Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/ionization Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry: An Emerging Tool for Studying the Vectors of Human Infectious Diseases

Future Microbiology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 16(5), P. 323 - 340

Published: March 1, 2021

Arthropod vectors have historically been identified morphologically, and more recently using molecular biology methods. However, both of these methods are time-consuming require specific expertise equipment. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, which has revolutionized the routine identification microorganisms in clinical microbiology laboratories, was successfully applied to arthropod vectors. Since then, robustness this technique confirmed, extended a large panel vectors, assessed for detecting blood feeding behavior identifying infection status regard certain pathogenic agents. In study, we summarize state-of-the-art matrix-assisted spectrometry (ticks, mosquitoes, phlebotomine sand-flies, fleas, triatomines, lice Culicoides), their trophic preferences ability discriminate between statuses.

Language: Английский

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Epoxidation of juvenile hormone was a key innovation improving insect reproductive fitness

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 118(45)

Published: Oct. 25, 2021

Methyl farnesoate (MF) plays hormonal regulatory roles in crustaceans. An epoxidated form of MF, known as juvenile hormone (JH), controls metamorphosis and stimulates reproduction insects. To address the evolutionary significance MF epoxidation, we generated mosquitoes completely lacking either two enzymes that catalyze last steps MF/JH biosynthesis respectively: JH acid methyltransferase (JHAMT) P450 epoxidase CYP15 (EPOX). jhamt-/- larvae both died at onset metamorphosis. Strikingly, epox-/- mutants, which synthesized but no JH, completed entire life cycle. While adults were fertile, reproductive performance sexes was dramatically reduced. Our results suggest although can substitute for absence mosquitoes, it is with a significant fitness cost. We propose fulfill most its epoxidation to key innovation providing insects advantage.

Language: Английский

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The origin and early evolution of arthropods

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 97(5), P. 1786 - 1809

Published: April 26, 2022

ABSTRACT The rise of arthropods is a decisive event in the history life. Likely first animals to have established themselves on land and air, pervaded nearly all ecosystems become pillars planet's ecological networks. Forerunners this saga, exceptionally well‐preserved Palaeozoic fossils recently discovered or re‐discovered using new approaches techniques elucidated precocious appearance extant lineages at onset Cambrian explosion, pointed critical role plankton hard integuments early arthropod diversification. notion put forward beginning century that acquisition characters was stepwise represented by majority fossil taxa being rewritten. Although some key traits leading Euarthropoda are indeed well documented along diversified phylogenetic stem, stem led several speciose ecologically diverse radiations leaving descendants late into Palaeozoic, large part, if not euarthropods can now be placed either two lineages: Mandibulata Chelicerata. These observations discoveries altered our view nature timing explosion clarified diagnostic origin arthropods, but also raised questions, especially with respect cephalic plasticity. There strong evidence shared homologous frontalmost appendage, coined here cheira, which likely evolved antennules chelicerae, other aspects, such as brain labrum evolution, still subject active debate. evolution panarthropods generally driven increased mastication predation efficiency sophistication, wealth recent studies highlighted prevalent suspension‐feeding, for developed their own adaptive feedback through both specialized appendages diversification small, morphologically differentiated larvae. In context general integumental differentiation hardening across metazoans, arthrodization body limbs notably prompted diverging strategies basipod differentiation, arguably became founding criteria divergence total‐groups kinship trilobites relatives remains source disagreement, topological solution, termed ‘deep split’, could embed Artiopoda sister chelicerates constitute definitive support Arachnomorpha. been these findings, data exceptional quality accumulating from Konservat‐Lagerstätten, better integration information promises much more complete elaborate picture near future. From broader perspective total‐evidence approach understanding life's history, despite persisting systematic debates interpretative challenges, various advances based palaeontological open prospect finally full potential most animal phylum investigate macroevolutionary patterns processes.

