Evolutionary genetics in insect phenotypic radiations: the value of a comparative genomic approach

Hines, Heather M.; Rahman, Sarthok Rasique

doi:10.1016/j.cois.2019.08.013

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…So far, there seems to be no GWAS study that analyses long-term infection intensity as we do here. Rather, several GWAS studies in bumble bees address morphological traits, such as colouration [ 88 , 89 ], or tongue length [ 90 ]. A direct comparison with other studies is therefore not yet feasible.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic variation and microbiota in bumble bees cross-infected by different strains of C. bombi

et al. 2022

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The bumblebee Bombus terrestris is commonly infected by a trypanosomatid gut parasite Crithidia bombi. This system shows a striking degree of genetic specificity where host genotypes are susceptible to different genotypes of parasite. To a degree, variation in host gene expression underlies these differences, however, the effects of standing genetic variation has not yet been explored. Here we report on an extensive experiment where workers of twenty colonies of B. terrestris were each infected by one of twenty strains of C. bombi. To elucidate the host’s genetic bases of susceptibility to infection (measured as infection intensity), we used a low-coverage (~2 x) genome-wide association study (GWAS), based on angsd, and a standard high-coverage (~15x) GWAS (with a reduced set from a 8 x 8 interaction matrix, selected from the full set of twenty). The results from the low-coverage approach remained ambiguous. The high-coverage approach suggested potentially relevant genetic variation in cell surface and adhesion processes. In particular, mucin, a surface mucoglycoprotein, potentially affecting parasite binding to the host gut epithelia, emerged as a candidate. Sequencing the gut microbial community of the same bees showed that the abundance of bacterial taxa, such as Gilliamella, Snodgrassella, or Lactobacillus, differed between ’susceptible’ and ’resistant’ microbiota, in line with earlier studies. Our study suggests that the constitutive microbiota and binding processes at the cell surface are candidates to affect infection intensity after the first response (captured by gene expression) has run its course. We also note that a low-coverage approach may not be powerful enough to analyse such complex traits. Furthermore, testing large interactions matrices (as with the full 20 x 20 combinations) for the effect of interaction terms on infection intensity seems to blur the specific host x parasite interaction effects, likely because the outcome of an infection is a highly non-linear process dominated by variation in individually different pathways of host defence (immune) responses.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic variation and microbiota in bumble bees cross-infected by different strains of C. bombi

et al. 2022

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“…O número de genomas sequenciados vem aumentando ao longo dos anos, a bioinformática permite uma análise rápida e confiável dessas informações (HINES; RAHMAN, 2019).…”

Section: Bioinformática Aplicada a Genômicaunclassified

Tecnologia e Inovação na Agricultura: aplicação, produtividade e sustentabilidade em pesquisa

2023

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Esta obra constituiu-se a partir de um processo colaborativo entre professores, estudantes e pesquisadores que se destacaram e qualificaram as discussões neste espaço formativo. Resulta, também, de movimentos interinstitucionais e de ações de incentivo à pesquisa que congregam pesquisadores das mais diversas áreas do conhecimento e de diferentes Instituições de Educação Superior públicas e privadas de abrangência nacional e internacional. Tem como objetivo integrar ações interinstitucionais nacionais e internacionais com redes de pesquisa que tenham a finalidade de fomentar a formação continuada dos profissionais da educação, por meio da produção e socialização de conhecimentos das diversas áreas do Saberes. Agradecemos aos autores pelo empenho, disponibilidade e dedicação para o desenvolvimento e conclusão dessa obra. Esperamos também que esta obra sirva de instrumento didático-pedagógico para estudantes, professores dos diversos níveis de ensino em seus trabalhos e demais interessados pela temática.

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“…Although the patterns that have come to predominate in a region may be due in part to historical phenotypic frequencies, certain colors appear to be more common in certain climates ( Williams 2007 ). The segment-specific manifestation of color and frequent color transitions across the phylogeny, along with an abundance of natural replicates in bumble bees makes this system well suited for addressing questions in evo-devo and testing fundamental evolutionary hypotheses driving phenotypic diversification ( Rapti et al 2014 ; Hines and Rahman 2019 ; Tian et al 2019 ). This system is primed for comparative genomic approaches to understanding this color diversity, as it has a well-established phylogenetic framework ( Cameron et al 2007 ), standardized methods of color pattern quantification ( Cameron et al 2007 ), multiple high-quality genome assemblies ( Sadd et al 2015 ; Heraghty et al 2020 ; Sun et al 2020 ), and detailed developmental staging protocols ( Tian and Hines 2018 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental Transcriptomics Reveals a Gene Network Driving Mimetic Color Variation in a Bumble Bee

Rahman

Terranova

Tian

et al. 2021

Genome Biology and Evolution

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A major goal of evolutionary genetics and evo-devo is to understand how changes in genotype manifest as changes in phenotype. Bumble bees display remarkable color pattern diversity while converging onto numerous regional Müllerian mimicry patterns, thus enabling exploration of the genetic mechanisms underlying convergent phenotypic evolution. In western North America, multiple bumble bee species converge onto local mimicry patterns through parallel shifts of midabdominal segments from red to black. It was previously demonstrated that a Hox gene, Abd-B, is the key regulator of the phenotypic switch in one of these species, Bombus melanopygus, however, the mechanism by which Abd-B regulates color differentiation remains unclear. Using tissue/stage-specific transcriptomic analysis followed by qRT-PCR validation, this study reveals a suite of genes potentially involved downstream of Abd-B during color pattern differentiation. The data support differential genes expression of not only the first switch gene Abd-B, but also an intermediate developmental gene nubbin, and a whole suite of downstream melanin and redox genes that together reinforce the observed eumelanin (black)-pheomelanin (red) ratios. These include potential genes involved in the production of insect pheomelanins, a pigment until recently not thought to occur in insects and thus lacking known regulatory enzymes. The results enhance understanding of pigmentation gene networks involved in bumble bee color pattern development and diversification, while providing insights into how upstream regulators such as Hox genes interact with downstream morphogenic players to facilitate this adaptive phenotypic radiation.

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Evolutionary genetics in insect phenotypic radiations: the value of a comparative genomic approach

Cited by 11 publications

References 54 publications

Genetic variation and microbiota in bumble bees cross-infected by different strains of C. bombi

Genetic variation and microbiota in bumble bees cross-infected by different strains of C. bombi

Tecnologia e Inovação na Agricultura: aplicação, produtividade e sustentabilidade em pesquisa

Developmental Transcriptomics Reveals a Gene Network Driving Mimetic Color Variation in a Bumble Bee

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