1
|
Hsaio S, Saglam N, Morrow D, Shain DH. Transcriptomic Profiling at the Maternal-to-Zygotic Transition in Leech, Helobdella austinensis. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:283. [PMID: 38540342 PMCID: PMC10970458 DOI: 10.3390/genes15030283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The glossiphoniid leech, Helobdella austinensis, is an experimentally tractable member of the superphylum, Lophotrochozoa. Its large embryonic cells, stereotyped asymmetric cell divisions and ex vivo development capabilities makes it a favorable model for studying the molecular and cellular events of a representative spiralian. In this study, we focused on a narrow developmental time window of ~6-8 h, comprising stages just prior to and immediately following zygote deposition. Employing RNA-Seq methodology, we identified differentially expressed transcripts at this fundamental ontogenic boundary, known as the maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT). Gene expression changes were characterized by the massive degradation of maternal RNAs (~45%) coupled with the rapid transcription of ~5000 zygotic genes (~20% of the genome) in the first mitotic cell cycle. The latter transcripts encoded a mixture of cell maintenance and regulatory proteins that predictably influence downstream developmental events.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Hsaio
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Joint Health Sciences Center, 201 South Broadway, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Naim Saglam
- Department of Aquaculture and Fish Diseases, Fisheries Faculty, Firat University, 23200 Elazig, Türkiye
| | - David Morrow
- Biology Department, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Joint Health Sciences Center, 201 South Broadway, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Daniel H. Shain
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Joint Health Sciences Center, 201 South Broadway, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
- Biology Department, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Joint Health Sciences Center, 201 South Broadway, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Saglam N, Melissaratos DS, Shain DH. Biocontrol of snail-borne parasites with the glossiphoniid leech, Helobdella austinensis. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20220484. [PMID: 37042130 PMCID: PMC10090873 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasites in which freshwater snails are intermediate hosts pose a serious threat to human health worldwide. We show here that freshwater snails can potentially be controlled by leech predation; in principle, this approach could significantly reduce snail-borne parasitic diseases (SBPDs). Specifically, glossiphoniid leeches, Helobdella austinensis and congener species, consume freshwater snails indiscriminately, while other common leeches do not. A single adult H. austenensis, for example, can consume up to its weight in snails, e.g. Physella acuta, per day. Our predator-prey models suggest that snail populations could be eliminated in relatively short time periods (approximately six months) using a leech biocontrol approach. This could have considerable impact on global SBPDs by breaking the intermediate host life cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naim Saglam
- Department of Aquaculture and Fish Diseases, Fisheries Faculty, Firat University, 23200 Elazig, Turkey
| | - Diana S. Melissaratos
- Biology Department, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Joint Health Sciences Center, 201 South Broadway, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Daniel H. Shain
- Biology Department, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Joint Health Sciences Center, 201 South Broadway, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Scherer JS, Riedesel OE, Arkhypchuk I, Meiser S, Kretzberg J. Initial Variability and Time-Dependent Changes of Neuronal Response Features Are Cell-Type-Specific. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:858221. [PMID: 35573827 PMCID: PMC9092978 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.858221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Different cell types are commonly defined by their distinct response features. But several studies proved substantial variability between cells of the same type, suggesting rather the appraisal of response feature distributions than a limitation to "typical" responses. Moreover, there is growing evidence that time-dependent changes of response features contribute to robust and functional network output in many neuronal systems. The individually characterized Touch (T), Pressure (P), and Retzius (Rz) cells in the medicinal leech allow for a rigid analysis of response features, elucidating differences between and variability within cell types, as well as their changes over time. The initial responses of T and P cells to somatic current injection cover a wide range of spike counts, and their first spike is generated with a high temporal precision after a short latency. In contrast, all Rz cells elicit very similar low spike counts with variable, long latencies. During prolonged electrical stimulation the resting membrane potential of all three cell types hyperpolarizes. At the same time, Rz cells reduce their spiking activity as expected for a departure from the spike threshold. In contrast, both mechanoreceptor types increase their spike counts during repeated stimulation, consistent with previous findings in T cells. A control experiment reveals that neither a massive current stimulation nor the hyperpolarization of the membrane potential is necessary for the mechanoreceptors' increase in excitability over time. These findings challenge the previously proposed involvement of slow K+-channels in the time-dependent activity changes. We also find no indication for a run-down of HCN channels over time, and a rigid statistical analysis contradicts several potential experimental confounders as the basis of the observed variability. We conclude that the time-dependent change in excitability of T and P cells could indicate a cell-type-specific shift between different spiking regimes, which also could explain the high variability in the initial responses. The underlying mechanism needs to be further investigated in more naturalistic experimental situations to disentangle the effects of varying membrane properties versus network interactions. They will show if variability in individual response features serves as flexible adaptation to behavioral contexts rather than just "randomness".
