Michael R. Strand
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View article: Four nudivirus core genes present in the genome of <i>Venturia canescens</i> are required for virus-like particle formation and prevention of encapsulation of parasitoid wasp eggs
Four nudivirus core genes present in the genome of <i>Venturia canescens</i> are required for virus-like particle formation and prevention of encapsulation of parasitoid wasp eggs Open
Venturia canescens is a parasitoid wasp that harbors a domesticated endogenous virus (DEV) and parasitizes host insects like Ephestia kuehniella . The V. canescens DEV evolved from an alphanudivirus and produces virus-like particles (VLPs)…
View article: Insulin-like peptides activate egg formation in the Asian malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi
Insulin-like peptides activate egg formation in the Asian malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi Open
Background The mosquito family Culicidae diverged into the subfamilies Anophelinae and Culicinae approximately 179 million years ago. Most female mosquitoes are anautogenous and must blood-feed on a vertebrate to produce eggs. Regulation o…
View article: Recent insights in the development and functions of insect hemocytes
Recent insights in the development and functions of insect hemocytes Open
Hemocytes mediate defense responses that are collectively referred to as cellular immunity. Here, I highlight recent progress in the study of hemocyte ontogeny and function. Studies conducted primarily in D. melanogaster, mosquitoes, and L…
View article: A symbiotic gene stimulates aggressive behavior favoring the survival of parasitized caterpillars
A symbiotic gene stimulates aggressive behavior favoring the survival of parasitized caterpillars Open
Animals often exhibit increased aggression in response to starvation, while parasites often manipulate host behavior. In contrast, underlying molecular mechanisms for these behavioral changes are mostly unknown. The diamondback moth, Plute…
View article: JAK inhibitors remove innate immune barriers facilitating viral propagation
JAK inhibitors remove innate immune barriers facilitating viral propagation Open
Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are small-molecule therapeutics that reduce inflammation in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases by modulating the JAK-STAT pathway. While effective in alleviating immune-mediated conditions, JAK inhibitors ca…
View article: A myeloid differentiation–like protein in partnership with Toll5 from the pest insect <i>Spodoptera litura</i> senses baculovirus infection
A myeloid differentiation–like protein in partnership with Toll5 from the pest insect <i>Spodoptera litura</i> senses baculovirus infection Open
Many types of viruses infect insects and other arthropods. In contrast, little is known about how arthropods sense viruses, although several innate immune pathways including Toll have antiviral functions. Large DNA viruses in the family Ba…
View article: Reciprocal interactions between neuropeptide F and RYamide regulate host attraction in the mosquito <i>Aedes aegypti</i>
Reciprocal interactions between neuropeptide F and RYamide regulate host attraction in the mosquito <i>Aedes aegypti</i> Open
Female mosquitoes produce eggs in gonadotrophic cycles that are divided between a previtellogenic and vitellogenic phase. Previtellogenic females consume water and sugar sources like nectar while also being attracted to hosts for blood fee…
View article: Identification of a viral gene essential for the genome replication of a domesticated endogenous virus in ichneumonid parasitoid wasps
Identification of a viral gene essential for the genome replication of a domesticated endogenous virus in ichneumonid parasitoid wasps Open
Thousands of endoparasitoid wasp species in the families Braconidae and Ichneumonidae harbor "domesticated endogenous viruses" (DEVs) in their genomes. This study focuses on ichneumonid DEVs, named ichnoviruses (IVs). Large quantities of D…
View article: Identification of a viral gene essential for the genome replication of a domesticated endogenous virus in ichneumonid parasitoid wasps
Identification of a viral gene essential for the genome replication of a domesticated endogenous virus in ichneumonid parasitoid wasps Open
Thousands of endoparasitoid wasp species in the families Braconidae and Ichneumonidae harbor “domesticated endogenous viruses” (DEVs) in their genomes. This study focuses on ichneumonid DEVs, named ichnoviruses (IVs), which derive from an …
View article: On the Origin and Evolution of the Mosquito Male-determining Factor <i>Nix</i>
On the Origin and Evolution of the Mosquito Male-determining Factor <i>Nix</i> Open
The mosquito family Culicidae is divided into 2 subfamilies named the Culicinae and Anophelinae. Nix, the dominant male-determining factor, has only been found in the culicines Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, 2 important arboviral vect…
View article: Increased environmental microbial diversity reduces the disease risk of a mosquitocidal pathogen
Increased environmental microbial diversity reduces the disease risk of a mosquitocidal pathogen Open
Increased diversity in host-associated microbial communities often benefits animal health by provisioning nutrients and protecting against pathogens. In contrast, whether the diversity of environmental microbial communities can also benefi…
View article: The mosquito Aedes aegypti requires a gut microbiota for normal fecundity, longevity and vector competence
The mosquito Aedes aegypti requires a gut microbiota for normal fecundity, longevity and vector competence Open
Mosquitoes shift from detritus-feeding larvae to blood-feeding adults that can vector pathogens to humans and other vertebrates. The sugar and blood meals adults consume are rich in carbohydrates and protein but are deficient in other nutr…
View article: Functional characterization of <i>Microplitis demolitor</i> bracovirus genes that encode nucleocapsid components
