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Li J, Tian X, Hsiang T, Yang Y, Shi C, Wang H, Li W. Microbial Community Structure and Metabolic Function in the Venom Glands of the Predatory Stink Bug, Picromerus lewisi (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). INSECTS 2024; 15:727. [PMID: 39336695 PMCID: PMC11432061 DOI: 10.3390/insects15090727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2024] [Revised: 09/07/2024] [Accepted: 09/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024]
Abstract
The predatory stink bug, Picromerus lewisi (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an important and valuable natural enemy of insect pests in their ecosystems. While insects are known to harbor symbiotic microorganisms, and these microbial symbionts play a crucial role in various aspects of the host's biology, there is a paucity of knowledge regarding the microbiota present in the venom glands of P. lewisi. This study investigated the venom glands of adult bugs using both traditional in vitro isolation and cultural methods, as well as Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology. Additionally, the carbon metabolism of the venom gland's microorganisms was analyzed using Biolog ECO metabolic phenotyping technology. The results showed 10 different culturable bacteria where the dominant ones were Enterococcus spp. and Lactococcus lactis. With high-throughput sequencing, the main bacterial phyla in the microbial community of the venom glands of P. lewisi were Proteobacteria (78.1%) and Firmicutes (20.3%), with the dominant bacterial genera being Wolbachia, Enterococcus, Serratia, and Lactococcus. At the fungal community level, Ascomycota accounted for the largest proportion (64.1%), followed by Basidiomycota (27.6%), with Vishniacozyma, Cladosporium, Papiliotrema, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Aspergillus as the most highly represented fungal genera. The bacterial and fungal community structure of the venom glands of P. lewisi exhibited high species richness and diversity, along with a strong metabolism of 22 carbon sources. Functional prediction indicated that the primary dominant function of P. lewisi venom-gland bacteria was metabolism. The dominant eco-functional groups of the fungal community included undefined saprotroph, fungal parasite-undefined saprotroph, unassigned, endophyte-plant pathogen, plant pathogen-soil saprotroph-wood saprotroph, animal pathogen-endophyte-plant pathogen-wood saprotroph, plant pathogen, and animal pathogen-endophyte-epiphyte-plant pathogen-undefined saprotroph. These results provide a comprehensive characterization of the venom-gland microbiota of P. lewisi and demonstrate the stability (over one week) of the microbial community within the venom glands. This study represents the first report on the characterization of microbial composition from the venom glands of captive-reared P. lewisi individuals. The insights gained from this study are invaluable for future investigations into P. lewisi's development and the possible interactions between P. lewisi's microbiota and some Lepidopteran pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinmeng Li
- College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
- Guizhou Academy of Tobacco Science, Guiyang 550081, China
- Institute of Plant Protection, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
| | - Xu Tian
- College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Tom Hsiang
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Yuting Yang
- College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Caihua Shi
- Institute of Advanced Agricultural Science, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang 441053, China
| | - Hancheng Wang
- Guizhou Academy of Tobacco Science, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Wenhong Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
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Hrdina A, Serra Canales M, Arias-Rojas A, Frahm D, Iatsenko I. The endosymbiont Spiroplasma poulsonii increases Drosophila melanogaster resistance to pathogens by enhancing iron sequestration and melanization. mBio 2024; 15:e0093624. [PMID: 38940615 PMCID: PMC11323552 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00936-24] [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: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Facultative endosymbiotic bacteria, such as Wolbachia and Spiroplasma species, are commonly found in association with insects and can dramatically alter their host physiology. Many endosymbionts are defensive and protect their hosts against parasites or pathogens. Despite the widespread nature of defensive insect symbioses and their importance for the ecology and evolution of insects, the mechanisms of symbiont-mediated host protection remain poorly characterized. Here, we utilized the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and its facultative endosymbiont Spiroplasma poulsonii to characterize the mechanisms underlying symbiont-mediated host protection against bacterial and fungal pathogens. Our results indicate a variable effect of S. poulsonii on infection outcome, with endosymbiont-harboring flies being more resistant to Rhyzopus oryzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Providencia alcalifaciens but more sensitive or as sensitive as endosymbiont-free flies to the infections with Pseudomonas species. Further focusing on the protective effect, we identified Transferrin-mediated iron sequestration induced by Spiroplasma as being crucial for the defense against R. oryzae and P. alcalifaciens. In the case of S. aureus, enhanced melanization in Spiroplasma-harboring flies plays a major role in protection. Both iron sequestration and melanization induced by Spiroplasma require the host immune sensor protease Persephone, suggesting a role of proteases secreted by the symbiont in the activation of host defense reactions. Hence, our work reveals a broader defensive range of Spiroplasma than previously appreciated and adds nutritional immunity and melanization to the defensive arsenal of symbionts. IMPORTANCE Defensive endosymbiotic bacteria conferring protection to their hosts against parasites and pathogens are widespread in insect populations. However, the mechanisms by which most symbionts confer protection are not fully understood. Here, we studied the mechanisms of protection against bacterial and fungal pathogens mediated by the Drosophila melanogaster endosymbiont Spiroplasma poulsonii. We demonstrate that besides the previously described protection against wasps and nematodes, Spiroplasma also confers increased resistance to pathogenic bacteria and fungi. We identified Spiroplasma-induced iron sequestration and melanization as key defense mechanisms. Our work broadens the known defense spectrum of Spiroplasma and reveals a previously unappreciated role of melanization and iron sequestration in endosymbiont-mediated host protection. We propose that the mechanisms we have identified here may be of broader significance and could apply to other endosymbionts, particularly to Wolbachia, and potentially explain their protective properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Hrdina
- Research group Genetics of Host-Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marina Serra Canales
- Research group Genetics of Host-Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aranzazu Arias-Rojas
- Research group Genetics of Host-Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dagmar Frahm
- Research group Genetics of Host-Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Igor Iatsenko
- Research group Genetics of Host-Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
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Prakash A, Fenner F, Shit B, Salminen TS, Monteith KM, Khan I, Vale PF. IMD-mediated innate immune priming increases Drosophila survival and reduces pathogen transmission. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012308. [PMID: 38857285 PMCID: PMC11192365 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012308] [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: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Invertebrates lack the immune machinery underlying vertebrate-like acquired immunity. However, in many insects past infection by the same pathogen can 'prime' the immune response, resulting in improved survival upon reinfection. Here, we investigated the mechanistic basis and epidemiological consequences of innate immune priming in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster when infected with the gram-negative bacterial pathogen Providencia rettgeri. We find that priming in response to P. rettgeri infection is a long-lasting and sexually dimorphic response. We further explore the epidemiological consequences of immune priming and find it has the potential to curtail pathogen transmission by reducing pathogen shedding and spread. The enhanced survival of individuals previously exposed to a non-lethal bacterial inoculum coincided with a transient decrease in bacterial loads, and we provide strong evidence that the effect of priming requires the IMD-responsive antimicrobial-peptide Diptericin-B in the fat body. Further, we show that while Diptericin B is the main effector of bacterial clearance, it is not sufficient for immune priming, which requires regulation of IMD by peptidoglycan recognition proteins. This work underscores the plasticity and complexity of invertebrate responses to infection, providing novel experimental evidence for the effects of innate immune priming on population-level epidemiological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Prakash
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Florence Fenner
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Tiina S. Salminen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Katy M. Monteith
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Pedro F. Vale
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Mouillaud T, Berger A, Buysse M, Rahola N, Daron J, Agbor J, Sango SN, Neafsey DE, Duron O, Ayala D. Limited association between Wolbachia and Plasmodium falciparum infections in natural populations of the major malaria mosquito Anopheles moucheti. Evol Appl 2023; 16:1999-2006. [PMID: 38143905 PMCID: PMC10739076 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13619] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of natural malaria vector populations infected by the endosymbiont bacterium Wolbachia, a renewed interest has arisen for using this bacterium as an alternative for malaria control. Among naturally infected mosquitoes, Anopheles moucheti, a major malaria mosquito in Central Africa, exhibits one of the highest prevalences of Wolbachia infection. To better understand whether this maternally inherited bacterium could be used for malaria control, we investigated Wolbachia influence in An. moucheti populations naturally infected by the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. To this end, we collected mosquitoes in a village from Cameroon, Central Africa, where this mosquito is the main malaria vector. We found that the prevalence of Wolbachia bacterium was almost fixed in the studied mosquito population, and was higher than previously recorded. We also quantified Wolbachia in whole mosquitoes and dissected abdomens, confirming that the bacterium is also elsewhere than in the abdomen, but at lower density. Finally, we analyzed the association of Wolbachia presence and density on P. falciparum infection. Wolbachia density was slightly higher in mosquitoes infected with the malaria parasite than in uninfected mosquitoes. However, we observed no correlation between the P. falciparum and Wolbachia densities. In conclusion, our study indicates that naturally occurring Wolbachia infection is not associated to P. falciparum development within An. moucheti mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Audric Berger
