The list of the 18 UNF genes in D30 is given in Figure 4C while the complete list of UNF genes in both genomes is provided in Additional file 2. We analyzed the UNF set by PCR in six other carrier isolates and one strain (502-A) that when experimentally applied to the nose can intermittently colonize the nasal epithelium in certain individuals [ 9].
The LBD of the Drosophila ortholog of fax-1, UNF, has been shown to bind heme [ 58], although there is no known developmental or physiological requirement for heme-binding.
In ;unf X1/+ ;Rheb EY08085/+ (;unf X1UAS-mCD8/+ Rheb X1UAS-mCD8/+ Rheb) animals β lobes were thin, suggesting that at least some of the medial axons stalled or misprojected dorsally.
;unf X1/+;Sytβ PL00192/+ (;unf X1UASmCD8/+ GAL4D,EYFP,Sytβ PL00192/+;OK107/+) and ;unf X1/+;Sytβ BG02150/+ (;unf X1UASmCD8/+;Sytβ BG02150/+;OK107/+) double heterozygotes shared a unique dorsal axon phenotype in which α′ and α axons misprojected making sharp turns or bends where they normally should have stopped growing.
Using these random genomes, we calculated the probability of accumulating all the 18 UNF genes within a single strain.
Although α lobes were missing in double heterozygotes for three of four different fax alleles (;unf X1UASmCD8/+;fax M7/+;OK107/+, ;unf X1UASmCD8/+; fax BG00833/+;OK107/+, and ;unf X1UASmCD8/+; fax KG05016/+;OK107/+) the rate of occurrence did not differ significantly from any single control group or pooled controls (Table 2, Rows 31, 32, 33, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15).
Both β′ and β lobes were missing in ;unf X1/+;Fps85D X21/+ (;unf X1UAS-mCD8/+;Fps85D X21/+;OK107/+) animals at frequencies that were significantly different than each of the individual control groups (Table 2, Rows 25, 3, 4, 7; and Figure 3D).
Similarly, in ;unf X1/+ Tsc1 F01910/+ (;unf X1UAS-mCD8/+; Tsc1 F01910/+;OK107/+) double heterozygotes β lobes were missing or misguided dorsally at frequencies that differed significantly from the appropriately pooled controls (Table 2, Rows 29, 3, 4, 10; Figure 3J).
In ;unf X1/+ DopR2 MB05107/+ (;unf X1UASmCD8/+ DopR2 MB05107/+;OK107/+) double heterozygotes, both α′ and α lobes were missing at frequencies that were significantly different from controls (Table 2, Rows 30, 3, 4, 12; and Figure 3P).
Detection of Y. pestis was carried out on 274 fleas belonging to 5 flea species: 230 P. irritans (181 unfed and 49 engorged), 24 S. fonquerniei (15 unfed and 9 engorged), 9 X. cheopis (8 unfed and 1 engorged), 10 E. gallinacea (blood-feeding status not identified), and 1 unfed C. canis.
