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Structural and functional characterizations and heterogenous expression of the antimicrobial peptides, Hidefensins, from black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.). Protein Expr Purif 2021; 192:106032. [PMID: 34922007 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2021.106032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Insect defensins are effector components of the innate defense system. Defensins, which are widely distributed among insects, are a type of small cysteine-rich plant antimicrobial peptides with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Here, the cDNAs of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.), encoding six defensins, designated herein as Hidefensin1-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Moreover, Hidefensin1-1, 2, and 5 were identified for the first time by genome-targeted analysis. These Hidefensins were found to mainly adopt α-helix and β-sheet conformation homology as modeled by PRABI, Swiss-Model and ProFunc server. Six conserved cysteine residues that contribute to three disulfide bonds formed the spacing pattern "C-X12-C-X3-C-X9-C-X5-C-X-C", which play a vital role in the molecular stability of Hidefensins. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the homology of five Hidefensins (except Hidefensin4) was about 59%-92% compared with other insect defensins, indicating that they are novel antimicrobial peptides genes in black soldier fly. Furthermore, the Hidefensin1-1 was expressed in the Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3) as a fusion protein with thioredoxin. Results showed that the purified TRX-Hidefensin1-1 exerted strong inhibitory effects against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli. The inhibitory efficacy of TRX-Hidefensin1-1 against Gram-positive bacteria was better than that against Gram-negative bacteria. These results indicated that Hidefensin1-1 has potent antimicrobial activities against test pathogens.
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Li Y, Cai J, Du C, Lin Y, Li S, Ma A, Qin Y. Bioinformatic analysis and antiviral effect of Periplaneta americana defensins. Virus Res 2021; 308:198627. [PMID: 34785275 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Due to the lack of an adaptive immune system, insects rely on innate immune mechanisms to fight against pathogenic infections. Two major innate immune pathways, Toll and IMD, orchestrate anti-pathogen responses by regulating the expression of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes. Although the antifungal or antibacterial function of AMPs has been well characterized, the antiviral role of AMPs in insects remains largely unclear. Periplaneta americana (P. americana), or the American cockroach, is used in traditional Chinese medicine as an antiviral agent; however, the underlying mechanism of action of P. americana extracts is unclear. Our previous study showed that the P. americana genome encodes multiple antimicrobial peptide genes. Based on these data, we predicted five novel P. americana defensins (PaDefensins) and analyzed their primary structure, secondary structure, and physicochemical properties. The putative antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, and anticancer activities suggested that PaDefensin5 is a desirable therapeutic candidate against viral diseases. As the first experimental evidence of the antiviral effects of insect defensins, we also showed the antiviral effect of PaDefensin5 in Drosophila Kc cells and Drosophila embryos in vivo . In conclusion, results of both in silico predictions and subsequent antiviral experiments suggested PaDefensin5 a promising antiviral drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China
| | - Jie Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China
| | - Chunyu Du
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China
| | - Yuhua Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China
| | - Anping Ma
- Insititution of chemical surveillance, Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yiru Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Insititution of chemical surveillance, Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Téllez Ramirez GA, Osorio-Méndez JF, Henao Arias DC, Toro S. LJ, Franco Castrillón J, Rojas-Montoya M, Castaño Osorio JC. New Insect Host Defense Peptides (HDP) From Dung Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Transcriptomes. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2021; 21:12. [PMID: 34374763 PMCID: PMC8353981 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieab054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The Coleoptera Scarabaeidae family is one of the most diverse groups of insects on the planet, which live in complex microbiological environments. Their immune systems have evolved diverse families of Host Defense Peptides (HDP) with strong antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. However, there are several peptide sequences that await discovery in this group of organisms. This would pave the way to identify molecules with promising therapeutic potential. This work retrieved two sources of information: 1) De-novo transcriptomic data from two species of neotropical Scarabaeidae (Dichotomius satanas and Ontophagus curvicornis); 2) Sequence data deposited in available databases. A Blast-based search was conducted against the transcriptomes with a subset of sequences representative of the HDP. This work reports 155 novel HDP sequences identified in nine transcriptomes from seven species of Coleoptera: D. satanas (n = 76; 49.03%), O. curvicornis (n = 23; 14.83%), (Trypoxylus dichotomus) (n = 18; 11.61%), (Onthophagus nigriventris) (n = 10; 6.45%), (Heterochelus sp) (n = 6; 3.87%), (Oxysternon conspicillatum) (n = 18; 11.61%), and (Popillia japonica) (n = 4; 2.58%). These sequences were identified based on similarity to known HDP insect families. New members of defensins (n = 58; 37.42%), cecropins (n = 18; 11.61%), attancins (n = 41; 26.45%), and coleoptericins (n = 38; 24.52%) were described based on their physicochemical and structural characteristics, as well as their sequence relationship to other insect HDPs. Therefore, the Scarabaeidae family is a complex and rich group of insects with a great diversity of antimicrobial peptides with potential antimicrobial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán Alberto Téllez Ramirez
- Center of Biomedical Research, Group of Molecular Immunology, Universidad del Quindío, Carrera 15 and Calle 12 Norte, Armenia, Quindío, Colombia
| | - Juan Felipe Osorio-Méndez
- Center of Biomedical Research, Group of Molecular Immunology, Universidad del Quindío, Carrera 15 and Calle 12 Norte, Armenia, Quindío, Colombia
| | - Diana Carolina Henao Arias
- Center of Biomedical Research, Group of Molecular Immunology, Universidad del Quindío, Carrera 15 and Calle 12 Norte, Armenia, Quindío, Colombia
| | - Lily Johanna Toro S.
