Cflac1基因的RNAi对白蚁肠道氧化还原电位响应病原菌感染的影响

台湾乳白蚁Coptotermes formosanus又称为地下白蚁,它以木质纤维素为主食,是广泛分布于全球的经济害虫。地下白蚁对病原微生物强大的免疫防御能力一直是其生物防治应用的瓶颈之一。植食性昆虫的解毒酶在其消化和免疫调节中起着至关重要的作用。针对具有木质素代谢活性的解毒酶在白蚁肠道免疫过程中氧化还原稳态的调控研究对揭示其肠道免疫机制有重要意义。本研究以金龟子绿僵菌Metarhizium anisopliae为免疫诱导物,基于肠道氧化还原态的微电极检测系统,首次对台湾乳白蚁感染真菌后前肠/唾液腺、中肠及后肠中氧化还原电位的变化进行了描述;并利用RNA干扰技术,抑制了具有木质素代谢活性的乳白蚁漆酶基因Cflac1在感染前后的表达,并确定了Cflac1在乳白蚁肠道免疫防御真菌过程中对氧化还原稳态维系的重要作用。本研究丰富了白蚁肠道免疫机制的研究内容,为拓宽白蚁防治新靶点及生物防治技术的研发提供了理论支撑。     

台湾乳白蚁与赭黄乳白蚁的异名关系---基于形态与分子特征的分析(等翅目：鼻白蚁科）

乳白蚁属Coptotermes是鼻白蚁科Rhinotermitidae最具经济意义的属之一,其中的台湾乳白蚁Coptotermes formosanus Shriaki分布广、适应性强,个体在不同种群以及不同巢龄间外部形态存在明显变异,已报道多个同物异名。本研究发现在模式产地重新采集到经形态学鉴定为赭黄乳白蚁Coptotermes ochraceus Ping et Xu的标本,其形态特征与台湾乳白蚁相似度较高,又以线粒体16S rRNA和CO II基因作为分子标记,将两者进行了序列比对,并与美国国立生物技术信息中心(NCBI)中台湾乳白蚁以及其他一些乳白蚁种类的相应序列一起进行了遗传差异比较和同源性分析。结果表明,台湾乳白蚁与赭黄乳白蚁16S rRNA和CO II序列的遗传差异均明显小于台湾乳白蚁与属内其它种之间的差异;在基于两种分子标记构建的支序图中,台湾乳白蚁和赭黄乳白蚁均聚为一支,并得到了很高的自展支持率。综合分子和形态两方面的证据,本研究建议赭黄乳白蚁为台湾乳白蚁的次异名。     

木腐菌对台湾乳白蚁取食偏好性的影响

本文测定了经红芝、紫芝、茯苓、黄孢原毛平革菌和密褐褶孔菌5种木腐菌腐蚀的马尾松木屑对台湾乳白蚁行为和取食反应的影响.在双重选择性试验中,与未经木腐菌腐蚀的马尾松木屑相比,台湾乳白蚁嗜好聚集和取食木腐菌腐蚀过的马尾松木屑.在多重选择性试验中,结果显示台湾乳白蚁偏好取食经茯苓、红芝或密褐褶孔菌腐蚀过的马尾松木屑.     

两种鼻白蚁之间的入侵关系

设计了5个实验以研究台湾乳白蚁(Coptotermes formosanus)和黄肢散白蚁(Reticulitermes flavipes)的种间斗争关系。所试白蚁来自阿拉巴马州。实验1将两组白蚁的兵蚁和工蚁以自然比例混合(台湾乳白蚁工蚁：兵蚁＝20：5,黄肢散白蚁工蚁：兵蚁＝24：1);实验2观察了双方同数量(各25头)工蚁的种间斗争能力;实验3观察两者同数量(各5头)兵蚁的种间斗争关系;实验4、5分别研究双方工蚁与兵蚁的斗争关系。因两种工蚁形态相似,所以在实验前用0．1％Nile blue A染过的滤纸饲喂一方白蚁24h使虫体着色以便观察。所有实验在22℃,65％RH荧光灯下进行。每个实验将两方白蚁同时放入一培养皿中,观察至一方100％受伤,然后把培养皿移到培养箱内,24小时后统计死亡率。结果表明,实验一开始,双方的工蚁和兵蚁都立即进入残酷的厮杀斗争,台湾乳白蚁兵蚁和工蚁的斗争能力都明显强于黄肢散白蚁;兵蚁的斗争行为不受工蚁的影响,工蚁的斗争能力也不受兵蚁的制约。实验中台湾乳白蚁的工蚁与黄肢散白蚁的兵蚁攻击能力相当,但黄肢散白蚁的工蚁却远弱于台湾乳白蚁的兵蚁。上述结果说明,自然界中不可能出现此两种白蚁群体的偶然性融合;外来的台湾乳白蚁很可能在其群体建立的地区占据优势[动物学报49(3)：295—302,2003]。     

黄翅大白蚁后肠优势菌大白蚁营发酵菌的全基因组序列分析

【目的】营发酵单胞菌属Dysgonomonas是黄翅大白蚁后肠的第二优势微生物。前期研究中,我们从黄翅大白蚁后肠分离出一种命名为大白蚁营发酵菌的新菌。为深入了解大白蚁营发酵菌在宿主白蚁体内发挥的作用和功能,有必要解析大白蚁营发酵菌的基因组序列信息。【方法】使用Illumina Miseq测序平台获取该菌的全基因组序列,将其全基因组序列经过注释的基因蛋白质序列提交COG和KEGG数据库进行BLASTp比对分析,确定该菌潜在的重要酶类和代谢途径,并对个别纤维素酶活进行检测。【结果】大白蚁营发酵菌整个基因组大小为4655756 bp,GC含量为38.54%,DDBJ数据库登录号为BBXL01000001–BBXL01000078。生物信息学分析结果表明菌株大白蚁营发酵菌具有多个木质纤维素降解酶基因,且具备完整的木质纤维素降解和乙酸、乳酸生成通路。此外发现该菌株中存在与氮源代谢和抵御病原体相关的基因。【结论】本研究首次解析大白蚁营发酵菌的全基因组序列,了解其基因组基本特征,初步探讨了该菌降解木质纤维素的过程,为细菌协助宿主白蚁降解木质纤维素提供了理论基础,同时为该菌可能参与宿主白蚁氮源代谢和抵御病原体入侵提供了依据。     

曲酸对台湾乳白蚁纤维素酶活的抑制与应用研究

为了探究有害白蚁的安全防控新技术,本文研究了生物源活性物质曲酸对建筑结构主要害虫台湾乳白蚁纤维素酶活性的抑制效果。在室内条件下选择1%曲酸溶液滤纸饲喂白蚁,分别于饲喂6 h、12 h、1 d、3 d、5 d、7 d时收集白蚁消化道,采用还原糖法测定了白蚁消化道的滤纸酶活性(FPA)及内切β-1,4-葡聚糖酶(EG)、β-葡萄糖苷酶(BG)和纤维二糖水解酶(CBH)的比活力,并观测记录供试白蚁的体重与死亡率变化。结果显示,除6 h处理样的FPA和CBH活性影响不显著外,其余处理对白蚁纤维素酶活性均有显著的抑制作用,且随处理时间的延长曲酸对台湾乳白蚁纤维素酶活抑制率增强,抑制率显示FPAEG≥BGCBH。曲酸处理7d后,白蚁活动能力明显减弱,工蚁体重显著降低且死亡率显著升高。曲酸与氟虫脲联合喂食处理对台湾乳白蚁FPA和EG活性的抑制效果高于氟虫脲单独饲喂台湾乳白蚁,而且白蚁死亡率也显著提高。研究表明曲酸对于白蚁纤维素酶活性具有抑制效果,对于氟虫脲具增效作用,可为白蚁治理新技术的研究提供参考。     

台湾乳白蚁种群兵蚁量度特征变异及其分类学意义分析

台湾乳白蚁Coptotermes formosanus是我国南方木材及其建筑结构最主要的有害白蚁,也是世界重要的入侵性物种。台湾乳白蚁兵蚁品级的量度特征是其描述鉴定的重要依据,本文对台湾乳白蚁兵蚁主要量度特征数据进行了整合,并就台湾乳白蚁11个地理种群兵蚁品级的主要量度特征进行了比较,探讨了台湾乳白蚁相应量度特征的分类学意义。     

容器形状和出口位置对台湾乳白蚁逃遁行为的影响(英文)

【目的】逃离危险对集群生活的动物来说是一项重要挑战。白蚁是真社会性昆虫,群体密度较大。因此,白蚁可能进化出了特殊的策略集体逃离危险情境。【方法】本研究比较了实验室条件下台湾乳白蚁Coptotermes formosanus工蚁在不同形状容器(没有出口的圆形和方形容器)的逃遁行为,并调查了在有出口的情况下,台湾乳白蚁工蚁从圆形容器边缘、方形容器直角处和方形容器直角边中间的撤离效 率。【结果】在没有出口的情况下,受惊的台湾乳白蚁立即移动到圆形或方形容器的边缘区域并沿着容器的壁移动。然而,在方形容器的直角处,逃遁的台湾乳白蚁工蚁形成明显的堵塞(直角附近的白蚁密度显著高于其他区域,而移动速度显著低于其他区域的白蚁)。当容器上有出口时,大部分台湾乳白蚁工蚁分散在容器边缘,因此在出口位置周围未发现明显的堵塞。有趣的是,台湾乳白蚁工蚁逃出有出口的圆形容器的时间与从出口在直角附近的方形容器的无显著差异,但其从出口在直角边中间的方形容器的逃出时间更长。【结论】研究结果表明容器形状与出口位置均对台湾乳白蚁工蚁的逃遁行为与撤离效率造成影响。此外,白蚁使用了特殊的策略来避免多见于其他群居动物(如人类、小鼠等)的“快即慢”效应。由于白蚁工蚁没有视觉,研究白蚁的逃遁策略可为人群如何高效撤离可视度较低的危险环境提供启示。     

红火蚁Toll受体家族免疫响应绿僵菌表达模式的研究

为探究红火蚁Solenopsis invicta Buren Toll受体家族基因如何免疫响应绿僵菌Metarhizium的侵染。本研究采用浸渍法测定了不同浓度下绿僵菌对红火蚁大中小3种不同大小工蚁的致病力,并用显微镜观察了绿僵菌侵染后红火蚁3种工蚁的表型变化。利用生物信息学筛选Toll受体基因,并对Toll受体家族基因的理化性质、结构域、染色体位置、系统进化进行分析鉴定。运用实时荧光定量PCR（RT-qPCR）检测了红火蚁大中小型工蚁中Toll受体家族的发育历期和绿僵菌侵染后的表达模式。结果表明,绿僵菌在96 h对红火蚁大中小型工蚁的致死中浓度（LC50）分别为5.8×10^7孢子/mL、3.1×10^7孢子/mL、1.5×10^7孢子/mL;绿僵菌侵染红火蚁第3天,显微镜下观察到红火蚁体壁细小的菌丝,虫体僵硬,寄主死亡后菌丝迅速蔓延并逐渐长成橄榄绿色分生孢子;RT-qPCR结果表明Toll受体基因在红火蚁不同发育阶段中的mRNA表达水平存在显著差异,且Toll受体基因在雌性生殖蚁表达水平显著高于雄性生殖蚁;RT-qPCR结果表明红火蚁大中小型工蚁Toll受体免疫响应绿僵菌不一样。在大型工蚁中,绿僵菌侵染后,Toll受体家族基因能显著上调表达,6 h是一个诱导高峰期,Toll2-1和LRR转录水平最高,响应绿僵菌最强;在中型工蚁中,绿僵菌不能刺激Toll2-2基因的表达,却能强烈诱导Toll1,Toll2-1,Toll6,Toll7和LRR基因的上调表达,Toll1和Toll2-1响应绿僵菌最强。在小型工蚁中,绿僵菌能显著诱导Toll受体家族基因基因的上调表达,在24 h时,LRR基因表达量最高,相比于对照,LRR基因表达提高25倍,LRR在6 h和24 h响应绿僵菌最强。以上研究表明Toll受体可以免疫响应入侵的绿僵菌,且不同的Toll对绿僵菌可能具有不同的响应机制。本研究为进一步阐明Toll受体的功能奠定基础,为进一步利用绿僵菌控制红火蚁提供技术指导。     

台湾乳白蚁跟踪信息素粗提物活性与应用研究

台湾乳白蚁是我国为害最凶的一种白蚁。对它的防治早就引起国内外白蚁工作者的广泛重视。目前越来越多的做法是将“诱”与“杀”两个步骤合二为一。也有许多学者已将白蚁的跟踪信息素用于白蚁的诱集上作了研究。本文介绍了台湾乳白蚁跟踪信息素粗提物生物活性,包含信息素的提取、跟踪反应、引诱效应、感受距离测定,以及在台湾乳白蚁防治上的实际应用等。     

Characterization of a newly discovered China variety of Metarhizium anisopliae (M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium) for virulence to termites, isoenzyme, and phylogenic analysis

The efficacy of a new virulent Metarhizium anisopliae variety (M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium, DQ288247) obtained from Odontotermes formosanus in China was evaluated against the subterranean termite, O. formosanus, in the laboratory. The new variety was compared with four other virulent M. anisopliae isolates and was found to be highly infectious and virulent against termites. M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium could cause approximately 100% mortality of termites 3 days post-inoculation in the concentration of 3x10(8) conidia/ml. There were also differences in relative hyhal growth and isoenzymes. M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium showed a different isoenzyme band pattern from the four isolates of M. anisopliae (AB027337, AB099510, AB099941 and AF280631). The phylogenetic tree of the 18S rDNA sequences revealed the taxonomic and evolutionary position of M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium. M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium and four isolates of M. anisopliae formed a monophyletic group, supported by a 99% bootstrap value. M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium formed a distinct variety, which had a special characterization of unique bands of isoenzyme, high virulence and low repellency against termites when compared with four other isolates of M. anisopliae.     

Evaluation of an entomopathogenic fungus, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wize) Brown and Smith (Deuteromycota: Hyphomycetes) obtained from Formosan subterranean termites (Isop., Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract:  An isolate of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus was obtained from Coptotermes formosanus collected in Hong Kong, and a commercially available isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae , were both tested against C. formosanus shipped live from China. Survivorship of termites treated with a suspension of 5 × 10⁵ M. anisopliae conidia/ml and kept alone declined more rapidly than for those treated at the same concentration of P. fumosoroseus conidia. At a 5 × 10⁶ conidia/ml concentration, no significant differences in terms of termite survivorship were observed between the two fungal species. However, among termites kept in groups of 10 after treatment, those sprayed with P. fumosoroseus conidia at either 5 × 10⁵ or 5 × 10⁶ conidia/ml had significantly lower survivorship than those sprayed with M. anisopliae conidia. All the cadavers of termites treated with P. fumosoroseus and kept alone sporulated and among grouped termites 29% of the cadavers sporulated. By comparison, 53% of the cadavers of termites treated with M. anisopliae and kept alone sporulated, and only 4% of the cadavers of treated termites kept in groups sporulated.     

Interactions of Metarhizium anisoplae and tree-based mulches in repellence and mycoses against Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

The use of mulch in urban landscapes has increased in the United States for the past decade. Tree-based organic mulches can supply Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki with food, moisture, and shelter. The current research contributes to mulch management technology in termite control. A choice test arena was designed to determine the repellence and mortality caused by commercial mulches treated with different concentrations of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) against C. formosanus. Each of six tree-based mulches (pine bark, pine straw, bald cypress, eucalyptus, water oak, and melaleuca) was coated with six conidial concentrations ranging from 1 x 10(3) to 1 x 10(8) conidia/ml. The foragers of C. formosanus were repelled significantly by the fungal-treated mulch substrates; the proportion of termites on fungal-treated mulch was usually <20% during the 28-d test. By day 28, >99% of the termites were killed in test arenas containing a chamber with mulch treated with 10(7) or 10(8) conidia/ml. M. anisopliae significantly reduced mulch consumption by 34-71%. Mulch consumption by the termites was negatively correlated with fungal concentration, and the type of mulch also affected consumption. The differences in termite foraging activities, mortality, and food consumption among mulches were usually confounded by differences in fungal concentrations of M. anisopliae. The results indicate that repellence and virulence of M. anisopliae conidia should significantly reduce the suitability of these six mulches as a habitat for C. formosanus.     

Effects of virulence,sporulation, and temperature on Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana laboratory transmission in Coptotermes formosanus

Sporulation characteristics and virulence of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana were examined in relation to laboratory transmission in Coptotermes formosanus. Fungal isolates significantly affected disease prevalence in termite populations. Sporulation of M. anisopliae played a more important role than virulence in producing epizootics within small groups of termites, but this was not the case for B. bassiana. Isolates characterized by quick sporulation (day 2 after death) did not exhibit better transmission in termites than those with high total sporulation (day 11 after death) in either fungal species. An isolate of M. anisopliae ranking highly in all three categories (virulence, quick sporulation, and total sporulation) produced better epizootics than an isolate that was inferior in all three characteristics. High temperatures (35 degrees C) significantly reduced fungal germination rates, leading to significant reduction of epizootics. M. anisopliae was better than B. bassiana in producing epizootics at 27 degrees C. Thus, fungal characteristics other than virulence should be considered for the seasonal colonization approach to termite microbial control.     

Defense mechanism of the termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, to entomopathogenic fungi

Termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, reared individually, were highly susceptible to entomopathogenic fungi, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and Beauveria brongniartii and Metarhizium anisopliae, while termites reared in groups were highly resistant. Quantitative assays with an epifluoresent microscope revealed a significant difference in the number of conidia attachments among three entomopathogenic fungi. The conidia of B. brongniartii and P. fumosoroseus bound to termite cuticles more effectively than M. anisopliae conidia. Our results also suggested that self-grooming behavior is less effective, but mutual grooming is very effective in the removal of conidia from cuticles of their nestmates. Statistical analysis of removal rates indicated that conidia of P. fumosoroseus and B. brongniartii were removed more rapidly than M. anisopliae conidia from termite cuticles.     

