The pederin‐producing bacteria density dynamics in Paederus fuscipes at different developmental stages

• Published in: Medical and veterinary entomology Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 59 - 72
• Main Authors: Song, Xuhao, Huang, Ting, Yan, Xianghui, Zuo, Mengyuan, Pan, Ying, He, Hengguo, Li, Yujie, Zou, Yuan, Du, Chao, Zheng, Fake, Yang, Tingbang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2024; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Antibiotics; Bacteria; Bacteria - genetics; Coleoptera - microbiology; Coleoptera - physiology; Developmental stages; Eclosion; Egg shells; Female; Gene regulation; Gram-negative bacteria; Hatching; Larva; Larvae; Life cycles; Male; Metamorphosis; Molecular modelling; Paederus dermatitis; Paederus fuscipes; Pattern recognition receptors; Pederin; Pederin‐producing bacteria; Population dynamics; Pyrans; Streptomycin; Toxins; Transcriptomes; Pederin-producing bacteria; Pederin; Paederus fuscipes; Paederus dermatitis
• ISSN: 0269-283X; 1365-2915
• DOI: 10.1111/mve.12697

Pederin, a defensive toxin in Paederus fuscipes, is produced by an uncultured Gram‐negative symbiont, which establishes a stable symbiotic relationship with a female host before completion of metamorphosis. However, the transmission process of pederin‐producing bacteria (PPB) in P. fuscipes at different life stages remains unknown. Herein, the PPB population dynamics and transcriptome atlas for P. fuscipes development (egg, first‐instar larva, second‐instar larva, pupa, and newly emerged female and male) were characterised. We found that a microbial layer containing PPB covered the eggshell, which could be sterilised by smearing the eggshell with streptomycin. Maternal secretions over the eggshell are likely the main PPB acquisition route for P. fuscipes offspring. The PPB density in eggs was significantly higher than that in other life stages (p < 0.05), which demonstrated that the beetle mothers gave more PPB than the larvae acquired. Physiological changes (hatching and eclosion) led to a decreased PPB density in P. fuscipes. Pattern recognition receptors related to Gram‐negative bacteria recognition were identified from P. fuscipes transcriptomes across various life stages, which might be used to screen genes involved in PPB regulation. These results will help advance future efforts to determine the molecular mechanisms of PPB colonisation of P. fuscipes. A pederin‐producing bacteria containing layer is covered on the eggshell of Paederus fuscipes, which could be sterilised by smearing the eggshell with streptomycin. The density of pederin‐producing bacteria in eggs was significantly higher than that in larvae, pupae and newly emerged adults. Eighteen pattern recognition receptors related to Gram‐negative bacteria recognition were identified from the transcriptome of Paederus fuscipes at different life stages.