Phenol oxidase (PO) was isolated as a proenzyme (pro-phenol oxidase, pro-PO) from the hemolymph of Manduca sexta larvae and purified to homogeneity. Pro-PO exhibits M(r) 130,000 on gel filtration two bands with an apparent approximately 100,000 SDS/PAGE, well size-exclusion HPLC. Activation pro-PO achieved either by specific proteolysis cuticular protease or detergent cetylpyridinium chloride at concentration below critical micellar concentration. A cDNA clone for M. obtained larval hemocyte...

Theoretical studies suggest that direct and indirect selection have the potential to cause substantial evolutionary change in female mate choice. Similarly, sexual is considered a strong force evolution of male attractiveness exaggeration secondary traits. Few have, however, directly tested how choice respond selection. Here we report results experiment which selected on mating preference for attractive males and, independently, guppy, Poecilia reticulata. We measured correlated responses...

Emiliania huxleyi virus 86 (EhV-86) belongs to the family Phycodnaviridae, a group of viruses that infect wide range freshwater and marine eukaryotic algae. Phycodnaviridae is one five families belong large phylogenetically diverse known as nucleocytoplasmic dsDNA (NCLDVs). To date, our understanding algal NCLDV entry based on mechanisms members genera Chlorovirus Phaeovirus, both which consist non-enveloped 'inject' their genome into host via viral inner-membrane plasma membrane fusion...

The geographical range of the mosquito vector for many human disease-causing viruses, Aedes aegypti , is expanding, in part owing to changing climate. capacity this species adapt thermal stress will affect its future distributions. It unclear how much heritable genetic variation may upper limits populations over long term. Nor are pathways that confer tolerance fully understood. In short term, cells induce a plastic, protective response known as 'heat shock'. Using physiological ‘knockdown’...

Females and males have conflicting evolutionary interests. Selection favors the evolution of different phenotypes within each sex, yet divergence between sexes is constrained by shared genetic basis female male traits. Current theory predicts that such "sexual antagonism" should be common: manifesting rapidly during process adaptation, slow in its resolution. However, these predictions apply temporally stable environments. Environmental change has been shown empirically to realign direction...

Sexual interactions are often rife with conflict. Conflict between members of the same sex over opportunities to mate has long been understood effect evolution via sexual selection. Although conflict males and females is now be widespread, such seldom considered in light as a general agent Any interaction or that generates variation fitness, whether due conflict, competition choice, can potentially influence selection acting on range male traits. Here we seek address lack direct experimental...

Recent advances in nutritional ecology, particularly arising from Ecological Stoichiometry and the Geometric Framework for nutrition, have resulted greater theoretical coherence increasingly incisive empirical methodologies that combination allow consideration of nutrient-related processes at many levels biological complexity. However, these not been consistently integrated into study sexual differences reproductive investment, despite contemporary emphasis on material costs associated with...

Summary Evolutionary theories of aging predict that fitness‐related traits, including reproductive performance, will senesce because the strength selection declines with age. Sexual theory predicts, however, male performance (especially sexual advertisement) increase In both bodies theory, diet should mediate age‐dependent changes in performance. this study, we show sexes exhibit dramatic, qualitative differences trajectories and patterns ageing cricket Teleogryllus commodus. females,...

Abstract The juvenile environment provides numerous cues of the intensity competition and availability mates in near environment. As research demonstrates that developing individuals can use these to alter their developmental trajectories, therefore, adult phenotypes, we examined whether social available during development affect expression preference sexually selected traits. To examine this, used Australian black field cricket ( Telogryllus commodus ), a species where condition at maturity...

The social environment has a strong effect on the strength and direction of sexual selection. Juveniles, however, often have cues that signal current competitive which may provide future challenges. Here we demonstrate juvenile crickets (Teleogryllus commodus) use calls surrounding adult males as cue quality density rivals/mates they are likely to encounter. We reared hatchling in six acoustic environments varied individuals modified their development rate, phenotype behaviour at maturity....

The evolution of sex in eukaryotes represents a paradox, given the “twofold” fitness cost it incurs. We hypothesize that mutational dynamics mitochondrial genome would have favored sexual reproduction. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) exhibits high‐mutation rate across most eukaryote taxa, and several lines evidence suggest this high is an ancestral character. This seems inexplicable mtDNA‐encoded genes underlie expression life's salient functions, including energy conversion. propose negative...

Individuals naturally vary in the severity of infectious disease when exposed to a parasite. Dissecting this variation into genetic and environmental components can reveal whether or not depends on host genotype, parasite genotype range conditions. Complicating task, however, is that symptoms result from combined effect series events, initial encounter between parasite, through activation immune system exploitation resources. Here, we use crustacean Daphnia magna its Pasteuria ramosa show...

Abstract Dormancy is a common adaptation in invertebrates to survive harsh conditions. Triggered by environmental cues, populations produce resting eggs that allow them temporally unsuitable D aphnia magna crustacean reproduces cyclical parthenogenesis, alternating between the production of asexual offspring and sexual reproduction diapausing (ephippia). Prior ephippia production, males (necessary ensure fertilization) are produced parthenogenetically. Both parthenogenetic induced factors....

Abstract How a host fights infection depends on an ordered sequence of steps, beginning with attempts to prevent pathogen from establishing infection, through steps that mitigate pathogen's control resources or minimize the damage caused during infection. Yet empirically characterizing genetic basis these remains challenging. Although each step is likely have unique and environmental signature, may therefore respond selection in different ways, events occur earlier process can mask overwhelm...

1 How and when resources are allocated to reproduction is expected differ between the sexes, potentially generating differences in how males females age. For this reason, acquisition of should be an important determinant both age-dependent reproductive effort deteriorative ageing (i.e. senescence). 2 We used black field crickets, Teleogryllus commodus, test whether diet quality juveniles adults determine sex-specific resource allocation there any subsequent effects on ageing. 3 show that...

Although Daphnia is increasingly recognized as a model for ecological genomics and biomedical research, there is, of yet, no high-resolution genetic map the genus. Such would provide an important tool mapping phenotypes assembling genome. Here we estimate genome size magna describe construction SNP array based linkage map. We then test suitability life history behavioural trait mapping. The two parent genotypes used to produce derived from D. populations with without fish predation,...

How infectious disease agents interact with their host changes during the course of infection and can alter expression disease-related traits. Yet by measuring parasite life-history traits at one or few moments infection, studies have overlooked impact variable growth trajectories on evolution. Here we show that infection-age-specific estimates fitness components reveal new insight into evolution parasites. We do so characterizing within-host dynamics over an entire period for five genotypes...

The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of many disease-causing viruses, including dengue (DENV), Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever. As consequences climate change, we expect an increase in both global mean temperatures extreme climatic events. When fluctuate, vectors will be increasingly exposed to beyond their upper thermal limits. Here, examine how DENV infection alters Ae. thermotolerance by using a high-throughput physiological 'knockdown' assay modeled on studies Drosophila....