Overview
My research examines the adaptive potential of clonality in the peach potato aphid Myzus persicae, using high-throughput sequencing to identify and functionally characterise mutations, epimutations and gene expression changes in response to pesticide exposure.
Qualifications
2016, University of Leicester, UK (PhD Genetics)
2010, University of Leicester, UK (BSc Biological Sciences - Zoology)
Career
2019 – present Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Exeter UK
2018 – 2019 Post-Doctoral Research Associate, University of Leicester
2016 – 2018 Data Analyst, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Analysis Support Hub, University of Leicester
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Publications by category
Journal articles
Hunt BJ, Mallon E, Rosato E (In Press). In silico identification of a molecular circadian system with novel features in the crustacean model organism Parhyale hawaiensis.
Abstract:
In silico identification of a molecular circadian system with novel features in the crustacean model organism Parhyale hawaiensis
AbstractThe amphipod Parhyale hawaiensis is a model organism of growing importance in the fields of evolutionary development and regeneration. A small, hardy marine crustacean that breeds year-round with a short generation time, it has simple lab culture requirements and an extensive molecular toolkit including the ability to generate targeted genetic mutant lines. Here we identify canonical core and regulatory clock genes using genomic and transcriptomic resources as a first step in establishing this species as a model in the field of chronobiology. The molecular clock of P. hawaiensis lacks orthologs of the canonical circadian genes cryptochrome 1 and timeless, in common with the mammalian system but in contrast to many arthropods including Drosophila melanogaster. Furthermore the predicted CLOCK peptide is atypical and CRY2 shows an extended 5’ region of unknown function. These results appear to be shared by two other amphipod species.
Abstract.
Bebane PSA, Hunt BJ, Pegoraro M, Jones ARC, Marshall H, Rosato E, Mallon EB (In Press). The effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on gene expression and DNA methylation in the buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris.
Abstract:
The effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on gene expression and DNA methylation in the buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris
AbstractNeonicotinoids are effective insecticides used on many important arable and horticultural crops. They are nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists which disrupt the function of insect neurons and cause paralysis and death. In addition to direct mortality, there are numerous sublethal effects of low doses of neonicotinoids on bees. We hypothesize that some of these large array of effects could be a consequence of epigenetic changes in bees induced by neonicotinoids. We compared whole methylome (BS-seq) and RNA-seq libraries of the brains of buff tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris workers exposed to field realistic doses of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid to libraries from control workers. We found numerous genes which show differential expression between neonicotinoid treated bees and control bees, but no differentially methylated cytosines in any context. We found CpG methylation to be focused mainly in exons and associated with highly expressed genes. We discuss the implications of our results for future legislation.
Abstract.
Hunt BJ, Mallon EB, Rosato E (2019). In silico Identification of a Molecular Circadian System with Novel Features in the Crustacean Model Organism Parhyale hawaiensis. Frontiers in Physiology, 10
Bebane PSA, Hunt BJ, Pegoraro M, Jones ARC, Marshall H, Rosato E, Mallon EB (2019). The effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on gene expression and DNA methylation in the buff-tailed bumblebee. Bombus terrestris.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences,
286(1905), 20190718-20190718.
Abstract:
The effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on gene expression and DNA methylation in the buff-tailed bumblebee. Bombus terrestris
. Neonicotinoids are effective insecticides used on many important arable and horticultural crops. They are nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists which disrupt the function of insect neurons and cause paralysis and death. In addition to direct mortality, there are numerous sublethal effects of low doses of neonicotinoids on bees. We hypothesize that some of these large array of effects could be a consequence of epigenetic changes in bees induced by neonicotinoids. We compared whole methylome (BS-seq) and RNA-seq libraries of the brains of buff-tailed bumblebee
. Bombus terrestris
. workers exposed to field-realistic doses of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid to libraries from control workers. We found numerous genes which show differential expression between neonicotinoid-treated bees and control bees, but no differentially methylated cytosines in any context. We found CpG methylation to be focused mainly in exons and associated with highly expressed genes. We discuss the implications of our results for future legislation.
.
Abstract.
Hunt BJ, Ozkaya O, Davies NJ, Gaten E, Seear P, Kyriacou CP, Tarling G, Rosato E (2017). The Euphausia superba transcriptome database, SuperbaSE: an online, open resource for researchers.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION,
7(16), 6060-6077.
Author URL.
Publications by year
In Press
Hunt BJ, Mallon E, Rosato E (In Press). In silico identification of a molecular circadian system with novel features in the crustacean model organism Parhyale hawaiensis.
Abstract:
In silico identification of a molecular circadian system with novel features in the crustacean model organism Parhyale hawaiensis
AbstractThe amphipod Parhyale hawaiensis is a model organism of growing importance in the fields of evolutionary development and regeneration. A small, hardy marine crustacean that breeds year-round with a short generation time, it has simple lab culture requirements and an extensive molecular toolkit including the ability to generate targeted genetic mutant lines. Here we identify canonical core and regulatory clock genes using genomic and transcriptomic resources as a first step in establishing this species as a model in the field of chronobiology. The molecular clock of P. hawaiensis lacks orthologs of the canonical circadian genes cryptochrome 1 and timeless, in common with the mammalian system but in contrast to many arthropods including Drosophila melanogaster. Furthermore the predicted CLOCK peptide is atypical and CRY2 shows an extended 5’ region of unknown function. These results appear to be shared by two other amphipod species.
Abstract.
Bebane PSA, Hunt BJ, Pegoraro M, Jones ARC, Marshall H, Rosato E, Mallon EB (In Press). The effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on gene expression and DNA methylation in the buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris.
Abstract:
The effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on gene expression and DNA methylation in the buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris
AbstractNeonicotinoids are effective insecticides used on many important arable and horticultural crops. They are nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists which disrupt the function of insect neurons and cause paralysis and death. In addition to direct mortality, there are numerous sublethal effects of low doses of neonicotinoids on bees. We hypothesize that some of these large array of effects could be a consequence of epigenetic changes in bees induced by neonicotinoids. We compared whole methylome (BS-seq) and RNA-seq libraries of the brains of buff tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris workers exposed to field realistic doses of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid to libraries from control workers. We found numerous genes which show differential expression between neonicotinoid treated bees and control bees, but no differentially methylated cytosines in any context. We found CpG methylation to be focused mainly in exons and associated with highly expressed genes. We discuss the implications of our results for future legislation.
Abstract.
2019
Hunt BJ, Mallon EB, Rosato E (2019). In silico Identification of a Molecular Circadian System with Novel Features in the Crustacean Model Organism Parhyale hawaiensis. Frontiers in Physiology, 10
Bebane PSA, Hunt BJ, Pegoraro M, Jones ARC, Marshall H, Rosato E, Mallon EB (2019). The effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on gene expression and DNA methylation in the buff-tailed bumblebee. Bombus terrestris.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences,
286(1905), 20190718-20190718.
Abstract:
The effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on gene expression and DNA methylation in the buff-tailed bumblebee. Bombus terrestris
. Neonicotinoids are effective insecticides used on many important arable and horticultural crops. They are nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists which disrupt the function of insect neurons and cause paralysis and death. In addition to direct mortality, there are numerous sublethal effects of low doses of neonicotinoids on bees. We hypothesize that some of these large array of effects could be a consequence of epigenetic changes in bees induced by neonicotinoids. We compared whole methylome (BS-seq) and RNA-seq libraries of the brains of buff-tailed bumblebee
. Bombus terrestris
. workers exposed to field-realistic doses of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid to libraries from control workers. We found numerous genes which show differential expression between neonicotinoid-treated bees and control bees, but no differentially methylated cytosines in any context. We found CpG methylation to be focused mainly in exons and associated with highly expressed genes. We discuss the implications of our results for future legislation.
.
Abstract.
2017
Hunt BJ, Ozkaya O, Davies NJ, Gaten E, Seear P, Kyriacou CP, Tarling G, Rosato E (2017). The Euphausia superba transcriptome database, SuperbaSE: an online, open resource for researchers.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION,
7(16), 6060-6077.
Author URL.
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