Preference for and resistance to a toxic sulfur volatile opens up a unique niche in Drosophila busckii

Abstract

The ability to tolerate otherwise toxic compounds can open up unique niches in nature. Among drosophilid flies few examples of such adaptations are known and then typically from highly host specific species. Here we show that the human commensal Drosophila busckii uses dimethyldisulfide (DMDS) as a key mediator in its host selection. Despite DMDSs neurotoxic properties1, D. busckii has evolved tolerance towards high concentrations and uses the compound as an olfactory cue to pinpoint food and oviposition sites. This adaptability is likely linked to an insensitive cytochrome c oxidase (COX), a DMDS target in other insects. Our findings position D. busckii as a potential model for studying resistance to toxic gases affecting COX and offer valuable insights into evolutionary adaptations within specific ecological contexts.