdominal ASCs. Moreover, a significant overexpression of the antioxidative genes, GPX1, SIRT5, and STAT3 and theproliferation marker, Ki67, was also observed in breast ASCs relative to abdominal ones. In silico analysis showed thatboth of the differentially upregulated immunomodulatory and antioxidative mediators integratively involved inmultiple biological processes and pathways indicating their functional association.Conclusion: Breast ASCs possess superior immunomodulatory and antioxidative capabilities over abdominal ASCs. Ourfindings shed light on the possible therapeutic applications of breast ASCs in immune-related and oxidative stressassociateddiseases.
