Biology subjects

Zeng, F.

Publications and source records attributed to Zeng, F..

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2020

Comprehensive genome sequencing analysis as a promising option in the prenatal diagnosis of fetal structural anomalies: a prospective study.

PurposeGenome sequencing (GS) is a powerful tool for postnatal genetic diagnosis, but relevant clinical studies in the field of prenatal diagnosis are few. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of GS as a first-line approach in prenatal diagnosis and compare its clinical value with the chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) plus exome sequencing (ES) sequential testing. MethodsWe applied trio GS ([~]40-fold) in parallel with CMA plus ES to investigate the genetic basis for structural or growth anomalies in 111 fetuses and compared their results. ResultsGS covered all genetic variants in 22 diagnosed cases detected by CMA plus ES, yielding a diagnostic rate of 19.8% (22/110). Moreover, GS provided more comprehensive and precise genetic information than CMA plus ES, revealing twin fetuses with an imbalanced translocation arising from a balanced paternal translocation and one fetus with an extra pathogenic variant in the GJA8 gene, and incidentally identified intrauterine CMV infection in a growth-restricted fetus. ConclusionCompared with CMA plus ES, GS offers a more comprehensive view of the genetic etiology of fetal anomalies and provides clues for nongenetic factors such as intrauterine infection. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of GS as a promising first-line test in prenatal diagnosis.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

Species packing and the latitudinal gradient in local beta-diversity

The decline in species richness at higher latitudes is among the most fundamental patterns in ecology. Whether changes in species composition across space (beta-diversity) contribute to this gradient of overall species richness (gamma-diversity) remains hotly debated. Previous studies that failed to resolve the issue suffered from a well-known tendency for small samples in areas with high gamma-diversity to have inflated measures of beta-diversity. Here, we provide here a novel analytical test, using beta-diversity metrics that correct the gamma-diversity and sampling biases, to compare beta-diversity and species packing across a latitudinal gradient in tree species richness of 21 large forest plots along a large environmental gradient in East Asia. We demonstrate that after accounting for topography and correcting the gamma-diversity bias, tropical forests still have higher beta-diversity than temperate analogs. This suggests that beta-diversity contributes to the latitudinal species richness gradient as a component of gamma-diversity. Moreover, both niche specialization and niche marginality (a measure of niche spacing along an environmental gradient) also increase towards the equator, after controlling for the effect of topographic heterogeneity. This supports the joint importance of tighter species packing and larger niche space in tropical forests while also demonstrating the importance of local processes in controlling beta-diversity.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2020

Molecular Functions of Conserved Developmentally-Regulated GTP-Binding Protein Drg1 in Translation

Conserved developmentally-regulated GTP-binding (Drg) proteins and their binding partner Dfrp proteins are known to be important for embryonic development, cellular growth control, differentiation and proliferation. Here, we report that the yeast Drg1/Dfrp1 ortholog, Rbg1/Tma46, facilitates translational initiation, elongation and termination via suppressing prolonged ribosome pausing. Consistent with the genome-wide observations, Rbg1 reverses the growth defect resulting from translation stalling and stabilizes mRNAs against no-go decay. Furthermore, we provide a cryoEM structure of the 80S ribosome bound with Rbg1/Tma46 that reveals the molecular interactions responsible for Rbg1/Tma46 function. The Rbg1 subunit binds to the GTPase association center of the ribosome and the A-tRNA, and the N-terminal zinc finger domain of Tma46 subunit binds to the 40S, establishing an interaction critical for the complex ribosomal association. Our results answer the fundamental question on how a paused ribosome resumes translation and show that Drg1/Dfrp1 proteins play a critical role in ensuring orderly translation.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2020

Performance characterization of PCR-free whole genome sequencing for clinical diagnosis

PurposeTo evaluate the performance of PCR-free whole genome sequencing (WGS) for clinical diagnosis, and thereby revealing how experimental parameters affect variant detection. MethodsAll the 5 NA12878 samples were sequenced using MGISEQ-2000. NA12878 samples underwent WGS with differing DNA input and library preparation protocol (PCR-based versus PCR-free protocols for library preparation). The DP (depth of coverage) and GQ (genotype quality) of each sample were compared. We developed a systematic WGS pipeline for the analysis of down-sampling samples of the 5 NA12878 samples. The performance of each sample was measured for sensitivity, coverage of depth and breadth of coverage of disease-related genes and CNVs. ResultsIn general, NA12878-2 (PCR-free WGS) showed better DP and GQ distribution than NA12878-1 (PCR-based WGS). With a mean depth of ~40X, the sensitivity of homozyous and heterozygous SNPs of NA12878-2 showed higher sensitivity (>99.77% and > 99.82%) than NA12878-1, and positive predictive value (PPV) exceeded 99.98% and 99.07%. The sensitivity and PPV of homozygous and heterozygous indels for NA12878-2 (PCR-free WGS) showed great improvement than NA128878-1. The breadths of coverage for disease-related genes and CNVs are slightly better for samples with PCR-free library preparation protocol than the sample with PCR-based library preparation protocol. DNA input also influences the performance of variant detection in samples with PCR-free WGS. ConclusionDifferent experimental parameters may affect variant detection for clinical WGS. Clinical scientists should know the range of sensitivity of variants for different methods of WGS, which would be useful when interpreting and delivering clinical reports.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2020

Foundation species across a latitudinal gradient in China

AbstractFoundation species play important roles in structuring forest communities and ecosystems. Foundation species are difficult to identify without long-term observations or experiments and their foundational roles rarely are identified before they are declining or threatened. We used new statistical criteria based on size-frequency distributions, species diversity, and spatial codispersion among woody plants to identify potential ("candidate") foundation species in 12 large forest dynamics plots spanning 26 degrees of latitude in China. We used these data to identify a suite of candidate foundation species in Chinese forests; test the hypothesis that foundation woody plant species are more frequent in the temperate zone than in the tropics; and compare these results with comparable data from the Americas to suggest candidate foundation genera in Northern Hemisphere forests. We identified more candidate foundation species in temperate plots than in subtropical or tropical plots, and this relationship was independent of the latitudinal gradient in overall species richness. Two species of Acer, the canopy tree Acer ukurunduense and the shrubby treelet Acer barbinerve were the only two species that met both criteria in full to be considered as candidate foundation species. When we relaxed the diversity criteria, Acer, Tilia, and Juglans spp., and Corlyus mandshurica were frequently identified as candidate foundation species. In tropical plots, the tree Mezzettiopsis creaghii and the shrubs or treelets Aporusa yunnanensis and Ficus hispida had some characteristics associated with foundation species. Species diversity of co-occurring woody species was negatively associated with basal area of candidate foundation species more frequently at 5- and 10-m spatial grains (scale) than at a 20-m grain. Conversely, Bray-Curtis dissimilarity was positively associated with basal area of candidate foundation species more frequently at 5-m than at 10- or 20-m grains. Our data support the hypothesis that foundation species should be more common in temperate than in tropical or boreal forests, and suggest that in the Northern Hemisphere that Acer be investigated further as a foundation tree genus.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2020

Schistosoma Japonicum infection in Treg-specific USP21 knock-out mice

USP21, an E3 de-ubiquitin enzyme playing vital roles in physiological activities, is important for Treg cells to maintain immune homeostasis and control immune tolerance. To understand its diverse functions and potential mechanism is essential for disease development. We, using the USP21 gene-conditional knock-out mice model of Schistosoma Japonicum infection, found more cercariae developed into adults, and more eggs deposited in the liver in KO mice. However, immunohistochemistry showed the degree and the area of egg granuloma and liver fibrosis were both reduced. This suggested knock-out USP21 did affect the immunoregulation between schistosomes and the host. In KO mice the content of IFN-gamma and IL-4, and the expression of anti-SEA IgG and anti-SWAP IgG both increased in the liver, spleen and blood by flow cytometry, while the content of IL-10, lL-17A, IL-23, IL-9 and the expression of USP21 and anti-SEA IgM decreased. This indicated USP21-knockout-Tregs promoted both Th1-type and Th2-type immunity and inhibited other immunities during schistosomes infection, which disordered the host immunity. This study revealed the immunomodulatory of USP21 and preliminarily suggests it might be essential to regulate the complex immune network between the host and schistosomes. USP21 provides a new possible target for schistosomiasis treatment in the future. Author summarySchistosomiasis is a common neglected tropical disease that affects more than 230 million people worldwide. Therefore, the study on the mechanism of immune interaction between schistosomas and the host is not only helpful for the understanding of immune homeostasis, but also helpful for the further development of the treatment of schistosomiasis. Ubiquitin Specific Protease 21(USP21) has been shown to be involved in the regulation of many biological processes, such as maintaining immune homeostasis and regulating cell growth. Here, we observed that the specific deletion of USP21 led to the decrease of mices ability to resist schistosomes infection and promoted the survival of schistosomes. It was also proved that unstable regulatory T cells would produce polarization phenomenon and promote differentiation to helper T cells, which would lead to disorder of immune response in mice. However, this process reduced the serious immune pathological damage caused by egg granuloma. Our findings reveal that USP21 may be an important molecule regulating immune interaction between Schistosoma japonicum and the host.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA): A Comprehensive Resource with Functional Genomic Data for Chinese Glioma Patients

Gliomas are the most common and malignant intracranial tumours in adults. Recent studies have shown that functional genomics greatly aids in the understanding of the pathophysiology and therapy of glioma. However, comprehensive genomic data and analysis platforms are relatively limited. In this study, we developed the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA, http://www.cgga.org.cn), a user-friendly data portal for storage and interactive exploration of multi-dimensional functional genomic data that includes nearly 2,000 primary and recurrent glioma samples from Chinese cohorts. CGGA currently provides access to whole-exome sequencing (286 samples), messenger RNA sequencing (1,018 samples) and microarray (301 samples), DNA methylation microarray (159 samples), and microRNA microarray (198 samples) data, as well as detailed clinical data (e.g., WHO grade, histological type, critical molecular genetic information, age, sex, chemoradiotherapy status and survival data). In addition, we developed an analysis tool to allow users to browse mutational, mRNA/microRNA expression, and DNA methylation profiles and perform survival and correlation analyses of specific glioma subtypes. CGGA greatly reduces the barriers between complex functional genomic data and glioma researchers who seek rapid, intuitive, and high-quality access to data resources and enables researchers to use these immeasurable data sources for biological research and clinical application. Importantly, the free provision of data will allow researchers to quickly generate and provide data to the research community.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

Predicting long-term multicategory cause of death in patients with prostate cancer: random forest versus multinomial model

Patients with prostate cancer more likely die of non-cancer cause of death (COD) than prostate cancer. It is thus important to accurately predict multi-category COD in these patients. Random forest (RF), a popular machine learning model, has been shown useful for predicting binary cancer-specific deaths. However, its accuracy for predicting multi-category COD in cancer patients is unclear. We included patients in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-18 cancer registry-program with prostate cancer diagnosed in 2004 (followed-up through 2016). They were randomly divided into training and testing sets with equal sizes. We evaluated prediction accuracies of RF and conventional-statistical/multinomial models for 6-category COD by data-encoding types using the 2-fold cross-validation approach. Among 49,864 prostate cancer patients, 29,611 (59.4%) were alive at the end of follow-up, and 5,448 (10.9%) died of cardiovascular disease, 4,607 (9.2%) of prostate cancer, 3,681 (7.4%) of Non-Prostate cancer, 717 (1.4%) of infection, and 5,800 (11.6%) of other causes. We predicted 6-category COD among these patients with a mean accuracy of 59.1% (n=240, 95% CI, 58.7%-59.4%) in RF models with one-hot encoding, and 50.4% (95% CI, 49.7%-51.0%) in multinomial models. Tumor characteristics, prostate-specific antigen level, and diagnosis confirmation-method were important in RF and multinomial models. In RF models, no statistical differences were found between the accuracies of development versus cross validation phases, and those of categorical versus one-hot encoding. We here report a RF model that has an accuracy of 59.1% in predicting long-term 6-category COD among prostate cancer patients. It outperforms multinomial logistic models (absolute prediction-accuracy difference, 8.7%).

