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Galambos N, Vincent-Monegat C, Vallier A, Parisot N, Heddi A, Zaidman-Rémy A. Cereal weevils' antimicrobial peptides: at the crosstalk between development, endosymbiosis and immune response. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230062. [PMID: 38497254 PMCID: PMC10945404 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Interactions between animals and microbes are ubiquitous in nature and strongly impact animal physiology. These interactions are shaped by the host immune system, which responds to infections and contributes to tailor the associations with beneficial microorganisms. In many insects, beneficial symbiotic associations not only include gut commensals, but also intracellular bacteria, or endosymbionts. Endosymbionts are housed within specialized host cells, the bacteriocytes, and are transmitted vertically across host generations. Host-endosymbiont co-evolution shapes the endosymbiont genome and host immune system, which not only fights against microbial intruders, but also ensures the preservation of endosymbionts and the control of their load and location. The cereal weevil Sitophilus spp. is a remarkable model in which to study the evolutionary adaptation of the immune system to endosymbiosis owing to its binary association with a unique, relatively recently acquired nutritional endosymbiont, Sodalis pierantonius. This Gram-negative bacterium has not experienced the genome size shrinkage observed in long-term endosymbioses and has retained immunogenicity. We focus here on the sixteen antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) identified in the Sitophilus oryzae genome and their expression patterns in different tissues, along host development or upon immune challenges, to address their potential functions in the defensive response and endosymbiosis homeostasis along the insect life cycle. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sculpting the microbiome: how host factors determine and respond to microbial colonization'.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Galambos
- INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | | | - A. Vallier
- INRAE, INSA Lyon, BF2I, UMR203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - N. Parisot
- INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - A. Heddi
- INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - A. Zaidman-Rémy
- INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
- Institut universitaire de France (IUF), 75005 Paris, France
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2
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Tian S, Monteiro A. A transcriptomic atlas underlying developmental plasticity of seasonal forms of Bicyclus anynana butterflies. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:msac126. [PMID: 35679434 PMCID: PMC9218548 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms residing in regions with alternating seasons often develop different phenotypes, or forms, in each season. These forms are often adaptations to each season and result from an altered developmental response to specific environmental cues such as temperature. While multiple studies have examined form-specific gene expression profiles in a diversity of species, little is known about how environments and developmental transitions, cued by hormone pulses, alter post-transcriptional patterns. In this study, we examine how gene expression, alternative splicing, and miRNA-mediated gene silencing in Bicyclus anynana butterfly hindwing tissue, varies across two rearing temperatures at four developmental timepoints. These timepoints flank two temperature-sensitive periods that coincide with two pulses of the insect hormone 20E. Our results suggest that developmental transitions, coincident with 20E pulses, elicit a greater impact on all these transcriptomic patterns than rearing temperatures per se. More similar transcriptomic patterns are observed pre-20E pulses than those observed post-20E pulses. We also found functionally distinct sets of differentially expressed and differentially spliced genes in the seasonal forms. Furthermore, around 10% of differentially expressed genes are predicted to be direct targets of, and regulated by, differentially expressed miRNAs between the seasonal forms. Many differentially expressed genes, miRNAs, or differentially spliced genes potentially regulate eyespot size plasticity, and we validated the differential splicing pattern of one such gene, daughterless. We present a comprehensive and interactive transcriptomic atlas of the hindwing tissue of both seasonal forms of B. anynana throughout development, a model organism of seasonal plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Tian
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Antónia Monteiro
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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3
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Li N, Jiang L, Wang JS, Hua BZ. Integrative taxonomy of the seasonally polyphenic scorpionfly Panorpa liui Hua, 1997 (Mecoptera: Panorpidae). ORG DIVERS EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-021-00498-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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4
