Molecular characterization of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) transferrin and its response to parasitoid Venturia canescens (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae Gravenhorst)

Abstract

In the present study, we characterized a full-length cDNA encoding a putative iron-binding protein transferrin from the lepidopteran Mediterranean flour moth (EkTrf, 2397 bp). The putative EkTrf is 683 amino acids with a molecular mass of approximately 76 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence showed significant homology with other insect transferrins from Chilo suppressalis (76%), Galleria mellonella (75%), Plutella xylostella (72%), Manduca sexta (74%), Bombyx mori (73%), Spodoptera litura and (72%), Choristoneura fumiferana (71%). Northern blot analysis indicated that Ephestia transferrin mRNA was expressed in the last larval instars of both males and females and in the pupal developmental stages. EkTrf is expressed predominantly in the fat body and ovary tissues. Analysis of parasitized larva by the endoparasitoid Venturia canescens suggests that transferrin expression is induced following parasitoid challenge. Expression of EkTrf levels also increased upon bacterial infection at 6 h post treatment and remained high until 24 h. Similarly to other insect transferrins, EkTrf may play a role in immunity through its iron-binding capacity.

Comparative Genomics of Glossina palpalis gambiensis and G. morsitans morsitans to Reveal Gene Orthologs Involved in Infection by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense

“…By reducing the oxidative stress in tsetse fly guts, transferrin may promote the survival of trypanosomes. Guz et al (2012) observed transferrin overexpression after challenge with bacteria, even at a higher level than what is typically observed in the case of infection by trypanosomes.…”

The mitochondrial genome of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), and identification of invading mitochondrial sequences (numts) in the W chromosome

“…Although the W chromosome and several genomic loci were studied at the molecular level (see e.g. Rohwedel et al, 1993;Sahara et al, 1999;Traut et al, , 2013Pytelková et al, 2009;Guz et al, 2012;Kobelková et al, 2015), the nuclear genome has not yet been sequenced. In the present study, we describe the complete mitochondrial genome, compare it with that of other lepidopteran species, and investigate the invasion of the W chromosome by mitochondrial sequences called numts (i.e.…”

Transcriptional profiling of transferrin gene from Egyptian cotton leaf worm, Spodoptera littoralis

“…Although there are differences in insect developmental stages (Kurama et al, 1995;Yoshiga et al, 1999;Strickler-Dinglasan et al, 2006), transferrin transcript levels tended to increase through larval development, reaching a maximum in either the last instar or pupal stage (Ampasala et al, 2004;Valles et al, 2005;Guz et al, 2012).…”

“…Transcription and translation of the transferrin protein are upregulated by bacterial infection in several species of insects, including Lepidoptera (Nichol et al, 2002;Seitz et al, 2003;Ampasala et al, 2004;Yun et al, 2009;Guz et al, 2012). Here we demonstrate that SpliTrf is also upregulated in response to challenge with a gram-positive bacterium, B. thuringiensis.…”

“…In addition, it is known that transferrin synthesis is increased following exposure to bacteria, fungi, pathogens, and parasites, as well as insect parasitoids (Beernsten et al, 1994;Yoshiga et al, 1997Yoshiga et al, , 1999Kucharski et al, 2003;Thompson et al, 2003;Ampasala et al, 2004;Valles et al, 2005;Bergin et al, 2006;Lee et al, 2006;Guz et al, 2007Guz et al, , 2012Magalhaes et al, 2007;Paily et al, 2007;Wang et al, 2007;Mowlds et al, 2008;Yun et al, 2009;Zhou et al, 2009;Kim et al, 2010). Interestingly, although transferrin expression was found to be induced by dengue virus infection of the salivary glands in yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (Luplertlop et al, 2011), transferrin protein levels were shown to be downregulated (Tchankouo et al, 2011).…”