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Julian F. Hillyer

@vandybugs.bsky.social

Centennial Professor of Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University, Mosquito biologist, Entomologist, Parasitologist, Educator

37 Posts103 Follower81 Folgt
Julian F. Hillyer@vandybugs.bsky.social · 3mo ago

I always find it really neat to see anatomy papers across insect taxa. When comparing to other papers, one can see so much conservation across millions of years of evolution. Thought about ti when I saw this paper on silkworms. doi.org/10.1007/s004...

A comparative study of internal organs of silkworm species (Bombyx mori, Samia ricini, Antheraea mylitta, Antheraea assamensis) using stereo-zoom microscopy - Zoomorphology

Sericulture is the practice of rearing silkworms on specific host plants for the production of natural silk. It has been carried out since ancient times. Among the various silkworms, the fully domesticated mulberry (Bombyx mori), the semi-domesticated Eri (Samia ricini) and the wild species or vanya silkworms- Muga (Antheraea assamensis) and Tasar (Antheraea mylitta) represent the major sources of commercial silk in India. Each species has distinct physiological and anatomical features that determine its feeding behaviour, silk production and adaptability to environmental conditions. Although their ecology, host plants, silk characteristics and rearing practices differ among these species, the internal anatomy of these silkworms follows a conserved lepidopteran pattern. In the present study, comparative analysis of internal organs and other external structures of all four different silkworm species were examined using a stereo zoom microscope. The major internal organ includes a digestive tract, tracheal system, circulatory system, nervous system, excretory system, silk gland and reproduction system. Observations revealed species-specific differences in tracheal coloration, silk gland development, fat-body texture and reproductive morphology, influenced by their ecological adaptation and host-plant specialization. External features such as true legs, pseudo-legs, spiracles, eyes and antennal structures of adult moths are also documented to provide integrated anatomical profiles. Such comparative analyses have helped to elucidate functional adaptations concerning feeding habits, cocoon formation, spinning behaviour and environmental tolerance.

doi.org

Julian F. Hillyer@vandybugs.bsky.social · 7mo ago

New article from the lab published in Immunity & Ageing: Warmer temperature accelerates senescence by modifying the aging-dependent changes in the mosquito transcriptome, altering immunity, metabolism, and DNA repair. doi.org/10.1186/s129...

Warmer temperature accelerates senescence by modifying the aging-dependent changes in the mosquito transcriptome, altering immunity, metabolism, and DNA repair - Immunity & Ageing

Immunity & Ageing - Global environmental temperatures are rising, which is increasing the body temperature of mosquitoes. This increase in body temperature is accelerating senescence, thereby...

doi.org

Julian F. Hillyer@vandybugs.bsky.social · 11mo ago

New paper: Phagocytic hemocytes, independent of pericardial cells, modulate cellular immune responses on the dorsal vessel of mosquitoes, including the infection-induced reduction of the heart rate @vanderbilt.edu @evolutionvu.bsky.social @vuartsci.bsky.social doi.org/10.1007/s004...

Phagocytic hemocytes, independent of pericardial cells, modulate cellular immune responses on the dorsal vessel of mosquitoes, including the infection-induced reduction of the heart rate - Cell and Ti...

Infection induces the aggregation of hemocytes on the dorsal vessel of mosquitoes. These hemocytes, called periostial hemocytes, phagocytose pathogens and produce immune factors on the abdominal porti...

doi.org

Julian F. Hillyer@vandybugs.bsky.social · 12mo ago

Happy to announce that I added a new role @vanderbilt.edu : Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the Graduate School. I'm excited to go on this journey with Dean André Christie-Mizell, Associate Dean Andrea Page-McCaw, and the Graduate School team.

Vanderbilt Graduate School announces leadership transitions

After concluding her term as associate dean for academic affairs for the Graduate School, Terrah Akard will return to her role as professor of nursing in the School of Nursing. Julián Hillyer, Centenn...

news.vanderbilt.edu

Julian F. Hillyer@vandybugs.bsky.social · last yr.

Histamine and serotonin alter retinal sensitivity in mosquitoes. Great research by @shirleyluckhart.bsky.social and colleagues. doi.org/10.1371/jour...

Regulation of diel locomotor activity and retinal responses of Anopheles stephensi by ingested histamine and serotonin is temperature- and infection-dependent

This study explores histaminergic and serotonergic signaling-dependent diel locomotor activity and visual sensitivity in the highly invasive malaria vector Anopheles stephensi. Histamine and 5-HT bloo...

doi.org

Shirley Luckhart@shirleyluckhart.bsky.social · 2y ago

New work with my longtime collaborator and friend Mike Riehle and his team. Fascinating to begin to unravel the biology of vitamin B5/pantothenate in Anopheles stephensi. More to come on this.

Characterization of the Sodium Multi-Vitamin Transporter in the Mosquito Anopheles stephensi and Its Capacity to Mobilize Pantothenate and Biotin

Pantothenate (Pan), or vitamin B5, is essential for the synthesis of co-enzyme A (CoA), acetyl-CoA, and numerous downstream physiological processes. We previously demonstrated that Pan is not only ess...

mdpi.com

Don Yee@mosquitolab.bsky.social · 2y ago

Sharing this again. Please share widely with any interested students. Puerto Rico is an amazing place to work. Deadline is in about a month but need to conduct interviews with prospective candidates well before then.

Don Yee@mosquitolab.bsky.social · 2y ago

Please share. I'm recruiting up to 2 grad students to join my lab this fall and work on litter inverts or mosquitoes in Puerto Rico (summer start date possible). I am NOT taking non-U.S. students. Either student should have interests and background in ecology of insects. Details in ad.🦟🐜🪳🇵🇷🌴

Applicants are invited for up to two (2) students (official USM start date August 2025 but summer 2025 start for accepted students will be supported) to join the lab of Dr. Donald Yee. The position(s) will focus on aspects of the population or community ecology of litter invertebrates or mosquitoes in the Luquillo Experiment Forest (LEF) in Puerto Rico at the NSF funded Luquillo Long Term Ecological Research site (LTER). The position will be supported during the summer months by the LTER (travel, lodging, and per diem). Full tuition scholarships for the successful applicant(s) are provided and support for the academic year is provided by teaching assistantships and research assistantships (when available) Position 1 (Ph.D.) will focus on litter invertebrate populations or communities, and could be based on effects of climate change including drought and large disturbances like hurricanes. We have several years of data on litter invertebrate communities (including pre-Hurricane Maria, 2017) that would serve as a good foundation for more specific hypothesis driven questions. Position 2 (M.S.) could focus on either litter invertebrates as above, or on mosquitoes in the LEF. Currently we are collaborating on a lizard-malaria system in the LEF as well as asking various ecological questions about understudied mosquitoes in the forest. Either system can serve as the basis for a high quality M.S. project. A taxonomic or systematic based project would also be entertained. Deadline for Fall 2025 applications is 15 February 2025. The Yee Lab is committed to an inclusive environment for all members. For these positions I am only accepting U.S. students. Before formally applying, interested students should submit (via e-mail) a cover letter with a brief (~ one page) review of your research experience, interests, and goals, a current CV, and contact information for two references to: donald.yee@usm.edu, Donald A. Yee, Ph.D., @mosquitolab (Blueky), School of BEES
Becky Smith@rlsdvm.bsky.social · 2y ago

246/250 is Warmer environmental temperature accelerates aging in mosquitoes, decreasing longevity and worsening infection outcomes I'm very grateful to the people who can do this necessary, careful lab work that we'll need to model climate change impacts on vectors!

Warmer environmental temperature accelerates aging in mosquitoes, decreasing longevity and worsening infection outcomes - Immunity & Ageing

Background Most insects are poikilotherms and ectotherms, so their body temperature is predicated by environmental temperature. With climate change, insect body temperature is rising, which affects ho...

doi.org

Julian F. Hillyer@vandybugs.bsky.social · 2y ago

As we end 2024, and continuing to highlight grad student Lindsay Martin, here is her paper in @jexpbiol.bsky.social : Senescence of humoral antimicrobial immunity occurs in infected mosquitoes when the temperature is higher doi.org/10.1242/jeb....

Senescence of humoral antimicrobial immunity occurs in infected mosquitoes when the temperature is higher

Summary: Higher temperature causes an aging-dependent decline in antimicrobial activity following infection, accelerating the onset of immune senescence.

doi.org

Julian F. Hillyer@vandybugs.bsky.social · 2y ago

Next up to highlight as we end 2024 is grad student Lindsay Martin and her paper in PLOS Pathogens: Higher temperature accelerates the aging-dependent weakening of the melanization immune response in mosquitoes doi.org/10.1371/jour...

Higher temperature accelerates the aging-dependent weakening of the melanization immune response in mosquitoes

Author summary Climate change is increasing global temperatures, and this is altering the ecosystems that organisms inhabit. Insects are particularly susceptible to temperature changes because their b...

doi.org

Julian F. Hillyer@vandybugs.bsky.social · 2y ago

With 2024 coming to an end, I'll do a select lab recap. First, grad student Jordyn Barr and her work published in Immunity & Ageing: Warmer environmental temperature accelerates aging in mosquitoes, decreasing longevity and worsening infection outcomes doi.org/10.1186/s129...

Warmer environmental temperature accelerates aging in mosquitoes, decreasing longevity and worsening infection outcomes - Immunity & Ageing

Background Most insects are poikilotherms and ectotherms, so their body temperature is predicated by environmental temperature. With climate change, insect body temperature is rising, which affects ho...

doi.org

Shirley Luckhart@shirleyluckhart.bsky.social · 2y ago

Our brand new review on type 2 immunity in malaria with terrific colleagues Renee Tsolis and Adrian Piliponsky highlighting the roles of mast cells and basophils in orchestrating the host response to infection and parasite transmission to Anopheles mosquitoes.

The type 2 immune response in gut homeostasis and parasite transmission in malaria

Malaria predisposes to concomitant bacteremia, resulting in increased mortality risk. Previous studies indicated that malaria causes structural changes in the intestine, induces tolerogenic immune responses, inhibits neutrophil recruitment, suppresses innate synthesis of IFN-γ, dysregulates mast cells (MCs) and basophils, and induces Th2-type immune responses. These can reduce parasite control while increasing enteropathogenic dissemination. Moreover, there is growing evidence that Th2 immunity, while protecting the host from overwhelming inflammation, may also contribute to increased parasite transmission. This review explores the roles of the regulatory immune response in bacterial coinfections and parasite transmission in malaria.

cell.com