取食不同食物对小菜蛾幼虫肠道细菌多样性的影响

【目的】植食性昆虫肠道细菌的组成与其食物密切相关。本研究旨在探究小菜蛾Plutella xylostella幼虫肠道细菌多样性与其取食食物之间的关系以及它们之间相互适应的过程。【方法】本研究选取小菜蛾人工饲料品系(S)及其转寄主到结球甘蓝Brassica oleracea var. capitata、结球白菜Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis和花椰菜Brassica olerocea var. botrytis饲养后第1代(分别为G1C, G1CC和G1WC)和第3代(分别为G3C, G3CC和G3WC)的4龄幼虫,提取小菜蛾肠道细菌基因组DNA,利用Illumina MiSeq二代高通量测序技术,分析其肠道细菌多样性和丰度。【结果】α多样性指数分析发现,取食不同食物的小菜蛾4龄幼虫肠道细菌多样性高低顺序为G1WC>G1CC>S>G1C。在菌群组成上,以人工饲料为食的S样品肠道细菌主要由厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)组成,转寄主植物后的G1C, G1CC和G1WC肠道中厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)相对丰度显著下降,G1C和G1CC小菜蛾肠道中变形菌门(Proteobacteria)相对丰度显著上升成为优势菌群,G1WC肠道中拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)成为优势菌群。在寄主植物上连续饲养3代后,与第1代相比,小菜蛾肠道细菌α多样性指数没有显著性改变,但在结球甘蓝和结球白菜上小菜蛾肠道菌群结构却发生了变化,相比G1C,G3C肠道中芽孢杆菌目(Bacillales)的相对丰度显著下降;相比G1CC, G3CC肠道中放线菌门(Proteobacteria)、芽单胞菌门(Gemmatimonadetes)和硝化螺旋菌门(Nitrospirae)的相对丰度均显著上升。【结论】取食人工饲料和不同寄主植物的小菜蛾幼虫肠道细菌多样性和群落构成存在显著差异,寄主植物对小菜蛾肠道微生物的结构组成具有重要的影响,且小菜蛾肠道微生物对寄主植物可能存在一个长期适应的过程。本研究为进一步探讨影响小菜蛾肠道细菌变化的因素,以及后续研究肠道细菌与寄主植物之间的互作奠定了良好的基础。     

取食不同食料的美国白蛾幼虫肠道细菌多样性及差异性研究

为了解取食不同食料的美国白蛾Hyphantria cunea Drury幼虫肠道细菌多样性及差异性,本研究应用Illumina Hi Seq二代测序技术检测16S rDNA基因序列的方法分析以人工饲料、桑树Morus alba Linn和柳树Salix babylonica Linn为食的3种美国白蛾5龄幼虫肠道细菌类群结构、丰度差异和α多样性。共获得657 819对读数,聚成3 743个OTUs,注释到23个门,60个纲,90个目,143个科,196个属和58个种。科以上分类阶元,以两种植物为食的幼虫肠道的优势类群一致,但取食人工饲料的幼虫在各级分类水平与前者不同(门水平除外)。在属分类阶元,取食3种美国白蛾幼虫肠道菌群优势属各不相同,丰度最高分别为希瓦氏菌属Shewanella(12.81%)、葡萄球菌属Staphylococcus(7.86%)和芽孢杆菌属Bacillus(5.24%)。种水平上海藻希瓦氏菌Shewanella algae在3种食料的美国白蛾幼虫肠道中都有较高的丰度;松鼠葡萄球菌Staphylococcus sciuri在以桑树和柳树为食料的美国白蛾幼虫肠道中比例较高,但在以人工饲料的幼虫中比例很低。3种食料的幼虫共有的OUTs为228个,特有的OUTs分别为人工饲料145个、桑树160个和柳树138个。以上结论表明取食不同食料的美国白蛾幼虫的肠道细菌类群结构和丰度存在一定差异。α多样性指数表明美国白蛾幼虫肠道细菌群落具有较高的丰富度和多样性。为进一步探明其肠道细菌的功能以及对寄主的适应机制等方面的研究奠定基础。     

桃小食心虫和梨小食心虫幼虫肠道细菌多样性

为明确桃小食心虫和梨小食心虫幼虫肠道细菌的结构和多样性,本研究利用Illumina HiSeq技术对饲喂金冠苹果的桃小食心虫和梨小食心虫幼虫肠道细菌的16S rRNA V4变异区进行测序与分析.结果表明: 共获得桃小食心虫幼虫肠道细菌229043条reads,聚类为2112个OTUs,注释得到27个门,65个纲,124个目,205个科,281个属;共获得梨小食心虫幼虫肠道细菌240389条reads,聚类为957个OTUs,注释得到22个门,46个纲,89个目,145个科,180个属.桃小食心虫幼虫肠道细菌以变形菌门(87.98%±5.29%)、厚壁菌门(3.91%±1.19%)和放线菌门(1.04%±0.47%)为主;梨小食心虫肠道细菌以变形菌门(50.06%±19.56%)、厚壁菌门(32.02%±8.48%)和蓝细菌门(25.24%±10.28%)为主.两种食心虫在门、纲、目、科、属、种水平上均存在显著差异.从本研究结果看,即使均以苹果为寄主,两种食心虫幼虫肠道细菌结构和多样性也存在显著差异,桃小食心虫幼虫肠道细菌多样性比梨小食心虫丰富,这可能与两者不同的取食特性和消化机制有关.本研究结果为后期揭示肠道微生物与两种食心虫相互作用关系奠定了基础.     

油茶地蜂不同龄期幼虫肠道细菌多样性及其差异分析

蜜蜂肠道微生物在其宿主健康与调控宿主生长发育中起着重要作用。油茶地蜂Andrena camellia Wu是油茶的优势传粉昆虫。本研究从野外挖掘该蜂典型样地的巢穴得到油茶地蜂1~5龄及滞育阶段的幼虫,通过PCR扩增得到幼虫肠道微生物16S rRNA基因文库,利用Illumina Miseq二代高通量测序技术首次研究了油茶地蜂不同龄期幼虫肠道细菌的群落结构和多样性。结果显示,油茶地蜂幼虫肠道细菌菌群共检测到27个门,72个纲,155个目,278个科,570个属。其中,最主要的门为变形菌门Proteobacteria（占40.05%）,最主要的目为乳杆菌目Lactobacillales（占12.16%）,最主要的科为乳杆菌科Lactobacillaceae(占11.27%）,最主要的属是乳杆菌属Lactobacillus（占11.27%）。核心细菌群落组间差异、Alpha多样性以及Beta多样性分析显示：不同龄期油茶地蜂幼虫肠道细菌群落在组成、多样性以及结构上均存在显著差异。线性判别分析结果显示,不动杆菌属Acinetobacter和红球菌属Rhodococcus主要存在于5龄幼虫阶段,巴尔通氏体属Bartonella和肠杆菌属Enterobacter主要存在于1龄幼虫阶段。本研究明确了油茶地蜂不同龄期幼虫肠道微生物组成、优势菌群及其群落变化规律,为油茶地蜂等土壤筑巢独栖野生蜜蜂肠道微生物学及其保护生物学的相关研究提供理论依据及研究角度。     

纯水培养对重金属污染地区红裸须摇蚊幼虫肠道细菌群落多样性及潜在功能的影响

【目的】通过对在重金属污染的天津市渤海湾淡水区域鉴定出的摇蚊耐污种红裸须摇蚊Propsilocerus akamusi进行肠道细菌群落多样性和潜在功能研究,了解生境的变化对摇蚊幼虫肠道细菌群落的影响。【方法】将在受重金属污染的天津市渤海湾淡水区域鉴定到的红裸须摇蚊4龄幼虫用实验室蒸馏水饲养7 d作为实验室培养组,并提取实验室培养组和野外采集组的红裸须摇蚊4龄幼虫肠道细菌基因组DNA,对16S rRNA基因V3-V4区进行高通量测序,将测序结果进行数据质控、序列对比和过滤,分析肠道细菌群落物种组成变化并预测肠道细菌潜在功能。【结果】基于红裸须摇蚊4龄幼虫肠道细菌16S rRNA测序结果共注释到11个门、13个纲、33个目、54个科、71个属、90个种以及105个可操作分类单元(operational taxonomic units, OTUs)。实验室培养组红裸须摇蚊4龄幼虫肠道内细菌群落多样性和丰度较野外采集组下降,两组优势菌门相似,均包含厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidota)及脱硫弧菌门(Desulfobact...     

基于非靶向代谢组学分析取食玉米和水稻后草地贪夜蛾肠道代谢谱的差异

为了探究草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith在不同寄主上的适应性,本试验采用室内饲养观察法比较其取食玉米Zea mays L.和水稻Oryza sativa L.叶片后的发育、存活和繁殖,同时,对草地贪夜蛾4龄幼虫肠道进行解剖,运用代谢组学分析方法,探究幼虫在分别取食两种寄主植物（玉米/水稻）后肠道代谢谱的差异,筛选与不同寄主取食相关的重要代谢物及代谢通路。结果显示,相较取食玉米叶片（对照组）,取食水稻叶片（试验组）的世代周期延长（38.05±0.35 d）,成虫前期存活率下降（0.46±0.01）,生命表参数中净繁殖力R0（191.68±33.54）、内禀增长率r（0.125±6.77）、周限增长率λ（1.133±7.65）均低于对照组;肠道代谢谱中,共有750个差异代谢物,其中下调587个,上调163个,取食水稻叶片较取食玉米叶片的草地贪夜蛾幼虫肠道中,下调的差异代谢物主要包括组氨酸、α-亚麻酸（ALA）和莽草酸;上调的代谢物有天冬酰胺基半胱氨酸以及N-乙酰氨基甲酸等,这些代谢物涉及氨基酸代谢和脂质代谢等通路。本研究结果可为草地贪夜蛾取食不同寄主的适应机制提供了线索。     

基于16S rDNA基因序列的泽兰实蝇幼虫肠道细菌多样性分析

【目的】探究泽兰实蝇 Procecidochares utilis 幼虫肠道细菌的多样性。【方法】利用Illumina HiSeq技术对泽兰实蝇幼虫肠道细菌的16S rDNA-V6变异区序列进行测序,应用USEARCH和QIIME等软件整理和统计样品序列数目和操作分类单元（operational taxonomic unit, OTU）数量,分析物种的丰度和Alpha多样性。【结果】共获得1 593 506 对reads,拼接为1 579 372条tags,经过滤后得到的1 572 860条tags聚类为1 341个OTU。总共注释到13个门,4个纲,6个目,7个科,10个属和4个种。其中变形菌门(Proteobacteria)的细菌为优势菌,占99%;在属分类阶元上,沃尔巴克氏体属 Wolbachia 占45%,是优势属。【结论】泽兰实蝇幼虫肠道细菌多样性丰富。相关的种类和丰度信息为后期研究揭示肠道细菌介导泽兰实蝇寄主植物专化性奠定了基础。     

不同食物对甜菜夜蛾生长发育参数的影响

选择上海地区近年甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua(Hübner)发生比较严重的甘蓝、豇豆、大葱、芦笋4种寄主植物,在温度(27±1)℃,相对湿度70%±5%,光照L:D=14:10的条件下研究了不同寄主植物对甜菜夜蛾发育特征的影响。结果表明,不同寄主植物饲喂甜菜夜蛾,甜菜夜蛾幼虫发育历期、存活率、蛹重、成虫寿命、净生殖力和内禀增长率等参数在寄主植物间有显著差异。用甘蓝饲喂的甜菜夜蛾雌虫产卵量明显高于取食大葱和芦笋的。同样,取食甘蓝的甜菜夜蛾蛹重、净生殖力和种群内禀增长率等参数明显高于取食大葱和芦笋的,说明甘蓝与其他寄主植物相比提供了较好质量的食物。     

不同寄主植物西花蓟马内生细菌多样性分析

为探讨不同寄主植物对西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis内生细菌分布的影响,应用Illumina MiSeq第二代测序技术对取食不同寄主植物的西花蓟马内生细菌的16S rDNA V5~V7区域进行测定。结果显示,Alpha多样性分析发现,西花蓟马内生细菌在取食不同寄主植物后多样性表现为西葫芦Cucurbita pepo L. >菊花Dendranthema morifolium(Ramat.) Tzvelev >曼陀罗Datura stramonium L. >玫瑰Rosa rugosa Thunb. >牵牛花Pharibitis purpurea (L.) Voigt >辣椒Capsicum annuum L.;在门水平的菌群组成上,变形菌门在各样品中所占比例最高,是西花蓟马内生菌中的优势菌门,厚壁菌门为次优势菌菌门。在属水平上内生细菌也表现出较大的差异,其中假单胞菌属Pseudomonas和欧文氏菌属Erwinia在西花蓟马取食各寄主植物时均有分布,取食辣椒、玫瑰、曼陀罗时,优势菌属均为欧文氏菌属Erwinia,取食菊花和牵牛花时,优势菌属为立克次体Rickettsia,而取食西葫芦时,则为短波毛单胞菌属Brevundimonas;利用KEGG数据库,对内生细菌进行基因功能预测分析发现,内生细菌群富集了高丰度的代谢功能基因,且主要集中于碳水化合物代谢、氨基酸代谢以及能量代谢。综上所述取食不同寄主植物时西花蓟马内生细菌多样性与群落结构具有一定的差异,寄主植物可对西花蓟马内生细菌群落组成产生重要的影响;且各寄主植物上西花蓟马内生细菌基因功能主要集中在碳水化合物代谢、氨基酸代谢和能量代谢。     

利福平对红裸须摇蚊幼虫肠道微生物群落结构及功能的潜在影响北大核心

【目的】摇蚊是水生生态系统中重要的昆虫种类之一,其肠道微生物与个体生长发育、环境适应等过程密切相关,本研究旨在探究抗生素处理对摇蚊幼虫肠道微生物群落结构及功能的潜在影响。【方法】利用16S rRNA基因扩增子测序技术对利福平处理的红裸须摇蚊(Propsilocerus akamusi)幼虫肠道内容物中的菌群进行分析和比较,应用Tax4Fun法对其肠道菌群功能进行预测。【结果】利福平处理能够改变红裸须摇蚊幼虫肠道群落结构和多样性,宿主肠道菌群中拟杆菌门(Bacteroidota)(P<0.05)以及脱铁杆菌门(Deferribacterota)(P<0.001)的相对丰度显著上升,而变形菌门(Proteobacteria)与厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)相对丰度有所下降。在属水平上,利福平处理使耶尔森菌属(Yersinia)、假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)、脱硫弧菌属(Desulfovibrio)的相对丰度有所降低,其中脱硫弧菌属(Desulfovibrio)显著降低。与此同时,共线性网络分析表明利福平处理后细菌群落稳定性大幅下降,菌种之间关联性显著减弱。通过京都基因与基因组百科全书(Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes,KEGG)通路注释预测出红裸须摇蚊幼虫肠道菌群基因与基因信息处理、新陈代谢、人类疾病等功能相关,利福平处理可以使肠道菌群基因的抗药性功能显著上升,而内分泌和代谢疾病功能显著下降。【结论】研究结果揭示了抗生素利福平对红裸须摇蚊幼虫肠道细菌群落结构及功能的潜在影响,为进一步探索摇蚊肠道菌群发挥的必要作用奠定理论基础。     

Consumption of lysozyme-rich milk can alter microbial fecal populations

Human milk contains antimicrobial factors such as lysozyme and lactoferrin that are thought to contribute to the development of an intestinal microbiota beneficial to host health. However, these factors are lacking in the milk of dairy animals. Here we report the establishment of an animal model to allow the dissection of the role of milk components in gut microbiota modulation and subsequent changes in overall and intestinal health. Using milk from transgenic goats expressing human lysozyme at 68%, the level found in human milk and young pigs as feeding subjects, the fecal microbiota was analyzed over time using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and the G2 Phylochip. The two methods yielded similar results, with the G2 Phylochip giving more comprehensive information by detecting more OTUs. Total community populations remained similar within the feeding groups, and community member diversity was changed significantly upon consumption of lysozyme milk. Levels of Firmicutes (Clostridia) declined whereas those of Bacteroidetes increased over time in response to the consumption of lysozyme-rich milk. The proportions of these major phyla were significantly different (P < 0.05) from the proportions seen with control-fed animals after 14 days of feeding. Within phyla, the abundance of bacteria associated with gut health (Bifidobacteriaceae and Lactobacillaceae) increased and the abundance of those associated with disease (Mycobacteriaceae, Streptococcaceae, Campylobacterales) decreased with consumption of lysozyme milk. This study demonstrated that a single component of the diet with bioactivity changed the gut microbiome composition. Additionally, this model enabled the direct examination of the impact of lysozyme on beneficial microbe enrichment versus detrimental microbe reduction in the gut microbiome community.     

营养改变对潜蝇姬小蜂寄生行为和寄主取食行为的影响

为了研究营养状态对卵育型寄生蜂潜蝇姬小蜂Diglyphus isaea (Walker)雌蜂的寄主取食行为和产卵寄生行为及其二者行为权衡的影响, 在培养皿条件下, 比较了饥饿、加蜂蜜水和不加蜂蜜水3种营养状态的潜蝇姬小蜂雌蜂对美洲斑潜蝇Liriomyza sativae Blanchard各龄幼虫（低、中、高）的寄生、取食及致死能力。结果表明: 非选择条件下, 3种营养状态寄生蜂对高龄幼虫均具有较高的寄生率, 对中龄幼虫具有较高的取食率, 致死率和致死量之间存在显著性差异。3种状态的寄生蜂对低龄幼虫均没有表现出致死能力。有选择条件下, 饥饿状态的寄生蜂对寄主的寄生率最低（5.0%±1.6%）, 取食率最高（16.0%±2.9%）, 特别是对高龄幼虫的取食率占到了整个寄主食物取食率的91.9%; 加蜂蜜水状态下, 寄生蜂对寄主有最低的取食率（8.3%±0.9%）和致死率（17.7%±1.1%）; 不加蜂蜜水状态下, 寄生蜂对寄主有最高的寄生率（13.3%±1.1%）和致死率（28.4%±1.8%）。综合分析发现, 取食寄主的雌蜂比取食蜂蜜水的雌蜂具有更强的致死能力和活动能力。     

维吾尔族与汉族儿童肠道细菌群落分析

【背景】肠道菌群是人体的重要组成部分,在人体的多种生命活动中发挥着重要作用。【目的】探究维吾尔族和汉族儿童肠道细菌群落特征,为儿童营养健康状况监测和营养改善工作提供更有效精准的营养干预策略。【方法】从新疆维吾尔自治区泽普县维吾尔族和河南省民权县汉族人群中分别随机选取10?12岁学龄期儿童各20名,同一时间段收集其新鲜粪便,提取细菌总DNA,通过高通量测序和生物信息学分析,研究两地区健康维吾尔族儿童与汉族儿童肠道细菌群落的差异。【结果】获得测序序列2 007 100条,归类于994个OTU;所有样本共含15个细菌门139属。α多样性和β多样性分析表明,调查地区的2个民族儿童肠道细菌的丰富度和多样性均有统计学意义上的差异,维吾尔族儿童肠道细菌群落丰富度高于汉族儿童,而物种多样性不如汉族儿童。其中,维吾尔族儿童肠道细菌丰度相对占优势的门和属及其丰度值为：拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes,63%)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes,22%)、普氏菌属(Prevotella,61%)、琥珀酸弧菌属(Succinivibrio,9%)和粪杆菌属(Faecalibacterium,5%);汉族儿童肠道细菌丰度占优势的门和属及其丰度值为：厚壁菌门(57%)、拟杆菌门(23%)、粪杆菌属(16%)、普氏菌属(11%)和拟杆菌属(Bacteroides,11%)。【结论】调查地区维吾尔族与汉族儿童肠道细菌群落差异较大,这为进一步研究肠道菌群与膳食因素及人体营养健康状况之间的关系提供了依据。     

2种不同寄主对桉树枝瘿姬小蜂体内细菌多样性的影响

[目的]桉树枝瘿姬小蜂是一种林业的重要入侵害虫,为了探明桉树枝瘿姬小蜂的寄主适应机制,研究2种不同寄主植物对桉树枝瘿姬小蜂体内细菌群落组成及多样性的影响.[方法]以分别取食巨园桉DH 201-2和窿缘桉的桉树枝瘿姬小蜂雌性成虫为材料,采用Illumina HiSeq高通量测序技术对桉树枝瘿姬小蜂体内细菌16S rDNA...     

Diversity of commensal bacteria from mid-gut of pink stem borer (Sesamia inferens [Walker])-Lepidoptera insect populations of India

Sesamia inferens (W.) is polyphagous agricultural pests and prevalent in the India, China, South Asia and South East Asia. Insecticides is not recommended because, apart from the hazardous effects of chemicals, its larvae tunnel throughout the stem from first instar. Associated bacteria with insects provide several benefits to their host, revealing the types of bacteria associated with S. infersns will give basic information, which may throw light on management of this noxious pest. The culture dependant, 16S rRNA gene technique revealed thirty two bacterial isolates from gut of S. inferens from different region of India and host, comprising phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Among which proteobacteria phyla was dominant with families and genus like Enterobacteriaceae (Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Serratia, Klebsiella and Xenorhabdus), Pseudomonadaceae (Pseudomans), Moraxellaceae (Acinetobactor) and Comamonadaceae (Comamonas). The phyla Firmicutes less dominant with four families and one genus each viz., Staphylococcaceae (Staphylococcus), Bacillaceae (Lysinibacillus), Streptococcaceae (Lactococcus) and Enterococcaceae (Enterococcus). Third phyla had only one family viz., Flavobacteriaceae (Chryseobacterium). The bacterial diversity varied greatly among insects that were from different host plants than those from the same host plant of different locations. This result suggested that the type of host plant greatly influences the mid-gut bacterial diversity more than the location of the host plant of S.inferens. These bacterial populations may have a key role in digestion, as well as other benefits to the S. inferens larvae. Determination of the bacterial community and its biological functions within the insect could provide us with basic information for future pest control research.     

