Neuropeptide Receptors and Identification of Genes in Signaling Networks Involved in Reproduction and Nutrition in the Red Imported Fire Ant

红火蚁的神经肽受体和参与繁殖和营养的信号网络中的基因鉴定

• 批准号: 1257837
• 负责人: Patricia Pietrantonio
• 金额: $ 60.19万
• 依托单位: Texas A&M AgriLife Research
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-03-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1257837&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Neuropeptide; Receptors; Identification; Genes; Signaling

Red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) populations invaded the U.S. from Argentina and are expanding worldwide. Their success is in part due to the high reproductive ability of fire ant queens and the species aggressive behavior. Red imported fire ant queens have the privilege of reproductive ability and years of longevity while most females in the colony become non-reproductive individuals (workers). This project advances physiology, endocrinology and neurobiology of social insects by studying reproduction in fire ant colonies with multiple queens, the most abundant social form in the US. Little is known about fire ant reproduction. Limited knowledge is available on key neuropeptide receptors (e.g., short neuropeptide F (sNPF) and insulin-like peptides), which likely regulate gene networks involved in queen ovarian development and/or egg maturation, and/or sensing their nutritional status. The project will focus on immunolocalization of sNPF and insulin receptors and on evaluating the physiological consequences of silencing their genes by transcriptome analysis and RNA interference (RNAi) experiments with queens and workers. The broader impacts of the project include both social and educational benefits. Millions of dollars are lost annually only in the U.S. to control these invasive ants, in quarantines, or in damage repairs. The discoveries from this project offer potential for novel ant control. Knowledge on the physiological mechanisms by which queens sense their nutritional status, reproduce and how task allocation is determined in worker ants will help recuperate productive land, parks, and pastures currently lost to fire ant invasions worldwide. Additionally, the PIs are female Hispanics at Texas A&M University. A Ph.D. student and a post-doctoral trainee will participate in the project. Acknowledging the need for scientists to effectively communicate the significance of research to the public, the post-doc and students (grad and undergraduate) will develop scientific content and materials for distribution in English and Spanish. The research team will collaborate with EarthSky (Austin, TX) for mentoring students on script writing of scientific content and production of radio, video and TV programming for broad audiences. The latter will be broadcasted by the Hispanic TV network Univision. The PIs are mentors for Research Experiences for Undergraduates currently supported by the NSF through the Department of Entomology EXCITE program and this project will incorporate an REU-NSF student for a summer program. The PI teaches courses in Graduate Insect Physiology and Insect Toxicology and project findings will impact these graduate courses content. Findings from the research will also be published in peer reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences.

红火蚁（Solenopsis invicta Buren）从阿根廷入侵美国，并在全球范围内扩张。他们的成功部分是由于火蚁后的高繁殖能力和物种的攻击行为。 红火蚁蚁后具有繁殖能力和长寿的特权，而殖民地中的大多数雌性成为非繁殖个体（工蚁）。该项目通过研究具有多个蚁后的火蚁群体的繁殖来推进社会昆虫的生理学，内分泌学和神经生物学，火蚁是美国最丰富的社会形式。对火蚁的繁殖知之甚少。关于关键神经肽受体的知识有限（例如，短神经肽F（sNPF）和胰岛素样肽），其可能调节参与女王卵巢发育和/或卵成熟的基因网络，和/或感知它们的营养状态。该项目将侧重于sNPF和胰岛素受体的免疫定位，并通过转录组分析和RNA干扰（RNAi）实验对蜂王和工蜂进行基因沉默的生理后果进行评估。 该项目更广泛的影响包括社会和教育效益。 仅在美国，每年就有数百万美元的损失，用于控制这些入侵的蚂蚁，用于修复或修复损坏。该项目的发现为新型蚂蚁控制提供了潜力。了解蚁后感知其营养状况、繁殖以及工蚁如何决定任务分配的生理机制，将有助于恢复目前因火蚁入侵而失去的肥沃土地、公园和牧场。 此外，PI是德克萨斯A M大学的西班牙裔女性。博士学位学生和博士后实习生将参与该项目。认识到科学家需要有效地向公众传达研究的重要性，博士后和学生（格拉德和本科生）将开发科学内容和材料，以英语和西班牙语分发。该研究团队将与EarthSky（德克萨斯州奥斯汀）合作，指导学生编写科学内容的脚本，并为广大观众制作广播，视频和电视节目。后者将由西班牙裔电视网Univision播出。PI是目前由NSF通过昆虫学EXCITE计划部门支持的本科生研究经验的导师，该项目将纳入REU-NSF学生的暑期课程。PI教授研究生昆虫生理学和昆虫毒理学课程，项目结果将影响这些研究生课程的内容。研究结果还将发表在同行评审期刊上，并在科学会议上发表。