Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marilia Freire, Antonio Bollig, Markus Knaden
Summary: The elements in the drawings are recyclable and reusable materials, which can be used by artificial intelligence to generate new drawing designs.
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Abbas Fathtabar, Ataollah Ebrahimzadeh, Javad Kazemitabar
Summary: In recent decades, numerous algorithms have been proposed to solve optimization problems, some of which are inspired by nature. The collective behavior of ants, which demonstrates intelligence in nature, has served as a source of inspiration for optimization algorithms. Building upon the concept of path integration, this paper presents a new optimization algorithm, Ant Path Integration, by modeling the swarm intelligence of desert ants in finding their return path to the nest.
NEURAL COMPUTING & APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Adi Bar, Tomer Gilad, Doaa Massad, Asaph Ferber, Dan Ben-Ezra, Daniela Segal, Susanne Foitzik, Inon Scharf
Summary: Social animals, like ants, display a range of cooperative behaviors, including rescuing trapped group members. In this study, researchers investigated how ants prioritize rescues and whether they prioritize feeding over rescuing. They found that ants invested more time in rescuing pupae than adult workers and used different rescue behaviors based on the individual being rescued. Interestingly, ants recognized trapped individuals chemically rather than by appearance or behavior. However, foraging took precedence over rescuing, likely due to a smaller number of specialized rescue workers.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alexandre Kuhn, Serge Aron, Olivier J. Hardy
Summary: Reproductive strategies are complex and diverse, with populations exhibiting various systems between strict sexuality and strict clonality. A mathematical model was developed to predict genetic diversity in mixed sexual-automictic populations, showing the impact of heterozygosity loss rate during automixis on the genetic structure. The study also suggested the presence of cryptic sexual reproduction in a hybridogenetic ant species, supported by simulations indicating up to 2% sexual reproduction in natural populations.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ian W. Keesey, Jin Zhang, Ana Depetris-Chauvin, George F. Obiero, Abhishek Gupta, Nitin Gupta, Heiko Vogel, Markus Knaden, Bill S. Hansson
Summary: This study examines the olfactory function across 20 species in the genus Drosophila and identifies several similar elements of evolution. The findings show minor changes in functional ligands, major changes in olfactory function or receptor replacements, and a small subset of receptors that undergo repeated changes, while most receptors are functionally conserved. A robust model is generated for identifying olfactory function using genomic data and ligand-receptor combinations.
Article
Ecology
Megha Treesa Tom, Lucas Cortes Llorca, Sascha Bucks, Sonja Bisch-Knaden, Bill S. Hansson
Summary: This study investigated the expression patterns of chemosensory receptor genes in different tissues of the nocturnal hawkmoth Manduca sexta, and found that these genes were expressed in various organs involved in olfaction and gustation. The highest number of receptors was detected in the antennae, and sex-biased gene expression was observed in the antennae and legs. These findings provide a strong foundation for further understanding olfaction and gustation at the molecular level in this species.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Devasena Thiagarajan, Franziska Eberl, Daniel Veit, Bill S. Hansson, Markus Knaden, Silke Sachse
Summary: Animals form sensory associations and store them as memories to guide behavioral decisions. In our study using Drosophila melanogaster, we found that bimodal training improved long-lasting olfactory memory but did not enhance short-term olfactory memory.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liwei Zhang, Huiwen Sun, Ewald Grosse-Wilde, Long Zhang, Bill S. Hansson, Hany K. M. Dweck
Summary: In a heterogeneous and changing environment, oviposition site selection plays a crucial role in the survival and fitness of offspring, while larval competition also influences their prospects. However, the involvement of pheromones in regulating these processes is still not well understood. This study demonstrates that mated females of Drosophila melanogaster prefer to lay eggs on substrates containing extracts of conspecific larvae. Further experiments identify (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid ethyl ester (OE) as the compound responsible for this preference, which activates female tarsal Gr32a+ neurons. This cross-generational communication strategy is essential for oviposition site selection and regulation of larval density.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dejuan Liang, Huaqing Chen, Liping An, Yao Li, Peizhen Zhao, Archana Upadhyay, Bill S. Hansson, Jianguo Zhao, Qian Han
Summary: Ticks are important vectors of pathogens, and understanding their chemoreception mechanisms can help in tick management. Two NPC2 genes were cloned and functionally characterized in Rhipicephalus linnaei, a species of brown dog tick. These genes were expressed in all developmental stages, with the highest expression in adult males. Ligand binding analysis showed that R.linNPC2b had a wide spectrum of ligand binding, while R.linNPC2a had a more narrow range. Molecular docking suggested that specific amino acid residues in these proteins may play a key role in ligand recognition. These findings contribute to our understanding of the olfactory mechanisms in R. linnaei and provide new directions for tick management.
PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hetan Chang, Sina Cassau, Juergen Krieger, Xiaojiao Guo, Markus Knaden, Le Kang, Bill S. Hansson
Summary: Many animals engage in cannibalism for dietary supplementation, and this is also prevalent among dense populations of migratory locusts. This study shows that locusts produce an anticannibalistic pheromone called phenylacetonitrile under crowded conditions. The degree of cannibalism and phenylacetonitrile production are dependent on population density. By identifying the olfactory receptor that detects phenylacetonitrile and inactivating the gene responsible for its production, researchers demonstrate the loss of protection against intraspecific predation in locusts lacking this compound. This research sheds light on the importance of an anticannibalistic feature in locust population ecology and its potential for locust management.
Article
Neurosciences
Sinisa Prelic, Merid N. Getahun, Sabine Kaltofen, Bill S. Hansson, Dieter Wicher
Summary: Olfaction is a crucial sensory modality in insects, but the regulation of odorant receptor function and intracellular signaling pathways in the sensory periphery are not fully understood. This study investigates the presence and role of nitric oxide (NO) signaling in the antennal tissue of Drosophila. The researchers find that while the NO signaling machinery is present, inhibiting or activating the NO-cGMP pathway does not affect olfactory responses. Additionally, cyclic nucleotides cAMP and cGMP have no effect on olfactory responses, suggesting that NO may not be a regulator of olfactory transduction in insects.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nan-Ji Jiang, Hetan Chang, Jerrit Weissflog, Franziska Eberl, Daniel Veit, Kerstin Weniger, Bill S. Hansson, Markus Knaden
Summary: Insect pheromones can be degraded by the air pollutant ozone. Jiang et al. show that ozone-exposed male flies lose their pheromones and become less attractive to females. Additionally, ozone-exposed males exhibited increased male-male courtship behaviour as a result of reduced sex recognition.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Twinkle Biswas, Jothi Kumar Yuvaraj, Bill S. Hansson, Christer Loefstedt, Olle Anderbrant, Martin N. Andersson
Summary: This study investigated how striped ambrosia beetles use pheromones, host, and non-host volatiles to locate suitable host trees. Thirteen different olfactory sensory neuron classes were identified, with one class being most responsive to pheromones. Additionally, the beetles showed specific responses to volatiles from their obligate fungal mutualist and non-host plant volatiles.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Kalpana Jain, Regina Stieber, Sabine Kaltofen, Bill S. Hansson, Dieter Wicher
Summary: We generated a genetically modified fly line expressing Orco proteins fused with GFP at the N-terminus. The highest fluorescence intensity was observed in homozygous flies in the dendritic areas of olfactory sensory neurons. However, the fusion of GFP did not affect the olfactory capability of homozygous flies compared to wild-type flies, as determined by single sensillum recording.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana Depetris-Chauvin, Diego Galagovsky, Ian W. Keesey, Bill S. Hansson, Silke Sachse, Markus Knaden
Summary: Olfaction is important for animals to find food, but little is known about how the olfactory system evolves and influences behavior. This study compared the olfactory systems of five drosophilid species, including Drosophila melanogaster, that inhabit different ecological niches. The researchers identified natural food odorants from each species and established species-specific odorant preferences. Analysis of the antennal lobe structure and odor coding in sensory neurons revealed that genetic distance and habitat occupancy are key factors in the evolution of olfactory receptors, odor coding, and behavior. Interestingly, changes in odor coding among species cannot be explained by evolutionary changes at a single level but rather involve multiple levels of processing.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vignesh Venkateswaran, Ibrahim Alali, Anjana P. Unni, Jerrit Weissflog, Rayko Halitschke, Bill S. Hansson, Markus Knaden
Summary: Increasing concentrations of oxidant pollutants like ozone can negatively impact insect olfactory behavior and result in the enrichment of oxidation products, affecting their behavioral choices.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anjana P. Unni, Markus Knaden, Bill S. Hansson
Summary: Study suggests that the phase change and mating behavior of locusts are related to conspecific headspace odors rather than olfactory aggregation cues, providing important insights for further research on locust swarming and reproductive behavior.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Steve B. S. Baleba, Venkatesh Pal Mahadevan, Markus Knaden, Bill S. Hansson
Summary: This study investigates how changing temperatures affect odor detection and behavior in three species of fruit flies, revealing that climate change can influence insect behavior.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)