Transfer of entomopathogenic fungi among formosan subterranean termites and subsequent mortality

Strains of the entomopathogens Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin were screened for effectiveness against the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki). Biological control methods are being considered to augment current integrated pest management schemes that involve chemical baits and nonrepellent termiticides. In this study Formosan subterranean termites selected from four colonies in the field were exposed in the laboratory to three strains of Beauveria bassiana and two strains of Metarhizium anisopliae . The exposed termites were then allowed to mingle with an equal number of unexposed termites from the same nest and mortality of the combined group was determined. One week after exposure, B. bassiana strains, ATCC 26037 and ATCC 90519, had caused significantly higher mortality than the two M. anisopliae strains, ESC 1 and II B and the remaining strain of B. bassiana , ATCC 90518. The LT₅₀ measurement for strains 26037 and 90519 was comparable at 1.8 and 2.0 days, respectively. Strains ESC 1 and 90518 caused 50% mortality at 6.5 and 11.0 days, respectively. Termites exposed to strain II B and the control group of termites did not reach 50% mortality during the 21 day experimental period. Exposure of termites to all fungal strains resulted in mortality in excess of that seen in the control groups of unexposed termites.     

When subterranean termites challenge the rules of fungal epizootics

Over the past 50 years, repeated attempts have been made to develop biological control technologies for use against economically important species of subterranean termites, focusing primarily on the use of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. However, no successful field implementation of biological control has been reported. Most previous work has been conducted under the assumption that environmental conditions within termite nests would favor the growth and dispersion of entomopathogenic agents, resulting in an epizootic. Epizootics rely on the ability of the pathogenic microorganism to self-replicate and disperse among the host population. However, our study shows that due to multilevel disease resistance mechanisms, the incidence of an epizootic within a group of termites is unlikely. By exposing groups of 50 termites in planar arenas containing sand particles treated with a range of densities of an entomopathogenic fungus, we were able to quantify behavioral patterns as a function of the death ratios resulting from the fungal exposure. The inability of the fungal pathogen M. anisopliae to complete its life cycle within a Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) group was mainly the result of cannibalism and the burial behavior of the nest mates, even when termite mortality reached up to 75%. Because a subterranean termite colony, as a superorganism, can prevent epizootics of M. anisopliae, the traditional concepts of epizootiology may not apply to this social insect when exposed to fungal pathogens, or other pathogen for which termites have evolved behavioral and physiological means of disrupting their life cycle.     

不同pH值土层对台湾乳白蚁穿透力及取食的影响

我国有400多种白蚁,它们主要分布在华南一带,常见危害种台湾乳白蚁Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki是危害房屋建筑、林木果树的主要害虫。为摸清不同pH土壤与台湾乳白蚁生存和取食的关系,测定pH1.7～10.8的黄粘土泥层对台湾乳白蚁活动和取食的影响。结果表明,台湾乳白蚁能快速穿透pH3.0～10.1范围的泥层,进入泥层中心取食木块;随着泥层pH值的增加穿透力减弱,取食量减少。采用逐步回归方程预测,台湾乳白蚁不能进入土层蛀蚀木块的土壤pH范围为<1.85和>10.91。     

Tunnel formation by Reticulitermes flavipes and Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in response to wood in sand.

The tunneling responses of two subterranean termite species, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), to the presence of sound wood in laboratory arenas were studied. Branching pattern and the speed of tunnel construction between R. flavipes and C. formosanus also were compared. Patlak's residence index (rho) was generated using the length, width, speed of construction, and area of the primary tunnels built by termites. In the same allotted time, C. formosanus built wider and shorter primary tunnels, whereas R. flavipes built thinner and longer primary tunnels. The presence of wood did not affect termite tunnel formation. This lack of variation in tunnel formation parameters was evidenced by the inability of the termites to locate wood sources over distance, even as short as 2.5 mm, and by the similar tunneling behaviors in areas of the arena with or without wood. Patlak's model predicted the densities of tunnels with an error between 9 and 28%. in experiments with R. flavipes exposed to a range of 0-8,000 g of wood, and between 61 and 87% in experiments with C. formosanus. These results indicated that the residence index can provide a qualitative measure of the effect of habitat heterogeneity on the individual termite tunnels. The tunneling constructions strategy of these subterranean termites is discussed.