嗜线虫致病杆菌血腔毒素Tp40对大蜡螟幼虫体内酶活和中肠组织的影响

嗜线虫致病杆菌Xenorhabdus nematophila在侵入到寄主昆虫血腔后能够成功地逃避或抑制寄主昆虫的免疫反应并快速杀死昆虫。为深入了解嗜线虫致病杆菌的杀虫机理,明确关键的致病因子,作者应用盐析和制备型非变性凝胶电泳等方法,从嗜线虫致病杆菌HB310菌株的细胞内分离纯化了一种新的杀虫蛋白——Tp40,该蛋白对大蜡螟Galleria mellonella具有高血腔注射活性,对大蜡螟5龄幼虫的LD₅₀为68.54 ng/头。本文检测了该毒素对大蜡螟幼虫的致病特性,注射Tp40毒素后,大蜡螟幼虫表现出兴奋和痉挛等症状,当以不低于（70±0.02）ng/头的剂量注射Tp40,大蜡螟幼虫均在20 min内死亡,但试虫的体色 、血淋巴的颜色以及血细胞的形态没有发生明显的变化。对大蜡螟体内酶活性的测定结果显示,在注射LD₅₀剂量的Tp40蛋白后,试虫体内羧酸酯酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶活力都明显的高于对照（P<0.05）,而酚氧化酶活力显著低于对照（P<0.05）。对大蜡螟幼虫中肠的组织病理学研究显示：这种42 kDa蛋白能够破坏试虫的中肠组织,导致其肠壁细胞出现排列紊乱、脱落和围食膜消失。据此推测,Tp40与嗜线虫致病杆菌对寄主昆虫的免疫抑制有关,寄主中肠组织可能是其作用靶标之一。     

异小杆线虫XJZL1409(Heterorhabditis bacteriophora)共生菌的分离及致病性研究

本研究分离了来自新疆和田地区间作绿豆的4年枣0-40 cm根际土壤中的昆虫病原线虫XJZL1409Heterorhabditis bacteriophora的共生菌,并进行致病性测定。通过侵染期线虫和线虫致死的大蜡螟幼虫血腔直接分离,采用传统形态学观察结合分子生物学方法对菌株进行鉴定。同时大蜡螟Galleria mellonella 5龄幼虫接种菌株细胞发酵液测定致病性。菌株形态学特性结合16S r DNA序列系统发育分析,线虫XJZL1409的共生菌被鉴定为发光杆菌属Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. laumondii。室内菌液注射毒性测定结果显示,侵染致死的幼虫体色呈灰绿色;接种48 h后,每头幼虫接种菌液量为500 CFU时校正死亡率就可以达到100%; 48 h时致死中浓度LC50为10. 74 CFU/m L。同时菌液口服杀虫毒性结果表明,第5天时待测菌株菌液对大蜡螟幼虫的校正死亡率为21. 21%,体重抑制率为20. 02%。因此,昆虫病原线虫XJZL1409的共生菌为P. luminescens subsp. laumondii对大蜡螟幼虫具有很强的注射毒性,为研究线虫的致病机制及发掘新抗性基因奠定基础。     

以大蜡螟幼虫为模型研究伏立康唑抗茄病镰刀菌效果

目的构建大蜡螟幼虫动物茄病镰刀菌感染模型并观察伏立康唑治疗效果。方法选用临床分离获得茄病镰刀菌1株,实验所用孢子悬液浓度梯度为1×10⁵~1×10⁸CFU/mL,根据死亡率筛选出最佳感染浓度,并以此浓度感染大蜡螟幼虫,用伏立康唑(1.5 mg/kg)治疗;同时设置未处理组和生理盐水对照组,实验过程中收集大蜡螟幼虫尸体做病理检测并记录5 d内死亡情况,每24 h记录1次。通过感染后病理组织切片和大蜡螟幼虫生存率两个方面进行评价。结果大蜡螟幼虫在1×10⁷CFU/mL茄病镰刀菌感染后,5 d死亡率达100%,1×10⁷CFU/mL为本次实验组最佳感染浓度;大蜡螟幼虫感染第2 d死亡虫体病理检测发现大量茄病镰刀菌菌丝和孢子,经伏立康唑治疗后,单个幼虫体内菌体减少,菌体内菌丝减少;大蜡螟幼虫生存曲线显示伏立康唑治疗组较单茄病镰刀菌感染组生存率显著增高(P<0.05)。结论大蜡螟幼虫能够作为茄病镰刀菌体内感染的动物模型,并可用于观察药物治疗效果。     

大蜡螟饲料配方的优化

大蜡螟Galleria mellonella L.广泛应用于昆虫生理生化、杀虫剂筛选和昆虫毒理学等多个领域,因此,选择物美价廉的饲料对其进行大规模饲养具有重要的现实意义。选取占饲料成本份额较高的奶粉和酵母粉作为研究对象,分5组配方进行大蜡螟的饲养实验。通过对每组各个历期和产卵数进行比较,获得了优化后的饲料配方:奶粉50g、酵母粉20g、面粉100g、麦麸100g、玉米粉100g、蜂蜡50g、蜂蜜50g及甘油60g;并首次比较了奶粉和酵母粉在大蜡螟发育过程中的作用,进而明确了酵母粉对大蜡螟幼虫期、蛹期的发育和繁殖能力具有重要的促进作用;而奶粉对幼虫期发育和繁殖能力具有促进作用,但作用小于酵母粉;同时两者与成虫的寿命无关。     

芜菁夜蛾线虫和嗜菌异小杆线虫寄生特性的比较

对2种昆虫病原线虫(芫菁夜蛾线虫Steinernema feltiae Filipjev和嗜菌异小杆线虫Heterorhaditis bacteriphora Poinar)的生物学特性进行研究。结果表明:在25℃下,在大蜡螟Galleria mellonella L.幼虫体内完成1个侵染周期芫菁夜蛾线虫Otio品系需220～230h,嗜菌异小杆线虫15-2品系需200～210h。15-2品系比Otio品系具有较强的繁殖力。2种线虫侵染大蜡螟幼虫的温度范围均为20～30℃,在此温度范围内,Otio品系的侵染力和运动能力均强于15-2品系。当土壤含水量(w/w)为5%～15%,线虫的侵染活性最高,随湿度降低线虫的侵染活性明显降低。     

大蜡螟幼虫的体色遗传规律

对大蜡螟Galleria mellonella幼虫不同颜色品系的普通遗传学分析表明,大蜡螟幼虫的体色遗传是常染色体遗传且符合复等位基因遗传规律。深黄色基因（AA）对灰黑色基因(BB)和灰色基因(CC)为显性,深黄色基因(AA)对白黄色基因(DD)、灰黑色基因(BB)对白黄色基因(DD)和灰色基因(CC)、灰色基因(CC)对白黄色基因(DD)为不完全显性。基因型为AD、BD、CD的个体,其表现型均为黄色;基因型为AA、BC的个体,其表现型均为深黄色。     

大蜡螟医学真菌感染模型的研究现况

在研究真菌感染中建立合适的真菌感染动物模型非常重要,大蜡螟幼虫作为昆虫动物模型之一,相比于其他的动物模型具有多种技术优势,目前已被广泛用于新型隐球菌、小孢子菌、红色毛癣菌、念珠菌属、暗色真菌、马尔尼菲青霉菌、黄曲霉和烟曲霉等多种致病菌的毒力、发病机制、免疫学改变、抗菌药物的开发以及系统性真菌感染的治疗等各个研究领域。研究表明大蜡螟感染模型研究结果与哺乳动物的结果相似,因此可以用大蜡螟来替代哺乳动物进行相关研究,从而减少了实验对哺乳动物的依赖性。     

利用计算机视觉技术量化解析食物颜色与斜纹夜蛾幼虫体色变化的关系

【目的】为了明确食物颜色对不同日龄昆虫体色的影响,并推广利用计算机视觉研究昆虫体色的技术。【方法】本研究以斜纹夜蛾Prodenia litura幼虫为实验材料,采用计算机定量分析的方法,对取食不同颜色型人工饲料的斜纹夜蛾幼虫头部、胸部斑纹、胸腹部和背中线的红色(R)、绿色(G)、蓝色(B)和明度(L)值进行了定量化分析。【结果】结果表明:幼虫的斑纹、胸腹部背面及侧面主色和背中线的R,G,B和L值随日龄增加而下降;头部R,G,B和L值在1-3日龄增加,后随日龄的增加而下降。幼虫体色变化也受食物颜色的影响,以对1-7日龄的影响为最大;红色型食物r∶g∶b=(128~251)∶(3~129)∶(6~96)对幼虫各部位体色的影响大于黄色、绿色和紫色的食物;幼虫取食不同颜色型食物后,各部位的变异系数大小依次为:斑纹胸腹部头部背中线。最后,建立了幼虫体色与食物色彩r,g,b值及日龄的回归方程。【结论】斜纹夜蛾幼虫体色受到食物颜色的影响,且在低龄时更为显著。     

温度对大蜡螟生长发育和繁殖的影响

为明确不同温度对大蜡螟(Galleria mellonella L.)生长发育和繁殖的影响,在24℃、28℃和31℃三个温度条件下,采用人工饲料饲养观察了大蜡螟的生长发育和繁殖状况。结果表明,温度对大蜡螟发育历期、生长发育速率以及繁殖具有显著影响(P0. 05)。在24～31℃范围内,随着温度升高,各虫态发育历期缩短,幼虫体长增长加快,发育速率加快。在24℃下世代历期最长(47. 96 d),31℃下世代历期最短(33. 68 d)。在同一温度下,雄蛾的寿命明显较雌蛾的寿命长,但成虫寿命、产卵前期和产卵期均随着温度升高而缩短。在24℃下产卵量最高为2 781. 50粒/雌,而在31℃下产卵量最低为1 943. 17粒/雌。     

