Search results for "MIDGUT"
showing 10 items of 81 documents
Microbial Diversity in the Midguts of Field and Lab-Reared Populations of the European Corn Borer Ostrinia nubilalis
2011
Background: Insects are associated with microorganisms that contribute to the digestion and processing of nutrients. The European Corn Borer (ECB) is a moth present world-wide, causing severe economical damage as a pest on corn and other crops. In the present work, we give a detailed view of the complexity of the microorganisms forming the ECB midgut microbiota with the objective of comparing the biodiversity of the midgut-associated microbiota and explore their potential as a source of genes and enzymes with biotechnological applications. Methodological/Principal Findings: A high-throughput sequencing approach has been used to identify bacterial species, genes and metabolic pathways, parti…
Host-range expansion of Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus to Agrotis segetum larvae when the midgut is bypassed.
2010
Given the high similarity in genome content and organization between Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV) and Agrotis segetum nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgseNPV), as well as the high percentages of similarity found between their 30 core genes, the specificity of these NPVs was analysed for the respective insect hosts, S. exigua and A. segetum. The LD(50) for AgseNPV in second-instar A. segetum larvae was 83 occlusion bodies per larva and the LT(50) was 8.1 days. AgseNPV was orally infectious for S. exigua, but the LD(50) was 10 000-fold higher than for SeMNPV. SeMNPV was not infectious for A. segetum larvae when administered orally, but an infection was established by injecti…
Specific binding of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry2A insecticidal proteins to a common site in the midgut of Helicoverpa species
2008
ABSTRACT For a long time, it has been assumed that the mode of action of Cry2A toxins was unique and different from that of other three-domain Cry toxins due to their apparent nonspecific and unsaturable binding to an unlimited number of receptors. However, based on the homology of the tertiary structure among three-domain Cry toxins, similar modes of action for all of them are expected. To confirm this hypothesis, binding assays were carried out with 125 I-labeled Cry2Ab. Saturation assays showed that Cry2Ab binds in a specific and saturable manner to brush border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) of Helicoverpa armigera . Homologous-competition assays with 125 I-Cry2Ab demonstrated that this toxi…
Lack of Cry1Fa binding to the midgut brush border membrane in a resistant colony of Plutella xylostella moths with a mutaton in the ABCC2 locus
2012
ABSTRACT Previous studies reported “mode 1” Bacillus thuringiensis resistance in a colony of diamondback moths (NO-QA), and recently, this resistance has been mapped to an ABC transporter ( ABCC2 ) locus. We report the lack of binding of Cry1Fa to insects derived from this colony and compare our data with those from other insects with ABCC2 -associated resistance.
Interaction of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 and Vip3A Proteins with Spodoptera frugiperda Midgut Binding Sites
2009
ABSTRACT Vip3Aa, Vip3Af, Cry1Ab, and Cry1Fa were tested for their toxicities and binding interactions. Vip3A proteins were more toxic than Cry1 proteins. Binding assays showed independent specific binding sites for Cry1 and Vip3A proteins. Cry1Ab and Cry1Fa competed for the same binding sites, whereas Vip3Aa competed for those of Vip3Af.
Immunohistochemical Detection of Binding of Cryia Crystal Proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis in Highly Resistant Strains of Plutella xylostella (L.) …
1995
We detected binding of insecticidal crystal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis in one susceptible strain and six resistant strains of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, from Hawaii. Immunohistochemical tests with tissue sections from larval midguts showed specific binding of CryIA(a), CryIA(b), and CryIA(c) to brush border membranes. CryIE, which is not toxic to P. xylostella, did not bind to midgut tissues. Larvae from one of the resistant strains ingested extremely high concentrations of a commercial formulation containing the three CryIA proteins without suffering midgut cell damage or mortality. This same resistant strain had previously been found to have greatly reduced binding o…
Association of Cry1Ac toxin resistance in Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) with increased alkaline phosphatase levels in the midgut lumen.
2012
ABSTRACT Resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac toxin was characterized in a population of Helicoverpa zea larvae previously shown not to have an alteration in toxin binding as the primary resistance mechanism to this toxin. Cry1Ac-selected larvae (AR1) were resistant to protoxins and toxins of Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, and the corresponding modified proteins lacking helix α-1 (Cry1AbMod and Cry1AcMod). When comparing brush border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) prepared from susceptible (LC) and AR1 larval midguts, there were only negligible differences in overall Cry1Ac toxin binding, though AR1 had 18% reversible binding, in contrast to LC, in which all binding was irreversible. However, no differe…
In Vivo and In Vitro Binding of Vip3Aa to Spodoptera frugiperda Midgut and Characterization of Binding Sites by 125 I Radiolabeling
2014
ABSTRACT Bacillus thuringiensis vegetative insecticidal proteins (Vip3A) have been recently introduced in important crops as a strategy to delay the emerging resistance to the existing Cry toxins. The mode of action of Vip3A proteins has been studied in Spodoptera frugiperda with the aim of characterizing their binding to the insect midgut. Immunofluorescence histological localization of Vip3Aa in the midgut of intoxicated larvae showed that Vip3Aa bound to the brush border membrane along the entire apical surface. The presence of fluorescence in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells seems to suggest internalization of Vip3Aa or a fragment of it. Successful radiolabeling and optimization of the…
Some effects of salmon calcitonin on calcium metabolism in the crustaceanOrchestia during the molt cycle
1989
In the terrestrial amphipod Orchestia cavimana, investigations of the variations of the total hemolymphatic calcium during the normal molt cycle revealed that a calcium balance is maintained in intermolt, as observed in numerous crustaceans. During premolt, hypercalcemia occurs, related to the marked calcium reabsorption from the old cuticle, which may promote the storage of a part of this calcium within the midgut posterior caeca. The calcium levels fall after exuviation to late postmolt to the low basal levels of intermolt; this may reflect the imbalance between the rates of calcification of the newly secreted cuticle and uptake of calcium within the posterior caeca. Administration of sal…
Degenerative and regenerative processes involved in midgut pseudotumor formation in the stick insect (Carausius morosus)
2009
Spontaneous and experimentally induced pseudotumor formation in Carausius morosus impairs the midgut tissue homeostasis. Spontaneous pseudotumor formation begins by the break down of a single or a small group of columnar cells (CCs) and is followed by the degeneration of neighboring CCs. There are not only marked similarities but also decisive differences between normal dying CCs in healthy specimens and the degeneration of CCs leading to pseudotumors: in both cases, the apical cell parts with the nucleus are extruded into the midgut lumen, but only during of pseudotumor formation an "amorphous substance" originates from the basal parts of the CCs. Hemocytes are attracted to this substance …