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opencc-zeroApr 2023View details →

Drosophila survival after infection and Buletin antibacterial activity data

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key players in innate defence against infection in plants and animals. In Drosophila, many host defence peptides are produced downstream of the Toll and Imd NF-κB pathways. Use of single and compound AMP mutations in Drosophila has revealed that AMPs can additively or synergistically contribute to combat pathogens in vivo. However, these studies also revealed a high degree of specificity, wherein just one AMP can play a major role in combatting a specific pathogen. We recently uncovered a specific importance of the antibacterial peptide Drosocin for defence against Enterobacter cloacae. Here, we show that the Drosocin locus (CG10816) is more complex than previously described. In addition to its namesake peptide "Drosocin", it encodes a second peptide generated from a precursor via furin cleavage. We name this peptide "Buletin", and show that it corresponds to the uncharacterized "Immune-induced Molecule 7" previously identified by MALDI-TOF. The existence of a naturally occurring polymorphism (Thr52Ala) in the CG10816 precursor protein masked the identification of this peptide previously. Using mutations differently affecting the production of these two CG10816 gene products, we show that Drosocin, but not Buletin, contributes to the CG10816-mediated defence against E. cloacae. Strikingly, we observed that Buletin, but not Drosocin, contributes to the CG10816-mediated defence against Providencia burhodogranariea. Moreover, the Thr52Ala polymorphism in Buletin affects survival to P. burhodogranariea, wherein the Alanine allele confers better defence than the Threonine allele. However, we found no activity of Buletin against either P. burhodogranariea or E. coli in vitro. Collectively, our study reveals that CG10816 encodes not one but two prominent host defence peptides with different specificity against different pathogens. This finding emphasizes the complexity of the Drosophila humoral response consisting of multiple host defence peptides with specific activities, and demonstrates how natural polymorphisms found in Drosophila populations can affect host susceptibility.

opencc-zeroApr 2023View details →

Data for: Mobilomes of four flower-breeding Drosophila species

Understanding the mechanisms that shape the architecture, diversity and adaptations of genomes and their ecological and genetic interfaces is of utmost importance to understand biological evolution. Transposable elements (TEs) play an important role in genome evolution, due to their ability to transpose within and between genomes, providing sites of non-allelic recombination. Here we investigate patterns and processes of TE driven genome evolution associated with niche diversification. Specifically, we compared TE content, TE landscapes, and frequency of horizontal transposon transfers (HTTs) across genomes of five flower-breeding Drosophila (FBD) with different levels of specialization on flowers. Further, we investigated whether niche breadth, and ecological and geographical overlaps are associated with potential for HTT rates. Mobilome landscapes recovered for all species presented a bell-shaped curve, revealing an equilibrium between transposition and excision over evolutionary history. This pattern agrees with results previously recovered for other Drosophilidae species of the same subgenera studied here, suggesting that lineage-specific factors shape the mobilome of this lineage. Nevertheless, the abundance and richness of TE superfamilies was associated with niche breadth. Furthermore, the two more widespread species, the specialist D. incompta and the generalist D. lutzii, presented the highest frequency of HTT events. Our analyses also revealed that HTT opportunities are positively influenced by abiotic niche overlap but are not associated with phylogenetic relationships, niche breadth and biotic niche overlap. This suggests the existence of intermediate vectors promoting HTTs between species presenting non-overlapping biotic niches.

opencc-zeroMay 2023View details →

Data from: The fat body cortical actin network regulates Drosophila inter-organ nutrient trafficking, signaling, and adipocyte cell size

Defective nutrient storage and adipocyte enlargement (hypertrophy) are emerging features of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. How the cytoskeletal network contributes to nutrient uptake, fat storage, and adipocyte size remains poorly understood. Utilizing the Drosophila larval fat body (FB) as a model adipose tissue, we show that a specific actin isoform—Act5C—forms the cortical actin network necessary for inter-organ lipid trafficking. Act5C also promotes FB tissue expansion during larval development so larvae can store sufficient biomass for metamorphosis. We find FB-specific loss of Act5C, but not other Drosophila actins, perturbs FB triglyceride (TG) storage in lipid droplets (LDs), resulting in developmentally delayed larvae that fail to develop into flies. Act5C localizes to the FB cell surface where it intimately contacts peripheral LDs (pLDs), forming a cortical actin network together with spectrins for cell architectural support. While both the cortical actin and spectrin cytoskeletons maintain FB cell surface architecture, we find that only the actin network is required for fat storage. Mechanistically, we show that FBs lacking the Act5C cortical cytoskeleton exhibit a block in lipoprotein (Lpp) secretion from FB cells, and a subsequent disruption of gut:FB inter-organ lipid transport, resulting in mid-gut fat accumulation. Utilizing temporal RNAi-depletion approaches, we also reveal that Act5C is indispensable post-embryogenesis during larval feeding to promote FB cell expansion. Act5C-deficient FBs fail to expand cell sizes, leading to lipodystrophic larvae unable to accrue sufficient biomass for metamorphosis. Collectively, we propose that the Act5C-mediated cortical actin network of Drosophila adipose tissue plays an essential role in post-embryonic inter-organ nutrient transport and FB cell size determination for organismal energy homeostasis and development.

