Tachykinin-related peptide signalling is important for the immune response of the mealworm beetle <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> L.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Insects possess a well-developed innate immune system, which encompasses both cellular and humoral mechanisms. On the basis of the similarities in neuropeptide actions between insects and vertebrates, we assume that neuropeptides such as tachykinin-related peptides (TRPs) regulate insect immune responses and are themselves modulated following infection.

Methods

In this study, we examined how immune activation affects the expression of genes encoding TRP precursors and receptors (TRP and TRPR) and whether TRPs directly modulate selected immune mechanisms in the pest species Tenebrio molitor. In our experiment, we combined cytokine stimulation, genetic knockdown, pharmacological inhibition, immune profiling, and survival analysis to dis

SUBMITTER: Konopinska N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12916423 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature