scholarly journals Characterization of Venom Components and Their Phylogenetic Properties in Some Aculeate Bumblebees and Wasps

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Kyungjae Andrew Yoon ◽  
Kyungmun Kim ◽  
Woo-Jin Kim ◽  
Woo Young Bang ◽  
Neung-Ho Ahn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Arginine Kinase ◽  
Housekeeping Gene ◽  
Venom Gland ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Venom Component ◽  
Wasp Species ◽  
Bumblebee Species ◽  
Venom Glands ◽  
Behavioral Influences

To identify and compare venom components and expression patterns, venom gland-specific transcriptome analyses were conducted for 14 Aculeate bees and wasps. TPM (transcripts per kilobase million) values were normalized using the average transcription level of a reference housekeeping gene (dimethyladenosine transferase). Orthologous venom component genes across the 14 bee and wasp species were identified, and their relative abundance in each species was determined by comparing normalized TPM values. Based on signal sequences in the transcripts, the genes of novel venom components were identified and characterized to encode potential allergens. Most of the allergens and pain-producing factors (arginine kinase, hyaluronidase, mastoparan, phospholipase A1, phospholipase A2, and venom allergen 5) showed extremely high expression levels in social wasps. Acid phosphatase, neprilysin, and tachykinin, which are known allergens and neurotoxic peptides, were found in the venom glands of solitary wasps more often than in social wasps. In the venom glands of bumblebees, few or no transcripts of major allergens or pain-producing factors were identified. Taken together, these results indicate that differential expression patterns of the venom genes in some Aculeate species imply that some wasps and bumblebee species have unique groups of highly expressed venom components. Some venom components reflected the Aculeate species phylogeny, but others did not. This unique evolution of specific venom components in different groups of some wasps and bumblebee species might have been shaped in response to both ecological and behavioral influences.

Venom gland morphology in Pepsis pallidolimbata pallidolimbata and biological use and activity of Pepsis venom

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (7) ◽  
pp. 1014-1019 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Schoeters ◽  
J. Billen ◽  
J. O. Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Venom Gland ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Morphological Organization ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Family ◽  
Venom Glands ◽  
Glandular Structures ◽  
Sibling Family

Spider wasps, i.e., the family Pompilidae, in general, and those belonging to the genus Pepsis in particular, are acknowledged to possess venoms that are algogenic to humans and thus have the parsimonious functions of causing paralysis and providing defense against predators. The morphological organization of the venom system and its complex convoluted gland closely resembles that in social members of the Vespidae. These features distinguish the venom glands of the Pompilidae from those of the sibling family Mutillidae as well as those of the family Sphecidae, which lack convoluted glands. Although the venom glands in Pepsis species are very similar in morphology to those of social vespids, the lethality of Pepsis venom to mammals is several times less than that of the social common wasps. These findings suggest that in terms of the evolution of venom activity and the associated glandular structures, there was apparently no need for social wasps to develop extra parts of the venom system for producing toxic, lethal, or powerful algogenic components. All of the glandular parts of the venom gland of social wasps were already present in pompilids (and eumenids) and, presumably, in their ancestors.

Histochemical Distribution of 5-Nucleotidase in Snake Tissues: Presence of 5-Nucleotidase and Absence of Alkaline Phosphomonoesterase in Venom Glands of the Rattlesnake

1952 ◽  
Vol s3-93 (24) ◽  
pp. 391-394
Author(s):  
D. E. BRAGDON ◽  
J.F. A. MCMANUS
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Alkaline Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Venom Gland ◽  
Specific Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Rattlesnake Venom ◽  
Great Vessels ◽  
Venom Glands ◽  
Thyroid Epithelium

1. Activity of the specific alkaline phosphatase, 5-nucleotidase, is intense in the epithelium and secretion of the rattlesnake venom gland. Non-specific alkaline phosphatase activity is lacking. 2. Thyroid epithelium, the smooth muscle of great vessels, and (inconstantly) smooth muscle of abdominal hollow viscera show greater 5-nucleotidase than nonspecific activity. 3. These findings confirm the specificity of 5-nucleotidase.

scholarly journals Convergent evolution of venom gland transcriptomes across Metazoa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Zancolli ◽  
Maarten Reijnders ◽  
Robert Waterhouse ◽  
Marc Robinson-Rechavi
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Gene Expression Profiles ◽  
Venom Gland ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Animal Kingdom ◽  
Venom Glands

