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Otárola-Jiménez J, Nataraj N, Bisch-Knaden S, Hansson BS, Knaden M. Oviposition experience affects oviposition preference in Drosophila melanogaster. iScience 2024; 27:110472. [PMID: 39129830 PMCID: PMC11315110 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Learning, memorizing, and recalling of potential ovipositing sites can influence oviposition preference. Classical conditioning experiments have shown that vinegar flies can learn the association of olfactory, gustatory, or visual stimuli with either positive or negative unconditioned stimuli. However, less is known about whether similar associations are formed in an ecologically more relevant context like during oviposition. Our experiments reveal that Drosophila melanogaster females increase their preference for substrates they have already experienced. However, this change of preference requires that the flies not only smelled or touched the substrates but also oviposited on them. We furthermore show that such an experience results in long-term memory lasting for at least 4 days, i.e., a duration that so far was shown only for aversive conditioning. Our study thus reveals a different form of associative learning in D. melanogaster that might be highly relevant for settling novel ecological niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio Otárola-Jiménez
- Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Chemistry School, University of Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica
| | - Nandita Nataraj
- Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Sonja Bisch-Knaden
- Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Bill S. Hansson
- Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Markus Knaden
- Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
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2
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Guillemin J, Li J, Li V, McDowell SAT, Audette K, Davis G, Jelen M, Slamani S, Kelliher L, Gordon MD, Stanley M. Taste cells expressing Ionotropic Receptor 94e reciprocally impact feeding and egg laying in Drosophila. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114625. [PMID: 39141516 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemosensory cells across the body of Drosophila melanogaster evaluate the environment to prioritize certain behaviors. Previous mapping of gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) on the fly labellum identified a set of neurons in L-type sensilla that express Ionotropic Receptor 94e (IR94e), but the impact of IR94e GRNs on behavior remains unclear. We used optogenetics and chemogenetics to activate IR94e neurons and found that they drive mild feeding suppression but enhance egg laying. In vivo calcium imaging revealed that IR94e GRNs respond strongly to certain amino acids, including glutamate, and that IR94e plus co-receptors IR25a and IR76b are required for amino acid detection. Furthermore, IR94e mutants show behavioral changes to solutions containing amino acids, including increased consumption and decreased egg laying. Overall, our results suggest that IR94e GRNs on the fly labellum discourage feeding and encourage egg laying as part of an important behavioral switch in response to certain chemical cues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jinfang Li
- Department of Zoology, Life Sciences Institute and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Viktoriya Li
- Department of Zoology, Life Sciences Institute and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Sasha A T McDowell
- Department of Zoology, Life Sciences Institute and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Kayla Audette
- Department of Biology, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Grace Davis
- Department of Biology, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Meghan Jelen
- Department of Zoology, Life Sciences Institute and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Samy Slamani
- Department of Biology, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Liam Kelliher
- Department of Biology, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Michael D Gordon
- Department of Zoology, Life Sciences Institute and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Molly Stanley
- Department of Biology, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
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3
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Klüber P, Arous E, Jerschow J, Fraatz M, Bakonyi D, Rühl M, Zorn H. Fatty acids derived from oviposition systems guide female black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) toward egg deposition sites. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:1231-1248. [PMID: 37824440 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, comes with big promises for industrial purposes since its larvae feed polyphagously on a broad spectrum of organic substrates. However, research focusing on adult flies is scarce, which is inconsistent with their reproductive relevance within the rearing cycle. In particular, directed oviposition is a challenge in artificial systems. Currently, decomposing organic matter is commonly used as oviposition substrate, which has extensive potential for improvement in view of the lack of standardization and the risk of microbial contamination. Here, we identified three fatty acids and one fatty acid methyl ester derived from the surface of old oviposition sites and targeted to elucidate their effect on preference behavior and oviposition site selection using Y-olfactometry and prepared oviposition sites, respectively. Exposure to tetradecanoic acid attracted gravid females and stimulated oviposition most strongly, while decanoic acid demonstrated a repulsive effect. Females kept in mixed-sex populations were attracted by tetradecanoic acid, resulting in a higher egg mass found in the compound box (3.0-11.4 fold), a ≥ 2.3 fold reduction of nonspecifically deposited eggs, and the highest total egg mass. Conversely, decanoic and dodecanoic acid caused females to lay a greater proportion of eggs nonspecifically outside both boxes. Our data suggest that fatty acids, especially tetradecanoic acid, are important cues for oviposition site selection in black soldier flies. In order to achieve a directed oviposition behavior, the role of further short- and long-chain fatty acids as attractants should be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Klüber
- Department Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
| | - Emna Arous
- Department Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jeanny Jerschow
- Department Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
| | - Marco Fraatz
- Institute of Food Chemistry and Food Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Daniel Bakonyi
- Department Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
| | - Martin Rühl
- Department Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
- Institute of Food Chemistry and Food Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Holger Zorn
- Department Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
- Institute of Food Chemistry and Food Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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4
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Yan W, Li Y, Louis EJ, Kyriacou CP, Hu Y, Cordell RL, Xie X. Quantitative genetic analysis of attractiveness of yeast products to Drosophila. Genetics 2024; 227:iyae048. [PMID: 38560786 PMCID: PMC11151935 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
An attractive perfume is a complex mixture of compounds, some of which may be unpleasant on their own. This is also true for the volatile combinations from yeast fermentation products in vineyards and orchards when assessed by Drosophila. Here, we used crosses between a yeast strain with an attractive fermentation profile and another strain with a repulsive one and tested fly responses using a T-maze. QTL analysis reveals allelic variation in four yeast genes, namely PTC6, SAT4, YFL040W, and ARI1, that modulated expression levels of volatile compounds [assessed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)] and in different combinations, generated various levels of attractiveness. The parent strain that is more attractive to Drosophila has repulsive alleles at two of the loci, while the least attractive parent has attractive alleles. Behavioral assays using artificial mixtures mimicking the composition of odors from fermentation validated the results of GC-MS and QTL mapping, thereby directly connecting genetic variation in yeast to attractiveness in flies. This study can be used as a basis for dissecting the combination of olfactory receptors that mediate the attractiveness/repulsion of flies to yeast volatiles and may also serve as a model for testing the attractiveness of pest species such as Drosophila suzukii to their host fruit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiru Yan
- Institute of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Department of Genetics & Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Yishen Li
- Department of Genetics & Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Edward J Louis
- Department of Genetics & Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | | | - Yue Hu
- Department of Genetics & Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Rebecca L Cordell
- School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Xiaodong Xie
- Institute of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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Wu Y, Wang Q, Yang W, Zhang S, Mao CX, He N, Zhou S, Zhou C, Liu W. The cluster digging behavior of larvae confers trophic benefits to fitness in insects. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:870-884. [PMID: 38161191 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Collective behaviors efficiently impart benefits to a diversity of species ranging from bacteria to humans. Fly larvae tend to cluster and form coordinated digging groups under crowded conditions, yet understanding the rules governing this behavior is in its infancy. We primarily took advantage of the Drosophila model to investigate cooperative foraging behavior. Here, we report that Drosophila-related species and the black soldier fly have evolved a conserved strategy of cluster digging in food foraging. Subsequently, we investigated relative factors, including larval stage, population density, and food stiffness and quality, that affect the cluster digging behavior. Remarkably, oxygen supply through the posterior breathing spiracles is necessary for the organization of digging clusters. More importantly, we theoretically devise a mathematical model to accurately calculate how the cluster digging behavior expands food resources by diving depth, cross-section area, and food volume. We found that cluster digging behavior approximately increases 2.2 fold depth, 1.7-fold cross-section area, and 1.9 fold volume than control groups, respectively. Amplification of food sources significantly facilitates survival, larval development, and reproductive success of Drosophila challenged with competition for limited food resources, thereby conferring trophic benefits to fitness in insects. Overall, our findings highlight that the cluster digging behavior is a pivotal behavior for their adaptation to food scarcity, advancing a better understanding of how this cooperative behavior confers fitness benefits in the animal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Wu
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Green Pesticide Development and Application, Hefei, China
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- School of Teacher Education, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weikang Yang
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Green Pesticide Development and Application, Hefei, China
| | - Sheng Zhang
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Green Pesticide Development and Application, Hefei, China
| | - Chuan-Xi Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, School of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Nana He
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Green Pesticide Development and Application, Hefei, China
| | - Shaojie Zhou
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Green Pesticide Development and Application, Hefei, China
| | - Chuanming Zhou
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Green Pesticide Development and Application, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Liu
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Green Pesticide Development and Application, Hefei, China
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6
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Banse SA, Jarrett CM, Robinson KJ, Blue BW, Shaw EL, Phillips PC. The egg-counter: a novel microfluidic platform for characterization of Caenorhabditis elegans egg-laying. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:2975-2986. [PMID: 38738514 PMCID: PMC11131562 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc01073b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Reproduction is a fundamental process that shapes the demography of every living organism yet is often difficult to assess with high precision in animals that produce large numbers of offspring. Here, we present a novel microfluidic research platform for studying Caenorhabditis elegans' egg-laying. The platform provides higher throughput than traditional solid-media behavioral assays while providing a very high degree of temporal resolution. Additionally, the environmental control enabled by microfluidic animal husbandry allows for experimental perturbations difficult to achieve with solid-media assays. We demonstrate the platform's utility by characterizing C. elegans egg-laying behavior at two commonly used temperatures, 15 and 20 °C. As expected, we observed a delayed onset of egg-laying at 15 °C degrees, consistent with published temperature effects on development rate. Additionally, as seen in solid media studies, egg laying output was higher under the canonical 20 °C conditions. While we validated the Egg-Counter with a study of temperature effects in wild-type animals, the platform is highly adaptable to any nematode egg-laying research where throughput or environmental control needs to be maximized without sacrificing temporal resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A Banse
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
| | - Cody M Jarrett
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
| | - Kristin J Robinson
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
| | - Benjamin W Blue
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
| | - Emily L Shaw
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
| | - Patrick C Phillips
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
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7
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Chen R, Yan J, Wickham JD, Gao Y. Genomic identification and evolutionary analysis of chemosensory receptor gene families in two Phthorimaea pest species: insights into chemical ecology and host adaptation. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:493. [PMID: 38762533 PMCID: PMC11102633 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10428-6] [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: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insects rely on sophisticated sensitive chemosensory systems to sense their complex chemical environment. This sensory process involves a combination of odorant receptors (ORs), gustatory receptors (GRs) and ionotropic receptors (IRs) in the chemosensory system. This study focused on the identification and characterization of these three types of chemosensory receptor genes in two closely related Phthorimaea pest species, Phthorimaea operculella (potato tuber moth) and Phthorimaea absoluta (tomato leaf miner). RESULTS Based on manual annotation of the genome, we identified a total of 349 chemoreceptor genes from the genome of P. operculella, including 93 OR, 206 GR and 50 IR genes, while for P. absoluta, we identified 72 OR, 122 GR and 46 IR genes. Through phylogenetic analysis, we observed minimal differences in the number and types of ORs and IRs between the potato tuber moth and tomato leaf miner. In addition, we found that compared with those of tomato leaf miners, the gustatory receptor branch of P. operculella has undergone a large expansion, which may be related to P. absoluta having a narrower host range than P. operculella. Through analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of male and female antennae, we uncovered 45 DEGs (including 32ORs, 9 GRs, and 4 IRs). CONCLUSIONS Our research provides a foundation for exploring the chemical ecology of these two pests and offers new insights into the dietary differentiation of lepidopteran insects, while simultaneously providing molecular targets for developing environmentally friendly pest control methods based on insect chemoreception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruipeng Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Junjie Yan
