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Li L, Zuo Y, Shi Y, Yang Y, Wu Y. Overexpression of the F116V allele of CYP9A186 in transgenic Helicoverpa armigera confers high-level resistance to emamectin benzoate. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 163:104042. [PMID: 38030045 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2023.104042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Insect cytochrome P450s play important roles in the detoxification of xenobiotics and the metabolic resistance to insecticides. However, the approach for in vivo validation of the contribution of specific candidate P450s to resistance is still limited in most non-model insect species. Previous studies with heterologous expression and in vitro functional assays have confirmed that a natural substitution (F116V) in the substrate recognition site 1 (SRS1) of the CYP9A186 of Spodoptera exigua is a gain-of-function mutation, which results in detoxification capability of and thus high-level resistance to both emamectin benzoate (EB) and abamectin. In this study, we established an effective piggyBac-based transformation system in the serious agricultural pest Helicoverpa armigera and overexpressed in vivo a resistance P450 allele, CYP9A186-F116V, from another lepidopteran pest Spodoptera exigua. Bioassays showed that transgenic H. armigera larvae expressing CYP9A186-F116V obtained 358-fold and 38.6-fold resistance to EB and abamectin, respectively. In contrast, a transgenic line of Drosophila melanogaster overexpressing this P450 variant only confers ∼20-fold resistance to the two insecticides. This bias towards the resistance level revealed that closely related species might provide a more appropriate cellular environment for gene expression and subsequent toxicokinetics of insecticides. These results not only present an alternative method for in vivo functional characterization of P450s in H. armigera and other phylogenetically close species but also provide a valuable genetic engineering toolkit for the genetic manipulation of H. armigera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Li
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Yayun Zuo
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Institute of Pesticide Science, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Yu Shi
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Yihua Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Yidong Wu
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
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2
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Häcker I, Rehling T, Schlosser H, Mayorga-Ch D, Heilig M, Yan Y, Armbruster PA, Schetelig MF. Improved piggyBac Transformation with Capped Transposase mRNA in Pest Insects. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15155. [PMID: 37894833 PMCID: PMC10606561 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Creating transgenic insects is a key technology in insect genetics and molecular biology. A widely used instrument in insect transgenesis is the piggyBac transposase, resulting in essentially random genomic integrations. In contrast, site-specific recombinases allow the targeted integration of the transgene construct into a specific genomic target site. Both strategies, however, often face limitations due to low transgenesis efficiencies. We aimed to enhance transgenesis efficiencies by utilizing capped mRNA as a source of transposase or recombinase instead of a helper plasmid. A systematic comparison of transgenesis efficiencies in Aedes mosquitoes, as models for hard-to-transform insects, showed that suppling piggyBac transposase as mRNA increased the average transformation efficiency in Aedes aegypti from less than 5% with the plasmid source to about 50% with mRNA. Similar high activity was observed in Ae. albopictus with pBac mRNA. No efficiency differences between plasmid and mRNA were observed in recombination experiments. Furthermore, a hyperactive version of piggyBac transposase delivered as a plasmid did not improve the transformation efficiency in Ae. aegypti or the agricultural pest Drosophila suzukii. We believe that the use of mRNA has strong potential for enhancing piggyBac transformation efficiencies in other mosquitoes and important agricultural pests, such as tephritids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Häcker
- Department of Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Winchesterstr. 2, 35394 Giessen, Germany (H.S.); (Y.Y.); (M.F.S.)
- Liebig Centre for Agroecology & Climate Impact Research, 35394 Giessen, Germany
| | - Tanja Rehling
- Department of Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Winchesterstr. 2, 35394 Giessen, Germany (H.S.); (Y.Y.); (M.F.S.)
- Liebig Centre for Agroecology & Climate Impact Research, 35394 Giessen, Germany
| | - Henrik Schlosser
- Department of Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Winchesterstr. 2, 35394 Giessen, Germany (H.S.); (Y.Y.); (M.F.S.)
| | - Daniela Mayorga-Ch
- Department of Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Winchesterstr. 2, 35394 Giessen, Germany (H.S.); (Y.Y.); (M.F.S.)
| | - Mara Heilig
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC 20057-1229, USA; (M.H.); (P.A.A.)
| | - Ying Yan
- Department of Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Winchesterstr. 2, 35394 Giessen, Germany (H.S.); (Y.Y.); (M.F.S.)
- Liebig Centre for Agroecology & Climate Impact Research, 35394 Giessen, Germany
| | - Peter A. Armbruster
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC 20057-1229, USA; (M.H.); (P.A.A.)
| | - Marc F. Schetelig
- Department of Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Winchesterstr. 2, 35394 Giessen, Germany (H.S.); (Y.Y.); (M.F.S.)
- Liebig Centre for Agroecology & Climate Impact Research, 35394 Giessen, Germany
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Bottino-Rojas V, James AA. Generating and Validating Transgenic Mosquitoes with Transposon-Mediated Transgenesis. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2023:pdb.prot108194. [PMID: 37816603 PMCID: PMC11008536 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot108194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Transposon-mediated transgenesis has revolutionized both basic and applied studies of mosquito vectors of disease. Currently, techniques such as enhancer traps and transposon tagging, which rely on remobilizable insertional mutagenesis, are only possible with transposon-based vector systems. Here, we provide general descriptions of methods and applications of transposon-based mosquito transgenesis. The exact procedures must be adapted to each mosquito species and comparisons of some differences among different mosquito species are outlined. A number of excellent publications showing detailed and specific protocols and methods are featured and referenced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Bottino-Rojas
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-4500, USA
| | - Anthony A James
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-4500, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-3900, USA
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4
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Bottino-Rojas V, James AA. Mosquito Transposon-Mediated Transgenesis. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2023:pdb.top107687. [PMID: 37816607 PMCID: PMC11025883 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top107687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Transposon-mediated transgenesis of mosquito vectors of disease pathogens followed the early success of transgenesis in the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster The P transposable element used in Drosophila does not function canonically in mosquitoes, and repeatable, routine transgenesis in mosquitoes was not accomplished until new transposable elements were discovered and validated. A number of distinct transposons were subsequently identified that mediate the introduction of exogenous DNA in a stable and heritable manner in mosquito species, including members of the genera Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex The most versatile element, piggyBac, is functional in all of these mosquito genera, as well as in many other insects in diverse orders, and has been used extensively outside the class. Transposon-mediated transgenesis of recessive and dominant marker genes and reporter systems has been used to define functional fragments of gene control sequences, introduce exogenous DNA encoding products beneficial to medical interests, and act as "enhancer traps" to identify endogenous genes with specific expression characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Bottino-Rojas
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-4500, USA
| | - Anthony A James
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-4500, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-3900, USA
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5
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Heryanto C, Mazo-Vargas A, Martin A. Efficient hyperactive piggyBac transgenesis in Plodia pantry moths. Front Genome Ed 2022; 4:1074888. [PMID: 36620082 PMCID: PMC9816379 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2022.1074888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
While piggyBac transposon-based transgenesis is widely used in various emerging model organisms, its relatively low transposition rate in butterflies and moths has hindered its use for routine genetic transformation in Lepidoptera. Here, we tested the suitability of a codon-optimized hyperactive piggyBac transposase (hyPBase) in mRNA form to deliver and integrate transgenic cassettes into the genome of the pantry moth Plodia interpunctella. Co-injection of hyPBase mRNA with donor plasmids successfully integrated 1.5-4.4 kb expression cassettes driving the fluorescent markers EGFP, DsRed, or EYFP in eyes and glia with the 3xP3 promoter. Somatic integration and expression of the transgene in the G0 injected generation was detectable from 72-h embryos and onward in larvae, pupae and adults carrying a recessive white-eyed mutation. Overall, 2.5% of injected eggs survived into transgene-bearing adults with mosaic fluorescence. Subsequent outcrossing of fluorescent G0 founders transmitted single-insertion copies of 3xP3::EGFP and 3xP3::EYFP and generated stable isogenic lines. Random in-crossing of a small cohort of G0 founders expressing 3xP3::DsRed yielded a stable transgenic line segregating for more than one transgene insertion site. We discuss how hyPBase can be used to generate stable transgenic resources in Plodia and other moths.
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Lyu J, Su Q, Liu J, Chen L, Sun J, Zhang W. Functional characterization of piggyBac-like elements from Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2022; 23:515-527. [PMID: 35686529 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b2101090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
PiggyBac is a transposable DNA element originally discovered in the cabbage looper moth (Trichoplusia ni). The T. ni piggyBac transposon can introduce exogenous fragments into a genome, constructing a transgenic organism. Nevertheless, the comprehensive analysis of endogenous piggyBac-like elements (PLEs) is important before using piggyBac, because they may influence the genetic stability of transgenic lines. Herein, we conducted a genome-wide analysis of PLEs in the brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), and identified a total of 28 PLE sequences. All N. lugens piggyBac-like elements (NlPLEs) were present as multiple copies in the genome of BPH. Among the identified NlPLEs, NlPLE25 had the highest copy number and it was distributed on five chromosomes. The full length of NlPLE25 consisted of terminal inverted repeats and sub-terminal inverted repeats at both terminals, as well as a single open reading frame transposase encoding 546 amino acids. Furthermore, NlPLE25 transposase caused precise excision and transposition in cultured insect cells and also restored the original TTAA target sequence after excision. A cross-recognition between the NlPLE25 transposon and the piggyBac transposon was also revealed in this study. These findings provide useful information for the construction of transgenic insect lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Lyu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Qin Su
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Jinhui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Lin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Jiawei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Wenqing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
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7
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Caragata EP, Dong S, Dong Y, Simões ML, Tikhe CV, Dimopoulos G. Prospects and Pitfalls: Next-Generation Tools to Control Mosquito-Transmitted Disease. Annu Rev Microbiol 2021; 74:455-475. [PMID: 32905752 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-011320-025557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Mosquito-transmitted diseases, including malaria and dengue, are a major threat to human health around the globe, affecting millions each year. A diverse array of next-generation tools has been designed to eliminate mosquito populations or to replace them with mosquitoes that are less capable of transmitting key pathogens. Many of these new approaches have been built on recent advances in CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing. These initiatives have driven the development of pathogen-resistant lines, new genetics-based sexing methods, and new methods of driving desirable genetic traits into mosquito populations. Many other emerging tools involve microorganisms, including two strategies involving Wolbachia that are achieving great success in the field. At the same time, other mosquito-associated bacteria, fungi, and even viruses represent untapped sources of new mosquitocidal or antipathogen compounds. Although there are still hurdles to be overcome, the prospect that such approaches will reduce the impact of these diseases is highly encouraging.
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Affiliation(s)
- E P Caragata
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA; , , , , ,
| | - S Dong
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA; , , , , ,
| | - Y Dong
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA; , , , , ,
| | - M L Simões
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA; , , , , ,
| | - C V Tikhe
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA; , , , , ,
| | - G Dimopoulos
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA; , , , , ,
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8
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Schetelig MF, Schwirz J, Yan Y. A transgenic female killing system for the genetic control of Drosophila suzukii. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12938. [PMID: 34155227 PMCID: PMC8217240 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91938-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The spotted wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) is an invasive pest of soft-skinned fruit crops. It is rapidly transmitted in Europe and North America, causing widespread agricultural losses. Genetic control strategies such as the sterile insect technique (SIT) have been proposed as environment-friendly and species-restricted approaches for this pest. However, females are inefficient agents in SIT programs. Here we report a conditional female-killing (FK) strategy based on the tetracycline-off system. We assembled sixteen genetic constructs for testing in vitro and in vivo. Twenty-four independent transgenic strains of D. suzukii were generated and tested for female-specific lethality. The strongest FK effect in the absence of tetracycline was achieved by the construct containing D. suzukii nullo promoter for early gene expression, D. suzukii pro-apoptotic gene hidAla4 for lethality, and the transformer gene intron from the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata for female-specific splicing. One strain carrying this construct eliminated 100% of the female offspring during embryogenesis and produced only males. However, homozygous females from these FK strains were not viable on a tetracycline-supplemented diet, possibly due to the basal expression of hidAla4. Potential improvements to the gene constructs and the use of such FK strains in an SIT program are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc F Schetelig
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Department of Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Winchesterstraße 2, 35394, Giessen, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Winchesterstraße 2, 35394, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jonas Schwirz
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Winchesterstraße 2, 35394, Giessen, Germany
| | - Ying Yan
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Department of Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Winchesterstraße 2, 35394, Giessen, Germany.
