Project description:The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) was determined as a circular molecular of 15,273 bp in size. The mitogenome composition (37 genes) and gene order are the same as the other lepidopterans. Nucleotide composition of the C. cephalonica mitogenome is highly A+T biased (80.43%) like other insects. Twelve protein-coding genes start with a typical ATN codon, with the exception of coxl gene, which uses CGA as the initial codon. Nine protein-coding genes have the common stop codon TAA, and the nad2, cox1, cox2, and nad4 have single T as the incomplete stop codon. 22 tRNA genes demonstrated cloverleaf secondary structure. The mitogenome has several large intergenic spacer regions, the spacer1 between trnQ gene and nad2 gene, which is common in Lepidoptera. The spacer 3 between trnE and trnF includes microsatellite-like repeat regions (AT)18 and (TTAT)(3). The spacer 4 (16 bp) between trnS2 gene and nad1 gene has a motif ATACTAT; another species, Sesamia inferens encodes ATCATAT at the same position, while other lepidopteran insects encode a similar ATACTAA motif. The spacer 6 is A+T rich region, include motif ATAGA and a 20-bp poly(T) stretch and two microsatellite (AT)(9), (AT)(8) elements.
Project description:Gut and rest of body tissue from fifth instar larvae which fed for three days a diet containing different doses of gossypol. Transcriptional profiling comparing gut and rest of body samples for three gossypol concentrations (0%, 0.016%-hormetic dose & 0.16%-detrimental dose). Hormesis is a biphasic biological response characterized by the stimulatory effect at relatively low amounts of chemical compounds otherwise known to be detrimental at higher concentrations. A hormetic response in larval growth rates has been observed in cotton-feeding insects in response to increasing concentrations of gossypol, a toxic metabolite found in the pigment glands of some Malvaceae plants. We investigated the developmental effect of gossypol in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, an important heliothine pest species, by exposing larvae to different doses of this metabolite in their diet. In addition, we sought to determine the underlying transcriptional responses to different gossypol doses. Larval weight gain, pupal weight and larval development time were measured in feeding experiments and a hormetic response was seen for the first two characters. On the basis of net larval weight gain responses to gossypol, three treatments, that is 0%, 0.016% and 0.16% gossypol , were selected for transcript profiling in the gut and the rest of the body in a two-color double reference design microarray experiment. Two-color double reference design. Reference sample was the 0% (CT) gossypol condition (either Gut or Rest of Body) or one of two experimental conditions {0.016(T5) and 0.16%(T7)}. Biological replicates: 4 (10 individuals per replicate). 32 samples total.
Project description:Gut and rest of body tissue from fifth instar larvae which fed for three days a diet containing different doses of gossypol. Transcriptional profiling comparing gut and rest of body samples for three gossypol concentrations (0%, 0.016%-hormetic dose & 0.16%-detrimental dose). Hormesis is a biphasic biological response characterized by the stimulatory effect at relatively low amounts of chemical compounds otherwise known to be detrimental at higher concentrations. A hormetic response in larval growth rates has been observed in cotton-feeding insects in response to increasing concentrations of gossypol, a toxic metabolite found in the pigment glands of some Malvaceae plants. We investigated the developmental effect of gossypol in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, an important heliothine pest species, by exposing larvae to different doses of this metabolite in their diet. In addition, we sought to determine the underlying transcriptional responses to different gossypol doses. Larval weight gain, pupal weight and larval development time were measured in feeding experiments and a hormetic response was seen for the first two characters. On the basis of net larval weight gain responses to gossypol, three treatments, that is 0%, 0.016% and 0.16% gossypol , were selected for transcript profiling in the gut and the rest of the body in a two-color double reference design microarray experiment.
Project description:BackgroundThe mass production of natural predators with prolonged shelf life is a prerequisite for their field application as pest control agents. The traditional methods used for the mass production of Serangium japonicum rely heavily on the consistent supply of natural prey. This study explains the effects of B. tabaci (natural prey) and C. cephalonica eggs (alternative food) on life history and transcriptome profile of S. japanicum.MethodsThis study compares the effects of B. tabaci (natural prey) and C. cephalonica eggs (alternative food) on biology, reproduction, and predatory efficacy, and transcriptome profile of S. japanicum.ResultsThis study revealed that S. japonicum was able to successfully complete its life cycle while feeding on B. tabaci (natural prey) and C. cephalonica eggs (alternative food). The C. cephalonica eggs fed S. japonicum individuals had longer developmental period and lower fecundity as compared to those feeding on whitefly but the survival rates (3rd instar nymphs, 4th instar nymphs and pupae) and predatory efficacy of C. cephalonica eggs fed S. japonicum individuals were significantly similar to to those feeding on whitefly.Transcriptome analysis showed that when faced with dietary changes, S. japanicum could successfully feed on C. cephalonica eggs by regulating genes related to nutrient transport, metabolism, and detoxification. Moreover, S. japanicum degraded excess cellular components through ribosomal autophagy and apoptosis, which provided sufficient materials and energy for survival and basic metabolism.ConclusionCorcyra cephalonica eggs can be used as an alternate host for the predator, Serangium japonicum, as the survival rates and predatory efficacy of the predator are similar to those feeding on the natural host (B.tabaci). When faced with dietary changes, S. japanicum could successfully feed on C. cephalonica eggs as revealed by upregulation of genes related to nutrient transport, metabolism, and detoxification. These findings are of great significance for studying the functional evolution of S. japonicum in response to dietary changes.
Project description:To investigate the effect of soy peptides on gut microial composition during juvenile social isolation, group-house (GH) and social isolation (SI) mice were fed a diet consisting of soy peptides or a control diet for 4 weeks post-weaning. We then performed microbial community analysis using data obtained from bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing in the fecal samples of 4 mice groups (control diet-fed GH, soy peptide-diet fed GH, control diet-fed SI, and soy peptide-diet fed SI mice).