1
|
Xue Q, Swevers L, Taning CNT. Drosophila X virus-like particles as delivery carriers for improved oral insecticidal efficacy of scorpion Androctonus australis peptide against the invasive fruit fly, Drosophila suzukii. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:847-858. [PMID: 37681406 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Insect-specific neurotoxic peptides derived from the venoms of scorpions and spiders can cause acute paralysis and death when injected into insects, offering a promising insecticidal component for insect pest control. However, effective delivery systems are required to help neurotoxic peptides pass through the gut barrier into the hemolymph, where they can act. Here, we investigated the potential of a novel nanocarrier, Drosophila X virus-like particle (DXV-VLP), for delivering a neurotoxin from the scorpion Androctonus australis Hector (AaIT) against the invasive pest fruit fly, Drosophila suzukii. Our results show that the fusion proteins of DXV polyproteins with AaIT peptide at their C-termini could be sufficiently produced in Lepidoptera Hi5 cells in a soluble form using the recombinant baculovirus expression system, and could self-assemble into VLPs with similar particle morphology and size to authentic DXV virions. In addition, the AaIT peptides displayed on DXV-VLPs retained their toxicity, as demonstrated in injection bioassays that resulted in severe mortality (72%) in adults after 72 h. When fed to adults, mild mortality was observed in the group treated with DXV-AaIT (38%), while no mortality occurred in the group treated with AaIT peptide, thus indicating the significant role of DXV-VLPs in delivering AaIT peptides. Overall, this proof-of-concept study demonstrates for the first time that VLPs can be exploited to enhance oral delivery of insect-specific neurotoxic peptides in the context of pest control. Moreover, it provides insights for further improvements and potentially the development of neurotoxin-based bioinsecticides and/or transgenic crops for insect pest control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Xue
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Plants and Crops, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luc Swevers
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Athens, Greece
| | - Clauvis Nji Tizi Taning
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Plants and Crops, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ho TNT, Turner A, Pham SH, Nguyen HT, Nguyen LTT, Nguyen LT, Dang TT. Cysteine-rich peptides: From bioactivity to bioinsecticide applications. Toxicon 2023; 230:107173. [PMID: 37211058 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Greater levels of insect resistance and constraints on the use of current pesticides have recently led to increased crop losses in agricultural production. Further, the health and environmental impacts of pesticides now restrict their application. Biologics based on peptides are gaining popularity as efficient crop protection agents with low environmental toxicity. Cysteine-rich peptides (whether originated from venoms or plant defense substances) are chemically stable and effective as insecticides in agricultural applications. Cysteine-rich peptides fulfill the stability and efficacy requirements for commercial uses and provide an environmentally benign alternative to small-molecule insecticides. In this article, cysteine-rich insecticidal peptide classes identified from plants and venoms will be highlighted, focusing on their structural stability, bioactivity and production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thao N T Ho
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - A Turner
- Molecular Biology Department, University of Texas, 100 E 24th St. Austin, USA
| | - Son H Pham
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Ha T Nguyen
- National Key Laboratory of Polymer and Composite Materials, Department of Energy Materials, Faculty of Materials Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam; Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Linh T T Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, 280 an Duong Vuong Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Luan T Nguyen
- National Key Laboratory of Polymer and Composite Materials, Department of Energy Materials, Faculty of Materials Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam; Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Tien T Dang
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mendes LC, Viana GMM, Nencioni ALA, Pimenta DC, Beraldo-Neto E. Scorpion Peptides and Ion Channels: An Insightful Review of Mechanisms and Drug Development. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:238. [PMID: 37104176 PMCID: PMC10145618 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15040238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The Buthidae family of scorpions consists of arthropods with significant medical relevance, as their venom contains a diverse range of biomolecules, including neurotoxins that selectively target ion channels in cell membranes. These ion channels play a crucial role in regulating physiological processes, and any disturbance in their activity can result in channelopathies, which can lead to various diseases such as autoimmune, cardiovascular, immunological, neurological, and neoplastic conditions. Given the importance of ion channels, scorpion peptides represent a valuable resource for developing drugs with targeted specificity for these channels. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the structure and classification of ion channels, the action of scorpion toxins on these channels, and potential avenues for future research. Overall, this review highlights the significance of scorpion venom as a promising source for discovering novel drugs with therapeutic potential for treating channelopathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lais Campelo Mendes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências—Toxinologia do Instituto Butantan, São Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica do Instituto Butantan, São Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Emidio Beraldo-Neto
- Laboratório de Bioquímica do Instituto Butantan, São Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Song YF, Yu LC, Yang MF, Ye S, Yan B, Li LT, Wu C, Liu JF. A Long-Read Genome Assembly of a Native Mite in China Pyemotes zhonghuajia Yu, Zhang & He (Prostigmata: Pyemotidae) Reveals Gene Expansion in Toxin-Related Gene Families. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14080571. [PMID: 36006233 PMCID: PMC9415403 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14080571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyemotes zhonghuajia Yu, Zhang & He (Prostigmata: Pyemotidae), discovered in China, has been demonstrated as a high-efficient natural enemy in controlling many agricultural and forestry pests. This mite injects toxins into the host (eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults), resulting in its paralyzation and then gets nourishment for reproductive development. These toxins have been approved to be mammal-safe, which have the potential to be used as biocontrol pesticides. Toxin proteins have been identified from many insects, especially those from the orders Scorpions and Araneae, some of which are now widely used as efficient biocontrol pesticides. However, toxin proteins in mites are not yet understood. In this study, we assembled the genome of P. zhonghuajia using PacBio technology and then identified toxin-related genes that are likely to be responsible for the paralytic process of P. zhonghuajia. The genome assembly has a size of 71.943 Mb, including 20 contigs with a N50 length of 21.248 Mb and a BUSCO completeness ratio of 90.6% (n = 1367). These contigs were subsequently assigned to three chromosomes. There were 11,183 protein coding genes annotated, which were assessed with 91.2% BUSCO completeness (n = 1066). Neurotoxin and dermonecrotic toxin gene families were significantly expanded within the genus of Pyemotes and they also formed several gene clusters on the chromosomes. Most of the genes from these two families and all of the three agatoxin genes were shown with higher expression in the one-day-old mites compared to the seven-day-pregnant mites, supporting that the one-day-old mites cause paralyzation and even death of the host. The identification of these toxin proteins may provide insights into how to improve the parasitism efficiency of this mite, and the purification of these proteins may be used to develop new biological pesticides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Fei Song
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Scientific Observing and Experiment Station of Crop Pest Guiyang, Ministry of Agriculture, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Li-Chen Yu
- Changli Institute of Pomology, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Changli 066600, China
| | - Mao-Fa Yang
- Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Scientific Observing and Experiment Station of Crop Pest Guiyang, Ministry of Agriculture, Guiyang 550025, China
- College of Tobacco Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Shuai Ye
- Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Scientific Observing and Experiment Station of Crop Pest Guiyang, Ministry of Agriculture, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Bin Yan
- Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Scientific Observing and Experiment Station of Crop Pest Guiyang, Ministry of Agriculture, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Li-Tao Li
- Changli Institute of Pomology, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Changli 066600, China
| | - Chen Wu
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Jian-Feng Liu
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Scientific Observing and Experiment Station of Crop Pest Guiyang, Ministry of Agriculture, Guiyang 550025, China
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Yan H, Wen F, Xiang H, Wen Y, Shang D, Liu A, Niu Y, Xia Q, Wang G. Biochemical characterization and overexpression of an α-amylase (BmAmy) in silkworm, Bombyx mori. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 31:251-259. [PMID: 34923696 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Silkworm (Bombyx mori) is the only fully domesticated insect. As an economically important insect, nutrition utilization is important for its productivity. Hence, the present study investigated the expression pattern of BmAmy, an α-amylase, in B. mori. BmAmy protein purification and biochemical characterization were performed, and effects of BmAmy overexpression were assessed. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction indicated that BmAmy transcription was positively correlated with the silkworm's food intate. Moreover, enzymatic activity assay results showed that BmAmy had significant α-amylase activity of about 1 mg/min/mg protein. Furthermore, treatment with mulberry amylase inhibitors MnAI1 and MnAI2 resulted to 89.92% and 93.67% inhibition in BmAmy activity, respectively, and the interaction between BmAmy and MnAI was also confirmed by protein docking analysis. A silkworm line that specifically overexpressed BmAmy in the midgut was generated through piggyBac-based transgenic technology, and compared to those of non-transgenic silkworms, the whole cocoon and cocoon shell weights of these transgenic silkworms increased by 10.13% and 18.32%, respectively, in the female group, and by 5.83% and 6.00%, respectively, in the male group. These results suggested that BmAmy may be a suitable target for breeding better silkworm varieties in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Research and Development Center, China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial Co. Ltd., Kunming, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Haiying Xiang
- Research and Development Center, China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial Co. Ltd., Kunming, China
| | - Yuchan Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Deli Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Anyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yicheng Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Genhong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Application of the Scorpion Neurotoxin AaIT against Insect Pests. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20143467. [PMID: 31311095 PMCID: PMC6678123 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20143467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Androctonus australis Hector insect toxin (AaIT), an insect-selective toxin, was identified in the venom of the scorpion Androctonus australis. The exclusive and specific target of the toxin is the voltage-gated sodium channels of the insect, resulting in fast excitatory paralysis and even death. Because of its strict toxic selectivity and high bioactivity, AaIT has been widely used in experiments exploring pest bio-control. Recombinant expression of AaIT in a baculovirus or a fungus can increase their virulence to insect pests and diseases vectors. Likewise, transgenic plants expressing AaIT have notable anti-insect activity. AaIT is an efficient toxin and has great potential to be used in the development of commercial insecticides.
Collapse
|
7
|
Li H, Bu X, Li K, Wu D. Production of a novel Poria cocos immunomodulatory protein in Pichia pastoris: cloning, expression, purification and activities assays. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 35:27. [PMID: 30680515 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-019-2602-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In this study, the cDNA of immunomodulatory protein from Poria cocos (PCP) was amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and used to transform P. Pastoris cells, resulting in rPCP expression as a secreted protein to a concentration of ~ 38 mg/L following methanol induction in shake flasks. Approximately 1.6 mg of high purity rPCP was obtained from a 100-mL culture by Ni+-affinity chromatography, and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis results indicated rPCP as a homologous dimer glycoprotein formed by different molecular-weight monomers. Peptide-N-glycosidase F-mediated deglycosylation analysis showed the presence of an N-glycosylated rPCP monomer, and bioactivity assays showed that rPCP activity upregulated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin-1β transcription and increased TNF-α secretion from mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Shortly, we demonstrated successful purification of active rPCP from P. pastoris, which promoted further study of its biological activities and medical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Li
- Key Laboratory of Research and Utilization of Ethnomedicinal Plant Resources of Hunan Province, College of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua, 418008, China.
| | - Xiufen Bu
- Department of Genetics and Eugenics, Changsha Hospital for Maternal and Child Health Care, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Kuai Li
- The Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Donghai Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
| |
Collapse
|