Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis toxins on the midgut of the nun moth Lymantria monacha

Bioactivity of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) on Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) eggs

BACKGROUND

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a Gram-positive bacterium that synthesizes specific protein toxins, which can be exploited for control of various insect pests, including Diatraea saccharalis, a lepidopteran that severely damages sugarcane crops. Although studies have described the effects of Bt in the larval phases of D. saccharalis, few have examined its effect on insect eggs. Herein, we studied the entomopathogenic potential of Bacillus thuringiensis serovar Aizawai GC-91 (Bta) during D. saccharalis embryo development with the aim of understanding the entomopathogenic mechanism and developing new biological control techniques for target insects.

RESULTS

Bta concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 g L^-1 demonstrated the strongest bioactivity, reducing D. saccharalis egg viability by 28.69%, 33.91% and 34.98%, respectively. The lethal concentrations (LCs) were estimated as: LC₅₀ = 28.07 g L^-1 (CI 95% = 1.89-2.38) and LC₉₀ = 65.36 g L^-1 (CI 95% = 4.19-5.26). Alterations in egg coloration, melanization and granule accumulation were observed at 24 h, persisting until 144 h. The embryo digestive systems were severely damaged, including narrowing of the intestinal lumen, vesiculations and degenerated cells, causing embryonic death.

CONCLUSION

The toxicity caused by Bta in D. saccharalis embryos demonstrated its potential as a biological control agent and as a sustainable alternative for integrated management of D. saccharalis infestation. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of essential oils of Mentha spicata L. and Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel on the midgut of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Agricultural pest control is a popular research topic, and essential oils are widely studied because they represent a promising alternative to synthetic insecticides. However, despite the increase in studies on pests, little work has been done on pesticide contamination of the predators feeding on insecticide-affected prey. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Lethal Dose 50 (LD₅₀) from the essential oils of Mentha spicata L. and Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel on the histology, including histochemistry (from protein and carbohydrate analysis) and immunohistochemistry (from the evaluation of cellular apoptosis), of the midgut of fifth instar nymphs of Podisus nigrispinus (stinkbug) (Dallas). The periods of analysis were 12, 24, and 48 h after ingestion of Alabama argillacea Hübner caterpillars treated with the respective oils. The oil from M. spicata did not cause histological alterations or apoptosis in the insect. However, there was a reduction in the level of carbohydrates within the 48-h period. After 24 h, the oil of M. alternifolia caused an elongation of digestive cells and, after 48 h, cell lysis with the release of material into the lumen, suggesting tissue necrosis. The immunohistochemical study revealed no apoptotic process. There was a reduction in the neutral carbohydrate levels in the 24- and 48-h periods and in the number of regenerative cells, when compared to the control, after the period of 48 h. These results demonstrate that M. spicata oil has potential for use in cotton fields because it does not affect the vital characteristics of P. nigrispinus. However, the essential oil of M. alternifolia is not suitable for use as a pesticide because it is extremely toxic to predators.

Action of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) in the midgut of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

The relevance of Bacillus thuringiensis in pest control strategies have been increasing in recent decades. This entomopathogenic microorganism is considered safe, and its action is highly selective to target organisms. Its toxic effect is attributed to the toxins synthesized during sporulation. The nature of the produced toxins depends on the bacterial variety. Some varieties of B. thuringiensis can synthesize from one to eight distinct toxins, which have specific effects on different orders of susceptible insects. The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis, is a holometabolous lepidopteran that causes severe damage to sugar cane cultures during its larval phase. Therefore, to evaluate B. thuringiensis serovar Aizawai GC-91 efficiency and its effects on the midgut of first instar D. saccharalis larvae, we reared the insects with contaminated artificial diet for 144 h. Larvae mortality during this period revealed that 5, 10, and 20 g/L concentrations were the most efficient, resulting in 100% mortality of treated larvae, with LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ estimated at 0.307 and 1.330 g/L, respectively. Furthermore, histological and ultrastructural analyses revealed damage to midgut cells. Within the first 24 h of treatment, the midgut of infected insects presented peritrophic membrane degeneration, cytoplasmic vacuolization, and cellular hypertrophy; spherites and calcium granules were also observed. At 48 h of treatment, the digestive system had collapsed, with microvilli degeneration, basement membrane and muscular fiber bundles disruption, and cellular lysis. These results confirm the toxicity of the B. thuringiensis serovar Aizawai GC-91 on D. saccharalis larvae and its potential use as a biocontroller against this pest species.

Labeling membrane receptors with lectins and evaluation of the midgut histochemistry of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) populations with different levels of susceptibility to formulated Bt

BACKGROUND

Studies show that insects can adapt to the toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis under field and laboratory conditions through the development of resistance to the bacterium and its formulations. This has been demonstrated in the failure to control Tuta absoluta populations in Brazil. This study evaluated membrane receptors using peroxidase-labeled lectins and the midgut histochemistry of T. absoluta populations to assess susceptibility to the insecticides Bt fomulations. The histochemistry analysis used Periodic Acid-Schiff for glycogen and Ponceau Xylidine for total proteins. The presence of glucose/mannose and N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) was analyzed using specific lectins. One susceptible and one tolerant population were used in the study; insects were exposed to the insecticide concentrations recommended by the manufacturers. The midgut was collected after an interval of 20 min and analyzed using optical microscopy.

RESULTS

Bt fomulation interferes with the glycogen content, whereas XenTari^® interferes with the protein content, irrespective of the level of susceptibility. High expression of GalNAc residues was observed using soybean lectin labeling, indicating a direct relationship between the glycosylation pattern and susceptibility to Bt fomulation in the Pelotas population.

CONCLUSION

The use of Bt fomulation caused greater alterations in the larval intestinal histophysiology compared to the use of XenTari^® . © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Localization of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A toxin-binding molecules in gypsy moth larval gut sections using fluorescence microscopy

The microbial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) produces Cry toxins, proteins that bind to the brush border membranes of gut epithelial cells of insects that ingest it, disrupting the integrity of the membranes, and leading to cell lysis and insect death. In gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, two toxin-binding molecules for the Cry1A class of Bt toxins have been identified: an aminopeptidase N (APN-1) and a 270kDa anionic glycoconjugate (BTR-270). Studies have shown that APN-1 has a relatively weak affinity and a very narrow specificity to Cry1Ac, the only Cry1A toxin that it binds. In contrast, BTR-270 binds all toxins that are active against L. dispar larvae, and the affinities for these toxins to BTR-270 correlate positively with their respective toxicities. In this study, an immunohistochemical approach was coupled with fluorescence microscopy to localize APN-1 and BTR-270 in paraffin embedded midgut sections of L. dispar larvae. The distribution of cadherin and alkaline phosphatase in the gut tissue was also examined. A strong reaction indicative of polyanionic material was detected with alcian blue staining over the entire epithelial brush border, suggesting the presence of acidic glycoconjugates in the microvillar matrix. The Cry1A toxin-binding sites were confined to the apical surface of the gut epithelial cells with intense labeling of the apical tips of the microvilli. APN-1, BTR-270, and alkaline phosphatase were found to be present exclusively along the brush border microvilli along the entire gut epithelium. In contrast, cadherin, detected only in older gypsy moth larvae, was present both in the apical brush border and in the basement membrane anchoring the midgut epithelial cells. The topographical relationship between the Bt Cry toxin-binding molecules BTR-270 and APN-1 and the Cry1A toxin-binding sites that were confined to the apical brush border of the midgut cells is consistent with findings implicating their involvement in the mechanism of the action of Bt Cry toxins.

Histopathology and the lethal effect of Cry proteins and strains of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner in Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith Caterpillars (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)

Among the phytophagous insects which attack crops, the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) is particularly harmful in the initial growth phase of rice plants. As a potential means of controlling this pest, and considering that the entomopathogen Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner demonstrates toxicity due to synthesis of the Cry protein, the present study was undertaken to evaluate this toxic effect of B. thuringiensis thuringiensis 407 (pH 408) and B. thuringiensis kurstaki HD-73 on S. frugiperda. The following method was used. Both bacterial strains were evaluated in vitro in 1st instar S. frugiperda caterpillars, by means of histopathological assays. The Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac proteins, codified by the respective strains of B. thuringiensis, were evaluated in vivo by bioassays of 1st instar S. frugiperda caterpillars in order to determine the Mean Lethal Concentration (LC50). The results of the histopathological analysis of the midget of S. frugiperda caterpillars demonstrate that treatment with the B. thuringiensis thuringiensis strain was more efficient, because the degradations of the microvilosities started 9 hours after treatment application (HAT), while in the B. thuringiensis kurstaki the same effect was noticed only after 12 HAT. Toxicity data of the Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac proteins presented for the target-species LC50 levels of 9.29 and 1.79 μg.cm-2 respectively. The strains and proteins synthesised by B. thuringiensis thuringiensis and B. thuringiensis kurstaki are effective in controlling S. frugiperda, and may be used to produce new biopesticides or the genes may be utilised in the genetic transformation of Oryza sativa L.

HISTOPATOLOGIA DA INTERAÇÃO DE BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS E EXTRATOS VEGETAIS NO INTESTINO MÉDIO DE SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE)

RESUMO Plantas são fontes naturais de substâncias inseticidas, já que podem ser produzidas pelo vegetal em resposta a ataques de insetos podendo representar uma alternativa no manejo de insetos-praga, como Spodoptera frugiperda. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho objetivou a análise histopatológica do intestino médio de lagartas de S. frugiperda, após a ingestão dos extratos obtidos por maceração e infusão de Petiveria alliacea. Zingiber officinale. Cymbopogon citratus. Malva silvestris. Baccharis genistelloides e Ruta graveolens, assim como a associação desses extratos com Bacillus thuringiensis aizawai. As lagartas foram tratadas in vivo com cada extrato e a bactéria, mais a associação desses extratos com B. thuringiensis e após, uma reação de cinética entre 3 e 27 horas, foram fixadas para o preparo de cortes histológicos, os quais foram corados e analisados comparativamente às testemunhas em microscopia óptica. Os resultados mostraram mudanças na histologia do intestino médio das lagartas de S. frugiperda, 3 horas após a aplicação dos tratamentos à base de alliacea. Z. officinale. C. citratus e M. silvestris, enquanto que para B. genistelloides e R. graveolens só foram observados alterações após 6h. Na interação dos extratos com B. thuringiensis observou-se alterações nas microvilosidades, desorganização do intestino médio e a hipertrofia das células epiteliais que projetaram-se para o lúmen. Os resultados desse trabalho mostram que o efeito histopatológico de Z. officinale. M. silvestris. R. graveolens e B. genistelloides, foram mais ativos quando comparados aos extratos de P. alliacea e C. citratus, os quais apresentaram uma interação positiva com B. thuringiensis.

Expression of Cry1Ac cadherin receptors in insect midgut and cell lines

Cadherin-like proteins have been identified as putative receptors for the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A proteins in Heliothis virescens and Manduca sexta. Immunohistochemistry showed the cadherin-like proteins are present in the insect midgut apical membrane, which is the target site of Cry toxins. This subcellular localization is distinct from that of classical cadherins, which are usually present in cell-cell junctions. Immunoreactivity of the cadherin-like protein in the insect midgut was enhanced by Cry1Ac ingestion. We also generated a stable cell line Flp-InT-REX-293/Full-CAD (CAD/293) that expressed the H. virescens cadherin. As expected, the cadherin-like protein was mainly localized in the cell membrane. Interestingly, toxin treatment of CAD/293 cells caused this protein to relocalize to cell membrane subdomains. In addition, expression of H. virescens cadherin-like protein affects cell-cell contact and cell membrane integrity when the cells are exposed to activated Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac.