title: Expression of the insect metalloproteinase inhibitor IMPI in the fat body of Galleria mellonella exposed to infection with Beauveria bassiana.
abstract: The inducible metalloproteinase inhibitor (IMPI) discovered in Galleria mellonella is currently the only specific inhibitor of metalloproteinases found in animals. Its role is to inhibit the activity of metalloproteinases secreted by pathogenic organisms as virulence factors to degrade immune-relevant polypeptides of the infected host. This is a good example of an evolutionary arms race between the insect hosts and their natural pathogens. In this report, we analyze the expression of a gene encoding an inducible metalloproteinase inhibitor (IMPI) in fat bodies of the greater wax moth larvae Galleria mellonella infected with an entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. We have used a natural infection, i.e. covering larval integument with fungal aerospores, as well as injection of fungal blastospores directly into the larval hemocel. We compare the expression of IMPI with the expression of genes encoding proteins with fungicidal activity, gallerimycin and galiomycin, whose expression reflects the stimulation of Galleria mellonella defense mechanisms. Also, gene expression is analyzed in the light of survival of animals after spore injection.
authors.affiliation: Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Immunobiology, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Lidiia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vertyporokh
authors.affiliation: Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Immunobiology, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wojda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052982:Beauveria / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005216:Fat Body / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007814:Larva / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology; D045726:Metalloproteases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009036:Moths / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: C000621802:IMPI protein, Galleria mellonella; D019476:Insect Proteins; D045726:Metalloproteases
keywords: Beauveria bassiana; Galleria mellonella; IMPI; Insect immunity