家蝇幼虫血细胞类型及免疫功能的初步研究

目的用不同方法观察家蝇3龄幼虫血细胞的形态,并对血细胞进行分类和免疫功能研究,为昆虫血细胞形态、分类及免疫研究提供实验依据。方法 (1)应用姬氏染色结合相差显微镜及荧光染色方法观察家蝇3龄幼虫血细胞形态,并对家蝇3龄幼虫血细胞进行分类;(2)观察家蝇3龄幼虫感染大肠杆菌后不同时间血细胞总数(THC)、各类血细胞数量(DHC)及形态的变化;(3)应用倒置显微镜观察家蝇3龄幼虫离体血细胞感染大肠杆菌后的形态变化;(4)采用酶细胞化学技术测定感染前后家蝇3龄幼虫血细胞中ACP、POD活性的变化。结果 (1)家蝇3龄幼虫血细胞可分为原血胞、浆血胞、粒血胞、珠血胞、类绛血胞5类,其中浆血胞又分为大核浆血胞和小核浆血胞两种;(2)感染后各时间组血细胞总数、浆血胞和粒血胞数量均显著升高,且浆血胞和粒血胞聚集成堆,出现细胞变形、空泡等形态变化;感染后16h、24h组的珠血胞数显著升高;原血胞和类绛血胞数量和形态无明显变化;(3)家蝇幼虫离体血细胞感染大肠杆菌后粒血胞周围见大量细菌聚集,浆血胞、粒血胞聚集成团将细菌包裹形成包囊,未见原血胞、珠血胞、类绛血胞形态的变化;(4)感染后浆血胞和粒血胞中ACP、POD的活性增强,感染前后原血胞、珠血胞、类绛血胞中均未见ACP、POD的阳性反应物。结论通过3种方法能很好地将家蝇3龄幼虫血细胞分为5类,其中浆血胞和粒血胞是家蝇幼虫参与免疫反应的主要细胞类型,珠血胞不参与感染后的早期细胞免疫反应。     

亚洲玉米螟幼虫应对大肠杆菌注射的血淋巴免疫应激反应

为研究大肠杆菌Escherichia coli侵染引发亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée幼虫免疫应激反应的机理,本实验测定了分别注射生理盐水以及3×10³,3×10⁴,3×10⁵和3×10⁶个细胞/mL大肠杆菌后亚洲玉米螟5龄幼虫血淋巴中血细胞总数（THC）、颗粒细胞和浆血细胞数量,血清中酚氧化酶（PO）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-px）、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)和谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)的活性,通过流式细胞仪分析了血细胞活性氧自由基(ROS)水平的动态变化。结果表明：与对照组相比,注射3×10⁵和3×10⁶个细胞/mL大肠杆菌细胞后12 h,可引起亚洲玉米螟5龄幼虫THC及浆血细胞、颗粒细胞数量明显上升(P<0.01),同时应激产生大量ROS。3×10⁴,3×10⁵和3×10⁶个细胞/mL大肠杆菌3个不同浓度处理组均引起幼虫体内PO活性显著升高(P<0.01),诱导幼虫血清中GSH-px,GST及GR的活性上升(P<0.01)。这些结果表明, 亚洲玉米螟幼虫受到大肠杆菌侵染后,其血淋巴细胞免疫和体液免疫能力受到显著影响, 可诱导血清中GSH-px,GST和GR活性升高以清除过多的ROS, 防止其毒害。     

家蝇Mdsirt1基因在细菌、高温和重金属胁迫下的表达分析

【目的】探究家蝇Musca domestica sirt1基因(Mdsirt1)在各种胁迫条件下的表达模式。【方法】以家蝇2龄幼虫cDNA为模板,PCR扩增Mdsirt1基因序列并进行生物信息学分析;实时定量PCR(qRT-PCR)检测Mdsirt1在家蝇不同发育阶段(卵、1龄幼虫、2龄幼虫、3龄幼虫、蛹和成虫)的表达变化,2龄幼虫不同组织(表皮、肠道、脂肪体和血细胞)中的表达分布,以及胁迫条件(细菌刺激、热激及CdCl_2刺激)下的转录水平变化;通过RNAi干扰Mdsirt1基因表达,观察敲低Mdsirt1表达后家蝇幼虫抗病能力变化,并检测机体氧化应激水平。【结果】家蝇Mdsirt1基因编码蛋白含有SIR2结构域,与厩螫蝇Stomoxys calcitrans SIR2氨基酸序列一致性为66%。qRT-PCR结果显示,Mdsirt1基因主要在家蝇蛹期表达,在家蝇2龄幼虫脂肪体中表达量较高。家蝇幼虫Mdsirt1分别在大肠杆菌Escherichia coli刺激3 h,金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus刺激6 h,42℃热激30min以及30 mmol/L CdCl_2刺激48 h时表达量达到最高峰。敲低Mdsirt1表达的家蝇幼虫受到细菌感染(大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌1∶1混合感染)后存活率较对照组显著降低1.47倍,且敲低Mdsirt1后机体处于氧化应激状态,活性氧自由基水平和丙二醛含量较对照组分别升高1.58和1.59倍。【结论】Mdsirt1参与家蝇幼虫的抗菌免疫应答和抗逆反应。     

家蝇抗菌肽基因MAF-1的表达模式及响应微生物刺激分析

Musca domestica antifungal peptide-1(MAF-1)是家蝇体(Musca domestica)内组成型表达的一种独特且具有良好抑菌效果的抗真菌肽.本研究利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析MAF-1在家蝇不同发育时期、不同组织器官及家蝇3龄幼虫经微生物(大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌和白色念珠菌)刺激后的表达特征.结果显示,MAF-1在家蝇各个发育时期的相对表达量依次为:2龄幼虫＞1龄幼虫＞3龄幼虫＞雄蝇成虫＞卵＞雌蝇成虫＞蛹;MAF-1在家蝇3龄幼虫各组织器官的相对表达量依次为:脂肪体＞唾液腺＞气管＞肠道＞体壁.通过超微量显微注射法向家蝇3龄幼虫体内注入病原微生物,其中金黄色葡萄球菌刺激后MAF-1的表达量呈下降趋势;大肠杆菌刺激后MAF-1的表达量先降低后升高再降低;白色念珠菌刺激后MAF-1的表达量先升高然后逐渐下降.本研究从RNA水平上说明了MAF-1的表达随着家蝇幼虫的生长发育阶段变化,对不同微生物刺激的响应具有不同的特征.同时MAF-1还是家蝇抵抗病原微生物感染的重要天然免疫分子,这为进一步研究其参与家蝇天然免疫防御过程提供了基础.     

家蝇抗菌肽基因MAF-1的表达模式及响应微生物刺激分析

Musca domestica antifungal peptide-1(MAF-1)是家蝇体(Musca domestica)内组成型表达的一种独特且具有良好抑菌效果的抗真菌肽.本研究利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析MAF-1在家蝇不同发育时期、不同组织器官及家蝇3龄幼虫经微生物(大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌和白色念珠菌)刺激后的表达特征.结果显示,MAF-1在家蝇各个发育时期的相对表达量依次为:2龄幼虫＞1龄幼虫＞3龄幼虫＞雄蝇成虫＞卵＞雌蝇成虫＞蛹;MAF-1在家蝇3龄幼虫各组织器官的相对表达量依次为:脂肪体＞唾液腺＞气管＞肠道＞体壁.通过超微量显微注射法向家蝇3龄幼虫体内注入病原微生物,其中金黄色葡萄球菌刺激后MAF-1的表达量呈下降趋势;大肠杆菌刺激后MAF-1的表达量先降低后升高再降低;白色念珠菌刺激后MAF-1的表达量先升高然后逐渐下降.本研究从RNA水平上说明了MAF-1的表达随着家蝇幼虫的生长发育阶段变化,对不同微生物刺激的响应具有不同的特征.同时MAF-1还是家蝇抵抗病原微生物感染的重要天然免疫分子,这为进一步研究其参与家蝇天然免疫防御过程提供了基础.     

家蝇抗菌肽基因MAF-1的表达模式及响应微生物刺激分析

Musca domestica antifungal peptide-1(MAF-1)是家蝇体(Musca domestica)内组成型表达的一种独特且具有良好抑菌效果的抗真菌肽.本研究利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析MAF-1在家蝇不同发育时期、不同组织器官及家蝇3龄幼虫经微生物(大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌和白色念珠菌)刺激后的表达特征.结果显示,MAF-1在家蝇各个发育时期的相对表达量依次为:2龄幼虫＞1龄幼虫＞3龄幼虫＞雄蝇成虫＞卵＞雌蝇成虫＞蛹;MAF-1在家蝇3龄幼虫各组织器官的相对表达量依次为:脂肪体＞唾液腺＞气管＞肠道＞体壁.通过超微量显微注射法向家蝇3龄幼虫体内注入病原微生物,其中金黄色葡萄球菌刺激后MAF-1的表达量呈下降趋势;大肠杆菌刺激后MAF-1的表达量先降低后升高再降低;白色念珠菌刺激后MAF-1的表达量先升高然后逐渐下降.本研究从RNA水平上说明了MAF-1的表达随着家蝇幼虫的生长发育阶段变化,对不同微生物刺激的响应具有不同的特征.同时MAF-1还是家蝇抵抗病原微生物感染的重要天然免疫分子,这为进一步研究其参与家蝇天然免疫防御过程提供了基础.     

胞质型肽聚糖识别蛋白RfPGRP-L2在维持红棕象甲肠道菌群稳态中的作用

【目的】明确入侵害虫红棕象甲Rhynchophorus ferrugineus胞质型肽聚糖识别蛋白RfPGRP-L2在肠道菌群稳态的维持和调控过程中的作用,将为靶向破坏肠道菌群稳态的害虫控制新策略研发提供新的科学依据和作用靶标。【方法】利用生物信息学方法分析RfPGRP-L2的序列特征。利用RT-qPCR分析RfPGRP-L2在健康红棕象甲4龄幼虫不同组织(头、脂肪体、表皮、前肠、中-/后肠、血淋巴)以及大肠杆菌Escherichia coli DH5α和金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus经注射（注射1 μL OD₆₀₀=1.6的菌液）和喂食（取食涂抹1 mL OD₆₀₀=1.6的菌液的甘蔗薄片）两种不同方式分别感染后红棕象甲4龄幼虫肠道和脂肪体中的表达量;进行RfPGRP-L2原核表达,利用体外孵育方法检测重组蛋白RfPGRP-L2对大肠杆菌DH5α和金黄色葡萄球菌的凝集和抑菌活性;RNAi干扰RfPGRP-L2后,检测红棕象甲4龄幼虫血淋巴和肠道中大肠杆菌菌落数的变化;利用RT-qPCR分析RNAi干扰RfPGRP-L2后红棕象甲4龄幼虫脂肪体和肠道中抗菌肽基因表达量的变化;利用基于细菌16S rRNA的高通量测序分析RNAi干扰RfPGRP-L2对健康红棕象甲4龄幼虫肠道菌群结构组成的影响。【结果】SMART预测发现红棕象甲RfPGRP-L2基因编码的蛋白中无跨膜结构域也无信号肽,这表明RfPGRP-L2是一种胞质型肽聚糖识别蛋白。RT-qPCR检测发现,RfPGRP-L2主要在健康红棕象甲4龄幼虫血淋巴、肠道和脂肪体等免疫组织中表达;被注射感染大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌6 h和12 h后,红棕象甲4龄幼虫脂肪体中RfPGRP-L2的表达量分别显著上调;被喂食感染大肠杆菌6 h后,红棕象甲4龄幼虫肠道中RfPGRP-L2的表达量显著增加。重组表达蛋白RfPGRP-L2能引起大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌发生凝集反应,这说明RfPGRP-L2能够识别这两种细菌。当RfPGRP-L2被干扰后,红棕象甲4龄幼虫对肠道和血淋巴中感染EGFP标记的大肠杆菌的清除能力显著弱于对照组;肠道中抗菌肽基因RfCecropin的表达量显著降低;健康红棕象甲4龄幼虫肠道中细菌的菌落数量显著高于对照组,而且肠道菌群结构组成也发生了明显的变化。【结论】红棕象甲体内胞质型肽聚糖识别蛋白RfPGRP-L2能够通过识别细菌并激活肠上皮细胞中相应的免疫信号通路促进抗菌肽基因的表达,从而介导对肠道菌群稳态的调控。     

