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Zhang SB, Gao ZH, Wang YK, Lv WX, Dong KX, Guo FD, Wang RY, Yang XL. The evaluation of cystatin protein vaccines based on the stress response of ticks triggered by low-temperature and toxin stress in Haemaphysalis doenitzi. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:3957-3966. [PMID: 38521986 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8099] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ticks, which are obligate blood-feeding parasites, transmit a wide range of pathogens during their hematophagic process. Certain enzymes and macromolecules play a crucial role in inhibition of several tick physiological processes, including digestion and reproduction. In the present study, genes encoding type 2 cystatin were cloned and characterized from Haemaphysalis doenitzi, and the potential role of cystatin in tick control was further assessed. RESULTS Two cystatin genes, HDcyst-1 and HDcyst-2, were successfully cloned from the tick H. doenitzi. Their open reading frames are 390 and 426 base pairs, and the number of coding amino acids are 129 and 141, respectively. In the midgut, salivary glands, Malpighian tubules and ovaries of ticks, the relative expression of HDcyst-1 was higher in the midgut and Malpighian tubules, and HDcyst-2 was higher in the salivary glands of H. doenitzi, respectively. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection and low-temperature stress elevated cystatin expression in ticks. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that both rHDcyst-1 and rHDcyst-2 protein vaccines increased antibody levels in immunized rabbits. A vaccination trial in rabbits infected with H. doenitzi showed that both recombinant cystatin proteins significantly reduced tick engorgement weights and egg mass weight, in particular, rHDcyst-1 significantly prolonged tick engorgement time by 1 day and reduced egg hatching rates by 16.9%. In total, rHDcyst-1 and rHDcyst-2 protein vaccinations provided 64.1% and 51.8% protection to adult female ticks, respectively. CONCLUSION This is the first report on the immunological characterization of the cystatin protein and sequencing of the cystatin gene in H. doenitzi. Cystatin proteins are promising antigens that have the potential to be used as vaccines for infestation of H. doenitzi control. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song-Bo Zhang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Zhi-Hua Gao
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yi-Kui Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Wen-Xia Lv
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Ke-Xin Dong
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Fei-Di Guo
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Run-Ying Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiao-Long Yang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
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Sterkel M, Tompkin J, Schal C, Guerra LM, Pessoa GCD, Oliveira PL, Benoit JB. Deployment and transcriptional evaluation of nitisinone, an FDA-approved drug, to control bed bugs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.18.599347. [PMID: 38948842 PMCID: PMC11212946 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.18.599347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Bed bugs are blood-feeders that rapidly proliferate into large indoor infestations. Their bites can cause allergies, secondary infections and psychological stress, among other problems. Although several tactics for their management have been used, bed bugs continue to spread worldwide wherever humans reside. This is mainly due to human-mediated transport and their high resistance to several classes of insecticides. New treatment options with novel modes of action are required for their control. In this study, we evaluated the use of nitisinone (NTBC), an FDA-approved drug, for bed bug control in an insecticide-susceptible (HH) and an insecticide-resistant (CIN) population. Although NTBC was lethal to both populations when administered orally or applied topically in very low doses, we observed a slight but significant resistance in the CIN population. Transcriptomic analysis in both populations indicated that NTBC treatment elicited a broad suppression of genes associated with RNA post-transcriptional modifications, translation, endomembrane system, protein post-translational modifications and protein folding. The CIN population exhibited higher ATP production and xenobiotic detoxification. Feeding studies on a mouse model highlight that NTBC could be used as a control method of bed bugs by host treatment. The results demonstrate that NTBC can be used as a new active ingredient for bed bug control by topical or oral treatment and shed light on the molecular mechanisms of suppressed tyrosine metabolism following NTBC treatment.
