Joachim Kurtz

An HSP90-released reduced-eye phenotype alters light-dependent behaviour in Tribolium castaneum

This study shows that inhibiting HSP90 in Tribolium castaneum releases a reduced-eye phenotype that alters light-dependent behaviors, suggesting evolutionary capacitance can lead to beneficial behavioral changes.

Immune priming in the insect gut: a dynamic response revealed by ultrastructural and transcriptomic changes

This paper investigates immune priming in the gut of Tribolium castaneum using RNA sequencing and transmission electron microscopy, showing that priming leads to gut damage, stress response, and gene upregulation that enhances protection against subsequent infection.

Experimental evolution of a pathogen confronted with innate immune memory increases variation in virulence

This study shows that innate immune memory in hosts does not increase average virulence but increases variation in virulence among pathogens evolved in primed hosts.

Multiomics reveal associations between CpG methylation, histone modifications and transcription in a species that has lost DNMT3, the Colorado potato beetle

The paper investigates epigenetic regulation in the Colorado potato beetle, which lacks DNMT3, revealing that CpG methylation and H3K36me3 correlate with gene expression despite the absence of DNMT3.

MBD2/3 lost its methyl-CpG binding ability in multiple families of Holometabola

The paper identifies MBD2/3 isoforms in holometabolous insects and finds that the long isoform, capable of methyl-CpG binding, is lost in multiple orders.

Experimental Removal of Niche Construction Alters the Pace and Mechanisms of Resistance Evolution

This study shows that removing niche construction in red flour beetles slows resistance evolution to a bacterial pathogen, indicating niche construction facilitates adaptation.

Host-parasite interactions of an avian blood parasite elucidated by single-cell transcriptomics

The paper uses single-cell RNA sequencing to study host-parasite interactions in an avian blood parasite, revealing immune evasion strategies and immunosuppression by the parasite.

Scale cortisol levels vary with habitat type and population in the Mexican tetra Astyanax mexicanus

The paper measures scale cortisol levels in wild and lab-reared Astyanax mexicanus populations across different habitats, finding lower cortisol in some cave populations and higher levels in habitats with more environmental variability.

Three species, three labs, three experiments: testing the reproducibility of ecological studies on insect behaviour in a multi-laboratory setting

This study tests the reproducibility of insect behavior experiments across three labs and species, finding 83% successful replication of treatment effects but only 66% effect size replication.

Deciphering a beetle clock: individual and sex-dependent variation in daily activity patterns

This study investigates circadian rhythms in red flour beetles, finding sex-dependent and individual variations in daily activity patterns, with males showing more robust rhythms than females.