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Adams SA, Gurajapu A, Qiang A, Gerbaulet M, Schulz S, Tsutsui ND, Ramirez SR, Gillespie RG. Chemical species recognition in an adaptive radiation of Hawaiian Tetragnatha spiders (Araneae: Tetragnathidae). Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232340. [PMID: 38593845 PMCID: PMC11003775 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies of adaptive radiations have played a central role in our understanding of reproductive isolation. Yet the focus has been on human-biased visual and auditory signals, leaving gaps in our knowledge of other modalities. To date, studies on chemical signals in adaptive radiations have focused on systems with multimodal signalling, making it difficult to isolate the role chemicals play in reproductive isolation. In this study we examine the use of chemical signals in the species recognition and adaptive radiation of Hawaiian Tetragnatha spiders by focusing on entire communities of co-occurring species, and conducting behavioural assays in conjunction with chemical analysis of their silks using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Male spiders significantly preferred the silk extracts of conspecific mates over those of sympatric heterospecifics. The compounds found in the silk extracts, long chain alkyl methyl ethers, were remarkably species-specific in the combination and quantity. The differences in the profile were greatest between co-occurring species and between closely related sibling species. Lastly, there were significant differences in the chemical profile between two populations of a particular species. These findings provide key insights into the role chemical signals play in the attainment and maintenance of reproductive barriers between closely related co-occurring species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seira A. Adams
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, 130 Mulford Hall, #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Center for Population Biology, University of California, 2320 Storer Hall, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, 2320 Storer Hall, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Anjali Gurajapu
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, 130 Mulford Hall, #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Albert Qiang
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, 130 Mulford Hall, #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Moritz Gerbaulet
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, Braunschweig 38106, Germany
| | - Stefan Schulz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, Braunschweig 38106, Germany
| | - Neil D. Tsutsui
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, 130 Mulford Hall, #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Santiago R. Ramirez
- Center for Population Biology, University of California, 2320 Storer Hall, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, 2320 Storer Hall, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Rosemary G. Gillespie
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, 130 Mulford Hall, #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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Luo J, Bainbridge C, Miller RM, Barrios A, Portman DS. C. elegans males optimize mate-preference decisions via sex-specific responses to multimodal sensory cues. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1309-1323.e4. [PMID: 38471505 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
For sexually reproducing animals, selecting optimal mates is important for maximizing reproductive fitness. In the nematode C. elegans, populations reproduce largely by hermaphrodite self-fertilization, but the cross-fertilization of hermaphrodites by males also occurs. Males' ability to recognize hermaphrodites involves several sensory cues, but an integrated view of the ways males use these cues in their native context to assess characteristics of potential mates has been elusive. Here, we examine the mate-preference behavior of C. elegans males evoked by natively produced cues. We find that males use a combination of volatile sex pheromones (VSPs), ascaroside sex pheromones, surface-associated cues, and other signals to assess multiple features of potential mates. Specific aspects of mate preference are communicated by distinct signals: developmental stage and sex are signaled by ascaroside pheromones and surface cues, whereas the presence of a self-sperm-depleted hermaphrodite is likely signaled by VSPs. Furthermore, males prefer to interact with virgin over mated, and well-fed over food-deprived, hermaphrodites; these preferences are likely adaptive and are also mediated by ascarosides and other cues. Sex-typical mate-preference behavior depends on the sexual state of the nervous system, such that pan-neuronal genetic masculinization in hermaphrodites generates male-typical social behavior. We also identify an unexpected role for the sex-shared ASH sensory neurons in male attraction to ascaroside sex pheromones. Our findings lead to an integrated view in which the distinct physical properties of various mate-preference cues guide a flexible, stepwise behavioral program by which males assess multiple features of potential mates to optimize mate preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jintao Luo
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China; Department of Biomedical Genetics and Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Chance Bainbridge
- Department of Biomedical Genetics and Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Renee M Miller
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14620, USA
| | - Arantza Barrios
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6DE, UK
| | - Douglas S Portman
- Department of Biomedical Genetics and Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
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Ortiz-Leal I, Torres MV, Barreiro-Vázquez JD, López-Beceiro A, Fidalgo L, Shin T, Sanchez-Quinteiro P. The vomeronasal system of the wolf (Canis lupus signatus): The singularities of a wild canid. J Anat 2024. [PMID: 38366249 DOI: 10.1111/joa.14024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Wolves, akin to their fellow canids, extensively employ chemical signals for various aspects of communication, including territory maintenance, reproductive synchronisation and social hierarchy signalling. Pheromone-mediated chemical communication operates unconsciously among individuals, serving as an innate sensory modality that regulates both their physiology and behaviour. Despite its crucial role in the life of the wolf, there is a lacuna in comprehensive research on the neuroanatomical and physiological underpinnings of chemical communication within this species. This study investigates the vomeronasal system (VNS) of the Iberian wolf, simultaneously probing potential alterations brought about by dog domestication. Our findings demonstrate the presence of a fully functional VNS, vital for pheromone-mediated communication, in the Iberian wolf. While macroscopic similarities between the VNS of the wolf and the domestic dog are discernible, notable microscopic differences emerge. These distinctions include the presence of neuronal clusters associated with the sensory epithelium of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and a heightened degree of differentiation of the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). Immunohistochemical analyses reveal the expression of the two primary families of vomeronasal receptors (V1R and V2R) within the VNO. However, only the V1R family is expressed in the AOB. These findings not only yield profound insights into the VNS of the wolf but also hint at how domestication might have altered neural configurations that underpin species-specific behaviours. This understanding holds implications for the development of innovative strategies, such as the application of semiochemicals for wolf population management, aligning with contemporary conservation goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Ortiz-Leal
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Mateo V Torres
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - José-Daniel Barreiro-Vázquez
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Ana López-Beceiro
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Luis Fidalgo
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Taekyun Shin
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea
| | - Pablo Sanchez-Quinteiro
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
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Darragh K, Ramírez SR. The transcriptomic signature of adaptations associated with perfume collection in orchid bees. J Evol Biol 2024; 37:141-151. [PMID: 38271116 DOI: 10.1093/jeb/voad012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Secondary sexual traits can convey information on mate quality with the signal honesty maintained by the costly nature of trait expression. Mating signals are also often underpinned by physiological, morphological, and behavioural adaptations, which may require the evolution of novelty, but the genetic basis in many cases is unknown. In orchid bees, males acquire chemical compounds from the environment that act as pheromone-like bouquets (perfumes) during courtship displays. This process could be costly, potentially due to the cognitive demands of learning and the physiological demands of collecting a mix of extrinsic chemical compounds that may require detoxification. Furthermore, a novel trait, a specialized perfume pouch in the hind leg, is required for compound storage. We studied gene expression in the brain, hind leg, and Malpighian tubules-a tissue involved in detoxification-to investigate changes in gene expression following perfume collection. We detected upregulation of genes enriched in functions related to transcription, odorant binding, and receptor activity in the Malpighian tubules. On the other hand, we did not find any evidence for learning processes following perfume collection, or gene expression changes in the hind leg, perhaps due to constitutive expression, or the age of the sampled bees. We did identify high expression of chemosensory proteins in the hind legs, which we suggest could play a role in perfume collection or storage, with further functional studies necessary to determine their binding properties and potential physiological importance. Los rasgos sexuales secundarios pueden servir como indicadores de calidad de la pareja, y en algunos casos la honestidad de la señal se mantiene por el costo de expresar el rasgo. A menudo las señales sexuales están respaldadas por adaptaciones fisiológicas, morfológicas y de comportamiento por lo tanto pueden requerir la evolución de nuevos rasgos, pero en muchos casos se desconoce la base genética. En las abejas de las orquídeas, los machos recolectan compuestos químicos del medio ambiente, los cuales actúan como feromonas (perfumes) durante el despliegue de cortejo. Este proceso podría ser costoso, posiblemente debido a las demandas cognitivas del aprendizaje y las demandas fisiológicas de recolectar una mezcla de compuestos químicos extrínsecos que pueden requerir desintoxicación. Además, se requiere la evolución de un contenedor para almacenar perfumes en la pata trasera. Para investigar los cambios en la expresión génica después de la recolección de perfume, estudiamos la expresión génica en el cerebro, la pata trasera y los túbulos de Malpighi (tejido involucrado en la desintoxicación). Encontramos varios genes regulados positivamente en los túbulos de Malpighi después de la recolección que están enriquecidos en factores de transcripción, proteínas de fijación de olores, y proteínas con actividad de receptor. Por otro lado, no encontramos ninguna evidencia de procesos de aprendizaje posteriores a la recolección de perfumes, o cambios en la expresión génica en la pata trasera, esto quizás debido a la expresión constitutiva o la edad de las abejas muestreadas. Además, identificamos una alta expresión de proteínas quimio-sensoriales en las patas traseras, que podría desempeñar un papel en la recolección o almacenamiento de perfumes. Más estudios funcionales son necesarios para determinar las propiedades de fijación de las proteínas y su potencial importancia fisiológica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathy Darragh
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Santiago R Ramírez
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
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De Meyer D, Chantziaras I, Amalraj A, Maes D. Effect of Pig Synthetic Pheromones and Positive Handling of Pregnant Sows on the Productivity of Nursery Pigs. Vet Sci 2024; 11:20. [PMID: 38250926 PMCID: PMC10818425 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Weaning is one of the most important stress events in the life of pigs, increasing the risk for health problems and reduced performance. The release of pheromones in pig stables can be considered an environmental enrichment and alleviate the negative effects of weaning stress in nursery pigs. The present study investigated the effect of synthetic pheromones on the performance of nursery pigs. The effect of positive handling of sows in the farrowing house on the performance of the offspring in the nursery was also investigated. The study was performed in a commercial pig farm and included 24 batches of weaned piglets (216 piglets per batch). Half of the batches originated from sows exposed to positive handling. This implied that music was played from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. from the moment the sows entered the farrowing house until weaning and that they were subjected to backscratching from the day they entered the farrowing unit the day of farrowing. During the nursery period, half of the batches were treated, and half served as controls. Piglets of treated groups were exposed to a synthetic analog of the maternal pig appeasing pheromone (PAP) (SecurePig®, Signs, Avignon, France). The product consisted of a gel block from which the pheromones were slowly released into the room. Different performance parameters were measured during the nursery period. Neither the sow treatment nor the treatment with pheromones significantly influenced the performance of the piglets during the nursery period (p > 0.05). The median values (95% confidence interval) of average daily gain, namely 318 (282-338) vs. 305 (272-322) g/day, feed conversion ratio, namely 1.64 (1.51-1.71) vs. 1.70 (1.57-1.75), and number of antimicrobial treatment days, namely 16.9 (9.6-25.0) vs. 17.3 (9.5-25.0) days, were numerically better in the nursery pigs exposed to the pheromones compared to the control groups. Mortality however was numerically higher in the treated groups, namely 4.4 (2.8-6.8) vs. 3.2 (0.9-4.2)%. Under the conditions of the present production system, pigs exposed to the pheromone treatment during the nursery did not show a significant performance increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitri De Meyer
- Unit of Porcine Health Management, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (I.C.); (A.A.); (D.M.)
- Vedanko, Knijffelingstraat 15, 8851 Koolskamp, Belgium
| | - Ilias Chantziaras
- Unit of Porcine Health Management, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (I.C.); (A.A.); (D.M.)
- Unit of Veterinary Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Arthi Amalraj
- Unit of Porcine Health Management, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (I.C.); (A.A.); (D.M.)
- Unit of Veterinary Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Dominiek Maes
- Unit of Porcine Health Management, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (I.C.); (A.A.); (D.M.)
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van Lessen M, Mardaryev A, Broadley D, Bertolini M, Edelkamp J, Kückelhaus M, Funk W, Bíró T, Paus R. 'Speed-ageing' of human skin in serum-free organ culture ex vivo: An instructive novel assay for preclinical human skin ageing research demonstrates senolytic effects of caffeine and 2,5-dimethylpyrazine. Exp Dermatol 2024; 33:e14955. [PMID: 37897068 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Preclinical human skin ageing research has been limited by the paucity of instructive and clinically relevant models. In this pilot study, we report that healthy human skin of different age groups undergoes extremely accelerated ageing within only 3 days, if organ-cultured in a defined serum-free medium. Quantitative (immuno-)histomorphometry documented this unexpected ex vivo phenotype on the basis of ageing-associated biomarkers: the epidermis showed significantly reduced rete ridges and keratinocyte proliferation, sirtuin-1, MTCO1 and collagen 17a1 protein levels; this contrasted with significantly increased expression of the DNA-damage marker, γH2A.X. In the dermis, collagen 1 and 3 and hyaluronic acid content were significantly reduced compared to Day 0 skin. qRT-PCR of whole skin RNA extracts also showed up-regulated mRNA levels of several (inflamm-) ageing biomarkers (MMP-1, -2, -3, -9; IL6, IL8, CXCL10 and CDKN1). Caffeine, a methylxanthine with recognized anti-ageing properties, counteracted the dermal collagen 1 and 3 reduction, the epidermal accumulation of γH2A.X, and the up-regulation of CXCL10, IL6, IL8, MMP2 and CDKN1. Finally, we present novel anti-ageing effects of topical 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, a natural pheromone TRPM5 ion channel activator. Thus, this instructive, clinically relevant "speed-ageing" assay provides a simple, but powerful new research tool for dissecting skin ageing and rejuvenation, and is well-suited to identify novel anti-ageing actives directly in the human target organ.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrei Mardaryev
- Monasterium Laboratory, Münster, Germany
- Centre for Skin Sciences, School of Chemistry and Bioscience, University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tamás Bíró
- Monasterium Laboratory, Münster, Germany
- Cutaneon, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Paus
- Monasterium Laboratory, Münster, Germany
- Cutaneon, Hamburg, Germany
- Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
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Ruiz-Rubio S, Ortiz-Leal I, Torres MV, Somoano A, Sanchez-Quinteiro P. Do fossorial water voles have a functional vomeronasal organ? A histological and immunohistochemical study. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2023. [PMID: 38112130 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
The fossorial water vole, Arvicola scherman, is an herbivorous rodent that causes significant agricultural damages. The application of cairomones and alarm pheromones emerges as a promising sustainable method to improve its integrated management. These chemical signals would induce stress responses that could interfere with the species regular reproductive cycles and induce aversive reactions, steering them away from farmlands and meadows. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the water vole vomeronasal system, both in its morphological foundations and its functionality, making it imperative to understand the same for the application of chemical communication in pest control. This study fills the existing gaps in knowledge through a morphological and immunohistochemical analysis of the fossorial water vole vomeronasal organ. The study is primarily microscopic, employing two approaches: histological, using serial sections stained with various dyes (hematoxylin-eosin, Periodic acid-Schiff, Alcian blue, Nissl), and immunohistochemical, applying various markers that provide morphofunctional and structural information. These procedures have confirmed the presence of a functional vomeronasal system in fossorial water voles, characterized by a high degree of differentiation and a significant expression of cellular markers indicative of active chemical communication in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ruiz-Rubio
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Irene Ortiz-Leal
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Mateo V Torres
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Aitor Somoano
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain
| | - Pablo Sanchez-Quinteiro
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
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Shangguan WJ, Mei XD, Chen HP, Hu S, Xu CL, Wang L, Lv KF, Huang QL, Xu HL, Cao LD. Biodegradable electrospun fibers as sustained-release carriers of insect pheromones for field trapping of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Pest Manag Sci 2023; 79:4774-4783. [PMID: 37474484 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insect pheromones are highly effective and environmentally friendly, and are widely used in the monitoring and trapping of pests. However, many researchers have found that various factors such as ultraviolet light and temperature in the field environment can accelerate the volatilization of pheromones, thus affecting the actual control effect. In recent years, electrospinning technology has demonstrated remarkable potential in the preparation of sustained carriers. Moreover, the utilization of biodegradable materials in electrospinning presents a promising avenue for the advancement of eco-friendly carriers. RESULTS In this study, homogeneous and defect-free pheromone carriers were obtained by electrospinning using fully biodegradable polyhydroxybutyrate materials and pheromones of Spodoptera litura. The electrospun fibers with porous structure could continuously release pheromone (the longest can be ≤80 days). They also had low light transmission, hydrophobic protection. More importantly, the pheromone-loaded electrospun fiber carriers showed stable release and good trapping effect in the field. They could trap pests for at least 7 weeks in the field environment without other light stabilizers added. CONCLUSION Sustained-release carriers constructed by electrospinning and green materials could improve the efficacy of pheromones and ensure environmental friendliness, and provided a tool for the management of S. litura and other pests and sustainable development of agricultural. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jie Shangguan
- College of Modern Agriculture and Ecological Environment, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, China
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang-Dong Mei
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hui-Ping Chen
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Hu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chun-Li Xu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Pherobio Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Kai-Fei Lv
- Pherobio Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Qi-Liang Huang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hong-Liang Xu
- College of Modern Agriculture and Ecological Environment, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, China
| | - Li-Dong Cao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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Srikant S, Gaudet R, Murray AW. Extending the reach of homology by using successive computational filters to find yeast pheromone genes. Curr Biol 2023; 33:4098-4110.e3. [PMID: 37699395 PMCID: PMC10592104 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
The mating of fungi depends on pheromones that mediate communication between two mating types. Most species use short peptides as pheromones, which are either unmodified (e.g., α-factor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae) or C-terminally farnesylated (e.g., a-factor in S. cerevisiae). Peptide pheromones have been found by genetics or biochemistry in a small number of fungi, but their short sequences and modest conservation make it impossible to detect homologous sequences in most species. To overcome this problem, we used a four-step computational pipeline to identify candidate a-factor genes in sequenced genomes of the Saccharomycotina, the fungal clade that contains most of the yeasts: we require that candidate genes have a C-terminal prenylation motif, are shorter than 100 amino acids long, and contain a proteolytic-processing motif upstream of the potential mature pheromone sequence and that closely related species contain highly conserved homologs of the potential mature pheromone sequence. Additional manual curation exploits the observation that many species carry more than one a-factor gene, encoding identical or nearly identical pheromones. From 332 Saccharomycotina genomes, we identified strong candidate pheromone genes in 241 genomes, covering 13 clades that are each separated from each other by at least 100 million years, the time required for evolution to remove detectable sequence homology among small pheromone genes. For one small clade, the Yarrowia, we demonstrated that our algorithm found the a-factor genes: deleting all four related genes in the a-mating type of Yarrowia lipolytica prevents mating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sriram Srikant
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Rachelle Gaudet
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Andrew W Murray
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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10
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Wang W, Ge J, Zhang Y, Zhang J. The male's scent triggered a neural response in females despite ambiguous behavioral response in Asian house rats. Integr Zool 2023. [PMID: 37804522 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Pheromones and olfactory communication play vital roles in sex recognition and mate choice in rodents. Asian house rats (Rattus tanezumi) (RT) often startle easily, making behavioral measurements difficult to carry out accurately in the laboratory. Here, the behavioral and olfactory preferences of the female RT between males and females were not observed using a conventional two-choice device; we then explored the neuro-immunohistochemical evidence in the brains of RT females. We found that male urine elicited significantly higher c-fos expression in the accessory olfactory system and sex-related brain regions in females than female urine did. On the other hand, the differences of volatile compounds and major urinary proteins (MUPs) in both voided urine and preputial glands (PGs) of the RT were detected using gas chromatography-mass spectrometer, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. We found that PG-derived 1-(4,5-dihydro-2-thiazolyl)-ethanone and total MUPs were more abundant in males versus females, suggesting these sexually divergent components might activate the female's accessory olfactory system. In conclusion, the neuro-immunohistochemical evidence indicated that potential sex pheromones might exist in RT; however, the strength of the chemical signal might be too weak to cause behavioral responses in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weichao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jingru Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yaohua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianxu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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11
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Jahn K, Ley J, DePorter T, Seksel K. How Well Do Dogs Cope with Air Travel? An Owner-Reported Survey Study. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3093. [PMID: 37835699 PMCID: PMC10571552 DOI: 10.3390/ani13193093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
It is estimated that 2 million domestic animals travel on commercial flights every year in the US alone and that dogs make up 58% of pets travelling worldwide. There has been little research on the welfare effects of air travel on dogs. The purpose of this owner-reported study was to understand how well dogs cope with and recover from air travel from a physical, mental, and emotional health perspective. An online survey questionnaire was distributed globally to pet owners whose dogs had travelled by air in the last 12 months, and the results were collected and analysed. Information was received about dog and owner demographics, logistics, and preparation for travel, as well as the dog's experience of air travel. Results showed that most dogs cope with and recover well from air travel but that there is a group of individuals who suffer physical, mental, and emotional ill health consequences during or after air travel, including death. Stress management products such as anxiolytic medication, supplements, and pheromones were underutilised and, in some instances, actively discouraged. More education of all stakeholders of pet air travel is needed to improve the physical, mental, and emotional health and welfare of canine air travellers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Jahn
- German Veterinary Clinic, Villa 112, 39th Street, Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 34867, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jacqui Ley
- Melbourne Veterinary Specialists Centre, 70 Blackburn Rd, Glen Waverley, VIC 3150, Australia;
| | - Theresa DePorter
- Oakland Veterinary Referral Services, 1400 S Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302, USA
| | - Kersti Seksel
- Kersti Seksel and Associates Ltd., Seaforth, NSW 2092, Australia
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12
