Genetically Engineered Yeast Expressing a Lytic Peptide from Bee Venom (Melittin) Kills Symbiotic Protozoa in the Gut of Formosan Subterranean Termites

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 11; no. 3; p. e0151675
• Main Authors: Husseneder, Claudia, Donaldson, Jennifer R, Foil, Lane D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 17.03.2016; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents - administration & dosage; Bacteria; Bee Venoms - administration & dosage; Bee Venoms - genetics; Biological Assay; Biology and Life Sciences; Cellulose; Cloning; Coptotermes formosanus; Digestion; Engineering and Technology; Genetic Engineering; Genetically modified organisms; Genomes; Health aspects; Humid areas; Insect control; Insects; Isoptera - drug effects; Isoptera - parasitology; Kluyveromyces lactis; Ligands; Lysis; Melitten - administration & dosage; Melitten - genetics; Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms); Microorganisms; Peptides; Pest Control, Biological - methods; Physical Sciences; Physiological aspects; Proteins; Protozoa; Research and Analysis Methods; Rhinotermitidae; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Synergistic effect; Termites; Venom; Venoms; Workers (insect caste); Yeast; United States; Baton Rouge Louisiana; Louisiana; United States > US
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151675

The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, is a costly invasive urban pest in warm and humid regions around the world. Feeding workers of the Formosan subterranean termite genetically engineered yeast strains that express synthetic protozoacidal lytic peptides has been shown to kill the cellulose digesting termite gut protozoa, which results in death of the termite colony. In this study, we tested if Melittin, a natural lytic peptide from bee venom, could be delivered into the termite gut via genetically engineered yeast and if the expressed Melittin killed termites via lysis of symbiotic protozoa in the gut of termite workers and/or destruction of the gut tissue itself. Melittin expressing yeast did kill protozoa in the termite gut within 56 days of exposure. The expressed Melittin weakened the gut but did not add a synergistic effect to the protozoacidal action by gut necrosis. While Melittin could be applied for termite control via killing the cellulose-digesting protozoa in the termite gut, it is unlikely to be useful as a standalone product to control insects that do not rely on symbiotic protozoa for survival.