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Molina-Peñate E, Artola A, Sánchez A. Exploring biorefinery alternatives for biowaste valorization: a techno-economic assessment of enzymatic hydrolysis coupled with anaerobic digestion or solid-state fermentation for high-value bioproducts. Bioengineered 2024; 15:2307668. [PMID: 38265757 PMCID: PMC10810166 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2024.2307668] [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] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Enzymatic hydrolysis of organic waste is gaining relevance as a complementary technology to conventional biological treatments. Moreover, biorefineries are emerging as a sustainable scenario to integrate waste valorization and high-value bioproducts production. However, their application on municipal solid waste is still limited. This study systematically evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of the conversion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) into high-value bioproducts through enzymatic hydrolysis. Two key variables are examined: (a) the source of the enzymes: commercial or on-site produced using OFMSW, and (b) the treatment of the solid hydrolyzate fraction: solid-state fermentation (SSF) for the production of biopesticides or anaerobic digestion for the production of energy. As a result, four different biorefinery scenarios are generated and compared in terms of profitability. Results showed that the most profitable scenario was to produce enzymes on-site and valorize the solid fraction via SSF, with an internal rate of return of 13%. This scenario led to higher profit margins (74%) and a reduced payback time (6 years), in contrast with commercial enzymes that led to an unprofitable biorefinery. Also, the simultaneous production of higher-value bioproducts and energy reduced the economic dependence of OFMSW treatment on policy instruments while remaining energetically self-sufficient. The profitability of the biorefinery scenarios evaluated was heavily dependent on the enzyme price and the efficiency of the anaerobic digestion process, highlighting the importance of cost-efficient enzyme production alternatives and high-quality OFMSW. This paper contributes to understanding the potential role of enzymes in future OFMSW biorefineries and offers economical insights on different configurations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Molina-Peñate
- GICOM Research Group, Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Edifici Q, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Adriana Artola
- GICOM Research Group, Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Edifici Q, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Antoni Sánchez
- GICOM Research Group, Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Edifici Q, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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Marone Fassolo E, Guo S, Wang Y, Rosa S, Herzig V. Genetically encoded libraries and spider venoms as emerging sources for crop protective peptides. J Pept Sci 2024; 30:e3600. [PMID: 38623834 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Agricultural crops are targeted by various pathogens (fungi, bacteria, and viruses) and pests (herbivorous arthropods). Antimicrobial and insecticidal peptides are increasingly recognized as eco-friendly tools for crop protection due to their low propensity for resistance development and the fact that they are fully biodegradable. However, historical challenges have hindered their development, including poor stability, limited availability, reproducibility issues, high production costs, and unwanted toxicity. Toxicity is a primary concern because crop-protective peptides interact with various organisms of environmental and economic significance. This review focuses on the potential of genetically encoded peptide libraries like the use of two-hybrid-based methods for antimicrobial peptides identification and insecticidal spider venom peptides as two main approaches for targeting plant pathogens and pests. We discuss some key findings and challenges regarding the practical application of each strategy. We conclude that genetically encoded peptide library- and spider venom-derived crop protective peptides offer a sustainable and environmentally responsible approach for addressing modern crop protection needs in the agricultural sector.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shaodong Guo
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yachen Wang
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
| | - Stefano Rosa
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Volker Herzig
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
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Palma L, Ruiz de Escudero I, Mañeru-Oria F, Berry C, Caballero P. UV protection and insecticidal activity of microencapsulated Vip3Ag4 protein in Bacillus megaterium. Toxicon 2024; 247:107807. [PMID: 38897358 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107807] [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] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
In this study, secretable Vip3Ag4 protein was encapsulated in Bacillus megaterium and used for quantitative bioassays, in order to determine the UV photoprotective capacity of the cell, for preventing inactivation of the insecticidal activity of the protein. The non-encapsulated and purified protein was exposed to the UV light showing a LC50 of 518 ng/cm2 against Spodoptera littoralis larvae, whereas the exposed encapsulated protein exhibited 479 ng/cm2. In addition to the capability to accumulate Vip3 proteins for the development of novel insecticidal formulates, the B. megaterium cell has demonstrated to provide moderate protection against the deleterious action of UV light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leopoldo Palma
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Departamento de Genética, Universitat de València, 46100, Burjassot, Spain.
| | - Iñigo Ruiz de Escudero
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology-IMAB, Universidad Pública de Navarra, 31006, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Francisco Mañeru-Oria
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology-IMAB, Universidad Pública de Navarra, 31006, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Colin Berry
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Primitivo Caballero
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology-IMAB, Universidad Pública de Navarra, 31006, Pamplona, Spain; Departamento de Investigación y Desarrollo, Bioinsectis SL, Plaza Cein 5, Nave A14, 31110, Noáin, Spain.
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Compant S, Cassan F, Kostić T, Johnson L, Brader G, Trognitz F, Sessitsch A. Harnessing the plant microbiome for sustainable crop production. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024:10.1038/s41579-024-01079-1. [PMID: 39147829 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-024-01079-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Global research on the plant microbiome has enhanced our understanding of the complex interactions between plants and microorganisms. The structure and functions of plant-associated microorganisms, as well as the genetic, biochemical, physical and metabolic factors that influence the beneficial traits of plant microbiota have also been intensively studied. Harnessing the plant microbiome has led to the development of various microbial applications to improve crop productivity in the face of a range of challenges, for example, climate change, abiotic and biotic stresses, and declining soil properties. Microorganisms, particularly nitrogen-fixing rhizobia as well as mycorrhizae and biocontrol agents, have been applied for decades to improve plant nutrition and health. Still, there are limitations regarding efficacy and consistency under field conditions. Also, the wealth of expanding knowledge on microbiome diversity, functions and interactions represents a huge source of information to exploit for new types of application. In this Review, we explore plant microbiome functions, mechanisms, assembly and types of interaction, and discuss current applications and their pitfalls. Furthermore, we elaborate on how the latest findings in plant microbiome research may lead to the development of new or more advanced applications. Finally, we discuss research gaps to fully leverage microbiome functions for sustainable plant production.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tanja Kostić
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Günter Brader
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Vienna, Austria
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Wang M, Geng L, Zhou J, Gu Z, Xue B, Shu C, Zhang J. Gut Microbiota Mediate Plutella xylostella Susceptibility to Bt Cry1Ac Protoxin and Exopolysaccharides. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8483. [PMID: 39126052 PMCID: PMC11313015 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are carbohydrate polymers that are synthesized and secreted into the extracellular during the growth of microorganisms. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a type of entomopathogenic bacterium, that produces various insecticidal proteins and EPSs. In our previous study, the EPSs produced by Bt strains were first found to enhance the toxicity of insecticidal crystal proteins against Plutella xylostella. However, the response of the intestinal bacterial communities of P. xylostella under the action of EPSs is still unelucidated. In this study, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was used to characterize the intestinal bacterial communities in P. xylostella treated with EPSs alone, Cry1Ac protoxin alone, and both the Cry1Ac protoxin and EPSs. Compared with the control group, alpha diversity indices, the Chao1 and ACE indices were significantly altered after treatment with EPSs alone, and no significant difference was observed between the groups treated with Cry1Ac protoxin alone and Cry1Ac protoxin + EPSs. However, compared with the gut bacterial community feeding on Cry1Ac protoxin alone, the relative abundance of 31 genera was significantly changed in the group treated with Cry1Ac protoxin and EPSs. The intestinal bacteria, through the oral of Cry1Ac protoxin and EPSs, significantly enhanced the toxicity of the Cry1Ac protoxin towards the axenic P. xylostella. In addition, the relative abundance of the 16S rRNA gene in the chloroplasts of Brassica campestris decreased after adding EPSs. Taken together, these results show the vital contribution of the gut microbiota to the Bt strain-killing activity, providing new insights into the mechanism of the synergistic insecticidal activity of Bt proteins and EPSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Wang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, College of Plant Protection, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China; (M.W.)
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (L.G.)
| | - Lili Geng
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (L.G.)
| | - Jinxi Zhou
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, College of Plant Protection, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China; (M.W.)
| | - Ziqiong Gu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (L.G.)
| | - Bai Xue
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (L.G.)
| | - Changlong Shu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (L.G.)
| | - Jie Zhang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, College of Plant Protection, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China; (M.W.)
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (L.G.)
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Zhao X, Höfte M, Spanoghe P, Rajkovic A, Uyttendaele M. Biofilm-forming Ability of Bacillus thuringiensis Strains from Biopesticides on Polystyrene and their Attachment on Spinach. J Food Prot 2024; 87:100321. [PMID: 38936698 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2024.100321] [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] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis-based commercial products as a biopesticide have been used for more than 60 years in agriculture. However, as one of the species in B. cereus group, B. thuringiensis has been considered as an emerging hazard with the potential to cause food toxico-infections. The present study aimed to evaluate the biofilm-forming ability of B. thuringiensis biopesticide strains and their attachment on spinach, compared to foodborne B. cereus strains. Biofilm formations of tested strains were found to be strain-specific and affected by the nutrient conditions more than the incubation time. Nutrient starvation conditions generally reduced the biofilm formation of tested B. thuringiensis and B. cereus strains, particularly B. thuringiensis ABTS-1857 strain was found as the nonbiofilm former in starvation conditions. It is worth mentioning that B. thuringiensis SA-11 strain showed stronger biofilm-forming ability with more air-liquid interface biofilm than the other two B. thuringiensis biopesticide strains, but no such higher attachment of B. thuringiensis SA-11 to spinach was observed. These results indicate that B. thuringiensis SA-11 strain can enter the food processing lines by the attachment on spinach leaves, and it has the potential to form biofilms throughout the processing lines or the production environment when sufficient nutrients are available. However, more biofilm tests of B. thuringiensis biopesticide strains in the vegetable production chain should be performed. The dry formulation of commercial B. thuringiensis biopesticides enhanced their adhesion on spinach leaves, whereas the strength of adhesion was not improved by the formulation. In addition, 1-2 log reductions of spores after the intensive washing of spinach leaves in the lab were detected. However, the log reduction due to the actual washing done by the food processing companies in large-volume washing baths or by consumers at home would be limited and less than this lab simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingchen Zhao
- Food Microbiology and Food Preservation Research Unit, Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Research Group for Food Microbiology and Hygiene, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Monica Höfte
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pieter Spanoghe
- Laboratory of Crop Protection Chemistry, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Andreja Rajkovic
- Food Microbiology and Food Preservation Research Unit, Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mieke Uyttendaele
- Food Microbiology and Food Preservation Research Unit, Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Osborne CJ, Su T, Silver KS, Cohnstaedt LW. Variable gut pH as a potential mechanism of tolerance to Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis toxins in the biting midge Culicoides sonorensis. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:4006-4012. [PMID: 38527917 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) are safer alternatives for controlling dipteran pests such as black flies and mosquitoes. The biting midge Culicoides sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is an important pest of livestock in much of the United States and larval midges utilize semi-aquatic habitats which are permissive for Bti product application. Reports suggest that Bti products are ineffective at killing biting midges despite their taxonomic relation to black flies and mosquitoes. Here, we investigate the toxicity of a Bti-based commercial insecticide and its active ingredient in larval Culicoides sonorensis. A suspected mechanism of Bti tolerance is an acidic larval gut, and we used a pH indicator dye to examine larval Culicoides sonorensis gut pH after exposure to Bti. RESULTS The lethal concentration to kill 90% (LC90) of larvae of the commercial product (386 mg/L) was determined to be almost 10 000 times more than that of some mosquito species, and no concentration of active ingredient tested achieved 50% larval mortality. The larval gut was found to be more acidic after exposure to Bti which inhibits Bti toxin activity. By comparison, 100% mortality was achieved in larval Aedes aegypti at the product's label rate for this species and mosquito larvae had alkaline guts regardless of treatment. Altering the larval rearing water to alkaline conditions enhanced Bti efficacy when using the active ingredient. CONCLUSION We conclude that Bti is not practical for larval Culicoides sonorensis control at the same rates as mosquitos but show that alterations or additives to the environment could make the products more effective. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron J Osborne
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Tianyun Su
- EcoZone International, Riverside, CA, USA
| | | | - Lee W Cohnstaedt
- Foreign Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Manhattan, KS, USA
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Castro-Saines E, Lagunes-Quintanilla R, Hernández-Ortiz R. Microbial agents for the control of ticks Rhipicephalus microplus. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:275. [PMID: 39017922 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08291-1] [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] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Ticks are ectoparasites responsible for the transmission of various pathogens to vertebrates. They represent one of the major threats to livestock production worldwide due to their impact on the health, production and welfare of livestock destined for human consumption. The development of resistance to the main families of ixodicides used for their control has led to the search for new alternatives, where microbial control is an option. The use of microbial control agents against the tick Rhipicephalus microplus is reviewed in this paper. Bacteria such as Bacillus thuringiensis, Serratia marcescens and Staphylococcus spp. the nematodes Steinernema spp. and Heterorhabditis spp. as well as the fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana are the most studied organisms for use as biological control agents against ticks. Laboratory, stable and field trials with free-living and parasitised ticks have shown that microbial agents can control both susceptible and ixodicide-resistant tick populations. However, multidisciplinary studies using novel tools like genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics should be carried out to understand the virulence factors which microbial agents use to induce pathogenesis and virulence in ticks. In addition, applied research will be carried out with the aim of improving techniques for large-scale application, as well as the improvement of cultivation, storage, formulation and application methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Castro-Saines
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal E Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Carretera Federal Cuernavaca-Cuautla 8534, Colonia Progreso, Jiutepec, Morelos, CP 62550, México.
| | - Rodolfo Lagunes-Quintanilla
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal E Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Carretera Federal Cuernavaca-Cuautla 8534, Colonia Progreso, Jiutepec, Morelos, CP 62550, México
| | - Rubén Hernández-Ortiz
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal E Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Carretera Federal Cuernavaca-Cuautla 8534, Colonia Progreso, Jiutepec, Morelos, CP 62550, México
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Babar TK, Glare TR, Hampton JG, Hurst MRH, Narciso J. Biochemical characterisation and production kinetics of high molecular-weight (HMW) putative antibacterial proteins of insect pathogenic Brevibacillus laterosporus isolates. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:259. [PMID: 38997685 PMCID: PMC11245835 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03340-2] [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] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial genomes often encode structures similar to phage capsids (encapsulins) and phage tails which can be induced spontaneously or using genotoxic compounds such as mitomycin C. These high molecular-weight (HMW) putative antibacterial proteins (ABPs) are used against the competitive strains under natural environment. Previously, it was unknown whether these HMW putative ABPs originating from the insect pathogenic Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium Brevibacillus laterosporus (Bl) isolates (1821L, 1951) are spontaneously induced during the growth and pose a detrimental effect on their own survival. Furthermore, no prior work has been undertaken to determine their biochemical characteristics. RESULTS Using a soft agar overlay method with polyethylene glycol precipitation, a narrow spectrum of bioactivity was found from the precipitated lysate of Bl 1951. Electron micrographs of mitomycin C- induced filtrates showed structures similar to phage capsids and contractile tails. Bioactivity assays of cell free supernatants (CFS) extracted during the growth of Bl 1821L and Bl 1951 suggested spontaneous induction of these HMW putative ABPs with an autocidal activity. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of spontaneously induced putative ABPs showed appearance of ~ 30 kDa and ~ 48 kDa bands of varying intensity across all the time intervals during the bacterial growth except in the initial hours. Statistically, spontaneously induced HMW putative ABPs of Bl 1951 exhibited a significant decrease in the number of viable cells of its producer strain after 18 h of growth in liquid. In addition, a significant change in pH and prominent bioactivity of the CFS of this particular time period was noted. Biochemically, the filtered supernatant derived from either Bl 1821L or Bl 1951 maintained bioactivity over a wide range of pH and temperature. CONCLUSION This study reports the spontaneous induction of HMW putative ABPs (bacteriocins) of Bl 1821L and Bl 1951 isolates during the course of growth with potential autocidal activity which is critically important during production as a potential biopesticide. A narrow spectrum of putative antibacterial activity of Bl 1951 precipitate was found. The stability of HMW putative ABPs of Bl 1821L and Bl 1951 over a wide range of pH and temperature can be useful in expanding the potential of this useful bacterium beyond the insecticidal value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tauseef K Babar
- Bioprotection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, 7647, New Zealand.
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60000, Pakistan.
| | - Travis R Glare
- Bioprotection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, 7647, New Zealand
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, 7647, New Zealand
| | - John G Hampton
- Bioprotection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, 7647, New Zealand
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, 7647, New Zealand
| | - Mark R H Hurst
- Resilient agriculture, AgResearch, Lincoln Research Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Josefina Narciso
- Bioprotection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, 7647, New Zealand
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, 7647, New Zealand
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Schäfer L, Jehle JA, Kleespies RG, Wennmann JT. Pathogens of the oak processionary moth Thaumetopoea processionea: Developing a user-friendly bioassay system and metagenome analyses for microorganisms. J Invertebr Pathol 2024; 205:108121. [PMID: 38705355 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108121] [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] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
The oak processionary moth (OPM) Thaumetopoea processionea is a pest of oak trees and poses health risks to humans due to the urticating setae of later instar larvae. For this reason, it is difficult to rear OPM under laboratory conditions, carry out bioassays or examine larvae for pathogens. Biological control targets the early larval instars and is based primarily on commercial preparations of Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki (Btk). To test the entomopathogenic potential of other spore-forming bacteria, a user-friendly bioassay system was developed that (i) applies bacterial spore suspensions by oak bud dipping, (ii) targets first instar larvae through feeding exposure and (iii) takes into account their group-feeding behavior. A negligible mortality in the untreated control proved the functionality of the newly established bioassay system. Whereas the commercial Btk HD-1 strain was used as a bioassay standard and confirmed as being highly efficient, a Bacillus wiedmannii strain was ineffective in killing OPM larvae. Larvae, which died during the infection experiment, were further subjected to Nanopore sequencing for a metagenomic approach for entomopathogen detection. It further corroborated that B.wiedmannii was not able to infect and establish in OPM, but identified potential insect pathogenic species from the genera Serratia and Pseudomonas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Schäfer
- Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Biological Control, Schwabenheimer Str. 101, 69221 Dossenheim, Germany
| | - Johannes A Jehle
- Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Biological Control, Schwabenheimer Str. 101, 69221 Dossenheim, Germany
| | - Regina G Kleespies
- Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Biological Control, Schwabenheimer Str. 101, 69221 Dossenheim, Germany
| | - Jörg T Wennmann
- Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Biological Control, Schwabenheimer Str. 101, 69221 Dossenheim, Germany.
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Lv Z, Yu S, Zhao Y, Yang Z. Silence of Aminopeptidase N 2 gene reveals the trade-offs for acquiring Cry1Ac resistance in Plutella xylostella. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 116:e22131. [PMID: 39016064 DOI: 10.1002/arch.22131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is widely used as a biopesticide worldwide. To date, at least eight pest species have been found to be resistant to Bt in the field. As the first pest that was reported having resistance to Bt in the field, considerable research has been done on the mechanisms of Bt resistance in Plutella xylostella. However, whether the acquisition of Bt resistance by P. xylostella comes at a fitness cost is also a valuable question. In this study, Aminopeptidase-N 2 (APN2), a Cry toxin receptor gene of P. xylostella, was knocked down by RNA interference, resulting in improved resistance to Cry1Ac. It was also found that larval mortality of APN2 knockdown P. xylostella was significantly higher than that of the control, while the pupation rate, pupal weight, eclosion rate, fecundity (egg/female), hatchability, and female adult longevity were significantly lower in APN2 knockdown P. xylostella than in the control. These results illustrate that if Cry1Ac resistance was obtained only through the reduction of APN2 expression, P. xylostella would need to incur some fitness costs for it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuohong Lv
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha, China
| | - Shuwen Yu
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Yafei Zhao
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhongxia Yang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha, China
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12
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Ramírez-Pool JA, Calderón-Pérez B, Ruiz-Medrano R, Ortiz-Castro R, Xoconostle-Cazares B. Bacillus Strains as Effective Biocontrol Agents Against Phytopathogenic Bacteria and Promoters of Plant Growth. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2024; 87:76. [PMID: 38801423 PMCID: PMC11129970 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-024-02384-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Modern crop production relies on the application of chemical pesticides and fertilizers causing environmental and economic challenges. In response, less environmentally impactful alternatives have emerged such as the use of beneficial microorganisms. These microorganisms, particularly plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), have demonstrated their ability to enhance plant growth, protect against various stresses, and reduce the need for chemical inputs. Among the PGPB, Bacillus species have garnered attention due to their adaptability and commercial potential. Recent reports have highlighted Bacillus strains as biocontrol agents against phytopathogenic bacteria while concurrently promoting plant growth. We also examined Bacillus plant growth-promoting abilities in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. In this study, we assessed the potential of various Bacillus strains to control diverse phytopathogenic bacteria and inhibit quorum sensing using Chromobacterium violaceum as a model system. In conclusion, our results suggest that bacteria of the genus Bacillus hold significant potential for biotechnological applications. This includes developments aimed at reducing agrochemical use, promoting sustainable agriculture, and enhancing crop yield and protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Abrahán Ramírez-Pool
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, CINVESTAV, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, Mexico City, 07360, Mexico
- Unidad de Biotecnología y Prototipos, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Mexico, Mexico
| | - Berenice Calderón-Pérez
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, CINVESTAV, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, Mexico City, 07360, Mexico
| | - Roberto Ruiz-Medrano
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, CINVESTAV, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, Mexico City, 07360, Mexico
| | - Randy Ortiz-Castro
- Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Instituto de Ecología A.C., Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, Xalapa, Veracruz, 91073, Mexico.
| | - Beatriz Xoconostle-Cazares
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, CINVESTAV, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, Mexico City, 07360, Mexico.