大蜡螟、小蜡螟的生活习性及防治对策

<正> 一、为害及传播 蜡螟是蜜蜂的重要敌害,其幼虫在巢脾上吞食蜂巢,并钻隧道保护自己,所以又叫巢虫。受害巢脾中许多幼虫不能存活,蜂群不能正常繁殖,日渐衰退致使弱群难于繁延后代,最后被迫全群飞逃。     

Studies on the role of protein kinase A in humoral immune response of Galleria mellonella larvae

Protein kinase A (PKA) activity was detected in the fat body of Galleria mellonella larvae by a non-radioactive method using a specific peptide substrate-kemptide. The enzyme activity was stimulated by cAMP and its analogues: BzcMP, 8-Chl-cAMP and 8-Br-cAMP in concentrations of 1-4muM. Cyclic GMP was not effective in PKA activation. A two-fold increase in PKA activity was detected in the fat body of G. mellonella LPS-challenged larvae. Selective, membrane-permeable PKA inhibitors, H89 and Rp-8-Br-cAMPS, inhibited protein kinase A activity in the fat body of G. mellonella larvae in vitro and in vivo. The inhibition of PKA activity in vivo was correlated with a considerable lowering of haemolymph antibacterial activity and a decrease in lysozyme content in the fat body of immune challenged larvae. The use of phospho-motif antibodies recognising PKA phosphorylation consensus site allowed identification of four potential PKA phosphorylation substrates of 79, 45, 40 and 36kDa in G. mellonella fat body.     

JNK MAP kinase is involved in the humoral immune response of the greater wax moth larvae Galleria mellonella

We investigated the participation of MAP kinases in the response of Galleria mellonella larvae to immune challenge. JNK MAP kinase was activated in fat body 10-15 min after LPS injection in vivo. The level of JNK activation was time- and LPS dosage-dependent. JNK MAP kinase isolated from cell-free extract of fat bodies dissected from immune stimulated larvae phosphorylated c-Jun protein in vitro. The activity of Gm JNK kinase was abolished in the presence of the JNK specific inhibitor SP600125. Our data indicate a correlation between JNK phosphorylation and induction of antimicrobial activity in the insect hemolymph after immune stimulation. Hemolymph from larvae pre-treated with JNK specific inhibitor SP600125 showed a reduced level of antibacterial activity after LPS injection. JNK inhibition by SP600125 abolished antibacterial activity of the in vitro culture of G. mellonella fat body. Finally, we also show a correlation between JNK-dependent immune response of G. mellonella larvae and elevated temperature.     

Different defense strategies of Dendrolimus pini, Galleria mellonella, and Calliphora vicina against fungal infection

The resistance of Galleria mellonella, Dendrolimus pini, and Calliphora vicina larvae against infection by the enthomopathogen Conidiobolus coronatus was shown to vary among the studied species. Exposure of both G. mellonella and D. pini larvae to the fungus resulted in rapid insect death, while all the C. vicina larvae remained unharmed. Microscopic studies revealed diverse responses of the three species to the fungal pathogen: (1) the body cavities of D. pini larvae were completely overgrown by fungal hyphae, with no signs of hemocyte response, (2) infected G. mellonella larvae formed melanotic capsules surrounding the fungal pathogen, and (3) the conidia of C. coronatus did not germinate on the cuticle of C. vicina larvae. The in vitro study on the degradation of the insect cuticle by proteases secreted by C. coronatus revealed that the G. mellonella cuticle degraded at the highest rate. The antiproteolytic capacities of insect hemolymph against fungal proteases correlated well with the insects' susceptibility to fungal infection. The antiproteolytic capacities of insect hemolymph against fungal proteases correlated well with the insects' susceptibility to fungal infection. Of all the tested species, only plasmatocytes exhibited phagocytic potential. Exposure to the fungal pathogen resulted in elevated phagocytic activity, found to be the highest in the infected G. mellonella. The incubation of insect hemolymph with fungal conidia and hyphae revealed diverse reactions of hemocytes of the studied insect species. The encapsulation potential of D. pini hemocytes was low. Hemocytes of G. mellonella showed a high ability to attach and encapsulate fungal structures. Incubation of C. vicina hemolymph with C. coronatus did not result in any hemocytic response. Phenoloxidase (PO) activity was found to be highest in D. pini hemolymph, moderate in G. mellonella, and lowest in the hemolymph of C. vicina. Fungal infection resulted in a significant decrease of PO activity in G. mellonela larvae, while that in the larvae of D. pini remained unchanged. PO activity in C. vicina exposed to fungus slightly increased. The lysozyme-like activity increased in the plasma of all three insect species after contact with the fungal pathogen. Anti E. coli activity was detected neither in control nor in infected D. pini larvae. No detectable anti E. coli activity was found in the control larvae of G. mellonella; however, its exposure to C. coronatus resulted in an increase in the activity to detectable level. In the case of C. vicina exposure to the fungus, the anti E. coli activity was significantly higher than in control larvae. The defense mechanisms of D. pini (species of economic importance in Europe) are presented for the first time.     

