The genomic and cellular basis of biosynthetic innovation in rove beetles.

How evolution at the cellular level potentiates macroevolutionary change is central to understanding biological diversification. The >66,000 rove beetle species (Staphylinidae) form the largest metazoan family. Combining genomic and cell type transcriptomic insights spanning the largest clade, Aleocharinae, we retrace evolution of two cell types comprising a defensive gland-a putative catalyst behind staphylinid megadiversity. We identify molecular evolutionary steps leading to benzoquinone production by one cell type via a mechanism convergent with plant toxin release systems, and synthesis by the second cell type of a solvent that weaponizes the total secretion. This cooperative system has been conserved since the Early Cretaceous as Aleocharinae radiated into tens of thousands of lineages. Reprogramming each cell type yielded biochemical novelties enabling ecological specialization-most dramatically in symbionts that infiltrate social insect colonies via host-manipulating secretions. Our findings uncover cell type evolutionary processes underlying the origin and evolvability of a beetle chemical innovation.

The genomic and cellular basis of biosynthetic innovation in rove beetles.

How evolution at the cellular level potentiates change at the macroevolutionary level is a major question in evolutionary biology. With >66,000 described species, rove beetles (Staphylinidae) comprise the largest metazoan family. Their exceptional radiation has been coupled to pervasive biosynthetic innovation whereby numerous lineages bear defensive glands with diverse chemistries. Here, we combine comparative genomic and single-cell transcriptomic data from across the largest rove beetle clade, Aleocharinae. We retrace the functional evolution of two novel secretory cell types that together comprise the tergal gland-a putative catalyst behind Aleocharinae's megadiversity. We identify key genomic contingencies that were critical to the assembly of each cell type and their organ-level partnership in manufacturing the beetle's defensive secretion. This process hinged on evolving a mechanism for regulated production of noxious benzoquinones that appears convergent with plant toxin release systems, and synthesis of an effective benzoquinone solvent that weaponized the total secretion. We show that this cooperative biosynthetic system arose at the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, and that following its establishment, both cell types underwent ∼150 million years of stasis, their chemistry and core molecular architecture maintained almost clade-wide as Aleocharinae radiated globally into tens of thousands of lineages. Despite this deep conservation, we show that the two cell types have acted as substrates for the emergence of adaptive, biochemical novelties-most dramatically in symbiotic lineages that have infiltrated social insect colonies and produce host behavior-manipulating secretions. Our findings uncover genomic and cell type evolutionary processes underlying the origin, functional conservation and evolvability of a chemical innovation in beetles.

A new myrmecophilous genus of Falagriini from Colorado, USA (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae).

A new genus and species, Myrmecoagria hoebekei is described as the first known myrmecophilous representative of Falagriini in North America. The new species is believed to be associated with Myrmica ants based on an associated host specimen and label data. Ahn Ashes (1995) dataset is modified to investigate the placement of Myrmecoagria and evolution of myrmecophily within Falagriini. Sceptobiini, a long suspected close relative of Falagriini was included in the analysis and was recovered nested within Falagriini. Myrmecoagria was recovered distant to Myrmecopora, a genus with anatomical similarities.

Response to "Evidence from amber for the origins of termitophily".

In a recent Current Biology paper [1], we reported the oldest, morphologically specialized, and obligate termitophiles, Cretotrichopsenius burmiticus (Figure 1, left), from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, about 99 million years old. Cretotrichopsenius, belonging to the obligately termitophilous rove beetle tribe Trichopseniini, display the protective horseshoe-crab-shaped body typical of many extant termitophiles. However, the termitophilous lifestyle of Cretotrichopsenius is being questioned by Yamamoto et al.[2] based on their representation of the termitophile-related features and premature and presumptive phylogenetic placement of Cretotrichopsenius within Trichopseniini. We stand by our interpretation that Cretotrichopsenius are obligate termitophiles, and Mesosymbion[3], a member of the largely free-living Mesoporini, are not necessarily termitophilous.

Early Evolution of Specialized Termitophily in Cretaceous Rove Beetles.

Termitophiles, symbionts that live in termite nests, include a wide range of morphologically and behaviorally specialized organisms. Complex adaptive mechanisms permit these animals to integrate into societies and to exploit their controlled physical conditions and plentiful resources, as well as to garner protection inside termite nests. An understanding of the early evolution of termitophily is challenging owing to a scarcity of fossil termitophiles, with all known reliable records occurring from the Miocene (approximately 19 million years ago [mya]) [1-6], and an equivocal termitophile belonging to the largely free-living Mesoporini from the mid-Cretaceous [7]. Here we report the oldest, morphologically specialized, and obligate termitophiles from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (99 mya). Cretotrichopsenius burmiticus gen. et sp. nov. belongs to Trichopseniini, a group of distinctive termitophilous aleocharine rove beetles, all of which possess specialized swollen or horseshoe-crab-shaped body plans. Cretotrichopsenius display the protective horseshoe-crab-shaped body form typical of many modern termitophiles, with concealed head and antennae and strong posteriorly directed abdominal setae. Cretotrichopsenius represent the earliest definitive termitophiles, shedding light on host associations in the early evolution of termite societies. The fossil reveals that ancient termite societies were quickly invaded by beetles and by multiple independent lineages of social parasites over the subsequent eons.

Descriptions of two new species of Myrmedonota Cameron (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) from Mexico with comments on the genus taxonomy and behavior.

Two new species of Myrmedonota, M. shimmerale n. sp. and M. xipe n. sp., are described, and the genus is recorded from Mexico for the first time. Dorsal habitus photographs, illustrations of the median lobe and spermatheca are presented for diagnostic purposes. We suggest that Myrmedonota is in fact diverse in the New World and that its taxonomy is already in a state of confusion. New behavioral observations show that: (1) Myrmedonota species will aggregate towards agitated ants, possibly to prey on them; (2) Myrmedonota will form mating swarms, either with no apparent landmark or in the vicinity of ants.

Two new genera and species of the termite symbiont lineage Termitohospitini (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae) from Bolivia and peninsular Malaysia.

Coptotermocola clavicornisgen. & sp. n. and Neotermitosocius bolivianusgen. & sp. n. of the termite inquilinous tribe Termitohospitini are described from peninsular Malaysia and Bolivia, respectively. The Termitohospitini are most readily diagnosable by the distally migrated anterior tentorial pits that are no longer associated with the antennal fossae, and by the enlarged vertex which obscures the antennal fossae dorsally. Additionally, the Termitohospitini are hypothesized to share a recent common ancestor with the Masuriini and Myllaenini due to shared derived morphologies of the lacinia distal teeth with lateral cuticular processes, presence of a unique maxillary palpomere III sensilla, and anterolateral angles of mentum produced. Habitus photographs and illustrations of diagnostic features are provided for the two new genera in order to facilitate future work.

An interactive internet-based intervention for women at risk of eating disorders: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The Internet serves as a potentially effective method of treatment delivery through widespread education and interaction via synchronous Internet relay chat (IRC). The current study explores the feasibility of IRC in the delivery of an eating disorders prevention intervention. METHOD: This small pilot study describes the delivery of an efficacious eating disorder treatment using a novel medium. The on-line sessions are based on cognitive-behavioral treatment and are facilitated by a moderator. In addition to feasibility, preliminary evidence of acceptability and efficacy for an on-line intervention with college-aged women is reported. RESULTS: Results indicate that IRC is an acceptable and feasible format for treatment delivery. In addition, descriptive and qualitative data suggest that this method of treatment delivery is potentially effective. DISCUSSION: This pilot study provides increased knowledge of the viability of treatment delivery over the Internet, specifically, a psychoeducational IRC for eating disorder prevention.

Effectiveness of an Internet-based program for reducing risk factors for eating disorders.

This study evaluated an Internet-delivered computer-assisted health education (CAHE) program designed to improve body satisfaction and reduce weight/shape concerns--concerns that have been shown to be risk factors for the development of eating disorders in young women. Participants were 60 women at a public university randomly assigned to either an intervention or control condition. Intervention participants completed the CAHE program Student Bodies. Measures of body image and disordered eating attitudes were assessed at baseline, postintervention, and 3-month follow-up. At follow-up, intervention participants, compared with controls, reported a significant improvement in body image and a decrease in drive for thinness. This program provides evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of providing health education by means of the Internet.

Evaluation of a computer-mediated eating disorder intervention program.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated an eating disorder intervention multimedia program modeled after self-help eating disorder treatment programs. It was hypothesized that women who completed the program would increase their body satisfaction and decrease their preoccupation with weight and frequency of disordered eating behaviors. METHOD: Participants were 57 undergraduate females randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Psychological functioning was assessed at baseline, at 3 months postintervention, and at 3 months follow-up. RESULTS: Intervention group subjects significantly improved their scores on all psychological measures over time. When compared to the control group, however, only the intervention group's improvements on the Body Shape Questionnaire were statistically significant. DISCUSSION: This study has demonstrated that minimally effective eating disorder intervention programs can be delivered. A revised program that eliminates interface problems and increases the structure of the intervention is likely to be even better received and more effective.

Patterns of interpersonal problems associated with binge eating disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if interpersonal problems reported by individuals with binge eating disorder (BED) are distinct from psychiatric norms, and whether specific types of interpersonal problems are predictive of BED treatment outcome. METHOD: Subjects were 88 females with BED who completed a treatment trial for binge eating and weight loss. Pretreatment data on the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP) was compared (1) to that of psychiatric and nonpsychiatric norms and (2) for individuals with good versus poor outcome for eating disorder symptoms and weight loss. RESULTS: BED patients reported less distress for problems with being too vindictive (hostile dominance) than psychiatric norms. Patients with good eating disorder outcome reported less distress for problems with social avoidance; patients with good weight loss outcome reported greater distress over problems with vindictiveness. DISCUSSION: BED treatment may be enhanced by an initial focus on specific interpersonal difficulties.

The relationship between perceived evaluation of weight and treatment outcome among individuals with binge eating disorder.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to explore among individuals with binge eating disorder (BED) perceptions of others' evaluation of their weight-related behavior and affect aroused by such. METHOD: Prior to treatment for binge eating and weight loss, 47 subjects diagnosed with BED completed a questionnaire designed to assess the perceived evaluation of an understanding and a critical individual in both positive and negative weight-related situations and subjects' affective responses to being evaluated. RESULTS: Subjects exhibited characteristic patterns of affective response to perceived evaluation of their weight-related behavior, with negative situations and critical evaluators evoking greater degrees of negative affect. Negative affect in response to perceived evaluation was associated with poor outcome with weight loss but not binge eating. However, this finding was due to the correlation between negative affect in response to perceived evaluation and global severity of psychopathology (SCL-90-R). DISCUSSION: The results suggest that psychopathology in this population predicts poor outcome with weight loss, and further that independent of its relationship with depression, psychopathology is strongly associated with a tendency to experience negative affect in response to perceived evaluation by others of weight-related behavior.

The effects of extending cognitive-behavioral therapy for binge eating disorder among initial treatment nonresponders.

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed with the aim of determining whether extending group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) would enhance outcome among individuals with binge eating disorder (BED) who failed to stop binge eating after an initial 12-week CBT intervention. METHOD: Forty-six participants who met diagnostic criteria for BED were randomly allocated to either a 12-week group CBT intervention or a waiting list control condition. At the end of 12 weeks, treated participants who met clinical criteria for improvement subsequently received 12 sessions of behavioral weight loss. Remaining participants received 12 additional sessions of CBT for binge eating. RESULTS: Fifty percent of treated participants improved with the initial 12-week course of CBT. There was a strong trend for the extension of CBT to affect improvement in binge eating among initial nonresponders (6 of 14 subjects no longer met diagnostic criteria for BED). Overall, extending CBT led to clinical improvement in 66.7% of all treated participants, with treatment gains occurring through session 20. DISCUSSION: The results suggest that an extended course of CBT (i.e., longer than 12 weeks) will likely maximize the number of potential responders to treatment.

One-year follow-up of cognitive-behavioral therapy for obese individuals with binge eating disorder.

The results of a 1-year posttreatment follow-up of 93 obese women diagnosed as having binge eating disorder (BED) and treated with group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) followed by weight loss treatment are described. The group as a whole maintained both reductions in binge eating and abstinence rates fairly well. However, they regained the weight lost during treatment. Those who stopped binge eating during CBT maintained a weight loss of 4.0 kg over the follow-up period. In contrast, those who continued to binge gained 3.6 kg. Twenty-six percent of those abstinent after CBT met criteria for BED at follow-up and had gained weight, whereas the remaining 74% had lost weight. Stopping binge eating appears critical to sustained weight loss in BED.

Burned out binge eaters: a preliminary investigation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare individuals who meet all the diagnostic criteria for binge eating disorder (BED), except loss of control, to individuals with BED and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) on weight history variables. METHOD: Subjects were solicited among new participants in weight loss programs, with 35 meeting BED criteria, 47 meeting criteria for EDNOS, and 6 meeting criteria for BED without loss of control. RESULTS: Groups were not found to differ on age of onset of overweight or dieting, age of first binge, rate of largest weight loss, or number of times of losing 10 + lb. Groups did differ on highest weight ever and current body mass index (BMI). Subjects with BED without loss of control had a significantly higher highest weight and current BMI than both BED and EDNOS subjects. DISCUSSION: The results suggest that individuals reporting all the symptoms of BED except loss of control may be "former" BEDs who have "given up" on efforts to control their binge eating.

Weight and shape overconcern and emotional eating in binge eating disorder.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated two issues: the level of weight and shape concerns, and the self-reported tendency to eat in response to negative emotions among obese individuals with binge eating disorder (BED), eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS), and no eating disorder (CONTROL). METHOD: On the basis of demographic and diagnostic surveys, 156 participants in a weight loss program were categorized on two dimensions, eating disorder category and weight (BED vs. EDNOS vs. CONTROL/low vs. high body mass index), yielding a 2 x 3 experimental design. RESULTS: Individuals with BED reported a greater tendency to eat in response to negative mood states than CONTROL subjects and low weight EDNOS subjects, but not high weight EDNOS subjects. Weight did not influence self-reported weight and shape concerns. Individuals with BED expressed greater concern for weight and shape than non-eating disordered CONTROLs. DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that overconcern with weight and shape be further investigated as a diagnostic feature of BED and that emotional eating is associated with BED but not obesity per se.

Does interpersonal therapy help patients with binge eating disorder who fail to respond to cognitive-behavioral therapy?

The aim of this quasi-experimental study was to examine the effectiveness of group interpersonal therapy (IPT) in treating overweight patients with binge eating disorder who did not stop binge eating after 12 weeks of group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Participants in this study were randomly allocated to either group CBT or to an assessment-only control group. After 12 weeks of treatment with CBT, 55% of participants met criteria for improvement and began 12 weeks of weight loss therapy, whereas the nonresponders began 12 weeks of group IPT. Over the 24-week period, participants who received treatment reduced binge eating and weight significantly more than the waiting-list control group. However, IPT led to no further improvement for those who did not improve with CBT. Predictors of poor outcome were early onset of, and more severe, binge eating.

The last supper: emotional determinants of pretreatment weight fluctuation in obese binge eaters.

The tendency of some dieters to overeat and gain weight prior to beginning a diet is well known. We examined whether emotional variables might account for this phenomenon among a group of 86 obese individuals preparing to begin a treatment program for binge eating and weight loss. Whereas subjects' baseline mood state (anger, anxiety, and depression) did not influence pretreatment weight variability, the self-reported tendency to overeat in response to specific negative emotions had a significant influence. Specifically, subjects who characteristically overeat in response to anger and depression gained weight pretreatment, whereas subjects who overeat in response to anxiety lost weight. The findings are discussed in relation to the influence of specific cognitive and emotional responses to the prospect of dieting.

Instability of restraint among clinical binge eaters: a methodological note.

The Three Factor Eating Questionnaire was administered to 47 clinical binge eaters at the end of days on which they had and had not binged. Scores on each of the subscales of the questionnaire differed significantly for binge versus nonbinge days. Implications for methodological improvements in future studies are suggested.