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Lin Z, Wang JL, Cheng Y, Wang JX, Zou Z. Pattern recognition receptors from lepidopteran insects and their biological functions. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 108:103688. [PMID: 32222357 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2020.103688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Lepidopteran insects have potent innate immunity to fight against the invading pathogens. As the initiation step, pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) recognize and bind microbial surface configurations known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Aftermath, they initiate both cellular and humoral immune responses, including phagocytosis, agglutination, nodulation, encapsulation, prophenoloxidase activation, and synthesis of antimicrobial peptides. In this review, we summarize the recent findings concerning PRRs in lepidoptaeran insects, mostly agriculture pests including Helicoverpa armigera, Plutella xylostella, and Spodoptera exigua. We mainly focus on the function and phylogeny of C-type lectins (CTLs), peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs), β-1,3-glucan recognition proteins (βGRPs), and galectins (GALEs). It enriches our understanding of the immune system of lepidopteran insects and provides directions in the future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jia-Lin Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, College of Life Science, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Yang Cheng
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Jin-Xing Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250100, China
| | - Zhen Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, Huzhou University, Huzhou, 311300, China.
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Kloc M, Uosef A, Elshawwaf M, Abdelshafy AAA, Elsaid KMK, Kubiak JZ, Ghobrial RM. The Macrophages and Intestinal Symbiosis. Results Probl Cell Differ 2020; 69:605-616. [PMID: 33263889 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-51849-3_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The human intestinal tract is inhabited by trillions of microorganisms and houses the largest pool of macrophages in the human body. Being a part of the innate immune system, the macrophages, the professional phagocytes, vigorously respond to the microbial and dietary antigens present in the intestine. Because such a robust immune response poses the danger to the survival of the non-harmful and beneficial gut microbiota, the macrophages developed mechanisms of recognition and hyposensitivity toward the non-harmful/beneficial inhabitants of the gut. We will discuss the evolution and identity of some of these mechanisms in the following chapter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Kloc
- The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA. .,Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA. .,Department of Genetics, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Ahmed Uosef
- The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mahmoud Elshawwaf
- The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ahmed Adel Abbas Abdelshafy
- The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Kamal Mamdoh Kamal Elsaid
- The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Jacek Z Kubiak
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (WIHE), Warszawa, Poland.,Faculty of Medicine, Cell Cycle Group, Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes, (IGDR) UnivRennes, CNRS, UMR 6290, Rennes, France
| | - Rafik Mark Ghobrial
- The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
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Molecular cloning and characterization of the β-1,3-glucan recognition protein in Anatolica polita. Gene X 2019; 697:144-151. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.02.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Zhong X, Gu L, Wang H, Lian D, Zheng Y, Zhou S, Zhou W, Gu J, Zhang G, Liu X. Profile of Ophiocordyceps sinensis transcriptome and differentially expressed genes in three different mycelia, sclerotium and fruiting body developmental stages. Fungal Biol 2018; 122:943-951. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2018.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Rao XJ, Zhan MY, Pan YM, Liu S, Yang PJ, Yang LL, Yu XQ. Immune functions of insect βGRPs and their potential application. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 83:80-88. [PMID: 29229443 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2017.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Insects rely completely on the innate immune system to sense the foreign bodies and to mount the immune responses. Germ-line encoded pattern recognition receptors play crucial roles in recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Among them, β-1,3-glucan recognition proteins (βGRPs) and gram-negative bacteria-binding proteins (GNBPs) belong to the same pattern recognition receptor family, which can recognize β-1,3-glucans. Typical insect βGRPs are comprised of a tandem carbohydrate-binding module in the N-terminal and a glucanase-like domain in the C-terminal. The former can recognize triple-helical β-1,3-glucans, whereas the latter, which normally lacks the enzymatic activity, can recruit adapter proteins to initiate the protease cascade. According to studies, insect βGRPs possess at least three types of functions. Firstly, some βGRPs cooperate with peptidoglycan recognition proteins to recognize the lysine-type peptidoglycans upstream of the Toll pathway. Secondly, some directly recognize fungal β-1,3-glucans to activate the Toll pathway and melanization. Thirdly, some form the 'attack complexes' with other immune effectors to promote the antifungal defenses. The current review will focus on the discovery of insect βGRPs, functions of some well-characterized members, structure-function studies and their potential application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Jun Rao
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China.
| | - Ming-Yue Zhan
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Yue-Min Pan
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Su Liu
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Pei-Jin Yang
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Li-Ling Yang
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Xiao-Qiang Yu
- Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
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Wu H, Jiang FZ, Guo JX, Yi JQ, Liu JB, Cao YS, Lai XS, Zhang GR. Molecular Characterization and Expression of Vitellogenin and Vitellogenin Receptor of Thitarodes pui (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), an Insect on the Tibetan Plateau. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2018; 18:4924664. [PMID: 29718485 PMCID: PMC5842397 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iey010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Vitellogenin (Vg) and vitellogenin receptor (VgR) play important roles in the vitellogenesis of insects. In this study, we cloned and characterized the two corresponding genes (TpVg and TpVgR) in an economically important insect, Thitarodes pui (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), from the Tibetan plateau. The full length of TpVg is 5566 bp with a 5373 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 1,790 amino acids. Sequence alignment revealed that TpVg has three conserved domains: a Vitellogenin_N domain, a DUF1943 domain, and a von Willebrand factor type D domain (VWD). The full length of TpVgR is 5732 bp, with a 5397 bp ORF encoding 1798 amino acids. BLASTP showed that TpVgR belongs to the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene superfamily. Structural analysis revealed that TpVgR has a group of four structural domains: a ligand-binding domain (LBD), an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-precursor homology domain, a transmembrane (TM) domain, and a cytoplasmic domain. In addition, TpVgR has four cysteine-rich LDL repeats in the first ligand-binding site and seven in the second. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the expression levels of TpVg and TpVgR are much higher in later pupa than in either the larval or adult stage, implying that the synthesis and uptake of Vg in T. pui occurs in the later pupal stage. These results will help us to understand the molecular mechanism of the reproductive capacity and will provide new insight into the mass rearing and utilization of T. pui.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol and Institute of Entomology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Feng-Ze Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol and Institute of Entomology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ji-Xing Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol and Institute of Entomology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie-Qun Yi
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol and Institute of Entomology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian-Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol and Institute of Entomology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying-Shuai Cao
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol and Institute of Entomology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xue-Shuang Lai
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol and Institute of Entomology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gu-Ren Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol and Institute of Entomology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Corresponding author, e-mail:
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Guo J, Jiang F, Yi J, Liu X, Zhang G. Transcriptome characterization and gene expression analysis related to sexual dimorphism in the ghost moth, Thitarodes pui, a host of Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Gene 2016; 588:134-40. [PMID: 27182053 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Revised: 04/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Thitarodes pui is one of the host species of the Chinese caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis as a traditional Chinese medicine with economic and medical importance. The pupal and adult stages of T. pui are sexually dimorphic. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the sexually dimorphic development of T. pui, we compared the transcriptomes of female and male pupae and adults. We obtained 15,881,734, 16,962,086, 17,514,743, and 17,770,904 clean reads from female pupae, male pupae, female adults, and male adults, respectively. The reads obtained from the four samples were pooled and assembled into 65,165 unigenes, 23,597 of which were annotated. Candidate genes involved in sexual development were identified and analysed. Gene expression analysis revealed that 1406 genes were differentially expressed in male and female pupae, 448 of which were up-regulated in males and 958 were up-regulated in females. A total of 2025 genes were differentially expressed in male and females adults, 1304 of which were up-regulated in males and 721 were up-regulated in females. The functional enrichment of the differentially expressed genes indicated that reproduction and cuticle synthesis were regulated differently between the sexes. The transcriptome data obtained provide significant information regarding the genes involved in sexually dimorphic development, which will improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms related to sexual dimorphism and helpful for the moth mass rearing which would provide enough host insects for the sustainable utilization of O. sinensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixing Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Xingangxi Road 135, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Fengze Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Xingangxi Road 135, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Jiequn Yi
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Xingangxi Road 135, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Xin Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Xingangxi Road 135, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Guren Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Xingangxi Road 135, Guangzhou 510275, PR China.
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Liu G, Qiu X, Cao L, Zhang Y, Zhan Z, Han R. Evaluation of Reference Genes for Reverse Transcription Quantitative PCR Studies of Physiological Responses in the Ghost Moth, Thitarodes armoricanus (Lepidoptera, Hepialidae). PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159060. [PMID: 27392023 PMCID: PMC4938418 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is the sensitive method to quantify the expression levels of target genes on the basis of endogenous control. An appropriate reference gene set for normalization is essential for reliable results. The ghost moth, Thitarodes armoricanus, a host species of a medicinal fungus, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, is an economically important member of the Lepidoptera. Recent studies have focused on the mechanism of adaptation of this species to its high-altitude environment and host immune response to O. sinensis infection and RT-qPCR is commonly used in these studies to decipher the genetic basis of physiological functions. However, a thorough assessment of candidate reference genes in the genus Thitarodes is lacking. Here, the expression levels of eight candidate reference genes (ACT, EF, EIF4A, GAPDH, G6PDH, RPL13A, TUB and 18S) in T. armoricanus at different developmental stages and in different body parts of the seventh instar larvae were analyzed, along with larvae kept under low temperatures, larvae exposed to two fungal infections and larvae fed different diets. Three established software programs–Bestkeeper, geNorm and NormFinder–were employed to calculate variation among the treatments. The results revealed that the best-suited reference genes differed across the treatments, with EF, EIF4A and GAPDH found to be the best suited for the different developmental stages and larvae body parts; EF, EIF4A and RPL13A found to be the best suited for low-temperature challenge; and EF, EIF4A and TUB found to be the best suited for the fungal infections and dietary treatments. This study thus further contributes to the establishment of an accurate method for normalizing RT-qPCR results for T. armoricanus and serves as a reference for gene expression studies of related insect species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiqing Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of IPM in Agriculture and Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuehong Qiu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of IPM in Agriculture and Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Cao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of IPM in Agriculture and Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of IPM in Agriculture and Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zubing Zhan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of IPM in Agriculture and Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, China
| | - Richou Han
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of IPM in Agriculture and Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, China
- * E-mail:
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Zhong X, Li SS, Peng QY, Zhang JS, Kan XT, Zhang GR, Liu X. A Polycephalomyces hyperparasite of Ophiocordyceps sinensis leads to shortened duration of production and reduced numbers of host ascospores. FUNGAL ECOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2016.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Li S, Zhong X, Kan X, Gu L, Sun H, Zhang G, Liu X. De novo transcriptome analysis of Thitarodes jiachaensis before and after infection by the caterpillar fungus, Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Gene 2016; 580:96-103. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Wu W, Sun H, Guo J, Jiang F, Liu X, Zhang G. De novo transcriptome characterization of the ghost moth, Thitarodes pui, and elevation-based differences in the gene expression of its larvae. Gene 2015; 574:95-105. [PMID: 26235680 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.07.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Revised: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Thitarodes pui larvae are the hosts of a medicinal fungus, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, and are naturally distributed at an altitude of 4100-4650 m on Segrila Mountain of the Tibetan Plateau. Here, we conducted transcriptome profiling of T. pui larvae based on the Illumina high-throughput sequencing platform. Subsequently, we explored elevation-based differences of T. pui by comparing gene expression profiles between larvae at high-altitude (natural conditions) and larvae exposed to short-term (2months) low-altitude conditions. A total of 105,935,208 clean reads were assembled into 70,048 unigenes with a mean length of 639 bp. All unigenes were searched against public databases, with 51.26% unigenes being successfully annotated in the NR, SWISS-PROT, EuKaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOG), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) databases. A total of 11,846 unigenes were functionally classified into 239 KEGG pathways. Metabolism was the most represented pathway, with 4271 unigenes (36.05%). Using the transcriptome data as a reference, 629 (311 up-regulated/318 down-regulated) genes were differentially expressed by low-altitude larvae when compared with those of high-altitude larvae. The most significantly differentially expressed genes were annotated in the processes of carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and respiration. This report provides valuable information about the T. pui transcriptome for future genomic studies, including how gene expression is altered in larvae reared at different elevations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Xingangxi Road 135, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510275, PR China
| | - Hongxia Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Xingangxi Road 135, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510275, PR China
| | - Jixing Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Xingangxi Road 135, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510275, PR China
| | - Fengze Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Xingangxi Road 135, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510275, PR China
| | - Xin Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Xingangxi Road 135, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510275, PR China
| | - Guren Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Xingangxi Road 135, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510275, PR China.
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Li Y, Zhao P, Liu H, Guo X, He H, Zhu R, Xiang Z, Xia Q. TIL-type protease inhibitors may be used as targeted resistance factors to enhance silkworm defenses against invasive fungi. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 57:11-19. [PMID: 25453359 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2014.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Revised: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Entomopathogenic fungi penetrate the insect cuticle using their abundant hydrolases. These hydrolases, which include cuticle-degrading proteases and chitinases, are important virulence factors. Our recent findings suggest that many serine protease inhibitors, especially TIL-type protease inhibitors, are involved in insect resistance to pathogenic microorganisms. To clarify the molecular mechanism underlying this resistance to entomopathogenic fungi and identify novel genes to improve the silkworm antifungal capacity, we conducted an in-depth study of serine protease inhibitors. Here, we cloned and expressed a novel silkworm TIL-type protease inhibitor, BmSPI39. In activity assays, BmSPI39 potently inhibited the virulence protease CDEP-1 of Beauveria bassiana, suggesting that it might suppress the fungal penetration of the silkworm integument by inhibiting the cuticle-degrading proteases secreted by the fungus. Phenol oxidase activation studies showed that melanization is involved in the insect immune response to fungal invasion, and that fungus-induced excessive melanization is suppressed by BmSPI39 by inhibiting the fungal cuticle-degrading proteases. To better understand the mechanism involved in the inhibition of fungal virulence by protease inhibitors, their effects on the germination of B. bassiana conidia was examined. BmSPI38 and BmSPI39 significantly inhibited the germination of B. bassiana conidia. Survival assays showed that BmSPI38 and BmSPI39 markedly improved the survival rates of silkworms, and can therefore be used as targeted resistance proteins in the silkworm. These results provided new insight into the molecular mechanisms whereby insect protease inhibitors confer resistance against entomopathogenic fungi, suggesting their potential application in medicinal or agricultural fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youshan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Vitamin D Research Institute, Shannxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723001, Shannxi Province, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Huawei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xiaomeng Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Huawei He
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Rui Zhu
- School of Management, Shannxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723001, Shannxi Province, China
| | - Zhonghuai Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.
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Moraes CDS, Diaz-Albiter HM, Faria MDV, Sant'Anna MRV, Dillon RJ, Genta FA. Expression pattern of glycoside hydrolase genes in Lutzomyia longipalpis reveals key enzymes involved in larval digestion. Front Physiol 2014; 5:276. [PMID: 25140153 PMCID: PMC4122206 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis is the most important vector of American Visceral Leishmaniasis. Adults are phytophagous (males and females) or blood feeders (females only), and larvae feed on solid detritus. Digestion in sand fly larvae has scarcely been studied, but some glycosidase activities putatively involved in microorganism digestion were already described. Nevertheless, the molecular nature of these enzymes, as the corresponding genes and transcripts, were not explored yet. Catabolism of microbial carbohydrates in insects generally involves β-1,3-glucanases, chitinases, and digestive lysozymes. In this work, the transcripts of digestive β-1,3-glucanase and chitinases were identified in the L. longipalpis larvae throughout analysis of sequences and expression patterns of glycoside hydrolases families 16, 18, and 22. The activity of one i-type lysozyme was also registered. Interestingly, this lysozyme seems to play a role in immunity, rather than digestion. This is the first attempt to identify the molecular nature of sand fly larval digestive enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline da Silva Moraes
- Laboratory of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Hector M Diaz-Albiter
- Laboratory of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maiara do Valle Faria
- Laboratory of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maurício R V Sant'Anna
- Parasitology Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, Brazil ; Faculty of Health and Medicine, Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University Lancaster, UK
| | - Rod J Dillon
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University Lancaster, UK
| | - Fernando A Genta
- Laboratory of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ; National Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Molecular Entomology, Laboratory of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Bang K, Park S, Cho S. Characterization of a β-1,3-glucan recognition protein from the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). INSECT SCIENCE 2013; 20:575-584. [PMID: 23956146 DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7917.2012.01538.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2012] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The β-1,3-glucan recognition protein gene from Spodoptera exigua (SeβGRP) was cloned and characterized. The cDNA of this gene is 1 644 nucleotides in length and the predicted polypeptide is 491 amino acids (aa) in length, with a calculated molecular mass of 54.8 kDa. The first 22 aa encode a predicted secretion signal peptide. A BLAST search, multiple sequence alignment, and phylogenetic analysis of the aa sequence of SeβGRP revealed that this protein is most similar to the β-1,3-glucan recognition protein (βGRP) family of pattern recognition proteins. Using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, we detected the presence of SeβGRP transcripts in the egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages of S. exigua. In addition, the SeβGRP transcript was expressed in all the tissues examined including the brain, hemocytes, fat body, intestine, and cuticle. There were no changes in SeβGRP mRNA levels in larvae infected with ultraviolet (UV)-killed Escherichia coli DH5α compared with the control larvae inoculated with the water; however, SeβGRP mRNA levels were markedly elevated 4-8 h after infection and slightly induced 12-24 h after infection in larvae injected with UV-killed Fusarium oxysporum. This may be because β-1,3-glucan is the main component of the cell wall of F. oxysporum, but not E. coli DH5α.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyeongrin Bang
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon
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