Plant-mediated Alteration of the Peritrophic Matrix and Baculovirus Infection in Lepidopteran Larvae
Department
Biology
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-10-2008
Abstract
The peritrophic matrix (PM) lines the midgut of most insects, providing protection to the midgut epithelial cells while permitting passage of nutrients and water. Herein, we provide evidence that plant-mediated alteration of the PM contributes to the well-documented inhibition of fatal infection by Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) of Heliothis virescens F. larvae fed cotton foliage. We examined the impact of the PM on pathogenesis using a viral construct expressing a reporter gene (AcMNPV-hsp70/ lacZ) orally inoculated into larvae with either intact PMs or PMs disrupted by Trichoplusia ni granulovirus occlusion bodies containing enhancin, known to degrade insect intestinal mucin. Larvae possessing disrupted PMs displayed infection foci (lacZ signaling) earlier than those with intact PMs. We then examined PMs from larvae fed artificial diet or plant foliage using electron microscopy; foliage-fed larvae had significantly thicker PMs than diet-fed larvae. Moreover, mean PM width was inversely related to both the proportion of larvae with lacZ signaling at 18 h post-inoculation and the final percentage mortality from virus. Thus, feeding on foliage altered PM structure, and these foliage-mediated changes reduced baculoviral efficacy. These data indicate that the PM is an important factor determining the success of an ingested pathogen in foliage-fed lepidopteran larvae.
Publication Title
Journal of Insect Physiology
Publisher Statement
© 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
DOI
10.1016/j.jinsphys.2008.02.005
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Plymale, Ruth, Grove, Michael J., Cox-Foster, Diana, Ostiguy, Nancy, and Hoover, Kelli. "Plant-mediated Alteration of the Peritrophic Matrix and Baculovirus Infection in Lepidopteran Larvae," Journal of Insect Physiology, 54:4 (2008) Apr, 737-749. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2008.02.005