Molecular Signatures of Nicotinoid-Pathogen Synergy in the Termite Gut
DNA, Bacterial
0301 basic medicine
Insecticides
Science
Isoptera
Neonicotinoids
03 medical and health sciences
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Animals
DNA, Fungal
Symbiosis
Serratia marcescens
0303 health sciences
Q
R
Fungi
Imidazoles
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Nitro Compounds
6. Clean water
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
3. Good health
Gastrointestinal Tract
Medicine
Dysbiosis
Transcriptome
Research Article
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0123391
Publication Date:
2015-04-02T18:01:00Z
AUTHORS (8)
ABSTRACT
Previous studies in lower termites revealed unexpected synergies between nicotinoid insecticides and fungal entomopathogens. The present study investigated molecular mechanisms of nicotinoid-pathogen synergy in the lower termite Reticulitermes flavipes, using the nicotinoid, imidacloprid, in combination with fungal and bacterial entomopathogens. Particular focus was placed on metatranscriptome composition and microbial dynamics in the symbiont-rich termite gut, which houses diverse mixes of protists and bacteria. cDNA microarrays containing a mix of host and protist symbiont oligonucleotides were used to simultaneously assess termite and protist gene expression. Five treatments were compared that included single challenges with sublethal doses of fungi (Metharizium anisopliae), bacteria (Serratia marcescens) or imidacloprid, and dual challenges with fungi + imidacloprid or bacteria + imidacloprid. Our findings point towards protist dysbiosis and compromised social behavior, rather than suppression of stereotypical immune defense mechanisms, as the dominant factors underlying nicotinoid-pathogen synergy in termites. Also, greater impacts observed for the fungal pathogen than for the bacterial pathogen suggest that the rich bacterial symbiont community in the R. flavipes gut (>5000 species-level phylotypes) exists in an ecological balance that effectively excludes exogenous bacterial pathogens. These findings significantly advance our understanding of antimicrobial defenses in this important eusocial insect group, as well as provide novel insights into how nicotinoids can exert deleterious effects on social insect colonies.
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