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Kelley M, Uhran M, Herbert C, Yoshida G, Watts ER, Limbach PA, Benoit JB. Abundances of transfer RNA modifications and transcriptional levels of tRNA-modifying enzymes are sex-associated in mosquitoes. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 143:103741. [PMID: 35181477 PMCID: PMC9034435 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
As carriers of multiple human diseases, understanding the mechanisms behind mosquito reproduction may have implications for remediation strategies. Transfer RNA (tRNA) acts as the adapter molecule of amino acids and are key components in protein synthesis. A critical factor in the function of tRNAs is chemical modifications which contribute to codon-anticodon interactions. Here, we provide an assessment of tRNA modifications between sexes for three mosquito species and examine the correlation of transcript levels underlying key proteins involved in tRNA modification. Thirty-three tRNA modifications were detected among mosquito species and most of these modifications are higher in females compared to males for three mosquito species. Analysis of previous male and female RNA-seq datasets indicated a similar increase in transcript levels of tRNA-modifying enzymes in females among six mosquito species, supporting our observed female enrichment of tRNA modifications. Tissues-specific expressional studies revealed higher transcript levels for tRNA-modifying enzymes in the ovaries for Aedes aegypti, but not male reproductive tissues. These studies suggest that tRNA modifications may be critical to reproduction in mosquitoes, representing a potential novel target for control through suppression of fecundity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Kelley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45211, USA.
| | - Melissa Uhran
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45211, USA
| | - Cassandra Herbert
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45211, USA
| | - George Yoshida
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45211, USA
| | - Emmarie R Watts
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45211, USA
| | - Patrick A Limbach
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45211, USA
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45211, USA.
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2
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Azlan A, Halim MA, Mohamad F, Azzam G. Identification and characterization of long noncoding RNAs and their association with acquisition of blood meal in Culex quinquefasciatus. INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 28:917-928. [PMID: 32621332 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus (Cx. quinquefasciatus) is an important vector that transmit multiple diseases including West Nile encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis and lymphatic filariasis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) involve in many biological processes such as development, infection, and virus-host interaction. However, there is no systematic identification and characterization of lncRNAs in Cx. quinquefasciatus. Here, we report the first lncRNA identification in Cx. quinquefasciatus. By using 31 public RNA-seq datasets, a total of 4763 novel lncRNA transcripts were identified, of which 3591, 569, and 603 were intergenic, intronic, and antisense respectively. Examination of genomic features revealed that Cx. quinquefasciatus shared similar characteristics with other species such as short in length, low GC content, low sequence conservation, and low coding potential. Furthermore, compared to protein-coding genes, Cx. quinquefasciatus lncRNAs had lower expression values, and tended to be expressed in temporally specific fashion. In addition, weighted correlation network and functional annotation analyses showed that lncRNAs may have roles in blood meal acquisition of adult female Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. This study presents the first systematic identification and analysis of Cx. quinquefasciatus lncRNAs and their association with blood feeding. Results generated from this study will facilitate future investigation on the function of Cx. quinquefasciatus lncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azali Azlan
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | | | - Faisal Mohamad
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Ghows Azzam
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
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3
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Henriques BS, Gomes B, Oliveira PL, Garcia EDS, Azambuja P, Genta FA. Characterization of the Temporal Pattern of Blood Protein Digestion in Rhodnius prolixus: First Description of Early and Late Gut Cathepsins. Front Physiol 2021; 11:509310. [PMID: 33519496 PMCID: PMC7838648 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.509310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhodnius prolixus is one important vector for the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi in Latin America, where Chagas disease is a significant health issue. Although R. prolixus is a model for investigations of vector–parasite interaction and transmission, not much has been done recently to further comprehend its protein digestion. In this work, gut proteolysis was characterized using new fluorogenic substrates, including optimum pH, inhibition profiles, and tissue and temporal expression patterns. Each protease possessed a particular tissue prevalence and activity cycle after feeding. Cathepsin L had a higher activity in the posterior midgut lumen, being characterized by a plateau of high activities during several days in the intermediate phase of digestion. Cathepsin D showed high activity levels in the tissue homogenates and in the luminal content of the posterior midgut, with a single peak 5 days after blood feeding. Aminopeptidases are highly associated with the midgut wall, where the highest activity is located. Assays with proteinaceous substrates as casein, hemoglobin, and serum albumin revealed different activity profiles, with some evidence of biphasic temporal proteolytic patterns. Cathepsin D genes are preferentially expressed in