1
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Jiang S, Marco HG, Scheich N, He S, Wang Z, Gäde G, McMahon DP. Comparative analysis of adipokinetic hormones and their receptors in Blattodea reveals novel patterns of gene evolution. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 32:615-633. [PMID: 37382487 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Adipokinetic hormone (AKH) is a neuropeptide produced in the insect corpora cardiaca that plays an essential role in mobilising carbohydrates and lipids from the fat body to the haemolymph. AKH acts by binding to a rhodopsin-like G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), the adipokinetic hormone receptor (AKHR). In this study, we tackle AKH ligand and receptor gene evolution as well as the evolutionary origins of AKH gene paralogues from the order Blattodea (termites and cockroaches). Phylogenetic analyses of AKH precursor sequences point to an ancient AKH gene duplication event in the common ancestor of Blaberoidea, yielding a new group of putative decapeptides. In total, 16 different AKH peptides from 90 species were obtained. Two octapeptides and seven putatively novel decapeptides are predicted for the first time. AKH receptor sequences from 18 species, spanning solitary cockroaches and subsocial wood roaches as well as lower and higher termites, were subsequently acquired using classical molecular methods and in silico approaches employing transcriptomic data. Aligned AKHR open reading frames revealed 7 highly conserved transmembrane regions, a typical arrangement for GPCRs. Phylogenetic analyses based on AKHR sequences support accepted relationships among termite, subsocial (Cryptocercus spp.) and solitary cockroach lineages to a large extent, while putative post-translational modification sites do not greatly differ between solitary and subsocial roaches and social termites. Our study provides important information not only for AKH and AKHR functional research but also for further analyses interested in their development as potential candidates for biorational pest control agents against invasive termites and cockroaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixiong Jiang
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heather G Marco
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Nina Scheich
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Berlin, Germany
| | - Shulin He
- College of Life Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zongqing Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Gerd Gäde
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Dino P McMahon
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Berlin, Germany
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2
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Negroni MA, LeBoeuf AC. Metabolic division of labor in social insects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 59:101085. [PMID: 37454732 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Social insects are known for reproductive and behavioral division of labor, but little attention has been paid to metabolic forms of division of labor. Metabolic division of labor is the partitioning of complementary metabolic tasks between individuals, and it is widespread in social insects. We define two forms of metabolic division of labor, homosynergetic and heterosynergetic, we pinpoint trophallaxis, trophic eggs, and cannibalism as the primary transfers underlying the homosynergetic form and discuss their evolution. We argue that homosynergetic metabolic division of labor underpins fundamental aspects of colony physiology and may be a necessary feature of superorganismal systems, impacting many life history traits. Investigating metabolic division of labor is necessary to understand major evolutionary transition(s) to superorganismality in social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo A Negroni
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
| | - Adria C LeBoeuf
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
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3
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Liu L, Wang DH, Zhao CC, Yan FM, Lei CL, Su LJ, Zhang YC, Huang QY, Tang QB. Transcriptomics Reveals the Killing Mechanism by Which Entomopathogenic Fungi Manipulate the RNA Expression Profiles of Termites and Provides Inspiration for Green Pest Management. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:7152-7162. [PMID: 37104842 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c00743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
As chemical pesticides have caused serious environmental pollution, fungus-based biological control has become a developing alternative to chemical control. Here, we aimed to determine the molecular mechanism underlying how Metarhizium anisopliae facilitated invasive infection. We found that the fungus increased its virulence by downregulating glutathione S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) throughout termite bodies. Among 13 fungus-induced microRNAs throughout termite bodies, miR-7885-5p and miR-252b upregulation significantly downregulated several mRNAs in response to toxic substances to increase the fungal virulence [e.g., phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) and heat shock protein homologue SSE1]. In addition, nanodelivered small interfering RNA of GST and SOD and miR-7885-5p and miR-252b mimics increased the virulence of the fungus. These findings provide new insights into the killing mechanism of entomopathogens and their utilization of the host miRNA machinery to reduce host defenses, laying the groundwork to enhance virulence of biocontrol agents for green pest management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Liu
- Henan International Laboratory for Green Pest Control; Henan Engineering Laboratory of Pest Biological Control; College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Dong-Huai Wang
- Henan International Laboratory for Green Pest Control; Henan Engineering Laboratory of Pest Biological Control; College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Chen-Chen Zhao
- Henan International Laboratory for Green Pest Control; Henan Engineering Laboratory of Pest Biological Control; College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Feng-Ming Yan
- Henan International Laboratory for Green Pest Control; Henan Engineering Laboratory of Pest Biological Control; College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Chao-Liang Lei
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Li-Juan Su
- Henan International Laboratory for Green Pest Control; Henan Engineering Laboratory of Pest Biological Control; College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Yuan-Chen Zhang
- Taihang Mountain Forest Pests Observation and Research Station of Henan Province, Anyang 456582, China
| | - Qiu-Ying Huang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qing-Bo Tang
- Henan International Laboratory for Green Pest Control; Henan Engineering Laboratory of Pest Biological Control; College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
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4
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Tang YL, Kong YH, Qin S, Merchant A, Shi JZ, Zhou XG, Li MW, Wang Q. Transcriptomic dissection of termite gut microbiota following entomopathogenic fungal infection. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1194370. [PMID: 37153226 PMCID: PMC10161392 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1194370] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Termites are social insects that live in the soil or in decaying wood, where exposure to pathogens should be common. However, these pathogens rarely cause mortality in established colonies. In addition to social immunity, the gut symbionts of termites are expected to assist in protecting their hosts, though the specific contributions are unclear. In this study, we examined this hypothesis in Odontotermes formosanus, a fungus-growing termite in the family Termitidae, by 1) disrupting its gut microbiota with the antibiotic kanamycin, 2) challenging O. formosanus with the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii, and finally 3) sequencing the resultant gut transcriptomes. As a result, 142531 transcripts and 73608 unigenes were obtained, and unigenes were annotated following NR, NT, KO, Swiss-Prot, PFAM, GO, and KOG databases. Among them, a total of 3,814 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between M. robertsii infected termites with or without antibiotics treatment. Given the lack of annotated genes in O. formosanus transcriptomes, we examined the expression profiles of the top 20 most significantly differentially expressed genes using qRT-PCR. Several of these genes, including APOA2, Calpain-5, and Hsp70, were downregulated in termites exposed to both antibiotics and pathogen but upregulated in those exposed only to the pathogen, suggesting that gut microbiota might buffer/facilitate their hosts against infection by finetuning physiological and biochemical processes, including innate immunity, protein folding, and ATP synthesis. Overall, our combined results imply that stabilization of gut microbiota can assist termites in maintaining physiological and biochemical homeostasis when foreign pathogenic fungi invade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-ling Tang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
- Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun-hui Kong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Sheng Qin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Austin Merchant
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Ji-zhe Shi
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Xu-guo Zhou
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
- *Correspondence: Xu-guo Zhou, ; Mu-wang Li, ; Qian Wang,
| | - Mu-wang Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
- *Correspondence: Xu-guo Zhou, ; Mu-wang Li, ; Qian Wang,
| | - Qian Wang
- Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Xu-guo Zhou, ; Mu-wang Li, ; Qian Wang,
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5
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Feng K, Jiang D, Luo J, Tang F. OfGNBP silencing enhances the toxicity of Serratia marcescens Bizio (SM1) to Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki). PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 189:105306. [PMID: 36549813 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2022.105306] [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: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The immunity of insects plays a vital role in their survival. Our experiments found that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) could influence the virulence of Serratia marcescens Bizio (SM1) to Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) by affecting the immunity. Gram-negative binding proteins (GNBPs) are an important pattern recognition proteins that play a crucial role in the innate immune system. Therefore, two OfGNBPs were cloned in O. formosanus. The expression of OfGNBPs was significantly changed by LPS,SM1 and GDL, not prick. In addition, the immune-related gene expression, the phenoloxidase activity and antibacterial activity of donor termites and recipient termites were significantly induced by SM1. Furthermore, the knockdown of OfGNBP by RNA interference reduced not only individual immunity but also social immunity in O. formosanus, which increased the virulence of SM1 to O. formosanus. Importantly, dsOfGNBP alone also had good control effect on O. formosanus. In summary, we concluded that dsOfGNBPs are important termite immunosuppressants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Feng
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, People's Republic of China; College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Dabao Jiang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, People's Republic of China; College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Luo
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, People's Republic of China; College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Tang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, People's Republic of China; College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, People's Republic of China.
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6
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Urbański A, Johnston P, Bittermann E, Keshavarz M, Paris V, Walkowiak-Nowicka K, Konopińska N, Marciniak P, Rolff J. Tachykinin-related peptides modulate immune-gene expression in the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor L. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17277. [PMID: 36241888 PMCID: PMC9568666 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21605-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tachykinins (TKs) are a group of conserved neuropeptides. In insects, tachykinin-related peptides (TRPs) are important modulators of several functions such as nociception and lipid metabolism. Recently, it has become clear that TRPs also play a role in regulating the insect immune system. Here, we report a transcriptomic analysis of changes in the expression levels of immune-related genes in the storage pest Tenebrio molitor after treatment with Tenmo-TRP-7. We tested two concentrations (10-8 and 10-6 M) at two time points, 6 and 24 h post-injection. We found significant changes in the transcript levels of a wide spectrum of immune-related genes. Some changes were observed 6 h after the injection of Tenmo-TRP-7, especially in relation to its putative anti-apoptotic action. Interestingly, 24 h after the injection of 10-8 M Tenmo-TRP-7, most changes were related to the regulation of the cellular response. Applying 10-6 M Tenmo-TRP-7 resulted in the downregulation of genes associated with humoral responses. Injecting Tenmo-TRP-7 did not affect beetle survival but led to a reduction in haemolymph lysozyme-like antibacterial activity, consistent with the transcriptomic data. The results confirmed the immunomodulatory role of TRP and shed new light on the functional homology between TRPs and TKs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arkadiusz Urbański
- grid.5633.30000 0001 2097 3545Department of Animal Physiology and Developmental Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland ,grid.14095.390000 0000 9116 4836Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Johnston
- Berlin Centre for Genomics in Biodiversity Research, Berlin, Germany ,grid.419247.d0000 0001 2108 8097Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisa Bittermann
- grid.14095.390000 0000 9116 4836Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maryam Keshavarz
- grid.14095.390000 0000 9116 4836Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Véronique Paris
- grid.14095.390000 0000 9116 4836Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany ,grid.1008.90000 0001 2179 088XBio 21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052 Australia
| | - Karolina Walkowiak-Nowicka
- grid.5633.30000 0001 2097 3545Department of Animal Physiology and Developmental Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Natalia Konopińska
- grid.5633.30000 0001 2097 3545Department of Animal Physiology and Developmental Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Paweł Marciniak
- grid.5633.30000 0001 2097 3545Department of Animal Physiology and Developmental Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Jens Rolff
- grid.14095.390000 0000 9116 4836Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany ,grid.452299.1Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
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7
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Zeng W, Shen D, Chen Y, Zhang S, Wu W, Li Z. A High Soldier Proportion Encouraged the Greater Antifungal Immunity in a Subterranean Termite. Front Physiol 2022; 13:906235. [PMID: 35733990 PMCID: PMC9207448 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.906235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Termites possess a mighty social immune system, serving as one of the key obstacles to controlling them biologically. However, the dynamic mechanism coordinating the social immunologic defense and caste distribution of the termites remains elusive. This study used the Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and an entomopathogenic fungus as a host–pathogen system and experimentally manipulated a series of groups with different caste compositions of workers and soldiers. Then, the impact of demography on the behavior and innate immunity of termites was explored by analyzing the fungus susceptibility of the respective caste, efficiencies, and caste preferences of sanitary care, as well as the expression of the immune genes and phenoloxidase activity. Overall, to ensure the general health and survival of a group, the infected workers were found to sacrifice their survivorship for maintaining the soldier proportion of the group. If soldier proportion was limited within a threshold, both the survivorship of the workers and soldiers were not significantly affected by the infection. Correspondingly, the infected group with a higher proportion of soldiers stimulated the higher efficiency of a non-caste-biased sanitary care of the workers to the nestmate workers and soldiers. Moreover, the innate immunities of the infected workers were found to be more intensely upregulated in the group with higher soldier proportions. This suggested that the adjustable non-caste-biased sanitary care and innate immunity of the workers would contribute to the flexibility of the worker–soldier caste ratio in C. formosanus. This study, therefore, enhanced our understanding of the functional adaptation mechanism between pathogen-driven social immunity and the demography of the termites.
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8
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Sieksmeyer T, He S, Esparza-Mora MA, Jiang S, Petrašiūnaitė V, Kuropka B, Banasiak R, Julseth MJ, Weise C, Johnston PR, Rodríguez-Rojas A, McMahon DP. Eating in a losing cause: limited benefit of modified macronutrient consumption following infection in the oriental cockroach Blatta orientalis. BMC Ecol Evol 2022; 22:67. [PMID: 35585501 PMCID: PMC9118584 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-02007-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Host-pathogen interactions can lead to dramatic changes in host feeding behaviour. One aspect of this includes self-medication, where infected individuals consume substances such as toxins or alter their macronutrient consumption to enhance immune competence. Another widely adopted animal response to infection is illness-induced anorexia, which is thought to assist host immunity directly or by limiting the nutritional resources available to pathogens. Here, we recorded macronutrient preferences of the global pest cockroach, Blatta orientalis to investigate how shifts in host macronutrient dietary preference and quantity of carbohydrate (C) and protein (P) interact with immunity following bacterial infection. RESULTS We find that B. orientalis avoids diets enriched for P under normal conditions, and that high P diets reduce cockroach survival in the long term. However, following bacterial challenge, cockroaches significantly reduced their overall nutrient intake, particularly of carbohydrates, and increased the relative ratio of protein (P:C) consumed. Surprisingly, these behavioural shifts had a limited effect on cockroach immunity and survival, with minor changes to immune protein abundance and antimicrobial activity between individuals placed on different diets, regardless of infection status. CONCLUSIONS We show that cockroach feeding behaviour can be modulated by a pathogen, resulting in an illness-induced anorexia-like feeding response and a shift from a C-enriched to a more P:C equal diet. However, our results also indicate that such responses do not provide significant immune protection in B. orientalis, suggesting that the host's dietary shift might also result from random rather than directed behaviour. The lack of an apparent benefit of the shift in feeding behaviour highlights a possible reduced importance of diet in immune regulation in these invasive animals, although further investigations employing pathogens with alternative infection strategies are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorben Sieksmeyer
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany.,Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Biotechnology, German Institute of Food Technology (DIL e.V.), Prof.-von-Klitzing-Str. 7, 49610, Quakenbrück, Germany
| | - Shulin He
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany.,Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Alejandra Esparza-Mora
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany.,Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany
| | - Shixiong Jiang
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany.,Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vesta Petrašiūnaitė
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benno Kuropka
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Thielallee 63, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ronald Banasiak
- Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mara Jean Julseth
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Weise
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Thielallee 63, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul R Johnston
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany.,Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 310, 12587, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research, Königin-Luise-Str. 6-8, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandro Rodríguez-Rojas
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany.,Internal Medicine, Vetmeduni Vienna, Veterinaerplätz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dino P McMahon
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany. .,Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany.
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9
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Prang MA, Zywucki L, Körner M, Steiger S. Differences in sibling cooperation in presence and absence of parental care in a genus with interspecific variation in offspring dependence. Evolution 2022; 76:320-331. [PMID: 34875109 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The widely spread evolutionary strategy of parental care is considered an important driver of social evolution. Although offspring were long thought to primarily interact competitively, recent studies revealed the potential importance of sibling cooperation. Theories suggest that the degree of cooperation in offspring interactions depends on the degree of offspring dependence on parental care: offspring unable to forage on their own should compete more, whereas more independent juveniles may increase the degree of cooperation. In this study, we tested the occurrence of sibling cooperation in the absence of posthatching care in several burying beetle species exhibiting varying degrees of offspring dependence. To this end, we measured larval growth rate and survival in the presence and absence of prehatching care using different brood sizes. We found that sibling cooperation cannot be exclusively explained by offspring dependence on parental care. Although only species with more independent larvae cooperated when receiving prehatching care, larval cooperation occurred across species in the absence of care. The latter result suggests that sibling cooperation was already present in an early ancestor of the genus Nicrophorus. Overall, these findings give important insights into the transition from facultative to obligate family life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madlen A Prang
- Department of Evolutionary Animal Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, DE-95440, Germany
| | - Lena Zywucki
- Department of Evolutionary Animal Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, DE-95440, Germany
| | - Maximilian Körner
- Department of Evolutionary Animal Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, DE-95440, Germany
| | - Sandra Steiger
- Department of Evolutionary Animal Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, DE-95440, Germany
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10
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Costa-Leonardo AM, da Silva IB, Janei V, Poiani SB, Dos Santos-Pinto JRA, Esteves FG, Palma MS. Salivary glands in workers of Ruptitermes spp. (Blattaria, Isoptera, Termitidae, Apicotermitinae): a morphological and preoteomic approach. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 385:603-621. [PMID: 33961129 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-021-03469-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Salivary glands are omnipresent in termites and occur in all developmental stages and castes. They function to produce, store, and secrete compounds, ranging from a feeding function to defensive mechanisms. Here, we provide a complete morphological overview of the salivary glands in the soldierless species Ruptitermes reconditus and R. xanthochiton, and the first proteomic profile of the salivary glands in a Neotropical Apicotermitinae representative, R. reconditus. Salivary glands from both species were composed of several acini, roughly spherical structures composed of two types of central cells (type I and II) and peripheral parietal cells, as well as transporting ducts and two salivary reservoirs. Central cells were richly supplied with electron-lucent secretory vesicles and rough endoplasmic reticulum, a feature of protein-secreting cells. Parietal cells of Ruptitermes spp. had conspicuous characteristics such as electron-lucent secretory vesicles surrounded by mitochondria and well-developed microvilli. Moreover, different individuals showed variation in the secretory cycle of salivary acini, which may be related to polyethism. Ultrastructural analysis evidenced a high synthesis of secretion and also the occurrence of lysosomes and autophagic structures in central cells. Proteomic analysis of the salivary glands revealed 483 proteins divided into functional groups, highlighting toxins/defensins and compounds related to alarm communication and colony asepsis. Soldierless termites are quite successful, especially due to morphological adaptations of the workers, including unknown modifications of exocrine glands. Thus, according to our morphological and proteomic findings, we discuss the potential roles of the salivary gland secretion in different social aspects of the sampled species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo
- Laboratório de Cupins, Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Instituto de Biociências, Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Campus Rio Claro, Avenida 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil. .,Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais-CEIS, Instituto de Biociências, Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Campus Rio Claro, Avenida 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil.
| | - Iago Bueno da Silva
- Laboratório de Cupins, Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Instituto de Biociências, Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Campus Rio Claro, Avenida 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Vanelize Janei
- Laboratório de Cupins, Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Instituto de Biociências, Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Campus Rio Claro, Avenida 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Silvana Beani Poiani
- Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais-CEIS, Instituto de Biociências, Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Campus Rio Claro, Avenida 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
| | - José Roberto Aparecido Dos Santos-Pinto
- Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais-CEIS, Instituto de Biociências, Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Campus Rio Claro, Avenida 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Franciele Grego Esteves
- Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais-CEIS, Instituto de Biociências, Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Campus Rio Claro, Avenida 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Mario Sérgio Palma
- Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais-CEIS, Instituto de Biociências, Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Campus Rio Claro, Avenida 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
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11
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Li J, Sang M, Jiang Y, Wei J, Shen Y, Huang Q, Li Y, Ni J. Polyene-Producing Streptomyces spp. From the Fungus-Growing Termite Macrotermes barneyi Exhibit High Inhibitory Activity Against the Antagonistic Fungus Xylaria. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:649962. [PMID: 33868208 PMCID: PMC8047067 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.649962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungus-growing termites are engaged in a tripartite mutualism with intestinal microbes and a monocultivar (Termitomyces sp.) in the fungus garden. The termites are often plagued by entomopathogen (Metarhizium anisopliae) and fungus garden is always threatened by competitors (Xylaria spp.). Here, we aim to understand the defensive role of intestinal microbes, the actinomycetes which were isolated from the gut of Macrotermes barneyi. We obtained 44 antifungal isolates, which showed moderate to strong inhibition to Xylaria sp. HPLC analysis indicated that different types of polyenes (tetraene, pentene, and heptaene) existed in the metabolites of 10 strong antifungal Streptomyces strains. Two pentene macrolides (pentamycin and 1′14-dihydroxyisochainin) were firstly purified from Streptomyces strain HF10, both exhibiting higher activity against Xylaria sp. and M. anisopliae than cultivar Termitomyces. Subsequently, tetraene and heptaene related gene disruption assay showed that the mutant strains lost the ability to produce corresponding polyenes, and they also had significantly decreased activities against Xylaria sp. and M. anisopliae compared to that of wild type strains. These results indicate that polyene-producing Streptomyces from the guts of M. barneyi have strong inhibition to competitor fungus and polyenes contribute to inhibitory effects on Xylaria sp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Moli Sang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yutong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jianhua Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yulong Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qihong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yaoyao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jinfeng Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
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12
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He S, Sieksmeyer T, Che Y, Mora MAE, Stiblik P, Banasiak R, Harrison MC, Šobotník J, Wang Z, Johnston PR, McMahon DP. Evidence for reduced immune gene diversity and activity during the evolution of termites. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20203168. [PMID: 33593190 PMCID: PMC7934958 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.3168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of biological complexity is associated with the emergence of bespoke immune systems that maintain and protect organism integrity. Unlike the well-studied immune systems of cells and individuals, little is known about the origins of immunity during the transition to eusociality, a major evolutionary transition comparable to the evolution of multicellular organisms from single-celled ancestors. We aimed to tackle this by characterizing the immune gene repertoire of 18 cockroach and termite species, spanning the spectrum of solitary, subsocial and eusocial lifestyles. We find that key transitions in termite sociality are correlated with immune gene family contractions. In cross-species comparisons of immune gene expression, we find evidence for a caste-specific social defence system in termites, which appears to operate at the expense of individual immune protection. Our study indicates that a major transition in organismal complexity may have entailed a fundamental reshaping of the immune system optimized for group over individual defence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shulin He
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195 Berlin, Germany.,Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany.,Faculty of Forestry and Wood Science, Czech University of Life Science Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Thorben Sieksmeyer
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195 Berlin, Germany.,Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany
| | - Yanli Che
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Tiansheng 2, 400715 Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - M Alejandra Esparza Mora
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195 Berlin, Germany.,Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany
| | - Petr Stiblik
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Science, Czech University of Life Science Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ronald Banasiak
- Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mark C Harrison
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jan Šobotník
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Science Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zongqing Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Tiansheng 2, 400715 Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Paul R Johnston
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195 Berlin, Germany.,Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research, Königin-Luise-Str. 6-8, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dino P McMahon
