This study investigates the molecular basis and evolutionary constraints of organophosphate resistance in dipteran carboxylesterases, revealing sequence context-dependent success of a mutation and trade-offs between affinity and turnover.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · Feb 23, 2026Peer-reviewedBiochemistry

Experimentally induced active and quiet sleep engage non-overlapping transcriptional programs in Drosophila

Niki C. Anthoney, Lucy A. Heap, Ngoc Bao Hang Luong, Eleni Notaras, Amber B. Kewin, Qiongyi Zhao, Trent Perry, Philip Batterham, Paul J. Shaw, Bruno van Swinderen

The paper compares optogenetic and pharmacological induction of sleep in Drosophila, finding they activate distinct transcriptional programs.

bioRxiv · Apr 3, 2023 · PreprintNeuroscience

Low doses of the organic insecticide spinosad trigger lysosomal defects, ROS driven lipid dysregulation and neurodegeneration in flies

Felipe Martelli, Natalia H Hernandes, Zhongyuan Zuo, Julia Wang, Ching-On Wong, Nicholas E Karagas, Ute Roessner, Thusita Rupasinghe, Charles Robin, Kartik Venkatachalam, Trent Perry, Philip Batterham, Hugo Jozef Bellen

This study shows that low doses of spinosad cause lysosomal defects, oxidative stress, lipid dysregulation, and neurodegeneration in Drosophila.

eLife · Jan 31, 2022Peer-reviewedNeuroscience

Genetic characterization of ABC pesticide transporters establishes Drosophila as an in vivo model for toxicogenetics

Shane Denecke, Ngoc Bao Hang Luong, Venetia Koidou, Maria Kalogeridi, Rafaella Socratous, Steven Howe, Kathrin Vogelsang, Ralf Nauen, Philip Batterham, Sven Geibel, John G. VONTAS

This study characterizes ABC pesticide transporters in Drosophila to establish it as a model for toxicogenetics, identifying key transporters involved in pesticide sensitivity.

bioRxiv · Jan 27, 2022 · PreprintGenetics

Gene Content Evolution in the Arthropods

Gregg W.C. Thomas, Elias Dohmen, Daniel Hughes, Shwetha Canchi Murali, Monica F. Poelchau, Karl M. Glastad, Clare A. Anstead, Nadia A. Ayoub, Philip Batterham, Michelle Bellair, Greta J. Binford, Hsu Chao, Yolanda H. Chen, Christopher P. Childers, Huyen Dinh, , Stephen Richards

The paper analyzes gene and protein domain content changes across 76 arthropod genomes to understand evolutionary patterns and their association with phenotypic adaptations.

Genome biology · Jan 22, 2020Peer-reviewedGenomics

Partitioning The Roles Of Insect And Microbial Enzymes In The Metabolism Of The Insecticide Imidacloprid In Drosophila melanogaster

Roberto Fusetto, Shane Denecke, Trent Perry, Richard A. J. O’Hair, Philip Batterham

The paper investigates the roles of insect and microbial enzymes in imidacloprid metabolism in Drosophila melanogaster using genetic and mass spectrometry methods, finding microbial contributions to nitro-reduced metabolites and excretion of toxic products.

Scientific Reports · Sep 6, 2017Peer-reviewedGenetics

Multiple P450s And Variation In Neuronal Genes Underpins The Response To The Insecticide Imidacloprid In A Population Of Drosophila melanogaster

Shane Denecke, Roberto Fusetto, Felipe Martelli, Alex Giang, Paul Battlay, Alexandre Fournier‐Level, Richard A. J. O’Hair, Philip Batterham

The paper investigates genetic factors underlying imidacloprid resistance in Drosophila melanogaster using genomic and transcriptomic data, identifying Cyp6g1 and Cyp6g2 as key contributors.

Scientific Reports · Sep 6, 2017Peer-reviewedGenetics