昆虫水平基因转移及其研究进展

水平基因转移(horizontal gene transfer, HGT)是生物体获得遗传信息的方式之一,对生物体进化起重要作用。近年来,越来越多昆虫中的水平基因转移现象被报道,如在鳞翅目(如家蚕、甜菜夜蛾、小菜蛾、斜纹夜蛾)、半翅目(如柑橘粉蚧、烟粉虱)、鞘翅目(如咖啡果小蠹、米象、光肩星天牛)、膜翅目(如金小蜂)、双翅目(如果蝇、白纹伊蚊)等昆虫中广泛存在水平转移基因,且不同的水平转移基因对昆虫的营养合成与共生、吸收与消化、毒素产生与解毒、生长和发育、体色改变等方面有着重要作用。本文结合国内外专家学者的相关报道,就HGT的研究步骤与技术方法、评判HGT发生的方法、昆虫HGT的供体与功能几个方面进行了总结和讨论,以期更加深入地了解水平基因转移现象,为探究水平基因转移的作用机制、理解昆虫的进化、遗传和行为、并将水平基因转移应用到农业生产中为农业害虫的绿色防治提供更多思路。

Research advance of horizontal gene transfer in insects

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a method used by organisms to obtain genetic information that plays an important role in their evolution. In recent years, more and more HGT phenomena have been reported in insects, such as in Lepidoptera (e.g., Bombyx mori, Spodoptera exigua, Plutella xylostella, and Spodoptera litura), Hemiptera (e.g., Planococcus citri and Bemisia tabaci), Coleoptera (e.g., Hypothenemus hampei, Sitophilus oryzae, and Anoplophora glabripennis), Hymenoptera (e.g., Nasonia), and Diptera (e.g., Drosophila, and Aedes albopictus). The presence of HGT has been widely reported, and several HGT genes have also been reported. Transferred genes play important roles in nutrient synthesis and symbiosis, absorption and digestion, toxin production and detoxification, growth and development, and body color changes in insects. This paper summarizes and discusses the research steps and technical methods of HGT, the methods for assessing the occurrence of HGT, and the donors and functions of insect HGT to gain a more in-depth understanding of the phenomenon of HGT and contribute to the investigation of the mechanism of HGT; the understanding of the evolution, genetics, and behavior of insects. We hope to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of HGT and provide more ideas for exploring the mechanism of HGT, understanding the evolution, genetics, and behavior of insects, and applying HGT to agricultural production for green pest control.