Project description:<p>Parasites can manipulate host behavior to facilitate parasite transmission. One such host-pathogen interaction occurs between the fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (O. sinensis) and the ghost moth Thitarodes xiaojinensis. O. sinensis is involved in the mummification process of infected host larvae. However, the underlying molecular and chemical mechanism for this phenomenon is unknown. We characterized the small molecules regulating host behavior and the altered metabolites in infected and mummified host larvae. Lipid-related metabolites, such as phosphatidylcholine (PC) were identified in infected and mummified larvae. Decreased levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) and elevated choline levels were observed in the brains of both the infected and mummified larvae. The aberrant activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and relative mRNA expression of ACE2 (acetylcholinesterase) may mediate the altered transformation between ACh and choline, leading to the brain dysfunction of mummified larvae. Caspofungin treatment inhibited the mummification of infected larvae and the activity of AChE. These findings indicate the importance of ACh in the mummification of host larvae after O. sinensis infection.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Lipidome data</strong> is reported in the current study <a href='https://www.ebi.ac.uk/metabolights/MTBLS9930' rel='noopener noreferrer' target='_blank'><strong>MTBLS9930</strong></a>.</p><p><strong>Metabolome data</strong> is reported in <a href='https://www.ebi.ac.uk/metabolights/MTBLS9929' rel='noopener noreferrer' target='_blank'><strong>MTBLS9929</strong></a>.</p>
Project description:<p>Parasites can manipulate host behavior to facilitate parasite transmission. One such host-pathogen interaction occurs between the fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (O. sinensis) and the ghost moth Thitarodes xiaojinensis. O. sinensis is involved in the mummification process of infected host larvae. However, the underlying molecular and chemical mechanism for this phenomenon is unknown. We characterized the small molecules regulating host behavior and the altered metabolites in infected and mummified host larvae. Lipid-related metabolites, such as phosphatidylcholine (PC) were identified in infected and mummified larvae. Decreased levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) and elevated choline levels were observed in the brains of both the infected and mummified larvae. The aberrant activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and relative mRNA expression of ACE2 (acetylcholinesterase) may mediate the altered transformation between ACh and choline, leading to the brain dysfunction of mummified larvae. Caspofungin treatment inhibited the mummification of infected larvae and the activity of AChE. These findings indicate the importance of ACh in the mummification of host larvae after O. sinensis infection.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Metabolome data</strong> is reported in the current study <a href='https://www.ebi.ac.uk/metabolights/MTBLS9929' rel='noopener noreferrer' target='_blank'><strong>MTBLS9929</strong></a>.</p><p><strong>Lipidome data</strong> is reported in <a href='https://www.ebi.ac.uk/metabolights/MTBLS9930' rel='noopener noreferrer' target='_blank'><strong>MTBLS9930</strong></a>.</p>
2024-08-05 | MTBLS9929 | MetaboLights
Project description:RNA-Seq of Hepialus humuli: silk glands
