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McCormick EC, Cohen OR, Dolezal AG, Sadd BM. Consequences of microsporidian prior exposure for virus infection outcomes and bumble bee host health. Oecologia 2023:10.1007/s00442-023-05394-x. [PMID: 37284861 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05394-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Host-parasite interactions do not occur in a vacuum, but in connected multi-parasite networks that can result in co-exposures and coinfections of individual hosts. These can affect host health and disease ecology, including disease outbreaks. However, many host-parasite studies examine pairwise interactions, meaning we still lack a general understanding of the influence of co-exposures and coinfections. Using the bumble bee Bombus impatiens, we study the effects of larval exposure to a microsporidian Nosema bombi, implicated in bumble bee declines, and adult exposure to Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV), an emerging infectious disease from honey bee parasite spillover. We hypothesize that infection outcomes will be modified by co-exposure or coinfection. Nosema bombi is a potentially severe, larval-infecting parasite, and we predict that prior exposure will result in decreased host resistance to adult IAPV infection. We predict double parasite exposure will also reduce host tolerance of infection, as measured by host survival. Although our larval Nosema exposure mostly did not result in viable infections, it partially reduced resistance to adult IAPV infection. Nosema exposure also negatively affected survival, potentially due to a cost of immunity in resisting the exposure. There was a significant negative effect of IAPV exposure on survivorship, but prior Nosema exposure did not alter this survival outcome, suggesting increased tolerance given the higher IAPV infections in the bees previously exposed to Nosema. These results again demonstrate that infection outcomes can be non-independent when multiple parasites are present, even when exposure to one parasite does not result in a substantial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse C McCormick
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA
| | - Olivia R Cohen
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA
| | - Adam G Dolezal
- School of Integrated Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Ben M Sadd
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA.
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2
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McMenamin AJ, Brutscher LM, Daughenbaugh KF, Flenniken ML. The Honey Bee Gene Bee Antiviral Protein-1 Is a Taxonomically Restricted Antiviral Immune Gene. FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 1:749781. [PMID: 38468887 PMCID: PMC10926557 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2021.749781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Insects have evolved a wide range of strategies to combat invading pathogens, including viruses. Genes that encode proteins involved in immune responses often evolve under positive selection due to their co-evolution with pathogens. Insect antiviral defense includes the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism, which is triggered by recognition of non-self, virally produced, double-stranded RNAs. Indeed, insect RNAi genes (e.g., dicer and argonaute-2) are under high selective pressure. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are eusocial insects that respond to viral infections via both sequence specific RNAi and a non-sequence specific dsRNA triggered pathway, which is less well-characterized. A transcriptome-level study of virus-infected and/or dsRNA-treated honey bees revealed increased expression of a novel antiviral gene, GenBank: MF116383, and in vivo experiments confirmed its antiviral function. Due to in silico annotation and sequence similarity, MF116383 was originally annotated as a probable cyclin-dependent serine/threonine-protein kinase. In this study, we confirmed that MF116383 limits virus infection, and carried out further bioinformatic and phylogenetic analyses to better characterize this important gene-which we renamed bee antiviral protein-1 (bap1). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that bap1 is taxonomically restricted to Hymenoptera and Blatella germanica (the German cockroach) and that the majority of bap1 amino acids are evolving under neutral selection. This is in-line with the results from structural prediction tools that indicate Bap1 is a highly disordered protein, which likely has relaxed structural constraints. Assessment of honey bee gene expression using a weighted gene correlation network analysis revealed that bap1 expression was highly correlated with several immune genes-most notably argonaute-2. The coexpression of bap1 and argonaute-2 was confirmed in an independent dataset that accounted for the effect of virus abundance. Together, these data demonstrate that bap1 is a taxonomically restricted, rapidly evolving antiviral immune gene. Future work will determine the role of bap1 in limiting replication of other viruses and examine the signal cascade responsible for regulating the expression of bap1 and other honey bee antiviral defense genes, including coexpressed ago-2, and determine whether the virus limiting function of bap1 acts in parallel or in tandem with RNAi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. McMenamin
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Laura M. Brutscher
- Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Katie F. Daughenbaugh
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Michelle L. Flenniken
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
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3
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McMenamin AJ, Parekh F, Lawrence V, Flenniken ML. Investigating Virus-Host Interactions in Cultured Primary Honey Bee Cells. INSECTS 2021; 12:653. [PMID: 34357313 PMCID: PMC8329929 DOI: 10.3390/insects12070653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Honey bee (Apis mellifera) health is impacted by viral infections at the colony, individual bee, and cellular levels. To investigate honey bee antiviral defense mechanisms at the cellular level we further developed the use of cultured primary cells, derived from either larvae or pupae, and demonstrated that these cells could be infected with a panel of viruses, including common honey bee infecting viruses (i.e., sacbrood virus (SBV) and deformed wing virus (DWV)) and an insect model virus, Flock House virus (FHV). Virus abundances were quantified over the course of infection. The production of infectious virions in cultured honey bee pupal cells was demonstrated by determining that naïve cells became infected after the transfer of deformed wing virus or Flock House virus from infected cell cultures. Initial characterization of the honey bee antiviral immune responses at the cellular level indicated that there were virus-specific responses, which included increased expression of bee antiviral protein-1 (GenBank: MF116383) in SBV-infected pupal cells and increased expression of argonaute-2 and dicer-like in FHV-infected hemocytes and pupal cells. Additional studies are required to further elucidate virus-specific honey bee antiviral defense mechanisms. The continued use of cultured primary honey bee cells for studies that involve multiple viruses will address this knowledge gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. McMenamin
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; (A.J.M.); (F.P.); (V.L.)
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
- Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Fenali Parekh
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; (A.J.M.); (F.P.); (V.L.)
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
- Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Verena Lawrence
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; (A.J.M.); (F.P.); (V.L.)
- Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Michelle L. Flenniken
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; (A.J.M.); (F.P.); (V.L.)
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
- Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
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4
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Structural and Functional Analysis of PGRP-LC Indicates Exclusive Dap-Type PGN Binding in Bumblebees. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072441. [PMID: 32244587 PMCID: PMC7177551 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) play an important role in the defense against invading microbes via the recognition of the immunogenic substance peptidoglycan (PGN). Bees possess fewer PGRPs than Drosophila melanogaster and Anopheles gambiae but retain two important immune pathways, the Toll pathway and the Imd pathway, which can be triggered by the recognition of Dap-type PGN by PGRP-LCx with the assistance of PGRP-LCa in Drosophila. There are three isoforms of PGRP-LC including PGRP-LCx, PGRP-LCa and PGRP-LCy in Drosophila. Our previous study showed that a single PGRP-LC exists in bumblebees. In this present study, we prove that the bumblebee Bombus lantschouensis PGRP-LC (Bl-PGRP-LC) can respond to an infection with Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli through binding to the Dap-type PGNs directly, and that E. coli infection induces the quick and strong upregulation of PGRP-LC, abaecin and defensin. Moreover, the Bl-PGRP-LC exhibits a very strong affinity for the Dap-type PGN, much stronger than the affinity exhibited by the PGRP-LC from the more eusocial honeybee Apis mellifera (Am-PGRP-LC). In addition, mutagenesis experiments showed that the residue His390 is the anchor residue for the binding to the Dap-type PGN and forms a hydrogen bond with MurNAc rather than meso-Dap, which interacts with the anchor residue Arg413 of PGRP-LCx in Drosophila. Therefore, bumblebee PGRP-LC possesses exclusive characteristics for the immune response among insect PGRPs.
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5
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Santos D, Mingels L, Vogel E, Wang L, Christiaens O, Cappelle K, Wynant N, Gansemans Y, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Smagghe G, Swevers L, Vanden Broeck J. Generation of Virus- and dsRNA-Derived siRNAs with Species-Dependent Length in Insects. Viruses 2019; 11:v11080738. [PMID: 31405199 PMCID: PMC6723321 DOI: 10.3390/v11080738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules of viral origin trigger a post-transcriptional gene-silencing mechanism called RNA interference (RNAi). Specifically, virally derived dsRNA is recognized and cleaved by the enzyme Dicer2 into short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which further direct sequence-specific RNA silencing, ultimately silencing replication of the virus. Notably, RNAi can also be artificially triggered by the delivery of gene-specific dsRNA, thereby leading to endogenous gene silencing. This is a widely used technology that holds great potential to contribute to novel pest control strategies. In this regard, research efforts have been set to find methods to efficiently trigger RNAi in the field. In this article, we demonstrate the generation of dsRNA- and/or virus-derived siRNAs—the main RNAi effectors—in six insect species belonging to five economically important orders (Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, and Diptera). In addition, we describe that the siRNA length distribution is species-dependent. Taken together, our results reveal interspecies variability in the (antiviral) RNAi mechanism in insects and show promise to contribute to future research on (viral-based) RNAi-triggering mechanisms in this class of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dulce Santos
- Research Group of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Lina Mingels
- Research Group of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elise Vogel
- Research Group of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Luoluo Wang
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Olivier Christiaens
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kaat Cappelle
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Niels Wynant
- Research Group of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yannick Gansemans
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Filip Van Nieuwerburgh
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luc Swevers
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 15310 Athens, Greece
| | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Research Group of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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6
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Whitten MM. Novel RNAi delivery systems in the control of medical and veterinary pests. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 34:1-6. [PMID: 31247409 PMCID: PMC6990399 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a transformative technology with great potential to control, study or even protect insects and acarines through the knockdown of target gene expression. RNAi offers unprecedented levels of control, but fundamental to its successful deployment is the need to deliver 'trigger' RNA in an appropriate fashion giving due consideration to potential barriers of RNAi efficiency, safety, and the intended purpose of the knockdown. This short review focusses on recent innovations in RNAi delivery that are designed for, or could be adapted for use with, insect and acarine pests of medical or veterinary importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda Ma Whitten
- Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK.
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7
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Wang L, Cappelle K, Santos D, Vanden Broeck J, Smagghe G, Swevers L. Short-term persistence precedes pathogenic infection: Infection kinetics of cricket paralysis virus in silkworm-derived Bm5 cells. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 115:1-11. [PMID: 30905610 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Revised: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Next generation sequencing has revealed the widespread occurrence of persistent virus infections in insects but little is known regarding to what extent persistent infections can affect cellular physiology and how they might contribute to the development of disease. In contrast to the pathogenic infections occurring in Drosophila S2 cells, it was observed that Cricket Paralysis virus (CrPV; Dicistroviridae) causes persistent infections in 9 lepidopteran and 2 coleopteran cell lines. The status of the persistent infection was subsequently investigated in more detail using silkworm-derived Bm5 cells, where the infection eventually becomes pathogenic after 3-4 weeks. The short-term persistence period in Bm5 cells is characterized by low levels of viral replication and virion production as well as by the production of viral siRNAs. However, during this period cellular physiology also becomes altered since the cells become susceptible to infection by the nodavirus Flock House virus (FHV). Pathogenicity and widespread mortality at 4 weeks is preceded by a large increase in virion production and the transcriptional activation of immune-related genes encoding RNAi factors and transcription factors in the Toll, Imd and Jak-STAT pathways. During the infection of Bm5 cells, the infective properties of CrPV are not altered, indicating changes in the physiology of the host cells during the transition from short-term persistence to pathogenicity. The in vitro system of Bm5 cells persistently infected with CrPV can therefore be presented as an easily accessible model to study the nature of persistent virus infections and the processes that trigger the transition to pathogenicity, for instance through the application of different "omics" approaches (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics). The different factors that can cause the transition from persistence to pathogenicity in the Bm5-CrPV infection model are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luoluo Wang
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Kaat Cappelle
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Dulce Santos
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Luc Swevers
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Athens, Greece.
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8
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Effects of RNAi-based silencing of chitin synthase gene on moulting and fecundity in pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum). Sci Rep 2019; 9:3694. [PMID: 30842508 PMCID: PMC6403427 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39837-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is an important agricultural pest and an ideal model organism for various studies. Chitin synthase (CHS) catalyses chitin synthesis, a critical structural component of insect exoskeletons. Here, we identified a CHS gene from A. pisum, ApisCHS. The ApisCHS expression profiles showed that ApisCHS was expressed in various developmental stages and in all tested tissues of A. pisum, including the epidermis, embryo, gut and haemolymph. Notably, ApisCHS exhibited peak expression in the middle of each nymphal period and was extremely highly expressed in the epidermis and embryo. RNA interference (RNAi) showed that ~600 ng of dsRNA is an effective dose for gene silencing by injection for dsRNA delivery; moreover, 1200 ng·μL−1 dsRNA induced CHS gene silencing by a plant-mediated feeding approach. A 44.7% mortality rate and a 51.3% moulting rate were observed 72 h after injection of dsApisCHS into fourth-instar nymphs, compared with the levels in the control (injected with dsGFP). Moreover, a longer period was required for nymph development and a 44.2% deformity rate among newborn nymphs was obtained upon ingestion of dsApisCHS. These results suggest that ApisCHS plays a critical role in nymphal growth and embryonic development in pea aphids, and is a potential target for RNAi-based aphid pest control.
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9
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Ye C, An X, Jiang YD, Ding BY, Shang F, Christiaens O, Taning CNT, Smagghe G, Niu J, Wang JJ. Induction of RNAi Core Machinery's Gene Expression by Exogenous dsRNA and the Effects of Pre-exposure to dsRNA on the Gene Silencing Efficiency in the Pea Aphid ( Acyrthosiphon pisum). Front Physiol 2019; 9:1906. [PMID: 30687121 PMCID: PMC6333656 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is an important agricultural pest and biological model organism, and RNA interference (RNAi) is an important tool for functional genomics and for insect pest management. However, the efficiency of RNAi in pea aphids is variable, limiting its application in aphids. In this study, we present optimized conditions for inducing and increasing the gene silencing efficiency of RNAi in pea aphids. The optimal gene silencing of the target Aphunchback gene was achieved by injecting 600 ng double-stranded (ds) RNA, and the highest mRNA depletion rate (74%) was detected at 36 h after injection. Moreover, the same gene silencing conditions were used to achieve transcript silencing for nine different genes in the pea aphid, although the silencing efficiencies for the different genes varied. Furthermore, the pre-exposure of aphids to dsRNA (600 ng dsGFP) led to significant hunchback silencing following a secondary exposure to 60 ng of dshunchback, a dose which did not lead to gene silencing when independently injected. The information presented here can be exploited to develop more efficient RNAi bioassays for pea aphids, both as gene functional study tools and an insect pest control strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Ye
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin An
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yi-Di Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bi-Yue Ding
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Shang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Olivier Christiaens
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Clauvis Nji Tizi Taning
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jinzhi Niu
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jin-Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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10
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Amiri E, Seddon G, Zuluaga Smith W, Strand MK, Tarpy DR, Rueppell O. Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus: Honey Bee Queen⁻Worker Interaction and Potential Virus Transmission Pathways. INSECTS 2019; 10:E9. [PMID: 30626038 PMCID: PMC6359674 DOI: 10.3390/insects10010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Queen loss or failure is an important cause of honey bee colony loss. A functional queen is essential to a colony, and the queen is predicted to be well protected by worker bees and other mechanisms of social immunity. Nevertheless, several honey bee pathogens (including viruses) can infect queens. Here, we report a series of experiments to test how virus infection influences queen⁻worker interactions and the consequences for virus transmission. We used Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) as an experimental pathogen because it is relevant to bee health but is not omnipresent. Queens were observed spending 50% of their time with healthy workers, 32% with infected workers, and 18% without interaction. However, the overall bias toward healthy workers was not statistically significant, and there was considerable individual to individual variability. We found that physical contact between infected workers and queens leads to high queen infection in some cases, suggesting that IAPV infections also spread through close bodily contact. Across experiments, queens exhibited lower IAPV titers than surrounding workers. Thus, our results indicate that honey bee queens are better protected by individual and social immunity, but this protection is insufficient to prevent IAPV infections completely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmaeil Amiri
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, USA.
- Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7613, USA.
| | - Gregory Seddon
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, USA.
| | - Wendy Zuluaga Smith
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, USA.
| | - Micheline K Strand
- Life Science Division, U.S. Army Research Office, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27709-2211, USA.
| | - David R Tarpy
- Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7613, USA.
| | - Olav Rueppell
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, USA.
