Pherokine‐2 and ‐3

Abstract

Drosophila is a powerful model system to study the regulatory and effector mechanisms of innate immunity. To identify molecules induced in the course of viral infection in this insect, we have developed a model based on intrathoracic injection of the picorna-like Drosophila C virus (DCV). We have used MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry to compare the hemolymph of DCV infected flies and control flies. By contrast with the strong humoral response triggered by injection of bacteria or fungal spores, we have identified only one molecule induced in the hemolymph of virus infected flies. This molecule, pherokine-2 (Phk-2), is related to OS-D/ A10 (Phk-1), which was previously characterized as a putative odor/pheromone binding protein specifically expressed in antennae. The virus-induced molecule is also similar to the product of the gene CG9358 (Phk-3), which is induced by septic injury. Both Phk-2 and Phk-3 are strongly expressed during metamorphosis, suggesting that they may participate in tissue-remodeling.

Description of the Transcriptomes of Immune Response-Activated Hemocytes from the Mosquito Vectors Aedes aegypti and Armigeres subalbatus

“…One intriguing example is an abundantly represented sensory appendage protein with similarity to odorant or pheromone binding proteins that was noted among the Aedes aegypti EST clusters. Two such molecules recently have been reported as having a role in tissue remodeling and are inducible by viral and bacterial infection in Drosophila (49).…”

Biometrical genetic analysis of luteovirus transmission in the aphid Schizaphis graminum

“…Responses to bacterial, fungal and protozoal pathogens include melanization, phagocytosis and cellular encapsulation by hemocytes, as well as secretion of antimicrobial peptides (Leclerc and Reichhart, 2004;Levashina, 2004;Loker, 2004). However, the response to viral pathogens is considered to be distinct, as Drosophila genes involved in anti-bacterial and antifungal immunity are not induced by virus pathogens (Sabatier et al, 2003;Leclerc and Reichhart, 2004). An encapsulation immune response to a baculovirus was described in Helicoverpa zea (Trudeau et al, 2001).…”

The Plant Virus Tomato Spotted Wilt Tospovirus Activates the Immune System of Its Main Insect Vector, Frankliniella occidentalis

“…It has been reported that cells of Helicoverpa zea larvae infected with Autographa californica polyhedrovirus are encapsulated by hemocytes and subsequently cleared, demonstrating that the insect cellular immune response is effective against viral pathogens (51). Only two virus-induced molecules, pherokine-2 and -3, were identified in Drosophila after intrathoracic injection of the Drosophila C virus (39). A lipase showing antiviral activity against Bombyx mori polyhedrovirus was purified from the digestive juice of B. mori larvae and detected into the insect midgut, the site of virus entry (37).…”