Language: Английский

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Revisiting the four Hexapoda classes: Protura as the sister group to all other hexapods

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 121(39)

Published: Sept. 19, 2024

Insects represent the most diverse animal group, yet previous phylogenetic analyses based on morphological and molecular data have failed to agree evolutionary relationships of early insects their six-legged relatives (together constituting clade Hexapoda). In particular, positions three early-diverging hexapod lineages—the coneheads (Protura), springtails (Collembola), two-pronged bristletails (Diplura)—have been debated for over a century, with alternative topologies implying drastically different scenarios evolution insect body plan terrestrialization. We addressed this issue by sampling all orders experimenting broad range across-site compositional heterogeneous models designed tackle ancient divergences. Our support Protura as earliest-diverging lineage (“Protura-sister”) Collembola sister group Diplura, corresponding original composition Entognatha, characterized shared possession internal muscles in antennal flagellum. The previously recognized ‘Elliplura’ hypothesis is recovered only under site-homogeneous substitution partial supermatrices. cross-validation analysis shows that site-heterogeneous CAT-GTR model, which recovers “Protura-sister,” fits significantly better than homogeneous models. Furthermore, morphologically unusual are also supported other lines evidence, such mitogenomes, comparative embryology, sperm morphology, produced results similar those study. backbone phylogeny hexapods will facilitate exploration underpinnings terrestrialization megadiversity.

Language: Английский

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Rebuilding microbiomes: Facilitating animal-microbe interactions through ecological restoration and rewilding

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 375, P. 124344 - 124344

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Restoring degraded ecosystems is a complex process that involves rebuilding myriad species interactions make functioning ecological community. Microorganisms are key to robust restoration - their mutualisms with above-ground communities drive community assembly and increase host fitness. However, microbes largely ignored during there significant knowledge gap regarding how restore communities. Here, we tested whether could enhance between invertebrate hosts by reintroducing, or 'rewilding', leaf litter soil from remnant sites containing species-rich microbial communities, into poor geographically isolated revegetated farmland sites. We sequenced both the microbiome gut of two dominant invertebrates: native Ecnolagria grandis beetles introduced Ommatoiulus moreleti millipedes. sampled 35 months after initial reintroduction event in (conservation area source transplant), rewilding transplant (revegetation site control no transplant). found even ∼20 years revegetation, had distinct compared areas. Although transplants failed similarity towards sites, marked increases diversity richness E. microbiomes greater degree overlap within relative In contrast, were few changes O. microbiomes. Overall, our results suggest can recover some but may not influence all host-microbe systems.

Language: Английский

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Evolutionary implications of a deep‐time perspective on insect pollination

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 11, 2025

Plant pollination by insects represents one of the most transformative and iconic ecological relationships in natural world. Despite tens thousands papers, as well numerous books, on biology published over past 200 years, studies focused fossil record pollinating have only been last few decades, this field is still undergoing major developments. Current palaeontological evidence indicates that were diverse participated reproduction different gymnosperm lineages long before their association with flowering plants (angiosperms). However, since much literature remains unfamiliar to many scientists working extant plant-pollinator interactions, wider public, notion insect began origin angiosperms widespread. Herein we highlight how all known orders and/or extinct pollinator representatives radiated evolution plants. We also illustrate changing composition fauna through time, reflecting nature these communities compared those existing today. Addressing plant from a perspective skewed towards present-day biological groups, patterns, processes risks missing an important deep-time evolutionary component. Our conclusions show fundamental elucidating pollination, informing interactions.