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Li Q, Zhang YF, Zhang TM, Wan JH, Zhang YD, Yang H, Huang Y, Xu C, Li G, Lu HM. iORbase: A database for the prediction of the structures and functions of insect olfactory receptors. Insect Sci 2023; 30:1245-1254. [PMID: 36519267 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Insect olfactory receptors (iORs) with atypical 7-transmembrane domains, unlike Chordata olfactory receptors, are not in the GPCR protein family. iORs selectively bind to volatile ligands in the environment and affect essential insect behaviors. In this study, we constructed a new platform (iORbase, https://www.iorbase.com) for the structural and functional analysis of iORs based on a combined algorithm for gene annotation and protein structure prediction. Moreover, it provides the option to calculate the binding affinities and binding residues between iORs and pheromone molecules by virtual screening of docking. Furthermore, iORbase supports the automatic structural and functional prediction of user-submitted iORs or pheromones. iORbase contains the well-analyzed results of approximately 6 000 iORs and their 3D protein structures identified from 59 insect species and 2 077 insect pheromones from the literature, as well as approximately 12 million pairs of simulated interactions between functional iORs and pheromones. We also built 4 online modules, iORPDB, iInteraction, iModelTM, and iOdorTool to easily retrieve and visualize the 3D structures and interactions. iORbase can help greatly improve the experimental efficiency and success rate, identify new insecticide targets, or develop electronic nose technology. This study will shed light on the olfactory recognition mechanism and evolutionary characteristics from the perspectives of omics and macroevolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yi-Feng Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tian-Min Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jia-Hui Wan
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yu-Dan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hui Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuan Huang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chang Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Gang Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hui-Meng Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
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13
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Murali G, Meiri S, Roll U. Chemical signaling glands are unlinked to species diversification in lizards. Evolution 2023; 77:1829-1841. [PMID: 37279331 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpad101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Sexual selection has long been thought to increase species diversification. Sexually selected traits, such as sexual signals that contribute to reproductive isolation, were thought to promote diversification. However, studies exploring links between sexually selected traits and species diversification have thus far primarily focused on visual or acoustic signals. Many animals often employ chemical signals (i.e., pheromones) for sexual communications, but large-scale analyses on the role of chemical communications in driving species diversification have been missing. Here, for the first time, we investigate whether traits associated with chemical communications-the presence of follicular epidermal glands-promote diversification across 6,672 lizard species. In most analyses, we found no strong association between the presence of follicular epidermal glands and species diversification rates, either across all lizard species or at lower phylogenetic scales. Previous studies suggest that follicular gland secretions act as species recognition signals that prevent hybridization during speciation in lizards. However, we show that geographic range overlap was no different in sibling species pairs with and without follicular epidermal glands. Together, these results imply that either follicular epidermal glands do not primarily function in sexual communications or sexually selected traits in general (here chemical communication) have a limited effect on species diversification. In our additional analysis accounting for sex-specific differences in glands, we again found no detectable effect of follicular epidermal glands on species diversification rates. Thus, our study challenges the general role of sexually selected traits in broad-scale species diversification patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopal Murali
- Jacob Blaustein Center for Scientific Cooperation, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, The Swiss Institute for Dryland Environments and Energy Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Shai Meiri
- School of Zoology and The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Beersheva, Sede-Boqer Campus, 8499000, Israel
| | - Uri Roll
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, The Swiss Institute for Dryland Environments and Energy Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
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14
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Peng JY, Liu X, Zeng XT, Hao Y, Zhang JH, Li Q, Tong XJ. Early pheromone perception remodels neurodevelopment and accelerates neurodegeneration in adult C. elegans. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112598. [PMID: 37289584 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-associated neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases are mainly caused by protein aggregation. The etiologies of these neurodegenerative diseases share a chemical environment. However, how chemical cues modulate neurodegeneration remains unclear. Here, we found that in Caenorhabditis elegans, exposure to pheromones in the L1 stage accelerates neurodegeneration in adults. Perception of pheromones ascr#3 and ascr#10 is mediated by chemosensory neurons ASK and ASI. ascr#3 perceived by G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) DAF-38 in ASK activates glutamatergic transmission into AIA interneurons. ascr#10 perceived by GPCR STR-2 in ASI activates the secretion of neuropeptide NLP-1, which binds to the NPR-11 receptor in AIA. Activation of both ASI and ASK is required and sufficient to remodel neurodevelopment via AIA, which triggers insulin-like signaling and inhibits autophagy in adult neurons non-cell-autonomously. Our work reveals how pheromone perception at the early developmental stage modulates neurodegeneration in adults and provides insights into how the external environment impacts neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Yi Peng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xuqing Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xian-Ting Zeng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yue Hao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jia-Hui Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Qian Li
- Songjiang Institute and Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201600, China; Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health in Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xia-Jing Tong
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
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15
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Thomas G, Rusman Q, Morrison WR, Magalhães DM, Dowell JA, Ngumbi E, Osei-Owusu J, Kansman J, Gaffke A, Pagadala Damodaram KJ, Kim SJ, Tabanca N. Deciphering Plant-Insect-Microorganism Signals for Sustainable Crop Production. Biomolecules 2023; 13:997. [PMID: 37371577 DOI: 10.3390/biom13060997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Agricultural crop productivity relies on the application of chemical pesticides to reduce pest and pathogen damage. However, chemical pesticides also pose a range of ecological, environmental and economic penalties. This includes the development of pesticide resistance by insect pests and pathogens, rendering pesticides less effective. Alternative sustainable crop protection tools should therefore be considered. Semiochemicals are signalling molecules produced by organisms, including plants, microbes, and animals, which cause behavioural or developmental changes in receiving organisms. Manipulating semiochemicals could provide a more sustainable approach to the management of insect pests and pathogens across crops. Here, we review the role of semiochemicals in the interaction between plants, insects and microbes, including examples of how they have been applied to agricultural systems. We highlight future research priorities to be considered for semiochemicals to be credible alternatives to the application of chemical pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth Thomas
- Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - Quint Rusman
- Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - William R Morrison
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, 1515 College Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
| | - Diego M Magalhães
- Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Jordan A Dowell
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Esther Ngumbi
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Jonathan Osei-Owusu
- Department of Biological, Physical and Mathematical Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya EY0329-2478, Ghana
| | - Jessica Kansman
- Center for Chemical Ecology, Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Alexander Gaffke
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, 6383 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee, FL 32308, USA
| | | | - Seong Jong Kim
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, University, MS 38677, USA
| | - Nurhayat Tabanca
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Subtropical Horticulture Research Station, 13601 Old Cutler Rd., Miami, FL 33158, USA
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16
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Faal H, Canlas IJ, Cossé A, Jones TH, Carrillo D, Cooperband MF. Investigating Photo-Degradation as a Potential Pheromone Production Pathway in Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula. Insects 2023; 14:551. [PMID: 37367367 DOI: 10.3390/insects14060551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Since its discovery in North America in 2014, the spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, has become an economic, ecological, and nuisance pest there. Developing early detection and monitoring tools is critical to their mitigation and control. Previous research found evidence that SLF may use pheromones to help locate each other for aggregation or mating. Pheromone production necessitates specific conditions by the insects, and these must be investigated and described. A chemical process called photo-degradation has been described as a final step in the production of pheromones in several diurnal insect species, in which cuticular hydrocarbons were broken down by sunlight into volatile pheromone components. In this study, photo-degradation was investigated as a possible pheromone production pathway for SLF. Extracts from SLF mixed-sex third and fourth nymphs and male or female adults were either exposed to simulated sunlight to produce a photo-degradative reaction (photo-degraded), or not exposed to light (crude), while volatiles were collected. Behavioral bioassays tested for attraction to volatiles from photo-degraded and crude samples and their residues. In third instars, only the volatile samples from photo-degraded mixed-sex extracts were attractive. Fourth instar males were attracted to both crude and photo-degraded residues, and volatiles of photo-degraded mixed-sex extracts. Fourth instar females were attracted to volatiles of crude and photo-degraded mixed-sex extracts, but not to residues. In adults, only males were attracted to body volatiles from crude and photo-degraded extracts of either sex. Examination of all volatile samples using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed that most of the identified compounds in photo-degraded extracts were also present in crude extracts. However, the abundance of these compounds in photo-degraded samples were 10 to 250 times more than their abundance in the crude counterparts. Results from behavioral bioassays indicate that photo-degradation probably does not generate a long-range pheromone, but it may be involved in the production of a short-range sex-recognition pheromone in SLF. This study provides additional evidence of pheromonal activity in SLF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajar Faal
- Forest Pest Methods Laboratory, USDA-APHIS-PPQ S&T, 1398 W. Truck Rd., Buzzards Bay, MA 02542, USA
- Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 18905 SW 280 St., Homestead, FL 33031, USA
| | - Isaiah J Canlas
- Forest Pest Methods Laboratory, USDA-APHIS-PPQ S&T, 1398 W. Truck Rd., Buzzards Bay, MA 02542, USA
| | - Allard Cossé
- Forest Pest Methods Laboratory, USDA-APHIS-PPQ S&T, 1398 W. Truck Rd., Buzzards Bay, MA 02542, USA
| | - Tappey H Jones
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA 24450, USA
| | - Daniel Carrillo
- Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 18905 SW 280 St., Homestead, FL 33031, USA
| | - Miriam F Cooperband
- Forest Pest Methods Laboratory, USDA-APHIS-PPQ S&T, 1398 W. Truck Rd., Buzzards Bay, MA 02542, USA
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17
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Taisz I, Donà E, Münch D, Bailey SN, Morris BJ, Meechan KI, Stevens KM, Varela-Martínez I, Gkantia M, Schlegel P, Ribeiro C, Jefferis GSXE, Galili DS. Generating parallel representations of position and identity in the olfactory system. Cell 2023; 186:2556-2573.e22. [PMID: 37236194 PMCID: PMC10403364 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In Drosophila, a dedicated olfactory channel senses a male pheromone, cis-vaccenyl acetate (cVA), promoting female courtship while repelling males. Here, we show that separate cVA-processing streams extract qualitative and positional information. cVA sensory neurons respond to concentration differences in a 5-mm range around a male. Second-order projection neurons encode the angular position of a male by detecting inter-antennal differences in cVA concentration, which are amplified through contralateral inhibition. At the third circuit layer, we identify 47 cell types with diverse input-output connectivity. One population responds tonically to male flies, a second is tuned to olfactory looming, while a third integrates cVA and taste to coincidentally promote female mating. The separation of olfactory features resembles the mammalian what and where visual streams; together with multisensory integration, this enables behavioral responses appropriate to specific ethological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- István Taisz
