@article{magalhaes_kretschmar_donohue_roe_2013, title={Pyrosequencing of the adult tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris, and characterization of messages important in metabolism and development}, volume={146}, ISSN={["1570-7458"]}, DOI={10.1111/eea.12035}, abstractNote={Abstract}, number={3}, journal={ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA}, author={Magalhaes, Leonardo C. and Kretschmar, Jaap B. and Donohue, Kevin V. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2013}, month={Mar}, pages={364–378} }
 @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{khalil_donohue_thompson_jeffers_ananthapadmanaban_sonenshine_mitchell_roe_2011, title={Full-length sequence, regulation and developmental studies of a second vitellogenin gene from the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis}, volume={57}, ISSN={["1879-1611"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.12.008}, abstractNote={Vitellogenin (Vg) is the precursor of vitellin (Vn) which is the major yolk protein in eggs. In a previous report, we isolated and characterized the first Vg message from the American dog tick Dermacentor variabilis. In the current study, we describe a second Vg gene from the same tick. The Vg2 cDNA is 5956 nucleotides with a 5775 nt open reading frame coding for 1925 amino acids. The conceptual amino acid translation contains a 16-residues putative signal peptide, N-terminal lipid binding domain and C-terminal von Willebrand factor type D domain present in all known Vgs. Moreover, the amino acid sequence shows a typical GLCG domain and several RXXR cleavage sites present in most isolated Vgs. Tryptic digest-mass fingerprinting of Vg and Vn recognized 11 fragments that exist in the amino acid translation of DvVg2 cDNA. Injection of virgin females with 20 hydroxyecdysone induced DvVg2 expression, vitellogenesis and oviposition. Using RT-PCR, DvVg2 expression was detected only in tick females after mating and feeding to repletion. Northern blot analysis showed that DvVg2 is expressed in fat body and gut cells of vitellogenic females but not in the ovary. DvVg2 expression was not detected in adult fed or unfed males. The characteristics that distinguish Vg from other similar tick storage proteins like the carrier protein, CP (another hemelipoglycoprotein) are discussed.}, number={3}, journal={JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY}, author={Khalil, Sayed M. S. and Donohue, Kevin V. and Thompson, Deborah M. and Jeffers, Laura A. and Ananthapadmanaban, Usha and Sonenshine, Daniel E. and Mitchell, Robert D. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2011}, month={Mar}, pages={400–408} }
 @article{cabrera_donohue_khalil_scholl_opperman_sonenshine_roe_2011, title={New approach for the study of mite reproduction: The first transcriptome analysis of a mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)}, volume={57}, ISSN={0022-1910}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.09.006}, DOI={10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.09.006}, abstractNote={Many species of mites and ticks are of agricultural and medical importance. Much can be learned from the study of transcriptomes of acarines which can generate DNA-sequence information of potential target genes for the control of acarine pests. High throughput transcriptome sequencing can also yield sequences of genes critical during physiological processes poorly understood in acarines, i.e., the regulation of female reproduction in mites. The predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis, was selected to conduct a transcriptome analysis using 454 pyrosequencing. The objective of this project was to obtain DNA-sequence information of expressed genes from P. persimilis with special interest in sequences corresponding to vitellogenin (Vg) and the vitellogenin receptor (VgR). These genes are critical to the understanding of vitellogenesis, and they will facilitate the study of the regulation of mite female reproduction. A total of 12,556 contiguous sequences (contigs) were assembled with an average size of 935bp. From these sequences, the putative translated peptides of 11 contigs were similar in amino acid sequences to other arthropod Vgs, while 6 were similar to VgRs. We selected some of these sequences to conduct stage-specific expression studies to further determine their function.}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Insect Physiology}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Cabrera, Ana R. and Donohue, Kevin V. and Khalil, Sayed M.S. and Scholl, Elizabeth and Opperman, Charles and Sonenshine, Daniel E. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2011}, month={Jan}, pages={52–61} }
