@article{gulia-nuss_nuss_meyer_sonenshine_roe_waterhouse_sattelle_fuente_ribeiro_megy_et al._2016, title={Genomic insights into the Ixodes scapularis tick vector of Lyme disease}, volume={7}, journal={Nature Communications}, author={Gulia-Nuss, M. and Nuss, A. B. and Meyer, J. M. and Sonenshine, D. E. and Roe, R. M. and Waterhouse, R. M. and Sattelle, D. B. and Fuente, J. and Ribeiro, J. M. and Megy, K. and et al.}, year={2016} }
 @article{zhu_khalil_mitchell_bissinger_egekwu_sonenshine_roe_2016, title={Mevalonate-Farnesal Biosynthesis in Ticks: Comparative Synganglion Transcriptomics and a New Perspective}, volume={11}, ISSN={["1932-6203"]}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0141084}, abstractNote={Juvenile hormone (JH) controls the growth, development, metamorphosis, and reproduction of insects. For many years, the general assumption has been that JH regulates tick and other acarine development and reproduction the same as in insects. Although researchers have not been able to find the common insect JHs in hard and soft tick species and JH applications appear to have no effect on tick development, it is difficult to prove the negative or to determine whether precursors to JH are made in ticks. The tick synganglion contains regions which are homologous to the corpora allata, the biosynthetic source for JH in insects. Next-gen sequencing of the tick synganglion transcriptome was conducted separately in adults of the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis, and the relapsing fever tick, Ornithodoros turicata as a new approach to determine whether ticks can make JH or a JH precursor. All of the enzymes that make up the mevalonate pathway from acetyl-CoA to farnesyl diphosphate (acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase, HMG-S, HMG-R, mevalonate kinase, phosphomevalonate kinase, diphosphomevalonate decarboxylase, and farnesyl diphosphate synthase) were found in at least one of the ticks studied but most were found in all three species. Sequence analysis of the last enzyme in the mevalonate pathway, farnesyl diphosphate synthase, demonstrated conservation of the seven prenyltransferase regions and the aspartate rich motifs within those regions typical of this enzyme. In the JH branch from farnesyl diphosphate to JH III, we found a putative farnesol oxidase used for the conversion of farnesol to farnesal in the synganglion transcriptome of I. scapularis and D. variabilis. Methyltransferases (MTs) that add a methyl group to farnesoic acid to make methyl farnesoate were present in all of the ticks studied with similarities as high as 36% at the amino acid level to insect JH acid methyltransferase (JHAMT). However, when the tick MTs were compared to the known insect JHAMTs from several insect species at the amino acid level, the former lacked the farnesoic acid binding motif typical in insects. The P450s shown in insects to add the C10,11 epoxide to methyl farnesoate, are in the CYP15 family; this family was absent in our tick transcriptomes and in the I. scapularis genome, the only tick genome available. These data suggest that ticks do not synthesize JH III but have the mevalonate pathway and may produce a JH III precursor.}, number={3}, journal={PLOS ONE}, author={Zhu, Jiwei and Khalil, Sayed M. and Mitchell, Robert D. and Bissinger, Brooke W. and Egekwu, Noble and Sonenshine, Daniel E. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2016}, month={Mar} }
 @article{jeffers_shen_bissinger_khalil_gunnoe_roe_2014, title={Polymers for the stabilization and delivery of proteins topically and per os to the insect hemocoel through conjugation with aliphatic polyethylene glycol}, volume={115}, ISSN={["1095-9939"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.pestbp.2014.08.006}, abstractNote={Co-feeding of aliphatic polyethylene glycol (PEG), phospholipase A2, anionic and ionic detergents, and amphipathic glycoside with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein to fourth stadium tobacco budworms, Heliothis virescens, did not affect the levels of BSA in the hemolymph. Covalent conjugation of small proteins like the decapeptide trypsin modulating oostatic factor (TMOF) to polyethylene glycol was previously shown to protect the peptide from protease attack and enhance its accumulation in the insect hemocoel. Whether this polymer chemistry could do the same for larger proteins was examined. The chemistry for the synthesis of polydispersed aliphatic PEG350-insulin and monodispersed aliphatic PEG333-insulin are described herein. Insulin was used for this synthesis and not BSA to better control conjugation among the available free amine groups. When PEGylated insulin or free insulin were fed in artificial diet to fifth stadium budworms, greater concentrations of insulin using the PEGylated variants were found in the hemolymph than when free insulin was used (a 6.7 and 7.3-fold increase for the PEG350 and PEG333 conjugates, respectively). When insulin is topically applied to the dorsum of H. virescens, no insulin is found in the hemolymph. However, after topical application of the PEGylated insulins, PEG350-insulin and PEG333-insulin were detected in the hemolymph. After injections of insulin into the hemocoel of fourth stadium H. virescens, insulin is completely cleared from the hemolymph in 120 min. In comparison, PEG350-insulin and PEG333-insulin were present in the hemolymph for 300 and 240 min after injection, respectively, translating to a 3.3 and 2.7-fold increase in the length of time insulin remains in the hemolymph after injection.}, journal={PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY}, author={Jeffers, Laura A. and Shen, Hongyan and Bissinger, Brooke W. and Khalil, Sayed and Gunnoe, T. Brent and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2014}, month={Oct}, pages={58–66} }
 @article{jeffers_shen_khalil_bissinger_brandt_gunnoe_roe_2012, title={Enhanced activity of an insecticidal protein, trypsin modulating oostatic factor (TMOF), through conjugation with aliphatic polyethylene glycol}, volume={68}, ISSN={["1526-498X"]}, DOI={10.1002/ps.2219}, abstractNote={AbstractBACKGROUND: Trypsin modulating oostatic factor (TMOF), a decapeptide (Tyr‐Asp‐Pro‐Ala‐Pro6) isolated from the ovaries of the adult yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, regulates trypsin biosynthesis. TMOF per os is insecticidal to larval mosquitoes and a good model for the development of technologies to enhance protein insecticide activity by reduced catabolism and/or enhanced delivery to the target.RESULTS: TFA‐TMOF‐K (TFA = trifluoro acetyl) allowed the specific conjugation of monodispersed, aliphatic polyethylene glycol (PEG) to the amino group of lysine‐producing TMOF‐K‐methyl(ethyleneglycol)7‐O‐propionyl (TMOF‐K‐PEG7P). The addition of lysine to TMOF reduced its per os larval mosquitocidal activity relative to the parent TMOF, but conjugation of TMOF‐K with methyl(ethyleneglycol)7‐O‐propionyl increased its toxicity 5.8‐ and 10.1‐fold above that of TMOF and TMOF‐K for Ae. aegypti. Enhanced insecticidal activity was also found for larval Ae. albopictus and for neonates of Heliothis virescens and Heliocoverpa zea. Only TMOF‐K was found by MS/MS in the hemolymph for H. virescens fed on TMOF‐K‐PEG7P. No TMOF, TMOF‐K or PEGylated TMOF‐K was detected in the hemolymph after topical applications.CONCLUSIONS: This research suggests that aliphatic PEG polymers can be used as a new method for increasing the activity of insecticidal proteins. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry}, number={1}, journal={PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE}, author={Jeffers, Laura A. and Shen, Hongyan and Khalil, Sayed and Bissinger, Brooke W. and Brandt, Alan and Gunnoe, T. Brent and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2012}, month={Jan}, pages={49–59} }
 @article{sonenshine_bissinger_egekwu_donohue_khalil_roe_2011, title={First Transcriptome of the Testis-Vas Deferens-Male Accessory Gland and Proteome of the Spermatophore from Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae)}, volume={6}, ISSN={["1932-6203"]}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0024711}, abstractNote={Ticks are important vectors of numerous human diseases and animal diseases. Feeding stimulates spermatogenesis, mating and insemination of male factors that trigger female reproduction. The physiology of male reproduction and its regulation of female development are essentially a black box. Several transcriptomes have catalogued expression of tick genes in the salivary glands, synganglion and midgut but no comprehensive investigation has addressed male reproduction and mating. Consequently, a new global approach using transcriptomics, proteomics, and quantitative gene expression is needed to understand male reproduction and stimulation of female reproduction. This first transcriptome to the reproductive biology of fed male ticks, Dermacentor variabilis, was obtained by 454 pyrosequencing (563,093 reads, 12,804 contigs). Gene Ontology (Biological Processes level III) recognized 3,866 transcripts in 73 different categories; spermiogenesis; spermatogenesis; peptidases, lipases and hydrolases; oxidative and environmental stress; immune defense; and protein binding. Reproduction-associated genes included serine/threonine kinase, metalloendoproteinases, ferritins, serine proteases, trypsin, cysteine proteases, serpins, a cystatin, GPCR and others. qRT-PCR showed significant upregulation from unfed versus fed adult male reproductive organs of zinc metalloprotease, astacin metalloprotease and serine protease, enzymes important in spermiogenesis and mating activity in insects, as well as a GPCR with the greatest similarity to a SIFamide receptor known to be important in regulating courtship behavior in Drosophila. Proteomics on these organs and the spermatophore by tryptic digestion/Liquid chromatography/Mass spectrometry/Mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) demonstrated expression of many of the same messages found by 454 sequencing, supporting their identification, and revealed differences in protein distribution in the reproductive system versus the spermatophore. We found Efα but no EF β in the transcriptome and neither of these proteins in the spermatophore. Thus, the previously described model for male regulation of female reproduction may not apply to other ticks. A new paradigm is needed to explain male stimulation of female tick reproduction.}, number={9}, journal={PLOS ONE}, author={Sonenshine, Daniel E. and Bissinger, Brooke W. and Egekwu, Noble and Donohue, Kevin V. and Khalil, Sayed M. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2011}, month={Sep} }
 @article{kimps_bissinger_apperson_sonenshine_roe_2011, title={First report of the repellency of 2-tridecanone against ticks}, volume={25}, ISSN={["1365-2915"]}, DOI={10.1111/j.1365-2915.2010.00918.x}, abstractNote={2‐Tridecanone and 2‐undecanone are both found naturally in the trichomes of wild tomato plants and are important in plant resistance to herbivory. 2‐Undecanone is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)‐registered active ingredient in the commercially available arthropod repellent, BioUD®. The goal of this study was to examine the tick repellency of 2‐tridecanone. Two‐choice bioassays were conducted using 8% 2‐tridecanone vs. the repellent carrier (absolute ethanol) and compared with two‐choice studies using 8% 2‐undecanone vs. absolute ethanol. Unfed, host‐seeking adult (mixed sex) Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae) and Dermacentor variabilis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) were used to evaluate repellency and time to repellent failure at room temperature. The present study shows in filter paper assays (0.63 mg test compound/cm2) that 2‐tridecanone was 87% repellent to A. americanum at 12 h after application, but had no statistically significant repellency at 15 h and 24 h, and was 72% repellent to D. variabilis at 15 h, but had no statistically significant repellency at 24 h. By contrast, 2‐undecanone was 74% and 75% repellent to A. americanum and D. variabilis, respectively, at 2 h after application, but no statistically significant repellency was noted at 2.5 h and 3 h. In two‐choice assays on cheesecloth, 2‐tridecanone at 0.25 mg/cm2 was 85% repellent to A. americanum 6 h after application, demonstrating its potential use as an arthropod repellent that can be used on clothing without the need for formulation. No statistically significant repellency was found at 9 h or 12 h. The potential use of 2‐tridecanone as a tick repellent is discussed.}, number={2}, journal={MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY}, author={Kimps, N. W. and Bissinger, B. W. and Apperson, C. S. and Sonenshine, D. E. and Roe, R. M.}, year={2011}, month={Jun}, pages={202–208} }
 @article{bissinger_apperson_watson_arellano_sonenshine_roe_2011, title={Novel field assays and the comparative repellency of BioUD (R), DEET and permethrin against Amblyomma americanum}, volume={25}, ISSN={["1365-2915"]}, DOI={10.1111/j.1365-2915.2010.00923.x}, abstractNote={Two new field bioassay methods were developed to compare the repellent activity of BioUD® (containing 7.75% 2‐undecanone), 98.1% DEET and 0.5% permethrin against natural populations of nymphal Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae). In a cloth sheet assay, pieces of material measuring 41 × 58 cm, separately treated with one of the test materials or the appropriate solvent carrier, were placed at random on the ground and baited with dry ice for 1 h. Mean numbers of ticks on repellent‐treated sheets were significantly lower than on control sheets. There was no significant difference in the number of ticks collected between sheets treated with BioUD® and those treated with DEET. However, significantly fewer ticks were found on sheets treated with BioUD® or