Expansions of key protein families in the German cockroach highlight the molecular basis of its remarkable success as a global indoor pest

Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part B, Molecular and Developmental Evolution
Mark C HarrisonCoby Schal

Abstract

The German cockroach, Blattella germanica, is a worldwide pest that infests buildings, including homes, restaurants, and hospitals, often living in unsanitary conditions. As a disease vector and producer of allergens, this species has major health and economic impacts on humans. Factors contributing to the success of the German cockroach include its resistance to a broad range of insecticides, immunity to many pathogens, and its ability, as an extreme generalist omnivore, to survive on most food sources. The recently published genome shows that B. germanica has an exceptionally high number of protein coding genes. In this study, we investigate the functions of the 93 significantly expanded gene families with the aim to better understand the success of B. germanica as a major pest despite such inhospitable conditions. We find major expansions in gene families with functions related to the detoxification of insecticides and allelochemicals, defense against pathogens, digestion, sensory perception, and gene regulation. These expansions might have allowed B. germanica to develop multiple resistance mechanisms to insecticides and pathogens, and enabled a broad, flexible diet, thus explaining its success in unsanitary conditions and ...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1990·Annual Review of Entomology·C Schal, R L Hamilton
May 1, 1989·Antonie van Leeuwenhoek·O M NeijsselD W Tempest
Sep 1, 1982·European Journal of Biochemistry·S H SørensenE M Danielsen
Feb 7, 1998·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·B LemaitreJ A Hoffmann
Nov 23, 2000·Nature·T Finkel, N J Holbrook
Jun 28, 2002·Physiological Reviews·U Benjamin Kaupp, Reinhard Seifert
Oct 5, 2002·Science·Hilary RansonRené Feyereisen
Jul 10, 2003·Neuron·Lei LiuMichael J Welsh
Feb 11, 2004·Pflügers Archiv : European journal of physiology·Manuel Palacín, Yoshikatsu Kanai
Jan 25, 2005·Insect Molecular Biology·A A EnayatiJ Hemingway
Mar 23, 2006·Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·Rolf Ziegler, Rik Van Antwerpen
Dec 14, 2006·Annual Review of Entomology·J Chad Gore, Coby Schal
Jan 24, 2007·Physiological Reviews·Bernd NiliusJohn A Peters
Feb 24, 2009·Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology·Douglas C ReesOded Lewinson
Jan 30, 2010·Bioinformatics·Aaron R Quinlan, Ira M Hall
Mar 13, 2010·PloS One·Morgan N PriceAdam P Arkin
Mar 16, 2012·Brain : a Journal of Neurology·James J DowlingAna Ferreiro
Aug 29, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Yue QiuRené Feyereisen
Mar 16, 2013·Scientific Reports·Fang ZhuSubba R Palli
May 31, 2013·BMC Evolutionary Biology·Václav JanoušekChristina M Laukaitis
Dec 3, 2013·Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·Wannes Dermauw, Thomas Van Leeuwen
Jan 16, 2014·Nature Communications·Xianhui WangLe Kang
May 24, 2014·Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·Chris BassMartin S Williamson
Dec 18, 2014·Genome Biology·Michael I LoveSimon Anders
Dec 31, 2014·Journal of Computational Biology : a Journal of Computational Molecular Cell Biology·Siavash MirarabTandy Warnow
Dec 18, 2015·Nucleic Acids Research·Robert D FinnAlex Bateman
Feb 3, 2016·Nature Communications·Jeffrey A RosenfeldChristopher E Mason
Feb 3, 2016·Nature Communications·Joshua B BenoitStephen Richards
Jun 12, 2016·Nucleic Acids Research·Jonathan F SchmitzErich Bornberg-Bauer

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 1, 2018·Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part B, Molecular and Developmental Evolution·Erich Bornberg-BauerEvelien Jongepier
Sep 11, 2019·Journal of Medical Entomology·Ameya D Gondhalekar
Feb 18, 2021·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Shulin HeDino P McMahon
Dec 5, 2020·Scientific Reports·Francisco J SilvaAmparo Latorre
Apr 4, 2021·Insects·Ayako Wada-Katsumata, Coby Schal
Aug 28, 2021·Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology·Jayaraman KumaravelMuthugounder Subramanian Shivakumar

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.