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Erika Donà
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Billy J Morris
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Katie M Stevens
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Marina Gkantia
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Philipp Schlegel
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK; Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Gregory S X E Jefferis
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK; Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Dana S Galili
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
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18
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George J, Reddy GVP, Little N, Arnold SEJ, Hall DR. Combining visual cues and pheromone blends for monitoring and management of the tarnished plant bug Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae). Pest Manag Sci 2023; 79:2163-2171. [PMID: 36730090 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tarnished plant bug Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) is considered the most damaging pest of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in the mid-southern United States. Previous studies have reported the role of different ratios of volatile metathoracic gland components such as hexyl butyrate, (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate and (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal in eliciting low-level attraction of L. lineolaris. In this study, we tested different visual cues (colored sticky cards) in combination with olfactory cues (pheromone blends) to optimize the attraction and capture of L. lineolaris in the field. RESULTS Red-colored sticky cards were more attractive to L. lineolaris adults than white, blue or yellow cards. Red sticky cards combined with blends of three potential pheromone components attracted significantly more L. lineolaris adults than sticky cards without a blend added. Traps baited with a blend of hexyl butyrate, (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate and (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal in 4:10:7 ratio, respectively, caught a significantly higher number of L. lineolaris than those baited with 10:4:2 or 7:10:4 blends or an unbaited control in the first week of the experiment. CONCLUSIONS Combining visual cues (red color) with olfactory cues (pheromone blends) significantly increased the capture of L. lineolaris in the field. This device or a future iteration could contribute towards sustainable and environmentally appropriate early-season monitoring and management of L. lineolaris in the field. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin George
- USDA-ARS, Southern Insect Management Research Unit, Stoneville, MS, USA
| | - Gadi V P Reddy
- USDA-ARS, Southern Insect Management Research Unit, Stoneville, MS, USA
| | - Nathan Little
- USDA-ARS, Southern Insect Management Research Unit, Stoneville, MS, USA
| | | | - David R Hall
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Kent, UK
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19
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Kallam K, Moreno-Giménez E, Mateos-Fernández R, Tansley C, Gianoglio S, Orzaez D, Patron N. Tunable control of insect pheromone biosynthesis in Nicotiana benthamiana. Plant Biotechnol J 2023. [PMID: 37032497 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Previous work has demonstrated that plants can be used as production platforms for molecules used in health, medicine, and agriculture. Production has been exemplified in both stable transgenic plants and using transient expression strategies. In particular, species of Nicotiana have been engineered to produce a range of useful molecules, including insect sex pheromones, which are valued for species-specific control of agricultural pests. To date, most studies have relied on strong constitutive expression of all pathway genes. However, work in microbes has demonstrated that yields can be improved by controlling and balancing gene expression. Synthetic regulatory elements that provide control over the timing and levels of gene expression are therefore useful for maximizing yields from heterologous biosynthetic pathways. In this study, we demonstrate the use of pathway engineering and synthetic genetic elements for controlling the timing and levels of production of Lepidopteran sex pheromones in Nicotiana benthamiana. We demonstrate that copper can be used as a low-cost molecule for tightly regulated inducible expression. Further, we show how construct architecture influences relative gene expression and, consequently, product yields in multigene constructs. We compare a number of synthetic orthogonal regulatory elements and demonstrate maximal yields from constructs in which expression is mediated by dCas9-based synthetic transcriptional activators. The approaches demonstrated here provide new insights into the heterologous reconstruction of metabolic pathways in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalyani Kallam
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - Elena Moreno-Giménez
- Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMCP), UPV-CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Connor Tansley
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - Silvia Gianoglio
- Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMCP), UPV-CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Diego Orzaez
- Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMCP), UPV-CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nicola Patron
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
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20
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Akhoundi M, Chebbah D, Elissa N, Brun S, Jan J, Lacaze I, Izri A. Volatile Organic Compounds: A Promising Tool for Bed Bug Detection. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:5214. [PMID: 36982123 PMCID: PMC10048870 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20065214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The recent decades' resurgence of bed bugs as a public health concern in industrialized countries has driven an increased interest on new sustainable insecticide-free methods to monitor and control these ectoparasites. Current methods of detection rely mainly on visual inspection or canine scent detection, which are methods that are time-consuming, require experience, are non-specific or require costly mission repetitions. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are considered an environmentally friendly alternative and a promising approach for bed bug detection. An overview of the released literature on VOCs, their chemical characteristics and their role in bed bugs' intra- and inter-species communications allowed us to highlight the identification of 49 VOCs in Cimex lectularius (23 molecules) and C. hemipterus (26), which are emitted by both sexes during diverse compartments including aggregation (46), mating (11), defense (4), etc., and all life stages including exuviae or dead bed bugs as a principal indicator of infestation. The latter has a great importance for application of these semiochemicals in successful detection and control management of bed bugs and to prevent their further dispersion. This approach has the advantage of more reliability compared to conventional detection methods with no need for repeated inspections, household furniture moving or resident rehousing for bed bugs' VOC detection, which are commonly performed by active or passive sampling with absorbing tubes and analyzed by gas chromatography-based analytical platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Akhoundi
- Parasitology-Mycology Department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, 93000 Bobigny, France
| | - Dahlia Chebbah
- Parasitology-Mycology Department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, 93000 Bobigny, France
- Service Parisien de Santé Environnementale (SPSE), Sous-Direction de la Santé Environnementale et de la Prévention (SDSEP), Direction de la Santé Publique (DSP)—Mairie de Paris, 75019 Paris, France
| | - Nohal Elissa
- Service Parisien de Santé Environnementale (SPSE), Sous-Direction de la Santé Environnementale et de la Prévention (SDSEP), Direction de la Santé Publique (DSP)—Mairie de Paris, 75019 Paris, France
| | - Sophie Brun
- Parasitology-Mycology Department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, 93000 Bobigny, France
| | - Julie Jan
- Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS) Île-de-France, 35, Rue de la Gare, CEDEX 19, 75935 Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Lacaze
- Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (CSTB), Direction Santé Confort, Division Qualité Sanitaire des Ouvrages, 84, Avenue Jean Jaurès, CEDEX F-77447, 77420 Marne-la-Vallée, France
| | - Arezki Izri
- Parasitology-Mycology Department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, 93000 Bobigny, France
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ-IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection), 13000 Marseille, France
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Díaz MA, Osorio C, Coy-Barrera E, Rodríguez D. Semiochemicals Associated with the Western Flower Thrips Attraction: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. Insects 2023; 14:269. [PMID: 36975954 PMCID: PMC10053797 DOI: 10.3390/insects14030269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The study of the semiochemicals of the western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis, Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a relevant topic that spans the last two decades. Approximately a hundred articles published on this subject from 2000 to 2022 can be found in academic databases, representing approximately 5% of the research on this important pest. These topics have generated a platform for novel research with a high potential for development. However, to move on to a new research step, an effectiveness evaluation of the compounds discovered so far is necessary. This review conducted a systematic analysis of the research focused on the semiochemicals (kairomones, pheromones, and attractants) for this pest. Papers from the past three decades on WFT attraction to semiochemicals were collected from databases using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The number of individuals attracted to compounds was extracted from the papers and compiled for analysis. With this information, an attraction ratio was calculated. Forty-one possible attractants were found in the literature, with methyl isonicotinate being the most-studied compound so far, with the third-highest attraction ratio. δ-Decalactone was the compound with the highest attraction ratio, but it was one of the least studied. A meta-analysis of the WFT choosing proportion was performed for the compounds with more trials found in the literature. The predicted mean choice percentages for methyl isonicotinate (MIN) and Lurem-TR, the MIN's commercial product, were 76.6% and 66.6%, respectively. There was a convergence among the analyzed studies showing a high degree of research focus on the same group of nitrogen-containing compounds (mainly the pyridine structure). These findings call for future research to diversify the discovery and evaluation of attractive compounds in this relevant study area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A. Díaz
- Biological Control Laboratory, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Cajicá 250247, Colombia
| | - Coralia Osorio
- Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 14490, Colombia
| | - Ericsson Coy-Barrera
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Cajicá 250247, Colombia
| | - Daniel Rodríguez
- Biological Control Laboratory, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Cajicá 250247, Colombia
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22
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Zilkha N, Chuartzman SG, Sofer Y, Pen Y, Cum M, Mayo A, Alon U, Kimchi T. Sex-dependent control of pheromones on social organization within groups of wild house mice. Curr Biol 2023; 33:1407-1420.e4. [PMID: 36917976 PMCID: PMC10132349 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Dominance hierarchy is a fundamental social phenomenon in a wide range of mammalian species, critically affecting fitness and health. Here, we investigate the role of pheromone signals in the control of social hierarchies and individual personalities within groups of wild mice. For this purpose, we combine high-throughput behavioral phenotyping with computational tools in freely interacting groups of wild house mice, males and females, in an automated, semi-natural system. We show that wild mice form dominance hierarchies in both sexes but use sex-specific strategies, displaying distinct male-typical and female-typical behavioral personalities that were also associated with social ranking. Genetic disabling of VNO-mediated pheromone detection generated opposite behavioral effects within groups, enhancing social interactions in males and reducing them in females. Behavioral personalities in the mutated mice displayed mixtures of male-typical and female-typical behaviors, thus blurring sex differences. In addition, rank-associated personalities were abolished despite the fact that both sexes of mutant mice formed stable hierarchies. These findings suggest that group organization is governed by pheromone-mediated sex-specific neural circuits and pave the way to investigate the mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphism in dominance hierarchies under naturalistic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noga Zilkha
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Yizhak Sofer
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yefim Pen
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Meghan Cum
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Avi Mayo
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Uri Alon
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tali Kimchi
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel.
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Annaz H, El Fakhouri K, Ben Bakrim W, Mahdi I, El Bouhssini M, Sobeh M. Bergamotenes: A comprehensive compile of their natural occurrence, biosynthesis, toxicity, therapeutic merits and agricultural applications. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2023:1-20. [PMID: 36876517 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2184766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Sesquiterpenoids constitute the largest subgroup of terpenoids that have numerous applications in pharmaceutical, flavor, and fragrance industries as well as biofuels. Bergamotenes, a type of bicyclic sesquiterpenes, are found in plants, insects, and fungi with α-trans-bergamotene as the most abundant compound. Bergamotenes and their related structures (Bergamotane sesquiterpenoids) have been shown to possess diverse biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and insecticidal effects. However, studies on their biotechnological potential are still limited. This review compiles the characteristics of bergamotenes and their related structures in terms of occurrence, biosynthesis pathways, and biological activities. It further discusses their functionalities and potential applications in pharmaceutical, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and pest management sectors. This review also opens novel perspectives in identifying and harnessing bergamotenes for pharmaceutical and agricultural purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Annaz
- AgroBioSciences Program, College for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Science, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Karim El Fakhouri
- AgroBioSciences Program, College for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Science, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Widad Ben Bakrim
- AgroBioSciences Program, College for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Science, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco
- African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), College for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Science, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Laayoune, Morocco
| | - Ismail Mahdi
- AgroBioSciences Program, College for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Science, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Mustapha El Bouhssini
- AgroBioSciences Program, College for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Science, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Mansour Sobeh
- AgroBioSciences Program, College for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Science, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco
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Tommasi A, Tredoux AGJ, Koziel JA, Esposito G. The Effect of a Synthetic Scent on Cheetah Behaviour. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13. [PMID: 36766257 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In cheetahs, age at first parturition correlates negatively with reproductive lifespan (asymmetric reproductive aging); therefore, breeding cheetahs at a young age is essential to maximize reproductive performance in this species. However, younger females display a significantly reduced frequency of copulatory behaviour, which negatively affects breeding. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are known to regulate appropriate behavioural responses in various species, including reproductive behaviour; moreover, they have proven to play a role in captive breeding methods in cheetahs, as well as mate choice. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a synthetic scent (SS) on the frequency of the five oestrous behaviour(s) (sniff, rub, roll, spray, and meow-chirp) known to be indicative of oestrus in female cheetahs. Based on the results of a previous study from our research group, five VOCs, identified in the marking fluid of male cheetahs, and known to be pheromones involved in reproductive behaviour, were used to create the SS. This was accomplished by mixing benzaldehyde, acetophenone, indole, dimethyl disulphide and phenol with (99.9%) ethanol. Seven female cheetahs were then observed for one oestrus cycle without stimulation (control) and then once again while exposed to the SS (treatment), which was sprayed on foil trays placed around the outside of each enclosure. The occurrence of the five oestrous behaviours was recorded and tallied per day of observations. Although the SS did not have a significant effect on the frequency of oestrous behaviours displayed by the females used in this study, five of the seven (71%) did show an increase in their behaviour with the SS when oestrogen concentrations were at their highest (peak oestrus), including three of the four younger females. The SS also significantly increased the sniffing behaviour in general. Although the results of this study do indicate that VOCs influence cheetahs and their behaviour, firm conclusions cannot be drawn due to the low number of animals used, as well as the significant effect the observation methods had on the results. Nonetheless, this study represents the first of this kind in cheetahs, therefore representing an important step in determining the role of VOCs in aiding breeding in captivity.
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25
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Mazzatenta A, Fiorito S, Guadagnini R, Genovese S, Valentini A, Bonadiman F, Guadagnini S, Epifano F, Mollica A. The Evanescent Bouquet of Individual Bear Fingerprint. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13. [PMID: 36670761 DOI: 10.3390/ani13020220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The evanescent and invisible communication carried by chemical signals, pheromones, or signature mixtures or, as we prefer, the pheromonal individual fingerprint, between members of the same species is poorly studied in mammals, mainly because of the lack of identification of the molecules. The difference between pheromones and the pheromonal individual fingerprint is that the former generate stereotyped innate responses while the latter requires learning, i.e., different receivers can learn different signature mixtures from the same individual. Furthermore, pheromones are usually produced by a particular gland, while the pheromonal individual fingerprint is the entire bouquet produced by the entire secreting gland of the body. In the present study, we aim to investigate the pheromonal individual fingerprint of brown bears in northern Italy. We collected the entire putative pheromone bouquet from all production sites in free-ranging bears and analyzed the entire crude extract to profile the individual fingerprint according to species-, sex- and subjective-specific characteristics. We were able to putatively characterize the brown bears' pheromonal individual fingerprints and compare them with the partial pheromone identifications published by other studies. This work is a step forward in the study of the complexity of chemical communication, particularly in a solitary endangered species.
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26
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Ali AS, Jacinto JGP, Mϋnchemyer W, Walte A, Gentile A, Formigoni A, Mammi LME, Csaba Bajcsy Á, Abdu MS, Kamel MM, Ghallab ARM. Estrus Detection in a Dairy Herd Using an Electronic Nose by Direct Sampling on the Perineal Region. Vet Sci 2022; 9. [PMID: 36548849 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9120688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrus detection is very important for the profitability of dairy herds. Different automatic systems for estrus detection have been developed over the last decades. Our study aimed to assess the ability of the electronic nose (EN) MENT-EGAS prototype to detect estrus, based on odor release from the perineal headspace in dairy cattle by direct sampling. The study was performed in an Italian dairy farm using 35 multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows. The cows were divided into three groups: group I included 10 lactating 5-month pregnant cows, group II included 19 lactating cycling cows, and group III included 6 cows that were artificially inseminated 18 days before the trial. Odors from the perineal headspace were collected using the MENT-EGAS prototype. In group I, odors were collected once a day for 5 consecutive days. In group II, odors were collected twice daily from day 18 until day 1 of the reproductive cycle. In group III, odors were also collected twice daily from the presumable day 18 of gestation until day 22. Principal component analyses (PCA) of the perineal headspace samples were performed. PCA in group I revealed no significant discrimination. PCA in group II revealed clear discrimination between proestrus and estrus, and between estrus and metestrus but no significant discrimination was obtained between proestrus and metestrus. PCA in group III revealed that in four cows the results were similar to group I and in two cows the results were similar to group II. On day 40 of the presumable pregnancy, the ultrasound examination revealed that only the four cows were pregnant and the other two cows were regularly cycling. On the basis of our findings, we conclude that it is possible to accurately detect estrus in dairy cattle from directly collected odor samples using the MENT-EGAS prototype. This represents the first study of estrus detection using an EN detection by direct sampling. EN technologies, such as MENT-EGAS, could be applied in the future in dairy cattle farms as a precise, non-invasive method for estrus detection.
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Villamayor PR, Gullón J, Quintela L, Sánchez-Quinteiro P, Martínez P, Robledo D. Sex separation unveils the functional plasticity of the vomeronasal organ in rabbits. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1034254. [PMID: 36340690 PMCID: PMC9634631 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1034254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemosensory cues are vital for social and sexual behaviours and are primarily detected and processed by the vomeronasal system (VNS), whose plastic capacity has been investigated in mice. However, studying chemosensory plasticity outside of laboratory conditions may give a more realistic picture of how the VNS adapts to a changing environment. Rabbits are a well-described model of chemocommunication since the discovery of the rabbit mammary pheromone and their vomeronasal organ (VNO) transcriptome was recently characterised, a first step to further study plasticity-mediated transcriptional changes. In this study, we assessed the plastic capacity of the rabbit male and female VNO under sex-separation vs. sex-combined scenarios, including adults and juveniles, to determine whether the rabbit VNO is plastic and, if so, whether such plasticity is already established at early stages of life. First, we characterised the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the VNO of rabbit male and female under sex-separation and compared it to sex-combined individuals, both in adults and juveniles, finding that differences between male and female were larger in a sex-separated scenario. Secondly, we analysed the number of DEGs between sex-separated and sex-combined scenarios, both in males and females. In adults, both sexes showed a high number of DEGs while in juveniles only females showed differences. Additionally, the vomeronasal receptor genes were strikingly downregulated in sex-separated adult females, whereas in juveniles upregulation was shown for the same condition, suggesting a role of VRs in puberty onset. Finally, we described the environment-modulated plastic capacity of genes involved in reproduction, immunity and VNO functional activity, including G-protein coupled receptors. Our results show that sex-separation induces sex- and stage-specific gene expression differences in the VNO of male and female rabbit, both in adults and juveniles. These results bring out for the first time the plastic capacity of the rabbit VNO, supporting its functional adaptation to specifically respond to a continuous changing environment. Finally, species-specific differences and individual variability should always be considered in VNO studies and overall chemocommunication research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula R. Villamayor
- Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
- Departamento de Anatomía, Producción Animal e Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | | | - Luis Quintela
- Departamento de Patoloxía Animal, Facultade de Veterinaria Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Pablo Sánchez-Quinteiro
- Departamento de Anatomía, Producción Animal e Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Paulino Martínez
- Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Diego Robledo
- The Roslin Institute, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Faal H, Meier LR, Canlas IJ, Murman K, Wallace M, Carrillo D, Cooperband MF. Volatiles from male honeydew excretions attract conspecific male spotted lanternflies, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae). Front Insect Sci 2022; 2:982965. [PMID: 38468787 PMCID: PMC10926466 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.982965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), is a generalist phloem feeder that produces copious amounts of honeydew, which in turn coats the understory. These insects form large aggregations covering the trunks of some trees, while similar trees nearby mysteriously seem unattractive. We investigated whether volatiles from SLF honeydew are attractive to conspecifics by collecting honeydew from the field and testing it for SLF attraction in a two-choice olfactometer. We found that honeydew excreted by adult male SLF was significantly attractive to male SLF, but not female SLF. Although the honeydew excreted by adult female SLF did not significantly attract male or female SLF, both sexes showed a positive trend towards attraction in response to female honeydew in the olfactometer. Analysis of the headspace volatiles of honeydew was conducted, and numerous semiochemicals were identified. Five of which, 2-heptanone, 2-octanone, 2-nonanone, benzyl acetate, and 1-nonanol, were tested in two-choice behavioral assays against a blank control. Benzyl acetate and 2-octanone were attractive to both sexes, whereas 2-heptanone was only attractive to males, and 2-nonanone only to females. The remaining compound, 1-nonanol, repelled females, but not males. Although honeydew has been reported as a source of kairomones for some natural enemies, this may be the first report of sex-specific attractants for conspecific insects found in the honeydew volatiles of a planthopper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajar Faal
- Forest Pest Methods Laboratory, USDA‐APHIS‐PPQ‐S&T, Buzzards Bay, MA, United States
- Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead, FL, United States
| | - Linnea R. Meier
- Forest Pest Methods Laboratory, USDA‐APHIS‐PPQ‐S&T, Buzzards Bay, MA, United States
- Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead, FL, United States
| | - Isaiah J. Canlas
- Forest Pest Methods Laboratory, USDA‐APHIS‐PPQ‐S&T, Buzzards Bay, MA, United States
| | - Kelly Murman
- Forest Pest Methods Laboratory, USDA‐APHIS‐PPQ‐S&T, Buzzards Bay, MA, United States
| | - Matthew Wallace
- Biology Department, East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA, United States
| | - Daniel Carrillo
- Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead, FL, United States
| | - Miriam F. Cooperband
- Forest Pest Methods Laboratory, USDA‐APHIS‐PPQ‐S&T, Buzzards Bay, MA, United States
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29