opencc-by-4.0May 2023View details →

Multifaceted luminance gain control beyond photoreceptors in Drosophila

Data and code for the manuscript 'Multifaceted luminance gain control beyond photoreceptors in Drosophila' These resources are separated first by analysis themes (behavior, two-photon imaging and modeling), and at the second level, by figures, as of re-submission date of the manuscript (May 10th, 2023). Data and code required to visualize each figure panel are together in the corresponding folder. Please follow the README file for further instructions. A bioRxiv preprint (see related identifier) is based on this dataset, however the figure order has been updated.

opencc-by-4.0May 2023View details →

Allnighter pseudokinase-mediated feedback links proteostasis and sleep in Drosophila

Data from sleep study of Drosophila Allnighter mutation. Relevant to Figure 7 of publication Shashank et al. Nature Communication (in press).  Ethoscopes were used for video tracking of Drosophila activity. Resulting activity records are contained in the current datasets.

opencc-zeroJun 2023View details →

Developmental heat stress interrupts spermatogenesis inducing early male sterility in Drosophila melanogaster

Thermal stress leads to fertility reduction, can cause temporal sterility and thus results in fitness loss with severe ecological and evolutionary consequences, e.g., threatening species persistence already at sub-lethal temperatures. For males we here tested which developmental stage is particularly sensitive to heat stress in the model species Drosophila melanogaster. As developmental stages characterize the different steps of sperm development, we could narrow down which particular processes are heat sensitive. We studied early male reproductive ability and, by following recovery dynamics after a move to benign temperatures, we investigated the mechanisms behind a subsequent gain of fertility. We found strong support to suggest that the last steps of spermatogenesis are particularly sensitive to heat stress, as processes occurring during the pupal stage were mostly interrupted, delaying both sperm production and sperm maturation. Moreover, further measurements in the testes and for proxies of sperm availability indicating the onset of adult reproductive capacity matched the expected heat-induced delay in completing spermatogenesis. We discuss these results within the context of how heat stress affects reproductive organ function and the consequences for male reproductive potential.

opencc-by-4.0Jul 2023View details →

Single-cell transcriptional atlas of the developing Drosophila visual system (V1.1)

An updated version of a single-cell transcriptional atlas of the developing Drosophila visual system (V1.1): https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8097374 Changes are described in Yoo et al. 2023 (https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.04.03.534791) <pre>  </pre>

openother-ncNov 2014View details →

Drosophila Cell Tracking

This 3D+t dataset shows an excerpt of a developing fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) embryo over 100 time steps during gastrulation. The movie has been recorded using a light sheet microscope. We provide dense manual annotations for cell lineages for all ~800 cells per frame. <a href="../api/records/8032735/draft/files/benchmark-dataset-abstract-2.png/content" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Preview Image</a> The movie of this developing Drosophila melanogaster embryo has been recorded by the <a href="https://www.embl.de/research/units/cbb/hufnagel/">Hufnagel group, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany</a>, with the light sheet microscope described in (<a href="http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/v9/n7/abs/nmeth.2064.html">Krzic et al., 2012</a>). The challenging task is to automatically segment and track all cells over all time steps to reconstruct full cell lineages. To acquire manual cell tracking annotations, we first segmented this dataset using <a href="http://ilastik.org/">ilastik</a> and refined the result with a seeded watershed. On average, this yielded ~800 cells per frame, which we then tracked manually over all 100 time steps using the <a href="http://ilastik.org/documentation/tracking/tracking.html#sec_manual">Manual Tracking workflow in ilastik</a>. We here provide the raw data, our segmentation and our manual annotations for benchmarking purposes.

opencc-zeroAug 2023View details →

Data for: A predominant role of genotypic variation in both expression of sperm competition genes and paternity success in Drosophila melanogaster

The study focuses on investigating the impact of both environmental and genotypic variations on the expression of sperm competition genes and relative paternity success (i.e. second male paternity; P2) in Drosophila melanogaster. To address this, the research leverages the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) inbred lines and introduces manipulation of developmental population density, specifically larval density. This experimental design allows for the examination of the effects of genotype, environment, and potential genotype-environment interactions (GEI) on the expression of seminal fluid genes, namely Sex Peptide, Acp36DE, and CG9997 and sperm competitiveness. In light of the observed genotypic influence on genes' expression, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was also conducted for Sex Peptide and Acp36DE.

