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Xia J, Peng R, Fei S, Awais MM, Lai W, Huang Y, Wu H, Yu Y, Liang L, Swevers L, Sun J, Feng M. Systematic analysis of innate immune-related genes in the silkworm: Application to antiviral research. INSECT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38571329 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The silkworm, a crucial model organism of the Lepidoptera, offers an excellent platform for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the innate immune response of insects toward pathogens. Over the years, researchers worldwide have identified numerous immune-related genes in silkworms. However, these identified silkworm immune genes are not well classified and not well known to the scientific community. With the availability of the latest genome data of silkworms and the extensive research on silkworm immunity, it has become imperative to systematically categorize the immune genes of silkworms with different database IDs. In this study, we present a meticulous organization of prevalent immune-related genes in the domestic silkworm, using the SilkDB 3.0 database as a reliable source for updated gene information. Furthermore, utilizing the available data, we classify the collected immune genes into distinct categories: pattern recognition receptors, classical immune pathways, effector genes and others. In-depth data analysis has enabled us to predict some potential antiviral genes. Subsequently, we performed antiviral experiments on selected genes, exploring their impact on Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus replication. The outcomes of this research furnish novel insights into the immune genes of the silkworm, consequently fostering advancements in the field of silkworm immunity research by establishing a comprehensive classification and functional understanding of immune-related genes in the silkworm. This study contributes to the broader understanding of insect immune responses and opens up new avenues for future investigations in the domain of host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junming Xia
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruoxuan Peng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shigang Fei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mian Muhammad Awais
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenxuan Lai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yigui Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hailin Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yue Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lingying Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Luc Swevers
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, Athens, Greece
| | - Jingchen Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Feng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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El-Sayed AFM, Khaled AA, Hamdan AM, Makled SO, Hafez EE, Saleh AA. The role of antifreeze genes in the tolerance of cold stress in the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). BMC Genomics 2023; 24:476. [PMID: 37612592 PMCID: PMC10464439 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09569-x] [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: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tilapia is one of the most essential farmed fishes in the world. It is a tropical and subtropical freshwater fish well adapted to warm water but sensitive to cold weather. Extreme cold weather could cause severe stress and mass mortalities in tilapia. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of cold stress on the up-regulation of antifreeze protein (AFP) genes in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Two treatment groups of fish were investigated (5 replicates of 15 fish for each group in fibreglass tanks/70 L each): 1) a control group; the fish were acclimated to lab conditions for two weeks and the water temperature was maintained at 25 °C during the whole experimental period with feeding on a commercial diet (30% crude protein). 2) Cold stress group; the same conditions as the control group except for the temperature. Initially, the temperature was decreased by one degree every 12 h. The fish started showing death symptoms when the water temperature reached 6-8 °C. In this stage the tissue (muscle) samples were taken from both groups. The immune response of fish exposed to cold stress was detected and characterized using Differential Display-PCR (DD-PCR). RESULTS The results indicated that nine different up-regulation genes were detected in the cold-stressed fish compared to the control group. These genes are Integrin-alpha-2 (ITGA-2), Gap junction gamma-1 protein-like (GJC1), WD repeat-containing protein 59 isoform X2 (WDRP59), NUAK family SNF1-like kinase, G-protein coupled receptor-176 (GPR-176), Actin cytoskeleton-regulatory complex protein pan1-like (PAN-1), Whirlin protein (WHRN), Suppressor of tumorigenicity 7 protein isoform X2 (ST7P) and ATP-binding cassette sub-family A member 1-like isoform X2 (ABCA1). The antifreeze gene type-II amplification using a specific PCR product of 600 bp, followed by cloning and sequencing analysis revealed that the identified gene is antifreeze type-II, with similarity ranging from 70 to 95%. The in-vitro transcribed gene induced an antifreeze protein with a molecular size of 22 kDa. The antifreeze gene, ITGA-2 and the WD repeat protein belong to the lectin family (sugar-protein). CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, under cold stress, Nile tilapia express many defence genes, an antifreeze gene consisting of one open reading frame of approximately 0.6 kbp.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Asmaa A Khaled
- Animal and Fish Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture (Saba Basha), Alexandria University, Alexandria City, 21531, Egypt
| | - Amira M Hamdan
- Oceanography Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria City, Egypt
| | - Sara O Makled
- Oceanography Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria City, Egypt
| | - Elsayed E Hafez
- Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, New Borg El Arab, Alexandria City, 21934, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A Saleh
- Animal and Fish Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture (Alshatby), Alexandria University, Alexandria City, 11865, Egypt.
