l School in Sipekne'katik First Nation commemorates Indigenous Veterans Day By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 04:00:00 EST The L'nu Sipuk Kina'muokuom school observed Indigenous Veterans Day with an event on Friday. Students, faculty and staff got together to honour Mi’kmaw military veterans and RCMP members. Full Article
l Cape Breton food bank offers salon experience to clients needing haircuts By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 05:00:00 EST Volunteers will be cutting hair at a salon based inside a Cape Breton food bank. The goal is to provide clients with the same salon experience paying customers would receive. Full Article News/Canada/Nova Scotia
l Independent candidate Smith-McCrossin faces new challengers in Cumberland North By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 05:00:00 EST Independent Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin is back on the campaign trail in Cumberland North, but opponents say the riding would be better represented by an MLA from an official party. Full Article News/Canada/Nova Scotia
l Cape Breton woman tracks down great-uncle's lost WWII medals in time for Remembrance Day By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 05:00:00 EST A Port Hawkesbury woman has long imagined a Remembrance Day with her great-uncle's war medals. It will happen this year for the first time thanks to some sleuthing and the kindness of her great-uncle's foster family. Full Article News/Canada/Nova Scotia
l RCMP investigating after body found in burned vehicle in Pictou County By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 13:27:45 EST RCMP are investigating after officers discovered human remains in an abandoned, burned vehicle in Greenhill, N.S. Full Article News/Canada/Nova Scotia
l Remembrance Day ceremony in Halifax held to honour those who served By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 05:00:18 EST About a thousand people stood solemnly in the rain at a cenotaph in downtown Halifax on Monday morning to pay tribute to veterans on Remembrance Day. Full Article News/Canada/Nova Scotia
l Woman urges N.S. candidates to help people on income assistance stay cool By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:59:00 EST As Nova Scotia politicians make their fall election promises, Julie Leggett is urging them to commit to helping people on income assistance stay cool during heat waves. Full Article News/Canada/Nova Scotia
l Rising opioid overdose deaths should be N.S. election issue, advocate says By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 05:00:00 EST As Week 3 of the provincial election campaign begins, there are questions about how Nova Scotia's major political parties plan to combat the rising number of opioid overdose deaths. Full Article News/Canada/Nova Scotia
l N.S. municipalities defend housing fund Conservatives have promised to cut By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 05:00:00 EST Some Nova Scotia municipal leaders are defending a funding stream the federal Conservatives say they will cut if elected, calling it a "game changer." Full Article News/Canada/Nova Scotia
l Rail transit advocate says more highways not the solution to Halifax's traffic woes By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:34:41 EST Building highways isn't the only solution to the growing problem of traffic congestion in and around the Halifax Regional Municipality, says the head of an organization that advocates for rail-based public transit. Full Article News/Canada/Nova Scotia
l CBRM to seek new CAO, but not before municipality's financial situation is known By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 18:30:15 EST The new mayor and council are planning big changes for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, and one of those is at the top of the staff organizational chart now that chief administrative officer Marie Walsh is set to retire. Full Article News/Canada/Nova Scotia
l Elections N.S. investigating PC campaign for handing out gift cards By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 12:19:45 EST Elections Nova Scotia is investigating PC candidate Susan Corkum-Greek's campaign to determine whether it broke the law by handing out gift cards on Saturday outside a Tim Hortons in Lunenburg, N.S. Full Article News/Canada/Nova Scotia
l 'We're all here together': Montreal English theatre shows its resilience with award ceremony By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 04:00:00 EST The Montreal English Theatre Awards ceremony is being held this evening at Le Gesù theatre. For the community, it's a time to celebrate their achievements and resilience coming out of the pandemic, together. Full Article News/Canada
l This veteran started a workshop in his garage to help others channel PTSD into art By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 13:42:51 EST Dominic April fell in love with forging after his career in the military came to an end in 2015. Now operating a blacksmith studio near Quebec City, he hopes to help other veterans dealing with PTSD find creativity and purpose. Full Article News/Canada/Montreal
