The involvement of protein kinase A in the immune response of Galleria mellonella larvae to bacteria

The role of protein kinase A (PKA) in the humoral immune response of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella larvae to live gram-positive bacteria Micrococcus lysodeikticus and gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli was investigated. The immune challenge of larvae with both kinds of bacteria caused an increase in fat body PKA activity depending on the injected bacteria. Gram-positive M. lysodeikticus was a much better inducer of the enzyme activity than gram-negative E. coli. The PKA activity was increased about 2.5-fold and 1.5-fold, after M. lysodeikticus and E. coli injection, respectively. The in vivo inhibition of the enzyme activity by a cell permeable selective PKA inhibitor, Rp-8-Br-cAMPS, was correlated with considerable changes of fat body lysozyme content and hemolymph antimicrobial activity in bacteria-challenged insects. The kinetics of changes were different and dependent on the bacteria used for the immune challenge of G. mellonella larvae.     

Synergistic action of Galleria mellonella anionic peptide 2 and lysozyme against Gram-negative bacteria

Lysozyme and antimicrobial peptides are key factors of the humoral immune response in insects. In the present work lysozyme and anionic defense peptide (GMAP2) were isolated from the hemolymph of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella and their antibacterial activity was investigated. Adsorption of G. mellonella lysozyme on the cell surface of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was demonstrated using immunoblotting with anti-G. mellonella lysozyme antibodies. Lysozyme effectively inhibited the growth of selected Gram-positive bacteria, which was accompanied by serious alterations of the cell surface, as revealed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. G. mellonella lysozyme used in concentrations found in the hemolymph of naive and immunized larvae, perforated also the Escherichia coli cell membrane and the level of such perforation was considerably increased by GMAP2. GMAP2 used alone did not perforate E. coli cells nor influence lysozyme muramidase activity. However, the peptide induced a decrease in the turgor pressure of the bacterial cell. Moreover, in the samples of bacteria treated with a mixture of lysozyme and GMAP2 the sodium chloride crystals were found, suggesting disturbance of ion transport across the membrane leading to cell disruption. These results clearly indicated the synergistic action of G. mellonella lysozyme and anionic peptide 2 against Gram-negative bacteria. The reported results suggested that, thanks to immune factors constitutively present in hemolymph, G. mellonella larvae are to some extent protected against infection caused by Gram-negative bacteria.     

Purification and characterization of eight peptides from Galleria mellonella immune hemolymph

Defense peptides play a crucial role in insect innate immunity against invading pathogens. From the hemolymph of immune-challenged greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (Gm) larvae, eight peptides were isolated and characterized. Purified Gm peptides differ considerably in amino acid sequences, isoelectric point values and antimicrobial activity spectrum. Five of them, Gm proline-rich peptide 2, Gm defensin-like peptide, Gm anionic peptides 1 and 2 and Gm apolipophoricin, were not described earlier in G. mellonella. Three others, Gm proline-rich peptide 1, Gm cecropin D-like peptide and Galleria defensin, were identical with known G. mellonella peptides. Gm proline-rich peptides 1 and 2 and Gm anionic peptide 2, had unique amino acid sequences and no homologs have been found for these peptides. Antimicrobial activity of purified peptides was tested against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, yeast and filamentous fungi. The most effective was Gm defensin-like peptide which inhibited fungal and sensitive bacteria growth in a concentration of 2.9 and 1.9 microM, respectively. This is the first report describing at least a part of defense peptide repertoire of G. mellonella immune hemolymph.     

Effects of beauverolide L and cyclosporin A on humoral and cellular immune response of the greater wax moth,Galleria mellonella

The effects of beauverolide L and cyclosporin A, cyclic peptidic metabolites, produced by several genera of entomopathogenic fungi on immune responses of last instar larvae of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella have been examined. Intrahemocoelic injection of either metabolite-coated silica particles or dissolved metabolites in a concentrations ranging between 10 and 30 μg per larva caused no mortality but activated humoral responses in G. mellonella larvae. The challenge induced a significant release of lysozyme and cecropin-like activity into the hemolymph, suggesting stimulatory activity on humoral immune responses. Injected metabolite-coated particles were rapidly surrounded by hemocytes which subsequently accomplished formation of melanized nodules, which increased in size and number compared with controls. In vitro assays with dissolved metabolites indicated no adverse effects of beauverolide L or cyclosporin A on attachment or spreading of isolated plasmatocytes but dose-dependent inhibition of their phagocytic activity. Isolated plasmatocytes incubated with cyclosporin A or beauverolide L exhibited cytoskeleton alterations that differed from those observed in plasmatocytes from infected G. mellonella larvae or reported from other fungal secondary metabolites. The experiments provided further data to elucidate the role of fungal secondary metabolites in development of mycoses in insects.     

Lipid Requirement for the Lipase Production by Geotrichum candidum Link

The injection of live or heat-killed bacteria into larvae of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, induced antibacterial activity in the hemolymph. A wide variety of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria were effective as inducing agents, but saline alone, yeast cells and fungal spores were not effective. The antibacterial activities were separated into six bands on native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which were sensitive to trypsin. Some of these antibacterial proteins were partially purified by CM-cellulose column chromatography. The proteins were heat-stable and showed no lysozyme activity. The proteins repressed the growth of various gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.     

Viresin. A novel antibacterial protein from immune hemolymph of Heliothis virescens pupae.

Immune hemolymph was collected from fifth instar larvae and 1-day-old pupae of Heliothis virescens after injection of prepupae with live Enterobacter cloacae. Induction of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli K12 D31 was 7.5 times greater in pupal than in larval immune hemolymph. Lysozyme activity of immune pupal hemolymph against Micrococcus lysodeikticus was 11 times greater when compared with lysozyme activity of immune larval hemolymph. Early pupal immune response with regard to antibacterial activity was much greater than larval immune response in H. virescens. Normal pupal hemolymph showed an increase in antibacterial activity and lysozyme that was induced during metamorphosis. Antibacterial protein was isolated together with lysozyme by gel filtration chromatography and then separated from lysozyme by sequential electrophoresis with a native acid gel and SDS gel. Molecular mass of antibacterial protein was estimated to be 12 kDa. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of 12-kDa protein was different from those of antibacterial molecules found in other insects and has not been identified before. A sample containing 12-kDa protein was negative for immunoblotting with anti-synthetic cecropin B antibody. We have named the novel 12-kDa antibacterial protein viresin. Viresin showed antibacterial activity against several Gram-negative bacteria including E. cloacae but not against Gram-positive bacteria.     

Changes of the Antioxidant Status and System of Generation of Free Radicals in Hemolymph of Galleria mellonella Larvae at Microsporidiosis

Changes of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities as well as of the content of SH-containing compounds were revealed in hemolymph of the native and the Vairimorpha ephestiae microsporidian-infected greater wax moth Galleria mellonella larvae. The SOD and GST activities in hemolymph of infected insects decreased at the stage of merogony, whereas during massive sporulation the enzymatic antioxidant activity in host tissues was higher than in control. By the ESR spectroscopy method, using the 1-hydroxy-3-carboxy-pyrrolidinespin-trap, generation of free radicals in hemolymph of infected insects was shown to decrease only at the stage of sporogony. The phenoloxidase activity in lymph was lower at acute microsporidiosis than in native larvae. The hemolymph concentration of thiol-containing proteins in infected insects did not differ from that in control. We suggest that decrease of generation of free radicals in hemolymph of the greater wax moth larvae at the stage of sporogony is due to a suppression of the prophenoloxidase system and an elevation of the antioxidant activity.     

革兰氏阳性菌苏云金芽孢杆菌和革兰氏阴性菌大肠杆菌诱导的柞蚕蛹生理指标变化

【目的】明确柞蚕Antheraea pernyi对外源微生物防御性生理变化规律,为柞蚕的病害防治和合理饲养提供理论依据。【方法】本研究选用革兰氏阳性菌苏云金芽孢杆菌Bacillus thuringeinsis(Bt)和革兰氏阴性菌大肠杆菌Escherichia coli(Ec)为外源诱导微生物,调整至10~6～10~8cfu/m L菌液,灭活后处理柞蚕蛹,诱导24,48,72和96 h后不同时间测定血淋巴蛋白含量、PO活性、CAT活性、抗菌活性和溶菌酶活性等生理指标。【结果】Ec和Bt诱导柞蚕蛹导致各生理指标出现显著变化,但两种菌株诱导生理指标变化规律差异明显,Ec高浓度诱导72 h会增加血淋巴蛋白含量,而Bt各浓度诱导会在24,48和96 h增加血淋巴蛋白含量。免疫防御关键酶系PO和CAT活性变化规律在不同菌株诱导后差异更明显,Ec诱导后,PO活性随着时间增加表现为先升高后降低的趋势,CAT活性呈现"升高-降低-升高"的规律;而Bt诱导后PO活性表现为"升高-降低-升高"的规律,CAT活性随诱导时间增加变化规律不明显,但有随菌液浓度增加而降低的趋势。对抗菌活性测定表明,Ec和Bt诱导都会显著增加蛹粗酶液抗菌活性,溶菌酶活性也会极显著增加,但2个指标高峰值出现的时间会有明显差别。【结论】本研究结果表明Ec和Bt不同处理均可诱导柞蚕蛹产生明显防御反应,但柞蚕蛹生理指标变化规律与不同种类微生物及处理时间和浓度有关,推测革兰氏阳性菌和革兰氏阴性菌具有不同的诱导防御反应机制。研究结果可以为外源微生物侵染柞蚕后的免疫防御反应规律提供理论指导。     

Changes in the Activity and Pattern of Hemolymph Esterases in the Larvae of Greater Wax Moth Galleria mellonellaL. (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) during Mycosis

The extended pattern of multiple esterase forms has been revealed in the hemolymph of wax moth Galleria mellonellalarvae infected by the fungi Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassianaor Paecilomyces fumoso-roseus. The total esterase activity of the hemolymph also increases during mycosis. Mechanical damage of the cuticle, treatment with deltamethrin, and chilling of the caterpillars induced similar changes in the hemolymph pattern of esterase activity. Presumably, the changed spectrum and activity of the hemolymph esterases during mycosis is due to the damaged cuticle and epidermis cells.     

Insect inhibitors of metalloproteinases

Two types of peptidic metalloproteinase inhibitors have recently been identified in insects. A homologue of vertebrate tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) was found in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster which may contributes to regulation of a corresponding matrix metalloproteinase (MMP). The first member of MMPs from insects which shares similarity with vertebrate MMPs has also been cloned and characterized from Drosophila, suggesting conserved evolution of both MMPs and TIMPs. The first insect inhibitor of metalloproteinases (IMPI), which was identified in larvae of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, shares no sequence similarity with known vertebrate or invertebrate proteins and represents the first non-TIMP-like inhibitor of metalloproteinases reported to date. In contrast to TIMPs, the IMPI is not active against MMPs but inhibits microbial metalloproteinases such as bacterial thermolysin. Insects may recognize such toxic metalloproteinases associated with invading pathogens by particular peptidic fragments that result from their nonregulated activity within the hemolymph. Metalloproteinases induce expression of the IMPI along with other antimicrobial proteins in course of humoral immune response of G. mellonella, thereby mediating regulation of metalloproteinase activity released within the hemolymph and inhibition of pathogen development as well.     

Larval and pupal induction and N-terminal amino acid sequence of lysozyme from Heliothis virescens

Fifth instar larvae and prepupae of Heliothis virescens (tobacco budworm) were injected with live Enterobacter cloacae and bled at different times after vaccination. Immune pupal hemolymph showed a 54 times increase in lysozyme activity when compared with normal larval hemolymph, and an 11 times increase of lysozyme activity when compared with immune larval hemolymph. Lysozyme activity of the normal pupal hemolymph increased as greatly as did lysozyme activity of the immune larval hemolymph after metamorphosis. The pupal immune response with regard to lysozyme was much greater than the larval immune response in H. virescens. Lysozyme was purified by heat treatment at 100 degrees C and a chromatography series that included reverse-phase HPLC. The molecular mass of H. virescens lysozyme was approximately 16 kDa by SDS-PAGE which is greater than other insect lysozymes and chicken lysozyme. Amino acid sequence of the N-terminus showed that H. virescens lysozyme is 82% homologous with lysozyme of Manduca sexta and Galleria mellonella. CNBr cleavage of H. virescens lysozyme produced 11 and 6 kDa peptide fragments indicating that one methionine was present, which was also supported by amino acid analysis. However, methionine was located at the carboxyl terminal side rather than the N-terminal side as judged by the N-terminal sequences of each peptide fragment. The residue 22 in most lepidopteran lysozymes is methionine, whereas H. virescens lysozyme had a leucine at residue 22. There was an amino acid deletion near the carboxyl terminal side of H. virescens lysozyme as also found in Trichoplusia ni.     

Effect of cobra venom factor on the in vivo immune response in Galleria mellonella to Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Wax moth larvae receiving 0.2 or 0.4 units of cobra venom factor (CVF) per insect, 6 hr after vaccination, have a significantly reduced resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa when compared with the normal immune response. Curiously, lower doses of CVF (0.1 units per insect) had a tendency to enhance the resistance of the vaccinated larvae to the pathogen. The CVF had no observable effect on the LD₅₀ in unvaccinated larvae. The in vitro bactericidal capacity of immune hemolymph, with respect to P. aeruginosa, was lowered significantly by prior incubation of the hemolymph with CVF. The involvement of an invertebrate analog to the vertebrate complement system is discussed.     

The effects of boric acid-induced oxidative stress on antioxidant enzymes and survivorship in Galleria mellonella

Larvae of the wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.), were reared from first instar on a diet supplemented with 156, 620, 1,250, or 2,500 ppm boric acid (BA). The content of malondialdehyde (MDA, an oxidative stress indicator), and activities of the antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] were determined in the fat body and hemolymph in the 7th instar larvae and newly emerged pupae. Relative to control larvae, MDA was significantly increased in larval hemolymph, larval and pupal fat body, but decreased in the pupal hemolymph. Insects reared on diets with 156- and 620-ppm BA doses yielded increased SOD activity but 1,250- and 2,500-ppm doses resulted in decreased SOD activity in larval hemolymph. SOD activity was significantly increased but CAT was decreased in the larval fat body. High dietary BA treatments led to significantly decreased GST activity. However, they increased GPx activity in larval hemolymph. Dietary BA also affected larval survival. The 1,250- and 2,500-ppm concentrations led to significantly increased larval and pupal mortality and prolonged development. In contrast, the lowest BA concentration increased longevity and shortened development. We infer that BA toxicity is related, at least in part, to oxidative stress management.     

Isolation and characterization of novel inducible serine protease inhibitors from larval hemolymph of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella.

Three inducible serine protease inhibitors (ISPI-1, 2, 3) have been purified from larval hemolymph of greater wax moth larvae, Galleria mellonella, and characterized at a molecular level. These inhibitors were synthesized after larvae were injected with a yeast polysaccharide, zymosan preparation. ISPI-1,2,3 were active against various serine proteases including trypsin and toxic proteases released by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. Precipitation by trichloroacetic acid and heat, followed by FPLC and HPLC separation steps were used for purification of the protease inhibitors from cell-free hemolymph samples. The molecular masses of purified proteins were determined by MS to be 9.2 kDa (ISPI-1), 6.3 kDa (ISPI-2) and 8.2 kDa (ISPI-3) with isoelectric points ranging between 7.2 and 8.3. The N-terminal amino-acid sequences of ISPI-1 and ISPI-3 are not similar to other known proteins, whereas that of ISPI-2 exhibits extensive similarity to known Kunitz-type protease inhibitors.     

Boric acid-induced effects on protein profiles of Galleria mellonella hemolymph and fat body

The dietary effects of boric acid (BA) on the protein profiles of greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.), were investigated in hemolymph and fat body of final instar (VIIth) and pupae. The insects were reared from first-instar larvae on an artificial diets containing 156, 620, 1250 or 2500 ppm of BA. We detected many undetermined protein fractions (6.5-260 kDa) in addition to well-defined protein fractions such as lipophorins and storage proteins in the tissues by using sodium dodecyl-sulphate polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. A marked quantitative change in the 45 kDa protein fraction of the hemolymph was observed in the VIIth instar larvae reared on 2500 ppm dietary BA.     

Host physiological changes due to parasitism of a braconid wasp, Cotesia plutellae, on diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella

Braconid wasps, Cotesia plutellae (Kurdjumov), were collected from parasitized host larvae of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) in Korea. Virus particles were found in the oviduct lumen of C. plutellae females. Multiple nucleocapsids with approximately 30-nm diameter and variable length (30-80 nm) were surrounded with a single unit membrane envelope. The parasitization of C. plutellae completely inhibited pupal metamorphosis. The parasitized larvae showed significant decrease in feeding activity and total hemolymph proteins, especially as larval storage proteins. They also showed a significant decrease in immune capacity as evidenced by reduced ability to form hemocyte nodules and reduced phenoloxidase and lysozyme activity. Here, we show that C. plutellae has an endosymbiotic virus like other reported species in Microgastrinae, and suggest that it causes host developmental arrest and immune-depression at parasitization.     

