Project description:Protein complexes of aegerolysins pleurotolysin A2 (PlyA2) and pleurotolysin B (PlyB) from oyster mushrooms Pleurotus sp. display targeted toxicity against Colorado potato beetle (CPB; Leptinotarsa decemlineata) larvae. This selective toxicity is achieved through aegerolysins' interaction with insect-specific membrane sphingolipids. This study explores the potential adaptive response of CPB larvae to the aegerolysin complex.
Project description:In the present study molecular interactions between potato plants, Colorado potato beetle (CPB) larvae and Potato virus YNTN (PVYNTN) were investigated by analyzing gene expression in potato leaves. Grant ID: J4-4165 Slovenian Research Agency ARRS Growth and defense trade-offs in multitrophic interaction between potato and its two major pests Grant ID: P4-0165 Slovenian Research Agency ARRS Biotechnology and Plant Systems Biology
Project description:<p>Gregarines are usually classified as parasites, but recent studies suggest that they should be viewed on a parasitism-mutualism spectrum and may even be seen as part of the gut microbiota of host insects. As such, they may also impact the consumption of their hosts and/or be involved in the digestion or detoxification of the host's diet. To study such effects of a gregarine species on those traits in its host, the mustard leaf beetle (<em>Phaedon cochleariae</em>) was used. This beetle species feeds on Brassicaceae plants that contain glucosinolates, which form toxic compounds when hydrolyzed by myrosinases. We cleaned host eggs from gametocysts and spores and reinfected half of the larvae with gregarines, to obtain gregarine-free (G-) and gregarine-infected (G+) larvae. Growth and food consumption parameters of these larvae were assessed by rearing individuals on watercress (<em>Nasturtium officinale</em>, Brassicaceae). A potential involvement of gregarines in the glucosinolate metabolism of <em>P. cochleariae</em> larvae was investigated by offering G-and G+ larvae leaf discs of watercress (containing mainly the benzenic 2-phenylethyl glucosinolate and myrosinases) or pea (<em>Pisum sativum</em>, Fabaceae, lacking glucosinolates and myrosinases) treated with the aliphatic 4-pentenyl glucosinolate or the indole 1-methoxy-3-indolylmethyl glucosinolate. Larval and fecal samples were analyzed via UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS to search for breakdown metabolites. Larval development, body mass, growth rate and efficiency to convert food into body mass were negatively affected by gregarine infection while the pupal mass remained unaffected. The benzenic and aliphatic glucosinolates were conjugated with aspartic acid, while the indole glucosinolate was conjugated with glutamic acid. Gregarine infection did not alter the larvae's ability to metabolize glucosinolates and was independent of plant myrosinases. In summary, some negative effects of gregarines on host performance could be shown, indicating parasitism. Future studies may further disentangle this gregarine-host relationship and investigate the microbiome potentially involved in the glucosinolate metabolism.</p>
Project description:We report the transcriptional response to Colorado potato beetle herbivory in leaves of the highly beetle resistant Solanum chacoense diploid line USDA8380-1 (80-) and a susceptible F2 individual (EE501F2_093) derived from a cross between 80-1 and a beetle susceptible line S. chacoense M6. Sampling tissue in a time course during adult Colorado potato beetle feeding provides novel insight to the transcriptomic defense response to this important pest.
Project description:16S amplicon pool analyses of the four gut sections of the wood-feeding beetle, Odontotaenius disjunctus The beetle is purely wood feeding, and we aim to first characterize the community that exist within the gut sections 4 beetles, four gut sections per beetle, one PhyloChip per gut section, total = 16 chips
Project description:Amendment of a thermophile-fermented compost to humus improves the growth of female larvae of the Hercules beetle, Dynastes hercules (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)