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opencc-zeroJun 2020View details →

Data from: Host-induced genome instability rapidly generates phenotypic variation across Candida albicans strains and ploidy states

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen of humans that is typically diploid yet has a highly labile genome tolerant of large-scale perturbations including chromosomal aneuploidy and loss-of-heterozygosity events. The ability to rapidly generate genetic variation is crucial for C. albicans to adapt to changing or stressful environments, like those encountered in the host. Genetic variation occurs via stress-induced mutagenesis or can be generated through its parasexual cycle, in which tetraploids arise via diploid mating or stress-induced mitotic defects and undergo nonmeiotic ploidy reduction. However, it remains largely unknown how genetic background contributes to C. albicans genome instability in vitro or in the host environment. Here, we tested how genetic background, ploidy, and the host environment impacts C. albicans genome stability. We found that host association induced both loss-of-heterozygosity events and genome size changes, regardless of genetic background or ploidy. However, the magnitude and types of genome changes varied across C. albicans strain background and ploidy state. We then assessed if host-induced genomic changes resulted in fitness consequences on growth rate and nonlethal virulence phenotypes and found that many host-derived isolates significantly changed relative to their parental strain. Interestingly, diploid host-associated C. albicans predominantly decreased host reproductive fitness, whereas tetraploid host-associated C. albicans increased host reproductive fitness. Together, these results are important for understanding how host-induced genomic changes in C. albicans alter its relationship with the host. IMPORTANCE Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen of humans. The ability to generate genetic variation is essential for adaptation and is a strategy that C. albicans and other fungal pathogens use to change their genome size. Stressful environments, including the host, induce C. albicans genome instability. Here, we investigated how C. albicans genetic background and ploidy state impact genome instability, both in vitro and in a host environment. We show that the host environment induces genome instability, but the magnitude depends on C. albicans genetic background. Furthermore, we show that tetraploid C. albicans is highly unstable in host environments and rapidly reduces in genome size. These reductions in genome size often resulted in reduced virulence. In contrast, diploid C. albicans displayed modest host-induced genome size changes, yet these frequently resulted in increased virulence. Such studies are essential for understanding how opportunistic pathogens respond and potentially adapt to the host environment.

opennotspecifiedJun 2020View details →

FIGURES 22–34 in Portanini (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae): morphology of female terminalia, first record of host plants, a new species of Portanus from Brazil, and taxonomic notes

FIGURES 22–34. Portanus restingalis Felix & Mejdalani, 2016. Female: 22, dorsal habitus; 23, sternite VII, ventral view; 24, pygofer and anal tube, lateral view; 25, valvula I, lateral view; 26, apical portion of valvula I; 27, dorsal sculptured area on median portion of valvula I; 28, valvula II, lateral view; 29, apical portion of valvula II; 30, teeth on dorsal median portion of valvula II (the dorsal sculptured area of valvula I is shown on lower portion of the image); 31, gonoplac, lateral view; 32, head and anterior thorax, anterior view; 33, lateral habitus; 34, ventral habitus. Scale bars: 22, 32–34 = 1 mm; 23–26, 28–29, 31 = 0.2 mm.

opennotspecifiedJun 2020View details →

FIGURES 11–21 in Portanini (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae): morphology of female terminalia, first record of host plants, a new species of Portanus from Brazil, and taxonomic notes

FIGURES 11–21. Portanus adenomari sp. nov. Female paratype: 11, sternite VII, ventral view; 12, pygofer and anal tube, lateral view; 13, valvula I, lateral view; 14, apical portion of valvula I; 15, valvula II, lateral view; 16, apical portion of valvula II; 17, gonoplac, lateral view; 18, dorsal habitus; 19, ventral habitus; 20, lateral habitus; 21 head and anterior thorax, anterior view. Scale bars: 11–17 = 0.2 mm; 18–21 = 1 mm.

opennotspecifiedJul 2020View details →

FIGURES 37 in New species of Bertawolia Blocker and Momoria Blocker (Cicadellidae: Iassinae Hyalojassini) from Brazil, including notes about host plants

FIGURES 37─48. Momoria albohabena sp. nov., male holotype. 37, Habitus, dorsal view. 38, Habitus, lateral view. 39, Head, ventral view: 40, Esternite VIII, ventral view. 41, Pygofer, valve, anal tube and subgenital plate, lateral view. 42, Pygofer, valve, anal tube and left subgenital plate, ventral view. 43, Subgenital plate, ventral view. 44, Connective, posterior view. 45, Style and connective, lateral view. 46, Style and connective, dorsal view. 47, Aedeagus, lateral view. 48, Aedeagus, posterior view. Scale bars in mm.

opennotspecifiedJul 2020View details →

FIGURES 29 in New species of Bertawolia Blocker and Momoria Blocker (Cicadellidae: Iassinae Hyalojassini) from Brazil, including notes about host plants

FIGURES 29─36. Bertawolia lata sp. nov., female paratype. 29, Distal portion of abdomen, ventral view. 30, Distal portion of abdomen, lateral view. 31, First valvifer and first valvula, lateral view. 32, Apical portion of first valvula. 33, Second valvula, lateral view. 34, Apical portion of second valvula. 35, Second valvifer and gonoplac, lateral view. 36, Subapical portion of gonoplac. Scale bars in mm.

opennotspecifiedJul 2020View details →

FIGURES 1–5 in Host-shifts at family level in the Australian Acacia-thrips lineage (Thysanoptera Phlaeothripinae) with two new species

FIGURES 1–5. Brakothrips eucalypti sp. n. (1) head, pronotum and fore legs (arrow to po seta); (2) head; (3) antenna; (4) meso and metanotum, pelta and tergite II; (5) tergites V–VI.

opencc-zeroJul 2020View details →

Infection state can affect host migratory decisions

Organisms across a wide range of taxa use migration as a strategy to avoid, reduce or recover from parasitic infection. Previous work has identified three different processes by which migration can help reduce infection risk and/or costs: migratory escape from infection, migratory culling of infected individuals, and migratory recovery from infection. However, most theoretical modelling of host migration in response to infection assumes that individuals have a single strategy during both infected and susceptible states, meaning an individual's state (susceptible or infected) is irrelevant to its decision to migrate. Here, we construct a model with two independent strategies of migration for an individual based on whether they are infected or susceptible, to study when the decision to migrate is favourable. We show that the best strategy for individuals of a given infection state is to either always migrate or never migrate. When infected and susceptible individuals differ in their migration strategy, this leads to partial migration at the population level (only some individuals migrate). Whereas previous theory showed that partial migration can be optimal in the face of infection, our work further parses out the contributors to partial or complete migration by determining which individuals in the population are involved in migration for different sets of conditions. <div class="yj6qo"> </div> <div class="adL"> </div>

opencc-zeroJun 2020View details →

Data from: Distribution of the specialist aphid Uroleucon nigrotuberculatum (Homoptera: Aphididae) in response to host plant semiochemical induction by the gall fly Eurosta solidaginis (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Many plants use terpenoids and other volatile compounds as semiochemicals. Reception of plant volatiles by conspecifics may trigger a defensive phytochemical response. These same compounds can also function as host recognition signals for phytophagous insects. In this experiment we find that when the specialist gall-forming fly Eurosta solidaginis attacks its tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) host plant, the fly indirectly induces a phytochemical response in nearby tall goldenrod plants. This phytochemical response may, in turn, act as a positive signal attracting the goldenrod specialist aphid Uroleucon nigrotuberculatum. Laboratory based experiments exposing ungalled tall goldenrod plants to the volatiles released by E. solidaginis galls demonstrated a consistent increase in foliar terpenoid concentrations in ungalled plants. Analysis of tall goldenrod stem and gall tissue chemistry revealed induction of terpenoids in gall tissue, with a simultaneous decrease in green leaf volatile concentrations. Field experiments demonstrated a consistent spatial relationship in tall goldenrod foliar terpenoid concentrations with distance from an E. solidaginis gall. Both laboratory and field experiments establish consistent induction of the terpene β-farnesene, and that this compound is a strong positive predictor of U. nigrotuberculatum aphid presence on goldenrod plants along with plant biomass and several other foliar terpenoids. These findings suggest E. solidaginis induced phytochemistry, especially β-farnesene, may be acting as a kairomone, driving aphid distribution in the field.

opencc-zeroJul 2020View details →

Data from: Different distribution of malaria parasite in left and right extremities of vertebrate hosts translates into differences in parasite transmission