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Baudach A, Vilcinskas A. The European Map Butterfly Araschnia levana as a Model to Study the Molecular Basis and Evolutionary Ecology of Seasonal Polyphenism. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12040325. [PMID: 33917601 PMCID: PMC8067495 DOI: 10.3390/insects12040325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The European map butterfly Araschnia levana is a well-known example of seasonal polyphenism. Spring and summer imagoes exhibit distinct morphological phenotypes. Key environmental factors responsible for the expression of different morphs are day length and temperature. Larval exposure to light for more than 16 h per day entails direct development and results in the adult f. prorsa summer phenotype. Less than 15.5 h per day increasingly promotes diapause and the adult f. levana spring phenotype. The phenotype depends on the timing of the release of 20-hydroxyecdysone in pupae. Release within the first days after pupation potentially inhibits the default "levana-gene-expression-profile" because pre-pupae destined for diapause or subitaneous development have unique transcriptomic programs. Moreover, multiple microRNAs and their targets are differentially regulated during the larval and pupal stages, and candidates for diapause maintenance, duration, and phenotype determination have been identified. However, the complete pathway from photoreception to timekeeping and diapause or subitaneous development remains unclear. Beside the wing polyphenism, the hormonal and epigenetic modifications of the two phenotypes also include differences in biomechanical design and immunocompetence. Here, we discuss research on the physiological and molecular basis of polyphenism in A. levana, including hormonal control, epigenetic regulation, and the effect of ecological parameters on developmental fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Baudach
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Ohlebergsweg 12, 35392 Giessen, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-641-99-37600
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5
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Esperk T, Tammaru T. Ontogenetic Basis of Among-Generation Differences in Size-Related Traits in a Polyphenic Butterfly. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.612330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Seasonal polyphenisms are cases in which individuals representing generations occurring in different times of the year systematically differ in their morphological, physiological, and/or behavioral traits. Such differences are often assumed to constitute adaptive responses to seasonally varying environments, but the evidence for this is still scarce. The adaptive character of the response would be corroborated by the pattern in which the decision about choosing a particular seasonal phenotype is made before the onset of respective environmental conditions (anticipatory plasticity). Alternatively, the between-generation differences can be caused by immediate effects of seasonally varying environments (responsive plasticity). Here we reared the larvae of the seasonally polymorphic map butterfly Araschnia levana under two different photoperiodic regimes, which provided different seasonal cues. These two treatments induced direct development and diapause pathways, respectively. Replicating the experiment at different temperatures and levels of host plant quality allowed us to evaluate both the anticipatory and the responsive components of the associated plastic changes in life-history traits. Larvae representing the direct development pathway invariably had higher growth rates and shorter development periods, although the difference between the developmental pathways was smaller at inferior host quality. Body size differences between the developmental pathways turned out to be less consistent, as the natural pattern of higher pupal mass of the directly developing individuals could only be reproduced at lower rearing temperature. Though being considerably modified by immediate environmental effects, the between-generation differences in size, growth rates, and larval are largely based on anticipatory plasticity (= responses to photoperiodic cues) and should be treated as seasonal adaptations in A. levana. In a more general context, we show how investigating the proximate basis of size differences can serve the purpose of identifying the limits of phenotypic plasticity in juvenile growth schedules.
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6
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Alexiuk MR, Marcus JM, Lalonde MML. The complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of the European map butterfly Araschnia levana (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES 2020; 5:3246-3248. [PMID: 33458126 PMCID: PMC7782646 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2020.1810163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The European map butterfly Araschnia levana (Linnaeus, 1758) is a species showing extreme seasonal polyphenism. The complete 15,207 bp circular A. levana mitogenome consisting of 81.6% AT nucleotides, was assembled by Illumina genome skimming. It includes 22 tRNAs, 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs, and a control region in the typical butterfly gene order. Araschnia levana COX1 features an atypical CGA start codon and ATP6, COX1, COX2, ND1, ND3, and ND4 have incomplete stop codons completed by 3′A residues added to the mRNA. Phylogenetic reconstruction places A. levana as a basal lineage within tribe Nymphalini, consistent with previous phylogenetic hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeffrey M Marcus
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
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7
