Antennal RNAseq reveals odorant receptors with sex-biased expression in the common eastern firefly, Photinus pyralis.

Background: With their charismatic nighttime flashes, fireflies are a classic organismal system for studying the evolution of visual mating signals. However, across their diversity, fireflies employ a variety of mating strategies that include both chemical and visual signals. While phylogenetic evidence points to a common ancestor that relied on long-range pheromones, behavioral evidence suggests that light-dependent flashing fireflies do not use smell for mating.

Functional and evolutionary insights into chemosensation and specialized herbivory from the genome of the red milkweed beetle, Tetraopes tetrophthalmus (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae).

Tetraopes are aposematic longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) that feed primarily on toxic plants in the genus Asclepias (milkweeds). Studies of Tetraopes and their host plants have revealed compelling evidence for insect-plant coevolution and cospeciation. We sequenced, assembled, and annotated the genome of the common red milkweed beetle, Tetraopes tetrophthalmus, and explored gene content and evolution, focusing on annotated genes putatively involved in chemosensation, allelochemical detoxification, and phytophagy.

HIV-1 subtype diversity, transmission networks and transmitted drug resistance amongst acute and early infected MSM populations from Coastal Kenya.

Background: HIV-1 molecular epidemiology amongst men who have sex with men (MSM) in sub-Saharan Africa remains not well characterized. We aimed to determine HIV-1 subtype distribution, transmission clusters and transmitted drug resistance (TDR) in acute and early infected MSM from Coastal Kenya.

Methods: Analysis of HIV-1 partial pol sequences from MSM recruited 2005-2017 and sampled within six months of the estimated date of infection.