斜纹夜蛾幼虫感染莱氏野村菌后的抗氧化酶活性变化

【目的】研究斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura幼虫感染莱氏野村菌Nomuraea rileyi后的抗氧化防御机制。【方法】通过测定斜纹夜蛾各龄幼虫超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和过氧化物酶(POD)等的活性,探讨染菌后不同侵染阶段,幼虫抗氧化酶活性的变化趋势和不同接种方法对抗氧化酶活性的影响。【结果】在斜纹夜蛾染菌幼虫和未接种幼虫(对照)中均未测出POD活性;各龄幼虫在接种莱氏野村菌后SOD和CAT活性显著高于对照,但随着侵染过程的进行,2-3龄幼虫的SOD和CAT活性在16 h左右达峰值后迅速降低,而4-5龄幼虫SOD和CAT活性自染菌初期增强后,变化较平缓,至60-72 h后才低于对照。喷雾法与浸蘸法接种后,各龄幼虫SOD和CAT活性显著高于对照,且对于2-3龄幼虫,浸蘸法对抗氧化酶活性的影响显著高于喷雾法,而对于4-5龄幼虫而言两处理方式之间活性差异不显著。【结论】斜纹夜蛾感染莱氏野村菌后,其体内抗氧化酶活性变化很大,SOD和CAT活性先升后降,且其变化趋势与幼虫所处的发育阶段密切相关。在体壁接种量相当的情况下,浸蘸法对2-3龄幼虫SOD和CAT活性的影响大于4-5龄幼虫。     

家蝇C-型凝集素的克隆与功能分析

【目的】从家蝇Musca domestica中克隆一种C-型凝集素(C-type lectin)基因,并分析其在家蝇免疫过程中的功能。【方法】根据家蝇转录组信息,克隆了一条C型凝集素基因,将其命名为Mdlectin-C1。构建Mdlectin-C1的原核表达载体,在大肠杆菌Escherichia coli中表达并纯化r Mdlectin-C1蛋白,制备多克隆抗体。利用实时定量PCR(quantitative real-time PCR,qRT-PCR)及Western blot技术对家蝇不同发育阶段和细菌感染前后Mdlectin-C1的表达水平进行检测。运用RNAi技术敲低家蝇1龄幼虫Mdlectin-C1基因表达,然后进行细菌刺激并观察幼虫存活率变化。【结果】Mdlectin-C1 c DNA包含一个546 bp完整开放阅读框,编码181个氨基酸残基,所推导多肽N端包含由21个氨基酸残基组成的信号肽,成熟肽中含有一个保守的碳水化合物识别结构域(carbohydrate-recognition domain,CRD)。qRT-PCR及Western blot结果显示,家蝇从1龄幼虫到蛹的发育过程中,Mdlectin-C1表达量逐步上升,蛹期达到最大值。在革兰氏阴性菌大肠杆菌E.coli和革兰氏阳性菌金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus刺激后,家蝇2龄幼虫Mdlectin-C1均上调表达,并分别在36和3 h时达到最高值。利用RNAi技术成功敲低Mdlectin-C1表达。对Mdlectin-C1基因敲低的1龄幼虫进行细菌刺激,敲低实验组幼虫存活率显著低于正常对照组。【结论】Mdlectin-C1可能参与家蝇抗菌免疫应答,并在此过程中具有重要作用。     

家蝇幼虫抗菌相关蛋白/多肽的诱导及抗菌活性分析

对家蝇Musca domestica 3龄幼虫进行针刺、带菌针刺、热激和超声4种处理,并于处理后不同时间分别收集提取家蝇幼虫体内耐热总蛋白,比浊法测定其抗菌活性,经逐步回归分析确定抗菌相关蛋白/多肽。结果表明,4种处理均能诱导家蝇幼虫产生抗菌物质,其中表观分子量为22 kD的蛋白对藤黄微球菌和大肠杆菌均有抗菌作用,50 kD,13 kD,26 kD,7 kD的蛋白抗菌活性具有专一性。还发现一种37 kD的蛋白对抗菌活性有负作用,推测它可能是促进细胞生长的物质。     

滞育家蝇幼虫氨基酸、SOD、CAT的变化

目的 观察家蝇幼虫滞育前后血淋巴中氨基酸、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)的变化,探讨家蝇幼虫滞育发生的生化机制.方法 低温诱导家蝇幼虫滞育,氨基酸自动分析仪测滞育组及非滞育组血淋巴氨基酸含量;紫外分光光度计测滞育组及非滞育组家蝇幼虫血淋巴SOD、CAT含量.结果 除滞育20 d组家蝇幼虫血淋巴内胱氨酸较非滞育组升高外,各滞育组家蝇幼虫血淋巴内氨基酸含量均低于非滞育组;各滞育组SOD、CAT均低于非滞育组,随着滞育时间的延长SOD、CAT含量逐渐增高.结论 家蝇滞育幼虫体内各氨基酸含量减少,SOD、CAT活力降低.     

