Transcription dynamics of heat-shock proteins (Hsps) and endosymbiont titres in response to thermal stress in whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Asia-I)

Abstract

The sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), is one of the several species complexes of whitefly that are currently significant agricultural pests. Bemisia tabaci infests more than 600 plant species and thrives under a wide range of temperature conditions. In addition to the direct damage caused by sucking plant sap, it vectors several plant viruses. Heat-shock proteins play a pivotal role in enabling the insect to extend its geographical location, survival, and reproduction under different stress conditions. B. tabaci harbours several endosymbionts under the genera Portiera, Rickettsia, Hamiltonella, Wolbachia, Arsenophonus, Cardinium, and Fritschea that directly or indirectly affect its fitness. By accelerating cuticle biosynthesis and sclerotisation, symbiotic microbes can reduce or enhance tolerance to extreme temperatures and detoxify heavy metals. Thus, symbionts or microbial communities can expand or constrain the abiotic niche space of their host and affect its ability to adapt to changing conditions. The present study delineates the effect of thermal stress on the expression of heat-shock genes and endosymbionts in B. tabaci. Studies of the expression level of heat-shock proteins with the help of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that heat- and cold-shock treatment fuels the increased expression of heat-shock proteins (Hsp40 and Hsp70). However, Hsp90 was not induced by a heat- and cold-shock treatment. A significant decrease in the relative titre of secondary endosymbionts, such as Rickettsia, Arsenophonus, and Wolbachia, were recorded in B. tabaci upon heat treatment. However, the titre of the primary symbiont, C. Portiera, was relatively unaffected by both cold and heat treatments. These results are indicative of the fact that Hsp genes and endosymbionts in B. tabaci are modulated in response to thermal stress, and this might be responsible for the adaptation of whitefly under changing climatic scenario.

Integrative Analyses of Transcriptomics and Metabolomics in Immune Response of Leguminivora glycinivorella Mats to Beauveria bassiana Infection

“…HSPs are a class of stress proteins. HSPs can be induced by various stressors, helping to alleviate the damage caused by stress and facilitating repair [46][47][48][49]. Cytochrome P450 is a metabolic enzyme widely present in animals and plants and plays an important role in the growth, development, and drug resistance of insects [50][51][52][53].…”

The effects of temperature on prevalence of facultative insect heritable symbionts across spatial and seasonal scales

“…The white-fly Bemicia tabaci harbors several endosymbionts under the genera Rickettsia, Hamiltonella, and Wolbachia. All of them show reduced titer after exposition to higher temperatures, a pattern not displayed by the obligate endosymbiont Candidatus Portiera (Barman et al, 2022). Facultative symbionts were reported to mitigate the effect of heat shock on obligate symbionts, aiding the hosts' survival (Lemoine et al, 2020) and thus ensuring endosymbiont route to offspring despite the reduced titer.…”

“…In aphids, for example, heat shock increased the adaptive value of a symbiotic infection, implying that hosting a facultative symbiont was more beneficial under heat stress than under permissive temperatures (Tougeron and Iltis, 2022). This is represented by the endosymbionts' ability to trigger stress-lowering compounds (e.g., heat shock proteins) that modify hosts thermal tolerance through diverse metabolic and physiological pathways (Burke et al, 2010;Brumin et al, 2011;Wernegreen, 2012;Barman et al, 2022;Iltis et al, 2022). Deleterious effects of thermal stress on symbiont titers may be diminished via other mechanisms such as gene expression or modulation of the host behavior (Brumin et al, 2011;Truitt et al, 2018;Hague et al, 2020a;Barman et al, 2022).…”

“…This is represented by the endosymbionts' ability to trigger stress-lowering compounds (e.g., heat shock proteins) that modify hosts thermal tolerance through diverse metabolic and physiological pathways (Burke et al, 2010;Brumin et al, 2011;Wernegreen, 2012;Barman et al, 2022;Iltis et al, 2022). Deleterious effects of thermal stress on symbiont titers may be diminished via other mechanisms such as gene expression or modulation of the host behavior (Brumin et al, 2011;Truitt et al, 2018;Hague et al, 2020a;Barman et al, 2022). Divergent Wolbachia strains were reported to affect host preference to different microclimates.…”

Biochemical and morphological basis of resistance in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) against whitefly and jassid

“…Excessive dependence on insecticides for management of these pests has resulted in control failures at the eld level. Other detrimental effects like pesticide contamination, resurgence of secondary pests, insecticide resistance and various undesirable effects to the operators, consumers and natural enemies is still a lingering problem in the Indian subcontinent (Barman et al, 2021; Barman et al, 2023;Sandhi et al, 2017). Moreover, white y has been reported to develop resistance against organophosphates, synthetic pyrethroid, and different neonicotinoid insecticides that makes its management di cult (Barman et al, 2022; Kranthi et al, 2002).…”