Animals have repeatedly evolved specialized organs and anatomical structures to produce and deliver a cocktail of potent bioactive molecules to subdue prey or predators: venom. This makes it one of the most widespread convergent functions in the animal kingdom. Whether animals have adopted the same genetic toolkit to evolved venom systems is a fascinating question that still eludes us. Here, we performed the first comparative analysis of venom gland transcriptomes from 20 venomous species spanning the main Metazoan lineages, to test whether different animals have independently adopted similar molecular mechanisms to perform the same function. We found a strong convergence in gene expression profiles, with venom glands being more similar to each other than to any other tissue from the same species, and their differences closely mirroring the species phylogeny. Although venom glands secrete some of the fastest evolving molecules (toxins), their gene expression does not evolve faster than evolutionarily older tissues. We found 15 venom gland specific gene modules enriched in endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response pathways, indicating that animals have independently adopted stress response mechanisms to cope with mass production of toxins. This, in turns, activates regulatory networks for epithelial development, cell turnover and maintenance which seem composed of both convergent and lineage-specific factors, possibly reflecting the different developmental origins of venom glands. This study represents the first step towards an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the repeated evolution of one of the most successful adaptive traits in the animal kingdom.

Diversity of Social Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) in an Agricultural Environment in Bambuí, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Sociobiology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel De Castro Jacques ◽  
Marcos Magalhães Souza ◽  
Heslander Júnio Coelho ◽  
Lucas Oliveira Vicente ◽  
Luis Claudio Paterno Silveira
Keyword(s):  
Social Wasp ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Minas Gerais ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
Wasp Species ◽  
Agricultural Environment ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Long Term Survey

Studies on the diversity of social wasps in agricultural environments represent an important step to identifying the ideal species to be used in biological pest control programs. There is a growing effort to acknowledge the diversity of such Hymenoptera in the state of Minas Gerais, but information on anthropized environments is still rare. The objective of this study was to obtain data on the diversity of social wasps in the Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciências e Tecnologia de Minas Gerais (IFMG), Bambuí campus, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Sampling was conducted from July 2012 to July 2014 with two methodologies: attractive traps and active search. This work confirms that a well diversified environment, even if anthropized, is rich in social wasp species. In addition, the great number of collected species, shows the importance of a long-term survey and the use of more than one method of collection. The high rate of collections of Polistes versicolor in a predominantly agricultural environment, coupled with other studies on this species as a predator of lepidopteran caterpillars, suggests the use of this species as a tool in the biological control of pests.

scholarly journals Molecular Cloning and Sequence Analysis of the cDNAs Encoding Toxin-Like Peptides from the Venom Glands of Tarantula Grammostola rosea

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadashi Kimura ◽  
Seigo Ono ◽  
Tai Kubo
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Analysis ◽  
Molecular Cloning ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Cdna Library ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Bioactive Peptides ◽  
Venom Gland ◽  
Unique Peptide ◽  
Cdna Sequences ◽  
Venom Glands

Tarantula venom glands produce a large variety of bioactive peptides. Here we present the identification of venom components obtained by sequencing clones isolated from a cDNA library prepared from the venom glands of the Chilean common tarantula, Grammostola rosea. The cDNA sequences of about 1500 clones out of 4000 clones were analyzed after selection using several criteria. Forty-eight novel toxin-like peptides (GTx1 to GTx7, and GTx-TCTP and GTx-CRISP) were predicted from the nucleotide sequences. Among these peptides, twenty-four toxins are ICK motif peptides, eleven peptides are MIT1-like peptides, and seven are ESTX-like peptides. Peptides similar to JZTX-64, aptotoxin, CRISP, or TCTP are also obtained. GTx3 series possess a cysteine framework that is conserved among vertebrate MIT1, Bv8, prokineticins, and invertebrate astakines. GTx-CRISP is the first CRISP-like protein identified from the arthropod venom. Real-time PCR revealed that the transcripts for TCTP-like peptide are expressed in both the pereopodal muscle and the venom gland. Furthermore, a unique peptide GTx7-1, whose signal and prepro sequences are essentially identical to those of HaTx1, was obtained.

scholarly journals Comparative venom gland transcriptomics ofNaja kaouthia(monocled cobra) from Malaysia and Thailand: elucidating geographical venom variation and insights into sequence novelty

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kae Yi Tan ◽  
Choo Hock Tan ◽  
Lawan Chanhome ◽  
Nget Hong Tan
Keyword(s):  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Gene Families ◽  
Venom Gland ◽  
Acid Oxidase ◽  
Amino Acid Oxidase ◽  
Sequence Alignments ◽  
Illumina Hiseq ◽  
Multiple Sequence ◽  
Toxin Genes ◽  
Transcriptional Pattern

