Human sweat components — Attractancy and repellency to mosquitoes

Zusammenfassung Es wird gezeigt, dass menschliche Schweissabsonderungen verschiedener Versuchspersonen auf weibliche Moskitos (Aedes aegypti) verschieden attraktiv sind. Mit Diethyläther (pH 1) lassen sich im Schweiss sowohl «anlockende» wie auch «abschreckende» Bestandteile extrahieren. Für den «repellent effect» sind teilweise gleiche Mischungen von Milchsäure und Milchsäureanhydrid verantwortlich. Zwei weitere, noch nicht identifizierte Substanzen zeigten im Zwei-Kammer-Olfaktometer identische «repellent» Wirkungen.

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This study was supported by U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Dept. of the Army, Contracts No. DA 49-193-MD-2465 (W. Skinner) and No. DA 49-193-MD-2466 (H. Maibach). We thank Dr.L. Pope, Superintendent, and the inmates of the California Medical Faculty, Vacaville, California, USA, for their cooperation in this study.     

Mutations in origin recognition complex gene ORC4 cause Meier-Gorlin syndrome

Meier-Gorlin syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive genetic condition whose primary clinical hallmarks include small stature, small external ears and small or absent patellae. Using marker-assisted mapping in multiple families from a founder population and traditional coding exon sequencing of positional candidate genes, we identified three different mutations in the gene encoding ORC4, a component of the eukaryotic origin recognition complex, in five individuals with Meier-Gorlin syndrome. In two such individuals that were negative for mutations in ORC4, we found potential mutations in ORC1 and CDT1, two other genes involved in origin recognition. ORC4 is well conserved in eukaryotes, and the yeast equivalent of the human ORC4 missense mutation was shown to be pathogenic in functional assays of cell growth. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of a germline mutation in any gene of the origin recognition complex in a vertebrate organism.     

Human skin-surface lipid fatty acids — Mosquito repellents

Résumé On a découvert que les lipides de l'épiderme humain sont répulsifs pour la femelled'Aedes aegypti. Cet effet est dû en partie à la présence d'acides gras non saturés. Les acides gras saturés ne contribuent pas à cette action.