Author
F. Bernhard Kraus
Bio: F. Bernhard Kraus is an academic researcher from Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg. The author has contributed to research in topics: Medicine & Bumblebee. The author has an hindex of 15, co-authored 21 publications receiving 1340 citations.
Topics: Medicine, Bumblebee, Population, Gene, Stingless bee
Papers
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TL;DR: Overall, gene repertoires suggest that the route to advanced eusociality in bees was mediated by many small changes in many genes and processes, and not by notable expansion or depauperation.
Abstract: The shift from solitary to social behavior is one of the major evolutionary transitions Primitively eusocial bumblebees are uniquely placed to illuminate the evolution of highly eusocial insect societies Bumblebees are also invaluable natural and agricultural pollinators, and there is widespread concern over recent population declines in some species High-quality genomic data will inform key aspects of bumblebee biology, including susceptibility to implicated population viability threats We report the high quality draft genome sequences of Bombus terrestris and Bombus impatiens, two ecologically dominant bumblebees and widely utilized study species Comparing these new genomes to those of the highly eusocial honeybee Apis mellifera and other Hymenoptera, we identify deeply conserved similarities, as well as novelties key to the biology of these organisms Some honeybee genome features thought to underpin advanced eusociality are also present in bumblebees, indicating an earlier evolution in the bee lineage Xenobiotic detoxification and immune genes are similarly depauperate in bumblebees and honeybees, and multiple categories of genes linked to social organization, including development and behavior, show high conservation Key differences identified include a bias in bumblebee chemoreception towards gustation from olfaction, and striking differences in microRNAs, potentially responsible for gene regulation underlying social and other traits These two bumblebee genomes provide a foundation for post-genomic research on these key pollinators and insect societies Overall, gene repertoires suggest that the route to advanced eusociality in bees was mediated by many small changes in many genes and processes, and not by notable expansion or depauperation
337 citations
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University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign1, Utah State University2, University of Copenhagen3, Johns Hopkins University4, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine5, University of Chicago6, Hobart and William Smith Colleges7, University of Utah8, United States Department of Agriculture9, Autonomous University of Barcelona10, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics11, University of Geneva12, Queen Mary University of London13, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg14, Georgia Institute of Technology15, University of Georgia16, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto17, Sao Paulo State University18, Federal University of São Carlos19, University of São Paulo20, Agricultural Research Service21, East Carolina University22, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center23, University of Michigan24, University of Hohenheim25, York University26, Janelia Farm Research Campus27, Texas A&M University28, Harvard University29
TL;DR: There is no single road map to eusociality; independent evolutionary transitions in sociality have independent genetic underpinnings and these transitions do have similar general features, including an increase in constrained protein evolution accompanied by increases in the potential for gene regulation and decreases in diversity and abundance of transposable elements.
Abstract: The evolution of eusociality is one of the major transitions in evolution, but the underlying genomic changes are unknown We compared the genomes of 10 bee species that vary in social complexity, representing multiple independent transitions in social evolution, and report three major findings First, many important genes show evidence of neutral evolution as a consequence of relaxed selection with increasing social complexity Second, there is no single road map to eusociality; independent evolutionary transitions in sociality have independent genetic underpinnings Third, though clearly independent in detail, these transitions do have similar general features, including an increase in constrained protein evolution accompanied by increases in the potential for gene regulation and decreases in diversity and abundance of transposable elements Eusociality may arise through different mechanisms each time, but would likely always involve an increase in the complexity of gene networks
325 citations
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Hebrew University of Jerusalem1, University of St Andrews2, University of Cambridge3, Baylor College of Medicine4, European Bioinformatics Institute5, University of Rostock6, National University of Tucumán7, University of Barcelona8, University of Sussex9, Foundation for Research & Technology – Hellas10, National University of Ireland, Galway11, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute12, University of Basel13, University of Otago14, Salk Institute for Biological Studies15, Scripps Health16, Babraham Institute17, Harvard University18, Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies19, Pompeu Fabra University20, Stony Brook University21, Hendrix College22, University of Manchester23, University of Copenhagen24, Rice University25, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg26, The Chinese University of Hong Kong27, Utrecht University28, Max F. Perutz Laboratories29, University College London30, Medical University of Vienna31, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi32, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign33, Leiden University34, University of Vienna35, University of Georgia36
TL;DR: The phylogenetic position of myriapods allows us to identify where in arthropod phylogeny several particular molecular mechanisms and traits emerged, and concludes that juvenile hormone signalling evolved with the emergence of the exoskeleton in the arthropods and that RR-1 containing cuticle proteins evolved in the lineage leading to Mandibulata.
