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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:e0093624. [PMID: 38940615 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00936-24] [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: 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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Xu J, Tan JB, Li YD, Xu YH, Tang A, Zhou HK, Shi PQ. Diversity and dynamics of endosymbionts in a single population of sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius (Coleoptera: Brentidae): a preliminary study. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2023; 23:13. [PMID: 37052365 PMCID: PMC10099751 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iead021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Endosymbionts live symbiotically with insect hosts and play important roles in the evolution, growth, development, reproduction, and environmental fitness of hosts. Weevils are one of the most abundant insect groups that can be infected by various endosymbionts, such as Sodalis, Nardonella, and Wolbachia. The sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius (Coleoptera: Brentidae), is a notorious pest in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cultivation. Currently, little is known about the presence of endosymbionts in C. formicarius. Herein, we assessed the endosymbiont load of a single geographic population of C. formicarius. The results showed that Nardonella and Rickettsia could infect C. formicarius at different rates, which also varied according to the developmental stages of C. formicarius. The relative titer of Nardonella was significantly related to C. formicarius developmental stages. The Nardonella-infecting sweet potato weevils were most closely related to the Nardonella in Sphenophorus levis (Coleoptera, Curculionidae). The Rickettsia be identified in bellii group. These results preliminarily revealed the endosymbionts in C. formicarius and helped to explore the diversity of endosymbionts in weevils and uncover the physiological roles of endosymbionts in weevils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Xu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Jian-Bin Tan
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Yi-Dan Li
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Yuan-Hao Xu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - An Tang
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Hong-Kai Zhou
- Department of agronomy, College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
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Chen R, Luo J, Zhu X, Wang L, Zhang K, Li D, Gao X, Niu L, Huangfu N, Ma X, Ji J, Cui J. Dynamic changes in species richness and community diversity of symbiotic bacteria in five reproductive morphs of cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1086728. [PMID: 36713208 PMCID: PMC9877530 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1086728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Reproductive polymorphism and symbiotic bacteria are commonly observed in aphids, but their interaction remains largely unclear. In polymorphic aphid species (Aphis gossypii), offspring of parthenogenetic females (PFs) develops into sexuparae which produces gynoparae and males successively. Gynoparae further produces sexual females (SFs), and these sexual females mate with males to produce offspring. Methods In this study, we investigated the dynamic changes of symbiotic bacteria during the above-mentioned five reproductive morph switch in A. gossypii via 16S rRNA sequencing technology. Results The results showed that species richness and community diversity of symbiotic bacteria in males were the highest. Proteobacteria was absolutely dominant bacterial phylum (with relative abundance of more than 90%) in the five reproductive morphs of A. gossypii, and Buchnera was absolutely dominant genus (with relative abundance of >90%), followed by Rhodococcus, Pseudomonas, and Pantoea. Male-killing symbiont Arsenophonus presented the highest relative abundance in gynoparae, a specific morph whose offsprings were exclusively sexual females. Both principal component analysis (PCA) and clustering analysis showed trans-generation similarity in microbial community structure between sexuparae and sexual females, between PFs and gynoparae. PICRUSt 2 analysis showed that symbiotic bacteria in the five reproductive morphs were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways. Discussion Reproductive morph switch induced by environmental changes might be associated with bacterial community variation and sexual polymorphism of aphids. This study provides a new perspective for further deciphering the interactions between microbes and reproductive polymorphism in host aphids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifang Chen
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China,State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
| | - Junyu Luo
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China,State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China,Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji, China
| | - Xiangzhen Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
| | - Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
| | - Kaixin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China,Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji, China
| | - Dongyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
| | - Xueke Gao
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China,State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China,Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji, China
| | - Lin Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
| | - Ningbo Huangfu
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ma
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China,State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China,Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji, China
| | - Jichao Ji
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China,State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China,Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji, China,*Correspondence: Jichao Ji,
| | - Jinjie Cui
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China,State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China,Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji, China,Jinjie Cui,
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Lledo B, Fuentes A, Lozano FM, Cascales A, Morales R, Hortal M, Sellers F, Palacios-Marques A, Bermejo R, Quereda F, Martínez-Escoriza JC, Bernabeu R, Bernabeu A. Identification of vaginal microbiome associated with IVF pregnancy. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6807. [PMID: 35474343 PMCID: PMC9042930 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10933-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The factors that cause a preterm birth (PTB) are not completely understood up to date. Moreover, PTB is more common in pregnancies achieved by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) than in spontaneous pregnancies. Our aim was to compare the composition of vaginal microbiome at 12 weeks of gestation between women who conceived naturally or through IVF in order to study whether IVF PTB-risk could be related to vaginal microbiome composition. We performed an observational, prospective and multicentre study among two public hospitals and a fertility private clinic in Spain. Vaginal swabs from 64 pregnant women at 12 weeks of gestation were collected to analyse the microbiome composition by sequencing the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA. Our results showed that the vaginal microbiome signature at 12 weeks of pregnancy was different from women who conceived naturally or through IVF. The beta diversity and the genus composition were different between both cohorts. Gardnerella, Neisseria, Prevotella, and Staphylococcus genus were enriched genus in the vaginal microbiome from the IVF group, allowing us to create a balance model to predict both cohorts. Moreover, at species level the L. iners abundance was higher and L. gasseri was lower in the IVF group. As a conclusion, our findings were consistent with a proposed framework in which IVF pregnancy are related to risk for preterm birth (PTB) suggesting vaginal microbiome could be the reason to the relation between IVF pregnancy and risk for PTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Lledo
- Molecular Biology, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, Avda. Albufereta, 31, 03016, Alicante, Spain.
| | - A Fuentes
- Reproductive Medicine, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, 03016, Alicante, Spain
| | - F M Lozano
- Molecular Biology, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, Avda. Albufereta, 31, 03016, Alicante, Spain
| | - A Cascales
- Molecular Biology, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, Avda. Albufereta, 31, 03016, Alicante, Spain
| | - R Morales
- Molecular Biology, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, Avda. Albufereta, 31, 03016, Alicante, Spain
| | - M Hortal
- Molecular Biology, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, Avda. Albufereta, 31, 03016, Alicante, Spain
| | - F Sellers
- Reproductive Medicine, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, 03016, Alicante, Spain.,Obstetrics, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, 03016, Alicante, Spain
| | - A Palacios-Marques
- Obstetrics, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, 03016, Alicante, Spain.,Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, 03010, Alicante, Spain.,ISABIAL (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante), Alicante, Spain
| | - R Bermejo
- Division of Gynecology, Hospital Universitario San Juan de Alicante, 03550, Alicante, Spain.,Division of Gynecology, School of Medicine, Miguel Hernández University, Alicante, Spain
| | - F Quereda
- Division of Gynecology, Hospital Universitario San Juan de Alicante, 03550, Alicante, Spain.,Division of Gynecology, School of Medicine, Miguel Hernández University, Alicante, Spain
| | - J C Martínez-Escoriza
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, 03010, Alicante, Spain.,ISABIAL (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante), Alicante, Spain
| | - R Bernabeu
- Reproductive Medicine, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, 03016, Alicante, Spain
| | - A Bernabeu
- Reproductive Medicine, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, 03016, Alicante, Spain
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Luo J, Wang Z, Tang F, Feng K. Immune Defense Mechanism of Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder (Blattodea: Isoptera) against Serratia marcescens Bizio. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13030226. [PMID: 35323524 PMCID: PMC8954430 DOI: 10.3390/insects13030226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder is the most important pest in China. Serratia marcescens (SM1) can infect insects. In our lab, we found that SM1 can kill R. chinensis. However, the mechanisms underlying the immune defense of R. chinensis against SM1 is unknown. Therefore, understanding the interaction between R. chinensis and SM1 is important for termite control. In this study, immune-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in R. chinensis were identified and analyzed after SM1 infection. The results increased our understanding of immune responses in pests. This study was helpful for the development of immune suppressive agents in R. chinensis management. Abstract Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder is an important pest species in China. Serratia marcescens Bizio (SM1) is a potent biological bacterium. In our lab, we found that SM1 can kill R. chinensis. To date, the interaction between R. chinensis and SM1 has not been studied. Here, we explored immune responses of R. chinensis against SM1 using transcriptome sequencing. To elucidate immune-related genes, we identified 126,153 unigenes from R. chinensis. In total, 178 immune-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that many cellular responses were enriched in the top 20 terms. Then, we systematically analyzed several cellular immune pathways involved in the response of R. chinensis to SM1, including phagocytosis, autophagy, and endocytosis pathways. Furthermore, the expression profiles of the cellular immune-related genes were assessed using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR, and the expression levels of the selected genes were upregulated. Further results revealed SM1-mediated activation of humoral immune responses genes, including Toll, IMD, and melanization pathways, which suggested the involvement of humoral immune responses in the defense against SM1. This research elucidated the mechanisms underlying the immune defense of R. chinensis against SM1, providing a solid theoretical basis for exploiting new immune suppressive agents to control R. chinensis. Moreover, this study will facilitate the better control of R. chinensis using SM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Luo
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; (J.L.); (Z.W.); (K.F.)
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; (J.L.); (Z.W.); (K.F.)
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Fang Tang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; (J.L.); (Z.W.); (K.F.)
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-138-1396-6269
| | - Kai Feng
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; (J.L.); (Z.W.); (K.F.)
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
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Molecular phylogeny of heritable symbionts and microbiota diversity analysis in phlebotominae sand flies and Culex nigripalpus from Colombia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009942. [PMID: 34928947 PMCID: PMC8722730 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Secondary symbionts of insects include a range of bacteria and fungi that perform various functional roles on their hosts, such as fitness, tolerance to heat stress, susceptibility to insecticides and effects on reproduction. These endosymbionts could have the potential to shape microbial communites and high potential to develop strategies for mosquito-borne disease control. Methodology/Principal findings The relative frequency and molecular phylogeny of Wolbachia, Microsporidia and Cardinium were determined of phlebotomine sand flies and mosquitoes in two regions from Colombia. Illumina Miseq using the 16S rRNA gene as a biomarker was conducted to examine the microbiota. Different percentages of natural infection by Wolbachia, Cardinium, and Microsporidia in phlebotomines and mosquitoes were detected. Phylogenetic analysis of Wolbachia shows putative new strains of Lutzomyia gomezi (wLgom), Brumptomyia hamata (wBrham), and a putative new group associated with Culex nigripalpus (Cnig) from the Andean region, located in Supergroup A and Supergroup B, respectively. The sequences of Microsporidia were obtained of Pi. pia and Cx. nigripalpus, which are located on phylogeny in the IV clade (terrestrial origin). The Cardinium of Tr. triramula and Ps. shannoni were located in group C next to Culicoides sequences while Cardinium of Mi. cayennensis formed two putative new subgroups of Cardinium in group A. In total were obtained 550 bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and 189 taxa to the genus level. The microbiota profiles of Sand flies and mosquitoes showed mainly at the phylum level to Proteobacteria (67.6%), Firmicutes (17.9%) and Actinobacteria (7.4%). High percentages of relative abundance for Wolbachia (30%-83%) in Lu. gomezi, Ev. dubitans, Mi. micropyga, Br. hamata, and Cx. nigripalpus were found. ASVs assigned as Microsporidia were found in greater abundance in Pi. pia (23%) and Cx. nigripalpus (11%). An important finding is the detection of Rickettsia in Pi. pia (58,8%) and Bartonella sp. in Cx. nigripalpus. Conclusions/Significance We found that Wolbachia infection significantly decreased the alpha diversity and negatively impacts the number of taxa on sand flies and Culex nigripalpus. The Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) is consistent, which showed statistically significant differences (PERMANOVA, F = 2.4744; R2 = 0.18363; p-value = 0.007) between the microbiota of sand flies and mosquitoes depending on its origin, host and possibly for the abundance of some endosymbionts (Wolbachia, Rickettsia). The secondary endosymbionts can positively influence the metabolism of many compounds essential for the survival of the insect vectors, provide resistance to pathogens and impact susceptibility to insecticides, as also the tolerance to heat stress. We provide information from new records of natural infection of secondary endosymbionts, such as Wolbachia, Cardinium, Microsporidia, Flavobacterium, and Rickettsia in phlebotomine sand flies and mosquitoes from Colombia. An important finding is the detection of Bartonella sp. in Cx. nigripalpus. Clear differences were found in the composition and diversity of microbiota at the intra-specific and interspecific levels in sand flies and Cx. nigripalpus, which may depend in the of the load of natural infection of endosymbionts (as Wolbachia), the geographical distribution and host.
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Duan DY, Liu YK, Liu L, Liu GH, Cheng TY. Microbiome analysis of the midguts of different developmental stages of Argas persicus in China. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 13:101868. [PMID: 34800866 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Argas persicus is an ectoparasite of poultry. The bacterial community structure and the pathogenic bacteria associated with different developmental stages of A. persicus have implications for control. Argas persicus were collected from chickens in the city of Jiuquan in Gansu, China. Bacterial DNA was extracted from the midgut contents of blood engorged larvae, nymphs and adult females. The V3-V4 hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA genes were sequenced using the IonS5™XL platform. Identification of Rickettsia spp. and detection of Coxiella burnetii were performed using PCR on target genes. The bacterial diversity within larvae was the highest and the bacterial diversity within nymphs was greater than that of adults. At different classification levels, seven bacterial phyla were common phyla, 27 genera were common genera, and 18 species were common species in the three samples. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria showed a marked predominance in all samples. Rickettsia, Stenotrophomonas, Spiroplasma, and Coxiella were the dominant bacteria at the genus level. The Rickettsia species in A. persicus was identified as Rickettsia hoogstraalii and the Coxiella species was identified as a Coxiella-like endosymbiont. Additionally, some bacterial species such as Pseudomonas geniculata, Sphingomonas koreensis, and Acinetobacter haemolyticus were reported here for the first time in A. persicus.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Yong Duan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, China
| | - Yu-Ke Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, China
| | - Lei Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, China
| | - Guo-Hua Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, China.
| | - Tian-Yin Cheng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, China.
