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Dos Santos Moreira LM, Marinho LS, Neves RCS, Harakava R, Bessa LA, Vitorino LC. Assessment of the Entomopathogenic Potential of Fungal and Bacterial Isolates from Fall Armyworm Cadavers Against Spodoptera frugiperda Caterpillars and the Adult Boll Weevil, Anthonomus grandis. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024:10.1007/s13744-024-01159-0. [PMID: 38714593 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-024-01159-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/10/2024]
Abstract
Increased attention is being focused on the biological control of agricultural pests using microorganisms, owing to their potential as a viable substitute for chemical control methods. Insect cadavers constitute a potential source of entomopathogenic microorganisms. We tested whether bacteria and fungi isolated from Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) cadavers could affect its survival, development, egg-laying pattern, and hatchability, as well as induce mortality in Anthonomus grandis Boheman adults. We isolated the bacteria Enterobacter hormaechei and Serratia marcescens and the fungi Scopulariopsis sp. and Aspergillus nomiae from fall armyworm cadavers and the pest insects were subjected to an artificial diet enriched with bacteria cells or fungal spores to be tested, in the case of S. frugiperda, and only fungal spores in the case of A. grandis. Enterobacter hormaechei and A. nomiae were pathogenic to S. frugiperda, affecting the survival of adults and pupae. The fungus Scopulariopsis sp. does not affect the survival of S. frugiperda caterpillars and pupae; however, due to late action, moths and eggs may be affected. Aspergillus nomiae also increased mortality of A. grandis adults, as well as the development of S. frugiperda in the early stages of exposure to the diet, as indicated by the vertical spore transfer to offspring and low hatchability. Enterobacter hormaechei and A. nomiae are potential biocontrol agents for these pests, and warrant further investigation from a toxicological point of view and subsequently in field tests involving formulations that could improve agricultural sustainability practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidiane Maria Dos Santos Moreira
- Instituto Goiano de Agricultura (IGA), Montividiu, GO, Brazil
- Lab of Agricultural Microbiology, Instituto Federal Goiano, Rio Verde Campus, Rio Verde, GO, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Layara Alexandre Bessa
- Lab of Biodiversity Metabolism and Genetics, Instituto Federal Goiano, Rio Verde Campus, Rio Verde, GO, Brazil
- Simple Agro Corporation, Rio Verde, GO, Brazil
| | - Luciana Cristina Vitorino
- Simple Agro Corporation, Rio Verde, GO, Brazil.
- Lab of Agricultural Microbiology, Instituto Federal Goiano, Rio Verde Campus, Rio Verde, GO, Brazil.
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Li TP, Wang CH, Xie JC, Wang MK, Chen J, Zhu YX, Hao DJ, Hong XY. Microbial changes and associated metabolic responses modify host plant adaptation in Stephanitis nashi. INSECT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38369568 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Symbiotic microorganisms are essential for the physiological processes of herbivorous pests, including the pear lace bug Stephanitis nashi, which is known for causing extensive damage to garden plants and fruit trees due to its exceptional adaptability to diverse host plants. However, the specific functional effects of the microbiome on the adaptation of S. nashi to its host plants remains unclear. Here, we identified significant microbial changes in S. nashi on 2 different host plants, crabapple and cherry blossom, characterized by the differences in fungal diversity as well as bacterial and fungal community structures, with abundant correlations between bacteria or fungi. Consistent with the microbiome changes, S. nashi that fed on cherry blossom demonstrated decreased metabolites and downregulated key metabolic pathways, such as the arginine and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, which were crucial for host plant adaptation. Furthermore, correlation analysis unveiled numerous correlations between differential microorganisms and differential metabolites, which were influenced by the interactions between bacteria or fungi. These differential bacteria, fungi, and associated metabolites may modify the key metabolic pathways in S. nashi, aiding its adaptation to different host plants. These results provide valuable insights into the alteration in microbiome and function of S. nashi adapted to different host plants, contributing to a better understanding of pest invasion and dispersal from a microbial perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong-Pu Li
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chen-Hao Wang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jia-Chu Xie
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Meng-Ke Wang
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu-Xi Zhu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - De-Jun Hao
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao-Yue Hong
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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Wang K, Xu M, Zhao L. Plasticity of Life-History Traits and Adult Fitness of Fall Webworm in Relation to Climate Change. INSECTS 2024; 15:24. [PMID: 38249031 PMCID: PMC10816995 DOI: 10.3390/insects15010024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Temperature is an important environmental factor influencing the life-history traits of ectotherms. This study investigated the effects of larval-rearing temperature (21, 23, 25, and 27 °C) on the life-history traits and adult fitness of the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, an economically important invasive pest of China. With the increase in temperature during the larval stage, the larval developmental duration was significantly shortened, and the body mass was significantly increased, as was that of the body mass and size of pupae. The carbohydrate and lipid content of pupae significantly decreased with increasing larval-rearing temperature, whereas the protein content significantly increased. Adult body size and egg production increased significantly with increasing larval-rearing temperature, whereas there was no significant difference in egg diameter. These results indicate that H. cunea demonstrates life-history traits plasticity. In addition, the increase in fecundity would maintain a stable population size of H. cunea under higher temperatures. Such characteristics could enable H. cunea to spread to the more southern, warmer areas of China, posing an increased risk to the forestry industry in these regions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lvquan Zhao
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; (K.W.); (M.X.)
