title: Cotesia vestalis teratocytes express a diversity of genes and exhibit novel immune functions in parasitism.
abstract: Some endoparasitoid wasps lay eggs that produce cells called teratocytes. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the transcriptome of teratocytes from the solitary endoparasitoid Cotesia vestalis (Braconidae), which parasitizes larval stage Plutella xylostella (Plutellidae). Results identified many teratocyte transcripts with potential functions in affecting host immune defenses, growth or metabolism. Characterization of teratocyte-secreted venom-like protein 8 (TSVP-8) indicated it inhibits melanization of host hemolymph in vitro, while two predicted anti-microbial peptides (CvT-def 1 and 3) inhibited the growth of bacteria. Results also showed the parasitized hosts lacking teratocytes experienced higher mortality after immune challenge by pathogens than hosts with teratocytes. Taken together, these findings indicate that C. vestalis teratocytes secrete products that alter host immune functions while also producing anti-microbial peptides with functions that help protect the host from infection by other organisms.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Qi-Juan
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Ze-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University and Key Lab of Monitoring and Management of Plant Diseases and Insects, Ministry of Agriculture, 1 Weigang Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China.
authors.forename: Chuan-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Molecular Insect Physiology, Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Qi-Sheng
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Strand
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Xin
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D023082:Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D060467:Disease Resistance; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D007814:Larva / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009036:Moths / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D059467:Transcriptome; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014863:Wasps / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D023082:Defensins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D014862:Wasp Venoms