the anterior midgut, while cathepsin L genes are mainly located in the posterior portion of the midgut, with specific sets of genes being differently expressed in the initial, intermediate, or late phases of blood digestion. Significance Statement This is the first description in a non-dipteran hematophagous species of a sequential protease secretion system based on midgut cathepsins instead of the most common insect digestive serine proteases (trypsins and chymotrypsins). The midgut of R. prolixus (Hemiptera) shows a different temporal expression of proteases in the initial, intermediate, and late stages of blood digestion. In this respect, a different timing in protease secretion may be an example of adaptative convergence in blood-sucking vectors from different orders. Expanding the knowledge about gut physiology in triatomine vectors may contribute to the development of new control strategies, aiming the blocking of parasite transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Santos Henriques
- Laboratory of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Oswaldo Cruz Institute - Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IOC-FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bruno Gomes
- Laboratory of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Oswaldo Cruz Institute - Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IOC-FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pedro Lagerblad Oliveira
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Molecular Entomology (INCT-EM), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elói de Souza Garcia
- Laboratory of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Oswaldo Cruz Institute - Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IOC-FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology for Molecular Entomology (INCT-EM), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Azambuja
- Laboratory of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Oswaldo Cruz Institute - Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IOC-FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology for Molecular Entomology (INCT-EM), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fernando Ariel Genta
- Laboratory of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Oswaldo Cruz Institute - Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IOC-FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology for Molecular Entomology (INCT-EM), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Aedes aegypti post-emergence transcriptome: Unveiling the molecular basis for the hematophagic and gonotrophic capacitation. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0008915. [PMID: 33406161 PMCID: PMC7815146 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The adult females of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are facultative hematophagous insects but they are unable to feed on blood right after pupae emergence. The maturation process that takes place during the first post-emergence days, hereafter named hematophagic and gonotrophic capacitation, comprises a set of molecular and physiological changes that prepare the females for the first gonotrophic cycle. Notwithstanding, the molecular bases underlying mosquito hematophagic and gonotrophic capacitation remain obscure. Here, we investigated the molecular and biochemical changes in adult Ae. aegypti along the first four days post-emergence, prior to a blood meal. We performed a RNA-Seq analysis of the head and body, comparing male and female gene expression time courses. A total of 811 and 203 genes were differentially expressed, respectively in the body and head, and both body parts showed early, mid, and late female-specific expression profiles. Female-specific up-regulation of genes involved in muscle development and the oxidative phosphorylation pathway were remarkable features observed in the head. Functional assessment of mitochondrial oxygen consumption in heads showed a gradual increase in respiratory capacity and ATP-linked respiration as a consequence of induced mitochondrial biogenesis and content over time. This pattern strongly suggests that boosting oxidative phosphorylation in heads is a required step towards blood sucking habit. Several salivary gland genes, proteases, and genes involved in DNA replication and repair, ribosome biogenesis, and juvenile hormone signaling were up-regulated specifically in the female body, which may reflect the gonotrophic capacitation. This comprehensive description of molecular and biochemical mechanisms of the hematophagic and gonotrophic capacitation in mosquitoes unravels potentially new targets for vector control.
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Insulin Potentiates JAK/STAT Signaling to Broadly Inhibit Flavivirus Replication in Insect Vectors. Cell Rep 2020; 29:1946-1960.e5. [PMID: 31722209 PMCID: PMC6871768 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization estimates that more than half of the world’s population is at risk for vector-borne diseases, including arboviruses. Because many arboviruses are mosquito borne, investigation of the insect immune response will help identify targets to reduce the spread of arboviruses. Here, we use a genetic screening approach to identify an insulin-like receptor as a component of the immune response to arboviral infection. We determine that vertebrate insulin reduces West Nile virus (WNV) replication in Drosophila melanogaster as well as WNV, Zika, and dengue virus titers in mosquito cells. Mechanistically, we show that insulin signaling activates the JAK/STAT, but not RNAi, pathway via ERK to control infection in Drosophila cells and Culex mosquitoes through an integrated immune response. Finally, we validate that insulin priming of adult female Culex mosquitoes through a blood meal reduces WNV infection, demonstrating an essential role for insulin signaling in insect antiviral responses to human pathogens. The world’s population is at risk for infection with several flaviviruses. Ahlers et al. use a living library of insects to determine that an insulin-like receptor controls West Nile virus infection. Insulin signaling is antiviral via the JAK/STAT pathway in both fly and mosquito models and against a range of flaviviruses.