- Center of Biomedical Research, Group of Molecular Immunology, Universidad del Quindío, Carrera 15 and Calle 12 Norte, Armenia, Quindío, Colombia
| | - Juliana Franco Castrillón
- Center of Biomedical Research, Group of Molecular Immunology, Universidad del Quindío, Carrera 15 and Calle 12 Norte, Armenia, Quindío, Colombia
| | - Maribel Rojas-Montoya
- Center of Biomedical Research, Group of Molecular Immunology, Universidad del Quindío, Carrera 15 and Calle 12 Norte, Armenia, Quindío, Colombia
| | - Jhon Carlos Castaño Osorio
- Center of Biomedical Research, Group of Molecular Immunology, Universidad del Quindío, Carrera 15 and Calle 12 Norte, Armenia, Quindío, Colombia
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Isolation, Identification, and Bioinformatic Analysis of Antibacterial Proteins and Peptides from Immunized Hemolymph of Red Palm Weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11010083. [PMID: 33440876 PMCID: PMC7826645 DOI: 10.3390/biom11010083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, 1791, Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a destructive pest of palms, rapidly extending its native geographical range and causing large economic losses worldwide. The present work describes isolation, identification, and bioinformatic analysis of antibacterial proteins and peptides from the immunized hemolymph of this beetle. In total, 17 different bactericidal or bacteriostatic compounds were isolated via a series of high-pressure liquid chromatography steps, and their partial amino acid sequences were determined by N-terminal sequencing or by mass spectrometry. The bioinformatic analysis of the results facilitated identification and description of corresponding nucleotide coding sequences for each peptide and protein, based on the recently published R. ferrugineus transcriptome database. The identified compounds are represented by several well-known bactericidal factors: two peptides similar to defensins, one cecropin-A1-like peptide, and one attacin-B-like protein. Interestingly, we have also identified some unexpected compounds comprising five isoforms of pheromone-binding proteins as well as seven isoforms of odorant-binding proteins. The particular role of these factors in insect response to bacterial infection needs further investigation.
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Armstrong BA, Kneubehl AR, Mitchell RD, Krishnavajhala A, Teel PD, Pérez de León AA, Lopez JE. Differential Expression of Putative Ornithodoros turicata Defensins Mediated by Tick Feeding. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:152. [PMID: 32477960 PMCID: PMC7232577 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Additional research on soft ticks in the family Argasidae is needed to bridge the knowledge gap relative to hard ticks of the family Ixodidae; especially, the molecular mechanisms of Ornithodoros biology. Ornithodoros species are vectors of human and animal pathogens that include tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes and African swine fever virus. Soft tick vector-pathogen interactions involving components of the tick immune response are not understood. Ticks utilize a basic innate immune system consisting of recognition factors and cellular and humoral responses to produce antimicrobial peptides, like defensins. In the present study, we identified and characterized the first putative defensins of Ornithodoros turicata, an argasid tick found primarily in the southwestern United States and regions of Latin America. Four genes (otdA, otdB, otdC, and otdD) were identified through sequencing and their predicted amino acid sequences contained motifs characteristic of arthropod defensins. A phylogenetic analysis grouped these four genes with arthropod defensins, and computational structural analyses further supported the identification. Since pathogens transmitted by O. turicata colonize both the midgut and salivary glands, expression patterns of the putative defensins were determined in these tissues 1 week post engorgement and after molting. Defensin genes up-regulated in the tick midgut 1 week post blood feeding were otdA and otdC, while otdD was up-regulated in the midgut of post-molt ticks. Moreover, otdB and otdD were also up-regulated in the salivary glands of flat post-molt ticks, while otdC was up-regulated within 1 week post blood-feeding. This work is foundational toward additional studies to determine mechanisms of vector competence and pathogen transmission from O. turicata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany A Armstrong
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Alexander R Kneubehl
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Robert D Mitchell
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Kerrville, TX, United States
| | - Aparna Krishnavajhala
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Pete D Teel
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Adalberto A Pérez de León
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Kerrville, TX, United States
| | - Job E Lopez
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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García-Reina A, Rodríguez-García MJ, Cuello F, Galián J. Immune transcriptome analysis in predatory beetles reveals two cecropin genes overexpressed in mandibles. J Invertebr Pathol 2020; 171:107346. [PMID: 32067979 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The great complexity and variety of the innate immune system and the production of antimicrobial peptides in insects is correlated with their evolutionary success and adaptation to different environments. Tiger beetles are an example of non-pest species with a cosmopolitan distribution, but the immune system is barely known and its study could provide useful information about the humoral immunity of predatory insects. Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was performed in Calomera littoralis beetles to obtain a screening of those genes that were overexpressed after an injection with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Several genes were identified to be related to immune defense. Among those genes, two members of the cecropin antimicrobial peptides were characterized and identified as CliCec-A and CliCec-B2. Both protein sequences showed cecropin characteristics including 37 and 38 residue mature peptides, composed by two α-helices structures with amphipathic and hydrophobic nature, as shown in their predicted three-dimensional structure. Chemically synthesized CliCec-B2 confirmed cecropin antimicrobial activity against some Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria, but not against yeast. Expression of both cecropin genes was assessed by qPCR and showed increases after a LPS injection and highlighted their overexpression in adult beetle mandibles, which could be related to their alimentary habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés García-Reina
- University of Murcia Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, Campus Mare Nostrum, E-30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - María Juliana Rodríguez-García
- University of Murcia Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, Campus Mare Nostrum, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Francisco Cuello
- University of Murcia, Departament of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Campus Mare Nostrum, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - José Galián
- University of Murcia Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, Campus Mare Nostrum, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
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García-Reina A, Rodríguez-García MJ, Galián J. Validation of reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR in tiger beetles across sexes, body parts, sexual maturity and immune challenge. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10743. [PMID: 30013149 PMCID: PMC6048105 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28978-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Reference genes are frequently used as normalizers for expression studies despite not being previously verified to present suitable stabilities. Considering the interest that tiger beetles have generated in the past years, resulting in a variety of studies, it is crucial to dispose of a validated reference gene panel for expression studies. Nine candidate genes were tested in Cicindela campestris and Calomera littoralis across several conditions and their transcription levels were assessed with geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and ΔCTmethod algorithms. Results showed high stabilities across sexes, immune challenge and gonad developmental stages for all genes tested, while body parts comparison presented less constant expression values. Only two genes are sufficient to perform a proper normalization for most of the conditions tested, except for the body parts comparison in C. littoralis, which requires the use of at least three reference genes. On the whole, no universal gene is found to be suitable for all situations, but according to the acceptable range of values, NADH, B-t, Vatpase and ArgKin seem to present the most constant expression stability, indicating their suitability as reference genes in most of the conditions. This is the first report evaluating the stability of housekeeping genes in adephagan beetles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés García-Reina
- University of Murcia, Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, Campus Mare Nostrum, E-30100, Murcia, Spain.
| | - María Juliana Rodríguez-García
- University of Murcia, Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, Campus Mare Nostrum, E-30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - José Galián
- University of Murcia, Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, Campus Mare Nostrum, E-30100, Murcia, Spain
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Characterisation and expression analysis of UBC9 and UBS27 genes in developing gonads of cicindelids (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2016; 202:75-82. [PMID: 27524263 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2016.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Ubiquitin and small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMO) are post-translational modifiers essential in a variety of cellular processes, including gametogenesis. SUMO-conjugating enzyme (UBC9) and the ubiquitin ribosomal fusion protein UBS27 have been characterised in several model species. However, their expression in coleopteran remains unstudied. In this study, UBC9 and UBS27 genes have been characterised in the tiger beetle Cicindela campestris for the first time. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the Cc-UBC9 gene encoded a 159 amino acid protein with a predicted molecular weight of 18.18kDa, and the Cc-UBS27 gene encoded a 156 amino acid protein with a predicted molecular weight of 17.71kDa. Selection analyses carried out in several cicindelid species revealed that both genes were affected by purifying selection. Real time quantitative PCR analysis demonstrated that Cc-UBC9 and Cc-UBS27 were expressed in different tissues. The highest expression on both genes was found in the ovary and testis, and there were differential expression levels between immature and mature stages of testis development. The expression patterns of Cc-UBC9 and Cc-UBS27 suggest that these genes play important roles in gametogenesis in C. campestris. This information is relevant to better understand the reproductive process in cicindelids and the function of ubiquitin and small ubiquitin-related modifier genes in the Coleoptera.
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