Behavioral manipulation of the spider Macrophyes pacoti (Araneae: Anyphaenidae) by the araneopathogenic fungus Gibellula sp. (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae)

Host manipulation has already been documented in several distinct host-parasite associations, covering all major phyla of living organisms. While in animals we know that several species have the ability to manipulate their hosts for the benefit of the parasite, in arthropopathogenic fungi there is very little knowledge about possible behavioral manipulation. We report for the first time the interaction between the araneopathogenic fungus Gibellula sp. Cavara and the spider Macrophyes pacoti Brescovit, Oliveira, Sobczak & Sobczak, 2019 (Anyphaenidae) in addition to investigating the potential change in behavior of spiders infected by the parasitic fungus. We also investigated whether the rainfall regime influences the abundance of infected spiders and the parasitism rate by the araneopathogenic fungus. Our results corroborated our hypothesis that the fungus induces vertical segregation in the spider population, inducing infected spiders to be at higher heights than uninfected ones. Dead infected spiders were found in a stretched position that probably helps in fixing the carcass on the leaves by increasing the contact surface between the host and the substrate. Our results also confirm the positive relationship between the rainy season and the greater number of parasitic spiders and the parasitism rate.

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Emergence and diversification of a host-parasite RNA ecosystem through Darwinian evolution

10.1101/728659 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Taro Furubayashi ◽

Kensuke Ueda ◽

Yohsuke Bansho ◽

Daisuke Motooka ◽

Shota Nakamura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Darwinian Evolution ◽

Prebiotic Evolution ◽

Clonal Population ◽

Replication Errors ◽

Replication Experiment ◽

Living Organisms ◽

Host Parasite ◽

First Time

AbstractIn the prebiotic evolution, molecular self-replicators are considered to develop into diverse, complex living organisms. The appearance of parasitic replicators is believed inevitable in this process. However, the role of parasitic replicators on prebiotic evolution remains elusive. Here, we demonstrated experimental coevolution of RNA self-replicators (host RNAs) and emerging parasitic replicators (parasitic RNAs) for the first time by using an RNA-protein replication system we had developed. During a long-term replication experiment, a clonal population of the host RNA turned into an evolving host-parasite ecosystem through the continuous emergence of new types of host and parasitic RNAs produced by replication errors. The diversified host and parasitic RNAs exhibited evolutionary arms-race dynamics. The parasitic RNA accumulated unique mutations that the host RNA had never acquired, thus adding a new genetic variation to the whole replicator ensemble. These results provide the first experimental evidence that the coevolutionary interplay between host-parasite molecules play a key role in generating diversity and complexity in prebiotic molecular evolution.

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Vibrational communication and mating behavior of the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-85904-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Valeria Fattoruso ◽

Gianfranco Anfora ◽

Valerio Mazzoni

Keyword(s):

Mating Behavior ◽

Insect Pests ◽

Trialeurodes Vaporariorum ◽

Vibrational Communication ◽

Greenhouse Whitefly ◽

Behavioral Manipulation ◽

Vibrational Signals ◽

Intraspecific Communication ◽

Behavioral Transition ◽

First Time

AbstractThe greenhouse whitefly (GW), Trialeurodes vaporariorum is considered one of the most harmful insect pests in greenhouses worldwide. The GW mating behavior has been partially investigated and its vibrational communication is only in part known. A deeper knowledge of its intraspecific communication is required to evaluate the applicability of control methods based on techniques of behavioral manipulation. In this study, for the first time, we provided a detailed ethogram of the GW mating behavior and we characterized the vibrational signals emitted during the process of pair formation. We characterized two types of male vibrational emissions (“chirp” and “pulses”), differently arranged according to the behavioral stage to form stage-specific signals, and a previously undescribed Male Rivalry Signal. We recorded and characterized two new female signals: The Female Responding Signal and the Female Rejective Signal. The mating behavior of GW can be divided into six different stages that we named “call”, “alternated duet”, “courtship”, “overlapped duet”, “mating”, “failed mating attempt”. The analysis performed with the Markovian behavioral transition matrix showed that the “courtship” is the key stage in which male exhibits its quality and can lead to the “overlapped duet” stage. The latter is strictly associated to the female acceptance and therefore it plays a crucial role to achieve mating success. Based on our findings, we consider the use of vibrational playbacks interfering with GW mating communication a promising option for pest control in greenhouses. We discuss the possibility to start a research program of behavioral manipulation to control the populations of GW.

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Recognition Pattern of the Fasciola hepatica Excretome/Secretome during the Course of an Experimental Infection in Sheep by 2D Immunoproteomics

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10060725 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 725

Author(s):

David Becerro-Recio ◽

Javier González-Miguel ◽

Alberto Ucero ◽

Javier Sotillo ◽

Álvaro Martínez-Moreno ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Experimental Infection ◽

Fasciola Hepatica ◽

Cathepsin L ◽

Helminth Parasites ◽

Glutathione S Transferase ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Secretory Products ◽

Immunogenic Proteins ◽

Host Parasite ◽

First Time

Excretory/secretory products released by helminth parasites have been widely studied for their diagnostic utility, immunomodulatory properties, as well as for their use as vaccines. Due to their location at the host/parasite interface, the characterization of parasite secretions is important to unravel the molecular interactions governing the relationships between helminth parasites and their hosts. In this study, the excretory/secretory products from adult worms of the trematode Fasciola hepatica (FhES) were employed in a combination of two-dimensional electrophoresis, immunoblot and mass spectrometry, to analyze the immune response elicited in sheep during the course of an experimental infection. Ten different immunogenic proteins from FhES recognized by serum samples from infected sheep at 4, 8, and/or 12 weeks post-infection were identified. Among these, different isoforms of cathepsin L and B, peroxiredoxin, calmodulin, or glutathione S-transferase were recognized from the beginning to the end of the experimental infection, suggesting their potential role as immunomodulatory antigens. Furthermore, four FhES proteins (C2H2-type domain-containing protein, ferritin, superoxide dismutase, and globin-3) were identified for the first time as non-immunogenic proteins. These results may help to further understand host/parasite relationships in fasciolosis, and to identify potential diagnostic molecules and drug target candidates of F. hepatica.

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Indeterminate Chagas’ disease: Trypanosoma cruzi strain and re-infection are factors involved in the progression of cardiopathy

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs1040415 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 104 (4) ◽

pp. 415-420 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Juan M. BUSTAMANTE ◽

Héctor W. RIVAROLA ◽

Alicia R. FERNÁNDEZ ◽

Julio E. ENDERS ◽

Ricardo FRETES ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Survival Rate ◽

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Chagas Disease ◽

Infected Group ◽

World Health ◽

Cardiac Lesions ◽

Health Organization ◽

Host Parasite ◽

Β Adrenergic Receptors ◽

First Time

Chagas' disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted by reduviid bugs. The World Health Organization has estimated that about 16–18 million people in the Americas are infected, and that more than 100 million are at risk. In the present study we have used a murine model to analyse if particular T. cruzi strains (Tulahuen strain and SGO-Z12 isolate from a chronic patient) and/or re-infection may determine, during the indeterminate phase of experimental Chagas' disease, changes that could explain the different evolution of cardiac lesions. Re-infected mice reached higher parasitaemias than those infected for the first time. The survival in the indeterminate phase of mice infected with Tulahuen strain was 50.0%, while the SGO-Z12-infected group presented a significantly higher survival rate (77.1%; P<0.01). The SGO-Z12-re-infected group showed a survival rate (70.9%) significantly higher than that of the Tulahuen-re-infected group (37.0%; P<0.01). Electrocardiographic abnormalities were found in 66% of Tulahuen-infected mice, while in SGO-Z12-infected group such abnormalities were found in only 36% of animals (P<0.01). The two groups exhibited similar percentages of electrocardiographic dysfunction on re-infection, although intraventricular blocks were more frequent in Tulahuen-re-infected mice (P<0.01). Hearts from infected or re-infected mice with either parasite showed mononuclear infiltrates. The SGO-Z12-re-infected and Tulahuen-re-infected groups exhibited a significantly diminished affinity (P<0.05) and a significantly increased density (P<0.05) of cardiac β-adrenergic receptors compared with the infected and non-infected groups. The indeterminate phase of Chagas' disease is defined as a prolonged period that is clinically silent, but the present findings show that different T. cruzi strains and re-infection are able to alter the host–parasite equilibrium, and these factors may be responsible for inducing progressive cardiopathy.