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Narasimhan S, Swei A, Abouneameh S, Pal U, Pedra JHF, Fikrig E. Grappling with the tick microbiome. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:722-733. [PMID: 33962878 PMCID: PMC8282638 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus are the predominant vectors of multiple human pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi, one of the causative agents of Lyme disease in North America. Differences in the habitats and host preferences of these closely related tick species present an opportunity to examine key aspects of the tick microbiome. While advances in sequencing technologies have accelerated a descriptive understanding of the tick microbiome, molecular and mechanistic insights into the tick microbiome are only beginning to emerge. Progress is stymied by technical difficulties in manipulating the microbiome and by biological variables related to the life cycle of Ixodid ticks. This review highlights these challenges and examines avenues to understand the significance of the tick microbiome in tick biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanya Narasimhan
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06420, USA.
| | - Andrea Swei
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
| | - Selma Abouneameh
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06420, USA
| | - Utpal Pal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, College Park, MD 20472, USA
| | - Joao H F Pedra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 20472, USA
| | - Erol Fikrig
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06420, USA
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Elston KM, Leonard SP, Geng P, Bialik SB, Robinson E, Barrick JE. Engineering insects from the endosymbiont out. Trends Microbiol 2021; 30:79-96. [PMID: 34103228 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Insects are an incredibly diverse group of animals with species that benefit and harm natural ecosystems, agriculture, and human health. Many insects have consequential associations with microbes: bacterial symbionts may be embedded in different insect tissues and cell types, inherited across insect generations, and required for insect survival and reproduction. Genetically engineering insect symbionts is key to understanding and harnessing these associations. We summarize different types of insect-bacteria relationships and review methods used to genetically modify endosymbiont and gut symbiont species. Finally, we discuss recent studies that use this approach to study symbioses, manipulate insect-microbe interactions, and influence insect biology. Further progress in insect symbiont engineering promises to solve societal challenges, ranging from controlling pests to protecting pollinator health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Elston
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Sean P Leonard
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Peng Geng
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Sarah B Bialik
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Elizabeth Robinson
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Jeffrey E Barrick
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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10
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New Insights into Cockroach Control: Using Functional Diversity of Blattella germanica Symbionts. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11100696. [PMID: 33066069 PMCID: PMC7601444 DOI: 10.3390/insects11100696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Insect hosts have close relationships with microbial symbionts. The limited metabolic networks of most insects are enhanced by these symbiotic relationships. Using symbiotic microorganisms for biological control of insects and insect-borne diseases has become an important research topic and shows potential for the development of applicable control approaches. Blattella germanica (L.) is public health pest worldwide; it is difficult to control because of its strong reproductive ability, adaptability, and resistance to insecticides. In this paper, the diverse biological functions (nutrition metabolism, reproductive regulation, insecticide resistance, defense, and behavior management) of symbionts, their interaction mechanism with hosts, and the research progress in the control of B. germanica are reviewed and discussed. Abstract Insects have close symbiotic relationships with several microbes, which extends the limited metabolic networks of most insects. Using symbiotic microorganisms for the biological control of pests and insect-borne diseases has become a promising direction. Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattaria: Blattidae) is a public health pest worldwide, which is difficult to control because of its strong reproductive ability, adaptability, and resistance to insecticides. In this paper, the diverse biological functions (nutrition, reproductive regulation, insecticide resistance, defense, and behavior) of symbionts were reviewed, and new biological control strategies on the basis of insect–symbiont interaction were proposed. We highlight new directions in B. germanica control, such as suppressing cockroach population using Wolbachia or paratransgenes, and combining fungal insecticides with synergistic agents to enhance insecticidal efficacy.
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11
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Jones TKL, Medina RF. Corn Stunt Disease: An Ideal Insect-Microbial-Plant Pathosystem for Comprehensive Studies of Vector-Borne Plant Diseases of Corn. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9060747. [PMID: 32545891 PMCID: PMC7356856 DOI: 10.3390/plants9060747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Over 700 plant diseases identified as vector-borne negatively impact plant health and food security globally. The pest control of vector-borne diseases in agricultural settings is in urgent need of more effective tools. Ongoing research in genetics, molecular biology, physiology, and vector behavior has begun to unravel new insights into the transmission of phytopathogens by their insect vectors. However, the intricate mechanisms involved in phytopathogen transmission for certain pathosystems warrant further investigation. In this review, we propose the corn stunt pathosystem (Zea mays-Spiroplasma kunkelii-Dalbulus maidis) as an ideal model for dissecting the molecular determinants and mechanisms underpinning the persistent transmission of a mollicute by its specialist insect vector to an economically important monocotyledonous crop. Corn stunt is the most important disease of corn in the Americas and the Caribbean, where it causes the severe stunting of corn plants and can result in up to 100% yield loss. A comprehensive study of the corn stunt disease system will pave the way for the discovery of novel molecular targets for genetic pest control targeting either the insect vector or the phytopathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara-kay L. Jones
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, TAMU 2475, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA;
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research—Weslaco, 2415 E. Business 83, Weslaco, TX 78596-8344, USA
| | - Raul F. Medina
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, TAMU 2475, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-979-845-4775
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12
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RNA-Seq comparative analysis reveals the response of Enterococcus faecalis TV4 under fluoride exposure. Gene 2020; 726:144197. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.144197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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13
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Liang Y, Hong Y, Mai Z, Zhu Q, Guo L. Internal and External Microbial Community of the Thitarodes Moth, the Host of Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7110517. [PMID: 31683719 PMCID: PMC6920881 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7110517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a widely known medicinal entomogenous fungus, which parasitizes the soil-borne larva of Thitarodes (Hepialidae, Lepidoptera) distributed in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau and its adjacent areas. Previous research has involved artificial cultivation of Chinese cordyceps (the fungus-caterpillar complex), but it is difficult to achieve large-scale cultivation because the coupling relation between the crucial microbes and their hosts is not quite clear. To clarify the influence of the internal microbial community on the occurrence of Chinese cordyceps, in this study, the unfertilized eggs of Thitarodes of different sampling sites were chosen to analyze the bacterial and fungal communities via 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing for the first time. The results showed that for bacteria, 348 genera (dominant genera include Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, Carnobacterium, Sphingobium, and Acinetobacter) belonging to 26 phyla (dominant phyla include Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Tenericutes, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Bacteroidetes), 58 classes, 84 orders, and 120 families were identified from 1294 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The dominant bacterial genus (Spiroplasma) may be an important bacterial factor promoting the occurrence of Chinese cordyceps. For fungi, 289 genera, mainly including Aureobasidium, Candida, and Cryptococcus, were identified, and they belonged to 5 phyla (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Glomeromycota, and Zygomycota), 26 classes, 82 orders, and 165 families. Eight bacterial OTUs and 12 fungal OTUs were shared among all of the detected samples and were considered as core species. Among them, Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, Carnobacterium, Aureobasidium, and Phoma may play important roles in helping the host larva to digest foods, adapt to extreme environments, or resist pathogens. On the other hand, the external (soil) microbial community was synchronously and comparatively analyzed. Comparative analysis revealed that external microbial factors might play a more significant role in the occurrence of Chinese cordyceps, owing to the significant differences revealed by α-diversity and β-diversity analyses among different groups. In summary, the results of this study may contribute to the large-scale cultivation of Chinese cordyceps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liang
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
| | - Yuehui Hong
- Department of Basic Medicine, Guangdong Jiangmen Chinese Medical College, Jiangmen 529000, China.
| | - Zhanhua Mai
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
| | - Qijiong Zhu
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
| | - Lianxian Guo
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
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14
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Innate immune responses to paraquat exposure in a Drosophila model of Parkinson's disease. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12714. [PMID: 31481676 PMCID: PMC6722124 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48977-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative movement disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Limited understanding of the early molecular pathways associated with the demise of DA neurons, including those of inflammatory exacerbation of neurodegeneration, is a major impediment to therapeutic development. Recent studies have implicated gene-environment interactions in PD susceptibility. We used transcriptomic profiling in a Drosophila PD model in response to paraquat (PQ)-induced oxidative stress to identify pre-symptomatic signatures of impending neuron dysfunction. Our RNAseq data analysis revealed extensive regulation of innate immune response genes following PQ ingestion. We found that PQ exposure leads to the activation of the NF-κB transcription factor, Relish, and the stress signaling factor JNK, encoded by the gene basket in Drosophila. Relish knockdown in the dopaminergic neurons confers PQ resistance and rescues mobility defects and DA neuron loss. Furthermore, PQ-induced toxicity is mediated through the immune deficiency signaling pathway. Surprisingly, the expression of Relish-dependent anti-microbial peptide (AMPs) genes is suppressed upon PQ exposure causing increased sensitivity to Gram-negative bacterial infection. This work provides a novel link between PQ exposure and innate immune system modulation underlying environmental toxin-induced neurodegeneration, thereby underscoring the role of the innate immune system in PD pathogenesis.
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15
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Participation of the Serine Protease Jonah66Ci in the Drosophila Antinematode Immune Response. Infect Immun 2019; 87:IAI.00094-19. [PMID: 31182620 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00094-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Serine proteases and serine protease homologs form the second largest gene family in the Drosophila melanogaster genome. Certain genes in the Jonah multigene family encoding serine proteases have been implicated in the fly antiviral immune response. Here, we report the involvement of Jonah66Ci in the Drosophila immune defense against Steinernema carpocapsae nematode infection. We find that Drosophila Jonah66Ci is upregulated in response to symbiotic (carrying the mutualistic bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila) or axenic (lacking Xenorhabdus) Steinernema nematodes and is expressed exclusively in the gut of Drosophila larvae. Inactivation of Jonah66Ci provides a survival advantage to larvae against axenic nematodes and results in differential expression of Toll and Imd pathway effector genes, specifically in the gut. Also, inactivation of Jonah66Ci increases the numbers of enteroendocrine and mitotic cells in the gut of uninfected larvae, and infection with Steinernema nematodes reduces their numbers, whereas the numbers of intestinal stem cells are unaffected by nematode infection. Jonah66Ci knockdown further reduces nitric oxide levels in response to infection with symbiotic Steinernema nematodes. Finally, we show that Jonah66Ci knockdown does not alter the feeding rates of uninfected Drosophila larvae; however, infection with axenic Steinernema nematodes lowers larval feeding. In conclusion, we report that Jonah66Ci participates in maintaining homeostasis of certain physiological processes in Drosophila larvae in the context of Steinernema nematode infection. Similar findings will take us a step further toward understanding the molecular and physiological mechanisms that take place during parasitic nematode infection in insects.
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16
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Schneider DI, Saarman N, Onyango MG, Hyseni C, Opiro R, Echodu R, O’Neill M, Bloch D, Vigneron A, Johnson TJ, Dion K, Weiss BL, Opiyo E, Caccone A, Aksoy S. Spatio-temporal distribution of Spiroplasma infections in the tsetse fly (Glossina fuscipes fuscipes) in northern Uganda. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007340. [PMID: 31369548 PMCID: PMC6692048 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) are vectors of parasitic trypanosomes, which cause human (HAT) and animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (Gff) is the main vector of HAT, where it transmits Gambiense disease in the northwest and Rhodesiense disease in central, southeast and western regions. Endosymbionts can influence transmission efficiency of parasites through their insect vectors via conferring a protective effect against the parasite. It is known that the bacterium Spiroplasma is capable of protecting its Drosophila host from infection with a parasitic nematode. This endosymbiont can also impact its host's population structure via altering host reproductive traits. Here, we used field collections across 26 different Gff sampling sites in northern and western Uganda to investigate the association of Spiroplasma with geographic origin, seasonal conditions, Gff genetic background and sex, and trypanosome infection status. We also investigated the influence of Spiroplasma on Gff vector competence to trypanosome infections under laboratory conditions. Generalized linear models (GLM) showed that Spiroplasma probability was correlated with the geographic origin of Gff host and with the season of collection, with higher prevalence found in flies within the Albert Nile (0.42 vs 0.16) and Achwa River (0.36 vs 0.08) watersheds and with higher prevalence detected in flies collected in the intermediate than wet season. In contrast, there was no significant correlation of Spiroplasma prevalence with Gff host genetic background or sex once geographic origin was accounted for in generalized linear models. Additionally, we found a potential negative correlation of Spiroplasma with trypanosome infection, with only 2% of Spiroplasma infected flies harboring trypanosome co-infections. We also found that in a laboratory line of Gff, parasitic trypanosomes are less likely to colonize the midgut in individuals that harbor Spiroplasma infection. These results indicate that Spiroplasma infections in tsetse may be maintained by not only maternal but also via horizontal transmission routes, and Spiroplasma infections may also have important effects on trypanosome transmission efficiency of the host tsetse. Potential functional effects of Spiroplasma infection in Gff could have impacts on vector control approaches to reduce trypanosome infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela I. Schneider
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Norah Saarman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Maria G. Onyango
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Chaz Hyseni
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, United States of America
| | - Robert Opiro
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gulu University, Uganda
| | - Richard Echodu
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gulu University, Uganda
| | - Michelle O’Neill
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Danielle Bloch
- Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City, NY, United States of America
| | - Aurélien Vigneron
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - T. J. Johnson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Kirstin Dion
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Brian L. Weiss
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Opiyo
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, United States of America
| | - Adalgisa Caccone
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
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17
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Cheng D, Chen S, Huang Y, Pierce NE, Riegler M, Yang F, Zeng L, Lu Y, Liang G, Xu Y. Symbiotic microbiota may reflect host adaptation by resident to invasive ant species. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007942. [PMID: 31323076 PMCID: PMC6668852 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Exotic invasive species can influence the behavior and ecology of native and resident species, but these changes are often overlooked. Here we hypothesize that the ghost ant, Tapinoma melanocephalum, living in areas that have been invaded by the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, displays behavioral differences to interspecific competition that are reflected in both its trophic position and symbiotic microbiota. We demonstrate that T. melanocephalum workers from S. invicta invaded areas are less aggressive towards workers of S. invicta than those inhabiting non-invaded areas. Nitrogen isotope analyses reveal that colonies of T. melanocephalum have protein-rich diets in S. invicta invaded areas compared with the carbohydrate-rich diets of colonies living in non-invaded areas. Analysis of microbiota isolated from gut tissue shows that T. melanocephalum workers from S. invicta invaded areas also have different bacterial communities, including a higher abundance of Wolbachia that may play a role in vitamin B provisioning. In contrast, the microbiota of workers of T. melanocephalum from S. invicta-free areas are dominated by bacteria from the orders Bacillales, Lactobacillales and Enterobacteriales that may be involved in sugar metabolism. We further demonstrate experimentally that the composition and structure of the bacterial symbiont communities as well as the prevalence of vitamin B in T. melanocephalum workers from S. invicta invaded and non-invaded areas can be altered if T. melanocephalum workers are supplied with either protein-rich or carbohydrate-rich food. Our results support the hypothesis that bacterial symbiont communities can help hosts by buffering behavioral changes caused by interspecies competition as a consequence of biological invasions. Insects display a wide range of dependence on symbiotic bacteria for basic functions. Responses by resident species to selective pressures imposed by invasive species, as well as specific underlying mechanisms that give rise to these responses are still poorly understood. Here we investigate the role of the symbiotic bacteria of the ghost ant, Tapinoma melanocephalum, to changes in host behavior associated with interspecies competition in areas invaded by fire ants, Solenopsis invicta. We show that Wolbachia is significantly enriched in workers of T. melanocephalum from S. invicta infested areas, and that these bacteria also increase in abundance in colonies that have been supplied with protein-rich food. Our results suggest that bacterial symbiont communities can play an important role in enabling ants to tolerate changes in behavior and diet as a result of biological invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daifeng Cheng
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Siqi Chen
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuquan Huang
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Naomi E. Pierce
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA, United States of America
| | - Markus Riegler
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Zeng
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongyue Lu
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guangwen Liang
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yijuan Xu
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- * E-mail:
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18
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Szenteczki MA, Pitteloud C, Casacci LP, Kešnerová L, Whitaker MR, Engel P, Vila R, Alvarez N. Bacterial communities within Phengaris (Maculinea) alcon caterpillars are shifted following transition from solitary living to social parasitism of Myrmica ant colonies. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:4452-4464. [PMID: 31031919 PMCID: PMC6476763 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial symbionts are known to facilitate a wide range of physiological processes and ecological interactions for their hosts. In spite of this, caterpillars with highly diverse life histories appear to lack resident microbiota. Gut physiology, endogenous digestive enzymes, and limited social interactions may contribute to this pattern, but the consequences of shifts in social activity and diet on caterpillar microbiota are largely unknown. Phengaris alcon caterpillars undergo particularly dramatic social and dietary shifts when they parasitize Myrmica ant colonies, rapidly transitioning from solitary herbivory to ant tending (i.e., receiving protein-rich regurgitations through trophallaxis). This unique life history provides a model for studying interactions between social living, diet, and caterpillar microbiota. Here, we characterized and compared bacterial communities within P. alcon caterpillars before and after their association with ants, using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and quantitative PCR. After being adopted by ants, bacterial communities within P. alcon caterpillars shifted substantially, with a significant increase in alpha diversity and greater consistency in bacterial community composition in terms of beta dissimilarity. We also characterized the bacterial communities within their host ants (Myrmica schencki), food plant (Gentiana cruciata), and soil from ant nest chambers. These data indicated that the aforementioned patterns were influenced by bacteria derived from caterpillars' surrounding environments, rather than through transfers from ants. Thus, while bacterial communities are substantially reorganized over the life cycle of P. alcon caterpillars, it appears that they do not rely on transfers of bacteria from host ants to complete their development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. Szenteczki
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Camille Pitteloud
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Present address:
Department of Environmental Systems SciencesInstitute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETHZZürichSwitzerland
| | - Luca P. Casacci
- Museum and Institute of ZoologyPolish Academy of SciencesWarsawPoland
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems BiologyUniversity of TurinTurinItaly
| | - Lucie Kešnerová
- Department of Fundamental MicrobiologyUniversity of LausanneSwitzerland
| | | | - Philipp Engel
- Department of Fundamental MicrobiologyUniversity of LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Roger Vila
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC‐UPF)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Nadir Alvarez
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Unit of Research and CollectionsMuseum of Natural HistoryGenevaSwitzerland
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19
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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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20
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Kariithi HM, Meki IK, Schneider DI, De Vooght L, Khamis FM, Geiger A, Demirbaş-Uzel G, Vlak JM, iNCE IA, Kelm S, Njiokou F, Wamwiri FN, Malele II, Weiss BL, Abd-Alla AMM. Enhancing vector refractoriness to trypanosome infection: achievements, challenges and perspectives. BMC Microbiol 2018; 18:179. [PMID: 30470182 PMCID: PMC6251094 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-018-1280-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
With the absence of effective prophylactic vaccines and drugs against African trypanosomosis, control of this group of zoonotic neglected tropical diseases depends the control of the tsetse fly vector. When applied in an area-wide insect pest management approach, the sterile insect technique (SIT) is effective in eliminating single tsetse species from isolated populations. The need to enhance the effectiveness of SIT led to the concept of investigating tsetse-trypanosome interactions by a consortium of researchers in a five-year (2013-2018) Coordinated Research Project (CRP) organized by the Joint Division of FAO/IAEA. The goal of this CRP was to elucidate tsetse-symbiome-pathogen molecular interactions to improve SIT and SIT-compatible interventions for trypanosomoses control by enhancing vector refractoriness. This would allow extension of SIT into areas with potential disease transmission. This paper highlights the CRP's major achievements and discusses the science-based perspectives for successful mitigation or eradication of African trypanosomosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry M Kariithi
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization, P.O Box 57811, 00200, Kaptagat Rd, Loresho, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Irene K Meki
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, FAO/IAEA Agriculture & Biotechnology Laboratory, IAEA Laboratories Seibersdorf, A-2444 Seibersdorf, Austria
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, 6708 PB The Netherlands
| | - Daniela I Schneider
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06510 USA
| | - Linda De Vooght
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Fathiya M Khamis
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Anne Geiger
- INTERTRYP, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Guler Demirbaş-Uzel
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, FAO/IAEA Agriculture & Biotechnology Laboratory, IAEA Laboratories Seibersdorf, A-2444 Seibersdorf, Austria
| | - Just M Vlak
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, 6708 PB The Netherlands
| | - ikbal Agah iNCE
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Biological Engineering, Research Area Biochemical Technology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sorge Kelm
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University, School of Medicine, 34752, Ataşehir, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Flobert Njiokou
- Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen, Faculty for Biology & Chemistry, Universität Bremen, Bibliothekstraße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Florence N Wamwiri
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, BP 812 Cameroon
| | - Imna I Malele
- Trypanosomiasis Research Centre, Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization, P.O. Box 362-00902, Kikuyu, Kenya
| | - Brian L Weiss
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06510 USA
| | - Adly M M Abd-Alla
- Molecular Department, Vector and Vector Borne Diseases Institute, Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency, Majani Mapana, Off Korogwe Road, Box, 1026 Tanga, Tanzania
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, FAO/IAEA Agriculture & Biotechnology Laboratory, IAEA Laboratories Seibersdorf, A-2444 Seibersdorf, Austria
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Yadav S, Eleftherianos I. The Imaginal Disc Growth Factors 2 and 3 participate in the Drosophila response to nematode infection. Parasite Immunol 2018; 40:e12581. [PMID: 30107045 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The Drosophila imaginal disc growth factors (IDGFs) induce the proliferation of imaginal disc cells and terminate cell proliferation at the end of larval development. However, the participation of Idgf-encoding genes in other physiological processes of Drosophila including the immune response to infection is not fully understood. Here, we show the contribution of Idgf2 and Idgf3 in the Drosophila response to infection with Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes carrying or lacking their mutualistic Xenorhabdus nematophila bacteria (symbiotic or axenic nematodes, respectively). We find that Idgf2 and Idgf3 are upregulated in Drosophila larvae infected with symbiotic or axenic Steinernema and inactivation of Idgf2 confers a survival advantage to Drosophila larvae against axenic nematodes. Inactivation of Idgf2 induces the Imd and Jak/Stat pathways, whereas inactivation of Idgf3 induces the Imd, Toll and Jak/Stat pathways. We also show that inactivation of the Imd pathway receptor PGRP-LE upregulates Idgf2 against Steinernema nematode infection. Finally, we demonstrate that inactivation of Idgf3 induces the recruitment of larval haemocytes in response to Steinernema. Our results indicate that Idgf2 and Idgf3 might be involved in different yet crucial immune functions in the Drosophila antinematode immune response. Similar findings will promote the development of new targets for species-specific pest control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Yadav
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Ioannis Eleftherianos
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia
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Karatepe B, Aksoy S, Karatepe M. Investigation of Wolbachia spp. and Spiroplasma spp. in Phlebotomus species by molecular methods. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10616. [PMID: 30006543 PMCID: PMC6045589 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29031-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the presence of Wolbachia spp. and Spiroplasma spp. in natural populations of sand flies in Turkey by molecular methods. A total of 40 Phlebotomus specimens (19 female and 21 male) were used in this study. Genomic DNA from whole sand flies was isolated and Wolbachia spp. infection prevalence was investigated by using Wolbachia gene specific primer sets (wsp and GroEL). In addition, the DNA were analyzed for the presence of Spiroplasma infections utilizing bacterium specific 16 S rDNA PCR-amplification primers. Results of this analysis showed a Wolbachia infection prevalence of 70% (28/40). There was no sex-bias in infection prevalence, being 76% (16/21) and 63% (12/19) in males and females, respectively. Analysis of Spiroplasma infections indicated that 26% (5/19) of female sand flies were positive for infection, while none of the screened males (0/21) were positive. Of the 40 sand fly samples, only 2 were found to be positive for both Wolbachia spp. and Spiroplasma spp. The present study demonstrates the presence of Wolbachia and Spiroplasma infections in the natural sand fly populations in Turkey. This is the first report on Spiroplasma infection in the sand flies from Turkey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilge Karatepe
- Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Bor Vocational School, Bor-Niğde, Turkey.
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Yale University, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Mustafa Karatepe
- Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Bor Vocational School, Bor-Niğde, Turkey
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23
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Thioester-Containing Proteins 2 and 4 Affect the Metabolic Activity and Inflammation Response in Drosophila. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00810-17. [PMID: 29463615 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00810-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster is an outstanding model for studying host antipathogen defense. Although substantial progress has been made in understanding how metabolism and immunity are interrelated in flies, little information has been obtained on the molecular players that regulate metabolism and inflammation in Drosophila during pathogenic infection. Recently, we reported that the inactivation of thioester-containing protein 2 (Tep2) and Tep4 promotes survival and decreases the bacterial burden in flies upon infection with the virulent pathogens Photorhabdus luminescens and Photorhabdus asymbiotica Here, we investigated physiological and pathological defects in tep mutant flies in response to Photorhabdus challenge. We find that tep2 and tep4 loss-of-function mutant flies contain increased levels of carbohydrates and triglycerides in the presence or absence of Photorhabdus infection. We also report that Photorhabdus infection leads to higher levels of nitric oxide and reduced transcript levels of the apical caspase-encoding gene Dronc in tep2 and tep4 mutants. We show that Tep2 and Tep4 are upregulated mainly in the fat body rather than the gut in Photorhabdus-infected wild-type flies and that tep mutants contain decreased numbers of Photorhabdus bacteria in both tissue types. We propose that the inactivation of Tep2 or Tep4 in adult Drosophila flies results in lower levels of inflammation and increased energy reserves in response to Photorhabdus, which could confer a survival-protective effect during the initial hours of infection.