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195 Berlin, Germany.,Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany
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13
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Termites Are Associated with External Species-Specific Bacterial Communities. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:AEM.02042-20. [PMID: 33097518 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02042-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
All termites have established a wide range of associations with symbiotic microbes in their guts. Some termite species are also associated with microbes that grow in their nests, but the prevalence of these associations remains largely unknown. Here, we studied the bacterial communities associated with the termites and galleries of three wood-feeding termite species by using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. We found that the compositions of bacterial communities among termite bodies, termite galleries, and control wood fragments devoid of termite activities differ in a species-specific manner. Termite galleries were enriched in bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to Rhizobiales and Actinobacteria, which were often shared by several termite species. The abundance of several bacterial OTUs, such as Bacillus, Clostridium, Corynebacterium, and Staphylococcus, was reduced in termite galleries. Our results demonstrate that both termite guts and termite galleries harbor unique bacterial communities.IMPORTANCE As is the case for all ecosystem engineers, termites impact their habitat by their activities, potentially affecting bacterial communities. Here, we studied three wood-feeding termite species and found that they influence the composition of the bacterial communities in their surrounding environment. Termite activities have positive effects on Rhizobiales and Actinobacteria abundance and negative effects on the abundance of several ubiquitous genera, such as Bacillus, Clostridium, Corynebacterium, and Staphylococcus Our results demonstrate that termite galleries harbor unique bacterial communities.
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14
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Bos N, Guimaraes L, Palenzuela R, Renelies-Hamilton J, Maccario L, Silue SK, Koné N'A, Poulsen M. You don't have the guts: a diverse set of fungi survive passage through Macrotermes bellicosus termite guts. BMC Evol Biol 2020; 20:163. [PMID: 33297950 PMCID: PMC7724875 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-020-01727-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Monoculture farming poses significant disease challenges, but fungus-farming termites are able to successfully keep their monoculture crop free from contamination by other fungi. It has been hypothesised that obligate gut passage of all plant substrate used to manure the fungal symbiont is key to accomplish this. Here we refute this hypothesis in the fungus-farming termite species Macrotermes bellicosus. Results We first used ITS amplicon sequencing to show that plant substrate foraged on by termite workers harbour diverse fungal communities, which potentially could challenge the farming symbiosis. Subsequently, we cultivated fungi from dissected sections of termite guts to show that fungal diversity does not decrease during gut passage. Therefore, we investigated if healthy combs harboured these undesirable fungal genera, and whether the presence of workers affected fungal diversity within combs. Removal of workers led to a surge in fungal diversity in combs, implying that termite defences must be responsible for the near-complete absence of other fungi in functioning termite gardens. Conclusions The rapid proliferation of some of these fungi when colonies are compromised indicates that some antagonists successfully employ a sit-and-wait strategy that allows them to remain dormant until conditions are favourable. Although this strategy requires potentially many years of waiting, it prevents these fungi from engaging in an evolutionary arms race with the termite host, which employs a series of complementary behavioural and chemical defences that may prove insurmountable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Bos
- Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Building 3, 1st floor, 2100, Copenhagen East, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Building 3, 1st floor, 2100, Copenhagen East, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Leandro Guimaraes
- Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Building 3, 1st floor, 2100, Copenhagen East, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Building 3, 1st floor, 2100, Copenhagen East, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Romen Palenzuela
- Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Building 3, 1st floor, 2100, Copenhagen East, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Building 3, 1st floor, 2100, Copenhagen East, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Justinn Renelies-Hamilton
- Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Building 3, 1st floor, 2100, Copenhagen East, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Building 3, 1st floor, 2100, Copenhagen East, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lorrie Maccario
- Department of Biology, Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Building 1, 1st floor, 2100, Copenhagen East, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Simon Kolotchèlèma Silue
- Unité de Recherche en Ecologie Et Biodiversité (UREB), Université Nangui Abrogoua, UFR Des Sciences de La Nature (UFR-SN), 28 BP 847 28, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.,Centre de Recherche en Écologie (CRE), Station de Recherche en Ecologie du Parc National de La Comoé, Bouna, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - N 'golo Abdoulaye Koné
- Unité de Recherche en Ecologie Et Biodiversité (UREB), Université Nangui Abrogoua, UFR Des Sciences de La Nature (UFR-SN), 28 BP 847 28, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.,Centre de Recherche en Écologie (CRE), Station de Recherche en Ecologie du Parc National de La Comoé, Bouna, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Building 3, 1st floor, 2100, Copenhagen East, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Building 3, 1st floor, 2100, Copenhagen East, Copenhagen, Denmark
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15
