1
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Bursali F, Touray M. The complexities of blood-feeding patterns in mosquitoes and sandflies and the burden of disease: A minireview. Vet Med Sci 2024; 10:e1580. [PMID: 39171609 PMCID: PMC11339650 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1580] [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: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes and sandflies exhibit a wide range of blood feeding patterns, targeting a wide range of vertebrate species, including birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, for proteins vital for egg development. This broad host range increases the opportunity for them to acquire pathogens of numerous debilitating-and-fatal diseases from various animal reservoirs, playing a significant role in disease crossover between animals and humans, also known as zoonotic transmission. This review focuses on the intricate blood-feeding habits of these dipteran vectors, their sensory systems and the complex dance between host and pathogen during disease transmission. We delve into the influence of blood sources on pathogen spread by examining the insect immune response and its intricate interplay with pathogens. The remarkable sense of smell guiding them towards food sources and hosts is explored, highlighting the interplay of multiple sensory cues in their navigation. Finally, we examine the challenges in mosquito control strategies and explore innovations in this field, emphasizing the need for sustainable solutions to combat this global health threat. By understanding the biology and behaviour of these insects, we can develop more effective strategies to protect ourselves and mitigate the burden of vector-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Bursali
- Biology Department, Faculty of ScienceAydin Adnan Menderes UniversityAydinTürkiye
| | - Mustapha Touray
- Biology Department, Faculty of ScienceAydin Adnan Menderes UniversityAydinTürkiye
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2
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Barbosa RC, Godoy RSM, Ferreira PG, Mendes TAO, Ramalho-Ortigão M, Ribeiro JMC, Martins GF. Exploring the midgut physiology of the non-haematophagous mosquito Toxorhynchites theobaldi. Open Biol 2024; 14:230437. [PMID: 38955221 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230437] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxorhynchites mosquitoes have an exclusively phytophagous feeding habit as adults, which leads to significant differences in their morphophysiology compared with haematophagous mosquitoes. However, the molecular mechanisms of digestion in this mosquito are not well understood. In this study, RNA sequencing of the posterior midgut (PMG) of the mosquito Toxorhynchites theobaldi was undertaken, highlighting its significance in mosquito digestion. Subsequently, a comparison was made between the differential gene expression of the PMG and that of the anterior midgut. It was found that the most abundant proteases in the PMG were trypsin and chymotrypsin, and the level of gene expression for enzymes essential for digestion (such as serine protease, α-amylase and pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase) and innate immune response (including catalase, cecropin-A2 and superoxide dismutase) was like that of haematophagous mosquitoes. Peritrophin-1 was detected in the entire midgut, with an elevated expression level in the PMG. Based on our findings, it is hypothesized that a non-haematophagic habit might have been exhibited by the ancestor of Tx. theobaldi, and this trait may have been retained. This study represents a pioneering investigation at the molecular level of midgut contents in a non-haematophagous mosquito. The findings offer valuable insights into the evolutionary aspects of feeding habits in culicids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata C Barbosa
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Raquel S M Godoy
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Priscila G Ferreira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 50670-900, Brazil
| | - Tiago A O Mendes
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 50670-900, Brazil
| | | | - José M C Ribeiro
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Gustavo F Martins
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
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3
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Vainer Y, Wang Y, Huff RM, Perets D, Sar-Shalom E, Yakir E, Ghaninia M, Coutinho-Abreu Gomes IV, Ruiz C, Rajamanickam D, Warburg A, Akbari OS, Papathanos PA, Ignell R, Riffell JA, Pitts RJ, Bohbot JD. A conserved odorant receptor underpins borneol-mediated repellency in culicine mosquitoes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.08.01.548337. [PMID: 37577635 PMCID: PMC10418152 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.01.548337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
The use of essential oils derived from the camphor tree to repel mosquitoes is an ancient practice that originated in Southeast Asia and gradually spread to China and across Europe via the Maritime Silk Road. The olfactory mechanisms by which these oils elicit avoidance behavior are unclear. Here we show that plant bicyclic monoterpenoids and borneol specifically activate a neural pathway that originates in the orphan olfactory receptor neuron of the capitate peg sensillum in the maxillary palp, and projects to the mediodorsal glomerulus 3 in the antennal lobe. This neuron co-locates with two olfactory receptor neurons tuned to carbon dioxide and octenol that mediate human-host detection. We also confirm that borneol elicits repellency against human-seeking female mosquitoes. Understanding the functional role of the mosquito maxillary palp is essential to investigating olfactory signal integration and host-selection behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Vainer
- Department of Entomology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yinliang Wang
- Department of Entomology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
- Northeast Normal University, China
| | | | - Dor Perets
- Department of Entomology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Esther Yakir
- Department of Entomology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Majid Ghaninia
- Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
| | | | - Carlos Ruiz
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, USA
| | | | - A. Warburg
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Omar S. Akbari
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, USA
| | | | - R. Ignell
- Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
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4
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Frunze O, Lee D, Lee S, Kwon HW. A single mutation in the mosquito (Aedes aegypti) olfactory receptor 8 causes loss of function to 1-octen-3-ol. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 167:104069. [PMID: 38220070 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2023.104069] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
The host-seeking behavior of mosquitoes have long been established to be primarily odor-mediated. In this process, olfactory receptors (Ors) play a critical role. 1-Octen-3-ol is a common volatile compound that is attractive to hematophagous arthropods such as mosquitos. The olfactory receptor 8 (AaOr8) on the tip of the stylet and maxillary palp of Aedes aegypti is tuned to 1-octen-3-ol, which is required for mosquitoes to quickly find blood vessels from a vertebrate host. However, little is known about the interaction of AaOr8 with 1-octen-3-ol which was studied in vivo and in silico in this study. The molecular binding poses and energies between ligands and the receptor were investigated. Three mutants of AaOr8 were cloned and compared with in vivo calcium imaging utilizing heterologous expression systems. As a result, our findings imply that a genetic disruption including targeted modification of Ors genes may be used to reduce mosquito bites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Frunze
- Department of Life Sciences & Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Dain Lee
- Department of Life Sciences & Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungha Lee
- Department of Life Sciences & Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung Wook Kwon
- Department of Life Sciences & Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 22012, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Marzec S, Siperstein A, Zhou A, Holzapfel CM, Bradshaw WE, Meuti ME, Armbruster PA. MicroRNA Expression Prior to Biting in a Vector Mosquito Anticipates Physiological Processes Related to Energy Utilization, Reproduction and Immunity. INSECTS 2023; 14:700. [PMID: 37623410 PMCID: PMC10455316 DOI: 10.3390/insects14080700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the molecular and physiological processes underlying biting behavior in vector mosquitoes has important implications for developing novel strategies to suppress disease transmission. Here, we conduct small-RNA sequencing and qRT-PCR to identify differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in the head tissues of two subspecies of Culex pipiens that differ in biting behavior and the ability to produce eggs without blood feeding. We identified eight differentially expressed miRNAs between biting C. pipiens pipiens (Pipiens) and non-biting C. pipiens molestus (Molestus); six of these miRNAs have validated functions or predicted targets related to energy utilization (miR8-5-p, miR-283, miR-2952-3p, miR-1891), reproduction (miR-1891), and immunity (miR-2934-3p, miR-92a, miR8-5-p). Although miRNAs regulating physiological processes associated with blood feeding have previously been shown to be differentially expressed in response to a blood meal, our results are the first to demonstrate differential miRNA expression in anticipation of a blood meal before blood is actually imbibed. We compare our current miRNA results to three previous studies of differential messenger RNA expression in the head tissues of mosquitoes. Taken together, the combined results consistently show that biting mosquitoes commit to specific physiological processes in anticipation of a blood meal, while non-biting mosquitoes mitigate these anticipatory costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Marzec
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (S.M.); (A.Z.)
| | - Alden Siperstein
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (A.S.); (M.E.M.)
| | - Angela Zhou
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (S.M.); (A.Z.)
| | - Christina M. Holzapfel
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; (C.M.H.); (W.E.B.)
| | - William E. Bradshaw
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; (C.M.H.); (W.E.B.)
| | - Megan E. Meuti
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (A.S.); (M.E.M.)
| | - Peter A. Armbruster
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (S.M.); (A.Z.)
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6
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Yamany AS, Abdel-Gaber R. Studies on the sensory sensilla on the tarsi and external genitalia of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse). Microsc Res Tech 2023; 86:242-251. [PMID: 36398839 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Dengue fever is a worldwide health problem transmitted mainly by Aedes albopictus. The ability of female mosquitoes to transmit disease depends on their behavioral responses to locate their host. The presence of different types of sensory sensilla with different morphological characteristics is the most distinctive feature of Ae. albopictus, in addition to the main sensory organs. The sensory sensilla are chemosensory contacts that Ae. albopictus uses to locate long-distance hosts and oviposition sites by receiving well-defined cues such as changes in temperature and humidity, mechanical impact, and odors. As a result, it is crucial to study the sensory sensilla of Ae. albopictus. Although the sensory sensilla of Ae. aegypti have been extensively studied, but there is still a lack of knowledge about the sensory sensilla of the Asian tiger mosquito, Ae. albopictus. This study aimed to investigate the different types of sensory sensilla on the tarsi and external genitalia of both sexes of Ae. albopictus and their morphological features using a scanning electron microscope. The results demonstrated that the tarsi have five types of sensory sensilla: sensilla chaetica, grooved pegs, sensilla campaniform, sensilla basiconica, and sensilla coeloconica. There are two thick, grooved sensilla on the tarsal joints. Sensilla coeloconica on the tarsus are hidden under scales in a raised pit and have a diameter of 13.69 ± 0.071 μm, which is significantly larger than those on the external genitalia of males, which have a diameter of 7.65 ± 0.065 μm. Sensilla coeloconica is absent from the external genitalia of females. Two types of senillae chaetica are found on the tarsomeres, near the claws, and on the joints, which differ significantly in morphology and morphometric parameters. The ovulation-supporting cerci are provided with three pairs of long sensilla chaetica at the apex, measuring 111.36 ± 0.020 μm in length. Two groups of four apical sensilla and short spiny subapical sensilla are randomly distributed on the ovipositor. The female external genitalia have two types of sensilla chaetica, which are arranged in rows and are significantly smaller than those of the male external genitalia. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Aedes albopictus showed various sensory structures distributed on the tarsi and genitalia of both sexes. Adequate information is available in this study to understand chemoreception and odor detection by different kinds of sensilla that help to evaluate the ability of female mosquitoes to transmit diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abeer S Yamany
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.,Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Hafr Al Batin University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rewaida Abdel-Gaber
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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7
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Siperstein A, Marzec S, Fritz ML, Holzapfel CM, Bradshaw WE, Armbruster PA, Meuti ME. Conserved molecular pathways underlying biting in two divergent mosquito genera. Evol Appl 2022; 15:878-890. [PMID: 35603026 PMCID: PMC9108309 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes transmit a wide variety of devastating pathogens when they bite vertebrate hosts and feed on their blood. However, three entire mosquito genera and many individual species in other genera have evolved a nonbiting life history in which blood is not required to produce eggs. Our long-term goal is to develop novel interventions that reduce or eliminate the biting behavior in vector mosquitoes. A previous study used biting and nonbiting populations of a nonvector mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii, as a model to uncover the transcriptional basis of the evolutionary transition from a biting to a nonbiting life history. Herein, we ask whether the molecular pathways that were differentially expressed due to differences in biting behavior in W. smithii are also differentially expressed between subspecies of Culex pipiens that are obligate biting (Culex pipiens pipiens) and facultatively nonbiting (Culex pipiens molestus). Results from RNAseq of adult heads show dramatic upregulation of transcripts in the ribosomal protein pathway in biting C. pipiens, recapitulating the results in W. smithii, and implicating the ancient and highly conserved ribosome as the intersection to understanding the evolutionary and physiological basis of blood feeding in mosquitoes. Biting Culex also strongly upregulate energy production pathways, including oxidative phosphorylation and the citric acid (TCA) cycle relative to nonbiters, a distinction that was not observed in W. smithii. Amino acid metabolism pathways were enriched for differentially expressed genes in biting versus nonbiting Culex. Relative to biters, nonbiting Culex upregulated sugar metabolism and transcripts contributing to reproductive allocation (vitellogenin and cathepsins). These results provide a foundation for developing strategies to determine the natural evolutionary transition between a biting and nonbiting life history in vector mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alden Siperstein
- Department of EntomologyThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Sarah Marzec
- Department of BiologyGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Megan L. Fritz
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMarylandUSA
| | - Christina M. Holzapfel
- Laboratory of Evolutionary GeneticsInstitute of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of OregonEugeneOregonUSA
| | - William E. Bradshaw
- Laboratory of Evolutionary GeneticsInstitute of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of OregonEugeneOregonUSA
| | | | - Megan E. Meuti
- Department of EntomologyThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
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8
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Wheelwright M, Whittle CR, Riabinina O. Olfactory systems across mosquito species. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 383:75-90. [PMID: 33475852 PMCID: PMC7873006 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03407-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
There are 3559 species of mosquitoes in the world (Harbach 2018) but, so far, only a handful of them have been a focus of olfactory neuroscience and neurobiology research. Here we discuss mosquito olfactory anatomy and function and connect these to mosquito ecology. We highlight the least well-known and thus most interesting aspects of mosquito olfactory systems and discuss promising future directions. We hope this review will encourage the insect neuroscience community to work more broadly across mosquito species instead of focusing narrowly on the main disease vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Wheelwright
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Catherine R Whittle
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Olena Riabinina
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK.
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9
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Basrur NS, De Obaldia ME, Morita T, Herre M, von Heynitz RK, Tsitohay YN, Vosshall LB. Fruitless mutant male mosquitoes gain attraction to human odor. eLife 2020; 9:e63982. [PMID: 33284111 PMCID: PMC7806257 DOI: 10.7554/elife.63982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Aedesaegypti mosquito shows extreme sexual dimorphism in feeding. Only females are attracted to and obtain a blood-meal from humans, which they use to stimulate egg production. The fruitless gene is sex-specifically spliced and encodes a BTB zinc-finger transcription factor proposed to be a master regulator of male courtship and mating behavior across insects. We generated fruitless mutant mosquitoes and showed that males failed to mate, confirming the ancestral function of this gene in male sexual behavior. Remarkably, fruitless males also gain strong attraction to a live human host, a behavior that wild-type males never display, suggesting that male mosquitoes possess the central or peripheral neural circuits required to host-seek and that removing fruitless reveals this latent behavior in males. Our results highlight an unexpected repurposing of a master regulator of male-specific sexual behavior to control one module of female-specific blood-feeding behavior in a deadly vector of infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nipun S Basrur
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Maria Elena De Obaldia
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Takeshi Morita
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Margaret Herre
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
- Kavli Neural Systems InstituteNew YorkUnited States
| | - Ricarda K von Heynitz
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Yael N Tsitohay
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Leslie B Vosshall
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
- Kavli Neural Systems InstituteNew YorkUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical InstituteNew YorkUnited States
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10
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Toxorhynchites Species: A Review of Current Knowledge. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11110747. [PMID: 33143104 PMCID: PMC7693308 DOI: 10.3390/insects11110747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Mosquitoes are well known to spread diseases when they take a blood meal. However, not all species feed on blood but instead get their nourishment from other sources. One such species is Toxorhynchites, which are a paradox among mosquitoes. These mosquitoes are entirely non-blood feeding and, as a result, are not considered to be harmful to human health. Indeed, since their larvae feed on the larvae of pest species and other aquatic insects, they are a potential counter measure against the spread of mosquito-transmitted diseases. Their effective application has been hampered due to a lack of understanding and inconsistencies in their descriptions. This review aims to build upon previously published information and summarize recent findings to support their use in combating mosquito-transmitted infections. Abstract The increasing global incidence of mosquito-borne infections is driving a need for effective control methods. Vector populations have expanded their geographical ranges, while increasing resistance to chemical insecticides and a lack of effective treatments or vaccines has meant that the development of vector control methods is essential in the fight against mosquito-transmitted diseases. This review will focus on Toxorhynchites, a non-hematophagous mosquito genus which is a natural predator of vector species and may be exploited as a biological control agent. Their effectiveness in this role has been strongly debated for many years and early trials have been marred by misinformation and incomplete descriptions. Here, we draw together current knowledge of the general biology of Toxorhynchites and discuss how this updated information will benefit their role in an integrated vector management program.
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11
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Dekel A, Yakir E, Bohbot JD. The sulcatone receptor of the strict nectar-feeding mosquito Toxorhynchites amboinensis. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 111:103174. [PMID: 31129164 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Controlling Ae. aegypti populations and the prevention of mosquito bites includes the development of monitoring, repelling and attract-and-kill strategies that are based on understanding the chemical ecology of these pests. Olfactory-mediated attraction to mammals has recently been linked to the mosquito Aedes aegypti odorant receptor Or4, which is activated by animal-released 6-Methyl-5-hepten-2-one (sulcatone). This odorant is also a major component of flower scents and may play a role outside animal-host seeking. To explore the role of this chemical cue, we looked at the interaction between sulcatone and an Or4 homolog expressed in the antennae of the strict nectar-feeding mosquito Toxorhynchites amboinensis. Using the two-electrode voltage clamp of Xenopus oocytes as a heterologous expression system, we show that this receptor is a high intensity sulcatone receptor comparable to its Aedes counterparts. We also show that OR4 is activated by other aliphatic ketones and is inhibited by DEET. This pharmacological characterization suggests that sulcatone may be operating in more than one context in the Culicidae family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Dekel
- Department of Entomology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Esther Yakir
- Department of Entomology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Jonathan D Bohbot
- Department of Entomology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
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12
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Dekel A, Yakir E, Bohbot JD. The evolutionarily conserved indolergic receptors of the non-hematophagous elephant mosquito Toxorhynchites amboinensis. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 110:45-51. [PMID: 31004793 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The conservation of the mosquito indolergic receptors across the Culicinae and Anophelinae mosquito lineages, which spans 200 million years of evolution, is a testament to the central role of indolic compounds in the biology of these insects. Indole and skatole have been associated with the detection of oviposition sites and animal hosts. To evaluate the potential ecological role of these two compounds, we have used a pharmacological approach to characterize homologs of the indolergic receptors Or2 and Or10 in the non-hematophagous elephant mosquito Toxorhynchites amboinensis. We provide evidence that both receptors are narrowly tuned to indole and skatole like their counterparts from hematophagous mosquitoes. These findings indicate that Toxorhynchites detects indole and skatole in an ecological context to be determined and underscore the importance of understanding the role of these compounds in mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Dekel
- Department of Entomology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Esther Yakir
- Department of Entomology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Jonathan D Bohbot
- Department of Entomology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
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13
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Ruzzante L, Reijnders MJ, Waterhouse RM. Of Genes and Genomes: Mosquito Evolution and Diversity. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:32-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 10/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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14
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Donald CL, Varjak M, Aguiar ERGR, Marques JT, Sreenu VB, Schnettler E, Kohl A. Antiviral RNA Interference Activity in Cells of the Predatory Mosquito, Toxorhynchites amboinensis. Viruses 2018; 10:v10120694. [PMID: 30563205 PMCID: PMC6316411 DOI: 10.3390/v10120694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Arthropod vectors control the replication of arboviruses through their innate antiviral immune responses. In particular, the RNA interference (RNAi) pathways are of notable significance for the control of viral infections. Although much has been done to understand the role of RNAi in vector populations, little is known about its importance in non-vector mosquito species. In this study, we investigated the presence of an RNAi response in Toxorhynchites amboinensis, which is a non-blood feeding species proposed as a biological control agent against pest mosquitoes. Using a derived cell line (TRA-171), we demonstrate that these mosquitoes possess a functional RNAi response that is active against a mosquito-borne alphavirus, Semliki Forest virus. As observed in vector mosquito species, small RNAs are produced that target viral sequences. The size and characteristics of these small RNAs indicate that both the siRNA and piRNA pathways are induced in response to infection. Taken together, this data suggests that Tx. amboinensis are able to control viral infections in a similar way to natural arbovirus vector mosquito species. Understanding their ability to manage arboviral infections will be advantageous when assessing these and similar species as biological control agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire L Donald
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland G61 1QH, UK.
| | - Margus Varjak
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland G61 1QH, UK.
| | - Eric Roberto Guimarães Rocha Aguiar
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 6627-Pampulha-Belo Horizonte-MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil.
| | - João T Marques
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 6627-Pampulha-Belo Horizonte-MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil.
| | - Vattipally B Sreenu
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland G61 1QH, UK.
| | - Esther Schnettler
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland G61 1QH, UK.
| | - Alain Kohl
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland G61 1QH, UK.
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Soghigian J, Andreadis TG, Molaei G. Population genomics of Culiseta melanura, the principal vector of Eastern equine encephalitis virus in the United States. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006698. [PMID: 30118494 PMCID: PMC6114928 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) (Togaviridae, Alphavirus) is a highly pathogenic mosquito-borne arbovirus that circulates in an enzootic cycle involving Culiseta melanura mosquitoes and wild Passeriformes birds in freshwater swamp habitats. Recently, the northeastern United States has experienced an intensification of virus activity with increased human involvement and northward expansion into new regions. In addition to its principal role in enzootic transmission of EEE virus among avian hosts, recent studies on the blood-feeding behavior of Cs. melanura throughout its geographic range suggest that this mosquito may also be involved in epizootic / epidemic transmission to equines and humans in certain locales. Variations in blood feeding behavior may be a function of host availability, environmental factors, and/or underlying genetic differences among regional populations. Despite the importance of Cs. melanura in transmission and maintenance of EEE virus, the genetics of this species remains largely unexplored. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPLE FINDINGS To investigate the occurrence of genetic variation in Cs. melanura, the genome of this mosquito vector was sequenced resulting in a draft genome assembly of 1.28 gigabases with a contig N50 of 93.36 kilobases. Populations of Cs. melanura from 10 EEE virus foci in the eastern North America were genotyped with double-digest RAD-seq. Following alignment of reads to the reference genome, variant calling, and filtering, 40,384 SNPs were retained for downstream analyses. Subsequent analyses revealed genetic differentiation between northern and southern populations of this mosquito species. Moreover, limited fine-scale population structure was detected throughout northeastern North America, suggesting local differentiation of populations but also a history of ancestral polymorphism or contemporary gene flow. Additionally, a genetically distinct cluster was identified predominantly at two northern sites. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE This study elucidates the first evidence of fine-scale population structure in Cs. melanura throughout its eastern range and detects evidence of gene flow between populations in northeastern North America. This investigation provides the groundwork for examining the consequences of genetic variations in the populations of this mosquito species that could influence vector-host interactions and the risk of human and equine infection with EEE virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Soghigian
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Theodore G. Andreadis
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Goudarz Molaei
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
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16
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Wolff GH, Riffell JA. Olfaction, experience and neural mechanisms underlying mosquito host preference. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:221/4/jeb157131. [PMID: 29487141 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.157131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are best known for their proclivity towards biting humans and transmitting bloodborne pathogens, but there are over 3500 species, including both blood-feeding and non-blood-feeding taxa. The diversity of host preference in mosquitoes is exemplified by the feeding habits of mosquitoes in the genus Malaya that feed on ant regurgitation or those from the genus Uranotaenia that favor amphibian hosts. Host preference is also by no means static, but is characterized by behavioral plasticity that allows mosquitoes to switch hosts when their preferred host is unavailable and by learning host cues associated with positive or negative experiences. Here we review the diverse range of host-preference behaviors across the family Culicidae, which includes all mosquitoes, and how adaptations in neural circuitry might affect changes in preference both within the life history of a mosquito and across evolutionary time-scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella H Wolff
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Riffell
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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18
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Abstract
The evolutionary transformation from a blood-feeding to an obligate nonbiting lifestyle is occurring uniquely within the genetic background of a single species of mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii, as a product of selection in nature. Associated genetic changes in metabolic pathways indicate a high anticipatory metabolic investment prior to consuming blood, presumably balanced by the reproductive benefits from an imminent blood meal. This evolutionary transformation provides a starting point for determining pivotal upstream genetic changes between biters and nonbiters and for identifying universal nonbiting genes or pathways in mosquitoes. If there is no bite, there is no transmission of pathogens; hence W. smithii offers a different approach to investigate control of blood-feeding vectors of human diseases. The spread of blood-borne pathogens by mosquitoes relies on their taking a blood meal; if there is no bite, there is no disease transmission. Although many species of mosquitoes never take a blood meal, identifying genes that distinguish blood feeding from obligate nonbiting is hampered by the fact that these different lifestyles occur in separate, genetically incompatible species. There is, however, one unique extant species with populations that share a common genetic background but blood feed in one region and are obligate nonbiters in the rest of their range: Wyeomyia smithii. Contemporary blood-feeding and obligate nonbiting populations represent end points of divergence between fully interfertile southern and northern populations. This divergence has undoubtedly resulted in genetic changes that are unrelated to blood feeding, and the challenge is to winnow out the unrelated genetic factors to identify those related specifically to the evolutionary transition from blood feeding to obligate nonbiting. Herein, we determine differential gene expression resulting from directional selection on blood feeding within a polymorphic population to isolate genetic differences between blood feeding and obligate nonbiting. We show that the evolution of nonbiting has resulted in a greatly reduced metabolic investment compared with biting populations, a greater reliance on opportunistic metabolic pathways, and greater reliance on visual rather than olfactory sensory input. W. smithii provides a unique starting point to determine if there are universal nonbiting genes in mosquitoes that could be manipulated as a means to control vector-borne disease.
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19
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Iovinella I, Caputo B, Calzetta M, Zwiebel LJ, Dani FR, Della Torre A. Profiles of soluble proteins in chemosensory organs of three members of the afro-tropical Anopheles gambiae complex. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2017; 24:41-50. [PMID: 28822866 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2017.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In female mosquitoes, host-seeking and preference as well as several other important behaviors are largely driven by olfaction. Species of the Afrotropical Anopheles gambiae complex display divergent host-preference that are associated with significant differences in their vectorial capacity for human malaria. Olfactory sensitivity begins with signal transduction and activation of peripheral sensory neurons that populate the antennae, maxillary palps and other appendages. We have used shotgun proteomics to characterize the profile of soluble proteins of antennae and maxillary palps of three different species: An. coluzzii, An. arabiensis and An. quadriannulatus that display remarkable differences in anthropophilic behavior. This analysis revealed interspecific differences in the abundance of several proteins that comprise cuticular components, glutathione S-transferase and odorant binding proteins, the latter of which known to be directly involved in odor recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Immacolata Iovinella
- Biology Department, Università di Firenze, Italy; Department of Public Health & Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Beniamino Caputo
- Department of Public Health & Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Calzetta
- Department of Public Health & Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Laurence J Zwiebel
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA
| | - Francesca Romana Dani
- Biology Department, Università di Firenze, Italy; CISM, Mass Spectrometry Centre, Università di Firenze, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Della Torre
- Department of Public Health & Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
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20
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Long N, Ren X, Xiang Z, Wan W, Dong Y. Sequencing and characterization of leaf transcriptomes of six diploid Nicotiana species. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH (THESSALONIKE, GREECE) 2016; 23:6. [PMID: 27096138 PMCID: PMC4835900 DOI: 10.1186/s40709-016-0048-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nicotiana belongs to the Solanaceae family that includes important crops such as tomato, potato, eggplant, and pepper. Nicotiana species are of worldwide economic importance and are important model plants for scientific research. Here we present the comparative analysis of the transcriptomes of six wild diploid Nicotiana species. Wild relatives provide an excellent study system for the analysis of the genetic basis for various traits, especially disease resistance. RESULTS Whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed for leaves of six diploid Nicotiana species, i.e. Nicotiana glauca, Nicotiana noctiflora, Nicotiana cordifolia, Nicotiana knightiana, Nicotiana setchellii and Nicotiana tomentosiformis. For each species, 9.0-22.3 Gb high-quality clean data were generated, and 67,073-182,046 transcripts were assembled with lengths greater than 100 bp. Over 90 % of the ORFs in each species had significant similarity with proteins in the NCBI non-redundant protein sequence (NR) database. A total of 2491 homologs were identified and used to construct a phylogenetic tree from the respective transcriptomes in Nicotiana. Bioinformatic analysis identified resistance gene analogs, major transcription factor families, and alkaloid transporter genes linked to plant defense. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report on the leaf transcriptomes of six wild Nicotiana species by Illumina paired-end sequencing and de novo assembly without a reference genome. These sequence resources hopefully will provide an opportunity for identifying genes involved in plant defense and several important quality traits in wild Nicotiana and will accelerate functional genomic studies and genetic improvement efforts of Nicotiana or other important Solanaceae crops in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni Long
- />Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, South Jingming Road No.727, Kunming, 650500 Yunnan China
| | - Xueliang Ren
- />Guizhou Tobacco Research Institute, North Yuntan Road, Jinyang District, Guiyang, 550003 Guizhou China
| | - Zhidan Xiang
- />State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 32 East Jiaochang Road, Kunming, 650223 Yunnan China
| | - Wenting Wan
- />Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, South Jingming Road No.727, Kunming, 650500 Yunnan China
| | - Yang Dong
- />Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, South Jingming Road No.727, Kunming, 650500 Yunnan China
- />Biological Big Data College, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201 Yunnan China
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21
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Dekel A, Pitts RJ, Yakir E, Bohbot JD. Evolutionarily conserved odorant receptor function questions ecological context of octenol role in mosquitoes. Sci Rep 2016; 6:37330. [PMID: 27849027 PMCID: PMC5110965 DOI: 10.1038/srep37330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Olfaction is a key insect adaptation to a wide range of habitats. In the last thirty years, the detection of octenol by blood-feeding insects has been primarily understood in the context of animal host-seeking. The recent discovery of a conserved octenol receptor gene in the strictly nectar-feeding elephant mosquito Toxorhynchites amboinensis (TaOr8) suggests a different biological role. Here, we show that TaOR8 is a functional ortholog of its counterparts in blood-feeding mosquitoes displaying selectivity towards the (R)-enantiomer of octenol and susceptibility to the insect repellent DEET. These findings suggest that while the function of OR8 has been maintained throughout mosquito evolution, the context in which this receptor is operating has diverged in blood and nectar-feeding mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Dekel
- Department of Entomology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Ronald J. Pitts
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Esther Yakir
- Department of Entomology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Jonathan D. Bohbot
- Department of Entomology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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22
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Abstract
Almost 20 % of all infectious human diseases are vector borne and, together, are responsible for over one million deaths per annum. Over the past decade, the decreasing costs of massively parallel sequencing technologies have facilitated the agnostic interrogation of insect vector genomes, giving medical entomologists access to an ever-expanding volume of high-quality genomic and transcriptomic data. In this review, we highlight how genomics resources have provided new insights into the physiology, behavior, and evolution of human disease vectors within the context of the global health landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Rinker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - R Jason Pitts
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Laurence J Zwiebel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. .,Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Program in Developmental Biology, and Institutes of Chemical Biology and Global Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
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23
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Matthews BJ, McBride CS, DeGennaro M, Despo O, Vosshall LB. The neurotranscriptome of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:32. [PMID: 26738925 PMCID: PMC4704297 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2239-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A complete genome sequence and the advent of genome editing open up non-traditional model organisms to mechanistic genetic studies. The mosquito Aedes aegypti is an important vector of infectious diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever and has a large and complex genome, which has slowed annotation efforts. We used comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of adult gene expression to improve the genome annotation and to provide a detailed tissue-specific catalogue of neural gene expression at different adult behavioral states. RESULTS We carried out deep RNA sequencing across all major peripheral male and female sensory tissues, the brain and (female) ovary. Furthermore, we examined gene expression across three important phases of the female reproductive cycle, a remarkable example of behavioral switching in which a female mosquito alternates between obtaining blood-meals from humans and laying eggs. Using genome-guided alignments and de novo transcriptome assembly, our re-annotation includes 572 new putative protein-coding genes and updates to 13.5 and 50.3 % of existing transcripts within coding sequences and untranslated regions, respectively. Using this updated annotation, we detail gene expression in each tissue, identifying large numbers of transcripts regulated by blood-feeding and sexually dimorphic transcripts that may provide clues to the biology of male- and female-specific behaviors, such as mating and blood-feeding, which are areas of intensive study for those interested in vector control. CONCLUSIONS This neurotranscriptome forms a strong foundation for the study of genes in the mosquito nervous system and investigation of sensory-driven behaviors and their regulation. Furthermore, understanding the molecular genetic basis of mosquito chemosensory behavior has important implications for vector control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Matthews
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| | - Carolyn S McBride
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Present Address: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.
| | - Matthew DeGennaro
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Present Address: Department of Biological Sciences, Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
| | - Orion Despo
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Present address: Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Leslie B Vosshall
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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Borges RM. On the Air: Broadcasting and Reception of Volatile Messages in Brood-Site Pollination Mutualisms. SIGNALING AND COMMUNICATION IN PLANTS 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-33498-1_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Godoy RSM, Fernandes KM, Martins GF. Midgut of the non-hematophagous mosquito Toxorhynchites theobaldi (Diptera, Culicidae). Sci Rep 2015; 5:15836. [PMID: 26514271 PMCID: PMC4626790 DOI: 10.1038/srep15836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In most mosquito species, the females require a blood-feeding for complete egg development. However, in Toxorhynchites mosquitoes, the eggs develop without blood-feeding, and both females and males exclusively feed on sugary diets. The midgut is a well-understood organ in blood-feeding mosquitoes, but little is known about it in non-blood-feeding ones. In the present study, the detailed morphology of the midgut of Toxorhynchites theobaldi were investigated using histochemical and ultrastructural methods. The midgut of female and male T. theobaldi adults consists of a long, slender anterior midgut (AMG), and a short, dilated posterior midgut (PMG). The AMG is subdivided into AMG1 (short, with folds) and AMG2 (long, without folds). Nerve branches and enteroendocrine cells are present in AMG and PMG, respectively. Compared with the PMG of blood-feeding female mosquitoes, the PMG of T. theobaldi is smaller; however, in both mosquitoes, PMG seems be the main region of food digestion and absorption, and protein secretion. The epithelial folds present in the AMG of T. theobaldi have not been reported in other mosquitoes; however, the midgut muscle organization and endocrine control of the digestion process are conserved in both T. theobaldi and blood-feeding mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel S M Godoy
- Departamento de Biologia Geral-Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Kenner M Fernandes
- Departamento de Biologia Geral-Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Gustavo F Martins
- Departamento de Biologia Geral-Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil
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Zhou X, Rokas A, Berger SL, Liebig J, Ray A, Zwiebel LJ. Chemoreceptor Evolution in Hymenoptera and Its Implications for the Evolution of Eusociality. Genome Biol Evol 2015; 7:2407-16. [PMID: 26272716 PMCID: PMC4558866 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evv149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Eusocial insects, mostly Hymenoptera, have evolved unique colonial lifestyles that rely on the perception of social context mainly through pheromones, and chemoreceptors are hypothesized to have played important adaptive roles in the evolution of sociality. However, because chemoreceptor repertoires have been characterized in few social insects and their solitary relatives, a comprehensive examination of this hypothesis has not been possible. Here, we annotate ∼3,000 odorant and gustatory receptors in recently sequenced Hymenoptera genomes and systematically compare >4,000 chemoreceptors from 13 hymenopterans, representing one solitary lineage (wasps) and three independently evolved eusocial lineages (ants and two bees). We observe a strong general tendency for chemoreceptors to expand in Hymenoptera, whereas the specifics of gene gains/losses are highly diverse between lineages. We also find more frequent positive selection on chemoreceptors in a facultative eusocial bee and in the common ancestor of ants compared with solitary wasps. Our results suggest that the frequent expansions of chemoreceptors have facilitated the transition to eusociality. Divergent expression patterns of odorant receptors between honeybee and ants further indicate differential roles of chemoreceptors in parallel trajectories of social evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofan Zhou
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University
| | - Shelley L Berger
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Jürgen Liebig
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe
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