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Dennis AB, Ballesteros GI, Robin S, Schrader L, Bast J, Berghöfer J, Beukeboom LW, Belghazi M, Bretaudeau A, Buellesbach J, Cash E, Colinet D, Dumas Z, Errbii M, Falabella P, Gatti JL, Geuverink E, Gibson JD, Hertaeg C, Hartmann S, Jacquin-Joly E, Lammers M, Lavandero BI, Lindenbaum I, Massardier-Galata L, Meslin C, Montagné N, Pak N, Poirié M, Salvia R, Smith CR, Tagu D, Tares S, Vogel H, Schwander T, Simon JC, Figueroa CC, Vorburger C, Legeai F, Gadau J. Functional insights from the GC-poor genomes of two aphid parasitoids, Aphidius ervi and Lysiphlebus fabarum. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:376. [PMID: 32471448 PMCID: PMC7257214 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-6764-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parasitoid wasps have fascinating life cycles and play an important role in trophic networks, yet little is known about their genome content and function. Parasitoids that infect aphids are an important group with the potential for biological control. Their success depends on adapting to develop inside aphids and overcoming both host aphid defenses and their protective endosymbionts. RESULTS We present the de novo genome assemblies, detailed annotation, and comparative analysis of two closely related parasitoid wasps that target pest aphids: Aphidius ervi and Lysiphlebus fabarum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae). The genomes are small (139 and 141 Mbp) and the most AT-rich reported thus far for any arthropod (GC content: 25.8 and 23.8%). This nucleotide bias is accompanied by skewed codon usage and is stronger in genes with adult-biased expression. AT-richness may be the consequence of reduced genome size, a near absence of DNA methylation, and energy efficiency. We identify missing desaturase genes, whose absence may underlie mimicry in the cuticular hydrocarbon profile of L. fabarum. We highlight key gene groups including those underlying venom composition, chemosensory perception, and sex determination, as well as potential losses in immune pathway genes. CONCLUSIONS These findings are of fundamental interest for insect evolution and biological control applications. They provide a strong foundation for further functional studies into coevolution between parasitoids and their hosts. Both genomes are available at https://bipaa.genouest.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice B Dennis
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Gabriel I Ballesteros
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- Centre for Molecular and Functional Ecology in Agroecosystems, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- Laboratorio de Control Biológico, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Stéphanie Robin
- IGEPP, Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, Université de Rennes, 35650, Le Rheu, France
- Université de Rennes 1, INRIA, CNRS, IRISA, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Lukas Schrader
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jens Bast
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Université de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Zoology, Universität zu Köln, 50674, Köln, Germany
| | - Jan Berghöfer
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Leo W Beukeboom
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Maya Belghazi
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, PINT, PFNT, Marseille, France
| | - Anthony Bretaudeau
- IGEPP, Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, Université de Rennes, 35650, Le Rheu, France
- Université de Rennes 1, INRIA, CNRS, IRISA, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Jan Buellesbach
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Elizabeth Cash
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | | | - Zoé Dumas
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Université de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mohammed Errbii
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Jean-Luc Gatti
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, ISA, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Elzemiek Geuverink
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joshua D Gibson
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA
| | - Corinne Hertaeg
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Sciences, D-USYS, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Hartmann
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Emmanuelle Jacquin-Joly
- INRAE, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, UPEC, Université Paris Diderot, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, iEES-Paris, F-78000, Versailles, France
| | - Mark Lammers
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Blas I Lavandero
- Laboratorio de Control Biológico, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Ina Lindenbaum
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Camille Meslin
- INRAE, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, UPEC, Université Paris Diderot, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, iEES-Paris, F-78000, Versailles, France
| | - Nicolas Montagné
- INRAE, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, UPEC, Université Paris Diderot, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, iEES-Paris, F-78000, Versailles, France
| | - Nina Pak
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Marylène Poirié
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, ISA, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Rosanna Salvia
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100, Potenza, Italy
| | - Chris R Smith
- Department of Biology, Earlham College, Richmond, IN, 47374, USA
| | - Denis Tagu
- IGEPP, Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, Université de Rennes, 35650, Le Rheu, France
| | - Sophie Tares
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, ISA, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Heiko Vogel
- Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Tanja Schwander
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Université de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Christian C Figueroa
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- Centre for Molecular and Functional Ecology in Agroecosystems, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Christoph Vorburger
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Fabrice Legeai
- IGEPP, Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, Université de Rennes, 35650, Le Rheu, France
- Université de Rennes 1, INRIA, CNRS, IRISA, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Jürgen Gadau
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany.
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8
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Mukherjee K, Baudach A, Vogel H, Vilcinskas A. Seasonal phenotype-specific expression of microRNAs during metamorphosis in the European map butterfly Araschnia levana. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 104:e21657. [PMID: 31960991 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The European map butterfly (Araschnia levana) is a well-known example of seasonal polyphenism because the spring and summer imagoes exhibit distinct morphological phenotypes. The day length and temperature during larval and prepupal development determine whether spring or summer imagoes emerge after metamorphosis. Inspired by the fundamentally different transcriptomic profiles in prepupae developing from larvae exposed to long days or short days, we postulate that posttranscriptional epigenetic regulators such as microRNAs (miRNAs) may contribute to the epigenetic control of seasonal polyphenism in A. levana. To test this hypothesis, we used microarrays containing over 2,000 insect miRNAs to identify candidate regulators that are differentially expressed in last-instar larvae or pupae developing under long-day or short-day conditions. We used our transcriptomic database to identify potential 3'-untranslated regions of messenger RNAs to predict miRNA targets by considering both base pair complementarity and minimum free energy hybridization. This approach resulted in the identification of multiple targets of miRNAs that were differentially regulated in polyphenic morphs of A. levana including a candidate (miR-2856-3p) regulating the previously identified diapause bioclock protein gene. In conclusion, the expression profiling of miRNAs provided insights into their possible involvement in seasonal polyphenism of A. levana and offer an important resource for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishnendu Mukherjee
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
| | - Arne Baudach
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Applied Entomology, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Heiko Vogel
- Department of Entomology, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Applied Entomology, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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9
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Gegner J, Gegner T, Vogel H, Vilcinskas A. Silencing of the DNA methyltransferase 1 associated protein 1 (DMAP1) gene in the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis implies a role of the DNA methyltransferase 1-DMAP1 complex in female fecundity. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 29:148-159. [PMID: 31531894 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Revised: 08/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The invasive harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis is a textbook example of polymorphism and polyphenism as the temperature during egg development determines the frequency of melanic morphs and the number and size of black spots in nonmelanic morphs. Recent concepts in evolutionary biology suggest that epigenetic mechanisms can translate environmental stimuli into heritable phenotypic changes. To investigate whether epigenetic mechanisms influence the penetrance and expressivity of colour morphs in H. axyridis, we used RNA interference to silence key enzymes required for DNA methylation and histone modification. We found that neither of these epigenetic mechanisms affected the frequency of different morphs, but there was a significant impact on life-history traits such as longevity and fecundity. Strikingly, we found that silencing the gene encoding for DNA methyltransferase 1 associated protein 1 (DMAP1) severely reduced female fecundity, which correlated with an abundance of degenerated ovaries in DMAP1-knockdown female beetles. Finally, we observed significant differences in DMAP1 expression when we compared native and invasive H. axyridis populations with a biocontrol strain differing in egg-laying capacity, suggesting that the DNA methyltransferase 1-DMAP1 complex may influence the invasive performance of this ladybird.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Gegner
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
| | - T Gegner
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - H Vogel
- Max Plank Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - A Vilcinskas
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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10
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Baudach A, Lee K, Vogel H, Vilcinskas A. Immunological larval polyphenism in the map butterfly Araschnia levana reveals the photoperiodic modulation of immunity. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:4891-4898. [PMID: 29876067 PMCID: PMC5980286 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The bivoltine European map butterfly (Araschnia levana) displays seasonal polyphenism characterized by the formation of two remarkably distinct dorsal wing phenotypes: The spring generation (A. levana levana) is predominantly orange with black spots and develops from diapause pupae, whereas the summer generation (A. levana prorsa) has black, white, and orange bands and develops from subitaneous pupae. The choice between spring or summer imagoes is regulated by the photoperiod during larval and prepupal development, but polyphenism in the larvae has not been investigated before. Recently, it has been found that the prepupae of A. levana display differences in immunity-related gene expression, so we tested whether larvae destined to become spring (short-day) or summer (long-day) morphs also display differences in innate immunity. We measured larval survival following the injection of a bacterial entomopathogen (Pseudomonas entomophila), the antimicrobial activity in their hemolymph and the induced expression of selected genes encoding antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Larvae of the short-day generation died significantly later, exhibited higher antibacterial activity in the hemolymph, and displayed higher induced expression levels of AMPs than those of the long-day generation. Our study expands the seasonal polyphenism of A. levana beyond the morphologically distinct spring and summer imagoes to include immunological larval polyphenism that reveals the photoperiodic modulation of immunity. This may reflect life-history traits that manifest as trade-offs between immunity and fecundity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Baudach
- Institute for Insect BiotechnologyJustus Liebig UniversityGiessenGermany
| | - Kwang‐Zin Lee
- Institute for Insect BiotechnologyJustus Liebig UniversityGiessenGermany
| | - Heiko Vogel
- Max‐Planck Institute for Chemical EcologyJenaGermany
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Institute for Insect BiotechnologyJustus Liebig UniversityGiessenGermany
- Department BioresourcesFraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied EcologyGiessenGermany
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11
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Smith CR, Morandin C, Noureddine M, Pant S. Conserved roles of Osiris genes in insect development, polymorphism and protection. J Evol Biol 2018; 31:516-529. [PMID: 29322640 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Much of the variation among insects is derived from the different ways that chitin has been moulded to form rigid structures, both internal and external. In this study, we identify a highly conserved expression pattern in an insect-only gene family, the Osiris genes, that is essential for development, but also plays a significant role in phenotypic plasticity and in immunity/toxicity responses. The majority of Osiris genes exist in a highly syntenic cluster, and the cluster itself appears to have arisen very early in the evolution of insects. We used developmental gene expression in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, the bumble bee, Bombus terrestris, the harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex barbatus, and the wood ant, Formica exsecta, to compare patterns of Osiris gene expression both during development and between alternate caste phenotypes in the polymorphic social insects. Developmental gene expression of Osiris genes is highly conserved across species and correlated with gene location and evolutionary history. The social insect castes are highly divergent in pupal Osiris gene expression. Sets of co-expressed genes that include Osiris genes are enriched in gene ontology terms related to chitin/cuticle and peptidase activity. Osiris genes are essential for cuticle formation in both embryos and pupae, and genes co-expressed with Osiris genes affect wing development. Additionally, Osiris genes and those co-expressed seem to play a conserved role in insect toxicology defences and digestion. Given their role in development, plasticity, and protection, we propose that the Osiris genes play a central role in insect adaptive evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Smith
- Department of Biology, Earlham College, Richmond, IN, USA
| | - C Morandin
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - M Noureddine
- Department of Biology, Earlham College, Richmond, IN, USA
| | - S Pant
- Department of Biology, Earlham College, Richmond, IN, USA
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12
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Greenwood JM, Milutinović B, Peuß R, Behrens S, Esser D, Rosenstiel P, Schulenburg H, Kurtz J. Oral immune priming with Bacillus thuringiensis induces a shift in the gene expression of Tribolium castaneum larvae. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:329. [PMID: 28446171 PMCID: PMC5405463 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3705-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The phenomenon of immune priming, i.e. enhanced protection following a secondary exposure to a pathogen, has now been demonstrated in a wide range of invertebrate species. Despite accumulating phenotypic evidence, knowledge of its mechanistic underpinnings is currently very limited. Here we used the system of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum and the insect pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to further our molecular understanding of the oral immune priming phenomenon. We addressed how ingestion of bacterial cues (derived from spore supernatants) of an orally pathogenic and non-pathogenic Bt strain affects gene expression upon later challenge exposure, using a whole-transcriptome sequencing approach. Results Whereas gene expression of individuals primed with the orally non-pathogenic strain showed minor changes to controls, we found that priming with the pathogenic strain induced regulation of a large set of distinct genes, many of which are known immune candidates. Intriguingly, the immune repertoire activated upon priming and subsequent challenge qualitatively differed from the one mounted upon infection with Bt without previous priming. Moreover, a large subset of priming-specific genes showed an inverse regulation compared to their regulation upon challenge only. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that gene expression upon infection is strongly affected by previous immune priming. We hypothesise that this shift in gene expression indicates activation of a more targeted and efficient response towards a previously encountered pathogen, in anticipation of potential secondary encounter. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-3705-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny M Greenwood
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Hüfferstrasse 1, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Barbara Milutinović
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Hüfferstrasse 1, 48149, Münster, Germany.,Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Robert Peuß
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Hüfferstrasse 1, 48149, Münster, Germany.,Current Address: Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
| | - Sarah Behrens
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Hüfferstrasse 1, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Daniela Esser
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Schittenhelmstr. 12, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Philip Rosenstiel
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Schittenhelmstr. 12, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Hinrich Schulenburg
- Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Joachim Kurtz
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Hüfferstrasse 1, 48149, Münster, Germany.
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