[Seminar] Decoding pheromone communication in aquatic organisms by Dr. Scott Cummins

Speaker

Dr. Scott Cummins, University of Sunshine Coast, Australia

Abstract

Pheromones are potent molecules that are used by organisms to communicate species-specific information. In aquatic environments, pheromones must be water-soluble, so can be small molecules or larger proteins. Knowledge of organism pheromones is critical if we want to manipulate their behavior, which is especially helpful towards control of pest species. My research has focused on the establishment of methods to identify aquatic pheromones, which is being assisted by modern genomic and proteomic approaches. I will review these approaches that have led to the discovery of pheromones and putative pheromones from various species, including snails, squid, starfish, jellyfish, parasites and marine sponges.

Selected Publications

Srivastava, M., et al. The Amphimedon queenslandica genome and the evolution of animal complexity.  2010  Nature  / Vol. 466, No. 7307, pp.720-726

Cummins, SF., et al. Extreme Aggression in Male Squid Induced by a β-MSP-like Pheromone.  2011  Current Biology  / Vol. 21, No. 4, pp.322-327

Stewart, MJ, Favrel, P., et al. Neuropeptides encoded by the genomes of the Akoya pearl oyster Pinctata fucata and Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas: a bioinformatic and peptidomic survey.  2014   BMC Genomics / Vol. 15, No. 840

Adema, CM., et al. Whole genome analysis of a schistosomiasis-transmitting freshwater snail.  2017 Nature Communications / Vol. 8, Article 15451

Hall, MR., Kocot, KM., Boughman, KW., et al. The crown-of-thorns starfish genome as a guide for biocontrol of this coral reef pest.  2017  Nature / Vol. 544, No. 7649, pp.231-234

Motti, CA., et al. Chemical Ecology of Chemosensation in Asteroidea: Insights Towards Management Strategies of Pest Species.  2018  Journal of Chemical Ecology / Vol. 44, No. 2, pp.147-177

Zhao, M., et al. eS nail: A transcriptome‐based molecular resource of the central nervous system for terrestrial gastropods.  2018  Molecular Ecology Resources / Vol. 18, No. 1, pp.147-158

Full Publication Record

http://research.usc.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository?f0=sm_creator%3A%22Cummins%2C+S+F%22&sort=ss_dateNormalized%5C