Diptera is the insect order with the greatest economic impact on humans. It includes agricultural pests, and vectors of human and animal diseases, but also insects that play a very important role as pollinators, decomposers of organic matter, and act as biological control agents. As a consequence, extensive research is devoted to understanding the biology of this diverse group of insects.
A key aspect of the success of Diptera is the wide range of habitats that they can exploit. Each species detects specific chemical signals in its habitat via chemoreceptors expressed in their sensory organs, which will provide valuable information about the composition of the substrate and the presence of conspecifics or predators. Depending on the physiological and ecological needs of each species, the detection of relevant chemicals will ultimately affect a variety of behaviors.
The boom of the genomic era has revolutionized the field of insect chemical ecology. Since the sequencing of the genome and the first description of chemoreceptors in the genetic model organism Drosophila melanogaster more than 20 years ago, our understanding of how Diptera detect and exploit the chemicals in their environment has vastly improved.
Sequenced and annotated genomes are already available for numerous Diptera species-of-interest. Comparative studies provide us with valuable information on how chemoreception has evolved within the group. Functional genomics, facilitated by fast and inexpensive transcriptomic analysis and powerful bioinformatics methods, help us understand which, and under what circumstances, chemoreceptors are expressed in different species. Molecular cloning of chemoreceptors and expression in heterologous systems makes possible their “deorphanization”. Finally, RNAi and gene editing methods, as well as the introduction of genetic tools in classically non-genetic model organisms, are paving the way towards a more comprehensive understanding of the chemosensory signaling involved in the interaction between dipteran insects and their environment.
This is an exciting time for the study of chemical ecology in Diptera.
The goal of this Research Topic is to present a comprehensive overview of current research related to the chemical ecology of Diptera, with special emphasis on the relevance of genomic analysis in classically non-genetic model organisms.
We welcome a wide range of contributions including, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Deorphanization of chemoreceptors
- Population genetics related to chemoreception
- Genome comparative analysis
- Annotation and transcriptomics of chemoreceptors or chemoreception-related genes.
- Development of genetic tools to the study of Diptera chemical ecology
- Genomic methods applied to pest control
- Genomic methods applied to the study of plant-insect interactions
- Relevance of chemoreceptors and signaling pathways in odor/taste driven behaviors
- Evolutionary and/or ecological basis for chemosensory adaptations.
Diptera is the insect order with the greatest economic impact on humans. It includes agricultural pests, and vectors of human and animal diseases, but also insects that play a very important role as pollinators, decomposers of organic matter, and act as biological control agents. As a consequence, extensive research is devoted to understanding the biology of this diverse group of insects.
A key aspect of the success of Diptera is the wide range of habitats that they can exploit. Each species detects specific chemical signals in its habitat via chemoreceptors expressed in their sensory organs, which will provide valuable information about the composition of the substrate and the presence of conspecifics or predators. Depending on the physiological and ecological needs of each species, the detection of relevant chemicals will ultimately affect a variety of behaviors.
The boom of the genomic era has revolutionized the field of insect chemical ecology. Since the sequencing of the genome and the first description of chemoreceptors in the genetic model organism Drosophila melanogaster more than 20 years ago, our understanding of how Diptera detect and exploit the chemicals in their environment has vastly improved.
Sequenced and annotated genomes are already available for numerous Diptera species-of-interest. Comparative studies provide us with valuable information on how chemoreception has evolved within the group. Functional genomics, facilitated by fast and inexpensive transcriptomic analysis and powerful bioinformatics methods, help us understand which, and under what circumstances, chemoreceptors are expressed in different species. Molecular cloning of chemoreceptors and expression in heterologous systems makes possible their “deorphanization”. Finally, RNAi and gene editing methods, as well as the introduction of genetic tools in classically non-genetic model organisms, are paving the way towards a more comprehensive understanding of the chemosensory signaling involved in the interaction between dipteran insects and their environment.
This is an exciting time for the study of chemical ecology in Diptera.
The goal of this Research Topic is to present a comprehensive overview of current research related to the chemical ecology of Diptera, with special emphasis on the relevance of genomic analysis in classically non-genetic model organisms.
We welcome a wide range of contributions including, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Deorphanization of chemoreceptors
- Population genetics related to chemoreception
- Genome comparative analysis
- Annotation and transcriptomics of chemoreceptors or chemoreception-related genes.
- Development of genetic tools to the study of Diptera chemical ecology
- Genomic methods applied to pest control
- Genomic methods applied to the study of plant-insect interactions
- Relevance of chemoreceptors and signaling pathways in odor/taste driven behaviors
- Evolutionary and/or ecological basis for chemosensory adaptations.
