A5045742753- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Cancer-related gene regulation
- Health and Medical Studies
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Immune responses and vaccinations
University of Münster
2016-2025
Institute for Biodiversity
2018-2025
Vanderbilt University
2020-2025
Universidad de Panamá
2020
University of Cambridge
2016-2017
Abstract Epigenetic mechanisms, such as CpG DNA methylation enable phenotypic plasticity and rapid adaptation to changing environments. is established by methyltransferases (DNMTs), which are well conserved across vertebrates invertebrates. There insects with functional despite lacking a complete set of Dnmts . But at least one the enzymes, DNMT1, appears be required maintain an active system. The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum , lacks Dnmt3 but possesses Dnmt1 it has been...
The reproducibility of studies involving insect species is an underexplored area in the broader discussion about poor science. Our study addresses this gap by conducting a systematic multi-laboratory investigation into ecological on behaviour. We implemented 3x3 experimental design, incorporating three sites and independent experiments from different orders: turnip sawfly (Athalia rosae, Hymenoptera), meadow grasshopper (Pseudochorthippus parallelus, Orthoptera) red flour beetle (Tribolium...
Organisms gain information about their local environment using different senses. Variation in both reception and assessment of stimuli leads to differences among individuals perception environments. Here, we highlight the importance acknowledging investigating such individual by focusing on perceived density, individual’s density. We summarize how sense identify factors shaping variation sensory uptake processing. argue that differentially environments likely affect relevant processes under...
ABSTRACT Energetic resources within organisms fuel both parasite growth and immune responses against them, but it is unclear whether energy allocation sufficient to explain changes in infection outcomes under the threat of multiple parasites. We manipulated diet flour beetles ( Tribolium confusum ) infected with two natural parasites used a combination transcriptomic phenotypic assays investigate role shifting metabolic after single co‐infection. Our results suggest that relatively benign,...
<title>Abstract</title> Genetic variation fuels evolution, and the release of cryptic is key for adaptation. The heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) has been proposed to act as an evolutionary capacitor by revealing such hidden under stress. However, this idea remains debated, genetic basis HSP90-regulated traits often unknown, many observed phenotypes are deleterious. Here, we show in Tribolium castaneum that HSP90 shapes evolution unmasking a trait providing enhanced fitness specific conditions....
Niche construction, a central eco-evolutionary process in which organisms modify their environment, is hypothesised to enhance evolutionary adaptability through feedback between genetic inheritance and the lasting effects of environmental change - known as ecological inheritance. However, while theoretically intriguing, direct empirical support for effect niche construction on adaptation lacking. Red flour beetles environment by releasing quinone-rich stink gland secretions, form external...
<title>Abstract</title> Evolutionary capacitance allows populations to ‘store’ cryptic genetic variation, revealing associated phenotypes only under stressful conditions. This process, which can accelerate evolutionary adaptation, has been linked heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), a key molecular chaperone that plays central role in buffering variation. While HSP90’s function as capacitor for morphological variation demonstrated multiple species, its potential behavioural explored...
<title>Abstract</title> Through niche construction, organisms actively shape their environment, thereby influencing evolutionary trajectories via ecological inheritance. Red flour beetles (<italic>Tribolium castaneum</italic>) achieve construction through secretion of antimicrobial compounds from the stink glands. It has recently been demonstrated that experimental removal using RNAi a key gene needed to produce gland secretions altered pace and mechanisms resistance adaptation bacterial...
A small number of free-living viruses have been found to be obligately vertically transmitted, but it remains uncertain how widespread transmitted are and quickly they can spread through host populations. Recent metagenomic studies several insects infected with sigma ( Rhabdoviridae ). Here, we report that infect Mediterranean fruit flies Ceratitis capitata ), Drosophila immigrans , speckled wood butterflies Pararge aegeria ) all transmitted. We find patterns vertical transmission consistent...
Immune priming, the increased chance to survive a secondary encounter with pathogen, has been described for many invertebrate species, which lack classical adaptive immune system of vertebrates. Priming can be specific even closely related bacterial strains, last up entire lifespan an individual, and in some it also transferred offspring is then called transgenerational priming (TGIP). In red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, pest stored grains, TGIP shown paternally after injection adult...
Abstract Intergenerational effects from fathers to offspring are increasingly reported diverse organisms, but the underlying mechanisms remain speculative. Paternal trans‐generational immune priming (TGIP) was demonstrated in red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum : non‐infectious bacterial exposure of protects their against an infectious challenge for at least two generations. Epigenetic processes, such as cytosine methylation nucleic acids, have been proposed enable transfer information...
Abstract Circadian clocks are inherent to most organisms, including cryptozoic animals that seldom encounter direct light, and regulate their daily activity cycles. A conserved suite of clock genes underpins these rhythms. In this study, we explore the circadian behaviors red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum , a significant pest impacting stored grain globally. We report on how light temperature cues synchronize distinct patterns in beetles, characterized by reduced morning increased evening...
Research on forms of memory in innate immune systems has recently gained momentum with the study trained immunity vertebrates and priming invertebrates. Immune provides protection against previously encountered pathogens. However, causes mechanisms are still not well understood most organisms. In this work, we combine RNA sequencing transmission electron microscopy to investigate dynamic processes during gut a well-established model for oral priming, consisting host Tribolium castaneum its...
Abstract Immune responses are energetically costly to produce and often trade off with investment in reproduction offspring provisioning. We predicted that hosts can interpret the magnitude of infection threat from cues like initial bacterial load adjust reproductive into quantity quality. To test this prediction, we exposed female flour beetles ( Tribolium castaneum ) naïve or sterile media controls one three increasing doses heat‐killed Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). estimate quantity,...
Abstract A small number of free-living viruses have been found to be obligately vertically transmitted, but it remains uncertain how widespread transmitted are and quickly they can spread through host populations. Recent metagenomic studies several insects infected with sigma ( Rhabdoviridae ). Here, we report that infect Mediterranean fruit flies Ceratitis capitata ), Drosophila immigrans , speckled wood butterflies Pararge aegeria ) all transmitted. We find patterns vertical transmission...
Circadian clocks are inherent to most organisms, including cryptozoic animals that seldom encounter direct light, and regulate their daily activity cycles. A conserved suite of clock genes underpins these rhythms. In this study, we explore the circadian behaviors red flour beetle
Abstract Energetic resources fuel immune responses and parasite growth within organisms, but it is unclear whether energy allocation sufficient to explain changes in infection outcomes under the threat of multiple parasites. We manipulated diet flour beetles ( Tribolium confusum ) infected with two natural parasites investigate role shifting metabolic after single co-infection. Our results suggest that gregarine alter within-host energetic environment, by extension juvenile development time,...
Abstract Understanding the drivers and mechanisms of virulence evolution is still a major goal evolutionary biologists epidemiologists. Theory predicts that way evolves depends on balance between benefits costs it provides to pathogen fitness. Additionally, host responses infections, such as resistance or tolerance, play critical role in shaping evolution. But, while pathogens has been traditionally studied under selection pressure adaptive immunity, less known about their when confronted...
Abstract Immune responses are energetically costly to produce and often trade off with investment in reproduction offspring provisioning. We predicted that hosts can interpret the magnitude of infection threat from cues like initial bacterial load adjust reproductive into quantity quality. To test this prediction, we exposed female flour beetles ( Tribolium castaneum ) naïve or sterile media controls one three increasing doses heat-killed Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). estimate quantity,...
Abstract Intergenerational effects from fathers to offspring are increasingly reported diverse organisms, but the underlying mechanisms remain speculative. Paternal trans-generational immune priming (TGIP) was demonstrated in red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum : non-infectious bacterial exposure of protects their against an infectious challenge for at least two generations. Epigenetic processes, such as cytosine methylation nucleic acids, have been proposed enable transfer information...
Abstract Does rapid adaptation to stressors evolve through similar underlying mechanisms among diverse populations, or are there many roads a phenotype? The experimental evolution of pesticide resistance in insects provides powerful model study the evolutionary signatures and their associated costs. Here, we selected for two pesticides (organophosphates pyrethroids) six field-derived populations red flour beetle ( Tribolium castaneum ). After several generations selection, performed...
Abstract Pesticide resistance readily evolves in natural insect populations and often coopts the same stress, detoxification, immune pathways involved physiological responses against primary pathogen pesticide exposure. As a result, evolution can alter antagonism or facilitation among chemical biological pest control strategies directions that remain difficult to predict. To investigate interactive effects of resistance, exposure, bacterial infection on phenotypes, we experimentally evolved...
Combined exposure to stressors, including pesticides and pathogens, is common in natural insect populations. Pesticide resistance readily evolves these populations often coopts the same stress, detoxification, immune pathways involved physiological responses against primary pathogen pesticide exposure. As a result, evolution can alter antagonism or facilitation among chemical pathogens directions that remain difficult predict. To investigate interactive effects of resistance, exposure,...