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Lin MD, Chuang CH, Kao CH, Chen SH, Wang SC, Hsieh PH, Chen GY, Mao CC, Li JY, Jade Lu MY, Lin CY. Decoding the genome of bloodsucking midge Forcipomyia taiwana (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae): Insights into odorant receptor expansion. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 168:104115. [PMID: 38570118 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Biting midges, notably those within the Ceratopogonidae family, have long been recognized for their epidemiological significance, both as nuisances and vectors for disease transmission in vertebrates. Despite their impact, genomic insights into these insects, particularly beyond the Culicoides genus, remain limited. In this study, we assembled the Forcipomyia taiwana (Shiraki) genome, comprising 113 scaffolds covering 130.4 Mbps-with the longest scaffold reaching 7.6 Mbps and an N50 value of 2.6 Mbps-marking a pivotal advancement in understanding the genetic architecture of ceratopogonid biting midges. Phylogenomic analyses reveal a shared ancestry between F. taiwana and Culicoides sonorensis Wirth & Jones, dating back approximately 124 million years, and highlight a dynamic history of gene family expansions and contractions within the Ceratopogonidae family. Notably, a substantial expansion of the odorant receptor (OR) gene family was observed, which is crucial for the chemosensory capabilities that govern biting midges' interactions with their environment, including host seeking and oviposition behaviors. The distribution of OR genes across the F. taiwana genome displays notable clusters on scaffolds, indicating localized tandem gene duplication events. Additionally, several collinear regions were identified, hinting at segmental duplications, inversions, and translocations, contributing to the olfactory system's evolutionary complexity. Among the 156 ORs identified in F. taiwana, 134 are biting midge-specific ORs, distributed across three distinct clades, each exhibiting unique motif features that distinguish them from the others. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we correlated distinct gene modules with sex and reproductive status, laying the groundwork for future investigations into the interplay between gene expression and adaptive behaviors in F. taiwana. In conclusion, our study not only highlights the unique olfactory repertoire of ceratopogonid biting midges but also sets the stage for future studies into the genetic underpinnings of their unique biological traits and ecological strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Der Lin
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, 701 Zhongyang Rd., Sec. 3, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan; Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, 701 Zhongyang Rd., Sec. 3, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan.
| | - Chia-Hsien Chuang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland; Agora Cancer Research Centre, Rue du Bugnon 25A, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Chih-Hsin Kao
- Institute of Information Science, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Sec. 2, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan; Institute of Fisheries Science, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Shu-Hwa Chen
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Xing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan.
| | - Szu-Chieh Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, 701 Zhongyang Rd., Sec. 3, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan; Institute of Information Science, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Sec. 2, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
| | - Ping-Heng Hsieh
- Institute of Information Science, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Sec. 2, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
| | - Guan-Yu Chen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, 701 Zhongyang Rd., Sec. 3, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan.
| | - Chun-Chia Mao
- Institute of Information Science, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Sec. 2, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan; Institute of Fisheries Science, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Jeng-Yi Li
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Sec. 2, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
| | - Mei-Yeh Jade Lu
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Sec. 2, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
| | - Chung-Yen Lin
- Institute of Information Science, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Sec. 2, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan; Institute of Fisheries Science, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 10617, Taiwan; Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
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Paris V, Hardy C, Hoffmann AA, Ross PA. How often are male mosquitoes attracted to humans? ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230921. [PMID: 37885984 PMCID: PMC10598425 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Many mosquito species live close to humans where females feed on human blood. While male mosquitoes do not feed on blood, it has long been recognized that males of some species can be attracted to human hosts. To investigate the frequency of male mosquito attraction to humans, we conducted a literature review and human-baited field trials, as well as laboratory experiments involving males and females of three common Aedes species. Our literature review indicated that male attraction to humans is limited to a small number of species, including Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. In our human-baited field collections, only 4 out of 13 species captured included males. In laboratory experiments, we found that male Ae. notoscriptus and Ae. vigilax showed no attraction to humans, while male Ae. aegypti exhibited persistent attraction for up to 30 min. Both male and female Ae. aegypti displayed similar preferences for different human subjects, suggesting that male Ae. aegypti respond to similar cues as females. Additionally, we found that mosquito repellents applied to human skin effectively repelled male mosquitoes. These findings shed light on mosquito behaviour and have implications for mosquito control programmes, particularly those involving the release or monitoring of the male mosquito population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Véronique Paris
- School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Christopher Hardy
- CSIRO Environment, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Ary A. Hoffmann
- School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg 9220, Denmark
| | - Perran A. Ross
- School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg 9220, Denmark
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Boronat-Garcia A, Iben J, Dominguez-Martin E, Stopfer M. Identification and analysis of odorant receptors expressed in the two main olfactory organs, antennae and palps, of Schistocerca americana. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22628. [PMID: 36587060 PMCID: PMC9805433 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-27199-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Locusts depend upon their sense of smell and provide useful models for understanding olfaction. Extending this understanding requires knowledge of the molecular and structural organization of the olfactory system. Odor sensing begins with olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs), which express odorant receptors (ORs). In insects, ORNs are housed, in varying numbers, in olfactory sensilla. Because the organization of ORs within sensilla affects their function, it is essential to identify the ORs they contain. Here, using RNA sequencing, we identified 179 putative ORs in the transcriptomes of the two main olfactory organs, antenna and palp, of the locust Schistocerca americana. Quantitative expression analysis showed most putative ORs (140) are expressed in antennae while only 31 are in the palps. Further, our analysis identified one OR detected only in the palps and seven ORs that are expressed differentially by sex. An in situ analysis of OR expression suggested ORs are organized in non-random combinations within antennal sensilla. A phylogenetic comparison of OR predicted protein sequences revealed homologous relationships among two other Acrididae species. Our results provide a foundation for understanding the organization of the first stage of the olfactory system in S. americana, a well-studied model for olfactory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Boronat-Garcia
- grid.420089.70000 0000 9635 8082Section on Sensory Coding and Neural Ensembles, National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child and Human Development, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - James Iben
- grid.420089.70000 0000 9635 8082Molecular and Genomics Core, National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child and Human Development, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Eunice Dominguez-Martin
- grid.416870.c0000 0001 2177 357XBiochemistry Section, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Mark Stopfer
- grid.420089.70000 0000 9635 8082Section on Sensory Coding and Neural Ensembles, National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child and Human Development, Bethesda, MD USA
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Poda SB, Buatois B, Lapeyre B, Dormont L, Diabaté A, Gnankiné O, Dabiré RK, Roux O. No evidence for long-range male sex pheromones in two malaria mosquitoes. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:1676-1686. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01869-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Ni M, Zhao T, Lv HX, Li MJ, Xing D, Zhao TY, Li CX. Screening for odorant receptor genes expressed in Aedes aegypti involved in host-seeking, blood-feeding and oviposition behaviors. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:71. [PMID: 35246203 PMCID: PMC8895831 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05196-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Aedes aegypti is one of the most important vectors of zoonotic diseases worldwide, and its survival and reproductive processes depend heavily on its olfactory system. In this study, the expression levels of all odorant receptor (OR) genes of Ae. aegypti were explored during different physiological periods to identify olfactory genes that may be associated with mosquito blood-feeding and the search for oviposition sites. Methods Four experimental groups, consisting of Ae. aegypti males, pre-blood-feeding females, post-blood-feeding females and post-oviposition females, were established. A total of 114 pairs of primers targeting all messenger RNA encoded by OR genes were designed based on the whole genome of Ae. aegypti. The expression of OR genes was evaluated by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR for relative quantification and the comparison of differences between groups. Results A total of 53 differentially expressed OR genes were identified between males and females in Ae. aegypti antennae. Also, eight, eight and 13 differentially expressed OR genes were identified in pre- versus post-blood-feeding females, in pre- versus post-oviposition females and in post-blood-feeding versus post-oviposition females, respectively. In addition, 16 OR genes were significantly differentially expressed in multiple physiological periods of the mosquitoes. Conclusions A large number of ORs with significant intergroup differences and high expression levels were screened in this study. Some of these genes are reported for the first time, providing possible targets for the development of mosquito control pathways based on the olfactory system. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05196-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Ni
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230000, China.,State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vector Borne and Natural Focus Infectious Disease, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Teng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vector Borne and Natural Focus Infectious Disease, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Hui-Xin Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vector Borne and Natural Focus Infectious Disease, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Man-Jin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vector Borne and Natural Focus Infectious Disease, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Dan Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vector Borne and Natural Focus Infectious Disease, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Tong-Yan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vector Borne and Natural Focus Infectious Disease, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Chun-Xiao Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230000, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vector Borne and Natural Focus Infectious Disease, Beijing, 100071, China.