Immune defense mechanisms of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) against Candida albicans infection

Mosquitoes have an efficient defense system against infection. The cellular immune defense mechanism initiated by the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus infected with the fungus Candida albicans was investigated in this study. Differences in the hemocyte counts in hemolymph perfused from uninoculated, saline-inoculated, and C. albicans-infected mosquitoes were compared using a light microscope. Phagocytosis was also investigated using electron microscopy. Four types of hemocytes were identified in control mosquitoes: prohemocytes (9.8%), plasmatocytes (38.8%), granular cells (44.2%), and oenocytoids (7.3%). Between 3 and 18 h postinoculation the total hemocyte count was significantly higher in infected, compared to uninfected, mosquitoes. Differential hemocyte counts from infected mosquitoes at 3, 6, and 18 h after inoculation showed that the relative proportion of plasmatocytes (48.6, 50.7, 45%) was higher and, concomitantly, the proportion of granular cells was lower (38, 36.8, 35%, respectively). Yeast cells were phagocytosed and limited growth was observed within the plasmatocytes. Melanized nodules were found attached to different insect tissues at 24 to 72 h following infection. These results suggest that phagocytosis, followed by nodule formation, was capable of clearing the hemolymph of yeast cells.     

Hemocytes of the blowfly Calliphora vicina and their dynamics during larval development and metamorphosis

On the basis of in vitro observation of live cells and examination of stained slides of larval and prepupal Calliphora vicina hemolymph, seven types of hemocytes have been detected: prohemocytes, stable and unstable hyaline cells, thrombocytoids, spindle cells, larval plasmatocytes, and plasmatocytes I-IV, a. The last representing sequential stages of one cell line differentiation. Prohemocytes are basic cells, from which other forms of hemocytes derive outside the hemopoietic tissue, i.e. in free hemolymph. At the last larval instar, three waves of hemopoiesis occur. Either wave tends to increase the general number of cells and to change the quality of hemocyte population. The first wave occurs at the close of larva feeding and is accompanied by increase in the number of hyaline hemocytes, thrombocytoids and larval plasmatocytes. The second wave of hemopoiesis occurs after the larva's crop emptying. In this period the main increase of hemocyte population occurs at the expense of prohemocytes and plasmatocytes I. The most significant (five-fold) explosion of the population of free hemocytes takes place at the onset of pupariation and correlates with the rise of ecdysone titer. At the first stage of this peak, the amount of plasmatocytes I sharply increases. Further on these are rapidly differentiated into plasmatocytes II and III. After the puparium formation, hemocytes are reduced in number. Plasmatocytes III phagocytose fragments of destroyed larval tissues, pass to the stage of plasmatocytes IV (macrophages), and partially settle on tissues.     

Enterococcal flora of some species of synanthropic flies]

The study of enterococcal species present in 16 species of synanthropic flies revealed the predominance of Str. faecalis and its variants, a high percentage of fly populations being infected. The spectrum of enterococci was proved to depend on the living conditions of the flies. The percentage of Musca domestica with the infected digestive tract was found to vary with changes in the age composition of the fly population.     

Hematopoiesis at the onset of metamorphosis: terminal differentiation and dissociation of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis> lymph gland

The Drosophila melanogaster hematopoietic organ, called lymph gland, proliferates and differentiates throughout the larval period. The lymph gland of the late larva is comprised of a large primary lobe and several smaller secondary lobes. Differentiation into two types of hemocytes, plasmatocytes and crystal cells, is confined to the outer layer (cortical zone) of the primary lobe; the center of the primary lobe (medullary zone), as well as the secondary lobes, contain only proliferating prohemocytes. A small cluster of cells located at the posterior tip of the primary lobe serves as a signaling center (PSC) that inhibits precocious differentiation of the medullary zone. The larval lymph gland is stabilized by layers of extracellular matrix (basement membranes) that surround individual hemocytes, groups of hemocytes, as well as the lymph gland as a whole. In this paper, we investigated the events shaping the lymph gland in the early pupa. The lymph gland dissociates and hemocytes disperse during the first 12 h after puparium formation (APF), leaving behind empty husks of basement membrane. Prior to lymph gland dissociation, cells of the medullary zone differentiate, expressing the early differentiation marker Peroxidasin (Pxn), as well as, in part, the late differentiation marker P1. Cells of the PSC spread throughout the pupal lymph gland prior to their dispersal. Cells of the secondary lobes undergo a rapid phase of proliferation that lasts until 8 h APF, followed by expression of Pxn and dispersal. These hemocytes do not express P1, indicating that they disperse prior to full maturation.     

