1
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Roth S. Neofunctionalization of Toll Signaling in Insects: From Immunity to Dorsoventral Patterning. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2023; 39:1-22. [PMID: 37843930 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-120319-120223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Toll signaling plays a crucial role in pathogen defense throughout the animal kingdom. It was discovered, however, for its function in dorsoventral (DV) axis formation in Drosophila. In all other insects studied so far, but not outside the insects, Toll is also required for DV patterning. However, in insects more distantly related to Drosophila, Toll's patterning role is frequently reduced and substituted by an expanded influence of BMP signaling, the pathway implicated in DV axis formation in all major metazoan lineages. This suggests that Toll was integrated into an ancestral BMP-based patterning system at the base of the insects or during insect evolution. The observation that Toll signaling has an immune function in the extraembryonic serosa, an early differentiating tissue of most insect embryos, suggests a scenario of how Toll was co-opted from an ancestral immune function for its new role in axis formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siegfried Roth
- Institute of Zoology-Developmental Biology, Biocenter, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany;
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2
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Hilker M, Salem H, Fatouros NE. Adaptive Plasticity of Insect Eggs in Response to Environmental Challenges. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 68:451-469. [PMID: 36266253 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-120120-100746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Insect eggs are exposed to a plethora of abiotic and biotic threats. Their survival depends on both an innate developmental program and genetically determined protective traits provided by the parents. In addition, there is increasing evidence that (a) parents adjust the egg phenotype to the actual needs, (b) eggs themselves respond to environmental challenges, and (c) egg-associated microbes actively shape the egg phenotype. This review focuses on the phenotypic plasticity of insect eggs and their capability to adjust themselves to their environment. We outline the ways in which the interaction between egg and environment is two-way, with the environment shaping the egg phenotype but also with insect eggs affecting their environment. Specifically, insect eggs affect plant defenses, host biology (in the case of parasitoid eggs), and insect oviposition behavior. We aim to emphasize that the insect egg, although it is a sessile life stage, actively responds to and interacts with its environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Hilker
- Applied Zoology/Animal Ecology, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany;
| | - Hassan Salem
- Mutualisms Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen, Germany;
| | - Nina E Fatouros
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands;
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3
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Jacobs CGC, van der Hulst R, Chen YT, Williamson RP, Roth S, van der Zee M. Immune function of the serosa in hemimetabolous insect eggs. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210266. [PMID: 36252212 PMCID: PMC9574632 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Insects comprise more than a million species and many authors have attempted to explain this success by evolutionary innovations. A much overlooked evolutionary novelty of insects is the serosa, an extraembryonic epithelium around the yolk and embryo. We have shown previously that this epithelium provides innate immune protection to eggs of the beetle Tribolium castaneum. It remained elusive, however, whether this immune competence evolved in the Tribolium lineage or is ancestral to all insects. Here, we expand our studies to two hemimetabolous insects, the bug Oncopeltus fasciatus and the swarming grasshopper Locusta migratoria. For Oncopeltus, RNA sequencing reveals an extensive response upon infection, including the massive upregulation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We demonstrate antimicrobial activity of these peptides using in vitro bacterial growth assays and describe two novel AMP families called Serosins and Ovicins. For both insects, quantitative polymerase chain reaction shows immune competence of the eggs when the serosa is present, and in situ hybridizations demonstrate that immune gene expression is localized in the serosa. This first evidence from hemimetabolous insect eggs suggests that immune competence is an ancestral property of the serosa. The evolutionary origin of the serosa with its immune function might have facilitated the spectacular radiation of the insects. This article is part of the theme issue 'Extraembryonic tissues: exploring concepts, definitions and functions across the animal kingdom'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris G. C. Jacobs
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, Leiden 2333 BE, The Netherlands
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans Knöll Straße 8, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Remy van der Hulst
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, Leiden 2333 BE, The Netherlands
| | - Yen-Ta Chen
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, Leiden 2333 BE, The Netherlands
- Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Strasse 47b, Cologne 50674, Germany
| | - Ryan P. Williamson
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, Leiden 2333 BE, The Netherlands
| | - Siegfried Roth
- Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Strasse 47b, Cologne 50674, Germany
| | - Maurijn van der Zee
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, Leiden 2333 BE, The Netherlands
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4
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Prpic NM, Pechmann M. Extraembryonic tissue in chelicerates: a review and outlook. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210269. [PMID: 36252223 PMCID: PMC9574639 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The formation of extraembryonic membranes (EEMs) contributes to the proper development of many animals. In arthropods, the formation and function of EEMs have been studied best in insects. Regarding the development of extraembryonic tissue in chelicerates (spiders and relatives), most information is available for spiders (Araneae). Especially two populations of cells have been considered to represent EEMs in spiders. The first of these potential EEMs develops shortly after egg deposition, opposite to a radially symmetrical germ disc that forms in one hemisphere of the egg and encloses the yolk. The second tissue, which has been described as being extraembryonic is the so-called dorsal field, which is required to cover the dorsal part of the developing spider germ rudiment before proper dorsal closure. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the formation of potential extraembryonic structures in the Chelicerata. We describe the early embryogenesis of spiders and other chelicerates, with a special focus on the formation of the potential extraembryonic tissues. This article is part of the theme issue 'Extraembryonic tissues: exploring concepts, definitions and functions across the animal kingdom'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikola-Michael Prpic
- Justus-Liebig-Universitaet Giessen, Institut für Allgemeine Zoologie und Entwicklungsbiologie, AG Zoologie mit dem Schwerpunkt Molekulare Entwicklungsbiologie, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 38, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Matthias Pechmann
- Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne, Biocenter, Zuelpicher Strasse 47b, 50674 Cologne, Germany
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5
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Schmidt-Ott U, Kwan CW. How two extraembryonic epithelia became one: serosa and amnion features and functions of Drosophila's amnioserosa. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210265. [PMID: 36252222 PMCID: PMC9574642 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The conservation of gene networks that specify and differentiate distinct tissues has long been a subject of great interest to evolutionary developmental biologists, but the question of how pre-existing tissue-specific developmental trajectories merge is rarely asked. During the radiation of flies, two extraembryonic epithelia, known as serosa and amnion, evolved into one, called amnioserosa. This unique extraembryonic epithelium is found in fly species of the group Schizophora, including the genetic model organism Drosophila melanogaster, and has been studied in depth. Close relatives of this group develop a serosa and a rudimentary amnion. The scuttle fly Megaselia abdita has emerged as an excellent model organism to study this extraembryonic tissue organization. In this review, development and functions of the extraembryonic tissue complements of Drosophila and Megaselia are compared. It is concluded that the amnioserosa combines cells, genetic pathway components and functions that were previously associated either with serosa development or amnion development. The composite developmental trajectory of the amnioserosa raises the question of whether merging tissue-specific gene networks is a common evolutionary process. This article is part of the theme issue 'Extraembryonic tissues: exploring concepts, definitions and functions across the animal kingdom'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urs Schmidt-Ott
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, 1027 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Chun Wai Kwan
- Laboratory for Epithelial Morphogenesis, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 2-2-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
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Petronio Petronio G, Pietrangelo L, Cutuli MA, Magnifico I, Venditti N, Guarnieri A, Abate GA, Yewhalaw D, Davinelli S, Di Marco R. Emerging Evidence on Tenebrio molitor Immunity: A Focus on Gene Expression Involved in Microbial Infection for Host-Pathogen Interaction Studies. Microorganisms 2022; 10:1983. [PMID: 36296259 PMCID: PMC9611967 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10101983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the scientific community's interest in T. molitor as an insect model to investigate immunity and host-pathogen interactions has considerably increased. The reasons for this growing interest could be explained by the peculiar features of this beetle, which offers various advantages compared to other invertebrates models commonly used in laboratory studies. Thus, this review aimed at providing a broad view of the T. molitor immune system in light of the new scientific evidence on the developmental/tissue-specific gene expression studies related to microbial infection. In addition to the well-known cellular component and humoral response process, several studies investigating the factors associated with T. molitor immune response or deepening of those already known have been reported. However, various aspects remain still less understood, namely the possible crosstalk between the immune deficiency protein and Toll pathways and the role exerted by T. molitor apolipoprotein III in the expression of the antimicrobial peptides. Therefore, further research is required for T. molitor to be recommended as an alternative insect model for pathogen-host interaction and immunity studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Petronio Petronio
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Laura Pietrangelo
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Marco Alfio Cutuli
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Irene Magnifico
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Noemi Venditti
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Antonio Guarnieri
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Getnet Atinafu Abate
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos P.O. Box 269, Ethiopia
| | - Delenasaw Yewhalaw
- School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma P.O. Box 307, Ethiopia
- Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Jimma University, Jimma P.O. Box 378, Ethiopia
| | - Sergio Davinelli
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Roberto Di Marco
- Department of Medicine and Health Science “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, 8600 Campobasso, Italy
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7
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Ali Mohammadie Kojour M, Baliarsingh S, Jang HA, Yun K, Park KB, Lee JE, Han YS, Patnaik BB, Jo YH. Current knowledge of immune priming in invertebrates, emphasizing studies on Tenebrio molitor. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 127:104284. [PMID: 34619174 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2021.104284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Vertebrates rely on the most sophisticated adaptive immunity to defend themselves against various pathogens. This includes immunologic memory cells, which mount a stronger and more effective immune response against an antigen after its first encounter. Unlike vertebrates, invertebrates' defense completely depends on the innate immunity mechanisms including humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Furthermore, the invertebrate equivalent of the memory cells was discovered only recently. Since the discovery of transgenerational immune priming (TGIP) in crustaceans, numerous findings have proven the IP in invertebrate classes such as insects. TGIP can be induced through maternal priming pathways such as transcriptional regulation of antimicrobial peptides, and also paternal IP including the induction of proPO system activity. We appraise the diversity and specificity of IP agents to provide sustained immunologic memory in insects, particularly T. molitor in the review. An understanding of IP (more so TGIP) response in T. molitor will deepen our knowledge of invertebrate immunity, and boost the mass-rearing industry by reducing pathogen infection rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Ali Mohammadie Kojour
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea
| | - Snigdha Baliarsingh
- PG Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, Odisha, 756089, India
| | - Ho Am Jang
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea
| | - Keunho Yun
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea
| | - Ki Beom Park
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea
| | - Jong Eun Lee
- Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Andong National University, Andong, 36729, South Korea
| | - Yeon Soo Han
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea
| | - Bharat Bhusan Patnaik
- PG Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, Odisha, 756089, India.
| | - Yong Hun Jo
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea.
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8
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Jain A, Ulman V, Mukherjee A, Prakash M, Cuenca MB, Pimpale LG, Münster S, Haase R, Panfilio KA, Jug F, Grill SW, Tomancak P, Pavlopoulos A. Regionalized tissue fluidization is required for epithelial gap closure during insect gastrulation. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5604. [PMID: 33154375 PMCID: PMC7645651 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19356-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Many animal embryos pull and close an epithelial sheet around the ellipsoidal egg surface during a gastrulation process known as epiboly. The ovoidal geometry dictates that the epithelial sheet first expands and subsequently compacts. Moreover, the spreading epithelium is mechanically stressed and this stress needs to be released. Here we show that during extraembryonic tissue (serosa) epiboly in the insect Tribolium castaneum, the non-proliferative serosa becomes regionalized into a solid-like dorsal region with larger non-rearranging cells, and a more fluid-like ventral region surrounding the leading edge with smaller cells undergoing intercalations. Our results suggest that a heterogeneous actomyosin cable contributes to the fluidization of the leading edge by driving sequential eviction and intercalation of individual cells away from the serosa margin. Since this developmental solution utilized during epiboly resembles the mechanism of wound healing, we propose actomyosin cable-driven local tissue fluidization as a conserved morphogenetic module for closure of epithelial gaps. The mechanics of embryonic tissue spreading over spherical eggs is not fully understood. Here, the authors show that during gastrulation in the red flour beetle, extraembryonic tissue epiboly is facilitated by local actomyosin-mediated fluidization of the tissue at the leading edge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Jain
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Vladimir Ulman
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,IT4Innovations, Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | | | - Mangal Prakash
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Systems Biology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marina B Cuenca
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lokesh G Pimpale
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Biotechnology Center, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan Münster
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Systems Biology, Dresden, Germany.,Biotechnology Center, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Robert Haase
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Systems Biology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kristen A Panfilio
- Institute for Zoology: Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Florian Jug
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Systems Biology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephan W Grill
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Systems Biology, Dresden, Germany.,Biotechnology Center, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Pavel Tomancak
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany. .,IT4Innovations, Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
| | - Anastasios Pavlopoulos
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA. .,Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece.
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9
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Tirloni L, Braz G, Nunes RD, Gandara ACP, Vieira LR, Assumpcao TC, Sabadin GA, da Silva RM, Guizzo MG, Machado JA, Costa EP, Santos D, Gomes HF, Moraes J, dos Santos Mota MB, Mesquita RD, de Souza Leite M, Alvarenga PH, Lara FA, Seixas A, da Fonseca RN, Fogaça AC, Logullo C, Tanaka AS, Daffre S, Oliveira PL, da Silva Vaz I, Ribeiro JMC. A physiologic overview of the organ-specific transcriptome of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. Sci Rep 2020. [DOI: 10.1246/nikkashi.1979.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractTo further obtain insights into the Rhipicephalus microplus transcriptome, we used RNA-seq to carry out a study of expression in (i) embryos; (ii) ovaries from partially and fully engorged females; (iii) salivary glands from partially engorged females; (iv) fat body from partially and fully engorged females; and (v) digestive cells from partially, and (vi) fully engorged females. We obtained > 500 million Illumina reads which were assembled de novo, producing > 190,000 contigs, identifying 18,857 coding sequences (CDS). Reads from each library were mapped back into the assembled transcriptome giving a view of gene expression in different tissues. Transcriptomic expression and pathway analysis showed that several genes related in blood digestion and host-parasite interaction were overexpressed in digestive cells compared with other tissues. Furthermore, essential genes for the cell development and embryogenesis were overexpressed in ovaries. Taken altogether, these data offer novel insights into the physiology of production and role of saliva, blood digestion, energy metabolism, and development with submission of 10,932 novel tissue/cell specific CDS to the NCBI database for this important tick species.
