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Ribeiro ML, Bitencourt RDOB, Moreira HVS, Golo PS, Bittencourt VREP, Angelo IDC. In Vitro Assessment of Metarhizium Anisopliae Pathogenicity Against Aedes Aegypti Life Stages. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024:10.1007/s13744-024-01209-7. [PMID: 39382741 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-024-01209-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024]
Abstract
Aedes aegypti transmits the arboviruses that cause dengue, zika, and chikungunya. Entomopathogenic fungi are beneficial microorganisms that can be incorporated into current strategies against mosquitoes of public health concern. This study molecularly identified the Metarhizium anisopliae CG 153 isolate and evaluated its virulence against larvae, pupae, and adults (both males and females) of Ae. aegypti. Different concentrations of conidia were used (1 × 104-8 conidia mL-1). Larval and pupal survival was monitored daily for seven and three days, respectively, while adults were monitored for 15 days. The efficacy of M. anisopliae sensu stricto was concentration-dependent, with higher concentrations achieving better results, demonstrating greater virulence against larval and adult stages of Ae. aegypti. The fungus reduced the larval survival by 95,5% (1 × 108 con.mL-1), 94,4% (1 × 107 con.mL-1), 78,9% (1 × 106 con.mL-1), 62,2% (1 × 105 con.mL-1), and 41,1% (1 × 104 con.mL-1) after seven days. Adults also showed susceptibility to the fungus, with no observed difference in susceptibility between males and females. Over 15 days of monitoring, adult survival rates ranged from approximately 6.7% to 72%. Pupae exhibited lower susceptibility to the fungus across different concentrations, with survival rates ranging from approximately 87.8% to 100%. This study highlights the high effectiveness of M. anisopliae CG 153 against both Ae. aegypti larvae and adults (male and female) under controlled conditions, suggesting its promising potential for further evaluation and application in field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Lopes Ribeiro
- Student of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural Univ of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural Univ of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ricardo de Oliveira Barbosa Bitencourt
- Center for Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Lab of Entomology and Phytopathology, Univ Estadual Do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos Dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, 28013, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural Univ of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Haika Victória Sales Moreira
- Student of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural Univ of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural Univ of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Silva Golo
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural Univ of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
- Dept of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural Univ of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Vânia Rita Elias Pinheiro Bittencourt
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural Univ of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
- Dept of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural Univ of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Isabele da Costa Angelo
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural Univ of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
- Dept of Epidemiology and Public Health, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural Univ of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
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de Oliveira Barbosa Bitencourt R, Azevedo Santos H, Salcedo-Porras N, Lowenberger C, Alves de Senne N, Silva Gôlo P, Rita Elias Pinheiro Bittencourt V, da Costa Angelo I. Multigenerational expression of antimicrobial peptides in Aedes aegypti exposed to Metarhizium anisopliae: Is trans-generational immune priming involved? JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 159:104712. [PMID: 39307233 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2024.104712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2024] [Revised: 09/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024]
Abstract
We assessed, for the first time, a multigenerational expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in Aedes aegypti larvae exposed to the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae, and correlated it with a possible involvement in trans-generational immune priming (TGIP). Aedes aegypti larvae were first exposed to blastospores or conidia of M. anisopliae CG 489 for 24 and 48 h, and the relative expression of AMPs were measured using quantitative Real-Time PCR. A suspension of conidia was prepared, and two different survival tests were conducted with different larval generations (F0, F1, and F2). In the first bioassay, the survival curves of the three generations were conducted separately and compared with their respective control groups. In the other bioassay, the survival curves of the F0, F1, and F2 generations were compared simultaneously against a naïve group exposed to Tween 80. In both survival tests, the F0 generation was more susceptible to M. anisopliae than subsequent generations. For molecular analyses related to TGIP, F0, F1, and F2 larvae were exposed to conidia, and their expression of AMPs was compared with their control groups and a naïve group. There was no differential expression of cecropin, defensin A or cathepsin B between generations. Lysozyme C, however, showed an increase in expression across generations, suggesting a role in TGIP. These discoveries may help us develop biological insecticides against mosquito larvae based on entomopathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Huarrisson Azevedo Santos
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Nicolas Salcedo-Porras
- 350 Health Sciences Mall, Life Sciences Institute. University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Carl Lowenberger
- Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC V5A 1S6, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nathália Alves de Senne
- Graduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Silva Gôlo
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Isabele da Costa Angelo
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
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Kryukov VY, Kosman E, Slepneva I, Vorontsova YL, Polenogova O, Kazymov G, Alikina T, Akhanaev Y, Sidorenko D, Noskov YA, Krivopalov A, Kabilov MR, Yaroslavtseva O. Involvement of bacteria in the development of fungal infections in the Colorado potato beetle. INSECT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38956988 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Entomopathogenic fungi may interact with insects' symbiotic bacteria during infection. We hypothesized that topical infection with Beauveria bassiana may alter the microbiota of the Colorado potato beetle (CPB) and that these modifications may alter the course of mycoses. We used a model with two concentrations of conidia: (1) high concentration that causes rapid (acute) pathogenesis with fast mortality followed by bacterial decomposition of insects; (2) lower concentration that leads to prolonged pathogenesis ending in conidiation on cadavers. The fungal infections increased loads of enterobacteria and bacilli on the cuticle surface and in hemolymph and midgut, and the greatest increase was detected during the acute mycosis. By contrast, stronger activation of IMD and JAK-STAT signaling pathways in integuments and fat body was observed during the prolonged mycosis. Relatively stable (nonpathogenic) conditions remained in the midgut during both scenarios of mycosis with slight changes in bacterial communities, the absence of mesh and stat expression, a decrease in reactive oxygen species production, and slight induction of Toll and IMD pathways. Oral administration of antibiotic and predominant CPB bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae, Lactococcus, Pseudomonas) led to minor and mainly antagonistic effects in survival of larvae infected with B. bassiana. We believe that prolonged mycosis is necessary for successful development of the fungus because such pathogenesis allows the host to activate antibacterial reactions. Conversely, after infection with high concentrations of the fungus, the host's resources are insufficient to fully activate antibacterial defenses, and this situation makes successful development of the fungus impossible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim Yu Kryukov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Elena Kosman
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Irina Slepneva
- Voevodsky Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Yana L Vorontsova
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Olga Polenogova
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Gleb Kazymov
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Tatyana Alikina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Yuriy Akhanaev
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Darya Sidorenko
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Yury A Noskov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Anton Krivopalov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Marsel R Kabilov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Olga Yaroslavtseva
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
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Barbosa RC, Godoy RSM, Ferreira PG, Mendes TAO, Ramalho-Ortigão M, Ribeiro JMC, Martins GF. Exploring the midgut physiology of the non-haematophagous mosquito Toxorhynchites theobaldi. Open Biol 2024; 14:230437. [PMID: 38955221 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxorhynchites mosquitoes have an exclusively phytophagous feeding habit as adults, which leads to significant differences in their morphophysiology compared with haematophagous mosquitoes. However, the molecular mechanisms of digestion in this mosquito are not well understood. In this study, RNA sequencing of the posterior midgut (PMG) of the mosquito Toxorhynchites theobaldi was undertaken, highlighting its significance in mosquito digestion. Subsequently, a comparison was made between the differential gene expression of the PMG and that of the anterior midgut. It was found that the most abundant proteases in the PMG were trypsin and chymotrypsin, and the level of gene expression for enzymes essential for digestion (such as serine protease, α-amylase and pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase) and innate immune response (including catalase, cecropin-A2 and superoxide dismutase) was like that of haematophagous mosquitoes. Peritrophin-1 was detected in the entire midgut, with an elevated expression level in the PMG. Based on our findings, it is hypothesized that a non-haematophagic habit might have been exhibited by the ancestor of Tx. theobaldi, and this trait may have been retained. This study represents a pioneering investigation at the molecular level of midgut contents in a non-haematophagous mosquito. The findings offer valuable insights into the evolutionary aspects of feeding habits in culicids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata C Barbosa
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Raquel S M Godoy
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Priscila G Ferreira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 50670-900, Brazil
| | - Tiago A O Mendes
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 50670-900, Brazil
| | | | - José M C Ribeiro
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Gustavo F Martins
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
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Hassan A, Kang L, Zhang K, Wang L, Qin X, Fang G, Lu Y, Huang Q. Effect of entomopathogenic fungi on behavior and physiology of Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 117:825-833. [PMID: 38634604 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toae068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
In an ant colony, a large number of nestmates with a similar gene pool coexist, making them more vulnerable to pathogenic attacks. These pathogens influence the behavior and physiology of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren. Here, we evaluated the impact of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Metarhizium anisopliae on the behavior (locomotion and foraging) and physiology (biological molecules, anti-fungal activity, and survival) of S. invicta. Distance traveled and velocity significantly decreased, while turn angle and angular velocity significantly increased in ants exposed to a higher concentration of M. anisopliae compared to ants exposed to control after 36 h, which showed disturbed locomotion. Fungus infection significantly affected the foraging behavior of ants. Fungus-exposed ants spent significantly less time in the food zone (area with food) than in the inner zone (area without food). The activities of 4 enzymes, peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and carboxylesterase were significantly decreased. In contrast, catalase and anti-fungal activities were increased after fungal exposure compared to the control. The activity of acetylcholinesterase, which hydrolyses the important neurotransmitter acetylcholine, also decreased after fungal application compared to the control. Survival of ants was also significantly reduced after fungus infection compared to the control. Our findings help to understand the influence of M. anisopliae on the behavior and physiology of S. invicta, which will help in the management of S. invicta using the EPF M. anisopliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Hassan
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Key Laboratory of Termite Control of Ministry of Water Resources, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Lidong Kang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Key Laboratory of Termite Control of Ministry of Water Resources, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Kaixiong Zhang
- Vegetational Protection Union Station of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xianjiao Qin
- Vegetational Protection Union Station of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Guobin Fang
- Vegetational Protection Union Station of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yongyue Lu
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Qiuying Huang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Key Laboratory of Termite Control of Ministry of Water Resources, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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Hixson B, Huot L, Morejon B, Yang X, Nagy P, Michel K, Buchon N. The transcriptional response in mosquitoes distinguishes between fungi and bacteria but not Gram types. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:353. [PMID: 38594632 PMCID: PMC11003161 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10153-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes are prolific vectors of human pathogens, therefore a clear and accurate understanding of the organization of their antimicrobial defenses is crucial for informing the development of transmission control strategies. The canonical infection response in insects, as described in the insect model Drosophila melanogaster, is pathogen type-dependent, with distinct stereotypical responses to Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria/fungi mediated by the activation of the Imd and Toll pathways, respectively. To determine whether this pathogen-specific discrimination is shared by mosquitoes, we used RNAseq to capture the genome-wide transcriptional response of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae (s.l.) to systemic infection with Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi, as well as challenge with heat-killed Gram-negative, Gram-positive, and fungal pathogens. From the resulting data, we found that Ae. aegypti and An. gambiae both mount a core response to all categories of infection, and this response is highly conserved between the two species with respect to both function and orthology. When we compared the transcriptomes of mosquitoes infected with different types of bacteria, we observed that the intensity of the transcriptional response was correlated with both the virulence and growth rate of the infecting pathogen. Exhaustive comparisons of the transcriptomes of Gram-negative-challenged versus Gram-positive-challenged mosquitoes yielded no difference in either species. In Ae. aegypti, however, we identified transcriptional signatures specific to bacterial infection and to fungal infection. The bacterial infection response was dominated by the expression of defensins and cecropins, while the fungal infection response included the disproportionate upregulation of an uncharacterized family of glycine-rich proteins. These signatures were also observed in Ae. aegypti challenged with heat-killed bacteria and fungi, indicating that this species can discriminate between molecular patterns that are specific to bacteria and to fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bretta Hixson
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Louise Huot
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Bianca Morejon
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Xiaowei Yang
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- Current address: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute for Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Peter Nagy
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Kristin Michel
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Nicolas Buchon
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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Li M, Zhou Y, Cheng J, Wang Y, Lan C, Shen Y. Response of the mosquito immune system and symbiotic bacteria to pathogen infection. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:69. [PMID: 38368353 PMCID: PMC10874582 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06161-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal in the word, transmitting a variety of insect-borne infectious diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and Zika, causing more deaths than any other vector-borne pathogen. Moreover, in the absence of effective drugs and vaccines to prevent and treat insect-borne diseases, mosquito control is particularly important as the primary measure. In recent decades, due to the gradual increase in mosquito resistance, increasing attention has fallen on the mechanisms and effects associated with pathogen infection. This review provides an overview of mosquito innate immune mechanisms in terms of physical and physiological barriers, pattern recognition receptors, signalling pathways, and cellular and humoral immunity, as well as the antipathogenic effects of mosquito symbiotic bacteria. This review contributes to an in-depth understanding of the interaction process between mosquitoes and pathogens and provides a theoretical basis for biological defence strategies against mosquito-borne infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjin Li
- The Affiliated Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, 214023, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Jin Cheng
- The Affiliated Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, 214023, China
| | - Yiqing Wang
- The Affiliated Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, 214023, China
| | - Cejie Lan
- The Affiliated Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, 214023, China.
| | - Yuan Shen
- The Affiliated Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, 214023, China.
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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Guo D, Ge J, Tang Z, Tian B, Li W, Li C, Xu L, Luo J. Dynamic Gut Microbiota of Apolygus lucorum Across Different Life Stages Reveals Potential Pathogenic Bacteria for Facilitating the Pest Management. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 87:9. [PMID: 38047964 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02324-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Insect's gut microbiota has diverse effects on their fitness, and a comprehensive understanding of gut microbiota functions requires analyzing its diversity. Apolygus lucorum is a highly destructive pest that threatens many economically important crops in China. This study investigated the gut microbiota of A. lucorum across its life cycle using both culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. A total of 87 gut bacterial isolates were identified, belonging to 4 phyla, 27 families, and 45 genera, while Miseq sequencing detected 91 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) assigned to 5 phyla, 28 families, and 39 genera. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the predominant phyla, with Staphylococcus and Serratia as the major genera. There were significant differences in the relative abundance of these genera between the nymph and adult stages. Staphylococcus was significantly more abundant in nymphs than it in adults, while Serratia was significantly more abundant in sexually mature adults than in other developmental stages. Notably, Serratia is a common opportunistic pathogen in many insects. Injecting the gut-dominant isolate Serratia marcescens verified its high pathogenicity. Additionally, immune indicators of the bug at different developmental stages supported the hypothesis that Serratia is a pathogen of A. lucorum. This study provides a foundation for understanding the role of gut bacteria in the life history of A. lucorum and developing new pest control strategies based on microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Jingfan Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Zhenzhen Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Baoku Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Wanning Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Chong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Letian Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China.
| | - Jing Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China.
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Liu H, Wei X, Ye X, Zhang H, Yang K, Shi W, Zhang J, Jashenko R, Ji R, Hu H. The immune response of Locusta migratoria manilensis at different times of infection with Paranosema locustae. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 114:e22055. [PMID: 37786392 DOI: 10.1002/arch.22055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Paranosema locustae is an entomopathogenic microsporidia with promising potential for controlling agricultural pests, including Locusta migratoria manilensis. However, it has the disadvantage of having a slow insecticidal rate, and how P. locustae infection impacts the host immune response is currently unknown. The present study investigated the effect of P. locustae on the natural immune response of L. migratoria and the activities of enzymes that protect against oxidative stress. Infection with P. locustae increased the hemocytes and nodulation number of L. migratoria at the initial stage of infection. The hemocyte-mediated modulation of immune response was also affected by a decrease in the number of hemocytes 12 days postinfection. Superoxide dismutase activity in locusts increased in the early stages of infection but decreased in the later stages, whereas the activities of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) showed opposite trends may be due to their different mechanisms of action. Furthermore, the transcription levels of mRNA of antimicrobial peptide-related genes and phenoloxidase activity in hemolymph in L. migratoria were suppressed within 15 days of P. locustae infection. Overall, our data suggest that P. locustae create a conducive environment for its own proliferation in the host by disrupting the immune defense against it. These findings provide useful information for the potential application of P. locustae as a biocontrol agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Liu
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Special Species Conservation and Regulatory Biology, International Research Center of Cross-Border Pest Management in Central Asia, College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
- Tacheng, Research Field (Migratory Biology), Observation and Research Station of Xinjiang, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojia Wei
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Special Species Conservation and Regulatory Biology, International Research Center of Cross-Border Pest Management in Central Asia, College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
- Tacheng, Research Field (Migratory Biology), Observation and Research Station of Xinjiang, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofang Ye
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Special Species Conservation and Regulatory Biology, International Research Center of Cross-Border Pest Management in Central Asia, College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
- Tacheng, Research Field (Migratory Biology), Observation and Research Station of Xinjiang, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Huihui Zhang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Special Species Conservation and Regulatory Biology, International Research Center of Cross-Border Pest Management in Central Asia, College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
- Tacheng, Research Field (Migratory Biology), Observation and Research Station of Xinjiang, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Kun Yang
- Central for Prevention and Control of Prediction & Forecast Prevention of Locust and Rodent in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wangpen Shi
- College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinrui Zhang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Special Species Conservation and Regulatory Biology, International Research Center of Cross-Border Pest Management in Central Asia, College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
- Tacheng, Research Field (Migratory Biology), Observation and Research Station of Xinjiang, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Roman Jashenko
- Institute of Zoology RK93, Al-Farabi Ave., Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
| | - Rong Ji
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Special Species Conservation and Regulatory Biology, International Research Center of Cross-Border Pest Management in Central Asia, College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
- Tacheng, Research Field (Migratory Biology), Observation and Research Station of Xinjiang, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongxia Hu
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Special Species Conservation and Regulatory Biology, International Research Center of Cross-Border Pest Management in Central Asia, College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
- Tacheng, Research Field (Migratory Biology), Observation and Research Station of Xinjiang, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
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10
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Upfold J, Rejasse A, Nielsen-Leroux C, Jensen AB, Sanchis-Borja V. The immunostimulatory role of an Enterococcus-dominated gut microbiota in host protection against bacterial and fungal pathogens in Galleria mellonella larvae. FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 3:1260333. [PMID: 38469511 PMCID: PMC10926436 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2023.1260333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the intricate interplay between the gut microbiota and the immune response in insects is crucial, given its diverse impact on the pathogenesis of various microbial species. The microbiota's modulation of the host immune system is one such mechanism, although its complete impact on immune responses remains elusive. This study investigated the tripartite interaction between the gut microbiota, pathogens, and the host's response in Galleria mellonella larvae reared under axenic (sterile) and conventional (non-sterile) conditions. The influence of the microbiota on host fitness during infections was evaluated via two different routes: oral infection induced by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. galleriae (Btg), and topical infection induced by Metarhizium robertsii (Mr). We observed that larvae without a microbiota can successfully fulfill their life cycle, albeit with more variation in their developmental time. We subsequently performed survival assays on final-instar larvae, using the median lethal dose (LD50) of Btg and Mr. Our findings indicated that axenic larvae were more vulnerable to an oral infection of Btg; specifically, a dose that was calculated to be half-lethal for the conventional group resulted in a 90%-100% mortality rate in the axenic group. Through a dual-analysis experimental design, we could identify the status of the gut microbiota using 16S rRNA sequencing and assess the level of immune-related gene expression in the same group of larvae at basal conditions and during infection. This analysis revealed that the microbiota of our conventionally reared population was dominated entirely by four Enterococcus species, and these species potentially stimulated the immune response in the gut, due to the increased basal expression of two antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)-gallerimycin and gloverin-in the conventional larvae compared with the axenic larvae. Furthermore, Enterococcus mundtii, isolated from the gut of conventional larvae, showed inhibition activity against Btg in vitro. Lastly, other immune effectors, namely, phenoloxidase activity in the hemolymph and total reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) in the gut, were tested to further investigate the extent of the stimulation of the microbiota on the immune response. These findings highlight the immune-modulatory role of the Enterococcus-dominated gut microbiota, an increasingly reported microbiota assemblage of laboratory populations of Lepidoptera, and its influence on the host's response to oral and topical infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Upfold
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Agnès Rejasse
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Annette Bruun Jensen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Vincent Sanchis-Borja
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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11
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Yang L, Yang L, Wang X, Peng C, Chen X, Wei W, Xu X, Ye G, Xu J. Toll and IMD Immune Pathways Are Important Antifungal Defense Components in a Pupal Parasitoid, Pteromalus puparum. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14088. [PMID: 37762389 PMCID: PMC10531655 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Insects employ multifaceted strategies to combat invading fungi, with immunity being a promising mechanism. Immune pathways function in signal transduction and amplification, ultimately leading to the activation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Although several studies have shown that immune pathways are responsible for defending against fungi, the roles of parasitoid immune pathways involved in antifungal responses remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated the roles of the Toll and IMD pathways of a pupal parasitoid, Pteromalus puparum (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), in fighting against Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae). Successful colonization of B. bassiana on P. puparum adults was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). AMPs were induced upon B. bassiana infection. The knockdown of key genes, PpTollA and PpIMD, in Toll and IMD signaling pathways, respectively, significantly compromised insect defense against fungal infection. The knockdown of either PpTollA or PpIMD in P. puparum dramatically promoted the proliferation of B. bassiana, resulting in a decreased survival rate and downregulated expression levels of AMPs against B. bassiana compared to controls. These data indicated that PpTollA and PpIMD participate in Toll and IMD-mediated activation of antifungal responses, respectively. In summary, this study has greatly broadened our knowledge of the parasitoid antifungal immunity against fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Lei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding & Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaofu Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Xiaoyun Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Wei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding & Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaoli Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Gongyin Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding & Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Junfeng Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
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12
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Mehmood N, Hassan A, Zhong X, Zhu Y, Ouyang G, Huang Q. Entomopathogenic fungal infection following immune gene silencing decreased behavioral and physiological fitness in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 195:105535. [PMID: 37666588 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Entomopathogenic fungi are a promising category of biocontrol agents with mosquitocidal properties. Prior studies have proved their potential to reduce fecundity, human biting and vector competence, all of them together determine vectorial capacity of the mosquitoes. Unfortunately, conventional vector control strategies are inadequate with growing problem of insecticide resistance and environmental deterioration. Therefore, alternate vector control measures are immediately needed and to accomplish that, an improved understanding of behavioral and physiological defense mechanisms of the mosquitoes against fungal infection is essential. In this study, fitness was considered with respect to different behavioral (self-grooming and flight), physiological (antifungal activity and antimicrobial peptides) parameters and survival rates as compared to the control group. We found a significant upregulation in CLSP2, TEP22, Rel1 and Rel2 genes at multiple time periods of fungal infection, which indicates the successful fungal infection and activation of Toll and IMD pathways in mosquitoes. RNAi-mediated silencing of Rel1 and Rel2 genes (transcription factors of Toll and IMD pathways, respectively) significantly reduced the survival, self-grooming frequencies and durations, and flight locomotor activity among adult Ae. aegypti female mosquitoes. Moreover, Rel1 and Rel2 knockdown significantly decreased antifungal activity and antimicrobial peptides expression levels in target mosquitoes. These results indicate an overall decrease in fitness of the mosquitoes after fungal challenge following Rel1 and Rel2 silencing. These findings provide an improved understanding of behavioral and physiological responses in mosquitoes with altered immunity against entomopathogenic fungal infections which can guide us towards the development of novel biocontrol strategies against mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasir Mehmood
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ali Hassan
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xueshan Zhong
- Yuexiu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510055, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yongzhang Zhu
- Guangzhou Yongliang Environmental Protection Technology Service CO., LTD, Guangzhou 510405, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Guang Ouyang
- Guangzhou Yongliang Environmental Protection Technology Service CO., LTD, Guangzhou 510405, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qiuying Huang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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13
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Huang S, Zhao X, Luo Z, Tang X, Zhou Y, Keyhani N, Zhang Y. Fungal co-expression network analyses identify pathogen gene modules associated with host insect invasion. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0180923. [PMID: 37656157 PMCID: PMC10581046 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01809-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The broad host range fungal insect pathogen, Beauveria bassiana, has been commercialized as an alternative to chemical insecticides for pest control worldwide. B. bassiana represents a unique model system with which to examine host-pathogen interactions, and a wide range of genes and processes have been studied. However, significant aspects of virulence, particularly on the genomic scale, remain poorly studied. Here, we have combined available transcriptomes with three newly generated data sets for a combined total analysis of 76 deep-sequenced samples covering growth, development, stress responses, and infection during the life cycle of B. bassiana. Co-expression network analyses resulted in the identification of gene modules enriched during two critical stages of the infection process, namely (i) cuticle penetration and (ii) in vivo hyphal body (dimorphic transition) growth capable of avoiding innate and humoral immune defenses. These analyses identify unique signatures of metabolism, signaling, secondary metabolite production, host defense suppression, membrane reorganization, effector production, and secretion for each stage, including genetic regulators and epigenetic patterns. These data provide a comprehensive framework for understanding and probing fungal adaptations to its pathogenic life cycle and expand the candidate repertoire for continued dissection of the host-pathogen interaction. IMPORTANCE Insect fungal pathogens have evolved unique strategies for overcoming host structural and immunological defenses that span from the sclerotized cuticle to innate and humoral cellular responses. Two critical stages of the infection process involve (i) cuticle penetration and (ii) immune evasion within the insect hemocoel. A set of 76 global transcriptomic data for B. bassiana that include the cuticle penetration and hemocoel growth stages were analyzed for patterns (gene modules) of expression, yielding unique insights into these different life stages. These analyses integrate gene networks involved in fungal development, stress response and pathogenesis to further the systematic understanding of the global processes integral to the unique adaptation employed by fungal pathogens of insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaishuai Huang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Environment on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (Ministry of Education), School of Ecology and Environment, Tibet University, Tibet, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhibing Luo
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaohan Tang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yonghong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Environment on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (Ministry of Education), School of Ecology and Environment, Tibet University, Tibet, China
| | - Nemat Keyhani
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Yongjun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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14
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Hixson B, Huot L, Morejon B, Yang X, Nagy P, Michel K, Buchon N. The transcriptional response in mosquitoes distinguishes between fungi and bacteria but not Gram types. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.26.550663. [PMID: 37546902 PMCID: PMC10402080 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.26.550663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are prolific vectors of human pathogens; a clear and accurate understanding of the organization of their antimicrobial defenses is crucial for informing the development of transmission control strategies. The canonical infection response in insects, as described in the insect model Drosophila melanogaster , is pathogen type-dependent, with distinct stereotypical responses to Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria/fungi mediated by the activation of the Imd and Toll pathways, respectively. To determine whether this pathogen-specific discrimination is shared by mosquitoes, we used RNAseq to capture the genome-wide transcriptional response of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae ( s.l. ) to systemic infection with Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi, as well as challenge with heat-killed Gram-negative, Gram-positive, and fungal pathogens. From the resulting data, we found that Ae. aegypti and An. gambiae both mount a core response to all categories of infection, and this response is highly conserved between the two species with respect to both function and orthology. When we compared the transcriptomes of mosquitoes infected with different types of bacteria, we observed that the intensity of the transcriptional response was correlated with both the virulence and growth rate of the infecting pathogen. Exhaustive comparisons of the transcriptomes of Gram-negative-challenged versus Gram-positive-challenged mosquitoes yielded no difference in either species. In Ae. aegypti , however, we identified transcriptional signatures specific to bacterial infection and to fungal infection. The bacterial infection response was dominated by the expression of defensins and cecropins, while the fungal infection response included the disproportionate upregulation of an uncharacterized family of glycine-rich proteins. These signatures were also observed in Ae. aegypti challenged with heat-killed bacteria and fungi, indicating that this species can discriminate between molecular patterns that are specific to bacteria and to fungi.
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15
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Duffield KR, Rosales AM, Muturi EJ, Behle RW, Ramirez JL. Increased Phenoloxidase Activity Constitutes the Main Defense Strategy of Trichoplusia ni Larvae against Fungal Entomopathogenic Infections. INSECTS 2023; 14:667. [PMID: 37623376 PMCID: PMC10455440 DOI: 10.3390/insects14080667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
The cabbage looper Trichoplusia ni is an important agricultural pest worldwide and is frequently used as a model organism for assessing entomopathogenic fungi virulence, though few studies have measured the host response repertoire to fungal biocontrol agents. Here, we quantified the immune response of T. ni larvae following exposure to two entomopathogenic fungal species: Beauveria bassiana and Cordyceps javanica. Results from our study demonstrate that T. ni larvae exposed to fungal entomopathogens had higher total phenoloxidase activity compared to controls, indicating that the melanization cascade is one of the main immune components driving defense against fungal infection and contrasting observations from other insect-fungi interaction studies. We also observed differences in host response depending on the species of entomopathogenic fungi, with significantly higher induction observed during infections with B. bassiana than with C. javanica. Larvae exposed to B. bassiana had an increased expression of genes involved in prophenoloxidase response and the Imd, JNK, and Jak/STAT immune signaling pathways. Our results indicate a notable absence of Toll pathway-related responses, further contrasting results to other insect-fungi pathosystems. Important differences were also observed in the induction of antimicrobial effectors, with B. bassiana infections eliciting three antimicrobial effectors (lysozyme, gloverin, and cecropin), while C. javanica only induced cecropin expression. These results provide insight into the host response strategies employed by T. ni for protection against entomopathogenic fungi and increase our understanding of insect-fungal entomopathogen interactions, aiding in the design of more effective microbial control strategies for this important agricultural pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin R. Duffield
- USDA-ARS, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Crop BioProtection Research Unit, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61604, USA; (E.J.M.)
| | | | - Ephantus J. Muturi
- USDA-ARS, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Crop BioProtection Research Unit, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61604, USA; (E.J.M.)
| | - Robert W. Behle
- USDA-ARS, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Crop BioProtection Research Unit, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61604, USA; (E.J.M.)
| | - José L. Ramirez
- USDA-ARS, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Crop BioProtection Research Unit, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61604, USA; (E.J.M.)
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16
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Qin Y, Liu X, Peng G, Xia Y, Cao Y. Recent Advancements in Pathogenic Mechanisms, Applications and Strategies for Entomopathogenic Fungi in Mosquito Biocontrol. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:746. [PMID: 37504734 PMCID: PMC10381795 DOI: 10.3390/jof9070746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal diseases are widespread among insects and play a crucial role in naturally regulating insect populations. Mosquitoes, known as vectors for numerous infectious diseases, pose a significant threat to human health. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have emerged as highly promising alternative agents to chemical mosquitocides for controlling mosquitoes at all stages of their life cycle due to their unique infection pathway through direct contact with the insect's cuticle. In recent years, significant advancements have been made in understanding the infection pathways and pathogenic mechanisms of EPF against mosquitoes. Various strategies involving the use of EPF alone or combinations with other approaches have been employed to target mosquitoes at various developmental stages. Moreover, the application of genetic technologies in fungi has opened up new avenues for enhancing the mosquitocidal efficacy of EPF. This review presents a comprehensive summary of recent advancements in our understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of EPF, their applications in mosquito management, and the combination of EPF with other approaches and employment of transgenic technologies. The biosafety concerns associated with their use and the corresponding approaches are also discussed. The recent progress suggests that EPF have the potential to serve as a future biorational tool for controlling mosquito vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Qin
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing 401331, China
- Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies, Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing 401331, China
- Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies, Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Guoxiong Peng
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing 401331, China
- Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies, Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Yuxian Xia
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing 401331, China
- Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies, Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Yueqing Cao
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing 401331, China
- Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies, Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing 401331, China
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17
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Mesquita E, da Costa DP, Meirelles LN, Camargo MG, Corrêa TA, Bittencourt VREP, da Silva Coelho I, Santos HA, Humber RA, Golo PS. Entomopathogenic fungus treatment changes the gut bacterial diversity of Rhipicephalus microplus ticks. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:185. [PMID: 37280668 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05790-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ticks are obligate bloodsucking parasites responsible for significant economic losses and concerns with human and animal health, mainly due to the transmission of pathogens. Entomopathogenic fungi have been intensively studied as an alternative strategy for tick control that can be used in combination with synthetic acaricides in the integrated management of ticks. Here, we investigated how the gut bacterial community of Rhipicephalus microplus is shaped after Metarhizium anisopliae treatment and how the tick susceptibility to the fungus is affected after disrupting gut bacterial microbiota. METHODS Partially engorged tick females were artificially fed with pure bovine blood or blood plus tetracycline. Two other groups received the same diet and were topically treated with M. anisopliae. The guts were dissected, and the genomic DNA was extracted 3 days after the treatment; the V3-V4 variable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified. RESULTS The gut of ticks that received no antibiotic but were treated with M. anisopliae exhibited lower bacterial diversity and a higher occurrence of Coxiella species. The Simpson diversity index and Pielou equability coefficient were higher in the gut bacterial community when R. microplus were fed with tetracycline and fungus-treated. Ticks from fungus-treated groups (with or without tetracycline) exhibited lower survival than untreated females. Previous feeding of ticks with the antibiotic did not change their susceptibility to the fungus. Ehrlichia spp. were not detected in the gueated groups. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that myco-acaricidal action would not be impacted if the calf hosting these ticks is under antibiotic therapy. Moreover, the hypothesis that entomopathogenic fungi can affect the bacterial community in the gut of R. microplus engorged females is endorsed by the fact that ticks exposed to M. anisopliae exhibited a dramatic reduction in bacterial diversity. This is the first report of an entomopathogenic fungus affecting the tick gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Mesquita
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Brazil
| | - Diogo Paes da Costa
- Microbiology and Enzymology Laboratory, Federal University of Agreste Pernambuco, Garanhuns, PE, 55292-270, Brazil
| | - Laura Nóbrega Meirelles
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Brazil
| | - Mariana Guedes Camargo
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Thaís Almeida Corrêa
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Brazil
| | - Vânia Rita Elias Pinheiro Bittencourt
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Brazil
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Irene da Silva Coelho
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Huarrisson Azevedo Santos
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Richard Alan Humber
- USDA-ARS Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research, R. W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Patrícia Silva Golo
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Brazil.