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Winchesterstraße 2, 35394, Giessen, Germany.
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Vella MR, Gould F, Lloyd AL. Mathematical modeling of genetic pest management through female-specific lethality: Is one locus better than two? Evol Appl 2021; 14:1612-1622. [PMID: 34178107 PMCID: PMC8210802 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Many novel genetic approaches are under development to combat insect pests. One genetic strategy aims to suppress or locally eliminate a species through large, repeated releases of genetically engineered strains that render female offspring unviable under field conditions. Strains with this female-killing characteristic have been developed either with all of the molecular components in a single construct or with the components in two constructs inserted at independently assorting loci. Strains with two constructs are typically considered to be only of value as research tools and for producing solely male offspring in rearing factories which are subsequently sterilized by radiation before release. A concern with the two-construct strains is that once released, the two constructs would become separated and therefore non-functional. The only female-killing strains that have been released in the field without sterilization are single-construct strains. Here, we use a population genetics model with density dependence to evaluate the relative effectiveness of female-killing approaches based on single- and two-construct arrangements. We find that, in general, the single-construct arrangement results in slightly faster population suppression, but the two-construct arrangement can eventually cause stronger suppression and cause local elimination with a smaller release size. Based on our results, there is no a priori reason that males carrying two independently segregating constructs need to be sterilized prior to release. In some cases, a fertile release would be more efficient for population suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R. Vella
- Biomathematics Graduate ProgramNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
- Genetic Engineering and Society CenterNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Fred Gould
- Genetic Engineering and Society CenterNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
- Department of Entomology and Plant PathologyNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Alun L. Lloyd
- Biomathematics Graduate ProgramNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
- Genetic Engineering and Society CenterNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
- Department of MathematicsNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
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Merlin C, Iiams SE, Lugena AB. Monarch Butterfly Migration Moving into the Genetic Era. Trends Genet 2020; 36:689-701. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2020.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Xu X, Yang J, Harvey-Samuel T, Huang Y, Asad M, Chen W, He W, Yang G, Alphey L, You M. Identification and characterization of the vasa gene in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 122:103371. [PMID: 32283279 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Vasa is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase, participating in multiple biological processes. It has been widely used as a germ cell marker and its promoter has become a key component of several genetic pest control systems. Here we present the vasa gene structure and its promoter activity in Plutella xylostella, one of the most destructive pests of cruciferous crops. Full length Pxvasa cDNA sequences were obtained, revealing 14 exons and at least 30 alternatively spliced transcripts. Inferred amino acid sequences showed nine conserved DEAD-box family protein motifs with partial exclusion from some isoforms. Real-time quantitative PCR indicated the up-regulation of Pxvasa in both female and male adults compared with other developmental stages, and the expression levels of Pxvasa were found to be much higher in adult gonads, especially ovaries, than in other tissues. The putative promoter region of Pxvasa was sequenced and several ecdysone-induced transcription factor (TF) binding sites were predicted in silico. To further analyze the promoter region, two upstream regulatory fragments of different lengths were tested as putative promoters in transient cell and embryo expression assays, one of which was subsequently utilized to drive Cas9 expression in vivo. A transgenic line was recovered and the expression patterns of Cas9 and native Pxvasa were profiled in adult tissues and eggs with RT-PCR. This work provides the foundation for further studies on the gene functions of Pxvasa as well as the potential application of its promoter in genetic manipulation of P. xylostella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Tim Harvey-Samuel
