title: Recombinant immunosuppressive protein from Pimpla hypochondrica venom (rVPr1) increases the susceptibility of Mamestra brassicae larvae to the fungal biological control agent, Beauveria bassiana.
abstract: Although fungi are used to control a variety of insect pests, it is accepted that their usage could be increased if their efficacy was greater. The outcome of the interaction of a fungus and a pest insect may be influenced by a number of criteria, including the ability of the insect to mount effective immune responses against the pathogen. In view of this, we aimed to determine if a recombinant immunosuppressive wasp venom protein (rVPr1) can increase the susceptibility of larvae of the lepidopteran pest, Mamestra brassicae, to the fungal biological control agent, Beauveria bassiana. Bioassays indicated that when larvae were injected with 3.5 µl of rVPr1 and 100 B. bassiana conidia (combined injection assays), a significant reduction in survival of larvae occurred compared with each treatment on its own (P=0.006). Similar results were obtained when larvae were dipped in a solution containing 3 × 10(6) B. bassiana conidia per ml and then injected with 3.5 µl of rVPr1 2 days later (topical application assays), (P<0.001). These results indicate that rVPr1 can increase the efficacy of B. bassiana toward a lepidopteran pest, and are discussed within the context of insect immune responses and integrated pest management.
authors.affiliation: The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York, United Kingdom. elaine.richards@fera.gsi.gov.uk
authors.forename: Elaine H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bradish
authors.forename: M Paulina
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dani
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pietravalle
authors.forename: Ailsa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lawson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052982:Beauveria / Q000502:physiology*; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D009036:Moths / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology*; D010571:Pest Control; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019476:Insect Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014862:Wasp Venoms