Italy

Drought is a yield-limiting factor in the face of climate change, underscoring the need to uncover key regulators that will allow for a better understanding of plant resistance mechanisms. Phytohormone priming represents a promising strategy, and abscisic acid (ABA) act as phytohormone coordinating stress responses. Mutations in the mRNA cap-binding complex (CBC) increase ABA sensitivity and enhance drought tolerance, but it is unclear whether CBC modulates ABA-mediated priming. To test how CBC affects ABA priming in barley we used hvcbp20.ab, hvcbp80.b and unique hvcbp20.ab/hvcbp80.b double mutants obtained using TILLING on &quot;Sebastian&quot; (WT) background. We applied ABA during tillering and imposed drought during pre-flowering stage, followed by rewatering. We integrated physiological parameters with transcriptome profiling, including alternative splicing analyses. ABA priming did not consistently improve drought performance in CBC mutants, but induced distinct, subunit-dependent drought responses. Integration of physiological parameters with transcriptome profiling indicates that CBC is an important factor of how ABA-priming signals are integrated and translated into downstream responses under drought stress. In particular, CBC-dependent differences in photosynthetic efficiency and drought-related gene expression and alternative splicing suggest coordinated transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of priming outcomes. Overall, these findings indicates CBC as a key modulator of ABA-priming signal integration and drought reprogramming in barley.
This work was supported by the National Science Center, Poland project SONATA BIS10 ‘(QUEST) Quest for climate-smart barley–the multilayered genomic study of CBC function in ABA signaling’ (2020/38/E/NZ9/00346).

SEB Conference 2026

The mRNA Cap-Binding Complex Integrates ABA Priming Signals to Reprogram Drought Responses in Barley

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SEB’s Annual Conference is celebrated for creating the perfect composition of research, new discoveries and collaborative connections. Be creative and innovative by exchanging ideas and knowledge with masters of biology from all over the world.

Drought is a yield-limiting factor in the face of climate change, underscoring the need to uncover key regulators that will allow for a better understanding of plant resistance mechanisms. Phytohormone priming represents a promising strategy, and abscisic acid (ABA) act as phytohormone coordinating stress responses. Mutations in the mRNA cap-binding complex (CBC) increase ABA sensitivity and enhance drought tolerance, but it is unclear whether CBC modulates ABA-mediated priming. To test how CBC affects ABA priming in barley we used hvcbp20.ab, hvcbp80.b and unique hvcbp20.ab/hvcbp80.b double mutants obtained using TILLING on "Sebastian" (WT) background. We applied ABA during tillering and imposed drought during pre-flowering stage, followed by rewatering. We integrated physiological parameters with transcriptome profiling, including alternative splicing analyses. ABA priming did not consistently improve drought performance in CBC mutants, but induced distinct, subunit-dependent drought responses. Integration of physiological parameters with transcriptome profiling indicates that CBC is an important factor of how ABA-priming signals are integrated and translated into downstream responses under drought stress. In particular, CBC-dependent differences in photosynthetic efficiency and drought-related gene expression and alternative splicing suggest coordinated transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of priming outcomes. Overall, these findings indicates CBC as a key modulator of ABA-priming signal integration and drought reprogramming in barley.
This work was supported by the National Science Center, Poland project SONATA BIS10 ‘(QUEST) Quest for climate-smart barley–the multilayered genomic study of CBC function in ABA signaling’ (2020/38/E/NZ9/00346).

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Chemical cues are a major channel of environmental information in aquatic systems. While most research has focused on signals produced during biotic interactions such as predation or injury, recent evidence shows that abiotic stressors, including heat stress, can also induce release of chemical cues that influence nearby conspecifics. These stress-associated metabolites may coordinate group responses and mitigate environmental stress, yet the mechanisms and consequences of such secondary stress communication remain poorly understood. We investigate whether embryos exposed to metabolites released by heat-stressed conspecifics exhibit molecular and phenotypic responses comparable to direct thermal stress. We analysed RNA-seq data from zebrafish embryos exposed during the first 24 hours of development either to heat stress or to stress metabolites produced by heat-exposed embryos. We identified candidate pathways for stress metabolite reception. Comparisons with heat stress revealed overlapping differentially expressed genes associated with muscle development, contraction, and other stress-responsive pathways, indicating partially shared molecular responses between direct and indirect stress exposure. Gene expression changes in metabolite-exposed embryos were also consistent with developmental alterations observed relative to controls. In a behavioral assay at 4 days post-fertilization, larvae exposed to stress metabolites showed reduced startle response compared with controls. The combination of heat and secondary stress produced minimal behavioural responses. Finally, embryos exposed to both heat stress and stress metabolites showed reduced DNA repair capacity following UV exposure. Together, our results demonstrate that heat-induced chemical signals propagate stress to nearby embryos, and can impact their resilience in a changing world.

