scholarly journals Diversity of short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) in lepidopteran insects and evidence of horizontal SINE transfer between baculovirus and lepidopteran hosts

BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangjie Han ◽  
Nan Zhang ◽  
Heng Jiang ◽  
Xiangkun Meng ◽  
Kun Qian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Horizontal Transfer ◽  
Spodoptera Litura ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Lepidopteran Insect ◽  
Integration Pattern ◽  
Lepidopteran Insects ◽  
Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements ◽  
Short Interspersed Nuclear Elements ◽  
Host Parasite

Abstract Background Short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) belong to non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons, which can mobilize dependent on the help of counterpart long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs). Although 234 SINEs have been identified so far, only 23 are from insect species (SINEbase: http://sines.eimb.ru/). Results Here, five SINEs were identified from the genome of Plutella xylostella, among which PxSE1, PxSE2 and PxSE3 were tRNA-derived SINEs, PxSE4 and PxSE5 were 5S RNA-derived SINEs. A total of 18 related SINEs were further identified in 13 lepidopteran insects and a baculovirus. The 3′-tail of PxSE5 shares highly identity with that of LINE retrotransposon, PxLINE1. The analysis of relative age distribution profiles revealed that PxSE1 is a relatively young retrotransposon in the genome of P. xylostella and was generated by recent explosive amplification. Integration pattern analysis showed that SINEs in P. xylostella prefer to insert into or accumulate in introns and regions 5 kb downstream of genes. In particular, the PxSE1-like element, SlNPVSE1, in Spodoptera litura nucleopolyhedrovirus II genome is highly identical to SfSE1 in Spodoptera frugiperda, SlittSE1 in Spodoptera littoralis, and SlituSE1 in Spodoptera litura, suggesting the occurrence of horizontal transfer. Conclusions Lepidopteran insect genomes harbor a diversity of SINEs. The retrotransposition activity and copy number of these SINEs varies considerably between host lineages and SINE lineages. Host-parasite interactions facilitate the horizontal transfer of SINE between baculovirus and its lepidopteran hosts.

scholarly journals Identification and Functional Analysis of Apoptotic Protease Activating Factor-1 (Apaf-1) from Spodoptera litura

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Haihao Ma ◽  
Xiumei Yan ◽  
Lin Yan ◽  
Jingyan Zhao ◽  
Jiping Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spodoptera Litura ◽  
Actinomycin D ◽  
Titration Calorimetry ◽  
Apoptosis Pathway ◽  
Downstream Effector ◽  
Lepidopteran Insects ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Effector Caspases ◽  
And Function

Apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) is an adaptor molecule, essential for activating initiator caspase and downstream effector caspases, which directly cause apoptosis. In fruit flies, nematodes, and mammals, Apaf-1 has been extensively studied. However, the structure and function of Apaf-1 in Lepidoptera remain unclear. This study identified a novel Apaf-1 from Spodoptera litura, named Sl-Apaf-1. Sl-Apaf-1 contains three domains: a CARD domain, as well as NOD and WD motifs, and is very similar to mammalian Apaf-1. Interference of Sl-apaf-1 expression in SL-1 cells blocked apoptosis induced by actinomycin D. Overexpression of Sl-apaf-1 significantly enhances apoptosis induced by actinomycin D in Sf9/SL-1/U2OS cells, suggesting that the function of Sl-Apaf-1 is evolutionarily conserved. Furthermore, Sl-Apaf-1 could interact with Sl-caspase-5 (a homologue of mammalian caspase-9) and yielded a binding affinity of 1.37 × 106 M–1 according isothermal titration calorimetry assay. Initiator caspase (procaspase-5) of S. litura could be activated by Sl-Apaf-1 (without WD motif) in vitro, and the activated Sl-caspase-5 could cleave Sl-procaspase-1 (a homologue of caspase-3 in mammals), which directly caused apoptosis. This study demonstrates the key role of Sl-Apaf-1 in the apoptosis pathway, suggesting that the apoptosis pathway in Lepidopteran insects and mammals is conserved.