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10
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A physiologic overview of the organ-specific transcriptome of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18296. [PMID: 33106528 PMCID: PMC7588415 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75341-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To further obtain insights into the Rhipicephalus microplus transcriptome, we used RNA-seq to carry out a study of expression in (i) embryos; (ii) ovaries from partially and fully engorged females; (iii) salivary glands from partially engorged females; (iv) fat body from partially and fully engorged females; and (v) digestive cells from partially, and (vi) fully engorged females. We obtained > 500 million Illumina reads which were assembled de novo, producing > 190,000 contigs, identifying 18,857 coding sequences (CDS). Reads from each library were mapped back into the assembled transcriptome giving a view of gene expression in different tissues. Transcriptomic expression and pathway analysis showed that several genes related in blood digestion and host-parasite interaction were overexpressed in digestive cells compared with other tissues. Furthermore, essential genes for the cell development and embryogenesis were overexpressed in ovaries. Taken altogether, these data offer novel insights into the physiology of production and role of saliva, blood digestion, energy metabolism, and development with submission of 10,932 novel tissue/cell specific CDS to the NCBI database for this important tick species.
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11
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Tetreau G, Dhinaut J, Galinier R, Audant-Lacour P, Voisin SN, Arafah K, Chogne M, Hilliou F, Bordes A, Sabarly C, Chan P, Walet-Balieu ML, Vaudry D, Duval D, Bulet P, Coustau C, Moret Y, Gourbal B. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of mother-to-egg immune protection in the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008935. [PMID: 33057453 PMCID: PMC7591081 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In a number of species, individuals exposed to pathogens can mount an immune response and transmit this immunological experience to their offspring, thereby protecting them against persistent threats. Such vertical transfer of immunity, named trans-generational immune priming (TGIP), has been described in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Although increasingly studied during the last decade, the mechanisms underlying TGIP in invertebrates are still elusive, especially those protecting the earliest offspring life stage, i.e. the embryo developing in the egg. In the present study, we combined different proteomic and transcriptomic approaches to determine whether mothers transfer a "signal" (such as fragments of infecting bacteria), mRNA and/or protein/peptide effectors to protect their eggs against two natural bacterial pathogens, namely the Gram-positive Bacillus thuringiensis and the Gram-negative Serratia entomophila. By taking the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor as a biological model, our results suggest that eggs are mainly protected by an active direct transfer of a restricted number of immune proteins and of antimicrobial peptides. In contrast, the present data do not support the involvement of mRNA transfer while the transmission of a "signal", if it happens, is marginal and only occurs within 24h after maternal exposure to bacteria. This work exemplifies how combining global approaches helps to disentangle the different scenarios of a complex trait, providing a comprehensive characterization of TGIP mechanisms in T. molitor. It also paves the way for future alike studies focusing on TGIP in a wide range of invertebrates and vertebrates to identify additional candidates that could be specific to TGIP and to investigate whether the TGIP mechanisms found herein are specific or common to all insect species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Tetreau
- IHPE, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Julien Dhinaut
- Équipe Écologie Évolutive, UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Richard Galinier
- IHPE, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Pascaline Audant-Lacour
- CNRS, INRAE, Université Nice Côte d’Azur, UMR 1355–7254 Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | | | - Karim Arafah
- Plateforme BioPark d'Archamps, ArchParc, Saint Julien en Genevois, France
| | - Manon Chogne
- Équipe Écologie Évolutive, UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Frédérique Hilliou
- CNRS, INRAE, Université Nice Côte d’Azur, UMR 1355–7254 Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Anaïs Bordes
- IHPE, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Camille Sabarly
- Équipe Écologie Évolutive, UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Philippe Chan
- PISSARO Proteomic Platform, Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine, University of Rouen, Rouen, France
| | - Marie-Laure Walet-Balieu
- PISSARO Proteomic Platform, Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine, University of Rouen, Rouen, France
| | - David Vaudry
- PISSARO Proteomic Platform, Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine, University of Rouen, Rouen, France
| | - David Duval
- IHPE, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Philippe Bulet
- Plateforme BioPark d'Archamps, ArchParc, Saint Julien en Genevois, France
- CR Université Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, La Tronche, France
| | - Christine Coustau
- CNRS, INRAE, Université Nice Côte d’Azur, UMR 1355–7254 Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Yannick Moret
- Équipe Écologie Évolutive, UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Benjamin Gourbal
- IHPE, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
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12
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Cole EL, Bayne H, Rosengaus RB. Young but not defenceless: antifungal activity during embryonic development of a social insect. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:191418. [PMID: 32968491 PMCID: PMC7481685 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Termites live in environments heavily colonized by diverse microorganisms, including pathogens. Eggs laid within the nest are likely to experience similar pathogenic pressures as those experienced by older nest-mates. Consequently, eggs may be under selective pressures to be immune-competent. Through in vitro experiments using developing embryos of the dampwood termite, Zootermopsis angusticollis, we tested the ontogeny, location and strength of their antifungal activity against the fungus, Metarhizium brunneum. Exterior washes of the chorion (extra-chorionic) and components within the chorion (intra-chorionic) were incubated with fungal conidia, which were then scored for viability. The fungistatic activity was location and developmental stage dependent. Extra-chorionic washes had relatively weak antifungal activity. Intra-chorionic homogenates were highly antifungal, exhibiting increased potency through development. The positive correlation between intra-chorionic fungistasis and developmental stage is probably due to the expression of endogenous proteins during embryogenesis. Boiling of both the extra-chorionic washes and the intra-chorionic contents rescued conidia viability, indicating the antifungal agent(s) is (are) heat-sensitive and probably proteinaceous. This study is the first to address embryonic antifungal activity in a hemimetabolous, eusocial taxon. Our results support the hypothesis that microbes have been significant agents of selection in termites, fostering the evolution of antifungal properties even in the most immature stage of development.
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Cole EL, Empringham JS, Biro C, Thompson GJ, Rosengaus RB. Relish as a Candidate Marker for Transgenerational Immune Priming in a Dampwood Termite (Blattodae: Archeotermopsidae). INSECTS 2020; 11:E149. [PMID: 32120840 PMCID: PMC7143124 DOI: 10.3390/insects11030149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Natural selection should favor the transfer of immune competence from one generation to the next in a context-dependent manner. Transgenerational immune priming (TGIP) is expected to evolve when species exploit pathogen-rich environments and exhibit extended overlap of parent-offspring generations. Dampwood termites are hemimetabolous, eusocial insects (Blattodea: Archeotermopsidae) that possess both of these traits. We predict that offspring of pathogen-exposed queens of Zootermopsis angusticollis will show evidence of a primed immune system relative to the offspring of unexposed controls. We found that Relish transcripts, one of two immune marker loci tested, were enhanced in two-day-old embryos when laid by Serratia-injected queens. These data implicate the immune deficiency (IMD) signaling pathway in TGIP. Although an independent antibacterial assay revealed that embryos do express antibacterial properties, these do not vary as a function of parental treatment. Taken together, Z. angusticollis shows transcriptional but not translational evidence for TGIP. This apparent incongruence between the transcriptional and antimicrobial response from termites suggests that effectors are either absent in two-day-old embryos or their activity is too subtle to detect with our antibacterial assay. In total, we provide the first suggestive evidence of transgenerational immune priming in a termite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L. Cole
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, 134 Mugar Life Sciences Building, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (E.L.C.); (C.B.)
| | - Jessica S. Empringham
- Department of Biology, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (J.S.E.); (G.J.T.)
| | - Colette Biro
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, 134 Mugar Life Sciences Building, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (E.L.C.); (C.B.)
| | - Graham J. Thompson
- Department of Biology, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (J.S.E.); (G.J.T.)
| | - Rebeca B. Rosengaus
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, 134 Mugar Life Sciences Building, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (E.L.C.); (C.B.)
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14
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Tetreau G, Dhinaut J, Gourbal B, Moret Y. Trans-generational Immune Priming in Invertebrates: Current Knowledge and Future Prospects. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1938. [PMID: 31475001 PMCID: PMC6703094 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Trans-generational immune priming (TGIP) refers to the transfer of the parental immunological experience to its progeny. This may result in offspring protection from repeated encounters with pathogens that persist across generations. Although extensively studied in vertebrates for over a century, this phenomenon has only been identified 20 years ago in invertebrates. Since then, invertebrate TGIP has been the focus of an increasing interest, with half of studies published during the last few years. TGIP has now been tested in several invertebrate systems using various experimental approaches and measures to study it at both functional and evolutionary levels. However, drawing an overall picture of TGIP from available studies still appears to be a difficult task. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of TGIP in invertebrates with the objective of confronting all the data generated to date to highlight the main features and mechanisms identified in the context of its ecology and evolution. To this purpose, we describe all the articles reporting experimental investigation of TGIP in invertebrates and propose a critical analysis of the experimental procedures performed to study this phenomenon. We then investigate the outcome of TGIP in the offspring and its ecological and evolutionary relevance before reviewing the potential molecular mechanisms identified to date. In the light of this review, we build hypothetical scenarios of the mechanisms through which TGIP might be achieved and propose guidelines for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Tetreau
- Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, IHPE UMR 5244, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ. Montpellier, Perpignan, France
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IBS, Grenoble, France
| | - Julien Dhinaut
- UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Équipe Écologie Évolutive, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Benjamin Gourbal
- Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, IHPE UMR 5244, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ. Montpellier, Perpignan, France
| | - Yannick Moret
- UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Équipe Écologie Évolutive, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
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15
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Benton MA. A revised understanding of Tribolium morphogenesis further reconciles short and long germ development. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2005093. [PMID: 29969459 PMCID: PMC6047830 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2005093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In Drosophila melanogaster, the germband forms directly on the egg surface and solely consists of embryonic tissue. In contrast, most insect embryos undergo a complicated set of tissue rearrangements to generate a condensed, multilayered germband. The ventral side of the germband is embryonic, while the dorsal side is thought to be an extraembryonic tissue called the amnion. While this tissue organisation has been accepted for decades and has been widely reported in insects, its accuracy has not been directly tested in any species. Using live cell tracking and differential cell labelling in the short germ beetle Tribolium castaneum, I show that most of the cells previously thought to be amnion actually give rise to large parts of the embryo. This process occurs via the dorsal-to-ventral flow of cells and contributes to germband extension (GBE). In addition, I show that true 'amnion' cells in Tribolium originate from a small region of the blastoderm. Together, my findings show that development in the short germ embryos of Tribolium and the long germ embryos of Drosophila is more similar than previously proposed. Dorsal-to-ventral cell flow also occurs in Drosophila during GBE, and I argue that the flow is driven by a conserved set of underlying morphogenetic events in both species. Furthermore, the revised Tribolium fate map that I present is far more similar to that of Drosophila than the classic Tribolium fate map. Lastly, my findings show that there is no qualitative difference between the tissue structure of the cellularised blastoderm and the short/intermediate germ germband. As such, the same tissue patterning mechanisms could function continuously throughout the cellularised blastoderm and germband stages, and easily shift between them over evolutionary time.
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16
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Flórez LV, Scherlach K, Miller IJ, Rodrigues A, Kwan JC, Hertweck C, Kaltenpoth M. An antifungal polyketide associated with horizontally acquired genes supports symbiont-mediated defense in Lagria villosa beetles. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2478. [PMID: 29946103 PMCID: PMC6018673 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04955-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial symbionts are often a source of chemical novelty and can contribute to host defense against antagonists. However, the ecological relevance of chemical mediators remains unclear for most systems. Lagria beetles live in symbiosis with multiple strains of Burkholderia bacteria that protect their offspring against pathogens. Here, we describe the antifungal polyketide lagriamide, and provide evidence supporting that it is produced by an uncultured symbiont, Burkholderia gladioli Lv-StB, which is dominant in field-collected Lagria villosa. Interestingly, lagriamide is structurally similar to bistramides, defensive compounds found in marine tunicates. We identify a gene cluster that is probably involved in lagriamide biosynthesis, provide evidence for horizontal acquisition of these genes, and show that the naturally occurring symbiont strains on the egg are protective in the soil environment. Our findings highlight the potential of microbial symbionts and horizontal gene transfer as influential sources of ecological innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura V Flórez
- Department for Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University, Johann-Joachim-Becher-Weg 13, 55128, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Kirstin Scherlach
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology, HKI, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany.
| | - Ian J Miller
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, 777 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53705-2222, USA
| | - Andre Rodrigues
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UNESP-São Paulo State University, Av. 24A, n. 1515-Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Jason C Kwan
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, 777 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53705-2222, USA
| | - Christian Hertweck
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology, HKI, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Natural Product Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Martin Kaltenpoth
- Department for Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University, Johann-Joachim-Becher-Weg 13, 55128, Mainz, Germany
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17
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Strobl F, Anderl A, Stelzer EHK. A universal vector concept for a direct genotyping of transgenic organisms and a systematic creation of homozygous lines. eLife 2018; 7:e31677. [PMID: 29543587 PMCID: PMC5854464 DOI: 10.7554/elife.31677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Diploid transgenic organisms are either hemi- or homozygous. Genetic assays are, therefore, required to identify the genotype. Our AGameOfClones vector concept uses two clearly distinguishable transformation markers embedded in interweaved, but incompatible Lox site pairs. Cre-mediated recombination leads to hemizygous individuals that carry only one marker. In the following generation, heterozygous descendants are identified by the presence of both markers and produce homozygous progeny that are selected by the lack of one marker. We prove our concept in Tribolium castaneum by systematically creating multiple functional homozygous transgenic lines suitable for long-term fluorescence live imaging. Our approach saves resources and simplifies transgenic organism handling. Since the concept relies on the universal Cre-Lox system, it is expected to work in all diploid model organisms, for example, insects, zebrafish, rodents and plants. With appropriate adaptions, it can be used in knock-out assays to preselect homozygous individuals and thus minimize the number of wasted animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Strobl
- Physical Biology, BMLS, CEF-MCGoethe UniversitätFrankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Anita Anderl
- Physical Biology, BMLS, CEF-MCGoethe UniversitätFrankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Ernst HK Stelzer
- Physical Biology, BMLS, CEF-MCGoethe UniversitätFrankfurt am MainGermany
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18
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Dhinaut J, Chogne M, Moret Y. Trans-generational immune priming in the mealworm beetle protects eggs through pathogen-dependent mechanisms imposing no immediate fitness cost for the offspring. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 79:105-112. [PMID: 29106988 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2017.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Immune-challenged mothers can improve their offspring immunity through trans-generational immune priming (TGIP). In insects, TGIP endows the offspring with lifetime immunity, including the eggs, which are likely exposed soon after maternal infection. Egg protection may rely on the transfer of maternal immune effectors to the egg or/and the induction of egg immune genes. These respective mechanisms are assumed to have early-life fitness costs of different magnitude for the offspring. We provide evidence in the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor that enhanced egg immunity following a maternal immune challenge is achieved by both of these mechanisms but in a pathogen-dependent manner. While previously found having late-life fitness costs for the offspring, TGIP here improved egg hatching success and early larval survival, in addition of improving offspring immunity. These results suggest that early-life of primed offspring is critical in the optimization of life history trajectory of this insect under trans-generational pathogenic threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Dhinaut
- Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR CNRS 6282 Biogéosciences, équipe Ecologie Evolutive, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, Dijon, France.
| | - Manon Chogne
- Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR CNRS 6282 Biogéosciences, équipe Ecologie Evolutive, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, Dijon, France
| | - Yannick Moret
- Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR CNRS 6282 Biogéosciences, équipe Ecologie Evolutive, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, Dijon, France
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19
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Darker eggs of mosquitoes resist more to dry conditions: Melanin enhances serosal cuticle contribution in egg resistance to desiccation in Aedes, Anopheles and Culex vectors. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0006063. [PMID: 29084225 PMCID: PMC5679640 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mosquito vectors lay their white eggs in the aquatic milieu. During early embryogenesis water passes freely through the transparent eggshell, which at this moment is composed of exochorion and endochorion. Within two hours the endochorion darkens via melanization but even so eggs shrink and perish if removed from moisture. However, during mid-embryogenesis, cells of the extraembryonic serosa secrete the serosal cuticle, localized right below the endochorion, becoming the third and innermost eggshell layer. Serosal cuticle formation greatly reduces water flow and allows egg survival outside the water. The degree of egg resistance to desiccation (ERD) at late embryogenesis varies among different species: Aedes aegypti, Anopheles aquasalis and Culex quinquefasciatus eggs can survive in a dry environment for ≥ 72, 24 and 5 hours, respectively. In some adult insects, darker-body individuals show greater resistance to desiccation than lighter ones. We asked if egg melanization enhances mosquito serosal cuticle-dependent ERD. Species with higher ERD at late embryogenesis exhibit more melanized eggshells. The melanization-ERD hypothesis was confirmed employing two Anopheles quadrimaculatus strains, the wild type and the mutant GORO, with a dark-brown and a golden eggshell, respectively. In all cases, serosal cuticle formation is fundamental for the establishment of an efficient ERD but egg viability outside the water is much higher in mosquitoes with darker eggshells than in those with lighter ones. The finding that pigmentation influences egg water balance is relevant to understand the evolutionary history of insect egg coloration. Since eggshell and adult cuticle pigmentation ensure insect survivorship in some cases, they should be considered regarding species fitness and novel approaches for vector or pest insects control.
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20
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Jacobs CGC, Gallagher JD, Evison SEF, Heckel DG, Vilcinskas A, Vogel H. Endogenous egg immune defenses in the yellow mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor). DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 70:1-8. [PMID: 28034605 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2016.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In order to survive microbe encounters, insects rely on both physical barriers as well as local and systemic immune responses. Most research focusses on adult or larval defenses however, whereas insect eggs are also in need of protection. Lately, the defense of eggs against microbes has received an increasing amount of attention, be it through endogenous egg defenses, trans-generational immune priming (TGIP) or parental investment. Here we studied the endogenous immune response in eggs and adults of Tenebrio molitor. We show that many immune genes are induced in both adults and eggs. Furthermore, we show that eggs reach comparable levels of immune gene expression as adults. These findings show that the eggs of Tenebrio are capable of an impressive endogenous immune response, and indicate that such inducible egg defenses are likely common in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris G C Jacobs
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll Str. 8, 07745 Jena, Germany.
| | - Joe D Gallagher
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN Sheffield, UK
| | - Sophie E F Evison
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN Sheffield, UK
| | - David G Heckel
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll Str. 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Heiko Vogel
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll Str. 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
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21
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Strobl F, Klees S, Stelzer EHK. Light Sheet-based Fluorescence Microscopy of Living or Fixed and Stained Tribolium castaneum Embryos. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28518097 DOI: 10.3791/55629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum has become an important insect model organism in developmental genetics and evolutionary developmental biology. The observation of Tribolium embryos with light sheet-based fluorescence microscopy has multiple advantages over conventional widefield and confocal fluorescence microscopy. Due to the unique properties of a light sheet-based microscope, three dimensional images of living specimens can be recorded with high signal-to-noise ratios and significantly reduced photo-bleaching as well as photo-toxicity along multiple directions over periods that last several days. With more than four years of methodological development and a continuous increase of data, the time seems appropriate to establish standard operating procedures for the usage of light sheet technology in the Tribolium community as well as in the insect community at large. This protocol describes three mounting techniques suitable for different purposes, presents two novel custom-made transgenic Tribolium lines appropriate for long-term live imaging, suggests five fluorescent dyes to label intracellular structures of fixed embryos and provides information on data post-processing for the timely evaluation of the recorded data. Representative results concentrate on long-term live imaging, optical sectioning and the observation of the same embryo along multiple directions. The respective datasets are provided as a downloadable resource. Finally, the protocol discusses quality controls for live imaging assays, current limitations and the applicability of the outlined procedures to other insect species. This protocol is primarily intended for developmental biologists who seek imaging solutions that outperform standard laboratory equipment. It promotes the continuous attempt to close the gap between the technically orientated laboratories/communities, which develop and refine microscopy methodologically, and the life science laboratories/communities, which require 'plug-and-play' solutions to technical challenges. Furthermore, it supports an axiomatic approach that moves the biological questions into the center of attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Strobl
- Physical Biology, Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS); Cluster of Excellence Frankfurt, Macromolecular Complexes; Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main - Campus Riedberg
| | - Selina Klees
- Physical Biology, Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS); Cluster of Excellence Frankfurt, Macromolecular Complexes; Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main - Campus Riedberg
| | - Ernst H K Stelzer
- Physical Biology, Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS); Cluster of Excellence Frankfurt, Macromolecular Complexes; Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main - Campus Riedberg;
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22
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Nunes-da-Fonseca R, Berni M, Tobias-Santos V, Pane A, Araujo HM. Rhodnius prolixus: From classical physiology to modern developmental biology. Genesis 2017; 55. [DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Revised: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Nunes-da-Fonseca
- Laboratório Integrado de Ciências Morfofuncionais; Núcleo em Ecologia e Desenvolvimento Socio-Ambiental de Macaé, Campus Macaé, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Rio de Janeiro Brazil
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular do Desenvolvimento Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Mateus Berni
- Institute of Molecular Entomology; INCT-EM
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular do Desenvolvimento Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Vitória Tobias-Santos
- Laboratório Integrado de Ciências Morfofuncionais; Núcleo em Ecologia e Desenvolvimento Socio-Ambiental de Macaé, Campus Macaé, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Rio de Janeiro Brazil
- Institute of Molecular Entomology; INCT-EM
| | - Attilio Pane
- Institute of Molecular Entomology; INCT-EM
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular do Desenvolvimento Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Helena Marcolla Araujo
- Institute of Molecular Entomology; INCT-EM
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular do Desenvolvimento Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Rio de Janeiro Brazil
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23
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Candido-Ferreira IL, Kronenberger T, Sayegh RSR, Batista IDFC, da Silva Junior PI. Evidence of an Antimicrobial Peptide Signature Encrypted in HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligases. Front Immunol 2017; 7:664. [PMID: 28119686 PMCID: PMC5220581 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) is a hallmark of the eukaryotic cell. In jawed vertebrates, it has been co-opted by the adaptive immune system, where proteasomal degradation produces endogenous peptides for major histocompatibility complex class I antigen presentation. However, proteolytic products are also necessary for the phylogenetically widespread innate immune system, as they often play a role as host defense peptides (HDPs), pivotal effectors against pathogens. Here, we report the identification of the arachnid HDP oligoventin, which shares homology to a core member of the UPP, E3 ubiquitin ligases. Oligoventin has broad antimicrobial activity and shows strong synergy with lysozymes. Using computational and phylogenetic approaches, we show high conservation of the oligoventin signature in HECT E3s. In silico simulation of HECT E3s self-proteolysis provides evidence that HDPs can be generated by fine-tuned 26S proteasomal degradation, and therefore are consistent with the hypothesis that oligoventin is a cryptic peptide released by the proteolytic processing of an Nedd4 E3 precursor protein. Finally, we compare the production of HDPs and endogenous antigens from orthologous HECT E3s by proteasomal degradation as a means of analyzing the UPP coupling to metazoan immunity. Our results highlight the functional plasticity of the UPP in innate and adaptive immune systems as a possibly recurrent mechanism to generate functionally diverse peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Lavander Candido-Ferreira
- Special Laboratory for Applied Toxinology (LETA), Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Biosciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo , São Paulo, São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Raphael Santa Rosa Sayegh
- Special Laboratory for Applied Toxinology (LETA), Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Pedro Ismael da Silva Junior
- Special Laboratory for Applied Toxinology (LETA), Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute , São Paulo, São Paulo , Brazil
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24
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Strobl F, Stelzer EH. Long-term fluorescence live imaging of Tribolium castaneum embryos: principles, resources, scientific challenges and the comparative approach. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2016; 18:17-26. [PMID: 27939706 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2016.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Light sheet-based fluorescence microscopy became an important tool in insect developmental biology due to its high acquisition speed, low photo-bleaching rate and the high survival probability of the specimens. Initially applied to document the embryogenesis of Drosophila melanogaster, it is now used to investigate the embryonic morphogenesis of emerging model organisms such as the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. Here, we discuss the principles of light sheet-based fluorescence microscopy and outline Tribolium as a model organism for developmental biology. We summarize labeling options and present two custom-made transgenic lines suitable for live imaging. Finally, we highlight studies on Tribolium that address scientific questions with fluorescence live imaging and discuss the comparative approach to investigate insect morphogenesis in an evolutionary context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Strobl
- Physical Biology/Physikalische Biologie (IZN, FB 15), Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS), Cluster of Excellence Frankfurt - Macromolecular Complexes (CEF-MC), Goethe Universität - Frankfurt am Main (Campus Riedberg), Max-von-Laue-Straße 15, D-60348 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ernst Hk Stelzer
- Physical Biology/Physikalische Biologie (IZN, FB 15), Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS), Cluster of Excellence Frankfurt - Macromolecular Complexes (CEF-MC), Goethe Universität - Frankfurt am Main (Campus Riedberg), Max-von-Laue-Straße 15, D-60348 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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25
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Perkin LC, Adrianos SL, Oppert B. Gene Disruption Technologies Have the Potential to Transform Stored Product Insect Pest Control. INSECTS 2016; 7:insects7030046. [PMID: 27657138 PMCID: PMC5039559 DOI: 10.3390/insects7030046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Revised: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Stored product insects feed on grains and processed commodities manufactured from grain post-harvest, reducing the nutritional value and contaminating food. Currently, the main defense against stored product insect pests is the pesticide fumigant phosphine. Phosphine is highly toxic to all animals, but is the most effective and economical control method, and thus is used extensively worldwide. However, many insect populations have become resistant to phosphine, in some cases to very high levels. New, environmentally benign and more effective control strategies are needed for stored product pests. RNA interference (RNAi) may overcome pesticide resistance by targeting the expression of genes that contribute to resistance in insects. Most data on RNAi in stored product insects is from the coleopteran genetic model, Tribolium castaneum, since it has a strong RNAi response via injection of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) in any life stage. Additionally, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology has been suggested as a potential resource for new pest control strategies. In this review we discuss background information on both gene disruption technologies and summarize the advances made in terms of molecular pest management in stored product insects, mainly T. castaneum, as well as complications and future needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey C Perkin
- Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 1515 College Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA.
| | - Sherry L Adrianos
- Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 1515 College Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA.
| | - Brenda Oppert
- Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 1515 College Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA.
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Schmidt-Ott U, Lynch JA. Emerging developmental genetic model systems in holometabolous insects. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2016; 39:116-128. [PMID: 27399647 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2016.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The number of insect species that are amenable to functional genetic studies is growing rapidly and provides many new research opportunities in developmental and evolutionary biology. The holometabolous insects represent a disproportionate percentage of animal diversity and are thus well positioned to provide model species for a wide variety of developmental processes. Here we discuss emerging holometabolous models, and review some recent breakthroughs. For example, flies and midges were found to use structurally unrelated long-range pattern organizers, butterflies and moths revealed extensive pattern formation during oogenesis, new imaging possibilities in the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum showed how embryos break free of their extraembryonic membranes, and the complex genetics governing interspecies difference in head shape were revealed in Nasonia wasps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urs Schmidt-Ott
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, United States.
| | - Jeremy A Lynch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States.
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Peuß R, Wensing KU, Woestmann L, Eggert H, Milutinović B, Sroka MGU, Scharsack JP, Kurtz J, Armitage SAO. Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule 1: testing for a role in insect immunity, behaviour and reproduction. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2016; 3:160138. [PMID: 27152227 PMCID: PMC4852650 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule 1 (Dscam1) has wide-reaching and vital neuronal functions although the role it plays in insect and crustacean immunity is less well understood. In this study, we combine different approaches to understand the roles that Dscam1 plays in fitness-related contexts in two model insect species. Contrary to our expectations, we found no short-term modulation of Dscam1 gene expression after haemocoelic or oral bacterial exposure in Tribolium castaneum, or after haemocoelic bacterial exposure in Drosophila melanogaster. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated Dscam1 knockdown and subsequent bacterial exposure did not reduce T. castaneum survival. However, Dscam1 knockdown in larvae resulted in adult locomotion defects, as well as dramatically reduced fecundity in males and females. We suggest that Dscam1 does not always play a straightforward role in immunity, but strongly influences behaviour and fecundity. This study takes a step towards understanding more about the role of this intriguing gene from different phenotypic perspectives.
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Schmidt-Ott U, Kwan CW. Morphogenetic functions of extraembryonic membranes in insects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2016; 13:86-92. [PMID: 27436557 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2016.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2015] [Revised: 01/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Morphogenetic functions of the amnioserosa, the serosa, the amnion, and the yolk sac are reviewed on the basis of recent studies in flies (Drosophila, Megaselia), beetles (Tribolium), and hemipteran bugs (Oncopeltus). Three hypotheses are presented. First, it is suggested that the amnioserosa of Drosophila and the dorsal amnion of other fly species function in a similar manner. Second, it is proposed that in many species with an amniotic cavity, the amnion determines the site of serosa rupture, which, through interactions between the serosa and the amnion, enables the embryo to break free from the amniotic cavity and to close its backside. Finally, it is concluded that the yolk sac is likely an important player in insect morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urs Schmidt-Ott
- University of Chicago, Dept. of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, Cummings Life Science Center, 920 East 58th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
| | - Chun Wai Kwan
- University of Chicago, Dept. of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, Cummings Life Science Center, 920 East 58th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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Dubuffet A, Zanchi C, Boutet G, Moreau J, Teixeira M, Moret Y. Trans-generational Immune Priming Protects the Eggs Only against Gram-Positive Bacteria in the Mealworm Beetle. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1005178. [PMID: 26430786 PMCID: PMC4592268 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In many vertebrates and invertebrates, offspring whose mothers have been exposed to pathogens can exhibit increased levels of immune activity and/or increased survival to infection. Such phenomena, called "Trans-generational immune priming" (TGIP) are expected to provide immune protection to the offspring. As the offspring and their mother may share the same environment, and consequently similar microbial threats, we expect the immune molecules present in the progeny to be specific to the microbes that immune challenged the mother. We provide evidence in the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor that the antimicrobial activity found in the eggs is only active against Gram-positive bacteria, even when females were exposed to Gram-negative bacteria or fungi. Fungi were weak inducers of TGIP while we obtained similar levels of anti-Gram-positive activity using different bacteria for the maternal challenge. Furthermore, we have identified an antibacterial peptide from the defensin family, the tenecin 1, which spectrum of activity is exclusively directed toward Gram-positive bacteria as potential contributor to this antimicrobial activity. We conclude that maternal transfer of antimicrobial activity in the eggs of T. molitor might have evolved from persistent Gram-positive bacterial pathogens between insect generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurore Dubuffet
- Équipe Écologie Évolutive, UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Caroline Zanchi
- Équipe Écologie Évolutive, UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Gwendoline Boutet
- Équipe Écologie Évolutive, UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Jérôme Moreau
- Équipe Écologie Évolutive, UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Maria Teixeira
- Équipe Écologie Évolutive, UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Yannick Moret
- Équipe Écologie Évolutive, UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
- * E-mail:
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Trauer-Kizilelma U, Hilker M. Impact of transgenerational immune priming on the defence of insect eggs against parasitism. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 51:126-33. [PMID: 25790896 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2015.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Revised: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Insects are known to prime the immune state of their offspring. However, although the beginning of insect life, the egg stage, is often greatly endangered by parasitism, no knowledge is available regarding whether transgenerational immune priming improves the immune responses of insect eggs to actual parasitoid attacks. Our study revealed suppression of the development of parasitoids in transgenerationally immune-primed Manduca sexta eggs and reduced emergence rates of parasitoids from these eggs. The higher defence efficiency of immune-primed M. sexta eggs against parasitoids was in agreement with the increased antibacterial activity and phenoloxidase activity of these eggs in response to parasitism compared to the eggs of control parents. Our study showed that immunochallenged insect parents could enable their offspring already in the egg stage to defend more efficiently against parasitic invaders. We discuss whether M. sexta benefits from transgenerational immune priming of eggs by limiting the population growth of egg parasitoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ute Trauer-Kizilelma
- Institute of Biology, Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Haderslebener Str. 9, Berlin 12163, Germany
| | - Monika Hilker
- Institute of Biology, Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Haderslebener Str. 9, Berlin 12163, Germany.
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Sachs L, Chen YT, Drechsler A, Lynch JA, Panfilio KA, Lässig M, Berg J, Roth S. Dynamic BMP signaling polarized by Toll patterns the dorsoventral axis in a hemimetabolous insect. eLife 2015; 4:e05502. [PMID: 25962855 PMCID: PMC4423117 DOI: 10.7554/elife.05502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 04/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toll-dependent patterning of the dorsoventral axis in Drosophila represents one of the best understood gene regulatory networks. However, its evolutionary origin has remained elusive. Outside the insects Toll is not known for a patterning function, but rather for a role in pathogen defense. Here, we show that in the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus, whose lineage split from Drosophila's more than 350 million years ago, Toll is only required to polarize a dynamic BMP signaling network. A theoretical model reveals that this network has self-regulatory properties and that shallow Toll signaling gradients are sufficient to initiate axis formation. Such gradients can account for the experimentally observed twinning of insect embryos upon egg fragmentation and might have evolved from a state of uniform Toll activity associated with protecting insect eggs against pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Sachs
- Institute for Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Yen-Ta Chen
- Institute for Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Axel Drechsler
- Institute for Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
- Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, Bau und Reaktorsicherheit, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jeremy A Lynch
- Institute for Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, United States
| | - Kristen A Panfilio
- Institute for Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Michael Lässig
- Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Johannes Berg
- Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Siegfried Roth
- Institute for Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
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32
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Jacobs CGC, Braak N, Lamers GEM, van der Zee M. Elucidation of the serosal cuticle machinery in the beetle Tribolium by RNA sequencing and functional analysis of Knickkopf1, Retroactive and Laccase2. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 60:7-12. [PMID: 25747006 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2015.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Revised: 02/22/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Insects have been extraordinary successful in colonizing terrestrial habitats and this success is partly due to a protective cuticle that mainly contains chitin and proteins. The cuticle has been well studied in larvae and adults, but little attention has been paid to the cuticle of the egg. This cuticle is secreted by the serosa, an extraembryonic epithelium that surrounds the yolk and embryo in all insect eggs, but was lost in the Schizophoran flies to which Drosophila belongs. We therefore set out to investigate serosal cuticle formation and function in a beetle (Tribolium castaneum) using RNAi-mediated knockdown of three candidate genes known to structure chitin in the adult cuticle, and we aimed to identify other serosal cuticle genes using RNA sequencing. Knockdown of Knickkopf (TcKnk-1) or Retroactive (TcRtv) affects the laminar structure of the serosal cuticle, as revealed by Transmission Electron Microscopy in knockdown eggs. In the absence of this laminar structure, significantly fewer eggs survive at low humidity compared to wild-type eggs. Survival in dry conditions is also adversely affected when cross-linking among proteins and chitin is prevented by Laccase2 (TcLac-2) RNAi. Finally, we compare the transcriptomes of wild-type eggs to serosa-less eggs and find serosa-biased expression of 21 cuticle-related genes including structural components, chitin deacetylases and chitinases. Our data indicate that the serosal cuticle utilizes the same machinery for structuring the cuticle as adults. We demonstrate that the structure of the cuticle is crucial for desiccation resistance, and we put forward the serosal cuticle of Tribolium as an excellent model to study the ecological properties of the insect cuticle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris G C Jacobs
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333BE Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Nora Braak
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333BE Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Gerda E M Lamers
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333BE Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Maurijn van der Zee
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333BE Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Jacobs CGC, Spaink HP, van der Zee M. The extraembryonic serosa is a frontier epithelium providing the insect egg with a full-range innate immune response. eLife 2014; 3:e04111. [PMID: 25487990 PMCID: PMC4358341 DOI: 10.7554/elife.04111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Drosophila larvae and adults possess a potent innate immune response, but the response of Drosophila eggs is poor. In contrast to Drosophila, eggs of the beetle Tribolium are protected by a serosa, an extraembryonic epithelium that is present in all insects except higher flies. In this study, we test a possible immune function of this frontier epithelium using Tc-zen1 RNAi-mediated deletion. First, we show that bacteria propagate twice as fast in serosa-less eggs. Then, we compare the complete transcriptomes of wild-type, control RNAi, and Tc-zen1 RNAi eggs before and after sterile or septic injury. Infection induces genes involved in Toll and IMD-signaling, melanisation, production of reactive oxygen species and antimicrobial peptides in wild-type eggs but not in serosa-less eggs. Finally, we demonstrate constitutive and induced immune gene expression in the serosal epithelium using in situ hybridization. We conclude that the serosa provides insect eggs with a full-range innate immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Herman P Spaink
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
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Jacobs CGC, Wang Y, Vogel H, Vilcinskas A, van der Zee M, Rozen DE. Egg survival is reduced by grave-soil microbes in the carrion beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides. BMC Evol Biol 2014; 14:208. [PMID: 25260512 PMCID: PMC4189599 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-014-0208-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nicrophorus vespilloides eggs are deposited into the soil in close proximity to the decomposing vertebrate carcasses that these insects use as an obligate resource to rear their offspring. Eggs in this environment potentially face significant risks from the bacteria that proliferate in the grave-soil environment following nutrient influx from the decomposing carcass. Our aims in this paper are twofold: first, to examine the fitness effects of grave-soil bacteria to eggs, and second, to quantify egg immunocompetence as a defence against these bacteria. RESULTS Our results provide strong evidence that grave-soil microbes significantly reduce the survival of Nicrophorus eggs. Females provided with microbe rich carcasses to rear broods laid fewer eggs that were less likely to hatch than females given uncontaminated carcasses. Furthermore, we show that egg hatch success is significantly reduced by bacterial exposure. Using a split-brood design, which controlled for intrinsic differences in eggs produced by different females, we found that eggs washed free of surface-associated bacteria show increased survival compared to unwashed eggs. By contrast, eggs exposed to the entomopathogen Serratia marcescens show decreased survival compared to unexposed eggs. We next tested the immune competence of eggs under challenge from bacterial infection, and found that eggs lacked endogenous production of antimicrobial peptides, despite well-developed responses in larvae. Finally, we found that despite lacking immunity, N. vespilloides eggs produce an extraembryonic serosa, indicating that the serosa has lost its immune inducing capacity in this species. CONCLUSIONS The dependency on ephemeral resources might strongly select for fast developing animals. Our results suggest that Nicrophorus carrion beetles, and other species developing on ephemeral resources, face a fundamental trade-off between egg immunity and development time.
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Koelzer S, Kölsch Y, Panfilio KA. Visualizing late insect embryogenesis: extraembryonic and mesodermal enhancer trap expression in the beetle Tribolium castaneum. PLoS One 2014; 9:e103967. [PMID: 25080214 PMCID: PMC4117572 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The beetle Tribolium castaneum has increasingly become a powerful model for comparative research on insect development. One recent resource is a collection of piggyBac transposon-based enhancer trap lines. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of three selected lines and demonstrate their value for investigations in the second half of embryogenesis, which has thus far lagged behind research on early stages. Two lines, G12424 and KT650, show enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression throughout the extraembryonic serosal tissue and in a few discrete embryonic domains. Intriguingly, both lines show for the first time a degree of regionalization within the mature serosa. However, their expression profiles illuminate distinct aspects of serosal biology: G12424 tracks the tissue's rapid maturation while KT650 expression likely reflects ongoing physiological processes. The third line, G04609, is stably expressed in mesodermal domains, including segmental muscles and the heart. Genomic mapping followed by in situ hybridization for genes near to the G04609 insertion site suggests that the transposon has trapped enhancer information for the Tribolium orthologue of midline (Tc-mid). Altogether, our analyses provide the first live imaging, long-term characterizations of enhancer traps from this collection. We show that EGFP expression is readily detected, including in heterozygote crosses that permit the simultaneous visualization of multiple tissue types. The tissue specificity provides live, endogenous marker gene expression at key developmental stages that are inaccessible for whole mount staining. Furthermore, the nonlocalized EGFP in these lines illuminates both the nucleus and cytoplasm, providing cellular resolution for morphogenesis research on processes such as dorsal closure and heart formation. In future work, identification of regulatory regions driving these enhancer traps will deepen our understanding of late developmental control, including in the extraembryonic domain, which is a hallmark of insect development but which is not yet well understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Koelzer
- Institute for Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Yvonne Kölsch
- Institute for Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kristen A. Panfilio
- Institute for Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Vargas HCM, Farnesi LC, Martins AJ, Valle D, Rezende GL. Serosal cuticle formation and distinct degrees of desiccation resistance in embryos of the mosquito vectors Aedes aegypti, Anopheles aquasalis and Culex quinquefasciatus. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2014; 62:54-60. [PMID: 24534672 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2014.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2013] [Revised: 01/31/2014] [Accepted: 02/03/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Given their medical importance, mosquitoes have been studied as vectors of parasites since the late 1800's. However, there are still many gaps concerning some aspects of their biology, such as embryogenesis. The embryonic desiccation resistance (EDR), already described in Aedes and Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, is a peculiar trait. Freshly laid eggs are susceptible to water loss, a condition that can impair their viability. EDR is acquired during embryogenesis through the formation of the serosal cuticle (SC), protecting eggs from desiccation. Nevertheless, conservation of both traits (SC presence and EDR acquisition) throughout mosquito evolution is unknown. Comparative physiological studies with mosquito embryos from different genera, exhibiting distinct evolutionary histories and habits is a feasible approach. In this sense, the process of EDR acquisition of Aedes aegypti, Anopheles aquasalis and Culex quinquefasciatus at 25°C was evaluated. Completion of embryogenesis occurs in Ae. aegypti, An. aquasalis and Cx. quinquefasciatus at, respectively 77.4, 51.3 and 34.3hours after egg laying, Cx. quinquefasciatus embryonic development taking less than half the time of Ae. aegypti. In all cases, EDR is acquired in correlation with SC formation. For both Ae. aegypti and An. aquasalis, EDR and SC appear at 21% of total embryonic development, corresponding to the morphological stage of complete germ band elongation/beginning of germ band retraction. Although phylogenetically closer to Ae. aegypti than to An. aquasalis, Cx. quinquefasciatus acquires both EDR and serosal cuticle later, with 35% of total development, when the embryo already progresses to the middle of germ band retraction. EDR confers distinct egg viability in these species. While Ae. aegypti eggs demonstrated high viability when left up to 72hours in a dry environment, those of An. aquasalis and Cx. quinquefasciatus supported these conditions for only 24 and 5hours, respectively. Our data suggest that serosa development is at least partially uncoupled from embryo development and that, depending upon the mosquito species, EDR bestows distinct levels of egg viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Carolina Martins Vargas
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Controle de Artrópodes Vetores, IOC, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21045-900, Brazil; Laboratório de Entomologia, Instituto de Biologia do Exército, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20911-270, Brazil.
| | - Luana Cristina Farnesi
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Controle de Artrópodes Vetores, IOC, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21045-900, Brazil; Laboratório de Entomologia, Instituto de Biologia do Exército, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20911-270, Brazil.
| | - Ademir Jesus Martins
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Controle de Artrópodes Vetores, IOC, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21045-900, Brazil; Laboratório de Entomologia, Instituto de Biologia do Exército, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20911-270, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil.
| | - Denise Valle
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Flavivírus, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21045-900, Brazil..
| | - Gustavo Lazzaro Rezende
- Laboratório de Química e Função de Proteínas e Peptídeos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-602, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil.
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37
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Sharma R, Beermann A, Schröder R. The dynamic expression of extraembryonic marker genes in the beetle Tribolium castaneum reveals the complexity of serosa and amnion formation in a short germ insect. Gene Expr Patterns 2013; 13:362-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2013.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2013] [Revised: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 07/04/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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