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jacob D Wickham
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071, Russia
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 93 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Yulin Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Costa-da-Silva AL, Cabal S, Lopez K, Boloix J, Rodriguez BG, Marrero KM, Bellantuono AJ, DeGennaro M. Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes use communal cues to manage population density at breeding sites. Commun Biol 2024; 7:143. [PMID: 38297108 PMCID: PMC10830494 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05830-5] [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: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Where a female mosquito lays her eggs creates the conditions for reproductive success. Here we identify a communal behavior among ovipositing female mosquitoes. When choosing equal breeding sites, gravid Aedes aegypti aggregate more often than expected. This aggregation occurs when water contact is restricted and does not require the presence of eggs. Instead, the aggregation is regulated by the number of females present at the breeding site. Using assays with both occupied and empty oviposition sites, we show that the Orco olfactory co-receptor and a carbon dioxide receptor, Gr3, detect the presence of mosquitoes. orco mutants aggregate more often in empty sites, suggesting attractive olfactory cues influence females to associate with one another. Gr3 mutant females do not prefer either site, suggesting that the CO2 receptor is necessary to evaluate mosquito population density at breeding sites. Further, raising CO2 levels is sufficient to cause wild-type mosquitoes to avoid empty oviposition sites. Our results demonstrate that female mosquitoes can regulate their own population density at breeding sites using attractive and repellent communal cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre Luis Costa-da-Silva
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Silvia Cabal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Kristian Lopez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Jean Boloix
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Brian Garcia Rodriguez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Kaylee M Marrero
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Anthony J Bellantuono
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Matthew DeGennaro
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
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9
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Moreira-Soto RD, Khallaf MA, Hansson BS, Knaden M. How conspecific and allospecific eggs and larvae drive oviposition preference in Drosophila. Chem Senses 2024; 49:bjae012. [PMID: 38606759 PMCID: PMC11017781 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjae012] [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: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Where to lay the eggs is a crucial decision for females as it influences the success of their offspring. Female flies prefer to lay eggs on food already occupied and consumed by larvae, which facilitates social feeding, but potentially could also lead to detrimental interactions between species. Whether females can modulate their attraction to cues associated with different species is unknown. Here, we analyzed the chemical profiles of eggs and larvae of 16 Drosophila species, and tested whether Drosophila flies would be attracted to larvae-treated food or food with eggs from 6 different Drosophila species. The chemical analyses revealed that larval profiles from different species are strongly overlapping, while egg profiles exhibit significant species specificity. Correspondingly, female flies preferred to lay eggs where they detected whatever species' larval cues, while we found a significant oviposition preference only for eggs of some species but not others. Our findings suggest that both larval and egg cues present at a given substrate can drive oviposition preference in female flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolando D Moreira-Soto
- Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
- Universidad de Costa Rica, Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Facultad de Microbiología, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mohammed A Khallaf
- Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Bill S Hansson
- Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Markus Knaden
- Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
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10
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Oliveira-Ferreira C, Gaspar M, Vasconcelos ML. Neuronal substrates of egg-laying behaviour at the abdominal ganglion of Drosophila melanogaster. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21941. [PMID: 38081887 PMCID: PMC10713638 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48109-1] [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: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Egg-laying in Drosophila is the product of post-mating physiological and behavioural changes that culminate in a stereotyped sequence of actions. Egg-laying harbours a great potential as a paradigm to uncover how the appropriate motor circuits are organized and activated to generate behaviour. To study this programme, we first describe the different phases of the egg-laying programme and the specific actions associated with each phase. Using a combination of neuronal activation and silencing experiments, we identify neurons (OvAbg) in the abdominal ganglion as key players in egg-laying. To generate and functionally characterise subsets of OvAbg, we used an intersectional approach with neurotransmitter specific lines-VGlut, Cha and Gad1. We show that OvAbg/VGlut neurons promote initiation of egg deposition in a mating status dependent way. OvAbg/Cha neurons are required in exploration and egg deposition phases, though activation leads specifically to egg expulsion. Experiments with the OvAbg/Gad1 neurons show they participate in egg deposition. We further show a functional connection of OvAbg neurons with brain neurons. This study provides insight into the organization of neuronal circuits underlying complex motor behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Miguel Gaspar
- Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal
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11
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Cavey M, Charroux B, Travaillard S, Manière G, Berthelot-Grosjean M, Quitard S, Minervino C, Detailleur B, Grosjean Y, Prud’homme B. Increased sugar valuation contributes to the evolutionary shift in egg-laying behavior of the fruit pest Drosophila suzukii. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002432. [PMID: 38079457 PMCID: PMC10735178 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Behavior evolution can promote the emergence of agricultural pests by changing their ecological niche. For example, the insect pest Drosophila suzukii has shifted its oviposition (egg-laying) niche from fermented fruits to ripe, non-fermented fruits, causing significant damage to a wide range of fruit crops worldwide. We investigate the chemosensory changes underlying this evolutionary shift and ask whether fruit sugars, which are depleted during fermentation, are important gustatory cues that direct D. suzukii oviposition to sweet, ripe fruits. We show that D. suzukii has expanded its range of oviposition responses to lower sugar concentrations than the model D. melanogaster, which prefers to lay eggs on fermented fruit. The increased response of D. suzukii to sugar correlates with an increase in the value of sugar relative to a fermented strawberry substrate in oviposition decisions. In addition, we show by genetic manipulation of sugar-gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) that sugar perception is required for D. suzukii to prefer a ripe substrate over a fermented substrate, but not for D. melanogaster to prefer the fermented substrate. Thus, sugar is a major determinant of D. suzukii's choice of complex substrates. Calcium imaging experiments in the brain's primary gustatory center (suboesophageal zone) show that D. suzukii GRNs are not more sensitive to sugar than their D. melanogaster counterparts, suggesting that increased sugar valuation is encoded in downstream circuits of the central nervous system (CNS). Taken together, our data suggest that evolutionary changes in central brain sugar valuation computations are involved in driving D. suzukii's oviposition preference for sweet, ripe fruit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Cavey
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, Campus de Luminy Case 907, Marseille, France
| | - Bernard Charroux
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, Campus de Luminy Case 907, Marseille, France
| | - Solène Travaillard
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, Campus de Luminy Case 907, Marseille, France
| | - Gérard Manière
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, CNRS, INRAe, Institut Agro, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Martine Berthelot-Grosjean
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, CNRS, INRAe, Institut Agro, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Sabine Quitard
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, Campus de Luminy Case 907, Marseille, France
| | - Caroline Minervino
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, Campus de Luminy Case 907, Marseille, France
| | - Brice Detailleur
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, Campus de Luminy Case 907, Marseille, France
| | - Yaël Grosjean
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, CNRS, INRAe, Institut Agro, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Benjamin Prud’homme
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, Campus de Luminy Case 907, Marseille, France
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12
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Dweck HKM, Carlson JR. Diverse mechanisms of taste coding in Drosophila. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadj7032. [PMID: 37976361 PMCID: PMC10656072 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj7032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Taste systems encode chemical cues that drive vital behaviors. We have elucidated noncanonical features of taste coding using an unconventional kind of electrophysiological analysis. We find that taste neurons of Drosophila are much more sensitive than previously thought. They have a low spontaneous firing frequency that depends on taste receptors. Taste neurons have a dual function as olfactory neurons: They are activated by most tested odorants, including N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), at a distance. DEET can also inhibit certain taste neurons, revealing that there are two modes of taste response: activation and inhibition. We characterize electrophysiological OFF responses and find that the tastants that elicit them are related in structure. OFF responses link tastant identity to behavior: the magnitude of the OFF response elicited by a tastant correlated with the egg laying behavior it elicited. In summary, the sensitivity and coding capacity of the taste system are much greater than previously known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hany K M Dweck
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - John R Carlson
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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13
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Banse SA, Jarrett CM, Robinson KJ, Blue BW, Shaw EL, Phillips PC. The Egg-Counter: A novel microfluidic platform for characterization of Caenorhabditis elegans egg-laying. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.01.555781. [PMID: 37732270 PMCID: PMC10508723 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.01.555781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Reproduction is a fundamental process that shapes the demography of every living organism yet is often difficult to assess with high precision in animals that produce large numbers of offspring. Here, we present a novel microfluidic research platform for studying Caenorhabditis elegans' egg-laying. The platform provides higher throughput than traditional solid-media assays while providing a very high degree of temporal resolution. Additionally, the environmental control enabled by microfluidic animal husbandry allows for experimental perturbations difficult to achieve with solid-media assays. We demonstrate the platform's utility by characterizing C. elegans egg-laying behavior at two commonly used temperatures, 15 and 20°C. As expected, we observed a delayed onset of egg-laying at 15°C degrees, consistent with published temperature effects on development rate. Additionally, as seen in solid media studies, egg laying output was higher under the canonical 20°C conditions. While we validated the Egg-Counter with a study of temperature effects in wild-type animals, the platform is highly adaptable to any nematode egg-laying research where throughput or environmental control needs to be maximized without sacrificing temporal resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A. Banse
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Cody M. Jarrett
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Kristin J. Robinson
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Benjamin W. Blue
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Emily L. Shaw
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Patrick C. Phillips
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
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14
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Duhart JM, Buchler JR, Inami S, Kennedy KJ, Jenny BP, Afonso DJS, Koh K. Modulation and neural correlates of postmating sleep plasticity in Drosophila females. Curr Biol 2023; 33:2702-2716.e3. [PMID: 37352854 PMCID: PMC10527417 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.054] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Sleep is essential, but animals may forgo sleep to engage in other critical behaviors, such as feeding and reproduction. Previous studies have shown that female flies exhibit decreased sleep after mating, but our understanding of the process is limited. Here, we report that postmating nighttime sleep loss is modulated by diet and sleep deprivation, demonstrating a complex interaction among sleep, reproduction, and diet. We also find that female-specific pC1 neurons and sleep-promoting dorsal fan-shaped body (dFB) neurons are required for postmating sleep plasticity. Activating pC1 neurons leads to sleep suppression on standard fly culture media but has little sleep effect on sucrose-only food. Published connectome data suggest indirect, inhibitory connections among pC1 subtypes. Using calcium imaging, we show that activating the pC1e subtype inhibits dFB neurons. We propose that pC1 and dFB neurons integrate the mating status, food context, and sleep drive to modulate postmating sleep plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Duhart
- Department of Neuroscience, the Farber Institute for Neurosciences, and Synaptic Biology Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Laboratorio de Genética del Comportamiento, Fundación Instituto Leloir-IIBBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires C1405BWE, Argentina; Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Quilmes B1876BXD, Argentina.
| | - Joseph R Buchler
- Department of Neuroscience, the Farber Institute for Neurosciences, and Synaptic Biology Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Sho Inami
- Department of Neuroscience, the Farber Institute for Neurosciences, and Synaptic Biology Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Kyle J Kennedy
- Department of Neuroscience, the Farber Institute for Neurosciences, and Synaptic Biology Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - B Peter Jenny
- Department of Neuroscience, the Farber Institute for Neurosciences, and Synaptic Biology Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Dinis J S Afonso
- Department of Neuroscience, the Farber Institute for Neurosciences, and Synaptic Biology Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Kyunghee Koh
- Department of Neuroscience, the Farber Institute for Neurosciences, and Synaptic Biology Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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15
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Vijayan V, Wang F, Wang K, Chakravorty A, Adachi A, Akhlaghpour H, Dickson BJ, Maimon G. A rise-to-threshold process for a relative-value decision. Nature 2023; 619:563-571. [PMID: 37407812 PMCID: PMC10356611 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06271-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Whereas progress has been made in the identification of neural signals related to rapid, cued decisions1-3, less is known about how brains guide and terminate more ethologically relevant decisions in which an animal's own behaviour governs the options experienced over minutes4-6. Drosophila search for many seconds to minutes for egg-laying sites with high relative value7,8 and have neurons, called oviDNs, whose activity fulfills necessity and sufficiency criteria for initiating the egg-deposition motor programme9. Here we show that oviDNs express a calcium signal that (1) dips when an egg is internally prepared (ovulated), (2) drifts up and down over seconds to minutes-in a manner influenced by the relative value of substrates-as a fly determines whether to lay an egg and (3) reaches a consistent peak level just before the abdomen bend for egg deposition. This signal is apparent in the cell bodies of oviDNs in the brain and it probably reflects a behaviourally relevant rise-to-threshold process in the ventral nerve cord, where the synaptic terminals of oviDNs are located and where their output can influence behaviour. We provide perturbational evidence that the egg-deposition motor programme is initiated once this process hits a threshold and that subthreshold variation in this process regulates the time spent considering options and, ultimately, the choice taken. Finally, we identify a small recurrent circuit that feeds into oviDNs and show that activity in each of its constituent cell types is required for laying an egg. These results argue that a rise-to-threshold process regulates a relative-value, self-paced decision and provide initial insight into the underlying circuit mechanism for building this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikram Vijayan
- Laboratory of Integrative Brain Function and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Fei Wang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Kaiyu Wang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Arun Chakravorty
- Laboratory of Integrative Brain Function and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Atsuko Adachi
- Laboratory of Integrative Brain Function and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hessameddin Akhlaghpour
- Laboratory of Integrative Brain Function and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Barry J Dickson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gaby Maimon
- Laboratory of Integrative Brain Function and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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16
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Wang J, Wei J, Yi T, Li YY, Xu T, Chen L, Xu H. A green leaf volatile, (Z)-3-hexenyl-acetate, mediates differential oviposition by Spodoptera frugiperda on maize and rice. BMC Biol 2023; 21:140. [PMID: 37337192 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01642-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insects rely on chemosensory perception, mainly olfaction, for the location of mates, food sources, and oviposition sites. Plant-released volatile compounds guide herbivorous insects to search for and locate their host plants, further helping them to identify suitable positions for oviposition. The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (S. frugiperda) was found to invade China in 2019 and has since seriously threatened multiple crops, particularly maize and rice. However, the chemical and molecular mechanisms underlying oviposition preference in this pest are not fully understood. Here, the oviposition preference of S. frugiperda on maize and rice plants was investigated. RESULTS GC-EAD and GC-MS/MS techniques were used to identify the antennally active volatiles from maize and rice plants. The attraction and oviposition stimulation of identified components to female adults were tested in both laboratory and field settings. The odorant receptors (ORs) on female antennae were expressed in Xenopus oocytes, and their functions evaluated by RNAi. Ten and eleven compounds of maize and rice plants, respectively, were identified to possess electrophysiological activity from headspace volatiles. Among these compounds, (Z)-3-hexenyl-acetate specifically presented in maize volatiles was found to play a critical role in attracting females and stimulating oviposition compared to rice volatiles. Among the cloned ORs on the antennae of both sexes, SfruOR23 with highly female-biased expression mediated the responses of females to (Z)-3-hexenyl-acetate. Knockdown of SfruOR23 using RNAi markedly reduced the electrophysiological response of female antennae and oviposition preference to the compound. CONCLUSIONS (Z)-3-Hexenyl-acetate is a key volatile mediating the host and oviposition preference of S. frugiperda on maize. The olfactory receptor of (Z)-3-hexenyl-acetate was identified to be SfruOR23, which is mainly expressed in the antennae of S. frugiperda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiaqi Wei
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ting Yi
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ya-Ya Li
- School of Life Sciences/Hebei Basic Science Center for Biotic Interaction, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Tian Xu
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Li Chen
- School of Life Sciences/Hebei Basic Science Center for Biotic Interaction, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China.
| | - Hanhong Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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17
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Shrestha B, Aryal B, Lee Y. The taste of vitamin C in Drosophila. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e56319. [PMID: 37114473 PMCID: PMC10240197 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202256319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Vitamins are essential micronutrients, but the mechanisms of vitamin chemoreception in animals are poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence that vitamin C doubles starvation resistance and induces egg laying in Drosophila melanogaster. Our behavioral analyses of genetically engineered and anatomically ablated flies show that fruit flies sense vitamin C via sweet-sensing gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) in the labellum. Using a behavioral screen and in vivo electrophysiological analyses of ionotropic receptors (IRs) and sweet-sensing gustatory receptors (GRs), we find that two broadly tuned IRs (i.e., IR25a and IR76b) and five GRs (i.e., GR5a, GR61a, GR64b, GR64c, and GR64e) are essential for vitamin C detection. Thus, vitamin C is directly detected by the fly labellum and requires at least two distinct receptor types. Next, we expand our electrophysiological study to test attractive tastants such as sugars, carboxylic acids, and glycerol. Our analysis elucidates the molecular basis of chemoreception in sweet-sensing GRNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhanu Shrestha
- Department of Bio & Fermentation Convergence TechnologyKookmin UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Binod Aryal
- Department of Bio & Fermentation Convergence TechnologyKookmin UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Youngseok Lee
- Department of Bio & Fermentation Convergence TechnologyKookmin UniversitySeoulKorea
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18
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Cury KM, Axel R. Flexible neural control of transition points within the egg-laying behavioral sequence in Drosophila. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:1054-1067. [PMID: 37217726 PMCID: PMC10244180 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01332-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Innate behaviors are frequently comprised of ordered sequences of component actions that progress to satisfy essential drives. Progression is governed by specialized sensory cues that induce transitions between components within the appropriate context. Here we have characterized the structure of the egg-laying behavioral sequence in Drosophila and found significant variability in the transitions between component actions that affords the organism an adaptive flexibility. We identified distinct classes of interoceptive and exteroceptive sensory neurons that control the timing and direction of transitions between the terminal components of the sequence. We also identified a pair of motor neurons that enact the final transition to egg expulsion. These results provide a logic for the organization of innate behavior in which sensory information processed at critical junctures allows for flexible adjustments in component actions to satisfy drives across varied internal and external environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Cury
- The Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Richard Axel
- The Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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19
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Kim H, Kim Y, Roh GH, Kim YH. Comparison of Preference for Chemicals Associated with Fruit Fermentation between Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila suzukii and between Virgin and Mated D. melanogaster. INSECTS 2023; 14:382. [PMID: 37103197 PMCID: PMC10145260 DOI: 10.3390/insects14040382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Two taxonomically similar Drosophila species, Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila suzukii, are known to have distinct habitats: D. melanogaster is mostly found near overripe and fermented fruits, whereas D. suzukii is attracted to fresh fruits. Since chemical concentrations are typically higher in overripe and fermented fruits than in fresh fruits, D. melanogaster is hypothesized to be attracted to higher concentrations of volatiles than D. suzukii. Therefore, the chemical preferences of the two flies were compared via Y-tube olfactometer assays and electroantennogram (EAG) experiments using various concentrations of 2-phenylethanol, ethanol, and acetic acid. D. melanogaster exhibited a higher preference for high concentrations of all the chemicals than that of D. suzukii. In particular, since acetic acid is mostly produced at the late stage of fruit fermentation, the EAG signal distance to acetic acid between the two flies was higher than those to 2-phenylethanol and ethanol. This supports the hypothesis that D. melanogaster prefers fermented fruits compared to D. suzukii. When comparing virgin and mated female D. melanogaster, mated females showed a higher preference for high concentrations of chemicals than that of virgin females. In conclusion, high concentrations of volatiles are important attraction factors for mated females seeking appropriate sites for oviposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyemin Kim
- Department of Ecological Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju-si 37224, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - YeongHo Kim
- Department of Ecological Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju-si 37224, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwang Hyun Roh
- Department of Plant Medicine and Institute of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju-si 52828, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Ho Kim
- Department of Ecological Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju-si 37224, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute of Invertebrate Vector, Kyungpook National University, Sangju-si 37224, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea
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20
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Kumar R, Yadav G, Kuddus M, Ashraf GM, Singh R. Unlocking the microbial studies through computational approaches: how far have we reached? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:48929-48947. [PMID: 36920617 PMCID: PMC10016191 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26220-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
The metagenomics approach accelerated the study of genetic information from uncultured microbes and complex microbial communities. In silico research also facilitated an understanding of protein-DNA interactions, protein-protein interactions, docking between proteins and phyto/biochemicals for drug design, and modeling of the 3D structure of proteins. These in silico approaches provided insight into analyzing pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains that helped in the identification of probable genes for vaccines and antimicrobial agents and comparing whole-genome sequences to microbial evolution. Artificial intelligence, more precisely machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), has proven to be a promising approach in the field of microbiology to handle, analyze, and utilize large data that are generated through nucleic acid sequencing and proteomics. This enabled the understanding of the functional and taxonomic diversity of microorganisms. ML and DL have been used in the prediction and forecasting of diseases and applied to trace environmental contaminants and environmental quality. This review presents an in-depth analysis of the recent application of silico approaches in microbial genomics, proteomics, functional diversity, vaccine development, and drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajnish Kumar
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh Lucknow Campus, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Garima Yadav
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh Lucknow Campus, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mohammed Kuddus
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, and Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah , 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rachana Singh
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh Lucknow Campus, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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21
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Verschut TA, Ng R, Doubovetzky NP, Le Calvez G, Sneep JL, Minnaard AJ, Su CY, Carlsson MA, Wertheim B, Billeter JC. Aggregation pheromones have a non-linear effect on oviposition behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1544. [PMID: 36941252 PMCID: PMC10027874 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37046-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Female fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) oviposit at communal sites where the larvae may cooperate or compete for resources depending on group size. This offers a model system to determine how females assess quantitative social information. We show that the concentration of pheromones found on a substrate increases linearly with the number of adult flies that have visited that site. Females prefer oviposition sites with pheromone concentrations corresponding to an intermediate number of previous visitors, whereas sites with low or high concentrations are unattractive. This dose-dependent decision is based on a blend of 11-cis-Vaccenyl Acetate (cVA) indicating the number of previous visitors and heptanal (a novel pheromone deriving from the oxidation of 7-Tricosene), which acts as a dose-independent co-factor. This response is mediated by detection of cVA by odorant receptor neurons Or67d and Or65a, and at least five different odorant receptor neurons for heptanal. Our results identify a mechanism allowing individuals to transform a linear increase of pheromones into a non-linear behavioral response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Verschut
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Renny Ng
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Nicolas P Doubovetzky
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Guillaume Le Calvez
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan L Sneep
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Adriaan J Minnaard
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Chih-Ying Su
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Mikael A Carlsson
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bregje Wertheim
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Christophe Billeter
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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22
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Fanara JJ, Beti MIL, Gandini L, Hasson E. Oviposition behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster: Genetic and behavioural decoupling between oviposition acceptance and preference for natural fruits. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:251-263. [PMID: 36357966 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
In phytophagous insects, oviposition behaviour is an important component of habitat selection and, given the multiplicity of genetic and environmental factors affecting its expression, is defined as a complex character resulting from the sum of interdependent traits. Here, we study two components of egg-laying behaviour: oviposition acceptance (OA) and oviposition preference (OP) in Drosophila melanogaster using three natural fruits as resources (grape, tomato and orange) by means of no-choice and two-choice experiments, respectively. This experimental design allowed us to show that the results obtained in two-choice assays (OP) cannot be accounted for by those resulting from no-choice assays (OA). Since the genomes of all lines used are completely sequenced, we perform a genome-wide association study to identify and characterize the genetic underpinnings of these oviposition behaviour traits. The analyses revealed different candidate genes affecting natural genetic variation of both OA and OP traits. Moreover, our results suggest behavioural and genetic decoupling between OA and OP and that egg-laying behaviour is plastic and context-dependent. Such independence in the genetic architectures of OA and OP variation may influence different aspects of oviposition behaviour, including plasticity, canalization, host shift and maintenance of genetic variability, which contributes to the adoption of adaptive strategies during habitat selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J Fanara
- Laboratorio de Evolución, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, FCEN, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón II, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Laboratorio de Evolución, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), CONICET-UBA, FCEN, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón II, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria I L Beti
- Laboratorio de Evolución, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), CONICET-UBA, FCEN, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón II, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luciano Gandini
- Laboratorio de Evolución, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, FCEN, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón II, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Esteban Hasson
- Laboratorio de Evolución, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, FCEN, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón II, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Laboratorio de Evolución, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), CONICET-UBA, FCEN, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón II, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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23
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Vijayan V, Wang Z, Chandra V, Chakravorty A, Li R, Sarbanes SL, Akhlaghpour H, Maimon G. An internal expectation guides Drosophila egg-laying decisions. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn3852. [PMID: 36306348 PMCID: PMC9616500 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn3852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
To better understand how animals make ethologically relevant decisions, we studied egg-laying substrate choice in Drosophila. We found that flies dynamically increase or decrease their egg-laying rates while exploring substrates so as to target eggs to the best, recently visited option. Visiting the best option typically yielded inhibition of egg laying on other substrates for many minutes. Our data support a model in which flies compare the current substrate's value with an internally constructed expectation on the value of available options to regulate the likelihood of laying an egg. We show that dopamine neuron activity is critical for learning and/or expressing this expectation, similar to its role in certain tasks in vertebrates. Integrating sensory experiences over minutes to generate an estimate of the quality of available options allows flies to use a dynamic reference point for judging the current substrate and might be a general way in which decisions are made.
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24
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Biasazin TD, Herrera SL, Kimbokota F, Dekker T. Diverging olfactory sensitivities to yeast volatiles reflect resource partitioning of tephritids and drosophilids. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.999762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As pests of fruits and vegetables, ovipositing tephritid fruit flies are infamous for their frugivory. Yet, adult tephritids have remained saprophytic in their feeding behavior, as they require decomposing, protein rich media for sexual maturation and oogenesis. Drosophilid fruit flies, in contrast, are saprophytic both during oviposition and feeding. Here we compared the sensory and behavioral responses of two tephritid (Bactrocera dorsalis and Ceratitis capitata) and two drosophilid species (Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila suzukii) to differentially aged cultures of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We assessed convergence and divergence in the detection of and behavioral response to these attractive substrates, and how these might be linked to the roles of the substrates for the different taxa. The headspace shifted substantially as broth cultures transitioned from active (1-day) to inactive (8- and 15-days). Interestingly, Drosophila flies were significantly attracted to actively fermenting 1-day old yeast cultures, whereas the preference shifted to older cultures for the tephritids. Bactrocera dorsalis flies preferred inactive, lysing cultures (8- and 15-days old). We identified compounds from the 1- to 8-days old broth cultures that elicited antennal responses in each species. Synthetic blends composed of antennally active compounds evoked similar behavioral responses as broth cultures. Similarly, the attractiveness of less attractive broth cultures (1- and 8-days old for drosophilids and tephritids, respectively) could be augmented by adding volatiles of the more attractive cultures. The results show that the volatile profiles of fermenting substrates evolve quantitatively and qualitatively, and that fly species key into volatile blends that indicate suitability of the substrates for their purposes. For drosophilids early arrival at fermenting substrates confers a competitive advantage to offspring. In contrast, for tephritid the concentration and availability of protein is facilitated by older, lysed yeast cultures. The data from this comparative study are also instrumental in the development of novel lures for these pests.
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25
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Wang X, Billeter JC, Maan ME. Lack of alignment across yeast-dependent life-history traits may limit Drosophila melanogaster dietary specialization. J Evol Biol 2022; 35:1060-1071. [PMID: 35830471 PMCID: PMC9540990 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Heterogeneity in food resources is a major driver of local adaptation and speciation. Dietary specialization typically involves multiple life‐history traits and may thus be limited by the extent to which these traits adapt in concert. Here, we use Drosophila melanogaster, representing an intermediate state in the generalist‐specialist continuum, to explore the scope for dietary specialization. D. melanogaster has a close association with yeast, an essential but heterogeneous food resource. We quantify how different D. melanogaster strains from around the globe respond to different yeast species, across multiple yeast‐dependent life‐history traits including feeding, mating, egg‐laying, egg development and survival. We find that D. melanogaster strains respond to different yeast species in different ways, indicating distinct fly strain–yeast interactions. However, we detect no evidence for trade‐offs: fly performance tends to be positively rather than negatively correlated across yeast species. We also find that the responses to different yeast species are not aligned across traits: different life‐history traits are maximized on different yeast species. Finally, we confirm that D. melanogaster is a resource generalist: it can grow, reproduce and survive on all the yeast species we tested. Together, these findings provide a possible explanation for the limited extent of dietary specialization in D. melanogaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaocui Wang
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Christophe Billeter
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martine E Maan
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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26
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Zanatta MF, Romero GQ, Villanueva-Bonilla GA, Vasconcellos-Neto J. Leaf and site selection for nest construction and oviposition in Aysha piassaguera Brescovit, 1992 (Araneae: Anyphaenidae). J NAT HIST 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2043479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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27
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Pavković-Lučić S, Trajković J, Miličić D, Anđelković B, Lučić L, Savić T, Vujisić L. "Scent of a fruit fly": Cuticular chemoprofiles after mating in differently fed Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae) strains. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 109:e21866. [PMID: 35020218 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In the world of complex smells in natural environment, feeding and mating represent two important olfactory-guided behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Diet affects the chemoprofile composition of the individuals, which, indirectly, may significantly affect their mating success. In this study, chemoprofiles of recently mated flies belonging to four D. melanogaster strains, which were fed for many generations on different substrates (standard cornmeal-S strain; banana-B strain; carrot-C strain; tomato-T strain) were identified and quantified. In total, 67 chemical compounds were identified: 48 compounds were extracted from males maintained on banana and carrot, and 47 compounds from males maintained on cornmeal and tomato substrates, while total of 60 compounds were identified in females from all strains. The strains and the sexes significantly differed in qualitative nature of their chemoprofiles after mating. Significant differences in the relative amount of three major male pheromones (cis-vaccenyl acetate-cVA, (Z)-7-pentacosene, and (Z)-7-tricosene) and in female pheromone (Z,Z)-7,11-nonacosadiene among strains were also recorded. Furthermore, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) pointed to significant differences between virgin and mated individuals of all strains and within both sexes. Differences in some of the well known sex pheromones were also identified when comparing their relative amount before and after mating. The presence of typical male pheromones in females, and vice versa may indicate their bidirectional transfer during copulation. Our results confirm significant effect of mating status on cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) phenotypes in differently fed D. melanogaster flies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dragana Miličić
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Luka Lučić
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tatjana Savić
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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28
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Gupta A, Singh SS, Mittal AM, Singh P, Goyal S, Kannan KR, Gupta AK, Gupta N. Mosquito Olfactory Response Ensemble enables pattern discovery by curating a behavioral and electrophysiological response database. iScience 2022; 25:103938. [PMID: 35265812 PMCID: PMC8899409 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many experimental studies have examined behavioral and electrophysiological responses of mosquitoes to odors. However, the differences across studies in data collection, processing, and reporting make it difficult to perform large-scale analyses combining data from multiple studies. Here we extract and standardize data for 12 mosquito species, along with Drosophila melanogaster for comparison, from over 170 studies and curate the Mosquito Olfactory Response Ensemble (MORE), publicly available at https://neuralsystems.github.io/MORE. We demonstrate the ability of MORE in generating biological insights by finding patterns across studies. Our analyses reveal that ORs are tuned to specific ranges of several physicochemical properties of odorants; the empty-neuron recording technique for measuring OR responses is more sensitive than the Xenopus oocyte technique; there are systematic differences in the behavioral preferences reported by different types of assays; and odorants tend to become less attractive or more aversive at higher concentrations. MORE is a database of behavioral and electrophysiological responses to odors MORE includes data from 170 studies covering 12 species of mosquitoes along with flies MORE shows differences in odor preferences measured with different assays Empty-neuron technique measures responses more sensitively than the oocyte technique
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29
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A functional division of Drosophila sweet taste neurons that is value-based and task-specific. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2110158119. [PMID: 35031566 PMCID: PMC8784143 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2110158119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sucrose is an attractive feeding substance and a positive reinforcer for Drosophila But Drosophila females have been shown to robustly reject a sucrose-containing option for egg-laying when given a choice between a plain and a sucrose-containing option in specific contexts. How the sweet taste system of Drosophila promotes context-dependent devaluation of an egg-laying option that contains sucrose, an otherwise highly appetitive tastant, is unknown. Here, we report that devaluation of sweetness/sucrose for egg-laying is executed by a sensory pathway recruited specifically by the sweet neurons on the legs of Drosophila First, silencing just the leg sweet neurons caused acceptance of the sucrose option in a sucrose versus plain decision, whereas expressing the channelrhodopsin CsChrimson in them caused rejection of a plain option that was "baited" with light over another that was not. Analogous bidirectional manipulations of other sweet neurons did not produce these effects. Second, circuit tracing revealed that the leg sweet neurons receive different presynaptic neuromodulations compared to some other sweet neurons and were the only ones with postsynaptic partners that projected prominently to the superior lateral protocerebrum (SLP) in the brain. Third, silencing one specific SLP-projecting postsynaptic partner of the leg sweet neurons reduced sucrose rejection, whereas expressing CsChrimson in it promoted rejection of a light-baited option during egg-laying. These results uncover that the Drosophila sweet taste system exhibits a functional division that is value-based and task-specific, challenging the conventional view that the system adheres to a simple labeled-line coding scheme.
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30
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Abstract
In this review, we highlight sources of alcohols in nature, as well as the behavioral and ecological roles that these fermentation cues play in the short lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster. With a focus on neuroethology, we describe the olfactory detection of alcohol as well as ensuing neural signaling within the brain of the fly. We proceed to explain the plethora of behaviors related to alcohol, including attraction, feeding, and oviposition, as well as general effects on aggression and courtship. All of these behaviors are shaped by physiological state and social contexts. In a comparative perspective, we also discuss inter- and intraspecies differences related to alcohol tolerance and metabolism. Lastly, we provide corollaries with other dipteran and coleopteran insect species that also have olfactory systems attuned to ethanol detection and describe ecological and evolutionary directions for further studies of the natural history of alcohol and the fly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian W Keesey
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, USA;
- Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany;
| | - Bill S Hansson
- Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany;
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31
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Prieto-Godino LL, Schmidt HR, Benton R. Molecular reconstruction of recurrent evolutionary switching in olfactory receptor specificity. eLife 2021; 10:69732. [PMID: 34677122 PMCID: PMC8575457 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Olfactory receptor repertoires exhibit remarkable functional diversity, but how these proteins have evolved is poorly understood. Through analysis of extant and ancestrally reconstructed drosophilid olfactory receptors from the Ionotropic receptor (Ir) family, we investigated evolution of two organic acid-sensing receptors, Ir75a and Ir75b. Despite their low amino acid identity, we identify a common ‘hotspot’ in their ligand-binding pocket that has a major effect on changing the specificity of both Irs, as well as at least two distinct functional transitions in Ir75a during evolution. Moreover, we show that odor specificity is refined by changes in additional, receptor-specific sites, including those outside the ligand-binding pocket. Our work reveals how a core, common determinant of ligand-tuning acts within epistatic and allosteric networks of substitutions to lead to functional evolution of olfactory receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia L Prieto-Godino
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hayden R Schmidt
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Richard Benton
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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32
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Sensory processing during sleep in Drosophila melanogaster. Nature 2021; 598:479-482. [PMID: 34588694 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03954-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
During sleep, most animal species enter a state of reduced consciousness characterized by a marked sensory disconnect. Yet some processing of the external world must remain intact, given that a sleeping animal can be awoken by intense stimuli (for example, a loud noise or a bright light) or by soft but qualitatively salient stimuli (for example, the sound of a baby cooing or hearing one's own name1-3). How does a sleeping brain retain the ability to process the quality of sensory information? Here we present a paradigm to study the functional underpinnings of sensory discrimination during sleep in Drosophila melanogaster. We show that sleeping vinegar flies, like humans, discern the quality of sensory stimuli and are more likely to wake up in response to salient stimuli. We also show that the salience of a stimulus during sleep can be modulated by internal states. We offer a prototypical blueprint detailing a circuit involved in this process and its modulation as evidence that the system can be used to explore the cellular underpinnings of how a sleeping brain experiences the world.
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33
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Vesterberg A, Rizkalla R, Fitzpatrick MJ. Environmental influences on for-mediated oviposition decisions in Drosophila melanogaster. J Neurogenet 2021; 35:262-273. [PMID: 34259125 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2021.1950713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Deciding whether or not to lay an egg on a given substrate is an important task undertaken by females of many arthropods. It involves perceiving the environment (e.g. quality of the substrate, temperature, and humidity), formulating a decision, and then conducting the appropriate behaviours to oviposit. This oviposition site selection (OSS) provides a useful system for studying simple decision-making. OSS in fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, is influenced by both genetic and environmental variation. Naturally occurring allelic variation in the foraging gene (for) is known to affect OSS. Given a choice of high- and low-nutrient oviposition substrates, groups of rovers (forR) are known to lay significantly more of their eggs on low-nutrient sites than sitters (fors) and sitter mutants (fors2). Here we ask three questions: (1) Is the role of for in OSS affected by the availability of alternate oviposition sites? (2) Is the role of for in OSS sensitive to the density of ovipositing females? and (3) Does the gustatory sensation of yeast play a role in for-mediated variation in OSS? We find a role of choice and female density in rover/sitter differences in OSS, as well as a role of for in response to glycerol, an indicator of yeast. The role of for in OSS decision-making is complex and multi-faceted and should prove fertile ground for further research into the factors affecting decision-making behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Vesterberg
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Canada.,Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rudy Rizkalla
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mark J Fitzpatrick
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Canada.,Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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34
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Durkin SM, Chakraborty M, Abrieux A, Lewald KM, Gadau A, Svetec N, Peng J, Kopyto M, Langer CB, Chiu JC, Emerson JJ, Zhao L. Behavioral and Genomic Sensory Adaptations Underlying the Pest Activity of Drosophila suzukii. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:2532-2546. [PMID: 33586767 PMCID: PMC8136512 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying how novel phenotypes originate and evolve is fundamental to the field of evolutionary biology as it allows us to understand how organismal diversity is generated and maintained. However, determining the basis of novel phenotypes is challenging as it involves orchestrated changes at multiple biological levels. Here, we aim to overcome this challenge by using a comparative species framework combining behavioral, gene expression, and genomic analyses to understand the evolutionary novel egg-laying substrate-choice behavior of the invasive pest species Drosophila suzukii. First, we used egg-laying behavioral assays to understand the evolution of ripe fruit oviposition preference in D. suzukii compared with closely related species D. subpulchrella and D. biarmipes as well as D. melanogaster. We show that D. subpulchrella and D. biarmipes lay eggs on both ripe and rotten fruits, suggesting that the transition to ripe fruit preference was gradual. Second, using two-choice oviposition assays, we studied how D. suzukii, D. subpulchrella, D. biarmipes, and D. melanogaster differentially process key sensory cues distinguishing ripe from rotten fruit during egg-laying. We found that D. suzukii's preference for ripe fruit is in part mediated through a species-specific preference for stiff substrates. Last, we sequenced and annotated a high-quality genome for D. subpulchrella. Using comparative genomic approaches, we identified candidate genes involved in D. suzukii's ability to seek out and target ripe fruits. Our results provide detail to the stepwise evolution of pest activity in D. suzukii, indicating important cues used by this species when finding a host, and the molecular mechanisms potentially underlying their adaptation to a new ecological niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia M Durkin
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Mahul Chakraborty
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Antoine Abrieux
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kyle M Lewald
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Alice Gadau
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicolas Svetec
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Junhui Peng
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Miriam Kopyto
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher B Langer
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joanna C Chiu
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - J J Emerson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Li Zhao
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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35
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Yapici N. Mechanosensation: Too Hard or Too Soft? Curr Biol 2021; 30:R936-R939. [PMID: 32810453 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Maternal decisions, such as where to build a nest or where to lay your eggs, are critical for the offspring's fitness and survival in any species. A new study in Drosophila now reveals that distinct classes of mechanosensory receptors and neurons fine tune the physical assessment of an oviposition site and determine where the female fly lays her eggs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilay Yapici
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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36
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Liu W, Wang J, Zhang HY, Yang YC, Kang RX, Bai P, Fu H, Chen LR, Gao YP, Tan EK. Symbiotic bacteria attenuate Drosophila oviposition repellence to alkaline through acidification. INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 28:403-414. [PMID: 32725723 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Metazoans harbor a wealth of symbionts that are ever-changing the environment by taking up resources and/or excreting metabolites. One such common environmental modification is a change in pH. Conventional wisdom holds that symbionts facilitate the survival and production of their hosts in the wild, but this notion lacks empirical evidence. Here, we report that symbiotic bacteria in the genus Enterococcus attenuate the oviposition avoidance of alkaline environments in Drosophila. We studied the effects of alkalinity on oviposition preference for the first time, and found that flies are robustly disinclined to oviposit on alkali-containing substrates. This innate repulsion to alkaline environments is explained, in part, by the fact that alkalinity compromises the health and lifespan of both offspring and parent Drosophila. Enterococcus dramatically diminished or even completely reversed the ovipositional avoidance of alkalinity in Drosophila. Mechanistically, Enterococcus generate abundant lactate during fermentation, which neutralizes the residual alkali in an egg-laying substrate. In conclusion, Enterococcus protects Drosophila from alkali stress by acidifying the ovipositional substrate, and ultimately improves the fitness of the Drosophila population. Our results demonstrate that symbionts are profound factors in the Drosophila ovipositional decision, and extend our understanding of the intimate interactions between Drosophila and their symbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi, China
- Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore General Hospital Campus, Singapore
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi, China
| | - Hong-Yu Zhang
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi, China
| | - Ying-Chun Yang
- Department of Basic Medical, Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi, China
| | - Ru-Xue Kang
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi, China
| | - Peng Bai
- Department of Basic Medical, Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi, China
| | - Hui Fu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi, China
| | - Li-Rong Chen
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi, China
| | - Yan-Ping Gao
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi, China
| | - Eng King Tan
- Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore General Hospital Campus, Singapore
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37
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Mahishi D, Triphan T, Hesse R, Huetteroth W. The Panopticon-Assessing the Effect of Starvation on Prolonged Fly Activity and Place Preference. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:640146. [PMID: 33841109 PMCID: PMC8026880 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.640146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal behaviours are demonstrably governed by sensory stimulation, previous experience and internal states like hunger. With increasing hunger, priorities shift towards foraging and feeding. During foraging, flies are known to employ efficient path integration strategies. However, general long-term activity patterns for both hungry and satiated flies in conditions of foraging remain to be better understood. Similarly, little is known about how permanent contact chemosensory stimulation affects locomotion. To address these questions, we have developed a novel, simplistic fly activity tracking setup—the Panopticon. Using a 3D-printed Petri dish inset, our assay allows recording of walking behaviour, of several flies in parallel, with all arena surfaces covered by a uniform substrate layer. We tested two constellations of providing food: (i) in single patches and (ii) omnipresent within the substrate layer. Fly tracking is done with FIJI, further assessment, analysis and presentation is done with a custom-built MATLAB analysis framework. We find that starvation history leads to a long-lasting reduction in locomotion, as well as a delayed place preference for food patches which seems to be not driven by immediate hunger motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepthi Mahishi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tilman Triphan
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ricarda Hesse
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wolf Huetteroth
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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38
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Dweck HK, Talross GJ, Wang W, Carlson JR. Evolutionary shifts in taste coding in the fruit pest Drosophila suzukii. eLife 2021; 10:64317. [PMID: 33616529 PMCID: PMC7899650 DOI: 10.7554/elife.64317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Although most Drosophila species lay eggs in overripe fruit, the agricultural pest Drosophila suzukii lays eggs in ripe fruit. We found that changes in bitter taste perception have accompanied this adaptation. We show that bitter-sensing mutants of Drosophila melanogaster undergo a shift in egg laying preference toward ripe fruit. D. suzukii has lost 20% of the bitter-sensing sensilla from the labellum, the major taste organ of the head. Physiological responses to various bitter compounds are lost. Responses to strawberry purées are lost from two classes of taste sensilla. Egg laying is not deterred by bitter compounds that deter other species. Profiling of labellar transcriptomes reveals reduced expression of several bitter Gr genes (gustatory receptors). These findings support a model in which bitter compounds in early ripening stages deter egg laying in most Drosophila species, but a loss of bitter response contributes to the adaptation of D. suzukii to ripe fruit. A new agricultural pest has recently emerged in the United States and Northern Europe. The invasive species is a type of fruit fly that normally lives in Southeast Asia called Drosophila suzukii (also known as the spotted wing Drosophila). This fly poses a threat to fruit crops – including strawberries, blueberries, cherries, peaches and grapes – because, while other fruit flies lay eggs in overripe fruit, D. suzukii lays eggs in ripe fruit, leading to agricultural losses. This shift in where fruit flies prefer to lay their eggs is related to changes in the senses of smell and touch, and taste could also play a role. Insects have evolved mechanisms that dissuade them from eating or laying eggs in plants with high levels of toxins, which taste bitter. If D. suzukii is less sensitive to bitter tastes than other flies, this could help explain why it lays eggs in just-ripe fruit, since the levels of certain bitter compounds are higher in the early stages of ripening than later on. To figure out if this is the case, Dweck et al. studied different species of fruit fly. Compared to Drosophila melanogaster (a fruit fly common in America and Europe that is regularly used in scientific studies), D. suzukii had fewer bitter taste receptor neurons on the major taste organ of the fly head. These receptor neurons were also less responsive to a variety of bitter compounds. Next, Dweck et al. tested whether D. melanogaster and D. suzukii showed different preferences for where to lay their eggs by offering them strawberry purées made from fruit at different ripening stages. In this experiment, D. suzukii preferred to lay its eggs on purées made from unripe or just-ripe strawberries, while D. melanogaster showed a preference for fermented (overripe) purée. Furthermore, when D. melanogaster flies were genetically modified so that they became less sensitive to bitter taste, they preferred to lay their eggs in ripe (rather than overripe) fruit, similar to D. suzukii. These results suggest that taste has a major role in the egg laying preferences of D. suzukii. Further research is needed to determine which bitter compounds influence egg-laying decisions in each species of fruit fly, and what receptors respond to these compounds. However, Dweck et al.’s results lay the groundwork for new approaches to reducing D. suzukii’s impact on agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hany Km Dweck
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, United States
| | - Gaëlle Js Talross
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, United States
| | - Wanyue Wang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, United States
| | - John R Carlson
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, United States
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Sato A, Tanaka KM, Yew JY, Takahashi A. Drosophila suzukii avoidance of microbes in oviposition choice. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:201601. [PMID: 33614092 PMCID: PMC7890486 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
While the majority of Drosophila species lays eggs onto fermented fruits, females of Drosophila suzukii pierce the skin and lay eggs into ripening fruits using their serrated ovipositors. The changes of oviposition site preference must have accompanied this niche exploitation. In this study, we established an oviposition assay to investigate the effects of commensal microbes deposited by conspecific and heterospecific individuals and showed that the presence of microbes on the oviposition substrate enhances egg laying of Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila biarmipes, but discourages that of D. suzukii. This result suggests that a drastic change has taken place in the lineage leading to D. suzukii in how females respond to chemical cues produced by microbes. We also found that hardness of the substrate, resembling that of either ripening or damaged and fermenting fruits, affects the response to microbial growth, indicating that mechanosensory stimuli interact with chemosensory-guided decisions to select or avoid oviposition sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Airi Sato
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minamiosawa, Hachioji 192-0397, Japan
| | - Kentaro M Tanaka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minamiosawa, Hachioji 192-0397, Japan
| | - Joanne Y Yew
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 1993 East West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Aya Takahashi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minamiosawa, Hachioji 192-0397, Japan
- Research Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minamiosawa, Hachioji 192-0397, Japan
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Gut Bacteria Mediate Nutrient Availability in Drosophila Diets. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 87:AEM.01401-20. [PMID: 33067193 PMCID: PMC7755257 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01401-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster gut microbes play important roles in host nutritional physiology. However, these associations are often indirect, and studies typically are in the context of specialized nutritional conditions, making it difficult to discern how microbiome-mediated impacts translate to physiologically relevant conditions, in the laboratory or nature. In this study, we quantified changes in dietary nutrients due to D. melanogaster gut bacteria on three artificial diets and a natural diet of grapes. We show that under all four diet conditions, bacteria altered the protein, carbohydrates, and moisture of the food substrate. An in-depth analysis of one diet revealed that bacteria also increased the levels of tryptophan, an essential amino acid encountered scarcely in nature. These nutrient changes result in an increased protein-to-carbohydrate (P:C) ratio in all diets, which we hypothesized to be a significant determinant of microbiome-mediated host nutritional physiology. To test this, we compared life history traits of axenic flies reared on the three artificial diets with increased P:C ratios or continuous bacterial inoculation. We found that while on some diets, an environment of nutritional plenitude had impacts on life history, it did not fully explain all microbiome-associated phenotypes. This suggests that other factors, such as micronutrients and feeding behavior, likely also contribute to life history traits in a diet-dependent manner. Thus, while some bacterial impacts on nutrition occur across diets, others are dictated by unique dietary environments, highlighting the importance of diet-microbiome interactions in D. melanogaster nutritional physiology.IMPORTANCE Both in the laboratory and in nature, D. melanogaster-associated microbes serve as nutritional effectors, either through the production of metabolites or as direct sources of protein biomass. The relationship between the microbiome and the resulting host nutritional physiology is significantly impacted by diet composition, yet studies involving D. melanogaster are performed using a wide range of artificial diets, making it difficult to discern which aspects of host-microbe interactions may be universal or diet dependent. In this study, we utilized three standard D. melanogaster diets and a natural grape diet to form a comprehensive understanding of the quantifiable nutritional changes mediated by the host microbial community. We then altered these artificial diets based on the observed microbe-mediated changes to demonstrate their potential to influence host physiology, allowing us to identify nutritional factors whose effects were either universal for the three artificial diets or dependent on host diet composition.
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Sun Y, Qiu R, Li X, Cheng Y, Gao S, Kong F, Liu L, Zhu Y. Social attraction in Drosophila is regulated by the mushroom body and serotonergic system. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5350. [PMID: 33093442 PMCID: PMC7582864 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19102-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Sociality is among the most important motivators of human behaviour. However, the neural mechanisms determining levels of sociality are largely unknown, primarily due to a lack of suitable animal models. Here, we report the presence of a surprising degree of general sociality in Drosophila. A newly-developed paradigm to study social approach behaviour in flies reveal that social cues perceive through both vision and olfaction converged in a central brain region, the γ lobe of the mushroom body, which exhibite activation in response to social experience. The activity of these γ neurons control the motivational drive for social interaction. At the molecular level, the serotonergic system is critical for social affinity. These results demonstrate that Drosophila are highly sociable, providing a suitable model system for elucidating the mechanisms underlying the motivation for sociality. Robust social attraction in fruit flies relies on two prominent senses, vision and olfaction, which converge to central brain neurons. The neurons of the γ lobe of the mushroom bodies integrate sensory information and modulate social affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanjie Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Rong Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Beijing, 100101, China.,New England Biolabs (Beijing) LTD., No.1 Wang Zhuang Road, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaonan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yaxin Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.,Shenzhen Science Museum, Shangbu Road, 1003, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Fanchen Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Li Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Beijing, 100101, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. .,Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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Shaikh D, Rañó I. Braitenberg Vehicles as Computational Tools for Research in Neuroscience. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:565963. [PMID: 33042967 PMCID: PMC7525016 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.565963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Valentino Braitenberg reported his seminal thought experiment in 1984 using reactive automatons or vehicles with relatively simple sensorimotor connections as models for seemingly complex cognitive processes in biological brains. Braitenberg's work, meant as a metaphor for biological life encompassed a deep knowledge of and served as an analogy for the multitude of neural processes and pathways that underlie animal behavior, suggesting that seemingly complex behavior may arise from relatively simple designs. Braitenberg vehicles have been adopted in robotics and artificial life research for sensor-driven navigation behaviors in robots, such as localizing sound and chemical sources, orienting toward or away from current flow under water etc. The neuroscience community has benefitted from applying Braitenberg's bottom-up approach toward understanding analogous neural mechanisms underpinning his models of animal behavior. We present a summary of the latest studies of Braitenberg vehicles for bio-inspired navigation and relate the results to experimental findings on the neural basis of navigation behavior in animals. Based on these studies, we motivate the important role of Braitenberg vehicles as computational tools to inform research in behavioral neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danish Shaikh
- Embodied Artificial Intelligence and Neurorobotics Laboratory, University of Southern Denmark Biorobotics Research Unit, Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Ignacio Rañó
- Embodied Artificial Intelligence and Neurorobotics Laboratory, University of Southern Denmark Biorobotics Research Unit, Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Wang C, Li G, Miao C, Zhao M, Wang B, Guo X. Nonanal modulates oviposition preference in female Helicoverpa assulta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) via the activation of peripheral neurons. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2020; 76:3159-3167. [PMID: 32333521 PMCID: PMC7496960 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The insect olfactory system can recognize odorants for feeding, courtship, oviposition and avoiding natural enemies. Odorant cues from host plants play important roles in insect behaviours. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is the main cultivated host of the oriental tobacco budworm Helicoverpa assult. Volatiles of tobacco plants attract and stimulate oviposition in female moths. However, it is still not known how female H. assulta recognize tobacco volatiles and which odorant compounds are used as oviposition cues. RESULTS We detected 14 volatile compounds emitted from a tobacco plant during vegetative growth, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Electroantennogram tests indicated that eight of the 14 compounds induced responses in female H. assulta. Among these eight volatiles, nonanal greatly increased oviposition preference. Single-sensillum recording (SSR) results showed that many neurons housed in three types of short basiconic sensilla and four types of long basiconic sensilla responded to nonanal and heptanal as its structural analogue. The responses to nonanal were significantly stronger than those to the other compounds. Nonanal was the main ligand of OR67, an odorant receptor from H. assulta. This was demonstrated using an in vitro Xenopus oocytes expression system that supported the SSR results. CONCLUSION Nonanal is a key signal volatile of tobacco plants that attracts female H. assulta moths to oviposit. © 2020 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Wang
- College of Plant ProtectionHenan Agricultural UniversityZhengzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect PestsInstitute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Guannan Li
- College of Plant ProtectionHenan Agricultural UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Changjian Miao
- College of Plant ProtectionHenan Agricultural UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Man Zhao
- College of Plant ProtectionHenan Agricultural UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Bing Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect PestsInstitute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xianru Guo
- College of Plant ProtectionHenan Agricultural UniversityZhengzhouChina
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Zhang L, Yu J, Guo X, Wei J, Liu T, Zhang W. Parallel Mechanosensory Pathways Direct Oviposition Decision-Making in Drosophila. Curr Biol 2020; 30:3075-3088.e4. [PMID: 32649914 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.05.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Female Drosophila choose their sites for oviposition with deliberation. Female flies employ sensitive chemosensory systems to evaluate chemical cues for egg-laying substrates, but how they determine the physical quality of an oviposition patch remains largely unexplored. Here we report that flies evaluate the stiffness of the substrate surface using sensory structures on their appendages. The TRPV family channel Nanchung is required for the detection of all stiffness ranges tested, whereas two other proteins, Inactive and DmPiezo, interact with Nanchung to sense certain spectral ranges of substrate stiffness differences. Furthermore, Tmc is critical for sensing subtle differences in substrate stiffness. The Tmc channel is expressed in distinct patterns on the labellum and legs and the mechanosensory inputs coordinate to direct the final decision making for egg laying. Our study thus reveals the machinery for deliberate egg-laying decision making in fruit flies to ensure optimal survival for their offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Jie Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xuan Guo
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jianhuan Wei
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ting Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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Capsaicin Functions as Drosophila Ovipositional Repellent and Causes Intestinal Dysplasia. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9963. [PMID: 32561812 PMCID: PMC7305228 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66900-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants generate a plethora of secondary compounds (toxins) that potently influence the breadth of the breeding niches of animals, including Drosophila. Capsaicin is an alkaloid irritant from hot chili peppers, and can act as a deterrent to affect animal behaviors, such as egg laying choice. However, the mechanism underlying this ovipositional avoidance remains unknown. Here, we report that Drosophila females exhibit a robust ovipositional aversion to capsaicin. First, we found that females were robustly repelled from laying eggs on capsaicin-containing sites. Second, genetic manipulations show that the ovipositional aversion to capsaicin is mediated by activation of nociceptive neurons expressing the painless gene. Finally, we found that capsaicin compromised the health and lifespan of flies through intestinal dysplasia and oxidative innate immunity. Overall, our study suggests that egg-laying sensation converts capsaicin into an aversive behavior for female Drosophila, mirroring an adaptation to facilitate the survival and fitness of both parents and offspring.
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Bräcker LB, Gong X, Schmid C, Dawid C, Ulrich D, Phung T, Leonhard A, Ainsworth J, Olbricht K, Parniske M, Gompel N. A strawberry accession with elevated methyl anthranilate fruit concentration is naturally resistant to the pest fly Drosophila suzukii. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234040. [PMID: 32484826 PMCID: PMC7266294 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
During the past decade, Drosophila suzukii has established itself as a global invasive fruit pest, enabled by its ability to lay eggs into fresh, ripening fruit. In a previous study, we investigated the impact of different strawberry accessions on the development of D. suzukii eggs, in the search of natural resistance. We identified several accessions that significantly reduced adult fly emergence from infested fruit. In the present study, we aimed at understanding the chemical basis of this effect. We first noted that one of the more resistant accessions showed an unusual enrichment of methyl anthranilate within its fruit, prompting us to investigate this fruit compound as a possible cause limiting fly development. We found that methyl anthranilate alone triggers embryo lethality in a concentration-dependent manner, unlike another comparable organic fruit compound. We also showed that a chemical fraction of the resistant strawberry accession that contains methyl anthranilate carries some activity toward the egg hatching rate. Surprisingly, in spite of the lethal effect of this compound to their eggs, adult females are not only attracted to methyl anthranilate at certain concentrations, but they also display a concentration-dependent preference to lay on substrates enriched in methyl anthranilate. This study demonstrates that methyl anthranilate is a potent agonist molecule against D. suzukii egg development. Its elevated concentration in a specific strawberry accession proven to reduce the fly development may explain, at least in part the fruit resistance. It further illustrates how a single, natural compound, non-toxic to humans could be exploited for biological control of a pest species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lasse B. Bräcker
- Chair of Evolutionry Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Xiaoyun Gong
- Chair of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Christian Schmid
- Chair of Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Corinna Dawid
- Chair of Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Detlef Ulrich
- Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Quedlinburg, Germany
| | - Tuyen Phung
- Chair of Evolutionry Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Alexandra Leonhard
- Chair of Evolutionry Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Julia Ainsworth
- Chair of Evolutionry Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Klaus Olbricht
- Hansabred GmbH & Co. KG, Dresden, Germany
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Faculty of Life Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail: (KO); (MP); (NG)
| | - Martin Parniske
- Chair of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- * E-mail: (KO); (MP); (NG)
| | - Nicolas Gompel
- Chair of Evolutionry Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- * E-mail: (KO); (MP); (NG)
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Siju KP, Štih V, Aimon S, Gjorgjieva J, Portugues R, Grunwald Kadow IC. Valence and State-Dependent Population Coding in Dopaminergic Neurons in the Fly Mushroom Body. Curr Biol 2020; 30:2104-2115.e4. [PMID: 32386530 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Neuromodulation permits flexibility of synapses, neural circuits, and ultimately behavior. One neuromodulator, dopamine, has been studied extensively in its role as a reward signal during learning and memory across animal species. Newer evidence suggests that dopaminergic neurons (DANs) can modulate sensory perception acutely, thereby allowing an animal to adapt its behavior and decision making to its internal and behavioral state. In addition, some data indicate that DANs are not homogeneous but rather convey different types of information as a heterogeneous population. We have investigated DAN population activity and how it could encode relevant information about sensory stimuli and state by taking advantage of the confined anatomy of DANs innervating the mushroom body (MB) of the fly Drosophila melanogaster. Using in vivo calcium imaging and a custom 3D image registration method, we found that the activity of the population of MB DANs encodes innate valence information of an odor or taste as well as the physiological state of the animal. Furthermore, DAN population activity is strongly correlated with movement, consistent with a role of dopamine in conveying behavioral state to the MB. Altogether, our data and analysis suggest that DAN population activities encode innate odor and taste valence, movement, and physiological state in a MB-compartment-specific manner. We propose that dopamine shapes innate perception through combinatorial population coding of sensory valence, physiological, and behavioral context.
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Affiliation(s)
- K P Siju
- TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Vilim Štih
- Sensorimotor Control Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Sophie Aimon
- TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Julijana Gjorgjieva
- TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany; Computation in Neural Circuits Group, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ruben Portugues
- Sensorimotor Control Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience, Technical University of Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Ilona C Grunwald Kadow
- TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany; ZIEL-Institute of Food and Health, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany.
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Peterson EK, Stark A, Varian-Ramos CW, Hollocher KT, Possidente B. Exposure to Lead (Pb 2+) Eliminates Avoidance of Pb-Treated Oviposition Substrates in a Dose-Dependent Manner in Female Vinegar Flies. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2020; 104:588-594. [PMID: 32193571 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-020-02825-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Female vinegar flies (Drosophila melanogaster) preferentially oviposit eggs on oviposition substrates that decrease larval foraging costs. We tested whether female D. melanogaster would avoid oviposition substrates containing lead (Pb2+), which could potentially decrease offspring fitness. Wild type D. melanogaster were reared on control or Pb-treated medium from egg stage to adulthood and tested for differences in oviposition substrate preference, fecundity (number of eggs laid) and Pb accumulation. Control females laid a significantly lower proportion of eggs on Pb-treated substrates than Pb-treated females. Pb-treated females laid significantly more eggs than control females. Pb-treated adults accumulated significantly more Pb than control-treated adults. These results indicate that Pb exposure disrupts normal oviposition avoidance behaviors, which could increase larval foraging costs for larval offspring. These factors could induce population declines and have cascading implications for the ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth K Peterson
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York-Albany, Albany, NY, USA.
| | - Austin Stark
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York-Albany, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Claire W Varian-Ramos
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University-Pueblo, 2200 Bonforte Boulevard, Pueblo, CO, 81001-4901, USA
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Rimal S, Sang J, Poudel S, Thakur D, Montell C, Lee Y. Mechanism of Acetic Acid Gustatory Repulsion in Drosophila. Cell Rep 2020; 26:1432-1442.e4. [PMID: 30726729 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.01.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The decision to consume or reject a food based on the degree of acidity is critical for animal survival. However, the gustatory receptors that detect sour compounds and influence feeding behavior have been elusive. Here, using the fly, Drosophila melanogaster, we reveal that a member of the ionotropic receptor family, IR7a, is essential for rejecting foods laced with high levels of acetic acid. IR7a is dispensable for repulsion of other acidic compounds, indicating that the gustatory sensation of acids occurs through a repertoire rather than a single receptor. The fly's main taste organ, the labellum, is decorated with bristles that house dendrites of gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs). IR7a is expressed in a subset of bitter GRNs rather than GRNs dedicated to sour taste. Our findings indicate that flies taste acids through a repertoire of receptors, enabling them to discriminate foods on the basis of acid composition rather than just pH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suman Rimal
- Department of Bio & Fermentation Convergence Technology, BK21 PLUS Project, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiun Sang
- Department of Bio & Fermentation Convergence Technology, BK21 PLUS Project, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea
| | - Seeta Poudel
- Department of Bio & Fermentation Convergence Technology, BK21 PLUS Project, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea
| | - Dhananjay Thakur
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Craig Montell
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
| | - Youngseok Lee
- Department of Bio & Fermentation Convergence Technology, BK21 PLUS Project, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea.
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Chen YCD, Dahanukar A. Recent advances in the genetic basis of taste detection in Drosophila. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:1087-1101. [PMID: 31598735 PMCID: PMC7125039 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03320-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The insect gustatory system senses taste information from environmental food substrates and processes it to control feeding behaviors. Drosophila melanogaster has been a powerful genetic model for investigating how various chemical cues are detected at the molecular and cellular levels. In addition to an understanding of how tastants belonging to five historically described taste modalities (sweet, bitter, acid, salt, and amino acid) are sensed, recent findings have identified taste neurons and receptors that recognize tastants of non-canonical modalities, including fatty acids, carbonated water, polyamines, H2O2, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), ammonia, and calcium. Analyses of response profiles of taste neurons expressing different suites of chemosensory receptors have allowed exploration of taste coding mechanisms in primary sensory neurons. In this review, we present the current knowledge of the molecular and cellular basis of taste detection of various categories of tastants. We also summarize evidence for organotopic and multimodal functions of the taste system. Functional characterization of peripheral taste neurons in different organs has greatly increased our understanding of how insect behavior is regulated by the gustatory system, which may inform development of novel insect pest control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chieh David Chen
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Anupama Dahanukar
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
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