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11
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Abstract
Bees-including solitary, social, wild, and managed species-are key pollinators of flowering plant species, including nearly three-quarters of global food crops. Their ecological importance, coupled with increased annual losses of managed honey bees and declines in populations of key wild species, has focused attention on the factors that adversely affect bee health, including viral pathogens. Genomic approaches have dramatically expanded understanding of the diversity of viruses that infect bees, the complexity of their transmission routes-including intergenus transmission-and the diversity of strategies bees have evolved to combat virus infections, with RNA-mediated responses playing a prominent role. Moreover, the impacts of viruses on their hosts are exacerbated by the other major stressors bee populations face, including parasites, poor nutrition, and exposure to chemicals. Unraveling the complex relationships between viruses and their bee hosts will lead to improved understanding of viral ecology and management strategies that support better bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA;
| | - Michelle L Flenniken
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology and Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA;
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12
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McMenamin AJ, Daughenbaugh KF, Parekh F, Pizzorno MC, Flenniken ML. Honey Bee and Bumble Bee Antiviral Defense. Viruses 2018; 10:E395. [PMID: 30060518 PMCID: PMC6115922 DOI: 10.3390/v10080395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bees are important plant pollinators in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Managed and wild bees have experienced high average annual colony losses, population declines, and local extinctions in many geographic regions. Multiple factors, including virus infections, impact bee health and longevity. The majority of bee-infecting viruses are positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. Bee-infecting viruses often cause asymptomatic infections but may also cause paralysis, deformity or death. The severity of infection is governed by bee host immune responses and influenced by additional biotic and abiotic factors. Herein, we highlight studies that have contributed to the current understanding of antiviral defense in bees, including the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), the Eastern honey bee (Apis cerana) and bumble bee species (Bombus spp.). Bee antiviral defense mechanisms include RNA interference (RNAi), endocytosis, melanization, encapsulation, autophagy and conserved immune pathways including Jak/STAT (Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription), JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinases) and the NF-κB mediated Toll and Imd (immune deficiency) pathways. Studies in Dipteran insects, including the model organism Drosophila melanogaster and pathogen-transmitting mosquitos, provide the framework for understanding bee antiviral defense. However, there are notable differences such as the more prominent role of a non-sequence specific, dsRNA-triggered, virus limiting response in honey bees and bumble bees. This virus-limiting response in bees is akin to pathways in a range of organisms including other invertebrates (i.e., oysters, shrimp and sand flies), as well as the mammalian interferon response. Current and future research aimed at elucidating bee antiviral defense mechanisms may lead to development of strategies that mitigate bee losses, while expanding our understanding of insect antiviral defense and the potential evolutionary relationship between sociality and immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J McMenamin
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
- Center for Pollinator Health, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
| | - Katie F Daughenbaugh
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
- Center for Pollinator Health, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
| | - Fenali Parekh
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
- Center for Pollinator Health, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
| | - Marie C Pizzorno
- Biology Department, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA.
| | - Michelle L Flenniken
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
- Center for Pollinator Health, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
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13
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Santos D, Wynant N, Van den Brande S, Verdonckt TW, Mingels L, Peeters P, Kolliopoulou A, Swevers L, Vanden Broeck J. Insights into RNAi-based antiviral immunity in Lepidoptera: acute and persistent infections in Bombyx mori and Trichoplusia ni cell lines. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2423. [PMID: 29403066 PMCID: PMC5799340 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20848-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The control of viral infections in insects is a current issue of major concern and RNA interference (RNAi) is considered the main antiviral immune response in this group of animals. Here we demonstrate that overexpression of key RNAi factors can help to protect insect cells against viral infections. In particular, we show that overexpression of Dicer2 and Argonaute2 in lepidopteran cells leads to improved defense against the acute infection of the Cricket Paralysis Virus (CrPV). We also demonstrate an important role of RNAi in the control of persistent viral infections, as the one caused by the Macula-like Latent Virus (MLV). Specifically, a direct interaction between Argonaute2 and virus-specific small RNAs is shown. Yet, while knocking down Dicer2 and Argonaute2 resulted in higher transcript levels of the persistently infecting MLV in the lepidopteran cells under investigation, overexpression of these proteins could not further reduce these levels. Taken together, our data provide deep insight into the RNAi-based interactions between insects and their viruses. In addition, our results suggest the potential use of an RNAi gain-of-function approach as an alternative strategy to obtain reduced viral-induced mortality in Lepidoptera, an insect order that encompasses multiple species of relevant economic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dulce Santos
