Project description:We report the transcriptional response to Colorado potato beetle herbivory in leaves of the highly beetle resistant Solanum chacoense diploid line USDA8380-1 (80-) and a susceptible F2 individual (EE501F2_093) derived from a cross between 80-1 and a beetle susceptible line S. chacoense M6. Sampling tissue in a time course during adult Colorado potato beetle feeding provides novel insight to the transcriptomic defense response to this important pest.
Project description:We investigated the evolution of sperm conjugation in phylum Arthropoda by reconstructing its diversification along a time-calibrated phylogeny for 621 arthropods and related ecdysozoans. Phylogenetic modeling reveals conjugation has had a dynamic evolution history with multiple origins of all five observed categorical types of sperm conjugates. Contrary to prior predictions that conjugation is taxonomically widespread but relatively rare within the clades in which it is observed, our reconstructions suggest conjugation is pervasive in the arthropods, whose tree is estimated to have had conjugated sperm for 40% of its time. Conjugation has likely evolved between 39-56 times independently, and our results indicate aggregates were likely present in an early hexapod ancestor nearly 500 million years before the present. Specialized conjugate types such as spermatostyles are estimated to have been derived independently multiple times, including in both the true bugs (Order Hemiptera) and beetles (Order Coleoptera). We leverage spermatostyles as distinct structures with well supported independent origins in bugs and beetles to investigate the nature of molecular convergence in ejaculate structures using comparative proteomics. Results from comparisons with previously characterized whirligig beetle (Gyrinidae) proteomes reveals true bugs have converged in their use of sperm leucyl aminopeptidases (S-LAPs) to construct spermatostyles. The SLAP protein families are found in high abundance in all speramtostyle proteomes excluding the cicada, and the independent recruitment of S-LAPs in both taxa may represent evidence of a common underlying toolkit available to insects when structuring their ejaculates.
Project description:16S amplicon pool analyses of the four gut sections of the wood-feeding beetle, Odontotaenius disjunctus The beetle is purely wood feeding, and we aim to first characterize the community that exist within the gut sections 4 beetles, four gut sections per beetle, one PhyloChip per gut section, total = 16 chips
Project description:16S amplicon pool analyses of the four gut sections of the wood-feeding beetle, Odontotaenius disjunctus The beetle is purely wood feeding, and we aim to first characterize the community that exist within the gut sections
Project description:The present project deals with bark beetle gut total proteome from callow and black bark beetle, Ips typographus. The study aims to identify life stage-specific expression of gut proteins in bark beetles and their functional relevance.
Project description:The Eurasian spruce bark beetle Ips typographus is known for its devasting attack on the host tree Picea abies, a common conifer in Europe. The beetle uses various pheromone components (2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol and cis-verbenol) for mass aggregation to overcome the tree defence compounds such as terpenes. Though this aggregation pheromone biosynthesis and respective precursors via terpenes detoxification mechanism was investigated for a few decades, gene-level understanding behind these biosynthesis pathways are uncertain yet in I. typographus. Though, applying Juvenile hormone (JH III) on the beetles have induced specific pheromone biosynthesis in many bark beetle species, irrespective of their life stage, it is not uniform found in all Ips species. While investigating pheromone biosynthesis among various life stages of I. typographus, we have also reported recently about the JHIII induction of aggregation pheromone biosynthesis from the gut tissue of the beetle. Thus, in this study, we have applied the concept of JHIII induction on I. typographus and analyzed the respective pheromone and possible biosynthesis precursors from via pathway gene families from the gut tissue of the beetle. A comparative approach from transcriptome and proteome study has revealed the mevalonate pathway genes including isoprenyl-di-phosphate synthase (IPDS) gene (Ityp09271) was upregulated over 5-fold change after JHIII induction in I. typographus. The identified IPDS is suspected to directly involve in 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, a vital aggregation pheromone of I. typographus. Added to that, a hydrolase gene family was found upregulated over 2-fold change, specifically in the male gut tissue after JHIII treatment. Furthermore, another vital gene family, CytochromeP450 have shown the upregulated (transcript) in the male gut tissue after treatment. Especially Previously reported CyP450 candidates Ityp3140 and Ityp03153 for pheromone compounds cis/trans- verbenol and ipsdienol biosynthesis respectively. Along with CyP450 candidates, the hydrolase gene candidates could possibly involve in braking down the detox compounds such as diglycosylated terpenes and stored wax esters (verbenyl oleate) from the gut possibly provided from the of the beetle body as a reservoir. An added metabolomic analysis has confirmed these compounds abundance was in the gut tissue. Especially, the abundance of the related fatty acid ester (verbenyl oleate) has reduced half in male gut tissue after the treatment. Hence, we have shed light on three possible genes from different families for the respective pheromone and its precursors biosynthesis after JHIII application over I. typographus. This approach would lead us to elucidate the molecular basis of stored pheromone biosynthesis and the derived knowledge from this study would lead to eco-friendly pest management for this aggressive pest. Key words: Ips typographus, bark beetle, pheromone biosynthesis, de novo, Juvenile hormone treatment.
Project description:To identify genetic factors potentially involved in the etiology of DCS, using rats exposed to hyperoxic air in a pressure chamber to simulate diving
Project description:Illumina HT-12 v4 microarrays were used to measure genome-wide gene expression in peripheral blood from occupational offshore divers, all male and fulfilling the criteria for diving personnel set in the NORSOK U-100 standard for manned underwater operations. Saturation dives lasted 13 - 20 days, with maximal diving depths 100 - 125 mws. Elevated oxygen during deep saturation dives triggers oxidative stress. To test the effects of oral antioxidants on post-dive gene expression, the divers were divided into two groups: one group (13 divers) received daily supplementation of antioxidant vitamins C (500mg/day) and E (200mg/day) during their dives, the other (7 divers) was not.