幼虫密度对草地螟血细胞数量和组成的影响

为了阐明幼虫密度对草地螟Loxostege sticticalis L.（鳞翅目： 螟蛾科）细胞免疫能力的影响, 本研究调查了在活体灰菜植株上1,5,10和20头/瓶（900 mL）4种密度条件下的其5龄幼虫血细胞种类、数量和组成。结果表明： 草地螟幼虫血淋巴中有原血细胞、浆血细胞、 颗粒血细胞、珠血细胞和类绛色血细胞等5种（类）血细胞。血细胞总数、 浆血细胞、颗粒血细胞数量随幼虫密度的增加而显著递增, 但原血细胞、珠血细胞和类绛色血细胞数量在幼虫密度间的差异不明显;各种血细胞所占血细胞总数的比例在4个密度中的排序相同, 但10和20头/瓶密度下的浆血细胞比例显著高于1头/瓶的,其余4种血细胞的比例在不同密度之间无显著差异。可见, 幼虫密度主要是通过影响草地螟幼虫浆血细胞和颗粒血细胞的数量及血细胞总数, 从而影响草地螟的细胞免疫能力。     

Integrin β1 subunit from Ostrinia furnacalis hemocytes: Molecular characterization, expression, and effects on the spreading of plasmatocytes

When lepidopteran larvae are infected by a large quantity of pathogens or parasitized by nonadaptive parasitoids, hemocytes in the hemocoel will encapsulate these foreign invaders. Cellular encapsulation requires hemocytes, particularly plasmatocytes, to change their states from nonadhesive, spherical cells into adhesive, spreading cells. However, it is unclear how the changes of plasmatocytes are regulated. Here we report that the integrin β1 subunit from hemocytes of Ostrinia furnacalis (Ofint β1) plays an important role in regulating the spreading of plasmatocytes. The full length cDNA sequence (4477 bp) of Ofint β1 was cloned from hemocytes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Ofint β1 belonged to the integrin βPS family of Drosophila melanogaster with highest sequence identity (78.7%) to the β-integrin of Pseudoplusia includens. Structural analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence indicated that Ofint β1 had similar functional domains to known β-integrins in other lepidopteran insects. RT-PCR, Northern blotting, Western blotting and immunohistochemical analyses showed that OfINT β1 was expressed mainly in hemocytes, especially in plasmatocytes, and weakly in fat body, Malpighian tubes and epidermis. After hemocytes had spread onto slides, fewer antibodies to OfINT β1 bound to the surface of plasmatocytes. Furthermore, anti-OfINT β1 serum clearly inhibited the spreading of plasmatocytes. Together these results indicate that OfINT β1 may play an important role in regulating the spreading of plasmatocytes.     

Circulating Hemocytes from Larvae of the Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle Allomyrina dichotoma (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and the Cellular Immune Response to Microorganisms

Hemocytes of the last larva of the Japanese rhinoceros beetle A. dichotoma (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) were classified as granulocytes, plasmatocytes, oenocytoids, spherulocytes, prohemocytes, and adipohemocytes. Among these cell types, only the granulocytes became immunologically activated with obvious morphological changes, displaying large amoeba-like, lobopodia-like, and fan-like structures. In addition, their cytoplasmic granules became larger and greatly increased in number. To explore whether these granules could be immunologically generated as phagosomes, total hemocytes were stained with LysoTracker. Greater than 90% of the granulocytes retained the LysoTracker dye at 4 h post-bacterial infection. In flow cytometry analysis, the red fluorescent signal was highly increased at 4 h post-bacterial infection (60.36%) compared to controls (5.08%), as was confirmed by fluorescent microscopy. After 12 h post-infection, these signals returned to basal levels. The uptake of pathogens by granulocytes rapidly triggered the translocation of the microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha (LC3) to the phagosome, which may result in enhanced pathogen killing.