1
|
Ortega-Insaurralde I, Latorre-Estivalis JM, Costa-da-Silva AL, Cano A, Insausti TC, Morales HS, Pontes G, de Astrada MB, Ons S, DeGennaro M, Barrozo RB. The pharyngeal taste organ of a blood-feeding insect functions in food recognition. BMC Biol 2024; 22:63. [PMID: 38481317 PMCID: PMC10938694 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01861-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obligate blood-feeding insects obtain the nutrients and water necessary to ensure survival from the vertebrate blood. The internal taste sensilla, situated in the pharynx, evaluate the suitability of the ingested food. Here, through multiple approaches, we characterized the pharyngeal organ (PO) of the hematophagous kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus to determine its role in food assessment. The PO, located antero-dorsally in the pharynx, comprises eight taste sensilla that become bathed with the incoming blood. RESULTS We showed that these taste sensilla house gustatory receptor neurons projecting their axons through the labral nerves to reach the subesophageal zone in the brain. We found that these neurons are electrically activated by relevant appetitive and aversive gustatory stimuli such as NaCl, ATP, and caffeine. Using RNA-Seq, we examined the expression of sensory-related gene families in the PO. We identified gustatory receptors, ionotropic receptors, transient receptor potential channels, pickpocket channels, opsins, takeouts, neuropeptide precursors, neuropeptide receptors, and biogenic amine receptors. RNA interference assays demonstrated that the salt-related pickpocket channel Rproppk014276 is required during feeding of an appetitive solution of NaCl and ATP. CONCLUSIONS We provide evidence of the role of the pharyngeal organ in food evaluation. This work shows a comprehensive characterization of a pharyngeal taste organ in a hematophagous insect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Ortega-Insaurralde
- Laboratorio de Neuroetología de Insectos, Departamento Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (DBBE), Instituto Biodiversidad Biología Experimental y Aplicada (IBBEA), CONICET, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - José Manuel Latorre-Estivalis
- Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Instituto de Fisiología Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andre Luis Costa-da-Silva
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Agustina Cano
- Laboratorio de Neuroetología de Insectos, Departamento Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (DBBE), Instituto Biodiversidad Biología Experimental y Aplicada (IBBEA), CONICET, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Héctor Salas Morales
- Laboratorio de Neuroetología de Insectos, Departamento Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (DBBE), Instituto Biodiversidad Biología Experimental y Aplicada (IBBEA), CONICET, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gina Pontes
- Laboratorio de Ecofisiología de Insectos, Departamento Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (DBBE), Instituto Biodiversidad Biología Experimental y Aplicada (IBBEA), CONICET, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín Berón de Astrada
- Laboratorio de Fisiología de la Visión, Departamento de Fisiología Biología Molecular y Celular (FBMC), Instituto de Biociencias Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (IB3), Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sheila Ons
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Insectos, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas (CENEXA), Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Matthew DeGennaro
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Romina B Barrozo
- Laboratorio de Neuroetología de Insectos, Departamento Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (DBBE), Instituto Biodiversidad Biología Experimental y Aplicada (IBBEA), CONICET, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pontes G, Latorre-Estivalis JM, Gutiérrez ML, Cano A, Berón de Astrada M, Lorenzo MG, Barrozo RB. Molecular and functional basis of high-salt avoidance in a blood-sucking insect. iScience 2022; 25:104502. [PMID: 35720264 PMCID: PMC9204723 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Salts are essential nutrients required for many physiological processes, and accordingly, their composition and concentration are tightly regulated. Taste is the ultimate sensory modality involved in resource quality assessment, resulting in acceptance or rejection. Here we found that high salt concentrations elicit feeding avoidance in the blood-sucking bug Rhodnius prolixus and elucidate the molecular and neurophysiological mechanisms involved. We found that high-salt avoidance is mediated by a salt-sensitive antennal gustatory receptor neuron (GRN). Using RNAi, we demonstrate that this process requires two amiloride-sensitive pickpocket channels (PPKs; Rpro PPK014276 and Rpro PPK28) expressed within these cells. We found that antennal GRNs project to the insect primary olfactory center, the antennal lobes, revealing these centers as potential sites for the integration of taste and olfactory host-derived cues. Moreover, the identification of the gustatory basis of high-salt detection in a hematophagous insect suggests novel targets for the prevention of biting and feeding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gina Pontes
- Grupo de Neuroetología de Insectos Vectores, Laboratorio Fisiología de Insectos, Instituto de Biodiversidad, Biología Experimental y Aplicada, CONICET - UBA, Departamento Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - José Manuel Latorre-Estivalis
- Grupo de Comportamento de Vetores e Interação com Patógenos-CNPq, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - María Laura Gutiérrez
- Grupo de Neuroetología de Insectos Vectores, Laboratorio Fisiología de Insectos, Instituto de Biodiversidad, Biología Experimental y Aplicada, CONICET - UBA, Departamento Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina Cano
- Grupo de Neuroetología de Insectos Vectores, Laboratorio Fisiología de Insectos, Instituto de Biodiversidad, Biología Experimental y Aplicada, CONICET - UBA, Departamento Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martin Berón de Astrada
- Laboratorio de Fisiología de la Visión, Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcelo G. Lorenzo
- Grupo de Comportamento de Vetores e Interação com Patógenos-CNPq, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Romina B. Barrozo
- Grupo de Neuroetología de Insectos Vectores, Laboratorio Fisiología de Insectos, Instituto de Biodiversidad, Biología Experimental y Aplicada, CONICET - UBA, Departamento Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wu Z, Huang Y, Hu W, Ren L, Jiang P, Margolskee RF, Wang H, Feng S. Lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation increases nitric oxide production in taste buds. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 103:145-153. [PMID: 35447301 PMCID: PMC10353706 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is expressed when cells are induced or stimulated by proinflammatory cytokines and/or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). iNOS is a downstream gene of the NF-κB pathway. Our previous studies demonstrated that five Nfkb genes are expressed in mouse taste epithelium and taste organoids. However, it is unclear whether activation of the NF-κB pathway could induce iNOS gene expression and increase nitric oxide (NO) production in taste buds. In this study, we investigated the expression of iNOS mRNA and protein after LPS stimulation. Our results showed that a subset of taste bud cells and taste neurons express iNOS proteins after LPS stimulation. In addition, isolated mouse taste epithelium can release NO after exposure to LPS ex vivo. In taste behavioral tests, the NO donor nitroprusside enhanced mouse aversive responses to salty, bitter, and sour taste compounds. The enhanced aversive responses were especially strong for salty taste. In conclusion, our results suggest that iNOS and NO may play a role in the inflammation-associated taste disturbances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhizhongbin Wu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yilin Huang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Weiqing Hu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Liyin Ren
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Peihua Jiang
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Hong Wang
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Shan Feng
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Muñoz IJ, Schilman PE, Barrozo RB. Impact of alkaloids in food consumption, metabolism and survival in a blood-sucking insect. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9443. [PMID: 32523008 PMCID: PMC7287067 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65932-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The sense of taste provides information about the “good” or “bad” quality of a food source, which may be potentially nutritious or toxic. Most alkaloids taste bitter to humans, and because bitter taste is synonymous of noxious food, they are generally rejected. This response may be due to an innate low palatability or due to a malaise that occurs after food ingestion, which could even lead to death. We investigated in the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus, whether alkaloids such as quinine, caffeine and theophylline, are merely distasteful, or if anti-appetitive responses are caused by a post-ingestion physiological effect, or both of these options. Although anti-appetitive responses were observed for the three alkaloids, only caffeine and theophylline affect metabolic and respiratory parameters that reflected an underlying physiological stress following their ingestion. Furthermore, caffeine caused the highest mortality. In contrast, quinine appears to be a merely unpalatable compound. The sense of taste helps insects to avoid making wrong feeding decisions, such as the intake of bitter/toxic foods, and thus avoid potentially harmful effects on health, a mechanism preserved in obligate hematophagous insects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio J Muñoz
- Grupo de Neuroetología de Insectos Vectores, Laboratorio Fisiología de Insectos, Instituto Biodiversidad Biología Experimental Aplicada, CONICET; Departamento Biodiversidad Biología Experimental, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Laboratorio de Ecofisiología de Insectos, Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada, CONICET; Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo E Schilman
- Laboratorio de Ecofisiología de Insectos, Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada, CONICET; Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Romina B Barrozo
- Grupo de Neuroetología de Insectos Vectores, Laboratorio Fisiología de Insectos, Instituto Biodiversidad Biología Experimental Aplicada, CONICET; Departamento Biodiversidad Biología Experimental, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Masagué S, Cano A, Asparch Y, Barrozo RB, Minoli S. Sensory discrimination between aversive salty and bitter tastes in an haematophagous insect. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 51:1867-1880. [PMID: 32048391 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Sensory aversion is essential for avoiding prospective dangers. We studied the chemical perception of aversive compounds of different gustatory modalities (salty, bitter) in the haematophagous bug, Rhodnius prolixus. Over a walking arena, insects avoided a substrate embedded with 1M NaCl or KCl if provided with water as an alternative. However, no preferences were expressed when both salts were opposed to each other. A pre-exposure to amiloride interfered with the repellency of NaCl and KCl equally, suggesting that amiloride-sensitive receptors are involved in the detection of both salts. Discriminative experiments were then performed to determine whether R. prolixus can distinguish between these salts. An aversive operant conditioning involving either NaCl or KCl modulated the repellency of the conditioned salt, but also of the novel salt. Repellency levels of both salts were rigid to a chemical pre-exposure to any of both salts. When gustatory modalities were crossed by presenting as a choice NaCl and a bitter molecule as caffeine (Caf), no innate preferences were expressed. Aversive operant conditionings with either NaCl or Caf rendered unspecific changes in the repellency of both compounds. A chemical pre-exposure to Caf modulated the response to Caf but not to NaCl, suggesting the existence of two independent neural pathways for the detection of salts and bitter compounds. Overall results suggest that R. prolixus cannot discriminate molecules of the same gustatory modality (i.e. salty), but can distinguish between salty and bitter tastes. The potential use of aversive gustatory stimuli as a complement of commercially available olfactory repellents is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Masagué
- Laboratorio Fisiología de Insectos, Instituto Biodiversidad Biología Experimental Aplicada, CONICET - UBA, Departamento Biodiversidad Biología Experimental, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina Cano
- Laboratorio Fisiología de Insectos, Instituto Biodiversidad Biología Experimental Aplicada, CONICET - UBA, Departamento Biodiversidad Biología Experimental, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Yamila Asparch
- Laboratorio Fisiología de Insectos, Instituto Biodiversidad Biología Experimental Aplicada, CONICET - UBA, Departamento Biodiversidad Biología Experimental, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Romina B Barrozo
- Laboratorio Fisiología de Insectos, Instituto Biodiversidad Biología Experimental Aplicada, CONICET - UBA, Departamento Biodiversidad Biología Experimental, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sebastian Minoli
- Laboratorio Fisiología de Insectos, Instituto Biodiversidad Biología Experimental Aplicada, CONICET - UBA, Departamento Biodiversidad Biología Experimental, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hussain A, Classens G, Guevara-Rozo S, Erbilgin N. Soil Available Water Holding Capacity Can Alter the Reproductive Performance of Mountain Pine Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Jack Pine (Pinales: Pinaceae) Through Phloem Nitrogen Concentration. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 48:945-952. [PMID: 31120537 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvz054] [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: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytidae) has recently invaded novel jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb., Pinales: Pinaceae) forests in western Canada. Jack pine seems to be a suitable host for mountain pine beetle, but how growing conditions influence jack pine's quality as a host, and hence, its susceptibility for mountain pine beetle, is unknown. Specifically, how soil nutrient concentrations and available water holding capacity (AWHC) affect jack pine quality should be investigated. Host plant quality is an important determinant of mountain pine beetle host colonization and reproduction and is usually assessed by primary (nutrients) and secondary (defense chemistry) constituents of host phloem. We evaluated mountain pine beetle host acceptance and brood production by recording the percentage of female mountain pine beetle that entered the phloem and oviposited in 30 jack pine bolts from two sites that differed in soil nutrient concentrations and AWHC. We also compared the concentrations of phloem nutrients and defense monoterpenes among the selected trees and found that trees at the Low AWHC site had higher amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Monoterpene concentrations did not differ among trees at the two sites. Host acceptance by and brood production of mountain pine beetle were greater in bolts from the Low AWHC site. We conclude that AWHC of the soil may influence mountain pine beetle host acceptance and brood production through altering host plant quality, particularly nitrogen in the phloem, and will potentially influence any further range expansion of the beetle in eastern North America.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Altaf Hussain
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Gail Classens
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Sydne Guevara-Rozo
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Nadir Erbilgin
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Barrozo RB. Food recognition in hematophagous insects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 34:55-60. [PMID: 31247418 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Hematophagous insects use heat, odors, visual cues and humidity emitted by vertebrate hosts to find them in space and time. Once they reach a host, they integrate multimodal information from its skin, and decide whether to bite or not. If skin conditions fulfil the insect's expectations, it bites and pumps a small quantity of blood. Again, only if the sampled blood fulfils the insect's feeding requirements, it continues with a full ingestion. Taste is involved in both timely linked evaluation processes via contact chemoreceptors located in different parts of their bodies, driving jointly food acceptance or rejection. However, the whole picture of how blood-sucking insects evaluate the quality of a potential host is poorly understood. Here, I summarize the actual knowledge about the feeding decision-making in blood-sucking insects. Being typically involved in the transmission of diseases to humans or livestock, a deeper understanding about factors affecting an essential process as feeding in these insects could help us to find new strategies to reduce interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Romina B Barrozo
- Grupo de Neuroetología de Insectos Vectores, Laboratorio Fisiología de Insectos, IBBEA, CONICET - UBA, Departamento Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Latorre-Estivalis JM, Lorenzo MG. Molecular bases of sensory processes in kissing bugs, vectors of Chagas disease. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 34:80-84. [PMID: 31247423 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Sensory processes represent an information gathering interface between animals and their surrounding world. Therefore, they serve to scan the environment for resources and threats. The behavior of kissing bugs has been studied to aid their control because they transmit Chagas disease to humans. Besides, a few triatomines represent important insect models since Wigglesworth times. These hematophagous insects rely on different sensory systems to scan their environment for blood-sources, mating partners, and hiding places. The study of the molecular bases of sensory processes has undergone a dramatic progress due the advent of new technologies allowing mass-sequencing of genes. Here, we focus on reviewing the fundamental knowledge gathered to date about the molecular bases of kissing bug sensory processes.
Collapse
|