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Cesaro C, Mannozzi C, Lepre A, Ferrocino I, Belleggia L, Corsi L, Ruschioni S, Isidoro N, Riolo P, Petruzzelli A, Savelli D, Milanović V, Cardinali F, Garofalo C, Cocolin L, Aquilanti L, Osimani A. Staphylococcus aureus artificially inoculated in mealworm larvae rearing chain for human consumption: Long-term investigation into survival and toxin production. Food Res Int 2022; 162:112083. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.112083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Petronio Petronio G, Pietrangelo L, Cutuli MA, Magnifico I, Venditti N, Guarnieri A, Abate GA, Yewhalaw D, Davinelli S, Di Marco R. Emerging Evidence on Tenebrio molitor Immunity: A Focus on Gene Expression Involved in Microbial Infection for Host-Pathogen Interaction Studies. Microorganisms 2022; 10:1983. [PMID: 36296259 PMCID: PMC9611967 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10101983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the scientific community's interest in T. molitor as an insect model to investigate immunity and host-pathogen interactions has considerably increased. The reasons for this growing interest could be explained by the peculiar features of this beetle, which offers various advantages compared to other invertebrates models commonly used in laboratory studies. Thus, this review aimed at providing a broad view of the T. molitor immune system in light of the new scientific evidence on the developmental/tissue-specific gene expression studies related to microbial infection. In addition to the well-known cellular component and humoral response process, several studies investigating the factors associated with T. molitor immune response or deepening of those already known have been reported. However, various aspects remain still less understood, namely the possible crosstalk between the immune deficiency protein and Toll pathways and the role exerted by T. molitor apolipoprotein III in the expression of the antimicrobial peptides. Therefore, further research is required for T. molitor to be recommended as an alternative insect model for pathogen-host interaction and immunity studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Petronio Petronio
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Laura Pietrangelo
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Marco Alfio Cutuli
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Irene Magnifico
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Noemi Venditti
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Antonio Guarnieri
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Getnet Atinafu Abate
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos P.O. Box 269, Ethiopia
| | - Delenasaw Yewhalaw
- School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma P.O. Box 307, Ethiopia
- Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Jimma University, Jimma P.O. Box 378, Ethiopia
| | - Sergio Davinelli
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Roberto Di Marco
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
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Koutsos E, Modica B, Freel T. Immunomodulatory potential of black soldier fly larvae: applications beyond nutrition in animal feeding programs. Transl Anim Sci 2022; 6:txac084. [PMID: 35854966 PMCID: PMC9280983 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txac084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect-derived ingredients, including whole larvae, protein-rich meal, and oil, have been extensively studied in recent years and shown to be a sustainable source of quality nutrition for virtually all animal species and life stages. In addition to the ability to use these ingredients as a source of essential nutrition, more recent research has demonstrated the potential for the immunomodulatory activity of various components of insect-derived ingredients. For all insects studied, antimicrobial peptides make up a critical part of the insects’ innate immune system and these peptides have antimicrobial efficacy when purified from hemolymph and tested in vitro. From black soldier fly larvae, in particular, lauric acid is a predominant fatty acid deposited into the insect, and lauric acid also has potential antimicrobial activity in vitro and in vivo. Finally, the chitin and chitosan components of the insect exoskeleton may modulate microbial activity in a variety of ways. In companion animals, poultry, and livestock species, insect-derived ingredients have shown the potential to reduce the impact of actual or simulated disease challenge on several parameters of animal health and well-being. This review describes the current state of knowledge of the immunomodulatory potential of insect-derived ingredients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bree Modica
- EnviroFlight, LLC , 1118 Progress Way, Maysville, KY 41056 , USA
| | - Tarra Freel
- EnviroFlight, LLC , 1118 Progress Way, Maysville, KY 41056 , USA
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Etebari K, Gharuka M, Asgari S, Furlong MJ. Diverse Host Immune Responses of Different Geographical Populations of the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle to Oryctes Rhinoceros Nudivirus (OrNV) Infection. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0068621. [PMID: 34523987 PMCID: PMC8557903 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00686-21] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Incursions of the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB), Oryctes rhinoceros, into different islands in the South Pacific have been detected in recent years. It has been suggested that this range expansion is related to an O. rhinoceros haplotype reported to show reduced susceptibility to the well-established classical biocontrol agent, Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV). Our understanding of the genetic characteristics which distinguish the population of O. rhinoceros that has recently established in Solomon Islands from other well-established populations across the region is very limited. Here, we hypothesized that the recently established O. rhinoceros population should have greater innate immune responses when challenged by OrNV than those of well-established and native O. rhinoceros populations. We used the RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) approach to generate gene expression profiles of midgut tissue from OrNV-infected and noninfected individuals collected in the Solomon Islands (recent incursion), Papua New Guinea and Fiji (previously established), and the Philippines (within the native range). The collections included individuals from each of the three major mitochondrial lineages (CRB-G, CRB-PNG, and CRB-S) known to the region, allowing us to explore the specific responses of each haplotype to infection. Although insects from the Philippines and Solomon Islands that were tested belong to the same mitochondrial lineage (CRB-G), their overall responses to infection were different. The number of differentially expressed genes between OrNV-infected and noninfected wild-caught individuals from the four different locations varied from 148 to 252. Persistent OrNV infection caused a high level of induced antimicrobial activity and immune responses in O. rhinoceros, but the direction and magnitude of the responses were population specific. The insects tested from the Solomon Islands displayed extremely high expression of genes which are known to be involved in immune responses (e.g. coleoptericin, cecropin, and serpin). These variations in the host immune system among insects from different geographical regions might be driven by variations in the virulence of OrNV isolates, and this requires further investigation. Overall, our current findings support the importance of immunity in insect pest incursion and an expansion of the pest's geographic range. IMPORTANCE Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV) is a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus which has been used as a biocontrol agent to suppress coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) in the Pacific Islands. Recently a new wave of CRB incursions in Oceania is thought to be related to the presence of low-virulence isolates of OrNV or virus-tolerant haplotypes of beetles (CRB-G). Our comparative analysis of OrNV-infected and noninfected CRBs revealed that specific sets of genes were induced by viral infection in the beetles. This induction was much stronger in beetles collected from the Solomon Islands, a newly invaded country, than in individuals collected from within the beetle's native range (the Philippines) or from longer-established populations in its exotic range (Fiji and Papua New Guinea [PNG]). Beetles from the Philippines and the Solomon Islands that were tested in this study all belonged to the CRB-G haplotype, but the country-specific responses of the beetles to OrNV infection were different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayvan Etebari
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Maria Gharuka
- Research Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Honiara, Solomon Islands
| | - Sassan Asgari
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael J. Furlong
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Wang L, Liu C, Geng X. Identify immune-related genes of adzuki bean weevil (Callosobruchus chinensis) in response to bacteria challenge by transcriptome analysis. Microb Pathog 2021; 151:104749. [PMID: 33484809 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104749] [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: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Callosobruchus chinensis is one of the important postharvest pests in legume growing areas. Bacterial pesticide is a potential alternative method to control storage pests. However, the effect of these pathogen bacteria on storage pests, and the molecular mechanisms of insect response remain to be to investigated. RESULTS Using the next generation sequencing technology, we established a transcriptomic library for C. chinensis larvae in response to Escherichia coli. Total of 355 differential expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, which 178 DEGs were upregulated, and 177 DEGs were downregulated compared to control group. To validate the RNA-seq analysis, 20 DEGs and 14 immune-related genes were selected to perform quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). These immune-related genes were involved in recognition (peptidoglycan recognition proteins), signal transduction (fibrinogen-related proteins, serine proteinases and NF-κB), and execution effectors (phenoloxidase, defensin, attacin, and antimicrobial peptide). In addition, genes that encode digestive and respiratory enzymes were altered in C. chinensis larvae in response to infection. Some genes that involved in juvenile hormone and insulin pathway appeared to express differentially, suggesting that pathogen infection might lead to developmental arrest. Furthermore, iron homeostasis and chitin metabolism appeared significantly altered after infection. CONCLUSION In this study, we characterized the immune response of C. chinensis larvae in response to E. coli using RNA-seq, from pathogen recognition, signal transduction, to execution. Some other identified genes were involved in iron homeostasis, respiration, and digestion. A better understanding of molecular response of beetle to pathogen will facilitate us to develop an available strategy to control storage pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- School of Grain Science and Technology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212100, PR China; School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, PR China.
| | - Chang Liu
- School of Grain Science and Technology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212100, PR China
| | - Xueqing Geng
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, PR China
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Edosa TT, Jo YH, Keshavarz M, Kim IS, Han YS. Biosurfactants Induce Antimicrobial Peptide Production through the Activation of TmSpatzles in Tenebrio molitor. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176090. [PMID: 32847078 PMCID: PMC7504391 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Biosurfactant immunomodulatory activities in mammals, nematodes, and plants have been investigated. However, the immune activation property of biosurfactants in insects has not been reported. Therefore, here, we studied the defense response triggered by lipopeptides (fengycin and iturin A), glycolipids (rhamnolipid), and cyclic polypeptides (bacitracin) in the coleopteran insect, mealworm Tenebrio molitor. The in vitro antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria and fungi (Candida albicans) were assessed by mixing these pathogens with the hemolymph of biosurfactant-immune-activated larvae. E. coli growth was remarkably inhibited by this hemolymph. The antimicrobial peptide (AMP) induction results also revealed that all biosurfactants tested induced several AMPs, exclusively in hemocytes. The survivability analysis of T. molitor larvae challenged by E. coli (106 CFU/µL) at 24 h post biosurfactant-immune activation showed that fengycin, iturin A, and rhamnopid significantly increased survivability against E. coli. Biosurfactant-induced TmSpatzles activation was also monitored, and the results showed that TmSpz3 and TmSpz-like were upregulated in the hemocytes of iturin A-injected larvae, while TmSpz4 and TmSpz6 were upregulated in the fat bodies of the fengycin-, iturin A-, and rhamnolipid-injected larvae. Overall, these results suggest that lipopeptide and glycolipid biosurfactants induce the expression of AMPs in T. molitor via the activation of spätzle genes, thereby increasing the survivability of T. molitor against E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariku Tesfaye Edosa
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea; (T.T.E.); (Y.H.J.); (M.K.)
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Ambo Agricultural Research Center, Ambo 37, Ethiopia
| | - Yong Hun Jo
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea; (T.T.E.); (Y.H.J.); (M.K.)
| | - Maryam Keshavarz
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea; (T.T.E.); (Y.H.J.); (M.K.)
| | - In Seon Kim
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea;
| | - Yeon Soo Han
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Ambo Agricultural Research Center, Ambo 37, Ethiopia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-62-530-2072
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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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TmDorX2 positively regulates antimicrobial peptides in Tenebrio molitor gut, fat body, and hemocytes in response to bacterial and fungal infection. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16878. [PMID: 31728023 PMCID: PMC6856108 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53497-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dorsal, a member of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) family of transcription factors, is a critical downstream component of the Toll pathway that regulates the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) against pathogen invasion. In this study, the full-length ORF of Dorsal was identified from the RNA-seq database of the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor (TmDorX2). The ORF of TmDorX2 was 1,482 bp in length, encoding a polypeptide of 493 amino acid residues. TmDorX2 contains a conserved Rel homology domain (RHD) and an immunoglobulin-like, plexins, and transcription factors (IPT) domain. TmDorX2 mRNA was detected in all developmental stages, with the highest levels observed in 3-day-old adults. TmDorX2 transcripts were highly expressed in the adult Malpighian tubules (MT) and the larval fat body and MT tissues. After challenging the larvae with Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, the TmDorX2 mRNA levels were upregulated 6 and 9 h post infection in the whole body, fat body, and hemocytes. Upon Candida albicans challenge, the TmDorX2 mRNA expression were found highest at 9 h post-infection in the fat body. In addition, TmDorX2-knockdown larvae exposed to E. coli, S. aureus, or C. albicans challenge showed a significantly increased mortality rate. Furthermore, the expression of 11 AMP genes was downregulated in the gut and fat body of dsTmDorX2-injected larvae upon E. coli challenge. After C. albicans and S. aureus challenge of dsTmDorX2-injected larvae, the expression of 11 and 10 AMPs was downregulated in the gut and fat body, respectively. Intriguingly, the expression of antifungal transcripts TmTenecin-3 and TmThaumatin-like protein-1 and -2 was greatly decreased in TmDorX2-silenced larvae in response to C. albicans challenge, suggesting that TmDorX2 regulates antifungal AMPs in the gut in response to C. albicans infection. The AMP expression profiles in the fat body, hemocytes, gut, and MTs suggest that TmDorX2 might have an important role in promoting the survival of T. molitor larvae against all mentioned pathogens.