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpellierFrance
| | - Marie Buysse
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpellierFrance
- Montpellier Ecology and Evolution of Disease Network (MEEDiN)MontpellierFrance
| | - Nil Rahola
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpellierFrance
| | - Josquin Daron
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpellierFrance
| | - Jean‐Pierre Agbor
- Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Université de DoualaDoualaCameroon
| | - Sandrine N. Sango
- Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Université de DoualaDoualaCameroon
| | - Daniel E. Neafsey
- Department of Immunology and Infectious DiseasesHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome ProgramBroad Institute of MIT and HarvardCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Olivier Duron
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpellierFrance
- Montpellier Ecology and Evolution of Disease Network (MEEDiN)MontpellierFrance
| | - Diego Ayala
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpellierFrance
- Medical Entomology UnitInstitut Pasteur de MadagascarAntananarivoMadagascar
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Pascar J, Middleton H, Dorus S. Aedes aegypti microbiome composition covaries with the density of Wolbachia infection. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:255. [PMID: 37978413 PMCID: PMC10655336 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01678-9] [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: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wolbachia is a widespread bacterial endosymbiont that can inhibit vector competency when stably transinfected into the mosquito, Aedes aegypti, a primary vector of the dengue virus (DENV) and other arboviruses. Although a complete mechanistic understanding of pathogen blocking is lacking, it is likely to involve host immunity induction and resource competition between Wolbachia and DENV, both of which may be impacted by microbiome composition. The potential impact of Wolbachia transinfection on host fitness is also of importance given the widespread release of mosquitos infected with the Drosophila melanogaster strain of Wolbachia (wMel) in wild populations. Here, population-level genomic data from Ae. aegypti was surveyed to establish the relationship between the density of wMel infection and the composition of the host microbiome. RESULTS Analysis of genomic data from 172 Ae. aegypti females across six populations resulted in an expanded and quantitatively refined, species-level characterization of the bacterial, archaeal, and fungal microbiome. This included 844 species of bacteria across 23 phyla, of which 54 species were found to be ubiquitous microbiome members across these populations. The density of wMel infection was highly variable between individuals and negatively correlated with microbiome diversity. Network analyses revealed wMel as a hub comprised solely of negative interactions with other bacterial species. This contrasted with the large and highly interconnected network of other microbiome species that may represent members of the midgut microbiome community in this population. CONCLUSION Our bioinformatic survey provided a species-level characterization of Ae. aegypti microbiome composition and variation. wMel load varied substantially across populations and individuals and, importantly, wMel was a major hub of a negative interactions across the microbiome. These interactions may be an inherent consequence of heightened pathogen blocking in densely infected individuals or, alternatively, may result from antagonistic Wolbachia-incompatible bacteria that could impede the efficacy of wMel as a biological control agent in future applications. The relationship between wMel infection variation and the microbiome warrants further investigation in the context of developing wMel as a multivalent control agent against other arboviruses. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Pascar
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Henry Middleton
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Steve Dorus
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 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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Perveen N, Muhammad K, Muzaffar SB, Zaheer T, Munawar N, Gajic B, Sparagano OA, Kishore U, Willingham AL. Host-pathogen interaction in arthropod vectors: Lessons from viral infections. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1061899. [PMID: 36817439 PMCID: PMC9929866 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1061899] [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: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Haematophagous arthropods can harbor various pathogens including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and nematodes. Insects possess an innate immune system comprising of both cellular and humoral components to fight against various infections. Haemocytes, the cellular components of haemolymph, are central to the insect immune system as their primary functions include phagocytosis, encapsulation, coagulation, detoxification, and storage and distribution of nutritive materials. Plasmatocytes and granulocytes are also involved in cellular defense responses. Blood-feeding arthropods, such as mosquitoes and ticks, can harbour a variety of viral pathogens that can cause infectious diseases in both human and animal hosts. Therefore, it is imperative to study the virus-vector-host relationships since arthropod vectors are important constituents of the ecosystem. Regardless of the complex immune response of these arthropod vectors, the viruses usually manage to survive and are transmitted to the eventual host. A multidisciplinary approach utilizing novel and strategic interventions is required to control ectoparasite infestations and block vector-borne transmission of viral pathogens to humans and animals. In this review, we discuss the arthropod immune response to viral infections with a primary focus on the innate immune responses of ticks and mosquitoes. We aim to summarize critically the vector immune system and their infection transmission strategies to mammalian hosts to foster debate that could help in developing new therapeutic strategies to protect human and animal hosts against arthropod-borne viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nighat Perveen