l You can now flag issues in the Montreal Metro system by text By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:07:41 EST The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has established a non-urgent text line for transit users to signal security issues in the Metro network. Full Article News/Canada/Montreal
l Man, 36, charged with 1st-degree murder of partner on Montreal's South Shore By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:11:01 EST Shilei Du, 36, was charged Monday morning with the premeditated murder of his partner, Guangmei Ye, whose body was found Sunday in a residence on Fontenelle Street in Candiac, Que. Full Article News/Canada/Montreal
l Video game shines light on Indigenous history and voices By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 04:00:00 EST Two Falls (Nishu Takuatshina) was developed in Montreal by a local studio that collaborated closely with Indigenous designers and consultants. Full Article
l Montreal neighbourhood rallies around cafe after co-owner’s sudden death By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 15:19:03 EST Loved ones, friends, and people from across the city have all come together to support each other at Pastel Rita, the café Jocelyn Després helped so many call home. Full Article
l Montreal says it's making it easier for groups to build off-market housing By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 12:37:37 EST The City of Montreal wants to sell more land to community organizations, housing co-ops and other groups to build off-market housing. Full Article News/Canada/Montreal
l Music still a ‘passion,’ not a job for Montreal funk band The Brooks as they drop 5th album By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 17:48:24 EST Ten years after their formation, the members of The Brooks discuss how they’ve evolved and how they view their collaboration. Full Article
l Quebec student groups demand paid internships amid rising living costs By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:57:03 EST Facing soaring food prices and an escalating housing crisis, Quebec student associations are urgently calling on the provincial government to fund internships required for post-secondary training. Full Article News/Canada/Montreal
l Labour minister forcing end of negotiations at Quebec ports marks 'dark day for workers' rights,' union says By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 13:16:05 EST The union representing dockworkers in Montreal says Canada's labour minister forcing its members back to work at ports in Montreal and Quebec City marks a "dark day for workers' rights." Full Article News/Canada/Montreal
l Body found in Montreal nature park was that of kidnapped cryptocurrency influencer, police say By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 15:35:49 EST Quebec provincial police have confirmed that the body found in a Montreal nature park on Oct. 30 was that of kidnapping victim and cryptocurrency influencer Kevin Mirshahi. Full Article News/Canada/Montreal
l Canada launches AI watchdog to oversee the technology’s safe development and use By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 19:17:56 EST Amid rapid global advances and deployment of artificial intelligence technologies, the federal government has invested millions to combine the minds of three existing institutes into one that can keep an eye on potential dangers ahead. Full Article
l Dextran Amine-Conjugated Neural Tracing in Mosquitoes By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-08-01T08:10:27-07:00 To understand the circuitry of the brain, it is often advantageous to visualize the processes of a single neuron or population of neurons. Identifying sites where a neuron, or neurons, originates and where it projects can allow a researcher to begin to map the circuitry underlying various processes, including sensory-guided behaviors. Furthermore, neural tracing allows one to map locations where processes terminate onto regions of the brain that may have known functions and sometimes to identify candidate upstream or downstream connections, based on proximity. Many methods of neural tracing are available; here, we focus on loading fluorescent dyes into a neuron (fluorescent dye filling). Different options for dyes exist to label neurites. Among the most versatile and easy to use are dextran amine–conjugated dyes. They fill neurons bidirectionally, not discriminating between anterograde or retrograde loading direction. Dye filling must be done in unfixed tissue, as the dye needs to move through the neurons; however, dextran amine conjugates are aldehyde-fixable and once cells have been fully loaded with dye the tissue can be fixed and subjected to immunostaining. Coupling neural tracing with immunofluorescence is a useful way to determine specific brain or ventral nerve cord (VNC) regions where a neuron projects. This protocol describes methods for loading dextran amine conjugated dyes into a sensory tissue in the mosquito to visualize sites of sensory neuron innervation in the central nervous system, as well as efferent projections to these structures. This protocol is described for Aedes aegypti, for which it was optimized, but it also works across a variety of insects. Full Article