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Vivero RJ, Mesa GB, Robledo SM, Herrera CXM, Cadavid-Restrepo G. Enzymatic, antimicrobial, and leishmanicidal bioactivity of gram-negative bacteria strains from the midgut of Lutzomyia evansi, an insect vector of leishmaniasis in Colombia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 24:e00379. [PMID: 31641623 PMCID: PMC6796522 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2019.e00379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The methanolic extract of Enterobacter hormaechei showed leishmanicidal activity against promastigotes of Leishmania braziliensis (strain UA301). P. ananatis, E. cloacae, A. gyllenbergii, O. anthropi and P. otitidis are promising bacteria in the biotechnology field as well as for biological control due to several enzymatic and antimicrobial bioactivities. Differential production of enzymes and secondary metabolites by Gram-negative bacteria could contribute to physiological and metabolic processes in the intestine of Lutzomyia evansi.
Knowledge regarding new compounds, peptides, and/or secondary metabolites secreted by bacteria isolated from the intestine of phebotominae has the potential to control insect vectors and pathogens (viruses, bacteria, and parasites) transmitted by them. In this respect, twelve Gram-negative bacteria isolated from the intestine of Lutzomyia evansi were selected and screened for their enzymatic, antimicrobial, and leishmanicidal activity. E. cancerogenus, E. aerogenes, P. otitidis, E. cloacae, L. soli, and P. ananatis exhibited enzymatic activity. 83.3% of the isolates displayed lipolytic and nitrate reductase activity and 58.3% of the isolates displayed protease activity. Hemolytic activity (17%) was identified only in E. hormaechei, and P. ananatis. E. cancerogenus, A. calcoaceticus, and P. otitidis showed cellulolytic activity. A. gyllenbergii, P. aeruginosa, and E. hormaechei showed amylolytic activity. In general, the totality of methanolic extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity, where E. hormaechei, A. calcoaceticus, and E. cancerogenus presented the highest activity against the evaluated reference bacteria strains. Cell-free supernatants (CFSS) of the Gram-negative bacteria showed higher growth inhibitory activity against the reference Gram-positive bacteria. The CFS of A. gyllenbergii was the most active antimicrobial in this study, against S. aureus (AAODs = 95.12%) and E. faecalis (AAODs = 86.90%). The inhibition percentages of CFS against Gram-positive bacteria showed statistically significant differences (repeated measure ANOVA df= 2; F= 6.095; P= 0.007832). The E. hormaechei methanolic extract showed leishmanicidal activity (CE-50 μg/ml = 47.7 + 3.8) against metacyclic promastigotes of Leishmania braziliensis (UA301). Based on this finding, we discuss the possible implications of these bacteria in digestion and physiological processes in the Lu. evansi intestine. P. ananatis, E. cloacae, E. hormaechei, and P. otitidis were considered the most promising bacteria in this study and they could potentially be used for biological control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael J Vivero
- Grupo de Microbiodiversidad y Bioprospección, Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Colombia, Street 59 A # 63-20, Medellín 050003, Colombia.,PECET (Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales), Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia, Laboratory 632, Medellín 050003, Colombia
| | - Gustavo Bedoya Mesa
- Grupo de Microbiodiversidad y Bioprospección, Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Colombia, Street 59 A # 63-20, Medellín 050003, Colombia
| | - Sara M Robledo
- PECET (Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales), Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia, Laboratory 632, Medellín 050003, Colombia
| | - Claudia Ximena Moreno Herrera
- Grupo de Microbiodiversidad y Bioprospección, Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Colombia, Street 59 A # 63-20, Medellín 050003, Colombia
| | - Gloria Cadavid-Restrepo
- Grupo de Microbiodiversidad y Bioprospección, Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Colombia, Street 59 A # 63-20, Medellín 050003, Colombia
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Adamski Z, Bufo SA, Chowański S, Falabella P, Lubawy J, Marciniak P, Pacholska-Bogalska J, Salvia R, Scrano L, Słocińska M, Spochacz M, Szymczak M, Urbański A, Walkowiak-Nowicka K, Rosiński G. Beetles as Model Organisms in Physiological, Biomedical and Environmental Studies - A Review. Front Physiol 2019; 10:319. [PMID: 30984018 PMCID: PMC6447812 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zbigniew Adamski
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
- Laboratory of Electron and Confocal Microscopy, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - Sabino A. Bufo
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
- Department of Geography, Environmental Management & Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Szymon Chowański
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | | | - Jan Lubawy
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - Paweł Marciniak
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - Joanna Pacholska-Bogalska
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - Rosanna Salvia
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Laura Scrano
- Department of European and Mediterranean Cultures, University of Basilicata, Matera, Italy
| | - Małgorzata Słocińska
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - Marta Spochacz
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - Monika Szymczak
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - Arkadiusz Urbański
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - Karolina Walkowiak-Nowicka
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Rosiński
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
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11
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Zhou J, Yu HY, Zhang W, Ahmad F, Hu SN, Zhao LL, Zou Z, Sun JH. Comparative analysis of the Monochamus alternatus immune system. INSECT SCIENCE 2018; 25:581-603. [PMID: 28247970 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Revised: 02/05/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The pine sawyer beetle, Monochamus alternatus, is regarded as a notorious forest pest in Asia, vectoring an invasive pathogenic nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which is known to cause pine wilt disease. However, little sequence information is available for this vector beetle. This hampered the research on its immune system. Based on the transcriptome of M. alternatus, we have identified and characterized 194 immunity-related genes in M. alternatus, and compared them with homologues molecules from other species known to exhibit immune responses against invading microbes. The lower number of putative immunity-related genes in M. alternatus were attributed to fewer C-type lectin, serine protease (SP) and anti-microbial peptide (AMP) genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that M. alternatus had a unique recognition gene, galectin3, orthologues of which were not identified in Tribolium castaneum, Drosophila melanogastor, Anopheles gambiae and Apis mellifera. This suggested a lineage-specific gene evolution for coleopteran insects. Our study provides the comprehensive sequence resources of the immunity-related genes of M. alternatus, presenting valuable information for better understanding of the molecular mechanism of innate immunity processes in M. alternatus against B. xylophilus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hai-Ying Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Faheem Ahmad
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Song-Nian Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li-Lin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiang-Hua Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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12
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Khan I, Agashe D, Rolff J. Early-life inflammation, immune response and ageing. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.0125. [PMID: 28275145 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related diseases are often attributed to immunopathology, which results in self-damage caused by an inappropriate inflammatory response. Immunopathology associated with early-life inflammation also appears to cause faster ageing, although we lack direct experimental evidence for this association. To understand the interactions between ageing, inflammation and immunopathology, we used the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor as a study organism. We hypothesized that phenoloxidase, an important immune effector in insect defence, may impose substantial immunopathological costs by causing tissue damage to Malpighian tubules (MTs; functionally equivalent to the human kidney), in turn accelerating ageing. In support of this hypothesis, we found that RNAi knockdown of phenoloxidase (PO) transcripts in young adults possibly reduced inflammation-induced autoreactive tissue damage to MTs, and increased adult lifespan. Our work thus suggests a causative link between immunopathological costs of early-life inflammation and faster ageing. We also reasoned that if natural selection weakens with age, older individuals should display increased immunopathological costs associated with an immune response. Indeed, we found that while old infected individuals cleared infection faster than young individuals, possibly they also displayed exacerbated immunopathological costs (larger decline in MT function) and higher post-infection mortality. RNAi-mediated knockdown of PO response partially rescued MTs function in older beetles and resulted in increased lifespan after infection. Taken together, our data are consistent with a direct role of immunopathological consequences of immune response during ageing in insects. Our work is also the first report that highlights the pervasive role of tissue damage under diverse contexts of ageing and immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imroze Khan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065, India .,Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology, Königin-Luise Strasse 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Dahlem, Germany
| | - Deepa Agashe
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Jens Rolff
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology, Königin-Luise Strasse 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Dahlem, Germany
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13
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Makarova O, Rodríguez-Rojas A, Eravci M, Weise C, Dobson A, Johnston P, Rolff J. Antimicrobial defence and persistent infection in insects revisited. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 371:rstb.2015.0296. [PMID: 27160598 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Insects show long-lasting antimicrobial immune responses that follow the initial fast-acting cellular processes. These immune responses are discussed to provide a form of phrophylaxis and/or to serve as a safety measure against persisting infections. The duration and components of such long-lasting responses have rarely been studied in detail, a necessary prerequisite to understand their adaptive value. Here, we present a 21 day proteomic time course of the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor immune-challenged with heat-killed Staphylococcus aureus The most upregulated peptides are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), many of which are still highly abundant 21 days after infection. The identified AMPs included toll and imd-mediated AMPs, a significant number of which have no known function against S. aureus or other Gram-positive bacteria. The proteome reflects the selective arena for bacterial infections. The results also corroborate the notion of synergistic interactions in vivo that are difficult to model in vitroThis article is part of the themed issue 'Evolutionary ecology of arthropod antimicrobial peptides'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Makarova
- Institut für Biologie, Evolutionary Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 1-3, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Alexandro Rodríguez-Rojas
- Institut für Biologie, Evolutionary Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 1-3, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Murat Eravci
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Thielallee 63, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Chris Weise
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Thielallee 63, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Adam Dobson
- Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Paul Johnston
- Institut für Biologie, Evolutionary Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 1-3, Berlin 14195, Germany Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research, Königin-Luise-Straße 6-8, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Jens Rolff
- Institut für Biologie, Evolutionary Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 1-3, Berlin 14195, Germany Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Altensteinstraße 6, Berlin 14195, Germany
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14
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Jacobs CGC, Gallagher JD, Evison SEF, Heckel DG, Vilcinskas A, Vogel H. Endogenous egg immune defenses in the yellow mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor). DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 70:1-8. [PMID: 28034605 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2016.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In order to survive microbe encounters, insects rely on both physical barriers as well as local and systemic immune responses. Most research focusses on adult or larval defenses however, whereas insect eggs are also in need of protection. Lately, the defense of eggs against microbes has received an increasing amount of attention, be it through endogenous egg defenses, trans-generational immune priming (TGIP) or parental investment. Here we studied the endogenous immune response in eggs and adults of Tenebrio molitor. We show that many immune genes are induced in both adults and eggs. Furthermore, we show that eggs reach comparable levels of immune gene expression as adults. These findings show that the eggs of Tenebrio are capable of an impressive endogenous immune response, and indicate that such inducible egg defenses are likely common in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris G C Jacobs
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll Str. 8, 07745 Jena, Germany.
| | - Joe D Gallagher
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN Sheffield, UK
| | - Sophie E F Evison
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN Sheffield, UK
| | - David G Heckel
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll Str. 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Heiko Vogel
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll Str. 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
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15
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Vilcinskas A, Vogel H. Seasonal phenotype-specific transcriptional reprogramming during metamorphosis in the European map butterfly Araschnia levana. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:3476-3485. [PMID: 27127610 PMCID: PMC4842023 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Revised: 03/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The European map butterfly (Araschnia levana) is a classic example of seasonal polyphenism because the spring and summer imagoes display two distinct morphological phenotypes. The light regime and temperature during larval and prepupal development determine whether or not the pupae commit to diapause and overwintering and thus whether spring or summer imagoes emerge. We used suppression subtractive hybridization to experimentally screen for genes that are differentially expressed in prepupae committed either to accelerated metamorphosis and egg production or diapause and overwintering. The range and ontology of the differentially expressed genes in prepupae developing from larvae exposed either to long‐day (LD) or short‐day (SD) conditions revealed fundamental differences. The SD prepupae preferentially expressed genes related to cuticle formation and immunity, reflecting the formation of a robust pupal exoskeleton and the upregulation of antimicrobial peptides as preparations for overwintering. One protein preferentially expressed in SD prepupae has a counterpart in Bombyx mori that functions as a diapause duration clock. The differentially expressed genes in LD prepupae included several members of the dusky and osiris families. We also observed the strong induction of different yellow‐like genes under SD and LD conditions which suggest a role in the developmental choice between seasonal phenotypes. Our transcriptomic data will facilitate the more detailed analysis of molecular mechanisms underlying seasonal polyphenism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Vilcinskas
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology Justus Liebig University Heinrich Buff Ring 26-32 35392 Giessen Germany
| | - Heiko Vogel
- Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology Hans Knoell Strasse 8 07749 Jena Germany
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16
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Yokoi K, Hayakawa Y, Kato D, Minakuchi C, Tanaka T, Ochiai M, Kamiya K, Miura K. Prophenoloxidase genes and antimicrobial host defense of the model beetle, Tribolium castaneum. J Invertebr Pathol 2015; 132:190-200. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2015.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Revised: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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17
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Bang K, Hwang S, Lee J, Cho S. Identification of immunity-related genes in the larvae of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae) by a next-generation sequencing-based transcriptome analysis. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2015; 15:iev120. [PMID: 26450592 PMCID: PMC4626668 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iev120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/06/2015] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
To identify immune-related genes in the larvae of white-spotted flower chafers, next-generation sequencing was conducted with an Illumina HiSeq2000, resulting in 100 million cDNA reads with sequence information from over 10 billion base pairs (bp) and >50× transcriptome coverage. A subset of 77,336 contigs was created, and ∼35,532 sequences matched entries against the NCBI nonredundant database (cutoff, e < 10(-5)). Statistical analysis was performed on the 35,532 contigs. For profiling of the immune response, samples were analyzed by aligning 42 base sequence tags to the de novo reference assembly, comparing levels in immunized larvae to control levels of expression. Of the differentially expressed genes, 3,440 transcripts were upregulated and 3,590 transcripts were downregulated. Many of these genes were confirmed as immune-related genes such as pattern recognition proteins, immune-related signal transduction proteins, antimicrobial peptides, and cellular response proteins, by comparison to published data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyeongrin Bang
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Environment Friendly Agriculture Center, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea
| | - Sejung Hwang