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khalid Muhammad
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sabir Bin Muzaffar
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Tean Zaheer
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Nayla Munawar
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Bojan Gajic
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Olivier Andre Sparagano
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Uday Kishore
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Arve Lee Willingham
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
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Hoang KL, King KC. Symbiont-mediated immune priming in animals through an evolutionary lens. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2022; 168. [PMID: 35442184 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Protective symbionts can defend hosts from parasites through several mechanisms, from direct interference to modulating host immunity, with subsequent effects on host and parasite fitness. While research on symbiont-mediated immune priming (SMIP) has focused on ecological impacts and agriculturally important organisms, the evolutionary implications of SMIP are less clear. Here, we review recent advances made in elucidating the ecological and molecular mechanisms by which SMIP occurs. We draw on current works to discuss the potential for this phenomenon to drive host, parasite, and symbiont evolution. We also suggest approaches that can be used to address questions regarding the impact of immune priming on host-microbe dynamics and population structures. Finally, due to the transient nature of some symbionts involved in SMIP, we discuss what it means to be a protective symbiont from ecological and evolutionary perspectives and how such interactions can affect long-term persistence of the symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim L Hoang
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Kayla C King
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
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Abstract
As an overarching immune mechanism, RNA interference (RNAi) displays pathogen specificity and memory via different pathways. The small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway is the primary antiviral defense mechanism against RNA viruses of insects and plays a lesser role in defense against DNA viruses. Reflecting the pivotal role of the siRNA pathway in virus selection, different virus families have independently evolved unique strategies to counter this host response, including protein-mediated, decoy RNA-based, and microRNA-based strategies. In this review, we outline the interplay between insect viruses and the different pathways of the RNAi antiviral response; describe practical application of these interactions for improved expression systems and for pest and disease management; and highlight research avenues for advancement of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryony C Bonning
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA;
| | - Maria-Carla Saleh
- Viruses and RNA Interference Unit, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3569, 75724 Paris CEDEX 15, France;
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Belmonte RL, Corbally MK, Duneau DF, Regan JC. Sexual Dimorphisms in Innate Immunity and Responses to Infection in Drosophila melanogaster. Front Immunol 2020; 10:3075. [PMID: 32076419 PMCID: PMC7006818 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The sexes show profound differences in responses to infection and the development of autoimmunity. Dimorphisms in immune responses are ubiquitous across taxa, from arthropods to vertebrates. Drosophila melanogaster shows strong sex dimorphisms in immune system responses at baseline, upon pathogenic challenge, and over aging. We have performed an exhaustive survey of peer-reviewed literature on Drosophila immunity, and present a database of publications indicating the sex(es) analyzed in each study. While we found a growing interest in the community in adult immunity and in reporting both sexes, the main body of work in this field uses only one sex, or does not stratify by sex. We synthesize evidence for sexually dimorphic responses to bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Dimorphisms may be mediated by distinct immune compartments, and we review work on sex differences in behavioral, epithelial, cellular, and systemic (fat body-mediated) immunity. Emerging work on sexually dimorphic aging of immune tissues, immune senescence, and inflammation are examined. We consider evolutionary drivers for sex differences in immune investment, highlight the features of Drosophila biology that make it particularly amenable to studies of immune dimorphisms, and discuss areas for future exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L. Belmonte
- Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mary-Kate Corbally
- Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - David F. Duneau
- Laboratoire Evolution & Diversite Biologique, UMR5174 EDB, CNRS, Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Jennifer C. Regan
- Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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11
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Hudson AL, Moatt JP, Vale PF. Terminal investment strategies following infection are dependent on diet. J Evol Biol 2019; 33:309-317. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ali L. Hudson
