Population-specific expression of antimicrobial peptides conferring pathogen resistance in the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis.

ABSTRACT: The harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis has emerged as a model species in the context of invasion biology and possesses an expanded repertoire of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Here we measured the expression of 22 AMP genes in adult beetles from native and introduced populations, and from a biocontrol population, allowing us to compare populations differing in terms of invasive performance. Strikingly, we observed population-specific expression profiles for particular AMPs. Following an immune challenge, the genes for Coleoptericin1 (Col1), Coleoptericin-likeB and Defensin1 were induced up to several thousand times more strongly in the invasive populations compared to the native and biocontrol populations. To determine the role of Col1 in pathogen resistance, the corresponding gene was s

SUBMITTER: Gegner T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5827023 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature