D. Agashe

Mutation bias alters the distribution of fitness effects of mutations

The paper tests how changing mutation bias affects the distribution of fitness effects in E. coli, finding that reversing the mutation bias increases the proportion of beneficial mutations.

Density dependent survival drives variation in density dependent population growth of an insect pest

The paper investigates how density dependence in survival drives variation in density-dependent population growth in Tribolium castaneum across habitats.

Mutational signatures in wild type Escherichia coli strains reveal dominance of DNA polymerase errors

The paper analyzes mutational signatures in E. coli strains to show DNA polymerase errors, not DNA repair disruptions, drive mutation accumulation in both natural and lab settings.

Disruption of flour beetle microbiota limits experimentally evolved immune priming response, but not pathogen resistance

This study shows that disrupting the microbiota of flour beetles eliminates immune priming but not pathogen resistance, indicating divergent microbiome reliance in evolved immune strategies.

The layered costs and benefits of translational redundancy

This study manipulates redundancy in translation components of E. coli and finds nutrient-dependent fitness costs and benefits, revealing a layered hierarchy of redundancy organization.

IMPACT OF PHYLLOSPHERE METHYLOBACTERIUM ON HOST RICE LANDRACES

The paper investigates the impact of phyllosphere Methylobacterium on rice landraces, finding variable effects on growth and yield with no consistent association with microbiome changes or auxin production.

Selection bias in mutation accumulation

This study quantifies selection bias in mutation accumulation experiments and proposes a correction method to improve estimates of mutation rates and fitness effects in microbes.

Fitness Landscapes Reveal Context-Dependent Benefits of Oviposition Choice

The paper shows that context-dependent oviposition choices in red flour beetles lead to distinct fitness outcomes based on age and competition history.

THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF BASAL INFECTION RESISTANCE VS DIVERSE IMMUNE PRIMING RESPONSES IN AN INSECT

This study compares the fitness costs and benefits of immune priming versus basal resistance in Tribolium beetles, finding resistance provides greater reproductive and survival advantages with no hidden costs.

Evolutionary jumps in bacterial GC content

The paper analyzes GC content evolution in bacteria using phylogenetic models, finding both gradual changes and evolutionary jumps in GC content across multiple bacterial groups.

Shifts in mutation spectra enhance access to beneficial mutations

The paper shows that changing mutation spectra in E. coli increases beneficial mutations and reduces deleterious load, with simulations indicating that bias shifts are selectively favored.

THE IMPACT OF MISTRANSLATION ON PHENOTYPIC VARIABILITY AND FITNESS

This study shows mistranslation increases phenotypic variation in E. coli cells but not across replicate populations, and provides a survival benefit under stress.

Phenotypic diversity of Methylobacterium associated with rice landraces in Northeast India

The study examines Methylobacterium diversity in rice landraces from NE India, finding host-specific carbon use profiles and growth advantages, suggesting host-microbial relationships shape bacterial distribution.

Global mistranslation facilitates sampling of beneficial mutations under stress

The paper shows that global mistranslation increases E. coli survival under DNA damage and high temperature by enhancing the SOS response and stress resistance through Lon protease.

Disrupting butterfly microbiomes does not affect host survival and development

This study disrupts gut microbiomes in two butterfly species and finds no significant fitness cost, suggesting butterflies do not rely on gut bacteria for key developmental processes.

Host dietary specialization and neutral assembly shape gut bacterial communities of wild dragonflies

This study shows that gut bacterial communities in wild dragonflies are mainly shaped by passive processes rather than host-imposed selection, with 76% of bacterial members showing neutral assembly.

Antagonistic pleiotropy is unexpectedly rare in new mutations

The paper quantifies pleiotropy in E. coli mutations and finds antagonistic pleiotropy is rare and not consistently linked to large-effect mutations.

The induction of larval resource preference in heterogeneous habitats

This study examines how larval red flour beetles adjust their resource preferences in different habitat types, finding that experience can influence preference but sometimes negatively affect development.

Pathogen susceptibility and fitness costs explain variation in immune priming across natural populations of flour beetles

This study investigates how pathogen susceptibility and reproductive costs influence immune priming variation in flour beetles across populations.

The Evolutionary History and Impact of Bacterial tRNA Modifications

This study reconstructs the evolutionary history of bacterial tRNA modifications and shows their role in shaping translation efficiency and tRNA gene repertoires.

DIETARY AND DEVELOPMENTAL SHIFTS IN BUTTERFLY-ASSOCIATED BACTERIAL COMMUNITIES

The paper analyzes bacterial communities in 12 butterfly species across development stages, finding little change despite dietary shifts, but strong effects of species identity and diet.

Experimental Evolution Of Insect Immune Memory Vs. Pathogen Resistance

This study shows that repeated exposure to pathogens in flour beetles leads to either generalized resistance or specific immune priming, with distinct evolutionary outcomes.

FEMALE CHEMICAL WARFARE DRIVES FITNESS EFFECTS OF GROUP SEX RATIO

The paper investigates how female chemical warfare via quinones affects fitness in flour beetles with skewed sex ratios, showing non-sexual competition reduces female fecundity in female-biased groups.