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Chrysomyxa pirolata G. Wint in Rabenh: New parasitic fungus on the cones and seeds of spruce

Glasnik Sumarskog fakulteta ◽

10.2298/gsf0796045k ◽

2007 ◽

pp. 45-53 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dragan Karadzic

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Parasitic Fungus ◽

Serbia And Montenegro ◽

Spruce Forests ◽

First Time

The new spruce disease known as "spruce cone rust" was discovered for the first time in Serbia and Montenegro. The fungus was detected in spruce forests only in the mountains regions (Kopaonik, Zlatar, Durmitor). This rust periodically damages the cones in localised forest areas and can be a serious problem. Usually seeds are not formed in diseased cones, and even when they are produced, malformation and resinosis of the cones hinder seed dispersal or extraction. Those seeds that are formed tend to weigh less and have poor germination. As this disease is a serious problem, care must be taken to prevent the spread of the disease to the new uninfected regions.

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Disentangling non-specific and specific transgenerational immune priming components in host–parasite interactions

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2019.2386 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 287 (1920) ◽

pp. 20192386

Author(s):

Frida Ben-Ami ◽

Christian Orlic ◽

Roland R. Regoes

Keyword(s):

Genetic Epidemiology ◽

Ecological Systems ◽

High Dose ◽

Immune Priming ◽

Specific Effects ◽

Host Parasite Interactions ◽

Pasteuria Ramosa ◽

Different Strains ◽

Host Parasite ◽

First Time

Exposure to a pathogen primes many organisms to respond faster or more efficiently to subsequent exposures. Such priming can be non-specific or specific, and has been found to extend across generations. Disentangling and quantifying specific and non-specific effects is essential for understanding the genetic epidemiology of a system. By combining a large infection experiment and mathematical modelling, we disentangle different transgenerational effects in the crustacean model Daphnia magna exposed to different strains of the bacterial parasite Pasteuria ramosa . In the experiment, we exposed hosts to a high dose of one of three parasite strains, and subsequently challenged their offspring with multiple doses of the same (homologous) or a different (heterologous) strain. We find that exposure of Daphnia to Pasteuria decreases the susceptibility of their offspring by approximately 50%. This transgenerational protection is not larger for homologous than for heterologous parasite challenges. Methodologically, our work represents an important contribution not only to the analysis of immune priming in ecological systems but also to the experimental assessment of vaccines. We present, for the first time, an inference framework to investigate specific and non-specific effects of immune priming on the susceptibility distribution of hosts—effects that are central to understanding immunity and the effect of vaccines.

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Effect of 10 UV Filters on the Brine Shrimp Artemia salina and the Marine Microalga Tetraselmis sp.

Toxics ◽

10.3390/toxics8020029 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 29

Author(s):

Evane Thorel ◽

Fanny Clergeaud ◽

Lucie Jaugeon ◽

Alice M. S. Rodrigues ◽

Julie Lucas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brine Shrimp ◽

Artemia Salina ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Aquatic Environments ◽

Uv Filters ◽

Personal Care Product ◽

Marine Microalga ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Living Organisms ◽

First Time

The presence of pharmaceutical and personal care product (PPCP) residues in the aquatic environment is an emerging issue due to their uncontrolled release through gray water, and accumulation in the environment that may affect living organisms, ecosystems and public health. The aim of this study is to assess the toxicity of benzophenone-3 (BP-3), bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (BEMT), butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (BM), methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol (MBBT), 2-ethylhexyl salicylate (ES), diethylaminohydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate (DHHB), diethylhexyl butamido triazone (DBT), ethylhexyl triazone (ET), homosalate (HS) and octocrylene (OC) on marine organisms from two major trophic levels, including autotrophs (Tetraselmis sp.) and heterotrophs (Artemia salina). In general, results showed that both HS and OC were the most toxic UV filters for our tested species, followed by a significant effect of BM on Artemia salina due to BM—but only at high concentrations (1 mg/L). ES, BP3 and DHHB affected the metabolic activity of the microalgae at 100 µg/L. BEMT, DBT, ET, MBBT had no effect on the tested organisms, even at high concentrations (2 mg/L). OC toxicity represents a risk for those species, since concentrations used in this study are 15–90 times greater than those reported in occurrence studies for aquatic environments. For the first time in the literature, we report HS toxicity on a microalgae species at concentrations complementing those found in aquatic environments. These preliminary results could represent a risk in the future if concentrations of OC and HS continue to increase.

