1
|
Mahalle RM, Mota-Sanchez D, Pittendrigh BR, Kim YH, Seong KM. miRNA Dynamics for Pest Management: Implications in Insecticide Resistance. INSECTS 2024; 15:238. [PMID: 38667368 PMCID: PMC11049821 DOI: 10.3390/insects15040238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Utilizing chemical agents in pest management in modern agricultural practices has been the predominant approach since the advent of synthetic insecticides. However, insecticide resistance is an emerging issue, as pest populations evolve to survive exposure to chemicals that were once effective in controlling them, underlining the need for advanced and innovative approaches to managing pests. In insects, microRNAs (miRNAs) serve as key regulators of a wide range of biological functions, characterized by their dynamic expression patterns and the ability to target genes. Recent studies are increasingly attributed to the significance of miRNAs in contributing to the evolution of insecticide resistance in numerous insect species. Abundant miRNAs have been discovered in insects using RNA sequencing and transcriptome analysis and are known to play vital roles in regulation at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Globally, there is growing research interest in the characterization and application of miRNAs, especially for their potential role in managing insecticide resistance. This review focuses on how miRNAs contribute to regulating insecticide resistance across various insect species. Furthermore, we discuss the gain and loss of functions of miRNAs and the techniques for delivering miRNAs into the insect system. The review emphasizes the application of miRNA-based strategies to studying their role in diminishing insecticide resistance, offering a more efficient and lasting approach to insect management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rashmi Manohar Mahalle
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea;
| | - David Mota-Sanchez
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
| | | | - Young Ho Kim
- Department of Ecological Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Republic of Korea;
| | - Keon Mook Seong
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Muthu Lakshmi Bavithra C, Murugan M, Pavithran S, Naveena K. Enthralling genetic regulatory mechanisms meddling insecticide resistance development in insects: role of transcriptional and post-transcriptional events. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1257859. [PMID: 37745689 PMCID: PMC10511911 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1257859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Insecticide resistance in insects severely threatens both human health and agriculture, making insecticides less compelling and valuable, leading to frequent pest management failures, rising input costs, lowering crop yields, and disastrous public health. Insecticide resistance results from multiple factors, mainly indiscriminate insecticide usage and mounted selection pressure on insect populations. Insects respond to insecticide stress at the cellular level by modest yet significant genetic propagations. Transcriptional, co-transcriptional, and post-transcriptional regulatory signals of cells in organisms regulate the intricate processes in gene expressions churning the genetic information in transcriptional units into proteins and non-coding transcripts. Upregulation of detoxification enzymes, notably cytochrome P450s (CYPs), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), esterases [carboxyl choline esterase (CCE), carboxyl esterase (CarE)] and ATP Binding Cassettes (ABC) at the transcriptional level, modification of target sites, decreased penetration, or higher excretion of insecticides are the noted insect physiological responses. The transcriptional regulatory pathways such as AhR/ARNT, Nuclear receptors, CncC/Keap1, MAPK/CREB, and GPCR/cAMP/PKA were found to regulate the detoxification genes at the transcriptional level. Post-transcriptional changes of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as microRNAs (miRNA), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), and epitranscriptomics, including RNA methylation, are reported in resistant insects. Additionally, genetic modifications such as mutations in the target sites and copy number variations (CNV) are also influencing insecticide resistance. Therefore, these cellular intricacies may decrease insecticide sensitivity, altering the concentrations or activities of proteins involved in insecticide interactions or detoxification. The cellular episodes at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels pertinent to insecticide resistance responses in insects are extensively covered in this review. An overview of molecular mechanisms underlying these biological rhythms allows for developing alternative pest control methods to focus on insect vulnerabilities, employing reverse genetics approaches like RNA interference (RNAi) technology to silence particular resistance-related genes for sustained insect management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marimuthu Murugan
- Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
| | | | - Kathirvel Naveena
- Centre for Plant Protection Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhang C, Wan B, Jin MR, Wang X, Wei YJ, Zhong L, Xia B. Inhibition of ecdysone receptor (DcEcR) and ultraspiracle (DcUSP) expression in Diaphorina citri increased susceptibility to pesticides. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 194:105518. [PMID: 37532332 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Diaphorina citri Kuwayama is of great concern because of its ability to transmit devastating citrus greening illness (Huanglongbing). One strategy for controlling HLB may involve limiting the spread of D. citri. Insecticides using dsRNA target genes may be a useful option to control D. citri. The ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (USP) are crucial for the growth and reproduction of insects. This study identified the genes for D. citri ecdysone receptor (DcEcR) and ultraspiracle (DcUSP). According to the qPCR data, DcUSP peaked at the 5th-instar nymph stage, while DcEcR peaked at the adult stage. Females expressed DcEcR and DcUSP at much higher levels than males. RNAi was used to examine DcEcR and DcUSP function. The findings demonstrated that inhibition of DcEcR and DcUSP delayed nymph development and decreased survival and eclosion rates. dsEcR caused adults to develop deformed wings, and dsUSP caused nymphs to wither and die. Female adult ovaries developed slowly, and the females laid fewer eggs. Additionally, DcEcR and DcUSP were inhibited, increasing D. citri susceptibility to pesticides. These findings suggest that DcEcR and DcUSP are critical for D. citri development, growth, and reproduction and may serve as potential targets for D. citri management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cong Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, China
| | - Bin Wan
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, China
| | - Meng-Ru Jin
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Development & Service Center for Agriculture and Rural Industry of Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Yu-Jing Wei
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, China
| | - Ling Zhong
- Development & Service Center for Agriculture and Rural Industry of Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Bin Xia
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yang J, Chen S, Xu X, Lin S, Wu J, Lin G, Bai J, Song Q, You M, Xie M. Novel miR-108 and miR-234 target juvenile hormone esterase to regulate the response of Plutella xylostella to Cry1Ac protoxin. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 254:114761. [PMID: 36907089 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Insect hormones, such as juvenile hormone (JH), precisely regulate insect life-history traits. The regulation of JH is tightly associated with the tolerance or resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). JH esterase (JHE) is a primary JH-specific metabolic enzyme which plays a key role in regulating JH titer. Here, we characterized a JHE gene from Plutella xylostella (PxJHE), and found it was differentially expressed in the Bt Cry1Ac resistant and susceptible strains. Suppression of PxJHE expression with RNAi increased the tolerance of P. xylostella to Cry1Ac protoxin. To investigate the regulatory mechanism of PxJHE, two target site prediction algorithms were applied to predict the putative miRNAs targeting PxJHE, and the resulting putative miRNAs were subsequently verified for their function targeting PxJHE using luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. MiR-108 or miR-234 agomir delivery dramatically reduced PxJHE expression in vivo, whilst only miR-108 overexpression consequently increased the tolerance of P. xylostella larvae to Cry1Ac protoxin. By contrast, reduction of miR-108 or miR-234 dramatically increased PxJHE expression, accompanied by the decreased tolerance to Cry1Ac protoxin. Furthermore, injection of miR-108 or miR-234 led to developmental defects in P. xylostella, whilst injection of antagomir did not cause any obvious abnormal phenotypes. Our results indicated that miR-108 or miR-234 can be applied as potential molecular targets to combat P. xylostella and perhaps other lepidopteran pests, providing novel insights into miRNA-based integrated pest management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Shiyao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xuejiao Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Sujie Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jiaqi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Guifang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jianlin Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Minsheng You
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
| | - Miao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Shu B, Lin Y, Qian G, Cai X, Liu L, Lin J. Integrated miRNA and transcriptome profiling to explore the molecular mechanism of Spodoptera frugiperda larval midgut in response to azadirachtin exposure. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 187:105192. [PMID: 36127051 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2022.105192] [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: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
