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Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of related connective tissue disorders consisting of 13 subtypes, each with its own unique phenotypic and genetic variation. The overlap of symptoms and multitude of EDS variations makes it difficult for patients to achieve a diagnosis early in the course of their disease. The most common form, hypermobile type EDS (hEDS) and its variant, hypermobile spectrum disorder (HSD), are correlated with rheumatologic and inflammatory conditions. Evidence is still needed to determine the pathophysiology of hEDS; however, the association among these conditions and their prevalence in hEDS/HSD may be explained through consideration of persistent chronic inflammation contributing to a disruption of the connective tissue. Aberrant mast cell activation has been shown to play a role in disruption of connective tissue integrity through activity of its mediators including histamine and tryptase which affects multiple organ systems resulting in mast cell activation disorders (MCAD). The overlap of findings associated with MCAD and the immune-mediated and rheumatologic conditions in patients with hEDS/HSD may provide an explanation for the relationship among these conditions and the presence of chronic inflammatory processes in these patients. It is clear that a multidisciplinary approach is required for the treatment of patients with EDS. However, it is also important for clinicians to consider the summarized symptoms and MCAD-associated characteristics in patients with multiple complaints as possible manifestations of connective tissue disorders, in order to potentially aid in establishing an early diagnosis of EDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Color vision in Drosophila melanogaster is based on the expression of five different color-sensing Rhodopsin proteins in distinct subtypes of photoreceptor neurons. Promoter regions of less than 300 base pairs are sufficient to reproduce the unique, photoreceptor subtype-specific rhodopsin expression patterns. The underlying cis-regulatory logic remains poorly understood, but it has been proposed that the rhodopsin promoters have a bipartite structure: the distal promoter region directs the highly restricted expression in a specific photoreceptor subtype, while the proximal core promoter region provides general activation in all photoreceptors. Here, we investigate whether the rhodopsin promoters exhibit a strict specialization of their distal (subtype specificity) and proximal (general activation) promoter regions, or if both promoter regions contribute to generating the photoreceptor subtype-specific expression pattern. To distinguish between these two models, we analyze the expression patterns of a set of hybrid promoters that combine the distal promoter region of one rhodopsin with the proximal core promoter region of another rhodopsin. We find that the function of the proximal core promoter regions extends beyond providing general activation: these regions play a previously underappreciated role in generating the non-overlapping expression patterns of the different rhodopsins. Therefore, cis-regulatory motifs in both the distal and the proximal core promoter regions recruit transcription factors that generate the unique rhodopsin patterns in a combinatorial manner. We compare this combinatorial regulatory logic to the regulatory logic of olfactory receptor genes and discuss potential implications for the evolution of rhodopsins. Author summary: Each type of sensory receptor neuron in our body expresses a specific sensory receptor protein, which allows us to detect and discriminate a variety of environmental stimuli. The regulatory logic that controls this spatially precise and highly restricted expression of sensory receptor proteins remains poorly understood. As a model system, we study the mechanisms that control the expression of different color-sensing Rhodopsin proteins in distinct subtypes of Drosophila photoreceptors, which is the basis for color vision. Compact promoter regions of less than 300 base pairs are sufficient to reproduce the non-overlapping rhodopsin patterns. However, the regulatory logic that underlies the combination (sometimes called 'grammar') of the cis-regulatory motifs (sometimes called 'vocabulary') within the rhodopsin promoters remains poorly understood. Here, we find that specific combinations of cis-regulatory motifs in the distal and the proximal core promoter regions of each rhodopsin direct its unique expression pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aedes aegypti is a primary vector of dengue virus (DENV), the causative agent of dengue fever, an arthropod-borne disease of global importance. Although a vaccine has been recommended for prevention, current dengue prevention strategies rely on vector control. Recently, volatile pyrethroids—spatial repellents—have received interest as a novel delivery system for adult Ae. aegypti control. Understanding the full range of behavioral effects spatial repellents elicit in mosquito species will be critical to understanding the overall impact these products have on vector populations and will guide expectations of efficacy against DENV transmission. Methodology/Principal Findings: The current study quantified changes in attraction of gravid Ae. aegypti to experimental oviposition sites following exposure to the spatial repellent transfluthrin. Responses were measured with two-choice olfaction bioassays using ‘sticky-screens’ covering cups to prevent contact with the oviposition substrate. Two cups contained a bacterial attractant composed of four species of bacteria in calcium alginate beads in water and two cups contained only deionized water. Results from 40 replicates (n = 780 females total per treatment) indicated an estimated difference in attraction of 9.35% ± 0.18 (p ≤ 0.003), implying that the transfluthrin-exposed mosquitoes were more attracted to the experimental oviposition sites than the non-exposed mosquitoes. Conclusions/Significance: Findings from this study will further characterize the role of spatial repellents to modify Ae. aegypti behavior related to dengue prevention specifically, and encourage innovation in vector control product development more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue fever is an acute disease caused by the dengue virus and transmitted primarily by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The current strategy for dengue prevention is vector control including the use of topical repellents to reduce mosquito biting. Although N,N-diethyl-m-methylbenzamide (DEET) is the most common active ingredient in topical repellent products, para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) is also used commercially. Studies have indicated PMD reduced biting by 90–95% for up to 6–8 h, similar to the efficacy of DEET, depending on the testing environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the behavioral effects of PMD on Ae. aegypti blood feeding and fecundity to explore the potential impact of PMD on downstream mosquito life-history traits. Two experiments were performed. In both experiments, cohorts of female Ae. aegypti (Belize strain) were exposed to 20% PMD or ethanol for 10 min in a closed system and introduced to an artificial membrane feeding system. Following a 30min feed time, mosquitoes of Experiment 1 were killed and weighed as a proxy measure of blood meal, whereas mosquitoes of Experiment 2 were monitored for oviposition, a measure of fecundity. Results showed a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.001) in the percentage of Ae. aegypti that blood-fed when exposed to PMD (38%) compared to those non-exposed (49%). No significant difference in fecundity between test populations was indicated. These findings suggest that exposure of Ae. aegypti to 20% PMD may influence the probability of subsequent blood feeding but of those mosquitoes that do blood feed, egg-lay density is not affected. Further studies are warranted to investigate the full range of effects of PMD exposure on other Ae. aegypti life-history traits such as mating, to continue characterizing the potential effects of PMD to impact overall vector population dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]