Emily C. Jennings

AstraZeneca (United States)

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Joshua B. Benoit

University of Cincinnati

Andrew J. Rosendale

Mount St. Joseph University

Matthew T. Weirauch

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Robert M. Waterhouse

SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics

Hugh M. Robertson

University of Hull

Markus Friedrich

Wayne State University

Geoffrey M. Attardo

University of California, Davis

John H. Werren

University of Rochester

Panagiotis Ioannidis

Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas

Wesley C. Warren

University of Missouri

Cooperative Institutions

University of Cincinnati

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Fundação Oswaldo Cruz

AstraZeneca (United States)

Agricultural Research Service

Baylor College of Medicine

Yale University

Baylor Genetics

AstraZeneca (United Kingdom)

Texas A&M University

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Dehydration bouts prompt increased activity and blood feeding by mosquitoes

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (2017)

Richard Hagan Elise M. Szuter Andrew E. Rosselot Christopher J. Holmes Samantha C. Siler

Abstract Mosquitoes are prone to dehydration and respond to this stress through multiple mechanisms, but previous studies have examined very specific responses and fail to provide an encompassing view of the role that dehydration has on mosquito biology. This study examined underlying changes in biology of the northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens , associated with short bouts of dehydration. We show that dehydration increased blood feeding propensity of mosquitoes, which was the result of both enhanced activity and a higher tendency to land on a host. Mosquitoes exposed to dehydrating conditions with access to water or rehydrated individuals experience no water loss and failed to display behavioral changes. RNA-seq and metabolome analyses following dehydration indicated that factors associated with energy metabolism are altered, specifically the breakdown of trehalose to yield glucose, which likely underlies changes in mosquito activity. Suppression of trehalose breakdown by RNA interference reduced phenotypes associated with dehydration. Comparable results were noted for two other mosquito species, suggesting this is a general response among mosquitoes. Lastly, field-based mesocosm studies using C . pipiens revealed that dehydrated mosquitoes were more likely to host feed, and disease modeling indicates dehydration bouts may increase transmission of West Nile virus. These results suggest that periods of dehydration prompt mosquitoes to utilize blood feeding as a mechanism to obtain water. This dehydration-induced increase in blood feeding is likely to intensify disease transmission during periods of low water availability. Significance Dehydration stress has substantial impacts on the biology of terrestrial invertebrates. To date, no studies have elucidated the difference between dehydration exposure and realized water loss in relation to mosquito behavior and physiology. Our experiments show that direct dehydration stress increases mosquito activity and subsequent blood feeding, likely as a mechanism to locate and utilize a bloodmeal for rehydration. These dehydration-induced phenotypes were linked to altered carbohydrate metabolism that acts as a source of energy. This study provides important insight into the impact of mosquito-dehydration dynamics on disease transmission that is likely general among mosquitoes.

Culex pipiens

Aedes albopictus

10.1101/120741

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Citations (1)

Genome Sequence of a Blattabacterium Strain Isolated from the Viviparous Cockroach, Diploptera punctata

Microbiology Resource Announcements (2020)

Emily C. Jennings Matthew W. Korthauer Joshua B. Benoit

Here, we report the genome sequence and characterization for a Blattabacterium strain isolated from the viviparous cockroach, Diploptera punctata , which provides amino acids critical for intrauterine embryo development. The genome was assembled by sequencing of the cockroach fat body, which is the location of this obligate symbiont.

Obligate

Strain (injury)

10.1128/mra.00229-20

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Live-bearing cockroach genome reveals convergent evolutionary mechanisms linked to viviparity in insects and beyond

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (2022)

Bertrand Fouks Mark C. Harrison Alina A. Mikhailova Elisabeth Marchal Sinéad English

