Researchers from airmid healthgroup and Maynooth University Department of Biology have published the successful genome sequencing and investigation of the proteome and allergenome of the European house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus). DUBLIN (PRWEB) June 03, 2019 House dust mites are a significant source of indoor allergens worldwide and contribute to the exacerbation of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. They are known to contain allergens, proteins that can elicit...
Natasha Gordon
Natasha Gordon PhD is Lead R&D Scientist at airmid healthgroup.
Bed Bugs – Back With a Bite
Natasha Gordon PhD outlines the re-emergence of these nocturnal pests “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite!” Growing up, many of us would have heard this saying, yet most children were probably unaware of what a bed bug was. Although bed bugs have developed a special relationship with humans throughout history and been documented as far back as ancient Greece and Rome, after World War II these pests had all but been eradicated by the use of DDT. This may be changing, however....
Bed bug feeding methods for laboratory maintenance
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius & Cimex hemipterus) are nocturnal feeding insects that feed solely on blood from sleeping humans or other warm blooded animals. While bed bugs were a known pest to humans from the time of the Greek and Roman empires, since the 1950s their numbers had been in decline due to the widespread use of insecticides such as DTT (dichlorodipenyltrichloroethane)1, 2. However in the early 2000s a resurgence of bed bugs began in major cities worldwide. The rapid...
Bed Bug Feeding: The Petri Dish Method (Part 3/3)
This method involves petri dishes, a heating plate/mat and a plastic membrane - Parafilm ‘M’. A small amount of blood is placed into the lid of a petri dish, which is then covered with stretched parafilm ‘M’ plastic. The bottom of the petri dish is used to push down the parafilm so that it is in contact with the blood. A hotplate is used to keep the temperature of the blood at 37°C and the insect containers are placed upside down on the parafilm so that the bed bugs can feed through...
Bed Bug Feeding: The Water Bath Method (Part 2/3)
Last week, we discussed the most effective bed bug feeding method—the live host method using human and animal blood—as well as its shortcomings. In this week's installment of our three-part series on bed bug research, we will cover the first of the two main artificial feeding methods in use today: the water bath method. Perhaps the most widely-used method, the water bath method was developed by Montes et al. (2002) and involves specialized glassware, a circulating water bath and a plastic...
Bed Bug Feeding: The Water Bath Method (Part 2/3)
Montes. Maintenance of Laboratory Colony. Last week, we discussed the most effective bed bug feeding method—the live host method using human and animal blood—as well as its shortcomings. In this week's installment of our three-part series on bed bug research, we will cover the first of the two main artificial feeding methods in use today: the water bath method. Perhaps the most widely-used method, the water bath method was developed by Montes et al. (2002) and involves...
Bed Bug Feeding: The Live Host Method (Part 1/3)
Goddard. Feeding by the Common Bedbug. 2009. In the first part of our three-part series on bed bug research, we will cover the most effective method of feeding laboratory reared bed bug colonies in terms of cost and reliability—the live host method. Humans or animals can be used and while both methods are effective, each presents its own challenges. As in nature, bed bugs feed on human blood, making a human volunteer the most direct option. When using human hosts, the bed bugs are held in an...
Bed Bug Feeding: The Live Host Method (Part 1/3)
Goddard. Feeding by the Common Bedbug. 2009. In the first part of our three-part series on bed bug research, we will cover the most effective method of feeding laboratory reared bed bug colonies in terms of cost and reliability—the live host method. Humans or animals can be used and while both methods are effective, each presents its own challenges. As in nature, bed bugs feed on human blood, making a human volunteer the most direct option. When using human hosts, the bed bugs are held...
Bed Bug Feeding: airmid healthgroup Presents a Three-Part Blog Series
It’s summer—the prime time of the year for travel. Yet, with the hustle and bustle of hotels, luggage, airports, and rental cars, summer travelling also starkly correlates with rises in bed bug problems. To assist in tackling this issue, airmid healthgroup presents a special three-part blog series to provide advice to researchers looking to combat the spread of these insects. Over the nextthreeweeks, airmid healthgroup will discuss methods to keep bed bugs alive for research and their...
Bed Bug Feeding: airmid healthgroup Presents a Three-Part Blog Series
It’s summer—the prime time of the year for travel. Yet, with the hustle and bustle of hotels, luggage, airports, and rental cars, summer travelling also starkly correlates with rises in bed bug problems. To assist in tackling this issue, airmid healthgroup presents a special three-part blog series to provide advice to researchers looking to combat the spread of these insects. Over the next three weeks, airmid healthgroup will discuss methods to keep bed bugs alive for research and their...