Transcriptomic Analyses of Secreted Proteins From the Salivary Glands of Wheat Midge Larvae

Exploring the contribution of the salivary gland and midgut to digestion in the swede midge (Contarinia nasturtii) through a genomics-guided approach

The larvae of Contarinia nasturtii (Kieffer) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), the swede midge, targets the meristem of brassica crops where they induce the formation of galls and disrupt seed and vegetable production. Previously, we examined the salivary gland transcriptome of newly-hatched first instar larvae as they penetrated the host and initiated gall formation. Here we examine the salivary gland and midgut transcriptome of third instar larvae and provide evidence for cooperative nutrient acquisition beginning with secretion of enzymes and feeding facilitators followed by gastrointestinal digestion. Sucrose, presumably obtained from the phloem, appeared to be a major nutrient source as several α-glucosidases (sucrases, maltases) and β-fructofuranosidases (invertases) were identified. Genes encoding β-fructofuranosidases/invertases were among the most highly expressed in both tissues and represented two distinct gene families that may have originated via horizontal gene transfer from bacteria. The importance of the phloem as a nutrient source is underscored by the expression of genes encoding regucalcin and ARMET (arginine-rich mutated in early stages of tumor) which interfere with calcium signalling and prevent sieve tube occlusion. Lipids, proteins, and starch appear to serve as a secondary nutrient sources. Genes encoding enzymes involved in the detoxification of glucosinolates (myrosinases, arylsulfatases, and glutathione-S-transferases) were expressed indicative of Brassicaceae host specialization. The midgut expressed simple peritrophins and mucins typical of those found in Type II peritrophic matrices, the first such description for a gall midge.

Characterization of the swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii, first instar larval salivary gland transcriptome

Proteins in saliva of gall-forming insect larvae govern insect-host plant interactions. Contarinia nasturtii, the swede midge, is a pest of brassicaceous vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli) and canola. We examined the salivary gland (SG) transcriptome of first instar larvae reared on Brassica napus and catalogued genes encoding secreted proteins that may contribute to the initial stages of larval establishment, the synthesis of plant growth hormones, extra-oral digestion and evasion of host defenses. A significant portion of the secreted proteins with unknown functions were unique to C. nasturtii and were often members of larger gene families organized in genomic clusters with conservation patterns suggesting that they are undergoing selection.

A chromosome-level genome assembly of the orange wheat blossom midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana Géhin (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) provides insights into the evolution of a detoxification system

The orange wheat blossom midge Sitodiplosis mosellana Géhin (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), an economically important pest, has caused serious yield losses in most wheat-growing areas worldwide in the past half-century. A high-quality chromosome-level genome for S. mosellana was assembled using PacBio long read, Illumina short read, and Hi-C sequencing technologies. The final genome assembly was 180.69 Mb, with contig and scaffold N50 sizes of 998.71 kb and 44.56 Mb, respectively. Hi-C scaffolding reliably anchored 4 pseudochromosomes, accounting for 99.67% of the assembled genome. In total, 12,269 protein-coding genes were predicted, of which 91% were functionally annotated. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that S. mosellana and its close relative, the swede midge Contarinia nasturtii, diverged about 32.7 MYA. The S. mosellana genome showed high chromosomal synteny with the genome of Drosophila melanogaster and Anopheles gambiae. The key gene families involved in the detoxification of plant secondary chemistry were analyzed. The high-quality S. mosellana genome data will provide an invaluable resource for research in a broad range of areas, including the biology, ecology, genetics, and evolution of midges, as well as insect–plant interactions and coevolution.

Structural and Nutritional Peculiarities Related to Lifespan Differences on Four Lopesia Induced Bivalve-Shaped Galls on the Single Super-Host Mimosa gemmulata

Super-host plants are elegant models to evaluate the peculiarities of gall structural and nutritional profiles due to the stimuli of distinct gall inducers in temporal and spatial perspectives. Galls induced by congeneric insects, Lopesia spp. (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on the same host plant, Mimosa gemmulata Barneby (Fabaceae) were analyzed to estimate if variations of 1 or 2 months in gall lifespans may result in differences over the accumulation of nutritional resources, and their compartmentalization both in cell walls and protoplasm. Mimosa gemmulata hosts four Lopesia-induced galls: the lenticular bivalve-shaped gall (LG) with a 2-month life cycle, the brown lanceolate bivalve-shaped gall (BLG) and the green lanceolate bivalve-shaped gall (GLG) with 3 month-life cycles, and the globoid bivalve-shaped gall (GG) with a 4 month-life cycle. The comparisons among the four Lopesia galls, using anatomical, histometric, histochemical, and immunocytochemical tools, have demonstrated that the longest lifespan of the GG related to its highest increment in structural and nutritional traits compared with the LG, GLG, and BLG. The differences among the tissue stratification and cell wall thickness of the galls with the 2-month and the 3-month lifespans were subtle. However, the GG had thicker cell walls and higher stratification of the common storage tissue, schlerenchymatic layers and typical nutritive tissue than the other three gall morphospecies. The higher tissue thickness of the GG was followed by the formation of a bidirectional gradient of carbohydrates in the protoplasm, and the detection of xyloglucans in cell walls. Current data supported the presumption that the longest the lifespan, the highest the impact over the structural and nutritional metabolism of the Lopesia galls associated to M. gemmulata.

Gall-Inducing Parasites: Convergent and Conserved Strategies of Plant Manipulation by Insects and Nematodes

Gall-inducing insects and nematodes engage in sophisticated interactions with their host plants. These parasites can induce major morphological and physiological changes in host roots, leaves, and other tissues. Sedentary endoparasitic nematodes, root-knot and cyst nematodes in particular, as well as gall-inducing and leaf-mining insects, manipulate plant development to form unique organs that provide them with food from feeding cells. Sometimes, infected tissues may undergo a developmental switch resulting in the formation of aberrant and spectacular structures (clubs or galls). We describe here the complex interactions between these plant-reprogramming sedentary endoparasites and their infected hosts, focusing on similarities between strategies of plant manipulation. We highlight progress in our understanding of the host plant response to infection and focus on the nematode and insect molecules secreted in planta. We suggest thatlooking at similarities may identify convergent and conserved strategies and shed light on the promise they hold for the development of new management strategies in agriculture and forestry.

Differential localization of Hessian fly candidate effectors in resistant and susceptible wheat plants

Hessian fly Mayetiola destructor is a notorious pest of wheat. Previous studies suggest that Hessian fly uses effector-based mechanisms to attack wheat plants during parasitism, but no direct evidence has been reported to support this postulation. Here, we produced recombinant proteins for five Family-1 candidate effectors and antibodies. Indirect immunostaining and western blots were carried out to examine the localization of Hessian fly Family-1 proteins in plant and insect tissues. Confocal images revealed that Family-1 putative effectors were exclusively produced in the basal region of larval salivary glands, which are directly linked to the mandibles' ducts for effector injection. The five Family-1 proteins were detected in infested host plants on western blots. Indirect immunostaining of sectioned host tissues around the feeding site revealed strikingly different localization patterns between resistant and susceptible plants. In susceptible plants, the Family-1 proteins penetrated from the feeding cell into deep tissues, indicative of movement between cells during nutritive cell formation. In contrast, the Hessian fly proteins were primarily limited to the initially attacked cells in resistant plants. The limitation of effectors' spread in resistant plants was likely due to wall strengthening and rapid hypersensitive cell death. Cell death was found in Nicotiana benthamiana in association with hypersensitive reaction triggered by the Family-1 effector SSGP-1A2. Our finding represents a significant progress in visualizing insect effectors in host tissues and mechanisms of plant resistance and susceptibility to gall midge pests.

The salivary gland proteome of root-galling grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch) feeding on Vitis spp

The successful parasitisation of a plant by a phytophagous insect is dependent on the delivery of effector molecules into the host. Sedentary gall forming insects, such as grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch, Phylloxeridae), secrete multiple effectors into host plant tissues that alter or modulate the cellular and molecular environment to the benefit of the insect. The identification and characterisation of effector proteins will provide insight into the host-phylloxera interaction specifically the gall-induction processes and potential mechanisms of plant resistance. Using proteomic mass spectrometry and in-silico secretory prediction, 420 putative effectors were determined from the salivary glands or the root-feeding D. vitifoliae larvae reared on Teleki 5C (V. berlandieri x V. riparia). Among them, 170 conserved effectors were shared between D. vitifoliae and fourteen phytophagous insect species. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of five conserved effector candidates (protein disulfide-isomerase, peroxidoredoxin, peroxidase and a carboxypeptidase) revealed that their gene expression decreased, when larvae were starved for 24 h, supporting their assignment as effector molecules. The D. vitifoliae effectors identified here represent a functionally diverse group, comprising both conserved and unique proteins that provide new insight into the D. vitifoliae-Vitis spp. interaction and the potential mechanisms by which D. vitifoliae establishes the feeding site, suppresses plant defences and modulates nutrient uptake.

Conserved and Unique Putative Effectors Expressed in the Salivary Glands of Three Related Gall Midge Species

Species in the stem gall midge genus Mayetiola (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) cause serious damage to small grain crops. Among Mayetiola species are Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor Say), barley midge (Mayetiola hordei Keiffer), and oat midge (Mayetiola avenae Marchal). Larvae of these species inject saliva into host tissues to manipulate plants. To identify putative effectors, transcriptomic analyses were conducted on transcripts encoding secreted salivary gland proteins (SSGPs) from first instar larvae of the barley and oat midges, since SSGPs are the most likely source for effector proteins delivered into host tissues. From barley midge, 178 SSGP-encoding unigenes were identified, which were sorted into 51 groups. From oat midge, 194 were obtained and sorted into 50 groups. Predicted proteins within a group had a highly conserved secretion signal peptide and shared at least 30% amino acid identity. Among the identified unigenes from both barley and oat midges, ~68% are conserved either among the three species or between two of them. Conserved SSGPs included members belonging to SSGP-1, SSGP-4, SSGP-11, and SSGP-71 families. Unconventional conservation patterns exist among family members within a species and among different gall midges, indicating that these genes are under high selection pressure, a characteristic of effector genes. SSGPs that are unique to each species were also identified. Those conserved SSGPs may be responsible for host manipulation since the three gall midges produce identical phenotypic symptoms to host plants, whereas the SSGPs unique to each species may be responsible for different host specificity.