Fine Structure of Female Accessory Reproductive Gland in the Mealworm Beetle, Tenebrio molitor

ABSTRACT The fine structure of female accessory reproductive gland (FARG) of the adult mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor is studied with light and electron microscopes. The FARG is a simple tubular organ that composed of two kinds of cells-secretory epithelial cells and duct forming cells. The lumen of FARG is lined with a thin cuticle and filled with secretory materials. Each secretory epithelial cell has its peculiar end apparatus in addition to well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER), mitochondria, and secretory vesicles. They are forming basal infolding along the plasma membrane. Along the inner surface of the plasma membrane, numerous secretory vesicles are seen. The glandular secretions of the epithelial secretory cells are synthesized via rER to Golgi apparatus, and are stored in the extracellular cavity in the epithelial cell. These secretions are drained to the lumen through the end apparatus and this type of glandular secretion in the insects is type III. Histochemical reactions reveal the major component of these glandular secretions is an acid mucopolysaccharide.     

黄粉虫幼虫小分子量抗茵肽的分离纯化

昆虫抗菌肽具有良好的抑菌效果,有望开发成新一代抗生素。本文以金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌混合液作为诱导源,采用针刺法使黄粉虫TenebriomolitorL．幼虫感染微生物产生抗菌肽,并对抗菌肽进行了提取、色谱分离纯化及抑菌活性检测。结果显示,诱导组和对照组的三氟乙酸粗提物无抑菌活性;经SephadexG50、SuperdexPeptide凝胶色谱分离后,从诱导组和对照组均可获得对革兰氏阳性菌金黄色葡萄球菌、枯草芽孢杆菌有抑菌作用的组分,而且诱导组活性明显高于对照组;通过Resource15RPC反相色谱分离纯化,从诱导组获得一具有明显抑制革兰氏阳性菌的组分,质谱检测该组分为混合肽,主要由分子量为1876．21u、1904．21u的小肽组成,可能是一种比Thanatin分子量更低的昆虫抗菌肽。     

基于转录组数据高通量发掘黄粉甲微卫星引物（英文）

黄粉虫Tenebrio molitor作为理想的模式研究生物, 虽然已围绕该昆虫在多个研究领域开展了诸多研究, 但是有关其分子和遗传方面的研究仍知之甚少。为此, 本研究基于前期构建的黄粉甲转录组数据库, 成功发掘获得1 249个微卫星序列。其中, 单碱基或三碱基序重复列最多, 分别占44.44%和41.15%; A/T型重复序列出现频率最高, 占42.70%。除单核苷酸重复序列外, 重复单元的重复次数以5次最多, 占30.90%。基于鉴定获得的微卫星序列, 共设计获得1 004对微卫星引物, 而且每对引物还设计了5对替代引物。研究获得的微卫星引物将有助于今后开展黄粉甲功能和比较基因组学方面的研究。     

Previous encapsulation response enhances within individual protection against fungal parasite in the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor

Immune defenses of insects show either broad reactions or specificity and durability of induced protection against attacking parasites and pathogens. In this study, we tested whether encapsulation response against nylon monofilament increases between two attempts of activation of immune system in mealworm beetles Tenebrio molitor, and whether previous exposure to nylon monofilament may also increase protection against an entomopathogenic fungus. We found that survival of beetles subjected to immune activation by nylon implant and subsequent fungal exposure a week later was significantly higher than survival of beetles which had been subjected to fungal infection only. This result suggests that previous immune activation by the nylon implant may be considered as broad spectrum “immune priming” which helps to fight not only the same intruder but also other parasites.     

Extraction of chitin and chitosan from larval exuvium and whole body of edible mealworm,Tenebrio molitor

The purpose of this study was to investigate the production of chitin and chitosan from both the exuvium and whole body of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae. Chitin from the exuvium and whole body of T. molitor larvae was chemically extracted with acid and alkali solutions to achieve demineralization (DM) and deproteinization (DP), respectively. The average DM (%) and DP (%) on a dry weight (DW) basis was 32.56 and 73.16% from larval exuvium, and 41.68 and 91.53% from whole body, respectively. To obtain chitosan, chitin particles from the exuvium and whole body of T. molitor larva were heated at various temperatures in different concentrations of NaOH. Average chitin yields were 18.01% and 4.92% of DW from the exuvium and whole body, respectively. The relative average yield of chitosan from whole body was 3.65% of DW. On average, over 90% of chitosan derived from whole body was deacetylated. The viscosity of chitosan from whole body was ranged from 48.0 cP to 54.0 cP. The chitin content of dry and wet byproducts from whole body were 17.32% and 16.94% respectively, compared to dry weight. The chitosan contents of byproducts on a DW basis were 14.48% in dry and 13.07% in wet byproduct. These results indicate that the exuvium and whole body of T. molitor larva may serve as a source of chitin and chitosan for use in domestic animal feed.     

Cloning, sequencing and prokaryotic expression of cDNAs for antifreeze protein family from beetle Tenebrio molitor

Partial cDNA sequences coding for antifreeze proteins in Tenebrio molitor were obtained by RT-PCR.Sequence analysis revealed nine putative cDNAs with a high degree of homology to Tenebrio molitor antifreeze protein genes published in GenBank.The recombinant pGEX-4T-l-tmafp-XJ430 was introduced into E.coli BL21 to induce a GST fusion protein by IPTG.SDS-PAGE analysis for the fusion protein shows a band of 38 kDa.pCDNA3- tmafp-XJ430 was injected into mice to generate antiserum which was later detected by indirect ELISA.The titer of the antibody was 1:2000.Western blot-ting analysis shows that the antiserum was specifically against the antifreeze protein.Our results laid the founda-tion for further studies on the properties and functions of insect antifreeze proteins.     

Regulation of development of the grain beetle Tenebrio molitor by neuropeptides

Summary

Two neuropeptides (NPs), hydra head activator (HHA), and the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH), were used to study their effects on the development of the larvae of the grain beetle Tenebrio molitor (mealworms). The larvae received the NPs in the course of development at the beginning or at the end of instar. The LHRH given at the beginning of the instar stimulated molting and pupation in larvae; it did not affect molting in the late period of the instar. The C-end fragment of LHRH_(9–10) produced fewer molts and increased the duration of the instar period. The effect of this fragment was weak when it was injected at the initial period of the instar; it was considerably stronger in the end of the instar. It inhibited development when administered during the last instar. On the contrary, the N-end fragment of the LHRH_(1–2) stimulated growth and development of larvae. The action of these NPs can be connected to the function of the hormones of metamorphosis. The HHA administrated to the larvae at different days of the instar stimulated molting but in the last instar it delayed pupation. The C-end of the HHA_(7–11) stimulated molting when injected during the whole period of the instar. The other C-end fragments, the HHA_(8–11) and HHA_(9–11) had inhibitory effects on the molting. The injection of the N-end fragment of the HHA_(1–5) had no effect. The action of HHA and its fragments did not correlate with the function of the hormones of metamorphosis.     

Effects of processing methods on nutritional composition and antioxidant activity of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae

We examined the effects of different processing methods on the nutritional composition and antioxidant activity of mealworms. After processing with nine methods, we calculated the contents of protein, fat, ash, carbohydrate, minerals (P, Ca, K, Fe, Na), vitamin B group (B₁, B₂, B₃), moisture, and calories. When processed by freeze drying among freeze drying, hot air drying, oven broiling, roasting, pan frying, deep frying, boiling, steaming, and microwaving, the contents of protein, some minerals, and vitamins were the highest. The content of total minerals was lowest after deep frying, and those of vitamin B₁ and B₃ were the lowest after microwaving. Antioxidant activity was then evaluated using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. DPPH assays showed that microwaving, freeze drying, deep frying, steaming, boiling, and oven broiling of mealworms yielded scavenging activities of 20.9–29.0% at 2,000 μg/mL, which was similar to the activity level (22.7–33.2%) of 40–60 μM tocopherol. ABTS assays confirmed that only freeze‐dried mealworms at 2,000 μg/mL exhibited higher activity than 10 μM tocopherol. Interestingly, similar trends were found for antioxidant activity levels and total phenolic contents in mealworms.     

Short-and long-term sperm precedence in the beetle Tenebrio molitor: a test of the 'adaptive sperm removal' hypothesis

Abstract. Sperm removal in Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) has been proposed as an adaptation to sperm competition and has been documented when the remating interval between successive copulations is short, but not when it is long (Gage, 1992). If sperm removal is adaptive, it follows that there should be different fertilization outcomes from double matings with different remating intervals.
Sperm precedence patterns were assessed using reciprocal double matings of normal and γ-irradiated (sterile) virgin males of controlled size and age with virgin females of controlled size and age.
Immediate last male sperm precedence was high whether the remating interval was short (<10 min) (P_2,= 0.89) or long (24h) (P₂= 0.92).
Sperm precedence in eggs laid in a 16-day period after the last copulation showed no difference in the pattern of change between females with short and long remating intervals.
By examining the aedeagus of males we show that sperm are removed at the end of copulation by the first and the second male to mate with a virgin female regardless of whether the remating interval is short or long.
We conclude that sperm removal is unlikely to be the primary mechanism by which males gain such high levels of last male sperm precedence.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of SOCS-2 from Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum

Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family members are key regulators of immunological homeostasis. In this study, we have discovered the SOCS-2 member from Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum and further analyzed its immune responses against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C). Amino acid sequence of RpSOCS-2 consists of cytokine inducible SRC homology 2 (SH2) and SOCS box domains similar to vertebrate SOCS counterparts. It has the highest amino acid identity (41%) with Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) SOCS-2 and showed close evolutional relationship with disk abalone (Haliotis discus discus) SOCS-2. Tissue specific expression results showed that RpSOCS-2 was constitutively expressed in all examined tissues with the highest level in gill tissue of un-challenged clams. RpSOCS-2 mRNA expression was up-regulated by LPS and poly I:C challenge in gills. Discovery of RpSOCS-2 homologue and expression analysis would support for understanding evolutional relationships and their role in innate immune responses in mollusks, respectively.     

Heart mechanical and hemodynamic parameters of a beetle,Tenebrio molitor,at selected ages

The physiological processes that occur during the aging of insects are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to describe the changes in contractile activity and hemodynamic parameters of the heart that take place as the coleopteran beetle, Tenebrio molitor, ages. The frequency of heart contractions in beetles that had just undergone metamorphosis (median 24.7 beats/min) was significantly lower than the frequency of heart contractions in older beetles. In 56% of beetles that were < 1 week of age, a pattern of contractile activity with alternating periods of higher and lower contraction frequency was detected, suggesting that some posteclosion developmental processes occur during the first week of adulthood. All beetles that were 1 week of age showed a regular rhythm of heart contractions (median 72 beats/min). In older beetles, abnormalities such as heart arrhythmias or heart arrest were observed. The incidence of arrhythmia as well as the arrhythmicity index was highest in beetles that were 8–18 weeks old. The calculated stroke volume (SV) was also found to increase from eclosion to 12 weeks of age, and then decreased as adults aged further. Interestingly, cardiac output increased gradually, but the ejection fraction did not change significantly with age.     

Trehalase in the spermatophore from the bean-shaped accessory gland of the male mealworm beetle,Tenebrio molitor: purification,kinetic properties and localization of the enzyme

Trehalase from the bean-shaped accessory glands of the male mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, was purified by acid treatment, with subsequent chromatography on columns of DEAE-cellulofine and Sephacryl S-300. The molecular masses of the native and the denatured forms were estimated to be 43 and 62 kDa by gel filtration and SDS-PAGE, respectively, an indication that the trehalase may be composed of a single polypeptide. The optimum pH of the reaction catalyzed by trehalase was 5.6–5.8. The K _m for trehalose was 4.4 mmol·l^–1. Immunohistochemical experiments with trehalase-specific antiserum showed that the enzyme was localized in one specific type of secretory cell in the bean-shaped accessory gland epithelium and within the semisolid secretory mass that was a precursor to the wall of spermatophore. SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting analysis revealed the presence of a polypeptide of about 62 kDa in the spermatophore, Immunohistochemical observations showed that the trehalase was located at the outgrowth in the anterior portion of the spermatophore. When a fresh spermatophore was immersed in phosphate-buffered saline it discharged sperm in the same manner as in the bursa copulatrix of the female. Before the rupture of the expanded bulb of the spermatophore, almost all of the trehalase had dissolved in the phosphate-buffered saline. The addition of validoxylamine A to the saline, a specific inhibitor of trehalase, did not affect the expansion and evacuation of the spermatophore. These results demonstrate that trehalase, synthesized by a specific type of secretory cell in the bean-shaped accessory gland epithelium, is actively passed into the lumen of the bean-shaped accessory gland and then incorporated into the spermatophore. Trehalase appears to be one of the structural proteins of the spermatophore, although the possibility can not yet be completely ruled out that the trehalase-trehalose system functions for the nourishment and/or activation of the sperm in the bursa copulatrix of the female.Abbreviations BAG bean-shaped accessory gland(s) - DEAE diethylaminoethyl - Kpi buffer K₂HPO₄/KH₂PO₄ buffer (pH 7.0) - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - SDS sodium dodecy sulphate - Spph spermatophore(s) - TAG tubular accessory gland(s)     

稀土氧化镧对黄粉虫生长发育和繁殖的影响

制备每kg麦麸分别含10,20,30,40,50,60,100,150,200和300mg氧化镧的饲料,用这10种剂量的饲料分别连续饲喂1日龄的黄粉虫TenebriomolitorL.幼虫和成虫。用40mg氧化镧kg麦麸的剂量处理79d后幼虫体重比对照组增加43%,同样的剂量使产卵高峰期的雌虫日平均产卵量增加59%,是最佳的处理剂量。自1日龄起连续取食50d最佳剂量氧化镧的幼虫,体内蓄积有0.4%的镧元素。用最佳剂量氧化谰处理黄粉虫在经济上具有很高的投入-产出比。     

饲养密度对黄粉虫幼虫生长发育的影响

黄粉虫原是一种仓库害虫 ,由于其幼虫、蛹、成虫都含有丰富的蛋白质和多种氨基酸 ,已被作为饲用资源昆虫来开发利用。作为一种群集性的昆虫 ,黄粉虫幼虫的生长受密度影响可分为 2个阶段 ,一是幼虫孵化后 1个月这段时间内 ,高密度处理的幼虫平均体重大于低密度处理的幼虫平均体重 ;二是孵化 1个月后直到化蛹 ,这段时间低密度的幼虫生长要比高密度的幼虫快得多。密度越大 ,历期越长。但密度对化蛹率没有影响。在幼虫生长过程中 ,各处理组中只有 3 2 0头虫密度处理组的幼虫在生长 1个月后显出拥挤效应。     

Tenebrio molitor抗冻蛋白基因家族cDNA片段的克隆、序列分析及原核表达

利用反转录-多聚酶链式反应(RT-PCR)的方法, 克隆黄粉甲虫(Tenebrio molitor)抗冻蛋白基因cDNA片段并进行序列分析和原核表达。同源性分析表明, 获得9条新cDNA片段, 与黄粉甲虫抗冻蛋白基因家族的其他基因序列具有较高的同源性。重组质粒pGEX-4T-1-tmafp-XJ430, 转化E.coli BL21进行原核表达, SDS-PAGE分析结果表明, 抗冻蛋白基因以可溶性融合蛋白表达, 相对分子量为38 kDa。构建真核表达载体pCDNA3-tmafp-XJ430, 免疫小鼠, 获得的抗血清滴度为1:2 000。Western blotting 结果为单一的条带, 证明该抗血清具有针对抗冻蛋白TmAFP-XJ430抗原的专一性。     

黄粉虫有效物质的综合提取及提取方法的比较

比较了用石油醚和用环己烷抽提黄粉虫TenebriomolitorL .虫粉中脂肪的提取率 ,以及用碱法和用酶法提取去脂虫渣中蛋白质的提取率。并从 2种去脂、去蛋白质虫渣中和虫蜕中提取壳聚糖。用环己烷和酶法提取为最佳组合 ,可综合提取出占幼虫干重 5 0 .5 %的有效物质。同时 ,讨论了碱法和酶法提取率出现差异的原因。     

黄粉虫防卫物质苯醌的测定及其去除

采用分光光度法测定了黄粉虫的防卫毒素苯醌的含量。结果表明 :各虫态各性别的黄粉虫在不同发育阶段其苯醌含量均有不同 ,各虫态的苯醌含量随日龄而增大 ,雌蛹和雌成虫的苯醌含量均高于同一日龄的雄蛹和雄成虫。经刺激后各虫态的苯醌含量升高 2 0 72 %～ 41 64%,刺激后用水清洗的虫体其体内苯醌含量下降 88 2 7%～ 92 60 %;烘烤也可使苯醌大量挥发和分解 ,采用刺激 -水洗 -研磨 -烘烤工艺处理幼虫可清除 94 3 0 %苯醌 ,此法可为保障黄粉虫作为饲用昆虫的安全性提供依据     

Modulation of sexual signalling by immune challenged male mealworm beetles (Tenebrio molitor, L.): evidence for terminal investment and dishonesty

Organisms partition resources into life-history traits in order to maximise fitness over their expected lifespan. For the males of many species fitness is determined by qualitative and quantitative aspects of costly sexual signals: The notion that epigamic traits are costly forms the cornerstone of those theories that propose parasites drive sexual selection. Consequently studies examining this notion assume sexual signalling is honest (i.e. driven by cost) when they seek to identify correlations or causal links between male immune function and attractiveness. We demonstrate that immune challenged males of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, increased their investment in epigamic pheromone signals: these males became significantly more attractive to females whilst increasing the activity of a key immune effector system. In other words males increase terminal reproductive effort (invest in attractiveness) in response to a survival threat (immune insult). Consequently the signal preferred by the female is dishonest when considering the male's condition.