Genome-wide phenotypic RNAi screen in the Drosophila wing: Global parameters

We have screened a collection of UAS-RNAi lines targeting 10,920 Drosophila protein-coding genes for phenotypes in the adult wing. We identified 3653 genes (33%) whose knockdown causes either larval/pupal lethality or a mutant phenotype affecting the formation of a normal wing. The most frequent phenotypes consist of changes in wing size, vein differentiation, and patterning, defects in the wing margin and in the apposition of the dorsal and ventral wing surfaces. We also defined 16 functional categories encompassing the most relevant aspect of each protein function and assigned each Drosophila gene to one of these functional groups. This allowed us to identify which mutant phenotypes are enriched within each functional group. Finally, we used previously published gene expression datasets to determine which genes are or are not expressed in the wing disc. Integrating expression, phenotypic and molecular information offers considerable precision to identify the relevant genes affecting wing formation and the biological processes regulated by the

Genome-wide phenotypic RNAi screen in the Drosophila wing: Phenotypic description of functional classes

The Drosophila genome contains approximately 14,000 protein-coding genes encoding all the necessary information to sustain cellular physiology, tissue organization, organism development, and behavior. In this manuscript, we describe in some detail the phenotypes in the adult fly wing generated after knockdown of approximately 80% of Drosophila genes. We combined this phenotypic description with a comprehensive molecular classification of the Drosophila proteins into classes that summarize the main expected or known biochemical/functional aspect of each protein. This information, combined with mRNA expression levels and in situ expression patterns, provides a simplified atlas of the Drosophila genome, from housekeeping proteins to the components of the signaling pathways directing wing development, that might help to further understand the contribution of each gene group to wing formatio

HIV-Positive Men Sexually Active with Women: Sexual Behaviors and Sexual Risks

This study examines patterns of sexual behavior, sexual relating, and sexual risk among HIV-positive men sexually active with women. A total of 278 HIV-positive men were interviewed every 6–12 months between 1994 and 2002 and reported considerable variability in sexual behaviors over time. Many were not sexually active at all for months at a time; many continued to have multiple female and at times male partners. Over one-third of the cohort had one or more periods when they had engaged in unprotected sex with a female partner who was HIV-negative or status unknown (unsafe sex). Periods of unsafe sex alternated with periods of safer sex. Contextual factors such as partner relations, housing status, active drug use, and recently exchanging sex showed the strongest association with increased odds of unsafe sex. A number of predictors of unsafe sex among African American men were not significant among the Latino sub-population, suggesting race/ethnic differences in factors contributing to heterosexual transmission. Implications for prevention interventions are discussed