Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ming He, Yun-Feng Ma, Huan Guo, Xuan-Zheng Liu, Gui-Jun Long, Qin Wang, Youssef Dewer, Fan Zhang, Peng He
Summary: In this study, we conducted transcriptome analysis of different tissues in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, and identified novel chemosensory proteins and sensory neuron membrane proteins. We also analyzed the phylogenetic tree and gender-specific expression of multiple chemosensory gene families. The results revealed significant tissue-specific expression of certain chemosensory proteins in the antennae of the German cockroach.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Vittoria Roncalli, Marco Uttieri, Iole Di Capua, Chiara Lauritano, Ylenia Carotenuto
Summary: Copepods, as the most abundant and ubiquitous metazoans on Earth, possess diversified and highly specified chemoreceptive structures. Through in silico mining of transcriptomes, our study identified ionotropic receptors, chemosensory proteins, and gustatory receptors in copepods, while confirming the absence of odorant receptors and odorant-binding proteins.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Molly Stanley, Britya Ghosh, Zachary F. Weiss, Jaime Christiaanse, Michael D. Gordon
Summary: Recent studies show that lactic acid can be attractive at ecologically relevant concentrations. It stimulates feeding by activating neurons through specific receptors, with distinct onset and removal phases. Different components of lactic acid are detected by two types of receptors to activate sensory neurons in physiologically distinct ways.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alessio Iannucci, Jiao Zhu, Livio Antonielli, Anas Ayari, Karima Nasri-Ammar, Wolfgang Knoll, Paolo Pelosi, Francesca Romana Dani
Summary: The order Isopoda contains aquatic and terrestrial species, with Hemilepistus reaumurii being the most adapted to terrestrial life. This study investigates soluble olfactory proteins in H. reaumurii and finds 13 genes encoding CSPs, which have unique sequences compared to other arthropods and show strong affinities for fatty acids and long-chain unsaturated esters and aldehydes, potential semiochemicals for this species.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Stefanie Engert, Gabriella R. Sterne, Davi D. Bock, Kristin Scott
Summary: This study reveals the structure and connectivity of gustatory sensory neurons in fruit flies, identifies distinct neuronal groups involved in recognizing different taste modalities, and uncovers the impact of synaptic connections on gustatory signal transmission.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Binod Aryal, Youngseok Lee
Summary: The study used fruit flies to dissect the molecular sensors required for histamine taste perception, finding that histamine activates bitter-sensing neurons and identifying GR22e and IR76b as essential receptors for histamine sensing.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tatevik Sarkissian, Christina Mazzio, Paul A. Garrity
Summary: Regulating salt intake is crucial for animals, and a recent study has uncovered the specific solution used by flies to detect low salt concentrations, providing new insights into their attraction to this universal tastant.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Keisuke Tanaka, Kenji Shimomura, Akito Hosoi, Yui Sato, Yukari Oikawa, Yuma Seino, Takuto Kuribara, Shunsuke Yajima, Motohiro Tomizawa
Summary: This study analyzed the antennal transcriptome of the cowpea beetle and identified several odorant-related genes. Differential gene expression analysis revealed specific genes expressed in males, providing insights into the olfaction of this major pest.
Article
Entomology
Zhenchen Wu, Jia Ye, Jiali Qian, Endang Rinawati Purba, Qinghe Zhang, Longwa Zhang, Dingze Mang
Summary: Chemosensory receptor genes play an important role in insect chemodetection, but the understanding of these genes in Coleoptera is limited. In this study, the chemosensory receptor genes of the red-necked longicorn beetle were analyzed, and their functions in pheromone sensing and taste perception were identified.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Veronika Rudolfova, Iveta Stolhoferova, Hassan S. A. Elmi, Silvie Radlova, Katerina Rexova, Daniel A. Berti, David Kral, David Sommer, Eva Landova, Petra Frydlova, Daniel Frynta
Summary: This study explores the origin of arachnophobia and suggests that it may stem from a generalized fear of scorpions. Through an eye-tracking experiment, the researchers found a stronger attentional bias towards scorpions in participants from Somalia and a similar but smaller bias in participants from the Czech Republic. This supports the hypothesis that fear of spiders originated from a more primal fear of scorpions.
Article
Physiology
Jin Hu, Xiao-Yun Wang, Liu-Su Tan, Wen Lu, Xia-Lin Zheng
Summary: This study elucidated the chemosensory genes in the diurnal moth Phauda flammans, identified candidate genes associated with sex pheromone and host plant volatile recognition, and discussed the expression patterns and functions of related receptor genes. This research filled the knowledge gap of chemosensory genes in diurnal moths and provided fundamental data for further investigations on the olfaction of P. flammans.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Otorhinolaryngology
Sanja Winkelmann, Alia Korth, Bettina Voss, Maher Abou Nasr, Naomi Behrend, Annett Pudszuhn, Veit M. Hofmann, Philipp Schendzielorz, Corina Maetzler, Anne Hermes, Christoph Borzikowsky, Thomas Bahmer, Wolfgang Lieb, Stefan Schreiber, Stefan Stoerk, Felipe A. Montellano, Martin Witzenrath, Thomas Keil, Michael Krawczak, Martin Laudien
Summary: A large cross-sectional study in Germany found that 45.6% of SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals experienced persistent olfactory dysfunction (OD) and 36.2% had subjective gustatory dysfunction (GD). Objective testing confirmed OD in 34.6% of participants. This suggests a significant increase in the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction after COVID-19 infection.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rubaiyat E. Sania, Joao C. R. Cardoso, Bruno Louro, Nathalie Marquet, Adelino V. M. Canario
Summary: Chemosensation plays a crucial role in sea cucumbers, which lack auditory and visual organs and rely on chemical sensing for survival, feeding, and reproduction. Echinoderms, particularly sea cucumbers, possess a higher number of iGluR subunits compared to other echinoderms. GluH subfamily is identified as a specific iGluR subfamily present in all echinoderms. Grih genes are highly expressed in sea cucumber tissues, especially in tentacles, suggesting a possible chemosensory role in this species. Multiple GluH subunits provide alternative receptor assembly combinations, expanding the functional possibilities during aggregation and spawning in echinoderms.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiaona Li, Yuanjie Sun, Shan Gao, Yan Li, Li Liu, Yan Zhu
Summary: Increasing pollution of heavy metals poses great risks to animals globally. Their survival relies on an ability to detect and avoid harmful heavy metal ions (HMIs). Little is known about the neural mechanisms of HMI detection. Here, we show that Drosophila and related species of Drosophilidae actively avoid toxic HMIs at micromolar concentrations. The high sensitivity to HMIs is biologically relevant. Detection of HMIs in food requires Gr66a+ gustatory neurons but is independent of bitter-taste receptors. In these neurons, the ionotropic receptors IR76b, IR25a, and IR7a are required for the perception of heavy metals. Furthermore, IR47a mediates the activation of a distinct group of non-Gr66a+ gustatory neurons elicited by HMIs. Our findings reveal a surprising taste quality represented by noxious metal ions.
Review
Neurosciences
Ananth Prasad Burada, Rajesh Vinnakota, Bertrand Lambolez, Ludovic Tricoire, Janesh Kumar
Summary: Enigmatic orphan glutamate delta receptors (GluD) are a type of ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) that do not bind glutamate or evoke currents when binding glycine and D-serine. They are believed to function as structural proteins that facilitate synapse formation, maturation, and maintenance in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Recent research suggests that GluD receptors have interactions with metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlus) and are gated by their activation, with new tools and structures helping to define their role in synaptic physiology.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Silvia Adrian-Serrano, Jesus Lozano-Fernandez, Joan Pons, Julio Rozas, Miquel A. Arnedo
Summary: The advancement of high-throughput sequencing technologies has enabled the retrieval of extensive genomic and transcriptomic information, which can be utilized for cost-effective evolutionary research across various biological levels. This study exemplifies the potential of publicly available HTS data in assembling and annotating mitochondrial genomes, providing insights into the evolutionary scenario of Dysderidae and other taxa within the Synspermiata clade. The findings underscore the conservation of mitogenomic structures in Dysderidae and the utility of HTS data in addressing evolutionary questions at a broader scale.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Maria Recuerda, Joel Vizueta, Cristian Cuevas-Caballe, Guillermo Blanco, Julio Rozas, Borja Mila
Summary: This study presents a high-quality genome assembly of the common chaffinch, showing high completeness and serving as a valuable resource for comparative and population genomic analyses of passerine, avian, and vertebrate evolution.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paula Escuer, Vadim A. Pisarenco, Angel A. Fernandez-Ruiz, Joel Vizueta, Jose F. Sanchez-Herrero, Miquel A. Arnedo, Alejandro Sanchez-Gracia, Julio Rozas
Summary: The study presents a chromosome-level genome assembly of a spider endemic to the Canary Islands, revealing unique genomic features and the distribution of two major arthropod chemoreceptor gene families. This new resource provides valuable insights into adaptive radiations and represents the first high-quality genome representative of the Synspermiata clade.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jose Cerca, Ellie E. Armstrong, Joel Vizueta, Rosa Fernandez, Dimitar Dimitrov, Bent Petersen, Stefan Prost, Julio Rozas, Dmitri Petrov, Rosemary G. Gillespie
Summary: The diversity of spider genomes is hindered by large, heterozygous, and AT-rich genomes with high repeat content, resulting in poor-quality assemblies. Through sequencing and comparative genomics, expansions associated with sensory perception, immunity, and metabolism were found, revealing that genomic novelty in spider genomes may have been driven by ancient whole genome duplication, followed by gene family and transposable element expansion.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Joan Ferrer Obiol, Helen F. James, R. Terry Chesser, Vincent Bretagnolle, Jacob Gonzalez-Solis, Julio Rozas, Andreanna J. Welch, Marta Riutort
Summary: The study reveals the significant role of palaeoceanographic changes in the diversification and speciation of shearwaters, particularly during the Late Pliocene-early Pleistocene. Genomic data analysis indicates that shearwaters are influenced by surface ocean currents and founder events, resulting in changes in body size, fossil biogeography, and phylogeny. The current taxonomy shows incongruences with genomic divergence patterns.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Biswajit Bhowmick, Huaqing Chen, Jesus Lozano-Fernandez, Joel Vizueta, Rickard Ignell, Qian Han
Summary: This study reports and analyzes the first global transcriptome data of poultry parasites, providing a valuable reference for understanding the genomic and functional annotation of these mites. The study also sheds light on the chemosensory gene family expansion/contraction events in parasitic mites compared to their close relatives. Further research is needed to validate the findings and characterize the identified proteins for controlling poultry pests.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Cristian Cuevas-Caballe, Joan Ferrer Obiol, Joel Vizueta, Meritxell Genovart, Jacob Gonzalez-Solis, Marta Riutort, Julio Rozas
Summary: The Balearic shearwater is the most threatened seabird in Europe, and its population decline is mainly caused by human colonization and other factors. This study identified candidate genes related to the adaptation of the Balearic shearwater to a pelagic lifestyle through genomic analysis, and generated a high-quality reference genome, which is crucial for future conservation efforts.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Guillermo Friis, Joel Vizueta, Ellen D. Ketterson, Borja Mila
Summary: This study presents a high-quality genome assembly and annotation of the dark-eyed junco, providing valuable resources for genome evolution analysis.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jose Cerca, Bent Petersen, Jose Miguel Lazaro-Guevara, Angel Rivera-Colon, Siri Birkeland, Joel Vizueta, Siyu Li, Qionghou Li, Joao Loureiro, Chatchai Kosawang, Patricia Jaramillo Diaz, Gonzalo Rivas-Torres, Mario Fernandez-Mazuecos, Pablo Vargas, Ross A. McCauley, Gitte Petersen, Luisa Santos-Bay, Nathan Wales, Julian M. Catchen, Daniel Machado, Michael D. Nowak, Alexander Suh, Neelima R. Sinha, Lene R. Nielsen, Ole Seberg, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, James H. Leebens-Mack, Loren H. Rieseberg, Michael D. Martin
Summary: Many island plant species exhibit a syndrome known as the 'plant island syndrome', which involves distinct phenotypic and life history traits. In this study, the researchers sequenced and analyzed the genome of the critically endangered Galapagos-endemic species Scalesia atractyloides Arnot. They identified the genomic basis of the island syndrome and determined the ancestral genomes and their divergence in this species.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Johnma J. Rondon, Nicolas Nahuel Moreyra, Vadim A. Pisarenco, Julio Rozas, Juan Hurtado, Esteban Hasson
Summary: Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are involved in the perception of olfactory signals in insects and mediate host preference and shifts. Studies on the Drosophila genus show significant variations in OBP gene repertoire among species, suggesting a role in host adaptation. The research indicates potential for rapid evolution and positive selection in specific OBP genes, especially in lineages associated with different ecological scenarios.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joan Ferrer Obiol, Jose M. Herranz, Josephine R. Paris, James R. Whiting, Julio Rozas, Marta Riutort, Jacob Gonzalez-Solis
Summary: Speciation is a complex process influenced by multiple evolutionary forces. The taxonomic classification of Puffinus shearwaters has been debated extensively, but our study shows that current taxonomies are not supported by genomic data. We propose a more accurate taxonomy based on integrating genomic information with other evidence, emphasizing the potential of genomic data in resolving taxonomic uncertainties.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Guillermo Friis, Joel Vizueta, Edward G. Smith, David R. Nelson, Basel Khraiwesh, Enas Qudeimat, Kourosh Salehi-Ashtiani, Alejandra Ortega, Alyssa Marshell, Carlos M. Duarte, John A. Burt
Summary: The study presents the first chromosome-level assembly of the genome of Avicennia marina, a widely distributed mangrove species. Genomic resources for understanding evolutionary relationships and adaptive mechanisms across populations of the West Indian Ocean are lacking. High-quality genomic resources and annotated set of genes provide valuable insight into genome evolution and functional genes involved in adaptive processes.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2021)