A5038341203- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Robotic Locomotion and Control
- Silkworms and Sericulture Research
- Blood groups and transfusion
- FinTech, Crowdfunding, Digital Finance
- Biomimetic flight and propulsion mechanisms
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Modular Robots and Swarm Intelligence
- Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Poxvirus research and outbreaks
University of Aberdeen
2019-2024
Royal Holloway University of London
2013-2023
Pennsylvania State University
2011-2015
University of Siena
2007-2010
Johns Hopkins University
2009
Malaria-transmitting mosquitoes are continuously exposed to microbes, including their midgut microbiota. This naturally acquired microbial flora can modulate the mosquito's vectorial capacity by inhibiting development of Plasmodium and other human pathogens through an unknown mechanism. We have undertaken a comprehensive functional genomic approach elucidate molecular interplay between bacterial co-infection malaria parasite falciparum in its natural vector Anopheles gambiae. Global...
Organisms typically face infection by diverse pathogens, and hosts are thought to have developed specific responses each type of pathogen they encounter. The advent transcriptomics now makes it possible test this hypothesis compare host gene expression multiple pathogens at a genome-wide scale. Here, we performed meta-analysis published new transcriptomes using newly bioinformatics approach that filters genes based on their profile across datasets. Thereby, identified common unique molecular...
Eusociality, a form of animal social organization involving sterile and reproductive castes, is rare but, arguably, highly ecologically successful life. There are striking examples eusocial species with populations that dominant in their native ranges, as well remarkably globally invasive species; prominent include fire ants yellowjacket wasps. At the same time, there have been startling population declines other insects, notably bumble bees. Here, we explore possible role phenotypic...
Abstract Reproductive and worker division of labour ( DOL ) is a hallmark social insect societies. Despite long‐standing interest in , the molecular mechanisms regulating this process have only been investigated detail honey bees, little known about regulatory operating other insects. In fire ant Solenopsis invicta one most studied species, workers are permanently sterile tasks performed modulated by worker's internal state (age size) outside environment (social environment), which...
Mating is a complex process, which frequently associated with behavioural and physiological changes. However, understanding of the genetic underpinnings these changes limited. Honey bees are both model system in genomics, dominant managed pollinator human crops; consequently mating process has pure applied value. We used next-generation transcriptomics to probe gene expression brains honey bee queens, as they transition from virgin mated reproductive status. In addition, we CO2-narcosis,...
One of the fundamental questions in biology is how cooperative and altruistic behaviors evolved. The majority studies seeking to identify genes regulating these have been performed systems where behavioral physiological differences are relatively fixed, such as honey bee. During colony founding monogyne (one queen per colony) social form fire ant Solenopsis invicta, newly-mated queens may start new colonies either individually (haplometrosis) or groups (pleometrosis). However, only one (the...
Parasites can manipulate host behaviour to increase their own transmission and fitness, but the genomic mechanisms by which parasites hosts are not well understood. We investigated relationship between social paper wasp, Polistes dominula , its parasite, Xenos vesparum (Insecta: Strepsiptera), understand effects of an obligate endoparasitoid on host's brain transcriptome. Previous research suggests that X. shifts aspects caste-related physiology in ways benefit parasitoid. hypothesized...
Viral infections can be detrimental to the foraging ability of western honey bee, Apis mellifera. The deformed wing virus (DWV) is most common bee and has been proposed as a possible cause learning memory impairment. However, evidence for this phenomenon so far come from artificially infected bees, while less known about implications natural with virus. Using proboscis extension reflex (PER), we uncovered no significant association between simple associative task DWV load. when assessed...
Abstract The dynamics of host – parasite interactions can change dramatically over the course a chronic infection as internal (physiological) and external (environmental) conditions change. When queens social insects found colony, they experience changes in both their physiological state (they develop ovaries begin laying eggs) environment suddenly stop interacting with other members mother colony), making this an excellent model system for examining how these factors interact infections. We...
Cooperation and aggression are ubiquitous in social groups, the genetic mechanisms underlying these behaviours of great interest for understanding how group formation is regulated it evolves. In this study, we used a candidate gene approach to investigate patterns expression key genes cooperation brain primitively eusocial wasp, Polistes dominula, during colony founding, when multiple foundresses can join same nest establish subtle hierarchies dominance. We comparative select looking at two...
SUMMARY Host castration represents a mechanism used by parasites to exploit energy resources from their hosts interfering with reproductive development or extend host lifespan removing risks associated activity. One of the most intriguing groups parasitic castrators is represented insects belonging order Strepsiptera. The macroparasite Xenos vesparum can produce dramatic phenotypic alterations in its host, paper wasp Polistes dominula . Parasitized female wasps have undeveloped ovaries and...
The molecular characterization of complex behaviours is a challenging task as range different factors are often involved to produce the observed phenotype. An established approach look at overall levels expression brain genes-or 'neurogenomics'-to select best candidates that associate with patterns interest. However, traditional neurogenomic analyses have some well-known limitations: above all, usually limited number biological replicates compared genes tested-known "curse dimensionality."...
The parasitic insect Xenos vesparum induces noticeable behavioral and physiological changes—e.g. castration—in its female host, the paper wasp Polistes dominula: parasitized putative workers avoid any colony task desert to survive in nearby vegetation, like future queens males do. In this long-term observational study, we describe spectacular attraction of towards trumpet creeper bushes (Campsis radicans) early-summer. Two thirds all wasps that sampled on these were parasitized, whereas...
Abstract To successfully complete its endoparasitic development, the strepsipteran Xenos vesparum needs to elude defense mechanisms of host, wasp Polistes dominulus . SEM and TEM observations after artificial infections allow us outline steps this intimate host–parasite association. Triungulins, mobile 1st instar larvae parasite, are able “softly” overcome structural barriers larval (cuticle epidermis) without any traumatic reaction at entry site, reach hemocoel where they settle. The...
Males are under different selective pressures than females, which results in differences the physiology of two sexes to maximize their fitness. In terms immunity, males typically considered as 'sicker sex', where immunocompetence is reduced favour increased reproductive output. However, male social Hymenoptera also haploid and therefore lack allelic variation at individual level, can lead immunocompetence. Over last decade, several studies have provided evidence for a higher susceptibility...
Abstract Social life and isolation pose a complex suite of challenges to organisms prompting significant changes in neural state. However, plasticity how brains respond social remains largely unexplored. The fire ants Solenopsis invicta provide an ideal scenario for examining this. Fire ant queens may found colonies individually or groups up 30 queens, depending on key factors such as density newly mated availability nesting sites. We artificially manipulated sites test the brain responds...
Life-history transitions require major reprogramming at the behavioral and physiological level. Mating reproductive maturation are known to trigger changes in gene transcription tissues a wide range of organisms, but we understand little about molecular consequences failure mate or become reproductively mature, it is not clear what extent these processes neural as well changes. In this study, examined underpinning that accompany life-history key pollinator, bumblebee Bombus terrestris. We...