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A serpin from the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina boulardi targets the Drosophila phenoloxidase cascade.
- Source :
-
Developmental and comparative immunology [Dev Comp Immunol] 2009 May; Vol. 33 (5), pp. 681-9. Date of Electronic Publication: 2008 Dec 25. - Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- The insect phenoloxidase (PO) cascade is known to be tightly regulated by serine proteases and serine protease inhibitors of the serpin family. As a key component of the insect immune system, it is also suspected to be inhibited by several endoparasitoid wasps, insects that develop inside other arthropods as hosts. However, the underlying mechanisms of this inhibition are largely undescribed. Here, we report the characterization of a gene encoding a serpin, LbSPNy, highly expressed in the venom of the wasp Leptopilina boulardi (IS(y) type), and we show that either the venom or the recombinant LbSPNy inhibit the PO cascade in the hemolymph of Drosophila yakuba host larva. Altogether, our results identify the first serpin used as a virulence factor by a parasitoid wasp and show that it disrupts the activation pathway of the PO in the Drosophila host.
- Subjects :
- Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Cloning, Molecular
Drosophila enzymology
Drosophila immunology
Female
Hemolymph enzymology
Larva enzymology
Molecular Sequence Data
Recombinant Fusion Proteins chemistry
Recombinant Fusion Proteins metabolism
Recombinant Fusion Proteins pharmacology
Sequence Alignment
Serpins genetics
Serpins pharmacology
Wasp Venoms genetics
Wasp Venoms pharmacology
Wasps metabolism
Drosophila parasitology
Host-Parasite Interactions
Monophenol Monooxygenase antagonists & inhibitors
Serpins metabolism
Wasp Venoms metabolism
Wasps pathogenicity
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1879-0089
- Volume :
- 33
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Developmental and comparative immunology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 19109990
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2008.11.013