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Environment Friendly Agriculture Center, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea
| | - Jiae Lee
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Environment Friendly Agriculture Center, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea
| | - Saeyoull Cho
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Environment Friendly Agriculture Center, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea
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18
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Liu LN, Wang CY. Complete mitochondrial genome of yellow meal worm (Tenebrio molitor). DONG WU XUE YAN JIU = ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2014; 35:537-45. [PMID: 25465087 DOI: 10.13918/j.issn.2095-8137.2014.6.537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
The yellow meal worm (Tenebrio molitor L.) is an important resource insect typically used as animal feed additive. It is also widely used for biological research. The first complete mitochondrial genome of T. molitor was determined for the first time by long PCR and conserved primer walking approaches. The results showed that the entire mitogenome of T. molitor was 15 785 bp long, with 72.35% A+T content [deposited in GenBank with accession number KF418153]. The gene order and orientation were the same as the most common type suggested as ancestral for insects. Two protein-coding genes used atypical start codons (CTA in ND2 and AAT in COX1), and the remaining 11 protein-coding genes started with a typical insect initiation codon ATN. All tRNAs showed standard clover-leaf structure, except for tRNA(Ser) (AGN), which lacked a dihydrouridine (DHU) arm. The newly added T. molitor mitogenome could provide information for future studies on yellow meal worm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Na Liu
- tate Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Cheng-Ye Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resource Insects of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Resource Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming 650224, China.
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19
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Vogel H, Badapanda C, Knorr E, Vilcinskas A. RNA-sequencing analysis reveals abundant developmental stage-specific and immunity-related genes in the pollen beetle Meligethes aeneus. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2014; 23:98-112. [PMID: 24252113 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus) is a major pest of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and other cruciferous crops in Europe. Pesticide-resistant pollen beetle populations are emerging, increasing the economic impact of this species. We isolated total RNA from the larval and adult stages, the latter either naïve or immunized by injection with bacteria and yeast. High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was carried out to establish a comprehensive transcriptome catalogue and to screen for developmental stage-specific and immunity-related transcripts. We assembled the transcriptome de novo by combining sequence tags from all developmental stages and treatments. Gene expression data based on normalized read counts revealed several functional gene categories that were differentially expressed between larvae and adults, particularly genes associated with digestion and detoxification that were induced in larvae, and genes associated with reproduction and environmental signalling that were induced in adults. We also identified many genes associated with microbe recognition, immunity-related signalling and defence effectors, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and lysozymes. Digital gene expression analysis revealed significant differences in the profile of AMPs expressed in larvae, naïve adults and immune-challenged adults, providing insight into the steady-state differences between developmental stages and the complex transcriptional remodelling that occurs following the induction of immunity. Our data provide insight into the adaptive mechanisms used by phytophagous insects and could lead to the development of more effective control strategies for insect pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Vogel
- Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
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20
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Inducible defenses stay up late: temporal patterns of immune gene expression in Tenebrio molitor. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2013; 4:947-55. [PMID: 24318927 PMCID: PMC4065263 DOI: 10.1534/g3.113.008516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The course of microbial infection in insects is shaped by a two-stage process of immune defense. Constitutive defenses, such as engulfment and melanization, act immediately and are followed by inducible defenses, archetypically the production of antimicrobial peptides, which eliminate or suppress the remaining microbes. By applying RNAseq across a 7-day time course, we sought to characterize the long-lasting immune response to bacterial challenge in the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor, a model for the biochemistry of insect immunity and persistent bacterial infection. By annotating a hybrid de novo assembly of RNAseq data, we were able to identify putative orthologs for the majority of components of the conserved insect immune system. Compared with Tribolium castaneum, the most closely related species with a reference genome sequence and a manually curated immune system annotation, the T. molitor immune gene count was lower, with lineage-specific expansions of genes encoding serine proteases and their countervailing inhibitors accounting for the majority of the deficit. Quantitative mapping of RNAseq reads to the reference assembly showed that expression of genes with predicted functions in cellular immunity, wound healing, melanization, and the production of reactive oxygen species was transiently induced immediately after immune challenge. In contrast, expression of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides or components of the Toll signaling pathway and iron sequestration response remained elevated for at least 7 days. Numerous genes involved in metabolism and nutrient storage were repressed, indicating a possible cost of immune induction. Strikingly, the expression of almost all antibacterial peptides followed the same pattern of long-lasting induction, regardless of their spectra of activity, signaling possible interactive roles in vivo.
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21
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Tindwa H, Patnaik BB, Kim DH, Mun S, Jo YH, Lee BL, Lee YS, Kim NJ, Han YS. Cloning, characterization and effect of TmPGRP-LE gene silencing on survival of Tenebrio molitor against Listeria monocytogenes infection. Int J Mol Sci 2013; 14:22462-82. [PMID: 24240808 PMCID: PMC3856074 DOI: 10.3390/ijms141122462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2013] [Revised: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are a family of innate immune molecules that recognize bacterial peptidoglycan. PGRP-LE, a member of the PGRP family, selectively binds to diaminopimelic acid (DAP)-type peptidoglycan to activate both the immune deficiency (Imd) and proPhenoloxidase (proPO) pathways in insects. A PGRP-LE-dependent induction of autophagy to control Listeria monocytogenes has also been reported. We identified and partially characterized a novel PGRP-LE homologue, from Tenebrio molitor and analyzed its functional role in the survival of the insect against infection by a DAP-type PGN containing intracellular pathogen, L. monocytogenes. The cDNA is comprised of an open reading frame (ORF) of 990 bp and encodes a polypeptide of 329 residues. TmPGRP-LE contains one PGRP domain, but lacks critical residues for amidase activity. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed a broad constitutive expression of the transcript at various stages of development spanning from larva to adult. RNAi mediated knockdown of the transcripts, followed by a challenge with L. monocytogenes, showed a significant reduction in survival rate of the larvae, suggesting a putative role of TmPGRP-LE in sensing and control of L. monocytogenes infection in T. molitor. These results implicate PGRP-LE as a defense protein necessary for survival of T. molitor against infection by L. monocytogenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamisi Tindwa
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea; E-Mails: (H.T.); (B.B.P.); (D.H.K.); (S.M.); (Y.H.J.)
| | - Bharat Bhusan Patnaik
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea; E-Mails: (H.T.); (B.B.P.); (D.H.K.); (S.M.); (Y.H.J.)
| | - Dong Hyun Kim
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea; E-Mails: (H.T.); (B.B.P.); (D.H.K.); (S.M.); (Y.H.J.)
| | - Seulgi Mun
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea; E-Mails: (H.T.); (B.B.P.); (D.H.K.); (S.M.); (Y.H.J.)
| | - Yong Hun Jo
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea; E-Mails: (H.T.); (B.B.P.); (D.H.K.); (S.M.); (Y.H.J.)
| | - Bok Luel Lee
- National Research Laboratory of Defense Proteins, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Jangjeon Dong, Kumjeong Ku, Busan 609-735, Korea; E-Mail:
| | - Yong Seok Lee
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan City 336-745, Korea; E-Mail:
| | - Nam Jung Kim
- Division of Applied Entomology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, 61th, Seodun-dong, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do 441-853, Korea; E-Mail:
| | - Yeon Soo Han
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea; E-Mails: (H.T.); (B.B.P.); (D.H.K.); (S.M.); (Y.H.J.)
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +82-62-530-2072; Fax: +82-62-530-2069
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