Distinct research opportunities in arthropod communication and immune ecology

我们将研究3个模式系统，它们在节肢动物通信和免疫生态学中提供了特别有趣的研究机会，如下：(1)蜘蛛的性信息素是否既介导了两性之间的交流，也介导了两性之间的交流？性信息素是建网蜘蛛的主要交流方式，但到目前为止只发现了9种信息素，所有这些信息素都在性交流的背景下发挥作用。然而，信息素被认为在许多环境中发挥着重要作用，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。与假黑寡妇蜘蛛合作，我们将研究其信息素的来源及其在两性交流中的作用。具体地说，我们将测试假设：(1)雌性接触性信息素成分来自它们的丝腺；(2)雌性根据其生殖状态，操纵其网络的pH值，以促进(或不)通过网络传播的接触信息素成分的水解，从而释放(或不)引诱信息素成分；(3)雌性的饥饿状态和年龄都影响它们(可以)产生的信息素的数量；以及(4)面对交配竞争的雌性，调整其网络结构及其信息素释放，与它们在微观位置经历的网络的数量密度有关。我们将使用复杂的高效液-质-质联用和核磁共振光谱对信息素成分进行鉴定和定量。我们将使用针对微量测量进行调整的PH值计来跟踪雌性大熊猫的足部酸碱度。(2)蚂蚁是否针对具体情况调整它们的信令系统？昆虫的信息素混合物通常是“刚性的”，同种物质之间的差异最小。然而，在蚂蚁等群居昆虫中，它们可能需要“调节”。例如，觅食和守巢的蚂蚁会遇到不同类型的痛苦，需要许多或几个筑巢伙伴来帮助。与西方木匠蚂蚁Camponotus Modoc合作，我们将测试这一假说，即苦恼的工蚁--特定的背景--调节它们招聘信息素的组成，并在严重的苦恼发生时同时产生振动信号。我们将用GC-EAD和GC-MS分析招募“呼唤”的化学成分，并用激光多普勒测振仪记录振动信号。(3)臭虫免疫途径中有哪些抗菌剂？床虱在它们的唾液、消化道和血淋巴中藏有致病病原体，但与其他食血节肢动物不同的是，它们不会传播这些病原体。我们将检验这样一个假设，即臭虫产生多肽--这些多肽结合在一起--对各种病原体具有抗菌活性。在对冷提取的蛋白质/多肽进行电泳后，我们将对凝胶进行琼脂重叠分析，以确定表达抗菌活性的蛋白质/多肽条带。这些条带将被排序以进行识别。

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.