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Bhombal YN, Patil YP, Barvkar VT, Kaledhonkar AA, Patil SS, Joshi RS, Pable AA. Prodigiosin from Serratia rubidaea MJ 24 impedes Helicoverpa armigera development by the dysregulation of Juvenile hormone-dopamine system. Microbiol Res 2023; 274:127422. [PMID: 37301080 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127422] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Prodigiosin pigment is a secondary metabolite produced by many bacterial species and is known for its medicinal properties. A few of these prodigiosin-producing bacteria are also reported to be entomopathogenic. It is intriguing to unravel the role of prodigiosin in insecticidal activities and its mode of action. In this study, we have shown the production and characterization of prodigiosin from the Serratia rubidaea MJ 24 isolated from the soil of the Western Ghats, India. Further, we assessed the effect of this pigment on the lepidopteran agricultural pest, Helicoverpa armigera. Prodigiosin-fed H. armigera indicated defective development of insect growth upon treatment. Due to defective early development, about 50% mortality and 40% reduction in body weight were observed in insects fed on a 500 ppm prodigiosin-containing diet. The transcriptomic analysis of these insects indicated significant dysregulation of Juvenile hormone synthesis and response related genes. In addition, dopamine related processes and their resultant melanization and sclerotization processes were also found to be affected. The changes in the expression levels of the key transcripts were further validated using real-time quantitative PCR. The metabolome data confirmed the developmental dysregulation of precursors and products of differentially regulated genes due to prodigiosin. Therefore, the corroborated data suggests that prodigiosin majorly affects H. armigera development through dysregulation of the Juvenile hormone-dopamine system and can be considered as a bioactive scaffold to design insect-pest management compounds. This study provides the first report of in-depth analysis of insecticidal system dynamics in H. armigera insects upon prodigiosin feeding via gene expression and metabolic change via omics approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaseera N Bhombal
- Department of Microbiology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India
| | - Yogita P Patil
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vitthal T Barvkar
- Department of Botany, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India
| | - Aditi A Kaledhonkar
- Department of Microbiology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India
| | - Swaranjali S Patil
- Department of Botany, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India
| | - Rakesh S Joshi
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Anupama A Pable
- Department of Microbiology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India.
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Gao H, Jiang S, Wang Y, Hu M, Xue Y, Cao B, Dou H, Li R, Yi X, Jiang L, Zhang B, Li Y. Comparison of gut bacterial communities of Hyphantriacunea Drury (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae), based on 16S rRNA full-length sequencing. Biodivers Data J 2023; 11:e98143. [PMID: 38327372 PMCID: PMC10848398 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.11.e98143] [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: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
There are a large number of microorganisms in the gut of insects, which form a symbiotic relationship with the host during the long-term co-evolution process and have a significant impact on the host's nutrition, physiology, development, immunity, stress tolerance and other aspects. However, the composition of the gut microbes of Hyphantriacunea remains unclear. In order to investigate the difference and diversity of intestinal microbiota of H.cunea larvae feeding on different host plants, we used PacBio sequencing technology for the first time to sequence the 16S rRNA full-length gene of the intestinal microbiota of H.cunea. The species classification, β diversity and function of intestinal microflora of the 5th instar larvae of four species of H.cunea feeding on apricot, plum, redbud and Chinese ash were analysed. The results showed that a total of nine phyla and 65 genera were identified by PacBio sequencing, amongst which Firmicutes was the dominant phylum and Enterococcus was the dominant genus, with an average relative abundance of 59.29% and 52.16%, respectively. PERMANOVA analysis and cluster heat map showed that the intestinal microbiomes of H.cunea larvae, fed on different hosts, were significantly different. LEfSe analysis confirmed the effect of host diet on intestinal community structure and PICRUSt2 analysis showed that most of the predictive functions were closely related to material transport and synthetic, metabolic and cellular processes. The results of this study laid a foundation for revealing the interaction between the intestinal microorganisms of H.cunea and its hosts and provided ideas for exploring new green prevention and control strategies of H.cunea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Shandong UniversityQingdaoChina
| | - Sai Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Yinan Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Meng Hu
- Forestry Protection and Development Service Center of Jining City, Jining, ChinaForestry Protection and Development Service Center of Jining CityJiningChina
| | - Yuyan Xue
- Qufu Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning, Qufu, ChinaQufu Bureau of Natural Resources and PlanningQufuChina
| | - Bing Cao
- Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Development Centre of Tengzhou, Tengzhou, ChinaAnimal Husbandry and Fisheries Development Centre of TengzhouTengzhouChina
| | - Hailong Dou
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Ran Li
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Xianfeng Yi
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Lina Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Bin Zhang
- College of Life Sciences and Technology, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences and Technology, Inner Mongolia Normal UniversityHohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous RegionChina
| | - Yujian Li
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
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Zheng L, Tan M, Yan S, Jiang D. Cadmium exposure-triggered growth retardation in Hyphantria cunea larvae involves disturbances in food utilization and energy metabolism. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 256:114886. [PMID: 37037109 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Serious environmental pollution in the ecosystem makes phytophagous insects face a great risk of exposure to pollutants, especially heavy metals. This study aims to understand the effects of Cd exposure on the growth and development of Hyphantria cunea and to elucidate the mechanism of growth toxicity induced by Cd from the perspective of food utilization and energy metabolism. Our results showed that the larval basal growth data, growth index, fitness index, and standard growth index were significantly decreased after feeding on Cd-containing artificial diets. The Cd-treated larvae had significantly higher digestibility than the untreated larvae. However, the food consumption, efficiency of conversion of digested food, and efficiency of conversion of ingested food were significantly lower than those of untreated larvae. Eight key metabolites in the glycolysis pathway and six key metabolites in the tricarboxylic acid cycle pathway were significantly reduced in Cd-treated larvae. The mRNA expression levels of two regulatory genes (6-phosphofructokinase 1 and hexokinase-1) belonging to two key enzymes in the glycolysis pathway and four regulatory genes (isocitrate dehydrogenase-1, isocitrate dehydrogenase-3, citrate synthase, and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase) belonging to three key enzymes in the tricarboxylic acid cycle pathway were significantly lower in the Cd-treated group than in the control group. Furthermore, most fitness-related traits were significantly and positively correlated with food utilization (except approximate digestibility) or energy metabolism parameters. Taken together, Cd exposure-triggered growth retardation of H. cunea larvae is a consequence of disturbances in food utilization and energy metabolism, thereby emphasizing the toxicity of heavy metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zheng
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China
| | - Mingtao Tan
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China
| | - Shanchun Yan
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China.
| | - Dun Jiang
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China.
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Xu J, Zheng L, Tan M, Wu H, Yan S, Jiang D. The susceptibility of Hyphantria cunea larvae to microbial pesticides Bacillus thuringiensis and Mamestra brassicae nuclear polyhedrosis virus under Cd stress. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 191:105383. [PMID: 36963948 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metal pollution is an abiotic factor that can affect the efficiency of pest control. In this study, two microbial pesticides, Bacillus thuringiensis and Mamestra brassicae nuclear polyhedrosis virus (MbNPV), were used to treat Hyphantria cunea larvae with Cd pre-exposure, and the humoral and cellular immunity of H. cunea larvae with Cd exposure were evaluated. The results showed that Cd exposure increased the susceptibility of H. cunea larvae to microbial pesticides B. thuringiensis and MbNPV, and the lethal effect of Cd exposure and microbial pesticides on H. cunea larvae was synergistic. Cd exposure significantly decreased the expression of pathogen recognition genes (GNBP1 and GNBP3), signal transduction genes (Relish, Myd88, Tube, and Imd), and antimicrobial peptide gene (Lebocin) in the humoral immunity of H. cunea larvae compared with the untreated larvae. Parameters of cellular immunity, including the number of hemocytes, phagocytic activity, melanization activity, encapsulation activity, and the expression of three phagocytic regulatory genes (HEM1, GALE1, GALE2), were also found to decrease significantly in Cd-treated larvae. TOPSIS analysis showed that humoral immunity, cellular immunity, and total immunity levels of H. cunea larvae with Cd exposure were weaker than those in untreated larvae. Correlation analysis showed that the mortality of two microbial pesticides investigated in H. cunea larvae was negatively correlated with the humoral and cellular immunity of larvae. Taken togther, Cd exposure results in immunotoxic effects on H. cunea larvae and the use of microbial pesticides are an effective strategy for pest control in heavy metal-polluted areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsheng Xu
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China
| | - Lin Zheng
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China
| | - Mingtao Tan
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China
| | - Hongfei Wu
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China
| | - Shanchun Yan
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China
| | - Dun Jiang
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, PR China.
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Zhang X, Fan Z, Zhang R, Kong X, Liu F, Fang J, Zhang S, Zhang Z. Bacteria-mediated RNAi for managing fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea: screening target genes and analyzing lethal effect. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023; 79:1566-1577. [PMID: 36527705 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, an invasive forest pest found worldwide, causes serious ecological and economic damage. Currently, the application of chemical pesticides is the most widely used strategy for H. cunea management. However, long-term pesticide use leads to pest resistance, phytotoxicity, human poisoning, and environmental deterioration. RNA interference (RNAi) technology may provide an environmentally friendly and cost-effective option for H. cunea control. However, effective RNAi targets and application methods for H. cunea are lacking. RESULTS We screened and obtained two highly effective RNAi targets, vATPase A (V-type proton ATPase catalytic subunit A) and Rop (Ras opposite), from 23 candidate genes, using initial and repeat screening tests with the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) injection method. RNAi against these two genes was effective in suppressing each target messenger RNA level and interfering with larval growth, leading to significant larval mortality and pupal abnormality. For massive production of dsRNA and practical application of RNAi technology in H. cunea, transformed bacteria expressing dsRNAs of these two genes were prepared using the L4440 expression vector and HT115 strain of Escherichia coli. Oral administration of bacterially expressed dsRNA targeting vATPase A and Rop genes showed high mortality and the same malformed phenotype as the injection treatment. To further investigate the lethal effects of targeting these two genes on larval development, transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on RNAi samples. The results demonstrated disorders in multiple metabolic pathways, and the expression levels of most genes related to insect cuticle metabolism were significantly different, which may directly threaten insect survival. In addition, some new findings were obtained via RNA-seq analysis; for example, the progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation and oocyte meiosis processes were significantly different after silencing vATPase A, and the insect olfactory protein-related genes were significantly downregulated after dsHcRop treatment. CONCLUSION vATPase A and Rop are two highly effective RNAi-mediated lethal genes in H. cunea that regulate insect growth via multiple metabolic pathways. Oral delivery of bacterially expressed dsRNA specific to vATPase A and Rop can potentially be used for RNAi-based H. cunea management. This is the first study to apply bacteria-mediated RNAi for the control of this invasive pest, which is a major step forward in the application of the RNAi technology in H. cunea. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Zhizhi Fan
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangbo Kong
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Fu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaxing Fang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Sufang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
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Keshavarz M, Zanchi C, Rolff J. The effect of combined knockdowns of Attacins on survival and bacterial load in Tenebrio molitor. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1140627. [PMID: 37063911 PMCID: PMC10090678 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1140627] [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: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionUpon infection, insect hosts simultaneously express a cocktail of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) which can impede pathogen colonization and increase host fitness. It has been proposed that such a cocktail might be adaptive if the effects of co-expressed AMPs are greater than the sum of individual activities. This could potentially prevent the evolution of bacterial resistance. However, in vivo studies on AMPs in combination are scarce. Attacins are one of the relatively large AMP families, which show anti-Gram-negative activity in vitro.Material and methodsHere, we used RNA interference (RNAi) to silence three members of the Attacin family genes in the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor: (TmAttacin1a (TmAtt1a), TmAttacin1b (TmAtt1b), and TmAttacin2 (TmAtt2) both individually and in combination. We then infected T. molitor with the Gram negative entomopathogen Pseudomonas entomophila.ResultsWe found that survival of the beetles was only affected by the knockdown of TmAttacin1b, TmAttacin2 and the knockdown of all three Attacins together. Triple knockdown, rather than individual or double knockdowns of AMPs, changes the temporal dynamics of their efficiency in controlling the colonization of P. entomophila in the insect body.DiscussionMore precisely, AMP gene expression influences P. entomophila load early in the infection process, resulting in differences in host survival. Our results highlight the importance of studying AMP-interactions in vivo.