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Gul I, Abbas MN, Kausar S, Luo J, Gao X, Mu Y, Fan W, Cui H. Insight into crustacean cathepsins: Structure-evolutionary relationships and functional roles in physiological processes. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2023:108852. [PMID: 37295735 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cathepsins belong to a group of proteins that are present in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms and have an extremely high degree of evolutionary conservation. These proteins are functionally active in extracellular environments as soluble enzymatic proteins or attached to plasma membrane receptors. In addition, they occur in cellular secretory vesicles, mitochondria, the cytosol, and within the nuclei of eukaryotic cells. Cathepsins are classified into various groups based on their sequence variations, leading to their structural and functional diversification. The molecular understanding of the physiology of crustaceans has shown that proteases, including cathepsins, are expressed ubiquitously. They also contain one of the central regulatory systems for crustacean reproduction, growth, and immune responses. This review focuses on various aspects of the crustaceans cathepsins and emphasizes their biological roles in different physiological processes such as reproduction, growth, development, and immune responses. We also describe the bioactivity of crustaceans cathepsins. Because of the vital biological roles that cathepsins play as cellular proteases in physiological processes, they have been proposed as potential novel targets for the development of management strategies for the aquaculture industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isma Gul
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Muhammad Nadeem Abbas
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Saima Kausar
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Jili Luo
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Xinyue Gao
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Yuhang Mu
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Wenhui Fan
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; Department of Neurology, Chongqing Ninth People's Hospital, Chongqing, 400700, China.
| | - Honghuan Cui
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China.
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Huang L, Liu Y, Zhang X, Xu J, Dai L, Dai L, Huang L. Peroxiredoxin 1 of Procambarus clarkii govern immune responses during pathogen infection. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 138:108828. [PMID: 37201734 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Members of the peroxiredoxin family are involved in a wide variety of physiological processes, including the ability to combat the effects of oxidative stress and immune responses, among others. Here, we cloned the cDNA of Procambarus clarkii Peroxiredoxin 1 (designated as PcPrx-1) and investigated its biological role in immune system functions in relation to microbial pathogens. The PcPrx-1 cDNA had 744 base pairs in an open reading frame that encoded 247 amino acid residues and contained a PRX_Typ2cys domain. The analysis of tissue specific expression patterns revealed that PcPrx-1 expression was ubiquitous in all tissues. In addition, the mRNA transcript of PcPrx-1 was found to be highest in the hepatopancreas. There was a significant upregulation of PcPrx-1 gene transcripts after exposure to LPS, PGN, and Poly I:C, but the transcription patterns were different after pathogen challenge. Double-stranded RNA was used to knockdown PcPrx-1, which resulted in a striking change in the expression of all the tested P. clarkii immune-associated genes, including lectin, Toll, cactus, chitinase, phospholipase, and sptzale. On the whole, these results suggest that PcPrx-1 is important to confer innate immunity against pathogens by governing the expression of critical transcripts that encode immune-associated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Huang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Aquaculture & Stock Enhancement, Fishery Institute of Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, 230031, PR China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, PR China
| | - Yu Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, PR China
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, PR China
| | - Jie Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, PR China
| | - Lu Dai
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, PR China; The Fourth Outpatient Department, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, PR China.
| | - Lishang Dai
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, PR China.
| | - Lehao Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, PR China.
