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Wang X, Qu Q, Li Z, Lu S, Ferrandon D, Xi L. An unusual Toll/MyD88-mediated Drosophila host defence against Talaromyces marneffei. Fly (Austin) 2024; 18:2398300. [PMID: 39239739 PMCID: PMC11382710 DOI: 10.1080/19336934.2024.2398300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Talaromycosis, caused by Talaromyces marneffei (T. marneffei, formerly known as Penicillium marneffei), is an opportunistic invasive mycosis endemic in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia with high mortality rate. Despite various infection models established to study the immunological interaction between T. marneffei and the host, the pathogenicity of this fungus is not yet fully understood. So far, Drosophila melanogaster, a well-established genetic model organism to study innate immunity, has not been used in related research on T. marneffei. In this study, we provide the initial characterization of a systemic infection model of T. marneffei in the D. melanogaster host. Survival curves and fungal loads were tested as well as Toll pathway activation was quantified by RT-qPCR of several antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes including Drosomycin, Metchnikowin, and Bomanin Short 1. We discovered that whereas most wild-type flies were able to overcome the infection, MyD88 or Toll mutant flies failed to prevent fungal dissemination and proliferation and ultimately succumbed to this challenge. Unexpectedly, the induction of classical Toll pathway activation readouts, Drosomycin and Bomanin Short 1, by live or killed T. marneffei was quite limited in wild-type flies, suggesting that the fungus largely escapes detection by the systemic immune system. This unusual situation of a poor systemic activation of the Toll pathway and a strong susceptibility phenotype of MyD88/Toll might be accounted for by a requirement for this host defence in only specific tissues, a hypothesis that remains to be rigorously tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyue Wang
- Dermatology hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qinglin Qu
- Dermatology hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Zi Li
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sha Lu
- Department of Dermatology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dominique Ferrandon
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Université de Strasbourg, UPR 9022 du CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Liyan Xi
- Dermatology hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Dermatology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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2
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Landers VD, Thomas M, Isom CM, Karki D, Sokoloski KJ. Capsid protein mediated evasion of IRAK1-dependent signalling is essential to Sindbis virus neuroinvasion and virulence in mice. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2300452. [PMID: 38164715 PMCID: PMC10773654 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2300452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACTAlphaviruses are arthropod-borne, single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses that are recognized as rapidly emerging pathogens. Despite being exquisitely sensitive to the effects of the innate immune response alphaviruses can readily replicate, disseminate, and induce pathogenesis in immunologically competent hosts. Nonetheless, how alphaviruses evade the induction of an innate immune response prior to viral gene expression, or in non-permissive infections, is unknown. Previously we reported the identification of a novel host/pathogen interaction between the viral Capsid (CP) protein and the host IRAK1 protein. The CP/IRAK1 interaction was determined to negatively impact IRAK1-dependent PAMP detection in vitro, however, the precise importance of the CP/IRAK1 interaction to alphaviral infection remained unknown. Here we detail the identification of the CP/IRAK1 interaction determinants of the Sindbis virus (SINV) CP protein and examine the importance of the interaction to alphaviral infection and pathogenesis in vivo using an interaction deficient mutant of the model neurotropic strain of SINV. Importantly, these interaction determinants are highly conserved across multiple Old-World alphaviruses, including Ross River virus (RRV), Mayaro virus (MAYV), Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Semliki Forest virus (SFV). In the absence of a functional CP/IRAK1 interaction, SINV replication is significantly restricted and fails to disseminate from the primary site of inoculation due to the induction of a robust type-I Interferon response. Altogether these data indicate that the evasion of IRAK1-dependent signalling is critical to overcoming the host innate immune response and the in vivo data presented here demonstrate the importance of the CP/IRAK1 interaction to neurovirulence and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Douglas Landers
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Milton Thomas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Cierra M. Isom
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Deepa Karki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Kevin J. Sokoloski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
- Center for Predictive Medicine and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
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3
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Omme S, Wang J, Sifuna M, Rodriguez J, Owusu NR, Goli M, Jiang P, Waziha P, Nwaiwu J, Brelsfoard CL, Vigneron A, Ciota AT, Kramer LD, Mechref Y, Onyangos MG. Multi-omics analysis of antiviral interactions of Elizabethkingia anophelis and Zika virus. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18470. [PMID: 39122799 PMCID: PMC11315927 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68898-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The microbial communities residing in the mosquito midgut play a key role in determining the outcome of mosquito pathogen infection. Elizabethkingia anophelis, originally isolated from the midgut of Anopheles gambiae possess a broad-spectrum antiviral phenotype, yet a gap in knowledge regarding the mechanistic basis of its interaction with viruses exists. The current study aims to identify pathways and genetic factors linked to E. anophelis antiviral activity. The understanding of E. anophelis antiviral mechanism could lead to novel transmission barrier tools to prevent arboviral outbreaks. We utilized a non-targeted multi-omics approach, analyzing extracellular lipids, proteins, metabolites of culture supernatants coinfected with ZIKV and E. anophelis. We observed a significant decrease in arginine and phenylalanine levels, metabolites that are essential for viral replication and progression of viral infection. This study provides insights into the molecular basis of E. anophelis antiviral phenotype. The findings lay a foundation for in-depth mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Omme
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - J Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - M Sifuna
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - J Rodriguez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - N R Owusu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - M Goli
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - P Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - P Waziha
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - J Nwaiwu
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - C L Brelsfoard
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - A Vigneron
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Microbienne, Claude Bernard University Lyon, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - A T Ciota
- Wadsworth Centre, New York State Department of Health, Griffin Laboratory, 5668 State Farm Road, Slingerlands, NY, 12159, USA
- School of Public Health, State University of New York Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - L D Kramer
- School of Public Health, State University of New York Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Y Mechref
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - M G Onyangos
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA.
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Makhnovskii PA, Kukushkina IV, Kurochkina NS, Popov DV. Knockout of Hsp70 genes significantly affects locomotion speed and gene expression in leg skeletal muscles of Drosophila melanogaster. Physiol Genomics 2024; 56:567-575. [PMID: 38881428 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00143.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The functions of the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) genes were studied using a line of Drosophila melanogaster with a knockout of 6 of these genes out of 13. Namely, the effect of knockout of Hsp70 genes on negative geotaxis climbing (locomotor) speed and the ability to adapt to climbing training (0.5-1.5 h/day, 7 days/wk, 19 days) were examined. Seven- and 23-day-old Hsp70- flies demonstrated a comparable reduction (twofold) in locomotor speed and widespread changes in leg skeletal muscle transcriptome (RNA sequencing) compared with w1118 flies. To identify the functions of genes related to decreased locomotor speed, the overlapped differentially expressed genes at both time points were analyzed: the upregulated genes encoded extracellular proteins, regulators of drug metabolism, and the antioxidant response, whereas downregulated genes encoded regulators of carbohydrate metabolism and transmembrane proteins. In addition, in Hsp70- flies, activation of transcription factors related to disruption of the fibril structure and heat shock response (Hsf) was predicted, using the position weight matrix approach. In control flies, adaptation to chronic exercise training was associated mainly with gene response to a single exercise bout, whereas the predicted transcription factors were related to stress/immune (Hsf, NF-κB, etc.) and early gene response. In contrast, Hsp70- flies demonstrated no adaptation to training as well as a significantly impaired gene response to a single exercise bout. In conclusion, the knockout of Hsp70 genes not only reduced physical performance but also disrupted adaptation to chronic physical training, which is associated with changes in the leg skeletal muscle transcriptome and impaired gene response to a single exercise bout.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Knockout of six heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) genes in Drosophila melanogaster reduced locomotion (climbing) speed that is associated with genotype-specific differences in leg skeletal muscle gene expression. Disrupted adaptation of Hsp70- flies to chronic exercise training is associated with impaired gene response to a single exercise bout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel A Makhnovskii
- Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Inna V Kukushkina
- Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nadia S Kurochkina
- Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Daniil V Popov
- Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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5
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Darby AM, Okoro DO, Aredas S, Frank AM, Pearson WH, Dionne MS, Lazzaro BP. High sugar diets can increase susceptibility to bacterial infection in Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012447. [PMID: 39133760 PMCID: PMC11341100 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Overnutrition with dietary sugar can worsen infection outcomes in diverse organisms including insects and humans, through generally unknown mechanisms. In the present study, we show that adult Drosophila melanogaster fed high-sugar diets became more susceptible to infection by the Gram-negative bacteria Providencia rettgeri and Serratia marcescens. We found that P. rettgeri and S. marcescens proliferate more rapidly in D. melanogaster fed a high-sugar diet, resulting in increased probability of host death. D. melanogaster become hyperglycemic on the high-sugar diet, and we find evidence that the extra carbon availability may promote S. marcescens growth within the host. However, we found no evidence that increased carbon availability directly supports greater P. rettgeri growth. D. melanogaster on both diets fully induce transcription of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes in response to infection, but D. melanogaster provided with high-sugar diets show reduced production of AMP protein. Thus, overnutrition with dietary sugar may impair host immunity at the level of AMP translation. Our results demonstrate that dietary sugar can shape infection dynamics by impacting both host and pathogen, depending on the nutritional requirements of the pathogen and by altering the physiological capacity of the host to sustain an immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M. Darby
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Destiny O. Okoro
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Sophia Aredas
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Ashley M. Frank
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Battelle, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - William H. Pearson
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marc S. Dionne
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Brian P. Lazzaro
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
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6
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Liu R, Ding Y, Jing F, Chen Z, Su C, Pan L. Effects of dietary glycerol monolaurate on growth and digestive performance, lipid metabolism, immune defense and gut microbiota of shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 151:109666. [PMID: 38838839 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
The advancement of the Penaeus vannamei industry in a sustainable manner necessitates the creation of eco-friendly and exceptionally effective feed additives. To achieve this, 720 similarly-sized juvenile shrimp (0.88 ± 0.02 g) were randomly divided into four groups in this study, with each group consisting of three replicates, each tank (400 L) containing 60 shrimp. Four experimental diets were formulated by adding 0, 500, 1000, and 1500 mg kg-1 glycerol monolaurate (GML) to the basal diet, and the feeding trial lasted for 42 days. Subsequently, a 72-h White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) challenge test was conducted. Polynomial orthogonal contrasts analysis revealed that with the increase in the concentration of GML, those indicators related to growth, metabolism and immunity, exhibit linear or quadratic correlations (P < 0.05). The results indicate that the GML groups exhibited a significant improvement in the shrimp weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and a reduction in the feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the GML groups promoted the lipase activity and reduced lipid content of the shrimp, augmented the expression of triglyceride and fatty acid decomposition-related genes and lowered the levels of plasma triglycerides (P < 0.05). GML can also enhanced the humoral immunity of the shrimp by activating the Toll-like receptor and Immune deficiency immune pathways, improved the phagocytic capacity and antibacterial ability of shrimp hemocytes. The challenge test revealed that GML significantly reduced the mortality of the shrimp compared to control group. The 16S rRNA sequencing indicates that the GML group can increases the abundance of beneficial bacteria. However, 1500 mg kg-1 GML adversely affected the stability of the intestinal microbiota, significantly upregulating intestinal antimicrobial peptide-related genes and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels (P < 0.05). In summary, 1000 mg kg-1 GML was proven to enhance the growth performance, lipid absorption and metabolism, humoral immune response, and gut microbiota condition of P. vannamei, with no negative physiological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renzhi Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Yanjun Ding
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Futao Jing
- Shandong Fisheries Development and Resources Conservation Center, Jinan, 250013, China
| | - Zhifei Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Chen Su
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Luqing Pan
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China.
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7
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Meraj S, Dhari AS, Mohr E, Lowenberger C, Gries G. A novel prolixicin identified in common bed bugs with activity against both bacteria and parasites. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13818. [PMID: 38879638 PMCID: PMC11180110 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64691-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The hematophagous common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is not known to transmit human pathogens outside laboratory settings, having evolved various immune defense mechanisms including the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We unveil three novel prolixicin AMPs in bed bugs, exhibiting strong homology to the prolixicin of kissing bugs, Rhodnius prolixus, and to diptericin/attacin AMPs. We demonstrate for the first time sex-specific and immune mode-specific upregulation of these prolixicins in immune organs, the midgut and rest of body, following injection and ingestion of Gr+ (Bacillus subtilis) and Gr- (Escherichia coli) bacteria. Synthetic CL-prolixicin2 significantly inhibited growth of E. coli strains and killed or impeded Trypanosoma cruzi, the Chagas disease agent. Our findings suggest that prolixicins are regulated by both IMD and Toll immune pathways, supporting cross-talk and blurred functional differentiation between major immune pathways. The efficacy of CL-prolixicin2 against T. cruzi underscores the potential of AMPs in Chagas disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanam Meraj
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A1S6, Canada.
| | - Arshvir Singh Dhari
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A1S6, Canada
| | - Emerson Mohr
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A1S6, Canada
| | - Carl Lowenberger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A1S6, Canada
| | - Gerhard Gries
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A1S6, Canada
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Yu Q, Liu Y, Liu S, Li S, Zhai Y, Zhang Q, Zheng L, Zheng H, Zhai Y, Wang X. Lactobacillus melliventris promotes hive productivity and immune functionality in Bombus terrestris performance in the greenhouse. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:911-926. [PMID: 37830269 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Bumblebees are important pollinators in agricultural ecosystems, but their abundance is declining globally. There is an urgent need to protect bumblebee health and their pollination services. Bumblebees possess specialized gut microbiota with potential to be used as probiotics to help defend at-risk bumblebee populations. However, evidence for probiotic benefits on bumblebees is lacking. Here, we evaluated how supplementation with Lactobacillus melliventris isolated from bumblebee gut affected the colony development of Bombus terrestris. This native strain colonized robustly and persisted long-term in bumblebees, leading to a significantly higher quality of offspring. Subsequently, the tyrosine pathway was upregulated in the brain and fat body, while the Wnt and mTOR pathways of the gut were downregulated. Notably, the field experiment in the greenhouse revealed the supplementation of L. melliventris led to a 2.5-fold increase in the bumblebee survival rate and a more than 10% increase in the number of flowers visited, indicating a better health condition and pollination ability in field conditions. Our study represents a first screening for the potential use of the native gut member, L. melliventris, as probiotic strains in hive supplement for bumblebee breeding, which may be a practical approach to improve immunity and hive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianhui Yu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
| | - Shanshan Liu
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Shaogang Li
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yifan Zhai
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qingchao Zhang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zheng
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yifan Zhai
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaofei Wang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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9
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Hu D, Xu F, Gao Z, Chen K, Guo W, Wang Z, Li S, Feng C. Pleiotropic immunoregulation by growth-blocking peptide in Ostrinia furnacalis. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 33:270-282. [PMID: 38329162 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Insects rely on their innate immune system to eliminate pathogenic microbes. As a system component, cytokines transmit intercellular signals to control immune responses. Growth-blocking peptide (GBP) is a member of the stress-responsive peptide family of cytokines found in several orders of insects, including Drosophila. However, the physiological role of GBP in defence against pathogens is not thoroughly understood. In this study, we explored the functions of GBP in a lepidopteran pest, Ostrinia furnacalis. Injection of recombinant O. furnacalis GBP (OfGBP) precursor (proGBP) and chemically synthesised GBP significantly induced the transcription of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and other immunity-related genes including immune deficiency (IMD) and Dorsal. The level of OfGBP mRNA was upregulated after bacterial infection. Knockdown of OfGBP expression led to a decrease in IMD, Relish, MyD88 and Dorsal mRNA levels. OfGBP induced phenoloxidase activity and affected hemocyte behaviours in O. furnacalis larvae. In summary, GBP is a potent cytokine, effectively regulating AMP synthesis, melanization response and cellular immunity to eliminate invading pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongchun Hu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Fuqiang Xu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zupeng Gao
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Kangkang Chen
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Wenlong Guo
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zitian Wang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Shuzhong Li
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Congjing Feng
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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10
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Yang X, Wang B, Jiang K, Xu K, Zhong C, Liu M, Wang L. The combined analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics reveals the mechanisms by which dietary quercetin regulates growth and immunity in Penaeus vannamei. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 149:109579. [PMID: 38648996 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109579] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
As a potent antioxidant, the flavonoid compound quercetin (QUE) has been widely used in the farming of aquatic animals. However, there are fewer reports of the beneficial effects, especially in improving immunity of Penaeus vannamei by QUE. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary QUE on growth, apoptosis, antioxidant and immunity of P. vannamei. It also explored the potential mechanisms of QUE in improving the growth and immunity of P. vannamei. P. vannamei were fed diets with QUE for 60 days. The results revealed that QUE (0.5 or 1.0 g/kg) ameliorated the growth, and the expressions of genes related to apoptosis, antioxidant, and immunity. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differential metabolites (DMs) obtained through transcriptomics and metabolomics, respectively, enriched in pathways related to nutritional metabolism such as lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. After QUE addition, especially at 0.5 g/kg, DEGs were enriched into the functions of response to stimulus and antioxidant activity, and the pathways of HIF-1 signaling pathway, C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and FoxO signaling pathway. In conclusion, dietary QUE can ameliorate growth, apoptosis, antioxidant and immunity of P. vannamei, the appropriate addition amount was 0.5 g/kg rather than 1.0 g/kg. Regulations of QUE on nutrient metabolism and immune-related pathways, and bioactive metabolites, were important factors for improving the aforementioned abilities in P. vannamei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanyi Yang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Baojie Wang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Keyong Jiang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Kefeng Xu
- Qingdao Aquatic Organisms Quality Evaluation and Utilization Engineering Research Center, Marine Science Research Institute of Shandong Province, Qingdao, China
| | - Chen Zhong
- Qingdao Aquatic Organisms Quality Evaluation and Utilization Engineering Research Center, Marine Science Research Institute of Shandong Province, Qingdao, China
| | - Mei Liu
- Qingdao Aquatic Organisms Quality Evaluation and Utilization Engineering Research Center, Marine Science Research Institute of Shandong Province, Qingdao, China.
| | - Lei Wang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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11
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Tsap MI, Yatsenko AS, Hegermann J, Beckmann B, Tsikas D, Shcherbata HR. Unraveling the link between neuropathy target esterase NTE/SWS, lysosomal storage diseases, inflammation, abnormal fatty acid metabolism, and leaky brain barrier. eLife 2024; 13:e98020. [PMID: 38660940 PMCID: PMC11090517 DOI: 10.7554/elife.98020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in Drosophila Swiss cheese (SWS) gene or its vertebrate orthologue neuropathy target esterase (NTE) lead to progressive neuronal degeneration in flies and humans. Despite its enzymatic function as a phospholipase is well established, the molecular mechanism responsible for maintaining nervous system integrity remains unclear. In this study, we found that NTE/SWS is present in surface glia that forms the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and that NTE/SWS is important to maintain its structure and permeability. Importantly, BBB glia-specific expression of Drosophila NTE/SWS or human NTE in the sws mutant background fully rescues surface glial organization and partially restores BBB integrity, suggesting a conserved function of NTE/SWS. Interestingly, sws mutant glia showed abnormal organization of plasma membrane domains and tight junction rafts accompanied by the accumulation of lipid droplets, lysosomes, and multilamellar bodies. Since the observed cellular phenotypes closely resemble the characteristics described in a group of metabolic disorders known as lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs), our data established a novel connection between NTE/SWS and these conditions. We found that mutants with defective BBB exhibit elevated levels of fatty acids, which are precursors of eicosanoids and are involved in the inflammatory response. Also, as a consequence of a permeable BBB, several innate immunity factors are upregulated in an age-dependent manner, while BBB glia-specific expression of NTE/SWS normalizes inflammatory response. Treatment with anti-inflammatory agents prevents the abnormal architecture of the BBB, suggesting that inflammation contributes to the maintenance of a healthy brain barrier. Considering the link between a malfunctioning BBB and various neurodegenerative diseases, gaining a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms causing inflammation due to a defective BBB could help to promote the use of anti-inflammatory therapies for age-related neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana I Tsap
- Institute of Cell Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andriy S Yatsenko
- Institute of Cell Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jan Hegermann
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Research Core Unit Electron Microscopy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Bibiana Beckmann
- Institute of Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dimitrios Tsikas
- Institute of Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Halyna R Shcherbata
- Institute of Cell Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, United States
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12
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Meraj S, Salcedo-Porras N, Lowenberger C, Gries G. Activation of immune pathways in common bed bugs, Cimex lectularius, in response to bacterial immune challenges - a transcriptomics analysis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1384193. [PMID: 38694504 PMCID: PMC11061471 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1384193] [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: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is an urban pest of global health significance, severely affecting the physical and mental health of humans. In contrast to most other blood-feeding arthropods, bed bugs are not major vectors of pathogens, but the underlying mechanisms for this phenomenon are largely unexplored. Here, we present the first transcriptomics study of bed bugs in response to immune challenges. To study transcriptional variations in bed bugs following ingestion of bacteria, we extracted and processed mRNA from body tissues of adult male bed bugs after ingestion of sterile blood or blood containing the Gram-positive (Gr+) bacterium Bacillus subtilis or the Gram-negative (Gr-) bacterium Escherichia coli. We analyzed mRNA from the bed bugs' midgut (the primary tissue involved in blood ingestion) and from the rest of their bodies (RoB; body minus head and midgut tissues). We show that the midgut exhibits a stronger immune response to ingestion of bacteria than the RoB, as indicated by the expression of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Both the Toll and Imd signaling pathways, associated with immune responses, were highly activated by the ingestion of bacteria. Bacterial infection in bed bugs further provides evidence for metabolic reconfiguration and resource allocation in the bed bugs' midgut and RoB to promote production of AMPs. Our data suggest that infection with particular pathogens in bed bugs may be associated with altered metabolic pathways within the midgut and RoB that favors immune responses. We further show that multiple established cellular immune responses are preserved and are activated by the presence of specific pathogens. Our study provides a greater understanding of nuances in the immune responses of bed bugs towards pathogens that ultimately might contribute to novel bed bug control tactics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanam Meraj
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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13
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Hixson B, Huot L, Morejon B, Yang X, Nagy P, Michel K, Buchon N. The transcriptional response in mosquitoes distinguishes between fungi and bacteria but not Gram types. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:353. [PMID: 38594632 PMCID: PMC11003161 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10153-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes are prolific vectors of human pathogens, therefore a clear and accurate understanding of the organization of their antimicrobial defenses is crucial for informing the development of transmission control strategies. The canonical infection response in insects, as described in the insect model Drosophila melanogaster, is pathogen type-dependent, with distinct stereotypical responses to Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria/fungi mediated by the activation of the Imd and Toll pathways, respectively. To determine whether this pathogen-specific discrimination is shared by mosquitoes, we used RNAseq to capture the genome-wide transcriptional response of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae (s.l.) to systemic infection with Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi, as well as challenge with heat-killed Gram-negative, Gram-positive, and fungal pathogens. From the resulting data, we found that Ae. aegypti and An. gambiae both mount a core response to all categories of infection, and this response is highly conserved between the two species with respect to both function and orthology. When we compared the transcriptomes of mosquitoes infected with different types of bacteria, we observed that the intensity of the transcriptional response was correlated with both the virulence and growth rate of the infecting pathogen. Exhaustive comparisons of the transcriptomes of Gram-negative-challenged versus Gram-positive-challenged mosquitoes yielded no difference in either species. In Ae. aegypti, however, we identified transcriptional signatures specific to bacterial infection and to fungal infection. The bacterial infection response was dominated by the expression of defensins and cecropins, while the fungal infection response included the disproportionate upregulation of an uncharacterized family of glycine-rich proteins. These signatures were also observed in Ae. aegypti challenged with heat-killed bacteria and fungi, indicating that this species can discriminate between molecular patterns that are specific to bacteria and to fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bretta Hixson
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Louise Huot
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Bianca Morejon
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Xiaowei Yang
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- Current address: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute for Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Peter Nagy
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Kristin Michel
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Nicolas Buchon
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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14
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Jiang S, Bao J, Chen Y, Liu Z, Liu R, Cheng Y, Zhang L, Jiang X, Kong H. Immunological regulation by Toll-1 and Spätzle-4 in larval density-dependent prophylaxis of the oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 264:130778. [PMID: 38467221 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
High population density has been shown to alter insect prophylactic immunity. Toll-Spätzle pathway performs a key function in insect innate immune response. To determine the role of Toll and Spätzle, two main components of Toll-Spätzle pathway, in the density-dependent prophylaxis of Mythimna separata. We identified full-length cDNA encoding the Toll-1 and Spätzle-4 genes in M. separata (designed MsToll-1 and Ms Spätzle-4). Both MsToll-1 and MsSpätzle-4 were expressed throughout all developmental stages. MsToll-1 expression was highly in fat body and brain and MsSpätzle-4 was highly expressed in brain and Malpighian tubule. With increased larval density, MsToll-1 expression was markedly up-regulated. MsSpätzle-4 expression was found to be raised in larvae that were fed in high density (5 and 10 larvae per jar). Co-immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that MsToll-1 interacted with MsSpätzle-4. Immune-related genes transcriptions were considerably reduced in high-density larvae MsToll-1 (or MsSpätzle-4) was silenced by dsRNA injection. Meanwhile, a discernible reduction in the survival rate of the larvae exposed to Bacillus thuringiensis infection with silence of MsToll-1 (or MsSpätzle-4) was observed. This study implies that prophylactic immunity was influenced by crowded larvae via modulating the Toll-Spätzle pathway in M. separata and allow for a new understanding of into density-dependent prophylaxis in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suwan Jiang
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Wenhui East Road, NO. 48, Yangzhou 225009, PR China
| | - Jianqiang Bao
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Wenhui East Road, NO. 48, Yangzhou 225009, PR China
| | - Yuxuan Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Wenhui East Road, NO. 48, Yangzhou 225009, PR China
| | - Zhonglin Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Wenhui East Road, NO. 48, Yangzhou 225009, PR China
| | - Rui Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Wenhui East Road, NO. 48, Yangzhou 225009, PR China
| | - Yunxia Cheng
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, NO. 2 of West Yuanmingyuan Road, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Lei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, NO. 2 of West Yuanmingyuan Road, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Xingfu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, NO. 2 of West Yuanmingyuan Road, Beijing 100193, PR China.
| | - Hailong Kong
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Wenhui East Road, NO. 48, Yangzhou 225009, PR China.
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15
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Jang S, Ishigami K, Mergaert P, Kikuchi Y. Ingested soil bacteria breach gut epithelia and prime systemic immunity in an insect. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315540121. [PMID: 38437561 PMCID: PMC10945853 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315540121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Insects lack acquired immunity and were thought to have no immune memory, but recent studies reported a phenomenon called immune priming, wherein sublethal dose of pathogens or nonpathogenic microbes stimulates immunity and prevents subsequential pathogen infection. Although the evidence for insect immune priming is accumulating, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. The bean bug Riptortus pedestris acquires its gut microbiota from ambient soil and spatially structures them into a multispecies and variable community in the anterior midgut and a specific, monospecies Caballeronia symbiont population in the posterior region. We demonstrate that a particular Burkholderia strain colonizing the anterior midgut stimulates systemic immunity by penetrating gut epithelia and migrating into the hemolymph. The activated immunity, consisting of a humoral and a cellular response, had no negative effect on the host fitness, but on the contrary protected the insect from subsequent infection by pathogenic bacteria. Interruption of contact between the Burkholderia strain and epithelia of the gut weakened the host immunity back to preinfection levels and made the insects more vulnerable to microbial infection, demonstrating that persistent acquisition of environmental bacteria is important to maintain an efficient immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seonghan Jang
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Hokkaido Center, 062-8517Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kota Ishigami
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Hokkaido Center, 062-8517Sapporo, Japan
| | - Peter Mergaert
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, 91198Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Yoshitomo Kikuchi
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Hokkaido Center, 062-8517Sapporo, Japan
- Unit of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, 060-8589Sapporo, Japan
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16
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Silva RCMC, Gomes FM. Evolution of the Major Components of Innate Immunity in Animals. J Mol Evol 2024; 92:3-20. [PMID: 38281163 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-024-10155-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Innate immunity is present in all animals. In this review, we explore the main conserved mechanisms of recognition and innate immune responses among animals. In this sense, we discuss the receptors, critical for binding to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs); the downstream signaling proteins; and transcription factors that govern immune responses. We also highlight conserved inflammatory mediators that are induced after the recognition of DAMPs and PAMPs. At last, we discuss the mechanisms that are involved in the regulation and/or generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), influencing immune responses, like heme-oxygenases (HOs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Cardoso Maciel Costa Silva
- Laboratory of Immunoreceptors and Signaling, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Fábio Mendonça Gomes
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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17
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Lu M, Wei D, Shang J, Li S, Song S, Luo Y, Tang G, Wang C. Suppression of Drosophila antifungal immunity by a parasite effector via blocking GNBP3 and GNBP-like 3, the dual receptors for β-glucans. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113642. [PMID: 38175756 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The tactics used by animal pathogens to combat host immunity are largely unclear. Here, we report the depiction of the virulence-required effector Tge1 deployed by the entomopathogen Metarhizium robertsii to suppress Drosophila antifungal immunity. Tge1 can target both GNBP3 and GNBP-like 3 (GL3), and the latter can bind to β-glucans like GNBP3, whereas the glucan binding by both receptors can be attenuated by Tge1. As opposed to the surveillance GNBP3, GL3 is inducible in Drosophila depending on the Toll pathway via a positive feedback loop mechanism. Losses of GNBP3 and GL3 genes result in the deregulations of protease cascade, Spätzle maturation, and antimicrobial gene expressions in Drosophila upon fungal challenges. Fly survival assays confirm that GL3 plays a more essential role than GNBP3 in combating fungal infections. In addition to evidencing the gene-for-gene interactions between fungi and insects, our data advance insights into Drosophila antifungal immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengting Lu
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Dongxiang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Junmei Shang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shiqin Li
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Shuangxiu Song
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yujuan Luo
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Guirong Tang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chengshu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
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18
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Chou J, Ramroop JR, Saravia-Butler AM, Wey B, Lera MP, Torres ML, Heavner ME, Iyer J, Mhatre SD, Bhattacharya S, Govind S. Drosophila parasitoids go to space: Unexpected effects of spaceflight on hosts and their parasitoids. iScience 2024; 27:108759. [PMID: 38261932 PMCID: PMC10797188 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
While fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and humans exhibit immune system dysfunction in space, studies examining their immune systems' interactions with natural parasites in space are lacking. Drosophila parasitoid wasps modify blood cell function to suppress host immunity. In this study, naive and parasitized ground and space flies from a tumor-free control and a blood tumor-bearing mutant strain were examined. Inflammation-related genes were activated in space in both fly strains. Whereas control flies did not develop tumors, tumor burden increased in the space-returned tumor-bearing mutants. Surprisingly, control flies were more sensitive to spaceflight than mutant flies; many of their essential genes were downregulated. Parasitoids appeared more resilient than fly hosts, and spaceflight did not significantly impact wasp survival or the expression of their virulence genes. Previously undocumented mutant wasps with novel wing color and wing shape were isolated post-flight and will be invaluable for host-parasite studies on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Chou
- Biology Department, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Johnny R. Ramroop
- Biology Department, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Amanda M. Saravia-Butler
- KBR NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Brian Wey
- Biology Department, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
- PhD Program in Biology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Matthew P. Lera
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Medaya L. Torres
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Bionetics, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Mary Ellen Heavner
- Biology Department, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Janani Iyer
- KBR NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Universities Space Research Association, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
| | - Siddhita D. Mhatre
- KBR NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | | | - Shubha Govind
- Biology Department, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
- PhD Program in Biology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
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19
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Balakireva Y, Nikitina M, Makhnovskii P, Kukushkina I, Kuzmin I, Kim A, Nefedova L. The Lifespan of D. melanogaster Depends on the Function of the Gagr Gene, a Domesticated gag Gene of Drosophila LTR Retrotransposons. INSECTS 2024; 15:68. [PMID: 38249074 PMCID: PMC10816282 DOI: 10.3390/insects15010068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
(1) Background: The Gagr gene in Drosophila melanogaster's genome originated from the molecular domestication of retrotransposons and retroviruses' gag gene. In all Drosophila species, the Gagr protein homologs exhibit a conserved structure, indicative of a vital role. Previous studies have suggested a potential link between the Gagr gene function and stress responses. (2) Methods: We compared flies with Gagr gene knockdown in all tissues to control flies in physiological tests and RNA-sequencing experiments. (3) Results: Flies with the Gagr gene knockdown exhibited shorter lifespans compared to control flies. Transcriptome analysis revealed that Gagr knockdown flies showed elevated transcription levels of immune response genes. We used ammonium persulfate, a potent stress inducer, to elicit a stress response. In control flies, ammonium persulfate activated the Toll, JAK/STAT, and JNK/MAPK signaling pathways. In contrast, flies with the Gagr gene knockdown displayed reduced expression of stress response genes. Gene ontology enrichment analysis identified categories of genes upregulated under ammonium persulfate stress in control flies but not in Gagr knockdown flies. These genes are involved in developmental control, morphogenesis, and central nervous system function. (4) Conclusion: Our findings indicate the significance of the Gagr gene in maintaining immune response and homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yevgenia Balakireva
- Department of Genetics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (Y.B.); (M.N.); (I.K.); (I.K.); (A.K.)
| | - Maria Nikitina
- Department of Genetics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (Y.B.); (M.N.); (I.K.); (I.K.); (A.K.)
| | - Pavel Makhnovskii
- Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, 123007 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Inna Kukushkina
- Department of Genetics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (Y.B.); (M.N.); (I.K.); (I.K.); (A.K.)
| | - Ilya Kuzmin
- Department of Genetics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (Y.B.); (M.N.); (I.K.); (I.K.); (A.K.)
| | - Alexander Kim
- Department of Genetics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (Y.B.); (M.N.); (I.K.); (I.K.); (A.K.)
- Faculty of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Longgang District, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Lidia Nefedova
- Department of Genetics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (Y.B.); (M.N.); (I.K.); (I.K.); (A.K.)
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20
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Kloc M, Halasa M, Kubiak JZ, Ghobrial RM. Invertebrate Immunity, Natural Transplantation Immunity, Somatic and Germ Cell Parasitism, and Transposon Defense. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1072. [PMID: 38256145 PMCID: PMC10815962 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
While the vertebrate immune system consists of innate and adaptive branches, invertebrates only have innate immunity. This feature makes them an ideal model system for studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms of innate immunity sensu stricto without reciprocal interferences from adaptive immunity. Although invertebrate immunity is evolutionarily older and a precursor of vertebrate immunity, it is far from simple. Despite lacking lymphocytes and functional immunoglobulin, the invertebrate immune system has many sophisticated mechanisms and features, such as long-term immune memory, which, for decades, have been exclusively attributed to adaptive immunity. In this review, we describe the cellular and molecular aspects of invertebrate immunity, including the epigenetic foundation of innate memory, the transgenerational inheritance of immunity, genetic immunity against invading transposons, the mechanisms of self-recognition, natural transplantation, and germ/somatic cell parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Kloc
- Houston Methodist Research Institute, Transplant Immunology, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.H.); (R.M.G.)
- Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Genetics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Marta Halasa
- Houston Methodist Research Institute, Transplant Immunology, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.H.); (R.M.G.)
- Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jacek Z. Kubiak
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine-National Research Institute (WIM-PIB), Szaserow 128, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland;
- Dynamics and Mechanics of Epithelia Group, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes, University of Rennes, CNRS, UMR 6290, 35043 Rennes, France
| | - Rafik M. Ghobrial
- Houston Methodist Research Institute, Transplant Immunology, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.H.); (R.M.G.)
- Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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21
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Adegoke A, Ribeiro JMC, Smith R, Karim S. Tick innate immune responses to hematophagy and Ehrlichia infection at single-cell resolution. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1305976. [PMID: 38274813 PMCID: PMC10808623 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1305976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Ticks rely on robust cellular and humoral responses to control microbial infection. However, several aspects of the tick's innate immune system remain uncharacterized, most notably that of the immune cells (called hemocytes), which are known to play a significant role in cellular and humoral responses. Despite the importance of hemocytes in regulating microbial infection, our understanding of their basic biology and molecular mechanisms remains limited. Therefore, we believe that a more detailed understanding of the role of hemocytes in the interactions between ticks and tick-borne microbes is crucial to illuminating their function in vector competence and to help identify novel targets for developing new strategies to block tick-borne pathogen transmission. Methods This study examined hemocytes from the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) at the transcriptomic level using the 10X genomics single-cell RNA sequencing platform to analyze hemocyte populations from unfed, partially blood-fed, and Ehrlichia chaffeensis-infected ticks. The functional role of differentially expressed hemocyte markers in hemocyte proliferation and Ehrlichia dissemination was determined using an RNA interference approach. Results and discussion Our data exhibit the identification of fourteen distinct hemocyte populations. Our results uncover seven distinct lineages present in uninfected and Ehrlichia-infected hemocyte clusters. The functional characterization of hemocytin, cystatin, fibronectin, and lipocalin demonstrate their role in hemocyte population changes, proliferation, and Ehrlichia dissemination. Conclusion Our results uncover the tick immune responses to Ehrlichia infection and hematophagy at a single-cell resolution. This work opens a new field of tick innate immunobiology to understand the role of hemocytes, particularly in response to prolonged blood-feeding (hematophagy), and tick-microbial interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulsalam Adegoke
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
| | - Jose M. C. Ribeiro
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Ryan C. Smith
- Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Shahid Karim
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
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22
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Si Q, Min X, Dai X, Gao Q, Jiang Q, Ren Q. Diversity of MrTolls and their regulation of antimicrobial peptides expression during Enterobacter cloacae infection in Macrobrachium rosenbergii. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 144:109279. [PMID: 38072137 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.109279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Toll/Toll-like receptor (TLR) is an important pattern recognition receptor that plays an important role in the immunity of animals. Six Toll genes were identified in Macrobrachium rosenbergii, namely, MrToll, MrToll1, MrToll2, MrToll3, MrToll4, and MrToll5. SMART analysis showed that all six Tolls have a transmembrane domain, a TIR domain, and different number of LRR domains. The phylogenetic tree showed that six Tolls were located in six different branches. Among these six Tolls, only MrToll4 contains the QHR motif, which is similar to insect Toll9. MrToll4 belongs to V-type/scc Toll with only one LRRCT domain. MrToll1 and MrToll5 are classical P-type/mcc Toll with two LRRCT domains and an LRRNT. MrTolls were distributed in the hemocytes, heart, hepatopancreas, gills, stomach, and intestine. During the infection of Enterobacter cloacae, the expression level of MrToll and MrToll1-4 was upregulated in the intestine of M. rosenbergii. RNA interference experiments showed that the expression of most antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes was negatively regulated by MrTolls during E. cloacae infection. On the contrary, crustin (Cru) 3 and Cru4 were inhibited after the knockdown of MrToll, and Cru1 and Cru4 were significantly downregulated with the knockdown of MrToll4 during E. cloacae challenge. These results suggest that MrTolls may be involved in the regulation of AMP expression in the intestine during E. cloacae infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Si
- Jiangsu Maritime Institute, 309 Gezhi Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211100, China
| | - Xiuwen Min
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animals Breeding and Green Efficient Aquacultural Technology, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210023, China
| | - Xiaoling Dai
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animals Breeding and Green Efficient Aquacultural Technology, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210023, China
| | - Qiang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquaculture Genetic and Breeding of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, 313001, China
| | - Qichen Jiang
- Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210017, China.
| | - Qian Ren
- School of Marine Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210044, China.
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23
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Garrigós M, Ylla G, Martínez-de la Puente J, Figuerola J, Ruiz-López MJ. Two avian Plasmodium species trigger different transcriptional responses on their vector Culex pipiens. Mol Ecol 2023:e17240. [PMID: 38108558 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by protozoans of the genus Plasmodium that affects both humans and wildlife. The fitness consequences of infections by avian malaria are well known in birds, however, little information exists on its impact on mosquitoes. Here we study how Culex pipiens mosquitoes transcriptionally respond to infection by two different Plasmodium species, P. relictum and P. cathemerium, differing in their virulence (mortality rate) and transmissibility (parasite presence in exposed mosquitoes' saliva). We studied the mosquito response to the infection at three critical stages of parasite development: the formation of ookinetes at 24 h post-infection (hpi), the release of sporozoites into the hemocoel at 10 days post-infection (dpi), and the storage of sporozoites in the salivary glands at 21 dpi. For each time point, we characterized the gene expression of mosquitoes infected with each P. relictum and P. cathemerium and mosquitoes fed on an uninfected bird and, subsequently, compared their transcriptomic responses. Differential gene expression analysis showed that most transcriptomic changes occurred during the early infection stage (24 hpi), especially when comparing P. relictum and P. cathemerium-infected mosquitoes. Differentially expressed genes in mosquitoes infected with each species were related mainly to the metabolism of the immune response, trypsin, and other serine-proteases. We conclude that these differences in response may partly play a role in the differential virulence and transmissibility previously observed between P. relictum and P. cathemerium in Cx. pipiens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Garrigós
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Guillem Ylla
- Bioinformatics and Genome Biology Lab, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Josué Martínez-de la Puente
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - María José Ruiz-López
- CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
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24
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Romanov SE, Shloma VV, Maksimov DA, Koryakov DE. SetDB1 and Su(var)3-9 are essential for late stages of larval development of Drosophila melanogaster. Chromosome Res 2023; 31:35. [PMID: 38099968 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-023-09743-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Methylation of H3K9 histone residue is a marker of gene silencing in eukaryotes. Three enzymes responsible for adding this modification - G9a, SetDB1/Egg, and Su(var)3-9 - are known in Drosophila. To understand how simultaneous mutations of SetDB1 and Su(var)3-9 may affect the fly development, appropriate combinations were obtained. Double mutants egg; Su(var)3-9 displayed pronounced embryonic lethality, slower larval growth and died before or during metamorphosis. Analysis of transcription in larval salivary glands and wing imaginal disks indicated that the effect of double mutation is tissue-specific. In salivary gland chromosomes, affected genes display low H3K9me2 enrichment and are rarely bound by SetDB1 or Su(var)3-9. We suppose that each of these enzymes directly or indirectly controls its own set of gene targets in different organs, and double mutation results in an imbalanced developmental program. This also indicates that SetDB1 and Su(var)3-9 may affect transcription via H3K9-independent mechanisms. Unexpectedly, in double and triple mutants, amount of di- and tri-methylated H3K9 is drastically reduced, but not completely absent. We hypothesize that this residual methylation implies the existence of additional H3K9-specific methyltransferase in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav E Romanov
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Viktor V Shloma
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Daniil A Maksimov
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Dmitry E Koryakov
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
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25
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Vincow ES, Thomas RE, Milstein G, Pareek G, Bammler T, MacDonald J, Pallanck L. Glucocerebrosidase deficiency leads to neuropathology via cellular immune activation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.13.571406. [PMID: 38168223 PMCID: PMC10760128 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.13.571406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Mutations in GBA (glucosylceramidase beta), which encodes the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCase), are the strongest genetic risk factor for the neurodegenerative disorders Parkinson's disease (PD) and Lewy body dementia. Recent work has suggested that neuroinflammation may be an important factor in the risk conferred by GBA mutations. We therefore systematically tested the contributions of immune-related genes to neuropathology in a Drosophila model of GCase deficiency. We identified target immune factors via RNA-Seq and proteomics on heads from GCase-deficient flies, which revealed both increased abundance of humoral factors and increased macrophage activation. We then manipulated the identified immune factors and measured their effect on head protein aggregates, a hallmark of neurodegenerative disease. Genetic ablation of humoral (secreted) immune factors did not suppress the development of protein aggregation. By contrast, re-expressing Gba1b in activated macrophages suppressed head protein aggregation in Gba1b mutants and rescued their lifespan and behavioral deficits. Moreover, reducing the GCase substrate glucosylceramide in activated macrophages also ameliorated Gba1b mutant phenotypes. Taken together, our findings show that glucosylceramide accumulation due to GCase deficiency leads to macrophage activation, which in turn promotes the development of neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn S. Vincow
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Ruth E. Thomas
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Gillian Milstein
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Gautam Pareek
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Theo Bammler
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - James MacDonald
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Leo Pallanck
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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26
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Katheder NS, Browder KC, Chang D, De Maziere A, Kujala P, van Dijk S, Klumperman J, Lu TC, Li H, Lai Z, Sangaraju D, Jasper H. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor signaling maintains epithelial barrier integrity. eLife 2023; 12:e86381. [PMID: 38063293 PMCID: PMC10764009 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Disruption of epithelial barriers is a common disease manifestation in chronic degenerative diseases of the airways, lung, and intestine. Extensive human genetic studies have identified risk loci in such diseases, including in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and inflammatory bowel diseases. The genes associated with these loci have not fully been determined, and functional characterization of such genes requires extensive studies in model organisms. Here, we report the results of a screen in Drosophila melanogaster that allowed for rapid identification, validation, and prioritization of COPD risk genes that were selected based on risk loci identified in human genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Using intestinal barrier dysfunction in flies as a readout, our results validate the impact of candidate gene perturbations on epithelial barrier function in 56% of the cases, resulting in a prioritized target gene list. We further report the functional characterization in flies of one family of these genes, encoding for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) subunits. We find that nAchR signaling in enterocytes of the fly gut promotes epithelial barrier function and epithelial homeostasis by regulating the production of the peritrophic matrix. Our findings identify COPD-associated genes critical for epithelial barrier maintenance, and provide insight into the role of epithelial nAchR signaling for homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja S Katheder
- Regenerative Medicine, Genentech, South San Francisco, United States
| | - Kristen C Browder
- Regenerative Medicine, Genentech, South San Francisco, United States
| | - Diana Chang
- Human Genetics, Genentech, South San Francisco, United States
| | - Ann De Maziere
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Cell Biology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Pekka Kujala
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Cell Biology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Suzanne van Dijk
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Cell Biology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Judith Klumperman
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Cell Biology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Tzu-Chiao Lu
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Hongjie Li
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Zijuan Lai
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, South San Francisco, United States
| | - Dewakar Sangaraju
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, South San Francisco, United States
| | - Heinrich Jasper
- Regenerative Medicine, Genentech, South San Francisco, United States
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27
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Tom A, Kumar NP, Kumar A, Saini P. Interactions between Leishmania parasite and sandfly: a review. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:6. [PMID: 38052752 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08043-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis transmission cycles are maintained and sustained in nature by the complex crosstalk of the Leishmania parasite, sandfly vector, and the mammalian hosts (human, as well as zoonotic reservoirs). Regardless of the vast research on human host-parasite interaction, there persists a substantial knowledge gap on the parasite's development and modulation in the vector component. This review focuses on some of the intriguing aspects of the Leishmania-sandfly interface, beginning with the uptake of the intracellular amastigotes from an infected host to the development of the parasite within the sandfly's alimentary canal, followed by the transmission of infective metacyclic stages to another potential host. Upon ingestion of the parasite, the sandfly hosts an intricate repertoire of immune barriers, either to evade the parasite or to ensure its homeostatic coexistence with the vector gut microbiome. Sandfly salivary polypeptides and Leishmania exosomes are co-egested with the parasite inoculum during the infected vector bite. This has been attributed to the modulation of the parasite infection and subsequent clinical manifestation in the host. While human host-based studies strive to develop effective therapeutics, a greater understanding of the vector-parasite-microbiome and human host interactions could help us to identify the targets and to develop strategies for effectively preventing the transmission of leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anns Tom
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (Field Station), Kottayam, Kerala, India
| | - N Pradeep Kumar
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (Field Station), Kottayam, Kerala, India
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- ICMR- Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India
| | - Prasanta Saini
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (Field Station), Kottayam, Kerala, India.
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28
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Mannino MC, Cassidy MB, Florez S, Rusan Z, Chakraborty S, Schoborg T. Mutations in abnormal spindle disrupt temporal transcription factor expression and trigger immune responses in the Drosophila brain. Genetics 2023; 225:iyad188. [PMID: 37831641 PMCID: PMC10697820 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The coordination of cellular behaviors during neurodevelopment is critical for determining the form, function, and size of the central nervous system (CNS). Mutations in the vertebrate Abnormal Spindle-Like, Microcephaly Associated (ASPM) gene and its Drosophila melanogaster ortholog abnormal spindle (asp) lead to microcephaly (MCPH), a reduction in overall brain size whose etiology remains poorly defined. Here, we provide the neurodevelopmental transcriptional landscape for a Drosophila model for autosomal recessive primary microcephaly-5 (MCPH5) and extend our findings into the functional realm to identify the key cellular mechanisms responsible for Asp-dependent brain growth and development. We identify multiple transcriptomic signatures, including new patterns of coexpressed genes in the developing CNS. Defects in optic lobe neurogenesis were detected in larval brains through downregulation of temporal transcription factors (tTFs) and Notch signaling targets, which correlated with a significant reduction in brain size and total cell numbers during the neurogenic window of development. We also found inflammation as a hallmark of asp mutant brains, detectable throughout every stage of CNS development, which also contributes to the brain size phenotype. Finally, we show that apoptosis is not a primary driver of the asp mutant brain phenotypes, further highlighting an intrinsic Asp-dependent neurogenesis promotion mechanism that is independent of cell death. Collectively, our results suggest that the etiology of the asp mutant brain phenotype is complex and that a comprehensive view of the cellular basis of the disorder requires an understanding of how multiple pathway inputs collectively determine tissue size and architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Mannino
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | | | - Steven Florez
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Zeid Rusan
- Personalis, Inc., Fremont, CA 94555, USA
| | - Shalini Chakraborty
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Todd Schoborg
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
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29
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Wang JB, Lu HL, Sheng H, St Leger RJ. A Drosophila melanogaster model shows that fast growing Metarhizium species are the deadliest despite eliciting a strong immune response. Virulence 2023; 14:2275493. [PMID: 37941391 PMCID: PMC10732690 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2275493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
We used Drosophila melanogaster to investigate how differences between Metarhizium species in growth rate and mechanisms of pathogenesis influence the outcome of infection. We found that the most rapid germinators and growers in vitro and on fly cuticle were the fastest killers, suggesting that pre-penetration competence is key to Metarhizium success. Virulent strains also induced the largest immune response, which did not depend on profuse growth within hosts as virulent toxin-producing strains only proliferated post-mortem while slow-killing strains that were specialized to other insects grew profusely pre-mortem. Metarhizium strains have apparently evolved resistance to widely distributed defenses such as the defensin Toll product drosomycin, but they were inhibited by Bomanins only found in Drosophila spp. Disrupting a gene (Dif), that mediates Toll immunity has little impact on the lethality of most Metarhizium strains (an exception being the early diverged M. frigidum and another insect pathogen Beauveria bassiana). However, disrupting the sensor of fungal proteases (Persephone) allowed rapid proliferation of strains within hosts (with the exception of M. album), and flies succumbed rapidly. Persephone also mediates gender differences in immune responses that determine whether male or female flies die sooner. We conclude that some strain differences in growth within hosts depend on immune-mediated interactions but intrinsic differences in pathogenic mechanisms are more important. Thus, Drosophila varies greatly in tolerance to different Metarhizium strains, in part because some of them produce toxins. Our results further develop D. melanogaster as a tractable model system for understanding insect-Metarhizium interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan B Wang
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Hsiao-Ling Lu
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Huiyu Sheng
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
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30
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Chen K, Lu S, Song J, Dou X, Wei X, Wang X, Liu X, Feng C. The selective regulation of immune responses by matrix metalloproteinase MMP14 in Ostrinia furnacalis. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:1622-1636. [PMID: 37209089 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are crucial for tissue remodeling and immune responses in insects, yet it remains unclear how MMPs affect the various immune processes against pathogenic infections and whether the responses vary among insects. In this study, we used the lepidopteran pest Ostrinia furnacalis larvae to address these questions by examining the changes of immune-related gene expression and antimicrobial activity after the knockdown of MMP14 and bacterial infections. We identified MMP14 in O. furnacalis using the rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends (RACE), and found that it was conserved and belonged to the MMP1 subfamily. Our functional investigations revealed that MMP14 is an infection-responsive gene, and its knockdown reduces phenoloxidase (PO) activity and Cecropin expression, while the expressions of Lysozyme, Attacin, Gloverin, and Moricin are enhanced after MMP14 knockdown. Further PO and lysozyme activity determinations showed consistent results with gene expression of these immune-related genes. Finally, the knockdown of MMP14 decreased larvae survival to bacterial infections. Taken together, our data indicate that MMP14 selectively regulates the immune responses, and is required to defend against bacterial infections in O. furnacalis larvae. Conserved MMPs may serve as a potential target for pest control using a combination of double-stranded RNA and bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangkang Chen
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shiqi Lu
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiahui Song
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoyi Dou
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Xiangyi Wei
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinyan Wang
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Congjing Feng
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
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31
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Bazzi W, Monticelli S, Delaporte C, Riet C, Giangrande A, Cattenoz PB. Gcm counteracts Toll-induced inflammation and impacts hemocyte number through cholinergic signaling. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1293766. [PMID: 38035083 PMCID: PMC10684909 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1293766] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Hemocytes, the myeloid-like immune cells of Drosophila, fulfill a variety of functions that are not completely understood, ranging from phagocytosis to transduction of inflammatory signals. We here show that downregulating the hemocyte-specific Glial cell deficient/Glial cell missing (Glide/Gcm) transcription factor enhances the inflammatory response to the constitutive activation of the Toll pathway. This correlates with lower levels of glutathione S-transferase, suggesting an implication of Glide/Gcm in reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling and calling for a widespread anti-inflammatory potential of Glide/Gcm. In addition, our data reveal the expression of acetylcholine receptors in hemocytes and that Toll activation affects their expressions, disclosing a novel aspect of the inflammatory response mediated by neurotransmitters. Finally, we provide evidence for acetylcholine receptor nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 6 (nAchRalpha6) regulating hemocyte proliferation in a cell autonomous fashion and for non-cell autonomous cholinergic signaling regulating the number of hemocytes. Altogether, this study provides new insights on the molecular pathways involved in the inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wael Bazzi
- Université de Strasbourg, IGBMC UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR 7104, Illkirch, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- IGBMC, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Sara Monticelli
- Université de Strasbourg, IGBMC UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR 7104, Illkirch, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- IGBMC, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Claude Delaporte
- Université de Strasbourg, IGBMC UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR 7104, Illkirch, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- IGBMC, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Céline Riet
- Université de Strasbourg, IGBMC UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR 7104, Illkirch, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- IGBMC, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Angela Giangrande
- Université de Strasbourg, IGBMC UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR 7104, Illkirch, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- IGBMC, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Pierre B. Cattenoz
- Université de Strasbourg, IGBMC UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR 7104, Illkirch, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- IGBMC, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
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Telleria EL, Tinoco-Nunes B, Forrest DM, Di-Blasi T, Leštinová T, Chang KP, Volf P, Pitaluga AN, Traub-Csekö YM. Evidence of a conserved mammalian immunosuppression mechanism in Lutzomyia longipalpis upon infection with Leishmania. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1162596. [PMID: 38022562 PMCID: PMC10652419 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1162596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) belonging to the Lutzomyia genus transmit Leishmania infantum parasites. To understand the complex interaction between the vector and the parasite, we have been investigating the sand fly immune responses during the Leishmania infection. Our previous studies showed that genes involved in the IMD, Toll, and Jak-STAT immunity pathways are regulated upon Leishmania and bacterial challenges. Nevertheless, the parasite can thrive in the vectors' gut, indicating the existence of mechanisms capable of modulating the vector defenses, as was already seen in mammalian Leishmania infections. Methods results and discussion In this study, we investigated the expression of Lutzomyia longipalpis genes involved in regulating the Toll pathway under parasitic infection. Leishmania infantum infection upregulated the expression of two L. longipalpis genes coding for the putative repressors cactus and protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP. These findings suggest that the parasite can modulate the vectors' immune response. In mammalian infections, the Leishmania surface glycoprotein GP63 is one of the inducers of host immune depression, and one of the known effectors is SHP. In L. longipalpis we found a similar effect: a genetically modified strain of Leishmania amazonensis over-expressing the metalloprotease GP63 induced a higher expression of the sand fly SHP indicating that the L. longipalpis SHP and parasite GP63 increased expressions are connected. Immuno-stained microscopy of L. longipalpis LL5 embryonic cells cultured with Leishmania strains or parasite conditioned medium showed cells internalization of parasite GP63. A similar internalization of GP63 was observed in the sand fly gut tissue after feeding on parasites, parasite exosomes, or parasite conditioned medium, indicating that GP63 can travel through cells in vitro or in vivo. When the sand fly SHP gene was silenced by RNAi and females infected by L. infantum, parasite loads decreased in the early phase of infection as expected, although no significant differences were seen in late infections of the stomodeal valve. Conclusions Our findings show the possible role of a pathway repressor involved in regulating the L. longipalpis immune response during Leishmania infections inside the insect. In addition, they point out a conserved immunosuppressive effect of GP63 between mammals and sand flies in the early stage of parasite infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erich Loza Telleria
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Bruno Tinoco-Nunes
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - David M. Forrest
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Di-Blasi
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Tereza Leštinová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Kwang Poo Chang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - André Nóbrega Pitaluga
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Yara Maria Traub-Csekö
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Lažetić V, Batachari LE, Russell AB, Troemel ER. Similarities in the induction of the intracellular pathogen response in Caenorhabditis elegans and the type I interferon response in mammals. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2300097. [PMID: 37667453 PMCID: PMC10694843 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Although the type-I interferon (IFN-I) response is considered vertebrate-specific, recent findings about the Intracellular Pathogen Response (IPR) in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans indicate that there are similarities between these two transcriptional immunological programs. The IPR is induced during infection with natural intracellular fungal and viral pathogens of the intestine and promotes resistance against these pathogens. Similarly, the IFN-I response is induced by viruses and other intracellular pathogens and promotes resistance against infection. Whether the IPR and the IFN-I response evolved in a divergent or convergent manner is an unanswered and exciting question, which could be addressed by further studies of immunity against intracellular pathogens in C. elegans and other simple host organisms. Here we highlight similar roles played by RIG-I-like receptors, purine metabolism enzymes, proteotoxic stressors, and transcription factors to induce the IPR and IFN-I response, as well as the similar consequences of these defense programs on organismal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Lažetić
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Biological SciencesThe George Washington UniversityWashingtonDCUSA
| | - Lakshmi E. Batachari
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Alistair B. Russell
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Emily R. Troemel
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
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Darby AM, Lazzaro BP. Interactions between innate immunity and insulin signaling affect resistance to infection in insects. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1276357. [PMID: 37915572 PMCID: PMC10616485 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1276357] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
An active immune response is energetically demanding and requires reallocation of nutrients to support resistance to and tolerance of infection. Insulin signaling is a critical global regulator of metabolism and whole-body homeostasis in response to nutrient availability and energetic needs, including those required for mobilization of energy in support of the immune system. In this review, we share findings that demonstrate interactions between innate immune activity and insulin signaling primarily in the insect model Drosophila melanogaster as well as other insects like Bombyx mori and Anopheles mosquitos. These studies indicate that insulin signaling and innate immune activation have reciprocal effects on each other, but that those effects vary depending on the type of pathogen, route of infection, and nutritional status of the host. Future research will be required to further understand the detailed mechanisms by which innate immunity and insulin signaling activity impact each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M. Darby
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Brian P. Lazzaro
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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35
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Grandy S, Scur M, Dolan K, Nickerson R, Cheng Z. Using model systems to unravel host-Pseudomonas aeruginosa interactions. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:1765-1784. [PMID: 37290773 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Using model systems in infection biology has led to the discoveries of many pathogen-encoded virulence factors and critical host immune factors to fight pathogenic infections. Studies of the remarkable Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium that infects and causes disease in hosts as divergent as humans and plants afford unique opportunities to shed new light on virulence strategies and host defence mechanisms. One of the rationales for using model systems as a discovery tool to characterise bacterial factors driving human infection outcomes is that many P. aeruginosa virulence factors are required for pathogenesis in diverse different hosts. On the other side, many host signalling components, such as the evolutionarily conserved mitogen-activated protein kinases, are involved in immune signalling in a diverse range of hosts. Some model organisms that have less complex immune systems also allow dissection of the direct impacts of innate immunity on host defence without the interference of adaptive immunity. In this review, we start with discussing the occurrence of P. aeruginosa in the environment and the ability of this bacterium to cause disease in various hosts as a natural opportunistic pathogen. We then summarise the use of some model systems to study host defence and P. aeruginosa virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannen Grandy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Michal Scur
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Kathleen Dolan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Rhea Nickerson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Zhenyu Cheng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Jia R, Zheng L, Zhang L, Huang X, Ren Q. mARC dependent NO synthesis activates CanA-Relish-AMPs signal pathway in Eriocheir sinensis during nitrite stress. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 141:109076. [PMID: 37726083 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.109076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
As a signal molecule, nitric oxide (NO) can induce the production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in invertebrate innate immunity and is produced through NO synthase (NOS) oxidation or nitrite reduction. Although the role of NOS-derived NO has been extensively studied, studies on nitrite-dependent NO are relatively scarce. In this study, we identified a mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component (mARC), a kind of nitrite reductase, in Eriocheir sinensis. Under nitrite stress, the expression level of EsmARC in the intestine of E. sinensis increased, and the production of NO increased. Furthermore, EsmARC knockdown resulted in a remarkable decrease in NO concentration. These findings indicate that nitrite stress induces the expression of mARC, which promotes the production of NO in E. sinensis. In addition, the expression levels of AMPs in the intestine were upregulated under nitrite stress. Moreover, EsmARC knockdown resulted in the downregulated expression of AMPs. EsmARC plays a positive role in the synthesis of AMPs under nitrite stress. Calcineurin subunit A (CanA) is a serine/threonine protein phosphatase involved in the process by which NO regulates the expression of AMPs. EsCanA knockdown significantly inhibited the transcription of EsRelish and the expression of AMPs under nitrite stress, and EsRelish silencing resulted in the downregulated expression levels of AMPs under nitrite stress. These results indicate that nitrite stress activates the CanA-Relish-AMP pathway in E. sinensis. In summary, mARC-dependent NO synthesis activates the CanA-Relish-AMP signal pathway in E. sinensis during nitrite stress. This research provides novel insights into the relationship between nitrite stress and NO-dependent immune signal activation in crustaceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Jia
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animals Breeding and Green Efficient Aquacultural Technology, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Liangmin Zheng
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animals Breeding and Green Efficient Aquacultural Technology, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Lihua Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animals Breeding and Green Efficient Aquacultural Technology, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animals Breeding and Green Efficient Aquacultural Technology, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Qian Ren
- School of Marine Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, Jiangsu Province, China.