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Yuping Huang
- Department of Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Muhammad Asad
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Weiyi He
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Guang Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Luke Alphey
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Minsheng You
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
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12
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Chen X, Tan A, Palli SR. Identification and functional analysis of promoters of heat-shock genes from the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2363. [PMID: 32047182 PMCID: PMC7012861 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59197-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The functional information on heat-shock proteins (Hsp) and heat-shock promoters from an important agricultural insect pest, Spodoptera frugiperda, is still lacking. We conducted a genome-wide identification of Hsp genes and identified a total of 21 genes belonging to four major insect Hsp families (small heat-shock proteins, Hsp60, Hsp70, and Hsp90) in S. frugiperda. Expression of most of S. frugiperda (SfHsp) genes could be detected in Sf9 cells, embryos and larval tissues of S. frugiperda. The heat-inducible activity of heat-shock promoters from several SfHsp genes was tested in Sf9 cells and embryos. The promoter of SfHsp70D showed the high constitutive activity in cell line and embryos, while the activity of SfHsp20.15 and SfHsp20.71 promoters was most dramatically induced in Sf9 cells and embryos. In embryos, the heat-induced activity of SfHsp20.71 and SfHsp70D promoters outperformed commercially used ie1 and ie2 promoters. The heat-induced activity of SfHsp70D and SfHsp19.07 promoters were more robust than ie2 promoter in Sf9 cells. These SfHsp promoters with high basal activity or with heat-induced activity from low basal activity, could be used in S. frugiperda or other lepidopteran insects for many applications including transgenesis and genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xien Chen
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, United States of America
| | - Anjiang Tan
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Subba Reddy Palli
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, United States of America.
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Dolgikh VV, Timofeev SA, Zhuravlyov VS, Senderskiy IV. Construction and heterologous overexpression of two chimeric proteins carrying outer hydrophilic loops of Vairimorpha ceranae and Nosema bombycis ATP/ADP carriers. J Invertebr Pathol 2020; 171:107337. [PMID: 32035083 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107337] [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: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Microsporidia Nosema bombycis and Vairimorpha ceranae cause destructive epizootics of honey bees and silkworms. Insufficient efficiency of the antibiotic fumagillin against V. ceranae, its toxicity and the absence of effective methods of N. bombycis treatment demand the discovery of novel strategies to suppress infections of domesticated insects. RNA interference is one such novel treatment strategy. Another one implies that the intracellular development of microsporidia may be suppressed by single-chain antibodies (scFv fragments) against functionally important parasite proteins. Important components of microsporidian metabolism are non-mitochondrial, plastidic-bacterial ATP/ADP carriers. These membrane transporters import host-derived ATP and provide the capacity to pathogens for energy parasitism. Here, we analyzed membrane topology of four V. ceranae and three N. bombycis ATP/ADP transporters to construct two fusion proteins carrying their outer hydrophilic loops contacting with infected host cell cytoplasm. Interestingly, full-size genes of N. bombycis transporters may be derived from the Asian swallowtail Papilio xuthus genome sequencing project. Synthesis of the artificial genes was followed by overexpression of recombinant proteins in E. coli as insoluble inclusion bodies. The gene fragments encoding the loops of individual transporters were also effectively expressed in bacteria. The chimeric antigens may be used to construct immune libraries or select microsporidia-suppressing scFv fragments from synthetic, semisynthetic, naïve and immune antibody libraries. A further expression of such antibodies in insect cells may increase their resistance to microsporidial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viacheslav V Dolgikh
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Protection, All-Russian Institute of Plant Protection, St. Petersburg, Pushkin, Russia.