l Whole-Mount Immunofluorescent Labeling of the Mosquito Central Nervous System By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-08-01T08:10:27-07:00 Mosquito-borne disease is a major global public health issue. One path toward the development of evidence-based strategies to limit mosquito biting is the study of the mosquito nervous system—in particular, the sensory systems that drive biting behavior. The central nervous system of insects consists of the brain and the ventral nerve cord. Here, we describe a protocol for dissecting, immunofluorescent labeling, and imaging both of these structures in the mosquito. This protocol was optimized for Aedes aegypti and works well on Anopheles gambiae tissue. It has not been tested in other mosquito species, but we anticipate that it would work on a range of mosquitoes, and, if not, our protocol will provide a starting point from which to optimize. Notably, a limited number of antibodies cross-react with Ae. aegypti proteins. This protocol is intended for use with validated antibodies and can also be used to test new antibodies as they are generated. It has been successfully used to visualize protein tags, such as green fluorescent protein, that have been introduced into the mosquito to amplify or detect their presence. Full Article
l Mosquito Larvae and Pupae Transport from the Field By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-08-01T08:10:27-07:00 Laboratory study of field-collected mosquitoes can allow researchers to better understand the ways variation within and among mosquito populations shapes burdens of mosquito-borne disease. The Anopheles gambiae complex comprises the most important vectors of malaria, but it can be challenging to keep in the laboratory. For some species of mosquitoes, especially An. gambiae, it is very difficult to bring viable eggs into the laboratory. Instead, it is preferable to collect larvae or pupae and then transport them as carefully as possible back to the laboratory. This simple protocol allows a researcher to start new laboratory colonies from larvae or pupae collected from natural breeding sites or proceed directly to their planned experiments. The use of natural breeding sites provides additional reassurance that the resulting colonies are representative of natural populations. Full Article
l Collecting, Storing, and Hatching Aedes aegypti Eggs By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-08-01T08:10:27-07:00 Laboratory study of natural populations of mosquitoes can play a key role in determining the underlying causes of variation in burdens of mosquito-borne disease. Aedes aegypti is the main vector of the viruses that cause dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever, making it a high priority for laboratory study. Ae. aegypti eggs provide an ideal starting point for new laboratory colonies. Eggs can be collected using ovicups, which are small plastic cups lined with seed-germination paper and partially filled with leaf-infused H2O. Once collected, dry eggs will remain viable for months and can be safely transported long distances back to the laboratory as long as they are properly stored. This protocol provides step-by-step instructions for preparing for collecting, storing, and hatching Ae. aegypti eggs and has successfully yielded laboratory colonies from locations across both the native and invasive range of this species. Full Article
l Whole-Brain Calcium Imaging in Drosophila during Sleep and Wake By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-09-03T07:12:25-07:00 Genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) allow for the noninvasive evaluation of neuronal activity in vivo, and imaging GECIs in Drosophila has become commonplace for understanding neural functions and connectivity in this system. GECIs can also be used as read-outs for studying sleep in this model organism. Here, we describe a methodology for tracking the activity of neurons in the fly brain using a two-photon (2p) microscopy system. This method can be adapted to perform functional studies of neural activity in Drosophila under both spontaneous and evoked conditions, as well as during spontaneous or induced sleep. We first describe a tethering and surgical procedure that allows survival under the microscopy conditions required for long-term recordings. We then outline the steps and reagents required for optogenetic activation of sleep-promoting neurons while simultaneously recording neural activity from the fly brain. We also describe the procedure for recording from two different locations—namely, the top of the head (e.g., to record mushroom body calyx activity) or the back of the head (e.g., to record central complex activity). We also provide different strategies for recording from GECIs confined to the cell body versus the entire neuron. Finally, we describe the steps required for analyzing the multidimensional data that can be acquired. In all, this protocol shows how to perform calcium imaging experiments in tethered flies, with a focus on acquiring spontaneous and induced sleep data. Full Article
l Whole-Brain Electrophysiology in Drosophila during Sleep and Wake By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-09-03T07:12:25-07:00 Sleep studies in Drosophila melanogaster rely mostly on behavioral read-outs to support molecular or circuit-level investigations in this model. Electrophysiology can provide an additional level of understanding in these studies to, for example, investigate changes in brain activity associated with sleep manipulations. In this protocol, we describe a procedure for performing multichannel local field potential (LFP) recordings in the fruit fly, with a flexible system that can be adapted to different experimental paradigms and situations. The approach uses electrodes containing multiple recording sites (16), allowing the acquisition of large amounts of neuronal activity data from a transect through the brain while flies are still able to sleep. The approach starts by tethering the fly, followed by positioning it on an air-supported ball. A multichannel silicon probe is then inserted laterally into the fly brain via one eye, allowing for recording of electrical signals from the retina through to the central brain. These recordings can be acquired under spontaneous conditions or in the presence of visual stimuli, and the minimal surgery promotes long-term recordings (e.g., overnight). Sleep and wake can be tracked using infrared cameras, which allow for the measurement of locomotive activity as well as microbehaviors such as proboscis extensions during sleep. The protocol has been optimized to promote subject survivability, which is an important factor when performing long-term (~16-h) recordings. The approach described here uses specific recording probes, data acquisition devices, and analysis tools. Although it is expected that some of these items might need to be adapted to the equipment available in different laboratories, the overall aim is to provide an overview on how to record electrical activity across the brain of behaving (and sleeping) flies using this kind of approach and technology. Full Article
l Validating Single-Guide RNA for Aedes aegypti Gene Editing By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-09-03T07:12:25-07:00 Creating transgenic mosquitoes allows for mechanistic studies of basic mosquito biology and the development of novel vector control strategies. CRISPR–Cas9 gene editing has revolutionized gene editing, including in mosquitoes. This protocol details part of the gene editing process of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes via CRISPR–Cas9, through testing and validating single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs). Gene editing activity varies depending on the sequence of sgRNAs used, so validation of sgRNA activity should be done before large-scale generation of mutants or transgenics. sgRNA is designed using online tools and synthesized in <1 h. Once mutants or transgenics are generated via embryo microinjection, sgRNA activity is validated by quick genotyping polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. Full Article
l Single-Sensillum Taste Recordings in Mosquitoes By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-09-03T07:12:25-07:00 In insects, gustatory neurons sense chemicals upon contact and directly inform many behaviors critical for survival and reproduction, including biting, feeding, mating, and egg laying. However, the taste sensory system is underexplored in many anthropophilic disease vectors such as mosquitoes, which acquire and transmit human pathogens during blood feeding from human hosts. This results in a big gap in vector biology—the study of organisms that spread disease by transmitting pathogens—because insect vectors closely interact with humans while selecting suitable individuals and appropriate bite sites for blood meals. Human sweat and skin-associated chemistries are rich in nonvolatile compounds that can be sensed by the mosquito's taste system when she lands on the skin. Taste sensory units, called sensilla, are distributed in many organs across the mosquito body, including the mouthparts, legs, and ovipositors (female-specific structures used to lay eggs). Each sensillum is innervated by as many as five taste neurons, which allow detection and discrimination between various tastants such as water, sugars, salts, amino acids, and plant-derived compounds that taste bitter to humans. Single-sensillum recordings provide a robust way to survey taste responsiveness of individual sensilla to various diagnostic and ecologically relevant chemicals. Such analyses are of immense value for understanding links between mosquito taste responses and behaviors to specific chemical cues and can provide insights into why mosquitoes prefer certain hosts. The results can also aid development of strategies to disrupt close-range mosquito–human interactions to control disease transmission. Here we describe a protocol that is curated for electrophysiological recordings from taste sensilla in mosquitoes and sure to yield exciting results for the field. Full Article
