A5037858737- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insects and Parasite Interactions
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Phytoplasmas and Hemiptera pathogens
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Orthoptera Research and Taxonomy
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
Federal Institute For Materials Research and Testing
2016-2025
Freie Universität Berlin
2015-2025
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
2012-2024
Queen's University Belfast
2013-2024
University of Oxford
2009-2013
SummarySummaryMethods are described for working with Nosema apis and ceranae in the field laboratory. For fieldwork, different sampling methods to determine colony level infections at a given point time, but also following temporal infection dynamics. Suggestions made how standardise trials evaluating treatments disease impact. The laboratory include means determining individual bee levels species determination, including light microscopy, electron molecular (PCR). cage trials, inoculation...
SummaryAdult honey bees are maintained in vitro laboratory cages for a variety of purposes. For example, researchers may wish to perform experiments on caged individually or groups study aspects parasitology, toxicology, physiology under highly controlled conditions, they cage whole frames obtain newly emerged workers known age cohorts. Regardless purpose, must manage number variables, ranging from selection subjects (e.g. bee subspecies) experimental environment temperature and relative...
Summary Declining populations of bee pollinators are a cause concern, with major repercussions for biodiversity loss and food security. RNA viruses associated honeybees represent potential threat to other insect pollinators, but the extent this is poorly understood. This study aims attain detailed understanding current ongoing risk emerging infectious disease ( EID ) transmission between managed wild pollinator species across wide range viruses. Within structured large‐scale national survey...
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) have contributed significantly to the current biodiversity crisis, leading widespread epidemics and population loss. Owing genetic variation in pathogen virulence, a complete understanding of species decline requires accurate identification characterization EIDs. We explore this issue Western honeybee, where increasing mortality populations Northern Hemisphere has caused major concern. Specifically, we investigate importance identity main suspect...
The higher classification of termites requires substantial revision as the Neoisoptera, most diverse termite lineage, comprise many paraphyletic and polyphyletic taxa. Here, we produce an updated using genomic-scale analyses. We reconstruct phylogenies under substitution models with ultraconserved elements analyzed concatenated matrices or within multi-species coalescence framework. Our is further supported by analyses controlling for rogue loci taxa, topological tests. show that Neoisoptera...
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...
Bees are considered to be threatened globally, with severe overwinter losses of the most important commercial pollinator, Western honeybee, a major concern in Northern Hemisphere. Emerging infectious diseases have risen prominence due their temporal correlation colony losses. Among these is Deformed wing virus (DWV), which has been frequently linked mortality. We now provide evidence strong statistical association between overwintering decline field and presence DWV genotype-B (DWV-B),...
Pathogens may gain a fitness advantage through manipulation of the behaviour their hosts. Likewise, host behavioural changes can be defence mechanism, counteracting impact pathogens on fitness. We apply harmonic radar technology to characterize an emerging pathogen--Nosema ceranae (Microsporidia)--on honeybee (Apis mellifera) flight and orientation performance in field. Honeybees are most important commercial pollinators. Emerging diseases have been proposed play prominent role colony...
There is increasing appreciation that hosts in natural populations are subject to infection by multiple parasite species. Yet the epidemiological and ecological processes determining outcome of mixed infections poorly understood. Here, we use two intracellular gut parasites (Microsporidia), one exotic co-evolved western honeybee (Apis mellifera), an experiment which either or both were administered simultaneously sequentially. We provide clear evidence within-host competition; order was...
Task allocation in social insect colonies is generally organised into an age-related division of labour, termed the temporal polyethism schedule, which may part have evolved to reduce infection colony's brood by pests and pathogens. The schedule sensitive colony perturbations that lead adaptive changes task allocation, maintaining homeostasis. Though insects can be infected a range parasites, little known how these parasites impact within-colony behaviour schedule. We use honey bees (
Abstract Social insects employ a range of behaviours to protect their colonies against disease, but little is known about how such collective are orchestrated. This especially true for the social Blattodea (termites). We developed an experimental approach that allowed us explore response disease co-ordinated by multistep host-pathogen interactions. infected eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes with entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae , and then, at different stages...
Abstract Virulence determines the impact a pathogen has on fitness of its host, yet current understanding evolutionary origins and causes virulence many pathogens is surprisingly incomplete. Here, we explore evolution Marek's disease virus ( MDV ), herpesvirus commonly afflicting chickens rarely other avian species. The history in 20th century represents an important case study virulence. severity infection been rising steadily since adoption intensive farming techniques vaccination programs...
Abstract Nosema ceranae , an emerging pathogen of the western honeybee ( Apis mellifera ), is implicated in recent pollinator losses and causes severe energetic stress. However, whether precocious foraging accelerated behavioural maturation infected bees are caused by infection itself or via indirect stress remains unknown. Using a combination nutritional treatments, we investigated how starvation alters regulation adipokinetic hormone (AKH) octopamine, two highly conserved physiological...
1. Insects with complete metamorphosis (holometaboly) are extremely successful, constituting over 60% of all described animal species. Complete confers significant advantages because it enables organisms to optimise life‐history components through temporal partitioning, and thereby exploit multiple ecological niches. Yet holometaboly can also impose costs, several lineages have evolved life cycle modifications avoid metamorphosis. 2. In this review, we discuss different strategies that...
Social insect colonies can express adaptive, organism-like design. In some cases, so resemble a unique, cohesive and integrated "individual" that they are termed superorganisms. The major evolutionary transitions framework explains, via inclusive fitness theory, how new levels of biological individuality, including genes into genomes within cells, cells multicellular organisms superorganisms emerge. Importantly, it highlights at each transition similar challenges arose why seemingly...
A comprehensive model of evolution requires an understanding the relationship between selection at molecular and phenotypic level. We investigate this in Strepsiptera, order endoparasitic insects whose evolutionary biology is poorly studied. present first phylogeny use as a framework to association parasitism evolution. find evidence significant burst rate early history Strepsiptera. The morphological traits linked significantly correlated with pattern rate. genotypic-phenotypic precedes...
Abstract The importance of soldiers to termite society defence has long been recognized, but the contribution other societal functions, such as colony immunity, is less well understood. We explore this issue by examining role in protecting nestmates against pathogen infection. Even though they are unable engage grooming behaviour, we find that presence Darwin termite, Mastotermes darwiniensis , significantly improves survival following entomopathogenic also show copious exocrine oral...
Termites are a lineage of social cockroaches abundant in tropical ecosystems where they key decomposers organic matter from wood to soil. Despite their ecological significance, only handful reference-quality termite genomes have been sequenced, which is insufficient unravel the genetic mechanisms that contributed success. Here, we performed sequencing and hybrid assembly 45 taxonomically ecologically diverse termites two cockroaches, resulting haplotype-merged genome assemblies 47 species,...
Subsociality and wood-eating or xylophagy are understood as key drivers in the evolution of eusociality Blattodea (cockroaches termites), two features observed cockroach genus Cryptocercus , sister group all termites. We present analyse new high-quality genomes from this genus, C. punctulatus North America meridianus Southeast Asia, to explore evolutionary transitions subsociality within Blattodea. Our analyses reveal evidence relaxed selection both termites, indicating that a reduction...