Hartley, Cathryn J. and Lillis, Peter E. and Owens, Rebecca A. and Griffin, Christine (2019) Infective juveniles of entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema and Heterorhabditis) secrete ascarosides and respond to interspecific dispersal signals. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 168 (107257). ISSN 0022-2011

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Abstract

Ascarosides are a modular series of signalling molecules that are widely conserved in nematodes where they function as pheromones with both behavioural and developmental effects. Here we show that the developmentally arrested infective juvenile (IJ) stage of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) secrete ascarosides into the surrounding medium. The exometabolome of Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis megidis was examined at 0, 1, 7 and 21 days of storage. The concentration of several ascarosides (ascr#11, ascr#9, ascr#12, ascr#1 and ascr#14 for both species, plus ascr#10 for H. megidis) showed a progressive increase over this period, while the concentration of longer chain ascarosides increased up to day 7, with an apparent decline thereafter. Ascr #9 was the main ascaroside produced by both species. Similar ascarosides were found over a 7-day period for Steinernema longicaudum and S. feltiae. Ascaroside blends have previously been shown to promote nematode dispersal. S. carpocapsae and H. megidis IJs were stored for up to 12 weeks and assayed at intervals. IJs where exometabolome was allowed to accumulate showed higher dispersal rates than those where water was changed frequently, indicating that IJ exometabolome maintained high dispersal. Infectivity was not affected. IJ exometabolome accumulated over 7 days promoted dispersal of freshly harvested IJs, both of their own and other EPN species. Similarly, extracts of nematode-infected cadavers promoted dispersal of con- and heterospecific IJs. Thus, IJs are encouraged to disperse from a source cadaver or from other crowded conditions by public information cues, a finding that may have application in enhancing biocontrol. However, the complexity of the ascaroside blend produced by IJs suggests that it may have ecological functions other than dispersal.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Funding: CJH and PEL were funded by John and Pat Hume scholarships from Maynooth University. Liquid chromatography and high mass accuracy mass spectrometry facilities were funded by Science Foundation Ireland (12/RI/2346 (3)). Cite as: Cathryn J. Hartley, Peter E. Lillis, Rebecca A. Owens, Christine T. Griffin, Infective juveniles of entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema and Heterorhabditis) secrete ascarosides and respond to interspecific dispersal signals, Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, Volume 168 (2019) 107257, ISSN 0022-2011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2019.107257.
Keywords:	Pheromone; Biocontrol; Biological pest control; Interspecific communication; Metabolomics;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology
Item ID:	13592
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2019.107257
Depositing User:	Rebecca Owens
Date Deposited:	19 Nov 2020 17:42
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Invertebrate Pathology
Publisher:	Elsevier
Refereed:	Yes
Funders:	John and Pat Hume Scholarship, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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