Insect Molecular Biology最新文献

{"title":"Requirement of group I lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase for turnover of chitinous cuticle during moulting in two forest pest beetles, Monochamus alternatus and Psacothea hilaris.","authors":"Daehyeong Kim, Subbaratnam Muthukrishnan, Karl J Kramer, Yasuyuki Arakane, Mi Young Noh","doi":"10.1111/imb.70013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) that are capable of oxidative cleavage of glycosidic bonds in crystalline polysaccharides including chitin and cellulose are widely distributed among organisms. Insect LPMOs belong to auxiliary activity family 15 (LPMO15/AA15) and have been classified further into at least four subgroups. However, unlike LPMOs from microorganisms and viruses, their physiological functions in insects have not been well studied. In the present work, we investigated the functions of two group I LPMO15s, MaLPMO15-1 and PhLPMO15-1, in chitinous cuticle turnover during moulting of two important forest pest longhorn beetles-the Japanese pine sawyer beetle, Monochamus alternatus, and the yellow spotted longicorn beetle, Psacothea hilaris. Real-time qPCR showed a similar pattern of expression of MaLPMO15-1 and PhLPMO15-1 during late stages of development with high levels present at young pharate pupal and young pupal stages and declining thereafter. Injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) for MaLPMO15-1 (dsMaLPMO15-1) or PhLPMO15-1 (dsPhLPMO15-1) into last instar larvae of M. alternatus and P. hilaris, respectively, did not affect subsequent larval-pupal moulting and the resulting pupae exhibited normal development. However, the pupae were unable to eclose to the adult stage and died entrapped inside their old pupal cuticle. TEM analysis revealed that, unlike the respective dsRNA for the enhanced green fluorescent protein (dsEGFP)-treated control insects, both dsMaLPMO15-1- and dsPhLPMO15-1-treated pharate adults failed to degrade the endocuticular layer of their pupal cuticle in which the horizontal chitinous laminae remained largely intact. These results demonstrate that the group I LPMO15-1 enzymes play a role in pupal cuticle chitin turnover, which is critical for moulting to the adult. Because LPMO15-1 is highly conserved among many insect species, this gene/enzyme is a potential target for the control of populations of both M. alternatus and P. hilaris as well as other pest insect species.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145212657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The genome and stage-specific transcriptomes of the carrot weevil, Listronotus oregonensis, reveal adaptive mechanisms for host specialisation and symbiotic interactions.","authors":"Dave T Ste-Croix, Annie-Ève Gagnon, Benjamin Mimee","doi":"10.1111/imb.70012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Throughout their evolution, insects have become specialised to occupy diverse ecological niches. The carrot weevil, Listronotus oregonensis, is an important agricultural pest that exhibits a very specific host range. In this study, we characterised the genome and transcriptomes of each developmental stage of L. oregonensis and its Wolbachia endosymbiont to gain deeper knowledge of the genetic determinants controlling its biology. We annotated 14,637 genes and showed expression profiles across the developmental stages. We also compared orthologous genes between L. oregonensis and nine other species, with particular focus on chemoreceptors and detoxification genes. We identified 24 distinct odorant-binding protein genes and 41 genes for receptors involved in stimulus perception, relatively low numbers compared with other species, which would be consistent with a narrow host range. In contrast, we found a high number of detoxification genes, with significant expansion of certain gene families. Among the annotated genes, 46 were putatively acquired through horizontal gene transfer, with 17 showing strong evidence for this, including several cell-wall degrading enzymes. The phylogeny of a cytolethal distending toxin gene also suggests an initial transfer from a prokaryotic source and vertical dissemination in members of Curculionidae through recent evolution. The presence of the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia (supergroup A) was confirmed in all tested L. oregonensis individuals from several regions in northeastern North America and showed very little diversity. This study enhances our understanding of the genomic, functional, and evolutionary aspects of a significant agricultural pest and makes important and useful databases available to the scientific community.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145191144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of UGT344J7 in the response of the bird cherry-oat aphid to starvation and high temperature stress.","authors":"Mengtian Li, Ni Wang, Suji J Wang, Xi Liu, Wenhua H Hou, Xiong Peng, Maohua H Chen","doi":"10.1111/imb.70011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The response of insects to stress, particularly starvation and high temperature stress, is a crucial area of insect research. Uridine diphosphate-glucosyltransferases (UGTs) are key enzymes involved in the detoxification of exogenous substances. This study analysed the role of the UGT344J7 gene in the response of Rhopalosiphum padi to starvation and high temperature stress. UGT344J7 was significantly upregulated under conditions of high temperature and food scarcity. Following RNAi targeting UGT344J7, the mortality of R. padi increased significantly under both high temperature and starvation conditions. Knockdown of the UGT344J7 gene led to a significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in R. padi, accompanied by a significant downregulation of four heat shock protein genes (Hsp70-1, Hsp70-2, Hsp68, Hsp90). Based on these results, we speculate that UGT344J7 regulates the expression of heat shock protein genes by modulating ROS levels, thereby helping R. padi cope with high temperature and starvation stress. This is the first report on the role of the UGT gene in starvation and high temperature stress in an aphid species. This research suggests that silencing UGT344J7 could serve as a potential strategy for controlling R. padi, and novel insecticides targeting this gene may be developed to disrupt the physiological processes of this significant pest.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145086058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transcriptomic, proteomic and biochemical comparison of luminescent and non-luminescent Keroplatinae larvae (Diptera: Keroplatidae).","authors":"Jaqueline R Silva, Gabriel F Pelentir, Danilo T Amaral, Cassius Stevani, Vadim R Viviani","doi":"10.1111/imb.70008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bioluminescence (BL) in the Keroplatinae subfamily (Diptera: Keroplatidae) is found in Keroplatus, Neoceroplatus and Orfelia fultoni larvae. In O. fultoni, BL involves an oligomeric luciferase, a luciferin called keroplatin, which is associated with a substrate binding fraction (SBF), whose molecular identity and function remain uncertain. Non-luminescent web-constructing predatory larvae of Neoditomyia sp. (Keroplatinae) also contain keroplatin and SBF in their bodies, suggesting additional unknown roles for this compound in this subfamily. To identify gene products differentially expressed between luminescent and non-luminescent larvae, especially those associated with luciferase, SBF and keroplatin synthesis, here we compared the transcriptional and proteomic profiles of Neoditomyia sp., O. fultoni and Arachnocampa larvae and conducted biochemical assays. Similarly to O. fultoni, Neoditomyia sp. displays an abundance of hexamerin isoforms and transcripts associated with the tryptophan and kynurenine pathway, which is potentially involved with keroplatin synthesis and silk production. Despite displaying a similar electrophoretic pattern of Orfelia luciferase purified fractions, no luciferase activity was detected in Neoditomyia purified fractions. The SBF-enriched fractions from O. fultoni and Neoditomyia revealed a similar abundance of hexamerins, the presence of flavin-dependent reductases, keroplatin and riboflavin. The results indicate that the SBF consists of protein aggregates associated with riboflavin and keroplatin, which is used as luciferin in bioluminescent species and for other still unveiled physiological functions in non-luminescent species.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144952644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The influence of IR25a on electrophysiology and reproductive behaviour in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis.","authors":"Qian Qian, Jinxi Yuan, Jie Zhang, Qi Wang, Shanchun Yan, Wei Liu, Guirong Wang","doi":"10.1111/imb.70005","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.70005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Behavioural manipulation techniques, particularly attractants, have been widely adopted as environmentally friendly approaches to manage Bactrocera dorsalis. These approaches primarily target odorant receptors (ORs), key molecular components in the pest's chemotactic pathways, to guide pests towards traps or lethal stimuli, offering a sustainable and effective alternative to chemical pesticides. However, pest behaviour extends beyond chemotaxis. Crucial behaviours such as mating, oviposition and defence also directly influence population dynamics, underscoring the need to investigate molecular targets that regulate diverse behavioural processes. IR25a, a co-receptor of ionotropic receptors (IRs), exhibits functional versatility by detecting diverse signals, including both volatile and non-volatile compounds and environmental cues (e.g., temperature, humidity, acidity). These characteristics make IR25a a promising candidate target that influences various behavioural processes. In this study, CRISPR/Cas9 was employed to generate a BdorIR25a knockout homozygous strain (BdorIR25a^-/-). Its effects on various aspects of pest behaviour were systematically investigated to evaluate its potential as a molecular target for behavioural modification. Results showed that BdorIR25a was highly expressed in pupal and adult stages, particularly in antennae and mouthparts. Knockouts exhibited impaired responsiveness to specific chemicals, especially dimethylamine. Additionally, mutants displayed reduced courtship wing vibration, pheromone responsiveness and mating success. Oviposition rates and egg-laying numbers were significantly reduced in females. Importantly, knockouts had no detectable effects on growth or survival, confirming BdorIR25a's primary role in behavioural modification. In conclusion, our findings identify BdorIR25a as a key molecular target with strong potential for manipulating diverse behavioural processes, providing a new perspective for pest control strategies. Future studies should focus on identifying IR25a-associated IRs and other molecular targets within its linked regions to clarify their respective roles in modulating critical behavioural traits. These studies could