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jens-Steffen Scherer
- Computational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty VI, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Oda E. Riedesel
- Computational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty VI, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Ihor Arkhypchuk
- Computational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty VI, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Sonja Meiser
- Computational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty VI, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Jutta Kretzberg
- Computational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty VI, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty VI, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Glossiphoniid leeches as a touchstone for studies of development in clitellate annelids. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 147:433-468. [PMID: 35337458 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2021.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
My goals in this chapter are to share my enthusiasm for studying the biology of leeches, to place this work in context by presenting my rationale for studying non-traditional biological models in general, and to sample just three of the questions that intrigue me in leech biology, namely segmentation, genome evolution and neuronal fate specification. I first became excited about the idea of using leeches as a subject of investigation as an undergraduate in 1970 and have been engaged in this work since I arrived at Berkeley as a postdoc in 1976, intending to study leech neurobiology. Both my research interests and the rationale for the work have expanded greatly since then. What follows is a fragmentary personal and historical account-the interested reader may find more comprehensive treatments elsewhere (Kuo et al., 2020; Shankland & Savage, 1997; Shain, 2009; Weisblat & Huang, 2001; Weisblat & Kuo, 2009, 2014; Weisblat & Winchell, 2020).
Collapse
|
5
|
Kuo DH, De-Miguel FF, Heath-Heckman EAC, Szczupak L, Todd K, Weisblat DA, Winchell CJ. A tale of two leeches: Toward the understanding of the evolution and development of behavioral neural circuits. Evol Dev 2020; 22:471-493. [PMID: 33226195 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In the animal kingdom, behavioral traits encompass a broad spectrum of biological phenotypes that have critical roles in adaptive evolution, but an EvoDevo approach has not been broadly used to study behavior evolution. Here, we propose that, by integrating two leech model systems, each of which has already attained some success in its respective field, it is possible to take on behavioral traits with an EvoDevo approach. We first identify the developmental changes that may theoretically lead to behavioral evolution and explain why an EvoDevo study of behavior is challenging. Next, we discuss the pros and cons of the two leech model species, Hirudo, a classic model for invertebrate neurobiology, and Helobdella, an emerging model for clitellate developmental biology, as models for behavioral EvoDevo research. Given the limitations of each leech system, neither is particularly strong for behavioral EvoDevo. However, the two leech systems are complementary in their technical accessibilities, and they do exhibit some behavioral similarities and differences. By studying them in parallel and together with additional leech species such as Haementeria, it is possible to explore the different levels of behavioral development and evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dian-Han Kuo
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Francisco F De-Miguel
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular - Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | | | - Lidia Szczupak
- Departamento de Fisiología Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, and IFIBYNE UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Krista Todd
- Department of Neuroscience, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - David A Weisblat
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Christopher J Winchell
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kampowski T, Thiemann LL, Kürner L, Speck T, Poppinga S. Exploring the attachment of the Mediterranean medicinal leech ( Hirudo verbana) to porous substrates. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20200300. [PMID: 32673516 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Haematophagous ectoparasites must ensure a reliable hold to their host during blood meals and, therefore, have evolved a broad spectrum of versatile and effective attachment mechanisms. The Mediterranean medicinal leech (Hirudo verbana), for example, uses suction on both smooth and textured air-tight substrates. However, preliminary studies showed that H. verbana is also capable of attaching itself to air-permeable substrates, where suction does not work. Using high-speed videography and mechanical tests, we comparatively investigated the attachment of H. verbana on both smooth and textured air-tight as well as on porous artificial substrates, also considering the influence of mucus on sucker surfaces. In general, the leech-specific locomotion cycle did not differ between the tested surfaces, and the leeches were able to reliably attach to both air-tight and porous substrates. From our results, we conclude that suction is presumably the primary attachment mechanism of H. verbana. However, secondary mechanisms such as mechanical interlocking with surface asperities and pores or capillary forces occurring at the interface between the mucus-covered suckers and the substratum are also employed. In any case, the rich repertoire of applicable attachment principles renders the organs of H. verbana functionally highly resilient.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tim Kampowski
- Plant Biomechanics Group (PBG), University of Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.,Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 21, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Lara-Louise Thiemann
- Plant Biomechanics Group (PBG), University of Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Lukas Kürner
- Plant Biomechanics Group (PBG), University of Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Thomas Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group (PBG), University of Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.,Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 21, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence livMatS@ FIT - Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon Poppinga
- Plant Biomechanics Group (PBG), University of Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.,Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 21, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| |
Collapse
|