Headmen, shamans, and mothers: Natural and sexual selection for computational services

Evolution and Human Behavior, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 46(1), P. 106651 - 106651

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Key questions for future research in Physiological Entomology

Physiological Entomology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 22, 2025

Language: Английский

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Combining in vivo and in vitro approaches to better understand host‐pathogen nutritional interactions

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 7, 2025

Nutrition often shapes the outcome of host-parasite interactions, however understanding mechanisms by which this occurs is confounded intimate nature association and fact that host parasite may compete for same limiting nutrients. One way disentangling interaction to combine in vivo vitro approaches. Here, we explore role nutrition determining infections using a model insect-bacterium system: cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis blood-borne bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila. larvae were reared on one series 20 chemically-defined diets ranging their protein: carbohydrate (P:C) ratio caloric density. They then challenged with either fixed dose X. nematophila cells (live or dead) sham-injected. Survivorship live bacterial was strongly dependent protein levels diet, mortality being highest low-protein diets. This trend reflected growth rate vivo, peaked fed To determine whether rates driven direct effects blood nutrients indirect immune response, used synthetic haemolymphs ('nutribloods') mimicked nutritional content blood. In negatively impacted nutribloods, replicating patterns seen suggesting nutrient availability not immunity driving interaction. By comparing standardized vitro, conclude largely 'bottom-up' growth, rather than 'top-down' host-mediated responses. The interactions typically assumed be determined response. have been underexplored broad consequences across taxa.

Language: Английский

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Nutribloods: Novel synthetic lepidopteran haemolymphs for understanding insect–microbe nutritional interactions in vitro

Physiological Entomology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 10, 2025

Abstract Understanding the role of nutrients in microbial population dynamics relies on a sound appreciation their nutritional environment and how this may vary different habitats. For pathogens commensals, can be especially challenging because microbe share resources with its host. Here we design series 20 synthetic cell‐free haemolymphs ( nutribloods ) that mimic haemolymph nutrient profiles caterpillars fed one chemically defined diets protein: carbohydrate (P:C) ratio caloric density. Using these, are able to simulate range conditions insect blood might face, providing model system for understanding nutrition growth. We tested using entomopathogen, Xenorhabdus nematophila , Gram‐negative extracellular bacterium hosts. This revealed whilst bacterial fitness peaked nutriblood space was high carbohydrates low proteins, levels amino acids also appear an important driving force had average all other than carbohydrate, protein or acids, established growth is generally enhanced by but reduced proteins. Here, have tractable examining plays entomopathogenic bacterium. In future work, host–pathogen used test nutritionally driven processes, including competition during co‐infection interactions host microbiome, as well comparative studies entomopathogens.

Language: Английский

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Varroa destructor weakens honey bee external immunity by impairing melittin production

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 25, 2025

Social insects employ venom as an external immune defence against pathogens and parasites. Like other Hymenoptera, the gland of honey bee serves a reservoir antimicrobial substances, primarily melittin. This study investigates role associated with grooming behaviour in Apis mellifera workers infested by Varroa destructor. Using multi-step approach, we first confirmed presence on bees' bodies using melittin marker. We then examined how facilitates distribution bee's body. Further assays compared levels Varroa-free Varroa-infested assessed effects bee-venom mite activity. Our findings occurrence "venom bathing" A. mellifera, whereby bees coat their substances through selfgrooming. excluding social components or environmental contamination. Infested spread larger amounts to uninfested significantly also reduced activity, suggesting functions defence. However, Varroa negatively impacts production. reveals previously unknown negative effect V. destructor: impairment

Language: Английский

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A guide to sunflowers: floral resource nutrition for bee health and key pollination syndromes

Frontiers in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: May 1, 2025

Sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., is a prominent global oilseed crop with rising cultivation and appeal as bee-friendly plant by providing abundant floral resources for pollinators. Mass-flowering crops can increase the availability of resources, sunflower good opportunity to relieve pollen scarcity during late summer in agricultural landscapes. Yet this should be taken caution they also provide homogeneous source nutrition. This study aimed review summarize nutritional profile pollen, nectar, bee bread, honey, while assessing their effects on survival, development, health. Furthermore, we present here general state knowledge additional pollinator syndromes that extend beyond including those influencing visual olfactory attraction. We found pollen’s quality questioned due lower protein amino acid deficiencies, its nutrient content, like nectar sugars, had large variability. Sunflower consumption showed mixed Apis mellifera Bombus species, sometimes negatively impacting development survival. However, studies have conveyed positive impact health consistently reduced infection intensity gut parasite, Crithidia bombi , species. probes question defining emphasizing need when categorizing low resource. outlines importance characteristics (sugar content volume) morphology (flower pigmentation corolla length) foraging preferences. A gap persists regarding chemistry sunflowers’ extensive volatile better understand pollination drive interactions.

Language: Английский

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Animal medication

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 34(17), P. R808 - R812

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Nutribloods: novel synthetic lepidopteran haemolymphs for understanding insect-microbe interactionsin vitro

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 20, 2024

ABSTRACT Understanding the role of nutrients in microbial population dynamics relies on a sound appreciation their nutritional environment and how this may vary different habitats. For pathogens commensals, can be especially challenging because microbe share resources with its host. Here we design series 20 synthetic haemolymphs ( nutribloods ) that mimic haemolymph nutrient profiles caterpillars fed one chemically-defined diets, protein:carbohydrate (P:C) ratio caloric density. Using these, are able to simulate range conditions insect blood might face, providing model system for understanding nutrition growth. We tested using entomopathogen, Xenorhabdus nematophila , gram-positive extracellular bacterium hosts. This revealed whilst bacterial fitness peaked nutriblood space was high carbohydrates low proteins, levels amino acids also appear an important driving force had average all other than carbohydrate, protein or acids, established growth is generally enhanced by carbohydrate but reduced proteins. Here, have tractable examining plays entomopathogenic bacterium. In future work, host-pathogen used test nutritionally-driven processes, including competition during co-infection interactions host microbiome, as well comparative studies entomopathogens.

Language: Английский

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Combiningin vivoandin vitroapproaches to better understand host-pathogen interactions

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 22, 2024

ABSTRACT Nutrition often shapes the outcome of host-parasite interactions, however understanding mechanisms by which this occurs is confounded intimate nature association and fact that host parasite may compete for same limiting nutrients. One way disentangling interaction to combine in vivo vitro approaches. Here, we explore role nutrition determining infections using a model insect-bacterium system: cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis blood-borne bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila . larvae were reared on one series 20 chemically-defined diets ranging their protein: carbohydrate (P:C) ratio caloric density. They then challenged with either fixed dose X. cells (live or dead) sham-injected. Survivorship live bacterial was strongly dependent protein levels diet, mortality being highest low-protein diets. This trend reflected growth rate , peaked fed To determine whether rates driven blood nutrients, rather than an enhanced immune response, generated synthetic haemolymphs (‘nutribloods’) mimicked nutritional content blood. Bacterial nutribloods also negatively impacted suggesting nutrient availability not immunity driving interaction. By comparing standardized conclude largely ‘bottom-up’ effects nutrients growth, ‘top-down’ host-mediated responses. The interactions typically assumed be determined response. direct have been underexplored broad consequences across taxa.

Language: Английский

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Host and antibiotic jointly select for greater virulence in Staphylococcus aureus

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 31, 2024

Widespread antibiotic usage has resulted in the rapid evolution of drug-resistant bacterial pathogens and poses significant threats to public health. Resolving how respond antibiotics under different contexts is critical for understanding disease emergence going forward. The impact been demonstrated most directly through

Language: Английский

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