Since the early 2000s, the complexity of what, how and why different genes function in invertebrates, was approachable through Genomics. Ten years later, RNA sequencing became available in the frame of the development of next generation sequencing. In parallel, Protein Structure Prediction through Molecular Modelling techniques, was progressing thanks to the obtention of crystallized 3D structures. In that sense, extraordinary research started to emerge around invertebrate and especially insect physiology, which has been heavily supported by bioinformatics analyses in recent years.
Nowadays, applied bioinformatics at sequence and structural level have helped the exploration of key physiological processes in insects, particularly those that have become pests due to globalization, intensive agriculture and/or climate change. Thus, genomics and transcriptomics have provided extensive datasets of the profile and organization of chemosensory proteins and enzymes for biosynthesis or detoxification in insects, crucial for their life cycles. Therefore, the objective of this Research Topic is to present and discuss research around insects and how applied bioinformatics represents essential tools to study several types of proteins using phylogenetic analysis, protein structure prediction, or molecular evolution methods, among others. Likewise, methods and protocols that fit the needs of insect physiology are welcome in order to provide novel valuable resources for researchers who are less familiar with bioinformatics.
This Research Topic welcomes basic and applied research, methods (novel and existing) and protocols that improve our understanding of
Applied Bioinformatics in Insect Physiology or other arthropods. Areas of interest include all different studied systems, namely digestive, endocrine, reproductive, nervous, circulatory, muscular and respiratory systems in insects, as long as Applied Bioinformatics have a key role for the reported findings.
We welcome the submission of different article types to this collection, especially original research papers, methods, protocols and reviews. For a complete list of article types that can be considered in the Invertebrate Physiology section, please follow this
linkEven though abstract submission is not mandatory, we encourage all interested researchers to submit an abstract before submitting their manuscript. Abstracts do not have to coincide with the final abstract of the manuscripts.
