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Immune function differences between two color morphs of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) at different life stages.

ABSTRACT: Several studies demonstrated that in insects cuticle melanism is interrelated with pathogen resistance, as melanin-based coloration and innate immunity possess similar physiological pathways. For some insects, higher pathogen resistance was observed in darker individuals than in individuals with lighter cuticular coloration. Here, we investigated the difference in immune response between two color morphs (black and red) and between the life stages (pupa and adult) of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Here in this study, cuticle thickness, microbial test (antimicrobial activity, phenoloxidase activity, and hemocyte density), and immune-related gene expression were evaluated at different stages of RPW. Study results revealed that cuticle thickness of black phenotype was thicker than red phenotype at old-pupa stage, while no significant difference found at adult stage. These results may relate to the development processes of epidermis in different stages of RPW. The results of antimicrobial activity, phenoloxidase (PO) activity, and hemocyte density analyses showed that adults with a red phenotype had stronger pathogen resistance than those with a black phenotype. In addition to antimicrobial activity and PO activity, we tested relative gene expression in the fat body of old pupae. The results of hemolymph antimicrobial analysis showed that old pupae with a red phenotype were significantly different from those with a black phenotype at 12 hr after Staphylococcus aureus injection, suggesting that red phenotype pupae were more sensitive to S. aureus. Examination of gene expression in the fat body also revealed that the red phenotype had a higher immune response than the black phenotype. Our results were inconsistent with the previous conclusion that dark insects had increased immune function, suggesting that the relationship between cuticle pigmentation and immune function in insects was not a direct link. Additional possible factors that are associated with the immune response, such as life-history, developmental, physiological factors also need to be considered.

SUBMITTER: Wang G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8131810 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:External secretions play a vital role in external immune defense. However, the functions and components of these exudates are largely unknown in the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). In order to determine their role in external immunity, the immunosuppressive efficacy of the secretions in vitro against microbes, including bacteria and fungi, was clarified. In the present study, we found that these secretions had antimicrobial activity in vitro, implying external immunizing potency against pathogens. Surprisingly, all liquid phases of secretions could not significantly inhibit the growth of microbes in vitro compared to solid phases. To explain this phenomenon, the composition and emission differentia of secretions from the exocrine glands associated with different developmental stages, secretory regions, and phases were identified and analyzed based on metabonomics techniques. A total of more than 200 compounds, including quinines, phenols, aldehydes, acids, alcohols, saccharides, ketones, esters, amines, salts, ureas, and heterocycles, were identified in the secretions of larvae and adults. The liquid phase shared a number of metabolites with the solid phase, but the emission types and amounts were significantly different in the two phases, resulting in differences in external immunological activity. Tyrosine and p-benzoquinone were the dominant metabolites in all of the secretions, accounting for approximately 11.29% of emissions, with the portion in the solid phase being generally higher than that in the liquid phase. Moreover, only p-benzoquinone was entirely significantly upregulated in the solid phase compared to the liquid phase. Therefore, metabolome analysis suggested that p-benzoquinone, which may potentially be developed to be a valuable marker for determining external immunity, was considered to be the main substance responsible for external immune functions. This hypothesis was further demonstrated by the antimicrobial activity of p-benzoquinone.

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Immune function differences between two color morphs of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) at different life stages.

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