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Contreras-Garduño J, Torres-Enciso P, Ramirez-Romero R. The immune response of the whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) when parasitized by Eretmocerus eremicus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). PLoS One 2023; 18:e0296157. [PMID: 38128052 PMCID: PMC10734938 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In insects, the innate immune system is subdivided into cellular and humoral defenses. When parasitoids attack insects, both reactions can be activated and notably, the phenoloxidase (PO) cascade and lytic activity are part of both cellular and humoral defenses. However, to our knowledge, no study has characterized any immune response of the whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) to the attack of Eretmocerus eremicus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). Therefore, the first objective of the present study was to determine whether whitefly nymphs recently parasitized by E. eremicus exhibit any immune response. For this, we estimate the level of prophenoloxidase (proPO), phenoloxidase (PO), and lytic activity by colorimetric assays. A second objective was to assess whether the observed whitefly immune response could be related to a previously reported preference of the predator Geocoris punctipes (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) for non-parasitized nymphs. We therefore offered non-parasitized and recently parasitized nymphs to the predator. Our results show that parasitism of whitefly nymphs by E. eremicus induced a highly estimated level of proPO and PO, and a lower level of lytic activity. In addition, we found that G. punctipes did not show a preference for non-parasitized over recently parasitized nymphs. The nymphs of T. vaporariorum activated the PO pathway against E. eremicus; however, the increase in proPO and PO levels was traded-off with decreased lytic activity. In addition, the previously reported preference for non-parasitized nymphs was not seen in our experiments, indicating that the induced immune response did not affect predator behavior by G. punctipes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pedro Torres-Enciso
- Laboratorio de Control Biológico (Lab CB-AIFEN), Departamento de Producción Agrícola, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, México
| | - Ricardo Ramirez-Romero
- Laboratorio de Control Biológico (Lab CB-AIFEN), Departamento de Producción Agrícola, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, México
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Liao C, Huang R, Yang Y, Huang Y, Zhang K, Ma L, Li T, Wang L, Zhang H, Li B. Effects of insecticidal proteins of Enterobacter cloacae NK on cellular immunity of Galleria mellonella larvae. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1154811. [PMID: 37228380 PMCID: PMC10203167 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1154811] [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: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterobacter cloacae produces insecticidal proteins capable of causing toxicity in pests, but the insecticidal mechanisms of these proteins for insect control remain unclear. To elucidate the mechanisms, the purified insecticidal protein from E. cloacae NK was administered to Galleria mellonella larvae either by intraperitoneal injection or by feeding. The number of hemocytes, apoptosis in immune cells, and polyphenol oxidase (PO) activity of G. mellonella larvae were detected by hemocytometer, Annexin V-FITC/PI, and UV-vis spectrophotometer, respectively. With the extension of the invasion time of NK insecticidal protein, the number of hemocytes in G. mellonella larvae decreased significantly (p < 0.05), whereas the apoptosis rate of hemocytes increased. The activity of PO showed a trend of rising-peak-sharp decline and the melanization reaction was deepened simultaneously. Moreover, the phagocytosis and coating capabilities of hemocytes decreased, and the intraperitoneal injection method was more effective than the feeding method. Taking together, the insecticidal protein of E. cloacae NK inhibits and destroys the cellular immune response of G. mellonella larvae, which suggests an important role in killing the host insect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunli Liao
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
- Center of Healthy Food Engineering and Technology of Henan, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
- Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Rehabilitation Technology, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
| | - Ran Huang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
| | - Yi Yang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
| | - Yapeng Huang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
| | - Liang Ma
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
| | - Taotao Li
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
- Center of Healthy Food Engineering and Technology of Henan, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
- Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Rehabilitation Technology, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
| | - Lianzhe Wang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
- Center of Healthy Food Engineering and Technology of Henan, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
- Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Rehabilitation Technology, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
| | - Huamin Zhang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
- Center of Healthy Food Engineering and Technology of Henan, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
- Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Rehabilitation Technology, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
| | - Bingbing Li
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
- Center of Healthy Food Engineering and Technology of Henan, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
- Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Rehabilitation Technology, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
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Trejo-Meléndez VJ, Méndez-López TT, Contreras-Garduño J. The Coincidental Evolution of Virulence Partially Explains the Virulence in a Generalist Entomopathogenic. Acta Parasitol 2023:10.1007/s11686-023-00663-4. [PMID: 36806112 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00663-4] [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: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The parasites' virulence is labile after jumping to a new host species, and it might derivate in gaining virulence against a new host as a side effect of living in a non-host environment (coincidental evolution of virulence hypothesis). METHODS To test this hypothesis, we monitored the experimental evolution of the Rhabditis regina nematode for over 290 generations (4 years) in three environments (strains): (1) the natural host, Phyllophaga polyphylla, (2) an alternate host, Tenebrio molitor, and (3) saprophytic medium (beef; the food that may provide evidence for the coincidental evolution of virulence). Each strain was exposed to P. polyphylla, T. molitor, or Galleria mellonella. We compared the host survival and immune response (proPO, PO, and lytic activity) of infected versus uninfected hosts. RESULTS The saprophytic nematodes gained virulence only against G. mellonella. However, the P. polyphylla strain was more effective in killing P. polyphylla than T. molitor, and the T. molitor strain was more effective against T. molitor than P. polyphylla. Additionally, one dauer larva was sufficient to kill the hosts. Finally, the immune response did not differ between the challenged and control groups. CONCLUSION The coincidental evolution of virulence partially explains our results, but they might also support the short-sighted hypothesis. Additionally, we found evidence for immunomodulation because nematodes passed unnoticed to the immune response. It is crucial to analyze the virulence of entomopathogens from the point of view of the evolution of virulence to be aware of potential scenarios that might limit biological control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor José Trejo-Meléndez
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Ciudad Universitaria 3000, C.P. 04510, Coyoacán, CDMX, Mexico
- ENES, Unidad Morelia, UNAM. Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No.8701. Col. Ex-Hacienda San José de la Huerta Código Postal 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
| | - Texca T Méndez-López
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Ciudad Universitaria 3000, C.P. 04510, Coyoacán, CDMX, Mexico
- ENES, Unidad Morelia, UNAM. Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No.8701. Col. Ex-Hacienda San José de la Huerta Código Postal 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
| | - Jorge Contreras-Garduño
- ENES, Unidad Morelia, UNAM. Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No.8701. Col. Ex-Hacienda San José de la Huerta Código Postal 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
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Excreted secreted products from the parasitic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae manipulate the Drosophila melanogaster immune response. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14237. [PMID: 35987963 PMCID: PMC9392720 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18722-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Steinernema carpocapsae is an entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) that rapidly infects and kills a wide range of insect hosts and has been linked to host immunosuppression during the initial stages of infection. The lethal nature of S. carpocapsae infections has previously been credited to its symbiotic bacteria; however, it has become evident that the nematodes are able to effectively kill their hosts independently through their excretion/secretion products (ESPs). Here we examined how the adult Drosophila melanogaster immune system is modulated in response to S. carpocapsae ESPs in an attempt to ascertain individual pathogenic contributions of the isolated compound. We found that the S. carpocapsae ESPs decrease the survival of D. melanogaster adult flies, they induce the expression of certain antimicrobial peptide-encoding genes, and they cause significant reduction in phenoloxidase enzyme activity and delay in the melanization response in males flies. We also report that S. carpocapsae ESPs affect hemocyte numbers in both male and female individuals. Our results indicate the manipulative role of EPN ESPs and reveal sex-specific differences in the host response against nematode infection factors. These findings are beneficial as they promote our understanding of the molecular basis of nematode pathogenicity and the parasite components that influence nematode-host interactions.
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Texca Tatevari ML, Jorge CG, Luis MC, Ricardo RR. Do entomopathogenic nematodes induce immune priming? Microb Pathog 2021; 154:104844. [PMID: 33691175 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Although the study of immune priming in insects is a growing area of research, its occurrence in various biological models has not been evaluated, and its mechanisms are poorly understood. Whether entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) can induce immune priming and what role their virulence might play in it has not been assessed. Here, we tested for the first time: 1) whether a nematode is capable of eliciting immune priming, and 2) whether nematode virulence affects immune priming. Host larvae of Tenebrio molitor were first exposed to one of two EPN strains (low or high virulence). They were then exposed again to a challenge (high) dose of their respective strain, and their survival was recorded. Based on current literature, we expected that host larvae primed with a low-virulence strain would not show immune priming but that those exposed to a high-virulence strain would. Instead, we found that host larvae primed with either strain did not exhibit immune priming. Further, the survival of the hosts primed with the highly virulent strain was significantly reduced relative to the control group, and no measurable immune priming was found, as also indicated by resting metabolic rate (production of CO2). Future research is needed to determine whether virulence-associated bacteria underlie this lowered survival and/or whether another factor, such as immune evasion strategies, is related to these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Méndez-López Texca Tatevari
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, UNAM, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, ENES Campus Morelia, Morelia, México; Laboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva, ENES, Unidad Morelia, UNAM, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro, No.8701. Col. Ex-Hacienda San José de la Huerta Código Postal 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, México
| | - Contreras-Garduño Jorge
- Laboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva, ENES, Unidad Morelia, UNAM, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro, No.8701. Col. Ex-Hacienda San José de la Huerta Código Postal 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, México
| | - Mendoza-Cuenca Luis
- Laboratorio de Ecología de la Conducta, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán, México
| | - Ramirez-Romero Ricardo
- Laboratorio de Control Biológico, Departamento de Producción Agrícola, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, México.
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