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Catalogue of stage-specific transcripts in Ixodes ricinus and their potential functions during the tick life-cycle. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:311. [PMID: 32546252 PMCID: PMC7296661 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04173-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The castor bean tick Ixodes ricinus is an important vector of several clinically important diseases, whose prevalence increases with accelerating global climate changes. Characterization of a tick life-cycle is thus of great importance. However, researchers mainly focus on specific organs of fed life stages, while early development of this tick species is largely neglected. Methods In an attempt to better understand the life-cycle of this widespread arthropod parasite, we sequenced the transcriptomes of four life stages (egg, larva, nymph and adult female), including unfed and partially blood-fed individuals. To enable a more reliable identification of transcripts and their comparison in all five transcriptome libraries, we validated an improved-fit set of five I. ricinus-specific reference genes for internal standard normalization of our transcriptomes. Then, we mapped biological functions to transcripts identified in different life stages (clusters) to elucidate life stage-specific processes. Finally, we drew conclusions from the functional enrichment of these clusters specifically assigned to each transcriptome, also in the context of recently published transcriptomic studies in ticks. Results We found that reproduction-related transcripts are present in both fed nymphs and fed females, underlining the poorly documented importance of ovaries as moulting regulators in ticks. Additionally, we identified transposase transcripts in tick eggs suggesting elevated transposition during embryogenesis, co-activated with factors driving developmental regulation of gene expression. Our findings also highlight the importance of the regulation of energetic metabolism in tick eggs during embryonic development and glutamate metabolism in nymphs. Conclusions Our study presents novel insights into stage-specific transcriptomes of I. ricinus and extends the current knowledge of this medically important pathogen, especially in the early phases of its development.![]()
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Niu D, Wang R, Zhao Y, Yang R, Hu L. De novo RNA-seq and functional annotation of Ornithonyssus bacoti. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2018; 75:191-208. [PMID: 29855753 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-018-0264-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Ornithonyssus bacoti (Hirst) (Acari: Macronyssidae) is a vector and reservoir of pathogens causing serious infectious diseases, such as epidemic hemorrhagic fever, endemic typhus, tularemia, and leptospirosis. Its genome and transcriptome data are lacking in public databases. In this study, total RNA was extracted from live O. bacoti to conduct RNA-seq, functional annotation, coding domain sequence (CDS) prediction and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) detection. The results showed that 65.8 million clean reads were generated and assembled into 72,185 unigenes, of which 49.4% were annotated by seven functional databases. 23,121 unigenes were annotated and assigned to 457 species by non-redundant protein sequence database. The BLAST top-two hit species were Metaseiulus occidentalis and Ixodes scapularis. The procedure detected 12,426 SSRs, of which tri- and di-nucleotides were the most abundant types and the representative motifs were AAT/ATT and AC/GT. 26,936 CDS were predicted with a mean length of 711 bp. 87 unigenes of 30 functional genes, which are usually involved in stress responses, drug resistance, movement, metabolism and allergy, were further identified by bioinformatics methods. The unigenes putatively encoding cytochrome P450 proteins were further analyzed phylogenetically. In conclusion, this study completed the RNA-seq and functional annotation of O. bacoti successfully, which provides reliable molecular data for its future studies of gene function and molecular markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- DongLing Niu
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - RuiLing Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, China
- Assisted Reproduction Center, Northwest Womens and Childrens Hospital, Xi'an, 710003, China
| | - YaE Zhao
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, China.
| | - Rui Yang
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Li Hu
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, China
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Kumar M, Mohanty AK, Sreenivasamurthy SK, Dey G, Advani J, Pinto SM, Kumar A, Prasad TSK. Response to Blood Meal in the Fat Body of Anopheles stephensi Using Quantitative Proteomics: Toward New Vector Control Strategies Against Malaria. OMICS-A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2017; 21:520-530. [PMID: 28873011 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2017.0092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Malaria remains a grand challenge for disruptive innovation in global health therapeutics and diagnostics. Anopheles stephensi is one of the major vectors of malaria in Asia. Vector and transmission control are key focus areas in the fight against malaria, a field of postgenomics research where proteomics can play a substantive role. Moreover, to identify novel strategies to control the vector population, it is necessary to understand the vector life processes at a global and molecular scale. In this context, fat body is a vital organ required for vitellogenesis, vector immunity, vector physiology, and vector-parasite interaction. Given its central role in energy metabolism, vitellogenesis, and immune function, the proteome profile of the fat body and the impact of blood meal (BM) ingestion on the protein abundances of this vital organ have not been investigated so far. Therefore, using a proteomics approach, we identified the proteins expressed in the fat body of An. stephensi and their differential expression in response to BM ingestion. In all, we identified 3,218 proteins in the fat body using high-resolution mass spectrometry, of which 483 were found to be differentially expressed in response to the BM ingestion. Bioinformatics analysis of these proteins underscored their role in amino acid metabolism, vitellogenesis, lipid transport, signal peptide processing, mosquito immunity, and oxidation-reduction processes. Interestingly, we identified five novel genes, which were found to be differentially expressed upon BM ingestion. Proteins that exhibited altered expression in the present study are potential targets for vector control strategies and development of transmission blocking vaccines in the fight against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Kumar
- 1 Institute of Bioinformatics , Bangalore, India .,2 Manipal University , Manipal, India
| | | | | | - Gourav Dey
- 1 Institute of Bioinformatics , Bangalore, India .,2 Manipal University , Manipal, India
| | - Jayshree Advani
- 1 Institute of Bioinformatics , Bangalore, India .,2 Manipal University , Manipal, India
| | - Sneha M Pinto
- 4 YU-IOB Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya University , Mangalore, India
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- 3 National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR) , Panjim, India
| | - Thottethodi Subrahmanya Keshava Prasad
- 1 Institute of Bioinformatics , Bangalore, India .,4 YU-IOB Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya University , Mangalore, India .,5 NIMHANS-IOB Proteomics and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Neurobiology Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences , Bangalore, India
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Iovinella I, Caputo B, Della Torre A, Dani FR. Wide-scale analysis of protein expression in head and thorax of Aedes albopictus females. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2017; 99:33-38. [PMID: 28285920 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2017.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Revised: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The recently available genome of Aedes albopictus - the most worldwide-spread human arbovirus vector - has revealed a large genome repertory and a great plasticity which are believed to have contributed to the species success as an invasive species and opened the way to genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic studies. We carried out the first wide-scale quantitative proteomic analysis of Ae. albopictus female head and thorax by means of a 'shotgun' approach based on nano liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry associated to protein Label Free Quantification (LFQ) which allows to assess differences in protein expression between tissues and different physiological stages. We identified 886 and 721 proteins in heads and thoraxes respectively, 5 of which were exclusively expressed in thoraxes and 170 in heads, consistently with the more complex head physiology. Head-protein expression was found to be highly divergent between virgin and mated females and limited before and after blood-feeding and oviposition. The large repertoire of proteins identified represents an instrumental source of data for genome annotation and gene-expression studies, and may contribute to studies aimed at investigating the molecular bases of physiological processes of this successful invasive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Iovinella
- Biology Department, Università di Firenze, Italy; Department of Public Health & Infectious Diseases, Università "La Sapienza", Roma, Italy
| | - B Caputo
- Department of Public Health & Infectious Diseases, Università "La Sapienza", Roma, Italy
| | - A Della Torre
- Department of Public Health & Infectious Diseases, Università "La Sapienza", Roma, Italy
| | - F R Dani
- Biology Department, Università di Firenze, Italy; CISM, Mass Spectrometry Centre, Università di Firenze, Italy.
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