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Faculty
Paul H. Rodriguez, Ph.D. Research Interests We are interested in the biochemical genetic mechanisms of filarial nematode development in mosquitoes. Specific filarial nematode suseptible, partially refractory and/or refractory genotypes of Aedes aegypti and Ae. togoi are used. The clawed mongolian jird, Meriones unguiculatus, serves as the source of infection for the filarial nematode, Brugia malayi. Studies include (1) the heritable effects of filarial nematode susceptible gene(s), modifiers or associated loci in mosquito populations treated with chemical mutagens, (2) the comparative development and characterization of acid hydrolase enzymes in specific susceptible and refractory mosquito genotypes, and (3) the biochemical and molecular genetic analysis of acid hydrolases, other enzymes, and nucleic acids, possibly associated with filarial nematode susceptibility. Genetic effects are measured by nematode susceptibility (L3 development) and changes in enzyme activity and electrophoretic patterns in F2 and Fn offspring derived from parents exposed to chemical mutagens. Nematode development and acid hydrolase enzyme variation are monitored at various time intervals postinfection in specific mosquito genotypes. Specific experiments include blood-fed, sugar-fed, and infected populations of susceptible and refractory mosquitoes. Recent Publications Ginocchio R, Sanchez P, de la Fuente LM, Camus I, Bustamante E, Silva Y, Urrestarazu P, Torres JC, Rodriguez PH. Agricultural soils spiked with copper mine wastes and copper concentrate: implications for copper bioavailability and bioaccumulation. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2006 Mar;25(3):712-8. Villavicencio G, Urrestarazu P, Carvajal C, De Schamphelaere KA, Janssen CR, Torres JC, Rodriguez PH. Biotic ligand model prediction of copper toxicity to daphnids in a range of natural waters in Chile. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2005 May;24(5):1287-99. Baez M, Rodriguez PH, Babul J, Guixe V. Structural and functional roles of Cys-238 and Cys-295 in Escherichia coli phosphofructokinase-2. Biochem J. 2003 Nov 15;376(Pt 1):277-83. Reyes AM, Ludwig HC, Yanez AJ, Rodriguez PH, Slebe JC. Nativelike intermediate on the unfolding pathway of pig kidney fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Biochemistry. 2003 Jun 17;42(23):6956-64. Cabrera R, Guixe V, Alfaro J, Rodriguez PH, Babul J. Ligand-dependent structural changes and limited proteolysis of Escherichia coli phosphofructokinase-2. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2002 Oct 15;406(2):289-95. Ginocchio R, Rodriguez PH, Badilla-Ohlbaum R, Allen HE, Lagos GE. Effect of soil copper content and pH on copper uptake of selected vegetables grown under controlled conditions. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2002 Aug;21(8):1736-44. Badilla-Ohlbaum R, Ginocchio R, Rodriguez PH, Cespedes A, Gonzalez S, Allen HE, Lagos GE. Relationship between soil copper content and copper content of selected crop plants in central Chile. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2001 Dec;20(12):2749-57. Rodriguez PH, Larson GA, Lazaro CA, Castillon R, Nasr-Schirf D. Comparative development of Brugia pahangi and variation in acid hydrolase enzyme titers in. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2000 Dec;16(4):288-94.
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