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Gou F, Zhang D, Chen S, Zhang M, Chen J. Role of nuclear protein Akirin in the modulation of female reproduction in Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). Front Physiol 2024; 15:1415746. [PMID: 39045218 PMCID: PMC11264338 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1415746] [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: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Akirin as a highly conserved transcription factor, exerts a profound influence on the growth, development, immune response, and reproductive processes in animals. The brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, a major pest in rice production in Asia, possesses high reproductive capacity, a critical factor contributing to reduced rice yields. The aims of this study were to demonstrate the regulatory role of Akirin in the reproduction of BPH. Methods: In this study, quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of genes. RNA interference (RNAi) was used to downregulate the expression of Akirin gene, and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to screen for differentially expressed genes caused by Akirin downregulation. Hormone contents were measured with the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and protein content was evaluated with the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) method. Results: Using BPH genome data, we screened for an Akirin gene (NlAkirin). An analysis of tissue-specific expressions showed that NlAkirin was expressed in all tissues tested in female BPH, but its expression level was highest in the ovary. After inhibiting the mRNA expression of NlAkirin in BPH females, the number of eggs laid, hatching rate, and number of ovarioles decreased. Transcriptome sequencing was performed, following a NlAkirin double-stranded RNA treatment. Compared with the genes of the control, which was injected with GFP double-stranded RNA, there were 438 upregulated genes and 1012 downregulated genes; the expression of vitellogenin (Vg) and vitellogenin receptor (VgR) genes as well as the mRNA expression of genes related to the target of rapamycin (TOR), juvenile hormone (JH), and insulin pathways involved in Vg synthesis was significantly downregulated. As a result of NlAkirin knockdown, the titers of JH III and Ecdysone (Ecd) were downregulated in unmated females but returned to normal levels in mated females. The ovarian protein contents in both unmated and mated females were downregulated. Discussion and conclusion: Our results suggest that NlAkirin affects female BPH reproduction by regulating the mRNA expression of genes related to the Vg, VgR, TOR, JH, and insulin signaling pathways, in addition to the titers of JH III and Ecd. The findings of this research provide novel insights into the regulatory role of Akirin in insect reproductive capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiyan Gou
- College of Basic Medical Science, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Daowei Zhang
- School of Biological and Agricultural Science and Technology, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi, China
| | - Siqi Chen
- College of Basic Medical Science, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Mingjing Zhang
- College of Basic Medical Science, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Jing Chen
- College of Basic Medical Science, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
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Tao W, Li X, Fu X, Shao Y, Guo M, Li C. Akirin2 enhances antibacterial ability via interacting with 14-3-3ζ in V. splendidus-challenged Apostichopus japonicus. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 149:109592. [PMID: 38685443 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109592] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Akirin2 is pivotal for regulating host immunological responses in vertebrates, including antibacterial immunity and inflammation. However, the functional significance of Akirin2 in invertebrates remains largely unexplored. In this study, we cloned the complete cDNA sequence of Akirin2 from A. japonicus (AjAkirin2) and elucidated its immunological mechanism upon pathogen infection. The whole AjAkirin2 cDNA sequence spanned 1014 bp, which comprised a 630 bp open reading frame encoding 209 amino acids, a 230 bp 5'-untranslated region (UTR), and a 154 bp 3'-UTR. Spatial expression analysis displayed constitutive expression of AjAkirin2 in all examined tissues. Both mRNA and protein expression abundance of the AjAkirin2 showed considerably high in coelomocytes of sea cucumbers challenged with Vibrio splendidus or stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. In addition, we found that sea cucumbers with 107 CFU/mL V. splendidus infection had a lower survival rate upon AjAkirin2 knockdown. Mechanistically, the result of GST-pull down and co-IP assays indicated that AjAkirin2 directly interacted with Aj14-3-3ζ. Moreover, we also detected that AjAkirin2 positively regulated Aj14-3-3ζ expression in sea cucumber coelomocytes. Furthermore, the knockdown of AjAkirin2 or Aj14-3-3ζ resulted in increasing intracellular bacteria load and suppressed the expression of key genes of the NF-κB signaling pathway (p65 and p105) and inflammatory cytokines including IL-17, VEGF, and MMP-1. In summary, these results confirmed the critical role of AjAkirin2 in mediating innate immune responses against V. splendidus infection via interaction with Aj14-3-3ζ and thereby exerting antibacterial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Tao
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, PR China
| | - Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, PR China
| | - Xianmu Fu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, PR China
| | - Yina Shao
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, PR China
| | - Ming Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, PR China.
| | - Chenghua Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, PR China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, PR China.
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Boonyakida J, Nakanishi T, Satoh J, Shimahara Y, Mekata T, Park EY. Immunostimulation of shrimp through oral administration of silkworm pupae expressing VP15 against WSSV. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 128:157-167. [PMID: 35917887 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2022.07.043] [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: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is one of the most concerning pathogens in penaeid shrimp and can cause severe loss in shrimp aquaculture worldwide. Among the WSSV structural proteins, VP15, a DNA-binding protein located in the WSSV nucleocapsid, is an antiviral protein candidate to protect kuruma shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicus) from WSSV infection. We identified that the truncated VP15, VP15(26-57), is responsible for the protective effect against the WSSV. This study attempts to develop an immunizing agent against WSSV using silkworm pupa as a delivery vector through oral administration. The VP15, VP15(26-57), and SR11 peptide derived from VP15(26-57) were expressed in silkworm pupae. Oral administration of feed mixed with the powdered pupae that expressed VP15-derived constructs enhanced the survivability of kuruma shrimp with an overall relative percent survival (RPS) higher than 70%. There is no death for the group receiving pupa/VP15(26-57), and the RPS is 100%. In addition, we also investigated the relative mRNA expression levels of immune-related genes by qPCR at different time points. Our results indicate that the oral administration of pupa/VP15-derived products could provide a high protective effect against WSSV and be a practical approach for controlling WSSV in aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jirayu Boonyakida
- Department of Bioscience, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ward, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan.
| | - Takafumi Nakanishi
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ward, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan.
| | - Jun Satoh
- Fisheries Technology Institute of National Research and Development Agency, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Tamaki Field Station, Mie, 519-0423, Japan.
| | - Yoshiko Shimahara
- Fisheries Technology Institute of National Research and Development Agency, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Kamiura Field Station, Oita, 879-2602, Japan.
| | - Tohru Mekata
- Fisheries Technology Institute of National Research and Development Agency, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Namsei Field Station, Mie, 516-0193, Japan.
| | - Enoch Y Park
- Department of Bioscience, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ward, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan; Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ward, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan; Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ward, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan.
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Wang B, Wei PW, Yao Y, Song CR, Wang X, Yang YX, Long YH, Yang SW, Hu Y, Gai ZC, Wu JW, Liu HM. Functional and expression characteristics identification of Phormicins, novel AMPs from Musca domestica with anti-MRSA biofilm activity, in response to different stimuli. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 209:299-314. [PMID: 35381282 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.03.204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (including MRSA) in the clinic pose a growing threat to public health, and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have great potential as efficient treatment alternatives. Houseflies have evolved over long periods in complex, dirty environments, developing a special immune system to overcome challenges in harmful environments. AMPs are key innate immune molecules. Herein, two differentially expressed AMPs, Phormicins A and B, were identified by screening transcriptomic changes in response to microbial stimulation. Structural mimic assays indicated that these AMPs exhibited functional divergence due to their C-terminal features. Expression analysis showed that they had different expression patterns. Phormicin B had higher constitutive expression than Phormicin A. However, Phormicin B was sharply downregulated, whereas Phormicin A was highly upregulated, after microbial stimulation. The MIC, MBC and time-growth curves showed the antibacterial spectrum of these peptides. Crystal violet staining and SEM showed that Phormicin D inhibited MRSA biofilm formation. TEM suggested that Phormicin D disrupted the MRSA cell membrane. Furthermore, Phormicin D inhibited biofilm formation by downregulating the expression of biofilm-related genes, including altE and embp. Therefore, housefly Phormicins were functionally characterized as having differential expression patterns and antibacterial & antibiofilm activities. This study provides a new potential peptide for clinical MRSA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Medical Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province, Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China; School of Biology and Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China; Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Education Department of Guizhou, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, China Ministry of Education (Guizhou Medical University), Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China.
| | - Peng-Wei Wei
- Engineering Research Center of Medical Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province, Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Yang Yao
- Engineering Research Center of Medical Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province, Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Chao-Rong Song
- Engineering Research Center of Medical Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province, Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Medical Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province, Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China; School of Biology and Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Yong-Xin Yang
- Engineering Research Center of Medical Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province, Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China; School of Biology and Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Yao-Hang Long
- Engineering Research Center of Medical Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province, Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China; School of Biology and Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Su-Wen Yang
- Engineering Research Center of Medical Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province, Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Yong Hu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, China Ministry of Education (Guizhou Medical University), Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Zhong-Chao Gai
- Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xiaan, Shaanxi 710021, China.
| | - Jian-Wei Wu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China.
| | - Hong-Mei Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Medical Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province, Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China; School of Biology and Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China.
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