[
2020]
Onchocerciasis, also known as the African river blindness, is the second most important cause of infectious blindness worldwide after trachoma. It is caused by the filarial nematode, <i>Onchocerca volvulus</i>, and transmitted by repeated bites of the vector, female black fly of the genus <i>Simulium damnosum</i>. The vector breeds in fast-flowing and oxygen-rich rivers in affected areas with transmission and disease prevalence usually stretching along these river basins and thereby the name river blindness.[1]Aside from blindness, onchocerciasis results in a troubling chronic dermatitis.[1]
[
Methods Enzymol,
2011]
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER), first compartment of the secretory pathway, is mainly involved in calcium sequestration and lipid biosynthesis and in the translation, folding, and transport of secretory proteins. Under some physiological and physiopathological situations, secretory proteins do not acquire their folded conformation and accumulate in the ER. An adaptive response named the UPR is then triggered from this compartment to restore its homeostasis. In the past few years, interconnections between the UPR and small GTPase signaling have been established. In an attempt to further investigate these novel signaling networks, we hereby provide a detailed description of experimental strategies available. We describe in detail methods to monitor both UPR and small GTPase signaling and the outcomes of such approaches in the identification of new links between those signaling pathways using pharmacological and genetic screens. In physiopathological contexts, the guidelines herein should enable researchers in the field to establish essential means for determination of functional interactions between those pathways.
[
WormBook,
2006]
Contrary to textbook dogma, nematodes are not only highly diverse, but often also complex and biologically specialized metazoans. Just a few of the many fascinating adaptations are reviewed in this chapter, as a prelude to a quick tour through phylogenetic relationships within the phylum. Small Subunit rDNA sequences have confirmed several controversial prior hypotheses, as well as revealing some unexpected relationships, resulting in a recent proposal for revised classification. Three major lineages exist within the phylum: Chromadoria, Enoplia and Dorylaimia. The exact order of appearance of these lineages is not yet resolved, which also leaves room for uncertainty about the biology and morphology of the exclusive common ancestor of nematodes. Enoplia and Dorylaimia differ considerably in many respects from C. elegans, which is a member of Chromadoria. The latter group is extremely diverse in its own right, for example in ecological range, in properties of the cuticle and in structure of the pharynx. The formerly relatively widely accepted class Secernentea is deeply nested within Chromadoria, and has therefore recently been relegated to the rank and name of order Rhabditida. Within this order, closer relatives of C. elegans include strongylids, diplogasterids and bunonematids. Tylenchs, cephalobs and panagrolaimids are also members of Rhabditida, albeit probably more distantly related to C. elegans.