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Abbas MN, Kausar S, Asma B, Ran W, Li J, Lin Z, Li T, Cui H. MicroRNAs reshape the immunity of insects in response to bacterial infection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1176966. [PMID: 37153604 PMCID: PMC10161253 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1176966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction between bacteria and insects can significantly impact a wide range of different areas because bacteria and insects are widely distributed around the globe. The bacterial-insect interactions have the potential to directly affect human health since insects are vectors for disease transmission, and their interactions can also have economic consequences. In addition, they have been linked to high mortality rates in economically important insects, resulting in substantial economic losses. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are types of non-coding RNAs involved in regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally. The length of miRNAs ranges from 19 to 22 nucleotides. MiRNAs, in addition to their ability to exhibit dynamic expression patterns, have a diverse range of targets. This enables them to govern various physiological activities in insects, like innate immune responses. Increasing evidence suggests that miRNAs have a crucial biological role in bacterial infection by influencing immune responses and other mechanisms for resistance. This review focuses on some of the most recent and exciting discoveries made in recent years, including the correlation between the dysregulation of miRNA expression in the context of bacterial infection and the progression of the infection. Furthermore, it describes how they profoundly impact the immune responses of the host by targeting the Toll, IMD, and JNK signaling pathways. It also emphasizes the biological function of miRNAs in regulating immune responses in insects. Finally, it also discusses current knowledge gaps about the function of miRNAs in insect immunity, in addition to areas that require more research in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Nadeem Abbas
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Saima Kausar
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bibi Asma
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenhao Ran
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Gastrointestinal Vascular Surgery, The Chongqing Ninth People’s Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingui Li
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Gastrointestinal Vascular Surgery, The Chongqing Ninth People’s Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Zini Lin
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Gastrointestinal Vascular Surgery, The Chongqing Ninth People’s Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Tiejun Li
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Gastrointestinal Vascular Surgery, The Chongqing Ninth People’s Hospital, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Tiejun Li, ; Hongjuan Cui,
| | - Hongjuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Tiejun Li, ; Hongjuan Cui,
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Kausar S, Gul I, Liu R, Ke XX, Dong Z, Abbas MN, Cui H. Antheraea pernyi Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 2 Negatively Modulates the JAK/STAT Pathway to Attenuate Microbial Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810389. [PMID: 36142300 PMCID: PMC9499667 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Janus kinase (JAK) signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway has been shown to govern various physiological processes, including immune responses, hematopoiesis, cell growth, and differentiation. Recent studies show that suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins attenuate JAK-STAT signaling in mammals; however, their functions are less clear in lepidopteran insects. Here, we report a full-length sequence of SOCS-2 from the Chinese oak silkworm Antheraea pernyi (designated as ApSOCS-2) and study its biological role in immune responses via the JAK-STAT pathway. ApSOCS-2 expression was high in the fat bodies and hemocytes of A. pernyi fifth instar larvae. After pathogen infection with nucleopolyhedrovirus, Beauveria bassiana, Escherichia coli, and Microccus luteus, ApSOCS-2 mRNA was strongly increased compared to the control group. To elucidate the possible involvement in innate immunity, we measured antimicrobial peptide genes expression profiles in the fat body of A. pernyi. In contrast, recombinant ApSOCS-2 protein administration significantly reduced the AMPs transcription, while the depletion of ApSOCS-2 by RNAi increased their expression. Furthermore, we observed higher antibacterial activity and lower bacterial replication in dsApSOCS-2-treated larvae. The ApSOCS-2 transcription level was reduced in STAT depleted A. pernyi larvae challenged by M. luteus. The ApSOCS-2 RNAi data sets were also subjected to transcriptomic analysis, which suggests that ApSOCS-2 is a key regulator of immune function. Taken together, our data suggest that ApSOCS-2 is required for the negative regulation of AMPs transcripts via the JAK-STAT pathway in the insect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saima Kausar
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Affiliation Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Isma Gul
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Affiliation Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Ruochen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Affiliation Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xiao-Xue Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Affiliation Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Zhen Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Affiliation Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Muhammad Nadeem Abbas
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Affiliation Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Correspondence: (M.N.A.); (H.C.); Tel.: +86-23-68251712 (H.C.)
| | - Hongjuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Affiliation Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Correspondence: (M.N.A.); (H.C.); Tel.: +86-23-68251712 (H.C.)
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