Antimicrobial Activity of Exocrine Glandular Secretions, Hemolymph, and Larval Regurgitate of the Mustard Leaf BeetlePhaedon cochleariae

Independently recruited oxidases from the glucose-methanol-choline oxidoreductase family enabled chemical defences in leaf beetle larvae (subtribe Chrysomelina) to evolve

“…Interestingly, the secretions of chrysomeline larvae also have an antimicrobial effect. However, this effect is not owing entirely to the defensive compounds [52,53] but may be related to the action of the other extracellular GMC oxidoreductase, Pc8HGO-like. Although silencing Pc8HGO-like did not affect the phenotype with respect to the composition of deterrents, it may be that Pc8HGO-like is involved in the antimicrobial impact of the secretions.…”

Fungi as elicitors of insect immune responses

“…Recently, it was demonstrated that glandular secretions of the mustard leaf beetle, Phaedon cochleariae, which are used in defense against predators contain potent antifungal compounds. The main component, an iridoid monoterpene, was isolated and shown to inhibit growth of Beauveria bassiana in vitro (Gross et al, 1998).…”

Drugs from bugs: the use of insects as a valuable source of transgenes with potential in modern plant protection strategies

“…Many phytophagous insects evolved the ability to use either de novo synthesized compounds or sequestered plant constituents taken up with their food for antimicrobial defence properties (Blum 1996;Schulz et al 1997;Feld et al 2001). The germination, growth, and penetration of entomopathogenous fungi on insect surfaces is inhibited in different leaf beetle species by volatile exocrine glandular secretions, which are emitted permanently (Gross et al 1998(Gross et al , 2002. They consist of antimicrobial active compounds of low molecular mass, like salicylaldehyde or several iridoid monoterpenes, enveloping the whole insect in an antimicrobial cloud (Gross et al 1998(Gross et al , 2002.…”