Lipidomic data of macrophages isolated from adult fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) 24 hours post-infection

The immune response is an energy-demanding process that must be coordinated with systemic metabolic changes redirecting nutrients from stores to the immune system. Although this interplay is fundamental for the function of the immune system, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Our data show that the pro-inflammatory polarization of Drosophila macrophages is coupled to the production of the insulin antagonist ImpL2 through the activity of the transcription factor HIF1α. ImpL2 production, reflecting nutritional demands of activated macrophages, subsequently impairs insulin signaling in the fat body, thereby triggering FOXO-driven mobilization of lipoproteins. This metabolic adaptation is fundamental for the function of the immune system and an individual's resistance to infection. We demonstrated that analogically to Drosophila, mammalian immune-activated macrophages produce ImpL2 homolog IGFBP7 in a HIF1α-dependent manner and that enhanced IGFBP7 production by these cells induces mobilization of lipoproteins from hepatocytes. Hence, the production of ImpL2/IGFBP7 by macrophages represents an evolutionarily conserved mechanism by which macrophages alleviate insulin signaling in the central metabolic organ to secure nutrients necessary for their function upon bacterial infection.

Parametric effects of light acting via multiple photoreceptors contribute to circadian entrainment in Drosophila melanogaster

Circadian rhythms in physiology and behavior have near 24-hour periodicities that must adjust to the exact 24-hour geophysical cycles on earth to ensure adaptive daily timing. Such adjustment is called entrainment. One major mode of entrainment is via the continuous modulation of circadian period by the prolonged presence of light. Although Drosophila melanogaster is a prominent insect model of chronobiology, there is little evidence for such continuous effects of light in the species. In this study, we demonstrate that prolonged light exposure at specific times of the day shapes the daily timing of activity in flies. We also establish that continuous blue- and UV-blocked light lengthens the circadian period of Drosophila and provide evidence that this is produced by the combined action of multiple photoreceptors which, includes the cell autonomous photoreceptor cryptochrome. Finally, we introduce ramped light cycles as an entrainment paradigm that produces light entrainment that lacks the large light-driven startle responses typically displayed by flies and requires multiple days for entrainment to shifted cycles. These features are reminiscent of entrainment in mammalian models systems and make possible new experimental approaches to understanding the mechanisms underlying entrainment in the fly.

Data from: Male size does not affect the strength of male mate choice for high-quality females in Drosophila melanogaster

Theory predicts that the strength of male mate choice should vary depending on male quality when higher-quality males receive greater fitness benefits from being choosy. This pattern extends to differences in male body size, with larger males often having stronger pre- and post-copulatory preferences than smaller males.We sought to determine whether large males and small males differ in the strength (or direction) of their preference for large, high-fecundity females using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. We measured male courtship preferences and mating duration to show that male body size had no impact on the strength of male mate choice; all males, regardless of their size, had equally strong preferences for large females. To understand the selective pressures shaping male mate choice in males of different sizes, we also measured the fitness benefits associated with preferring large females for both large and small males. Male body size did not affect the benefits that males received: large and small males were equally successful at mating with large females, received the same direct fitness benefits from mating with large females, and showed similar competitive fertilization success with large females. These findings provide insight into why the strength of male mate choice was not affected by male body size in this system. Our study highlights the importance of evaluating the benefits and costs of male mate choice across multiple males to predict when differences in male mate choice should occur.

Exploring the connection between autophagy and heat-stress tolerance in Drosophila melanogaster

Mechanisms aimed at recovering from heat-induced damages are closely associated with the ability of ectotherms to survive exposure to stressful temperatures. Autophagy, a ubiquitous stress-responsive catabolic process, has recently gained renewed attention as one of these mechanisms. By increasing the turnover of cellular structures as well as the clearance of long-lived protein and protein aggregates, the induction of autophagy has been linked to increased tolerance to a range of abiotic stressors in diverse ectothermic organisms. However, whether a link between autophagy and heat-tolerance exists in insect models remains unclear despite broad ecophysiological implications thereof. Here, we explored the putative association between autophagy and heat-tolerance using Drosophila melanogaster as a model. We hypothesized that (i) heat-stress would cause an increase of autophagy in flies' tissues, and (ii) rapamycin exposure would trigger a detectable autophagic response in adults and increase their heat-tolerance. In line with our hypothesis, we report that flies exposed to heat-stress present signs of protein aggregation and appear to trigger an autophagy-related homoeostatic response as a result. We further show that rapamycin feeding causes the systemic effect associated with target of rapamycin (TOR) inhibition, induces autophagy locally in the fly gut, and increases the heat-stress tolerance of individuals. These results argue in favour of a substantial contribution of autophagy to the heat-stress tolerance mechanisms of insects.

High promiscuity among females of the invasive pest species Drosophila suzukii

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931), the spotted-wing drosophila, is a highly invasive fruit fly that spread from Southern Asia across most regions of Asia, and in the last fifteen years has invaded Europe and the Americas. It is an economically important pest of small fruits such as berries and stone fruits. Drosophila suzukii speciated by adapting to cooler, mountainous and forest environments. In temperate regions, it evolved seasonal polyphenism traits which enhanced its survival during stressful winter population bottlenecks. Consequently, in these temperate regions, the populations undergo seasonal reproductive dynamics. Despite its economic importance, no data are available on the behavioural reproductive strategies of this fly. The presence of polyandry, for example, has not been determined despite the important role it might play in the reproductive dynamics of the populations. We explored the presence of polyandry in an established population in Trentino, a region in North Italy. In this area, D. suzukii overcomes the winter bottleneck and undergoes a seasonal reproductive fluctuation. We observed a high remating frequency in females during the late spring demographic explosion that led to the abundant summer population. The presence of a high degree of polyandry and shared paternity associated with the post-winter population increase raises the question of the possible evolutionary adaptive role of this reproductive behaviour in D. suzukii.

BBB permeability, sleep and qRT-PCR data for: The Drosophila blood-brain barrier regulates sleep via moody GPCR signaling

Sleep is vital for most animals, yet its mechanism and function remain unclear. We found that permeability of the BBB–the organ required for maintenance of homeostatic levels of nutrients, ions, and other molecules in the brain–is modulated by sleep deprivation and can cell-autonomously effect sleep changes. We observed increased BBB permeability in known sleep mutants as well as in acutely sleep deprived animals. In addition to molecular tracers, sleep deprivation-induced BBB changes also increased penetration of drugs used in the treatment of brain pathologies. After chronic/ genetic or acute sleep deprivation, rebound sleep or administration of the sleeping aid gaboxadol normalized BBB permeability, showing that sleep deprivation effects on the BBB are reversible. Along with BBB permeability, RNA levels of the BBB master regulator moody are modulated by sleep. Conversely, altering BBB permeability alone through glia-specific modulation of moody, gαo, loco, lachesin, or neuroglian – each a well-studied regulator of BBB function – was sufficient to induce robust sleep phenotypes. These studies demonstrate a tight link between BBB permeability and sleep and indicate a novel role for the BBB in the regulation of sleep.

opencc-zeroOct 2023View details →

Performance of selected lines of Trichopria drosophilae and of Ganaspis brasiliensis on different fruit

A few generations of laboratory selection can increase the developmental success of native parasitoids on invasive targets. However, for this approach to be used more widely for biological control we need to understand if the improved performance of native species, achieved under artificial laboratory conditions, translates to improved control in more natural environments. It is also unknown what the biocontrol potential of laboratory selected generalist native parasitoids may be compared to co-evolved specialists that are typically introduced for biological control of invasive species. To assess how rearing in artificial diet affected host finding ability in natural hosts we used laboratory selected (adapted) and non-adapted populations of the generalist native parasitoid Trichopria drosophilae to parasitize the invasive fly, Drosophila suzukii in three different fruit types. In a separate experiment, we compared the effectiveness of adapted and non-adapted populations of T. drosophilae in raspberries with a co-evolved specialist larval parasitoid Ganaspis brasiliensis from Asia that was recently approved for release in the USA. More adult parasitoids emerged in each fruit type of the adapted compared to the non-adapted population of T. drosophilae. Drosophila suzukii emergence rates were reduced on average by 85% by the adapted T. drosophilae population indicating that the artificial rearing conditions did not significantly impair the ability of parasitoids to locate and attack hosts in natural hosts. The specialist G. brasiliensis had higher adult emergence than the adapted population of T. drosophilae, however, both parasitoid species were able to reduce D. suzukii populations to the same extent. These results show that despite the lower developmental success of the laboratory selected T. drosophilae they killed the same proportion of D. suzukii as G. brasiliensis when host choice was restricted. In nature, where host choices are available specialist and generalist parasitoids will be unlikely to exhibit the same biocontrol potential.

ClinicalTrials.gov36/100

Drosophila-generated CTL

ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT01271907. IPD Sharing: NO. Countries: 1. Publications: 3.

closedIPD-NOFeb 2026View details →

publicDec 2021View details →

Behavioral probabilities and sample videos for "Behavioral evidence for nested central pattern generator control of Drosophila grooming"

Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.

publicJan 2019View details →

Spatial environmental complexity mediates sexual conflict and sexual selection in Drosophila melanogaster

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