DEET than on permethrin‐treated sheets. In a sock test, over‐the‐calf tube socks were treated with one of the test materials or the appropriate solvent carrier. Human volunteers wore a repellent‐treated and a corresponding carrier‐treated sock on either leg and walked randomly over an area of approximately 4000 m2 for 15 min. Significantly fewer ticks were collected from socks treated with BioUD® or DEET than from socks treated with the carrier and there was no significant difference in repellency between these two agents. No difference in the mean number of ticks collected was found between permethrin‐treated and corresponding carrier‐treated socks. To examine the mechanism of repellency of BioUD®, a four‐choice olfactometer was used to assess spatial repellency against adult A. americanum. As expected in the absence of a repellent, when all choices were represented by water‐treated filter paper, ticks were equally distributed among the choices. When one choice consisted of BioUD®‐treated filter paper and the remaining choices of water‐treated paper, the distribution of ticks on the repellent‐treated paper was significantly lower than might be expected to occur by chance, suggesting that repellency is at least partly achieved by an olfactory mechanism.}, number={2}, journal={MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY}, author={Bissinger, B. W. and Apperson, C. S. and Watson, D. W. and Arellano, C. and Sonenshine, D. E. and Roe, R. M.}, year={2011}, month={Jun}, pages={217–226} }
 @article{bissinger_zhu_apperson_sonenshine_watson_roe_2009, title={Comparative Efficacy of BioUD to Other Commercially Available Arthropod Repellents against the Ticks Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis on Cotton Cloth}, volume={81}, ISSN={["1476-1645"]}, DOI={10.4269/ajtmh.2009.09-0114}, abstractNote={BioUD is an arthropod repellent that contains the active ingredient 2-undecanone originally derived from wild tomato plants. Repellency of BioUD was compared with five commercially available arthropod repellents against the ticks Amblyomma americanum (L.) and Dermacentor variabilis Say in two-choice bioassays on treated versus untreated cotton cheesecloth. Overall mean percentage repellency against both species was greatest for and did not differ significantly between BioUD (7.75% 2-undecanone) and products containing 98.1% DEET, 19.6% IR3535, and 30% oil of lemon eucalyptus. Products containing 5% and 15% Picaridin and 0.5% permethrin were also repellent compared with untreated controls but to a lesser degree than BioUD. The four most active repellents at the same concentrations used before were directly compared in head-to-head bioassays on cotton cheesecloth. BioUD provided significantly greater overall mean percentage repellency than IR3535 for A. americanum and D. variabilis. BioUD was significantly more repellent than oil of lemon eucalyptus for A. americanum but did not differ significantly in repellency against D. variabilis. No statistically significant difference in overall mean percentage repellency was found between BioUD and DEET for A. americanum or D. variabilis. In a 7-week time course bioassay, BioUD applied to cotton cheesecloth and held at room temperature provided 5 weeks of > 90% repellency against A. americanum.}, number={4}, journal={AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE}, author={Bissinger, Brooke W. and Zhu, Jiwei and Apperson, Charles S. and Sonenshine, Daniel E. and Watson, D. Wesley and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2009}, month={Oct}, pages={685–690} }
 @misc{bissinger_roe_2010, title={Tick repellents: Past, present, and future}, volume={96}, ISSN={["1095-9939"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.pestbp.2009.09.010}, abstractNote={Ticks are important vectors of human and animal diseases. One important protective measure against ticks is the use of personal arthropod repellents. Deet and the synthetic pyrethroid permethrin currently serve as the primary personal protective measures against ticks. Concern over the safety of deet and its low repellency against some tick species has led to a search for new user-approved, efficacious tick repellents. In this article, we review the history and efficacy of tick repellents, discovery of new repellents, and areas in need of attention such as assay methodology, repellent formulation, and the lack of information about the physiology of repellency.}, number={2}, journal={PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY}, author={Bissinger, Brooke W. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2010}, month={Feb}, pages={63–79} }