Harmful and beneficial symbionts of Tenebrio molitor and their implications for disease management

Slowik, A.R.; Herren, Pascal; Bessette, Edouard; Lim, Fang Shiang; Hernández-Pelegrín, Luis; Savio, Carlotta

doi:10.3920/jiff2022.0171

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 130 publications

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“…investigated T. molitor frass’ potentiality, including gut microbiota, as a biofertilizer and verified that it can enhance plant growth, even under stressful conditions ( 90 ). Conversely, parasitic symbionts hinder T. molitor mass production, as these symbionts can transfer to humans when T. molitor is used as a food source ( 91 ). When parasites are introduced into the insect gut microbiota, they stimulate the innate immune system through nonspecific cellular constituents known as hemocyte.…”

Section: Insect Gut Microbiotamentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent trends in insect gut immunity

Khan,

Kojour,

Han

2023

Front. Immunol.

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The gut is a crucial organ in insect defense against various pathogens and harmful substances in their environment and diet. Distinct insect gut compartments possess unique functionalities contributing to their physiological processes, including immunity. The insect gut’s cellular composition is vital for cellular and humoral immunity. The peritrophic membrane, mucus layer, lumen, microvilli, and various gut cells provide essential support for activating and regulating immune defense mechanisms. These components also secrete molecules and enzymes that are imperative in physiological activities. Additionally, the gut microbiota initiates various signaling pathways and produces vitamins and minerals that help maintain gut homeostasis. Distinct immune signaling pathways are activated within the gut when insects ingest pathogens or hazardous materials. The pathway induced depends on the infection or pathogen type; include immune deficiency (imd), Toll, JAK/STAT, Duox-ROS, and JNK/FOXO regulatory pathways. These pathways produce different antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and maintain gut homeostasis. Furthermore, various signaling mechanisms within gut cells regulate insect gut recovery following infection. Although some questions regarding insect gut immunity in different species require additional study, this review provides insights into the insect gut’s structure and composition, commensal microorganism roles in Drosophila melanogaster and Tenebrio molitor life cycles, different signaling pathways involved in gut immune systems, and the insect gut post-infection recovery through various signaling mechanisms.

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Section: Insect Gut Microbiotamentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent trends in insect gut immunity

Khan,

Kojour,

Han

2023

Front. Immunol.

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“…From the previous results, we selected a virus that is most likely vertically transmitted (CcaIV2) and a virus that is most likely horizontally transmitted (CcaNV). CcaIV2 was also selected because of its ubiquitous distribution in diverse medfly populations (Hernández-Pelegrín et al, 2022), and CcaNV due to its association with detrimental effects during medfly development (Hernández-Pelegrín et al, 2023). Moreover, the V8A strain was selected for this analysis, since high CcaIV2 and CcaNV levels were detected in this strain by RT-qPCR (Figure 2).…”

Section: In Situ Observation Of Viral Rna Supports the Different Tran...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From a practical point of view, the insect mass-rearing industry would benefit from a better understanding of insect virus ecology, since it is highly dependent on the optimal health of the insects. In this industry, the presence of pathogens represents a huge risk, especially in the artificial environmental conditions common in mass-rearing facilities (Eilenberg et al, 2015; Slowik et al, 2023). Specifically, covert RNA viruses can be easily transmitted between the conspecific reared insects and, in some scenarios, cause disease outbreaks (Bertola & Mutinelli, 2021; Maciel-Vergara & Ros, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among medfly RNA viruses, Ceratitis capitata nora virus (CcaNV) is the best described virus. CcaNV infection negatively influences medfly fitness in terms of a reduced pupal weight, shorter adult survival under stress, and higher susceptibility to parasitism by Aganaspis daci [Hymenoptera: Figitidae] ( Hernández-Pelegrín et al, 2023). CcaNV can be horizontally transmitted after the addition of purified virus into the larval diet (Llópis-Giménez et al, 2017;Hernández-Pelegrín et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…CcaNV infection negatively influences medfly fitness in terms of a reduced pupal weight, shorter adult survival under stress, and higher susceptibility to parasitism by Aganaspis daci [Hymenoptera: Figitidae] ( Hernández-Pelegrín et al, 2023). CcaNV can be horizontally transmitted after the addition of purified virus into the larval diet (Llópis-Giménez et al, 2017;Hernández-Pelegrín et al, 2023). Yet besides CcaNV, an in-depth analysis of the distribution and transmission of covert RNA viruses infecting medfly is lacking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Covert RNA viruses in medflies differ in their mode of transmission and tissue tropism

Hernández-Pelegrín,

Huditz,

García-Castillo

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Numerous studies have demonstrated the presence of covert viral infections in insects. These infections can be transmitted in insect populations via two main routes: vertical from parents to offspring, or horizontal between nonrelated individuals. Thirteen covert RNA viruses have been described in the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly). Some of these viruses are established in different laboratory-reared and wild medfly populations, although variations in the viral repertoire and viral levels have been observed at different time points. To better understand these viral dynamics, we characterized the prevalence and levels of covert RNA viruses in two medfly strains, assessed the route of transmission of these viruses, and explored their distribution in medfly adult tissues. Altogether, our results indicated that the different RNA viruses found in medflies vary in their preferred route of transmission. Two iflaviruses and a narnavirus are predominantly transmitted through vertical transmission via the female, while a nodavirus and a nora virus exhibited a preference for horizontal transmission. Overall, our results give valuable insights into the viral tropism and transmission of RNA viruses in the medfly, contributing to the understanding of viral dynamics in insect populations.

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Effect of CO2 Concentrations on Entomopathogen Fitness and Insect-Pathogen Interactions

Herren,

Dunn,

Meyling

et al. 2024

Microb Ecol

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Numerous insect species and their associated microbial pathogens are exposed to elevated CO2 concentrations in both artificial and natural environments. However, the impacts of elevated CO2 on the fitness of these pathogens and the susceptibility of insects to pathogen infections are not well understood. The yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor, is commonly produced for food and feed purposes in mass-rearing systems, which increases risk of pathogen infections. Additionally, entomopathogens are used to control T. molitor, which is also a pest of stored grains. It is therefore important to understand how elevated CO2 may affect both the pathogen directly and impact on host-pathogen interactions. We demonstrate that elevated CO2 concentrations reduced the viability and persistence of the spores of the bacterial pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis. In contrast, conidia of the fungal pathogen Metarhizium brunneum germinated faster under elevated CO2. Pre-exposure of the two pathogens to elevated CO2 prior to host infection did not affect the survival probability of T. molitor larvae. However, larvae reared at elevated CO2 concentrations were less susceptible to both pathogens compared to larvae reared at ambient CO2 concentrations. Our findings indicate that whilst elevated CO2 concentrations may be beneficial in reducing host susceptibility in mass-rearing systems, they may potentially reduce the efficacy of the tested entomopathogens when used as biological control agents of T. molitor larvae. We conclude that CO2 concentrations should be carefully selected and monitored as an additional environmental factor in laboratory experiments investigating insect-pathogen interactions.

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Harmful and beneficial symbionts of Tenebrio molitor and their implications for disease management

Cited by 6 publications

References 130 publications

Recent trends in insect gut immunity

Recent trends in insect gut immunity

Covert RNA viruses in medflies differ in their mode of transmission and tissue tropism

Effect of CO2 Concentrations on Entomopathogen Fitness and Insect-Pathogen Interactions

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