Methods such as electron microscopy and electrophysiology led to the understanding that
gap junctions were dense arrays of channels connecting the intracellular environments …

Gap junctions permit the direct passage of small molecules from the cytosol of one cell to
that of its neighbor, and thus form a system of cell–cell communication that exists alongside …

Symbionts often exhibit significant reductions in genome complexity while pathogens often
exhibit increased complexity through acquisition and diversification of virulence …

Polydnaviruses (PDVs) are obligatory symbionts with parasitoid wasps. The PDV virions are
produced solely in wasp (the primary host) calyx cells. They are injected into caterpillar …

Plant chemical defences impact not only herbivores, but also organisms in higher trophic
levels that prey on or parasitize herbivores. While herbivorous insects can often detoxify …

One of the more unusual groups of insect pathogens consists of members of the family
Polydnaviridae, insect DNA viruses that live in mutual symbioses with their associated …

Numerous and charismatic, the Lepidoptera is one of the most widely studied groups of
invertebrates. Advances in molecular tools and genomic techniques have reduced the need …

Polydnaviruses (PDVs) are obligate symbionts of hymenopteran parasitoids of lepidopteran
larvae that induce host immunosuppression and physiological redirection. PDVs include …

Background Genomic approaches provide unique opportunities to study interactions of
insects with their pathogens. We developed a cDNA microarray to analyze the gene …

Gap junctions formed by two hemichannels from two neighboring cells are cell-to-cell
communication channels; hemichannels are communication channels between intracellular …