Language: Английский

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The radiation of Hymenoptera illuminated by Bayesian inferences from the fossil record

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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The Invasion of the Land in Deep Time: Integrating Paleozoic Records of Paleobiology, Ichnology, Sedimentology, and Geomorphology

Integrative and Comparative Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 62(2), P. 297 - 331

Published: May 31, 2022

Abstract The invasion of the land was a complex, protracted process, punctuated by mass extinctions, that involved multiple routes from marine environments. We integrate paleobiology, ichnology, sedimentology, and geomorphology to reconstruct Paleozoic terrestrialization. Cambrian landscapes were dominated laterally mobile rivers with unstable banks in absence significant vegetation. Temporary incursions arthropods worm-like organisms into coastal environments apparently did not result establishment continental communities. Contemporaneous lacustrine faunas may have been inhibited limited nutrient delivery high sediment loads. Ordovician appearance early plants triggered shift primary locus global clay mineral factory, increasing amount mudrock on continents. Silurian–Devonian rise vascular plants, including first forests extensive root systems, instrumental further retaining fine alluvial plains. These innovations led increased architectural complexity braided meandering rivers. Landscape changes synchronous freshwater terrestrial arthropod overbank areas, abandoned fluvial channels, lake margins, ephemeral lakes, inland deserts. lakes experienced improved availability, due phosphate weathering humic matter. All these favoured frequent invasions permament jawless jawed fishes habitats subsequent tetrapod colonization land. Carboniferous saw rapid diversification tetrapods, mostly linked aquatic reproduction, gymnosperms. Deeper systems promoted riverbank stabilization, contributing anabranching vegetated islands. New lineages insects developed expanded novel feeding modes, herbivory. Late soils commonly contain pervasive millipede traces. Lacustrine animal communities diversified, accompanied food-web food which favored permanent offshore deep-water trends continued Permian, but progressive aridification formation hypersaline stressful for colonization. Capitanian end-Permian extinctions affected biotas, particularly invertebrate infauna, although burrowing allowed some tetrapods survive associated warming aridification.

Language: Английский

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The sea spider Pycnogonum litorale overturns the paradigm of the absence of axial regeneration in molting animals

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(5)

Published: Jan. 23, 2023

Regenerative abilities and their evolution in the different animal lineages have fascinated generations of biologists. While some taxa are capable restoring entire individuals from small body fragments, others can regrow only specific structures or lack structural regeneration completely. In contrast to many other protostomes, including segmented annelids, molting animals (Ecdysozoa) commonly considered incapable primary axis regeneration, which has been hypothesized be linked protective cuticular exoskeleton. This holds also for extraordinarily diverse, arthropods. Contradicting this long-standing paradigm, we here show that immatures sea spider Pycnogonum litorale reestablish posterior pole after transverse amputation almost complete segments terminal region, hindgut, anus, musculature. Depending on level, normal phenotypes hypomeric six-legged forms develop. Remarkably, regain reproductive functionality by ectopic formation gonoducts gonopores. The discovery such complex regenerative patterns an extant arthropod challenges hitherto widely assumed evolutionary loss axial during ecdysozoan evolution. Rather, branching spiders at base Chelicerata likely ancestral anamorphic development suggests stem species may featured similar capabilities. Accordingly, our results provide incentive renewed comparative studies across ecdysozoans, with aim resolve whether trait was potentially even inherited protostome ancestor.

Language: Английский

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Diversity and Breadth of Host Specificity among Arthropod Pathogens in the Entomophthoromycotina

Microorganisms, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11(7), P. 1658 - 1658

Published: June 26, 2023

A meta-analysis based on the published literature was conducted to evaluate breadth of host ranges arthropod pathogens in fungal subphylum Entomophthoromycotina. The majority this infect insects, although arachnids (especially mites), collembola, and myriapods are also used as hosts. Most species (76%) have specialized only arthropods one family. Entomophthoromycotina is generally greater for more basal groups (Conidiobolaceae Neoconidiobolaceae), where most soil-borne saprobes few pathogens. Batkoaceae a transitionary family which all both generalists specialists occur. Among pathogen-infecting Hemiptera Diptera commonly infected insect orders. Within Hemiptera, hosts suborder Sternorrhycha were by than Auchenorrhyncha Heteroptera.

Language: Английский

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