The great spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus micans Kug.) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in Lithuania: occurrence, phenology, morphology and communities of associated fungi

AbstractWe studied the occurrence, morphology and phenology of Dendroctonus micans in Lithuania and the fungi associated with the beetle at different developmental stages. The occurrence of D. micans was assessed in 19 seed orchards (at least 40 years old) of Picea abies (L. Karst.) situated in different parts of the country. Bark beetle phenology was studied in two sites: a seed orchard of P. abies and a plantation of Picea pungens (Engelm.). D. micans morphology was assessed under the dissection microscope using individuals at different developmental stages that were sampled during phenology observations. Communities of fungi associated with D. micans were studied using both fungal culturing methods and direct high-throughput sequencing from D. micans. Results showed that the incidence D. micans was relatively rare and D. micans was mainly detected in central and eastern Lithuania. The life cycle included the following stages: adult, egg, I–V developmental stage larvae and pupa. However, development of D. micans was quicker and its nests larger under the bark of P. pungens than of P. abies, indicating the effect of the host species. Fungal culturing and direct high-throughput sequencing revealed that D. micans associated fungi communities were species rich and dominated by yeasts from a class Saccharomycetes. In total, 319 fungal taxa were sequenced, among which Peterozyma toletana (37.5% of all fungal sequences), Yamadazyma scolyti (30.0%) and Kuraishia capsulate (17.7%) were the most common. Plant pathogens and blue stain fungi were also detected suggesting their potentially negative effects to both tree health and timber quality.

Download Full-text

Endemic Jeffrey Pine Beetle Associates: Beetle/Mite Fungal Dissemination Strategies and Interactions That May Influence Beetle Population Levels

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9081641 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 1641

Author(s):

Javier E. Mercado ◽

Beatriz Ortiz-Santana ◽

Shannon L. Kay

Keyword(s):

Bark Beetle ◽

Mountain Pine Beetle ◽

Jeffrey Pine ◽

Mutualistic Interaction ◽

Pine Beetle ◽

Blue Stain Fungi ◽

Blue Stain ◽

Grosmannia Clavigera ◽

Mutualistic Fungus ◽

Jeffrey Pine Beetle

Fungal and mite associates may drive changes in bark beetle populations, and mechanisms constraining beetle irruptions may be hidden in endemic populations. We characterized common fungi of endemic-level Jeffrey pine beetle (JPB) in western USA and analyzed their dissemination by JPB (maxillae and fecal pellet) and fungivorous mites to identify if endogenous regulation drove the population. We hypothesized that: (1) as in near-endemic mountain pine beetle populations, JPB’s mutualistic fungus would either be less abundant in endemic than in non-endemic populations or that another fungus may be more prevalent; (2) JPB primarily transports its mutualistic fungus, while its fungivorous mites primarily transport another fungus, and (3) based on the prevalence of yeasts in bark beetle symbioses, that a mutualistic interaction with blue-stain fungi present in that system may exist. Grosmannia clavigera was the most frequent JPB symbiont; however, the new here reported antagonist, Ophiostoma minus, was second in frequency. As hypothesized, JPB mostly carried its mutualist fungus while another fungus (i.e., antagonistic) was mainly carried by mites, but no fungal transport was obligate. Furthermore, we found a novel mutualistic interaction between the yeast Kuraishia molischiana and G. clavigera which fostered a growth advantage at temperatures associated with beetle colonization.

Download Full-text

Bark Beetle-Associated Blue-Stain Fungi Increase Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and Monoterpene Concentrations in Pinus yunnanensis

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2018.01731 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yue Pan ◽

Tao Zhao ◽

Paal Krokene ◽

Ze-fen Yu ◽

Min Qiao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Enzyme ◽

Bark Beetle ◽

Enzyme Activities ◽

Antioxidant Enzyme Activities ◽

Pinus Yunnanensis ◽

Blue Stain Fungi ◽

Blue Stain

Download Full-text

Analysis of the effects of nanosilver on bacterial community in the intestinal fluid of silkworms using high-throughput sequencing

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485319000634 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 110 (3) ◽

pp. 309-320

Author(s):

Chen Lin ◽

Zhou Wei ◽

Zhou Yi ◽

Tan Tingting ◽

Du Huamao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Community ◽

High Throughput ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Intestinal Bacteria ◽