provide detailed insights into the molecular mechanisms of behaviour manipulation, advancing the development of innovative and targeted pest control strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144872929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gut-associated bacteria and their roles in wood digestion of saproxylic insects: The case study of flower chafer larvae.","authors":"Worarat Kruasuwan, Tantip Arigul, John Tyson Munnoch, Pumin Nutaratat, Nut Songvorawit","doi":"10.1111/imb.70010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Protaetia acuminata (Fabricius, 1775) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia and plays a significant role in nutrient cycling by facilitating the decomposition of woody materials, a process that likely relies heavily on the contribution of symbiotic bacteria within their digestive system. However, their gut bacteria have not been thoroughly studied. By using V3-V4 amplicon sequencing, it was revealed that the midgut (MG) of Pr. acuminata larvae and fermented sawdust after rearing (FSD) share a similar microbial community, predominantly composed of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota, as well as functional genes associated with cellulolysis, nitrogen respiration, nitrate reduction and aerobic chemoheterotrophy. In contrast, the bacterial community in the hindgut (HG) was distinctly different, with anaerobic respiration being the dominant metabolic process. Agromyces, Altererythrobacter, Bacillus, Cellulomonas, Lysinibacillus, Pseudoxanthomonas and the family Promicromonosporaceae were the most common genera in MG, HG and FSD samples. The culture-based isolation method yielded 67 isolates from the larvae, with gram-positive bacteria predominating in HG and MG, whereas gram-negative bacteria were primarily found in the FSD. These microorganisms produce a range of lignocellulolytic enzymes including β-endoglucanase, laccase and xylanase that enable the beetles to digest their plant-based diet efficiently and also involve many biochemical pathways relating to biogeochemical cycling. Our results provide valuable insights into the gut-associated Pr. acuminata flower chafer larvae and could serve as a basis and reservoir for future studies on lignocellulolytic enzyme-producing bacteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144855136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ame-miR-2161 affects the survival and development of honeybee larvae through the juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase gene.","authors":"Yu-Xuan Song, Ya-Ping Ren, You-Yu Ran, Nian Fan, Tao Wu, He Zang, Ming-Xing Jiao, Ti-Zhen Yan, Qing-Ming Luo, Da-Fu Chen, Rui Guo, Jian-Feng Qiu","doi":"10.1111/imb.70009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small non-coding RNAs that play crucial regulatory roles in insect growth and development. However, the coordinated regulation of honeybee development by miRNAs and hormones remains poorly understood. In this study, the regulatory network of target genes for Apis mellifera miRNA-2161 (ame-miR-2161) was constructed, and its association with the survival and development of worker larvae was investigated. The results showed that ame-miR-2161 potentially targets 22 mRNAs, with particular emphasis on the target gene juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase (Jhamt), a key rate-limiting enzyme in the final step of the juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis. RT-qPCR analysis showed concordant expression patterns between ame-miR-2161 and Jhamt across larval developmental stages. Dual-luciferase assays confirmed that Jhamt is a direct target of ame-miR-2161. Functional studies revealed that overexpression of ame-miR-2161 upregulated the Jhamt expression, leading to a significant increase in JH titre in 4- to 6-day-old larvae, accompanied by a gradual upregulation of the JH downstream response gene Kr-h1. Conversely, inhibition of ame-miR-2161 downregulated the Jhamt expression, reducing JH titre and markedly suppressing Kr-h1 expression, indicating that ame-miR-2161 positively regulates the expression of Jhamt. Furthermore, ame-miR-2161 overexpression enhanced larval survival, whereas its inhibition decreased survival rates. Although pupation rates remained unaffected, ame-miR-2161 modulation influenced larval body weight changes. These results suggest that ame-miR-2161 regulates JH levels by targeting Jhamt, thereby modulating larval survival and development in honeybees. Our findings provide novel insights into the miRNA-mediated regulation of hormone signalling and metamorphic development in honeybees.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144835007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Histone acetyltransferase p300/CBP regulates reproductive diapause via the juvenile hormone pathway in the cabbage beetle, Colaphellus bowringi.","authors":"Hao-Min An, Yi-Ke Zhang, Qian-Lu Bai, Wen Liu, Xiao-Ping Wang","doi":"10.1111/imb.70007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Juvenile hormone (JH) serves as a pivotal endocrine regulator of reproductive diapause (also known as adult diapause) in insects, though the molecular mechanisms underlying JH signalling remain poorly characterised. In this study, we investigate the roles of the histone acetyltransferase p300/CBP in regulating reproductive diapause through JH signalling in the cabbage beetle Colaphellus bowringi. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of p300/CBP in reproductive females induced diapause-like phenotypes, including arrested ovarian maturation, suppressed vitellogenesis, increased lipid accumulation and upregulation of diapause-associated genes. These effects were accompanied by downregulation of key JH biosynthetic enzymes and signalling components. Although exogenous JH application decreased lipid accumulation, it failed to rescue ovarian development. Similar results were observed in diapause females following p300/CBP knockdown: JH analog treatment reduced lipid accumulations but did not restore ovarian development. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that p300/CBP regulates photoperiodic reproductive diapause by modulating both JH biosynthesis and signal transduction pathways in C. bowringi. Our results establish p300/CBP as a critical epigenetic mediator of JH-mediated reproductive diapause and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying environmental adaptation in insects.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144798975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Critical role of LdZIP7 in enhancing cadmium tolerance of Lymantria dispar larvae: Functional identification at both the individual and cellular levels.","authors":"Ying Wang, Ruiqi Wang, Hong Jiang, Mingtao Tan, Aoying Zhang, Yubin He, Fusen Yue, Shanchun Yan, Dun Jiang","doi":"10.1111/imb.70003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heavy metals are prevalent environmental pollutants in habitats of phytophagous insects. This study investigates the tolerance of Lymantria dispar larvae to cadmium (Cd) and the associated mechanisms involving the ZIP family. Cd stress reduced larval body weight and extended the development duration without causing significant mortality. A significantly up-regulated expression of apoptosis genes Caspase-1, Caspase-3 and Caspase-7 was observed in Cd-exposed larvae. In Cd-exposed larvae, the expression of the apoptosis-inhibitory factor Bcl-2 in the mitochondrial pathway decreased, while apoptosis-inducing factors Bax and AIFM increased. Cd stress markedly elevated the expression of CHOP and Bip, key genes in the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway. Among the ZIP family genes, LdZIP7 showed the highest up-regulation in response to Cd treatment. Silencing LdZIP7 intensified the negative impacts of Cd stress on L. dispar larvae and significantly reduced the tolerance of L. dispar larvae to Cd. The main manifestations were a further significant decrease in larval body weight, a further significant extension of developmental duration, and the further activation of the mitochondrial pathway and the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway-triggered apoptosis in Cd-treated larvae. At the Sf9 cell level, LdZIP7 predominantly localises in the nuclear membrane and cell membrane. Overexpression of LdZIP7 mitigates Cd-induced cytotoxicity by inhibiting the Ca²⁺-MPTP opening degree-mitochondrial membrane potential-apoptosis pathway. Overall, LdZIP7 plays a pivotal role in alleviating the biotoxic effects of Cd and is a significant regulatory gene for Cd tolerance in L. dispar larvae.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144768616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modulation of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells following AcMNPV infection, and its effects on the virus-cell interaction.","authors":"Naeime Karamipour, Ali Asghar Talebi, Yaghoub Fathipour, Sassan Asgari, Mohammad Mehrabadi","doi":"10.1111/imb.70006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Baculoviruses have been used to control different insect pests, but further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of their interactions with insect hosts. In this study, the importance of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) was investigated in Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 cells following baculovirus infection. To do this, Sf9 cells were infected with Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) and the transcript levels of DNMT1 and DNMT2 were quantified. The expression levels of both DNMTs were upregulated during AcMNPV infection, suggesting induction of the pathway during infection. To determine whether these genes function during virus infection, we treated Sf9 cells with the inhibitor of DNMTs, 5-azacytidine (5-AZA), and 24 h later, the cells were infected with AcMNPV. Quantitative PCR results showed that the viral DNA replication was significantly reduced in the treated cells compared with the control untreated cells. We also showed that 5-AZA modulates antiviral pathways in Sf9 cells. The expression levels of Toll and immune-deficiency (IMD) pathways genes (i.e., Relish and Dorsal) were increased at 24 h post AcMNPV infection, while the expression levels of Gloverin and Defensin antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) were downregulated. In the 5-AZA treated cells, however, the expression levels of both AMPs were elevated during AcMNPV infection. We also assessed the effect of 5-AZA on short interfering RNA and microRNA pathways and found that Dicer 2 expression level was increased in the 5-AZA treated cells, while the transcript levels of other key genes of the two pathways remained unchanged. Together, our results highlight the contribution of DNA methyltransferase activity in the immunity of Sf9 cells against AcMNPV infection through modulation of antiviral immune responses and shed more light on the molecular mechanisms underlying baculovirus-insect cell interactions.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144742064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}