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Yadav S, Frazer J, Banga A, Pruitt K, Harsh S, Jaenike J, Eleftherianos I. Endosymbiont-based immunity in Drosophila melanogaster against parasitic nematode infection. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0192183. [PMID: 29466376 PMCID: PMC5821453 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Associations between endosymbiotic bacteria and their hosts represent a complex ecosystem within organisms ranging from humans to protozoa. Drosophila species are known to naturally harbor Wolbachia and Spiroplasma endosymbionts, which play a protective role against certain microbial infections. Here, we investigated whether the presence or absence of endosymbionts affects the immune response of Drosophila melanogaster larvae to infection by Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes carrying or lacking their mutualistic Gram-negative bacteria Xenorhabdus nematophila (symbiotic or axenic nematodes, respectively). We find that the presence of Wolbachia alone or together with Spiroplasma promotes the survival of larvae in response to infection with S. carpocapsae symbiotic nematodes, but not against axenic nematodes. We also find that Wolbachia numbers are reduced in Spiroplasma-free larvae infected with axenic compared to symbiotic nematodes, and they are also reduced in Spiroplasma-containing compared to Spiroplasma-free larvae infected with axenic nematodes. We further show that S. carpocapsae axenic nematode infection induces the Toll pathway in the absence of Wolbachia, and that symbiotic nematode infection leads to increased phenoloxidase activity in D. melanogaster larvae devoid of endosymbionts. Finally, infection with either type of nematode alters the metabolic status and the fat body lipid droplet size in D. melanogaster larvae containing only Wolbachia or both endosymbionts. Our results suggest an interaction between Wolbachia endosymbionts with the immune response of D. melanogaster against infection with the entomopathogenic nematodes S. carpocapsae. Results from this study indicate a complex interplay between insect hosts, endosymbiotic microbes and pathogenic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Yadav
- Infection and Innate Immunity Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - Joanna Frazer
- Infection and Innate Immunity Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - Ashima Banga
- Infection and Innate Immunity Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Katherine Pruitt
- Infection and Innate Immunity Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Sneh Harsh
- Infection and Innate Immunity Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - John Jaenike
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Ioannis Eleftherianos
- Infection and Innate Immunity Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
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25
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Zhang Y, Yang K, Zhu Y, Hong X. Symbiont-conferred reproduction and fitness benefits can favour their host occurrence. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:1626-1633. [PMID: 29435238 PMCID: PMC5792590 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Double infections of Wolbachia and Spiroplasma are frequent in natural populations of Tetranychus truncatus, a polyphagous mite species that has been a dominant species in China since 2009. However, little is known about the causes and ecological importance of such coexistences. In this study, we established T. truncatus strains with different infection types and then inferred the impact of the two endosymbionts on host reproduction and fitness. Double infection induced cytoplasmic incompatibility, which was demonstrated by reduction in egg hatchability of incompatible crosses. However, doubly infected females produced more eggs relative to other strains. Wolbachia and Spiroplasma did not affect host survival, whereas doubly infected females and males developed faster than other strains. Such reproduction and fitness benefits provided by double infections may be associated with the lower densities of each symbiont, and the quantitative results also confirmed competition between Wolbachia and Spiroplasma in doubly infected females. These symbiont-conferred beneficial effects maintain stable prevalence of the symbionts and also help drive T. truncatus outbreaks in combination with other environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan‐Kai Zhang
- Department of EntomologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
- College of Life SciencesHebei Normal UniversityShijiazhuangChina
| | - Kun Yang
- Department of EntomologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yu‐Xi Zhu
- Department of EntomologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xiao‐Yue Hong
- Department of EntomologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
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26
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Bendix C, Lewis JD. The enemy within: phloem-limited pathogens. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2018; 19:238-254. [PMID: 27997761 PMCID: PMC6638166 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The growing impact of phloem-limited pathogens on high-value crops has led to a renewed interest in understanding how they cause disease. Although these pathogens cause substantial crop losses, many are poorly characterized. In this review, we present examples of phloem-limited pathogens that include intracellular bacteria with and without cell walls, and viruses. Phloem-limited pathogens have small genomes and lack many genes required for core metabolic processes, which is, in part, an adaptation to the unique phloem environment. For each pathogen class, we present multiple case studies to highlight aspects of disease caused by phloem-limited pathogens. The pathogens presented include Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (citrus greening), Arsenophonus bacteria, Serratia marcescens (cucurbit yellow vine disease), Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris (Aster Yellows Witches' Broom), Spiroplasma kunkelii, Potato leafroll virus and Citrus tristeza virus. We focus on commonalities in the virulence strategies of these pathogens, and aim to stimulate new discussions in the hope that widely applicable disease management strategies can be found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Bendix
- United States Department of AgriculturePlant Gene Expression CenterAlbanyCA94710USA
| | - Jennifer D. Lewis
- United States Department of AgriculturePlant Gene Expression CenterAlbanyCA94710USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCA94720USA
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27
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Vandeweyer D, Crauwels S, Lievens B, Van Campenhout L. Metagenetic analysis of the bacterial communities of edible insects from diverse production cycles at industrial rearing companies. Int J Food Microbiol 2017; 261:11-18. [PMID: 28881263 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2017.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Despite the continuing development of new insect-derived food products, microbial research on edible insects and insect-based foods is still very limited. The goal of this study was to increase the knowledge on the microbial quality of edible insects by comparing the bacterial community composition of mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and crickets (Acheta domesticus and Gryllodes sigillatus) from several production cycles and rearing companies. Remarkable differences in the bacterial community composition were found between different mealworm rearing companies and mealworm production cycles from the same company. In comparison with mealworms, the bacterial community composition of the investigated crickets was more similar among different companies, and was highly similar between both cricket species investigated. Mealworm communities were dominated by Spiroplasma and Erwinia species, while crickets were abundantly colonised by (Para)bacteroides species. With respect to food safety, only a few operational taxonomic units could be associated with potential human pathogens such as Cronobacter or spoilage bacteria such as Pseudomonas. In summary, our results implicate that at least for cricket rearing, production cycles of constant and good quality in terms of bacterial composition can be obtained by different rearing companies. For mealworms however, more variation in terms of microbial quality occurs between companies.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Vandeweyer
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M(2)S), Lab4Food, Campus Geel, B-2440 Geel, Belgium; KU Leuven, Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe), B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - S Crauwels
- KU Leuven, Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe), B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M(2)S), Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Campus De Nayer, B-2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
| | - B Lievens
- KU Leuven, Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe), B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M(2)S), Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Campus De Nayer, B-2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
| | - L Van Campenhout
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M(2)S), Lab4Food, Campus Geel, B-2440 Geel, Belgium; KU Leuven, Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe), B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
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28
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Challenging the Wigglesworthia, Sodalis, Wolbachia symbiosis dogma in tsetse flies: Spiroplasma is present in both laboratory and natural populations. Sci Rep 2017; 7:4699. [PMID: 28680117 PMCID: PMC5498494 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04740-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Profiling of wild and laboratory tsetse populations using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing allowed us to examine whether the "Wigglesworthia-Sodalis-Wolbachia dogma" operates across species and populations. The most abundant taxa, in wild and laboratory populations, were Wigglesworthia (the primary endosymbiont), Sodalis and Wolbachia as previously characterized. The species richness of the microbiota was greater in wild than laboratory populations. Spiroplasma was identified as a new symbiont exclusively in Glossina fuscipes fuscipes and G. tachinoides, members of the palpalis sub-group, and the infection prevalence in several laboratory and natural populations was surveyed. Multi locus sequencing typing (MLST) analysis identified two strains of tsetse-associated Spiroplasma, present in G. f. fuscipes and G. tachinoides. Spiroplasma density in G. f. fuscipes larva guts was significantly higher than in guts from teneral and 15-day old male and female adults. In gonads of teneral and 15-day old insects, Spiroplasma density was higher in testes than ovaries, and was significantly higher density in live versus prematurely deceased females indicating a potentially mutualistic association. Higher Spiroplasma density in testes than in ovaries was also detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization in G. f. fuscipes.
