进化基因组学在昆虫天然免疫研究中的应用前景

整合基因组学和进化论而发展起来的进化基因组学正在逐渐改变传统昆虫学的研究模式。对昆虫天然免疫的研究已不再仅仅依靠实验学方法。3种全基因组序列被破译的模式昆虫(黑腹果蝇、冈比亚按蚊和意大利蜜蜂)将为这些研究引入新的方向。该文将以模式昆虫为代表,简要介绍如何利用进化上的趋同和趋异概念建立一特定昆虫物种的抗微生物肽基因蓝图;以及如何利用基因组数据和进化分析方法鉴定控制昆虫Toll信号通路关键组分Spatzle配体的进化优势位点。

Evolutionary genomics-based approaches for studies of insect innate immunity

Evolutionary genomics-based approaches are increasingly changing traditional research pattern in Entomology field. Studies on insect innate immunity do not rely only on experimental methods. New research directions will emerge from three model organisms (Drosophila melanogaster, Anopheles gambiae and Apis mellifera) whose full genome sequences have been determined. In this commentary, we discuss how to establish the full set of antimicrobial peptide genes of a specific insect species on the basis of the concept of evolutionary divergence and convergence; and how to employ evolutionary information to highlight putative functional surface of the Spatzle protein, a key component of Toll pathway controlling insect innate immunity response.