title: Reduced activity of juvenile hormone esterase in microsporidia-infected Lymantria dispar larvae.
abstract: Infection of the fat body of Lymantria dispar (Lep.: Lymantriinae) larvae with the microsporidium Vairimorpha disparis has severe effects on juvenile hormone (JH) metabolism of the host. Beginning 8 days postinfection, activity of the JH degrading enzyme JH-esterase was significantly lower in the hemolymph of infected than uninfected larvae. Activity remained low as microsporidiosis progressed. JH titers were slightly elevated in infected larvae; the difference was not significant in most cases. This disturbance of JH metabolism may be due to generally impaired fat body functions and high demand for resources by the developing pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Hasenauerstrasse 38, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karlhofer
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schafellner
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hoch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005216:Fat Body / Q000469:parasitology*; D006458:Hemolymph; D007814:Larva / Q000201:enzymology; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C038003:juvenile hormone esterase