Intersex Plays a Role in Microbial Homeostasis in the Brown Planthopper.

ABSTRACT: Insects harbor a wide variety of symbiotic microorganisms that are capable of regulating host health and promoting host adaptation to their environment and food sources. However, there is little knowledge concerning the mechanisms that maintain the microbial community homeostasis within insects. In this study, we found that the intersex (ix) gene played an essential role in maintaining microbial homeostasis in the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens. Injection of the double-strand RNA targeting N. lugens ix (Nlix) into the newly emerged females resulted in abnormal expansion of the copulatory bursa of BPH after mating. Further observation by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the abnormally enlarged copulatory bursa resulting fro

SUBMITTER: Zhang HH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8465078 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature