模型生物通常用于生物,医学和环境研究。在昆虫中,黑腹果蝇,梅洛内拉广场,Apismellifera,家蚕,美洲大猩猩,和蝗虫经常被使用。然而,新的模式生物仍然出现。近年来,由于其在世界范围内的分布和环境意义,越来越多的昆虫物种被认为是生命科学研究中的模式生物,将研究外推到脊椎动物的可能性和相对较低的饲养成本。甲虫是最大的昆虫,它们的代表-Triboliumcastaneum-是第一个具有完全测序基因组的物种,并且似乎正在成为各种研究中模型生物的新潜在候选者。除了T.castaneum,代表各种鞘翅目科的其他物种,如Nicrophorusvespilloides,利普蒂诺塔萨decemlineata,七分球球菌,Poeciluscupreus,黄粉虫和许多其他人,已被使用。它们越来越多地包括在两个主要的研究方面:生物医学和环境研究。生物医学研究主要集中在揭示基本生命过程的机制,比如喂食,神经传递或免疫系统的活动,以及阐明不同疾病的机制(神经退行性疾病,心血管,新陈代谢,或免疫学)使用甲虫作为模型。此外,还开发了用于测试甲虫中新型生物活性物质的药理学生物测定法。应当强调的是,甲虫是具有潜在抗微生物和抗癌活性的化合物的来源。基于环境的研究主要集中在开发和测试化学和天然来源的新潜在农药。此外,甲虫被用作食物或有价值的补品。不同的甲虫家族也被用作生物指示剂。使用甲虫作为模型的另一个重要研究领域是行为生态学研究,例如,父母的照顾。在本文中,我们回顾了目前有关甲虫作为模式生物的知识及其在生命科学各个领域的实际应用。
Model organisms are often used in biological, medical and environmental research. Among insects, Drosophila melanogaster, Galleria mellonella, Apis mellifera, Bombyx mori, Periplaneta americana, and Locusta migratoria are often used. However, new model organisms still appear. In recent years, an increasing number of insect species has been suggested as model organisms in life sciences research due to their worldwide distribution and environmental significance, the possibility of extrapolating research studies to vertebrates and the relatively low cost of rearing. Beetles are the largest insect order, with their representative - Tribolium castaneum - being the first species with a completely sequenced genome, and seem to be emerging as new potential candidates for model organisms in various studies. Apart from T. castaneum, additional species representing various Coleoptera families, such as Nicrophorus vespilloides, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Coccinella septempunctata, Poecilus cupreus, Tenebrio molitor and many others, have been used. They are increasingly often included in two major research aspects: biomedical and environmental studies. Biomedical studies focus mainly on unraveling mechanisms of basic life processes, such as feeding, neurotransmission or activity of the immune system, as well as on elucidating the mechanism of different diseases (neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, metabolic, or immunological) using beetles as models. Furthermore, pharmacological bioassays for testing novel biologically active substances in beetles have also been developed. It should be emphasized that beetles are a source of compounds with potential antimicrobial and anticancer activity. Environmental-based studies focus mainly on the development and testing of new potential pesticides of both chemical and natural origin. Additionally, beetles are used as food or for their valuable supplements. Different beetle families are also used as bioindicators. Another important research area using beetles as models is behavioral ecology studies, for instance, parental care. In this paper, we
review the current knowledge regarding beetles as model organisms and their practical application in various fields of life science.