10.5061/DRYAD.C69N0
Feldmeyer, Barbara
Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz
Mazur, Johanna
Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz
Beros, Sara
Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz
Lerp, Hannes
Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz
Binder, Harald
Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz
Foitzik, Susanne
Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz
Data from: Gene expression patterns underlying parasite-induced
alterations in host behaviour and life history
Dryad
dataset
2015
Host Parasite Interactions
Behavior/Social Evolution
2015-11-26T01:51:20Z
2015-11-26T01:51:20Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.13498
84948302 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Many parasites manipulate their hosts’ phenotype. In particular, parasites
with complex life cycles take control of their intermediate hosts’
behaviour and life history to increase transmission to their definitive
host. The proximate mechanisms underlying these parasite-induced
alterations are poorly understood. The cestode Anomotaenia brevis affects
the behaviour, life history and morphology of parasitized Temnothorax
nylanderi ants and indirectly of their unparasitized nestmates. To gain
insights on how parasites alter host phenotypes, we contrast brain gene
expression patterns of T. nylanderi workers parasitized with the cestode,
their unparasitized nestmates and unparasitized workers from unparasitized
colonies. Over 400 differentially expressed genes between the three groups
were identified, with most uniquely expressed genes detected in
parasitized workers. Among these are genes that can be linked to the
increased lifespan of parasitized workers. Furthermore, many muscle
(functionality) genes are downregulated in these workers, potentially
causing the observed muscular deformations and their inactive behaviour.
Alterations in lifespan and activity could be adaptive for the parasite by
increasing the likelihood that infected workers residing in acorns are
eaten by their definitive host, a woodpecker. Our transcriptome analysis
reveals numerous gene expression changes in parasitized workers and their
uninfected nestmates and indicates possible routes of parasite
manipulation. Although causality still needs to be established,
parasite-induced alterations in lifespan and host behaviour appear to be
partly explained by morphological muscle atrophy instead of central
nervous system interference, which is often the core of behavioural
regulation. Results of this study will shed light upon the molecular basis
of antagonistic species interactions.
T.nylanderi contigsde novo assembled contigs. Trimmed reads were assembled
to contigs for each of the worker groups in CLC workbench. A meta-assembly
on these contigs was conducted in
MIRA.Tnyl-contigs-MIRAclcws45_all.fastaTnyl_read-countsnormalized read
counts as obtained from
eXpress.Tnylanderi_morphological_measurementsMorphological measures as
well as number of parasites for parasitized and unparasitized workers.