Journal
DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY
Volume 36, Issue 2, Pages 372-377Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2011.07.008
Keywords
Gram-negative bacteria binding protein; Termicin; Defensin; Social insects; Reticulitermes flavipes; Metarhizium anisopliae
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Funding
- Faculty Development and Research Committee of Towson University
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Subterranean termites face strong pathogenic pressures from the ubiquitous soil fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, and rely on innate humoral and cellular, as well as behavioral immune defenses for protection. Reticulitermes termites secrete antifungal enzymes that exhibit strong beta-1,3-glucanase activity associated with Gram-negative bacteria binding proteins (GNBPs), which prevent M. anisopliae from invading the hemocoel where it can evade immune responses. Molecular evolutionary studies of Reticulitermes termicin genes, which code for defensin-like antifungal peptides, suggest that these proteins may be important effector molecules in antifungal defenses. In this study we show that the RNAi knockdown of termicin and GNBP2 expression via the ingestion of dsRNA significantly increases mortality in termites exposed to a naturally encountered strain of M. anisopliae. Termicin and GNBP2 knockdown also decrease external cuticular antifungal activity, indicating a direct role for these proteins in an external antifungal defense strategy that depends on the active dissemination of antifungal secretions among nestmates. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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