Insect Espionage: Molecular Mechanisms of Caterpillar Subversion of Host Plant Defenses

昆虫间谍活动：毛毛虫颠覆宿主植物防御的分子机制

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-04516
• 负责人: Bede, Jacqueline
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: McGill University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=763565
• 关键词: Insect; Espionage; Molecular; Mechanisms; Caterpillar

Despite heavy agricultural pesticide use, global crop losses due to insect herbivory exceed 13%. In Canada, yield losses are expected worsen as global warming progresses as new migrant insect pest species are predicted to become established coupled with increases in pest infestations due to more generations because of longer summers and lower pest mortality due to milder winters. Therefore, under predicted future climatic conditions, insect pest pressure will increase and further challenge agricultural systems. Plants have endogenous physical and chemical means to protect themselves against caterpillar herbivory, however, insect herbivores also have strategies to counteract these plant defenses. Our research program focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying these complex plant-insect interactions with the goal of defining strategies to maximize endogenous plant defenses while minimizing caterpillar subterfuge to lead to sustainable pest management practices under changing climatic conditions. A main theme of this research program is to understand how plants regulate defensive pathways induced in response to caterpillar herbivory and how caterpillar salivary effectors activate opposing plant hormone-regulated pathways to weaken the plant's ability to mount an effective defense response. Post-translational modification (PTM) is a dynamic and powerful cellular regulatory mechanism to alter protein activity (activity, localization, regulation, protein-protein interactions, stability). We have previously identified plant proteins that are modified in response to effectors secreted in the caterpillar's saliva. Based on this, we propose that, through their saliva, some noctuid caterpillar pests alter plant signaling pathways through the PTM of key regulatory proteins and dampen the induction of plant defense responses. This research will lead to sustainable agricultural practices and strengthen Canada's agricultural biotechnology industries by 1) furthering our understanding of the regulation of plant defenses against caterpillar herbivory 2) understanding insect strategies of suppressing the induction of plant defenses to develop strategies to manipulate insect performance in pest management. Funding for this project will support the training of graduate students (2.5 PhD, 1 MSc), undergraduates (2/yr) and a part-time research assistant in areas of high employment potential in Canada, such as molecular biotechnology and plant and insect biochemistry and physiology. Such background and training is vital for Canadian industries including agricultural biotechnology.

尽管大量使用农业杀虫剂，但由于昆虫植食性造成的全球作物损失超过13%。在加拿大，随着全球变暖的进展，预计新的迁徙昆虫害虫物种将建立，加上由于夏季较长和冬季较温和导致害虫死亡率较低，导致更多代害虫侵扰增加，预计产量损失将恶化。因此，在预测的未来气候条件下，虫害压力将增加，并进一步挑战农业系统。植物有内源性的物理和化学手段来保护自己免受毛虫的植食性，然而，昆虫植食性动物也有策略来抵消这些植物防御。我们的研究计划侧重于了解这些复杂的植物-昆虫相互作用的机制，目标是确定策略，以最大限度地提高植物的内源防御能力，同时最大限度地减少毛虫的托词，从而在不断变化的气候条件下实现可持续的害虫管理实践。该研究计划的一个主题是了解植物如何调节防御途径诱导响应毛虫植食性和毛虫唾液效应物如何激活相反的植物的防御调节途径，以削弱植物的能力，安装一个有效的防御反应。翻译后修饰（PTM）是一种动态的、强大的细胞调节机制，可以改变蛋白质的活性（活性、定位、调节、蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用、稳定性）。我们以前已经确定了植物蛋白质，这些蛋白质是根据毛毛虫唾液中分泌的效应物进行修饰的。在此基础上，我们提出，通过它们的唾液，一些粘虫毛虫害虫改变植物的信号转导途径，通过PTM的关键调控蛋白和抑制诱导植物防御反应。这项研究将导致可持续的农业实践和加强加拿大的农业生物技术产业1）进一步了解植物防御对毛虫植食性的调节2）了解昆虫抑制植物防御诱导的策略，以制定策略来操纵害虫管理中的昆虫表现。该项目的资金将支持在加拿大高就业潜力领域，如分子生物技术和植物和昆虫生物化学和生理学，培训研究生（2.5名博士，1名硕士），本科生（2名/年）和兼职研究助理。这种背景和培训对加拿大的工业包括农业生物技术至关重要。