Target antifungal peptides of immune signalling pathways in silkworm, Bombyx mori, against Beauveria bassiana

• Published in: Insect molecular biology Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 102 - 112
• Main Authors: Geng, T., Lu, F., Wu, H., Lou, D., Tu, N., Zhu, F., Wang, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01-02-2021; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Antifungal activity; antifungal peptides; Beauveria bassiana; Bombyx mori; Chlorophyll; Fungi; Fungicides; Genes; Hemolymph; Immune response; immune signalling pathway; Immunodeficiency; Immunoregulation; Innate immunity; Insects; Janus kinase; Kinases; Larvae; Microorganisms; Peptides; Signal transduction; Signaling; Silkworms; Transcription; Bombyx mori; antifungal peptides; immune signalling pathway; innate immunity
• ISSN: 0962-1075; 1365-2583
• DOI: 10.1111/imb.12681

Antifungal innate immunity is an important defence used by insects against entomogenous fungi. However, the downstream target antifungal peptides of different immune signalling pathways are unknown. We found that the Toll, Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (Jak/STAT) and Immunodeficiency (IMD) signalling pathways in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, can be activated by Beauveria bassiana. Inhibition of the Toll, IMD and Jak/STAT signalling pathways reduced the antifungal activities of silkworm haemolymph. We verified the target antifungal peptides of different immune signalling pathways. The expression patterns of five anti‐fungal peptide genes in silkworm larvae and BmN cells were detected after blocking or over‐expressing the immune signalling pathways. The Toll signalling pathways mediated the expression of Bmcecropin A, Bmattacin 1 and Bmgloverin 2; IMD signalling pathways mediated Bmenbocin 1, Bmgloverin 2 and Bmattacin 1; Jak/STAT signalling pathways mediated Bmstorage protein 30K‐19G1 (Bmsp 1), Bmattacin 1 and Bmcecropin A. These data indicated that anti‐microbial peptide genes in B. mori evolved through expansion and selection of existing genes to adapt to the challenge of invasive microorganisms such as fungi. This information provides insight into the antifungal immune responses in B. mori and aids understanding of insect immune regulation mechanisms.
The Toll pathways mediated the expression of Bmcecropin A, Bmattacin 1 and Bmgloverin 2; IMD pathways mediated Bmenbocin 1, Bmgloverin 2 and Bmattacin 1; Jak/STAT pathways mediated Bmsp 1, Bmattacin 1 and Bmcecropin A.
Anti‐microbial peptide genes in B. mori evolved through expansion and selection of existing genes to adapt to the challenge of invasive microorganisms such as fungi.
Silkworm has a dynamic, flexible and highly selective gene regulation system due to different pathogens pressures.