From predators to bloodsuckers: Comparative Venomics of horseflies (Tabanidae) across life history stages

毒液研究为各种动物群体的毒液鸡尾酒的组成和作用方式提供了迷人的见解。然而，在过去，对医学相关群体的研究存在偏见。此外，毒液成分的种内差异只是偶尔被考虑。在这方面，高度多样化的昆虫群体仍然包括许多毒液研究很少的有毒亚群。此外，全代谢昆虫的幼虫和成虫都依赖于毒液的使用，这为研究占据不同营养生态位所需的种内毒液变异程度提供了一个有趣的案例。马蝇（虻科）是一个特别有前途的模式，因为掠食性幼虫利用毒液来压倒猎物，而成年雌性则用它来吸血。到目前为止，还没有研究对昆虫整个生命周期中毒液成分的转变进行研究，除了毛虫，昆虫幼虫通常没有被考虑到毒液研究中。该项目的主要目标是深入了解马蝇毒液在本地tabanids物种整个生命周期中的成分和功能特征。通过鉴定特定阶段的毒液化合物，我将研究从tabanid幼虫的掠食性生活方式到成年雌性的吸血专业化的转变在多大程度上伴随着它们的毒液成分的相应改变。为了实现这一目标，将采用综合方法结合转录组学和蛋白质组学工作流程来揭示虻幼虫和成虫的真正毒液化合物。此外，计划用粗毒液和单一毒素进行几种活性测定，以联系tabanids生命阶段毒液的成分和功能差异。

Venom research has provided fascinating insights into the composition and mode of action of venom cocktails of various animal groups. However, in the past, there was a bias towards studies on medically relevant groups. Also, intra-specific differences in the venom composition were only occasionally considered. In this regard, the hyper-diverse group of insects still comprises many venomous subgroups poorly studied by venom research. In addition, holometabolic insects in which larvae and adults both rely on the use of venom pose an interesting case to investigate the extent of intra-specific venom variation necessary to occupy different trophic niches. Horse flies (Tabanidae) are an especially promising model, as the predatory larvae utilize venom to overpower prey, whereas the adult females use it for the purpose of blood feeding. So far, no studies have been performed to investigate the transition of venom composition throughout an insect life cycle and, except for caterpillars, insect larvae have generally not been considered by venom research. The major goal of the proposed project is to gain insights into compositional and functional characteristics of horsefly venom throughout the life cycle of a native tabanid species. By identifying the stage-specific venom compounds I will investigate to what extent the transition from a predatory lifestyle of tabanid larvae to the blood feeding specialization of adult females is accompanied by a corresponding alteration of their venom composition. To achieve this, a comprehensive approach combining transcriptomic and proteomic workflows will be applied to reveal the genuine venom compounds of tabanid larvae and adults. In addition, several activity assays are planned with crude venom and single toxins to relate compositional and functional differences between venom of tabanid life stages.