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Cooperband MF, Murman K. Responses of adult spotted lanternflies to artificial aggregations composed of all males or females. Front Insect Sci 2022; 2:981832. [PMID: 38468775 PMCID: PMC10926526 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.981832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Spotted lanternflies (SLF) Lycorma delicatula are economically important invasive planthoppers discovered in North America in 2014. SLF are gregarious, but how they locate each other, or who finds whom and when, is poorly understood. Here we describe adult SLF behavior and phenology on their preferred host, Ailanthus altissima, under field conditions, in the context of both aggregation and mate-location, since SLF demonstrated aggregation prior to mating. We documented aggregation behavior of adults and found we could manipulate free-living SLF populations in both number and sex ratio by the placement of confined populations of SLF males or females on trees. Trap capture of arriving SLF was significantly higher on trees with confined SLF aggregations than on control trees, and was corroborated with photographic data, demonstrating the manipulation of attraction and aggregation behavior. Sex ratios of trapped SLF arrivals were significantly more male-biased on trees with confined males and more female-biased on trees with confined females, evidence that the male- and female-biased sex ratios observed on trees naturally can be explained by sex-specific conspecific signals. SLF sex ratios shifted over time in the same pattern over two consecutive years. A mark-release-recapture study over time found that 1) SLF behavior is density dependent and strongly influenced by natural populations, 2) released females were captured significantly more on trees with caged females, particularly prior to mating, and 3) released males were captured significantly more on trees with caged females starting at mating time. Photographic data revealed that most clustering behavior (a measure of courtship) of free-living SLF began on trees with caged females during mating time, but not on trees with caged males or controls. We describe adult male and female SLF phenology whereby 1) aggregation behavior occurs, 2) males and females arrive at different times, 3) females began to aggregate several weeks prior to mating, 4) males subsequently joined aggregations at the time of mating, and 5) aggregation continued into oviposition. Population density and aggregation behavior were found to be key factors in their natural history which can be manipulated, providing a foothold for future research. Possible mechanisms for future exploration are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam F. Cooperband
- Forest Pest Methods Laboratory, USDA APHIS PPQ S&T, Buzzards Bay, MA, United States
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30
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Zambre AM, Burns L, Suresh J, Hegeman AD, Snell-Rood EC. Developmental plasticity in multimodal signals: light environment produces novel signalling phenotypes in a butterfly. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20220099. [PMID: 35975631 PMCID: PMC9382452 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental plasticity can alter the expression of sexual signals in novel environments and is therefore thought to play an important role in promoting divergence. Sexual signals, however, are often multimodal and mate choice multivariate. Hence, to understand how developmental plasticity can facilitate divergence, we must assess plasticity across signal components and its cumulative impact on signalling. Here, we examine how developmental plasticity influences different components of cabbage white butterfly Pieris rapae multimodal signals, its effects on their signalling phenotypes and its implications for divergence. To do this, we reared P. rapae caterpillars under two different light environments (low-light and high-light) to simulate conditions experienced by P. rapae colonizing a novel light habitat. We then examined plasticity in both visual (wing coloration) and olfactory (pheromone abundance) components of male sexual signals. We found light environments influenced expression of both visual and olfactory components and resulted in a trade-off between signal modalities. The 'low-light' phenotype had duller wing colours but higher abundance of the pheromone, indole, whereas the 'high-light' phenotype had comparatively brighter wings but lower abundance of indole. These results show that by simultaneously altering expression of different signal components, developmental plasticity can produce multiple signalling phenotypes, which may catalyse divergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amod Mohan Zambre
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Linnea Burns
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jayanti Suresh
- Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Adrian D. Hegeman
- Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Emilie C. Snell-Rood
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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31
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Abstract
The mountain pine beetle epidemic has highlighted the complex interactions of bark beetles with conifer host defenses. In these interactions, oleoresin terpenoids and volatiles, produced and released by the host tree, can be both harmful and beneficial to the beetle's success in colonizing a tree and completing its life cycle. The insect spends almost its entire life, from egg to adult, within the bark and phloem of a pine host, exposed to large quantities of complex mixtures of oleoresin terpenoids. Conifer oleoresin comprises mostly monoterpenes and diterpene resin acids as well as many different sesquiterpenes. It functions as a major chemical and physical defense system. However, the insect has evolved host colonization behavior and enzymes for terpenoid metabolism and detoxification that allow it to overcome some of the terpenoid defenses and, importantly, to co-opt pine monoterpenes as cues for host search and as a precursor for its own pheromone system. The insect-associated microbiome also plays a role in the metabolism of conifer terpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine C Chiu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada;
| | - Joerg Bohlmann
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada;
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32
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Chen D, Hou L, Wei J, Guo S, Cui W, Yang P, Kang L, Wang X. Aggregation pheromone 4-vinylanisole promotes the synchrony of sexual maturation in female locusts. eLife 2022; 11:74581. [PMID: 35258453 PMCID: PMC8903828 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive synchrony generally occurs in various group-living animals. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. The migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, a worldwide agricultural pest species, displays synchronous maturation and oviposition when forms huge swarm. The reproductive synchrony among group members is critical for the maintenance of locust swarms and population density of next generation. Here, we showed that gregarious female locusts displayed more synchronous sexual maturation and oviposition than solitarious females and olfactory deficiency mutants. Only the presence of gregarious male adults can stimulate sexual maturation synchrony of female adults. Of the volatiles emitted abundantly by gregarious male adults, the aggregation pheromone, 4-vinylanisole, was identified to play key role in inducing female sexual maturation synchrony. This maturation-accelerating effect of 4-vinylanisole disappeared in the females of Or35-/- lines, the mutants of 4-vinylanisole receptor. Interestingly, 4-vinylanisole displayed a time window action by which mainly accelerates oocyte maturation of young females aged at middle developmental stages (3–4 days post adult eclosion). We further revealed that juvenile hormone/vitellogenin pathway mediated female sexual maturation triggered by 4-vinylanisole. Our results highlight a ‘catch-up’ strategy by which gregarious females synchronize their oocyte maturation and oviposition by time-dependent endocrinal response to 4-vinylanisole, and provide insight into reproductive synchrony induced by olfactory signal released by heterosexual conspecifics in a given group. Since 2019, a plague of flying insects known as migratory locusts has been causing extensive damage to crops in East Africa. Migratory locusts sometimes live a solitary lifestyle but, if environmental conditions allow, they form large groups containing millions of individuals known as swarms that are responsible for causing locust plagues.Locusts are able to maintain such large swarms because they can aggregate and synchronize. When they live in swarms, individual locusts produce odors that are sensed by other individuals in the group. For example, an aggregation pheromone, called 4-vinylanisole, is known to help keep large groups of locusts together. However, it is less clear how odors synchronize the reproductive cycles of the females in a swarm so that they are ready to mate with males and lay their eggs at the same time. To address this question, Chen et al. examined when female locusts reached sexual maturity after they were exposed to odors produced by other locusts living alone or in groups. The experiments found that only 4-vinylanisole, which was abundantly released by adult male locusts living in groups, stimulated female locusts to reach sexual maturity at the same time. This odor increased the levels of a hormone known as juvenile hormone in less-developed females to help them reach sexual maturity sooner. These findings demonstrate that when migratory locusts are living in swarms, male locusts promote the female locusts to reach sexual maturity at the same time by promoting less-developed females to ‘catch up’ with other females in the group. A next step will be to investigate the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying the ‘catch up’ effect induced by 4-vinylanisole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafeng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianing Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Siyuan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Weichan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Pengcheng Yang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Le Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Beijing Institutes of Life Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xianhui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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33
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Inbar T, Davis R, Bergan JF. A sex-specific feedback projection from aromatase-expressing neurons in the medial amygdala to the accessory olfactory bulb. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:648-655. [PMID: 34415057 PMCID: PMC8716422 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) plays a critical role in classifying pheromonal signals. Here we identify two previously undescribed sources of aromatase signaling in the AOB: (1) a population of aromatase-expressing neurons in the AOB itself; (2) a tract of aromatase-expressing axons which originate in the ventral medial amygdala (MEA) and terminate in the AOB. Using a retrograde tracer in conjunction with a transgenic strategy to label aromatase-expressing neurons throughout the brain, we found that a single contiguous population of neurons in the ventral MEA provides the only significant feedback by aromatase-expressing neurons to the AOB. This population expresses the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and displayed anatomical sex differences in the number of neurons (higher in male mice) and the size of cell bodies (larger in females). Given the previously established relationship between aromatase expression, estrogen signaling, and the function of sexually dimorphic circuits, we suggest that this feedback population is well-positioned to provide neuroendocrine feedback to modulate sensory processing of social stimuli in the AOB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Inbar
- Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
| | - Rachel Davis
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
| | - Joseph F. Bergan
- Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts at Amherst,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
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34
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Abstract
Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) of vertebrates belong to the lipocalin superfamily and perform a dual function: solubilizing and ferrying volatile pheromones to the olfactory receptors, and complexing the same molecules in specialized glands and assisting their release into the environment. Within vertebrates, to date they have been reported only in mammals, apart from two studies on amphibians. Based on the small number of OBPs expressed in each species, on their sites of production outside the olfactory area and their presence in biological fluids known to be pheromone carriers, such as urine, saliva and sexual secretions, we conclude that OBPs of mammals are specifically dedicated to pheromonal communication. This assumption is further supported by the observation that some OBPs present in biological secretions are endowed with their own pheromonal activity, adding renewed interest to these proteins. Another novel piece of evidence is the recent discovery that glycosylation and phosphorylation can modulate the binding activity of these proteins, improving their affinity to pheromones and narrowing their specificity. A comparison with insects and other arthropods shows a completely different scenario. While mammalian OBPs are specifically tuned to pheromones, those of insects, which are completely different in sequence and structure, include carriers for general odorants in addition to those dedicated to pheromones. Additionally, whereas mammals adopted a single family of carrier proteins for chemical communication, insects and other arthropods are endowed with several families of semiochemical-binding proteins. Here, we review the literature on the structural and functional properties of vertebrate OBPs, summarize the most interesting new findings and suggest possible exciting future developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Pelosi
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Biosensor Technologies, Konrad-Lorenz Straße 24, Tulln, 3430, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Knoll
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Biosensor Technologies, Konrad-Lorenz Straße 24, Tulln, 3430, Austria
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35
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Amagai T, Izumida D, Murata R, Soyano K. Male Pheromones Induce Ovulation in Female Honeycomb Groupers ( Epinephelus merra): A Comprehensive Study of Spawning Aggregation Behavior and Ovarian Development. Cells 2022; 11:484. [PMID: 35159292 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This study characterizes the spawning phenomena of the honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra), which is a lunar-synchronized spawner that spawns a few days after full moon. To elucidate the aggregation characteristics of wild honeycomb groupers, the numbers of males and females at the spawning grounds were counted before and after the full moon. Approximately 20 males were consistently observed at the spawning grounds throughout the study period. Females appeared several days after full moon and rapidly increased in number, peaking four days after full moon (41 individuals). The maturation status of the females aggregating at the spawning grounds was investigated. The gonadosomatic index increased rapidly three days after full moon, and ovulation was confirmed. Individuals with ovulatory eggs were present for three days, after which the number of females at the spawning grounds decreased. Additionally, the role of males in final oocyte maturation (FOM) and ovulation in females during the spawning phase was investigated in captivity. FOM was induced in females reared in water with mature males, suggesting that male pheromones in the water induced FOM via activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. This suggests that spawning at the natural spawning grounds was the result of male–female interactions via pheromones.
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36
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Zheng J, Yang M, Dong K, Zhang J, Wang H, Xie M, Wu W, Zhang YJ, Chen Z. Structural Insights into the Ligand-Binding and -Releasing Mechanism of Helicoverpa armigera Pheromone-Binding Protein PBP1. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:1190. [PMID: 35163109 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) is a worldwide agricultural pest in which the transport of pheromones is indispensable and perceived by pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs). However, three-dimensional structure, pheromone binding, and releasing mechanisms of PBPs are not completely illustrated. Here, we solved three structures of the cotton bollworm HarmPBP1 at different pH values and its complex with ligand, Z-9-hexadecenal. Although apo-HarmPBP1 adopts a common PBP scaffold of six α-helices surrounding a predominantly hydrophobic central pocket, the conformation is greatly distinct from other apo-PBPs. The Z-9-hexadecenal is bound mainly by hydrophobic interaction. The pheromone can enter this cavity through an opening between the helices α5 and α6, as well as the loop between α3 and α4. Structural analysis suggests that ligand entry into the pocket is followed by a shift of Lys94 and Lys138, which may act as a lid at the opening of the pocket. Acidic pH will cause a subtle structural change of the lid, which in turn affects its ligand-binding ability, differently from other family proteins. Taken together, this study provides structural bases for the interactions between pheromones and PBPs, the pH-induced conformational switch, and the design of small inhibitors to control cotton bollworms by disrupting male–female chemosensory communication.
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37
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Mateos Fernández R, Petek M, Gerasymenko I, Juteršek M, Baebler Š, Kallam K, Moreno Giménez E, Gondolf J, Nordmann A, Gruden K, Orzaez D, Patron NJ. Insect pest management in the age of synthetic biology. Plant Biotechnol J 2022; 20:25-36. [PMID: 34416790 PMCID: PMC8710903 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Arthropod crop pests are responsible for 20% of global annual crop losses, a figure predicted to increase in a changing climate where the ranges of numerous species are projected to expand. At the same time, many insect species are beneficial, acting as pollinators and predators of pest species. For thousands of years, humans have used increasingly sophisticated chemical formulations to control insect pests but, as the scale of agriculture expanded to meet the needs of the global population, concerns about the negative impacts of agricultural practices on biodiversity have grown. While biological solutions, such as biological control agents and pheromones, have previously had relatively minor roles in pest management, biotechnology has opened the door to numerous new approaches for controlling insect pests. In this review, we look at how advances in synthetic biology and biotechnology are providing new options for pest control. We discuss emerging technologies for engineering resistant crops and insect populations and examine advances in biomanufacturing that are enabling the production of new products for pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marko Petek
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems BiologyNational Institute of BiologyLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Iryna Gerasymenko
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic EngineeringTechnische Universität DarmstadtDarmstadtGermany
| | - Mojca Juteršek
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems BiologyNational Institute of BiologyLjubljanaSlovenia
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate SchoolLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Špela Baebler
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems BiologyNational Institute of BiologyLjubljanaSlovenia
| | | | | | - Janine Gondolf
- Institut für PhilosophieTechnische Universität DarmstadtDarmstadtGermany
| | - Alfred Nordmann
- Institut für PhilosophieTechnische Universität DarmstadtDarmstadtGermany
| | - Kristina Gruden
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems BiologyNational Institute of BiologyLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Diego Orzaez
- Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMCP)UPV‐CSICValenciaSpain
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38
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Abstract
Many animals live in groups and interact with each other, creating an organized collective structure. Social network analysis (SNA) is a statistical tool that aids in revealing and understanding the organized patterns of shared social connections between individuals in groups. Surprisingly, the application of SNA revealed that Drosophila melanogaster, previously considered a solitary organism, displays group dynamics and that the structure of group life is inherited. Although the number of studies investigating Drosophila social networks is currently limited, they address a wide array of questions that have only begun to capture the details of group level behavior in this insect. Here, we aim to review these studies, comparing their respective scopes and the methods used, to draw parallels between them and the broader body of knowledge available. For example, we highlight how despite methodological differences, there are similarities across studies investigating the effects of social isolation on social network dynamics. Finally, this review aims to generate hypotheses and predictions that inspire future research in the emerging field of Drosophila social networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A Jezovit
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Nawar Alwash
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Joel D Levine
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada.,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,International Research Centre for Neurointelligence, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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39
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Sharma SK, Paniraj ASR, Tambe YB. Developments in the Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Agrochemicals and Their Synthetic Importance. J Agric Food Chem 2021; 69:14761-14780. [PMID: 34847666 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c05553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Catalytic asymmetric synthesis has become an essential tool for the enantioselective synthesis of pharmaceuticals, natural products, and agrochemicals (mainly fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and pheromones). With continuous growing interest in both modern agricultural chemistry and catalytic asymmetric synthesis chemistry, this review provides a comprehensive overview of some earlier reports as well as the recent successful applications of various catalytic asymmetric syntheses methodologies, such as enantioselective hydroformylation, enantioselective hydrogenation, asymmetric Sharpless epoxidation and dihydroxylation, asymmetric cyclopropanation or isomerization, organocatalyzed asymmetric synthesis, and so forth, which have been used as key steps in the preparation of chiral agrochemicals (on R&D, piloting, and commercial scales). Chiral agrochemicals can also lead the new generation of such chemicals having specific and novel modes of action for achieving sustainable crop protection and production. Some perspectives and challenges for these catalytic asymmetric methodologies in the synthesis of chiral agrochemicals are also briefly discussed in the final section of the manuscript. This review will provide the insight regarding understanding, development, and evaluation of catalytic asymmetric systems for the synthesis of chiral agrochemicals among the agrochemists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Kumar Sharma
- Rallis Research Centre, No. 73/1C and 73/1D, Byregowda Industrial Estate, Srigandhanagar, Hegganhalli, Bangalore 560091, Karnataka, India
| | - Alilugatta Sheshagiri Rao Paniraj
- Rallis Research Centre, No. 73/1C and 73/1D, Byregowda Industrial Estate, Srigandhanagar, Hegganhalli, Bangalore 560091, Karnataka, India
| | - Yashwant Bhikaji Tambe
- Rallis Research Centre, No. 73/1C and 73/1D, Byregowda Industrial Estate, Srigandhanagar, Hegganhalli, Bangalore 560091, Karnataka, India
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40
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Abstract
Sexual development in filamentous fungi is a complex process that relies on the precise control of and interaction between a variety of genetic networks and pathways. The mating-type (MAT) genes are the master regulators of this process and typically act as transcription factors, which control the expression of genes involved at all stages of the sexual cycle. In many fungi, the sexual cycle typically begins when the mating pheromones of one mating type are recognized by a compatible partner, followed by physical interaction and fertilization. Subsequently, highly specialized sexual structures are formed, within which the sexual spores develop after rounds of meiosis and mitosis. These spores are then released and germinate, forming new individuals that initiate new cycles of growth. This review provides an overview of the known genetic networks and pathways that are involved in each major stage of the sexual cycle in filamentous ascomycete fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andi M. Wilson
- Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - P. Markus Wilken
- Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Michael J. Wingfield
- Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Brenda D. Wingfield
- Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
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41
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Ehlers S, Szczerbowski D, Harig T, Stell M, Hötling S, Darragh K, Jiggins CD, Schulz S. Identification and Composition of Clasper Scent Gland Components of the Butterfly Heliconius erato and Its Relation to Mimicry. Chembiochem 2021; 22:3300-3313. [PMID: 34547164 PMCID: PMC9293309 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The butterfly Heliconius erato occurs in various mimetic morphs. The male clasper scent gland releases an anti‐aphrodisiac pheromone and additionally contains a complex mixture of up to 350 components, varying between individuals. In 114 samples of five different mimicry groups and their hybrids 750 different compounds were detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Many unknown components occurred, which were identified using their mass spectra, gas chromatography/infrared spectroscopy (GC/IR)‐analyses, derivatization, and synthesis. Key compounds proved to be various esters of 3‐oxohexan‐1‐ol and (Z)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol with (S)‐2,3‐dihydrofarnesoic acid, accompanied by a large variety of other esters with longer terpene acids, fatty acids, and various alcohols. In addition, linear terpenes with up to seven uniformly connected isoprene units occur, e. g. farnesylfarnesol. A large number of the compounds have not been reported before from nature. Discriminant analyses of principal components of the gland contents showed that the iridescent mimicry group differs strongly from the other, mostly also separated, mimicry groups. Comparison with data from other species indicated that Heliconius recruits different biosynthetic pathways in a species‐specific manner for semiochemical formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Ehlers
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Daiane Szczerbowski
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Tim Harig
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Matthew Stell
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Susan Hötling
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Kathy Darragh
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, Storer Hall University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, CB2 3EJ, Cambridge, UK
| | - Stefan Schulz
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
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42
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Tommasi A, Koziel JA, Molotsi AH, Esposito G. Understanding the Role of Semiochemicals on the Reproductive Behaviour of Cheetahs ( Acinonyx jubatus)-A Review. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:3140. [PMID: 34827872 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This review aims to provide an in-depth overview of the reproductive physiology and behaviour of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Specifically, it focuses on the role that pheromones (a class of semiochemicals) play by directly affecting the reproductive (e.g., precopulatory and copulatory) behaviour. Furthermore, it aims to critically analyze current research and provide new insights on study areas needing further investigation. It is clear, for instance, that further research is necessary to investigate the role of semiochemicals in the reproductive behaviour of cheetahs in order to rectify the current behavioural difficulties experienced when breeding younger females. This, in turn, would aid in improving captive breeding and the prevention of asymmetric reproductive aging. Abstract The cheetah species (Acinonyx jubatus) is currently listed as vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Captive breeding has long since been used as a method of conservation of the species, with the aim to produce a healthy, strong population of cheetahs with an increased genetic variety when compared to their wild counterparts. This would then increase the likelihood of survivability once released into protected areas. Unfortunately, breeding females have been reported to be difficult due to the age of these animals. Older females are less fertile, have more difficult parturition, and are susceptible to asymmetric reproductive aging whereas younger females tend to show a significantly lower frequency of mating behaviour than that of older females, which negatively affects breeding introductions, and therefore mating. Nonetheless, the experience from breeding methods used in some breeding centres in South Africa and the Netherlands, which also rely on the role that semiochemicals play in breeding, proves that cheetahs can be bred successfully in captivity. This review aims to give the reader an in-depth overview of cheetahs’ reproductive physiology and behaviour, focusing on the role that pheromones play in this species. Furthermore, it aims to provide new insight into the use of semiochemicals to improve conservation strategies through captive breeding.
