Canadian Forest Service Publications
High temperature induces downregulation of polydnavirus gene transcription in lepidopteran host and enhances accumulation of host immunity gene transcripts. 2017. Seehausen, M.L.; Cusson, M.; Régnière, J.; Bory, M.; Stewart, D.; Djoumad, A.; Smith, M.S.; Martel, V. J. Insect Physiol. 98: 126-133.
Year: 2017
Issued by: Laurentian Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 37808
Language: English
Availability: PDF (request by e-mail)
Available from the Journal's Web site. †
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2016.12.008
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Abstract
Endoparasitoids face the challenge of overcoming the immune reaction of their hosts, which typically consists of encapsulation and melanisation of parasitoid eggs or larvae. Some endoparasitic wasps such as the solitary Tranosema rostrale (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) that lay their eggs in larvae of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), have evolved a symbiotic relationship with a polydnavirus (PDV), which in turn helps them suppress the host’s immune response. We observed an increase in mortality of immature T. rostrale with increasing temperature, and we tested two hypotheses about the mechanisms involved: high temperatures (1) hamper the expression of T. rostrale PDV genes and (2) enhance the expression of spruce budworm immunity-related genes. Dissections of parasitized spruce budworm larvae reared at 30 C revealed that most parasitoid eggs or larvae had died as a result of encapsulation and melanisation by the host. A qPCR analysis of T. rostrale PDV (TrIV) gene expression showed that the transcription of several TrIV genes in host larvae was downregulated at high temperature. On the other hand, encapsulation, but not melanisation, of foreign bodies in spruce budworm larvae was enhanced at high temperatures, as shown by the injection of SephadexTM beads into larvae. However, at the molecular level, the transcription of genes related to spruce budworm’s melanisation process (prophenoloxidase 1 and 2) was upregulated. Our results support the hypothesis that a temperature-dependent increase of encapsulation response is due to the combined effects of reduced expression of TrIV genes and enhanced expression of host immune genes.
Plain Language Summary
In this study, the researchers examined the molecular factors responsible for the immune response of the spruce budworm (SBW) to the Tranosema rostrale parasite in relation to temperature. The T. rostrale parasitoid wasp uses its stinger to lay its eggs beneath the skin of SBW larvae.
The researchers found that the mortality rate of T. rostrale eggs increased significantly when host caterpillars were exposed to temperatures above 20°C. This increased mortality was due to the combined effects of two factors: the decreased expression of viral genes to which the SBW is exposed when the wasp lays its eggs, and the increased expression of genetic immunity in SBW.
The SBW is a native pest. Its outbreaks are the most significant natural disturbance affecting Canadian fir forests. SBW parasitoids play a vital role in maintaining populations at an endemic level between outbreaks.
