The endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia (Rickettsiales) alters larval metabolism of the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Abstract

Infection of intestinal tissues with Wolbachia has been found in Habrobracon hebetor. There are not many studies on the relationship between Habrobracon and Wolbachia, and they focus predominantly on the sex index of an infected parasitoid, its fertility, and behavior. The actual role of Wolbachia in the biology of Habrobracon is not yet clear. The method of complete eradication of Wolbachia in the parasitoid was developed here, and effects of the endosymbiont on the host's digestive metabolism were compared between two lines of the parasitoid (Wolbachia‐positive and Wolbachia‐negative). In the gut of Wolbachia+ larvae, lipases' activity was higher almost twofold, and activities of acid proteases, esterases, and trehalase were 1.5‐fold greater than those in the Wolbachia– line. Analyses of larval homogenates revealed that Wolbachia+ larvae accumulate significantly more lipids and have a lower amount of pyruvate as compared to Wolbachia– larvae. The presented results indicate significant effects of the intracellular symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia on the metabolism of H. hebetor larvae and on the activity of its digestive enzymes.

Drosophila melanogaster Transcriptome Response to Different Wolbachia Strains

“…Notably, changes in the activities of acid proteases, lipases and esterases were also found in Wolbachia-infected larvae of Habrobracon hebetor compared to uninfected ones [41]. and esterases were also found in Wolbachia-infected larvae of Habrobracon hebetor compared to uninfected ones [41]. As mentioned above, various Wolbachia strains altered gene expression in different ways (see Figure 10): the wMelCS 112 strain mostly caused a decrease in the expression level of the genes belonging to the functional groups we identified in the present study, whereas wMelPlus mostly caused an increase in their expression.…”

“…It should be noted that the direction of these changes depends on sex: infected females demonstrate decreased appetite compared with uninfected ones [16], whereas infected males show increased food consumption [37]. Notably, changes in the activities of acid proteases, lipases and esterases were also found in Wolbachia-infected larvae of Habrobracon hebetor compared to uninfected ones [41]. and esterases were also found in Wolbachia-infected larvae of Habrobracon hebetor compared to uninfected ones [41].…”