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Abstract. Here we present evidence that the male mating products (sperm and gland products) reduce survival during hibernation of queens of the bumblebee B. terrestris. Most remarkably, the inseminated queens are significantly more likely to have melanized spermathecae than their virgin sisters. Although we could not detect a direct relationship between these two findings they are quite remarkable since B. terrestris is a monandrous and comparably long-lived insect where sexual conflict is unlikely to evolve. The reduced survival can probably be attributed to a general cost of maintaining the sperm, whereas the presence of melanized spermathecae in the inseminated queens may indicate a pathogen transferred during mating or genetic incompatibilities between males and queens.

The molecular mechanisms and genetic risk factors underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis are only partly understood. To identify new factors, which may contribute to AD, different approaches are taken including proteomics, genetics, and functional genomics. Here, we used a bioinformatics approach and found that distinct AD-related genes share modules of transcription factor binding sites, suggesting a transcriptional coregulation. To detect additional coregulated genes, which may potentially contribute to AD, we established a new bioinformatics workflow with known multivariate methods like support vector machines, biclustering, and predicted transcription factor binding site modules by using in silico analysis and over 400 expression arrays from human and mouse. Two significant modules are composed of three transcription factor families: CTCF, SP1F, and EGRF/ZBPF, which are conserved between human and mouse APP promoter sequences. The specific combination of in silico promoter and multivariate analysis can identify regulation mechanisms of genes involved in multifactorial diseases.

Fanconi anemia (FA) has rarely been reported in black children either in the United States or Africa. This report describes 25 black African children with FA seen in Johannesburg over an 11-year period. The prevalence of homozygotes was estimated to be 1:476,000. Clinical manifestations, mean age at diagnosis, and hematologic and chromosome abnormalities were similar to those described in other ethnic groups. Response to androgens was poor and most patients required regular transfusions. Seventeen (68%) of the children died during the 11-year observation period. Leukemia was the terminal event in 2 patients. The mean age at death was 9.8 years and the mean time between diagnosis and death 2.3 years. The poor response to androgens, high mortality, and early mean age at death would favor consideration of early bone marrow transplantation in these children.