Cataracts in a Predatory Insect May Reduce Hunting Success in Dim Light

Abstract

Record ID: 257

Award(s): Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentorship; Excellence in Research Communication

Program Affiliation: NA

Presentation Type: Poster

Abstract: Cataracts, the leading cause of blindness worldwide, plagues over half of Americans over the age of 80, causing a myriad of vision complications such as difficulty reading, sensitivity to glares, decrease in color vision, and eventually loss of vision entirely. Cataracts are formed by damage to specific light-refracting proteins found in the lens, and it has been estimated that in humans 20-39% of overall cataract formation may be directly linked to an individual's genetics. Therefore, understanding genetic predisposition towards developing cataracts may prove crucial in understanding how to prevent them entirely.   Little to nothing is known about cataracts in arthropods, but previous experiments in our laboratory have shown that the gene lens3 is a prominent contributor to the elaborate lenses of the image-forming eyes of diving beetle (Thermonectus marmoratus) larvae. RNAi knockdown leads to a reduction of expression of lens3 and cataract-like lens deformations in those eyes. Interestingly, although clear morphological deficits could be observed, initial experiments did not show significant behavioral deficits, specifically in a test that assessed the hunting success of these predatory larvae. However, considering human ophthalmology, the initial difficulties associated with cataracts are often reported as difficulty completing tasks at night, such as driving. Therefore, in a follow-up experiment, we retested hunting behavior under dim light conditions. Based on a preliminary analysis, the test groups had significantly greater hunting latencies compared to the control group. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study that illuminates interesting parallels between cataracts in humans and insects.