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
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18
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Zhu L, Wu Z, Fang W, Wang Y. High-Quality Genome and Annotation Resource of Orange Pink Rot Pathogen Trichothecium roseum Strain YXFP-22015 Isolated from Hubei, China. PLANT DISEASE 2023:PDIS10222403A. [PMID: 36471473 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-10-22-2403-a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Trichothecium roseum is widely distributed throughout the world and forms pink powdery molds on various fruits and vegetables, lowering their quality and leading to great economic losses. Due to the limited availability of high-quality genomic and annotation resources, little is known about the pathogenesis of T. roseum at the molecular level. In this study, we reported a high-quality genome assembly of strain YXFP-22015 using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) for long read sequencing and MGISEQ-2000 for short read sequencing. The genome was also well-annotated based on the combination of RNA-seq by MGISEQ-2000 and in silico prediction. Further analysis on this will contribute to a better understanding of T. roseum infection mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhu
- National Biopesticide Engineering Technology Research Centre, Hubei Biopesticide Engineering Research Centre, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Pesticides, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430064, P.R. China
| | - Zhaoyuan Wu
- National Biopesticide Engineering Technology Research Centre, Hubei Biopesticide Engineering Research Centre, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Pesticides, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430064, P.R. China
| | - Wei Fang
- National Biopesticide Engineering Technology Research Centre, Hubei Biopesticide Engineering Research Centre, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Pesticides, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430064, P.R. China
| | - Yueying Wang
- National Biopesticide Engineering Technology Research Centre, Hubei Biopesticide Engineering Research Centre, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Pesticides, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430064, P.R. China
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Wang JL, Sun J, Song YJ, Zheng HH, Wang GJ, Luo WX, Li L, Liu XS. An entomopathogenic fungus exploits its host humoral antibacterial immunity to minimize bacterial competition in the hemolymph. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:116. [PMID: 37210573 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01538-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The insect hemolymph (blood-equivalent fluid), composed of a large number of hemocytes (blood cells) and a variety of soluble immune effectors, is hostile for pathogens including fungi. In order to survive in the insect hemocoel (body cavity), the entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) has evolved two classical coping strategies, namely evasion and suppression of the host immune reactions. However, it remains unclear whether EPF has other ways of coping with host immunity. RESULTS In this study, we demonstrated that Metarhizium rileyi (an EPF) infection by injection of blastospores into the hemocoel enhanced the plasma antibacterial activity of cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), which was partially due to the enhanced expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The early stage of M. rileyi infection induced the translocation of gut bacteria into the hemocoel, where they were subsequently cleared due to the enhanced plasma antibacterial activity. Further, we showed that the enhanced plasma antibacterial activity and AMP expression were attributable to M. rileyi but not the invasive gut bacteria (opportunistic bacteria). Elevated ecdysone (major steroid hormone in insects) levels in the hemolymph at 48 h post-M. rileyi infection might contribute to the enhanced expression of AMPs. The fungus-elicited AMPs, such as cecropin 3 or lebocin, exhibited potent inhibitory activity against the opportunistic bacteria but not against hyphal bodies. In addition, the opportunistic bacteria competed with hyphal bodies for amino acid nutrients. CONCLUSIONS M. rileyi infection induced the translocation of gut bacteria, and then the fungi activated and exploited its host humoral antibacterial immunity to eliminate opportunistic bacteria, preventing them from competing for nutrients in the hemolymph. Unlike the classical strategies, EPF utilizes to evade or suppress host immunity, our findings reveal a novel strategy of interaction between EPF and host immunity. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Lin Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Jing Sun
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Ya-Jing Song
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Huan-Huan Zheng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Gui-Jie Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Wen-Xia Luo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Li Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Xu-Sheng Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
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Zhu G, Ding W, Zhao H, Xue M, Chu P, Jiang L. Effects of the Entomopathogenic Fungus Mucor hiemalis BO-1 on the Physical Functions and Transcriptional Signatures of Bradysia odoriphaga Larvae. INSECTS 2023; 14:162. [PMID: 36835731 PMCID: PMC9964685 DOI: 10.3390/insects14020162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mucor hiemalis BO-1 is an entomopathogenic fungus that infects Bradysia odoriphaga, a destructive root maggot. M. hiemalis BO-1 possesses stronger pathogenicity to the larvae than to other stages of B. odoriphaga, and provides satisfactory field control. However, the physiological response of B. odoriphaga larvae to infection and the infection mechanism of M. hiemalis are unknown. We detected some physiological indicators of diseased B. odoriphaga larvae infected by M. hiemalis BO-1. These included changes in consumption, nutrient contents, and digestive and antioxidant enzymes. We performed transcriptome analysis of diseased B. odoriphaga larvae, and found that M. hiemalis BO-1 showed acute toxicity to B. odoriphaga larvae and was as toxic as some chemical pesticides. The food consumption of diseased B. odoriphaga after inoculation with M. hiemalis spores decreased significantly, and there was a significant decrease in total protein, lipid, and carbohydrates in diseased larvae. Key digestive enzymes (protease, α-amylase, lipase, and cellulase) were significantly inhibited during infection. Peroxidase maintained high activity, and the activity of other antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione S-transferases) first increased and then decreased. Combined with the transcriptional signatures of diseased B. odoriphaga larvae, M. hiemalis BO-1 infection resulted in decreased food consumption, reduced digestive enzyme activity, and altered energy metabolism and material accumulation. Infection was also accompanied by fluctuations in immune function, such as cytochrome P450 and the Toll pathway. Therefore, our results laid a basis for the further study of the interactions between M. hiemalis BO-1 and B. odoriphaga and promoted the genetic improvement of entomopathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guodong Zhu
- College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Wenjuan Ding
- College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Haipeng Zhao
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Ming Xue
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Pengfei Chu
- College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Liwei Jiang
- College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
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21
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de Oliveira Barbosa Bitencourt R, Corrêa TA, Santos-Mallet J, Santos HA, Lowenberger C, Moreira HVS, Gôlo PS, Bittencourt VREP, da Costa Angelo I. Beauveria bassiana interacts with gut and hemocytes to manipulate Aedes aegypti immunity. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:17. [PMID: 36650591 PMCID: PMC9847134 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05655-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquito-borne diseases affect millions of people. Chemical insecticides are currently employed against mosquitoes. However, many cases of insecticide resistance have been reported. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have demonstrated potential as a bioinsecticide. Here, we assessed the invasion of the EPF Beauveria bassiana into Aedes aegypti larvae and changes in the activity of phenoloxidase (PO) as a proxy for the general activation of the insect innate immune system. In addition, other cellular and humoral responses were evaluated. METHODS Larvae were exposed to blastospores or conidia of B. bassiana CG 206. After 24 and 48 h, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted on the larvae. The hemolymph was collected to determine changes in total hemocyte concentration (THC), the dynamics of hemocytes, and to observe hemocyte-fungus interactions. In addition, the larvae were macerated to assess the activity of PO using L-DOPA conversion, and the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) was measured using quantitative Real-Time PCR. RESULTS Propagules invaded mosquitoes through the midgut, and blastopores were detected inside the hemocoel. Both propagules decreased the THC regardless of the time. By 24 h after exposure to conidia the percentage of granulocytes and oenocytoids increased while the prohemocytes decreased. By 48 h, the oenocytoid percentage increased significantly (P < 0.05) in larvae exposed to blastospores; however, the other hemocyte types did not change significantly. Regardless of the time, SEM revealed hemocytes adhering to, and nodulating, blastospores. For the larvae exposed to conidia, these interactions were observed only at 48 h. Irrespective of the propagule, the PO activity increased only at 48 h. At 24 h, cathepsin B was upregulated by infection with conidia, whereas both propagules resulted in a downregulation of cecropin and defensin A. At 48 h, blastospores and conidia increased the expression of defensin A suggesting this may be an essential AMP against EPF. CONCLUSION By 24 h, B. bassiana CG 206 occluded the midgut, reduced THC, did not stimulate PO activity, and downregulated AMP expression in larvae, all of which allowed the fungus to impair the larvae to facilitate infection. Our data reports a complex interplay between Ae. aegypti larvae and B. bassiana CG 206 demonstrating how this fungus can infect, affect, and kill Ae. aegypti larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo de Oliveira Barbosa Bitencourt
- grid.412391.c0000 0001 1523 2582Graduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ Brazil
| | - Thaís Almeida Corrêa
- grid.412391.c0000 0001 1523 2582Graduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ Brazil
| | - Jacenir Santos-Mallet
- grid.418068.30000 0001 0723 0931Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, IOC-FIOCRUZ-RJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil ,FIOCRUZ-PI, Teresina, Piauí Brazil ,grid.441915.c0000 0004 0501 3011Iguaçu University-UNIG, Nova Iguaçu, RJ Brazil
| | - Huarrison Azevedo Santos
- grid.412391.c0000 0001 1523 2582Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ Brazil
| | - Carl Lowenberger
- grid.61971.380000 0004 1936 7494Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Haika Victória Sales Moreira
- grid.412391.c0000 0001 1523 2582Graduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ Brazil
| | - Patrícia Silva Gôlo
- grid.412391.c0000 0001 1523 2582Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ Brazil
| | - Vânia Rita Elias Pinheiro Bittencourt
- grid.412391.c0000 0001 1523 2582Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ Brazil
| | - Isabele da Costa Angelo
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
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22
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Ramirez JL, Hampton KJ, Rosales AM, Muturi EJ. Multiple mosquito AMPs are needed to potentiate their antifungal effect against entomopathogenic fungi. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1062383. [PMID: 36687607 PMCID: PMC9852974 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1062383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Mosquito resistance to microbial infections, including fungal entomopathogens that are selected for mosquito control, depend on a range of antimicrobial effectors, among them antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). These short peptides, along the antimicrobial effector lysozyme, act by disrupting the microbial cell membrane or by interfering with microbial physiological processes. While the induction of AMPs and lysozyme during fungal entomopathogenic infections have been reported, their contribution to the mosquito antifungal response has not been evaluated. In this study, we assessed the induction of Ae. aegypti AMPs and lysozyme genes at two points of infection and against distinct entomopathogenic fungi. Our results indicate that fungal infection elicits the expression of cecropin, defensin, diptericin, holotricin, and lysozyme, but do not affect those of attacin or gambicin. We further evaluated the role of these antimicrobial effectors via RNAi-based depletion of select AMPs during challenges with two entomopathogenic fungi. Our results reveal that AMPs and lysozyme are critical to the antifungal response, acting in concert, rather than individually, to potentiate their antimicrobial effect against entomopathogenic fungi. This study further contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms that confer resistance to entomopathogenic fungi in an important mosquito vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L. Ramirez
- Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, IL, United States,*Correspondence: José L. Ramirez, ,
| | - Kylie J. Hampton
- Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, IL, United States
| | | | - Ephantus J. Muturi
- Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, IL, United States
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23
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Kryukov VY, Rotskaya UN, Yaroslavtseva ON, Noskov YA, Glupov VV. Expression of Immunity- and Stress-Related Genes during an Intermolt Period in the Colorado Potato Beetle. INSECTS 2022; 13:1168. [PMID: 36555078 PMCID: PMC9785908 DOI: 10.3390/insects13121168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Different developmental stages of insects may be dissimilar in immunity functioning. Additionally, the stages often inhabit diverse environments with specific microbial communities. In the Colorado potato beetle, a strong increase in resistance to entomopathogenic fungi is observed during the intermolt period of last-instar larvae, but mechanisms of this change are insufficiently understood. We studied changes in the expression of immunity- and stress-related genes in the fat body and integument during this intermolt period by quantitative PCR. By the end of the instar, there was upregulation of transcription factors of Toll, IMD, and Jak-Stat pathways as well as genes encoding metalloprotease inhibitors, odorant-binding proteins, and heat shock proteins. Nonetheless, the expression of gene LdRBLk encoding β-lectin did not change during this period. Most of the aforementioned genes were upregulated in response to Metarhizium robertsii topical infection. The expression alterations were more pronounced in recently molted larvae than in finishing feeding larvae and in the integument compared to the fat body. We believe that upregulation of immune-system- and stress-related genes at the end of the intermolt period is an adaptation caused by migration of larvae into soil, where the probability of encountering entomopathogenic fungi is high.
