Food quality affects the expression of antimicrobial peptide genes upon simulated parasite attack in the larvae of greater wax moth |
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| Authors: | Indrikis Krams Sanita Kecko Inna Inashkina Giedrius Trakimas Ronalds Krams Didzis Elferts Jolanta Vrublevska Priit Jõers Markus J. Rantala Severi Luoto Jorge Contreras‐Garduño Līga Jankevica Laila Meija Tatjana Krama |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia;2. Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia;3. Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Rīga, Latvia;4. Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Rīga, Latvia;5. Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania;6. Department of Botany and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Rīga, Latvia;7. Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”, Salaspils, Latvia;8. Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia;9. Department of Biology & Turku Brain and Mind Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland;10. English, Drama and Writing Studies, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand;11. School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand;12. Ecuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Mexico;13. Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, Salaspils, Latvia;14. Rīga Stradi?? University, Rīga, Latvia;15. Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Science, Tartu, Estonia |
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| Abstract: | Predator‐prey interactions are an important evolutionary force affecting the immunity of the prey. Parasitoids and mites pierce the cuticle of their prey, which respond by activating their immune system against predatory attacks. Immunity is a costly function for the organism, as it often competes with other life‐history traits for limited nutrients. We tested whether the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) of the larvae of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) changes as a consequence of insertion of a nylon monofilament, which acts like a synthetic parasite. The treatment was done for larvae grown on a high‐quality vs. a low‐quality diet. The expression of Gloverin and 6‐tox were upregulated in response to the insertion of the nylon monofilament. The expression of 6‐tox, Cecropin‐D, and Gallerimycin were significantly higher in the ‘low‐quality diet’ group than in the ‘high‐quality diet’ group. As food quality seems to affect AMP gene expression in G. mellonella larvae, it should always be controlled for in studies on bacterial and fungal infections in G. mellonella. |
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| Keywords: | ecological immunology innate immunity
Galleria mellonella
Lepidoptera Pyralidae |
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