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Levels of clonal mixing in the black bean aphid Aphis fabae, a facultative ant mutualist KU Leuven
Aphids are a worldwide pest and an important model in ecology and evolution. Little is known, however, about the genetic structure of their colonies at a microgeographic level. For example, it remains largely unknown whether most species form monoclonal or polyclonal colonies. Here, we present the first detailed study on levels of clonal mixing in a nonsocial facultative ant mutualist, the black bean aphid Aphis fabae. In contrast to the earlier ...
Large interclone differences in melezitose secretion in the facultatively ant-tended black bean aphid Aphis fabae KU Leuven
Many aphids are known to engage in a trophic mutualism with ants, whereby the aphids secrete sugary rich honeydew which is collected by the ants for food, and the ants, in exchange, protect the aphids against natural enemies. Previous results, however, suggest that the production of some of the honeydew sugars, such as the ant-attractant trisaccharide melezitose, may induce an indirect cost to the aphids. This led us to believe that large ...
The cost of ant attendance and melezitose secretion in the black bean aphid Aphis fabae Universiteit Gent KU Leuven
Do Lasius niger ants punish low-quality black bean aphid mutualists? Universiteit Gent KU Leuven
Conflict and cooperation in the mutualism between ants and aphids. KU Leuven
One of the best examples of a trophic mutualism in social insects is that between ants and aphids, whereby aphids secrete a sugary-rich food source termed honeydew, and the ants protect the aphids in return against natural enemies (Hölldobler & Wilson, 1990). Conflict, however, can occur when either the ants or the aphids exploit the mutualism by not returning their services. The aphids, for example, could gain a selfish advantage by ...
The effect of host plants on genotype variability in fitness and honeydew composition of Aphis fabae KU Leuven
Aphid species can be polyphagous, feeding on multiple host plants across genera. As host plant species can have large variation in their phloem composition, this can affect aphid fitness and honeydew composition. Previous research showed significant intraspecific genotype variation in the composition of the honeydew carbohydrates of the black bean aphid Aphis fabae, with the ant attractant trisaccharide melezitose showing especially large ...
Molecular aspects of potato virus Y transmission by aphids (Myzus persicae) Instituut voor Landbouw-, Visserij- en Voedingsonderzoek
Potato virus Y (PVY), is a plant virus causing important damage in a number of important crops, particularly in potato. Several PVY strains have been differentiated, all of them causing different symptoms and disease levels on numerous commercial potato cultivars. In Belgium, strains belonging to the N group had been reported as the most prevalent, but no detailed information on the relative importance of the PVY strains in Belgium was ...
Potato virus Y transmission and quantitative detection in the stylet of aphid species Instituut voor Landbouw-, Visserij- en Voedingsonderzoek
Potato virus Y (PVY), the type species of potyviruses is a destructive and a worldwide distributed virus causing important damage in different crops, particularly in potato. PVY is transmitted in a non-persis-tent manner by more than 50 different aphid species and presumably, the distal part of the stylet plays an important role in the virus transmission by these aphids. Transmission efficiency is influenced by the aphid species, the aphid ...
AaHIV a sodium channel scorpion toxin inhibits the proliferation of DU145 prostate cancer cells KU Leuven
Prostate cancer is the most highly diagnosed cancer in men worldwide. It is characterized by high proliferation, great invasion and metastatic potential. Sodium channel subtypes have been identified as highly expressed in different prostate cancer cell lines. In this study, we have screened the negatively charged fractions of Androctonus australis (Aa) scorpion venom to identify active peptides on DU145 prostate cancer cells proliferation. The ...