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Zhang L, Tang X, Wang Z, Tang F. The transcriptomic response of Hyphantria cunea (Drury) to the infection of Serratia marcescens Bizio based on full-length SMRT transcriptome sequencing. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1093432. [PMID: 36896191 PMCID: PMC9989771 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1093432] [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: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyphantria cunea (Drury) is a globally important forest pest. We found that the Serratia marcescens Bizio strain SM1 had insecticidal activity against H. cunea, but the transcriptomic response of H. cunea to SM1 were not clear. Therefore, we performed full-length sequencing of the transcriptomes of H. cunea larvae infected with SM1 and the control group. A total of 1,183 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by comparing the group infected with SM1 and the control group, including 554 downregulated genes and 629 upregulated genes. We found many downregulated genes in metabolic pathways. Furthermore, some of these downregulated genes were involved in cellular immunity, melanization, and detoxification enzymes, which showed that SM1 weakened H. cunea immunity. In addition, genes in the juvenile hormone synthesis pathway were upregulated, which was detrimental to the survival of H. cunea. This research analyzed the transcriptomic response of H. cunea to SM1 by high-throughput full-length transcriptome sequencing. The results provide useful information to explore the relationship between S. marcescens and H. cunea, and theoretical support for the application of S. marcescens and the control of H. cunea in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Zhang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinyi Tang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fang Tang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Fang Tang,
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Wang Z, Luo J, Feng K, Zhou Y, Tang F. Prophenoloxidase of Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) (Blattodea: Termitidae) Is a Key Gene in Melanization and Has a Defensive Role during Bacterial Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010406. [PMID: 36613850 PMCID: PMC9820534 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanization mediated by the prophenoloxidase (PPO)-activating system is an important innate immunity to fight pathogens in insects. In this study, the in vitro time-dependent increase in the intensity of melanization and phenoloxidase (PO) activity from the hemolymph of Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) challenged by pathogenic bacteria was detected. PPO is one of the key genes in melanization pathway, whereas the molecular characteristics and functions of O. formosanus PPO are unclear. The OfPPO gene was cloned and characterized. The open reading frame of OfPPO is 2085 bp in length and encodes a 79.497 kDa protein with 694 amino acids. A BLASTx search and phylogenetic analyses revealed that OfPPO shares a high degree of homology to the Blattodea PPOs. Moreover, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR analysis showed that OfPPO is ubiquitously expressed in all castes and tissues examined, with the highest expression in workers and variable expression patterns in tissues of different termite castes. Furthermore, the expression of OfPPO was significantly induced in O. formosanus infected by pathogenic bacteria. Intriguingly, in combination with silencing of OfPPO expression, pathogenic bacteria challenge caused greatly increased mortality of O. formosanus. These results suggest that OfPPO plays a role in defense against bacteria and highlight the novel termite control strategy combining pathogenic bacteria application with termite PPO silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Wang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Jian Luo
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Kai Feng
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Yujingyun Zhou
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Fang Tang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-138-1396-6269
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Tan M, Wu H, Yan S, Jiang D. Evaluating the Toxic Effects of Tannic Acid Treatment on Hyphantria cunea Larvae. INSECTS 2022; 13:872. [PMID: 36292820 PMCID: PMC9604457 DOI: 10.3390/insects13100872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
To increase the development potential of botanical pesticides, it is necessary to expand the toxicology research on plant secondary metabolites. Herein, the Hyphantria cunea larvae were exposed to tannic acid concentrations consistent with those found in larch needles, and, subsequently, the growth and nutrient utilization, oxidative damage, and detoxification abilities in the larval midgut, as well as the changes in the gut microbiome, were analyzed. Our results revealed that tannic acid treatment significantly increased the mortality of H. cunea larvae and inhibited larval growth and food utilization. The contents of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide in the larval midgut were significantly elevated in the treatment group, along with a significant decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and detoxifying enzymes. However, the non-enzymatic antioxidants showed a significant increase in the tannic acid-treated larvae. From gut microbiome analysis in the treatment group, the abundance of gut microbiota related to toxin degradation and nutrient metabolism was significantly reduced, and the enrichment analysis also suggested that all pathways related to nutritional and detoxification metabolism were substantially inhibited. Taken together, tannic acid exerts toxic effects on H. cunea larvae at multiple levels and is a potential botanical pesticide for the control of H. cunea larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingtao Tan
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Hongfei Wu
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Shanchun Yan
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Dun Jiang
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
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Zhao L, Wang X, Liu Z, Torson AS. Energy Consumption and Cold Hardiness of Diapausing Fall Webworm Pupae. INSECTS 2022; 13:853. [PMID: 36135554 PMCID: PMC9505466 DOI: 10.3390/insects13090853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Diapause and cold hardiness are essential components of winter survival for most insects in temperate zones. The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, overwinters in a pupal diapause. In this study, we investigated the energy consumption and cold hardiness of diapausing pupae. We found that lipid content decreased from October to November and stabilized from November to March. Glycogen content decreased by 61.3% and 52.2% for females and males, respectively, from October to November, and decreased slowly from November to March. We also observed a significant increase in trehalose concentrations as ambient temperatures decreased from October to November and a decrease in trehalose as temperatures increased again in March. We did not observe substantial changes in pupal supercooling points among the dates sampled. In addition, prolonged pupal development time reduced their survival rate and had no significant effect on post-diapause adult body mass and fecundity but reduced egg diameter in females. These results suggest that the energy consumption of H. cunea pupae during early diapause depends on lipid and glycogen, while it shifts to depend on glycogen or other energy stores in the mid- and late diapause stages. Our results also suggest that the prolonged development time of diapausing pupae had a negative effect on post-diapause fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lvquan Zhao
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; (X.W.); (Z.L.)
| | - Xinmei Wang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; (X.W.); (Z.L.)
| | - Zheng Liu
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; (X.W.); (Z.L.)
| | - Alex S. Torson
- USDA-ARS Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center, Biosciences Research Laboratory, Fargo, ND 58102, USA;
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Zhang X, Fan Z, Wang Q, Kong X, Liu F, Fang J, Zhang S, Zhang Z. RNAi Efficiency through dsRNA Injection Is Enhanced by Knockdown of dsRNA Nucleases in the Fall Webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116182. [PMID: 35682860 PMCID: PMC9181381 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) technology is a promising approach used in pest control. The efficiency of RNAi varies considerably among different insect species, and growing evidence suggests that degradation of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) prior to uptake is an important factor that limits RNAi efficiency in insects. Our recent work on fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), an important invasive pest in China, showed a relatively low silencing efficiency of RNAi through dsRNA injection, which is considered the most feasible dsRNA delivery method for inducing RNAi, and the factors involved in the mechanism remain unknown. Herein, we first detected the dsRNA-degrading activity in the hemolymph and gut content of H. cunea in ex vivo assays and observed rapid degradation of dsRNA, especially in the hemolymph, which was complete within only 10 min. To determine whether dsRNA degradation could contribute to the low effectiveness of RNAi in H. cunea, four dsRNA nuclease (dsRNase) genes, HcdsRNase1, HcdsRNase2, HcdsRNase3, and HcdsRNase4, were identified by homology searching against the H. cunea transcriptome database, and their transcript levels were subsequently investigated in different tissues, developmental stages, and after dsRNA injection. Our results show that HcdsRNases are highly expressed mainly in gut tissues and hemolymph, and the expression of HcdsRNase3 and HcdsRNase4 were significantly upregulated by dsGFP induction. RNAi-of-RNAi studies, using HcCht5 as a reporter gene, demonstrated that silencing HcdsRNase3 and HcdsRNase4 significantly increases RNAi efficacy via dsHcCht5 injection, and co-silencing these two HcdsRNase genes results in a more significant improvement in efficacy. These results confirm that the RNAi efficacy in H. cunea through dsRNA injection is certainly impaired by dsRNase activity, and that blocking HcdsRNases could potentially improve RNAi, providing a reference for related studies on insects where RNAi has low efficiency.
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