Illumina Miseq ◽

The Body ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Silkworm Larvae ◽

Intestinal Bacterial Community

AbstractNanosilver is an environment-friendly, harmless alternative of traditional disinfectants which can be potentially applied in the sericulture industry. However, the effects of nanosilver on the intestinal bacterial community of the silkworms (Bombyx mori L.) are unclear. In this study, Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology was used to assess the intestinal bacterial community in both male and female silkworms while treated with different concentrations of nanosilver. We found that nanosilver significantly influenced the composition of silkworm intestinal bacterial community on the different taxonomic levels. Most conspicuously, the abundance of Firmicutes was increased by the treatment of 20 mg L−1 nanosilver but decreased by that of 100 mg L−1 nanosilver at the phylum level. The same trend was observed in Bacilli at the class level and in Enterococcus at the genus level. In some extreme cases, application of nanosilver eliminated the bacterium, e.g., Brevibacillus, but increased the population of several other bacteria in the host intestine, such as Blautia, Terrisporobacter, Faecalibacterium, and some bacteria could only be found in nanosilver treatment groups, e.g., Dialister. In addition, although nanosilver generally showed negative effects on the cocooning rate in a dose-dependent manner, we found that 20 mg L−1 nanosilver treatment significantly increased the body weight of silkworms and did not show negative effects on the survival rate. These results indicated that the intestinal bacteria community of silkworm larvae was significantly changed after nanosilver treatment which might consequently influence host growth and development.

Download Full-text

High-Throughput Sequencing to Investigate Phytopathogenic Fungal Propagules Caught in Baited Insect Traps

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof5010015 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 15 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Émilie D. Tremblay ◽

Troy Kimoto ◽

Jean A. Bérubé ◽

Guillaume J. Bilodeau

Keyword(s):

High Throughput ◽

Plant Pathogens ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Diagnostic Techniques ◽

Phytopathogenic Fungi ◽

Personal Genome ◽

Annual Survey ◽

Fungal Propagules ◽

Wood Boring

Studying the means of dispersal of plant pathogens is crucial to better understand the dynamic interactions involved in plant infections. On one hand, entomologists rely mostly on both traditional molecular methods and morphological characteristics, to identify pests. On the other hand, high-throughput sequencing (HTS) is becoming the go-to avenue for scientists studying phytopathogens. These organisms sometimes infect plants, together with insects. Considering the growing number of exotic insect introductions in Canada, forest pest-management efforts would benefit from the development of a high-throughput strategy to investigate the phytopathogenic fungal and oomycete species interacting with wood-boring insects. We recycled formerly discarded preservative fluids from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency annual survey using insect traps and analysed more than one hundred samples originating from across Canada. Using the Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine (PGM) HTS technology and fusion primers, we performed metabarcoding to screen unwanted fungi and oomycetes species, including Phytophthora spp. Community profiling was conducted on the four different wood-boring, insect-attracting semiochemicals; although the preservative (contained ethanol) also attracted other insects. Phytopathogenic fungi (e.g., Leptographium spp. and Meria laricis in the pine sawyer semiochemical) and oomycetes (mainly Peronospora spp. and Pythium aff. hypogynum in the General Longhorn semiochemical), solely associated with one of the four types of semiochemicals, were detected. This project demonstrated that the insect traps’ semiochemical microbiome represents a new and powerful matrix for screening phytopathogens. Compared to traditional diagnostic techniques, the fluids allowed for a faster and higher throughput assessment of the biodiversity contained within. Additionally, minimal modifications to this approach would allow it to be used in other phytopathology fields.

Download Full-text

High-Throughput Sequencing is a Crucial Tool to Investigate the Contribution of Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) to Human Biology and Development

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v12060633 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 633 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Maria Paola Pisano ◽

Nicole Grandi ◽

Enzo Tramontano

Keyword(s):

High Throughput ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Large Fraction ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Cell Types ◽

Endogenous Retroviruses ◽

Human Endogenous Retroviruses ◽

Retroviral Infections ◽

The Impact

Human Endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are remnants of ancient retroviral infections that represent a large fraction of our genome. Their transcriptional activity is finely regulated in early developmental stages and their expression is modulated in different cell types and tissues. Such activity has an impact on human physiology and pathology that is only partially understood up to date. Novel high-throughput sequencing tools have recently allowed for a great advancement in elucidating the various HERV expression patterns in different tissues as well as the mechanisms controlling their transcription, and overall, have helped in gaining better insights in an all-inclusive understanding of the impact of HERVs in biology of the host.

Download Full-text

Entomocorticium dendroctoni gen. et sp. nov. (Basidiomycotina), a possible nutritional symbiote of the mountain pine beetle in lodgepole pine in British Columbia

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b87-013 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 65 (1) ◽

pp. 95-102 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

H. S. Whitney ◽

R. J. Bandoni ◽

F. Oberwinkler

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Bark Beetle ◽

Pinus Contorta ◽

Mountain Pine Beetle ◽

Lodgepole Pine ◽

Pine Bark ◽

Mountain Pine ◽

Pine Beetle ◽

Blue Stain Fungi ◽

Blue Stain

A new basidiomycete, Entomocorticium dendroctoni Whitn., Band. & Oberw., gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated. This cryptic fungus intermingles with blue stain fungi and produces abundant essentially sessile basidiospores in the galleries and pupal chambers of the mountain pine bark beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.). The insect apparently disseminates the fungus. Experimentally, young partially insectary reared adult beetles fed E. dendroctoni produced 19% more eggs than beetles fed the blue stain fungi.

Download Full-text

The Mitogenomes of Ophiostoma minus and Ophiostoma piliferum and Comparisons With Other Members of the Ophiostomatales

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2021.618649 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Abdullah Zubaer ◽

Alvan Wai ◽

Nikita Patel ◽

Jordan Perillo ◽

Georg Hausner

Keyword(s):

Plant Pathogens ◽

Evolutionary Dynamics ◽

Size Variation ◽

Sensu Stricto ◽

Homing Endonucleases ◽

Group I ◽

A Genome ◽

Blue Stain Fungi ◽

Blue Stain ◽

Ophiostoma Piliferum

Fungi assigned to the Ophiostomatales are of economic concern as many are blue-stain fungi and some are plant pathogens. The mitogenomes of two blue-stain fungi, Ophiostoma minus and Ophiostoma piliferum, were sequenced and compared with currently available mitogenomes for other members of the Ophiostomatales. Species representing various genera within the Ophiostomatales have been examined for gene content, gene order, phylogenetic relationships, and the distribution of mobile elements. Gene synteny is conserved among the Ophiostomatales but some members were missing the atp9 gene. A genome wide intron landscape has been prepared to demonstrate the distribution of the mobile genetic elements (group I and II introns and homing endonucleases) and to provide insight into the evolutionary dynamics of introns among members of this group of fungi. Examples of complex introns or nested introns composed of two or three intron modules have been observed in some species. The size variation among the mitogenomes (from 23.7 kb to about 150 kb) is mostly due to the presence and absence of introns. Members of the genus Sporothrix sensu stricto appear to have the smallest mitogenomes due to loss of introns. The taxonomy of the Ophiostomatales has recently undergone considerable revisions; however, some lineages remain unresolved. The data showed that genera such as Raffaelea appear to be polyphyletic and the separation of Sporothrix sensu stricto from Ophiostoma is justified.

Download Full-text

fluff: exploratory analysis and visualization of high-throughput sequencing data

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.2209 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. e2209 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Georgios Georgiou ◽

Simon J. van Heeringen

Keyword(s):

High Throughput ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Command Line ◽

Clustering Methods ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Link Type ◽

High Throughput Sequencing Data ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Genome Wide Data

Summary.In this article we describe fluff, a software package that allows for simple exploration, clustering and visualization of high-throughput sequencing data mapped to a reference genome. The package contains three command-line tools to generate publication-quality figures in an uncomplicated manner using sensible defaults. Genome-wide data can be aggregated, clustered and visualized in a heatmap, according to different clustering methods. This includes a predefined setting to identify dynamic clusters between different conditions or developmental stages. Alternatively, clustered data can be visualized in a bandplot. Finally, fluff includes a tool to generate genomic profiles. As command-line tools, the fluff programs can easily be integrated into standard analysis pipelines. The installation is straightforward and documentation is available athttp://fluff.readthedocs.org.Availability.fluff is implemented in Python and runs on Linux. The source code is freely available for download athttps://github.com/simonvh/fluff.

Download Full-text