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2019

Impact of ultrasonography on identifying noninvasive prenatal screening false-negative aneuploidy

PurposeTo evaluate the impact of ultrasonography (US) on identifying noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) false-negative aneuploidy.\n\nMethodsAnalysis of large population-based NIPS false-negative aneuploidy data comprising karyotypes, clinical outcomes, and US results.\n\nResultsFrom December 2010 to July 2018, a total of 3,320,457 pregnancies were screened by NIPS performed in BGI; among them, 69 NIPS false-negative aneuploidy cases with informed consent were confirmed, and US examination data for 48 cases were not available. Of the 21 cases with US results, 19 (90.5%) had various abnormalities on ultrasound, and 2 (9.5%) cases were shown to be normal on ultrasound. Additionally, 6 out of 7 live born fetuses (approximately 85.7%) were found to have abnormalities on ultrasound. Ventricular septal defects constituted the most frequently observed ultrasound abnormality type among the 21 NIPS false-negative aneuploidy cases.\n\nConclusionNIPS has expanded rapidly worldwide and now accounts for a large proportion of prenatal screening tests in China. This study suggests that abnormal US findings should not be neglected, even when NIPS produces a negative result. Combining NIPS with an US examination can further reduce the incidence of livebirths with aneuploidy.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2019

Odorant receptors from Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti sensitive to floral compounds

Mosquitoes rely heavily on the olfactory system to find a host for a bloodmeal, plants for a source of energy and suitable sites for oviposition. Here, we examined a cluster of 8 odorant receptors (ORs), which includes one OR, CquiOR1, previously identified to be sensitive to plant-derived compounds. We cloned 5 ORs from Culex quinquefasciatus and 2 ORs from Aedes aegypti, ie, CquiOR2, CquiOR4, CquiOR5, CquiOR84, CquiOR85, AaegOR14, and AaegOR15 and then deorphanized these receptors using the Xenopus oocyte recording system and a large panel of odorants. 2-Phenylethanol, phenethyl formate, and phenethyl propionate were the best ligands for CquiOR4 somewhat resembling the profile of AaegOR15, which gave the strongest responses to phenethyl propionate, phenethyl formate, and acetophenone. In contrast, the best ligands for CquiOR5 were linalool, PMD, and linalool oxide. CquiOR4 was predominantly expressed in antennae of nonblood fed female mosquitoes, with transcript levels significantly reduced after a blood meal. 2-Phenylethanol showed repellency activity comparable to that of DEET at 1%. RNAi experiments suggest that at least in part 2-phenylethanol-elicited repellency is mediated by CquiOR4 activation.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2019

Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Based on the Direct Haplotype Phasing

ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate the validity of noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) based on direct haplotype phasing without the proband and its feasibility for clinical application in the case of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).\n\nMethodsThirteen singleton-pregnancy families affected by DMD were recruited. Firstly, we resolved maternal haplotypes for each family by performing targeted linked-read sequencing of their high molecular weight DNA, respectively. Then, we identified SNPs of the DMD gene in all carrier mothers and inferred the DMD gene mutation status of all fetuses. Finally, the fetal genotypes were further validated by using chorionic villus sampling.\n\nResultsThe method of directly resolving maternal haplotype through targeted linked-read sequencing was smoothly performed in all participated families. The predicted mutational status of 13 fetuses was correct, which had been confirmed by invasive prenatal diagnosis.\n\nConclusionDirect haplotyping of NIPD based on linked-read sequencing for DMD is accurate.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2019

DEET and other repellents are inhibitors of mosquito odorant receptors for oviposition attractants

In addition to its primary function as an insect repellent, DEET has many \"off-label\" properties, including a deterrent effect on attraction of gravid female mosquitoes. DEET negatively affects oviposition sites. While deorphanizing odorant receptors (ORs) using the Xenopus oocyte recording system, we have previously observed that DEET generated outward (inhibitory) currents on ORs sensitive to oviposition attractants. Here, we systematically investigated these inhibitory currents. We recorded dose-dependent outward currents elicited by DEET and other repellents on ORs from Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti, and Anopheles gambiae. Similar responses were observed with other plant-derived and plant-inspired compounds, including methyl jasmonate and methyl dihydrojasmolate. Inward (regular) currents elicited by skatole upon activation of CquiOR21 were modulated when this oviposition attractant was coapplied with a repellent. Compounds that generate outward currents in ORs sensitive to oviposition attractants elicited inward currents in a DEET-sensitive receptor, CquiOR136. The best ligand for this receptor, methyl dihydrojasmolate, showed repellency activity, but was not as strong as DEET in our test protocol.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