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Athrey G, Popkin-Hall Z, Cosme LV, Takken W, Slotman MA. Species and sex-specific chemosensory gene expression in Anopheles coluzzii and An. quadriannulatus antennae. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:212. [PMID: 32321556 PMCID: PMC7178735 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04085-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Olfactory cues drive mosquito behaviors such as host-seeking, locating sugar sources and oviposition. These behaviors can vary between sexes and closely related species. For example, the malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii is highly anthropophilic, whereas An. quadriannulatus is not. These behavioral differences may be reflected in chemosensory gene expression. METHODS The expression of chemosensory genes in the antennae of both sexes of An. coluzzii and An. quadriannulatus was compared using RNA-seq. The sex-biased expression of several genes in An. coluzzii was also compared using qPCR. RESULTS The chemosensory expression is mostly similar in the male antennae of An. coluzzii and An. quadriannulatus, with only a few modest differences in expression. A handful of chemosensory genes are male-biased in both species; the highly expressed gustatory receptor AgGr33, odorant binding proteins AgObp25, AgObp26 and possibly AgObp10. Although the chemosensory gene repertoire is mostly shared between the sexes, several highly female-biased AgOrs, AgIrs, and one AgObp were identified, including several whose expression is biased towards the anthropophilic An. coluzzii. Additionally, the expression of several chemosensory genes is biased towards An. coluzzii in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS Chemosensory gene expression is broadly similar between species and sexes, but several sex- biased/specific genes were identified. These may modulate sex- and species-specific behaviors. Although the male behavior of these species remains poorly studied, the identification of sex- and species-specific chemosensory genes may provide fertile ground for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giridhar Athrey
- Department of Poultry Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX USA
| | | | - Luciano Veiga Cosme
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Willem Takken
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Jing D, Zhang T, Bai S, He K, Prabu S, Luan J, Wang Z. Sexual-biased gene expression of olfactory-related genes in the antennae of Conogethes pinicolalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). BMC Genomics 2020; 21:244. [PMID: 32188403 PMCID: PMC7081556 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-6648-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Conogethes pinicolalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is similar to Conogethes punctiferalis (yellow peach moth) and its host plant is gymnosperms, especially for masson pine. So far, less literature was reported on this pest. In the present study, we sequenced and characterized the antennal transcriptomes of male and female C. pinicolalis for the first time. Results Totally, 26 odorant-binding protein (OBP) genes, 19 chemosensory protein (CSP) genes, 55 odorant receptor (OR) genes and 20 ionotropic receptor (IR) genes were identified from the C. pinicolalis antennae transcriptome and amino sequences were annotated against homologs of C. punctiferalis. The neighbor-joining tree indicated that the amino acid sequence of olfactory related genes is highly homologous with C. punctiferalis. Furthermore, the reference genes were selected, and we recommended the phosphate dehydrogenase gene (GAPDH) or ribosomal protein 49 gene (RP49) to verify the target gene expression during larval development stages and RP49 or ribosomal protein L13 gene (RPL13) for adult tissues. Conclusions Our study provides a starting point on the molecular level characterization between C. pinicolalis and C. punctiferalis, which might be supportive for pest management studies in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dapeng Jing
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.,College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161, China
| | - Tiantao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Shuxiong Bai
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Kanglai He
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Sivaprasath Prabu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Junbo Luan
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161, China
| | - Zhenying Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Lemke RS, Pregitzer P, Eichhorn AS, Breer H, Krieger J, Fleischer J. SNMP1 and odorant receptors are co-expressed in olfactory neurons of the labial and maxillary palps from the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Cell Tissue Res 2019; 379:275-289. [PMID: 31478139 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-019-03083-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
In insects, pheromones are detected by olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) of the antennae that co-express pheromone receptors (PRs) and the "sensory neuron membrane protein 1" (SNMP1). Beyond its relevance for pheromone detection via the antenna, little is known about a potential expression and functional role of SNMP1 in cells of other chemosensory appendages. Here, we report that in the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria, SNMP1 is also expressed in the labial and maxillary palps of the mouthparts. In the palps, the SNMP1-positive cells were situated next to the so-called terminal sensilla that are considered as chemosensory. Moreover, the SNMP1-positive cells of the palps expressed the "odorant receptor co-receptor" (Orco), a marker for OSNs endowed with odorant receptors (ORs), suggesting that these cells are olfactory. With respect to an olfactory function of the SNMP1-positive cells, further analyses examining a possible expression of ORs (notably putative PRs) in the labial and maxillary palps revealed that several members of a particular OR subfamily from S. gregaria, the b-OR group, are co-expressed with SNMP1 in cells of the palps. Interestingly, b-OR types co-expressed with SNMP1 in antennal OSNs were also co-expressed with SNMP1 in cells of the palps, indicating a specific pairing in the expression of SNMP1 and given ORs in both antennae and palps. The co-expression of SNMP1 and certain b-ORs that are regarded as candidate PRs opens up the possibility that chemosensory cells on the palps of the desert locust may contribute to pheromone detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- René-Sebastian Lemke
- Institute of Biology/Zoology, Department of Animal Physiology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Pablo Pregitzer
- Institute of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Heinz Breer
- Institute of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jürgen Krieger
- Institute of Biology/Zoology, Department of Animal Physiology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jörg Fleischer
- Institute of Biology/Zoology, Department of Animal Physiology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany.
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Age-dependent regulation of host seeking in Anopheles coluzzii. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9699. [PMID: 31273284 PMCID: PMC6609780 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46220-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Behavioural attraction of the malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii to human host odour increases during adult maturation. We have previously demonstrated that the onset of host seeking in An. coluzzii coincides with an increased sensitivity of the CO2-sensitive neurons and abundance of chemosensory receptor gene transcripts in the maxillary palp. In this study, we extend our analysis to the antenna. Functional characterisation of the near-complete repertoire of odorant receptors (Ors) expressed in this tissue, to fractioned human odour, reveals a subset of salient human odorants to be detected by Ors at physiological relevant concentrations. When presented as a blend in their ratio of natural emission, these odorants elicit attraction by host-seeking mosquitoes, emphasising that Ors alone can mediate this behaviour. However, the same blend inhibits attraction in teneral mosquitoes. This switch in behavioural response indicates a change in valence during adult maturation. Quantitative analysis of Or transcript abundance and in vivo electrophysiological analysis reveal that the olfactory system of female An. coluzzii undergoes concerted changes that correlate with the onset of host seeking. We conclude that changes in Or abundance modulate peripheral olfactory coding, resulting in ecologically relevant behavioural effects.
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González-González A, Rubio-Meléndez ME, Ballesteros GI, Ramírez CC, Palma-Millanao R. Sex- and tissue-specific expression of odorant-binding proteins and chemosensory proteins in adults of the scarab beetle Hylamorpha elegans (Burmeister) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). PeerJ 2019; 7:e7054. [PMID: 31223529 PMCID: PMC6571001 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we addressed the sex- and tissue-specific expression patterns of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) in Hylamorpha elegans (Burmeister), an important native scarab beetle pest species from Chile. Similar to other members of its family, this scarab beetle exhibit habits that make difficult to control the pest by conventional methods. Hence, alternative ways to manage the pest populations based on chemical communication and signaling (such as disrupting mating or host finding process) are highly desirable. However, developing pest-control methods based on chemical communication requires to understand the molecular basis for pheromone recognition/chemical perception in this species. Thus, with the aim of discovering olfaction-related genes, we obtained the first reference transcriptome assembly of H. elegans. We used different tissues of adult beetles from males and females: antennae and maxillary palps, which are well known for embedded sensory organs. Then, the expression of predicted odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) was analyzed by qRT-PCR. In total, 165 transcripts related to chemoperception were predicted. Of these, 16 OBPs, including one pheromone-binding protein (PBP), and four CSPs were successfully amplified by qRT-PCR. All of these genes were differentially expressed in the sensory tissues with respect to the tibial tissue that was used as a control. The single predicted PBP found was highly expressed in the antennal tissues, particularly in males, while several OBPs and one CSP showed male-biased expression patterns, suggesting that these proteins may participate in sexual recognition process. In addition, a single CSP was expressed at higher levels in female palps than in any other studied condition, suggesting that this CSP would participate in oviposition process. Finally, all four CSPs exhibited palp-biased expression while mixed results were obtained for the expression of the OBPs, which were more abundant in the palps than in the antennae. These results suggest that these chemoperception proteins would be interesting novel targets for control of H. elegans, thus providing a theoretical basis for further studies involving new pest control methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica González-González
- Centre in Molecular and Functional Ecology, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile.,Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - María E Rubio-Meléndez
- Centro de Bioinformática y Simulación Molecular (CBSM), Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Maule, Chile
| | - Gabriel I Ballesteros
- Centre in Molecular and Functional Ecology, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile.,Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Claudio C Ramírez
- Centre in Molecular and Functional Ecology, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile.,Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Rubén Palma-Millanao
- Centre in Molecular and Functional Ecology, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile.,Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
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Moindi AO, Tare C, Ochieng PJ, Wamunyokoli F, Nyanjom SRG. Expression of odorant co-receptor Orco in tissues and development stages of Glossina morsitans morsitans, Glossina fuscipies fuscipies and Glossina pallidipies. SCIENTIFIC AFRICAN 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2018.e00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
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Thireou T, Kythreoti G, Tsitsanou KE, Koussis K, Drakou CE, Kinnersley J, Kröber T, Guerin PM, Zhou JJ, Iatrou K, Eliopoulos E, Zographos SE. Identification of novel bioinspired synthetic mosquito repellents by combined ligand-based screening and OBP-structure-based molecular docking. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 98:48-61. [PMID: 29751047 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In this work we report a fast and efficient virtual screening protocol for discovery of novel bioinspired synthetic mosquito repellents with lower volatility and, in all likelihood, increased protection time as compared with their plant-derived parental compounds. Our screening protocol comprises two filtering steps. The first filter is based on the shape and chemical similarity to known plant-derived repellents, whereas the second filter is based on the predicted similarity of the ligand's binding mode to the Anopheles gambiae odorant binding protein (AgamOBP1) relative to that of DEET and Icaridin to the same OBP. Using this protocol, a chemical library containing 42,755 synthetic molecules was screened in silico and sixteen selected compounds were tested for their affinity to AgamOBP1 in vitro and repellence against A. gambiae female mosquitoes using a warm-body repellent assay. One of them showed DEET-like repellence (91%) but with significantly lower volatility (2.84 × 10-6 mmHg) than either DEET (1.35 × 10-3 mmHg) or its parental cuminic acid (3.08 × 10-3 mmHg), and four other compounds were found to exhibit repellent indices between 69 and 79%. Overall, a correlation was not evident between repellence and OBP-binding strength. In contrast, a correlation between binding mode and repellence was found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trias Thireou
- Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia Kythreoti
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biosciences & Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 153 10 Aghia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina E Tsitsanou
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry & Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Koussis
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biosciences & Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 153 10 Aghia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina E Drakou
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry & Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece
| | - Julie Kinnersley
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - Thomas Kröber
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Neuchâtel, rue Emile-Argand, 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Patrick M Guerin
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Neuchâtel, rue Emile-Argand, 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Jing-Jiang Zhou
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - Kostas Iatrou
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biosciences & Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 153 10 Aghia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece
| | - Elias Eliopoulos
- Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Spyros E Zographos
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry & Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece.
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13
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Li H, Wang P, Zhang L, Xu X, Cao Z, Zhang L. Expressions of Olfactory Proteins in Locust Olfactory Organs and a Palp Odorant Receptor Involved in Plant Aldehydes Detection. Front Physiol 2018; 9:663. [PMID: 29915543 PMCID: PMC5994405 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The main chemosensory organs of locusts consisted of the antennae and the mouthparts (maxillary and labial palps), which are suggested to perform different functions. However, very few are known about the differences of these two organs at molecular level. To understand the differences of locust antennae and palps in olfaction, the electrophysiological response and olfactory gene expression of these two organs were conducted. Our electrophysiological experiments with Locusta migratoria showed that the responses of mouthpart palps and antennae to odorants are quite different. Only a few odorants, such as (E,E)-2,4-hexadienal and (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal, elicited stronger electrophysiological responses of both maxillary and labial palps in comparison to the antennae. Additionally, we obtained 114 and 11 putative odorant receptor (OR) gene segments from the antennal and palp transcriptomes, respectively. Two novel odorant-binding proteins (OBPs; OBP15 and OBP16) and one novel OR (OR142) were identified for the first time. Out of the 16 OBP genes tested in RT-PCR and qPCR analyses, OBP8 was highly expressed in the nymphal palps. OBP4, OBP10, and OBP16 were only detected in the antennae. The other 11 OBP genes were jointly expressed in both antennae and palps. The relative expression level of OBP6 in male palps was much higher than that of female palps. Furthermore, for the 11 OR genes identified in palp transcriptome, the expression levels of OR12, OR13, OR14, and OR18 in the palps were significantly higher than those in the antennae. The OR12 in palps was demonstrated to be involved in detection of hexanal and E-2-hexenal, as well as (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal. Our results provide information on the different olfactory roles of locust antennae and palps at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Li
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Liwei Zhang
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Xu
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zewen Cao
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Long Zhang
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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14
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Fleischer J, Pregitzer P, Breer H, Krieger J. Access to the odor world: olfactory receptors and their role for signal transduction in insects. Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:485-508. [PMID: 28828501 PMCID: PMC11105692 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2627-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The sense of smell enables insects to recognize and discriminate a broad range of volatile chemicals in their environment originating from prey, host plants and conspecifics. These olfactory cues are received by olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) that relay information about food sources, oviposition sites and mates to the brain and thus elicit distinct odor-evoked behaviors. Research over the last decades has greatly advanced our knowledge concerning the molecular basis underlying the reception of odorous compounds and the mechanisms of signal transduction in OSNs. The emerging picture clearly indicates that OSNs of insects recognize odorants and pheromones by means of ligand-binding membrane proteins encoded by large and diverse families of receptor genes. In contrast, the mechanisms of the chemo-electrical transduction process are not fully understood; the present status suggests a contribution of ionotropic as well as metabotropic mechanisms. In this review, we will summarize current knowledge on the peripheral mechanisms of odor sensing in insects focusing on olfactory receptors and their specific role in the recognition and transduction of odorant and pheromone signals by OSNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joerg Fleischer
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Pablo Pregitzer
- Institute of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Heinz Breer
- Institute of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jürgen Krieger
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany.
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15
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Feng B, Guo Q, Zheng K, Qin Y, Du Y. Antennal transcriptome analysis of the piercing moth Oraesia emarginata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179433. [PMID: 28614384 PMCID: PMC5470721 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The piercing fruit moth Oraesia emarginata is an economically significant pest; however, our understanding of its olfactory mechanisms in infestation is limited. The present study conducted antennal transcriptome analysis of olfactory genes using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR analysis (RT-qPCR). We identified a total of 104 candidate chemosensory genes from several gene families, including 35 olfactory receptors (ORs), 41 odorant-binding proteins, 20 chemosensory proteins, 6 ionotropic receptors, and 2 sensory neuron membrane proteins. Seven candidate pheromone receptors (PRs) and 3 candidate pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) for sex pheromone recognition were found. OemaOR29 and OemaPBP1 had the highest fragments per kb per million fragments (FPKM) values in all ORs and OBPs, respectively. Eighteen olfactory genes were upregulated in females, including 5 candidate PRs, and 20 olfactory genes were upregulated in males, including 2 candidate PRs (OemaOR29 and 4) and 2 PBPs (OemaPBP1 and 3). These genes may have roles in mediating sex-specific behaviors. Most candidate olfactory genes of sex pheromone recognition (except OemaOR29 and OemaPBP3) in O. emarginata were not clustered with those of studied noctuid species (type I pheromone). In addition, OemaOR29 was belonged to cluster PRIII, which comprise proteins that recognize type II pheromones instead of type I pheromones. The structure and function of olfactory genes that encode sex pheromones in O. emarginata might thus differ from those of other studied noctuids. The findings of the present study may help explain the molecular mechanism underlying olfaction and the evolution of olfactory genes encoding sex pheromones in O. emarginata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Feng
- Institute of Health and Environmental Ecology, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qianshuang Guo
- Institute of Health and Environmental Ecology, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kaidi Zheng
- Institute of Health and Environmental Ecology, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuanxia Qin
- Department of Research and Development, Newcon Inc., Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yongjun Du
- Institute of Health and Environmental Ecology, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- * E-mail:
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16
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He YQ, Feng B, Guo QS, Du Y. Age influences the olfactory profiles of the migratory oriental armyworm mythimna separate at the molecular level. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:32. [PMID: 28056777 PMCID: PMC5217624 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3427-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The oriental armyworm Mythimna separata (Walk) is a serious migratory pest; however, studies on its olfactory response and its underlying molecular mechanism are limited. To gain insights to the olfactory mechanism of migration, olfactory genes were identified using antennal transcriptome analysis. The olfactory response and the expression of olfactory genes for 1-day and 5-day-old moths were respectively investigated by EAG and RT-qPCR analyses. Results Putative 126 olfactory genes were identified in M. separata, which included 43 ORs, 13 GRs, 16 IRs, 37 OBPs, 14 CSPs, and 3 SNMPs. RPKM values of IR75d and 10 ORs were larger than co-receptors IR25a and ORco, and the RPKM value of PR2 was larger than that of other ORs. Expression of GR1 (sweet receptor) was higher than that of other GRs. Several sex pheromones activated evident EAG responses where the responses of 5-day-old male moths to the sex pheromones were significantly greater than those of female and 1-day old male moths. In accordance with the EAG response, 11 pheromone genes, including 6 PRs and 5 PBPs were identified in M. separate, and the expression levels of 7 pheromone genes in 5-day-old moths were significantly higher than those of females and 1-day-old moths. PR2 and PBP2 might be used in identifying Z11-16: Ald, which is the main sex pheromone component of M. separata. EAG responses to 16 plant volatiles and the expression levels of 43 olfactory genes in 1-day-old moths were significantly greater than that observed in the 5-day-old moths. Heptanal, Z6-nonenal, and benzaldehyde might be very important floral volatiles for host searching and recognized by several olfactory genes with high expression. Some plant volatiles might be important to male moths because the EAG response to 16 plant volatiles and the expression of 43 olfactory genes were significantly larger in males than in females. Conclusions The findings of the present study show the effect of adult age on olfactory responses and expression profile of olfactory genes in the migratory pest M. separate. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-3427-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue-Qiu He
- Ningbo City College of Vocational Technology, Xuefu Road, Yinzhou High Educational Park, NingBo, 315100, ZheJiang, China
| | - Bo Feng
- Institute of Health and Environmental Ecology, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Qian-Shuang Guo
- Institute of Health and Environmental Ecology, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Yongjun Du
- Institute of Health and Environmental Ecology, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
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17
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Tsitoura P, Iatrou K. Positive Allosteric Modulation of Insect Olfactory Receptor Function by ORco Agonists. Front Cell Neurosci 2016; 10:275. [PMID: 28018173 PMCID: PMC5145856 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2016.00275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect olfactory receptors (ORs) are heteromeric ligand-gated cation channels composed of a common olfactory receptor subunit (ORco) and a variable subunit (ORx) of as yet unknown structures and undetermined stoichiometries. In this study, we examined the allosteric modulation exerted on Anopheles gambiae heteromeric ORx/ORco olfactory receptors in vitro by a specific class of ORco agonists (OAs) comprising ORcoRAM2 and VUAA1. High OA concentrations produced stronger functional responses in cells expressing heteromeric receptor channels relative to cells expressing ORco alone. These OA-induced responses of ORx/ORco channels were also notably much stronger than those obtained upon administration of ORx-specific ligands to the same receptors. Most importantly, small concentrations of OAs were found to act as strong potentiators of ORx/ORco function, increasing dramatically both the efficacy and potency of ORx-specific odorants. These results suggest that insect heteromeric ORs are highly dynamic complexes adopting different conformations that change in a concerted fashion as a result of the interplay between the subunits of the oligomeric assemblies, and that allosteric modulation may constitute an important element in the modulation and fining tuning of olfactory reception function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kostas Iatrou
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”Athens, Greece
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18
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Vaníčková L, Canale A, Benelli G. Sexual chemoecology of mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae): Current knowledge and implications for vector control programs. Parasitol Int 2016; 66:190-195. [PMID: 27692501 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2016.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Revised: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) act as vectors of medical and veterinary importance, due to their ability to transmit many pathogens and parasites. Renewed interest has been recently devoted to the potential of sterile insect technique (SIT) for mosquito suppression. However, the success of the SIT is mostly dependent on the ability of sterile males to compete for mates with the wild ones in the field. Nevertheless, little is known on the sexual chemical ecology of mosquitoes, with special reference to the role of chemical signals in males. We reviewed the current knowledge on mosquito sexual chemical ecology and other key cues affecting courtship and mating behavior. The information available on the aggregation and sex pheromones in mosquito males is rather limited. To the best of our knowledge, the components of the aggregation pheromone stimulating swarming mechanisms have been fully characterized only for Aedes aegypti, while evidence for aggregation pheromones in other mosquito species remains elusive. Further research on this issue is needed, as well as to dissect the relative importance of visual (with special reference to swarming landmarks), vibrational, olfactory and tactile cues perceived during swarming and mate. On the other hand, more knowledge is available for cuticular hydrocarbons, which modulate mating behavior in several species of economic importance. These compounds, coupled with volatile aggregation components, have potential interest for the development of monitoring and trapping systems. In addition, the analyses of cuticular hydrocarbons are essential for discrimination between closely related mosquito species and/or populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Vaníčková
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 656/123, Brno CZ-616 00, Czech Republic; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Angelo Canale
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Benelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
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19
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González-González A, Palma-Millanao R, Yáñez O, Rojas M, Mutis A, Venthur H, Quiroz A, Ramírez CC. Virtual Screening of Plant Volatile Compounds Reveals a High Affinity of Hylamorpha elegans (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Odorant-Binding Proteins for Sesquiterpenes From Its Native Host. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2016; 16:iew008. [PMID: 27012867 PMCID: PMC4806717 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iew008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/24/2016] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Hylamorpha elegans(Burmeister) is a native Chilean scarab beetle considered to be a relevant agricultural pest to pasture and cereal and small fruit crops. Because of their cryptic habits, control with conventional methods is difficult; therefore, alternative and environmentally friendly control strategies are highly desirable. The study of proteins that participate in the recognition of odorants, such as odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), offers interesting opportunities to identify new compounds with the potential to modify pest behavior and computational screening of compounds, which is commonly used in drug discovery, may help to accelerate the discovery of new semiochemicals. Here, we report the discovery of four OBPs inH. elegans as well as six new volatiles released by its native host Nothofagus obliqua(Mirbel). Molecular docking performed between OBPs and new and previously reported volatiles from N. oblique revealed the best binding energy values for sesquiterpenic compounds. Despite remarkable divergence at the amino acid level, three of the four OBPs evaluated exhibited the best interaction energy for the same ligands. Molecular dynamics investigation reinforced the importance of sesquiterpenes, showing that hydrophobic residues of the OBPs interacted most frequently with the tested ligands, and binding free energy calculations demonstrated van der Waals and hydrophobic interactions to be the most important. Altogether, the results suggest that sesquiterpenes are interesting candidates for in vitro and in vivo assays to assess their potential application in pest management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica González-González
