In our study, we present an evolutionarily conserved response to predatory wasps across the genus Drosophila, manifesting as egg laying depression coincident social communication of the predator threat to naïve, non-wasp exposed flies. We observe variation in communication ability between different fly species, even though there exists a conserved fly “language” permitting efficient communication of a wasp threat within a single species. Thus, we suggest that variation in communication ability to be analogous to “dialects,” as the term reflects natural variations between a common mode of communication, which can be alleviated through socialization between species. We propose dialect learning to be a novel behavior, which we demonstrate requires visual and olfactory inputs, perhaps integrated in and relayed through the mushroom body, resulting in the ability to more efficiently receive information about a common predator. Without dialect learning, this information would otherwise be lost in translation, resulting in an inefficient behavioral response with significant survival disadvantages. The multimodal process by which flies learn dialects hints at a high level of cognitive plasticity. Thus, there is a real benefit to cognitive plasticity, where sharing of information directly, or by coincident bystanders, could result in behavioral immunity to pan-specific threats. We plan to build upon our work by elucidating the neural circuitry that governs dialect learning to discern how this multimodally acquired information is processed on the neuronal level and manifests as this complex communicative behavior. Following the identification of the key circuitry, we plan on identifying important genetic factors within neuron populations identified that also drive this cognitive plasticity.
Press from Kacsoh and Bozler et al, 2015 in eLife
Balint Kacsoh, Julianna Bozler, Mani Ramaswami and Giovanni Bosco. (2015). Social communication of predator-induced changes in Drosophila behavior and germline physiology. eLife 2015 May 13;4 doi:10.7554/eLife.07423. (PMID:25970035).
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Press from Mortimer et. al 2013 in Plos Pathogens
From our paper on a wasp's calcium pump venom protein
Mortimer et al. 2013
Venomous SERCA
Nancy Gough
Science Signaling, Editor's Choice, 6/11/2013
link
Parasitic wasps use calcium pump to block fruit fly immunity
Carol Clark
EurekAlert, 5/20/2013
link
Press from Kacsoh et al, 2013 in Science
From our paper on flies laying eggs in alcohol when wasps are around
Kacsoh et al. 2013
Insects and alcohol
Bob Hirshon
AAAS, Science Update, 3/8/2013
link with audio
Fruit flies medicate young against parasites
Lydia O'Neal
The Emory Wheel, 3/4/2013
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Mother flies dose offspring with alcohol
Bob McDonald
CBC, Quirks and Quarks, 2/23/2013
link with audio
Alkohol von Dr. Fliege
Volkart Wildermuth
German Public Radio, 2/22/2013
link with audio
Fruit flies use alcohol to protect their young from body-snatchers
Ed Yong
National Geographic, 2/21/2013
link
Fruit flies force their young to drink alcohol - for their own good
Carol Clark
eScience Commons, 2/21/2013
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Press from Milan and Kacsoh et al 2012 publication
From our paper on infected fly larvae consuming alcohol
Milan et al. 2012
The parasite that drives flies to drink
Alex Wild
Scientific American, 3/5/2012
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Fruit flies seek out alcohol
anonymous
The Onion, 2/21/2012
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Cheers! Fruit flies drink to their health, literally
Veronique Lacapra
NPR, All Things Considered, 2/21/2012
link with audio
Flies drink alcohol to medicate themselves against wasp infections
Ed Yong
Discover Magazine, 2/20/2012
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Fruit flies resort to alcohol
Meera Senthilingam
BBC, Naked Scientists, 2/19/2010
link with audio
Anti-biotic booze
Bob McDonald
CBC, Quirks and Quarks, 2/18/2012
link with audio
To evict parasite, canny fruit flies pick their poison
Carl Zimmer
New York Times, 2/16/2012
link
Fruit flies use alcohol to self-medicate, but feel bad about it afterwards
Rob Dunn
Scientific American, 2/16/2012
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Fruit flies use alcohol as a drug to kill parasites
Carol Clark
eScienceCommons, 2/16/2012
link with video