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Pei T, Zhang M, Gao Z, Li L, Bing Z, Meng J, Nwanade CF, Yuan C, Yu Z, Liu J. Molecular characterization and induced changes of histone acetyltransferases in the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis in response to cold stress. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:218. [PMID: 38735919 PMCID: PMC11089763 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06288-4] [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: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic modifications of histones play important roles in the response of eukaryotic organisms to environmental stress. However, many histone acetyltransferases (HATs), which are responsible for histone acetylation, and their roles in mediating the tick response to cold stress have yet to be identified. In the present study, HATs were molecularly characterized and their associations with the cold response of the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis explored. METHODS HATs were characterized by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on published genome sequences, followed by multiple bioinformatic analyses. The differential expression of genes in H. longicornis under different cold treatment conditions was evaluated using reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). RNA interference was used to explore the association of HATs with the cold response of H. longicornis. RESULTS Two HAT genes were identified in H. longicornis (Hl), a GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase (henceforth HlGNAT) and a type B histone acetyltransferase (henceforth HlHAT-B), which are respectively 960 base pairs (bp) and 1239 bp in length. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that HlGNAT and HlHAT-B are unstable hydrophilic proteins characterized by the presence of the acetyltransferase 16 domain and Hat1_N domain, respectively. RT-qPCR revealed that the expression of HlGNAT and HlHAT-B decreased after 3 days of cold treatment, but gradually increased with a longer period of cold treatment. The mortality rate following knockdown of HlGNAT or HlHAT-B by RNA interference, which was confirmed by RT-qPCR, significantly increased (P < 0.05) when H. longicornis was treated at the lowest lethal temperature (- 14 °C) for 2 h. CONCLUSIONS The findings demonstrate that HATs may play a crucial role in the cold response of H. longicornis. Thus further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms underlying the epigenetic regulation of the cold response in ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingwei Pei
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Ziwen Gao
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Lu Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Ziyan Bing
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Jianglei Meng
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Chuks Fidel Nwanade
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Chaohui Yuan
- The Professional and Technical Center of Hebei Administration for Market Regulation, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Zhijun Yu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
| | - Jingze Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
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Keaveny EC, Helling MR, Basile F, Strange JP, Lozier JD, Dillon ME. Metabolomes of bumble bees reared in common garden conditions suggest constitutive differences in energy and toxin metabolism across populations. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 151:104581. [PMID: 37871769 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2023.104581] [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: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Cold tolerance of ectotherms can vary strikingly among species and populations. Variation in cold tolerance can reflect differences in genomes and transcriptomes that confer cellular-level protection from cold; additionally, shifts in protein function and abundance can be altered by other cellular constituents as cold-exposed insects often have shifts in their metabolomes. Even without a cold challenge, insects from different populations may vary in cellular composition that could alter cold tolerance, but investigations of constitutive differences in metabolomes across wild populations remain rare. To address this gap, we reared Bombus vosnesenskii queens collected from Oregon and California (USA) that differ in cold tolerance (CTmin = -6 °C and 0 °C, respectively) in common garden conditions, and measured offspring metabolomes using untargeted LC-MS/MS. Oregon bees had higher levels of metabolites associated with carbohydrate (sorbitol, lactitol, maltitol, and sorbitol-6-phosphate) and amino acid (hydroxyproline, ornithine, and histamine) metabolism. Exogenous metabolites, likely derived from the diet, also varied between Oregon and California bees, suggesting population-level differences in toxin metabolism. Overall, our results reveal constitutive differences in metabolomes for bumble bees reared in common garden conditions from queens collected in different locations despite no previous cold exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen C Keaveny
- Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Ecology and Evolution, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, United States.
| | - Mitchell R Helling
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, United States
| | - Franco Basile
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, United States
| | - James P Strange
- USDA-ARS Pollinating Insects Research Unit, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, United States; Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 44691, United States
| | - Jeffrey D Lozier
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, United States
| | - Michael E Dillon
- Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Ecology and Evolution, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, United States.
