Dengue Virus Infection of Aedes aegypti Requires a Putative Cysteine Rich Venom Protein

Citation: Londono-Renteria, B., Troupin, A., Conway, M. J., Vesely, D., Ledizet, M., Roundy, C. M., . . . Colpitts, T. M. (2015). Dengue Virus Infection of Aedes aegypti Requires a Putative Cysteine Rich Venom Protein. Plos Pathogens, 11(10), 23. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1005202Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes serious human disease and mortality worldwide. There is no specific antiviral therapy or vaccine for DENV infection. Alterations in gene expression during DENV infection of the mosquito and the impact of these changes on virus infection are important events to investigate in hopes of creating new treatments and vaccines. We previously identified 203 genes that were >= 5-fold differentially upregulated during flavivirus infection of the mosquito. Here, we examined the impact of silencing 100 of the most highly upregulated gene targets on DENV infection in its mosquito vector. We identified 20 genes that reduced DENV infection by at least 60% when silenced. We focused on one gene, a putative cysteine rich venom protein (SeqID AAEL000379; CRVP379), whose silencing significantly reduced DENV infection in Aedes aegypti cells. Here, we examine the requirement for CRVP379 during DENV infection of the mosquito and investigate the mechanisms surrounding this phenomenon. We also show that blocking CRVP379 protein with either RNAi or specific antisera inhibits DENV infection in Aedes aegypti. This work identifies a novel mosquito gene target for controlling DENV infection in mosquitoes that may also be used to develop broad preventative and therapeutic measures for multiple flaviviruses

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Relationship Between Allied Health Student\u27s Behavioral Style and Ideal Clinical Instructor Behaviors

Purpose: The focus of this research is to understand the relationship between students\u27 primary DISC behavioral styles (dominant, influencing, steadiness, compliance) and their perception of ideal clinical instructor behaviors. A review of the literature supports the connection between the behaviors of the clinical instructor (CI) and the success of the allied health professional student (AHPS). Additionally, a body of research supports the connection between DISC behavioral styles and student success. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between AHPS primary DISC behavioral styles and their perception of the ideal CI behaviors. Methods: A total number of n=90 participants completed the Allied Health Professional Preceptor Assessment exploring ideal CI behaviors and the DISC assessment across the three disciplines of athletic training (14), exercises science (7), and physical therapy (69). Results: S (steadiness) scores had the highest frequency (53.3%), followed by I (influencing) (22.2%), then C (compliance) (13.3.7%), and lastly, D (dominant) (11.1%). Using regression modeling, the D model (p=0.01) and the S model (pConclusion:This study provides preliminary evidence for the DISC behavioral assessment as a tool to inform CIs in ways to engage AHPS effectively. The findings of this study provide applicable techniques for CIs mentoring students with D, S, and C primary behavioral styles. Further research is warranted to determine engagement strategies for I primary behavioral styles. By leveraging these findings, clinical education programs can provide CIs with simple behavioral techniques to best engage students based on the student\u27s primary behavioral style