US-France Cooperative Research: Genetic Aspects of Insect Immunity and Parasite Resistance

该奖项将支持芝加哥洛约拉大学Anthony J. Nappi博士和法国伊维特河畔吉夫生物与遗传进化实验室Yves Carton博士之间的合作研究。本项目的目的是阐明昆虫免疫识别/调控和寄生虫抗性的遗传基础。研究者将研究：1)细胞和血浆儿茶酚胺代谢酶在基因明确的酶突变体黑素包封反应中的作用；(2)不同地理物种和品系田间采集的寄主的免疫反应；(3)不同地理物种和品系寄生虫的抗性机制。为了确定形成黑素囊的交联剂的生物合成途径，将对果蝇__________黑腹果蝇幼虫产生的免疫反应进行细胞学和生化研究。寄生蜂Leptopilina ____________ ___________ heterotoma和L. boulardi的寄主。__________ _________该项目将结合Nappi博士在酶分析方面的专业知识，以及法国实验室对苍蝇和黄蜂特定遗传系的可用性，以解剖抗性机制。本研究结果将有助于认识寄主与寄生虫的协同进化关系，以及寄主在害虫生物防治中的应用效率。

This award will support collaborative research between Dr. Anthony J. Nappi, Loyola University of Chicago and Dr. Yves Carton, Laboratoire de Biologie et Genetique Evolutives, Gif-sur-Yvette, France. The objective of this project is to elucidate the genetic basis of immune recognition/regulation and parasite resistance in insects. The investigators will study: 1) the role of cellular and humoral catecholamine metabolizing enzymes during melanotic encapsulation responses in genetically well-defined enzyme mutants, (2) the immune response of different geographical species and strains of filed collected hosts, and (3) the mechanisms of resistance by different geographic species and strains of parasites. In order to ascertain the biosynthetic pathways employed in the production of the cross-linking agents that form melanotic capsules, cytological and biochemical studies will be performed of the immune responses generated in larvae of Drosophila __________ melanogaster, a host for the wasp parasitoids Leptopilina ____________ ___________ heterotoma and L. boulardi. __________ _ ________ This project will combine Dr. Nappi's expertise in enzyme assays with the availability in the French laboratory of specific genetic lines of fly and wasp for the dissection of resistance mechanisms. The results of this research will contribute to the understanding of: 1) coevolutionary relationships between parasite and host, and 2) efficiency of use of parasites in the biological control of insect pests.