Distinct research opportunities in arthropod communication and immune ecology

我们将研究3个模态系统，这些系统在节肢动物通信和免疫生态学方面提供了特别有趣的研究机会，如下所示： (1)蜘蛛的性信息素介导性内和性间的交流吗？ 性信息素是蜘蛛网中主要的交流方式，但迄今为止只发现了9种信息素，而且都是在性交流的背景下起作用的。然而，信息素被认为在许多情况下发挥重要作用，包括诚实或不诚实的信号，求偶行为，配偶选择和栖息地选择。与假黑寡妇蜘蛛，肥蛛工作，我们将研究其信息素的来源和它们在两性内和两性间的交流中的作用。具体地说，我们将检验以下假设：（1）雌虫的接触性信息素成分来源于其丝腺：（2）雌虫根据其生殖状态，调节网的pH值，以促进（或不促进）网中的接触性信息素成分的水解，从而释放（或不释放）引诱性信息素成分;（3）饥饿状态和雌虫年龄影响雌虫信息素的产生量，（4）雌虫在交配竞争中根据微区网的数量和密度调整其网的结构和信息素的释放。我们将使用复杂的HPLC-MS-MS和NMR光谱来识别和量化信息素成分。我们将跟踪女性的网页pH值的操作与pH计调整微观测量。 (2)蚂蚁会根据环境调整自己的信号系统吗？ 昆虫的信息素混合物通常是“刚性的”，同种之间的变化最小。然而，在蚂蚁等社会性昆虫中，它们可能需要“可调节”。觅食和守卫巢穴的蚂蚁，例如，遇到不同类型的困境，需要“呼吁”许多或很少的巢队友来帮助。与西方木匠蚂蚁，Camponotus莫多克，我们将测试的假设，苦恼的工蚁上下文特异性地调节其招聘信息素的组成，并同时产生振动信号在严重的遇险事件。我们将通过GC-EAD和GC-MS分析招募“呼叫”的化学组成，并使用激光多普勒振动计记录振动信号。 (3)臭虫免疫途径中的抗菌剂有哪些？ 臭虫在唾液、消化道和血淋巴中携带致病病原体，但与其他吸血节肢动物不同的是，臭虫不携带这些病原体。我们将检验臭虫产生肽的假设，这些肽组合表达对多种病原体的抗微生物活性。冷提取蛋白质/肽电泳后，我们将对凝胶进行琼脂覆盖试验，以确定表达抗菌活性的蛋白质/肽条带。将对这些条带进行测序以进行鉴别。

We will study 3 modal systems that offer particularly intriguing research opportunities in arthropod communication and immune ecology, as follows: (1) Do sex pheromones of spiders mediate both intra- and inter-sexual communication? Sex pheromones are a primary modality of communication in web-building spiders but only nine pheromones have been identified thus far, and all function in the context of sexual communication. Yet, pheromones are thought to play major roles in many contexts, including honest or dishonest signaling, courtship behavior, mate choice, and habitat selection. Working with the false black widow spider, Steatoda grossa, we will study the source of its pheromones and their roles in both intra- and inter-sexual communication. Specifically, we will test the hypotheses that: (1) contact sex pheromone components of females originate from their silk glands; (2) females, in accordance with their reproductive status, manipulate their webs' pH to facilitate (or not) the hydrolysis of web-borne contact pheromone components and thereby the release (or not) of attractant pheromone components; (3) both starvation status and age of females affect the amount of pheromone they (can) produce; and (4) females facing mate competition adjust their web architecture and its pheromone release in relation to the number-density of webs they experience in a micro-location. We will identify and quantify pheromone components using sophisticated HPLC-MS-MS and NMR spectroscopy. We will track the females' web pH manipulations with a pH meter adjusted for micro measurements. (2) Do ants context-specifically adjust their signaling system? Pheromone blends of insects are typically “rigid” with minimal variation between conspecifics. In social insects such as ants, however, they may need to be “adjustable”. Foraging and nest-guarding ants, e.g., encounter different types of distress that require “calls” for many or few nest mates to help. Working with the Western carpenter ant, Camponotus modoc, we will test the hypothesis that distressed worker ants context-specifically modulate the composition of their recruitment pheromone and concurrently produce vibratory signals during severe incidences of distress. We will analyze the chemical composition of recruitment “calls” by GC-EAD and GC-MS, and record vibratory signals with a laser Doppler vibrometer. (3) What are the antimicrobial agents in bed bug immune pathways? Bed bugs harbor disease-causing pathogens in their saliva, alimentary tract and hemolymph but unlike other hematophagous arthropods do not vector these pathogens. We will test the hypothesis that bed bugs produce peptides which in combination express antimicrobial activity against a wide variety of pathogens. After electrophoresis of cold-extracted proteins/peptides, we will subject gels to agar overlay assays to determine the protein/peptide bands that express antimicrobial activity. These bands will be sequenced for identification.