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Università degli Studi di Milano molecular biotechnology and bioinformatics - biotecnologie molecolari e bioinformatica 2021
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- Parasitism Fundamentals: Defines parasitism, categorizes interactions (mutualism, commensalism, antagonism), and outlines different parasite forms (obligate, facultative) and host types (definitive, intermediate, paratenic). Emphasizes coevolution between hosts and parasites.
- Vector-Borne Diseases (VBDs): Explores VBDs as 17% of infectious diseases, disproportionately affecting impoverished tropical/subtropical regions. Discusses influences like global travel, urbanization, climate change, and historical control efforts (e.g., malaria eradication in Italy). Key vectors include mosquitoes (Aedes, Anopheles, Culex), Tsetse flies, and Fleas, transmitting diseases like malaria, dengue, Zika, and West Nile Virus.
- Mosquitoes and Malaria: Details mosquito life cycles and their role as malaria vectors. Explains the complex Plasmodium life cycle in humans (liver, blood stages) and mosquitoes (sporogonic cycle), highlighting species like P. falciparum (most deadly). Mentions quinine and vaccination as control measures.
- Other VBDs & Wolbachia: Describes other significant VBDs such as West Nile Virus (encephalitis), Zika Virus (birth defects like microcephaly), and Dengue Virus (severe fever). Introduces Wolbachia bacteria as a promising symbiotic control agent that manipulates host reproduction (Cytoplasmic Incompatibility) for vector population replacement or suppression.
- Insect Control Strategies:
- Sterile Insect Technique (SIT): Involves releasing sterile males to reduce wild populations. Discusses genetic sexing strains (GSS) using temperature-sensitive mutations (e.g., Vienna-8 D53 strain for Ceratitis Capitata), fluorescent markers (GFP cassette) for tracking, and strategies to immobilize transposons for stable genetic modification.
- Lethality Systems: Utilizes genetic constructs (e.g., Tetracycline system) to induce embryonic, larval, or pupal death in specific sexes or generations, exemplified by "Friendly Mosquitoes" (Aedes aegypti) designed to self-limit offspring survival.
- Gene Editing: Mentions Zinc Fingers, TALEN, Homing Nucleases, and advanced CRISPR-CAS9 technology for targeted genetic modifications, including X-Shredding for sex ratio distortion.
- Tick-Borne Diseases: Differentiates between hard ticks (Ixodidae) and soft ticks (Argasidae) based on morphology, life cycle, feeding habits, and environmental preferences. Explains their feeding process, involving anticoagulants and immune suppressors in saliva, and transmission methods (transovarial, transstadial).
- Integrated VBD Control & Paratransgenesis:
- Emphasizes comprehensive approaches combining vector control, pathogen reduction, and modulating vector capacity.
- Highlights chemical repellents (DEET) and biopesticides (fungi, parasitoid wasps) for tick control.
- Symbiotic Control (Paratransgenesis): Engineering symbiotic bacteria (e.g., Rhodococcus rhodnii in Rhodnius prolixus or Asaia in Anopheles stephensi) to produce anti-pathogen effector molecules (e.g., cecropin A, SCORPINE, anti-Pbs21 immunotoxin). This approach aims for "population replacement" by using engineered symbionts to interfere with pathogen development within the vector, often leveraging the symbiont's natural proliferation advantage and interaction with the host immune system (e.g., Asaia expressing Wolbachia Surface Protein to prime mosquito immunity).