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ELife Oct 2023The larvae of an annelid worm use nitric oxide signalling to activate the neural pathways needed to swim away from the harmful ultraviolet light of the sun.
The larvae of an annelid worm use nitric oxide signalling to activate the neural pathways needed to swim away from the harmful ultraviolet light of the sun.
Topics: Animals; Polychaeta; Ultraviolet Rays; Annelida; Larva; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 37850625
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.92535 -
ELife Jun 2023Elucidating the role of one of the proteins produced by reveals a new molecule that allows this gut bacterium to support the development of fruit fly larvae.
Elucidating the role of one of the proteins produced by reveals a new molecule that allows this gut bacterium to support the development of fruit fly larvae.
Topics: Animals; Drosophila melanogaster; Symbiosis; Microbiota; Drosophila; Fruit; Larva
PubMed: 37272924
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.88873 -
ELife Aug 2023The release of the neurotransmitter glutamate by the parasitic tapeworm appears to be implicated in the pathophysiology of a widespread, but neglected, form of...
The release of the neurotransmitter glutamate by the parasitic tapeworm appears to be implicated in the pathophysiology of a widespread, but neglected, form of adult-onset epilepsy.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Glutamic Acid; Larva
PubMed: 37610313
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.91149 -
ELife Mar 2024A complete map of the external sense organs shows how fruit fly larvae detect different aspects of their environment.
A complete map of the external sense organs shows how fruit fly larvae detect different aspects of their environment.
Topics: Animals; Larva; Drosophila; Drosophila Proteins; Sense Organs; Emotions; Drosophila melanogaster
PubMed: 38456840
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.96708 -
PloS One 2023General anesthetics can cause neurological damage and long-term behavioral/cognitive impairment during fetal and early postnatal life. However, the adverse influence on...
General anesthetics can cause neurological damage and long-term behavioral/cognitive impairment during fetal and early postnatal life. However, the adverse influence on embryo development induced by propofol is unclear. We used embryonic zebrafish to explore the effects of propofol on embryonic and larval growth and development, and the related apoptotic mechanism. Zebrafish embryos were immersed in propofol (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 μg/ml) dissolved in E3 medium from 6 to 48 hours post fertilization (hpf). The survival rate, locomotion, heart rate, hatchability, deformity rate, and body length were analyzed at defined stages. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick-end-labeling was used to detect zebrafish embryo apoptosis, and the expression levels of apoptosis-related genes were determined using quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR and whole-mount in situ hybridization. Larvae at 48 hpf were anesthetized by immersion in E3 culture medium containing 2 μg/ml propofol, the reasonable anesthetic concentration for zebrafish embryos, which caused significant caudal fin dysplasia, light pigmentation, edema, hemorrhage, and spinal deformity, and decreased the hatchability, body length, and heart rate. The numbers of apoptotic cells in propofol-treated 12, 48 and 72 hpf embryos increased significantly, and the mRNA expression levels of intrinsic apoptosis pathway-related casp3a, casp3b, casp9, and baxb genes were upregulated, mainly in the head and tail. Propofol decreased apoptosis in the head and back of 24 hpf zebrafish, which was consistent with the mRNA expression analysis. Our findings demonstrated that zebrafish embryos and larvae exposed to propofol experienced developmental toxicity, which correlated with the intrinsic apoptosis pathway with casp3a, casp3b, casp9, and baxb as the key genes.
Topics: Animals; Zebrafish; Propofol; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Apoptosis; RNA, Messenger; Larva
PubMed: 37253050
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286391 -
Science Advances Dec 2023Antarctic krill, crucial to the Southern Ocean ecosystem and a vital fisheries resource, is endangered by climate change. Identifying drivers of krill biomass is...
Antarctic krill, crucial to the Southern Ocean ecosystem and a vital fisheries resource, is endangered by climate change. Identifying drivers of krill biomass is therefore essential for determining catch limits and designating protection zones. We present a modeling approach to pinpointing effects of sea surface temperature, ice cover, chlorophyll levels, climate indices, and intraspecific competition. Our study reveals that larval recruitment is driven by both competition among age classes and chlorophyll levels. In addition, while milder ice and temperature in spring and summer favor reproduction and early larval survival, both larvae and juveniles strongly benefit from heavier ice and colder temperatures in winter. We conclude that omitting top-down control of resources by krill is only acceptable for retrospective or single-year prognostic models that use field chlorophyll data but that incorporating intraspecific competition is essential for longer-term forecasts. Our findings can guide future krill modeling strategies, reinforcing the sustainability of this keystone species.
Topics: Animals; Ecosystem; Euphausiacea; Retrospective Studies; Ice Cover; Chlorophyll; Larva; Antarctic Regions
PubMed: 38100594
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh4584 -
Cells Sep 2023Liver diseases represent a significant global health challenge, thereby necessitating extensive research to understand their intricate complexities and to develop... (Review)
Review
Liver diseases represent a significant global health challenge, thereby necessitating extensive research to understand their intricate complexities and to develop effective treatments. In this context, zebrafish () have emerged as a valuable model organism for studying various aspects of liver disease. The zebrafish liver has striking similarities to the human liver in terms of structure, function, and regenerative capacity. Researchers have successfully induced liver damage in zebrafish using chemical toxins, genetic manipulation, and other methods, thereby allowing the study of disease mechanisms and the progression of liver disease. Zebrafish embryos or larvae, with their transparency and rapid development, provide a unique opportunity for high-throughput drug screening and the identification of potential therapeutics. This review highlights how research on zebrafish has provided valuable insights into the pathological mechanisms of human liver disease.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Zebrafish; Liver Diseases; High-Throughput Screening Assays; Larva
PubMed: 37759472
DOI: 10.3390/cells12182246 -
Nature Communications May 2024Currently, there is no pesticide available for the selective control of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa-specific), and conventional methods...
Currently, there is no pesticide available for the selective control of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa-specific), and conventional methods typically rely on mechanical techniques such as pheromone traps or broad-spectrum larvicidal chemicals. As climate change increases the range and dispersion capacity of crop and forest pests, outbreaks of the pine processionary occur with greater frequency and significantly impact forestry and public health. Our study is carried out to provide a T. pityocampa-specific pesticide targeting the Allatostatin Type-C Receptor (AlstR-C). We use a combination of computational biology methods, a cell-based screening assay, and in vivo toxicity and side effect assays to identify, for the first time, a series of AlstR-C ligands suitable for use as T. pityocampa-specific insecticides. We further demonstrate that the novel AlstR-C targeted agonists are specific to lepidopteran larvae, with no harmful effects on coleopteran larvae or adults. Overall, our study represents an important initial advance toward an insect GPCR-targeted next-generation pesticide design. Our approach may apply to other invertebrate GPCRs involved in vital metabolic pathways.
Topics: Animals; Moths; Insecticides; Larva; Insect Proteins; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Humans; Ligands; Neuropeptides
PubMed: 38730017
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48156-w -
Medecine Tropicale Et Sante... Jun 2023Muscoid larvae were observed on self-medicated dressing material loaded with purulent material taken from a 91-year-old hospital patient. These larvae were identified as...
Muscoid larvae were observed on self-medicated dressing material loaded with purulent material taken from a 91-year-old hospital patient. These larvae were identified as However, no larvae were found in the patient's tissues. The observation of larvae on dressings should not automatically lead to a diagnosis of cutaneous myiasis.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Aged, 80 and over; Diptera; Myiasis; Larva; Bandages; Blindness
PubMed: 37525680
DOI: 10.48327/mtsi.v3i2.2023.370 -
Current Opinion in Insect Science Jun 2023Domestication-related changes in the chemical traits of crop plants affect parasitoid foraging success, development, and survival. For example, herbivore-induced changes... (Review)
Review
Domestication-related changes in the chemical traits of crop plants affect parasitoid foraging success, development, and survival. For example, herbivore-induced changes in the production of volatiles by domesticated plants can enhance or reduce parasitoid attraction. While the trade-off between nutrient content and chemical defense in cultivated plants can increase the suitability of hosts for parasitoids, their increased health and size can positively affect their immune response against parasitoids. Overall, plant domestication is expected to significantly affect their relationship with parasitoids due to altered plant morphology, physical characteristics, chemical defenses, and new plant associations. This review highlights the need for research on the effects of plant domestication on host-parasitoid interactions in the interest of better controlling insect pests.
Topics: Animals; Larva; Domestication; Host-Parasite Interactions; Wasps; Herbivory; Plants
PubMed: 37028646
DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101031