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43
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Sprenger PP, Gerbes LJ, Sahm J, Menzel F. Cuticular hydrocarbon profiles differ between ant body parts: implications for communication and our understanding of CHC diffusion. Curr Zool 2021; 67:531-540. [PMID: 34616951 PMCID: PMC8489164 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoab012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) serve as communication signals and protect against desiccation. They form complex blends of up to 150 different compounds. Due to differences in molecular packing, CHC classes differ in melting point. Communication is especially important in social insects like ants, which use CHCs to communicate within the colony and to recognize nestmates. Nestmate recognition models often assume a homogenous colony odor, where CHCs are collected, mixed, and redistributed in the postpharyngeal gland (PPG). Via diffusion, recognition cues should evenly spread over the body surface. Hence, CHC composition should be similar across body parts and in the PPG. To test this, we compared CHC composition among whole-body extracts, PPG, legs, thorax, and gaster, across 17 ant species from 3 genera. Quantitative CHC composition differed between body parts, with consistent patterns across species and CHC classes. Early-melting CHC classes were most abundant in the PPG. In contrast, whole body, gaster, thorax, and legs had increasing proportions of CHC classes with higher melting points. Intraindividual CHC variation was highest for rather solid, late-melting CHC classes, suggesting that CHCs differ in their diffusion rates across the body surface. Our results show that body parts strongly differ in CHC composition, either being rich in rather solid, late-melting, or rather liquid, early-melting CHCs. This implies that recognition cues are not homogenously present across the insect body. However, the unequal diffusion of different CHCs represents a biophysical mechanism that enables caste differences despite continuous CHC exchange among colony members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp P Sprenger
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Lisa J Gerbes
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Jacqueline Sahm
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, Mainz, 55128, Germany.,Department of Evolutionary Animal Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, Bayreuth, 95477, Germany
| | - Florian Menzel
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, Mainz, 55128, Germany
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44
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Morris BJ, Couto A, Aydin A, Montgomery SH. Re-emergence and diversification of a specialized antennal lobe morphology in ithomiine butterflies. Evolution 2021; 75:3191-3202. [PMID: 34383301 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
How an organism's sensory system functions is central to how it navigates its environment. The insect olfactory system is a prominent model for investigating how ecological factors impact sensory reception and processing. Notably, work in Lepidoptera led to the discovery of vastly expanded structures, termed macroglomerular complexes (MGCs), within the primary olfactory processing centre. MGCs typically process pheromonal cues, are usually larger in males, and provide classic examples of how variation in the size of neural structures reflects the importance of sensory cues. Though prevalent across moths, MGCs were lost during the origin of butterflies, consistent with evidence that courtship initiation in butterflies is primarily reliant on visual cues, rather than long distance chemical signals. However, an MGC was recently described in a species of ithomiine butterfly, suggesting that this once lost neural adaptation has re-emerged in this tribe. Here, we show that MGC-like morphologies are widely distributed across ithomiines, but vary in both their structure and prevalence of sexual dimorphism. Based on this interspecific variation we suggest that the ithomiine MGC is involved in processing both plant and pheromonal cues, which have similarities in their chemical constitution, and co-evolved with an increased importance of plant derived chemical compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Billy J Morris
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Antoine Couto
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Asli Aydin
- School of Medicine, Koc University, Rumelifeneri Yolu, Istanbul, Turkey
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45
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Kondo Y, Hayashi H. Neural and Hormonal Basis of Opposite-Sex Preference by Chemosensory Signals. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8311. [PMID: 34361077 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammalian reproduction, sexually active males seek female conspecifics, while estrous females try to approach males. This sex-specific response tendency is called sexual preference. In small rodents, sexual preference cues are mainly chemosensory signals, including pheromones. In this article, we review the physiological mechanisms involved in sexual preference for opposite-sex chemosensory signals in well-studied laboratory rodents, mice, rats, and hamsters of both sexes, especially an overview of peripheral sensory receptors, and hormonal and central regulation. In the hormonal regulation section, we discuss potential rodent brain bisexuality, as it includes neural substrates controlling both masculine and feminine sexual preferences, i.e., masculine preference for female odors and the opposite. In the central regulation section, we show the substantial circuit regulating sexual preference and also the influence of sexual experience that innate attractants activate in the brain reward system to establish the learned attractant. Finally, we review the regulation of sexual preference by neuropeptides, oxytocin, vasopressin, and kisspeptin. Through this review, we clarified the contradictions and deficiencies in our current knowledge on the neuroendocrine regulation of sexual preference and sought to present problems requiring further study.
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46
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Morvan J, McBride T, Curbet I, Colombel-Rouen S, Roisnel T, Crévisy C, Browne DL, Mauduit M. Continuous Flow Z-Stereoselective Olefin Metathesis: Development and Applications in the Synthesis of Pheromones and Macrocyclic Odorant Molecules*. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:19685-19690. [PMID: 34184375 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202106410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The first continuous flow Z-selective olefin metathesis process is reported. Key to realizing this process was the adequate choice of stereoselective catalysts combined with the design of an appropriate continuous reactor setup. The designed continuous process permits various self-, cross- and macro-ring-closing-metathesis reactions, delivering products in high selectivity and short residence times. This technique is exemplified by direct application to the preparation of a range of pheromones and macrocyclic odorant molecules and culminates in a telescoped Z-selective cross-metathesis/ Dieckmann cyclisation sequence to access (Z)-Civetone, incorporating a serial array of continually stirred tank reactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Morvan
- Univ Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR UMR 6226, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Tom McBride
- Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Idriss Curbet
- Univ Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR UMR 6226, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Sophie Colombel-Rouen
- Univ Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR UMR 6226, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Thierry Roisnel
- Univ Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR UMR 6226, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Christophe Crévisy
- Univ Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR UMR 6226, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Duncan L Browne
- UCL School of Pharmacy (Room 210), 29-39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1 1AX, UK
| | - Marc Mauduit
- Univ Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR UMR 6226, 35000, Rennes, France
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47
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Perez MF, Shamalnasab M, Mata-Cabana A, Della Valle S, Olmedo M, Francesconi M, Lehner B. Neuronal perception of the social environment generates an inherited memory that controls the development and generation time of C. elegans. Curr Biol 2021; 31:4256-4268.e7. [PMID: 34358445 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.07.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
An old and controversial question in biology is whether information perceived by the nervous system of an animal can "cross the Weismann barrier" to alter the phenotypes and fitness of their progeny. Here, we show that such intergenerational transmission of sensory information occurs in the model organism, C. elegans, with a major effect on fitness. Specifically, that perception of social pheromones by chemosensory neurons controls the post-embryonic timing of the development of one tissue, the germline, relative to others in the progeny of an animal. Neuronal perception of the social environment thus intergenerationally controls the generation time of this animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Francisco Perez
- Systems Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Mehrnaz Shamalnasab
- Université de Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Université de Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, 46 Allée d'Italie, Site Jacques Monod, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Alejandro Mata-Cabana
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Simona Della Valle
- Systems Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - María Olmedo
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Mirko Francesconi
- Université de Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Université de Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, 46 Allée d'Italie, Site Jacques Monod, 69007 Lyon, France.
| | - Ben Lehner
- Systems Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Pg. Lluis Companys 23, Barcelona 08010, Spain.
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48
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Lanfranchi A. Hormonal Contraception and Violent Death: The Physiological and Psychological Links. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:667563. [PMID: 34393733 PMCID: PMC8363127 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.667563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past decade, two large prospective cohort studies of British and American women have been conducted which found a statistically significant increase in the risk of violent death in ever-users of hormonal contraceptives. Research on the effects of hormonal contraceptives upon the behaviors of intimate partners and on the physiology of women using hormonal contraceptives has provided insight into the possible basis for the resulting increase in violent death. This review examines the changes that are potential contributors to the reported increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Lanfranchi
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, United States.,Breast Cancer Prevention Institute, Whitehouse Station, NJ, United States
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49
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Trova S, Bovetti S, Bonzano S, De Marchis S, Peretto P. Sex Steroids and the Shaping of the Peripubertal Brain: The Sexual-Dimorphic Set-Up of Adult Neurogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22157984. [PMID: 34360747 PMCID: PMC8347822 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Steroid hormones represent an amazing class of molecules that play pleiotropic roles in vertebrates. In mammals, during postnatal development, sex steroids significantly influence the organization of sexually dimorphic neural circuits underlying behaviors critical for survival, such as the reproductive one. During the last decades, multiple studies have shown that many cortical and subcortical brain regions undergo sex steroid-dependent structural organization around puberty, a critical stage of life characterized by high sensitivity to external stimuli and a profound structural and functional remodeling of the organism. Here, we first give an overview of current data on how sex steroids shape the peripubertal brain by regulating neuroplasticity mechanisms. Then, we focus on adult neurogenesis, a striking form of persistent structural plasticity involved in the control of social behaviors and regulated by a fine-tuned integration of external and internal cues. We discuss recent data supporting that the sex steroid-dependent peripubertal organization of neural circuits involves a sexually dimorphic set-up of adult neurogenesis that in turn could be relevant for sex-specific reproductive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Trova
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology (DBIOS), University of Torino, 10123 Turin, Italy; (S.T.); (S.B.); (S.B.); (S.D.M.)
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
| | - Serena Bovetti
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology (DBIOS), University of Torino, 10123 Turin, Italy; (S.T.); (S.B.); (S.B.); (S.D.M.)
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
| | - Sara Bonzano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology (DBIOS), University of Torino, 10123 Turin, Italy; (S.T.); (S.B.); (S.B.); (S.D.M.)
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
| | - Silvia De Marchis
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology (DBIOS), University of Torino, 10123 Turin, Italy; (S.T.); (S.B.); (S.B.); (S.D.M.)
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
| | - Paolo Peretto
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology (DBIOS), University of Torino, 10123 Turin, Italy; (S.T.); (S.B.); (S.B.); (S.D.M.)
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
- Correspondence:
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50
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Dal Bello M, Pérez-Escudero A, Schroeder FC, Gore J. Inversion of pheromone preference optimizes foraging in C. elegans. eLife 2021; 10:58144. [PMID: 34227470 PMCID: PMC8260229 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Foraging animals have to locate food sources that are usually patchily distributed and subject to competition. Deciding when to leave a food patch is challenging and requires the animal to integrate information about food availability with cues signaling the presence of other individuals (e.g., pheromones). To study how social information transmitted via pheromones can aid foraging decisions, we investigated the behavioral responses of the model animal Caenorhabditis elegans to food depletion and pheromone accumulation in food patches. We experimentally show that animals consuming a food patch leave it at different times and that the leaving time affects the animal preference for its pheromones. In particular, worms leaving early are attracted to their pheromones, while worms leaving later are repelled by them. We further demonstrate that the inversion from attraction to repulsion depends on associative learning and, by implementing a simple model, we highlight that it is an adaptive solution to optimize food intake during foraging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Dal Bello
- Physics of Living Systems Group, Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Alfonso Pérez-Escudero
- Physics of Living Systems Group, Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.,Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse; CNRS; UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Frank C Schroeder
- Boyce Thompson Institute and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, New York, United States
| | - Jeff Gore
- Physics of Living Systems Group, Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
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