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology School of Biological Sciences University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
| | - Joshua P. Moatt
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology School of Biological Sciences University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
| | - Pedro F. Vale
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology School of Biological Sciences University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
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12
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Liu L, Zhang KJ, Rong X, Li YY, Liu H. Identification of Wolbachia-Responsive miRNAs in the Small Brown Planthopper, Laodelphax striatellus. Front Physiol 2019; 10:928. [PMID: 31396100 PMCID: PMC6668040 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Laodelphax striatellus is naturally infected with the Wolbachia strain wStri, which induces strong cytoplasmic incompatibility of its host. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous non-coding small RNAs that play a critical role in the regulation of gene expression at post-transcriptional level in various biological processes. Despite various studies reporting that Wolbachia affects the miRNA expression of their hosts, the molecular mechanism underlying interactions between Wolbachia and their host miRNAs has not been well understood. In order to better understand the impact of Wolbachia infection on its host, we investigated the differentially expressed miRNAs between Wolbachia-infected and Wolbachia-uninfected strains of L. striatellus. Compared with uninfected strains, Wolbachia infection resulted in up-regulation of 18 miRNAs and down-regulation of 6 miRNAs in male, while 25 miRNAs were up-regulated and 15 miRNAs were down-regulated in female. The target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs involved in immune response regulation, reproduction, redox homeostasis and ecdysteroidogenesis were also annotated in both sexes. We further verified the expression of several significantly differentially expressed miRNAs and their predicted target genes by qRT-PCR method. The results suggested that Wolbachia appears to reduce the expression of genes related to fertility in males and increase the expression of genes related to fecundity in females. At the same time, Wolbachia may enhance the expression of immune-related genes in both sexes. All of the results in this study may be helpful in further exploration of the molecular mechanisms by which Wolbachia affects on its hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kai-Jun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xia Rong
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ya-Ying Li
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Huai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Baião GC, Schneider DI, Miller WJ, Klasson L. The effect of Wolbachia on gene expression in Drosophila paulistorum and its implications for symbiont-induced host speciation. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:465. [PMID: 31174466 PMCID: PMC6555960 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5816-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Neotropical fruit fly Drosophila paulistorum (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a species complex in statu nascendi comprising six reproductively isolated semispecies, each harboring mutualistic Wolbachia strains. Although wild type flies of each semispecies are isolated from the others by both pre- and postmating incompatibilities, mating between semispecies and successful offspring development can be achieved once flies are treated with antibiotics to reduce Wolbachia titer. Here we use RNA-seq to study the impact of Wolbachia on D. paulistorum and investigate the hypothesis that the symbiont may play a role in host speciation. For that goal, we analyze samples of heads and abdomens of both sexes of the Amazonian, Centro American and Orinocan semispecies of D. paulistorum. Results We identify between 175 and 1192 differentially expressed genes associated with a variety of biological processes that respond either globally or according to tissue, sex or condition in the three semispecies. Some of the functions associated with differentially expressed genes are known to be affected by Wolbachia in other species, such as metabolism and immunity, whereas others represent putative novel phenotypes involving muscular functions, pheromone signaling, and visual perception. Conclusions Our results show that Wolbachia affect a large number of biological functions in D. paulistorum, particularly when present in high titer. We suggest that the significant metabolic impact of the infection on the host may cause several of the other putative and observed phenotypes. We also speculate that the observed differential expression of genes associated with chemical communication and reproduction may be associated with the emergence of pre- and postmating barriers between semispecies, which supports a role for Wolbachia in the speciation of D. paulistorum. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5816-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme C Baião
- Molecular evolution, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Daniela I Schneider
- Lab Genome Dynamics, Deparment Cell & Developmental Biology, Center of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstraße 17, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Present address: Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale University, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Wolfgang J Miller
- Lab Genome Dynamics, Deparment Cell & Developmental Biology, Center of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstraße 17, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lisa Klasson
- Molecular evolution, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden.
