Antennal sensilla and their nerve innervation in first‐instar nymphs of Porphyrophora sophorae Arch. (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Margarodidae)

ABSTRACT Porphyrophora (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Margarodidae) is a genus of soil‐inhabiting scale insects. The antennal sensilla and their innervation in the first‐instar nymphs of Porphyrophora sophorae were studied using light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy to understand the function of these sensilla and determine the sensillar innervation feature on these small antennae. The results show that the six‐segmented antennae of these nymphs have 20–23 sensilla which can be morphologically classified into seven types, for example, one Böhm's bristle (Bb), one campaniform sensillum (Ca), one Johnston's organ (Jo), 13–16 aporous sensilla trichodea (St), two coeloconic sensilla (Co), one straight multiporous peg (Mp1), and one curvy multiporous peg (Mp2). According to their function, these sensilla can be categorized into three categories: mechanoreceptors, that is, Bb, Ca, Jo, and St; thermo/hygroreceptors, that is, Co only; and chemoreceptors, that is, Mp1 and Mp2. The dendrites that innervate the Mp1, Mp2, and Co sensilla combine to form a large nerve tract (NT1) in the antennal lumen. Because NT1 extends through and out of the antenna, the somata of these neurons are present in the lymph cavity of the insect's head. The dendrites that innervate the mechanoreceptors form another nerve tract (NT2). The somata of these neurons are located inside the scape and pedicel. J. Morphol. 277:1631–1647, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

序列比对程序Blat在转录组数据分析中的应用

随着功能基因组学研究领域的快速发展,人们已经开始系统地研究全基因组的转录以及全部基因发挥功能的动态机制。为实现此目标,需要从海量的转录组数据中提炼出能够揭示基因功能以及表达调控的重要信息。采用高性能的序列比对程序以满足规模化的比对需求是其中的瓶颈环节。通过综合比较目前流行的各种序列比对软件的性能,并针对不同的转录组数据分析任务对Blat进行详细的应用分析,结果发现,Blat能够解决转录组数据分析过程中的序列比对这一瓶颈,可广泛应用于功能基因组相关的数据分析任务。