scholarly journals Plasmid Transfer between the Bacillus thuringiensis Subspecies kurstaki andtenebrionis in Laboratory Culture and Soil and in Lepidopteran and Coleopteran Larvae

2000 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. John I. Thomas ◽  
J. Alun W. Morgan ◽  
John M. Whipps ◽  
Jon R. Saunders
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Bacterial Population ◽  
Laboratory Culture ◽  
Plasmid Transfer ◽  
Donor Strain ◽  
Lepidopteran Insect ◽  
Lepidopteran Insects ◽  
Rapid Formation ◽  
Coleopteran Insect

ABSTRACT Plasmid transfer between Bacillus thuringiensis subsp.kurstaki HD1 and B. thuringiensis subsp.tenebrionis donor strains and a streptomycin-resistantB. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki recipient was studied under environmentally relevant laboratory conditions in vitro, in soil, and in insects. Plasmid transfer was detected in vitro at temperatures of 5 to 37°C, at pH 5.9 to 9.0, and at water activities of 0.965 to 0.995, and the highest transfer ratios (up to 10−1 transconjugant/donor) were detected within 4 h. In contrast, no plasmid transfer was detected in nonsterile soil, and rapid formation of spores by the introduced strains probably contributed most to the lack of plasmid transfer observed. When aB. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strain was used as the donor strain, plasmid transfer was detected in killed susceptible lepidopteran insect (Lacanobia oleracea) larvae but not in the nonsusceptible coleopteran insect Phaedon chocleriae. When a B. thuringiensis subsp.tenerbrionis strain was used as the donor strain, no plasmid transfer was detected in either of these insects even when they were killed. These results show that in larger susceptible lepidopteran insects there is a greater opportunity for growth of B. thuringiensis strains, and this finding, combined with decreased competition due to a low initial background bacterial population, can provide suitable conditions for efficient plasmid transfer in the environment.

Triterpenes induced by young apple fruits in response to herbivore attack

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuto Ohata ◽  
Yuuki Tetsumoto ◽  
Sayo Morita ◽  
Naoki Mori ◽  
Yoichi Ishiguri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Malus Domestica ◽  
Spodoptera Litura ◽  
Mechanical Damage ◽  
Antifeedant Activity ◽  
Varietal Differences ◽  
Triterpene Acids ◽  
Lepidopteran Insect ◽  
Pest Insects ◽  
Herbivore Attack ◽  
Apple Fruits

Abstract Apples Malus domestica, known as a rich source of triterpene acids, induced more variety and quantity of triterpene acids in response to herbivory or mechanical damage. There were three major induced compounds: pomaceic acid and euscaphic acid, both of which are known apple triterpene acids, and 2α,19α-dihydroxy-3-oxours-12-en-28-oic acid (named eriobotoric acid), which was first identified in apples. In this study, the three compounds’ induction curves after damage, varietal differences in induction amounts, and physiological roles against pest insects were further investigated. Eriobotoric acid showed clear antifeedant activity against lepidopteran insect Spodoptera litura but not against apple pests.

scholarly journals Oligomer Formation and Insecticidal Activity of Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3Aa Toxin

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ensi Shao ◽  
Aishan Zhang ◽  
Yaqi Yan ◽  
Yaomin Wang ◽  
Xinyi Jia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Complex Formation ◽  
Insecticidal Activity ◽  
Spodoptera Litura ◽  
Insecticidal Proteins ◽  
Proteolytic Activation ◽  
Oligomer Formation ◽  
Lepidopteran Insects ◽  
Substitution Mutations

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Vip3A proteins are important insecticidal proteins used for control of lepidopteran insects. However, the mode of action of Vip3A toxin is still unclear. In this study, the amino acid residue S164 in Vip3Aa was identified to be critical for the toxicity in Spodoptera litura. Results from substitution mutations of the S164 indicate that the insecticidal activity of Vip3Aa correlated with the formation of a >240 kDa complex of the toxin upon proteolytic activation. The >240 kDa complex was found to be composed of the 19 kDa and the 65 kDa fragments of Vip3Aa. Substitution of the S164 in Vip3Aa protein with Ala or Pro resulted in loss of the >240 kDa complex and loss of toxicity in Spodoptera litura. In contrast, substitution of S164 with Thr did not affect the >240 kDa complex formation, and the toxicity of the mutant was only reduced by 35%. Therefore, the results from this study indicated that formation of the >240 kDa complex correlates with the toxicity of Vip3Aa in insects and the residue S164 is important for the formation of the complex.

The antioxidants dimethylsulfoxide and dimethylthiourea affect the immediate adhesion responses of larval haemocytes from 3 lepidopteran insect species

2007 ◽  
Vol 53 (12) ◽  
pp. 1330-1347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary B. Dunphy ◽  
Genhui Chen ◽  
John M. Webster
Keyword(s):  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Granular Cell ◽  
Lepidopteran Insect ◽  
Bacterial Removal ◽  
Lepidopteran Insects ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Foreign Materials ◽  
Humoral Responses

Antioxidants, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethylthiourea (DMTU), at concentrations not affecting the viability of blood cells (haemocytes) from the larval stage of 3 lepidopteran insects — Galleria mellonella , Lymantria dispar , and Malacosoma disstria — differed in their influence on the innate binding of haemocytes to glass, bacteria to haemocytes, and on humoral responses to alien materials. In vitro DMSO had little effect, whereas DMTU substantially impaired the adhesion of the haemocyte types, the plasmatocytes and granular cells, to slides as well as the attachment of Bacillus subtilis to these haemocytes. Although both antioxidants increased lysozyme and phenoloxidase activities, there was no correlation of enzyme activity and haemocyte adhesion responses, possibly reflecting sequestered radicals. Nitric oxide and hydroxyl radicals offset the DMTU effect. In the absence of antioxidants, inactivate protein kinases A (PKA) and C (PKC) enhanced haemocyte aggregation. In general, DMSO, as opposed to DMTU, did not alter the effects of PKA and PKC activators and inhibitors on haemocyte aggregation or of PKC and PKA activities. High concentrations of DMSO and all levels of DMTU, although inhibiting PKA and PKC, inhibited haemocyte adhesion to slides. Comparable results occurred for DMTU-treated haemocytes incubated with B. subtilis. In vivo DMSO, unlike DMTU, did not impair plasmatocyte or granular cell responses to foreign materials, including bacterial removal from the haemolymph and nodulation.

scholarly journals Polycythemia Vera: Age Relationships and Survival

Blood ◽  
1965 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
EDWIN E. OSGOOD
Keyword(s):  
Normal Distribution ◽  
Polycythemia Vera ◽  
Age At Onset ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Previous Treatment ◽  
Age At Death ◽  
Survival Times ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Log Normal

Abstract Study of our first 201 cases of polycythemia vera and of cases reported in the literature shows a remarkable age distribution for this disease. The age at onset, age at diagnosis, age at first treatment, and age at death, as well as survival times, each fits a normal distribution. In our cases, the median age at onset is 57 years with a standard deviation of 13 years, an entirely different distribution from that for the population of Oregon. This requires a logarithmic increase in relative age specific incidence from age 20 to 40, when there is little difference in the number of persons alive at each age, with a doubling of the proportion occurring in each 5-year interval every 7.5 years. After age 55, the proportion of new cases developing follows the slope of the number alive in the population. This means that the incidence remains almost constant after the peak age incidence is reached. Unfortunately, no data exist to transform these figures to absolute values, but if enough of the population could be studied to give absolute values at any one point, all other points could be determined. The implication is that polycythemia vera is due to a single cause which is highly correlated with age. The normal distribution of survival times means that polycythemia vera is not a malignant process since survival times in all malignancies studied fit a log normal distribution. The constant value of age at death means that age at first treatment is a most important prognostic factor. The mean age at death of patients with polycythemia vera, treated with P32, is 69 years ± 1, and treated without radiation therapy is 65 years ± 1. Apparently, if a patient lives to be treated with P32 previous treatment by other modalities or no treatment prior to that, will not affect the years to be gained by P32 treatment. However, the total survival time is highly correlated with age and the sooner after onset that the patient can be treated the more likely it is he will benefit from P32 therapy.

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