Malaria, a vector-borne disease caused by Plasmodium spp., remains a major global cause of mortality. Optimization of disease control strategies requires a thorough understanding of the processes underlying parasite transmission. While the number of transmissible stages (gametocytes) of Plasmodium in blood is frequently used as an indicator of host-to-mosquito transmission potential, this relationship is not always clear. Significant effort has been made in developing molecular tools that improve gametocyte density estimation and therefore prediction of mosquito infection rates. However a significant level of uncertainty around estimates remains. The weakness in the relationship between gametocyte burden, measured from a blood sample, and the mosquito infection rate could be explained by a non-homogeneous distribution of gametocytes in the bloodstream. The estimated gametocyte density would then only be a single snapshot that does not reflect the host infectivity. This aspect of Plasmodium infection, however, remains largely neglected. In both humans and birds, we found here that the gametocyte densities differed depending on which side of the body the sample was taken, suggesting that gametocytes are not homogeneously distributed within the vertebrate host. We observed a fluctuating asymmetry, in other words, the extremity of the body with the highest density of parasites is not always the same from one individual to another. An estimation of gametocyte density from only one blood sample, as is commonly measured, could, therefore, over- or underestimated the infectivity of gametocyte carriers. This might have important consequences on the epidemiology of the disease since we show that this variation influences host-to-mosquito transmission. Vectors fed on the least infected body part had a lower parasite burden than those fed on the most infected part. The heterogeneous distribution of gametocytes in bloodstream should be considered to improve diagnosis and test new malaria control strategies.

Ethylene signaling mediates host invasion by parasitic plants

Parasitic plants form a specialized organ, a haustorium, to invade host tissues and acquire water and nutrients. To understand the molecular mechanism of haustorium development, we performed a forward genetics screening to isolate mutants exhibiting haustorial defects in the model parasitic plant Phtheirospermum japonicum. We isolated two mutants that show prolonged and sometimes aberrant meristematic activity in the haustorium apex, resulting in severe defects on host invasion. Whole genome sequencing revealed that the two mutants respectively have point mutations in homologs of ETHYLENE RECEPTOR 1 (ETR1) and ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 2 (EIN2), signaling components in response to the gaseous phytohormone ethylene. Application of the ethylene signaling inhibitors also caused similar haustorial defects, indicating that ethylene signaling regulates cell proliferation and differentiation of parasite cells. Importantly, genetic disruption of host ethylene production also perturbs parasite invasion. We propose that parasitic plants utilize ethylene as a signal to invade host roots.

Data from: Contrasting effects of host identity, plant community, and local species pool on the composition and colonisation levels of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community in a temperate grassland

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important plant symbionts, but we know little about the effects of plant taxonomic identity or functional group on the AMF community composition. To examine effects of the surrounding plant community, of host, and of the AMF pool on the AMF community in plant roots, we manipulated plant community composition in a long-term field experiment. Within four types of manipulated grassland plots, seedlings of eight grassland plant species were planted for 12 weeks, and AMF in their roots were quantified. Additionally, we characterised the AMF community of individual plots (as their AMF pool) and quantified plot abiotic conditions. The largest determinant of AMF community composition was the pool of available AMF, varying at metre scale due to changing soil conditions. The second strongest predictor was the host functional group. The differences between grasses and dicotyledonous forbs in AMF community variation and diversity were much larger than the differences among species within those groups. High cover of forbs in the surrounding plant community had a strong positive effect on AMF colonisation intensity in grass hosts. Using a manipulative field experiment enabled us to demonstrate direct causal effects of plant host and surrounding vegetation.

Data from: Intraspecific variation in host plant traits mediates taxonomic and functional composition of local insect herbivore communities

Host plant phenotypic traits affect the structure of the associated consumer community and mediate species interactions. We compare herbivore assemblages from the canopy of the phenotypically variable tree Metrosideros polymorpha on Hawai'i Island. Multiple distinct varieties of M. polymorpha frequently co‐occur, with variation in morphological traits. Using this system, we identify host and insect traits that underlie patterns of herbivore abundance and quantify the strength of host‐insect trait interactions. The dataset includes host plant phenotypic traits (specific leaf area, leaf water content, foliar nutrients, trichome presence), as well as collection information. The dataset also contains the herbivorous insect community associated with this host plant, their abundances and life history traits. R code for analyses in this article is also included.

Data from: Host-plant use of a polyphagous mirid, Apolygus lucorum: molecular evidence from migratory individuals

While the host-plant use of insect herbivores is important for understanding their interactions and coevolution, field evidence of these preferences is limited for generalist species. Molecular diet analysis provides an effective option for gaining such information, but data from field-sampled individuals are often greatly affected by the local composition of their host plants. The polyphagous mirid bug Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) seasonally migrates across the Bohai Sea, and molecular analysis of migrant bugs collected on crop-free islands can be used to estimate the host-plant use of A. lucorum across the large area (northern China) from where these individuals come. In this study, the host-plant use of A. lucorum adults was determined by identifying plant DNA using a three-locus DNA barcode (rbcL, trnH-psbA and ITS) in the gut of migrant individuals collected on Beihuang Island. We successfully identified the host plant families of A. lucorum adults, and the results indicated that captured bugs fed on at least 17 plant families. In addition, gut analyses revealed that 35.9% of A. lucorum individuals fed on multiple host plants but that most individuals (64.1%) fed on only one plant species. Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., DNA was found in 35.8% of the A. lucorum bugs examined, which was much higher than the percentage of bugs in which other host plants were found. Our work provides a new understanding of multiple host-plant use by A. lucorum under natural conditions, and these findings are available for developing effective management strategies against this polyphagous pest species.

Data from: Tandem host-parasite dispersal inferred from similarities in phylogeographic patterns among little penguins and their 'terrestrial' ectoparasites

Aim Organisms with poor intrinsic dispersal capacity, such as parasites, often rely entirely on transport with host species that have a greater dispersal capacity. Penguins, for example, are exploited by terrestrial ectoparasites when they come ashore to breed. Recent research indicates that little penguin (Eudyptula minor and E. novaehollandiae) hard ticks (Ixodes eudyptidis and I. kohlsi) may be capable of surviving short periods (days) at sea with their hosts, but their capacity to survive longer voyages (weeks) is not known. We here aimed to assess whether phylogeographic patterns in little penguins and their ticks indicate that the terrestrial ectoparasites are able to disperse long distances at sea with their swimming hosts. Location Southern Australia and New Zealand. Taxon Ixodes eudyptidis and I. kohlsi ticks. Methods We conducted a broad-scale genomic assessment of little penguin ticks from across their hosts' ranges in Australia and New Zealand. Using Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS), we generated SNP data sets from ticks from 14 penguin colonies, and analysed phylogeographic structure. We included ticks from some sympatric flighted seabirds to verify host-specificity. Results We resolved two distinct lineages of Ixodes from little penguins, with one restricted to Australia, and the other found throughout New Zealand and in low numbers at some eastern Australian sites. Both lineages exhibited phylogeographic structure consistent with patterns observed in their hosts, with some evidence of occasional oceanic dispersal, including across the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand. Ticks from sympatric short-tailed shearwaters (Ardenna tenuirostris), which disperse aerially, were genetically distinct from those collected from little penguins, supporting prior evidence of host-specificity in seabird ticks. Main conclusions The most parsimonious explanation for our results is that ticks can travel at sea with little penguins. We infer that some terrestrial ectoparasites associated with aquatically-dispersing hosts have evolved the capacity to survive oceanic voyages.

Data from: Molecular biogeography and host relations of a parasitoid fly

Successful geographic range expansion by parasites and parasitoids may also require host range expansion. Thus the evolutionary advantages of host specialization may trade off against the ability to exploit new host species encountered in new geographic regions. Here we use molecular techniques and confirmed host records to examine biogeography, population divergence, and host flexibility of the parasitoid fly, Ormia ochracea (Bigot). Gravid females of this fly find their cricket hosts acoustically by eavesdropping on male cricket calling songs; these songs vary greatly among the known host species of crickets. Using both nuclear and mitochondrial genetic markers, we (1) describe the geographical distribution and sub-division of genetic variation in O. ochracea from across the continental United States, the Mexican states of Sonora and Oaxaca, and populations introduced to Hawaii; (2) demonstrate that the distribution of genetic variation among fly populations is consistent with a single widespread species with regional host specialization, rather than locally differentiated cryptic species, (3) identify the more-probable source populations for the flies introduced to the Hawaiian islands; (4) examine genetic variation and sub-structure within Hawaii; (5) show that among-population geographic, genetic, and host song distances are all correlated, and (6) discuss specialization and lability in host-finding behavior in light of the diversity of cricket songs serving as host cues in different geographically separate populations.