- Millennium Nucleus Centre in Molecular Ecology and Evolutionary Applications in Agroecosystems, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, 2 Norte 685, Talca, Chile (; ; ),
| | - Rubén Palma-Millanao
- Millennium Nucleus Centre in Molecular Ecology and Evolutionary Applications in Agroecosystems, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, 2 Norte 685, Talca, Chile (; ; ),
| | - Osvaldo Yáñez
- Doctorado en Fisicoquímica Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Andrés Bello, República 275, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maximiliano Rojas
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Dos Norte 685, 3465548 Talca, Chile , and
| | - Ana Mutis
- Laboratorio de Ecología Química, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar, 01145 Temuco, Chile (; ; )
| | - Herbert Venthur
- Laboratorio de Ecología Química, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar, 01145 Temuco, Chile (; ; )
| | - Andrés Quiroz
- Laboratorio de Ecología Química, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar, 01145 Temuco, Chile (; ; )
| | - Claudio C Ramírez
- Millennium Nucleus Centre in Molecular Ecology and Evolutionary Applications in Agroecosystems, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, 2 Norte 685, Talca, Chile (; ; )
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20
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Omondi BA, Majeed S, Ignell R. Functional development of carbon dioxide detection in the maxillary palp of Anopheles gambiae. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 218:2482-8. [PMID: 26056246 PMCID: PMC4528704 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.116798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 05/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Olfactory information drives several behaviours critical for the survival and persistence of insect pests and vectors. Insect behaviour is variable, linked to their biological needs, and regulated by physiological dynamics. For mosquitoes, CO2 is an important cue that signifies the presence of a host, and which elicits activation and attraction. To investigate the genetic basis of olfactory modulation in mosquitoes, we assayed changes in CO2 detection from receptor gene expression through physiological function to behaviour, associated with the onset of host seeking in the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae. The gene encoding a subunit of the CO2 receptor, AgGr22, was found to be significantly up-regulated in host-seeking females, consistent with a significant increase in sensitivity of CO2-responsive neurons (cpA) housed in capitate peg sensilla of the maxillary palp. In addition, the odorant receptor AgOr28, which is expressed in cpC neurons, was significantly up-regulated. In contrast, AgOr8, which is expressed in cpB neurons, was not affected by this change in physiological state, in agreement with results for the obligate co-receptor Orco. Moreover, the sensitivity of the cpB neuron to (R)-1-octen-3-ol, a well-known mammalian kairomone, did not change in response to the onset of host seeking. The concentration of CO2 flux influenced both the propensity of A. gambiae to take off into the wind and the speed with which this activation occurred. Female A. gambiae mosquitoes responded to CO2 whether mature for host seeking or not, but onset of host seeking enhanced sensitivity and speed of activation at relevant doses of CO2. Summary: Onset of host-seeking behaviour in malaria mosquitoes is correlated with an increased receptor gene expression, and physiological and behavioural sensitivity to CO2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonaventure Aman Omondi
- Unit of Chemical Ecology, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp 230 53, Sweden Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knoell-Strasse 8, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Shahid Majeed
- Unit of Chemical Ecology, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp 230 53, Sweden
| | - Rickard Ignell
- Unit of Chemical Ecology, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp 230 53, Sweden
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21
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Omondi BA, Latorre-Estivalis JM, Rocha Oliveira IH, Ignell R, Lorenzo MG. Evaluation of reference genes for insect olfaction studies. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:243. [PMID: 25896676 PMCID: PMC4417234 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0862-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) is a robust and accessible method to assay gene expression and to infer gene regulation. Being a chain of procedures, this technique is subject to systematic error due to biological and technical limitations mainly set by the starting material and downstream procedures. Thus, rigorous data normalization is critical to grant reliability and repeatability of gene expression quantification by qRT-PCR. A number of 'housekeeping genes', involved in basic cellular functions, have been commonly used as internal controls for this normalization process. However, these genes could themselves be regulated and must therefore be tested a priori. METHODS We evaluated eight potential reference genes for their stability as internal controls for RT-qPCR studies of olfactory gene expression in the antennae of Rhodnius prolixus, a Chagas disease vector. The set of genes included were: α-tubulin; β-actin; Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; Eukaryotic initiation factor 1A; Glutathione-S-transferase; Serine protease; Succinate dehydrogenase; and Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Five experimental conditions, including changes in age,developmental stage and feeding status were tested in both sexes. RESULTS We show that the evaluation of candidate reference genes is necessary for each combination of sex, tissue and physiological condition analyzed in order to avoid inconsistent results and conclusions. Although, Normfinder and geNorm software yielded different results between males and females, five genes (SDH, Tub, GAPDH, Act and G6PDH) appeared in the first positions in all rankings obtained. By using gene expression data of a single olfactory coreceptor gene as an example, we demonstrated the extent of changes expected using different internal standards. CONCLUSIONS This work underlines the need for a rigorous selection of internal standards to grant the reliability of normalization processes in qRT-PCR studies. Furthermore, we show that particular physiological or developmental conditions require independent evaluation of a diverse set of potential reference genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonaventure Aman Omondi
- Chemical Ecology Unit, Department of Plant Protection Biology, SLU, Alnarp, Sweden. .,Current address: Bioversity International, Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, Bujumbura, Burundi.
| | - Jose Manuel Latorre-Estivalis
- Vector Behavior and Pathogen Interaction Group, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Ivana Helena Rocha Oliveira
- Vector Behavior and Pathogen Interaction Group, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Rickard Ignell
- Chemical Ecology Unit, Department of Plant Protection Biology, SLU, Alnarp, Sweden.
| | - Marcelo Gustavo Lorenzo
- Vector Behavior and Pathogen Interaction Group, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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22
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Tsitoura P, Koussis K, Iatrou K. Inhibition of Anopheles gambiae odorant receptor function by mosquito repellents. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:7961-72. [PMID: 25657000 PMCID: PMC4367294 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.632299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Revised: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of molecular targets of insect repellents has been a challenging task, with their effects on odorant receptors (ORs) remaining a debatable issue. Here, we describe a study on the effects of selected mosquito repellents, including the widely used repellent N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), on the function of specific ORs of the African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. This study, which has been based on quantitative measurements of a Ca(2+)-activated photoprotein biosensor of recombinant OR function in an insect cell-based expression platform and a sequential compound addition protocol, revealed that heteromeric OR (ORx/Orco) function was susceptible to strong inhibition by all tested mosquito repellents except DEET. Moreover, our results demonstrated that the observed inhibition was due to efficient blocking of Orco (olfactory receptor coreceptor) function. This mechanism of repellent action, which is reported for the first time, is distinct from the mode of action of other characterized insect repellents including DEET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiota Tsitoura
- From the Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 15310 Athens and
| | - Konstantinos Koussis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Kostas Iatrou
- From the Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 15310 Athens and
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Karner T, Kellner I, Schultze A, Breer H, Krieger JÃ. Co-expression of six tightly clustered odorant receptor genes in the antenna of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Front Ecol Evol 2015. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2015.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
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Lees RS, Knols B, Bellini R, Benedict MQ, Bheecarry A, Bossin HC, Chadee DD, Charlwood J, Dabiré RK, Djogbenou L, Egyir-Yawson A, Gato R, Gouagna LC, Hassan MM, Khan SA, Koekemoer LL, Lemperiere G, Manoukis NC, Mozuraitis R, Pitts RJ, Simard F, Gilles JR. Review: Improving our knowledge of male mosquito biology in relation to genetic control programmes. Acta Trop 2014; 132 Suppl:S2-11. [PMID: 24252487 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2013] [Accepted: 11/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The enormous burden placed on populations worldwide by mosquito-borne diseases, most notably malaria and dengue, is currently being tackled by the use of insecticides sprayed in residences or applied to bednets, and in the case of dengue vectors through reduction of larval breeding sites or larviciding with insecticides thereof. However, these methods are under threat from, amongst other issues, the development of insecticide resistance and the practical difficulty of maintaining long-term community-wide efforts. The sterile insect technique (SIT), whose success hinges on having a good understanding of the biology and behaviour of the male mosquito, is an additional weapon in the limited arsenal against mosquito vectors. The successful production and release of sterile males, which is the mechanism of population suppression by SIT, relies on the release of mass-reared sterile males able to confer sterility in the target population by mating with wild females. A five year Joint FAO/IAEA Coordinated Research Project brought together researchers from around the world to investigate the pre-mating conditions of male mosquitoes (physiology and behaviour, resource acquisition and allocation, and dispersal), the mosquito mating systems and the contribution of molecular or chemical approaches to the understanding of male mosquito mating behaviour. A summary of the existing knowledge and the main novel findings of this group is reviewed here, and further presented in the reviews and research articles that form this Acta Tropica special issue.
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Schultze A, Breer H, Krieger J. The blunt trichoid sensillum of female mosquitoes, Anopheles gambiae: odorant binding protein and receptor types. Int J Biol Sci 2014; 10:426-37. [PMID: 24719560 PMCID: PMC3979995 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.8754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to find a blood host and to select appropriate oviposition sites female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes rely on olfactory cues which are sensed by olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) located within morphologically different sensilla hairs. While the sharp type trichoid sensilla are most abundant and intensely studied, the striking blunt type trichoid sensilla exist only in small numbers and their specific function is unknown. It has been suggested that they may play a role in the detection of chemical cues indicating oviposition sites. With the aim of identifying molecular elements in blunt type trichoid sensilla, which may be relevant for chemosensory function of this sensillum type, experiments were performed which include whole mount fluorescence in situ hybridization (WM-FISH) and fluorescence immunohistochemistry (WM-FIHC). The studies were concentrated on odorant binding proteins (AgOBPs) and odorant receptors (AgORs). WM-FISH approaches using a probe for the plus-C class AgOBP47 led to the labeling of cells, which resembled in number and antennal distribution pattern the blunt type trichoid sensilla. Moreover, WM-FIHC with an antiserum for AgOBP47 allowed to assign the AgOBP47-expressing cells to blunt type trichoid sensilla and to allocate the protein within the sensillum hair shafts. The result of double WM-FISH-experiments and combined WM-FIHC/FISH approaches indicated that the AgOBP47-expressing cells are co-localized with cells, which express AgOR11, AgOR13 and AgOR55. In addition, it turned out that the two receptor types AgOR13 and AgOR55 are co-expressed in the same cells. Together, the results indicate that the blunt type trichoid sensilla contain a characteristic binding protein, plus-C AgOBP47, in the sensillum lymph and two sensory neurons, one cell which express the odorant receptor AgOR11 and a second cell which express the receptor types AgOR13 and AgOR55. The expression of characteristic chemosensory elements in blunt type trichoid sensilla supports the notion that this sensillum type is involved in sensing distinct odorous compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Schultze
- University of Hohenheim, Institute of Physiology, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Heinz Breer
- University of Hohenheim, Institute of Physiology, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jürgen Krieger
- University of Hohenheim, Institute of Physiology, Stuttgart, Germany
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The co-expression pattern of odorant binding proteins and olfactory receptors identify distinct trichoid sensilla on the antenna of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69412. [PMID: 23861970 PMCID: PMC3702612 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The initial steps of odorant recognition in the insect olfactory system involve odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and odorant receptors (ORs). While large families of OBPs have been identified in the malaria vector A. gambiae, little is known about their expression pattern in the numerous sensory hairs of the female antenna. We applied whole mount fluorescence in Situ hybridization (WM-FISH) and fluorescence immunohistochemistry (WM-FIHC) to investigate the sensilla co-expression of eight A. gambiae OBPs (AgOBPs), most notably AgOBP1 and AgOBP4, which all have abundant transcripts in female antenna. WM-FISH analysis of female antennae using AgOBP-specific probes revealed marked differences in the number of cells expressing each various AgOBPs. Testing combinations of AgOBP probes in two-color WM-FISH resulted in distinct cellular labeling patterns, indicating a combinatorial expression of AgOBPs and revealing distinct AgOBP requirements for various functional sensilla types. WM-FIHC with antisera to AgOBP1 and AgOBP4 confirmed expression of the respective proteins by support cells and demonstrated a location of OBPs within sensilla trichodea. Based on the finding that AgOBP1 and AgOBP4 as well as the receptor type AgOR2 are involved in the recognition of indole, experiments were performed to explore if the AgOBP-types and AgOR2 are co-expressed in distinct olfactory sensilla. Applying two-color WM-FISH with AgOBP-specific probes and probes specific for AgOR2 revealed a close association of support cells bearing transcripts for AgOBP1 and AgOBP4 and neurons with a transcript for the receptor AgOR2. Moreover, combined WM-FISH/-FIHC approaches using an AgOR2-specific riboprobe and AgOBP-specific antisera revealed the expression of the “ligand-matched” AgOBP1, AgOBP4 and AgOR2 to single trichoid hairs. This result substantiates the notion that a specific response to indole is mediated by an interplay of the proteins.
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27
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Xu H, Guo M, Yang Y, You Y, Zhang L. Differential expression of two novel odorant receptors in the locust (Locusta migratoria). BMC Neurosci 2013; 14:50. [PMID: 23607307 PMCID: PMC3658887 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-14-50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2013] [Accepted: 04/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Olfaction in animals is important for host localization, mating and reproduction in heterogeneous chemical environments. Studying the molecular basis of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) systems can elucidate the evolution of olfaction and associated behaviours. Odorant receptors (ORs) in insects have been identified, particularly in the holometabolous model Drosophila, and some of them have been functionally studied. However, ORs in the locust—a hemimetabolous model insect and the most important insect crop pest—have not yet been identified, hindering our understanding of locust olfaction. Here, we report for the first time four putative ORs in Locusta migratoria: LmigOR1, LmigOR2, LmigOR3 and LmigOR4. Results These four putative OR genes encoded proteins with amino acids of 478, 436, 413 and 403 respectively. Sequence identity among them ranged from 19.7% to 35.4%. All ORs were tissue-specifically expressed in olfactory organs, without sex-biased characteristics. However, LmigOR1, LmigOR3 and LmigOR4 were only expressed in the antenna, while LmigOR2 could also be detected in mouthparts. In situ hybridization demonstrated that the LmigOR1antisense probe labelled olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) in almost all segments of the antenna, but only a few segments housed ORNs expressing LmigOR2. The number of neurons labelled by LmigOR1 antisense probes in each antennal segment was much greater (>10 neurons/segment) than that labelled by LmigOR2 probes (generally 1–3 neurons/segment). Furthermore, some of the labelled neurons could be attributed to the basiconic sensilla, but LmigOR1 and LmigOR2 were expressed in different subtypes. Conclusions Our results strongly suggested that these newly discovered genes encode locust ORs and the differential expression patterns of LmigOR1 and LmigOR2 implied distinct functions. These results may offer insights into locust olfaction and contribute to the understanding of the evolution of insect chemoreception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haozhi Xu
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China.
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28
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Scialò F, Hansson BS, Giordano E, Polito CL, Digilio FA. Molecular and functional characterization of the odorant receptor2 (OR2) in the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36538. [PMID: 22606270 PMCID: PMC3351472 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2011] [Accepted: 04/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In mosquitoes, the olfactory system plays a crucial role in many types of behavior, including nectar feeding, host preference selection and oviposition. Aedes albopictus, known also as the tiger mosquito, is an anthropophilic species, which in the last few years, due to its strong ecological plasticity, has spread throughout the world. Although long considered only a secondary vector of viruses, the potential of its vector capacity may constitute a threat to public health. Based on the idea that an improved understanding of the olfactory system of mosquitoes may assist in the development of control methods that interfere with their behavior, we have undertaken a study aimed at characterizing the A. albopictus Odorant Receptors. Here we report the identification, cloning and functional characterization of the AalOR2 ortholog, that represents the first candidate member of the odorant receptor (OR) family of proteins from A. albopictus. AalOR2 is expressed in the larval heads and antennae of adults. Our data indicate that A. albopictus OR2 (AalOR2) shares a high degree of identity with other mosquito OR2 orthologs characterized to date, confirming that OR2 is one of the most conserved mosquito ORs. Our data indicate that AalOR2 is narrowly tuned to indole, and inhibited by (-)-menthone. In agreement with this results, these two compounds elicit two opposite effects on the olfactory-based behavior of A. albopictus larvae, as determined through a larval behavioral assay. In summary, this work has led to the cloning and de-orphaning of the first Odorant Receptor in the tiger mosquito A. albopictus. In future control strategies this receptor may be used as a potential molecular target.
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MESH Headings
- Aedes/genetics
- Aedes/physiology
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- Base Sequence
- Behavior, Animal/drug effects
- Behavior, Animal/physiology
- Calcium/metabolism
- Cloning, Molecular
- Drosophila/genetics
- Drosophila/metabolism
- Female
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Genes, Insect
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Indoles/pharmacology
- Insect Proteins/genetics
- Insect Proteins/physiology
- Larva/drug effects
- Larva/genetics
- Larva/metabolism
- Male
- Menthol/pharmacology
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Odorants
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Receptors, Odorant/genetics
- Receptors, Odorant/physiology
- Recombinant Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Scialò
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics A. Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Bill S. Hansson
- Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology Jena, Germany
| | - Ennio Giordano
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Catello L. Polito
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics A. Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, Naples, Italy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - F. Anna Digilio
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics A. Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, Naples, Italy
- * E-mail:
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29
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Pelletier J, Leal WS. Characterization of olfactory genes in the antennae of the Southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2011; 57:915-929. [PMID: 21504749 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2011.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2011] [Revised: 03/25/2011] [Accepted: 04/01/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Odorant reception in insects is mediated by different families of olfactory proteins. Here we focus on the characterization of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), "plus-C" odorant-binding proteins ("plus-C" OBPs), chemosensory proteins (CSPs) and sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) families from the Southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, a vector of pathogens implicated in multiple human diseases. Using bioinformatics and molecular approaches, we have identified a diversity of genes in the genome of Culex quinquefasciatus and examined their expression profiles by RT-PCR and real-time quantitative PCR. Based on their high transcript enrichment in female antennae compared to non-olfactory tissues, we have identified twelve OBPs, two "plus-C" OBPs and two SNMPs that likely play important roles in odorant reception. Transcripts of two genes were clearly enriched in female antennae compared to male antennae, whereas other genes displayed relatively equivalent transcript levels in antennae of both sexes. Additionally, eight genes were found to be transcribed at very high levels in female antennae compared to CquiOR7, suggesting they might encode highly abundant olfactory proteins. Comparative analysis across different mosquito species revealed that olfactory genes of Culex quinquefasciatus are related to putative orthologs in other species, indicating that they might perform similar functions. Understanding how mosquitoes are able to detect ecologically relevant odorant cues might help designing better control strategies. We have identified olfactory genes from different families which are likely important in Culex quinquefasciatus behaviors, thus paving the way towards a better understanding of the diversity of proteins involved in the reception of semiochemicals in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Pelletier
- Honorary Maeda-Duffey Laboratory, Department of Entomology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
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30
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Baker DA, Nolan T, Fischer B, Pinder A, Crisanti A, Russell S. A comprehensive gene expression atlas of sex- and tissue-specificity in the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae. BMC Genomics 2011; 12:296. [PMID: 21649883 PMCID: PMC3129592 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-12-296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2011] [Accepted: 06/07/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, is the primary vector of human malaria, a disease responsible for millions of deaths each year. To improve strategies for controlling transmission of the causative parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, we require a thorough understanding of the developmental mechanisms, physiological processes and evolutionary pressures affecting life-history traits in the mosquito. Identifying genes expressed in particular tissues or involved in specific biological processes is an essential part of this process. Results In this study, we present transcription profiles for ~82% of annotated Anopheles genes in dissected adult male and female tissues. The sensitivity afforded by examining dissected tissues found gene activity in an additional 20% of the genome that is undetected when using whole-animal samples. The somatic and reproductive tissues we examined each displayed patterns of sexually dimorphic and tissue-specific expression. By comparing expression profiles with Drosophila melanogaster we also assessed which genes are well conserved within the Diptera versus those that are more recently evolved. Conclusions Our expression atlas and associated publicly available database, the MozAtlas (http://www.tissue-atlas.org), provides information on the relative strength and specificity of gene expression in several somatic and reproductive tissues, isolated from a single strain grown under uniform conditions. The data will serve as a reference for other mosquito researchers by providing a simple method for identifying where genes are expressed in the adult, however, in addition our resource will also provide insights into the evolutionary diversity associated with gene expression levels among species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean A Baker
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB1 3QA, UK.
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31
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Qiao H, He X, Schymura D, Ban L, Field L, Dani FR, Michelucci E, Caputo B, Torre AD, Iatrou K, Zhou JJ, Krieger J, Pelosi P. Cooperative interactions between odorant-binding proteins of Anopheles gambiae. Cell Mol Life Sci 2011; 68:1799-813. [PMID: 20957509 PMCID: PMC11114539 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-010-0539-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2010] [Revised: 08/23/2010] [Accepted: 09/23/2010] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
To understand olfactory discrimination in Anopheles gambiae, we made six purified recombinant OBPs and investigated their ligand-binding properties. All OBPs were expressed in bacteria with additional production of OBP47 in the yeast Kluveromyces lactis. Ligand-binding experiments, performed with a diverse set of organic compounds, revealed marked differences between the OBPs. Using the fluorescent probe N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine, we also measured the binding curves for binary mixtures of OBPs and obtained, in some cases, unexpected behaviour, which could only be explained by the OBPs forming heterodimers with binding characteristics different from those of the component proteins. This shows that OBPs in mosquitoes can form complexes with novel ligand specificities, thus amplifying the repertoire of OBPs and the number of semiochemicals that can be discriminated. Confirmation of the likely role of heterodimers was demonstrated by in situ hybridisation, suggesting that OBP1 and OBP4 are co-expressed in some antennal sensilla of A. gambiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huili Qiao
- Department of Biology and Agricultural Plants, University of Pisa, Via S. Michele, 4, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Xiaoli He
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK
| | - Danuta Schymura
- Institute of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Liping Ban
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK
| | - Linda Field
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK
| | - Francesca Romana Dani
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Spettrometria di Massa, University of Firenze, Florence, Italy
| | - Elena Michelucci
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Spettrometria di Massa, University of Firenze, Florence, Italy
| | - Beniamino Caputo
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Sanità Pubblica, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, Sezione di Parassitologia, University ‘Sapienza’, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra della Torre
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Sanità Pubblica, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, Sezione di Parassitologia, University ‘Sapienza’, Rome, Italy
| | - Kostas Iatrou
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biology, National Centre for Scientific Research ‘Demokritos’, Athens, Greece
| | - Jing-Jiang Zhou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK
| | - Jürgen Krieger
- Institute of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Paolo Pelosi
- Department of Biology and Agricultural Plants, University of Pisa, Via S. Michele, 4, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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Tsitoura P, Andronopoulou E, Tsikou D, Agalou A, Papakonstantinou MP, Kotzia GA, Labropoulou V, Swevers L, Georgoussi Z, Iatrou K. Expression and membrane topology of Anopheles gambiae odorant receptors in lepidopteran insect cells. PLoS One 2010; 5:e15428. [PMID: 21082026 PMCID: PMC2972716 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0015428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2010] [Accepted: 09/21/2010] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A lepidopteran insect cell-based expression system has been employed to express three Anopheles gambiae odorant receptors (ORs), OR1 and OR2, which respond to components of human sweat, and OR7, the ortholog of Drosophila's OR83b, the heteromerization partner of all functional ORs in that system. With the aid of epitope tagging and specific antibodies, efficient expression of all ORs was demonstrated and intrinsic properties of the proteins were revealed. Moreover, analysis of the orientation of OR1 and OR2 on the cellular plasma membrane through the use of a novel ‘topology screen’ assay and FACS analysis demonstrates that, as was recently reported for the ORs in Drosophila melanogaster, mosquito ORs also have a topology different than their mammalian counterparts with their N-terminal ends located in the cytoplasm and their C-terminal ends facing outside the cell. These results set the stage for the production of mosquito ORs in quantities that should permit their detailed biochemical and structural characterization and the exploration of their functional properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiota Tsitoura
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biology, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Evi Andronopoulou
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biology, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Daniela Tsikou
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biology, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Adamantia Agalou
- Laboratory of Cellular Signaling and Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biology, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria P. Papakonstantinou
- Laboratory of Cellular Signaling and Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biology, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia A. Kotzia
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biology, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Vassiliki Labropoulou
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biology, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Luc Swevers
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biology, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Zafiroula Georgoussi
- Laboratory of Cellular Signaling and Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biology, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Kostas Iatrou
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biology, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
- * E-mail:
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33
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Schymura D, Forstner M, Schultze A, Kröber T, Swevers L, Iatrou K, Krieger J. Antennal expression pattern of two olfactory receptors and an odorant binding protein implicated in host odor detection by the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. Int J Biol Sci 2010; 6:614-26. [PMID: 20975820 PMCID: PMC2962264 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.6.614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2010] [Accepted: 10/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Odor-detection in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae involves large families of diverse proteins, including multiple odorant binding proteins (AgOBPs) and olfactory receptors (AgORs). The receptors AgOR1 and AgOR2, as well as the binding protein AgOBP1, have been implicated in the recognition of human host odors. In this study, we have explored the expression of these olfactory proteins, as well as the ubiquitous odorant receptor heteromerization partner AgOR7, in the thirteen flagellomeres (segments) of female and male antenna. Expressing cells were visualized by adapting a whole mount fluorescence in situ hybridization method. In female mosquitoes, AgOR1-expressing olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) were almost exclusively segregated in segments 3 to 9, whereas AgOR2-expressing ORNs were distributed over flagellomeres 2 to 13. Different individuals comprised a similar number of cells expressing a distinct AgOR type, although their antennal topography and number per flagellomere varied. AgOBP1-expressing support cells were present in segments 3 to 13 of the female antenna, with increasing numbers towards the distal end. In male mosquitoes, total numbers of AgOR- and AgOBP1-expressing cells were much lower. While AgOR2-expressing cells were found on both terminal flagellomeres, AgOR1 cells were restricted to the most distal segment. High densities of AgOBP1-expressing cells were identified in segment 13, whereas segment 12 comprised very few. Altogether, the results demonstrate that both sexes express the two olfactory receptor types as well as the binding protein AgOBP1 but there is a significant sexual dimorphism concerning the number and distribution of these cells. This may suggest gender-specific differences in the ability to detect distinct odorants, specifically human host-derived volatiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danuta Schymura
- University of Hohenheim, Institute of Physiology, Stuttgart, Germany
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34
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The Anopheles gambiae odorant binding protein 1 (AgamOBP1) mediates indole recognition in the antennae of female mosquitoes. PLoS One 2010; 5:e9471. [PMID: 20208991 PMCID: PMC2830424 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2009] [Accepted: 02/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Haematophagous insects are frequently carriers of parasitic diseases, including malaria. The mosquito Anopheles gambiae is the major vector of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa and is thus responsible for thousands of deaths daily. Although the role of olfaction in A. gambiae host detection has been demonstrated, little is known about the combinations of ligands and odorant binding proteins (OBPs) that can produce specific odor-related responses in vivo. We identified a ligand, indole, for an A. gambiae odorant binding protein, AgamOBP1, modeled the interaction in silico and confirmed the interaction using biochemical assays. RNAi-mediated gene silencing coupled with electrophysiological analyses confirmed that AgamOBP1 binds indole in A. gambiae and that the antennal receptor cells do not respond to indole in the absence of AgamOBP1. This case represents the first documented instance of a specific A. gambiae OBP-ligand pairing combination, demonstrates the significance of OBPs in odor recognition, and can be expanded to the identification of other ligands for OBPs of Anopheles and other medically important insects.
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Pelletier J, Leal WS. Genome analysis and expression patterns of odorant-binding proteins from the Southern House mosquito Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus. PLoS One 2009; 4:e6237. [PMID: 19606229 PMCID: PMC2707629 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2009] [Accepted: 06/16/2009] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Olfactory-based behaviors in mosquitoes are mediated by odorant-binding proteins (OBPs). They form a multigenic family involved in the peripheral events in insect olfaction, specifically the transport of odorants to membrane-bound odorant receptors. OBPs contribute to the remarkable sensitivity of the insect's olfactory system and may be involved in the selective transport of odorants.We have employed a combination of bioinformatics and molecular approaches to identify and characterize members of the "classic" OBP family in the Southern House mosquito Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus ( = Cx. quinquefasciatus), a vector of pathogens causing several human diseases. By taking advantage of the recently released genome sequences, we have identified fifty-three putative Cx. quinquefasciatus OBP genes by Blast searches. As a first step towards their molecular characterization, expression patterns by RT-PCR revealed thirteen genes that were detected exclusively and abundantly in chemosensory tissues. No clear differences were observed in the transcripts levels of olfactory-specific OBPs between antennae of both sexes using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Phylogenetic and comparative analysis revealed orthologous of Cx. quinquefasciatus OBPs in Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti. The identification of fifty-three putative OBP genes in Cx. quinquefasciatus highlights the diversity of this family. Tissue-specificity study suggests the existence of different functional classes within the mosquito OBP family. Most genes were detected in chemosensory as well as non chemosensory tissues indicating that they might be encapsulins, but not necessarily olfactory proteins. On the other hand, thirteen "true" OBP genes were detected exclusively in olfactory tissues and might be involved specifically in the detection of "key" semiochemicals. Interestingly, in Cx. quinquefasciatus olfactory-specific OBPs belong exclusively to four distinct phylogenetic groups which are particularly well conserved among three mosquito species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Pelletier
- Honorary Maeda-Duffey Laboratory, Department of Entomology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Walter S. Leal
- Honorary Maeda-Duffey Laboratory, Department of Entomology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
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Hill SR, Hansson BS, Ignell R. Characterization of antennal trichoid sensilla from female southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Say. Chem Senses 2009; 34:231-52. [PMID: 19153252 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjn080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Culex quinquefasciatus, the southern house mosquito, is highly dependent on its olfactory system for vector-related activities such as host seeking and oviposition. The antennae are the primary olfactory organs in mosquitoes. We describe 5 morphological types of sensilla on the antenna of C. quinquefasciatus: 1) a pair of sensilla coeloconica located at the distal tip, 2) long and short sensilla chaetica present on all 13 antennal flagella, 3) sensilla ampullacea found on the 2 proximal-most flagella, 4) 2 morphological types of grooved pegs dispersed throughout the flagella, and 5) 5 morphological subtypes of sensilla trichodea distributed among all flagella. Antennal trichoid and grooved peg sensilla of mosquitoes have been demonstrated to house the olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) that detect many of the odors involved in eliciting vector-related behaviors. In order to initiate the functional characterization of the peripheral olfactory system in female C. quinquefasciatus, we mapped the physiological responses of all 5 morphological subtypes of sensilla trichodea to an odor panel of 44 behaviorally relevant odor compounds. We identified 17 functional classes of sensilla trichodea: 3 short sharp-tipped, 9 short blunt-tipped type I, and 5 short blunt-tipped type II sensilla. One morphological subtype remains unclassified as the long sharp-tipped sensilla did not respond to any of the volatiles tested. The functional classes of the ORNs were analyzed with respect to stimulus response profiles, stimuli sensitivity, and temporal coding patterns. Comparisons with other functionally classified mosquito antennal sensilla trichodea are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon R Hill
- Division of Chemical Ecology, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 102, SE-23053 Alnarp, Sweden.
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Sex-specific splicing in Drosophila: widespread occurrence, tissue specificity and evolutionary conservation. Genetics 2008; 181:421-34. [PMID: 19015538 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.108.096743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Many genes in eukaryotic genomes produce multiple transcripts through a variety of molecular mechanisms including alternative splicing. Alternatively spliced transcripts often encode functionally distinct proteins, indicating that gene regulation at this level makes an important contribution to organismal complexity. The multilevel splicing cascade that regulates sex determination and sex-specific development in Drosophila is a classical example of the role of alternative splicing in cell differentiation. Recent evidence suggests that a large proportion of genes in the Drosophila genome may be spliced in a sex-biased fashion, raising the possibility that alternative splicing may play a more general role in sexually dimorphic development and physiology. However, the prevalence of sex-specific splicing and the extent to which it is shared among genotypes are not fully understood. Genetic variation in the splicing of key components of the sex determination pathway is known to influence the expression of downstream target genes, suggesting that alternative splicing at other loci may also vary in functionally important ways. In this study, we used exon-specific microarrays to examine 417 multitranscript genes for evidence of sex-specific and genotype-specific splicing in 80 different genotypes of Drosophila melanogaster. Most of these loci showed sex-biased splicing, whereas genotype-specific splicing was rare. One hundred thirty-five genes showed different alternative transcript use in males vs. females. Real-time PCR analysis of 6 genes chosen to represent a broad range of biological functions showed that most sex-biased splicing occurs in the gonads. However, somatic tissues, particularly adult heads, also show evidence of sex-specific splicing. Comparison of splicing patterns at orthologous loci in seven Drosophila species shows that sexual biases in alternative exon representation are highly conserved, indicating that sex-specific splicing is an ancient feature of Drosophila biology. To investigate potential mechanisms of sex-biased splicing, we used real-time PCR to examine the expression of six known regulators of alternative splicing in males vs. females. We found that all six loci are themselves spliced sex specifically in gonads and heads, suggesting that regulatory hierarchies based on alternative splicing may be an important feature of sexual differentiation.
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