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5
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Nabbout AE, Ferguson LV, Miyashita A, Adamo SA. Female ticks (Ixodes scapularis) infected with Borrelia burgdorferi have increased overwintering survival, with implications for tick population growth. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:1798-1809. [PMID: 37147777 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The tick, Ixodes scapularis, vectors pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Over the last few decades I. scapularis has expanded its range, introducing a novel health threat into these areas. Warming temperatures appear to be one cause of its range expansion to the north. However, other factors are also involved. We show that unfed adult female ticks infected with B. burgdorferi have greater overwintering survival than uninfected female ticks. Locally collected adult female ticks were placed in individual microcosms and allowed to overwinter in both forest and dune grass environments. In the spring we collected the ticks and tested both dead and living ticks for B. burgdorferi DNA. Infected ticks had greater overwintering survival compared with uninfected ticks every winter for three consecutive winters in both forest and dune grass environments. We discuss the most plausible explanations for this result. The increased winter survival of adult female ticks could enhance tick population growth. Our results suggest that, in addition to climate change, B. burgdorferi infection itself may be promoting the northern range expansion of I. scapularis. Our study highlights how pathogens could work synergistically with climate change to promote host range expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal El Nabbout
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Laura V Ferguson
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | | | - Shelley A Adamo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada
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6
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Rathore S, Stahl A, Benoit JB, Buschbeck EK. Exploring the molecular makeup of support cells in insect camera eyes. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:702. [PMID: 37993800 PMCID: PMC10664524 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09804-5] [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: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals typically have either compound eyes, or camera-type eyes, both of which have evolved repeatedly in the animal kingdom. Both eye types include two important kinds of cells: photoreceptor cells, which can be excited by light, and non-neuronal support cells (SupCs), which provide essential support to photoreceptors. At the molecular level deeply conserved genes that relate to the differentiation of photoreceptor cells have fueled a discussion on whether or not a shared evolutionary origin might be considered for this cell type. In contrast, only a handful of studies, primarily on the compound eyes of Drosophila melanogaster, have demonstrated molecular similarities in SupCs. D. melanogaster SupCs (Semper cells and primary pigment cells) are specialized eye glia that share several molecular similarities with certain vertebrate eye glia, including Müller glia. This led us to question if there could be conserved molecular signatures of SupCs, even in functionally different eyes such as the image-forming larval camera eyes of the sunburst diving beetle Thermonectus marmoratus. To investigate this possibility, we used an in-depth comparative whole-tissue transcriptomics approach. Specifically, we dissected the larval principal camera eyes into SupC- and retina-containing regions and generated the respective transcriptomes. Our analysis revealed several common features of SupCs including enrichment of genes that are important for glial function (e.g. gap junction proteins such as innexin 3), glycogen production (glycogenin), and energy metabolism (glutamine synthetase 1 and 2). To evaluate similarities, we compared our transcriptomes with those of fly (Semper cells) and vertebrate (Müller glia) eye glia as well as respective retinas. T. marmoratus SupCs were found to have distinct genetic overlap with both fly and vertebrate eye glia. These results suggest that T. marmoratus SupCs are a form of glia, and like photoreceptors, may be deeply conserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubham Rathore
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
- Section on Light and Circadian Rhythms (SLCR), National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Aaron Stahl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Elke K Buschbeck
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Benoit JB, Finch G, Ankrum AL, Niemantsverdriet J, Paul B, Kelley M, Gantz JD, Matter SF, Lee RE, Denlinger DL. Reduced male fertility of an Antarctic mite following extreme heat stress could prompt localized population declines. Cell Stress Chaperones 2023; 28:541-549. [PMID: 37392307 PMCID: PMC10468472 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-023-01359-4] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change is leading to substantial global thermal changes, which are particularly pronounced in polar regions. Therefore, it is important to examine the impact of heat stress on the reproduction of polar terrestrial arthropods, specifically, how brief extreme events may alter survival. We observed that sublethal heat stress reduces male fecundity in an Antarctic mite, yielding females that produced fewer viable eggs. Females and males collected from microhabitats with high temperatures showed a similar reduction in