l Ventral Nerve Cord Dissection and Microscopy of Drosophila Embryos By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-09-03T07:12:25-07:00 The technique of visualizing axon pathways in the embryonic ventral nerve cord using antibody labeling has been fundamental to our understanding of the genetic and developmental mechanisms underlying nervous system wiring in Drosophila. High-resolution microscopic examination of the ventral nerve cord remains an essential component of many experiments in Drosophila developmental neuroscience. Although it is possible to examine the ventral nerve cord in intact whole-mount embryos, to collect the highest-quality images it is often useful to isolate the nervous system away from the other embryonic tissues through embryo dissection. This protocol describes methods for dissecting ventral nerve cords from Drosophila embryos that have been fixed and stained via immunofluorescence or horseradish peroxidase (HRP) immunohistochemistry. The process of making fine dissection needles for this purpose from electrolytically sharpened tungsten wire is also described. Dissected and mounted ventral nerve cords can be examined and imaged using a variety of microscopy techniques including differential interference contrast (DIC) optics, epifluorescence, or confocal microscopy. Full Article
l Collection, Fixation, and Antibody Staining of Drosophila Embryos By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-09-03T07:12:25-07:00 The Drosophila embryonic central nervous system has been used for decades as a model for understanding the genetic regulation of axon guidance and other aspects of neural development. Foundational studies using antibody staining to examine the embryonic ventral nerve cord in wild-type and mutant animals led to the discovery of evolutionarily conserved genes that regulate fundamental aspects of axon guidance, including midline crossing of axons. The development of the regular, segmentally repeating structure of axon pathways in the ventral nerve cord can illustrate basic principles of axon guidance to beginning students and can also be used by expert researchers to characterize new mutants, detect genetic interactions between known genes, and precisely quantify variations in gene function in engineered mutant lines. Here, we describe a protocol for collecting and fixing Drosophila embryos and visualizing axon pathways in the embryonic ventral nerve cord using immunofluorescence or immunohistochemical staining methods. As embryogenesis in Drosophila takes ~24 h to complete, a 1-d collection yields embryos representing all stages of development from newly fertilized through ready-to-hatch larvae, allowing investigation of multiple developmental events within a single batch of collected embryos. The methods described in this protocol should be accessible to introductory laboratory courses as well as seasoned investigators in established research laboratories. Full Article
l Amplification and Identification of Vertebrate Host Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit I (COI) DNA Barcoding Templates from Mosquito Blood Meals By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-10-01T07:08:54-07:00 Mosquitoes take blood meals from a diverse range of host animals and their host associations vary by species. Characterizing these associations is an important element of the transmission dynamics of mosquito-vectored pathogens. To characterize mosquito host associations, various molecular techniques have been developed, which are collectively referred to as blood meal analysis. DNA barcoding has diverse biological applications and is well-suited to mosquito blood meal analysis. The standard DNA barcoding marker for animals is a 5' fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene. A major advantage of this marker is its taxonomic coverage in DNA sequence reference databases, making it feasible to identify a wider range of mosquito host species than with any other gene. However, the COI gene contains high sequence variation at potential priming sites between vertebrate orders. Coupled with the need for primer sequences to be mismatched with mosquito priming sites so that annealing to mosquito DNA is inhibited, it can be difficult to design primers suitable for blood meal analysis applications. Several primers are available that perform well in mosquito blood meal analysis, annealing to priming sites for most vertebrate host taxa, but not to those of mosquitoes. Because priming site sequence variation among vertebrate taxa can cause amplification to fail, a hierarchical approach to DNA barcoding-based blood meal analysis can be applied. In such an approach, no single primer set is expected to be effective for 100% of potential host species. If amplification fails in the initial reaction, a subsequent reaction is attempted with primers that anneal to different priming sites, and so on, until amplification is successful. Full Article
