Colgan, Thomas J., Carolan, James C., Sumner, Seirian, Blaxter, Mark L. and Brown, Mark J.F. (2020) Infection by the castrating parasitic nematode Sphaerularia bombi changes gene expression in Bombus terrestris bumblebee queens. Insect Molecular Biology, 29 (2). pp. 170-182. ISSN 0962-1075
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Abstract
Parasitism can result in dramatic changes in host phenotype, which are themselves
underpinned by genes and their expression. Understanding how hosts respond at the molecular
level to parasites can therefore reveal the molecular architecture of an altered host phenotype.
The entomoparasitic nematode Sphaerularia bombi is a parasite of bumblebee (Bombus) hosts
where it induces complex behavioural changes and host castration. To examine this interaction
at the molecular level, we performed genome-wide transcriptional profiling using RNA-Seq of S.
bombi-infected Bombus terrestris queens at two critical time-points: during and just after
overwintering diapause. We found that infection by S. bombi affects the transcription of genes
underlying host biological processes associated with energy usage, translation, and circadian
rhythm. We also found that the parasite affects the expression of immune genes, including
members of the Toll signaling pathway providing evidence for a novel interaction between the
parasite and the host immune response. Taken together, our results identify host biological
processes and genes affected by an entomoparasitic nematode providing the first steps towards
a molecular understanding of this ecologically important host-parasite interaction.
Item Type: | Article |
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Additional Information: | This is the preprint version of the published article, which is available at Colgan, T.J., Carolan, J.C., Sumner, S., Blaxter, M.L. and Brown, M.J.F. (2020), Infection by the castrating parasitic nematode Sphaerularia bombi changes gene expression in Bombus terrestris bumblebee queens. Insect Mol Biol, 29: 170-182. https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.12618 |
Keywords: | pollinator health; insect immunity; molecular parasitism; extended phenotype; |
Academic Unit: | Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology |
Item ID: | 13513 |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/imb.12618 |
Depositing User: | James Carolan |
Date Deposited: | 09 Nov 2020 15:25 |
Journal or Publication Title: | Insect Molecular Biology |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Refereed: | Yes |
Related URLs: | |
URI: | https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/13513 |
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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