A5038292546- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Diatoms and Algae Research
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation
- Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Marine Toxins and Detection Methods
- Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
University of Otago
2013-2025
Natural History Museum
2017-2024
Oxford Brookes University
2019-2024
Park Plaza Hospital
2022
Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources
2022
National Research Council
2022
German Oceanographic Museum
2021
Museum of London
2017-2020
Instituto Antártico Chileno
2019
Chinese University of Hong Kong
2014-2018
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...
Many annelids can regenerate missing body parts or reproduce asexually, generating all cell types in adult stages. However, the putative stem populations involved these processes, and diversity of generated by them, are still unknown. To address this, we recover 75,218 single transcriptomes highly regenerative asexually-reproducing annelid Pristina leidyi. Our results uncover a rich type including specific as well novel types. Moreover, characterise transcription factors gene networks that...
The genomes of non-bilaterian metazoans are key to understanding the molecular basis early animal evolution. However, a full comprehension how animal-specific traits, such as nervous systems, arose is hindered by scarcity and fragmented nature from taxa, Porifera. Ephydatia muelleri freshwater sponge found across northern hemisphere. Here, we present its 326 Mb genome, assembled high contiguity (N50: 9.88 Mb) with 23 chromosomes on 24 scaffolds. Our analyses reveal metazoan-typical genome...
Abstract Background The king scallop, Pecten maximus, is distributed in shallow waters along the Atlantic coast of Europe. It forms basis a valuable commercial fishery and plays key role coastal ecosystems food webs. Like other filter feeding bivalves it can accumulate potent phytotoxins, to which has evolved some immunity. molecular origins this immunity are interest evolutionary biologists, pharmaceutical companies, fisheries management. Findings Here we report genome assembly species,...
Abstract Single-cell sequencing technologies are revolutionizing biology, but they limited by the need to dissociate live samples. Here, we present ACME (ACetic-MEthanol), a dissociation approach for single-cell transcriptomics that simultaneously fixes cells. ACME-dissociated cells have high RNA integrity, can be cryopreserved multiple times, and sortable permeable. As proof of principle, provide transcriptomic data different species, using both droplet-based combinatorial barcoding...
Abstract Spiders are a diverse order of chelicerates that diverged from other arthropods over 500 million years ago. Research on spider embryogenesis, particularly studies using the common house Parasteatoda tepidariorum , has made important contributions to understanding evolution animal development, including axis formation, segmentation, and patterning. However, we lack knowledge about cells build embryos, their gene expression profiles fate. Single-cell transcriptomic analyses have been...
The phylum Arthropoda contains the largest number of described living animal species, with insects and crustaceans dominating terrestrial aquatic environments, respectively. Their successful radiations have long been linked to their rigid exoskeleton in conjunction specialized endocrine systems. In order understand how hormones can contribute evolution these animals, here, we categorized sesquiterpenoid ecdysteroid pathway genes noninsect arthropod genomes, which are known play important...
The speciose Crustacea is the largest subphylum of arthropods on planet after Insecta. To date, however, only publically available sequenced crustacean genome that water flea, Daphnia pulex, a member Branchiopoda. While well-established ecotoxicological model, previous study showed one-third genes contained in its are lineage-specific and could not be identified any other metazoan genomes. better understand genomic evolution crustaceans arthropods, we have novel shrimp Neocaridina...
Moulting is a characteristic feature of Ecdysozoa—the clade moulting animals that includes the hyperdiverse arthropods and less speciose groups, such as onychophorans, tardigrades nematodes. has been best analysed in arthropods, specifically insects crustaceans, which complex neuroendocrine system acts at genomic level initiates transcription genes responsible for moulting. The key hormones, ecdysone 20-hydroxyecdysone, are subsequently synthesized from cholesterol ingested with food. Their...
Dorsoventral pattering relies on Toll and BMP signalling in all insects studied so far, with variations the relative contributions of both pathways. Drosophila beetle Tribolium share extensive dependence Toll, while representatives more distantly related lineages like wasp Nasonia bug Oncopeltus rely strongly signalling. Here, we show that cricket Gryllus bimaculatus , an evolutionarily distant outgroup, has, a direct patterning role for ventral half embryo. In addition, polarises...
Abstract Annelids are a broadly distributed, highly diverse, economically and environmentally important group of animals. Most species can regenerate missing body parts, many able to reproduce asexually. Therefore, annelids generate all adult cell types in stages. However, the putative stem populations involved these processes, as well diversity generated by them, still unknown. Here, we recover 75,218 single transcriptomes Pristina leidyi , regenerative asexually-reproducing freshwater...
Abstract Coloniality is a widespread growth form in cnidarians, tunicates, and bryozoans, among others. Colonies function as single physiological units despite their modular structure of zooids supporting tissues. A key question how structurally functionally distinct colony parts are generated. In the cnidarian Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus , colonies consist (polyps) interconnected by stolons attached to substrate. Using single-cell transcriptomics, we profiled ~200,000 cells, including two...
Since the discovery that TGF-β signalling molecule Nodal and its downstream effector Pitx have a parallel role in establishing asymmetry between molluscs deuterostomes debate over degree to which this pathway is conserved across Bilateria as whole has been ongoing. Further taxon sampling critical understand evolution divergence of animals. Using genome transcriptome mining we confirmed presence nodal range additional animal taxa for their not yet described. In situ hybridization was used...
A key early step in embryogenesis is the establishment of major body axes; dorsal-ventral (DV) and anterior-posterior (AP) axes. Determination these axes some insects requires function different sets signalling pathways for each axis. Patterning across DV axis interaction between Toll Dpp/TGF-β pathways, whereas patterning AP gradients bicoid/orthodenticle proteins actions a hierarchy gene transcription factors. We examined expression Dpp during honeybee to assess role genes patterning....
Freshwater sponges (Spongillida) are a unique lineage of demosponges that secondarily colonized lakes and rivers now found ubiquitously in these ecosystems. They developed specific adaptations to freshwater systems, including the ability survive extreme thermal ranges, long-lasting dessication, anoxia, resistance variety pollutants. Although spongillids have all family Lubomirskiidae is endemic Lake Baikal plays range key roles this ecosystem. Our work compares genomic content microbiome...
Antarctic shallow-water invertebrates are exceptional candidates to study population genetics and evolution, because of their peculiar evolutionary history adaptation extreme habitats that expand retreat with the ice sheets. Among them, sponges one major components, yet connectivity none many species has been studied. To investigate gene flow, local resilience near-future changes caused by global warming, we sequenced 62 individuals sponge Dendrilla antarctica along Western Peninsula (WAP)...
TGF-b signalling plays a key role in the patterning of metazoan body plans and growth.It is widely regarded as 'module' capable co-option into novel functions.The pathway arose Metazoan lineage, while it generally well conserved across evolutionary time, its components have been largely studied Ecdysozoa Deuterostomia.The recent discovery Nodal molecule molluscs has underlined necessity untangling this network lophotrochozoans order to truly comprehend evolution, conservation diversification...
Organizers play important roles during the embryonic development of many animals. The most famous example is Spemann organizer that sets up axes in amphibian embryos. In spiders, a group BMP secreting mesenchymal cells (the cumulus) functions as an dorsoventral axis. Similar to experiments performed with organizer, transplantation cumulus able induce secondary axis spiders. Despite importance this structure, it unknown which factors are needed activate specific gene expression. To address...