Article
Behavioral Sciences
Rui He, Talicia C. Dukes, Leslie M. Kay
Summary: The study found that pre-exposing rats to odorants retronasally with positive or negative reinforcers could lead to a significant difference in learning rate between high- and low-vapor-pressure odorants, but this effect was not observed for novel odorants. This suggests that odorants may generate similar perceptual experiences in a volatility-dependent manner.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Irina Ogneva, Yulia S. Zhdankina, Oleg Kotov
Summary: Studies on the reproductive function under long-term space flight conditions are important for deep space exploration. The research found that the motility of Drosophila melanogaster spermatozoa decreased after space flight, but cellular respiration and protein expression remained unchanged. The use of specific inhibitors can restore the motility of sperm.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Vittoria Avaro, Thomas Hummel, Federico Calegari
Summary: Olfaction plays a crucial role in the ability of animals to perceive chemicals, and adult neurogenesis has a unique impact on olfactory function. However, the role of newborn neurons in olfactory sensitivity, discrimination, and memory remains controversial.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Shvil Neta, Golan Ariel, Yovel Yossi, Ayali Amir, Maoz M. Ben
Summary: Bio-hybrid sensors, combining biological and electronic components, show great potential in chemical odor recognition with higher sensitivity and easy operation.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Anna Oleszkiewicz, Oshin Behl, Tim Grahl, Thomas Hummel
Summary: Olfactory discrimination is a crucial ability for children and its development is less influenced by age when it comes to enantiomeric odor pairs compared to common odor pairs.
Review
Entomology
Francesca Scolari, Federica Valerio, Giovanni Benelli, Nikos T. Papadopoulos, Lucie Vanickova
Summary: This article provides an overview of the importance of chemical signals in fruit flies' biology, ecology, and pest control, highlighting the role of various chemical cues in fruit fly behavioral interactions and species-specific recognition. Additionally, key challenges for future research in both basic and applied aspects of tephritids are outlined.
Article
Entomology
Juan Huang, Larry J. Gut
Summary: The study found that background odors from different fruits have varying effects on the attraction of Drosophila suzukii to its symbiotic yeast. Raspberry odor had the greatest inhibitory effect on the attractiveness of Hanseniaspora uvarum to the fly, followed by blackberry odor, while cherry and blueberry odors had no significant impact on the attraction.
JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Francisco Devescovi, Juan Hurtado, Phillip W. Taylor
Summary: Female tephritid fruit flies switch their olfactory preferences from male pheromones to fruit stimuli after mating, which may play a crucial role in mating-induced sexual inhibition.
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hongfei Li, Xingying Huang, Yahui Yang, Xiaofeng Chen, Yang Yang, Jinjun Wang, Hongbo Jiang
Summary: By using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, a null sNPFR mutant was successfully generated to investigate its physiological roles in the oriental fruit fly. The mutants showed significant differences in foraging behavior and responses to odorants, as well as inhibition of several olfactory receptor genes. The data suggest that sNPFR plays a regulatory role in olfaction-mediated foraging behavior by interacting with specific cells and odorant receptor neurons.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Tsung-Yuan Hsu, Bo Zhang, Noelle D. L'Etoile, Bi-Tzen Juang
Summary: The Caenorhabditis elegans expresses two distinct proteins, MUT-7 and CeWRN-1, which contribute differently to small interfering RNA synthesis and neuronal plasticity. The collaboration of exonuclease and helicase domains in these proteins may promote RNA loading into a heterochromatin complex, thereby affecting olfactory plasticity in the worm.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elisa Dal Bo, Claudio Gentili, Andrea Spoto, Giovanni Bruno, Andrea Castellani, Carmen Tripodi, Florian Ph. S. Fischmeister, Cinzia Cecchetto
Summary: The level of attention individuals pay to olfactory cues influences the role of odors in everyday life, especially social odors which are crucial in interpersonal relationships. The Social Odor Scale (SOS) is a valid and reliable instrument to assess awareness toward social odors in everyday life.
Article
Neuroimaging
Sonia Ferreira, Isabel Catarina Duarte, Andre Paula, Andreia C. Pereira, Joao Carlos Ribeiro, Hugo Quental, Aldina Reis, Eduardo Duarte Silva, Miguel Castelo-Branco
Summary: USH patients show higher olfactory thresholds and decreased brain activity in response to odorant stimulation in the piriform cortex, but increased activity in the orbitofrontal cortex. This suggests a compensatory mechanism may exist in the orbitofrontal cortex for the under-recruitment of the piriform cortex in USH patients. The study demonstrates that olfactory deficits in USH can be objectively assessed using functional neuroimaging, revealing differential patterns of activity in various regions of the olfactory network.
BRAIN IMAGING AND BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tim Frey, Charles Kwadha, Franziska Haag, Julien Pelletier, Erika A. Wallin, Elsa Holgersson, Erik Hedenstrom, Bjorn Bohman, Marie Bengtsson, Paul G. Becher, Dietmar Krautwurst, Peter Witzgall
Summary: Living organisms communicate chemically through olfactory receptors, such as fruit flies and humans being able to perceive specific odorants like Z4-11Al sensitively, and use these odorants for differentiation and communication.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Edgar O. Aviles-Rosa, Sarah A. Kane, Mizuho Nita, Erica Feuerbacher, Nathaniel J. Hall
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate dogs' olfactory threshold to Spotted Lantern fly (SLF) eggs and found that adding background noise can decrease dogs' discrimination threshold.
APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yuanchang Liu, Shintaro Furuno, Sosuke Akagawa, Rui Yatabe, Takeshi Onodera, Nobuyuki Fujiwara, Hidekazu Takeda, Seiichi Uchida, Kiyoshi Toko
Summary: An odor sensing system using chemosensitive resistors was employed to detect gases emitted from overheated cables in order to prevent fires. The study examined three different types of cables with various insulation materials and analyzed their thermal decomposition products using GC-MS. The odor sensing system, equipped with two arrays, achieved a high accuracy rate in distinguishing cable samples at 270 degrees C.
Article
Ecology
Thomas H. Q. Powell, Andrew Nguyen, Qinwen Xia, Jeffrey L. Feder, Gregory J. Ragland, Daniel A. Hahn
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
M. Renee Bellinger, Roshan Paudel, Steven Starnes, Lukas Kambic, Michael B. Kantar, Thomas Wolfgruber, Kurt Lamour, Scott Geib, Sheina Sim, Susan C. Miyasaka, Martin Helmkampf, Michael Shintaku
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Edwina J. Dowle, Thomas H. Q. Powell, Meredith M. Doellman, Peter J. Meyers, McCall B. Calvert, Kimberly K. O. Walden, Hugh M. Robertson, Stewart H. Berlocher, Jeffrey L. Feder, Daniel A. Hahn, Gregory J. Ragland
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katherine A. Inskeep, Meredith M. Doellman, Thomas H. Q. Powell, Stewart H. Berlocher, Nicholas R. Seifert, Glen R. Hood, Gregory J. Ragland, Peter J. Meyers, Jeffrey L. Feder
Summary: The study demonstrates how divergent phenological adaptation can drive the initiation of reproductive isolation and enhance genetic exchange across broader adaptive radiations, potentially serving as a source of novel genotypic variation.
Article
Zoology
Colette St Mary, Thomas H. Q. Powell, John S. Kominoski, Emily Weinert
Summary: The organization of the living world encompasses various scales, requiring a comprehensive understanding of complex processes across biological subdisciplines and spatiotemporal scales. Developing frameworks that enable scaling across subdisciplines is essential for predicting outcomes and integrating different aspects of biology.
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Anna K. Childers, Scott M. Geib, Sheina B. Sim, Monica F. Poelchau, Brad S. Coates, Tyler J. Simmonds, Erin D. Scully, Timothy P. L. Smith, Christopher P. Childers, Renee L. Corpuz, Kevin Hackett, Brian Scheffler
Summary: High-quality genome assemblies are crucial for modern biological research, and advancements in sequencing methods have made it possible to sequence and assemble many insect genomes at scale. The Ag100Pest Initiative aims to assemble reference-quality genomes of important arthropod pest species to advance agricultural research. The project has already made progress in assembling genomes of multiple species and has expanded the original goal to include a total of 158 species in the pipeline.
Article
Ecology
McCall B. Calvert, Meredith M. Doellman, Jeffrey L. Feder, Glen R. Hood, Peter Meyers, Scott P. Egan, Thomas H. Q. Powell, Mary M. Glover, Cheyenne Tait, Hannes Schuler, Stewart H. Berlocher, James J. Smith, Patrik Nosil, Daniel A. Hahn, Gregory J. Ragland
Summary: Adaptation to novel environments can lead to unexpected genomic responses to selection, as shown in the case of the apple and hawthorn host races of the Rhagoletis pomonella. Genetic correlations between two life history traits were generated by historical selection in the hawthorn host race across North America, with loci associated with these traits concentrated in regions of high linkage disequilibrium. The paradoxical genetic diversity observed in the apple flies is attributed to the pleiotropy or linkage of alleles associated with later adult emergence and increased initial diapause intensity, which were strongly selected for by the earlier phenology of apples.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Sheina B. Sim, Keena M. Curbelo, Nicholas C. Manoukis, Dong H. Cha
Summary: Insect responses to chemical attractants are often measured using olfactory bioassays. This study compares the effectiveness of three common bioassay methods (Y-tube, small-cage arena, and rotating carousel field-cage) for measuring the attraction of Bactrocera dorsalis to methyl eugenol (ME). The results show that the rotating carousel field-cage and small-cage arena methods are effective at observing attraction to ME and detecting a significant reduction in ME response from ME-exposed males, while the Y-tube method is not suitable for this purpose.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Dylan G. Jones, Julia Kobelt, Jenna M. Ross, Thomas H. Q. Powell, Kirsten M. Prior
Summary: This study investigated the latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) of oak gall wasp communities and the potential weaker interactions in polar regions for a range-expanding community member. The results showed a lower diversity of oak gall wasps at higher latitudes, particularly in detachable leaf gall morphotypes. Co-occurrence of gall wasps on trees in the northern expanded region was weak, and the abundances of Neuroterus saltatorius and detachable/ integral leaf galls were negatively related, indicating antagonistic interactions. Therefore, LDGs create communities with weaker associations at the poles, facilitating ecological release for range-expanding species.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Daniel F. Paulo, Alex Y. Cha, Angela N. Kauwe, Keena Curbelo, Renee L. Corpuz, Tyler J. Simmonds, Sheina B. Sim, Scott M. Geib
Summary: In recent years, many studies have utilized CRISPR/Cas9 technology to conduct gene editing research in fruit flies, creating new strains and proposing a unified candidate gene knockout protocol. High rates of somatic and germline mutagenesis were induced by microinjection of CRISPR/Cas9 components into fruit fly embryos, showcasing the efficiency of the method.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Zachary P. Cohen, Lindsey C. Perkin, Sheina B. Sim, Amanda R. Stahlke, Scott M. Geib, Anna K. Childers, Timothy P. L. Smith, Charles Suh
Summary: The boll weevil, a historically impactful insect, nearly destroyed the US cotton industry in the early 20th century. Current management strategies using pheromone baited traps and insecticides are not sustainable, prompting the need for novel control methods. A high-quality genome assembly of the boll weevil was presented, providing valuable gene targets for future pest control. Transcriptome analysis identified potential genes and gene families for new control strategies.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alycia C. R. Lackey, Pheobe M. Deneen, Gregory J. Ragland, Jeffrey L. Feder, Daniel A. Hahn, Thomas H. Q. Powell
Summary: Climate change can lead to phenological changes in populations, impacting community interactions and evolutionary processes. In this study, we investigated the response of two sympatric populations of Rhagoletis pomonella flies and their parasitoid wasps to climate warming. We found that warmer temperatures caused earlier development in both fly populations, but had a significant and maladaptive effect on pre-winter development in apple flies. Parasitoid phenology showed less sensitivity to warming, potentially leading to ecological asynchrony. Our findings suggest that climate-induced shifts in fly phenology may reduce temporal isolation and limit ongoing divergence in specialist communities.
Article
Ecology
Alycia C. R. Lackey, Alyssa C. Murray, Nadia A. Mirza, Thomas H. Q. Powell
Summary: The study found that sexual isolation can reduce gene flow and mating between different populations of Rhagoletis pomonella flies, which play a role in the early speciation process. Additionally, the study found that warmer temperatures can significantly alter sexual isolation and lead to asymmetric mating patterns.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jeremy S. Davis, Sheina Sim, Scott Geib, Brian Scheffler, Catherine R. Linnen
Summary: Biological introductions serve as unintended natural experiments and provide unique insights into evolutionary processes. Invasive phytophagous insects, in particular, are important for studying adaptation as they often need to rapidly adapt to new host plants. However, the genetic paradox of invasions poses a limitation to the adaptive potential of invasive populations due to reduced genetic diversity. One potential solution to this paradox is the existence of multiple invasive waves that increase genetic variation in invasive populations.
JOURNAL OF HEREDITY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Qiang Huang, Sheina B. Sim, Scott M. Geib, Anna Childers, Junfeng Liu, Xiuxiu Wei, Wensu Han, Francisco Posada-Florez, Allen Z. Xue, Zheng Li, Jay D. Evans
Summary: In this study, the chromosome-level genome assembly of the small hive beetle (SHB) was completed for the first time. The features of SHB sex chromosomes and the asymmetry of the primary sex ratio were analyzed using this annotated assembly. The genome-enabled insights are critical for understanding the successful traits of SHB and determining the causes of observed sex ratio asymmetries.