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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. J Insect Physiol 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Yan Z, Fang Q, Song J, Yang L, Xiao S, Wang J, Ye G. A serpin gene from a parasitoid wasp disrupts host immunity and exhibits adaptive alternative splicing. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011649. [PMID: 37695779 PMCID: PMC10513286 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is a major source of protein diversity in eukaryotes, but less is known about its evolution compared to gene duplication (GD). How AS and GD interact is also largely understudied. By constructing the evolutionary trajectory of the serpin gene PpSerpin-1 (Pteromalus puparum serpin 1) in parasitoids and other insects, we found that both AS and GD jointly contribute to serpin protein diversity. These two processes are negatively correlated and show divergent features in both protein and regulatory sequences. Parasitoid wasps exhibit higher numbers of serpin protein/domains than nonparasitoids, resulting from more GD but less AS in parasitoids. The potential roles of AS and GD in the evolution of parasitoid host-effector genes are discussed. Furthermore, we find that PpSerpin-1 shows an exon expansion of AS compared to other parasitoids, and that several isoforms are involved in the wasp immune response, have been recruited to both wasp venom and larval saliva, and suppress host immunity. Overall, our study provides an example of how a parasitoid serpin gene adapts to parasitism through AS, and sheds light on the differential features of AS and GD in the evolution of insect serpins and their associations with the parasitic life strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Yan
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology & Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qi Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology & Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiqiang Song
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology & Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology & Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology & Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiale Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology & Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Gongyin Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology & Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Pinto CPG, Walker AA, King GF, Rossi GD. Immunosuppressive, antimicrobial and insecticidal activities of inhibitor cystine knot peptides produced by teratocytes of the endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Insect Sci 2022. [PMID: 36434808 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Teratocytes are specialized cells released by parasitoid wasps into their hosts. They are known for producing regulatory molecules that aid the development of immature parasitoids. We have recently reported the primary structures of cystine-rich peptides, including some containing inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) motifs, produced by teratocytes of the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). ICKs are known for their stability and diverse biological functions. In this study, we produced four putative ICK peptides from the teratocytes of C. flavipes using solid-phase peptide synthesis or recombinant expression in E. coli, and investigated their functions on host immune modulation as well their potential to impair the development of two lepidopterans after ingestion of the peptides. In addition, the peptides were assayed against pathogens and human cells. The peptides did not influence total hemocyte count but suppressed cellular immunity, detectable as a reduction of hemocyte encapsulation (CftICK-I, CftICK-II, CftICK-III) and spread indexes (CftICK-IV) in the host. None of the peptides influenced the activities of prophenoloxidase and phenoloxidase in the hemolymph of larval Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). CftICK-I and CftICK-II with previously unknown function showed antifungal activity against Candida albicans but were non-toxic to human cells. CftICK-I, CftICK-II, and CftICK-III increased larval mortality and reduced leaf consumption of D. saccharalis, a permissive host for C. flavipes. The CftICK-III also increased larval mortality and reduced leaf consumption of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a non-permissive host for C. flavipes. This study highlights biological functions and biotechnological potential of ICK peptides from the teratocytes of C. flavipes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciro P G Pinto
- School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Andrew A Walker
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Guilherme D Rossi
- School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil
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