l Extracting DNA from Preserved Mosquito Blood Meals By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-10-01T07:08:54-07:00 Mosquito species vary in their host associations. Although some species are relative generalists, most specialize, to varying extents, on particular types of host animals. Mosquito host associations are among the most important factors that influence the transmission dynamics of mosquito-vectored pathogens, and understanding these associations can provide insight on how such pathogens move within ecosystems. Characterization of the host associations of mosquito species requires applying blood meal analysis to the largest possible sample size of mosquito blood meals. Processing large samples of mosquito blood meals can be time-consuming, especially when chain-termination sequencing is used, necessitating individual processing of each specimen. Various methods and commercially available kits and products are available for extracting DNA from mosquito blood meals. The hot sodium hydroxide and Tris (HotSHOT) method is a rapid and inexpensive method of DNA extraction that is compatible with the recovery of DNA from mosquito blood meals preserved on QIAcard Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) Classic Cards (FTA cards). FTA cards allow nucleic acids found in blood meals to be preserved easily, even in field conditions. DNA prepared using this method is suitable for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based blood meal analysis. Full Article
l Preservation of Field-Collected Mosquito Blood Meals By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-10-01T07:08:54-07:00 All PCR- and DNA-based blood meal analyses require host DNA from a mosquito blood meal to be effectively preserved between the time when the specimen is collected and the extraction of DNA. As soon as a mosquito ingests blood from a host animal, digestion of host cells and cellular components within the blood meal by enzymes in the mosquito midgut begins to degrade the host DNA templates that are the targets of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Without effective preservation, host DNA is typically undetectable by PCR 48 h after feeding, because of digestion. Preservation methods for mosquito blood meals vary in their efficacy, and the logistics of fieldwork can limit the options for preservation of blood meals and maintenance of the integrity of host DNA. This protocol describes a method of blood meal preservation that is effective, convenient, and amenable to fieldwork in remote locations where cryopreservation at –20°C or –80°C may not be feasible. It uses a Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) card, which is a chemically treated card that lyses cells and allows nucleic acids to be preserved. This method is also expected to preserve the DNA or RNA of pathogens present within the engorged mosquito abdomen, including RNA viruses. Full Article
l Identification of Mosquito Eggshell Proteins from Aedes aegypti by Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) Proteomic Analysis By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-10-01T07:08:54-07:00 The insect eggshell is a multifunctional structure with several important roles, including generating an entry point for sperm via the micropyle before oviposition, serving as an oviposition substrate attachment surface, and functioning as a protective layer during embryo development. Eggshell proteins play major roles in eggshell tanning and hardening following oviposition and provide molecular cues that define dorsal–ventral axis formation. Precise eggshell formation during ovarian follicle maturation is critical for normal embryo development and the synthesis of a defective eggshell often gives rise to inviable embryos. Therefore, simple and accurate methods for identifying eggshell proteins will facilitate our understanding of the molecular pathways regulating eggshell formation and the mechanisms underlying normal embryo development. This protocol describes how to isolate and enrich eggshells from mature oocytes of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and how to extract their eggshell proteins for liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) proteomic analysis. Although this methodology was developed for studying mosquito eggshells, it may be applicable to eggs from a variety of insects. Mosquitoes are ideal model organisms for this study as their ovarian follicle development and eggshell formation are meticulously regulated by blood feeding and their follicles develop synchronously throughout oogenesis in a time-dependent manner. Full Article
l Visualization of Apoptotic Ovarian Follicles during Aedes aegypti Mosquito Egg Maturation by Fluorescent Imaging Studies By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-10-01T07:08:54-07:00 In insects, oocyte resorption (oosorption) or follicular atresia is one of the key physiological processes and evolutionary strategies used to optimize reproductive fitness. Mosquitoes are ideal model organisms for studying egg maturation in arthropods, as their follicle development is initiated only following the ingestion of a blood meal, followed by a carefully orchestrated series of hormonally regulated events leading to egg maturation. A cohort of approximately 100 follicles per mosquito ovary begin developing synchronously. However, a significant fraction of follicles ultimately undergo apoptosis and oosorption, especially when available resources from the blood meal are limited. Therefore, simple, rapid, and reliable techniques to accurately evaluate follicular atresia are necessary to understand mechanisms underlying follicle development in insects. This protocol describes how to detect apoptotic follicle cells within the Aedes aegypti mosquito ovaries using a commercially available fluorescent-labeled inhibitor of caspases (FLICA). Caspases are key players in animal apoptosis. In this assay, the FLICA reagent enters the intracellular compartment of follicles in dissected mosquito ovaries and covalently binds to active caspases. The bound reagent remains within the cell and its fluorescent signal can be observed by confocal microscopy. Although this method was specifically developed for visualizing apoptotic ovarian follicles during Ae. aegypti mosquito egg development, it should be applicable to other mosquito tissues that undergo caspase-mediated program cell death in a time-dependent manner. Full Article
l Generating and Validating Transgenic Mosquitoes with Transposon-Mediated Transgenesis By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-10-01T07:08:54-07:00 Transposon-mediated transgenesis has revolutionized both basic and applied studies of mosquito vectors of disease. Currently, techniques such as enhancer traps and transposon tagging, which rely on remobilizable insertional mutagenesis, are only possible with transposon-based vector systems. Here, we provide general descriptions of methods and applications of transposon-based mosquito transgenesis. The exact procedures must be adapted to each mosquito species and comparisons of some differences among different mosquito species are outlined. A number of excellent publications showing detailed and specific protocols and methods are featured and referenced. Full Article
l Snail Shells Add a New Twist to the Mystery of Animal Asymmetries By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 25 Feb 2016 17:05:27 +0000 After more than a century of searching, scientists have discovered a gene in snails that may control asymmetries inside many animals Full Article
l Tracking Down a Plane Crash in the Alaskan Wilderness By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 17:01:43 +0000 When the National Transportation Safety Board office in Alaska first hears about a plane going down, protocol is to begin gathering information Full Article
l The Smithsonian Gets Experimental and Field-Tests a New Forum for Bringing Artists to the Public By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Wed, 08 Jun 2016 13:00:00 +0000 A Two-Day Festival in the historic Arts & Industries Building brings community, artists and scholars together for a “Culture Lab” Full Article
l Podcast: Our Food, Our Selves By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Fri, 22 Jul 2016 14:00:00 +0000 Food is a focal point for understanding broader environmental problems. In this podcast, we learn how food buyers are influenced in surprising ways. Full Article
l The Student and the Spy: How One Man’s Life Was Changed by the Cambridge Five By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Jan 2017 13:00:00 +0000 An unlikely friendship with Guy Burgess, the infamous British double-agent, brought unexpected joy to Stanley Weiss Full Article
l The Real Science Behind the Megalodon By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Fri, 03 Aug 2018 14:37:07 +0000 As The Meg hits theaters, dive into what we really know about this chompy predator Full Article
l Europe’s Megalithic Monuments Originated in France and Spread by Sea Routes, New Study Suggests By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Feb 2019 20:20:56 +0000 The ancient burial structures, strikingly similar all across Europe and the mediterranean, have puzzled scientists and historians for centuries Full Article
l Museum Director Discovers His Mother’s Childhood Visit to the Smithsonian By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Mon, 13 May 2019 21:10:23 +0000 By raising her son to be curious about the natural world, this mother helped shape the trajectory of the National Museum of Natural History Full Article
l Power corporation relying less on diesel in the N.W.T.'s North Slave this year By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Fri, 08 Nov 2024 04:00:00 EST The Northwest Territories Power Corporation expects that by the end of March it will have generated 72 per cent of power for the North Slave region using hydro, and 28 per cent from diesel. Last year, about half the region's power was from diesel because of low water levels. Full Article News/Canada/North
l 'The anxiety in town is sky-high': Norman Wells residents hold rally over soaring fuel prices By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Fri, 08 Nov 2024 11:12:59 EST More than 50 Norman Wells residents gathered at the Royal Canadian Legion on Thursday night to voice frustrations over high heating fuel prices. Full Article News/Canada/North