Project description:<p>The protection of associated microbiota for their animal hosts against pathogen infection has been studied widely over the last 100 years. However, how those microbes protect the animal host is limitedly investigated. In former studies, body surface microbes of one insect, <em>Delia antiqua</em>, protect the insect larvae from infection with the entomopathogen <em>Beauveria bassiana</em>. By comparing the metabolites produced by microbes that protect the insect and microbes that cannot protect the insect, how the microbes protect the insect is answered. It turns out that body surface bacteria produce a metabolite cocktail that inhibit colonization of <em>B. bassiana</em>, and consequently protect the insect. This work reveals novel molecules that with antifungal activity, which may aid in discovery and expansion of new prophylactic and therapeutic natural chemicals for treating infectious diseases.</p>
Project description:We analyzed the interaction between Arabidopsis and western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), which are one of the most serious insect pests of cultivated plants. A total of 1.2K potential biotic and abiotic stress-related genes were selected from the genes covered by the Arabidopsis 7K array (RIKEN, Japan) and Arabidopsis oligo microarray (Agilent Technologies, USA) for this study. The 21- day-old plants were feeded by western flower thrips in an acryl cylinder chamber with air ventilation windows covered with a fine mesh. Leaves were harvested several time after the feeding. Our results indicate that JA plays an important role in Arabidopsis in terms of response to, and tolerance against, thrip feeding.
Project description:Transcriptional analysis of the pheromone gland in comparison to the rest of the insect body in female Agrotis segetum (Noctuidae).
Project description:Core fucosylation is a form of fucose attached to the initial
N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) of N-linked glycans
catalyzed by alpha-1,6 fucosyltransferase (Fut8).1 Corefucosylated N-glycans are widely mapped on cell surfaces,
body fluids, and secreted proteins.
Project description:Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc., a complex of larval carcass (sclerotium) and stroma formed by the fungus of Hirsutella sinensis infecting Hepialidae insect larvae, whose fruiting body is also the main fungal structure used for taxonomic identification. However, the induction of fruiting body is still inefficient and the high cost resulting in the large-scale artificial cultivation of this fungus has been unsuccessful in China.In this study,important factors and target genes associated with the fruiting body induction during the development of O. sinensis were identified, providing a basic molecular mechanism for facilitating the large-scale artificial cultivation of O. sinensis.
