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

毒液研究为各种动物的毒液鸡尾酒的组成和作用模式提供了令人着迷的见解。然而，在过去，人们偏向于对医学相关群体的研究。此外，只有偶尔才会考虑毒液成分的种内差异。在这方面，高度多样化的昆虫群仍然包括许多毒液亚群，毒液研究对此研究甚少。此外，全代谢昆虫中的幼虫和成虫都依赖使用毒液，这是一个有趣的案例，可以研究种内毒液的变化程度，以占据不同的营养生态位。马蝇是一个特别有希望的模式，因为捕食性幼虫利用毒液来压倒猎物，而成年雌性马蝇则利用毒液进食。到目前为止，还没有研究过毒液成分在整个昆虫生命周期中的变化，除了毛虫外，毒液研究一般不考虑昆虫幼虫。拟议项目的主要目标是深入了解马蝇毒液在一种本土蚊科物种的整个生命周期中的组成和功能特征。通过鉴定特定阶段的毒液化合物，我将调查在多大程度上伴随着它们的毒液成分的相应变化，从蚊科幼虫的捕食性生活方式转变到成年雌性的觅血专门化。为了实现这一点，将采用一种结合转录组和蛋白质组工作流程的综合方法来揭示蚊类幼虫和成虫的真正毒液化合物。此外，还计划对粗毒和单一毒素进行几种活性分析，以确定不同生活阶段的毒液在组成和功能上的差异。

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.