Release of lysozyme from hemolymph cells of Mercenaria mercenaria during phagocytosis

Activity of the lysosomal enzyme, lysozyme, has been quantitatively determined in the serum and cells of the hemolymph of Mercenaria mercenaria which had been exposed to known quantities of Bacillus megaterium and also in the serum and cells of hemolymph which had not been exposed to bacteria. The results indicate that the level of enzyme activity is greater in serum of hemolymph that had been exposed to B. megaterium and concurrently, there is an equivalent decrease in the level of activity in the cells. This evidence indicates that the amount of lysozyme released from cells into serum is enhanced during phagocytosis of the bacteria.It has also been demonstrated that the release of lysozyme from cells occurs during the process of phagocytosis and is not a delayed phenomenon.Enzyme release by secondary phagosomes is reflected morphologically by what is commonly referred to as degranulation. This process does not involve the rupture of the plasma membrane of the hemolymph cells since biochemical studies have revealed that there is no release of the cytoplasmic enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase.     

亚精胺对小菜蛾幼虫生长及保护酶活力的影响

在实验室条件下测定经亚精胺处理后,对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella L.3龄幼虫取食量、存活、羽化率、蛹重及保护酶活力的影响。结果表明,亚精胺对小菜蛾幼虫的取食量、存活、羽化及保护酶活力均有明显的影响。经过亚精胺处理后的大部分时间段,3龄幼虫的取食量、存活率、化蛹率及体内SOD和POD活力均明显高于蒸馏水对照;对处理后24和36h CAT活力也有明显的促进作用;但亚精胺对其蛹重、蛹的羽化率却无明显的影响。     

Elastase B of Pseudomonas aeruginosa stimulates the humoral immune response in the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella

The role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase B in activation of the humoral immune response in Galleria mellonella larvae was investigated. The results of our study showed that elastase B injected at a sublethal concentration was responsible for eliciting the humoral immune response in G. mellonella larvae. The insects exhibited increased antibacterial activity, namely, we observed appearance of antimicrobial peptides and a higher level of lysozyme in cell-free hemolymph. Elastase B seems to be a more potent elicitor than thermolysin because similar maximal antibacterial activity levels were observed at a 5-fold lower concentration. We also demonstrated that there were differences in the kinetics of induction of antimicrobial activity between thermolysin and elastase B. The maximum level was observed 18 h post challenge of thermolysin and 38 h after injection of elastase B. It was also shown that, 24 h after elastase injection, the relative levels of apoLp-III in the hemolymph significantly increased in comparison with control G. mellonella larvae. The activation of immune responses in metalloproteinase-challenged larvae involved synthesis of metalloproteinase inhibitors which increased the survival rates of insects both against the lethal dose of thermolysin as well as against viable pathogenic bacterial cells of P. aeruginosa.     

Fungal infection dynamics in response to temperature in the lepidopteran insect Galleria mellonella

This study examines how the dynamics of fungus–insect interactions can be modulated by temperature. The wax moth, Galleria mellonella, is a well‐studied and important model insect whose larvae in the wild develop optimally at around 34 °C in beehives. However, surprisingly little research on wax moths has been conducted at relevant temperatures. In this study, the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii inflicted rapid and substantial mortality on wax moth larvae maintained at a constant temperature of 24 °C, but at 34 °C a 10 fold higher dose was required to achieve an equivalent mortality. The cooler temperature favored fungal pathogenicity, with condial adhesion to the cuticle, germination and hemocoel invasion all significantly enhanced at 24 °C, compared with 34 °C. The wax moth larvae immune responses altered with the temperature, and with the infective dose of the fungus. Enzyme‐based immune defenses (lysozyme and phenoloxidase) exhibited enhanced activity at the warmer temperature. A dramatic upregulation in the basal expression of galiomicin and gallerimycin was triggered by cooling, and this was augmented in the presence of the fungus. Profiling of the predominant insect epicuticular fatty acids revealed a 4–7 fold increase in palmetic, oleic and linoleic acids in larvae maintained at 24 °C compared with those at 34 °C, but these failed to exert fungistatic effects on topically applied fungus. This study demonstrates the importance of choosing environmental conditions relevant to the habitat of the insect host when determining the dynamics and outcome of insect/fungus interactions, and has particular significance for the application of entomopathogens as biocontrol agents.