As a destructive agricultural pest, Spodoptera frugiperda has spread worldwide in the past few years. Azadirachtin, an environmentally friendly and most promising compound, showed adverse effects, including mortality and growth inhibition, against S. frugiperda. While the effects of azadirachtin on the midgut of this pest remain to be determined. In this study, structural damage was observed in the larval midguts of S. frugiperda with azadirachtin exposure. RNA-seq on the larval midguts with different azadirachtin treatments was performed. Compared to the control group, a total of 3344 and 4759 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the midguts with 0.1 and 0.5 μg/g azadirachtin exposure, respectively. Among them, the DEGs encoding detoxification enzymes/proteins, immune-related proteins, digestion and absorption-related proteins, and transcript factors were further analyzed. High-throughput sequencing was also used for the identification of differentially expressed microRNAs in different treatments. A total of 153 conserved miRNAs and 147 novel miRNAs were identified, of which 11 and 29 miRNAs were affected by 0.1 and 0.5 μg/g azadirachtin treatments, respectively. The integrated analysis found that 13 and 178 miRNA versus mRNA pairs were acquired in the samples with 0.1 and 0.5 μg/g azadirachtin treatments, respectively. The results of high-throughput sequencing were confirmed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). These results provide useful information for revealing the molecular mechanism of S. frugiperda larval midgut in response to azadirachtin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benshui Shu
- Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Subtropical Fruit Trees Outbreak Control, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yanzheng Lin
- Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Subtropical Fruit Trees Outbreak Control, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Guozhao Qian
- Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Subtropical Fruit Trees Outbreak Control, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Xueming Cai
- Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Subtropical Fruit Trees Outbreak Control, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Luyang Liu
- Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Subtropical Fruit Trees Outbreak Control, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Jintian Lin
- Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Subtropical Fruit Trees Outbreak Control, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Khashaveh A, An X, Shan S, Pang X, Li Y, Fu X, Zhang Y. The microRNAs in the antennae of Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae): Expression properties and targets prediction. Genomics 2022; 114:110447. [PMID: 35963492 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110447] [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: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression and contribute to numerous physiological processes. However, little is known about the functions of miRNAs in insect chemosensation. In this study, nine small RNA libraries were constructed and sequenced from the antennae of nymphs, adult males, and adult females of Apolygus lucorum. In total, 399 (275 known and 124 novel) miRNAs were identified. miR-7-5p_1 was the most abundant miRNA. Altogether, 69,708 target genes related to biogenesis, membrane, and binding activities were predicted. In particular, 15 miRNAs targeted 16 olfactory genes. Comparing the antennae of nymphs and adult males and females, 94 miRNAs were differentially expressed. Alternatively, a subset of differentially expressed miRNAs was verified by qPCR, supporting the reliability of the sequencing results. This study provides a global miRNA transcriptome for the antennae of A. lucorum and valuable information for further investigations of the functions of miRNAs in the regulation of chemosensation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adel Khashaveh
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xingkui An
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shuang Shan
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaoqian Pang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; School of Resource and Environment, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology and Mechanism of Major Diseases, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China
| | - Xiaowei Fu
- School of Resource and Environment, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Yongjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Yang J, Chen S, Xu X, Lin G, Lin S, Bai J, Song Q, You M, Xie M. Novel-miR-310 mediated response mechanism to Cry1Ac protoxin in Plutella xylostella (L.). Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 219:587-596. [PMID: 35952810 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.), has evolved resistance to multiple insecticides including Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are a class of transmembrane protein families, involved in multiple physiological processes and pesticide resistances in insects. However, the role and regulatory mechanism of ABC transporter in mediating the response to Bt Cry1Ac toxin remain unclear. Here, we characterized a MAPK signaling pathway-enriched ABCG subfamily gene PxABCG20 from DBM, and found it was differentially expressed in the Cry1Ac-resistant and Cry1Ac-susceptible strains. RNAi knockdown of PxABCG20 increased the tolerance of DBM to Cry1Ac protoxin. To explore the regulatory mechanism of PxABCG20 expression, we predicted the potential miRNAs targeting PxABCG20 using two target prediction algorithms. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that novel-miR-310 was able to down-regulate PxABCG20 expression in HEK293T cells. Furthermore, injection of novel-miR-310 agomir markedly inhibited PxABCG20 expression, resulting in increased tolerance to Cry1Ac protoxin in susceptible strain, while injection of novel-miR-310 antagomir markedly induced the expression of PxABCG20, leading to decreased tolerance to Cry1Ac protoxin. Our work provides theoretical basis for exploring novel targets for the DBM response to Cry1Ac toxin and expands the understanding of miRNA role in mediating the susceptibility of insect pest to Cry1Ac toxin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Shiyao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xuejiao Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Guifang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Sujie Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jianlin Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Minsheng You
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
| | - Miao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zafar J, Zhang Y, Huang J, Freed S, Shoukat RF, Xu X, Jin F. Spatio-Temporal Profiling of Metarhizium anisopliae-Responsive microRNAs Involved in Modulation of Plutella xylostella Immunity and Development. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:942. [PMID: 34829229 PMCID: PMC8620415 DOI: 10.3390/jof7110942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Metarhizium anisopliae, a ubiquitous pathogenic fungus, regulates a wide array of the insect pest population. The fungus has been employed to control Plutella xylostella, an insecticide-resistant destructive lepidopteran pest, which causes substantial economic losses in crops worldwide. Integration of modern gene-silencing technologies in pest control strategies has become more crucial to counter pesticide-resistant insects. MicroRNAs (miRNA) play essential roles in the various biological process via post-transcriptional gene regulation. In the present study, RNA-seq analysis of control (CK36h, CK72h) and fungal-infected (T36h, T72h) midguts was performed to reveal underlying molecular mechanisms occurring in larval midgut at different time courses. We aimed at exploring M. anisopliae-responsive miRNAs and their target genes involved in development and immunity. After data filtration, a combined set of 170 miRNAs were identified from all libraries. Interestingly, miR-281, miR-263, miR-1, miR-6094 and miR-8 were listed among the most abundantly expressed conserved miRNAs. Furthermore, we experimentally studied the role of differentially expressed miR-11912-5p in regulating corresponding target trypsin-like serine proteinase (Px_TLSP). The luciferase assay (in vitro) revealed that miRNA-11912-5p significantly downregulated its target gene, suggesting it might play a crucial role in defense mechanism of P. xylostella against M.+ anisopliae infection. We used synthetic miRNA mimic/inhibitor (in vivo), to overexpress/silence miRNA, which showed harmful effects on larval duration, survival and adult fecundity. Additionally, fungal application in the presence of mimics revealed enhanced sensitivity of P. xylostella to infection. Our finding provides an insight into the relatively obscure molecular mechanisms involved in insect midgut during the fungal infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junaid Zafar
- Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Creation and Application of Guangdong Province, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (J.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.H.); (R.F.S.)
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Creation and Application of Guangdong Province, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (J.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.H.); (R.F.S.)
| | - Junlin Huang
- Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Creation and Application of Guangdong Province, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (J.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.H.); (R.F.S.)
| | - Shoaib Freed
- Laboratory of Insect Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 66000, Pakistan;
| | - Rana Fartab Shoukat
- Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Creation and Application of Guangdong Province, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (J.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.H.); (R.F.S.)
| | - Xiaoxia Xu
- Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Creation and Application of Guangdong Province, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (J.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.H.); (R.F.S.)
| | - Fengliang Jin
- Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Creation and Application of Guangdong Province, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (J.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.H.); (R.F.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yang J, Xu X, Lin S, Chen S, Lin G, Song Q, Bai J, You M, Xie M. Profiling of MicroRNAs in Midguts of Plutella xylostella Provides Novel Insights Into the Bacillus thuringiensis Resistance. Front Genet 2021; 12:739849. [PMID: 34567090 PMCID: PMC8455949 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.739849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, one of the most destructive lepidopteran pests worldwide, has developed field resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry toxins. Although miRNAs have been reported to be involved in insect resistance to multiple insecticides, our understanding of their roles in mediating Bt resistance is limited. In this study, we constructed small RNA libraries from midguts of the Cry1Ac-resistant (Cry1S1000) strain and the Cry1Ac-susceptible strain (G88) using a high-throughput sequencing analysis. A total of 437 (76 known and 361 novel miRNAs) were identified, among which 178 miRNAs were classified into 91 miRNA families. Transcripts per million analysis revealed 12 differentially expressed miRNAs between the Cry1S1000 and G88 strains. Specifically, nine miRNAs were down-regulated and three up-regulated in the Cry1S1000 strain compared to the G88 strain. Next, we predicted the potential target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs and carried out GO and KEGG pathway analyses. We found that the cellular process, metabolism process, membrane and the catalytic activity were the most enriched GO terms and the Hippo, MAPK signaling pathway might be involved in Bt resistance of DBM. In addition, the expression patterns of these miRNAs and their target genes were determined by RT-qPCR, showing that partial miRNAs negatively while others positively correlate with their corresponding target genes. Subsequently, novel-miR-240, one of the differentially expressed miRNAs with inverse correlation with its target genes, was confirmed to interact with Px017590 and Px007885 using dual luciferase reporter assays. Our study highlights the characteristics of differentially expressed miRNAs in midguts of the Cry1S1000 and G88 strains, paving the way for further investigation of miRNA roles in mediating Bt resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xuejiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Sujie Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shiyao Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Guifang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Jianlin Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Minsheng You
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Miao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhang Z, Ma Y, Ma X, Hu H, Wang D, Song X, Ren X, Ma Y. Combined Transcriptomic Analysis and RNA Interference Reveal the Effects of Methoxyfenozide on Ecdysone Signaling Pathway of Spodoptera exigua. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22169080. [PMID: 34445782 PMCID: PMC8396458 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22169080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Spodoptera exigua is a worldwide pest afflicting edible vegetables and has developed varying levels of resistance to insecticides. Methoxyfenozide (MET), an ecdysteroid agonist, is effective against lepidopteran pests such as S. exigua. However, the mechanism of MET to S. exigua remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the expression patterns of genes related to the ecdysone signaling pathway in transcriptome data treated with sublethal doses of MET and analyzed how expression levels of key genes affect the toxicity of MET on S. exigua. Our results demonstrated that 2639 genes were up-regulated and 2512 genes were down-regulated in S. exigua treated with LC30 of MET. Of these, 15 genes were involved in the ecdysone signaling pathway. qPCR results demonstrated that ecdysone receptor A (EcRA) expression levels significantly increased in S. exigua when treated with different doses of MET, and that the RNAi-mediated silencing of EcRA significantly increased mortality to 55.43% at 72 h when L3 S. exigua larvae were exposed to MET at the LC30 dose. Additionally, knocking down EcRA suppressed the most genes expressed in the ecdysone signaling pathway. The combination of MET and dsEcRA affected the expression of E74 and enhanced the expression of TREA. These results demonstrate that the adverse effects of sublethal MET disturb the ecdysone signaling pathway in S. exigua, and EcRA is closely related to MET toxic effect. This study increases our collective understanding of the mechanisms of MET in insect pests.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhixian Zhang
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.Z.); (X.M.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China; (Y.M.); (H.H.); (D.W.); (X.S.)
| | - Yajie Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China; (Y.M.); (H.H.); (D.W.); (X.S.)
| | - Xiaoyan Ma
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.Z.); (X.M.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China; (Y.M.); (H.H.); (D.W.); (X.S.)
| | - Hongyan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China; (Y.M.); (H.H.); (D.W.); (X.S.)
| | - Dan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China; (Y.M.); (H.H.); (D.W.); (X.S.)
| | - Xianpeng Song
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China; (Y.M.); (H.H.); (D.W.); (X.S.)
| | - Xiangliang Ren
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.Z.); (X.M.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China; (Y.M.); (H.H.); (D.W.); (X.S.)
- Correspondence: (X.R.); or (Y.M.)
| | - Yan Ma
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.Z.); (X.M.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China; (Y.M.); (H.H.); (D.W.); (X.S.)
- Correspondence: (X.R.); or (Y.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zhang Q, Dou W, Taning CNT, Smagghe G, Wang JJ. Regulatory roles of microRNAs in insect pests: prospective targets for insect pest control. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 70:158-166. [PMID: 34090114 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
At the post-transcriptional level, microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the regulation of gene expression, thereby influencing the outcome of many biological processes in insects, such as development, reproduction, metamorphosis, immunity, and insecticide resistance. The alteration of miRNA expression by mimic/agomir or inhibitor/antagomir via injection/feeding can lead to pest developmental abnormalities, death, or reduced pesticide resistance, indicating that miRNAs are potential targets for pest control. This review provides an overview of recent advances in understanding the regulatory roles of miRNA in agricultural and public health insect pest, and further highlights the potential of miRNAs as prospective targets in pest control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; International China-Belgium Joint Laboratory on Sustainable Crop Pest Control between Southwest University in China and Ghent University in Belgium, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Wei Dou
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; International China-Belgium Joint Laboratory on Sustainable Crop Pest Control between Southwest University in China and Ghent University in Belgium, Chongqing 400715, China
| | | | - Guy Smagghe
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; International China-Belgium Joint Laboratory on Sustainable Crop Pest Control between Southwest University in China and Ghent University in Belgium, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Plants and Crops, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
| | - Jin-Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; International China-Belgium Joint Laboratory on Sustainable Crop Pest Control between Southwest University in China and Ghent University in Belgium, Chongqing 400715, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ekoka E, Maharaj S, Nardini L, Dahan-Moss Y, Koekemoer LL. 20-Hydroxyecdysone (20E) signaling as a promising target for the chemical control of malaria vectors. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:86. [PMID: 33514413 PMCID: PMC7844807 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04558-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
With the rapid development and spread of resistance to insecticides among anopheline malaria vectors, the efficacy of current World Health Organization (WHO)-approved insecticides targeting these vectors is under threat. This has led to the development of novel interventions, including improved and enhanced insecticide formulations with new targets or synergists or with added sterilants and/or antimalarials, among others. To date, several studies in mosquitoes have revealed that the 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) signaling pathway regulates both vector abundance and competence, two parameters that influence malaria transmission. Therefore, insecticides which target 20E signaling (e.g. methoxyfenozide and halofenozide) may be an asset for malaria vector control. While such insecticides are already commercially available for lepidopteran and coleopteran pests, they still need to be approved by the WHO for malaria vector control programs. Until recently, chemicals targeting 20E signaling were considered to be insect growth regulators, and their effect was mostly studied against immature mosquito stages. However, in the last few years, promising results have been obtained by applying methoxyfenozide or halofenozide (two compounds that boost 20E signaling) to Anopheles populations at different phases of their life-cycle. In addition, preliminary studies suggest that methoxyfenozide resistance is unstable, causing the insects substantial fitness costs, thereby potentially circumventing one of the biggest challenges faced by current vector control efforts. In this review, we first describe the 20E signaling pathway in mosquitoes and then summarize the mechanisms whereby 20E signaling regulates the physiological processes associated with vector competence and vector abundance. Finally, we discuss the potential of using chemicals targeting 20E signaling to control malaria vectors.![]()
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Ekoka
- WITS Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. .,Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Surina Maharaj
- WITS Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Luisa Nardini
- WITS Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Yael Dahan-Moss
- WITS Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lizette L Koekemoer
- WITS Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|