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.     

An effect of the microsporidian Vairimorpha ephestiae (Microsporidia: Burenellidae) on activity and spectrum of nonspecific esterases in different tissues of the greater wax moth galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae

The effect of the microsporidian Vairimorpha ephestiae Matted (Microsporidia: Burenellidae) on nonspecific esterases was studied in hemolymph, fat body and midgut of the larvae of Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Esterase patterns were analyzed by the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the total esterase activity was detected spectrophotometrically. The increase of total esterase activity was registered in hemolymph of inflected larvae. An overexpression of esterase isozyme in hemolymph was already detected at the 3rd day post infection. No changes in esterases pattern were observed in the fat body's homogenates of the G. mellonella larvae possessing the symptoms of microsporidiosis. The degradation of esterase isozymes and the decrease of total esterase activity in the pattern of the midgut homogenates of infected larvae were registered during parasite sporogony. The greatest esterase activity in hemolymph and midgut tissues was registered during vegetative reproduction of parasite, but the least level of esterase activity was observed during mass sporogony of microsporidia.     

Changes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Galleria mellonella</Emphasis> lysozyme level and activity during <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> infection

The level of lysozyme in fat body, hemocytes and cell-free hemolymph from Galleria mellonella larvae infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined and evaluated. In the samples of fat body and hemocytes, an increase in lysozyme content was detected 1 d after infection and then a significant decrease was observed after a prolonged infection time. In the case of cell-free hemolymph, an increase in the lysozyme level was noticeable during the first 30 h post injection and stayed at a similar level for 42 h. The smaller decrease of the lysozyme level after 42 h might be associated with the development of bacteremia of P. aeruginosa in insects. In addition, the gradual increase in the content of lysozyme correlated with the increase of its activity in the hemolymph of the infected larvae as a response to injection with P. aeruginosa. The G. mellonella lysozyme appeared to be insensitive to extracellular proteinases produced in vivo by P. aeruginosa.     

Txp40, a ubiquitous insecticidal toxin protein from Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria

Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus are gram-negative bacteria that produce a range of proteins that are toxic to insects. We recently identified a novel 42-kDa protein from Xenorhabdus nematophila that was lethal to the larvae of insects such as Galleria mellonella and Helicoverpa armigera when it was injected at doses of 30 to 40 ng/g larvae. In the present work, the toxin gene txp40 was identified in another 59 strains of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, indicating that it is both highly conserved and widespread among these bacteria. Recombinant toxin protein was shown to be active against a variety of insect species by direct injection into the larvae of the lepidopteran species G. mellonella, H. armigera, and Plodia interpunctella and the dipteran species Lucilia cuprina. The protein exhibited significant cytotoxicity against two dipteran cell lines and two lepidopteran cell lines but not against a mammalian cell line. Histological data from H. armigera larvae into which the toxin was injected suggested that the primary site of action of the toxin is the midgut, although some damage to the fat body was also observed.     

Pre-exposure to yeast protects larvae of Galleria mellonella from a subsequent lethal infection by Candida albicans and is mediated by the increased expression of antimicrobial peptides

Pre-exposure of the larvae of Galleria mellonella to Candida albicans or Saccharomyces cerevisiae protects against a subsequent infection with 10(6) C. albicans cells. This protection can also be induced by exposing larvae to glucan or laminarin prior to the administration of the potentially lethal inoculum. Analysis of the genes coding for galiomicin, a defensin in G. mellonella, a cysteine-rich antifungal peptide gallerimycin, an iron-binding protein transferrin and an inducible metalloproteinase inhibitor (IMPI) from G. mellonella demonstrated increased expression, which is at its highest after 24 h of the initial inoculum. Examination of the expression of proteins in the insect haemolymph using 2D electrophoresis and MALDI TOF analysis revealed an increased expression of a number of proteins associated with the insect immune response to infection 24 h after the initial exposure. This study demonstrates that the larvae of G. mellonella can withstand a lethal inoculum of C. albicans if pre-exposed to a non-lethal dose of yeast or polysaccharide 24 h previously which is mediated by increased expression of a number of antimicrobial peptides and the appearance of a number of peptides in the challenged larvae.