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Yang J, Xu Q, Shen W, Jiang Z, Gu X, Li F, Li B, Wei J. The Toll/IMD pathways mediate host protection against dipteran parasitoids. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 153:104614. [PMID: 38272205 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2024.104614] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Parasitoids have utilized a variety of strategies to counteract host defense. They are in different taxonomic status and exhibit phenotypic and genetic diversity, and thus are thought to evolve distinct anti-defense mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the performance of two closely related parasitoids, Exorista japonica and Exorista sorbillans (Diptera: Tachinidae) that are biological control agents in agriculture and major insect pests in sericulture, on the host Bombyx mori. We show that the host is more susceptible to E. sorbillans infection while relatively resistant to E. japonica infection. Moreover, the expression levels of host antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) genes are repressed at early infection and induced at late infection of E. japonica, while AMPs are over-expressed at early infection and return to normal levels at late infection of E. sorbillans. In parallel, Toll and IMD pathway genes are generally induced at late infection of E. japonica, whereas these genes are up-regulated at early infection and down-regulated at late infection of E. sorbillans. Activating of host Toll/IMD pathways and AMPs expression by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) represses the larval growth of E. sorbillans. Conversely, inhibiting host Toll/IMD pathways by RNA interference significantly promotes E. japonica development. Therefore, the Toll/IMD pathways are required in the host for defense against infection of dipteran parasitoids. Overall, our study provides the new insight into the diversified host-parasitoid interactions, and offers a theoretical basis for further studies of the adaptive mechanism of dipteran parasitoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Yang
- School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China; Sericulture Institute of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Qian Xu
- School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Wenwen Shen
- Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Zhe Jiang
- School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Xinran Gu
- School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Fanchi Li
- School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China; Sericulture Institute of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Bing Li
- School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China; Sericulture Institute of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China.
| | - Jing Wei
- School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China; Sericulture Institute of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China; Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Sericulture and Silk, School of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Hechi University, Yizhou, China.
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