Functional characterization of <i>Microplitis demolitor</i> bracovirus genes that encode nucleocapsid components Open
Bracoviruses (BVs) are endogenized nudiviruses in parasitoid wasps of the microgastroid complex (order Hymenoptera: Family Braconidae). BVs produce replication-defective virions that adult female wasps use to transfer DNAs encoding virulen…
View article: Insulin-like peptides regulate oogenesis by stimulating ovarian ecdysteroid production in the Indian malaria mosquito<i>Anopheles stephensi</i>
Insulin-like peptides regulate oogenesis by stimulating ovarian ecdysteroid production in the Indian malaria mosquito<i>Anopheles stephensi</i> Open
Females of many mosquito species feed on vertebrate blood to produce eggs, making them effective disease vectors. In the dengue vector Aedes aegypti , blood feeding signals the brain to release ovary ecdysteroidogenic hormone (OEH) and ins…
View article: On the origin and evolution of the mosquito male-determining factor<i>Nix</i>
On the origin and evolution of the mosquito male-determining factor<i>Nix</i> Open
The mosquito family Culicidae is divided into two subfamilies named the Culicinae and Anophelinae. Nix , the dominant male-determining factor, has only been found in the culicines Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus , two important arboviral …
View article: An aphid symbiont confers protection against a specialized <scp>RNA</scp> virus, another increases vulnerability to the same pathogen
An aphid symbiont confers protection against a specialized <span>RNA</span> virus, another increases vulnerability to the same pathogen Open
Insects often harbour heritable symbionts that provide defence against specialized natural enemies, yet little is known about symbiont protection when hosts face simultaneous threats. In pea aphids ( Acyrthosiphon pisum ), the facultative …
View article: Multiple endocrine factors regulate nutrient mobilization and storage in<i>Aedes aegypti</i>during a gonadotrophic cycle
Multiple endocrine factors regulate nutrient mobilization and storage in<i>Aedes aegypti</i>during a gonadotrophic cycle Open
Anautogenous mosquitoes must blood feed on a vertebrate host to produce eggs. Each gonadotrophic cycle is subdivided into a sugar‐feeding previtellogenic phase that produces primary follicles and a blood meal‐activated vitellogenic phase i…
View article: Parasite reliance on its host gut microbiota for nutrition and survival
Parasite reliance on its host gut microbiota for nutrition and survival Open
Studying the microbial symbionts of eukaryotic hosts has revealed a range of interactions that benefit host biology. Most eukaryotes are also infected by parasites that adversely affect host biology for their own benefit. However, it is la…
View article: An aphid symbiont confers protection against a specialized RNA virus, another increases vulnerability to the same pathogen
An aphid symbiont confers protection against a specialized RNA virus, another increases vulnerability to the same pathogen Open
Insects often harbor heritable symbionts that provide defense against specialized natural enemies, yet little is known about symbiont protection when hosts face simultaneous threats. In pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum), the facultative end…
View article: Ad libitum consumption of protein- or peptide-sucrose solutions stimulates egg formation by prolonging the vitellogenic phase of oogenesis in anautogenous mosquitoes
Ad libitum consumption of protein- or peptide-sucrose solutions stimulates egg formation by prolonging the vitellogenic phase of oogenesis in anautogenous mosquitoes Open
Background Anautogenous mosquitoes commonly consume nectars and other solutions containing sugar but are thought to only produce eggs in discrete gonadotrophic cycles after blood-feeding on a vertebrate host. However, some anautogenous spe…
View article: Insulin-like peptide 3 stimulates hemocytes to proliferate in anautogenous and facultatively autogenous mosquitoes
Insulin-like peptide 3 stimulates hemocytes to proliferate in anautogenous and facultatively autogenous mosquitoes Open
Most mosquito species are anautogenous, which means they must blood feed on a vertebrate host to produce eggs, while a few are autogenous and can produce eggs without blood feeding. Egg formation is best understood in the anautogenous mosq…
View article: Identifying bracovirus and ichnovirus genes involved in virion morphogenesis
Identifying bracovirus and ichnovirus genes involved in virion morphogenesis Open
Bracoviruses (BVs) and ichnoviruses (IVs) evolved from different endogenized viruses but through convergence have been coopted by parasitoids in the families Braconidae and Ichneumonidae for similar functions in parasitizing hosts. Experim…
View article: Diet–Microbiota Interactions Alter Mosquito Development
Diet–Microbiota Interactions Alter Mosquito Development Open
Gut microbes and diet can both strongly affect the biology of multicellular animals, but it is often difficult to disentangle microbiota–diet interactions due to the complex microbial communities many animals harbor and the nutritionally v…
View article: Toll9 from<i>Bombyx mori</i>functions as a pattern recognition receptor that shares features with Toll-like receptor 4 from mammals
Toll9 from<i>Bombyx mori</i>functions as a pattern recognition receptor that shares features with Toll-like receptor 4 from mammals Open
Significance Toll/Toll-like receptors are key regulators of the innate immune system in both invertebrates and vertebrates. However, while mammalian Toll-like receptors function as pattern recognition receptors that directly bind microbe-a…
View article: Riboflavin instability is a key factor underlying the requirement of a gut microbiota for mosquito development
Riboflavin instability is a key factor underlying the requirement of a gut microbiota for mosquito development Open
Significance Mosquitoes are major disease vectors that require a gut microbiota for development into adults under some conditions but not others. To determine the underlying mechanisms for this variation, we determined that dietary ribofla…