A5020023200- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- melanin and skin pigmentation
- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Plant and animal studies
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Photonic Crystals and Applications
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Plasmonic and Surface Plasmon Research
- Dyeing and Modifying Textile Fibers
Ghent University
2011-2023
Ghent University Hospital
2023
Aarhus University
2014-2019
The duplication of genes can occur through various mechanisms and is thought to make a major contribution the evolutionary diversification organisms. There increasing evidence for large-scale in some chelicerate lineages including two rounds whole genome (WGD) horseshoe crabs. To investigate this further, we sequenced analyzed common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum. We found pervasive both coding non-coding spider, clusters Hox genes. Analysis synteny conservation across P....
Spiders are ecologically important predators with complex venom and extraordinarily tough silk that enables capture of large prey. Here we present the assembled genome social velvet spider a draft assembly tarantula represent two major taxonomic groups spiders. The genomes short exons long introns, reminiscent mammalian genomes. Phylogenetic analyses place spiders ticks as sister supporting polyphyly Acari. Complex sets genes/proteins identified. We find genes evolved by sequential...
Group living carries a price: it inherently entails increased competition for resources and reproduction, may also be associated with mating among relatives, which costs of inbreeding. Nonetheless, group sociality is found in many animals, understanding the direct indirect benefits cooperation that override inherent remains challenge evolutionary ecology. Individuals groups benefit from more efficient management energy or water reserves, example form reduced heat loss animals huddling,...
Abstract Background Maternally inherited bacteria that reside obligatorily or facultatively in arthropods can increase their prevalence the population by altering hosts' reproduction. Such reproductive manipulations have been reported from major arthropod groups such as insects (in particular hymenopterans, butterflies, dipterans and beetles), crustaceans (isopods) mites. Despite observation endosymbiont are frequently encountered spiders sex ratio of spider species is strongly female...
Inspired by structural colors in avian species, various synthetic strategies have been developed to produce noniridescent, saturated using nanoparticle assemblies. Nanoparticle mixtures varying particle chemistry and size additional emergent properties that affect the color produced. For complex multicomponent systems, understanding assembled structure a robust optical modeling tool can empower scientists identify structure-color relationships fabricate designer materials with tailored...
The microbial community of spiders is little known, with previous studies focussing primarily on the medical importance as vectors pathogenic bacteria and screening known cytoplasmic endosymbiont bacteria. These have been performed by means specific primers that only amplify a selective set endosymbionts, hampering detection unreported species in spiders. In order to more complete overview bacterial can be present spiders, we applied combination cloning assay, DGGE profiling high-throughput...
Abstract Analyses of arthropod genomes have shown that the genes in different innate humoral immune responses are conserved. These encode proteins involved signalling pathways recognize pathogens and activate responses. include phagocytosis, encapsulation pathogen production effector molecules for elimination. So far, most studies focused on insects leaving other major groups largely unexplored. Here, we annotate immune‐related six arachnid present evidence a conserved pattern some genes,...
In species with chromosomal sex determination, X chromosomes are predicted to evolve faster than autosomes because of positive selection on recessive alleles or weak purifying selection. We investigated chromosome evolution in Stegodyphus spiders that differ mating system, ratio, and population dynamics. assigned scaffolds using a novel method based flow cytometry sperm cells reduced representation sequencing. estimated coding substitution patterns (dN/dS) subsocial outcrossing (S....
Recent reports suggest that next-generation hair dyes might take inspiration from the natural pigment melanin. In humans, melanin imparts color to and skin acts as a sunscreen radical scavenger, thereby protecting lipids proteins damage. The most commonly employed synthetic mimic of is polydopamine, its successful deposition on human was recently reported. Herein, we describe an enzymatic approach for dyeing in process closely mimics part melanogenesis. This chemoenzymatic method avoids...
Melanin is a natural pigment with high refractive index and strong light absorption across the visible spectrum, making it an ideal material for producing structural colors. Here, we report non-iridescent color control via inkjet printing of self-assembled synthetic melanin nanoparticles (SMNPs). Adding silica shells to SMNPs allows further tuning both hue brightness resulting The peak wavelengths show linear dependence diameter nanoparticles, allowing correlation between ink composition...
Melanin is a ubiquitous natural pigment that exhibits broadband absorption and high refractive index. Despite its widespread use in structural color production, how the absorbing material, melanin, affects generated unknown. Using combined molecular dynamics finite-difference time-domain computational approach, this paper investigates generation one-component melanin nanoparticle-based supra-assemblies (called supraballs) as well binary mixtures of silica (non-absorbing) supraballs....
Abstract The thermal environment can affect the evolution of morpho-behavioral adaptations ectotherms. Heat is transferred from substrates to organisms by conduction and reflected radiation. Because brightness influences degree heat absorption, could integumentary optical properties. Here, we show that vipers (Squamata:Viperidae) inhabiting hot, highly radiative superficially conductive have evolved bright ventra for efficient transfer. We analyzed 4161 publicly available images 126 species,...
Allomelanin is a class of nitrogen-free melanin mostly found in fungi and, like all naturally occurring melanins, hydrophilic. Herein, we develop facile method to modify synthetic hydrophilic allomelanin yield hydrophobic derivatives through post-synthetic modifications. Amine-functionalized molecules various kinds can be conjugated nanoparticles under mild conditions with high loading efficiencies. Hydrophobicity conferred by introducing amine-terminated alkyl groups different chain...
Spiders exhibit a remarkable variety of reproductive phenotypes such as induced parthenogenesis and skew in primary sex ratio. However, observations distorted ratios are mainly inferred from field catches adult individuals, whereas detailed information on clutch ratio inheritance, resulting multiple generations laboratory rearing, is scarce. One the potential causes variation infection with maternally inherited endosymbiont bacteria that alter mother's offspring to increase their own...
Sex allocation theory predicts that when sons and daughters have different reproductive values, parents should adjust offspring sex ratio towards the with higher fitness return. Haplo-diploid species directly control ratio, but chromosomal determination (CSD) were presumed to be constrained by Mendelian segregation. There is now increasing evidence CSD can strategically, underlying mechanism not well understood. One hypothesis states adaptive more likely evolve in heterogametic through a...
The expected strong directional selection for traits that increase a male's mating ability conflicts with the frequent observation within species, males may show extreme variation in sexual traits. These male reproductive polymorphisms are usually attributed to direct male–male competition. It is currently unclear, however, how sexually selected convert into disruptive selection, and if female preference elaborate be an alternative mechanism driving evolution of polymorphism. Here, we...
Abstract The duplication of genes can occur through various mechanisms and is thought to make a major contribution the evolutionary diversification organisms. There increasing evidence for large-scale in some chelicerate lineages including two rounds whole genome (WGD) horseshoe crabs. To investigate this further we sequenced analyzed common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum. We found pervasive both coding non-coding spider, clusters Hox genes. Analysis synteny conservation across P....
Genetic conflict theory predicts strong selection for host nuclear factors suppressing endosymbiont effects on reproduction; however, evidence of these suppressors is currently scarce. This can either be caused by a low suppressor evolution rate, or if originate frequently, rapid spread and concurrent masking their activity silencing the effect. To explore this, we use two populations dwarf spider with similar female bias, Wolbachia infection. Using inter- intrapopulation crosses, determine...
Bright, saturated structural colors in birds have inspired synthesis of self-assembled, disordered arrays assembled nanoparticles with varied particle spacings and refractive indices. However, predicting nanoparticles, thereby guiding their synthesis, remains challenging due to the effects multiple scattering strong absorption. Here, we use a computational approach first reconstruct nanoparticles' structures from small-angle measurements then input reconstructed finite-difference time-domain...
Insect colour is extremely diverse and produced by a large number of pigmentary nanostructural mechanisms. Considerable research has been dedicated to these optical mechanisms, with most it focused on chromatic colours, such as blues greens, less achromatic colours like white gold. Moreover, studies the evolution are common largely limited inferences from extant organisms, in part because amount types available fossil material. Here, we directly compare nanostructure amber-preserved (approx....
While the specific mechanisms of colour production in biological systems are diverse, mechanics straightforward and universal. Colour is produced through selective absorption light by pigments, scattering nanostructures or a combination both. When Tigriopus californicus copepods were fed carotenoid-limited diet yeast, their orange-red body coloration became faint, but eyespots remained unexpectedly bright red. Raman spectroscopy indicated clear signature red carotenoid pigment astaxanthin...
The mechanisms and evolution of metallic structural colours are both fundamental applied interest, yet most work in arthropods has focused on derived butterflies beetles with distinct hues. In particular, basal hexapods—groups many scaled, representatives—are currently poorly studied controversial, some recent studies suggesting either that thin-film (lamina thickness) or diffraction grating (longitudinal ridges, cross-ribs) elements produce these early Lepidoptera one springtail...