From Microarrays to Behavior: Genes Controlled by Feeding State in Mosquitoes and Flies

Across many species, animals carefully regulate their food intake according to their energy needs. They are able to do so through the ability to sense hunger or satiety cues. In vertebrates, these signals are released by the gastrointestinal tract and by adipose tissue, and reach feeding centers in the brain, where they stimulate the release of peptides that modulate feeding behavior (Benarroch, 2010; Berthoud, 2008). Although many of these neuronal populations have been identified in rodent models, the neural circuitry behind behavioral modification of food intake remains largely unknown. Insects like the blowfly and the locust have classically been used to describe basic features of feeding behavior (Bernays and Chapman, 1974; Dethier, 1976). These animals, as well as vinegar flies and mosquitoes have been shown to modify their feeding behavior according to their internal nutritional status (Edgecomb et al., 1994; Takken et al., 2001). Thus they are good models for examining the question of how this modulation of behavior occurs. Moreover, Drosophila melanogaster has been used to study mechanisms of complex behaviors to great effect, and there are ample genetic tools available to study feeding behavior in this organism (Vosshall, 2007). We set out to identify genes that regulate feeding behavior according to nutritional status. Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes were previously shown to display reduced host-seeking behavior for forty-eight hours after taking a bloodmeal (Takken et al., 2001). We used whole genome microarrays to look for genes that are regulated in olfactory tissue by blood-feeding, and that therefore might function to modify olfactory driven host-seeking behavior according to nutritional state. We found that two odorant receptor genes are significantly regulated by blood-feeding. These are therefore candidate receptors for ligands that are important for host-seeking. We then extended our studies to Drosophila with the goal of identifying novel regulators of post-fasting feeding behavior. First we defined two stereotypical post-fasting behaviors in flies: increased attraction to food odor, and increased consumption of liquid food. We then looked for candidate genes that regulate these behaviors by looking for transcripts that are regulated by fasting and found that 247 genes in the head are significantly regulated by nutritional status. Finally, we carried out a targeted genetic screen using RNA interference against these candidate genes. We looked for flies that show a defective post fasting food intake response, and found eleven genes that cause such a behavioral disruption. These genes may represent novel regulators of hunger and satiety in insects, laying the groundwork for future studies of modification of feeding behavior

Short communication: Age and growth of king nase, Condrostoma regium (Cyprinidae), from Bibi-Sayyedan River of Semirom, Isfahan, Iran

Age determination is an important step in fisheries management. The cyprinid fish Chondrostoma regium (Heckel, 1843) is widely distributed in Tigris-Euphrates basin and the Mediterranean basins of southeastern Turkey and the northern Levant. In Iran, it is found in Karun and Karkheh Rivers, the Hoor-al-Azim Marsh and also in Zayandehrud River and Bushehr basin. This species is not found in other basins of Iran. However, there is little information about its habitat requirements. ... The aim of the present study was to investigate the length-weight relationship and age and growth of C. regium population in Bibi-Sayyedan River of Semirom, Isfahan as a tributary of Tigris basin in Iran

Effects of salinity, temperature, light intensity and light regimes on production, growth and reproductive parameters of Apocyclops dengizicus

The effects of salinity, temperature, and light conditions on production and development, longevity, survival and sex ratios of the cyclopoid copepod, A. dengizicus were determined. Seven different salinity levels (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 psu), four temperatures (20, 25, 30, 35 °C), three different light intensities (33.3, 85.3, 162.1 μmol photons/ m^2/ s) and light regimes (24:0, 0:24, and 12:12 h light:dark regime) were employed. The highest production was achieved under 20 psu salinity. The optimum temperature required for the maximum reproduction and shortest development time was 35 °C. The production was highest (p<.05) and development rate of A. dengizicus was shortest (p<.05) under the lowest light intensity (33.3 μmol photons/ m^2/ s). Continuous light (24:0 h LD) showed positive effects on growth and production. Light regimes 24:0 h and 12:12 h LD yielded the highest total production and growth (p<.05), with highest (p<.05) survival percentage. This study demonstrated that A. dengizicus can tolerate wide range of environmental conditions and can be cultured for commercial live feed purposes as well as toxicity studies

A Comparative Study of Environmental Education Goals and its Related Activities in Iran and Selected Countries in order to suggest activities to for Iran

In this paper the attention has been paid to goals of the environmental education and related activities in Sweden, Australia, Canada, Turkey and Iran through a comparative and analytical method .In this regard, in addition to review documents of Iran and selected countries in the field of environmental education, interviews done with 12 experts in Tehran and Isfahan. To select these experts chain sampling method was used and the interviews with environmental experts executed until data saturation. In aim section, the prevailing view in all countries is sustainable development. In goals section, there was similarities in the development of knowledge, skills and positive attitude to nature. In part of activities related to environmental education, there is a significant gap between selected countries with Iran. On the other hand, it can be stated that this gap has been caused by a Gap between the intended purpose of the program and its implementation in Iran. At the end, localized actions have been proposed regarding the objectives of environmental education

Newborn dried blood spots for serologic surveys of COVID-19

There is an urgent need for inexpensive, population-wide surveillance testing for COVID-19. We tested newborn dried blood spot (DBS) anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies for all infants born at Yale from March to May 2020, and found that newborn DBS serologies reflect maternal and population-wide infection rates during the study period. This suggests a role for DBS in COVID-19 surveillance in areas where viral testing is limited