fertility. This impact is temporary, as indicated by recovery of male fecundity following return to cooler, stable conditions. The diminished fecundity is likely due to a drastic reduction in the expression of male-associated factors that occur in tandem with a substantial increase in the expression of heat shock proteins. Cross-mating between mites from different sites confirmed that heat-exposed populations have impaired male fertility. However, the negative impacts are transient as the effect on fertility declines with recovery time under less stressful conditions. Modeling indicated that heat stress is likely to reduce population growth and that short bouts of non-lethal heat stress could have substantial reproductive effects on local populations of Antarctic arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Geoffrey Finch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Andrea L Ankrum
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | - Bidisha Paul
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Melissa Kelley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - J D Gantz
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
- Department of Biology and Health Science, Hendrix College, Conway, AR, USA
| | - Stephen F Matter
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Richard E Lee
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - David L Denlinger
- Departments of Entomology and Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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8
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Hayward SA, Colinet H. Metabolomics as a tool to elucidate biochemical cold adaptation in insects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 58:101061. [PMID: 37244636 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Metabolomics is an incredibly valuable tool in helping understand insect responses to cold. It not only characterizes how low temperature disrupts metabolic homeostasis, but also how it triggers fundamental adaptive responses, for example, homeoviscous adaptation and cryoprotectant accumulation. This review outlines the advantages and disadvantages of different metabolomic technologies (nuclear magnetic resonance- versus mass spectrometry-based) and screening approaches (targeted versus untargeted). We emphasize the importance of time-series and tissue-specific data, as well as the challenges of disentangling insect versus microbiome responses. In addition, we set out the need to move beyond simple correlations between metabolite abundance and tolerance phenotypes by undertaking functional assessments, for example, using dietary supplementation or injections. We highlight studies at the vanguard of employing these approaches, and where key knowledge gaps remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Al Hayward
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Hervé Colinet
- University of Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO [(Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution)] - UMR 6553, Rennes, France.
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9
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Rathore S, Stahl A, Benoit JB, Buschbeck EK. Exploring the molecular makeup of support cells in insect camera eyes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.19.549729. [PMID: 37503285 PMCID: PMC10370194 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.19.549729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Animals generally have either compound eyes, which have evolved repeatedly in different invertebrates, or camera eyes, which have evolved many times across the animal kingdom. Both eye types include two important kinds of cells: photoreceptor cells, which can be excited by light, and non-neuronal support cells (SupCs), which provide essential support to photoreceptors. Despite many examples of convergence in eye evolution, similarities in the gross developmental plan and molecular signatures have been discovered, even between phylogenetically distant and functionally different eye types. For this reason, a shared evolutionary origin has been considered for photoreceptors. In contrast, only a handful of studies, primarily on the compound eyes of Drosophila melanogaster , have demonstrated molecular similarities in SupCs. D. melanogaster SupCs (Semper cells and primary pigment cells) are specialized eye glia that share several molecular similarities with certain vertebrate eye glia, including Müller glia. This led us to speculate whether there are conserved molecular signatures of SupCs, even in functionally different eyes such as the image-forming larval camera eyes of the sunburst diving beetle Thermonectus marmoratus . To investigate this possibility, we used an in-depth comparative whole-tissue transcriptomics approach. Specifically, we dissected the larval principal camera eyes into SupC- and retina-containing regions and generated the respective transcriptomes. Our analysis revealed several conserved features of SupCs including enrichment of genes that are important for glial function (e.g. gap junction proteins such as innexin 3), glycogen production (glycogenin), and energy metabolism (glutamine synthetase 1 and 2). To evaluate the extent of conservation, we compared our transcriptomes with those of fly (Semper cells) and vertebrate (Müller glia) eye glia as well as respective retinas. T. marmoratus SupCs were found to have distinct genetic overlap with both fly and vertebrate eye glia. These results provide molecular evidence for the deep conservation of SupCs in addition to photoreceptor cells, raising essential questions about the evolutionary origin of eye-specific glia in animals.