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14
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Climatic effects on the distribution of ant- and bat fly-associated fungal ectoparasites (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales). FUNGAL ECOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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15
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Meany MK, Conner WR, Richter SV, Bailey JA, Turelli M, Cooper BS. Loss of cytoplasmic incompatibility and minimal fecundity effects explain relatively low Wolbachia frequencies in Drosophila mauritiana. Evolution 2019; 73:1278-1295. [PMID: 31001816 PMCID: PMC6554066 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Maternally transmitted Wolbachia bacteria infect about half of all insect species. Many Wolbachia cause cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) and reduced egg hatch when uninfected females mate with infected males. Although CI produces a frequency-dependent fitness advantage that leads to high equilibrium Wolbachia frequencies, it does not aid Wolbachia spread from low frequencies. Indeed, the fitness advantages that produce initial Wolbachia spread and maintain non-CI Wolbachia remain elusive. wMau Wolbachia infecting Drosophila mauritiana do not cause CI, despite being very similar to CI-causing wNo from Drosophila simulans (0.068% sequence divergence over 682,494 bp), suggesting recent CI loss. Using draft wMau genomes, we identify a deletion in a CI-associated gene, consistent with theory predicting that selection within host lineages does not act to increase or maintain CI. In the laboratory, wMau shows near-perfect maternal transmission; but we find no significant effect on host fecundity, in contrast to published data. Intermediate wMau frequencies on the island of Mauritius are consistent with a balance between unidentified small, positive fitness effects and imperfect maternal transmission. Our phylogenomic analyses suggest that group-B Wolbachia, including wMau and wPip, diverged from group-A Wolbachia, such as wMel and wRi, 6-46 million years ago, more recently than previously estimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan K. Meany
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana,
Missoula, MT USA
| | - William R. Conner
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana,
Missoula, MT USA
| | - Sophia V. Richter
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana,
Missoula, MT USA
| | - Jessica A. Bailey
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana,
Missoula, MT USA
| | - Michael Turelli
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of
California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Brandon S. Cooper
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana,
Missoula, MT USA
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16
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Fromont C, Adair KL, Douglas AE. Correlation and causation between the microbiome, Wolbachia and host functional traits in natural populations of drosophilid flies. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:1826-1841. [PMID: 30714238 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Resident microorganisms are known to influence the fitness and traits of animals under controlled laboratory conditions, but the relevance of these findings to wild animals is uncertain. This study investigated the host functional correlates of microbiota composition in a wild community of three sympatric species of mycophagous drosophilid flies, Drosophila falleni, Drosophila neotestacea and Drosophila putrida. Specifically, we quantified bacterial communities and host transcriptomes by parallel 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and RNA-Seq of individual flies. Among-fly variation in microbiota composition did not partition strongly by sex or species, and included multiple modules, that is, sets of bacterial taxa whose abundance varied in concert across different flies. The abundance of bacteria in several modules varied significantly with multiple host transcripts, especially in females, but the identity of the correlated host transcriptional functions differed with host species, including epithelial barrier function in D. falleni, muscle function in D. putrida, and insect growth and development in D. neotestacea. In D. neotestacea, which harbours the endosymbionts Wolbachia and Spiroplasma, Wolbachia promotes the abundance of Spiroplasma, and is positively correlated with abundance of Lactobacillales and Bacteroidales. Furthermore, most correlations between host gene expression and relative abundance of bacterial modules were co-correlated with abundance of Wolbachia (but not Spiroplasma), indicative of an interdependence between host functional traits, microbiota composition and Wolbachia abundance in this species. These data suggest that, in these natural populations of drosophilid flies, different host species interact with microbial communities in functionally different ways that can vary with the abundance of endosymbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karen L Adair
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Angela E Douglas
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
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17
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Singh ND. Wolbachia Infection Associated with Increased Recombination in Drosophila. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2019; 9:229-237. [PMID: 30459180 PMCID: PMC6325905 DOI: 10.1534/g3.118.200827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Wolbachia is a maternally-transmitted endosymbiotic bacteria that infects a large diversity of arthropod and nematode hosts. Some strains of Wolbachia are parasitic, manipulating host reproduction to benefit themselves, while other strains of Wolbachia exhibit obligate or facultative mutualisms with their host. The effects of Wolbachia on its host are many, though primarily relate to host immune and reproductive function. Here we test the hypothesis that Wolbachia infection alters the frequency of homologous recombination during meiosis. We use D. melanogaster as a model system, and survey recombination in eight wild-derived Wolbachia-infected (strain wMel) and Wolbachia-uninfected strains, controlling for genotype. We measure recombination in two intervals of the genome. Our results indicate that Wolbachia infection is associated with increased recombination in one genomic interval and not the other. The effect of Wolbachia infection on recombination is thus heterogenous across the genome. Our data also indicate a reproductive benefit of Wolbachia infection; infected females show higher fecundity than their uninfected genotypic controls. Given the prevalence of Wolbachia infection in natural populations, our findings suggest that Wolbachia infection is likely to contribute to recombination rate and fecundity variation among individuals in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia D Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Oregon Eugene OR, 97403
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18
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Mondotte JA, Gausson V, Frangeul L, Blanc H, Lambrechts L, Saleh MC. Immune priming and clearance of orally acquired RNA viruses in Drosophila. Nat Microbiol 2018; 3:1394-1403. [PMID: 30374170 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-018-0265-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Immune responses in insects are differentially triggered depending on the infection route used by the pathogen. In most studies involving Drosophila melanogaster and viruses, infection is done by injection, while oral infection, which is probably the most common route of viral entry in nature, remains unexplored. Here, we orally infected adults and larvae from wild-type and RNA interference (RNAi) mutant flies with different RNA viruses. We found that, in contrast with what is observed following virus injection, oral infections initiated at larval or adult stages are cleared in adult flies. Virus elimination occurred despite a larger infectious dose than for injected flies and evidence of viral replication. RNAi mutant flies suffered greater mortality relative to wild-type flies following oral infection, but they also eliminated the virus, implying that RNAi is not essential for viral clearance and that other immune mechanisms act during oral infections. We further showed that information of infection by RNA viruses acquired orally leaves a trace under a DNA form, which confers protection against future reinfection by the same virus. Together, this work presents evidence of clearance and immune priming for RNA viruses in insects and challenges the current view of antiviral immunity in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan A Mondotte
- Institut Pasteur, Viruses and RNA Interference Unit, Department of Virology, CNRS Unité Mixte de Recherche 3569, Paris, France
| | - Valérie Gausson
- Institut Pasteur, Viruses and RNA Interference Unit, Department of Virology, CNRS Unité Mixte de Recherche 3569, Paris, France
| | - Lionel Frangeul
- Institut Pasteur, Viruses and RNA Interference Unit, Department of Virology, CNRS Unité Mixte de Recherche 3569, Paris, France
| | - Hervé Blanc
- Institut Pasteur, Viruses and RNA Interference Unit, Department of Virology, CNRS Unité Mixte de Recherche 3569, Paris, France
| | - Louis Lambrechts
- Institut Pasteur, Insect-Virus Interactions Group, Department of Genomes and Genetics, CNRS Unité Mixte de Recherche 2000, Paris, France
| | - Maria-Carla Saleh
- Institut Pasteur, Viruses and RNA Interference Unit, Department of Virology, CNRS Unité Mixte de Recherche 3569, Paris, France.
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19
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Buchanan JL, Meiklejohn CD, Montooth KL. Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Infection Generate Immunity-Fecundity Tradeoffs in Drosophila. Integr Comp Biol 2018; 58:591-603. [PMID: 29945242 PMCID: PMC6145415 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icy078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Physiological responses to short-term environmental stressors, such as infection, can have long-term consequences for fitness, particularly if the responses are inappropriate or nutrient resources are limited. Genetic variation affecting energy acquisition, storage, and usage can limit cellular energy availability and may influence resource-allocation tradeoffs even when environmental nutrients are plentiful. Here, we utilized Drosophila mitochondrial-nuclear genotypes to test whether disrupted mitochondrial function interferes with nutrient-sensing pathways, and whether this disruption has consequences for tradeoffs between immunity and fecundity. We found that an energetically-compromised genotype was relatively resistant to rapamycin-a drug that targets nutrient-sensing pathways and mimics resource limitation. Dietary resource limitation decreased survival of energetically-compromised flies. Furthermore, survival of infection with a natural pathogen was decreased in this genotype, and females of this genotype experienced immunity-fecundity tradeoffs that were not evident in genotypic controls with normal energy metabolism. Together, these results suggest that this genotype may have little excess energetic capacity and fewer cellular nutrients, even when environmental nutrients are not limiting. Genetic variation in energy metabolism may therefore act to limit the resources available for allocation to life-history traits in ways that generate tradeoffs even when environmental resources are not limiting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin L Buchanan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 1104 T St, Lincoln, NE 68588-0118, USA