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Bai J, Cao J, Zhang Y, Xu Z, Li L, Liang L, Ma X, Han R, Ma W, Xu L, Ma L. Comparative analysis of the immune system and expression profiling of Lymantria dispar infected by Beauveria bassiana. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 187:105212. [PMID: 36127056 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2022.105212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Lymantria dispar is one of the most devastating forest pests worldwide. Fungal biopesticides have great potential as alternatives owing to their high lethality to pests and eco-friendly feature, which is, however, often severely compromised by the pests' innate immunity. A better understanding of the antifungal immune system in L. dispar would significantly facilitate the development of the biopesticide. Here, we investigated phylogenetic characteristics of immunity-related genes as well as the tissue expression patterns in L. dispar after the infection of an entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana using RNA-sequencing data. Results showed most immune genes remain at a low level of response after 24 h post-infection (HPI). Almost all genes in the Toll pathway were significantly up-regulated at 48 HPI, and SPH1, SPN6, Toll6, Toll12, Myd88, pelle, and Drosal were significantly down-regulated at 72 HPI. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that the protein levels of βGRP3 and PPO1 were significantly upregulated at 24 and 48 HPI, while Myd88 was downregulated at 24 HPI, which was further confirmed by Quantitative real-time PCR experiments. Moreover, the relative content of H2O2, a potent reactive oxygen species (ROS), was significantly increased with the decrease of the total antioxidant capacity, indicating that oxidative stress system positively participates in the clearance of the pathogenic fungus. Together, our study provides detailed genetic characteristics of antifungal immunity as well as profiling of the host defense against entomopathogenic infection, and comprehensive insight into molecular interaction between L. dispar and the entomopathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyang Bai
- Department of Forest protection, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingyu Cao
- Department of Forest protection, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Forest protection, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Zhe Xu
- Department of Forest protection, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Lu Li
- Department of Forest protection, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Liwei Liang
- Department of Forest protection, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Xiaoqian Ma
- Department of Forest protection, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; Institute of Forest Protection, Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Runhua Han
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, 144 Dysart Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Wei Ma
- College of Pharmacy, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China.
| | - Letian Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Ling Ma
- Department of Forest protection, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; Forest Protection Technology Innovation Center, Harbin, China.
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de Oliveira Barbosa Bitencourt R, de Souza Faria F, Marchesini P, Reis Dos Santos-Mallet J, Guedes Camargo M, Rita Elias Pinheiro Bittencourt V, Guedes Pontes E, Baptista Pereira D, Siqueira de Almeida Chaves D, da Costa Angelo I. Entomopathogenic fungi and Schinus molle essential oil: The combination of two eco-friendly agents against Aedes aegypti larvae. J Invertebr Pathol 2022; 194:107827. [PMID: 36108793 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2022.107827] [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: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Aedes aegypti transmits arbovirus, which is a public health concern. Certain filamentous fungi have the potential to control the disease. Here, the effects of Metarhizium anisopliae s.l. CG 153, Beauveria bassiana s.l. CG 206 and Schinus molle L. were investigated against Aedes aegypti larvae. In addition, the effect of essential oil on fungal development was analyzed. Fungal germination was assessed after combination with essential oil at 0.0025 %, 0.0075 %, 0.005 %, or 0.01 %; all of the oil concentrations affected germination except 0.0025 % (v/v). Larvae were exposed to 0.0025 %, 0.0075 %, 0.005 %, or 0.01 % of the essential oil or Tween 80 at 0.01 %; however, only the essential oil at 0.0025 % achieved similar results as the control. Larvae were exposed to fungi at 107 conidia mL-1 alone or in combination with the essential oil at 0.0025 %. Regardless of the combination, M. anisopliae reduced the median survival time of mosquitoes more than B. bassiana. The cumulative survival of mosquitoes exposed to M. anisopliae alone or in combination with essential oil was 7.5 % and 2 %, respectively, and for B. bassiana, it was 75 % and 71 %, respectively. M. anisopliae + essential oil had a synergistic effect against larvae, whereas B. bassiana + essential oil was antagonistic. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and histopathology confirmed that the interaction of M. anisopliae was through the gut and hemocoel. In contrast, the mosquito's gut was the main route for invasion by B. bassiana. Results from gas chromatography studies demonstrated sabinene and bicyclogermacrene as the main compounds of S. molle, and the in-silico investigation found evidence that both compounds affect a wide range of biological activity. For the first time, we demonstrated the potential of S. molle and its interaction with both fungal strains against A. aegypti larvae. Moreover, for the first time, we reported that S. molle might be responsible for significant changes in larval physiology. This study provides new insights into host-pathogen interplay and contributes to a better understanding of pathogenesis in mosquitoes, which have significant consequences for biological control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fernanda de Souza Faria
- Graduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Paula Marchesini
- Graduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Jacenir Reis Dos Santos-Mallet
- Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, IOC-FIOCRUZ-RJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ and FIOCRUZ-PI, Teresina, Piaui, Brazil; Iguaçu University-UNIG, Nova Iguaçu, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mariana Guedes Camargo
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Emerson Guedes Pontes
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact Sciences, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Debora Baptista Pereira
- Graduate Program in Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact Sciences, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Douglas Siqueira de Almeida Chaves
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Isabele da Costa Angelo
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
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Delivery and effectiveness of entomopathogenic fungi for mosquito and tick control: current knowledge and research challenges. Acta Trop 2022; 234:106627. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Topical Fungal Infection Induces Shifts in the Gut Microbiota Structure of Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Homoptera: Delphacidae). INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13060528. [PMID: 35735865 PMCID: PMC9225076 DOI: 10.3390/insects13060528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Fungal entomopathogens are important natural enemies of insect pests and widely applied for biocontrol. Gut microbiota play important roles in mediating insect physiology and behavior. There is growing evidence that alteration of gut microbial communities due to pathological and environmental exposure can have detrimental impacts on host health and pathogen resistance. Here, we investigated the effects of topical infection with Metarhizium anisopliae fungus on the gut microbial community structure of the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens, BPH), a destructive insect pest of rice. Our results demonstrated dramatic changes of gut bacterial community structure after topical fungal infection in BPH, as indicated by a significant increase in bacterial load, a significant decrease in bacterial community evenness and significant shifts in dominant bacterial abundance at the taxonomic level below the class. The dysbiosis of the gut bacteria might partly be due to the suppression of gut immunity caused by topical fungal infection. Our results highlighted the importance of the gut microbial community in fungal pathogenesis in insects. Abstract The brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens, BPH) is a destructive insect pest posing a serious threat to rice production. The fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae is a promising alternative that can be used for BPH biocontrol. Recent studies have highlighted the significant involvement of gut microbiota in the insect–fungus interactions. In the presented study, we investigated the effects of topical fungal infection on the gut microbial community structure in BPH. Our results revealed that topical infection with M. anisopliae increased the bacterial load and altered the bacterial community structure in the gut of BPH. The relative abundances of the dominant gut bacteria at the order, family and genus level were significantly different between fungus-infected and uninfected groups. At the genus level, the uninfected BPH harbored high proportions of Pantoea and Enterobacter in the gut, whereas the fungus-infected BPH gut was absolutely dominated by Acinetobacter. Moreover, topical fungal infection significantly inhibited the expressions of immune-related genes encoding anti-microbial protein and dual oxidase that were involved in the maintenance of gut microbiota homeostasis, indicating that gut bacteria imbalance might be attributed in part to the suppression of gut immunity caused by fungal pathogen. Our results highlighted the importance of the gut microbial community during interactions between fungal pathogens and insect hosts.
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Genetics and immunity of Anopheles response to the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae overlap with immunity to Plasmodium. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6315. [PMID: 35428783 PMCID: PMC9012835 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10190-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Entomopathogenic fungi have been explored as a potential biopesticide to counteract the insecticide resistance issue in mosquitoes. However, little is known about the possibility that genetic resistance to fungal biopesticides could evolve in mosquito populations. Here, we detected an important genetic component underlying Anopheles coluzzii survival after exposure to the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. A familiality study detected variation for survival among wild mosquito isofemale pedigrees, and genetic mapping identified two loci that significantly influence mosquito survival after fungus exposure. One locus overlaps with a previously reported locus for Anopheles susceptibility to the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Candidate gene studies revealed that two LRR proteins encoded by APL1C and LRIM1 genes in this newly mapped locus are required for protection of female A. coluzzii from M. anisopliae, as is the complement-like factor Tep1. These results indicate that natural Anopheles populations already segregate frequent genetic variation for differential mosquito survival after fungal challenge and suggest a similarity in Anopheles protective responses against fungus and Plasmodium. However, this immune similarity raises the possibility that fungus-resistant mosquitoes could also display enhanced resistance to Plasmodium, suggesting an advantage of selecting for fungus resistance in vector populations to promote naturally diminished malaria vector competence.
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Altimira F, Arias-Aravena M, Jian L, Real N, Correa P, González C, Godoy S, Castro JF, Zamora O, Vergara C, Vitta N, Tapia E. Genomic and Experimental Analysis of the Insecticidal Factors Secreted by the Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria pseudobassiana RGM 2184. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:253. [PMID: 35330256 PMCID: PMC8952764 DOI: 10.3390/jof8030253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria pseudobassiana strain RGM 2184 can reach a maximum efficacy of 80% against the quarantine pest Lobesia botrana in field assays. In this study, the RGM 2184 genome was sequenced, and genome mining analyses were performed to predict the factors involved in its insecticidal activity. Additionally, the metabolic profiling of the RMG 2184 culture's supernatants was analyzed by mass spectrometry, and the insecticidal activity from one of these extracts was evaluated in Galleria mellonella larvae. The genome analysis resulted in 114 genes encoding for extracellular enzymes, four biosynthetic gene clusters reported as producers of insecticidal and bactericidal factors (oosporein, beauvericin, desmethylbassianin, and beauveriolide), 20 toxins, and at least 40 undescribed potential biocontrol factors (polyketides and nonribosomal peptides). Comparative genomic analysis revealed that 65-95% of these genes are Beauveria genus-specific. Metabolic profiling of supernatant extracts from RGM 2184 cultures exhibited secondary metabolites such as beauveriolide, oosporein, inflatin C, and bassiatin. However, a number of detected metabolites still remain undescribed. The metabolite extract caused 79% mortality of Galleria mellonella larvae at 28 days. The results of this research lay the groundwork for the study of new insecticidal molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Altimira
- Laboratorio de Entomología y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA La Platina, Santiago 8831314, Chile; (M.A.-A.); (N.R.); (P.C.); (S.G.); (N.V.); (E.T.)
| | - Matias Arias-Aravena
- Laboratorio de Entomología y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA La Platina, Santiago 8831314, Chile; (M.A.-A.); (N.R.); (P.C.); (S.G.); (N.V.); (E.T.)
| | - Ling Jian
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China;
| | - Nicolas Real
- Laboratorio de Entomología y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA La Platina, Santiago 8831314, Chile; (M.A.-A.); (N.R.); (P.C.); (S.G.); (N.V.); (E.T.)
| | - Pablo Correa
- Laboratorio de Entomología y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA La Platina, Santiago 8831314, Chile; (M.A.-A.); (N.R.); (P.C.); (S.G.); (N.V.); (E.T.)
| | - Carolina González
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago 7780272, Chile;
| | - Sebastián Godoy
- Laboratorio de Entomología y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA La Platina, Santiago 8831314, Chile; (M.A.-A.); (N.R.); (P.C.); (S.G.); (N.V.); (E.T.)
| | - Jean Franco Castro
- Banco de Recursos Genéticos Microbianos, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA, Chillán 3800062, Chile;
| | - Olga Zamora
- Laboratorio de Materias Primas y Alimentos, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA La Platina, Santiago 8831314, Chile; (O.Z.); (C.V.)
| | - Cristina Vergara
- Laboratorio de Materias Primas y Alimentos, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA La Platina, Santiago 8831314, Chile; (O.Z.); (C.V.)
| | - Nancy Vitta
- Laboratorio de Entomología y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA La Platina, Santiago 8831314, Chile; (M.A.-A.); (N.R.); (P.C.); (S.G.); (N.V.); (E.T.)
| | - Eduardo Tapia
- Laboratorio de Entomología y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA La Platina, Santiago 8831314, Chile; (M.A.-A.); (N.R.); (P.C.); (S.G.); (N.V.); (E.T.)
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Impacts of fungal entomopathogens on survival and immune responses of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens mosquitoes in the context of native Wolbachia infections. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009984. [PMID: 34843477 PMCID: PMC8670716 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial control of mosquitoes via the use of symbiotic or pathogenic microbes, such as Wolbachia and entomopathogenic fungi, are promising alternatives to synthetic insecticides to tackle the rapid increase in insecticide resistance and vector-borne disease outbreaks. This study evaluated the susceptibility and host responses of two important mosquito vectors, Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens, that naturally carry Wolbachia, to infections by entomopathogenic fungi. Our study indicated that while Wolbachia presence did not provide a protective advantage against entomopathogenic fungal infection, it nevertheless influenced the bacterial / fungal load and the expression of select anti-microbial effectors and phenoloxidase cascade genes in mosquitoes. Furthermore, although host responses from Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens were mostly similar, we observed contrasting phenotypes with regards to susceptibility and immune responses to fungal entomopathogenic infection in these two mosquitoes. This study provides new insights into the intricate multipartite interaction between the mosquito host, its native symbiont and pathogenic microbes that might be employed to control mosquito populations. Control of mosquitoes via the use of microbes is a promising alternative to synthetic insecticides and a potential solution to tackle the rapid evolution of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. Recently, a parasitic microbe named Wolbachia has been found to render the mosquito resistant to virus infections and it is currently showing great promise in reducing dengue cases on tests conducted in the field. On the other side of the symbiotic spectrum, we have entomopathogenic fungi, who have evolved to naturally infect and kill insects, and offer a unique potential to control mosquito populations. In this study, we examined the effect that native Wolbachia can have on the mosquito susceptibility to fungal entomopathogens. Our findings show that while Wolbachia does not affect the action of entomopathogenic fungi on mosquitoes, it does influence the expression of important mosquito immune genes, suggesting that Wolbachia has a closer interaction with the mosquito response to microbial infections than previously reported. Furthermore, our study provides new records on the susceptibility of two important mosquito vectors in the USA (Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens), with Cx. pipiens showing significant resistance to the action of one fungal entomopathogen tested. This article informs on the mosquito susceptibility and interaction with other microbes that will aid in the selection of fungal entomopathogens to control mosquitoes, especially those that carry native microbes such as Wolbachia.
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Moreira-Pinto CE, Coelho RR, Leite AGB, Silveira DA, de Souza DA, Lopes RB, Macedo LLP, Silva MCM, Ribeiro TP, Morgante CV, Antonino JD, Grossi-de-Sa MF. Increasing Anthonomus grandis susceptibility to Metarhizium anisopliae through RNAi-induced AgraRelish knockdown: a perspective to combine biocontrol and biotechnology. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2021; 77:4054-4063. [PMID: 33896113 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The hemolymph and insect gut together have an essential role in the immune defense against microorganisms, including the production of antimicrobial peptides (AMP). AMPs are mainly induced by two specific signaling pathways, Toll and immune deficiency (IMD). Here, we characterize the expression profile of four genes from both pathways and describe the importance of AgraRelish in the immune defense of Anthonomus grandis against the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae by RNA interference (RNAi). RESULTS To characterize the pathway that is activated early during the A. grandis-M. anisopliae interaction, we assessed the expression profiles of AgraMyD88 and AgraDorsal (Toll pathway), AgraIMD and AgraRelish (IMD pathway), and several AMP genes. Interestingly, we found that IMD pathway genes are upregulated early, and Toll pathway genes are upregulated just 3 days after inoculation (DAI). Furthermore, nine AMPs were upregulated 24 h after fungus inoculation, including attacins, cecropins, coleoptericins, and defensins. AgraRelish knockdown resulted in a reduction in median lethal time (LT50 ) for M. anisopliae-treated insects of around 2 days compared to control treatments. In addition, AgraRelish remained knocked down at 3 DAI. Finally, we identified that AgraRelish knockdown increased fungal loads at 2 DAI compared to control treatments, possibly indicating a faster infection. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate the influence of the IMD pathway on the antifungal response in A. grandis. Combining biocontrol and RNAi could significantly improve cotton boll weevil management. Hence, AgraRelish is a potential target for the development of biotechnological tools aimed at improving the efficacy of M. anisopliae against A. grandis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clidia E Moreira-Pinto
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Roberta R Coelho
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Ana G B Leite
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Daniela A Silveira
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasilia, Brazil
| | | | - Rogerio B Lopes
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Leonardo L P Macedo
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasilia, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, EMBRAPA, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Maria C M Silva
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasilia, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, EMBRAPA, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Thuanne P Ribeiro
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Carolina V Morgante
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasilia, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, EMBRAPA, Brasilia, Brazil
- Embrapa Semi-Arid, Petrolina, Brazil
| | - José D Antonino
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasilia, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, EMBRAPA, Brasilia, Brazil
- Departamento de Agronomia-Entomologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Maria F Grossi-de-Sa
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasilia, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, EMBRAPA, Brasilia, Brazil
- Catholic University of Brasilia, Brasília, Brazil
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Kim JC, Lee MR, Kim S, Park SE, Lee SJ, Shin TY, Kim WJ, Kim J. Transcriptome Analysis of the Japanese Pine Sawyer Beetle, Monochamus alternatus, Infected with the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae JEF-197. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7050373. [PMID: 34068801 PMCID: PMC8151162 DOI: 10.3390/jof7050373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Japanese pine sawyer (JPS) beetle, Monochamus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), damages pine trees and transmits the pine wilt nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus Nickle. Chemical agents have been used to control JPS beetle, but due to various issues, efforts are being made to replace these chemical agents with entomopathogenic fungi. We investigated the expression of immune-related genes in JPS beetle in response to infection with JEF-197, a Metarhizium anisopliae isolate, using RNA-seq. RNA samples were obtained from JEF-197, JPS adults treated with JEF-197, and non-treated JPS adults on the 8th day after fungal treatment, and RNA-seq was performed using Illumina sequencing. JPS beetle transcriptome was assembled de novo and differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis was performed. There were 719 and 1953 up- and downregulated unigenes upon JEF-197 infection, respectively. Upregulated contigs included genes involved in RNA transport, ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes, spliceosome-related genes, and genes involved in immune-related signaling pathways such as the Toll and Imd pathways. Forty-two fungal DEGs related to energy and protein metabolism were upregulated, and genes involved in the stress response were also upregulated in the infected JPS beetles. Together, our results indicate that infection of JPS beetles by JEF-197 induces the expression of immune-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong-Cheol Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea; (J.-C.K.); (M.-R.L.); (S.K.); (S.-E.P.); (T.-Y.S.)
| | - Mi-Rong Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea; (J.-C.K.); (M.-R.L.); (S.K.); (S.-E.P.); (T.-Y.S.)
| | - Sihyeon Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea; (J.-C.K.); (M.-R.L.); (S.K.); (S.-E.P.); (T.-Y.S.)
| | - So-Eun Park
- Department of Agricultural Biology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea; (J.-C.K.); (M.-R.L.); (S.K.); (S.-E.P.); (T.-Y.S.)
| | - Se-Jin Lee
- Department of Agricultural Life Science, Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Korea;
| | - Tae-Young Shin
- Department of Agricultural Biology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea; (J.-C.K.); (M.-R.L.); (S.K.); (S.-E.P.); (T.-Y.S.)
| | - Woo-Jin Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea; (J.-C.K.); (M.-R.L.); (S.K.); (S.-E.P.); (T.-Y.S.)
- Correspondence: (W.-J.K.); (J.K.); Tel.: +82-63-270-2525 (J.K.)
| | - Jaesu Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea; (J.-C.K.); (M.-R.L.); (S.K.); (S.-E.P.); (T.-Y.S.)
- Department of Agricultural Convergence Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54596, Korea
- Correspondence: (W.-J.K.); (J.K.); Tel.: +82-63-270-2525 (J.K.)
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Noskov YA, Kabilov MR, Polenogova OV, Yurchenko YA, Belevich OE, Yaroslavtseva ON, Alikina TY, Byvaltsev AM, Rotskaya UN, Morozova VV, Glupov VV, Kryukov VY. A Neurotoxic Insecticide Promotes Fungal Infection in Aedes aegypti Larvae by Altering the Bacterial Community. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2021; 81:493-505. [PMID: 32839879 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-020-01567-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Symbiotic bacteria have a significant impact on the formation of defensive mechanisms against fungal pathogens and insecticides. The microbiome of the mosquito Aedes aegypti has been well studied; however, there are no data on the influence of insecticides and pathogenic fungi on its structure. The fungus Metarhizium robertsii and a neurotoxic insecticide (avermectin complex) interact synergistically, and the colonization of larvae with hyphal bodies is observed after fungal and combined (conidia + avermectins) treatments. The changes in the bacterial communities (16S rRNA) of Ae. aegypti larvae under the influence of fungal infection, avermectin toxicosis, and their combination were studied. In addition, we studied the interactions between the fungus and the predominant cultivable bacteria in vitro and in vivo after the coinfection of the larvae. Avermectins increased the total bacterial load and diversity. The fungus decreased the diversity and insignificantly increased the bacterial load. Importantly, avermectins reduced the relative abundance of Microbacterium (Actinobacteria), which exhibited a strong antagonistic effect towards the fungus in in vitro and in vivo assays. The avermectin treatment led to an increased abundance of Chryseobacterium (Flavobacteria), which exerted a neutral effect on mycosis development. In addition, avermectin treatment led to an elevation of some subdominant bacteria (Pseudomonas) that interacted synergistically with the fungus. We suggest that avermectins change the bacterial community to favor the development of fungal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y A Noskov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630091.
- National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia, 634050.
| | - M R Kabilov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630090
| | - O V Polenogova
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630091
| | - Y A Yurchenko
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630091
| | - O E Belevich
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630091
| | - O N Yaroslavtseva
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630091
| | - T Y Alikina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630090
| | - A M Byvaltsev
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630090
| | - U N Rotskaya
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630091
| | - V V Morozova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630090
| | - V V Glupov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630091
| | - V Y Kryukov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630091
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Kryukov VY, Rotskaya U, Yaroslavtseva O, Polenogova O, Kryukova N, Akhanaev Y, Krivopalov A, Alikina T, Vorontsova YL, Slepneva I, Kabilov M, Glupov VV. Fungus Metarhizium robertsii and neurotoxic insecticide affect gut immunity and microbiota in Colorado potato beetles. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1299. [PMID: 33446848 PMCID: PMC7809261 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80565-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections and toxicoses caused by insecticides may alter microbial communities and immune responses in the insect gut. We investigated the effects of Metarhizium robertsii fungus and avermectins on the midgut physiology of Colorado potato beetle larvae. We analyzed changes in the bacterial community, immunity- and stress-related gene expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and detoxification enzyme activity in response to topical infection with the M. robertsii fungus, oral administration of avermectins, and a combination of the two treatments. Avermectin treatment led to a reduction in microbiota diversity and an enhancement in the abundance of enterobacteria, and these changes were followed by the downregulation of Stat and Hsp90, upregulation of transcription factors for the Toll and IMD pathways and activation of detoxification enzymes. Fungal infection also led to a decrease in microbiota diversity, although the changes in community structure were not significant, except for the enhancement of Serratia. Fungal infection decreased the production of ROS but did not affect the gene expression of the immune pathways. In the combined treatment, fungal infection inhibited the activation of detoxification enzymes and prevented the downregulation of the JAK-STAT pathway caused by avermectins. The results of this study suggest that fungal infection modulates physiological responses to avermectins and that fungal infection may increase avermectin toxicosis by blocking detoxification enzymes in the gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim Yu Kryukov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630091, Russia. .,Tomsk State University, Tomsk, 634050, Russia.
| | - Ulyana Rotskaya
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630091, Russia
| | - Olga Yaroslavtseva
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630091, Russia
| | - Olga Polenogova
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630091, Russia
| | - Natalia Kryukova
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630091, Russia
| | - Yuriy Akhanaev
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630091, Russia
| | - Anton Krivopalov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630091, Russia
| | - Tatyana Alikina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Yana L Vorontsova
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630091, Russia
| | - Irina Slepneva
- Voevodsky Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Marsel Kabilov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Viktor V Glupov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630091, Russia
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Bai J, Xu Z, Li L, Ma W, Xu L, Ma L. Temporospatial modulation of Lymantria dispar immune system against an entomopathogenic fungal infection. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2020; 76:3982-3989. [PMID: 32506667 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymantria dispar is an economically impactful forest pest worldwide. The entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana shows great promise in pest management due to its high lethality in Lymantria dispar. A complete understanding of the immune interactions between the pest and the pathogenic fungus is essential to actualizing biological pest management. RESULTS Following the infection of Lymantria dispar by Beauveria bassiana spores, we performed a time-course analysis of transcriptome in Lymantria dispar fat bodies and hemocytes to explore host immune response. A total of 244 immunity-related genes including pattern recognition receptors, extracellular signal modulators, immune pathways (Toll, IMD, JNK and JAK/STAT), and response effectors were identified. We observed contrasting tissue and time-specific differences in the expression of immune genes. At the early stage of infection, several recognition receptors and effector genes were activated, while the signal modulation and effector genes were suppressed at later stages. Further enzyme activity-based assays coupled with gene expression analysis of prophenoloxidase revealed a significant upregulation of phenoloxidase activity at 48- and 72-h post-infection. Moreover, fungal infection led to dysbiosis in gut microbiota that seems to be partially attributed to reduced gut hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) amount, which indicates a significant impact of fungal infection on host gut microbes. CONCLUSION Our study provides a comprehensive sequence resource and crucial new insights about an economically important forest pest. Specifically, we elucidate the complicated multipartite interaction between host and fungal pathogen and contribute to a better understanding of Lymantria dispar anti-fungal immunity, resulting in better tools for biological pest control. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyang Bai
- Department of Forest Protection, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhe Xu
- Department of Forest Protection, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Lu Li
- Department of Forest Protection, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Wei Ma
- College of Pharmacy, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Letian Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling Ma
- Department of Forest Protection, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- Forest Protection Technology Innovation Center, Harbin, China
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Bitencourt RDOB, Salcedo-Porras N, Umaña-Diaz C, da Costa Angelo I, Lowenberger C. Antifungal immune responses in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae): A review. J Invertebr Pathol 2020; 178:107505. [PMID: 33238166 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes transmit many parasites and pathogens to humans that cause significant morbidity and mortality. As such, we are constantly looking for new methods to reduce mosquito populations, including the use of effective biological controls. Entomopathogenic fungi are excellent candidate biocontrol agents to control mosquitoes. Understanding the complex ecological, environmental, and molecular interactions between hosts and pathogens are essential to create novel, effective and safe biocontrol agents. Understanding how mosquitoes recognize and eliminate pathogens such as entomopathogenic fungi may allow us to create insect-order specific biocontrol agents to reduce pest populations. Here we summarize the current knowledge of fungal infection, colonization, development, and replication within mosquitoes and the innate immune responses of the mosquitoes towards the fungal pathogens, emphasizing those features required for an effective mosquito biocontrol agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo de Oliveira Barbosa Bitencourt
- Program in Veterinary Science, Institute of Veterinary Science, Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil; Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC V5A 1S6, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Nicolas Salcedo-Porras
- Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC V5A 1S6, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Claudia Umaña-Diaz
- Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC V5A 1S6, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Isabele da Costa Angelo
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Veterinary Institute, Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carl Lowenberger
- Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC V5A 1S6, British Columbia, Canada.
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Frankel-Bricker J. Shifts in the microbiota associated with male mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) exposed to an obligate gut fungal symbiont (Zancudomyces culisetae). Sci Rep 2020; 10:12886. [PMID: 32733002 PMCID: PMC7393158 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69828-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Research characterizing arthropod-associated microbiota has revealed that microbial dynamics can have an important impact on host phenotypic traits. The influence of fungi on these interactions are emerging as targets for research, especially in organisms associated with global human health. A recent study demonstrated colonization of a widespread gut fungus (Zancudomyces culisetae) in a larval mosquito (Aedes aegypti) digestive tract affected microbiomes in larvae and newly emerged adult females (Frankel-Bricker et al. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2020. 10.1128/AEM.02334-19) but did not investigate these processes in males. The objective of the study presented here was to assess fungal influences on adult male mosquito microbiomes to enable a more complete assessment of fungal–bacterial–host interactions in the A. aegypti–Z. culisetae system. Sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons from microbiomes harbored in adult males directly after emerging from pupae revealed larval fungal exposure significantly decreased overall microbial community diversity, altered microbiome composition and structure, and decreased within-group microbiome variation across individuals. Further, bacteria in the family Burkholderiaceae were present in high abundance in fungal-exposed males, likely contributing to the disparate microbiota between treatment groups. Comparisons between male and the female microbiomes analyzed in Frankel-Bricker et al. (2020), showed distinct shifts in bacterial communities incurred by larval exposure to fungi, potentially revealing sex-specific fungal–bacterial–host dynamics in A. aegypti. These findings highlight the complex role a gut fungus can play in influencing the microbial communities harbored in an important insect and emphasize the significance of accounting for an organism’s sex when studying fungal–bacterial–host dynamics.
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Batta Y. Entomopathogenic effect of Trichothecium roseum (Pers.) Link (Hypocreales: Ascomycota) against Pauropsylla buxtoni (Psylloidea: Hemiptera) infesting Ficus carica leaves and its potential use as biocontrol agent of the insect. J Appl Microbiol 2020; 129:400-410. [PMID: 32043673 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To isolate and characterize a native strain of Trichothecium roseum infecting the immatures of Pauropsylla buxtoni on fig leaves, to study the morphological features of the isolated strain, then to test the entomopathogenic effect of the isolated strain against the immatures of P. buxtoni on fig leaves. METHODS AND RESULTS The isolated strain of T. roseum produced pink mycelial growth on culture medium with septate mycelium and conidiophores. It also produced two-celled conidia with elliptical to pyriform shape born at the tip of conidiophores. Molecular characterization of the isolated strain confirmed the identity of the strain as T. roseum. In bioassays, application of conidial suspension of the isolated strain against the 4th instar of P. buxtoni immatures infesting fig leaves showed an obvious entomopathogenic effect of the applied fungus strain against the targeted insect. This effect was exhibited by the death of treated P. buxtoni immatures with the fungus. The dead insects were characterized by the presence of pinkish mycelial growth on the outer surface which is characteristic to the fungus, in addition to the positive isolation of the fungus from internal tissues of treated insects after a proper external disinfection. Moreover, significant differences (at P < 0·018) were obtained between the means of mortality % of P. buxtoni immatures treated with different concentrations of conidial suspension of the fungus. CONCLUSIONS The overall results confirm the entomopathogenic effect of T. roseum against P. buxtoni immatures infesting fig leaves. Significant mortalities of P. buxtoni immatures were obtained when the different concentrations of the fungus conidial suspension were bio-assessed against the insect. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The tested strain of T. roseum can be applied as biocontrol agent of P. buxtoni on fig leaves within an integrated control programme to reduce the impact of pest on fig trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Batta
- Department of Plant Production & Protection, Faculty of Agriculture & Veterinary Medicine, An-Najah National University, Nablus, West Bank, Palestine
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Prado R, Macedo-Salles PA, Duprat RC, Baptista ARS, Feder D, Lima JBP, Butt T, Ratcliffe NA, Mello CB. Action of Metarhizium brunneum (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) Against Organophosphate- and Pyrethroid-Resistant Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) and the Synergistic Effects of Phenylthiourea. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 57:454-462. [PMID: 31559435 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya arboviruses are endemic in tropical countries and are transmitted by Aedes aegypti. Resistant populations of this mosquito against chemical insecticides are spreading worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the biological effects of exposure of pesticide-sensitive Ae. aegypti larvae (Rockefeller) to conidia of the entomopathogen, Metarhizium brunneum, laboratory strains ARSEF 4556 and V275, and any synergistic activity of phenylthiourea (PTU). In addition, to investigate the nature of any cross-resistance mechanisms, these M. brunneum strains were tested against the Rockefeller larvae and two temephos- and deltamethrin-resistant wild mosquito populations from Rio de Janeiro. Treatment of Rockefeller larvae with 106 conidia/ml of ARSEF 4556 and V275 fungal strains resulted in significant decreased survival rates to 40 and 53.33%, respectively (P < 0.0001), compared with untreated controls. In contrast, exposure to 104 or 105 conidia/ml showed no such significant survival differences. However, the addition of PTU to the conidia in the bioassays significantly increased mortalities in all groups and induced a molt block. Experiments also showed no differences in Ae. aegypti mortalities between the fungal treated, wild pesticide-resistant populations and the Rockefeller sensitive strain. The results show the efficacy of M. brunneum in controlling Ae. aegypti larvae and the synergistic role of PTU in this process. Importantly, there was no indication of any cross-resistance mechanisms between Ae. aegypti sensitive or resistant to pesticides following treatment with the fungi. These results further support using M. brunneum as an alternative biological control agent against mosquito populations resistant to chemical insecticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Prado
- Laboratório de Biologia de Insetos, GBG, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Laboratory of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pãmella A Macedo-Salles
- Laboratório de Micologia Médica e Molecular, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo C Duprat
- Laboratório de Biologia de Insetos, GBG, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Andrea R S Baptista
- Laboratório de Micologia Médica e Molecular, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Denise Feder
- Laboratório de Biologia de Insetos, GBG, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - José Bento Pereira Lima
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Controle de Artrópodes Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro
- Laboratório de Entomologia, Instituto de Biologia do Exército, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Tariq Butt
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA28PP Wales, UK
| | - Norman A Ratcliffe
- Laboratório de Biologia de Insetos, GBG, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA28PP Wales, UK
| | - Cicero Brasileiro Mello
- Laboratório de Biologia de Insetos, GBG, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Cabral S, de Paula A, Samuels R, da Fonseca R, Gomes S, Silva JR, Mury F. Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Immune Responses with Different Feeding Regimes Following Infection by the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. INSECTS 2020; 11:E95. [PMID: 32024202 PMCID: PMC7074208 DOI: 10.3390/insects11020095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the most notorious vector of illness-causing viruses. The use of entomopathogenic fungi as bioinsecticides is a promising alternative for the development of novel mosquito control strategies. We investigate whether differences in immune responses could be responsible for modifications in survival rates of insects following different feeding regimes. Sucrose and blood-fed adult A. aegypti females were sprayed with M. anisopliae 1 × 106 conidia mL-1, and after 48 h, the midgut and fat body were dissected. We used RT-qPCR to monitor the expression of Cactus and REL1 (Toll pathway), IMD, REL2, and Caspar (IMD pathway), STAT and PIAS (JAK-STAT pathway), as well as the expression of antimicrobial peptides (Defensin A, Attacin and Cecropin G). REL1 and REL2 expression in both the midgut and fat body were higher in blood-fed fungus-challenged A. aegypti than in sucrose-fed counterparts. Interestingly, infection of sucrose-fed insects induced Cactus expression in the fat body, a negative regulator of the Toll pathway. The IMD gene was upregulated in the fat body in response to fungal infection after a blood meal. Additionally, we observed the induction of antimicrobial peptides in the blood-fed fungus-challenged insects. This study suggests that blood-fed A. aegypti are less susceptible to fungal infection due to the rapid induction of Toll and IMD immune pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Cabral
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica—Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade—NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, RJ 27965-045, Brazil; (S.C.); (J.R.S.)
| | - Adriano de Paula
- Laboratório de Entomologia e Fitopatologia—CCTA, Universidade Estadual do Norte FluminenseDarcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-603, Brazil; (A.d.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Richard Samuels
- Laboratório de Entomologia e Fitopatologia—CCTA, Universidade Estadual do Norte FluminenseDarcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-603, Brazil; (A.d.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Rodrigo da Fonseca
- Laboratório Integrado de Ciências Morfofuncionais—Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade –NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, RJ 27965-045, Brazil;
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular—INCT-EM, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil
| | - Simone Gomes
- Laboratório de Entomologia e Fitopatologia—CCTA, Universidade Estadual do Norte FluminenseDarcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-603, Brazil; (A.d.P.); (S.G.)
| | - José Roberto Silva
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica—Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade—NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, RJ 27965-045, Brazil; (S.C.); (J.R.S.)
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular—INCT-EM, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil
| | - Flávia Mury
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular—INCT-EM, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil
- Laboratório Integrado de Biociências Translacionais—Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade—NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, RJ 27965-045, Brazil
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Ramirez JL, Muturi EJ, Flor-Weiler LB, Vermillion K, Rooney AP. Peptidoglycan Recognition Proteins (PGRPs) Modulates Mosquito Resistance to Fungal Entomopathogens in a Fungal-Strain Specific Manner. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 9:465. [PMID: 32039046 PMCID: PMC6989432 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal entomopathogens are potential tools for the control of mosquito vectors that transmit infectious agents that cause disease in humans and animals. During the infection process, effective recognition of the invading fungi by the mosquito, is a crucial step in mounting an appropriate anti-fungal response. In this study, we investigated the role of peptidoglycan recognition receptors (PGRPs) in host resistance to fungal entomopathogens at the early stages of infection. Our study identified the induction of PGRP-LA, -LB, -LD, -LE, and -S1 during infection with two different fungal entomopathogenic strains. Furthermore, our data shows temporal differences in PGRP elicitation, with most PGRPs displaying significant upregulation at 60 h post-infection. Depletion of certain PGRPs via RNAi silencing resulted in a significant increase in fungal proliferation and a reduction in mosquito survival that was fungal strain-specific. Our data indicates that PGRPs play an important role in the antifungal response and expands our understanding of the factors that determine host susceptibility to fungal entomopathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Ramirez
- Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, Peoria, IL, United States
| | - Ephantus J Muturi
- Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, Peoria, IL, United States
| | - Lina B Flor-Weiler
- Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, Peoria, IL, United States
| | - Karl Vermillion
- Functional Foods Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, Peoria, IL, United States
| | - Alejandro P Rooney
- Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, Peoria, IL, United States
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Influences of a Prolific Gut Fungus ( Zancudomyces culisetae) on Larval and Adult Mosquito (Aedes aegypti)-Associated Microbiota. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:AEM.02334-19. [PMID: 31757825 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02334-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult mosquitoes inherit a bacterial community from larvae via transstadial transmission, an understudied process that may influence host-microbe interactions. Microbes contribute to important host life history traits, and analyzing transmitted microbial communities, the interrelationship between larval and adult-associated microbiota, and factors influencing host-microbe relationships provides targets for research. During its larval stage, the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) hosts the trichomycete gut fungus Zancudomyces culisetae, and fungal colonization coincides with environmental perturbations in the digestive tract microecosystem. Natural populations are differentially exposed to fungi, thereby potentially harboring distinct microbiota and experiencing disparate host-microbe interactions. This study's objectives were to characterize larval and initial adult microbiomes, investigate variation in diversity and distribution of microbial communities across individuals, and assess whether larval fungal colonization impacted microbiomes at these developmental stages. Laboratory-based fungal infestation assays, sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, and bacterial load quantification protocols revealed that initial adult microbiomes varied in diversity and distribution. Larval fungal colonization had downstream effects on initial adult microbiomes, significantly reducing microbial community variation, shifting relative abundances of certain bacterial families, and influencing transstadial transmission outcomes of particular genera. Further, abundances of several families consistently decreased in adults relative to levels in larvae, possibly reflecting impacts of host development on specific bacterial taxa. These findings demonstrated that a prolific gut fungus impacted mosquito-associated microbiota at two developmental stages in an insect connected with global human health.IMPORTANCE Mosquitoes are widespread vectors of numerous human pathogens and harbor microbiota known to affect host phenotypic traits. However, little research has directly investigated how bacterial communities associated with larvae and adults are connected. We characterized whole-body bacterial communities in mosquito larvae preceding pupation and in newly emerged adults, and investigated whether a significant biotic factor, fungal colonization of the larval hindgut, impacted these microbiomes. Results showed that fungal colonization reduced microbial community variation across individuals and differentially impacted the outcomes of transstadial transmission for certain bacterial genera, revealing downstream effects of the fungus on initial adult microbiomes. The importance of our research is in providing a thorough comparative analysis of whole-body microbiota harbored in larvae and adults of the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and in demonstrating the important role a widespread gut fungus played in a host-associated microbiome.
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Kryukov VY, Kabilov MR, Smirnova N, Tomilova OG, Tyurin MV, Akhanaev YB, Polenogova OV, Danilov VP, Zhangissina SK, Alikina T, Yaroslavtseva ON, Glupov VV. Bacterial decomposition of insects post-Metarhizium infection: Possible influence on plant growth. Fungal Biol 2019; 123:927-935. [PMID: 31733735 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2019.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Strains of entomopathogenic fungi may have substantial differences in their final stages of mycosis. Insect cadavers are usually overgrown with mycelium after colonization of the insect body, but in many cases, bacterial decomposition of the colonized hosts occurs. We used two Metarhizium robertsii strains in the work: Mak-1 (cadavers become overgrown with mycelium and conidia) and P-72 (cadavers decay after fungal colonization). We conducted a comparative analysis of gut and cadaver microbiota in Colorado potato beetle larvae using 16S rRNA gene sequencing after infection with these strains. In addition, we estimated the content of different forms of nitrogen in cadavers and the influence of cadavers on the growth of Solanum lycopersicum on sand substrates under laboratory conditions. It was shown that infections did not lead to a significant shift in the midgut bacterial communities of infected insects compared to those of untreated insects. Importantly, bacterial communities were similar in both types of cadaver, with predominantly enterobacteria. Decomposing cadavers (P-72) were characterized by increased nitrate and ammonium, and they had a stronger growth-promoting effect on plants compared to cadavers overgrown with mycelium and conidia (Mak-1). We also estimated the colonization and growth of plants after treatment with conidia of both strains cultivated on artificial medium. Both cultures successfully colonized plants, but strain P-72 showed stronger growth promotion than Mak-1. We propose that the use of deviant strains that are unable to sporulate on cadavers leads to a faster (though only passive) flow of nitrogen from killed insects to plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim Y Kryukov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals SB RAS, Frunze str., 11, 630091 Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | - Marsel R Kabilov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Lavrentiev av. 8, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Natalya Smirnova
- Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry SB RAS, Lavrentiev av. 8/2, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Oksana G Tomilova
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals SB RAS, Frunze str., 11, 630091 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Maksim V Tyurin
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals SB RAS, Frunze str., 11, 630091 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Yuriy B Akhanaev
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals SB RAS, Frunze str., 11, 630091 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Olga V Polenogova
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals SB RAS, Frunze str., 11, 630091 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Viktor P Danilov
- Siberian Federal Scientific Centre of Agro-Bio Technologies (SFSCA) of the RAS, Novosibirsk Region, Krasnoobsk, PO Box 463, 630501, Russia
| | - Saule K Zhangissina
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Lavrentyev av. 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Tatiana Alikina
- Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry SB RAS, Lavrentiev av. 8/2, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Olga N Yaroslavtseva
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals SB RAS, Frunze str., 11, 630091 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Viktor V Glupov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals SB RAS, Frunze str., 11, 630091 Novosibirsk, Russia
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Tawidian P, Rhodes VL, Michel K. Mosquito-fungus interactions and antifungal immunity. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 111:103182. [PMID: 31265904 PMCID: PMC6639037 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.103182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The mosquito immune system has evolved in the presence of continuous encounters with fungi that range from food to foes. Herein, we review the field of mosquito-fungal interactions, providing an overview of current knowledge and topics of interest. Mosquitoes encounter fungi in their aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Mosquito larvae are exposed to fungi on plant detritus, within the water column, and at the water surface. Adult mosquitoes are exposed to fungi during indoor and outdoor resting, blood and sugar feeding, mating, and oviposition. Fungi enter the mosquito body through different routes, including ingestion and through active or passive breaches in the cuticle. Oral uptake of fungi can be beneficial to mosquitoes, as yeasts hold nutritional value and support larval development. However, ingestion of or surface contact with fungal entomopathogens leads to colonization of the mosquito with often lethal consequences to the host. The mosquito immune system recognizes fungi and mounts cellular and humoral immune responses in the hemocoel, and possibly epithelial immune responses in the gut. These responses are regulated transcriptionally through multiple signal transduction pathways. Proteolytic protease cascades provide additional regulation of antifungal immunity. Together, these immune responses provide an efficient barrier to fungal infections, which need to be overcome by entomopathogens. Therefore, fungi constitute an excellent tool to examine the molecular underpinnings of mosquito immunity and to identify novel antifungal peptides. In addition, recent advances in mycobiome analyses can now be used to examine the contribution of fungi to various mosquito traits, including vector competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Tawidian
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 267 Chalmers Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - V L Rhodes
- Missouri Southern State University, Biology Department, Reynolds Hall 220, 3950 E. Newman Rd., Joplin, MO, 64801-1595, USA
| | - K Michel
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 267 Chalmers Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
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Ramirez JL, Muturi EJ, Barletta ABF, Rooney AP. The Aedes aegypti IMD pathway is a critical component of the mosquito antifungal immune response. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 95:1-9. [PMID: 30582948 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2018.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Successful infection of the insect body by entomopathogenic fungi is the result of complex molecular interactions between the host and the invading pathogenic fungi. The mosquito antifungal response is multifaceted and is regulated in part by the Toll and Jak-STAT pathways. Here, we assessed the role of the IMD pathway in the mosquito Ae. aegypti antifungal immune response when challenged with one of two entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana and Isaria javanica. IMD pathway components of the mosquito immune system were elicited in response to infection with both entomopathogenic fungi, primarily in the fat body of mosquitoes. Furthermore, we observed induction of antimicrobial peptides that in turn appear to be tissue and fungal strain-specific. IMD pathway impairment by RNAi gene silencing resulted in higher fungal proliferation and reduction in survival of fungi-infected mosquitoes. Collectively, these data indicates that the IMD pathway plays a more significant role in the antifungal immune response than previously recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Ramirez
- Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Peoria, IL, USA.
| | - Ephantus J Muturi
- Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Peoria, IL, USA
| | - Ana B F Barletta
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Alejandro P Rooney
- Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Peoria, IL, USA
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Loxdale HD. Aspects, Including Pitfalls, of Temporal Sampling of Flying Insects, with Special Reference to Aphids. INSECTS 2018; 9:E153. [PMID: 30388726 PMCID: PMC6316496 DOI: 10.3390/insects9040153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Since the advent and widespread use of high-resolution molecular markers in the late 1970s, it is now well established that natural populations of insects are not necessarily homogeneous genetically and show variations at different spatial scales due to a variety of reasons, including hybridization/introgression events. In a similar vein, populations of insects are not necessarily homogenous in time, either over the course of seasons or even within a single season. This of course has profound consequences for surveys examining, for whatever reason/s, the temporal population patterns of insects, especially flying insects as mostly discussed here. In the present article, the topics covered include climate and climate change; changes in ecological niches due to changes in available hosts, i.e., essentially, adaptation events; hybridization influencing behaviour⁻host shifts; infection by pathogens and parasites/parasitoids; habituation to light, sound and pheromone lures; chromosomal/genetic changes affecting physiology and behaviour; and insecticide resistance. If such phenomena-i.e., aspects and pitfalls-are not considered during spatio-temporal study programmes, which is even more true in the light of the recent discovery of morphologically similar/identical cryptic species, then the conclusions drawn in terms of the efforts to combat pest insects or conserve rare and endangered species may be in error and hence end in failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugh D Loxdale
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, Wales, UK.
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