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Repair of DNA Alkylation Damage by theEscherichia coliAdaptive Response Protein AlkB as Studied by ESI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

Journal of Nucleic Acids ◽

10.4061/2010/369434 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2010 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Deyu Li ◽

James C. Delaney ◽

Charlotte M. Page ◽

Alvin S. Chen ◽

Cintyu Wong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Chemical Oxidation ◽

Dna Alkylation ◽

Reaction Products ◽

Ionization Time ◽

Alkylation Damage ◽

Living Organisms ◽

First Time ◽

Dependent Mechanism

DNA alkylation can cause mutations, epigenetic changes, and even cell death. All living organisms have evolved enzymatic and non-enzymatic strategies for repairing such alkylation damage. AlkB, one of theEscherichia coliadaptive response proteins, uses an α-ketoglutarate/Fe(II)-dependent mechanism that, by chemical oxidation, removes a variety of alkyl lesions from DNA, thus affording protection of the genome against alkylation. In an effort to understand the range of acceptable substrates for AlkB, the enzyme was incubated with chemically synthesized oligonucleotides containing alkyl lesions, and the reaction products were analyzed by electrospray ionization time-of-flight (ESI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Consistent with the literature, but studied comparatively here for the first time, it was found that 1-methyladenine, 1,N6-ethenoadenine, 3-methylcytosine, and 3-ethylcytosine were completely transformed by AlkB, while 1-methylguanine and 3-methylthymine were partially repaired. The repair intermediates (epoxide and possibly glycol) of 3,N4-ethenocytosine are reported for the first time. It is also demonstrated thatO6-methylguanine and 5-methylcytosine are refractory to AlkB, lending support to the hypothesis that AlkB repairs only alkyl lesions attached to the nitrogen atoms of the nucleobase. ESI-TOF mass spectrometry is shown to be a sensitive and efficient tool for probing the comparative substrate specificities of DNA repair proteinsin vitro.

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Crab scars reveal survival advantage of left-handed snails

Biology Letters ◽

10.1098/rsbl.2006.0465 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 439-442 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Gregory P Dietl ◽

Jonathan R Hendricks

Keyword(s):

Social Interactions ◽

Structure And Function ◽

Snail Species ◽

Left Handedness ◽

Left Handed ◽

Selection Processes ◽

Living Organisms ◽

And Function ◽

First Time ◽

Crab Predation

Biological asymmetries are important elements of the structure and function of many living organisms. Using the Plio–Pleistocene fossil record of crab predation on morphologically similar pairs of right- and left-handed snail species, we show here for the first time, contrary to traditional wisdom, that rare left-handed coiling promotes survival from attacks by right-handed crabs. This frequency-dependent result influences the balance of selection processes that maintain left-handedness at the species level and parallels some social interactions in human cultures, such as sports that involve dual contests between opponents of opposite handedness.

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Parasitism of oospores of Pythium spp. by strains of Actinoplanes spp.

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/m93-145 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 39 (10) ◽

pp. 964-972 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

N. I. Khan ◽

A. B. Filonow ◽

L. L. Singleton ◽

M. E. Payton

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Host Specificity ◽

Pythium Ultimum ◽

Pythium Myriotylum ◽

Pythium Irregulare ◽

Pythium Arrhenomanes ◽

Parasite Specificity ◽

Host Parasite ◽

First Time

Strains of Actinoplanes spp. were evaluated for their in vitro parasitism of oospores of Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium arrhenomanes, Pythium irregulare, Pythium myriotylum, and Pythium ultimum. Oospores of Pythium arrhenomanes, Pythium irregulare, and Pythium myriotylum were identified for the first time as hosts of Actinoplanes spp. Newly recorded parasites of oospores of Pythium spp. were Actinoplanes azureus, Actinoplanes brasiliensis, Actinoplanes caeruleus, Actinoplanes ferrugineus, Actinoplanes ianthinogenes, Actinoplanes italicus, Actinoplanes minutisporangius, Actinoplanes rectilineatus, Actinoplanes teichomyceticus, Actinoplanes utahensis, Actinoplanes violaceous, Actinoplanes yunnahenis, plus 15 strains of Actinoplanes yet to be speciated. Parasitized oospores had disorganized cytoplasms and hyphae of Actinoplanes sp. emerging from them. Infection of oospores in vitro varied from 0 to > 90%. Strains also were very active parasites of oospores in sterile soils. When added to nonsterile soils, several strains increased (p = 0.05) the level of oospore parasitism compared with nonsupplemented soils. Strains of Actinoplanes spp. exhibited a host specificity for species of Pythium in vitro and in soil. Sporulation of Actinoplanes sp. from infected oospores incubated on soil was frequent and more abundant than that observed in vitro.Key words: Pythium spp., Actinoplanes spp., actinomycetes, biological control, host–parasite specificity.

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