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29
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Shokal U, Kopydlowski H, Eleftherianos I. The distinct function of Tep2 and Tep6 in the immune defense of Drosophila melanogaster against the pathogen Photorhabdus. Virulence 2017; 8:1668-1682. [PMID: 28498729 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2017.1330240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous and recent investigations on the innate immune response of Drosophila have identified certain mechanisms that promote pathogen elimination. However, the function of Thioester-containing proteins (TEPs) in the fly still remains elusive. Recently we have shown the contribution of TEP4 in the antibacterial immune defense of Drosophila against non-pathogenic E. coli, and the pathogens Photorhabdus luminescens and P. asymbiotica. Here we studied the function of Tep genes in both humoral and cellular immunity upon E. coli and Photorhabdus infection. We found that while Tep2 is induced after Photorhabdus and E. coli infection; Tep6 is induced by P. asymbiotica only. Moreover, functional ablation of hemocytes results in significantly low transcript levels of Tep2 and Tep6 in response to Photorhabdus. We show that Tep2 and Tep6 loss-of-function mutants have prolonged survival against P. asymbiotica, Tep6 mutants survive better the infection of P. luminescens, and both tep mutants are resistant to E. coli and Photorhabdus. We also find a distinct pattern of immune signaling pathway induction in E. coli or Photorhabdus infected Tep2 and Tep6 mutants. We further show that Tep2 and Tep6 participate in the activation of hemocytes in Drosophila responding to Photorhabdus. Finally, inactivation of Tep2 or Tep6 affects phagocytosis and melanization in flies infected with Photorhabdus. Our results indicate that distinct Tep genes might be involved in different yet crucial functions in the Drosophila antibacterial immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Upasana Shokal
- a Insect Infection and Immunity Lab, Department of Biological Sciences , Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University , Washington DC , USA
| | - Hannah Kopydlowski
- a Insect Infection and Immunity Lab, Department of Biological Sciences , Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University , Washington DC , USA
| | - Ioannis Eleftherianos
- a Insect Infection and Immunity Lab, Department of Biological Sciences , Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University , Washington DC , USA
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30
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Singhal K, Khanna R, Mohanty S. Is Drosophila-microbe association species-specific or region specific? A study undertaken involving six Indian Drosophila species. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 33:103. [PMID: 28466298 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-017-2261-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The present work aims to identify the microbial diversity associated with six Indian Drosophila species using next generation sequencing (NGS) technology and to discover the nature of their distribution across species and eco-geographic regions. Whole fly gDNA of six Drosophila species were used to generate sequences in an Illumina platform using NGS technology. De novo based assembled raw reads were blasted against the NR database of NCBI using BLASTn for identification of their bacterial loads. We have tried to include Drosophila species from different taxonomical groups and subgroups and from three different eco-climatic regions India; four species belong to Central India, while the rest two, D. melanogaster and D. ananassae, belong to West and South India to determine both their species-wise and region-wide distribution. We detected the presence of 33 bacterial genera across all six study species, predominated by the class Proteobacteria. Amongst all, D. melanogaster was found to be the most diverse by carrying around 85% of the bacterial diversity. Our findings infer both species-specific and environment-specific nature of the bacterial species inhabiting the Drosophila host. Though the present results are consistent with most of the earlier studies, they also remain incoherent with some. The present study outcome on the host-bacteria association and their species specific adaptation may provide some insight to understand the host-microbial interactions and the phenotypic implications of microbes on the host physiology. The knowledge gained may be importantly applied into the recent insect and pest population control strategy going to implement through gut microflora in India and abroad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kopal Singhal
- Department of Biotechnology, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, A-10, Sector 62, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201 309, India
| | - Radhika Khanna
- Department of Biotechnology, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, A-10, Sector 62, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201 309, India
| | - Sujata Mohanty
- Department of Biotechnology, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, A-10, Sector 62, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201 309, India.
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31
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Oliva Chávez AS, Shaw DK, Munderloh UG, Pedra JHF. Tick Humoral Responses: Marching to the Beat of a Different Drummer. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:223. [PMID: 28261180 PMCID: PMC5306392 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks transmit a variety of human pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological agent of Lyme disease. Multiple pathogens that are transmitted simultaneously, termed “coinfections,” are of increasing importance and can affect disease outcome in a host. Arthropod immunity is central to pathogen acquisition and transmission by the tick. Pattern recognition receptors recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns and induce humoral responses through the Toll and Immune Deficiency (IMD) pathways. Comparative analyses between insects and ticks reveal that while the Toll pathway is conserved, the IMD network exhibits a high degree of variability. This indicates that major differences in humoral immunity exist between insects and ticks. While many variables can affect immunity, one of the major forces that shape immune outcomes is the microbiota. In light of this, we discuss how the presence of commensal bacteria, symbionts and/or coinfections can lead to altered immune responses in the tick that impact pathogen persistence and subsequent transmission. By investigating non-insect arthropod immunity, we will not only better comprehend tick biology, but also unravel the intricate effects that pathogen coinfections have on vector competence and tick-borne disease transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adela S Oliva Chávez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore MD, USA
| | - Dana K Shaw
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore MD, USA
| | | | - Joao H F Pedra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore MD, USA
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32
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Shokal U, Eleftherianos I. Thioester-Containing Protein-4 Regulates the Drosophila Immune Signaling and Function against the Pathogen Photorhabdus. J Innate Immun 2016; 9:83-93. [PMID: 27771727 DOI: 10.1159/000450610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite important progress in identifying the molecules that participate in the immune response of Drosophila melanogaster to microbial infections, the involvement of thioester-containing proteins (TEPs) in the antibacterial immunity of the fly is not fully clarified. Previous studies mostly focused on identifying the function of TEP2, TEP3 and TEP6 molecules in the D. melanogaster immune system. Here, we investigated the role of TEP4 in the regulation and function of D. melanogaster host defense against 2 virulent pathogens from the genus Photorhabdus, i.e. the insect pathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens and the emerging human pathogen P. asymbiotica. We demonstrate that Tep4 is strongly upregulated in adult flies following the injection of Photorhabdus bacteria. We also show that Tep4 loss-of-function mutants are resistant to P. luminescens but not to P. asymbiotica infection. In addition, we find that inactivation of Tep4 results in the upregulation of the Toll and Imd immune pathways, and the downregulation of the Jak/Stat and Jnk pathways upon Photorhabdus infection. We document that loss of Tep4 promotes melanization and phenoloxidase activity in the mutant flies infected with Photorhabdus. Together, these findings generate novel insights into the immune role of TEP4 as a regulator and effector of the D. melanogaster antibacterial immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Upasana Shokal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA
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33
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Insect Immunity to Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Mutualistic Bacteria. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2016; 402:123-156. [PMID: 27995342 DOI: 10.1007/82_2016_52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Entomopathogenic nematodes are important organisms for the biological control of insect pests and excellent models for dissecting the molecular basis of the insect immune response against both the nematode parasites and their mutualistic bacteria. Previous research involving the use of various insects has found distinct differences in the number and nature of immune mechanisms that are activated in response to entomopathogenic nematode parasites containing or lacking their associated bacteria. Recent studies using model insects have started to reveal the identity of certain molecules with potential anti-nematode or antibacterial activity as well as the molecular components that nematodes and their bacteria employ to evade or defeat the insect immune system. Identification and characterization of the genes that regulate the insect immune response to nematode-bacteria complexes will contribute significantly to the development of improved practices to control insects of agricultural and medical importance, and potentially nematode parasites that infect mammals, perhaps even humans.
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