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10
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Wang N, Ji A, Masoudi A, Li S, Hu Y, Zhang Y, Yu Z, Wang H, Wang H, Liu J. Protein regulation mechanism of cold tolerance in Haemaphysalis longicornis. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:725-740. [PMID: 36285346 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are external parasitic arthropods that can transmit a variety of pathogens by sucking blood. Low-temperature tolerance is essential for ticks to survive during the cold winter. Exploring the protein regulation mechanism of low-temperature tolerance of Haemaphysalis longicornis could help to explain how ticks survive in winter. In this study, the quantitative proteomics of several tissues of H. longicornis exposed to low temperature were studied by data independent acquisition technology. Totals of 3 699, 3 422, and 1 958 proteins were identified in the salivary gland, midgut, and ovary, respectively. The proteins involved in energy metabolism, cell signal transduction, protein synthesis and repair, and cytoskeleton synthesis changed under low-temperature stress. The comprehensive analysis of the protein regulation of multiple tissues of female ticks exposed to low temperature showed that maintaining cell homeostasis, maintaining cell viability, and enhancing cell tolerance were the most important means for ticks to maintain vital signs under low temperature. The expression of proteins involved in and regulating the above cell activities was the key to the survival of ticks under low temperatures. Through the analysis of a large amount of data, we found that the expression levels of arylamine N-acetyltransferase, inositol polyphosphate multikinase, and dual-specificity phosphatase were up-regulated under low temperature. We speculated that they might have important significance in low-temperature tolerance. Then, we performed RNA interference on the mRNA of these 3 proteins, and the results showed that the ability of female ticks to tolerate low temperatures decreased significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningmei Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Aimeng Ji
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Abolfazl Masoudi
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yuhong Hu
- Instrumental Analysis Center, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yefei Zhang
- Hebei Xiaowutai Mountain National Nature Reserve Management Center, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, China
| | - Zhijun Yu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Han Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jingze Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
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Pathak A, Chakraborty S, Oyen K, Rosendale AJ, Benoit JB. Dual assessment of transcriptional and metabolomic responses in the American dog tick following exposure to different pesticides and repellents. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102033. [PMID: 36099731 PMCID: PMC9971363 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102033] [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: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, is a major pest to humans and animals, serving as a vector to Rickettsia rickettsii, a bacterium responsible for Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Francisella tularensis, which is responsible for tularemia. Although several tactics for management have been deployed, very little is known about the molecular response following pesticidal treatments in ticks. In this study, we used a combined approach utilizing transcriptomics and metabolomics to understand the response of the American dog tick to five common pesticides (amitraz, chlorpyrifos, fipronil, permethrin, and propoxur), and analyzed previous experimental data utilizing DEET repellent. Exposure to different chemicals led to significant differential expression of a varying number of transcripts, where 42 were downregulated and only one was upregulated across all treatments. A metabolomic analysis identified significant changes in acetate and aspartate levels following exposure to chlorpyrifos and propoxur, which was attributed to reduced cholinesterase activity. Integrating the metabolomics study with RNA-seq analysis, we found the physiological manifestations of the combined metabolic and transcriptional differences, revealing several novel biomolecular pathways. In particular, we discovered the downregulation of amino sugar metabolism and methylhistidine metabolism after permethrin exposure, as well as an upregulation of glutamate metabolism in amitraz treated samples. Understanding these altered biochemical pathways following pesticide and repellent exposure can help us formulate more effective chemical treatments to reduce the burden of ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atit Pathak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | - Souvik Chakraborty
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | - Kennan Oyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | - Andrew J Rosendale
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211; Biology Department, Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH, 45233
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211.
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