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13
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Liu L, He W, Xu P, Wei W, Wang J, Liu K. Contribution of the transcription factor SfGATAe to Bt Cry toxin resistance in Spodoptera frugiperda through reduction of ABCC2 expression. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 267:131459. [PMID: 38593893 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131459] [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] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Insect resistance evolution poses a significant threat to the advantages of biopesticides and transgenic crops utilizing insecticidal Cry-toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). However, there is limited research on the relationship between transcriptional regulation of specific toxin receptors in lepidopteran insects and their resistance to Bt toxins. Here, we report the positive regulatory role of the SfGATAe transcription factor on the expression of the ABCC2 gene in Spodoptera frugiperda. DNA regions in the SfABCC2 promoter that are vital for regulation by SfGATAe, utilizing DAP-seq technology and promoter deletion mapping. Through yeast one-hybrid assays, DNA pull-down experiments, and site-directed mutagenesis, we confirmed that the transcription factor SfGATAe regulates the core control site PBS2 in the ABCC2 target gene. Tissue-specific expression analysis has revealed that SfGATAe is involved in the regulation and expression of midgut cells in the fall armyworm. Silencing SfGATAe in fall armyworm larvae resulted in reduced expression of SfABCC2 and decreased sensitivity to Cry1Ac toxin. Overall, this study elucidated the regulatory mechanism of the transcription factor SfGATAe on the expression of the toxin receptor gene SfABCC2 and this transcriptional control mechanism impacts the resistance of the fall armyworm to Bt toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leilei Liu
- Center of Applied Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Wuhan University of Bioengineering, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Wenfeng He
- Center of Applied Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Wuhan University of Bioengineering, Wuhan, Hubei, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Peiwen Xu
- Center of Applied Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Wuhan University of Bioengineering, Wuhan, Hubei, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Center of Applied Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Wuhan University of Bioengineering, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jintao Wang
- Center of Applied Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Wuhan University of Bioengineering, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Kaiyu Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Price CSV, Campbell H, Pope TW. Assessing the potential of biopesticides to control the cabbage stem flea beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:2471-2479. [PMID: 37622417 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) is an economically important pest of oilseed rape crops in Europe that was effectively controlled by neonicotinoid insecticide seed treatments until they were banned by the European Union in 2013. Since then, CSFB has been a difficult pest to control effectively, in part due to many populations having developed resistance to pyrethroids, the only authorized insecticides used to control this pest in many countries. Alternative solutions are therefore necessary, such as biopesticides. We tested an entomopathogenic fungus, three entomopathogenic bacteria isolates, two fatty acids and azadirachtin against CSFB adults under laboratory conditions. We also tested the efficacy of the pyrethroid insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin. RESULTS Fatty acids were effective, with up to 100% CSFB mortality after 24 h. The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana resulted in up to 56% mortality 14 days after treatment. Entomopathogenic bacteria formulations and azadirachtin were not effective (<50% and <40% mortality, respectively). Results from a bioassay using lambda-cyhalothrin indicated that the CSFB used in this study were resistant to this insecticide. CONCLUSION Entomopathogenic fungi and fatty acids could potentially be used to control CSFB as part of an integrated pest management programme. This study is the first to investigate the efficacy of different biopesticides to control CSFB under laboratory conditions. As such, these biopesticides require further testing to optimise the formulation and application methods, and to assess the impact on nontarget organisms. Finally, efficacy under field conditions must be determined to understand the influence of environmental variables. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heather Campbell
- Centre for Crop and Environmental Science, Agriculture and Environment Department, Harper Adams University, Newport, UK
| | - Tom William Pope
- Centre for Crop and Environmental Science, Agriculture and Environment Department, Harper Adams University, Newport, UK
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Chung T, Salazar A, Harm G, Johler S, Carroll LM, Kovac J. Comparison of the performance of multiple whole-genome sequence-based tools for the identification of Bacillus cereus sensu stricto biovar Thuringiensis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0177823. [PMID: 38470126 PMCID: PMC11026089 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01778-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The Bacillus cereus sensu stricto (s.s.) species comprises strains of biovar Thuringiensis (Bt) known for their bioinsecticidal activity, as well as strains with foodborne pathogenic potential. Bt strains are identified (i) based on the production of insecticidal crystal proteins, also known as Bt toxins, or (ii) based on the presence of cry, cyt, and vip genes, which encode Bt toxins. Multiple bioinformatics tools have been developed for the detection of crystal protein-encoding genes based on whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data. However, the performance of these tools is yet to be evaluated using phenotypic data. Thus, the goal of this study was to assess the performance of four bioinformatics tools for the detection of crystal protein-encoding genes. The accuracy of sequence-based identification of Bt was determined in reference to phenotypic microscope-based screening for the production of crystal proteins. A total of 58 diverse B. cereus sensu lato strains isolated from clinical, food, environmental, and commercial biopesticide products underwent WGS. Isolates were examined for crystal protein production using phase contrast microscopy. Crystal protein-encoding genes were detected using BtToxin_Digger, BTyper3, IDOPS (identification of pesticidal sequences), and Cry_processor. Out of 58 isolates, the phenotypic production of crystal proteins was confirmed for 18 isolates. Specificity and sensitivity of Bt identification based on sequences were 0.85 and 0.94 for BtToxin_Digger, 0.97 and 0.89 for BTyper3, 0.95 and 0.94 for IDOPS, and 0.88 and 1.00 for Cry_processor, respectively. Cry_processor predicted crystal protein production with the highest specificity, and BtToxin_Digger and IDOPS predicted crystal protein production with the highest sensitivity. Three out of four tested bioinformatics tools performed well overall, with IDOPS achieving high sensitivity and specificity (>0.90).IMPORTANCEStrains of Bacillus cereus sensu stricto (s.s.) biovar Thuringiensis (Bt) are used as organic biopesticides. Bt is differentiated from the foodborne pathogen Bacillus cereus s.s. by the production of insecticidal crystal proteins. Thus, reliable genomic identification of biovar Thuringiensis is necessary to ensure food safety and facilitate risk assessment. This study assessed the accuracy of whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based identification of Bt compared to phenotypic microscopy-based screening for crystal protein production. Multiple bioinformatics tools were compared to assess their performance in predicting crystal protein production. Among them, identification of pesticidal sequences performed best overall at WGS-based Bt identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taejung Chung
- Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Abimel Salazar
- Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Grant Harm
- Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sophia Johler
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Laura M. Carroll
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, SciLifeLab, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Integrated Science Lab (IceLab), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jasna Kovac
- Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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Pan X, Cao F, Guo X, Wang Y, Cui Z, Huang T, Hou Y, Guan X. Development of a Safe and Effective Bacillus thuringiensis-Based Nanobiopesticide for Controlling Tea Pests. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:7807-7817. [PMID: 38514390 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c00833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Mg(OH)2 was used as the nanocarrier of the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry1Ac protein, and the synthesized Cry1Ac-Mg(OH)2 composites were regular and uniform nanosheets. Nano-Mg(OH)2 could effectively improve the insecticidal effect of the Cry1Ac protein toward Ectropis obliqua. It could enhance the damage degree of the Cry1Ac protein to intestinal epithelial cells and microvilli, induce and enrich the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the midgut, and enhance the degradation of the Cry1Ac protein into active fragments. Furthermore, an anti-rinsing assay showed that the Cry1Ac-Mg(OH)2 composites were bound to the notch structure of the tea leaf surface. The retention of the Cry1Ac protein increased by 11.45%, and sprayed nano-Mg(OH)2 was rapidly absorbed by different tissues of tea plants. Moreover, nano-Mg(OH)2 and composites did not significantly affect non-target organisms. These results show that nano-Mg(OH)2 can serve as a safe and effective biopesticide carrier, which provides a new approach for stable and efficient Bt preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education & Fujian-Taiwan Joint Center for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education & Fujian-Taiwan Joint Center for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Xueping Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education & Fujian-Taiwan Joint Center for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Yilin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education & Fujian-Taiwan Joint Center for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziqi Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education & Fujian-Taiwan Joint Center for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianpei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education & Fujian-Taiwan Joint Center for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Youming Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education & Fujian-Taiwan Joint Center for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiong Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education & Fujian-Taiwan Joint Center for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, People's Republic of China
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17
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Hou YY, Zang ZY, Lü WJ, Xu W, Desneux N, Zang LS. Transgenerational hormesis and sublethal effects of five key insecticides for controlling Spodoptera frugiperda on its endoparasitoid Cotesia marginiventris. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:1681-1691. [PMID: 38010617 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The endoparasitoid Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) is a promising biological control agent of the fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith). Because the application of insecticides is one of the prime choices in pest management, we evaluated the sublethal and transgenerational effects of the five key insecticides-chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, spinetoram, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), and Mamestra brassicae nucleopolyhedrovirus (MbNPV)-on the parasitoid. RESULTS Exposure to five insecticides at a concentration causing 10% mortality (LC10 ) caused hormetic effects in the parent generation (F0 ) by increasing the parasitism and reducing the immature duration. Interestingly, the hormetic response was also observed in the offspring generation indirectly exposed to the insecticides. Furthermore, insecticides increased the parasitism rate by 6.32-14.73% in the F1 generation, which was similar to that of the F0 generation (3.96-11.81%) compared with the control. No significant adverse effect was observed on the number of emerged parasitoids of the F1 and F2 generations. However, insecticides had a detrimental impact on body size and fecundity in the F1 and F2 generations, which showed a small body size with shorter hind tibiae and a significant reduction in the female ratio compared with the control; the exception was that chlorantraniliprole significantly improved the female ratio in the F2 generation. CONCLUSIONS Five insecticides at LC10 induced transgenerational hormetic and sublethal effects on C. marginiventris. Our results provide a scientific basis for a better understanding of the long-term impacts of insecticides at sublethal doses on parasitoids, facilitating the development of improved integrated pest management programs for FAW control. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Yang Hou
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhuo-Yi Zang
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Wen-Jie Lü
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei Xu
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | | | - Lian-Sheng Zang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
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18
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Yang J, Xu X, Wu J, Champer J, Xie M. Involvement of miR-8510a-3p in response to Cry1Ac protoxin by regulating PxABCG3 in Plutella xylostella. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 263:130271. [PMID: 38373570 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130271] [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] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Overuse of insecticides has accelerated the evolution of insecticide resistance and created serious environmental concerns worldwide, thus incentivizing development of alternative methods. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is an insecticidal bacterium that has been developed as a biopesticide to successfully control multiple species of pests. It operates by secreting several insect toxins such as Cry1Ac. However, metabolic resistance based on ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters may play a crucial role in the development of metabolic resistance to Bt. Here, we characterized an ABCG gene from the agricultural pest Plutella xylostella (PxABCG3) and found that it was highly expressed in a Cry1Ac-resistant strain, up-regulated after Cry1Ac protoxin treatment. Binding miR-8510a-3p to the coding sequence (CDS) of PxABCG3 was then confirmed by a luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. miR-8510a-3p agomir delivery markedly reduced PxABCG3 expression in vivo and consequently decreased the tolerance of P. xylostella to Cry1Ac, while reduction of miR-8510a-3p significantly increased PxABCG3 expression, accompanied by an increased tolerance to Cry1Ac. Our results suggest that miR-8510a-3p could potentially be used as a novel molecular target against P. xylostella or other lepidopterans, providing novel insights into developing effective and environmentally friendly pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xuejiao Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jiaqi Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jackson Champer
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Miao Xie
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
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Shao E, Huang H, Yuan J, Yan Y, Ou L, Chen X, Pan X, Guan X, Sha L. N-Terminal α-Helices in Domain I of Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3Aa Play Crucial Roles in Disruption of Liposomal Membrane. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:88. [PMID: 38393166 PMCID: PMC10892741 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16020088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3 toxins form a tetrameric structure crucial for their insecticidal activity. Each Vip3Aa monomer comprises five domains. Interaction of the first four α-helices in domain I with the target cellular membrane was proposed to be a key step before pore formation. In this study, four N-terminal α-helix-deleted truncations of Vip3Aa were produced and, it was found that they lost both liposome permeability and insecticidal activity against Spodoptera litura. To further probe the role of domain I in membrane permeation, the full-length domain I and the fragments of N-terminal α-helix-truncated domain I were fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP), respectively. Only the fusion carrying the full-length domain I exhibited permeability against artificial liposomes. In addition, seven Vip3Aa-Cry1Ac fusions were also constructed by combination of α-helices from Vip3Aa domains I and II with the domains II and III of Cry1Ac. Five of the seven combinations were determined to show membrane permeability in artificial liposomes. However, none of the Vip3Aa-Cry1Ac combinations exhibited insecticidal activity due to the significant reduction in proteolytic stability. These results indicated that the N-terminal helix α1 in the Vip3Aa domain I is essential for both insecticidal activity and liposome permeability and that domain I of Vip3Aa preserved a high liposome permeability independently from domains II-V.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ensi Shao
- China National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO Technology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (E.S.); (J.Y.); (Y.Y.); (L.O.); (X.C.)
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (H.H.); (X.P.); (X.G.)
| | - Hanye Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (H.H.); (X.P.); (X.G.)
| | - Jin Yuan
- China National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO Technology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (E.S.); (J.Y.); (Y.Y.); (L.O.); (X.C.)
| | - Yaqi Yan
- China National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO Technology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (E.S.); (J.Y.); (Y.Y.); (L.O.); (X.C.)
| | - Luru Ou
- China National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO Technology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (E.S.); (J.Y.); (Y.Y.); (L.O.); (X.C.)
| | - Xiankun Chen
- China National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO Technology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (E.S.); (J.Y.); (Y.Y.); (L.O.); (X.C.)
| | - Xiaohong Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (H.H.); (X.P.); (X.G.)
| | - Xiong Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (H.H.); (X.P.); (X.G.)
| | - Li Sha
- China National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO Technology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (E.S.); (J.Y.); (Y.Y.); (L.O.); (X.C.)
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (H.H.); (X.P.); (X.G.)
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20
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Fu BW, Xu L, Zheng MX, Shi Y, Zhu YJ. Engineering of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry2Ab toxin for improved insecticidal activity. AMB Express 2024; 14:15. [PMID: 38300478 PMCID: PMC10834393 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-024-01669-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis Cry2Ab toxin was a widely used bioinsecticide to control lepidopteran pests all over the world. In the present study, engineering of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry2Ab toxin was performed for improved insecticidal activity using site-specific saturation mutation. Variants L183I were screened with lower LC50 (0.129 µg/cm2) against P. xylostella when compared to wild-type Cry2Ab (0.267 µg/cm2). To investigate the molecular mechanism behind the enhanced activity of variant L183I, the activation, oligomerization and pore-formation activities of L183I were evaluated, using wild-type Cry2Ab as a control. The results demonstrated that the proteolytic activation of L183I was the same as that of wild-type Cry2Ab. However, variant L183I displayed higher oligomerization and pore-formation activities, which was consistence with its increased insecticidal activity. The current study demonstrated that the insecticidal activity of Cry2Ab toxin could be assessed using oligomerization and pore-formation activities, and the screened variant L183I with improved activity might contribute to Cry2Ab toxin's future application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bai-Wen Fu
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Lian Xu
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou, 350013, China
| | - Mei-Xia Zheng
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou, 350013, China
| | - Yan Shi
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China.
| | - Yu-Jing Zhu
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou, 350013, China.
