First Description of the Nuclear and Mitochondrial Genomes and Associated Host Preference of Trichopoda pennipes, a Parasitoid of Nezara viridula.

Trichopoda pennipes is a tachinid parasitoid of several significant heteropteran agricultural pests, including the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula, and leaf-footed bug, Leptoglossus phyllopus. To be used successfully as a biological control agent, the fly must selectively parasitize the target host species. Differences in the host preference of T. pennipes were assessed by assembling the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of 38 flies reared from field-collected N. viridula and L. phyllopus. High-quality de novo draft genomes of T. pennipes were assembled using long-read sequencing. The assembly totaled 672 MB distributed among 561 contigs, having an N50 of 11.9 MB and a GC of 31.7%, with the longest contig at 28 MB. The genome was assessed for completeness using BUSCO in the Insecta dataset, resulting in a score of 99.4%, and 97.4% of the genes were single copy-loci. The mitochondrial genomes of the 38 T. pennipes flies were sequenced and compared to identify possible host-determined sibling species. The assembled circular genomes ranged from 15,345 bp to 16,390 bp and encode 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs). There were no differences in the architecture of these genomes. Phylogenetic analyses using sequence information from 13 PCGs and the two rRNAs individually or as a combined dataset resolved the parasitoids into two distinct lineages: T. pennipes that parasitized both N. viridula and L. phyllopus, and others that parasitized only L. phyllopus.

Knowledge and likelihood to recommend intrauterine devices for adolescents among school-based health center providers.

PURPOSE: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend intrauterine devices (IUDs) as safe and highly effective contraceptives for adolescents. Nevertheless, many U.S. providers do not recommend or provide IUDs to adolescents-a population at high risk for unintended pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to IUD provision for adolescents. METHODS: A 36-item self-administered survey of knowledge and attitudes regarding IUDs was completed by 162 staff of New York City school-based health centers, including 69 clinicians (e.g., pediatricians and nurse practitioners) and 93 nonclinicians (e.g., social workers and health educators). RESULTS: Half (55%) of all respondents would be likely to recommend an IUD to a patient under age 20 years. Respondents were less likely to recommend an IUD for patients with history of recent STD (31%), remote pelvic inflammatory disease (37%), and patients not in a monogamous relationship (38%). Whereas 77% of respondents indicated that IUDs are safe for adolescents, 18% of those respondents would be unlikely to recommend an IUD to a patient under age 20 years. While 86% of respondents knew that IUDs can be used in nulliparous women, 25% of those respondents would be unlikely to recommend an IUD to a patient who has never been pregnant. Additionally, 61% believed that counseling patients about IUDs would take more time than other methods. CONCLUSIONS: Misinformation about risks associated with IUDs and beliefs about patient eligibility may present barriers to provision. Apparent contradictions between knowledge and likelihood to recommend IUDs warrant further study.