Mosquitoes rely on their gut microbiota for development

Field studies indicate adult mosquitoes (Culicidae) host low diversity communities of bacteria that vary greatly among individuals and species. In contrast, it remains unclear how adult mosquitoes acquire their microbiome, what influences community structure, and whether the microbiome is important for survival. Here, we used pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA to characterize the bacterial communities of three mosquito species reared under identical conditions. Two of these species, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae, are anautogenous and must blood‐feed to produce eggs, while one, Georgecraigius atropalpus, is autogenous and produces eggs without blood feeding. Each mosquito species contained a low diversity community comprised primarily of aerobic bacteria acquired from the aquatic habitat in which larvae developed. Our results suggested that the communities in Ae. aegypti and An. gambiae larvae share more similarities with one another than with G. atropalpus. Studies with Ae. aegypti also strongly suggested that adults transstadially acquired several members of the larval bacterial community, but only four genera of bacteria present in blood fed females were detected on eggs. Functional assays showed that axenic larvae of each species failed to develop beyond the first instar. Experiments with Ae. aegypti indicated several members of the microbial community and Escherichia coli successfully colonized axenic larvae and rescued development. Overall, our results provide new insights about the acquisition and structure of bacterial communities in mosquitoes. They also indicate that three mosquito species spanning the breadth of the Culicidae depend on their gut microbiome for development.     

广东阳春百涌自然保护区桫椤科植物资源调查

广东阳春百涌自然保护区属云开山脉,区内桫椤科植物资源丰富,但具体种类及其资源量并无准确资料,为此我们开展了相关野外调查和统计。调查表明,保护区内共有4种桫椤科植物,即桫椤Alsophila spinulosa、大叶黑桫椤Gymnosphaera gigantea、小黑桫椤G. metteniana和黑桫椤G. podophylla。依据保护区内桫椤科植物主要沿林道分布的特点,提出了按林道长度估算资源量的方法,据估算,保护区内有桫椤约900株,大叶黑桫椤约1.5万株,小黑桫椤约320株,黑桫椤约4500株。阳春百涌保护区是华南地区大叶黑桫椤的主要保存地。     

Influence of dietary aconitine and nicotine on the gut microbiota of two lepidopteran herbivores

The gut microbiota plays an important role in pheromone production, pesticide degradation, vitamin synthesis, and pathogen prevention in the host animal. Therefore, similar to gut morphology and digestive enzyme activity, the gut microbiota may also get altered under plant defensive compound-induced stress. To test this hypothesis, Dendrolimus superans larvae were fed either aconitine- or nicotine-treated fresh leaves of Larix gmelinii, and Lymantria dispar larvae were fed either aconitine- or nicotine-treated fresh leaves of Salix matsudana. Subsequently, the larvae were sampled 72hr after diet administration and DNA extracted from larval enteric canals were employed for gut microbial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing (338 F and 806 R primers). The sequence analysis revealed that dietary nicotine and aconitine influenced the dominant bacteria in the larval gut and determined their abundance. Moreover, the effect of either aconitine or nicotine on D. superans and L. dispar larvae had a greater dependence on insect species than on secondary plant metabolites. These findings further our understanding of the interaction between herbivores and host plants and the coevolution of plants and insects.     

Bioassays on selection and feeding responses of Holotrichia oblita adults to different plant species

Bioassays on selection and feeding responses of Holotrichia oblita adults to different plant species were conducted both in laboratory and under field conditions. The selection response bioassay showed that the adults were significantly attracted to Ricinus communis. In paired tests of the field cages, more than 60% adults were attracted to R. communis plants, while only 35.55%, 34.45%, 33.35%, and 26.65% were attracted to plants of Glycine max, Arachis hypogaea, Ipomoea batatas, and Gossypium hirsutum, respectively. In the laboratory, the selection response percentage of the adults to R. communis leaves reached up to 93% in the presence of other host plant leaves and still arrived at 70% in the absence of other host plant leaves. Feeding deterrence bioassay showed that the adults preferred to I. batatas leaves with 229.90 ± 4.25 mg leaf consumption and 41.30 ± 5.19 mg faeces excretion after 12 h, followed by the leaves of G. hirsutum and A. hypogaea. The adult did not prefer leaves of R. communi with only 7.10 ± 0.23 mg leaf consumption and corresponding 4.00 ± 0.84 mg fecal excretion. In summary, all experimental results suggested that the attraction of H. oblita adults to R. communi is not triggered for feeding.