BackgroundThe monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia) is a medically important venomous snake in Southeast Asia. Its venom has been shown to vary geographically in relation to venom composition and neurotoxic activity, indicating vast diversity of the toxin genes within the species. To investigate the polygenic trait of the venom and its locale-specific variation, we profiled and compared the venom gland transcriptomes ofN. kaouthiafrom Malaysia (NK-M) and Thailand (NK-T) applying next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology.MethodsThe transcriptomes were sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq platform, assembled and followed by transcript clustering and annotations for gene expression and function. Pairwise or multiple sequence alignments were conducted on the toxin genes expressed. Substitution rates were studied for the major toxins co-expressed in NK-M and NK-T.Results and discussionThe toxin transcripts showed high redundancy (41–82% of the total mRNA expression) and comprised 23 gene families expressed in NK-M and NK-T, respectively (22 gene families were co-expressed). Among the venom genes, three-finger toxins (3FTxs) predominated in the expression, with multiple sequences noted. Comparative analysis and selection study revealed that 3FTxs are genetically conserved between the geographical specimens whilst demonstrating distinct differential expression patterns, implying gene up-regulation for selected principal toxins, or alternatively, enhanced transcript degradation or lack of transcription of certain traits. One of the striking features that elucidates the inter-geographical venom variation is the up-regulation of α-neurotoxins (constitutes ∼80.0% of toxin’s fragments per kilobase of exon model per million mapped reads (FPKM)), particularly the long-chain α-elapitoxin-Nk2a (48.3%) in NK-T but only 1.7% was noted in NK-M. Instead, short neurotoxin isoforms were up-regulated in NK-M (46.4%). Another distinct transcriptional pattern observed is the exclusively and abundantly expressed cytotoxin CTX-3 in NK-T. The findings suggested correlation with the geographical variation in proteome and toxicity of the venom, and support the call for optimising antivenom production and use in the region. Besides, the current study uncovered full and partial sequences of numerous toxin genes fromN. kaouthiawhich have not been reported hitherto; these includeN. kaouthia-specificl-amino acid oxidase (LAAO), snake venom serine protease (SVSP), cystatin, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), hyaluronidase (HYA), waprin, phospholipase B (PLB), aminopeptidase (AP), neprilysin, etc. Taken together, the findings further enrich the snake toxin database and provide deeper insights into the genetic diversity of cobra venom toxins.

scholarly journals Reference gene analysis and its use for kinase expression profiling in Fasciola hepatica

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hicham Houhou ◽  
Oliver Puckelwaldt ◽  
Christina Strube ◽  
Simone Haeberlein
Keyword(s):  
Reference Genes ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Fasciola Hepatica ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Housekeeping Gene ◽  
Trna Synthetase ◽  
Parasite Development ◽  
Mammalian Host ◽  
Life Stages

Abstract The liver fluke Fasciola hepatica causes fasciolosis, a foodborne zoonosis affecting humans and livestock worldwide. A reliable quantification of gene expression in all parasite life stages relevant for targeting by anthelmintics in the mammalian host is fundamental. The aim of this study was to define a set of stably expressed reference genes for qRT-PCR in Fasciola studies. We determined the expression stabilities of eight candidate reference genes by the algorithms NormFinder, geNorm, BestKeeper, and comparative ΔCT method. The most stably expressed reference genes for the comparison of intra-mammalian life stages were glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase (Fheprs) and tubulin-specific chaperone D (Fhtbcd). The two best reference genes for analysis of in vitro-cultured juveniles were Fhtbcd and proteasome subunit beta type-7 (Fhpsmb7). These genes should replace the housekeeping gene gapdh which is used in most Fasciola studies to date, but in fact was differentially expressed in our analysis. Based on the new reference genes, we quantified expression of five kinases (Abl1, Abl2, PKC, Akt1, Plk1) discussed as targets in other parasitic flatworms. Distinct expression patterns throughout development were revealed and point to interesting biological functions. We like to motivate using this set of validated reference genes for future F. hepatica research, such as studies on drug targets or parasite development.

scholarly journals Dissecting Toxicity: The Venom Gland Transcriptome and the Venom Proteome of the Highly Venomous Scorpion Centruroides limpidus (Karsch, 1879)

Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jimena I. Cid-Uribe ◽  
Erika P. Meneses ◽  
Cesar V. F. Batista ◽  
Ernesto Ortiz ◽  
Lourival D. Possani
Keyword(s):  
Ion Channel ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Venom Gland ◽  
K Channel ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Illumina Platform ◽  
Host Defense Peptides ◽  
Venom Glands ◽  
Mass Spectometry ◽  
First Time

Venom glands and soluble venom from the Mexican scorpion Centruroides limpidus (Karsch, 1879) were used for transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, respectively. An RNA-seq was performed by high-throughput sequencing with the Illumina platform. Approximately 80 million reads were obtained and assembled into 198,662 putative transcripts, of which 11,058 were annotated by similarity to sequences from available databases. A total of 192 venom-related sequences were identified, including Na+ and K+ channel-acting toxins, enzymes, host defense peptides, and other venom components. The most diverse transcripts were those potentially coding for ion channel-acting toxins, mainly those active on Na+ channels (NaScTx). Sequences corresponding to β- scorpion toxins active of K+ channels (KScTx) and λ-KScTx are here reported for the first time for a scorpion of the genus Centruroides. Mass fingerprint corroborated that NaScTx are the most abundant components in this venom. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectometry (LC-MS/MS) allowed the identification of 46 peptides matching sequences encoded in the transcriptome, confirming their expression in the venom. This study corroborates that, in the venom of toxic buthid scorpions, the more abundant and diverse components are ion channel-acting toxins, mainly NaScTx, while they lack the HDP diversity previously demonstrated for the non-buthid scorpions. The highly abundant and diverse antareases explain the pancreatitis observed after envenomation by this species.

Social wasps (Hymenoptera, Polistinae) from the Brazilian savanna

Sociobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Marcos Magalhães de Souza ◽  
Gabriel Silva Teófilo-Guedes ◽  
Ederson Tadeu Bueno ◽  
Lucas Rocha Milani ◽  
Alex Sandro Barros De Souza
Keyword(s):  
Endemic Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Human Action ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Brazilian Savanna ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Conservation Units ◽  
Wasp Species ◽  
Mato Grosso

The present study was developed aiming to evaluate the richness and biogeography of social wasp species in the Brazilian savanna, Cerrado. In order to do so, we gathered data from specialized literature and field samplings performed at Sempre-Vivas National Park, northeastern Minas Gerais state. 18 genera and 137 species were recorded, with 4 endemic species of the Mischocytiarus genus. The results showed that Cerrado houses 40% of Brazilian Polistinae fauna and that Sempre-Vivas National Park is responsible for around 29% of this value, which makes it an important refuge for conservation of social wasps from Cerrado, as well as Mato Grosso state, due to its large number of restricted occurrence and endemic species. Nonetheless, there are Brazilian states and conservation units still lacking information for the taxon, making a bigger sampling effort in the Cerrado biome necessary, as it has been rapidly deteriorating due to human action.

scholarly journals Production and packaging of a biological arsenal: Evolution of centipede venoms under morphological constraint

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (13) ◽  
pp. 4026-4031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eivind A. B. Undheim ◽  
Brett R. Hamilton ◽  
Nyoman D. Kurniawan ◽  
Greg Bowlay ◽  
Bronwen W. Cribb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prey Capture ◽  
Imaging Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Venom Gland ◽  
Toxin Production ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Secretory Cells ◽  
Physical Damage ◽  
Venom Glands ◽  
Protein Toxins ◽  
Morphological Constraint

Venom represents one of the most extreme manifestations of a chemical arms race. Venoms are complex biochemical arsenals, often containing hundreds to thousands of unique protein toxins. Despite their utility for prey capture, venoms are energetically expensive commodities, and consequently it is hypothesized that venom complexity is inversely related to the capacity of a venomous animal to physically subdue prey. Centipedes, one of the oldest yet least-studied venomous lineages, appear to defy this rule. Although scutigeromorph centipedes produce less complex venom than those secreted by scolopendrid centipedes, they appear to rely heavily on venom for prey capture. We show that the venom glands are large and well developed in both scutigerid and scolopendrid species, but that scutigerid forcipules lack the adaptations that allow scolopendrids to inflict physical damage on prey and predators. Moreover, we reveal that scolopendrid venom glands have evolved to accommodate a much larger number of secretory cells and, by using imaging mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that toxin production is heterogeneous across these secretory units. We propose that the differences in venom complexity between centipede orders are largely a result of morphological restrictions of the venom gland, and consequently there is a strong correlation between the morphological and biochemical complexity of this unique venom system. The current data add to the growing body of evidence that toxins are not expressed in a spatially homogenous manner within venom glands, and they suggest that the link between ecology and toxin evolution is more complex than previously thought.

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