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Midgut microbiota and host immunocompetence underlie Bacillus thuringiensis killing mechanism
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Midgut microbiota and host immunocompetence underlie Bacillus thuringiensis killing mechanism
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Journal Article
Midgut microbiota and host immunocompetence underlie Bacillus thuringiensis killing mechanism
2016
Overview
Bacillus thuringiensis is a widely used bacterial entomopathogen producing insecticidal toxins, some of which are expressed in insect-resistant transgenic crops. Surprisingly, the killing mechanism of B. thuringiensis remains controversial. In particular, the importance of the septicemia induced by the host midgut microbiota is still debated as a result of the lack of experimental evidence obtained without drastic manipulation of the midgut and its content. Here this key issue is addressed by RNAi-mediated silencing of an immune gene in a lepidopteran host Spodoptera littoralis, leaving the midgut microbiota unaltered. The resulting cellular immunosuppression was characterized by a reduced nodulation response, which was associated with a significant enhancement of host larvae mortality triggered by B. thuringiensis and a Cry toxin. This was determined by an uncontrolled proliferation of midgut bacteria, after entering the body cavity through toxin-induced epithelial lesions. Consequently, the hemolymphatic microbiota dramatically changed upon treatment with Cry1Ca toxin, showing a remarkable predominance of Serratia and Clostridium species, which switched from asymptomatic gut symbionts to hemocoelic pathogens. These experimental results demonstrate the important contribution of host enteric flora in B. thuringiensis-killing activity and provide a sound foundation for developing new insect control strategies aimed at enhancing the impact of biocontrol agents by reducing the immunocompetence of the host.
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Subject
/ Animals
/ Bacillus thuringiensis - growth & development
/ Bacillus thuringiensis - pathogenicity
/ Bacterial Proteins - biosynthesis
/ Clostridium - growth & development
/ Crops, Agricultural - parasitology
/ Flora
/ Hemolysin Proteins - biosynthesis
/ Insect Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors
/ Insect Proteins - immunology
/ Larvae
/ Pest Control, Biological - methods
/ RNA, Double-Stranded - genetics
/ RNA, Double-Stranded - metabolism
/ Serratia
/ Serratia - growth & development
/ Toxins