Functional investigation of monoterpenes for improved understanding of the relationship between hosts and bark beetle

Spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus L.) is the most destructive insect pest of spruce forest in Eurasia. However, contact toxicity, in vivo metabolism, and ecological functions of host monoterpenes are poorly understood at the spruce–bark beetle–predator tritrophic level. Spruce monoterpenes including S-(–)-α-pinene, R-(+)-α-pinene, and myrcene showed contact toxicity to spruce bark beetle, with LD50 values ranging from 24–36 μg/mg. When topically treated with S-(–)-α-pinene or R-(+)-α-pinene, the amount of volatile metabolites [S-(–)-cis-verbenol, 4S-(+)-/4R-(–)-trans-verbenol, and R-(+)-/S-(–)-verbenone] in the hindgut extract of spruce bark beetle varied significantly between sexes, and their quality varied significantly depending on the chirality of α-pinene. More importantly, S-(–)-α-pinene induced male adults to produce large amounts of S-(–)-cis-verbenol and S-(–)-verbenone. When topically treated with myrcene, the expected semiochemicals such as E-myrcenol, ipsenol, and ipsdienol were not detected in beetle hindgut, indicating that the pheromone biosynthetic system of spruce bark beetle does not participate in the metabolism of host myrcene. In the field trapping tests, S-(–)-α-pinene and R-(+)-α-pinene increased the trap catches of spruce bark beetle and Thanasimus substriatus (predator) compared with the pheromone source, whereas myrcene exhibited a strong repellent effect on bark beetle but not on its predator. Our results of contact toxicity, in vivo metabolism, and behavioural activity analyses indicate that spruce bark beetle adopts different ecological strategies to adapt to and tolerate different host monoterpenes; for example, avoidance mechanism for myrcene, and preference mechanism for α-pinene. Signalling interactions among the three monoterpenes at the tritrophic level help us understand their roles in manipulating the arms race between host plants and bark beetles, which indicate the plasticity and multifunctionality of host monoterpenes in the ecological context. Our results can be applied to the management of spruce bark beetle via the push-pull strategy using semiochemicals.

Viruses harness YxxØ motif to interact with host AP2M1 for replication: A vulnerable broad-spectrum antiviral target

Targeting a universal host protein exploited by most viruses would be a game-changing strategy that offers broad-spectrum solution and rapid pandemic control including the current COVID-19. Here, we found a common YxxØ-motif of multiple viruses that exploits host AP2M1 for intracellular trafficking. A library chemical, N-(p-amylcinnamoyl)anthranilic acid (ACA), was identified to interrupt AP2M1-virus interaction and exhibit potent antiviral efficacy against a number of viruses in vitro and in vivo, including the influenza A viruses (IAVs), Zika virus (ZIKV), human immunodeficiency virus, and coronaviruses including MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. YxxØ mutation, AP2M1 depletion, or disruption by ACA causes incorrect localization of viral proteins, which is exemplified by the failure of nuclear import of IAV nucleoprotein and diminished endoplasmic reticulum localization of ZIKV-NS3 and enterovirus-A71-2C proteins, thereby suppressing viral replication. Our study reveals an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of protein-protein interaction between host and virus that can serve as a broad-spectrum antiviral target.

openother-openAug 2020View details →

Insect Galls-Host Plants in Biomes Series (Cerrado) v1.0.1

Insect Galls-Host Plants in Biomes Series (Cerrado). Dataset v1.0.1

opencc-zeroSep 2020View details →

Pervasive effects of Wolbachia on host temperature preference

Heritable symbionts can modify a range of ecologically important host traits, including behavior. About half of all insect species are infected with maternally transmitted Wolbachia, a bacterial endosymbiont known to alter host reproduction, nutrient acquisition, and virus susceptibility. Here, we broadly test the hypothesis that Wolbachia modify host behavior by assessing the effects of eight different Wolbachia strains on the temperature preference of six Drosophila melanogaster-subgroup species. Four of the seven host genotypes infected with A-group Wolbachia strains (wRi in D. simulans, wHa in D. simulans, wSh in D. sechellia, and wTei in D. teissieri) prefer significantly cooler temperatures relative to uninfected genotypes. Contrastingly, when infected with divergent B-group wMau, D. mauritiana prefer a warmer temperature. For most strains, changes to host temperature preference do not alter Wolbachia titer. However, males infected with wSh and wTei experience an increase in titer when shifted to a cooler temperature for 24 hours, suggesting that Wolbachia-induced changes to host behavior may promote bacterial replication and influence Wolbachia transmission rates. Modifications to host temperature preference likely influence host thermoregulation, and understanding the fitness consequences of these effects is crucial for predicting evolutionary outcomes of host-symbiont interactions, including how Wolbachia spread to become common.