Chemical modulators of the innate immune response alter gypsy moth larval susceptibility to <it>Bacillus thuringiensis</it>

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The gut comprises an essential barrier that protects both invertebrate and vertebrate animals from invasion by microorganisms. Disruption of the balanced relationship between indigenous gut microbiota and their host can result in gut...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Broderick Nichole A, Raffa Kenneth F, Handelsman Jo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2010-04-01
Series:BMC Microbiology
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/10/129
_version_ 1811287378731466752
author Broderick Nichole A
Raffa Kenneth F
Handelsman Jo
author_facet Broderick Nichole A
Raffa Kenneth F
Handelsman Jo
author_sort Broderick Nichole A
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The gut comprises an essential barrier that protects both invertebrate and vertebrate animals from invasion by microorganisms. Disruption of the balanced relationship between indigenous gut microbiota and their host can result in gut bacteria eliciting host responses similar to those caused by invasive pathogens. For example, ingestion of <it>Bacillus thuringiensis </it>by larvae of some species of susceptible Lepidoptera can result in normally benign enteric bacteria exerting pathogenic effects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We explored the potential role of the insect immune response in mortality caused by <it>B. thuringiensis </it>in conjunction with gut bacteria. Two lines of evidence support such a role. First, ingestion of <it>B. thuringiensis </it>by gypsy moth larvae led to the depletion of their hemocytes. Second, pharmacological agents that are known to modulate innate immune responses of invertebrates and vertebrates altered larval mortality induced by <it>B. thuringiensis</it>. Specifically, Gram-negative peptidoglycan pre-treated with lysozyme accelerated <it>B. thuringiensis</it>-induced killing of larvae previously made less susceptible due to treatment with antibiotics. Conversely, several inhibitors of the innate immune response (eicosanoid inhibitors and antioxidants) increased the host's survival time following ingestion of <it>B. thuringiensis</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study demonstrates that <it>B. thuringiensis </it>infection provokes changes in the cellular immune response of gypsy moth larvae. The effects of chemicals known to modulate the innate immune response of many invertebrates and vertebrates, including Lepidoptera, also indicate a role of this response in <it>B. thuringiensis </it>killing. Interactions among <it>B. thuringiensis </it>toxin, enteric bacteria, and aspects of the gypsy moth immune response may provide a novel model to decipher mechanisms of sepsis associated with bacteria of gut origin.</p>
first_indexed 2024-04-13T03:17:26Z
format Article
id doaj.art-4eabb4c1a1014e35b2d7d77f7771cda1
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1471-2180
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-13T03:17:26Z
publishDate 2010-04-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Microbiology
spelling doaj.art-4eabb4c1a1014e35b2d7d77f7771cda12022-12-22T03:04:52ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802010-04-0110112910.1186/1471-2180-10-129Chemical modulators of the innate immune response alter gypsy moth larval susceptibility to <it>Bacillus thuringiensis</it>Broderick Nichole ARaffa Kenneth FHandelsman Jo<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The gut comprises an essential barrier that protects both invertebrate and vertebrate animals from invasion by microorganisms. Disruption of the balanced relationship between indigenous gut microbiota and their host can result in gut bacteria eliciting host responses similar to those caused by invasive pathogens. For example, ingestion of <it>Bacillus thuringiensis </it>by larvae of some species of susceptible Lepidoptera can result in normally benign enteric bacteria exerting pathogenic effects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We explored the potential role of the insect immune response in mortality caused by <it>B. thuringiensis </it>in conjunction with gut bacteria. Two lines of evidence support such a role. First, ingestion of <it>B. thuringiensis </it>by gypsy moth larvae led to the depletion of their hemocytes. Second, pharmacological agents that are known to modulate innate immune responses of invertebrates and vertebrates altered larval mortality induced by <it>B. thuringiensis</it>. Specifically, Gram-negative peptidoglycan pre-treated with lysozyme accelerated <it>B. thuringiensis</it>-induced killing of larvae previously made less susceptible due to treatment with antibiotics. Conversely, several inhibitors of the innate immune response (eicosanoid inhibitors and antioxidants) increased the host's survival time following ingestion of <it>B. thuringiensis</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study demonstrates that <it>B. thuringiensis </it>infection provokes changes in the cellular immune response of gypsy moth larvae. The effects of chemicals known to modulate the innate immune response of many invertebrates and vertebrates, including Lepidoptera, also indicate a role of this response in <it>B. thuringiensis </it>killing. Interactions among <it>B. thuringiensis </it>toxin, enteric bacteria, and aspects of the gypsy moth immune response may provide a novel model to decipher mechanisms of sepsis associated with bacteria of gut origin.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/10/129
spellingShingle Broderick Nichole A
Raffa Kenneth F
Handelsman Jo
Chemical modulators of the innate immune response alter gypsy moth larval susceptibility to <it>Bacillus thuringiensis</it>
BMC Microbiology
title Chemical modulators of the innate immune response alter gypsy moth larval susceptibility to <it>Bacillus thuringiensis</it>
title_full Chemical modulators of the innate immune response alter gypsy moth larval susceptibility to <it>Bacillus thuringiensis</it>
title_fullStr Chemical modulators of the innate immune response alter gypsy moth larval susceptibility to <it>Bacillus thuringiensis</it>
title_full_unstemmed Chemical modulators of the innate immune response alter gypsy moth larval susceptibility to <it>Bacillus thuringiensis</it>
title_short Chemical modulators of the innate immune response alter gypsy moth larval susceptibility to <it>Bacillus thuringiensis</it>
title_sort chemical modulators of the innate immune response alter gypsy moth larval susceptibility to it bacillus thuringiensis it
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/10/129
work_keys_str_mv AT brodericknicholea chemicalmodulatorsoftheinnateimmuneresponsealtergypsymothlarvalsusceptibilitytoitbacillusthuringiensisit
AT raffakennethf chemicalmodulatorsoftheinnateimmuneresponsealtergypsymothlarvalsusceptibilitytoitbacillusthuringiensisit
AT handelsmanjo chemicalmodulatorsoftheinnateimmuneresponsealtergypsymothlarvalsusceptibilitytoitbacillusthuringiensisit