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Wang F, Zhao F, Tan A, Deng Y, Wang L, Gong H, Lai Y, Huang Z, Li F. Integrated analysis of a miRNA-mRNA network related to immunity and autophagy in Macrobrachium rosenbergii infected with Aeromonas hydrophila. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 141:109052. [PMID: 37678481 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.109052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of RNAs that regulate gene expression in the post-transcriptionally. miRNAs can regulate numerous processes, such as the immune response, due to their dynamic expression patterns. The giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii is a major freshwater aquaculture prawn that is attacked by various bacteria, including Aeromonas hydrophila. For this study, we performed an analysis of the miRNA and mRNA transcriptome analysis of M. rosenbergii which was infected with A. hydrophila. We identified 56 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and 1542 differentially expressed mRNAs. Furthermore, an integrated analysis of miRNA-mRNA expression led to the identification of 729 differentially predicted target genes (DETGs) of the DEMs. Multiple functional categories related to immunity, apoptosis, and autophagy were found to be enriched in the DETGs. During the infection of M. rosenbergii by A. hydrophila, an elaborate regulatory network involving Toll and immune deficiency (IMD) signaling, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, lysosome, and cell apoptosis was formed by a complex interplay of 40 crucial DEMs and 22 DETGs, all associated with the immune and autophagy pathway. The findings suggest that infection with A. hydrophila triggers intricate responses in both miRNA and mRNA, significantly impacting immune and autophagy processes in M. rosenbergii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immunology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China; Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Fei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immunology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China.
| | - Aiping Tan
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immunology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China
| | - Yuting Deng
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immunology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Zhaoqing Branch Center of Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, Zhaoqing, 526238, China
| | - Hua Gong
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immunology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China
| | - Yingliao Lai
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immunology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China
| | - Zhibin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immunology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China
| | - Fuhua Li
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
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38
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Pandey A, Galeone A, Han SY, Story BA, Consonni G, Mueller WF, Steinmetz LM, Vaccari T, Jafar-Nejad H. Gut barrier defects, intestinal immune hyperactivation and enhanced lipid catabolism drive lethality in NGLY1-deficient Drosophila. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5667. [PMID: 37704604 PMCID: PMC10499810 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40910-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Intestinal barrier dysfunction leads to inflammation and associated metabolic changes. However, the relative impact of gut bacteria versus non-bacterial insults on animal health in the context of barrier dysfunction is not well understood. Here, we establish that loss of Drosophila N-glycanase 1 (Pngl) in a specific intestinal cell type leads to gut barrier defects, causing starvation and JNK overactivation. These abnormalities, along with loss of Pngl in enterocytes and fat body, result in Foxo overactivation, leading to hyperactive innate immune response and lipid catabolism and thereby contributing to lethality. Germ-free rearing of Pngl mutants rescued their developmental delay but not lethality. However, raising Pngl mutants on isocaloric, fat-rich diets partially rescued lethality. Our data indicate that Pngl functions in Drosophila larvae to establish the gut barrier, and that the lethality caused by loss of Pngl is primarily mediated through non-bacterial induction of immune and metabolic abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashutosh Pandey
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA.
| | - Antonio Galeone
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), Lecce, Italy
| | - Seung Yeop Han
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA
| | - Benjamin A Story
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gaia Consonni
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - William F Mueller
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lars M Steinmetz
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Thomas Vaccari
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Hamed Jafar-Nejad
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA.
- Genetics & Genomic Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA.
- Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA.
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Kuyateh O, Obbard DJ. Viruses in Laboratory Drosophila and Their Impact on Host Gene Expression. Viruses 2023; 15:1849. [PMID: 37766256 PMCID: PMC10537266 DOI: 10.3390/v15091849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster has one of the best characterized antiviral immune responses among invertebrates. However, relatively few easily transmitted natural virus isolates are available, and so many Drosophila experiments have been performed using artificial infection routes and artificial host-virus combinations. These may not reflect natural infections, especially for subtle phenotypes such as gene expression. Here, to explore the laboratory virus community and to better understand how natural virus infections induce changes in gene expression, we have analysed seven publicly available D. melanogaster transcriptomic sequencing datasets that were originally sequenced for projects unrelated to virus infection. We have found ten known viruses-including five that have not been experimentally isolated-but no previously unknown viruses. Our analysis of host gene expression revealed that numerous genes were differentially expressed in flies that were naturally infected with a virus. For example, flies infected with nora virus showed patterns of gene expression consistent with intestinal vacuolization and possible host repair via the upd3 JAK/STAT pathway. We also found marked sex differences in virus-induced differential gene expression. Our results show that natural virus infection in laboratory Drosophila does indeed induce detectable changes in gene expression, suggesting that this may form an important background condition for experimental studies in the laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oumie Kuyateh
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK;
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Darren J. Obbard
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK;
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40
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Cattabriga G, Giordani G, Gargiulo G, Cavaliere V. Effect of aminergic signaling on the humoral innate immunity response of Drosophila. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1249205. [PMID: 37693001 PMCID: PMC10483126 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1249205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Biogenic amines are crucial signaling molecules that modulate various physiological life functions both in vertebrates and invertebrates. In humans, these neurotransmitters influence the innate and adaptive immunity systems. In this work, we analyzed whether the aminergic neurotransmission of dopamine, serotonin, and octopamine could have an impact on the humoral innate immune response of Drosophila melanogaster. This is a powerful model system widely used to uncover the insect innate immunity mechanisms which are also conserved in mammals. We found that the neurotransmission of all these amines positively modulates the Toll-responsive antimicrobial peptide (AMP) drosomycin (drs) gene in adult flies infected with the Micrococcus luteus bacterium. Indeed, we showed that either blocking the neurotransmission in their specific aminergic neurons by expressing shibirets (Shits) or silencing the vesicular monoamine transporter gene (dVMAT) by RNAi caused a significantly reduced expression of the Toll-responsive drs gene. However, upon M. luteus infection, the block of aminergic transmission did not alter the expression of AMP attacin genes responding to the immune deficiency (Imd) and Toll pathways. Overall, our results not only reveal a neuroimmune function for biogenic amines in humoral immunity but also further highlight the complexity of the network controlling AMP gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Cattabriga
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgia Giordani
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gargiulo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valeria Cavaliere
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Interuniversity Center for Studies on Bioinspired Agro-Environmental Technology (BAT Center), University of Napoli “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
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Sato DX, Matsuda Y, Usio N, Funayama R, Nakayama K, Makino T. Genomic adaptive potential to cold environments in the invasive red swamp crayfish. iScience 2023; 26:107267. [PMID: 37520695 PMCID: PMC10371857 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological invasion refers to the introduction, spread, and establishment of non-native species in a novel habitat. The ways in which invasive species successfully colonize new and different environments remain a fundamental topic of research in ecology and evolutionary biology. Here, we investigated the genomic and transcriptomic characteristics of the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), a widespread invader in freshwater environments. Targeting a recently colonized population in Sapporo, Japan that appears to have acquired a high degree of cold tolerance, RNA-seq analysis revealed differentially expressed genes in response to cold exposure, and those involved in protease inhibitors and cuticle development were considered top candidates. We also found remarkable duplications for these gene families during evolution and their concerted expression patterns, suggesting functional amplification against low temperatures. Our study thus provides clues to the unique genetic characteristics of P. clarkii, possibly related to cold adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki X. Sato
- Institute for Advanced Academic Research, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
- Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Yuki Matsuda
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Nisikawa Usio
- Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Ryo Funayama
- Department of Cell Proliferation, United Center for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Keiko Nakayama
- Department of Cell Proliferation, United Center for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Takashi Makino
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
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Cabrera K, Hoard DS, Gibson O, Martinez DI, Wunderlich Z. Drosophila immune priming to Enterococcus faecalis relies on immune tolerance rather than resistance. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011567. [PMID: 37566589 PMCID: PMC10446173 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Innate immune priming increases an organism's survival of a second infection after an initial, non-lethal infection. We used Drosophila melanogaster and an insect-derived strain of Enterococcus faecalis to study transcriptional control of priming. In contrast to other pathogens, the enhanced survival in primed animals does not correlate with decreased E. faecalis load. Further analysis shows that primed organisms tolerate, rather than resist infection. Using RNA-seq of immune tissues, we found many genes were upregulated in only primed flies, suggesting a distinct transcriptional program in response to initial and secondary infections. In contrast, few genes continuously express throughout the experiment or more efficiently re-activate upon reinfection. Priming experiments in immune deficient mutants revealed Imd is largely dispensable for responding to a single infection but needed to fully prime. Together, this indicates the fly's innate immune response is plastic-differing in immune strategy, transcriptional program, and pathway use depending on infection history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Cabrera
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Duncan S. Hoard
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Olivia Gibson
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Daniel I. Martinez
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Zeba Wunderlich
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Aida A, Yuswan K, Kawai Y, Hasegawa K, Nakajima YI, Kuranaga E. Drosophila innate immunity suppresses the survival of xenografted mammalian tumor cells. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12334. [PMID: 37518191 PMCID: PMC10387472 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38489-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) is an emerging tool established in immunodeficient vertebrate models to assess individualized treatments for cancer patients. Current xenograft models are deficient in adaptive immune systems. However, the precise role of the innate immunity in the xenograft models is unknown. With conserved signaling pathways and established genetic tools, Drosophila has contributed to the understanding of the mechanism of tumor growth as well as tumor-host interactions for decades, making it a promising candidate model for studying whether or not the hosts' innate immunity can accommodate transplanted human tumor cells. Here we show initial observations that assess the behavior and impact of several human tumor cell lines when transplanted into Drosophila. We found that some injected cell lines persisted for a longer duration and reduced hosts' lifespan. In particular, the human lung cancer cell line A549 were observed adjacent to the fly host tissues. We examined two factors that affect the survivability of cancer cells: (1) the optimal temperature of each cell line and (2) the innate immunity of Drosophila hosts. Especially, transplanted human tumor cells survived longer in immunodeficient flies, suggesting that the host innate immune system impedes the growth of xenografted cells. Our attempts for xenografting fly models thus provide necessary steps to overcome for establishing PDX cancer models using invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayaka Aida
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Kevin Yuswan
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Yoichi Kawai
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Keita Hasegawa
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Yu-Ichiro Nakajima
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
- Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Erina Kuranaga
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8304, Japan.
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Hixson B, Huot L, Morejon B, Yang X, Nagy P, Michel K, Buchon N. The transcriptional response in mosquitoes distinguishes between fungi and bacteria but not Gram types. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.26.550663. [PMID: 37546902 PMCID: PMC10402080 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.26.550663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are prolific vectors of human pathogens; a clear and accurate understanding of the organization of their antimicrobial defenses is crucial for informing the development of transmission control strategies. The canonical infection response in insects, as described in the insect model Drosophila melanogaster , is pathogen type-dependent, with distinct stereotypical responses to Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria/fungi mediated by the activation of the Imd and Toll pathways, respectively. To determine whether this pathogen-specific discrimination is shared by mosquitoes, we used RNAseq to capture the genome-wide transcriptional response of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae ( s.l. ) to systemic infection with Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi, as well as challenge with heat-killed Gram-negative, Gram-positive, and fungal pathogens. From the resulting data, we found that Ae. aegypti and An. gambiae both mount a core response to all categories of infection, and this response is highly conserved between the two species with respect to both function and orthology. When we compared the transcriptomes of mosquitoes infected with different types of bacteria, we observed that the intensity of the transcriptional response was correlated with both the virulence and growth rate of the infecting pathogen. Exhaustive comparisons of the transcriptomes of Gram-negative-challenged versus Gram-positive-challenged mosquitoes yielded no difference in either species. In Ae. aegypti , however, we identified transcriptional signatures specific to bacterial infection and to fungal infection. The bacterial infection response was dominated by the expression of defensins and cecropins, while the fungal infection response included the disproportionate upregulation of an uncharacterized family of glycine-rich proteins. These signatures were also observed in Ae. aegypti challenged with heat-killed bacteria and fungi, indicating that this species can discriminate between molecular patterns that are specific to bacteria and to fungi.
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Zhan F, Zhou S, Shi F, Li Q, Lin L, Qin Z. Transcriptome analysis of Macrobrachium rosenbergii hemocytes in response to Staphylococcus aureus infection. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2023:108927. [PMID: 37406892 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
The aquaculture industry has suffered significant financial losses as a result of disease outbreaks. In particular, disease outbreaks have become a major problem that can seriously affect the sustainable development of the Macrobrachium rosenbergii aquaculture industry. It is crucial to determine the defense mechanism of the host after pathogenic invasion in order to provide effective defense measures after disease outbreaks. Shrimp, like other invertebrates, primarily depend on their innate immune systems to defend against pathogens, and recognize and resist pathogens through humoral and cellular immune responses. In this investigation, we used RNA-seq technology to investigate the transcriptome of hemocytes from M. rosenbergii induced by Staphylococcus aureus. Our main targets were immune pathways and genes related to innate immunity. RNA-seq identified 209,069 and 204,775 unigenes in the control and experimental groups, respectively. In addition, we identified 547 and 1734 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) following S. aureus challenge after 6 and 12 h (h), respectively. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the DEGs were significantly enriched in several biological signalling pathways, including NOD-like receptor, PI3K-Akt, Toll and Imd, IL-17, TGF-beta, RIG-I-like receptor, cAMP, apoptosis, and C-type lectin receptor. Sixteen DEGs were chosen at random for qPCR verification; these results concurred with those from sequencing. Our findings revealed that immune-related genes play an important role in antibacterial activities and have specific functions for gram-positive bacteria. These results provide more data for the prevention of M. rosenbergii diseases and offer a basis for the better prevention of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanbin Zhan
- Guangdong Provincial Water Environment and Aquatic Products Security Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Waterfowl Breeding, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510222, China
| | - Shichun Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Water Environment and Aquatic Products Security Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Waterfowl Breeding, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510222, China
| | - Fei Shi
- Guangdong Provincial Water Environment and Aquatic Products Security Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Waterfowl Breeding, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510222, China
| | - Qingqing Li
- Guangdong Provincial Water Environment and Aquatic Products Security Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Waterfowl Breeding, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510222, China
| | - Li Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Water Environment and Aquatic Products Security Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Waterfowl Breeding, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510222, China.
| | - Zhendong Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Water Environment and Aquatic Products Security Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Waterfowl Breeding, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510222, China.
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Wrońska AK, Kaczmarek A, Boguś MI, Kuna A. Lipids as a key element of insect defense systems. Front Genet 2023; 14:1183659. [PMID: 37359377 PMCID: PMC10289264 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1183659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship between insect pathogenic fungi and their insect hosts is a classic example of a co-evolutionary arms race between pathogen and target host: parasites evolve towards mechanisms that increase their advantage over the host, and the host increasingly strengthens its defenses. The present review summarizes the literature data describing the direct and indirect role of lipids as an important defense mechanism during fungal infection. Insect defense mechanisms comprise anatomical and physiological barriers, and cellular and humoral response mechanisms. The entomopathogenic fungi have the unique ability to digest the insect cuticle by producing hydrolytic enzymes with chitin-, lipo- and proteolytic activity; besides the oral tract, cuticle pays the way for fungal entry within the host. The key factor in insect resistance to fungal infection is the presence of certain types of lipids (free fatty acids, waxes or hydrocarbons) which can promote or inhibit fungal attachment to cuticle, and might also have antifungal activity. Lipids are considered as an important source of energy, and as triglycerides are stored in the fat body, a structure analogous to the liver and adipose tissue in vertebrates. In addition, the fat body plays a key role in innate humoral immunity by producing a range of bactericidal proteins and polypeptides, one of which is lysozyme. Energy derived from lipid metabolism is used by hemocytes to migrate to the site of fungal infection, and for phagocytosis, nodulation and encapsulation. One polyunsaturated fatty acid, arachidonic acid, is used in the synthesis of eicosanoids, which play several crucial roles in insect physiology and immunology. Apolipoprotein III is important compound with antifungal activity, which can modulate insect cellular response and is considered as important signal molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Katarzyna Wrońska
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Science, Warszawa, Poland
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agata Kaczmarek
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Science, Warszawa, Poland
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mieczysława Irena Boguś
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Science, Warszawa, Poland
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Kuna
- Independent Researcher, Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract
Endocrine signaling networks control diverse biological processes and life history traits across metazoans. In both invertebrate and vertebrate taxa, steroid hormones regulate immune system function in response to intrinsic and environmental stimuli, such as microbial infection. The mechanisms of this endocrine-immune regulation are complex and constitute an ongoing research endeavor facilitated by genetically tractable animal models. The 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) is the major steroid hormone in arthropods, primarily studied for its essential role in mediating developmental transitions and metamorphosis; 20E also modulates innate immunity in a variety of insect taxa. This review provides an overview of our current understanding of 20E-mediated innate immune responses. The prevalence of correlations between 20E-driven developmental transitions and innate immune activation are summarized across a range of holometabolous insects. Subsequent discussion focuses on studies conducted using the extensive genetic resources available in Drosophila that have begun to reveal the mechanisms underlying 20E regulation of immunity in the contexts of both development and bacterial infection. Lastly, I propose directions for future research into 20E regulation of immunity that will advance our knowledge of how interactive endocrine networks coordinate animals' physiological responses to environmental microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A. Keith
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
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Ribeiro JM, Hartmann D, Bartošová-Sojková P, Debat H, Moos M, Šimek P, Fara J, Palus M, Kučera M, Hajdušek O, Sojka D, Kopáček P, Perner J. Blood-feeding adaptations and virome assessment of the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae guided by RNA-seq. Commun Biol 2023; 6:517. [PMID: 37179447 PMCID: PMC10183022 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04907-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Dermanyssus gallinae is a blood-feeding mite that parasitises wild birds and farmed poultry. Its remarkably swift processing of blood, together with the capacity to blood-feed during most developmental stages, makes this mite a highly debilitating pest. To identify specific adaptations to digestion of a haemoglobin-rich diet, we constructed and compared transcriptomes from starved and blood-fed stages of the parasite and identified midgut-enriched transcripts. We noted that midgut transcripts encoding cysteine proteases were upregulated with a blood meal. Mapping the full proteolytic apparatus, we noted a reduction in the suite of cysteine proteases, missing homologues for Cathepsin B and C. We have further identified and phylogenetically analysed three distinct transcripts encoding vitellogenins that facilitate the reproductive capacity of the mites. We also fully mapped transcripts for haem biosynthesis and the ferritin-based system of iron storage and inter-tissue trafficking. Additionally, we identified transcripts encoding proteins implicated in immune signalling (Toll and IMD pathways) and activity (defensins and thioester-containing proteins), RNAi, and ion channelling (with targets for commercial acaricides such as Fluralaner, Fipronil, and Ivermectin). Viral sequences were filtered from the Illumina reads and we described, in part, the RNA-virome of D. gallinae with identification of a novel virus, Red mite quaranjavirus 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - David Hartmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Bartošová-Sojková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Humberto Debat
- Instituto de Patología Vegetal, Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (IPAVE-CIAP-INTA), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Martin Moos
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Šimek
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Fara
- International Poultry Testing Station Ústrašice, Ústrašice, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Palus
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Matěj Kučera
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Hajdušek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Sojka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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Makwana P, Rahul K, Ito K, Subhadra B. Diversity of Antimicrobial Peptides in Silkworm. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13051161. [PMID: 37240807 DOI: 10.3390/life13051161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a phenomenon that the present-day world is witnessing that poses a serious threat to global health. The decline in the development of novel therapeutics over the last couple of decades has exacerbated the situation further. In this scenario, the pursuit of new alternative therapeutics to commonly used antibiotics has gained predominance amongst researchers across the world. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from natural sources have drawn significant interest in the recent years as promising pharmacological substitutes over the conventional antibiotics. The most notable advantage of AMPs is that microorganisms cannot develop resistance to them. Insects represent one of the potential sources of AMPs, which are synthesized as part of an innate immune defence against invading pathogens. AMPs from different insects have been extensively studied, and silkworm is one of them. Diverse classes of AMPs (including attacins, cecropins, defensins, enbocins, gloverins, lebocins and moricins) were identified from silkworm that exhibit antimicrobial property against bacteria, fungi and viruses, indicating their potential therapeutic benefits. This review briefs about the immune responses of silkworm to invading pathogens, the isolation of AMPs from silkworms, AMPs reported in silkworms and their activity against various microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Makwana
- Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Berhampore, Murshidabad 742101, West Bengal, India
| | - Kamidi Rahul
- Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Berhampore, Murshidabad 742101, West Bengal, India
| | - Katsuhiko Ito
- Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Department of Science of Biological Production, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi 183-8509, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Bindu Subhadra
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Long Island University, Brookville, New York, NY 11548, USA
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Vomáčková Kykalová B, Sassù F, Volf P, Telleria EL. RNAi-mediated gene silencing of Phlebotomus papatasi defensins favors Leishmania major infection. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1182141. [PMID: 37265840 PMCID: PMC10230645 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1182141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Production of different antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is one of the insect's prominent defense strategies, regulated mainly by Toll and immune deficiency (IMD) humoral pathways. Here we focused mainly on two AMPs of Phlebotomus papatasi, vector of Leishmania major parasites, their association with the relish transcription factor and the effective participation on Leishmania infection. Methods and results: We further characterized the role of previously described gut-specific P. papatasi defensin (PpDef1) and identified the second defensin (PpDef2) expressed in various sand fly tissues. Using the RNAi-mediated gene silencing, we report that the silencing of PpDef1 gene or simultaneous silencing of both defensin genes (PpDef1 and PpDef2) resulted in increased parasite levels in the sand fly (detectable by PCR) and higher sand fly mortality. In addition, we knocked down relish, the sole transcription factor of the IMD pathway, to evaluate the association of the IMD pathway with AMPs expression in P. papatasi. We demonstrated that the relish gene knockdown reduced the expression of PpDef2 and attacin, another AMP abundantly expressed in the sand fly body. Conclusions: Altogether, our experiments show the importance of defensins in the sand fly response toward L. major and the role of the IMD pathway in regulating AMPs in P. papatasi.
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