Dataset Information

Cloning, Expression, and Immunological Characterization of Formosan Subterranean Termite (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) Arginine Kinase.

ABSTRACT: Several parts of the world regularly consume termites. Arthropod arginine kinase proteins often cross-react with human immunoblobulin E (IgE) antibodies and they are considered pan-allergens. The Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus (C. formosanus (Shiraki) [Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae]), along with cockroaches, belong to the order Blattodea and they are common household pests in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. An sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) band migrating at approximately 37 kDa in C. formosanus termite extracts cross-reacted with IgE from five cockroach allergic patient samples by immunoblot. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of gel slices from the corresponding region of a gel indicated several peptides from the excised region were identical to the American cockroach arginine kinase allergen, Per a 9. The sequence of the full-length C. formosanus arginine kinase gene indicates the protein it encodes is 96% identical to American cockroach Per a 9, 94% identical to German cockroach Bla g 9, and 82-84% identical to shrimp arginine kinase proteins Pen m 2, Lit v 2, and Cra c 2. Full-length C. formosanus arginine kinase was fused to a glutathione S-transferase tag and recombinantly expressed and purified from Escherichia coli by affinity chromatography. The recombinant protein was recognized by IgE from 11 of 12 cockroach or shrimp allergic samples, but did not cross-react with dust mite allergic or peanut/tree nut allergic samples. The results of this study indicate the C. formosanus arginine kinase cross-reacts with cockroach and shrimp allergic IgE, and if consumed would likely act as an allergen.

SUBMITTER: Mattison CP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7380462 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Cloning, Expression, and Immunological Characterization of Formosan Subterranean Termite (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) Arginine Kinase.

Mattison Christopher P CP Tungtrongchitr Anchalee A Tille Katherine S KS Cottone Carrie B CB Riegel Claudia C

Journal of insect science (Online) 20200701 4

Several parts of the world regularly consume termites. Arthropod arginine kinase proteins often cross-react with human immunoblobulin E (IgE) antibodies and they are considered pan-allergens. The Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus (C. formosanus (Shiraki) [Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae]), along with cockroaches, belong to the order Blattodea and they are common household pests in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. An sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophores ...[more]

PMID: 32706873

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Project description:BackgroundCarbon dioxide (CO2) is a pervasive chemical stimulus that plays a critical role in insect life, eliciting behavioral and physiological responses across different species. High CO2 concentration is a major feature of termite nests, which may be used as a cue for locating their nests. Termites also survive under an elevated CO2 concentration. However, the mechanism by which elevated CO2 concentration influences gene expression in termites is poorly understood.MethodsTo gain a better understanding of the molecular basis involved in the adaptation to CO2 concentration, a transcriptome of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki was constructed to assemble the reference genes, followed by comparative transcriptomic analyses across different CO2 concentration (0.04%, 0.4%, 4% and 40%) treatments.Results(1) Based on a high throughput sequencing platform, we obtained approximately 20 GB of clean data and revealed 189,421 unigenes, with a mean length and an N50 length of 629 bp and 974 bp, respectively. (2) The transcriptomic response of C. formosanus to elevated CO2 levels presented discontinuous changes. Comparative analysis of the transcriptomes revealed 2,936 genes regulated among 0.04%, 0.4%, 4% and 40% CO2 concentration treatments, 909 genes derived from termites and 2,027 from gut symbionts. Genes derived from termites appears selectively activated under 4% CO2 level. In 40% CO2 level, most of the down-regulated genes were derived from symbionts. (3) Through similarity searches to data from other species, a number of protein sequences putatively involved in chemosensory reception were identified and characterized in C. formosanus, including odorant receptors, gustatory receptors, ionotropic receptors, odorant binding proteins, and chemosensory proteins.DiscussionWe found that most genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, and genetic information processing were regulated under different CO2 concentrations. Results suggested that termites adapt to ?4% CO2 level and their gut symbionts may be killed under high CO2 level. We anticipate that our findings provide insights into the transcriptome dynamics of CO2 responses in termites and form the basis to gain a better understanding of regulatory networks.

Project description:In monogamous species that exhibit extensive biparental investment, such as termites, both sexes are predicted to be selective when choosing a mate. Size-related traits are expected to be important in partner selection because the fat reserves of the colony founders sustain the incipient colony. Partner relatedness and heterozygosity determine the degree of inbreeding and genetic diversity within the colony and may thus also influence partner selection. To test these predictions, we investigated whether phenotypic and genetic traits influence mate choice and/or competitive advantage during pair formation of Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Pair formation in termites normally occurs within a short period after swarming when alates form tandem pairs on the ground. Alates were collected from 5 light trap samples in the French Quarter of New Orleans, LA. From each sample, both tandem pairs and single individuals were collected and their sex, body weights, and head widths were recorded. Pairwise relatedness and individual levels of heterozygosity were determined by microsatellite genotyping. Males in tandem pairs with females had a significantly larger head width than males that did not form tandem pairs. Weights as well as head widths of tandem running partners were positively correlated. For the majority of the samples, relatedness between tandem partners did not differ from the relatedness to members of the other tandem pairs. Thus, no kin discrimination occurred during tandem running. However, females engaged in tandem running had a higher degree of heterozygosity than females that remained single. These findings suggest partner selection and/or competitive advantage based on size-related phenotypic parameters and genetic diversity. The pairing advantage of heterozygous females might explain previous findings of sex-biased alate production depending on the degree of inbreeding in colonies of several species of the genus Coptotermes.

Dataset Information

Cloning, Expression, and Immunological Characterization of Formosan Subterranean Termite (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) Arginine Kinase.

Publications

Cloning, Expression, and Immunological Characterization of Formosan Subterranean Termite (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) Arginine Kinase.

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