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Oberpaul M, Zumkeller CM, Culver T, Spohn M, Mihajlovic S, Leis B, Glaeser SP, Plarre R, McMahon DP, Hammann P, Schäberle TF, Glaeser J, Vilcinskas A. High-Throughput Cultivation for the Selective Isolation of Acidobacteria From Termite Nests. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:597628. [PMID: 33240253 PMCID: PMC7677567 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.597628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial communities in the immediate environment of socialized invertebrates can help to suppress pathogens, in part by synthesizing bioactive natural products. Here we characterized the core microbiomes of three termite species (genus Coptotermes) and their nest material to gain more insight into the diversity of termite-associated bacteria. Sampling a healthy termite colony over time implicated a consolidated and highly stable microbiome, pointing toward the fact that beneficial bacterial phyla play a major role in termite fitness. In contrast, there was a significant shift in the composition of the core microbiome in one nest during a fungal infection, affecting the abundance of well-characterized Streptomyces species (phylum Actinobacteria) as well as less-studied bacterial phyla such as Acidobacteria. High-throughput cultivation in microplates was implemented to isolate and identify these less-studied bacterial phylogenetic group. Amplicon sequencing confirmed that our method maintained the bacterial diversity of the environmental samples, enabling the isolation of novel Acidobacteriaceae and expanding the list of cultivated species to include two strains that may define new species within the genera Terracidiphilus and Acidobacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Oberpaul
- Branch for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Giessen, Germany
| | - Celine M. Zumkeller
- Branch for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Giessen, Germany
| | - Tanja Culver
- Branch for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Giessen, Germany
| | - Marius Spohn
- Branch for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Giessen, Germany
| | - Sanja Mihajlovic
- Branch for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Giessen, Germany
| | - Benedikt Leis
- Branch for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Giessen, Germany
| | - Stefanie P. Glaeser
- Institute of Applied Microbiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Rudy Plarre
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dino P. McMahon
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Hammann
- Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, R&D Integrated Drug Discovery, Hoechst Industrial Park, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Till F. Schäberle
- Branch for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Giessen, Germany
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jens Glaeser
- Branch for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Giessen, Germany
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Branch for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Giessen, Germany
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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16
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Esparza-Mora MA, Davis HE, Meconcelli S, Plarre R, McMahon DP. Inhibition of a Secreted Immune Molecule Interferes With Termite Social Immunity. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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17
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Wu K, Li S, Wang J, Ni Y, Huang W, Liu Q, Ling E. Peptide Hormones in the Insect Midgut. Front Physiol 2020; 11:191. [PMID: 32194442 PMCID: PMC7066369 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Insects produce many peptide hormones that play important roles in regulating growth, development, immunity, homeostasis, stress, and other processes to maintain normal life. As part of the digestive system, the insect midgut is also affected by hormones secreted from the prothoracic gland, corpus allatum, and various neuronal cells; these hormones regulate the secretion and activity of insects’ digestive enzymes and change their feeding behaviors. In addition, the insect midgut produces certain hormones when it recognizes various components or pathogenic bacteria in ingested foods; concurrently, the hormones regulate other tissues and organs. In addition, intestinal symbiotic bacteria can produce hormones that influence insect signaling pathways to promote host growth and development; this interaction is the result of long-term evolution. In this review, the types, functions, and mechanisms of hormones working on the insect midgut, as well as hormones produced therein, are reviewed for future reference in biological pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao, China
| | - Shirong Li
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao, China
| | - Yuyang Ni
- College of Life Sciences, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao, China
| | - Wuren Huang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiuning Liu
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-Agriculture, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, School of Wetland, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, China
| | - Erjun Ling
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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18
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Identification of Novel ARSB Genes Necessary for p-Benzoquinone Biosynthesis in the Larval Oral Secretion Participating in External Immune Defense in the Red Palm Weevil. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051610. [PMID: 32111099 PMCID: PMC7084252 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
External secretions, composed of a variety of chemical components, are among the most important traits that endow insects with the ability to defend themselves against predators, parasites, or other adversities, especially pathogens. Thus, these exudates play a crucial role in external immunity. Red palm weevil larvae are prolific in this regard, producing large quantities of p-benzoquinone, which is present in their oral secretion. Benzoquinone with antimicrobial activity has been proven to be an active ingredient and key factor for external immunity in a previous study. To obtain a better understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of external immune secretions, we identify genes necessary for p-benzoquinone synthesis. Three novel ARSB genes, namely, RfARSB-0311, RfARSB-11581, and RfARSB-14322, are screened, isolated, and molecularly characterized on the basis of transcriptome data. To determine whether these genes are highly and specifically expressed in the secretory gland, we perform tissue/organ-specific expression profile analysis. The functions of these genes are further determined by examining the antimicrobial activity of the secretions and quantification of p-benzoquinone after RNAi. All the results reveal that the ARSB gene family can regulate the secretory volume of p-benzoquinone by participating in the biosynthesis of quinones, thus altering the host’s external immune inhibitory efficiency.
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19
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Brückner A, Parker J. Molecular evolution of gland cell types and chemical interactions in animals. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 223:223/Suppl_1/jeb211938. [PMID: 32034048 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.211938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Across the Metazoa, the emergence of new ecological interactions has been enabled by the repeated evolution of exocrine glands. Specialized glands have arisen recurrently and with great frequency, even in single genera or species, transforming how animals interact with their environment through trophic resource exploitation, pheromonal communication, chemical defense and parental care. The widespread convergent evolution of animal glands implies that exocrine secretory cells are a hotspot of metazoan cell type innovation. Each evolutionary origin of a novel gland involves a process of 'gland cell type assembly': the stitching together of unique biosynthesis pathways; coordinated changes in secretory systems to enable efficient chemical release; and transcriptional deployment of these machineries into cells constituting the gland. This molecular evolutionary process influences what types of compound a given species is capable of secreting, and, consequently, the kinds of ecological interactions that species can display. Here, we discuss what is known about the evolutionary assembly of gland cell types and propose a framework for how it may happen. We posit the existence of 'terminal selector' transcription factors that program gland function via regulatory recruitment of biosynthetic enzymes and secretory proteins. We suggest ancestral enzymes are initially co-opted into the novel gland, fostering pleiotropic conflict that drives enzyme duplication. This process has yielded the observed pattern of modular, gland-specific biosynthesis pathways optimized for manufacturing specific secretions. We anticipate that single-cell technologies and gene editing methods applicable in diverse species will transform the study of animal chemical interactions, revealing how gland cell types are assembled and functionally configured at a molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Brückner
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Joseph Parker
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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20
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Bodawatta KH, Poulsen M, Bos N. Foraging Macrotermes natalensis Fungus-Growing Termites Avoid a Mycopathogen but Not an Entomopathogen. INSECTS 2019; 10:E185. [PMID: 31247889 PMCID: PMC6681374 DOI: 10.3390/insects10070185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Fungus-growing termites have to defend both themselves and their monoculture fungal cultivars from antagonistic microbes. One of the ways that pathogens can enter the termite colony is on the plant substrate that is collected by termite foragers. In order to understand whether foragers avoid substrate infected with antagonists, we offered sub-colonies of Macrotermes natalensis a choice between food exposed to either a mycopathogenic or an entomopathogenic fungus, and control food. Workers did not show any preference between entomopathogen-exposed and control substrate, but significantly avoided the mycopathogen-exposed substrate. This suggests that the behaviour of foraging workers is more strongly influenced by pathogens affecting their crop than those posing risks to the termite workers themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasun H Bodawatta
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen East, Denmark
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen East, Denmark
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen East, Denmark.
| | - Nick Bos
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen East, Denmark
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21
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Liu L, Zhao XY, Tang QB, Lei CL, Huang QY. The Mechanisms of Social Immunity Against Fungal Infections in Eusocial Insects. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:E244. [PMID: 31035652 PMCID: PMC6563085 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11050244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Entomopathogenic fungus as well as their toxins is a natural threat surrounding social insect colonies. To defend against them, social insects have evolved a series of unique disease defenses at the colony level, which consists of behavioral and physiological adaptations. These colony-level defenses can reduce the infection and poisoning risk and improve the survival of societal members, and is known as social immunity. In this review, we discuss how social immunity enables the insect colony to avoid, resist and tolerate fungal pathogens. To understand the molecular basis of social immunity, we highlight several genetic elements and biochemical factors that drive the colony-level defense, which needs further verification. We discuss the chemosensory genes in regulating social behaviors, the antifungal secretions such as some insect venoms in external defense and the immune priming in internal defense. To conclude, we show the possible driving force of the fungal toxins for the evolution of social immunity. Throughout the review, we propose several questions involved in social immunity extended from some phenomena that have been reported. We hope our review about social 'host-fungal pathogen' interactions will help us further understand the mechanism of social immunity in eusocial insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Liu
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
- Plant Protection College, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
| | - Xing-Ying Zhao
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Qing-Bo Tang
- Plant Protection College, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
| | - Chao-Liang Lei
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Qiu-Ying Huang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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