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Guo Z, Bai Y, Zhang X, Guo L, Zhu L, Sun D, Sun K, Xu X, Yang X, Xie W, Wang S, Wu Q, Crickmore N, Zhou X, Zhang Y. RNA m 6 A Methylation Suppresses Insect Juvenile Hormone Degradation to Minimize Fitness Costs in Response to A Pathogenic Attack. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2307650. [PMID: 38087901 PMCID: PMC10853702 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202307650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Bioinsecticides and transgenic crops based on the bacterial pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) can effectively control diverse agricultural insect pests, nevertheless, the evolution of resistance without obvious fitness costs has seriously eroded the sustainable use of these Bt products. Recently, it has been discovered that an increased titer of juvenile hormone (JH) favors an insect host (Plutella xylostella) to enhance fitness whilst resisting the Bt pathogen, however, the underlying regulatory mechanisms of the increased JH titer are obscure. Here, the involvement of N6 -methyladenosine (m6 A) RNA modification in modulating the availability of JH in this process is defined. Specifically, it is found that two m6 A methyltransferase subunit genes, PxMettl3 and PxMettl14, repress the expression of a key JH-degrading enzyme JH esterase (JHE) to induce an increased JH titer, mitigating the fitness costs associated with a robust defense against the Bt pathogen. This study identifies an as-yet uncharacterized m6 A-mediated epigenetic regulator of insect hormones for maintaining fitness during pathogen defense and unveils an emerging Bt resistance-related m6 A methylation atlas in insects, which further expands the functional landscape of m6 A modification and showcases the pivotal role of epigenetic regulation in host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaojiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Yang Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Xinyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Le Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Liuhong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Dan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Kaiyue Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Xudan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Xin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Wen Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Shaoli Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Qingjun Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Neil Crickmore
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of SussexBrightonBN1 9QGUK
| | - Xuguo Zhou
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKentucky40546‐0091USA
| | - Youjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
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22
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Zhang J, Liu M, Wen L, Hua Y, Zhang R, Li S, Zafar J, Pang R, Xu H, Xu X, Jin F. MiR-2b-3p Downregulated PxTrypsin-9 Expression in the Larval Midgut to Decrease Cry1Ac Susceptibility of the Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:2263-2276. [PMID: 38235648 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Crystal (Cry) toxins, produced by Bacillus thuringiensis, are widely used as effective biological pesticides in agricultural production. However, insects always quickly evolve adaptations against Cry toxins within a few generations. In this study, we focused on the Cry1Ac protoxin activated by protease. Our results identified PxTrypsin-9 as a trypsin gene that plays a key role in Cry1Ac virulence in Plutella xylostella larvae. In addition, P. xylostella miR-2b-3p, a member of the micoRNA-2 (miR-2) family, was significantly upregulated by Cry1Ac protoxin and targeted to PxTrypsin-9 downregulated its expression. The mRNA level of PxTrypsin-9, regulated by miR-2b-3p, revealed an increased tolerance of P. xylostella larvae to Cry1Ac at the post-transcriptional level. Considering that miR-2b and trypsin genes are widely distributed in various pest species, our study provides the basis for further investigation of the roles of miRNAs in the regulation of the resistance to Cry1Ac and other insecticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Mingyou Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Liang Wen
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yanyan Hua
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Ruonan Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - ShuZhong Li
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Junaid Zafar
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Rui Pang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Hanhong Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiaoxia Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Fengliang Jin
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
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23
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Chen L, Wang Y, Zhu L, Min Y, Tian Y, Gong Y, Liu X. 3-(Methylthio)Propionic Acid from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner Exhibits High Nematicidal Activity against the Root Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1708. [PMID: 38338986 PMCID: PMC10855422 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Root knot nematodes cause serious damage to global agricultural production annually. Given that traditional chemical fumigant nematicides are harmful to non-target organisms and the environment, the development of biocontrol strategies has attracted significant attention in recent years. In this study, it was found that the Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner strain NBIN-863 exhibits strong fumigant nematicidal activity and has a high attraction effect on Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood. Four volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by NBIN-863 were identified using solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The nematicidal activity of four VOCs, namely, N-methylformamide, propenamide, 3-(methylthio)propionic acid, and phenylmalonic acid, was detected. Among these compounds, 3-(methylthio)propionic acid exhibited the highest direct contact nematicidal activity against M. incognita, with an LC50 value of 6.27 μg/mL at 24 h. In the fumigant bioassay, the mortality rate of M. incognita treated with 1 mg/mL of 3-(methylthio)propionic acid for 24 h increased to 69.93%. Furthermore, 3-(methylthio)propionic acid also exhibited an inhibitory effect on the egg-hatching of M. incognita. Using chemotaxis assays, it was determined that 3-(methylthio)propionic acid was highly attractive to M. incognita. In pot experiments, the application of 3-(methylthio)propionic acid resulted in a reduction in gall numbers, decreasing the number of galls per gram of tomato root from 97.58 to 6.97. Additionally, the root length and plant height of the treated plants showed significant increases in comparison with the control group. The current study suggests that 3-(methylthio)propionic acid is a novel nematicidal virulence factor of B. thuringiensis. Our research provides evidence for the potential use of NBIN-863 or its VOCs in biocontrol against root knot nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Xiaoyan Liu
- National Biopesticide Engineering Technology Research Centre, Hubei Biopesticide Engineering Research Centre, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, China; (L.C.); (Y.W.); (L.Z.); (Y.M.); (Y.T.); (Y.G.)
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24
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Shen C, Jin J, Huang Z, Meng M, Lin M, Hu X, Zhu Q, Xu C, Chen W, Lin J, Zhang X, Liu Y, Liu X. Screening and Identification of Anti-Idiotypic Nanobody Capable of Broad-Spectrum Recognition of the Toxin Binding Region of Lepidopteran Cadherins and Mimicking Domain II of Cry2Aa Toxin. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:1582-1591. [PMID: 38221880 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
The widespread use of Bacillus thuringiensis toxins as insecticides has brought about resistance problems. Anti-idiotypic nanobody approaches provide new strategies for resistance management and toxin evolution. In this study, the monoclonal antibody generated against the receptor binding region Domain II of Cry2Aa toxin was used as a target to screen materials with insecticidal activity. After four rounds of screening, anti-idiotypic nanobody 1C12 was obtained from the natural alpaca nanobody phage display library. To better analyze the activity of 1C12, soluble 1C12 was expressed by the Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The results showed that 1C12 not only binds the midgut brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) of two lepidopteran species and cadherin CR9-CR11 of three lepidopteran species but also inhibits Cry2Aa toxins from binding to CR9-CR11. The insect bioassay showed that soluble 1C12 caused 25.65% and 23.61% larvae mortality of Helicoverpa armigera and Plutella xylostella, respectively. Although 1C12 has low insecticidal activity, soluble 1C12 possesses the ability to screen a broad-spectrum recognition of the toxin binding region of lepidopteran cadherins and can be used for the identification of the toxin binding region of other lepidopteran cadherins and the subsequent evolution of Cry2Aa toxin. The present study demonstrates a new strategy to screen for the production of novel insecticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Shen
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Jiafeng Jin
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Ziyan Huang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Meng Meng
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- School of Life Sciences, Discipline of Microbiology, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Manman Lin
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Xiaodan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Qing Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210014, China
- School of Life Sciences, Discipline of Microbiology, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Chongxin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Johnson Lin
- School of Life Sciences, Discipline of Microbiology, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Xianjin Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210014, China
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25
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He X, Yang Y, Soberón M, Bravo A, Zhang L, Zhang J, Wang Z. Bacillus thuringiensis Cry9Aa Insecticidal Protein Domain I Helices α3 and α4 Are Two Core Regions Involved in Oligomerization and Toxicity. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:1321-1329. [PMID: 38175929 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c08070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis Cry9 proteins show high insecticidal activity against different lepidopteran pests. Cry9 could be a valuable alternative to Cry1 proteins because it showed a synergistic effect with no cross-resistance. However, the pore-formation region of the Cry9 proteins is still unclear. In this study, nine mutations of certain Cry9Aa helices α3 and α4 residues resulted in a complete loss of insecticidal activity against the rice pest Chilo suppressalis; however, the protein stability and receptor binding ability of these mutants were not affected. Among these mutants, Cry9Aa-D121R, Cry9Aa-D125R, Cry9Aa-D163R, Cry9Aa-E165R, and Cry9Aa-D167R are unable to form oligomers in vitro, while the oligomers formed by Cry9Aa-R156D, Cry9Aa-R158D, and Cry9Aa-R160D are unstable and failed to insert into the membrane. These data confirmed that helices α3 and α4 of Cry9Aa are involved in oligomerization, membrane insertion, and toxicity. The knowledge of Cry9 pore-forming action may promote its application as an alternative to Cry1 insecticidal proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang He
- Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Green Pesticide Development and Application, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230036, China
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yanchao Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Mario Soberón
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Apdo. Postal 510-3, Morelos 62250, Mexico
| | - Alejandra Bravo
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Apdo. Postal 510-3, Morelos 62250, Mexico
| | - Lihong Zhang
- Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Green Pesticide Development and Application, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230036, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Green Pesticide Development and Application, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230036, China
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zeyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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26
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Jia D, Li Y, Wang Y, Guo Y, Liu J, Zhao S, Wang J, Guan G, Luo J, Yin H, Tang L, Li Y. Probiotic Bacillus licheniformis ZW3 Alleviates DSS-Induced Colitis and Enhances Gut Homeostasis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:561. [PMID: 38203732 PMCID: PMC10778761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite Bacillus species having been extensively utilized in the food industry and biocontrol as part of probiotic preparations, limited knowledge exists regarding their impact on intestinal disorders. In this study, we investigated the effect of Bacillus licheniformis ZW3 (ZW3), a potential probiotic isolated from camel feces, on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. The results showed ZW3 partially mitigated body weight loss, disease activity index (DAI), colon shortening, and suppressed immune response in colitis mice, as evidenced by the reduction in the levels of the inflammatory markers IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 (p < 0.05). ZW3 was found to ameliorate DSS-induced dysfunction of the colonic barrier by enhancing mucin 2 (MUC2), zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1), and occludin. Furthermore, enriched beneficial bacteria Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and decreased harmful bacteria Escherichia-Shigella revealed that ZW3 improved the imbalanced gut microbiota. Abnormally elevated uric acid levels in colitis were further normalized upon ZW3 supplementation. Overall, this study emphasized the protective effects of ZW3 in colitis mice as well as some potential applications in the management of inflammation-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (D.J.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.G.); (J.L.); (S.Z.); (J.W.); (G.G.); (J.L.); (H.Y.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Yingying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (D.J.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.G.); (J.L.); (S.Z.); (J.W.); (G.G.); (J.L.); (H.Y.)
| | - Yingjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (D.J.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.G.); (J.L.); (S.Z.); (J.W.); (G.G.); (J.L.); (H.Y.)
| | - Yanan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (D.J.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.G.); (J.L.); (S.Z.); (J.W.); (G.G.); (J.L.); (H.Y.)
| | - Junlong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (D.J.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.G.); (J.L.); (S.Z.); (J.W.); (G.G.); (J.L.); (H.Y.)
| | - Shuaiyang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (D.J.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.G.); (J.L.); (S.Z.); (J.W.); (G.G.); (J.L.); (H.Y.)
| | - Jinming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (D.J.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.G.); (J.L.); (S.Z.); (J.W.); (G.G.); (J.L.); (H.Y.)
| | - Guiquan Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (D.J.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.G.); (J.L.); (S.Z.); (J.W.); (G.G.); (J.L.); (H.Y.)
| | - Jianxun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (D.J.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.G.); (J.L.); (S.Z.); (J.W.); (G.G.); (J.L.); (H.Y.)
| | - Hong Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (D.J.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.G.); (J.L.); (S.Z.); (J.W.); (G.G.); (J.L.); (H.Y.)
| | - Lijie Tang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Youquan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (D.J.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.G.); (J.L.); (S.Z.); (J.W.); (G.G.); (J.L.); (H.Y.)
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
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27
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Li S, Xu F, Zhang Y, Gao Z, Han Z, Feng C. Identification and characteristic analysis of an extracellular signal-regulated kinase from Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 115:e22077. [PMID: 38288489 DOI: 10.1002/arch.22077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, a critical genetic determinant, controls diverse physiological functions, including innate immunity, development, and stress response. In the current study, a full-length cDNA (1592bp) encoding the ERK gene (OfERK) was cloned from Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée (GenBank accession number: MF797866). The open reading frame of the OfERK gene encoded 364 amino acids and shared 96.43%-98.08% amino acid identities with other insect mitogen-activated protein kinases. For spatiotemporal analysis of the expression pattern, OfERK exhibited a significant peak expression on the 3rd day of the pupa stage and showed the highest expression in hemocytes specifically. Indirect immunofluorescence assays and immuno-electron microscopy revealed a wide distribution of the OfERK protein in hemocytes and epidermis. Moreover, the results demonstrated that the Bt Cry1Ab-activated toxin significantly induces the expression of OfERK. Other genes related to immune response, development, and stress response exhibited dynamic changes in expression after Cry1Ab oral treatment. The expression of OfERK was downregulated through RNA interference, and the correlation of its expression with other related genes was verified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our study provides valuable insights into the regulatory mechanism of ERK in insects for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuzhong Li
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fuqiang Xu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yiqiang Zhang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zupeng Gao
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhaoyang Han
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Congjing Feng
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
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28
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Tang J, Lu J, Zhang C, Zhang D, Yu S, Fang F, Naing ZL, Soe ET, Ding Z, Liang G. Reduced expression of the P-glycoprotein gene HaABCB1 is linked to resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac toxin but not Cry2Ab toxin in Helicoverpa armigera. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127668. [PMID: 37884238 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127668] [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] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Rapid evolution of pest resistance to Bt insecticidal proteins presents a serious threat to the sustainable use of Bt crops. The cotton bollworm has been extensively exposed to Bt cotton worldwide and has evolved resistance in laboratory and field. Previous studies have highlighted the significant roles played by the ABC transporter proteins in Bt resistance. In this study, the ORF of HaABCB1 was cloned and analyzed. The expression of HaABCB1 was detected in all developmental stages and tissues, with the highest expression in third instar larvae stage and hindgut tissue. Compared with susceptible strain, a remarkable decrease of HaABCB1 expression in Cry1Ac resistant strain while no significant change in Cry2Ab resistant strain were found. The HaABCB1 expression reduced after susceptible larvae induced by Cry1Ac, but no obvious expression changes after Cry2Ab exposure. RNAi-mediated down-regulation of HaABCB1 could lead to a significant reduction in larval susceptibility to Cry1Ac, but not to Cry2Ab, in susceptible strain. Genetic linkage analysis confirmed that decreased expression of the HaABCB1 mediates resistance to Cry1Ac, but not Cry2Ab resistance. This knowledge contributes to better understanding of the complex molecular mechanisms underlying Bt resistance and provide theoretical foundation for the development of new strategies for pest resistance management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinrong Tang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jie Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Caihong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Dandan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; College of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Siqi Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Fengyun Fang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zaw Lin Naing
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ei Thinzar Soe
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhongwei Ding
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Gemei Liang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji 831100, China.
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Gan C, Zhang Z, Jin Z, Wang F, Fabrick JA, Wu Y. Helicoverpa armigera ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCA2 is a functional receptor of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry2Ab toxin. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 197:105658. [PMID: 38072533 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Crystalline (Cry) proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are widely used in transgenic crops to control important insect pests. Bt crops have many benefits compared with traditional broad-spectrum insecticides, including improved pest control with reduced negative impacts on off-target organisms and fewer environmental consequences. Transgenic corn and cotton producing Cry2Ab Bt toxin are used globally to control several major lepidopteran pests, including the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera. Resistance to the Cry2Ab toxin and to Bt crops producing Cry2Ab is associated with mutations in the midgut ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCA2 gene in several lepidopterans. Gene-editing knockout has further shown that ABCA2 plays an important functional role in Cry2Ab intoxication. However, the precise role of ABCA2 in the mode of action of Cry2Ab has yet to be reported. Here, we used two in vitro expression systems to study the roles of the H. armigera ABCA2 (HaABCA2) protein in Cry2Ab intoxication. Cry2Ab bound to cultured Sf9 insect cells producing HaABCA2, resulting in specific and dose-dependent susceptibility to Cry2Ab. In contrast, Sf9 cells expressing recombinant mutant proteins missing at least one of the extracellular loop regions 1, 3, 4, and 6 or the intracellular loop containing nucleotide-binding domain 1 lost susceptibility to Cry2Ab, indicating these regions are important for receptor function. Consistent with these results, Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing recombinant HaABCA2 showed strong ion membrane flux in the presence of Cry2Ab, suggesting that HaABCA2 is involved in promoting pore formation during Cry2Ab intoxication. Together with previously published data, our results support HaABCA2 being an important receptor of Cry2Ab where it functions to promote intoxication in H. armigera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunxia Gan
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zheng Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zeng Jin
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Falong Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jeffrey A Fabrick
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, USA
| | - Yidong Wu
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
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Ajuna HB, Lim HI, Moon JH, Won SJ, Choub V, Choi SI, Yun JY, Ahn YS. The Prospect of Hydrolytic Enzymes from Bacillus Species in the Biological Control of Pests and Diseases in Forest and Fruit Tree Production. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16889. [PMID: 38069212 PMCID: PMC10707167 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant diseases and insect pest damage cause tremendous losses in forestry and fruit tree production. Even though chemical pesticides have been effective in the control of plant diseases and insect pests for several decades, they are increasingly becoming undesirable due to their toxic residues that affect human life, animals, and the environment, as well as the growing challenge of pesticide resistance. In this study, we review the potential of hydrolytic enzymes from Bacillus species such as chitinases, β-1,3-glucanases, proteases, lipases, amylases, and cellulases in the biological control of phytopathogens and insect pests, which could be a more sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides. This study highlights the application potential of the hydrolytic enzymes from different Bacillus sp. as effective biocontrol alternatives against phytopathogens/insect pests through the degradation of cell wall/insect cuticles, which are mainly composed of structural polysaccharides like chitins, β-glucans, glycoproteins, and lipids. This study demonstrates the prospects for applying hydrolytic enzymes from Bacillus sp. as effective biopesticides in forest and fruit tree production, their mode of biocidal activity and dual antimicrobial/insecticidal potential, which indicates a great prospect for the simultaneous biocontrol of pests/diseases. Further research should focus on optimizing the production of hydrolytic enzymes, and the antimicrobial/insecticidal synergism of different Bacillus sp. which could facilitate the simultaneous biocontrol of pests and diseases in forest and fruit tree production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry B. Ajuna
- Department of Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.B.A.); (J.-H.M.); (S.-J.W.); (V.C.); (S.-I.C.); (J.-Y.Y.)
| | - Hyo-In Lim
- Forest Bioinformation Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Suwon 16631, Republic of Korea;
| | - Jae-Hyun Moon
- Department of Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.B.A.); (J.-H.M.); (S.-J.W.); (V.C.); (S.-I.C.); (J.-Y.Y.)
| | - Sang-Jae Won
- Department of Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.B.A.); (J.-H.M.); (S.-J.W.); (V.C.); (S.-I.C.); (J.-Y.Y.)
| | - Vantha Choub
- Department of Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.B.A.); (J.-H.M.); (S.-J.W.); (V.C.); (S.-I.C.); (J.-Y.Y.)
| | - Su-In Choi
- Department of Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.B.A.); (J.-H.M.); (S.-J.W.); (V.C.); (S.-I.C.); (J.-Y.Y.)
| | - Ju-Yeol Yun
- Department of Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.B.A.); (J.-H.M.); (S.-J.W.); (V.C.); (S.-I.C.); (J.-Y.Y.)
| | - Young Sang Ahn
- Department of Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.B.A.); (J.-H.M.); (S.-J.W.); (V.C.); (S.-I.C.); (J.-Y.Y.)
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Xu X, Liang X, Wei W, Ding X, Peng C, Wang X, Chen X, Yang L, Xu J. Effects of non-lethal Cry1F toxin exposure on the growth, immune response, and intestinal microbiota of silkworm (Bombyx mori). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 267:115648. [PMID: 37922779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) maize is expected to be commercial cultivated widely in China. When Bt maize is planted near mulberry trees, it renders silkworms (Bombyx mori) vulnerable, as they belong to the same class as the Lepidoptera insects targeted by Bt maize. Cry1F has been found to be highly toxic to silkworms, particularly in their early larval stages. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of non-lethal Cry1F exposure on the growth, immune response, and intestinal microbiota in silkworms. The results showed that feeding silkworms with mulberry leaves soaked in 100 μg/mL Cry1F for 96 h had an impact on larval body weight acquisition, leading to a decrease in cocoon and pupae weight. Cry1F exposure disrupted the intestinal integrity of silkworms by affecting the columnar cells of the midgut. The activity of detoxification enzymes (CarE, AChE, and GST) as well as antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and POD) were also affected by Cry1F. After 96 h Cry1F exposure, the evenness of the bacterial community was disrupted, resulting in alterations in the structure of the intestinal microbiota. Additionally, Cry1F exposure affected the relative expression levels of the peritrophic membrane (PM) protein and the corresponding immune pathways genes of silkworms. Most of the immune-related gene expressions were inhibited after exposure to Cry1F toxin but increased with prolonged treatment. This study demonstrates that non-lethal Cry1F exposure can affect the growth, immune response, and intestinal microbiota of silkworm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Xiaowei Liang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; Biological and Food Engineering School, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, China
| | - Wei Wei
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Xiaohao Ding
- Biological and Food Engineering School, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Xiaofu Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Xiaoyun Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Lei Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Junfeng Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China.
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Rudd SR, Miranda LS, Curtis HR, Bigot Y, Diaz-Mendoza M, Hice R, Nizet V, Park HW, Blaha G, Federici BA, Bideshi DK. The Parasporal Body of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis: A Unique Phage Capsid-Associated Prokaryotic Insecticidal Organelle. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1421. [PMID: 37998020 PMCID: PMC10669011 DOI: 10.3390/biology12111421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The three most important commercial bacterial insecticides are all derived from subspecies of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Specifically, Bt subsp. kurstaki (Btk) and Bt subsp. aizawai (Bta) are used to control larval lepidopteran pests. The third, Bt subsp. israelensis (Bti), is primarily used to control mosquito and blackfly larvae. All three subspecies produce a parasporal body (PB) during sporulation. The PB is composed of insecticidal proteins that damage the midgut epithelium, initiating a complex process that results in the death of the insect. Among these three subspecies of Bt, Bti is unique as it produces the most complex PB consisting of three compartments. Each compartment is bound by a multilaminar fibrous matrix (MFM). Two compartments contain one protein each, Cry11Aa1 and Cyt1Aa1, while the third contains two, Cry4Aa1/Cry4Ba1. Each compartment is packaged independently before coalescing into the mature spherical PB held together by additional layers of the MFM. This distinctive packaging process is unparalleled among known bacterial organelles, although the underlying molecular biology is yet to be determined. Here, we present structural and molecular evidence that the MFM has a hexagonal pattern to which Bti proteins Bt152 and Bt075 bind. Bt152 binds to a defined spot on the MFM during the development of each compartment, yet its function remains unknown. Bt075 appears to be derived from a bacteriophage major capsid protein (MCP), and though its sequence has markedly diverged, it shares striking 3-D structural similarity to the Escherichia coli phage HK97 Head 1 capsid protein. Both proteins are encoded on Bti's pBtoxis plasmid. Additionally, we have also identified a six-amino acid motif that appears to be part of a novel molecular process responsible for targeting the Cry and Cyt proteins to their cytoplasmic compartments. This paper describes several previously unknown features of the Bti organelle, representing a first step to understanding the biology of a unique process of sorting and packaging of proteins into PBs. The insights from this research suggest a potential for future applications in nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R. Rudd
- Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA; (S.R.R.); (L.S.M.); (H.R.C.); (H.-W.P.)