 @article{donohue_khalil_ross_grozinger_sonenshine_roe_2010, title={Neuropeptide signaling sequences identified by pyrosequencing of the American dog tick synganglion transcriptome during blood feeding and reproduction}, volume={40}, ISSN={["1879-0240"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.ibmb.2009.12.014}, abstractNote={Ticks are important vectors of numerous pathogens that impact human and animal health. The tick central nervous system represents an understudied area in tick biology and no tick synganglion-specific transcriptome has been described to date. Here we characterize whole or partial cDNA sequences of fourteen putative neuropeptides (allatostatin, insulin-like peptide, ion-transport peptide, sulfakinin, bursicon alpha/beta, eclosion hormone, glycoprotein hormone alpha/beta, corazonin, four orcokinins) and five neuropeptide receptors (gonadotropin receptor, leucokinin-like receptor, sulfakinin receptor, calcitonin receptor, pyrokinin receptor) translated from cDNA synthesized from the synganglion of unfed, partially fed and replete female American dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis. Their homology to the same neuropeptides in other taxa is discussed. Many of these neuropeptides such as an allatostatin, insulin-like peptide, eclosion hormone, bursicon alpha and beta and glycoprotein hormone alpha and beta have not been previously described in the Chelicerata. An insulin-receptor substrate protein was also found indicating that an insulin signaling network is present in ticks. A putative type-2 proprotein processing convertase was also sequenced that may be involved in cleavage at monobasic and dibasic endoproteolytic cleavage sites in prohormones. The possible physiological role of the proteins discovered in adult tick blood feeding and reproduction will be discussed.}, number={1}, journal={INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY}, author={Donohue, Kevin V. and Khalil, Sayed M. S. and Ross, E. and Grozinger, Christina M. and Sonenshine, Daniel E. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2010}, month={Jan}, pages={79–90} }
 @article{cabrera_donohue_khalil_sonenshine_roe_2009, title={Characterization of vitellin protein in the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)}, volume={55}, ISSN={["1879-1611"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.jinsphys.2009.04.006}, abstractNote={In mites, vitellogenin synthesis, regulation and uptake by the oocytes as vitellin remain practically unknown. Although a partial sequence of the gene is now available, no previous studies have been conducted that describe the native vitellin protein in mites. The objective of this study was to characterize vitellin in the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. The native twospotted spider mite vitellin migrated as a single major band with a molecular weight of 476 ± 14.5 kDa as compared to 590 ± 25.5 kDa for vitellin from the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis. However, isoelectric focusing analysis of native spider mite vitellin showed five bands with pI values slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5.8, 6.2, 6.7, 7.0 and 7.2), as is the case for insect and tick vitellins. Reducing conditions (SDS-PAGE) also revealed multiple subunits ranging from 290.9 to 3.6 kDa and was similar to that found in D. variabilis. Spider mite vitellin weakly bound lipids and carbohydrates compared to the tick. Unlike D. variabilis, the spider mite egg yolk protein does not bind heme. The significance of non-heme binding in mites is discussed.}, number={7}, journal={JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY}, author={Cabrera, Ana R. and Donohue, Kevin V. and Khalil, Sayed M. S. and Sonenshine, Daniel E. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2009}, month={Jul}, pages={655–661} }
 @misc{donohue_khalil_sonenshine_roe_2009, title={Heme-binding storage proteins in the Chelicerata}, volume={55}, ISSN={["1879-1611"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.jinsphys.2009.01.002}, abstractNote={Lipoglycoproteins in the Chelicerata that bind and store heme appear to represent a unique evolutionary strategy to both mitigate the toxicity of heme and utilize the molecule as a prosthetic group. Knowledge of heme-binding storage proteins in these organisms is in its infancy and much of what is known is from studies with vitellogenins (Vg) and more recently the main hemolymph storage protein in ixodid ticks characterized as a hemelipoglyco-carrier protein (CP). Data have also been reported from another arachnid, the black widow spider, Latrodectus mirabilis, and seem to suggest that the heme-binding capability of these large multimeric proteins is not a phenomenon found only in the Acari. CP appears to be most closely related to Vg in ticks in terms of primary structure but post-translational processing is different. Tick CP and L. mirabilis high-density lipoprotein 1 (HDL1) are similar in that they consist of two subunits of approximate molecular masses of 90 and 100 kDa, are found in the hemolymph as the dominant protein, and bind lipids, carbohydrates and cholesterol. CP binds heme which may also be the case for HDL1 since the protein was found to contain a brown pigment when analyzed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Vgs in ticks are composed of multiple subunits and are the precursor of the yolk protein, vitellin. The phylogeny of these proteins, regulation of gene expression and putative functions of binding and storing heme throughout reproduction, blood-feeding and development are discussed. Comparisons with non-chelicerate arthropods are made in order to highlight the mechanisms and putative functions of heme-binding storage proteins and their possible critical function in the evolution of hematophagy.}, number={4}, journal={JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY}, author={Donohue, Kevin V. and Khalil, Sayed M. S. and Sonenshine, Daniel E. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2009}, month={Apr}, pages={287–296} }
 @article{donohue_khalil_ross_mitchell_roe_sonenshine_2009, title={Male engorgement factor: Role in stimulating engorgement to repletion in the ixodid tick, Dermacentor variabilis}, volume={55}, ISSN={["1879-1611"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.jinsphys.2009.05.019}, abstractNote={Mating in ticks results in profound physiological changes that eventually results in egg production. In the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, mating causes partially blood-fed female ticks to commence rapid engorgement to repletion and eventual detachment from the host and egg laying. The peptidic male pheromone (engorgement factor alpha/beta) transferred to the female during mating is known only from a single tick species, Amblyomma hebraeum, and was shown to consist of two peptides produced in the testis/vas deferens (TVD) and not in the male accessory gland (MAG). In the current study, we obtained 2704bp of sequence data for efalpha from D. variabilis, of 7kb as determined by Northern blot, and show that it is also present in the Southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus and the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis. Analysis of the male gonad transcriptome by pyrosequencing produced 563,093 reads of which 636 matched with efalpha; none matched with efbeta. No evidence of efbeta orthologs could be found in any publicly available database including the I. scapularis genome. Silencing efalpha in male ticks failed to significantly reduce the engorgement weight of females compared to controls. Injection of sephadex beads, replete female synganglia, fed male MAG, fed male TVD, or replete female vagina/seminal receptacle (VA/SR), separately, failed to initiate feeding to repletion like that found in normally mated females. However, a small percentage of females injected with VA/SR that fed beyond the arbitrary weight for repletion of 300mg, produced brown eggs (an indication of vitellogenin uptake by the oocytes). The greatest effect was observed in female ticks injected with a suspension of MAG and TVD combined; 50% fed to repletion and all of these dropped off from the host and laid brown eggs. The effect was abolished if the aqueous fraction of the MAG/TVD homogenate only was injected suggesting that EF in ticks is a non-secreted membrane-bound or intracellular protein. Overall, these data suggest that EFalpha in D. variabilis is not an engorgement factor.}, number={10}, journal={JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY}, author={Donohue, Kevin V. and Khalil, Sayed M. S. and Ross, Elizabeth and Mitchell, Robert D. and Roe, R. Michael and Sonenshine, Daniel E.}, year={2009}, month={Oct}, pages={909–918} }
 @misc{cabrera_donohue_roe_2009, title={Regulation of female reproduction in mites: A unifying model for the Acari}, volume={55}, ISSN={["1879-1611"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.jinsphys.2009.08.007}, abstractNote={It is well established in the literature that circulating high levels of juvenile hormone (JH) are responsible for the initiation of vitellogenesis and female reproduction in most insects studied so far. Exceptions include some Diptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. The current view is that JH also regulates yolk protein (vitellogenin, Vg) synthesis and female reproduction in mites. However, there is no published evidence that mites have the common insect JHs at any stage of their development. Also, research on the effects of exogenous applications of JH and JH analogs on the reproduction of mites is contradictory. Significant information is available on the life history of mite reproduction, and new information has become available on mite storage proteins including Vg. Although initial studies suggested that ticks may respond to exogenously applied juvenile hormone or anti-JHs, current research shows that ticks cannot synthesize the common insect JHs and have no detectable levels of these hormones in their hemolymph during female reproduction. In ticks, it appears that ecdysteroids, and not JH, regulate expression of the Vg gene and the synthesis and release of Vg protein into the hemolymph. In fact within the Arthropoda, JH has been found only in insects. Methyl farnesoate and not JH regulates Vg synthesis in the Crustacea, the sister group to the insects. Based on this evidence, a new working hypothesis is proposed, i.e., that ecdysteroids and not the JHs regulate vitellogenesis in the Acari including both ticks and mites. To the present, the role of neuropeptides in the regulation of female reproduction in mites is not known.}, number={12}, journal={JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY}, author={Cabrera, Ana R. and Donohue, Kevin V. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2009}, month={Dec}, pages={1079–1090} }
 @article{donohue_bures_bourham_roe_2008, title={Effects of temperature and molecular oxygen on the use of atmospheric pressure plasma as a novel method for insect control}, volume={101}, ISSN={["1938-291X"]}, DOI={10.1603/0022-0493(2008)101[302:EOTAMO]2.0.CO;2}, abstractNote={Abstract Helium atmospheric pressure plasma discharge (APPD) was previously shown to have insecticidal activity with a possible site of action on the insect nervous, neuromuscular system, or both. In the current study, methods to increase the insecticidal activity of plasma by using increased APPD temperature and the introduction of molecular oxygen were investigated for the first time. An increase in the helium plasma temperature from 37 to 50°C increased the insecticidal activity of plasma for the control of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.); western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande); and citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso). This increase in activity could not be explained by the increase in air temperature alone, and it suggests that the enhanced insecticidal activity resulted from increased ionization of the APPD and ion bombardment of the insect. Emission spectroscopy showed that the introduction of 0.5% oxygen into helium plasma produced ionic molecular oxygen at 559.7 and 597.3 nm. The introduction of oxygen to the APPD greatly increased the insecticidal activity of plasma for the citrus mealybug but not the German cockroach or western flower thrips. For the mealybug as an example, the mortality of a 60-s exposure of 37°C helium plasma was 0% at 1 h after exposure and 100% under the same conditions after the introduction of oxygen. It seems that increases in temperature and the introduction of oxygen even at low levels can increase the insecticidal activity of plasma to varying degrees depending on the insect species. The symptomology of cockroach death for both hot plasma and plasma containing trace amounts of molecular oxygen continued to suggest that the site of action of APPD is the insect nervous system, neuromuscular system, or both.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY}, author={Donohue, Kevin V. and Bures, Brian L. and Bourham, Mohamed A. and Roe, Michael}, year={2008}, month={Apr}, pages={302–308} }
 @misc{roe_donohue_khalil_sonenshine_2008, title={Hormonal regulation of metamorphosis and reproduction in ticks}, volume={13}, journal={Frontiers in Bioscience}, author={Roe, R. M. and Donohue, K. V. and Khalil, S. M. S. and Sonenshine, D. E.}, year={2008}, pages={7250–7268} }
 @article{donohue_khalil_mitchell_sonenshine_roe_2008, title={Molecular characterization of the major hemelipoglycoprotein in ixodid ticks}, volume={17}, ISSN={["1365-2583"]}, DOI={10.1111/j.1365-2583.2008.00794.x}, abstractNote={Abstract}, number={3}, journal={INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY}, author={Donohue, K. V. and Khalil, S. M. S. and Mitchell, R. D. and Sonenshine, D. E. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2008}, month={Jun}, pages={197–208} }
 @article{witting-bissinger_stumpf_donohue_apperson_roe_2008, title={Novel arthropod repellent, BioUD, is an efficacious alternative to deet}, volume={45}, ISSN={["1938-2928"]}, DOI={10.1603/0022-2585(2008)45[891:NARBIA]2.0.CO;2}, abstractNote={Abstract For >50 yr, N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (deet) has been the standard for arthropod repellents and has been an important tool to protect people from disease agents carried by ticks, mosquitoes, and other arthropods. However, some people avoid using deet because of concerns about adverse health effects. In 2007, a new repellent, BioUD, with the active ingredient 7.75% 2-undecanone, originally derived from wild tomato (Lycopersicon hirsutum Dunal f. glabratum C. H. Müll) plants, was registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In the current study, repellent efficacy of BioUD was compared using arm-in-cage studies with 7 and 15% deet against the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus Skuse. No differences were found in mean repellency over 6 h after application between BioUD versus 7 and 15% deet for Ae albopictus. For Ae. aegypti, no differences were found over the same time period for 7% deet. Compared with 15% deet, BioUD mean repellency was lower over the 6-h test period. Human subject field trials were conducted in North Carolina, United States, and Ontario, Canada, comparing the repellency of BioUD to products containing 25 and 30% deet. BioUD provided the same repellency or was more efficacious than 25 and 30% deet, respectively, in these studies. Laboratory trials were conducted to determine the repellent activity of BioUD against the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say), on human skin and cloth. BioUD repelled ticks at least 2.5 h after application to human skin. On cloth, no differences in mean repellency were found through 8 d after application between BioUD and 7% deet. In a two-choice test for BioUD versus 15% deet on filter paper, ticks spent significantly more time on the deet-treated surface than the BioUD-treated surface. Based on these studies in toto, BioUD is an efficacious alternative to deet in its repellent activity.}, number={5}, journal={JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY}, author={Witting-Bissinger, B. E. and Stumpf, C. F. and Donohue, K. V. and Apperson, C. S. and Roe, R. M.}, year={2008}, month={Sep}, pages={891–898} }
 @article{wafa_breidt_gawish_matthews_donohue_roe_bourham_2007, title={Atmospheric plasma-aided biocidal finishes for nonwoven polypropylene fabrics. II. Functionality of synthesized fabrics}, volume={103}, ISSN={["1097-4628"]}, DOI={10.1002/app.24042}, abstractNote={Abstract}, number={3}, journal={JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE}, author={Wafa, D. M. and Breidt, F. and Gawish, S. M. and Matthews, S. R. and Donohue, K. V. and Roe, R. M. and Bourham, M. A.}, year={2007}, month={Feb}, pages={1911–1917} }
 @article{stumpf_comins_sparks_donohue_roe_2007, title={Insecticidal activity and mode of action of novel nicotinoids synthesized by new acylpyridinium salt chemistry and directed lithiation}, volume={87}, ISSN={["1095-9939"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.pestbp.2006.07.012}, abstractNote={Novel acylpyridinium salt chemistry and directed lithiation methodology was developed to add for the first time substitutions directly to the phenylpyridine heterocyclic ring of nicotine. A variety of 3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4-(alkyl, aromatic, heterocyclic and silanyl) and -N-alkyl pyridines were synthesized (compounds 1–9). In vial tests with the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, compounds 1–4 were 1.1, 1.8, 2.3 and 1.9×, respectively, more active than nicotine and 64, 40, 31 and 38×, respectively, less active than acetamiprid. Against the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, 1–4 were 1.4, 2.1, 2.0 and 1.6×, respectively, more active than nicotine and 9, 6, 6 and 8×, respectively, less active than acetamiprid. For the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, the activity of 1–9 was similar to nicotine. Compounds 7 and 9 when incorporated into artificial diet produced low mortality for larvae of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, but were not active against the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea. When 1–4 and 6–9 were injected into larvae of the beet armyworm, a variety of symptoms similar to acetamiprid were observed which included tremors, uncoordinated movement, diuresis, paralysis and death. In addition, imidacloprid-binding to membranes from the house fly head, Musca domestica, was inhibited by compounds 1–9, when using a concentration range of 1–100 μM. These studies demonstrate that our new chemistry enhances the insecticidal activity of nicotine with an apparent mode of action as an acetylcholine agonist.}, number={3}, journal={PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY}, author={Stumpf, Christof F. and Comins, Daniel L. and Sparks, Thomas C. and Donohue, Kevin V. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2007}, month={Mar}, pages={211–219} }
 @article{mitchell_ross_osgood_sonenshine_donohue_khalil_thompson_roe_2007, title={Molecular characterization, tissue-specific expression and RNAi knockdown of the first vitellogenin receptor from a tick}, volume={37}, ISSN={["1879-0240"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.ibmb.2007.01.005}, abstractNote={This is the first full-length message for a vitellogenin receptor (VgR) sequenced from ticks. VgRs, members of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) superfamily, mediate the uptake of the yolk protein, vitellogenin (Vg), from the hemolymph. The VgR message from the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (GenBank accession No. DQ103506.4) comprised 5673 bp which coded for a 1798 aa deduced protein with a predicted 196.6 kDa molecular mass. After removing the 20 aa signal peptide, the 1778 aa deduced mature protein had a predicted 196.6 kDa molecular mass. BLAST comparisons showed the highest similarity to the VgR of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana. VgR message was expressed in mated female ovary but absent in female midgut and salivary glands or whole body mRNA from blood fed males, indicating that it is both sex and tissue specific. VgR transcript was absent in virgin (previtellogenic) females but present in ovaries of mated females following drop off. RNAi showed that unfed adult ticks injected with a VgR-dsRNA probe failed to lay eggs, develop brown eggs or fully express VgR transcript (Northern blots). In contrast, controls oviposited numerous normal brown eggs and showed strong expression of VgR transcripts. These results show that the expression of the VgR message is essential for Vg uptake and egg development in the American dog tick.}, number={4}, journal={INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY}, author={Mitchell, Robert D., III and Ross, Elizabeth and Osgood, Christopher and Sonenshine, Daniel E. and Donohue, Kevin V. and Khalil, Sayed M. and Thompson, Deborah M. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2007}, month={Apr}, pages={375–388} }
 @article{donohue_bures_bourham_roe_2006, title={Mode of action of a novel nonchemical method of insect control: Atmospheric pressure plasma discharge}, volume={99}, ISSN={["1938-291X"]}, DOI={10.1603/0022-0493(2006)099[0038:MOAOAN]2.0.CO;2}, abstractNote={Abstract Atmospheric pressure plasma discharge (APPD) has been applied to a number of industrial applications, including the bacterial sterilization of medical equipment of bacteria. APPD may also have applications in insect control. A positive correlation was found between exposure time to APPD and mortality of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande); tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds); Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse); twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch; and German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.), with the level of mortality also increasing with time after treatment. Cockroaches exposed to APPD for 60, 90, 120, and 180 s lost on average 7.5 ± 0.8, 8.1 ± 0.6, 8.7 ± 0.4, and 10.1 ± 1.1 (±1 SEM) mg of water weight, respectively, which was an increase over that of the controls. The metabolic rate of cockroaches exposed to plasma for 180 s increased from 0.79 ± 0.03 to 1.07 ± 0.04 ml of oxygen consumed mg-cockroach−1 h−1 at standard temperature and pressure. The level of cuticular hydrocarbons identified by electron impact gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were not significantly affected by plasma exposure in the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), German cockroach, and citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso), except for a reduction in n-tritriacontane in the latter. However, changes in the behavior of cockroaches after plasma exposure, including the loss of photo-, vibro-, and thigmotropic responses, inability to right themselves, and hyperexcitatory symptoms, suggest that the site of action of APPD in insects is the nervous and/or neuromuscular system.}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY}, author={Donohue, KV and Bures, BL and Bourham, MA and Roe, RM}, year={2006}, month={Feb}, pages={38–47} }
 @article{bures_donohue_roe_bourham_2006, title={Nonchemical dielectric barrier discharge treatment as a method of insect control}, volume={34}, ISSN={["1939-9375"]}, DOI={10.1109/TPS.2005.863595}, abstractNote={The spread of insects due to trade of agricultural commodities and travel of humans is a significant problem in many countries. Limiting the movement of pest species is commonly achieved by the use of chemical pesticides. Concerns about resistance to insecticides, as well as their environmental impact has stimulated an evaluation of alternative pest control methods. Nonchemical dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) treatment of insects in a low electron density (10/sup 6/-10/sup 8/ cm/sup -3/), low electron temperature (1-2 eV) discharge has proven effective in significantly reducing the population of selected insects. The insects are directly exposed to a wide gap (>3 cm) helium discharge with average power densities on the order of 60 mW/cm/sup 3/. Direct measurement of chemical species and ambient gas temperature shows the DBD treatment remains effective when the chemically reactive species are suppressed by helium, and when the ambient gas temperature of the discharge is below 40/spl deg/C. However, the treatment is more rapid when the ambient gas temperature is elevated. The study has shown the treatment does not always induce instant mortality: however, the mortality increases over a 24-h period after treatment.}, number={1}, journal={IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PLASMA SCIENCE}, author={Bures, BL and Donohue, KV and Roe, RM and Bourham, MA}, year={2006}, month={Feb}, pages={55–62} }
 @article{bures_donohue_roe_bourham_2005, title={Visualization of helium dielectric barrier discharge treatment of green peach aphids on tobacco leaves}, volume={33}, ISSN={["0093-3813"]}, DOI={10.1109/TPS.2005.845035}, abstractNote={Nonthermal nonchemical dielectric barrier discharge treatment of green peach aphids has shown to be an effective method of insect control when the insects are on a synthetic mesh substrate. The efficacy of the treatment, represented as percent mortality, is reduced when the aphids reside on tobacco leaves. The reduction in treatment appears to be the result of streamer formation on the leaves. Although the streamer formation has reduced the treatment for aphids on tobacco leaves under our experimental conditions, control of insects such as lice and fleas that reside on alternative substrates can benefit from dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) treatment. Alternative conditions for the generation of DBD may be possible for insect control on plants.}, number={2}, journal={IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PLASMA SCIENCE}, author={Bures, BL and Donohue, KV and Roe, RM and Bourham, MA}, year={2005}, month={Apr}, pages={290–291} }