2. Academic Validation
  3. Ben-JNK signaling is required for host mortality during Periplaneta fuliginosa densovirus infection

Ben-JNK signaling is required for host mortality during Periplaneta fuliginosa densovirus infection

  • Pest Manag Sci. 2024 Apr 27. doi: 10.1002/ps.8154.
Dan-Yan Huang 1,  Jia-Si Qin 1,  Ren-Ke Dong 1,  Su-Ning Liu 1,  Nan Chen 1,  Dong-Wei Yuan 1,  Sheng Li 1 2 3,  Zhaowei Wang 4,  Xiaoling Xia 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
  • 2 Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.
  • 3 Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China.
  • 4 State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China.
PMID: 38676657 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8154
Abstract

Background: Cockroaches are widely acknowledged as significant vectors of pathogenic Microorganisms. The Periplaneta fuliginosa densovirus (PfDNV) infects the smoky-brown cockroach P. fuliginosa and causes host mortality, which identifies the PfDNV as a species-specific and environmentally friendly biopesticide. However, although the biochemical characterization of PfDNV has been extensively studied, the immune response against PfDNV remains largely unclear.

Results: Here, we investigated the replication of PfDNV and its associated pathological phenotype in the foregut and hindgut. Consequently, we dissected and performed transcriptome Sequencing on the foregut, midgut, and hindgut separately. We revealed the up-regulation of immune response signaling pathway c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and Apoptosis in response to viral Infection. Furthermore, knockdown of the JNK upstream gene Ben resulted in a decrease in virus titer and delayed host mortality.

Conclusion: Taken together, our findings provide evidence that the Ben-JNK signaling plays a crucial role in PfDNV Infection, leading to excessive Apoptosis in intestinal tissues and ultimately resulting in the death of the host. Our results indicated that the host response to PfDNV fosters viral Infection, thereby increasing host lethality. This underscores the potential of PfDNV as a viable, environmentally friendly biopesticide. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Keywords

Ben; JNK signaling pathway; PfDNV; apoptosis; biopesticide; cockroach.

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