A unique maternal and placental galectin signature upon SARS-CoV-2 infection suggests galectin-1 as a key alarmin at the maternal–fetal interface

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic imposed a risk of infection and disease in pregnant women and neonates. Successful pregnancy requires a fine-tuned regulation of the maternal immune system to accommodate the growing fetus and to protect the mother from infection. Galectins, a family of β-galactoside–binding proteins, modulate immune and inflammatory processes and have been recognized as critical factors in reproductive orchestration, including maternal immune adaptation in pregnancy. Pregnancy-specific glycoprotein 1 (PSG1) is a recently identified gal-1 ligand at the maternal–fetal interface, which may facilitate a successful pregnancy. Several studies suggest that galectins are involved in the immune response in SARS-CoV-2–infected patients. However, the galectins and PSG1 signature upon SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination during pregnancy remain unclear. In the present study, we examined the maternal circulating levels of galectins (gal-1, gal-3, gal-7, and gal-9) and PSG1 in pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 before vaccination or uninfected women who were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 and correlated their expression with different pregnancy parameters. SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination during pregnancy provoked an increase in maternal gal-1 circulating levels. On the other hand, levels of PSG1 were only augmented upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. A healthy pregnancy is associated with a positive correlation between gal-1 concentrations and gal-3 or gal-9; however, no correlation was observed between these lectins during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Transcriptome analysis of the placenta showed that gal-1, gal-3, and several PSG and glycoenzymes responsible for the synthesis of gal-1-binding glycotopes (such as linkage-specific N-acetyl-glucosaminyltransferases (MGATs)) are upregulated in pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2. Collectively, our findings identify a dynamically regulated “galectin-specific signature” that accompanies the SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in pregnancy, and they highlight a potentially significant role for gal-1 as a key pregnancy protective alarmin during virus infection

Single-cell multi-omics reveals dyssynchrony of the innate and adaptive immune system in progressive COVID-19.

Dysregulated immune responses against the SARS-CoV-2 virus are instrumental in severe COVID-19. However, the immune signatures associated with immunopathology are poorly understood. Here we use multi-omics single-cell analysis to probe the dynamic immune responses in hospitalized patients with stable or progressive course of COVID-19, explore V(D)J repertoires, and assess the cellular effects of tocilizumab. Coordinated profiling of gene expression and cell lineage protein markers shows that S100

Tracking smell loss to identify healthcare workers with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Introduction Healthcare workers (HCW) treating COVID-19 patients are at high risk for infection and may also spread infection through their contact with vulnerable patients. Smell loss has been associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, but it is unknown whether monitoring for smell loss can be used to identify asymptomatic infection among high risk individuals. In this study we sought to determine if tracking smell sensitivity and loss using an at-home assessment could identify SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCW. Methods and findings We performed a prospective cohort study tracking 473 HCW across three months to determine if smell loss could predict SARS-CoV-2 infection in this high-risk group. HCW subjects completed a longitudinal, behavioral at-home assessment of olfaction with household items, as well as detailed symptom surveys that included a parosmia screening questionnaire, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction testing to identify SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our main measures were the prevalence of smell loss in SARS-CoV-2-positive HCW versus SARS-CoV- 2-negative HCW, and timing of smell loss relative to SARS-CoV-2 test positivity. SARS-CoV-2 was identified in 17 (3.6%) of 473 HCW. HCW with SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to report smell loss than SARS-CoV-2-negative HCW on both the at-home assessment and the screening questionnaire (9/17, 53% vs 105/456, 23%, P < .01). 6/9 (67%) of SARS-CoV-2-positive HCW reporting smell loss reported smell loss prior to having a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, and smell loss was reported a median of two days before testing positive. Neurological symptoms were reported more frequently among SARS-CoV-2-positive HCW who reported smell loss compared to those without smell loss (9/9, 100% vs 3/8, 38%, P < .01). Conclusions In this prospective study of HCW, self-reported changes in smell using two different measures were predictive of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Smell loss frequently preceded a positive test and was associated with neurological symptoms

A Maternal Influence on Reading the Mind in the Eyes Mediated by Executive Function: Differential Parental Influences on Full and Half-Siblings

BACKGROUND: Parent-of-origin effects have been found to influence the mammalian brain and cognition and have been specifically implicated in the development of human social cognition and theory of mind. The experimental design in this study was developed to detect parent-of-origin effects on theory of mind, as measured by the 'Reading the mind in the eyes' (Eyes) task. Eyes scores were also entered into a principal components analysis with measures of empathy, social skills and executive function, in order to determine what aspect of theory of mind Eyes is measuring. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Maternal and paternal influences on Eyes scores were compared using correlations between pairs of full (70 pairs), maternal (25 pairs) and paternal siblings (15 pairs). Structural equation modelling supported a maternal influence on Eyes scores over the normal range but not low-scoring outliers, and also a sex-specific influence on males acting to decrease male Eyes scores. It was not possible to differentiate between genetic and environmental influences in this particular sample because maternal siblings tended to be raised together while paternal siblings were raised apart. The principal components analysis found Eyes was associated with measures of executive function, principally behavioural inhibition and attention, rather than empathy or social skills. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: In conclusion, the results suggest a maternal influence on Eye scores in the normal range and a sex-specific influence acting to reduce scores in males. This influence may act via aspects of executive function such as behavioural inhibition and attention. There may be different influences acting to produce the lowest Eyes scores which implies that the heratibility and/or maternal influence on poor theory of mind skills may be qualitatively different to the influence on the normal range