Insects provide an unparalleled opportunity to link genomic changes with the rise of novel phenotypes, given tremendous variation in the numerous and complex adaptations displayed across the group. Among these numerous and complex adaptations, live-birth has arisen repeatedly and independently in insects and across the tree of life, suggesting this is one of the most common types of convergent evolution among animals. We sequenced the genome and transcriptome of the Pacific beetle-mimic cockroach, the only truly viviparous cockroach, and performed comparative analyses including two other viviparous insect lineages, the tsetse and aphids, to unravel the genomic basis underlying the transition to viviparity in insects. We identified pathways experiencing adaptive evolution, common in all viviparous insects surveyed, involved in uro-genital remodeling, maternal control of embryo development, tracheal system, and heart development. Our findings suggest the essential role of those pathways for the development of placenta-like structure enabling embryo development and nutrition. Viviparous transition seems also to be accompanied by the duplication of genes involved in eggshell formation. Our findings from the viviparous cockroach and tsetse reveal that genes involved in uterine remodeling are up-regulated and immune genes are down-regulated during the course of pregnancy. These changes may facilitate structural changes to accommodate developing young and protect them from the mothers immune system. Our results denote a convergent evolution of live-bearing in insects and suggest similar adaptive mechanisms occurred in vertebrates, targeting pathways involved in eggshell formation, uro-genital remodeling, enhanced tracheal and heart development, and reduced immunity.

10.1101/2022.02.03.478960

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Live-bearing cockroach genome reveals convergent evolutionary mechanisms linked to viviparity in insects and beyond

iScience (2023)

Bertrand Fouks Mark C. Harrison Alina A. Mikhailova Elisabeth Marchal Sinéad English

Live birth (viviparity) has arisen repeatedly and independently among animals. We sequenced the genome and transcriptome of the viviparous Pacific beetle-mimic cockroach and performed comparative analyses with two other viviparous insect lineages, tsetse flies and aphids, to unravel the basis underlying the transition to viviparity in insects. We identified pathways undergoing adaptive evolution for insects, involved in urogenital remodeling, tracheal system, heart development, and nutrient metabolism. Transcriptomic analysis of cockroach and tsetse flies revealed that uterine remodeling and nutrient production are increased and the immune response is altered during pregnancy, facilitating structural and physiological changes to accommodate and nourish the progeny. These patterns of convergent evolution of viviparity among insects, together with similar adaptive mechanisms identified among vertebrates, highlight that the transition to viviparity requires changes in urogenital remodeling, enhanced tracheal and heart development (corresponding to angiogenesis in vertebrates), altered nutrient metabolism, and shifted immunity in animal systems.

10.1016/j.isci.2023.107832

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Additional file 11: of The genome of the water strider Gerris buenoi reveals expansions of gene repertoires associated with adaptations to life on the water

Figshare (2018)

David ArmisĂŠn Rajendhran Rajakumar Markus Friedrich Joshua B. Benoit Hugh M. Robertson

List of antioxidant enzyme genes identified in the Gerris buenoi genome. (XLSX 13 kb)

10.6084/m9.figshare.7375031

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Additional file 2: of The genome of the water strider Gerris buenoi reveals expansions of gene repertoires associated with adaptations to life on the water

Figshare (2018)

David ArmisĂŠn Rajendhran Rajakumar Markus Friedrich Joshua B. Benoit Hugh M. Robertson

List of annotated autophagy genes in Gerris buenoi. (XLSX 12 kb)

10.6084/m9.figshare.7375091

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Supplementary Figures S1-S9 from Safety and Efficacy of MEDI0457 plus Durvalumab in Patients with Human Papillomavirus–Associated Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Charu Aggarwal Nabil F. Saba Alain P. Algazi Ammar Sukari Tanguy Y. Seiwert

<p>Supplementary Figure S1. Patient disposition. Supplementary Figure S2. Association of PD-L1 expression and HPV status with best antitumor response. Supplementary Figure S3. Kaplan-Meier distribution curves for (A) PFS and (B) OS in the as-treated population according to line of treatment and platinum-refractory status, including estimates of medians. Supplementary Figure S4. Peripheral HPV-18-specific T-cells on IFNγ ELISpot assay of PMBCs. Supplementary Figure S5. Peripheral HPV-16 (A, C) E6-specific and (B, D) E7-specific T-cell responses on IFNγ ELISpot assay of PMBCs. Supplementary Figure S6. Peripheral HPV-18 (A, C) E6-specific and (B, D) E7-specific T-cell responses on IFNγ ELISpot assay of PMBCs. Supplementary Figure S7. Baseline peripheral (A) HPV-16-specific and HPV-16 (B) E6-specific and (C) E7-specific T-cell counts on IFNγ ELISpot assay of PMBCs according to best response to treatment. Supplementary Figure S8. Baseline peripheral (A) HPV-18-specific and HPV-18 (B) E6-specific and (C) E7-specific T-cell counts on IFNγ ELISpot assay of PMBCs according to best response to treatment. Supplementary Figure S9. (A) HPV-16-specific and (B) HPV-18-specific T-cell count measured by IFNγ ELISpot assay of PMBCs over time per individual patient (n = 34), color-coded by best response, plotted on a log10 y-axis.</p>

ELISPOT

10.1158/1078-0432.22490338.v1

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The genome of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, reveals potential mechanisms underlying reproduction, host interactions, and novel targets for pest control

BMC Biology (2021)

Pia U. Olafson Serap Aksoy Geoffrey M. Attardo Greta Buckmeier Xiaoting Chen

Abstract Background The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans , is a major blood-feeding pest of livestock that has near worldwide distribution, causing an annual cost of over $2 billion for control and product loss in the USA alone. Control of these flies has been limited to increased sanitary management practices and insecticide application for suppressing larval stages. Few genetic and molecular resources are available to help in developing novel methods for controlling stable flies. Results This study examines stable fly biology by utilizing a combination of high-quality genome sequencing and RNA-Seq analyses targeting multiple developmental stages and tissues. In conjunction, 1600 genes were manually curated to characterize genetic features related to stable fly reproduction, vector host interactions, host-microbe dynamics, and putative targets for control. Most notable was characterization of genes associated with reproduction and identification of expanded gene families with functional associations to vision, chemosensation, immunity, and metabolic detoxification pathways. Conclusions The combined sequencing, assembly, and curation of the male stable fly genome followed by RNA-Seq and downstream analyses provide insights necessary to understand the biology of this important pest. These resources and new data will provide the groundwork for expanding the tools available to control stable fly infestations. The close relationship of Stomoxys to other blood-feeding (horn flies and Glossina ) and non-blood-feeding flies (house flies, medflies, Drosophila ) will facilitate understanding of the evolutionary processes associated with development of blood feeding among the Cyclorrhapha.

Stable fly

10.1186/s12915-021-00975-9

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Citations (37)

Additional file 3: of Molecular evolutionary trends and feeding ecology diversification in the Hemiptera, anchored by the milkweed bug genome

Figshare (2019)

Kristen A. Panfilio Iris Vargas Jentzsch Joshua B. Benoit Deniz Erezyilmaz Yuichiro Suzuki

Chemoreceptor sequences in FASTA format. (FASTA 128 kb)

10.6084/m9.figshare.7936460

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Genome and Ontogenetic-Based Transcriptomic Analyses of the Flesh Fly,Sarcophaga bullata

G3 Genes Genomes Genetics (2019)

Ellen O. Martinson Justin T. Peyton Yogeshwar Kelkar Emily C. Jennings Joshua B. Benoit

The flesh fly, Sarcophaga bullata, is a widely-used model for examining the physiology of insect diapause, development, stress tolerance, neurobiology, and host-parasitoid interactions. Flies in this taxon are implicated in myiasis (larval infection of vertebrates) and feed on carrion, aspects that are important in forensic studies. Here we present the genome of S. bullata, along with developmental- and reproduction-based RNA-Seq analyses. We predict 15,768 protein coding genes, identify orthology in relation to closely related flies, and establish sex and developmental-specific gene sets based on our RNA-Seq analyses. Genomic sequences, predicted genes, and sequencing data sets have been deposited at the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Our results provide groundwork for genomic studies that will expand the flesh fly's utility as a model system.

Flesh fly

Model Organism

Flesh

10.1534/g3.119.400148

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Citations (17)