Immuno-physiological adaptations confer wax moth Galleria mellonella resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis.

ABSTRACT: Microevolutionary mechanisms of resistance to a bacterial pathogen were explored in a population of the Greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, selected for an 8.8-fold increased resistance against the entomopathogenic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) compared with a non-selected (suspectible) line. Defense strategies of the resistant and susceptible insect lines were compared to uncover mechanisms underpinning resistance, and the possible cost of those survival strategies. In the uninfected state, resistant insects exhibited enhanced basal expression of genes related to regeneration and amelioration of Bt toxin activity in the midgut. In addition, these insects also exhibited elevated activity of genes linked to inflammation/stress management and immune defense in the fat body. Follow

SUBMITTER: Dubovskiy IM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5160394 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature