Abstract: Infectious diseases affecting livestock and human health that involve vector-borne pathogens are a global problem, unrestricted by borders or boundaries, which may be exacerbated by changing global climate. Thus, the availability of effective tools for control of pathogen vectors is of the utmost importance. The aim of this article is to review, selectively, current knowledge of the chemical ecology of pathogen vectors that affect livestock and human health in the developed and dev...
Abstract: Animals with small nervous systems may be prone to limitations in processing ability when confrontedwith a diversity of stimuli, especially if these involve multiple sensory modalities. We investigated theeffect of the odour of the plantLantana camaraand its dominant volatile compound,b-caryophyllene, onthe prey choice decisions ofEvarcha culicivora,a jumping spider (Salticidae) that frequently visitsL. camaraas a site to mate and to obtain nectar.Evarcha culicivoraexpresses a stro...
Background/Aim: Immune tolerance in the fetal–maternal junction is maintained by a balance in the Th1/Th2 system. Th1‐type immunity is associated with pro‐inflammatory cytokines and immune checkpoint molecules (ICMs) such as B7‐H1, while Th2‐type immunity is characterized by anti‐inflammatory cytokines and ICMs such as B7‐1. Any imbalance in the Th1/Th2 immune system may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre‐eclampsia (PE). Hitherto, the potential of serum B7‐1 and ...
This study uses the model organism, C. elegans, to investigate its sensitivity and response to static magnetic fields. Wild-type C. elegans are put into microfluidic channels and exposed to permanent magnets for five cycles of thirty-second time intervals at field strengths ranging from 5 milli Tesla to 120 milli Tesla. Recorded and analyzed with custom software, the results of the worm's movement - the average velocity, turning and curling percentage - were compared to control experiments. S...
This research paper presents a microfluidic platform for analyzing the effects of drugs and their dosage on the locomotion behavior of both free-living and parasitic nematodes. The chip provides a higher level of sensitivity for drug screening and can monitor four different nematode parameters in real time. It is a cross-species and cross-drug platform that is far more sophisticated than existing nematode motility and migration assays. The device consists of two parts: behavioral microchannel...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) increases the risk of liver dysfunction and leads to complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The rate of progression of CHB to these complications is attributed to hepato-toxicants, including heavy metals. Some heavy metals such as selenium and zinc have hepatoprotective benefits. However, others such as cadmium, arsenic and lead are hepatotoxic. The aim of this study was to measure the levels of cadmium, arsenic an...