- School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Leticia Silva Miranda
- Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA; (S.R.R.); (L.S.M.); (H.R.C.); (H.-W.P.)
| | - Hannah R. Curtis
- Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA; (S.R.R.); (L.S.M.); (H.R.C.); (H.-W.P.)
- School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Yves Bigot
- UMR CNRS7247, Centre INRA Val de Loire, 37380 Nouzilly, France;
| | - Mercedes Diaz-Mendoza
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University Complutense of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Robert Hice
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;
| | - Victor Nizet
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Hyun-Woo Park
- Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA; (S.R.R.); (L.S.M.); (H.R.C.); (H.-W.P.)
| | - Gregor Blaha
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;
| | - Brian A. Federici
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;
| | - Dennis K. Bideshi
- Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA; (S.R.R.); (L.S.M.); (H.R.C.); (H.-W.P.)
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Han B, Zhang L, Geng L, Jia H, Wang J, Ke L, Li A, Gao J, Wu T, Lu Y, Liu F, Song H, Wei X, Ma S, Zhan H, Wu Y, Liu Y, Wang Q, Diao Q, Zhang J, Dai P. Greater wax moth control in apiaries can be improved by combining Bacillus thuringiensis and entrapments. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7073. [PMID: 37925529 PMCID: PMC10625538 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42946-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The greater wax moth (GWM), Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a major bee pest that causes significant damage to beehives and results in economic losses. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) appears as a potential sustainable solution to control this pest. Here, we develop a novel Bt strain (designated BiotGm) that exhibits insecticidal activity against GWM larvae with a LC50 value lower than 2 μg/g, and low toxicity levels to honey bee with a LC50 = 20598.78 μg/mL for larvae and no observed adverse effect concentration = 100 μg/mL for adults. We design an entrapment method consisting of a lure for GWM larvae, BiotGm, and a trapping device that prevents bees from contacting the lure. We find that this method reduces the population of GWM larvae in both laboratory and field trials. Overall, these results provide a promising direction for the application of Bt-based biological control of GWM in beehives, although further optimization remain necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Lili Geng
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Huiru Jia
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Li Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Airui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jing Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Tong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Ying Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Jiangxi Institute of Apicultural Research, Nanchang, 330201, China
| | - Huailei Song
- Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Xiaoping Wei
- Modern Agricultural Development Institute, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, 550006, China
| | - Shilong Ma
- Enshi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Enshi, 445002, China
| | - Hongping Zhan
- Modern Agricultural Development Institute, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, 550006, China
| | - Yanyan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yongjun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Qingyun Diao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Pingli Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Bravo A, Soberón M. Can microbial-based insecticides replace chemical pesticides in agricultural production? Microb Biotechnol 2023; 16:2011-2014. [PMID: 37462982 PMCID: PMC10616638 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Extensive use of chemical insecticides to control insect pests in agriculture has improved yields and production of high-quality food products. However, chemical insecticides have been shown to be harmful also to beneficial insects and many other organisms like vertebrates. Thus, there is a need to replace those chemical insecticides by other control methods in order to protect the environment. Insect pest pathogens, like bacteria, viruses or fungi, are interesting alternatives for production of microbial-based insecticides to replace the use of chemical products in agriculture. Organic farming, which does not use chemical pesticides for pest control, relies on integrated pest management techniques and in the use of microbial-based insecticides for pest control. Microbial-based insecticides require precise formulation and extensive monitoring of insect pests, since they are highly specific for certain insect pests and in general are more effective for larval young instars. Here, we analyse the possibility of using microbial-based insecticides to replace chemical pesticides in agricultural production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Bravo
- Instituto de BiotecnologíaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCuernavacaMexico
| | - Mario Soberón
- Instituto de BiotecnologíaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCuernavacaMexico
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Foresman D, Tartar A. The transcriptome of the entomopathogenic fungus Culicinomyces clavisporus contains an ortholog of the insecticidal ribotoxin Hirsutellin. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16259. [PMID: 37868071 PMCID: PMC10586291 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The entomopathogenic fungus Culicinomyces clavisporus is known to infect and kill mosquito larvae and therefore has been seen as a potential biological control agent against disease vector mosquitoes. Whereas most fungal entomopathogens infect hosts by penetrating the external cuticle, C. clavisporus initiates infection through ingestion (per os). This unique infection strategy suggests that the C. clavisporus genome may be mined for novel pathogenicity factors with potential for vector control. To this end, an Isoseq-based transcriptome analysis was initiated, and resulted in a total of 3,512,145 sequences, with an average length of 1,732 bp. Transcripts assembly and annotation suggested that the C. clavisporus transcriptome lacked the cuticle-degrading proteins that have been associated with other entomopathogenic fungi, supporting the per os pathogenicity process. Furthermore, mining of the sequence data unexpectedly revealed C. clavisporus transcripts homologous to the Hirsutellin toxin. Comparative sequence analyses indicated that the C. clavisporus Hirsutellin predicted protein has retained the canonical molecular features that have been associated with the ribotoxic and insecticidal properties of the original toxin isolated from Hirsutella thompsonii. The identification of an Hirsutellin ortholog in C. clavisporus was supported by phylogenetic analyses demonstrating that Culicinomyces and Hirsutella were closely related genera in the Ophiocordycipitaceae family. Validation of the mosquitocidal activity of this novel C. clavisporus protein has yet to be performed but may help position Hirsutellin orthologs as prime candidates for the development of alternative biocontrol approaches complementing the current toolbox of vector mosquito management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Foresman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States of America
| | - Aurélien Tartar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States of America
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Wang S, Guo Y, Sun Y, Weng M, Liao Q, Qiu R, Zou S, Wu S. Identification of two Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Aa toxin-binding aminopeptidase N from Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2023; 113:615-625. [PMID: 37466033 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485323000299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is a quarantine pest that mainly damages plants in tropical regions, which are essential economic resources. Cry3Aa has been used to control coleopteran pests and is known to be toxic to R. ferrugineus. The binding of the Cry toxin to specific receptors on the target insect plays a crucial role in the toxicological mechanism of Cry toxins. However, in the case of R. ferrugineus, the nature and identity of the receptor proteins involved remain unknown. In the present study, pull-down assays and mass spectrometry were used to identify two proteins of aminopeptidase N proteins (RfAPN2a and RfAPN2b) in the larval midguts of R. ferrugineus. Cry3Aa was able to bind to RfAPN2a (Kd = 108.5 nM) and RfAPN2b (Kd = 68.2 nM), as well as midgut brush border membrane vesicles (Kd = 482.5 nM). In silico analysis of both RfAPN proteins included the signal peptide and anchored sites for glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol. In addition, RfAPN2a and RfAPN2b were expressed in the human embryonic kidney 293T cell line, and cytotoxicity assays showed that the transgenic cells were not susceptible to activated Cry3Aa. Our results show that RfAPN2a and RfAPN2b are Cry3Aa-binding proteins involved in the Cry3Aa toxicity of R. ferrugineus. This study deepens our understanding of the action mechanism of Cry3Aa in R. ferrugineus larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaozhen Wang
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350000, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yajie Guo
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350000, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Ecological Forests, Fujian Province University, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350000, China
- Asian Research Center for Bioresource and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 188-0002, Japan
| | - Yunzhu Sun
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350000, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Ecological Forests, Fujian Province University, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350000, China
| | - Mingqing Weng
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350000, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Ecological Forests, Fujian Province University, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350000, China
| | - Qiliao Liao
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350000, China
| | - Ru Qiu
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350000, China
| | - Shuangquan Zou
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350000, China
| | - Songqing Wu
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350000, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Ecological Forests, Fujian Province University, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350000, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China, 350002
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37
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Rakesh V, Kalia VK, Ghosh A. Diversity of transgenes in sustainable management of insect pests. Transgenic Res 2023; 32:351-381. [PMID: 37573273 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-023-00362-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Insecticidal transgenes, when incorporated and expressed in plants, confer resistance against insects by producing several products having insecticidal properties. Protease inhibitors, lectins, amylase inhibitors, and chitinase genes are associated with the natural defenses developed by plants to counter insect attacks. Several toxin genes are also derived from spiders and scorpions for protection against insects. Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner is a microbial source of insecticidal toxins. Several methods have facilitated the large-scale production of transgenic plants. Bt-derived cry, cyt, vip, and sip genes, plant-derived genes such as lectins, protease inhibitors, and alpha-amylase inhibitors, insect cell wall-degrading enzymes like chitinase and some proteins like arcelins, plant defensins, and ribosome-inactivating proteins have been successfully utilized to impart resistance to insects. Besides, transgenic plants expressing double-stranded RNA have been developed with enhanced resistance. However, the long-term effects of transgenes on insect resistance, the environment, and human health must be thoroughly investigated before they are made available for commercial planting. In this chapter, the present status, prospects, and future scope of transgenes for insect pest management have been summarized and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Rakesh
- Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
- Insect Vector Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Plant Virology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Vinay K Kalia
- Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Amalendu Ghosh
- Insect Vector Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Plant Virology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.
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Huang L, Han G, Crickmore N, Li C, Xia Y, Song F, Xu J. Characterization of a novel cell wall hydrolase CwlE involved in Bacillus thuringiensis subsp . israelensis mother cell lysis. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1250542. [PMID: 37829449 PMCID: PMC10565116 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1250542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell wall hydrolases are ubiquitous among spore-form bacteria and essential for mother cell lysis. In this study, a novel cell wall hydrolase gene cwlE involved in mother cell lysis was characterized from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) strain Bt-59. cwlE was specifically expressed in Bti and located in the large plasmid carrying the insecticidal genes. The encoded CwlE protein consists of a MurNAc-LAA domain and two highly conserved catalytic residues (E26 and E151). The recombinant CwlE-His protein was able to digest the cell wall of Bti, indicating that CwlE is an N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase. Transcriptional analysis indicated that cwlE began to express at the early stage of stationary phase and was controlled by SigE. Single mutation of cwlE gene delayed Bti mother cell lysis, while double mutation of cwlE and sigK completely blocked Bti mother cell lysis. After exposure to UV light to deactivate the crystal proteins, the level of decrease of insecticidal activity against mosquito larvae of Bt-59 (ΔcwlE-sigK) was less than that observed for Bt-59. This study elucidates the mechanism of Bti mother cell lysis and provides an effective strategy for mosquito control using Bt products with increased persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixin Huang
- Department of Applied Microbiology, Lixiahe District Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu/National Agricultural Experimental Station for Agricultural Microbiology in Yangzhou, Yangzhou, China
| | - Guangjie Han
- Department of Applied Microbiology, Lixiahe District Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu/National Agricultural Experimental Station for Agricultural Microbiology in Yangzhou, Yangzhou, China
| | - Neil Crickmore
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Chuanming Li
- Department of Applied Microbiology, Lixiahe District Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu/National Agricultural Experimental Station for Agricultural Microbiology in Yangzhou, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yang Xia
- Department of Applied Microbiology, Lixiahe District Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu/National Agricultural Experimental Station for Agricultural Microbiology in Yangzhou, Yangzhou, China
| | - Fuping Song
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Department of Applied Microbiology, Lixiahe District Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu/National Agricultural Experimental Station for Agricultural Microbiology in Yangzhou, Yangzhou, China
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Šolinc G, Anderluh G, Podobnik M. Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cyt2Aa forms filamentous oligomers when exposed to lipid membranes or detergents. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 674:44-52. [PMID: 37393643 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.06.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) produces insecticidal proteins during the sporulation phase. These proteins are located in parasporal crystals consisting of two delta-endotoxin classes, crystal (Cry) and cytolytic (Cyt) toxins. In vitro, Cyt toxins show cytolytic activity against bacterial and a variety of insect and mammalian cells. They bind to cell membranes with unsaturated phospholipids and sphingomyelin. Although Bt and its parasporal crystals containing both Cry and Cyt toxins have been successfully used as bioinsecticides, the molecular mechanism of action of Cyt toxins is not yet fully understood. To address this, we exposed Cyt2Aa to lipid membranes and visualized membrane disruption process using cryo-electron microscopy. We observed two types of Cyt2Aa oligomers. First, Cyt2Aa forms smaller curved oligomers on the membrane surface that become linear over time, and detach when the membrane ruptures. Similar linear filamentous oligomers were also formed by Cyt2Aa in the presence of detergents without prior exposure to lipid membranes, which exhibited attenuated cytolytic activity. Furthermore, our data suggest that Cyt2Aa adopts different conformations between its monomeric and oligomeric forms. Overall, our results provide new evidence for a detergent-like mechanism of action of Cyt2Aa rather than the pore-forming model of target membrane disruption of this important class of insecticidal proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gašper Šolinc
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova ulica 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva ulica 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Gregor Anderluh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova ulica 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Marjetka Podobnik
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova ulica 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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40
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Sarkhandia S, Sharma G, Mahajan R, Koundal S, Kumar M, Chadha P, Saini HS, Kaur S. Synergistic and additive interactions of Shewanella sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Thauera sp. with chlorantraniliprole and emamectin benzoate for controlling Spodoptera litura (Fabricius). Sci Rep 2023; 13:14648. [PMID: 37669993 PMCID: PMC10480177 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41641-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The imprudent use of insecticides causes the development of resistance in insect pest populations, contamination of the environment, biological imbalance and human intoxication. The use of microbial pathogens combined with insecticides has been proposed as an alternative strategy for insect pest management. This IPM approach may offer effective ways to control pests, in addition to lowering the risk of chemical residues in the environment. Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) is a major pest of many crops like cotton, maize, tobacco, cauliflower, cabbage, and fodder crops globally. Here, we evaluated the combined effects of new chemistry insecticides (chlorantraniliprole and emamectin benzoate) and entomopathogenic bacterial strains, Shewanella sp. (SS4), Thauera sp. (M9) and Pseudomonas sp. (EN4) against S. litura larvae inducing additive and synergistic interactions under laboratory conditions. Both insecticides produced higher larval mortality when applied in combination with bacterial isolates having maximum mortality of 98 and 96% with LC50 of chlorantraniliprole and emamectin benzoate in combination with LC50 of Pseudomonas sp. (EN4) respectively. The lower concentration (LC20) of both insecticides also induced synergism when combined with the above bacterial isolates providing a valuable approach for the management of insect pests. The genotoxic effect of both the insecticides was also evaluated by conducting comet assays. The insecticide treatments induced significant DNA damage in larval hemocytes that further increased in combination treatments. Our results indicated that combined treatments could be a successful approach for managing S. litura while reducing the inappropriate overuse of insecticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunaina Sarkhandia
- Department of Zoology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Geetika Sharma
- Department of Zoology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Rohit Mahajan
- Department of Microbiology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Satish Koundal
- Department of Microbiology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Pooja Chadha
- Department of Zoology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Harvinder Singh Saini
- Department of Microbiology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Sanehdeep Kaur
- Department of Zoology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India.
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Oliveira-Santos N, Pimentel Rodrigues Dos Santos LB, Fernandes JV, Cruz-Magalhães V, Loguercio LL. More than just an insect killer: The non-insecticidal activities of Bacillus thuringiensis with biotechnological potential. Toxicon 2023; 233:107261. [PMID: 37611671 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107261] [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] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is known for the biological control of important insect pests, but scientific advances have revealed several interesting characteristics, in addition to this classical function as a bioinsecticide. To investigate the current knowledge about these non-insecticidal activities, a systematic research on primary data in the scientific literature was conducted on alternative functions of Bt with biotechnological potential. Out of a total of 140 articles selected, 15 non-insecticidal Bt activities were found. Publications related to this topic are available since 1971, and different metadata were reported, such as biomolecules and genes involved in Bt performances in non-insecticidal bioactivities. A total of 11 Bt activities with different effect measures (response variables) were identified, with an average of 48 distinct Bt strains evaluated per activity. Approximately 81.2% of all identified experiments/tests deal with the direct effects of Bt on target cells/organisms, with 36.3% of the strains within these studies tested for antibacterial action; of all microbial targets tested, 92.8% are bacteria, which led to 75.2% of the experimental conditions for all direct activities being performed in vitro. Regarding indirect Bt activities, 67.6% of these studies reported tritrophic Bt-plant-pathogen interactions. Bioremediation also appears as a relevant Bt activity being investigated in-depth. Alternative Bt activities offer innovative ways of developing biotechnology for different areas of anthropic interest; hence, we also focus on the possibility of finding multifunctional strains of Bt, as this may be advantageous from a bioeconomic point of view. Our findings are discussed in terms of research trends, aspects, details and depth of the current knowledge on alternative non-insecticidal Bt traits. We also discuss the potential application of this science for useful technological developments, aiming at solving issues related to human health, sustainable agriculture and environmental preservation/restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiane Oliveira-Santos
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Rod, Ilhéus-Itabuna, Km-16, Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil.
| | | | - Jacquelline Viana Fernandes
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Rod, Ilhéus-Itabuna, Km-16, Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil.
| | - Valter Cruz-Magalhães
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Rod, Ilhéus-Itabuna, Km-16, Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil; Department of Phytophatology (DFP), Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Lavras, MG, Brazil.
| | - Leandro Lopes Loguercio
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Rod, Ilhéus-Itabuna, Km-16, Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil.
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Li K, Yu S, Yang Y, He YZ, Wu Y. Mechanisms of feeding cessation in Helicoverpa armigera larvae exposed to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac toxin. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 195:105565. [PMID: 37666620 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been applied in sprayable formulations and expressed in transgenic crops for the control of pests in the field. When exposed to Bt proteins insect larvae display feeding cessation, yet the mechanism for this phenomenon remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the feeding behavior and underlying mechanisms of cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) larvae after exposure to the Cry1Ac protein from Bt. Three H. armigera strains were studied: the susceptible SCD strain, the C2/3-KO strain with HaABCC2 and HaABCC3 knocked out and high-level resistance to Cry1Ac (>15,000-fold), and the SCD-KI strain with a T92C point mutation in tetraspanin (HaTSPAN1) and medium-level resistance to Cry1Ac (125-fold). When determining the percentage of insects that continued feeding after various exposure times to Cry1Ac, we observed quick cessation of feeding in larvae from the susceptible SCD strain, whereas larvae from the C2/3-KO strain did not display feeding cessation. In contrast, larvae from the SCD-KI strain rapidly recovered from the initial feeding cessation. Histopathological analyses and qRT-PCR in midguts of SCD larvae after Cry1Ac exposure detected serious epithelial damage and significantly reduced expression of the neuropeptide F gene (NPF) and its potential receptor gene NPFR, which are reported to promote insect feeding. Neither epithelial damage nor altered NPF and NPFR expression appeared in midguts of C2/3-KO larvae after Cry1Ac treatment. The same treatment in SCD-KI larvae resulted in milder epithelial damage and subsequent repair, and a decrease followed by an initial increase in NPF and NPFR expression. These results demonstrate that the feeding cessation response to Cry1Ac in cotton bollworm larvae is closely associated with midgut epithelial damage and downregulation of NPF and NPFR expression. This information provides clues to the mechanism of feeding cessation in response to Bt intoxication and contributes to the mode of action of the Cry1Ac toxin in target pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixia Li
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Shan Yu
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yihua Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ya-Zhou He
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Yidong Wu
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
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Martin CL, Chester DW, Radka CD, Pan L, Yang Z, Hart RC, Binshtein EM, Wang Z, Nagy L, DeLucas LJ, Aller SG. Structures of the Insecticidal Toxin Complex Subunit XptA2 Highlight Roles for Flexible Domains. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13221. [PMID: 37686027 PMCID: PMC10487846 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The Toxin Complex (Tc) superfamily consists of toxin translocases that contribute to the targeting, delivery, and cytotoxicity of certain pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. Membrane receptor targeting is driven by the A-subunit (TcA), which comprises IgG-like receptor binding domains (RBDs) at the surface. To better understand XptA2, an insect specific TcA secreted by the symbiont X. nematophilus from the intestine of entomopathogenic nematodes, we determined structures by X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM. Contrary to a previous report, XptA2 is pentameric. RBD-B exhibits an indentation from crystal packing that indicates loose association with the shell and a hotspot for possible receptor binding or a trigger for conformational dynamics. A two-fragment XptA2 lacking an intact linker achieved the folded pre-pore state like wild type (wt), revealing no requirement of the linker for protein folding. The linker is disordered in all structures, and we propose it plays a role in dynamics downstream of the initial pre-pore state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole L. Martin
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA; (C.L.M.); (D.W.C.); (C.D.R.); (L.P.)
| | - David W. Chester
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA; (C.L.M.); (D.W.C.); (C.D.R.); (L.P.)
| | - Christopher D. Radka
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA; (C.L.M.); (D.W.C.); (C.D.R.); (L.P.)
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Lurong Pan
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA; (C.L.M.); (D.W.C.); (C.D.R.); (L.P.)
| | - Zhengrong Yang
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA;
| | - Rachel C. Hart
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; (R.C.H.); (E.M.B.)
| | - Elad M. Binshtein
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; (R.C.H.); (E.M.B.)
| | - Zhao Wang
- Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Cryo-Electron Microscopy and Tomography Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Lisa Nagy
- Department of Mathematics, Engineering & Physical Sciences, Jefferson State Community College, Jefferson Campus, Birmingham, AL 35215, USA;
| | - Lawrence J. DeLucas
- Predictive Oncology Inc., 200 Riverhills Business Park, Suite 250, Birmingham, AL 35242, USA;
| | - Stephen G. Aller
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA; (C.L.M.); (D.W.C.); (C.D.R.); (L.P.)
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Abu El-Ghiet UM, Moustafa SA, Ayashi MM, El-Sakhawy MA, Ateya AAES, Waggiallah HA. Characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis isolated from soils in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia, and their efficacy against Spodoptera littoralis and Aedes aegypti larvae. Saudi J Biol Sci 2023; 30:103721. [PMID: 37457233 PMCID: PMC10344810 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pest control in Saudi Arabia depends on applying chemical insecticides, which have many undesirable considerations and impacts on the environment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to isolate Bacillus thuringiensis from different rhizosphere soil samples in the Jazan region for the biological control of Spodoptera littoralis and Aedes aegypti larvae. The samples were collected from the rhizosphere of different plants located in eight agricultural areas in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Out of 100 bacterial isolates, four bacterial isolates belonging to Bacillus species were selected namely JZ1, JZ2, JZ3, and JZ4, and identified using classical bacteriological and molecular identification using 16S rRNA. JZ1 and JZ2 isolates were identified as Bacillus thuringiensis. SDS-PAGE analysis and the detection of the Cry1 gene were used to describe the two isolates JZ1 and JZ2 in comparison to Bacillus thuringiensis reference strain Kurstaki HD1 (BTSK) were revealed that slightly different from each other due to the place of their isolation and namely Khlab JZ1 and Ayash JZ2. The EC50 of JZ1 and JZ2 isolates, BTSK, and the commercial biopesticide DiPEL 6.4 DF against the second-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti were 207, 932, 400, and 500 ppm respectively, while EC50 against first-instar larvae of Spodoptera littoralis were 193.93, 589.7, 265.108, and 342.9, ppm respectively. Isolate JZ1 recorded the highest mortality while JZ2 isolate gave the lowest mortality. It can be concluded that the local isolate of JZ1 and JZ2 can be developed for bio formulations to be used in Spodoptera littoralis and Aedes aegypti biological control programs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Salah A. Moustafa
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia
- Agriculture Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza 12619, Egypt
| | - Mousa M. Ayashi
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed A. El-Sakhawy
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Abeer Ali El-Sherbiny Ateya
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hisham Ali Waggiallah
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
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Wei W, Wang L, Pan S, Wang H, Xia Z, Liu L, Xiao Y, Bravo A, Soberón M, Yang Y, Liu K. Helicoverpa armigera GATAe transcriptional factor regulates the expression of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac receptor gene ABCC2 by its interplay with additional transcription factors. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 194:105516. [PMID: 37532331 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Helicoverpa armigera is a worldwide pest that has been efficiently controlled by transgenic plants expressing Bt Cry toxins. To exert toxicity, Cry toxins bind to different receptors located in larval midgut cells. Previously, we reported that GATA transcription factor GATAe activates the expression of multiple H. armigera Cry1Ac receptors in different insect cell lines. Here, the mechanism involved in GATAe regulation of HaABCC2 gene expression, a key receptor of Cry1Ac, was analyzed. HaGATAe gene silencing by RNAi in H. armigera larvae confirmed the activation role of HaGATAe on the expression of HaABCC2 in the midgut. The contribution of all potential GATAe-binding sites was analyzed by site-directed mutagenesis using Hi5 cells expressing a reporter gene under regulation of different modified HaABCC2 promoters. DNA pull-down assays revealed that GATAe bound to different predicted GATA-binding sites and mutations of the different GATAe-binding sites identified two binding sites responsible for the promoter activity. The binding site B9, which is located near the transcription initiator site, has a major contribution on HaABCC2 expression. Also, DNA pull-down assays revealed that all other members of GATA TF family in H. armigera, besides GATAe, HaGATAa, HaGATAb, HaGATAc and HaGATAd also bound to the HaABCC2 promoter and decreased the GATAe dependent promoter activity. Finally, the potential participation in the regulation of HaABCC2 promoter of several TFs other than GATA TFs expressed in the midgut cells was analyzed. HaHR3 inhibited the GATAe dependent activity of the HaABCC2 promoter, while two other midgut-related TFs, HaCDX and HaSox21, also bound to the HaABCC2 promoter region and increased the GATAe dependent promoter activity. All these data showed that GATAe induces HaABCC2 expression by binding to HaGATAe binding sites in the promoter region and that additional TFs participate in modulating the HaGATAe-driven expression of HaABCC2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wei
- School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430070, China; Applied Biotechnology Center, Wuhan University of Bioengineering, Wuhan 430415, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Institute of Hubei Agriculture Academy, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Shuang Pan
- School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Haixia Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zhichao Xia
- School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Leilei Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430070, China; Applied Biotechnology Center, Wuhan University of Bioengineering, Wuhan 430415, China
| | - Yutao Xiao
- Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Alejandra Bravo
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Mario Soberón
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Yongbo Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Kaiyu Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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46
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Karim AA, Idris AB, Yilmaz S. Bacillus thuringiensis pesticidal toxins: A global analysis based on a scientometric study (1980-2021). Heliyon 2023; 9:e18730. [PMID: 37576305 PMCID: PMC10415897 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Several studies have been conducted on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) pesticidal toxins due to their successful environmentally friendly biopesticide activity against various insect pest orders, protozoa, mites, and nematodes. However, no existing study has systematically examined the trends and evolution of research on Bt pesticidal toxins from a scientometric perspective. This study aimed to analyze the trends and hotspots of global research in this field. 5757 publications on Bt pesticidal toxins were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS) from 1980 to 2021. Statistical and scientometric analyses were performed using Excel, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer visualization tools to evaluate research evolution, journal contribution and subject categories, contributing countries and institutions, highly influential references, and most used author keywords. The 5757 publications featured in 917 journals spanning 116 subject categories. The top 5 subject categories ranked as Entomology, Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology, Microbiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and Agriculture. Out of these publications, the USA contributed the most, with 1562 publications, 72,754 citations, and 46.58 average citations per paper (ACPP); however, Belgium had the highest (106.43) ACPP among the top 20 contributing countries. The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences is the leading institution with 298 publications and 21.20 ACPP. The Pasteur Institute is ranked first (90.04) in terms of ACPP. Keywords analyses revealed that recent studies are inclined toward the evolution of insect resistance against Bt toxins. In future, studies related to the development of resistance mechanisms by insects against Bt pesticidal toxins and ways to overcome them will likely receive more attention. This study highlights the past and current situations and prospective directions of Bt pesticidal toxins-related research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Aziz Karim
- School of Agriculture, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | | | - Semih Yilmaz
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Rciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
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Babin A, Gatti JL, Poirié M. Bacillus thuringiensis bioinsecticide influences Drosophila oviposition decision. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230565. [PMID: 37650056 PMCID: PMC10465210 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Behavioural avoidance has obvious benefits for animals facing environmental stressors such as pathogen-contaminated foods. Most current bioinsecticides are based on the environmental and opportunistic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that kills targeted insect pests upon ingestion. While food and oviposition avoidance of Bt bioinsecticide by targeted insect species was reported, this remained to be addressed in non-target organisms, especially those affected by chronic exposure to Bt bioinsecticide such as Drosophila species. Here, using a two-choice oviposition test, we showed that female flies of three Drosophila species (four strains of D. melanogaster, D. busckii and D. suzukii) avoided laying eggs in the presence of Bt var. kurstaki bioinsecticide, with potential benefits for the offspring and female's fitness. Avoidance occurred rapidly, regardless of the fraction of the bioinsecticide suspension (spores and toxin crystals versus soluble toxins/compounds) and independently of the female motivation for egg laying. Our results suggest that, in addition to recent findings of developmental and physiological alterations upon chronic exposure to non-target Drosophila, this bioinsecticide may modify the competitive interactions between Drosophila species in treated areas and the interactions with their associated natural enemies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Babin
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, Sophia Agrobiotech Institute (ISA), 06903 Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Jean-Luc Gatti
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, Sophia Agrobiotech Institute (ISA), 06903 Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Marylène Poirié
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, Sophia Agrobiotech Institute (ISA), 06903 Sophia Antipolis, France
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Naing ZL, Soe ET, Zhang C, Niu L, Tang J, Ding Z, Yu S, Lu J, Fang F, Liang G. Cadherin Is a Binding Protein but Not a Functional Receptor of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry2Ab in Helicoverpa armigera. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0062523. [PMID: 37378519 PMCID: PMC10370303 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00625-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Midgut receptors play a critical role in the specificity of Cry toxins for individual insect species. Cadherin proteins are essential putative receptors of Cry1A toxins in lepidopteran larvae. Cry2A family members share common binding sites in Helicoverpa armigera, and one of them, Cry2Aa, has been widely reported to interact with midgut cadherin. Here, we studied the binding interaction and functional role of H. armigera cadherin in the mechanism of Cry2Ab toxicity. A region spanning from cadherin repeat 6 (CR6) to the membrane-proximal region (MPR) of cadherin protein was produced as six overlapping peptides to identify the specific binding regions of Cry2Ab. Binding assays showed that Cry2Ab binds nonspecifically to peptides containing CR7 and CR11 regions in a denatured state but binds specifically only to CR7-containing peptides in the native state. The peptides CR6-11 and CR6-8 were transiently expressed in Sf9 cells to assess the functional role of cadherin. Cytotoxicity assays showed that Cry2Ab is not toxic to the cells expressing any of the cadherin peptides. However, ABCA2-expressing cells showed high sensitivity to Cry2Ab toxin. Neither increased nor decreased sensitivity to Cry2Ab was observed when the peptide CR6-11 was coexpressed with the ABCA2 gene in Sf9 cells. Instead, treating ABCA2-expressing cells with a mixture of Cry2Ab and CR6-8 peptides resulted in significantly reduced cell death compared with treatment with Cry2Ab alone. Moreover, silencing of the cadherin gene in H. armigera larvae showed no significant effect on Cry2Ab toxicity, in contrast to the reduced mortality in ABCA2-silenced larvae. IMPORTANCE To improve the efficiency of production of a single toxin in crops and to delay the evolution of insect resistance to the toxin, the second generation of Bt cotton, expressing Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab, was introduced. Understanding the mode action of the Cry proteins in the insect midgut and the mechanisms insects use to overcome these toxins plays a crucial role in developing measures to counter them. Extensive studies have been conducted on the receptors of Cry1A toxins, but relatively little has been done about those of Cry2Ab. By showing the nonfunctional binding of cadherin protein with Cry2Ab, we have furthered the understanding of Cry2Ab receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaw Lin Naing
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ei Thinzar Soe
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Caihong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Linlin Niu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinrong Tang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhongwei Ding
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Siqi Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fengyun Fang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Gemei Liang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Mouawad C, Awad MK, Liegeois S, Ferrandon D, Sanchis-Borja V, El Chamy L. The NF-κB factor Relish is essential for the epithelial defenses protecting against δ-endotoxin dependent effects of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis infection in the Drosophila model. Res Microbiol 2023; 174:104089. [PMID: 37348743 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104089] [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] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis is largely regarded as the most selective, safe and ecofriendly biopesticide used for the control of insect vectors of human diseases. Bti enthomopathogenicity relies on the Cry and Cyt δ-endotoxins, produced as crystalline inclusions during sporulation. Insecticidal selectivity of Bti is mainly ascribed to the binding of the Cry toxins to receptors in the gut of target insects. However, the contribution of epithelial defenses in limiting Bti side effects in non-target species remains largely unexplored. Here, taking advantage of the genetically tractable Drosophila melanogaster model and its amenability for deciphering highly conserved innate immune defenses, we unravel a central role of the NF-κB factor Relish in the protection against the effects of ingested Bti spores in a non-susceptible host. Intriguingly, our data indicate that the Bti-induced Relish response is independent of its canonical activation downstream of peptidoglycan sensing and does not involve its longstanding role in the regulation of antimicrobial peptides encoding genes. In contrast, our data highlight a novel enterocyte specific function of Relish that is essential for preventing general septicemia following Bti oral infections strictly when producing δ-endotoxins. Altogether, our data provide novel insights into Bti-hosts interactions of prominent interest for the optimization and sustainability of insects' biocontrol strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carine Mouawad
- Unité de Recherche Environnement, Génomique et Protéomique, Faculté des Sciences, Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth-Liban, Mar Roukos, Mkalles, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Mireille Kallassy Awad
- Unité de Recherche Environnement, Génomique et Protéomique, Faculté des Sciences, Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth-Liban, Mar Roukos, Mkalles, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Samuel Liegeois
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Modèles Insectes de l'Immunité Innée, UPR 9022 du CNRS, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Dominique Ferrandon
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Modèles Insectes de l'Immunité Innée, UPR 9022 du CNRS, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Vincent Sanchis-Borja
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Laure El Chamy
- Unité de Recherche Environnement, Génomique et Protéomique, Faculté des Sciences, Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth-Liban, Mar Roukos, Mkalles, Beirut, Lebanon.
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Wu X, Zhou C, Li X, Lin J, Aguila LCR, Wen F, Wang L. Genome-wide identification and immune response analysis of mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades in tea geometrid, Ectropis grisescens Warren (Geometridae, Lepidoptera). BMC Genomics 2023; 24:344. [PMID: 37349677 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09446-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tea geometrid Ectropis grisescens (Geometridae: Lepidoptera), is one of the most destructive defoliators in tea plantations in China. The MAPK cascade is known to be an evolutionarily conserved signaling module, acting as pivotal cores of host-pathogen interactions. Although the chromosome-level reference genome of E. grisescens was published, the whole MAPK cascade gene family has not been fully identified yet, especially the expression patterns of MAPK cascade gene family members upon an ecological biopesticide, Metarhizium anisopliae, remains to be understood. RESULTS In this study, we have identified 19 MAPK cascade gene family members in E. grisescens, including 5 MAPKs, 4 MAP2Ks, 8 MAP3Ks, and 2 MAP4Ks. The molecular evolution characteristics of the whole Eg-MAPK cascade gene family, including gene structures, protein structural organization, chromosomal localization, orthologs construction and gene duplication, were systematically investigated. Our results showed that the members of Eg-MAPK cascade gene family were unevenly distributed in 13 chromosomes, and the clustered members in each group shared similar structures of the genes and proteins. Gene expression data revealed that MAPK cascade genes were expressed in all four developmental stages of E. grisescens and were fairly and evenly distributed in four different larva tissues. Importantly, most of the MAPK cascade genes were induced or constitutively expressed upon M. anisopliae infection. CONCLUSIONS In summary, the present study was one of few studies on MAPK cascade gene in E. grisescens. The characterization and expression profiles of Eg-MAPK cascades genes might help develop new ecofriendly biological insecticides to protect tea trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops; Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- School of Biological Science and Food Engineering, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou, 239099, China
| | - Chenghua Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops; Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Xiaofang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops; Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Jingyi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops; Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Luis Carlos Ramos Aguila
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops; Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Feng Wen
- School of Pharmacy and Life Science, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, 332000, China.
| | - Liande Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops; Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
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