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Tag: Michael Strand

Four nudivirus core genes present in the genome of Venturia canescens are required for virus-like particle formation and prevention of encapsulation of parasitoid wasp eggs

Donna Huber on November 20, 2025

  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) in females that protect wasp eggs from a host immune defense called encapsulation. In contrast, very few DEV genes required for VLP formation and function …

Large DNA Viruses That Parasitoid Wasps Transmit to Hosts

Donna Huber on October 7, 2025

Many types of viruses have been identified in parasitoid wasps and other Hymenoptera. Parasitoid wasps also transmit several viruses to hosts through the piercing ovipositors that females use to lay eggs. Most viruses that are known to be transmitted by parasitoids have large double-stranded DNA genomes. We summarize the range of interactions that have evolved …

Insulin-like peptides activate egg formation in the Asian malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi

Donna Huber on October 7, 2025

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 of egg-producing gonotrophic cycles is best understood in the culicine Aedes aegypti. Anopheline mosquitoes encode all of the hormones that regulate gonotrophic cycles in …

Recent insights in the development and functions of insect hemocytes

Donna Huber on September 15, 2025

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 Lepidoptera identify a number of transcription factors and signaling pathways that regulate hemocyte differentiation and proliferation. Recent single cell RNA sequencing studies …

Protocol for detecting peptide hormones in mosquito tissues

Donna Huber on May 24, 2025

Peptide hormones in insects are primarily expressed in specialized brain, ventral nerve chord, and midgut cells. When released, peptide hormones play crucial roles in regulating physiology, reproduction, and behavior. Here, we present a protocol for detecting peptide hormones in mosquito tissues such as the brain, midgut, and hemolymph. We describe steps for tissue preparation, immunocytochemistry, …

A symbiotic gene stimulates aggressive behavior favoring the survival of parasitized caterpillars

Donna Huber on April 28, 2025

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, Plutella xylostella, is an agricultural pest that feeds on cruciferous plants as larvae, while Cotesia vestalis is a parasitoid wasp that parasitizes diamondback moth larvae. …

A myeloid differentiation-like protein in partnership with Toll5 from the pest insect Spodoptera litura senses baculovirus infection

Donna Huber on October 23, 2024

  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 Baculoviridae are used to control a number of pest insects. Here, we studied Spodoptera litura and Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) to test …

In the news: Michael Strand

Donna Huber on July 8, 2024

Michael Strand is a Regents Professor in the Department of Entomology and member of the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases. His mosquito research has recently been featured in a number of news stories. What drives mosquitoes’ bloodlust? Their hormones (Nature) The Science Behind What Makes Mosquitoes Bite You! Explained (News 9) Mosquito bloodlust …

Reciprocal interactions between neuropeptide F and RYamide regulate host attraction in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

Donna Huber on July 1, 2024

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 feeding. Consumption of a blood meal activates the vitellogenic phase, which produces mature eggs and suppresses host attraction. In this study, we …

Identification of a viral gene essential for the genome replication of a domesticated endogenous virus in ichneumonid parasitoid wasps

Donna Huber on April 25, 2024

  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 DNA-containing IV virions are produced in ovary calyx cells during the pupal and adult stages of female wasps. Females parasitize host insects by …