The dynamics of the microbial community in fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda during a life cycle

Abstract

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a destructive pest that causes serious damage worldwide, particularly to maize cultivars. The microbiota of S. frugiperda might play a role in its development and adaptability to different environments. However, the dynamics of microbial communities in S. frugiperda during its life cycle remain poorly understood. In this study, we used the amplification of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize the microbiome of all developmental stages of S. frugiperda fed with maize and adults fed with an artificial diet. The microbial composition of maize leaves, soil, and artificial diet was analyzed. Alpha diversity indices indicated that the neonate and early-phase larvae had higher bacterial diversity than late-phase larvae, pupae, and adults, and the bacterial diversity of adults fed with natural leaves was higher than that of adults fed an artificial diet. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the major phyla found in most life stages of S. frugiperda, especially in adults, sixth instars, and pupae. Neonate and early-phase larvae harbored a higher abundance of OD1 and microbes of unassigned taxonomy. A cooccurrence network of the highly abundant genera within S. frugiperda was then constructed, which revealed a potential interaction between the microbiota in insects, such as Enterococcus and Pseudomonas, and the dietary microbiota. Dynamic changes in bacterial communities led to changes in the metabolic functions of the microbiota across developmental stages. The genera OD1, Enterococcus, Comamonas, and Elizabethkingia were estimated to contribute to most of the functional changes in the microbiota of S. frugiperda. Our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the composition of S. frugiperda and its dynamic interaction with dietary microbiota.

The gut microbiome of Helicoverpa armigera enhances immune response to baculovirus infection via suppression of Duox‐mediated reactive oxygen species

“…37,38 Furthermore, gut microbe composition is highly variable among individuals due to effects of diet and other environmental factors, 39 even changing across developmental stages. 29,40 Following infection by HearNPV, specific microbiota in the larval midgut underwent proliferation in parallel with virus replication, although most others declined in abundance. However, the microbial increase in midgut tissues, without contents, was relatively small.…”

“…Efforts to clarify the influence of microbiota on viral infection can be confounded by antibiotic treatments used to produce axenic larvae, as these can vary in their efficacy in clearing the bacterial community, sometimes causing dysbiosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and even toxicity to the host 37,38 . Furthermore, gut microbe composition is highly variable among individuals due to effects of diet and other environmental factors, 39 even changing across developmental stages 29,40 . Following infection by HearNPV, specific microbiota in the larval midgut underwent proliferation in parallel with virus replication, although most others declined in abundance.…”

Enhanced Insecticidal Activity of Chlorfenapyr against Spodoptera frugiperda by Reshaping the Intestinal Microbial Community and Interfering with the Metabolism of Iron-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks

“…The results suggested that MIL-101-SL, CF-SC, and CF@MIL-101-SL affect digestive function and inhibit S. frugiperda growth by altering the relative abundance of species associated with nutrient and energy availability, and the influence was greater with H–CF@MIL-101-SL treatment. Chen et al reported a high pathogenicity of Stenotrophomonas in S. frugiperda.…”

“…h i b i t e d .species associated with nutrient and energy availability, and the influence was greater with H−CF@MIL-101-SL treatment. Chen et al51 reported a high pathogenicity of Stenotrophomonas in S. frugiperda. The relative abundance of Stenotrophomonas was increased with MIL-101-SL, CF-SC, and CF@MIL-101-SL treatments, which resulted in reduced resistance of S. frugiperda and promoted pathogen invasion.…”

Biology of fall armyworm – an introduction

“…Chen et al (2023) used 16S rRNA amplification sequencing to characterize the microbiome of fall armyworm larvae, pupae, and adults. They found that the bacterial diversity of young larvae was highest, and overall, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were most abundant.…”