Kelsey Davies

University of Dundee

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Will L. S. Hawkes

Swiss Ornithological Institute

Karl R. Wotton

University of Exeter

Jason W. Chapman

University of Exeter

Scarlett T. Weston

University of Exeter

Connor Collier

University of Exeter

Benjamin Brennan

MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research

Elliott Cornelius

University of Exeter

Toby Doyle

University of Exeter

Alain Kohl

MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research

Richard Massy

University of Exeter

Cooperative Institutions

University of Melbourne

University of Exeter

MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research

Medical Research Council

University of Dundee

University of Liverpool

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

University of Oxford

University of Surrey

Institute of Virology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences

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The most remarkable migrants – systematic analysis of the Western European insect flyway at a Pyrenean mountain pass

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (2023)

Will L. S. Hawkes Toby Doyle Richard Massy Scarlett T. Weston Kelsey Davies

Abstract In 1950 David and Elizabeth Lack chanced upon a huge migration of insects and birds flying through the Pyrenean Pass of Bujaruelo, later describing the spectacle as combining both grandeur with novelty. The intervening years have seen many changes to land use and climate, posing the question as to the current status of this migratory phenomenon, while a lack of quantitative data has prevented insights into the ecological impact of this mass insect migration and into the factors affecting it. To address this, we revisited the site in autumn over a 4-year period and systematically monitored diurnal insect species and numbers. We document an annual mean of 17.1 million day-flying insects from 5 orders moving south, with ‘mass migration’ events associated with warmer temperatures, the presence of a headwind, sunlight, low windspeed, and low rainfall. Diptera dominated the migratory assemblage and annual numbers varied by more than fourfold with larger annual migration flows associated with higher autumn temperatures in Northwest Europe. Finally, using observed environmental thresholds for migration, we estimate an annual ‘bioflow’ of at least 14.6 billion day-flying insects migrating south over the whole Pyrenean Mountain range, highlighting the importance of this route for seasonal insect migrants.

Flyway

10.1101/2023.07.17.549321

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Citations (6)

Uukuniemi virus infection causes a pervasive remodelling of the RNA-binding proteome in tick cell cultures

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (2024)

A. Justine Wilson Wael Kamel Kelsey Davies Lesley Bell‐Sakyi Douglas J. Lamont

Abstract RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are pivotal for the viral lifecycle, mediating key host-virus interactions that promote or repress virus infection. While these interactions have been largely studied in the vertebrate host, no comprehensive analyses of protein-RNA interactions occurring in cells derived from the infected vector have been done to date, particularly for ticks. Here we systematically identify the responses of the RNA-binding proteome (RBPome) to infection with a prototype bunyavirus (Uukuniemi virus; rUUKV) in tick cells and discovered changes in RNA-binding activity for 283 proteins. In an orthogonal approach, we analysed the interactions of the viral ribonucleoprotein by immunoprecipitation of UUKV nucleocapsid (NCAP) in infected cells. We found that tick cell derived RBPs are regulated by UUKV and associate with N complexes, suggesting a functional connection with infection. We confirmed experimentally that these RBPs impact UUKV infection, with TOP3B showing a putative effect on viral particle production. Our data thus reveals the first protein-RNA interaction map determined in infected tick cells. Research highlights UUKV RNAs interact with nearly three hundred tick cell RBPs We found an enrichment of NCAP interactors within the upregulated RIC data suggesting a direct involvement in viral RNA processing Developed a robust methodology to silence gene expression in tick cell cultures The TOP3B complex facilitates efficient packaging of UUKV virions.

Proteome

10.1101/2024.09.06.611624

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Invasive annual grasses—Reenvisioning approaches in a changing climate

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation (2023)

D. Archer David Toledo D.M. Blumenthal J. Derner C. Boyd

For nearly a century, invasive annual grasses have increasingly impacted terrestrial ecosystems across the western United States. Weather variability associated with climate change and increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) are making even more difficult the challenges of managing invasive annual grasses. As part of a special issue on climate change impacts on soil and water conservation, the topic of invasive annual grasses is being addressed by scientists at the USDA Agricultural Research Service to emphasize the need for additional research and future studies that build on current knowledge and account for (extreme) changes in abiotic and biotic conditions. Much research has focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying annual grass invasion, as well as assessing patterns and responses from a wide range of disturbances and management approaches. Weather extremes and the increasing occurrences of wildfire are contributing to the complexity of the problem. In broad terms, invasive annual grass management, including restoration, must be proactive to consider human values and ecosystem resiliency. Models capable of synthesizing vast amounts of diverse information are necessary for creating trajectories that could result in the establishment of perennial systems. Organization and collaboration are needed across the research community and with land managers to strategically develop and implement practices that limit invasive annual grasses. In the future, research will need to address invasive annual grasses in an adaptive integrated weed management (AIWM) framework that utilizes models and accounts for climate change that is resulting in altered/new approaches to management and restoration.

Adaptive Management

Bromus tectorum

10.2489/jswc.2023.00074

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Citations (11)

Multi-omics analysis of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection in Rhipicephalus microplus cells reveals antiviral tick factors.

Research Square (Research Square) (2024)

Marine J. Petit Charlotte Flory Quan Gu Mazigh Fares Kelsey Davies

Abstract The increasing prevalence of tick-borne arboviral infections worldwide necessitates advanced control strategies, particularly those targeting vectors, to mitigate the disease burden. However, the cellular interactions between arboviruses and ticks, especially for negative-strand RNA viruses, remain largely unexplored. Here, we employed a proteomics informed by transcriptomics approach to elucidate the cellular response of the Rhipicephalus microplus-derived BME/CTVM6 cell line to severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection. We generated the first de novo transcriptomes and proteomes of SFTSV- and mock-infected tick cells, identifying key host responses and regulatory pathways. Additionally, interactome analysis of the viral nucleoprotein (N) integrated host responses with viral replication mechanisms. Finally, our dsRNA-mediated gene silencing screen revealed two novel anti-SFTSV effectors, the RNA helicases, DHX9 and UPF1. Collectively, our results provide new insights into the antiviral responses of Rhipicephalus microplus vector cells and highlight critical SFTSV restriction factors, while enriching transcriptomic and proteomic resources for future research.

Rhipicephalus microplus

Proteome

10.21203/rs.3.rs-4505289/v1

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Citations (1)

Bat activity correlated with migratory insect bioflows in the Pyrenees

Will L. S. Hawkes Kelsey Davies

High altitude mountain passes in the Pyrenees are known to be important migratory hotspots for autumn migrating insects originating from large swathes of northern Europe. In the Pyrenees, prior research has focused on diurnal migratory insects. In this study, we investigate the nocturnal component of the migratory assemblage and ask if this transient food source is also used by bat species. Three seasons of insect trapping revealed 66 species of four different orders, 90% of which were Noctuid moths, including the destructive pest Helicoverpa armigera, otherwise known as the cotton bollworm. Acoustic bat detectors revealed that high activity of Nyctalus spp. and Tadarida teniotis bats were closely synchronized with the arrival of the migratory moths, suggesting this food source is important for both resident and migratory bats to build or maintain energy reserves. Bats of the Nyctalus spp. are likely migrating through the study site using fly-and-forage strategies or stopping over in the area, while resident T. teniotis may be exploiting the abundant food source to build fat stores for hibernation. This study shows that nocturnal migratory insects are abundant in the Pyrenees during autumn and interact during migration, not only with their co-migrant bats but also with resident bat species. Image by Harald Süpfle, Wikimedia Commons.

Bird migration

10.52843/cassyni.m1ntqv

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The most remarkable migrants—systematic analysis of the Western European insect flyway at a Pyrenean mountain pass

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences (2024)

Will L. S. Hawkes Toby Doyle Richard Massy Scarlett T. Weston Kelsey Davies

In autumn 1950 David and Elizabeth Lack chanced upon a huge migration of insects and birds flying through the Pyrenean Pass of Bujaruelo, from France into Spain, later describing the spectacle as combining both grandeur and novelty. The intervening years have seen many changes to land use and climate, posing the question as to the current status of this migratory phenomenon. In addition, a lack of quantitative data has prevented insights into the ecological impact of this mass insect migration and the factors that may influence it. To address this, we revisited the site in autumn over a 4 year period and systematically monitored abundance and species composition of diurnal insect migrants. We estimate an annual mean of 17.1 million day-flying insect migrants from five orders (Diptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera and Odonata) moving south, with observations of southward ‘mass migration’ events associated with warmer temperatures, the presence of a headwind, sunlight, low windspeed and low rainfall. Diptera dominated the migratory assemblage, and annual numbers varied by more than fourfold. Numbers at this single site hint at the likely billions of insects crossing the entire Pyrenean mountain range each year, and we highlight the importance of this route for seasonal insect migrants.

Flyway

10.1098/rspb.2023.2831

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Citations (3)

Supplementary data from Bat activity correlated with migratory insect bioflows in the Pyrenees

Figshare (2023)

Will L. S. Hawkes Kelsey Davies Scarlett T. Weston Kelly Moyes Jason W. Chapman

Data collected of the nocturnal insect and bats in the Pyrenees.

10.6084/m9.figshare.23798316

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Bat activity correlated with migratory insect bioflows in the Pyrenees