Dataset Information

Metabolic relay gene of aphid and primary symbiont as RNAi target loci for aphid control.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Aphids form a stable and mutually beneficial relationship with their primary symbiont Buchnera aphidicola, which play an important role in providing the missing nutrients to the host aphid. Based on the genome sequence of wheat aphid Siotobion miscanthi and its primary symbiont Buchnera that we obtained in our previously study, we identified a metabolic relay gene, ilvA, involved in the isoleucine synthesis pathway between aphids and Buchnera.

Method

In this study, we identified the location and sequence structure of ilvA gene in aphid genome, the expression level in different instars and tissues of aphids, and the effect of reducing ilvA expression on the growth and development of aphids by bioinformatics analysis, quantitative PCR, RNAi and bioassay experiments.

Result

Our study showed that ilvA was expressed at the highest level in the 2^nd instar of the aphid, while the expression of this gene was significantly higher in the aphid bacteriocytes than in other tissues. Notably, this gene is localized on the aphid sex chromosome and remains highly conserved and collinearity across different aphid genomes. Knocking down the expression of ilvA reduced the aphid body weight and production. However, the indices of mortality decreased slightly, but were not significantly different, compared to the control.

Discussion

The results show that the relay genes between aphids and their symbionts in the metabolism of essential nutrients have potential roles in the growth and development of aphids, meanwhile, providing target loci and new ideas for RNAi-based aphid green control strategies.

SUBMITTER: Li Q

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9890070 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Metabolic relay gene of aphid and primary symbiont as RNAi target loci for aphid control.

Li Qian Q Cheng Yu Y Fan Jia J Chen Julian J

Frontiers in plant science 20230118

<h4>Introduction</h4>Aphids form a stable and mutually beneficial relationship with their primary symbiont <i>Buchnera aphidicola</i>, which play an important role in providing the missing nutrients to the host aphid. Based on the genome sequence of wheat aphid <i>Siotobion miscanthi</i> and its primary symbiont <i>Buchnera</i> that we obtained in our previously study, we identified a metabolic relay gene, <i>ilvA</i>, involved in the isoleucine synthesis pathway between aphids and <i>Buchnera</ ...[more]

PMID: 36743566

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Project description:Bacterial symbionts associated with aphids are important for their ecological fitness. The corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), is one of the most damaging aphid pests on maize and has been reported to harbor Hamiltonella defensa and Regiella insecticola while the effects of the secondary symbionts (S-symbionts) on host ecology and primary symbiont Buchnera aphidicola remain unclear. Here, four aphid strains were established, two of which were collected from Langfang - Hebei Province, China, with similar symbiont pattern except for the presence of H. defensa. Two other aphid strains were collected from Nanning - Guangxi Province, China, with the same symbiont infection except for the presence of R. insecticola. Phylogenetic analysis and aphid genotyping indicated that the S-symbiont-infected and free aphid strains from the same location had identical genetic backgrounds. Aphid fitness measurement showed that aphid strain infected with H. defensa performed shortened developmental duration for 1st instar and total nymph stages, reduced aphid survival rate, offspring, and longevity. While the developmental duration of H-infected strains was accelerated, and the adult weight was significantly higher compared to the H-free strain. Infection with R. insecticola did not affect the aphid's entire nymph stage duration and survival rate. As the H-strain does, aphids infected with R. insecticola also underwent a drop in offspring, along with marginally lower longevity. Unlike the H-infected strain, the R-infected strain performed delayed developmental duration and lower adult weight. The B. aphidicola titers of the H-infected strains showed a steep drop during the aphid 1st to 3rd instar stages, while the augmentation of B. aphidicola titers was found in the R-infected strain during the aphid 1st to 3rd instar. Our study investigated for the first time the effect of the S-symbionts on the ecology fitness and primary symbiont in R. maidis, indicating that infection with secondary symbionts leads to the modulation of aphid primary symbiont abundance, together inducing significant fitness costs on aphids with further impact on environmental adaptation and trophic interactions.

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Dataset Information

Metabolic relay gene of aphid and primary symbiont as RNAi target loci for aphid control.

Introduction

Method

Result

Discussion

Publications

Metabolic relay gene of aphid and primary symbiont as RNAi target loci for aphid control.

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