Increased plasma selenium levels correlate with elevated resistance of Heliothis virescens larvae against baculovirus infection

The increase of immunity and disease resistance of the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii by feeding with selenium enriched-diet

“…Mechanisms of Se's anticancer actions are not fully understood; however, several have been proposed: antioxidant protection, enhanced carcinogen detoxification, enhanced immune surveillance, modulation of cell proliferation, inhibition of tumor cell invasion, and inhibition of angiogenesis [13]. In insects, Se was shown to have negative effects on the larval growth and development of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni; however, its larvae fed Se in the penultimate and ultimate instars were more resistant to a baculovirus infection (Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus, AcMNPV) than were larvae not fed Se in the final instars [11], and a similar result was also shown in Heliothis virescens larvae against a baculovirus infection (Helicorerpa zea single nucleopolyhedrovirus, HzSNPV) [14].…”

“…In insects, Se may be relevant to microbial biological control in the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, larvae fed a Se-containing diet resulting in improved resistance to a baculovirus infection [11]. Dietary Se levels were directly correlated with plasma Se levels, and plasma Se levels were in turn correlated with baculovirus resistance [14]. In the present study, prawn fed the Se-enriched diets had significantly better immunity, including PO activity, respiratory bursts, and phagocytic activity of hemocytes, and antioxidant status, including GPx, GR, and GST activities of hemocytes, which led to an increased disease resistant against the pathogen, D. hansenii.…”

Chemical and biological stress factors on the activation of nucleopolyhedrovirus infections in covertly infected Spodoptera exigua

“…Previous studies have reported that supplementation of selenium in the diet at concentrations of 5–60 ppm was associated with larval resistance to baculovirus infection following both peroral and injected inoculum challenge (Popham et al. ; Shelby and Popham ). This effect could be related to the role of this microelement in the modulation of the host immune system, as dietary levels of selenium were closely correlated with levels in the haemolymph.…”

Effect of inorganic and organic forms of selenium supplementation on development of larval Heliothis virescens

“…The insectary colony was established from field insects in July 2002. Larvae develop normally on this basal diet, albeit with a less robust immunocompetence than larvae reared on Se-supplemented diets (Popham et al, 2005;Shelby & Popham, 2007). F9781B; BioServe, Frenchtown, NJ, USA) containing Wesson's salt mixture minerals with no added Se (Popham et al, 2005).…”

“…Se supplements manufactured for vertebrates generally provide the micronutrient in inorganic and organic forms, with the organic forms being primarily selenocystine (SeCys) and selenomethionine (SeMet), which are better tolerated than the selenium salts (Combs, 2001). Dietary supplementation with Se in the form of sodium selenite increased resistance of lepidopteran larvae to baculovirus infection though Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae were more tolerant of added sodium selenite than Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae (Popham et al, 2005;Shelby & Popham, 2007). The optimal form of Se supplementation has not been * Correspondence: E-mail: pophamh@missouri.edu determined for any insect.…”