The ripple effect: chemical communication of heat stress alters development and resilience in zebrafish embryos

Octopus vulgarishas emerged as one of the most intriguing invertebrate models in zoological and neuroethological research. Its complex nervous system, remarkable behavioural plasticity, and advanced cognitive abilities make this species a powerful organism for investigating fundamental biological processes, including stress responses and resilience mechanisms. However, the same traits that make octopuses scientifically valuable also demand particular attention to their welfare in experimental settings. In recent years, increasing evidence has demonstrated that physiological and behavioural stress responses in cephalopods can significantly influence experimental outcomes, affecting metabolism, neural activity, immune responses, and behavioural performance. As a consequence, inadequate welfare conditions not only raise ethical concerns but may also compromise data reliability. Within the broader framework of cross-kingdom stress biology,O. vulgarisoffers a unique perspective on how organisms respond to environmental challenges through highly plastic physiological and neural systems. Studying stress regulation in octopuses can therefore contribute to a comparative understanding of resilience mechanisms across biological kingdoms. This contribution discusses the dual relationship between animal welfare and scientific quality in cephalopod research. Particular attention is given to behavioural and molecular indicators of stress, environmental enrichment strategies, and refined experimental protocols designed to reduce distress and improve data robustness. By integrating welfare-centred approaches into experimental design, research onO. vulgariscan not only comply with evolving ethical frameworks but also enhance the reproducibility of scientific findings. Ultimately, recognising welfare as a central component of experimental methodology may represent a key step towards more rigorous and responsible research on complex invertebrate models.

Octopus vulgarisas an animal model: Integrating Animal Welfare, Neural Plasticity, and Experimental Reliability in Zoological Research

Butterflies present a stunning diversity of wing size and shape, yet the evolutionary drivers of this diversity are poorly known. In particular, many species harbour tails on their hindwings, differing in number, length and shape. Surprisingly, little is known about the selective forces affecting their evolution. Here we explore the hypothesis that tails might contribute to flight performance, which might influence fitness, since flight is involved in escape, patrolling and foraging in butterflies.
Here we focus on a genus of fast flying paleotropical butterflies,Charaxes, displaying a high diversity of wing shapes, including species with no tail, one pair of tails, or two pairs of tails. We compared the flight of 20 morphologically diverse and sympatricCharaxesspecies in central Côte d'Ivoire, using stereographic videography in semi natural conditions (an outdoor flight insectary).
We filmed several individuals from each species (leading to a total of 230 individual flights) with high speed cameras (120 frames per second), and reconstructed their 3D flight trajectories using a custom tracking tool. We then extracted flight variables to quantify the variation in flight behaviour across species.
We are now using phylogenetic comparative analyses to assess how flight parameters correlate with morphology, including mass, wing loading and wing shape quantified through geometric morphometrics. By contrasting tailed and tailless species, we aim at identifying the effect of wing tails on flight, allowing to better understand the drivers of their morphological evolution, and contribute unraveling the link between wing morphology and flight performance.

Why do Charaxes butterflies have tails : assessing the effect of wing shape on flight performance in a fast flying butterfly genus

This study investigates the aerodynamic effects of localized surface heating inspired by black wingtip coloration in long-distance flying seabirds. Long-distance flying seabirds frequently exhibit distinctive black-and-white wing patterns, with dark pigmentation concentrated near the wingtips. Because darker surfaces absorb greater solar radiation, localized heating may occur during prolonged flight. Such temperature differences could influence boundary-layer behavior and potentially contribute to aerodynamic efficiency. In our previous wind-tunnel experiments using 3D-printed NACA0012 and NACA2412 airfoils with embedded film heaters, surface heating improved the lift-to-drag ratio at specific angles of attack, and oil flow visualization suggested delayed flow separation under heated conditions. These findings raise the possibility that wing pigmentation may function as a passive flow-control mechanism. To examine the generality of this effect, we extended the experiments to additional cambered NACA airfoils (NACA3412 and NACA4412) under identical thermal conditions. Force measurements and oil flow visualization were compared systematically across airfoil geometries. Preliminary results indicate that the aerodynamic response to heating depends on airfoil camber, with larger camber leading to greater performance improvements under certain flow conditions. The study is further expanded to include additional camber configurations and a morphologically inspired wing model of the streaked shearwater. By progressively transitioning from simplified airfoil models to biologically representative geometries, this work aims to clarify whether black wingtip coloration may provide functional aerodynamic benefits during sustained flight in seabirds.

Effects of Wing Surface Temperature on Aerodynamic Performance Inspired by Seabird Wing Coloration

Beak morphology in songbirds is often shaped by feeding ecology. Granivorous species for example, have evolved larger, stronger beaks to crack hard seeds. Song production, however, favours rapid beak movements associated with high trill rates. This creates a functional trade-off between bite force and movement speed. The biomechanical mechanisms underlying this force–velocity trade-off remain unclear but may primarily involve differences in muscle contraction kinetics. We therefore hypothesise that species with higher bite forces exhibit longer contraction and relaxation times in their jaw muscles. To test this, tetanic contraction and relaxation times were measured in vitro for an opener and a closer muscle in five granivorous songbird species. We found that the stronger biting species indeed had slower muscle force kinetics, and especially a longer force rise time, compared to the weaker biters. These differences were more pronounced in the closer muscles. Because muscle contraction kinetics are influenced by fibre type composition, the slower contraction kinetics observed in strong biting species may reflect a greater proportion of slow fibres. Future work will test this by examining fibre type composition in jaw muscles.

Need for speed: Do jaw muscle contraction kinetics differ among songbirds with varying bite forces?

Spatial heterogeneity in energy acquisition of marine animals shapes regional variation in demographic processes and has important implications for conservation and management. However, quantifying energy intake in large pelagic predators and evaluating its broad-scale spatial structure remain extremely challenging. Here, we examined the spatial distribution of energy intake in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) across the tropical Pacific Ocean by coupling archival tagging data with a geostatistical model. We first conducted a feeding experiment to establish the relationship between the heat increment of feeding and ingested energy in yellowfin tuna using archival tags. This relationship was then applied to archival tagging data from wild fish to estimate their field energy intake. Our results indicated a clear difference in energy intake, with higher values observed in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) compared to the western Pacific Ocean (WPO). Thermocline depth had a significant negative effect on foraging probability, indicating that feeding was more likely in regions with a shallower thermocline. Model-based predictions showed a consistent eastward increase in mean energy intake, with values in the EPO reaching approximately 2.5 times those in the WPO. These results suggest that strong east–west contrasts in oceanographic structure across the tropical Pacific Ocean systematically shape feeding opportunities and energy acquisition in yellowfin tuna. Our findings provide physiological insight into mechanisms driving spatial variation in key demographic processes such as growth, with important implications for conservation and management of this commercially important species in a changing ocean.

Linking physiology to seascape: spatial patterns of energy intake in a highly mobile pelagic predator inferred from electronic tags

In highly dispersing species, gene flow can obscure or constrain adaptation, complicating efforts to predict genomic vulnerability to climate change. When such species span broad and highly dynamic environments, this challenge is amplified. To address this problem, we leveraged whole genome sequence data from 140 individuals of the highly dispersing ecosystem engineer, the purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) spanning 1700 km along the eastern Pacific ocean. Using bayesian selection scans, we tested for genomic associations with 17 ecologically-relevant environmental gradients and revealed evidence of adaptation to variation in pH and oxygen minimum levels among a latitudinal cline. Genes associated with these conditions primarily perform functions related to morphogenesis and cell signaling, respectively. Outlier SNPs were enriched for nonsynonymous and intragenic variants and were in proteins related to transport and cell adhesion. Integrating forward predicting models with future environmental data, we found low genomic offset scores, i.e., low maladaptation, in these populations and relatively little difference in genomic offset between populations. However, these patterns depended on the year, 2050 vs. 2100, and the global change model with more subtle differences among populations in models of lower environmental change, i.e., sustainability models. We show that some degree of adaptation to local low pH and low oxygen conditions translates to relatively limited maladaptation under future climatic conditions for this high dispersal species. The prediction of limited vulnerability could have cascading implications for the kelp forest ecosystem purple sea urchins inhabit, potentially foreshadowing more dramatic shifts towards urchin barrens with concurrent losses in biodiversity.

Back to the Future: Predicting Adaptation Across a Heterogenous Seascape

Undergraduate students entering Year 3 of Life Sciences degrees at the University of Glasgow commonly report that they lack a sense of belonging to their degree programme, partly as a result of large class sizes in years 1 and 2. To encourage collaboration and promote a sense of community within the Year 3 neuroscience class, we designed a workshop style session based on creative learning to engage students and promote confidence in their identity as neuroscientists.
In each 90-minute session, 25 neuroscience students were tasked with creating a model relating to course content on neuron structure and/or synaptic transmission, using sustainable playdough. Students were encouraged to work within small groups of 2-4 previously unfamiliar classmates. They were given the option of creating a scientifically accurate model, or a more creative interpretation. They were also encouraged to engage with their classmates’ models and explain the rationale behind their creations.
The sessions successfully created a sense of belonging within the cohort and encouraged collaboration among new classmates. Student feedback indicated that they appreciated being given the autonomy to choose the focus and style of their models, and that they felt a stronger sense of community within the class. Students also reported that the relaxed, and creative nature of the modelling activity facilitated engagement both with their classmates, and the underlying scientific concepts.
Embedding creativity within science-based curricula is becoming increasingly utilised and we have demonstrated that it can also be used to foster collegiality within undergraduate student cohorts.

Using creative modelling to encourage confidence, collaboration, and community in undergraduate life sciences teaching.

Strigolactones (SLs) are hormones that regulate plant development via the DWARF14 (D14) receptor and the DWARF53 (D53) repressor. While SL-responsive genes are well characterised in model species, our understanding of genes responding to SLs in Hordeum vulgare (barley) remains scarce.
Using the HorTILLUS (Hordeum-TILLING-University of Silesia) population developed for the spring barley cultivar Sebastian, we identified SL-signaling mutants: the high-tillering semi-dwarf hvd14.d and the low-tillering hvd53.f. To explore their epistatic relationship and confirm if HvD53 acts downstream of HvD14, we generated the hvd14.d hvd53.f double mutant.
To provide molecular insights, RNAseq was performed on shoots across all genotypes. These data allowed for the quantification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the identification of transcription factors (TF) that potentially govern the SL-mediated signaling network in barley. Among these DEGs, we identified four genes common to both hvd53.f and hvd14.d hvd53.f, that are expressed in the shoot. These genes are specifically involved in the chlorophyll biosynthesis process.
Phenotypic analyses revealed that the double mutant exhibits an intermediate stature and tillering compared to the single mutants. Notably, both hvd53.f and the double mutant showed significantly reduced chlorophyll content relative to the wild-type. Furthermore, the relative variable fluorescence (ΔVt) reached similar levels in both hvd53.f and the double mutant, suggesting a shared physiological impact on the photosynthetic apparatus. Those observations are consistent with data obtained through RNAseq.
*This work was supported by a research grant from the National Science Centre in Poland (Sonata Bis 2023/50/E/NZ3/00236).

Unveiling the role of HvD14 and HvD53 in barley: from transcription regulation to morphological and physiological traits

Fusarium wilt is one of the most destructive and economically important fungal diseases, severely affecting the quality and yield of plants worldwide. While ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers are established regulators of leaf immunity, their role in root-pathogen interactions remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis thaliana chromatin remodeler mutants chr8 and chr9 exhibit enhanced tolerance to the soilborne pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. Phylogenetic analysis reveals these remodelers are closely related to CHR25, a yeast RAD54 homologue involved in DNA damage repair (DDR). Comet assays revealed that under zeocin induced genotoxic stress, both mutants paradoxically accumulate more DNA lesions than wild-type plants yet maintain superior root growth. This challenges the standard growth-arrest model suggesting that these mutations alter how the cell perceives DNA damage. Moreover, chr8 is more resistant to Fusarium mycotoxin Fumonisin b1 treatment highlighting a potential role in tolerance to pathogen-associated genotoxic stress. Ongoing work examines how CHR8 physically restructures chromatin architecture and nucleosome positioning to orchestrate immunity responses. Ultimately, given that various plant pathogens are known to induce DNA damage in host plants during infection, this study investigates the involvement of these CHRs in DDR and plant immunity, aiming to improve crop resilience against soilborne pathogens and mycotoxin - related stresses.

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The ripple effect: chemical communication of heat stress alters development and resilience in zebrafish embryos

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