Project description:In this study, we profiled the transcriptional changes in a polyphagous spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, after adaptation to spatial and tempospatial stress. We show heritable down-regulation of genes encoding for core enzymes involved in the citric acid and gluconeogenesis/glycolyse pathways (glucose 6-phosphatase among others). Additionally, we observe heritable transcriptional changes in amino acid pathways (methionine, tyrosine and phenylalanine) and in laterally acquired genes from bacteria (cobalamin-independent methionine synthase). By similiar study results in other organisms, we argue that these heritable transcriptional changes (partially) underpin the changed life history traits observed in our experimental evolution set-up.
Project description:The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae is an extreme polyphaguous crop pest. Next to an increased detoxification potential of plant secondary metabolites, it has recently been shown that spider mites manipulate plant defences. Salivary constituents are proposed to play an important role during the interaction with its many hosts. The proteomic composition of saliva delivered into artificial diet by spider mites adapted to various hosts - bean, soy, maize, tomato -was determined using Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Over 200 different proteins were identified, many of unknown function and in numerous cases belonging to multi-membered gene families. A selection of these putative salivary proteins was validated using whole-mount in situ hybridizations and expression was shown to be localized in the anterior and dorsal podocephalic glands of the spider mite. Host-plant dependent expression was evident from the proteomics dataset and was further studied in detail by micro-array based genome wide gene expression profiling of mites maintained on the host plants under study. Previously obtained gene-expression datasets were further used to get more insight in the expression profile over different life stages and physiological states. To conclude, for the first time the T. urticae salivary proteome repertoire was characterized using a custom feeding hemisphere-based enrichment technique. This knowledge will assist in unraveling the molecular interactions between phytophagous mites and their host plants. This may ultimately facilitate the development of mite-resistant crops.
Project description:Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) is an insecticide synergist known to inhibit the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes. PBO is currently used in many insecticide formulations, and has also been suggested as a pre-treatment in some pesticide applications. Little is known about how insects respond to PBO exposure at the gene transcription level. We have characterised the transcriptional response of the Drosophila melanogaster genome after PBO treatment, using both a custom designed “detox” microarray containing cytochrome P450 (P450), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and esterase genes, and a full genome microarray. We identify a subset of P450 and GST genes, along with additional metabolic genes, that are highly induced by PBO. The gene set is an extremely similar gene set to that induced by phenobarbital, a compound for which pre-treatment is known to confer tolerance to a range of insecticide compounds. The implications of the induction of gene families known to metabolise insecticides and the use of PBO in pest management programs are discussed. Keywords: Induction response after treatment by PBO
Project description:Genome wide gene-expression analysis of the spider mite Tetranychus urticae after transfer from their common host (bean) to either cotton, maize or soy
Project description:Genome wide gene-expression analysis of the spider mite Tetranychus urticae after long term host transfer from acyanogenic Phaseolus vulgaris cv. 'Prelude' bean plants to cyanogenic Phaseolus lunatus cv. '8078' bean plants
Project description:The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is one of the most significant mite pests in agriculture that can feed on more than 1,100 plant hosts, including model plants Arabidopsis thaliana and tomato, Solanum lycopersicum. Here, we described tomato transcriptional responses to spider mite feeding and compared them to Arabidopsis in order to determine conserved and divergent responses to this pest. 2,133 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected at 1, 3, 6, 12 or 24 hours post spider mite infestation (hpi) relative to non-infested control plants. Based on Biological Process Gene Ontology annotations, improved in the course of our analysis, DEGs were grouped in 60 significantly enriched gene sets that highlighted perception of the spider mite attack (1 hpi), metabolic reprogramming (3-6 hpi), and establishment and maintenance of the defense responses (6-24 hpi). We used microarray to assess global gene expression in Solanum lycopersicum cv. Heinz 1706 upon Tetranychus urticae attack.