| | - Sergey A Timofeev
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Protection, All-Russian Institute of Plant Protection, St. Petersburg, Pushkin, Russia
| | - Vladimir S Zhuravlyov
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Protection, All-Russian Institute of Plant Protection, St. Petersburg, Pushkin, Russia
| | - Igor V Senderskiy
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Protection, All-Russian Institute of Plant Protection, St. Petersburg, Pushkin, Russia
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14
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Bi HL, Xu J, He L, Zhang Y, Li K, Huang YP. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ebony knockout results in puparium melanism in Spodoptera litura. INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 26:1011-1019. [PMID: 30688002 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Insect body pigmentation and coloration are critical to adaption to the environment. To explore the mechanisms that drive pigmentation, we used the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) genome editing system to target the ebony gene in the non-model insect Spodoptera litura. Ebony is crucial to melanin synthesis in insects. By directly injecting Cas9 messenger RNA and ebony-specific guide RNAs into S. litura embryos, we successfully induced a typical ebony-deficient phenotype of deep coloration of the puparium and induction of melanin formation during the pupal stage. Polymerase chain reaction-based genotype analysis demonstrated that various mutations had occurred at the sites targeted in ebony. Our study clearly demonstrates the function of ebony in the puparium coloration and also provides a potentially useful marker gene for functional studies in S. litura as well as other lepidopteran pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Lun Bi
- College of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin He
- College of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Kai Li
- College of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong-Ping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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15
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Anderson ME, Mavica J, Shackleford L, Flis I, Fochler S, Basu S, Alphey L. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in the West Nile Virus vector, Culex quinquefasciatus Say. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224857. [PMID: 31714905 PMCID: PMC6850532 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Culex quinquefasciatus Say is an opportunistic blood feeder with a wide geographic distribution which is also a major vector for a range of diseases of both animals and humans. CRISPR/Cas technologies have been applied to a wide variety of organisms for both applied and basic research purposes. CRISPR/Cas methods open new possibilities for genetic research in non-model organisms of public health importance. In this work we have adapted microinjection techniques commonly used in other mosquito species to Culex quinquefasciatus, and have shown these to be effective at generating homozygous knock-out mutations of a target gene in one generation. This is the first description of the kmo gene and mutant phenotype in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E. Anderson
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, England, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica Mavica
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, England, United Kingdom
| | - Lewis Shackleford
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, England, United Kingdom
| | - Ilona Flis
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, England, United Kingdom
| | - Sophia Fochler
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, England, United Kingdom
| | - Sanjay Basu
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, England, United Kingdom
| | - Luke Alphey
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, England, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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16
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Feng XB, Zheng ZW, Zhang X, Gu J, Feng QL, Huang LH. Discovering genes responsible for silk synthesis in Bombyx mori by piggyBac-based random insertional mutagenesis. INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 26:821-830. [PMID: 29645353 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 03/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Silkworm mutants are valuable resources for both transgenic breeding and gene discovery. PiggyBac-based random insertional mutagenesis has been widely used in gene functional studies. In order to discover genes involved in silk synthesis, a piggyBac-based random insertional library was constructed using Bombyx mori, and the mutants with abnormal cocoon were particularly screened. By this means, a "thin cocoon" mutant was identified. This mutant revealed thinner cocoon shell and shorter posterior silk gland (PSG) compared with the wild type. The messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of all the three fibroin genes, including Fib-H, Fib-L and P25, were significantly down-regulated in the PSG of mutants. Four piggyBac insertion sites were identified in Aquaporin (AQP), Longitudinals lacking protein-like (Lola), Glutamyl aminopeptidase-like (GluAP) and Loc101744460. The mRNA levels of all the four genes were significantly altered in the silk gland of mutants. In particular, the mRNA amount of AQP, a gene responsible for the regulation of osmotic pressure, decreased dramatically immediately prior to the spinning stage in the anterior silk gland of mutants. The identification of the genes disrupted in the "thin cocoon" mutant in this study provided useful information for understanding silk production and transgenic breeding of silkworms in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Bao Feng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Applied Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zi-Wen Zheng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Applied Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xian Zhang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Applied Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Gu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Applied Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi-Li Feng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Applied Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li-Hua Huang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Applied Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