| | - Colin D Meiklejohn
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 1104 T St, Lincoln, NE 68588-0118, USA
| | - Kristi L Montooth
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 1104 T St, Lincoln, NE 68588-0118, USA
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20
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Siva-Jothy JA, Prakash A, Vasanthakrishnan RB, Monteith KM, Vale PF. Oral Bacterial Infection and Shedding in Drosophila melanogaster. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 29912178 PMCID: PMC6101445 DOI: 10.3791/57676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is one of the best developed model systems of infection and innate immunity. While most work has focused on systemic infections, there has been a recent increase of interest in the mechanisms of gut immunocompetence to pathogens, which require methods to orally infect flies. Here we present a protocol to orally expose individual flies to an opportunistic bacterial pathogen (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a natural bacterial pathogen of D. melanogaster (Pseudomonas entomophila). The goal of this protocol is to provide a robust method to expose male and female flies to these pathogens. We provide representative results showing survival phenotypes, microbe loads, and bacterial shedding, which is relevant for the study of heterogeneity in pathogen transmission. Finally, we confirm that Dcy mutants (lacking the protective peritrophic matrix in the gut epithelium) and Relish mutants (lacking a functional immune deficiency (IMD) pathway), show increased susceptibility to bacterial oral infection. This protocol, therefore, describes a robust method to infect flies using the oral route of infection, which can be extended to the study of a variety genetic and environmental sources of variation in gut infection outcomes and bacterial transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathon A Siva-Jothy
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh
| | - Arun Prakash
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh
| | | | - Katy M Monteith
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh
| | - Pedro F Vale
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh; Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh;
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21
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Mondotte JA, Saleh MC. Antiviral Immune Response and the Route of Infection in Drosophila melanogaster. Adv Virus Res 2017; 100:247-278. [PMID: 29551139 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aivir.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The use of Drosophila as a model organism has made an important contribution to our understanding of the function and regulation of innate immunity in insects. Indeed, insects can discriminate between different types of pathogens and mount specific and effective responses. Strikingly, the same pathogen can trigger a different immune response in the same organism, depending solely on the route of infection by which the pathogen is delivered. In this review, we recapitulate what is known about antiviral responses in Drosophila, and how they are triggered depending on the route and the mode used for the virus to infect its host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan A Mondotte
- Institut Pasteur, Viruses and RNA Interference Unit, CNRS Unité Mixte de Recherche 3569, Paris, France
| | - Maria-Carla Saleh
- Institut Pasteur, Viruses and RNA Interference Unit, CNRS Unité Mixte de Recherche 3569, Paris, France.
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22
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Gupta V, Vasanthakrishnan RB, Siva-Jothy J, Monteith KM, Brown SP, Vale PF. The route of infection determines Wolbachia antibacterial protection in Drosophila. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 284:20170809. [PMID: 28592678 PMCID: PMC5474083 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial symbionts are widespread among metazoans and provide a range of beneficial functions. Wolbachia-mediated protection against viral infection has been extensively demonstrated in Drosophila. In mosquitoes that are artificially transinfected with Drosophila melanogaster Wolbachia (wMel), protection from both viral and bacterial infections has been demonstrated. However, no evidence for Wolbachia-mediated antibacterial protection has been demonstrated in Drosophila to date. Here, we show that the route of infection is key for Wolbachia-mediated antibacterial protection. Drosophila melanogaster carrying Wolbachia showed reduced mortality during enteric-but not systemic-infection with the opportunist pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosaWolbachia-mediated protection was more pronounced in male flies and is associated with increased early expression of the antimicrobial peptide Attacin A, and also increased expression of a reactive oxygen species detoxification gene (Gst D8). These results highlight that the route of infection is important for symbiont-mediated protection from infection, that Wolbachia can protect hosts by eliciting a combination of resistance and disease tolerance mechanisms, and that these effects are sexually dimorphic. We discuss the importance of using ecologically relevant routes of infection to gain a better understanding of symbiont-mediated protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanika Gupta
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | | | - Jonathon Siva-Jothy
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Katy M Monteith
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Sam P Brown
- School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0230, USA
| | - Pedro F Vale
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
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