A5020054794- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Agricultural pest management studies
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Insects and Parasite Interactions
- Hemiptera Insect Studies
- Sperm and Testicular Function
- TGF-β signaling in diseases
Leiden University
2013-2023
Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research
2015
Yale University
2014
University of Cologne
2005-2008
Utrecht University
2006-2007
Myriapods (e.g., centipedes and millipedes) display a simple homonomous body plan relative to other arthropods. All members of the class are terrestrial, but they attained terrestriality independently insects. Myriapoda is only arthropod not represented by sequenced genome. We present an analysis genome centipede Strigamia maritima. It retains compact that has undergone less gene loss shuffling than previously arthropods, many orthologues genes conserved from bilaterian ancestor have been...
Abstract Background The Hemiptera (aphids, cicadas, and true bugs) are a key insect order, with high diversity for feeding ecology excellent experimental tractability molecular genetics. Building upon recent sequencing of hemipteran pests such as phloem-feeding aphids blood-feeding bed bugs, we present the genome sequence comparative analyses centered on milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus , seed feeder family Lygaeidae. Results 926-Mb is well represented by current assembly official gene set....
Insects have been extraordinarily successful in occupying terrestrial habitats, contrast to their mostly aquatic sister group, the crustaceans. This success is typically attributed adult traits such as flight, whereas little attention has paid adaptation of egg. An evolutionary novelty insect eggs serosa, an extraembryonic membrane that enfolds embryo and secretes a cuticle. To experimentally test protective function we exploit exceptional possibility eliminate this by zerknüllt1 RNAi beetle...
Abstract Background The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), is a globally invasive pest and plant virus vector on wide array of food, fiber, ornamental crops. underlying genetic mechanisms the processes governing thrips biology, feeding behaviors, ecology, insecticide resistance are largely unknown. To address this gap, we present F. draft genome assembly official gene set. Results We report first sequence for any member insect order Thysanoptera. Benchmarking...
Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling plays a major role in dorsoventral patterning vertebrates and Drosophila. Remarkably, Tribolium, beetle with an ancestral type of insect development, early BMP/dpp exhibits differential expression along the anteroposterior axis. However, BMP/Dpp inhibitor Sog/chordin is expressed ventrally establishes dorsal domain activity by transporting BMPs toward side, like Loss Tribolium Sog not only abolishes polarity ectoderm, but also leads to complete...
Drosophila larvae and adults possess a potent innate immune response, but the response of eggs is poor. In contrast to Drosophila, beetle Tribolium are protected by serosa, an extraembryonic epithelium that present in all insects except higher flies. this study, we test possible function frontier using Tc-zen1 RNAi-mediated deletion. First, show bacteria propagate twice as fast serosa-less eggs. Then, compare complete transcriptomes wild-type, control RNAi, RNAi before after sterile or...
Abstract Aphids exhibit unique attributes, such as polyphenisms and specialized cells to house endosymbionts, that make them an interesting system for studies at the interface of ecology, evolution development. Here we present a comprehensive characterization developmental genes in pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum , compare our results other sequenced insects. We investigated involved fundamental processes establishment body plan organogenesis, focusing on transcription factors components...
Having conquered water surfaces worldwide, the semi-aquatic bugs occupy ponds, streams, lakes, mangroves, and even open oceans. The diversity of this group has inspired a range scientific studies from ecology evolution to developmental genetics hydrodynamics fluid locomotion. However, lack representative strider genome hinders our ability more thoroughly investigate molecular mechanisms underlying processes adaptation diversification within group. Here we report sequencing manual annotation...
Nicrophorus vespilloides eggs are deposited into the soil in close proximity to decomposing vertebrate carcasses that these insects use as an obligate resource rear their offspring. Eggs this environment potentially face significant risks from bacteria proliferate grave-soil following nutrient influx carcass. Our aims paper twofold: first, examine fitness effects of eggs, and second, quantify egg immunocompetence a defence against bacteria. results provide strong evidence microbes...
In insects, the fertilized egg undergoes a series of rapid nuclear divisions before syncytial blastoderm starts to cellularize. Cellularization has been extensively studied in Drosophila melanogaster, but its thick columnar is unusual among insects. We therefore set out describe cellularization beetle Tribolium castaneum, embryos which exhibit thin cuboidal cells, like most Using immunohistochemistry, live imaging and transmission electron microscopy, we several striking differences...
Insects comprise more than a million species and many authors have attempted to explain this success by evolutionary innovations. A much overlooked novelty of insects is the serosa, an extraembryonic epithelium around yolk embryo. We shown previously that provides innate immune protection eggs beetle Tribolium castaneum. It remained elusive, however, whether competence evolved in lineage or ancestral all insects. Here, we expand our studies two hemimetabolous insects, bug Oncopeltus...
Abstract Background The Hemiptera (aphids, cicadas, and true bugs) are a key insect order, with high diversity for feeding ecology excellent experimental tractability molecular genetics. Building upon recent sequencing of hemipteran pests such as phloem-feeding aphids blood-feeding bed bugs, we present the genome sequence comparative analyses centered on milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus , seed feeder family Lygaeidae. Results 926-Mb is well represented by current assembly official gene set....
SUMMARY The D quadrant organizer is a developmental signaling center that localized to the vegetal in different spiral‐cleaving lophotrochozoan embryos and may be homologous axial organizing regions other metazoans. Patterning by this creates secondary axis required for transition from spiral bilateral cleavage later establishment of adult body plan. Organizer specification equal‐cleaving thought involve inductive interactions between opposing animal blastomeres. To date, experimental...
Abstract The semi-aquatic bugs conquered water surfaces worldwide and occupy ponds, streams, lakes, mangroves, even open oceans. As such, they inspired a range of scientific studies from ecology evolution to developmental genetics hydrodynamics fluid locomotion. However, the lack representative strider genome hinders thorough investigations mechanisms underlying processes adaptation diversification in this group. Here we report sequencing manual annotation Gerris buenoi (G. buenoi) genome,...
ABSTRACT Background The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), is a globally invasive pest and plant virus vector on wide array of food, fiber ornamental crops. While there are numerous studies centered thrips biology, feeding behaviors, ecology, insecticide resistance, the underlying genetic mechanisms processes governing these areas research largely unknown. To address this gap, we present F. draft genome assembly official gene set. Results We report first sequence...
Climate change is rapidly altering the environment and many species will need to genetically adapt their seasonal timing keep up with these changes. Insect development rate largely influenced by temperature, but we know little about mechanisms underlying temperature sensitivity of development. Here, investigate egg hatching in winter moth, one few which has been found climate change, likely through selection on rate. To study when during moth embryos are most sensitive changes ambient gave...