Maternally-transmitted microbiota affects odor emission and preference in Drosophila larva.

ABSTRACT: Experimental studies show that early sensory experience often affects subsequent sensory preference, suggesting that the heterogeneity of sensory cues in nature could induce significant inter-individual behavioral variation, potentially contributing to maintain intraspecific diversity. To test this hypothesis, we explored the behavioral effect induced by variation in the levels of a self-produced chemical, acetoin, and its link with intraspecific diversity. Acetoin is a pheromone-like substance produced by gut-associated microorganisms in Drosophila. Using wild-type Drosophila melanogaster populations producing variable acetoin levels, we (i) characterized factors involved in this variation and (ii) manipulated some of these factors to affect acetoin responses in larvae. We found that incr

SUBMITTER: Farine JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5519639 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature