Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Niyas Rehman, Jishy Varghese
Summary: This study explores the impact of nutrient status during the larval growth phase on adult metabolism in Drosophila, finding that restricted food supply in larvae leads to increased fat reserves and starvation resistance in mature adult flies due to low insulin signalling. The lesser mobilization of stored fat during early adult stages and acute starvation explains the observed metabolic effects. Additionally, larval diet influences the expression of fat mobilization genes in adult flies, contributing to the metabolic phenotypes observed.
Article
Ecology
Dau Dayal Aggarwal, Sviatoslav Rybnikov, Shaul Sapielkin, Eugenia Rashkovetsky, Zeev Frenkel, Manvender Singh, Pawel Michalak, Abraham B. Korol
Summary: Seasonal environmental changes in a natural population of D. melanogaster from India have been found to influence genetic characteristics, physical traits, and desiccation tolerance, with significant differences observed in crossover rate and crossover interference between winter and autumn cohorts.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valeria Jaramillo-Martinez, Sathish Sivaprakasam, Vadivel Ganapathy, Ina L. L. Urbatsch
Summary: INDY is a transporter for citrate in cell membranes, with varying effects in different species, beneficial in lower organisms but detrimental in higher organisms.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anuroop Venkateswaran Venkatasubramani, Toshiharu Ichinose, Mai Kanno, Ignasi Forne, Hiromu Tanimoto, Shahaf Peleg, Axel Imhof
Summary: Proteins involved in cellular metabolism and molecular regulation can extend lifespan in the laboratory, but their effect in real life depends on the ability to survive in non-ideal conditions. Loss of the acetyltransferase chameau (chm) in Drosophila melanogaster leads to increased healthy lifespan but decreased weight and starvation resistance, indicating a failure to regulate energy storage and expenditure. The ability to survive in environments with restricted food availability is a stronger evolutionary driver than the ability to live a long life, explaining why chm is still present in the organism's genome.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Liang Xiao, Shu-Juan Xu, Chen Liu, Jing Wang, Bo Hu, Hong-Guang Xu
Summary: The modification of hADSCs by antioxidants Sod2 and Cat improved the pathological condition of intervertebral disc tissues by increasing GAG and COL2 expression, reducing inflammation, and promoting cell proliferation and gene expression.
Article
Robotics
Johannes Betz, Tobias Betz, Felix Fent, Maximilian Geisslinger, Alexander Heilmeier, Leonhard Hermansdorfer, Thomas Herrmann, Sebastian Huch, Phillip Karle, Markus Lienkamp, Boris Lohmann, Felix Nobis, Levent Oegretmen, Matthias Rowold, Florian Sauerbeck, Tim Stahl, Rainer Trauth, Frederik Werner, Alexander Wischnewski
Summary: The team from Technical University of Munich (TUM) developed a software system for autonomous racing in high-speed and high-acceleration conditions, achieving first place in Indianapolis and second place in Las Vegas using a modified Indy Lights chassis. Their algorithms for object detection, localization, planning, prediction, and control proved successful in the competition, providing valuable insights into the behavior of autonomous vehicles.
JOURNAL OF FIELD ROBOTICS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Ayelen Valko, Sebastian Perez-Pandolfo, Eleonora Sorianello, Andreas Brech, Pablo Wappner, Mariana Melani
Summary: Hypoxia induces autophagy in Drosophila melanogaster, which is essential for adaptation and survival. The process involves a bona fide autophagic response with waves of autophagosome formation and maturation, and is induced cell autonomously in different tissues. Autophagy under hypoxic conditions can be studied using D. melanogaster as a model organism, offering insights into its role in hypoxia-associated pathologies and developmentally regulated processes.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Cheng-Yun Wu, Yu-Hsuan Hsu, Yunching Chen, Ling-Chu Yang, Shao-Chin Tseng, Wan-Ru Chen, Chieh-Cheng Huang, Dehui Wan
Summary: This study presents a self-sufficient hybrid enzyme-based system that synergistically alleviates tumor hypoxia and induces an anti-cancer effect when combined with irradiation of light from a near-infrared laser. The system consists of Pt-decorated hollow Ag-Au trimetallic nanocages and glucose oxidase, which can continuously supply O-2 and consume glucose to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of combined starvation and photothermal therapy in hypoxic tumors.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dominik Pesta, Jens Jordan
Summary: Decreased expression of INDY promotes longevity and protects against metabolic derangements, and may improve blood pressure control through sympathetic nervous system inhibition.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katherine J. Leitch, Francesca Ponce, William B. Dickson, Floris van Breugel, Michael H. Dickinson
Summary: Research using fruit flies as a model species shows that insect dispersal behavior can be influenced by wind under specific conditions. Through release-and-recapture experiments, it was observed that even tiny fruit flies could disperse tens of kilometers in light winds. An agent-based model explains the specific behaviors of fruit flies during dispersal, depicting a balance between covering large distances while intercepting odor plumes from upwind sources.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biology
Deepashree Sheshadri, Akanksha Onkar, Subramaniam Ganesh
Summary: Sexual dimorphism in lifespan is controlled by multiple physiological processes, with glycogen playing a key role in aging. Using transgenic fly lines, this study found that altered levels of glycogen in the brain of Drosophila melanogaster females result in different survival and stress responses compared to males. This provides new insight into the sex-specific effects of glycogen on survival and aging.
Article
Microbiology
Crystal S. Vincent, Esteban Beckwith, Carolina Simoes da Silva, William Pearson, Katrin Kierdorf, Giorgio Gilestro, Marc Dionne
Summary: Host behavioural changes are a common response to infection, including increased physical activity. Different mechanisms may drive the increased activity in different bacterial infections, some requiring immune response and others being independent of known immune detection pathways. This increased activity could be an important aspect of the host response.
Article
Biology
Marina E. Wosniack, Dylan Festa, Nan Hu, Julijana Gjorgjieva, Jimena Berni
Summary: This study investigates the foraging adaptation of Drosophila larvae to different food conditions and the influence of genetic background. The findings reveal the specific modulation of motor programs by food quality and distribution, as well as the role of the foraging gene in adjusting the behavioral response to food conditions.
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Shivam Kaushik, Rahul Kumar, Sachin Kumar, Srishti Sanghi, Pinky Kain
Summary: The study aims to understand the effect of gurmar on sweet taste feeding behavior in fruit flies. The results demonstrate that gurmar can inhibit sugar-evoked feeding responses and aversion in flies, and it also has detrimental effects on their development. Understanding how gurmar reshapes taste curves in flies can provide insights into addressing health issues related to high sugar consumption.
Article
Cell Biology
Yingge Li, Xiaoya Zhou, Chen Cheng, Guangming Ding, Peng Zhao, Kai Tan, Lixia Chen, Norbert Perrimon, Jan A. Veenstra, Luoying Zhang, Wei Song
Summary: Severe sleep deprivation is associated with systemic energy wasting, and in this study, it was found that the gut-peptide hormone AstA plays an essential role in mediating this energy wasting. AstA promotes the release of the adipokinetic hormone Akh, which mobilizes systemic energy reserves. This regulation of energy metabolism by AstA was observed in both flies and mice, and the molecular mechanisms involved were also elucidated.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
K. B. Ferguson, S. Visser, M. Dalikova, I Provaznikova, A. Urbaneja, M. Perez-Hedo, F. Marec, J. H. Werren, B. J. Zwaan, B. A. Pannebakker, E. C. Verhulst
Summary: Nesidiocoris tenuis is an efficient predatory biological control agent used in tomato crops in the Mediterranean Basin but considered a pest in northern European countries. A genome of N. tenuis was sequenced and annotated, revealing bacterial contamination and lateral gene transfer in the genome. This study provides valuable insights into the genetic information of this economically important insect and may aid in future biological control efforts.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Mariska M. Beekman, Suzanne H. Donner, Jordy J. H. Litjens, Marcel Dicke, Bas J. Zwaan, Eveline C. Verhulst, Bart A. Pannebakker
Summary: This study investigates the genetic variation and microbiome composition of aphids in Dutch sweet pepper greenhouses and finds no evidence that protective endosymbionts or endogenous resistance affect the success of parasitoid-based biocontrol of aphids.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Niccolo Bassetti, Lotte Caarls, Gabriella Bukovinszkine'Kiss, Mohamed El-Soda, Jeroen van Veen, Klaas Bouwmeester, Bas J. Zwaan, M. Eric Schranz, Guusje Bonnema, Nina E. Fatouros
Summary: This study reveals the genetic basis of HR-like cell death induced by Pieris eggs in Brassica crops, providing directions for breeders to further investigate and validate candidate genes.
Review
Microbiology
Matthew C. Fisher, Ana Alastruey-Izquierdo, Judith Berman, Tihana Bicanic, Elaine M. Bignell, Paul Bowyer, Michael Bromley, Roger Brueggemann, Gary Garber, Oliver A. Cornely, Sarah J. Gurr, Thomas S. Harrison, Ed Kuijper, Johanna Rhodes, Donald C. Sheppard, Adilia Warris, P. Lewis White, Jianping Xu, Bas Zwaan, Paul E. Verweij
Summary: This review emphasizes the important threat of invasive fungal infections to public health and the emergence of antifungal resistance. It discusses the main mechanisms of antifungal resistance and compares them with bacterial resistance to antimicrobial control. The review also explores the research and innovation topics needed to minimize the occurrence and impact of antifungal resistance, including environmental links, surveillance, diagnostics, transmission routes, novel therapeutics, and hotspot mitigation strategies. The need for global efforts to manage existing antifungal drugs and direct future research and development of therapies and interventions is highlighted.
NATURE REVIEWS MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Anneloes E. Groenenboom, Joost van den Heuvel, Bas J. Zwaan, Eddy J. Smid, Sijmen E. Schoustra
Summary: Our experimental work shows how selective pressures shape microbial ecosystems over long-term ecological time scales. Short-term selection can cause changes in the composition and functionality of microbial communities, influenced by factors such as initial composition and random processes. Using the natural bacterial community in the traditional Zambian fermented food Mabisi, we conducted experiments in a laboratory environment to examine the factors affecting community composition. The results indicate that initial composition and random processes play key roles in driving changes, and highlight the ability of different species combinations to achieve similar ecosystem functionality.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Infectious Diseases
Jianhua Zhang, Bram de Rooij, Peter Leendertse, Bas Zwaan, Sijmen Schoustra
Meeting Abstract
Infectious Diseases
Krithi Nandimath, Ben Auxier, Joost van den Heuvel, Eric Bastiaans, Mirre Klatter, Marijke Slakhorst, Sijmen Schoustra, Alfons J. M. Debets, Vidyanand Nanjundiah, Bas J. Zwaan, Duur K. Aanen, J. A. G. M. de Visser
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bwalya Katati, Pierre Schoenmakers, Henry Njapau, Paul W. Kachapulula, Bas J. Zwaan, Anne D. van Diepeningen, Sijmen E. Schoustra
Summary: Fungi contamination in maize crops is influenced by weather conditions. The abundance and composition of preharvest maize mycobiome vary based on rainfall pattern and dry spell. Aspergillus and Fusarium genera play a significant role in mycotoxin production, with Aspergillus associated with dry conditions and Fusarium unaffected by weather patterns. Understanding the spectrum of preharvest fungi and their relationship with weather conditions can help in managing crop health and mycotoxin contamination.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sabine M. E. Vreeburg, Ben Auxier, Bas Jacobs, Peter M. Bourke, Joost van den Heuvel, Bas J. Zwaan, Duur K. Aanen
Summary: This study produced the first linkage map of a species of Termitomyces and found that the reduced rate of recombination is primarily due to genome expansion of gene-poor repetitive sequences. This highlights the importance of genomic context in cross-species comparisons of recombination rate.
Article
Ecology
Giannoula Bogka, Eirini Anastasaki, Panagiotis G. G. Milonas, Aikaterini Psoma, Emmanouil M. M. Kabourakis, Bas J. J. Zwaan, Bart A. A. Pannebakker, Nina E. E. Fatouros
Summary: This study investigated the effect of infochemicals derived from the habitat, host plant, and host insect on the foraging behavior of the olive fruit fly larval parasitoid. The results showed that the parasitoid strongly preferred volatiles emitted by B. oleae larval-infested fruits and cues emitted by B. oleae females. Volatile analysis revealed qualitative differences in volatile profiles of egg- and larval-infested fruits, indicating that olives change volatile emissions in response to larval infestation. These findings suggest that infochemicals play an important role in the host location behavior of the parasitoid.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Bwalya Katati, Stan Kovacs, Henry Njapau, Paul W. Kachapulula, Bas J. Zwaan, Anne D. van Diepeningen, Sijmen E. Schoustra
Summary: Aflatoxins have important functions in Aspergillus section Flavi, including antioxidative, antifungal, and antibiosis roles. Atoxigenic Flavi degrade AF-B1 while toxigenic Flavi modulate its levels through an antioxidative mechanism. Atoxigenic strains have higher fitness than toxigenic strains at a plant non-lethal dose.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
S. Helena Donner, Mariska M. Beekman, Kathrin Barth, Marcel Dicke, Bas J. Zwaan, Eveline C. Verhulst, Bart A. Pannebakker
Summary: This study assesses the aphid species present in Dutch strawberry crops, the facultative endosymbionts they carry, and how these endosymbionts affect the parasitism success of biocontrol parasitoid wasps. The results show that facultative endosymbiont infections can protect aphids against certain parasitoids, but the level of protection varies among aphid species and parasitoid species.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Niccolo Bassetti, Lotte Caarls, Klaas Bouwmeester, Patrick Verbaarschot, Ewan van Eijden, Bas J. Zwaan, Guusje Bonnema, M. Eric Schranz, Nina E. Fatouros
Summary: This study identified a single locus, named PEK, potentially involved in HR-like cell death induced by insect eggs in Brassica nigra. Further research will shed light on the role of TIR-NBS-LRR receptors in egg-killing hypersensitive response.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Y. C. J. Wientjes, P. Bijma, J. van den Heuvel, B. J. Zwaan, Z. G. Vitezica, M. P. L. Calus
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Yvonne C. J. Wientjes, Piter Bijma, Mario P. L. Calus, Bas J. Zwaan, Zulma G. Vitezica, Joost van den Heuvel
Summary: Our stochastic simulations demonstrate that genomic selection outperforms pedigree selection in terms of long-term genetic gain, while genetic variance reduction is similar between the two methods. The genetic architecture of traits changed considerably across generations, particularly under accurate selection and when non-additive effects were present.
GENETICS SELECTION EVOLUTION
(2022)