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17
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Otte M, Netschitailo O, Kaftanoglu O, Wang Y, Page RE, Beye M. Improving genetic transformation rates in honeybees. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16534. [PMID: 30409987 PMCID: PMC6224437 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34724-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional genetic studies in honeybees have been limited by transformation tools that lead to a high rate of transposon integration into the germline of the queens. A high transformation rate is required to reduce screening efforts because each treated queen needs to be maintained in a separate honeybee colony. Here, we report on further improvement of the transformation rate in honeybees by using a combination of different procedures. We employed a hyperactive transposase protein (hyPBaseapis), we tripled the amount of injected transposase mRNAs and we injected embryos into the first third (anterior part) of the embryo. These three improvements together doubled the transformation rate from 19% to 44%. We propose that the hyperactive transposase (hyPBaseapis) and the other steps used may also help to improve the transformation rates in other species in which screening and crossing procedures are laborious.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Otte
- Evolutionary Genetics, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - O Netschitailo
- Evolutionary Genetics, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - O Kaftanoglu
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, United States
| | - Y Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, United States
| | - R E Page
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, United States
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - M Beye
- Evolutionary Genetics, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Chu FC, Klobasa W, Grubbs N, Lorenzen MD. Development and use of a piggyBac-based jumpstarter system in Drosophila suzukii. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 97. [PMID: 29194761 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, is an invasive pest that primarily attacks fresh, soft-skinned fruit. Although others have reported successful integration of marked piggyBac elements into the D. suzukii genome, with a very respectable transgenesis rate of ∼16%, here we take this work a step further by creating D. suzukii jumpstarter strains. These were generated through integration of a fluorescent-marked Minos element carrying a heat shock protein 70-driven piggyBac transposase gene. We demonstrate that there is a dramatic increase in transformation rates when germline transformation is performed in a transposase-expressing background. For example, we achieved transformation rates as high as 80% when microinjecting piggyBac-based plasmids into embryos derived from one of these D. suzukii jumpstarter strains. We also investigate the effect of insert size on transformation efficiency by testing the ability of the most efficient jumpstarter strain to catalyze integration of differently-sized piggyBac elements. Finally, we demonstrate the ability of a jumpstarter strain to remobilize an already-integrated piggyBac element to a new location, demonstrating that our jumpstarter strains could be used in conjunction with a piggyBac-based donor strain for genome-wide mutagenesis of D. suzukii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Chyun Chu
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - William Klobasa
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Nathaniel Grubbs
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Marcé D Lorenzen
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
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19
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Harvey-Samuel T, Ant T, Alphey L. Towards the genetic control of invasive species. Biol Invasions 2017; 19:1683-1703. [PMID: 28620268 PMCID: PMC5446844 DOI: 10.1007/s10530-017-1384-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Invasive species remain one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity. Their control would be enhanced through the development of more effective and sustainable pest management strategies. Recently, a novel form of genetic pest management (GPM) has been developed in which the mating behaviour of insect pests is exploited to introduce genetically engineered DNA sequences into wild conspecific populations. These 'transgenes' work in one or more ways to reduce the damage caused by a particular pest, for example reducing its density, or its ability to vector disease. Although currently being developed for use against economically important insect pests, these technologies would be highly appropriate for application against invasive species that threaten biodiversity. Importantly, these technologies have begun to advance in scope beyond insects to vertebrates, which include some of the world's worst invasives. Here we review the current state of this rapidly progressing field and, using an established set of eradication criteria, discuss the characteristics which make GPM technologies suitable for application against invasive pests.
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