Antennal ionotropic receptors IR64a1 and IR64a2 of the parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator (Hymenoptera: Braconidate) collaboratively perceive habitat and host cues

SummaryHuman platelets are thought to possess at least two subtypes of purinoceptor, one of which, coupled to G-proteins, could be the P2Y1 receptor (Léon et al. 1997). However, it has been suggested that the unique rapid calcium influx induced by ADP in platelets could involve P2X1 ionotropic receptors (MacKenzie et al. 1996) and the aim of this study was thus to investigate the presence of P2X purinoceptors in platelets and megakaryoblastic cells. Using PCR experiments, we found P2X1 mRNA to be present in human platelets and megakaryoblastic cell lines. In platelets, the selective P2X1 agonist αβMeATP induced a rise in intracellular calcium only in the presence of external calcium and this effect was antagonized by suramin and PPADS. Repeated addition of a�MeATP desensitized the P2X1 purinoceptor but only slightly affected the ADP response, while no calcium response to αβMeATP was observed in megakaryoblastic cells. These results support the existence of functional P2X1 purinoceptors on human platelets and the presence of P2X1 transcripts in megakaryoblastic cell lines.

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Wolbachia impairs post-eclosion host preference in a parasitoid wasp

The Science of Nature ◽

10.1007/s00114-021-01727-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 108 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Pouria Abrun ◽

Ahmad Ashouri ◽

Anne Duplouy ◽

Hossein Kishani Farahani

Keyword(s):

Host Preference ◽

Parasitoid Wasp

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Participation of Glutamatergic Ionotropic Receptors in Excitotoxicity: The Neuroprotective Role of Prolactin

Neuroscience ◽

10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.02.027 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 461 ◽

pp. 180-193

Author(s):

V. Rodriguez-Chavez ◽

J. Moran ◽

G. Molina-Salinas ◽

W.A. Zepeda Ruiz ◽

M.C. Rodriguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ionotropic Receptors

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Sight of parasitoid wasps accelerates sexual behavior and upregulates a micropeptide gene in Drosophila

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-22712-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Shimaa A. M. Ebrahim ◽

Gaëlle J. S. Talross ◽

John R. Carlson

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Nervous System ◽

Sexual Behavior ◽

Behavioral Response ◽

Mutational Analysis ◽

Parasitoid Wasp ◽

Parasitoid Wasps ◽

Wasp Species ◽

Defensive Responses ◽

Vast Range

AbstractParasitoid wasps inflict widespread death upon the insect world. Hundreds of thousands of parasitoid wasp species kill a vast range of insect species. Insects have evolved defensive responses to the threat of wasps, some cellular and some behavioral. Here we find an unexpected response of adult Drosophila to the presence of certain parasitoid wasps: accelerated mating behavior. Flies exposed to certain wasp species begin mating more quickly. The effect is mediated via changes in the behavior of the female fly and depends on visual perception. The sight of wasps induces the dramatic upregulation in the fly nervous system of a gene that encodes a 41-amino acid micropeptide. Mutational analysis reveals that the gene is essential to the behavioral response of the fly. Our work provides a foundation for further exploration of how the activation of visual circuits by the sight of a wasp alters both sexual behavior and gene expression.

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