1
|
Qi X, Wang Y, Zhang G, Cao S, Xu P, Ren X, Mansour A, Niu C. Transcriptome analysis uncovers different avenues for manipulating cold performance in Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera, Calliphoridae). BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2022; 112:1-12. [PMID: 35225171 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485321001073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Temperature strongly impacts the rates of physiological and biochemical processes, which in turn can determine the survival and population size of insects. At low temperatures performance is limited, however, cold tolerance and performance at low temperature can be improved after short- or long-term acclimation in many insect species. To understand mechanisms underlying acclimation, we sequenced and compared the transcriptome of the blowfly Chrysomya megacephala under rapid cold hardening (RCH) and long-term cold acclimation (LCA) conditions. The RCH response was dominated by genes related to immune response, spliceosome, and protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum with up-regulation during recovery from RCH. In contrast, LCA was associated with genes related to carbohydrate metabolism and cytoskeleton branching and stabilizing. Meanwhile, mRNA levels of genes related to glycerophospholipid metabolism, and some heat shock proteins (Hsps) were collectively up-regulated by both RCH and LCA. There were more genes and pathway adjustments associated with LCA than RCH. Overall, the transcriptome data provide basic information of molecular mechanisms underpinning the RCH and LCA response. The partly independent molecular responses to RCH and LCA suggest that several avenues for manipulating cold performance exist and RCH might be more effective as it only triggers fewer genes and affects the general metabolisms less. These observations provide some appropriate methods to improve cold tolerance of C. megacephala, and hold promise for developing an extended use of mass-reared C. megacephala with better cold performance as a pollinator of crops at low temperatures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuewei Qi
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan430070, China
| | - Yaohui Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan430070, China
| | - Guijian Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan430070, China
| | - Shuai Cao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan430070, China
| | - Penghui Xu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan430070, China
| | - Xueming Ren
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan430070, China
| | - Abdelaziz Mansour
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan430070, China
- Department of Economic Entomology and Pesticides, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, 12613Giza, Egypt
| | - Changying Niu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan430070, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wang M, Chu J, Wang Y, Li F, Liao M, Shi H, Zhang Y, Hu G, Wang J. Forensic entomology application in China: Four case reports. J Forensic Leg Med 2019; 63:40-47. [PMID: 30861472 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2019.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
We present four cases that use entomological data to estimate postmortem interval (PMI). In the first case, the body was found in an outdoor environment at 26 °C and was at the fresh stage. However, the PMImin estimated using maggots collected from the corpse was more than 68 h. This was certainly an incorrect estimation because the degree of the body decomposition was light, and it may have been caused by flies invading the corpse before death occurred. In the second case, a corpse of an adult male was found in a semi-closed room, and the body was highly decomposed and mummified. In this case, we used Dermestes maculatus DeGeer (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) to successfully estimate the PMI. The third case involved a female body discovered in her room after she committed suicide by consuming excessive clozapine and alcohol. The PMImin estimated through entomological data did not match the time of death that the other evidence indicated. Thus, we speculated that clozapine and alcohol may have influenced the development of fly larvae. The fourth case occurred in the winter. The murderer killed the victim and burned and dumped the corpse. However, the burned body still attracted necrophagous insects and we successfully calculated the PMImin by using insect evidence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Man Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Jun Chu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China; Criminal Police Branch, Suzhou Public Security Bureau, Renmin Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Fagui Li
- Forensic Center, Department of Public Security of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Xinmin Road, Nanning, China
| | - Mingqing Liao
- Criminal Police Branch, Zhongshan Public Security Bureau, Zhongshan, China
| | - He Shi
- Criminal Police Branch, Guangzhou Public Security Bureau, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingna Zhang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Guoliang Hu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Jiangfeng Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Badenhorst R, Villet MH. The uses of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in forensic entomology. Forensic Sci Res 2018; 3:2-15. [PMID: 30483647 PMCID: PMC6197084 DOI: 10.1080/20961790.2018.1426136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) occurs on every continent and is closely associated with carrion and decaying material in human environments. Its abilities to find dead bodies and carry pathogens give it a prominence in human affairs that may involve prosecution or litigation, and therefore forensic entomologists. The identification, geographical distribution and biology of the species are reviewed to provide a background for approaches that four branches of forensic entomology (urban, stored-product, medico-criminal and environmental) might take to investigations involving this fly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rozane Badenhorst
- Southern African Forensic Entomology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
| | - Martin H. Villet
- Southern African Forensic Entomology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Martín-Vega D, Hall MJR. Estimating the age of Calliphora vicina eggs (Diptera: Calliphoridae): determination of embryonic morphological landmarks and preservation of egg samples. Int J Legal Med 2016; 130:845-54. [PMID: 26753872 PMCID: PMC4830879 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-015-1308-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Blow fly eggs may sometimes be the only entomological evidence recovered in a forensic case, especially in cooler weather when hatching might take several days: hence, a method for estimating their age is greatly needed. However, developmental data on blow fly eggs are mainly limited to records of the time to larval hatching. The current paper describes the morphological changes occurring during embryogenesis of the blow fly Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy and their timing in relation to temperature, in order to determine those characters which can be used for simple egg age estimation using light microscopy. At 7.3 and 25 °C, 15 easily visualised morphological landmarks were determined in C. vicina living embryos, allowing for their age estimation with a resolution of 10-20% of total egg developmental time. The observed age intervals were compared to the embryonic stages described for the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, which are used as reference data in multiple developmental studies. Moreover, current guidelines for preservation of egg samples, which recommend the placement of living eggs directly into 80% ethanol, were tested against the hot water killing (HWK) method prior to preservation in 80% ethanol, recommended for larval and pupal specimens. Direct placement of eggs into 80% ethanol caused marked decomposition of samples, and no morphological landmarks were discernible. On the other hand, HWK fixation prior to preservation in 80% ethanol enabled visualisation of 11 of the 15 age-specific morphological landmarks that were discernible in living embryos. Therefore, HWK fixation prior to preservation in 80% ethanol is recommended for egg samples, thus unifying the protocols for collecting entomological evidence.
Collapse
|