- Research group of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, box 02465, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Niels Wynant
- Research group of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, box 02465, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stijn Van den Brande
- Research group of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, box 02465, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas-Wolf Verdonckt
- Research group of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, box 02465, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lina Mingels
- Research group of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, box 02465, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paulien Peeters
- Research group of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, box 02465, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anna Kolliopoulou
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 153 10, Aghia Paraskevi Attikis, Athens, Greece
| | - Luc Swevers
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 153 10, Aghia Paraskevi Attikis, Athens, Greece
| | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Research group of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, box 02465, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
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14
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Wang H, Smagghe G, Meeus I. The role of a single gene encoding the Single von Willebrand factor C-domain protein (SVC) in bumblebee immunity extends beyond antiviral defense. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 91:10-20. [PMID: 29074090 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Revised: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The Single von Willebrand factor C-domain proteins (SVCs) are a group of short proteins mainly found in arthropods. They are proposed to be responsive in relation to environmental challenges including the nutritional status, bacterial and viral infections. The SVC protein Vago acts as a cross-talk molecule between the small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway and the Jak/STAT pathway upon viral infection in Drosophila melanogaster and Culex mosquito cells. Unlike flies and mosquitoes that possess diverse SVCs, most bee species only have one of which the function remains unclear. Here we investigated whether this single SVC within the genome of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris is also involved in the host antiviral immunity and whether links with other immune pathways can be found. We can show the presence of two key characteristics of Vago linked with the single SVC in B. terrestris (BtSVC). The antiviral character is proven by silencing BtSVC, which lead to increased Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) levels in the fat body. Second, the silencing of BtDicer-2 resulted in a lower expression of BtSVC and increased IAPV levels, confirming the link between Dicer-2 and BtSVC. We were, however, unable to demonstrate a third known role of Vago in the activation of the Jak/STAT pathway. This is probably because we lack good markers for this pathway in bumblebees. Interestingly, we found that BtSVC contributes to the basal expression levels of four antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-coding genes in the fat body of the bumblebees. Therefore, the single SVC gene in bumblebees may be involved in both host antiviral immunity and basal AMPs expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haidong Wang
- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ivan Meeus
- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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15
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Kolliopoulou A, Taning CNT, Smagghe G, Swevers L. Viral Delivery of dsRNA for Control of Insect Agricultural Pests and Vectors of Human Disease: Prospects and Challenges. Front Physiol 2017; 8:399. [PMID: 28659820 PMCID: PMC5469917 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
RNAi is applied as a new and safe method for pest control in agriculture but efficiency and specificity of delivery of dsRNA trigger remains a critical issue. Various agents have been proposed to augment dsRNA delivery, such as engineered micro-organisms and synthetic nanoparticles, but the use of viruses has received relatively little attention. Here we present a critical view of the potential of the use of recombinant viruses for efficient and specific delivery of dsRNA. First of all, it requires the availability of plasmid-based reverse genetics systems for virus production, of which an overview is presented. For RNA viruses, their application seems to be straightforward since dsRNA is produced as an intermediate molecule during viral replication, but DNA viruses also have potential through the production of RNA hairpins after transcription. However, application of recombinant virus for dsRNA delivery may not be straightforward in many cases, since viruses can encode RNAi suppressors, and virus-induced silencing effects can be determined by the properties of the encoded RNAi suppressor. An alternative is virus-like particles that retain the efficiency and specificity determinants of natural virions but have encapsidated non-replicating RNA. Finally, the use of viruses raises important safety issues which need to be addressed before application can proceed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kolliopoulou
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Research Group, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, NCSR “Demokritos,”Aghia Paraskevi, Greece
| | - Clauvis N. T. Taning
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent UniversityGhent, Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent UniversityGhent, Belgium
| | - Luc Swevers
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Research Group, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, NCSR “Demokritos,”Aghia Paraskevi, Greece
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