A simple and efficient CRISPR technique for protein tagging

Genetic knock-in using homology directed repair is an inefficient process, requiring selection of few modified cells and hindering its application to primary cells. Here we describe Homology independent gene Tagging (HiTag), a method to tag a protein of interest by CRISPR in up to 66% transfected cells with one single electroporation. The technique has proven effective in various cell types, can be used to knock in a fluorescent protein for live cell imaging, to modify the cellular location of a target protein and to monitor levels of a protein of interest by a luciferase assay in primary cells.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Abnormal LTR retrotransposons formed by the recombination outside the host genome

Long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons are the dominant feature of higher plant genomes, which have a similar life cycle with retrovirus. Previous studies cannot account for all observed complex LTR retrotransposon patterns. In this study, we first identified 63 complex LTR retrotransposons in rice genome, and most of complex elements harbored flanking target-site duplications (TSDs). But these complex elements in which outermost LTRs had not the most highly homologous cant be explained. We propose a new model that the homologous recombination of two new different normal LTR retrotransposon elements in the same family can occur before their integration to the rice genome. The model can explain at least fourteen complex retrotransposons formations. We also find that normal LTR retrotransposons can swap their LTRs to generate abnormal LTR retrotransposons in which LTRs are different because of homologous recombination before their integration to the genome.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2018

Molecular characterization of the viral structural gene of the first dengue virus type 1 outbreak in Xishuangbanna, a border area of China, Burma and Laos

In the context of recent arbovirus epidemics, dengue fever is becoming a greater concern around the world. In August 2017, Xishuangbanna, which is a border city of China, Burma and Laos, had its first major dengue outbreak. A total of 156 serum samples from febrile patients were collected; 97 DENV positive serum samples were screened out, and viral RNAs were successfully and directly extracted, including 77 cases from China and 20 cases from Myanmar. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all of the strains were classified as DENV-1. There are eight epidemic dengue strains from Myanmar and 74 from Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, that were classified as cluster 1, which are the most similar to the strain of China Guangzhou 2011. There are three epidemic strains from Xishuangbanna Mengla that were classified as cluster 2, which have the closest relationship to the strain of China Hubei 2014. However, there are 12 epidemic strains from Myanmar that were classified as cluster 3, which have the closest relationship to the strain of Laos from 2008, which shows that there is a recycling epidemic trend of DENV in China. There were 236 mutations in the base, which caused 31 nonsynonymous mutations in the DENV structural protein C/prM/E genes when the strain of Xishuangbanna and Myanmar were compared with the DENV-1SS. There is no clear homologous recombination signal among these stains. Homology modeling possibly predicted a three-dimensional structure of the structural protein of these strains and revealed that they had the same three-dimensional structure and all had five predicted protein binding sites, but there are differences in binding site 434 (DENV-1SS: Thr434, DV-Jinghong: Ser434, DV-Myanmar: Ser434, DV-Mengla: Ser434). The results of the molecular clock phylogenetic and demographic reconstruction analysis show that DENV-1 became highly diversified in 1972 followed by a slightly decreased period until 2017. In conclusion, our study lays the foundation for studying the global evolution and prevalence of DENV.\n\nAuthor SummaryDengue fever (DF) is a mosquito-borne illness caused by a flavivirus. Human infections with Dengue virus (DENV) could cause fever, cutaneous rash and malaise. Xishuangbanna, which is located in the southwestern Yunnan Province and is a border city with China, Burma and Laos, was reported to have outbreak of DENV in 2013 and 2015 with different types. However, there was a large outburst of dengue in May 2017. To understand the genetic characterization, potential source and evolution of the virus, 156 serum samples were analyzed. We focused on: (i) Phylogenetic analysis of the structural protein genes sequences; (ii) Mutation, recombination analysis and predicted protein binding sites of the structural protein genes; (iii) Molecular clock and demographic reconstruction of global dengue virus serotype 1(DENV-1). Our results indicated that this is the first outbreak of DENV-1 in Xishuangbanna, dengue epidemic strains on the Burma border of China show diversification, we found a virulence site changed from I to T(amino acid position: 440), which may lead to weakened virulence of the epidemic strains. We found that the evolution of DENV-1 is dominated by regional evolution. Whats more, DENV-1 became highly diversified in 1972 followed by a slightly decreased period until 2017.

epidemiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Peripheral, intrareceptor inhibition in mosquito olfaction

How chemical signals are integrated at the peripheral sensory system of insects is still an enigma. Here we show that when coexpressed with Orco in Xenopus oocytes, an odorant receptor from the southern house mosquito, CquiOR32, generated inward (regular) currents when challenged with cyclohexanone and methyl salicylate, whereas eucalyptol and fenchone elicited inhibitory (upward) currents. Responses of CquiOR32-CquiOrco-expressing oocytes to odorants were reduced in a dose-dependent fashion by coapplication of inhibitors. This intrareceptor inhibition was also manifested in vivo in fruit flies expressing the mosquito receptor CquiOR32, as well in neurons on the antennae of the southern house mosquito. Likewise, an orthologue from the yellow fever mosquito, AaegOR71, showed intrareceptor inhibition in the Xenopus oocyte recording system and corresponding inhibition in antennal neurons. Intrareceptor inhibition was also manifested in mosquito behavior. Blood-seeking females were repelled by methyl salicylate, but repellence was significantly reduced when methyl salicylate was coapplied with eucalyptol.\n\nOne Sentence SummaryIntrareceptor inhibition was observed in mosquito odorant receptors expressed in heterologous systems, in vivo, and manifested in behavioral responses.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2017

DEET as a feeding deterrent

The insect repellent N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET), is a multimodal compound that acts as a spatial repellent as well as an irritant (contact repellent), thus being perceived by the insects olfactory and gustatory systems as an odorant and a tastant, respectively. Soon after DEET was developed, almost 6 decades ago, it was reported that it reduced mosquito feeding on blood mixed with this repellent. It is now known that the mosquito proboscis senses contact repellents with the tips (labella) of the labium, which remain in direct contact with the outer layers of the skin, while the stylets, including the feeding deterrent sensor (labrum), penetrate the skin. We designed a behavioral assay that allowed us to tease apart contact repellency from feeding deterrence. First, we demonstrate here that when DEET was mixed with blood and covered by Parafilm(R) layers, it did not leak to the outer surface. In our assays, the mean number of landings and duration of contacts with surfaces covering blood mixed with DEET or blood plus solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide) did not differ significantly. The feeding times, however, were significantly different. When blood was mixed either with 0.1 or 1% DEET, female southern house mosquitoes spent significantly less time feeding than the time spent feeding on blood mixed only with the solvent. By contrast, there were no significant differences in the mean times of feeding on blood containing 1% picaridin and blood plus solvent. Like DEET, the contact repellent and insecticide, permethrin, caused a significant reduction in feeding time. We, therefore, concluded, that in this context, DEET and permethrin act as feeding deterrents.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2017

Ingredients in Victoria’s Secret Bombshell and Ivanka Trump eaux de parfums that repel mosquitoes

Insect repellents are widely used to fend off nuisance mosquitoes and, more importantly, to reduce or eliminate mosquito bites in areas where viruses and other vector-borne diseases are circulating. Synthesized more than six decades ago, DEET is the most widely used insect repellent. Plant-derived compounds are used in a plethora of commercial formulations and natural recipes to repel mosquitoes. They are also used as fragrances. We analysed Bombshell(R) to identify the constituent(s) eliciting a previously reported \"off-label\" repellence activity. The two major fragrance ingredients in Bombshell, i.e., methyl dihydrojasmonate and lilial, demonstrated strong repellence against the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, in laboratory assays. Both compounds activated a previously identified DEET-sensitive odorant receptor, CquiOR136. These compounds were also major constituents of Ivanka Trump eau de parfum. The methyl dihydrojasmonate content was higher in the Ivanka Trump perfume than in Bombshell, the reverse being true for lilial. Both Bombshell and Ivanka Trump eaux de parfums retained activity for as long as 6 hours in laboratory assays. Although wearing these perfumes may repel nuisance mosquitoes, their use as \"off-label\" repellents against infected mosquitoes is not recommended. A panel of 104 students (18-23 years old) conducted a blind test to compare the two eaux de parfums and showed a preference for Bombshell over Ivanka Trumps brand, particularly among women.

physiology↗