Abstract: Myriapods (e.g., centipedes and millipedes) display a simple homonomous body plan relative to other arthropods. All members of the class are terrestrial, but they attained terrestriality independently of insects. Myriapoda is the only arthropod class not represented by a sequenced genome. We present an analysis of the genome of the centipede Strigamia maritima. It retains a compact genome that has undergone less gene loss and shuffling than previously sequenced arthropods, and many orthologues of genes conserved from the bilaterian ancestor that have been lost in insects. Our analysis locates many genes in conserved macro-synteny contexts, and many small-scale examples of gene clustering. We describe several examples where S. maritima shows different solutions from insects to similar problems. The insect olfactory receptor gene family is absent from S. maritima, and olfaction in air is likely effected by expansion of other receptor gene families. For some genes S. maritima has evolved paralogues to generate coding sequence diversity, where insects use alternate splicing. This is most striking for the Dscam gene, which in Drosophila generates more than 100,000 alternate splice forms, but in S. maritima is encoded by over 100 paralogues. We see an intriguing linkage between the absence of any known photosensory proteins in a blind organism and the additional absence of canonical circadian clock genes. The phylogenetic position of myriapods allows us to identify where in arthropod phylogeny several particular molecular mechanisms and traits emerged. For example, we conclude that juvenile hormone signalling evolved with the emergence of the exoskeleton in the arthropods and that RR-1 containing cuticle proteins evolved in the lineage leading to Mandibulata. We also identify when various gene expansions and losses occurred. The genome of S. maritima offers us a unique glimpse into the ancestral arthropod genome, while also displaying many adaptations to its specific life history.
286 citations
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TL;DR: The densities of colonies observed in wild populations under the harsh conditions of the African dry savannahs exceeds that of Germany by far, in spite of intensive beekeeping, and the intensity of apiculture in Europe is unlikely to compensate for the loss of habitats suitable for wild honeybees due to agriculture, forestry and other cultivation of land.
Abstract: The density of wild honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera) in the African dry highland savannahs was estimated in three Nature Reserves in Gauteng, South Africa (Ezemvelo, Leeuwfontein, Suikerbosrand) based on the genotypes of drones which were caught at drone congregation areas. Densities were estimated to range between 12.4 and 17.6 colonies per square kilometer. In addition colony densities were estimated in two German National parks (Muritz and Hochharz) and a commercial mating apiary. The density of colonies was significantly lower at the German sampling sites with estimates of 2.4–3.2 colonies per square kilometer, which closely matches the nation-wide density of colonies kept by beekeepers. This shows that the densities of colonies observed in wild populations under the harsh conditions of the African dry savannahs exceeds that of Germany by far, in spite of intensive beekeeping. The intensity of apiculture in Europe is therefore unlikely to compensate for the loss of habitats suitable for wild honeybees due to agriculture, forestry and other cultivation of land.
106 citations
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TL;DR: It is concluded that the combination of polyandry and genetic variation for caste determination may have facilitated the evolution of worker caste diversity in some lineages of social insects.
Abstract: Elaborate division of labour has contributed significantly to the ecological success of social insects. Division of labour is achieved either by behavioural task specialization or by morphological specialization of colony members. In physical caste systems, the diet and rearing environment of developing larvae is known to determine the phenotype of adult individuals, but recent studies have shown that genetic components also contribute to the determination of worker caste. One of the most extreme cases of worker caste differentiation occurs in the army ant genus Eciton, where queens mate with many males and colonies are therefore composed of numerous full-sister subfamilies. This high intracolonial genetic diversity, in combination with the extreme caste polymorphism, provides an excellent test system for studying the extent to which caste determination is genetically controlled. Here we show that genetic effects contribute significantly to worker caste fate in Eciton burchellii. We conclude that the combination of polyandry and genetic variation for caste determination may have facilitated the evolution of worker caste diversity in some lineages of social insects.
74 citations
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28 Jul 2005
TL;DR: PfPMP1)与感染红细胞、树突状组胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用,在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作�ly.
Abstract: 抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1(PfPMP1)与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用,在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员,通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。
18,940 citations
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TL;DR: The nature and extent of reported declines, and the potential drivers of pollinator loss are described, including habitat loss and fragmentation, agrochemicals, pathogens, alien species, climate change and the interactions between them are reviewed.
Abstract: Pollinators are a key component of global biodiversity, providing vital ecosystem services to crops and wild plants. There is clear evidence of recent declines in both wild and domesticated pollinators, and parallel declines in the plants that rely upon them. Here we describe the nature and extent of reported declines, and review the potential drivers of pollinator loss, including habitat loss and fragmentation, agrochemicals, pathogens, alien species, climate change and the interactions between them. Pollinator declines can result in loss of pollination services which have important negative ecological and economic impacts that could significantly affect the maintenance of wild plant diversity, wider ecosystem stability, crop production, food security and human welfare.
4,608 citations
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TL;DR: The author wished to relate the three phases of research on insects and to express insect sociology as population biology in this detailed survey of knowledge of insect societies.
Abstract: In his introduction to this detailed survey of knowledge of insect societies, the author points out that research on insect sociology has proceeded in three phases, the natural history phase, the physiological phase and the population-biology phase. Advances in the first two phases have permitted embarkation in the third phase on a more rigorous theory of social evolution based on population genetics and writing this book, the author wished to relate the three phases of research on insects and to express insect sociology as population biology. A glossary of terms, a considerable bibliography and a general index are included. Other CABI sites
1,394 citations
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TL;DR: This review provides a survey of the current knowledge in the main fields of Varroa research including the biology of the mite, damage to the host, host tolerance, tolerance breeding andVarroa treatment and comments on the few examples of natural tolerance in A. mellifera.
1,260 citations