1
|
Xiao X, Kong L, Xie Z, Liu H, Cai L, Zhao S, Zhou J, Liu S, Wu J, Wu Y, Wu P, James AA, Chen XG. miR-2940-1 is involved in the circadian regulation of oviposition in Aedes albopictus. INSECT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38556782 PMCID: PMC11439969 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The vast majority of all global species have circadian rhythm cycles that allow them to adapt to natural environments. These regular rhythms are regulated by core clock genes and recent studies have also implicated roles for microRNAs in this regulation. Oviposition is an important circadian behavior in the reproductive cycle of insect vectors of diseases, and little is known about the rhythm or its regulation in mosquitoes. Aedes albopictus is a diurnal mosquito that transmits arboviruses and is the major cause of outbreaks of dengue fever in China. We analyzed the oviposition rhythm patterns of A. albopictus under different light/dark conditions and show that the mosquitoes have an oviposition peak between zeitgeber time 9 (ZT 9) and ZT 12. Furthermore, the antagomir-mediated knockdown of expression of the microRNA miR-2940-1 affected the oviposition rhythm of A. albopictus. These data support the conclusion that miR-2940-1 is involved in the regulation of oviposition rhythm in A. albopictus and provide a foundation for using oviposition rhythms as a new target for vector mosquito control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Xiao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Kong
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhensheng Xie
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongkai Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lijun Cai
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Siyu Zhao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiayong Zhou
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiming Wu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peilin Wu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Anthony A James
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Xiao-Guang Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Williams KA, Wallman JF, Lessard BD, Kavazos CRJ, Mazungula DN, Villet MH. Nocturnal oviposition behavior of blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in the southern hemisphere (South Africa and Australia) and its forensic implications. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2017; 13:123-134. [PMID: 28409386 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-017-9861-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Published research has offered contradictory evidence of the occurrence of nocturnal oviposition by carrion-breeding blowflies, a behavior that can affect the interpretation of forensic estimates of a minimum post mortem interval (minPMI) by up to 12 hours, depending on latitude and season. The majority of published studies are from the northern hemisphere. Field experiments were conducted in South Africa and Australia that extend observations to species of the southern hemisphere. Various vertebrate carrion was exposed at night in summer under different lunar phases and/or artificial lighting, and in woodland and pasture areas. Three laboratory experiments were also conducted. No nocturnal oviposition occurred outdoors in Berry, Australia, but Lucilia cuprina, Lucilia sericata and Chrysomya megacephala laid eggs outdoors at night in Grahamstown and Durban, South Africa. In laboratory experiments L. sericata, L. cuprina, Chrysomya chloropyga and Chrysomya putoria laid eggs and Calliphora augur deposited larvae under nocturnal conditions. Chrysomya albiceps and C. chloropyga laid eggs in darkness with increasing likelihood as ambient temperature increased. This study shows that nocturnal ovi/larviposition by carrion-breeding blowflies is possible in both South Africa and Australia. The forensic issue is therefore not whether nocturnal oviposition occurs, but rather whether the conditions of a particular case are more or less conducive to it. Circadian rhythms and physiological thresholds (particularly temperature and humidity) appear to act individually and in conjunction to stimulate or inhibit nocturnal laying. The significance of carcass size, freezing and handling of carcasses and comprehensive quantification for experimental design is discussed, and recommendations are made for future laboratory and case scene experiments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirstin A Williams
- Southern African Forensic Entomology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. .,Entomology Department, Durban Natural Science Museum, Durban, South Africa.
| | - James F Wallman
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, 2522, Australia
| | - Bryan D Lessard
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, 2522, Australia
| | - Christopher R J Kavazos
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, 2522, Australia
| | - D Nkosinathi Mazungula
- Southern African Forensic Entomology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
| | - Martin H Villet
- Southern African Forensic Entomology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Smith JL, Palermo NA, Theobald JC, Wells JD. The forensically important blow fly, Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae), is more likely to walk than fly to carrion at low light levels. Forensic Sci Int 2016; 266:245-249. [PMID: 27343754 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Revised: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
One factor that influences estimates of time since death using entomological evidence is whether or not blow flies nocturnally oviposit. Field studies focusing on egg laying have found it occurs on an inconsistent basis. A key but poorly understood factor in nocturnal oviposition is a blow fly's ability to locate carrion under low light levels. It has been speculated that blow flies are more likely to walk than fly to carrion during the night, but this has not been empirically tested. We directly compared guided walking versus flying using infrared sensors under low light levels in laboratory conditions for Chrysomya megacephala (F.) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), a blow fly previously described to be nocturnal. We found C. megacephala is more likely to walk than fly toward carrion under low light levels (p=0.016). We did not, however, find differences between males and females for walking (p=0.48) or flying (p=0.42) despite male C. megacephala possessing eyes better suited for increased light capture. These results demonstrate the need to better understand where blow flies go at night, as bodies found within a fly's walking distance are more likely to be colonized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua L Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199, United States.
| | - Nicholas A Palermo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199, United States
| | - Jamie C Theobald
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199, United States
| | - Jeffrey D Wells
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199, United States
| |
Collapse
|