Oxidative Stress Response in a Wide Variety of Insect Species

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2021) | Viewed by 27657

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Guest Editor
Cooperative Major in Advanced Health Science, Graduate School of Bio-Applications and System Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
Interests: tissue mimicking; insects; oxidative stress response; human homolog
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Special Issue Information

Insects include over one million species worldwide. This implies that insects have been able to expand their habitats on earth and that they adapt well to their environmental conditions. Therefore, we can find insects anytime and anywhere in the world. Moreover, insects are exposed to a variety of environmental stresses in nature. These environmental stressors cause the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Each insect differs in its morphology, size, food habits, and resistance to environmental changes, and is, therefore, expected to respond differently to oxidative stress. Thus, insects should exhibit diverse strategies against this type of stress. I expect that the study of the oxidative stress response in the various insect species will lead to the elucidation of the environmental adaptation ability that was acquired by insects during evolution. Therefore, the study of the mechanism underlying the oxidative stress response in various insect species is warranted. I speculate that each insect species possesses a specific system dedicated to resistance against ROS.

I invite research and review papers related to oxidative stress response in insects. Thus, I welcome studies of diverse insect species in this Special Issue and would like to share this topic with a broad readership.

Dr. Hiroko Tabunoki
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 1784 KiB  
Article
cDNA Cloning and Partial Characterization of the DJ-1 Gene from Tribolium castaneum
by Shunya Sasaki, Maaya Nishiko, Takuma Sakamoto, Michael R. Kanost and Hiroko Tabunoki
Antioxidants 2021, 10(12), 1970; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10121970 - 10 Dec 2021
Viewed by 2823
Abstract
The DJ-1 gene is highly conserved across a wide variety of organisms and it plays a role in anti-oxidative stress mechanisms in cells. The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, is widely used as a model insect species because it is easy to [...] Read more.
The DJ-1 gene is highly conserved across a wide variety of organisms and it plays a role in anti-oxidative stress mechanisms in cells. The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, is widely used as a model insect species because it is easy to evaluate gene function in this species using RNA interference (RNAi). The T. castaneum DJ-1 (TcDJ-1) sequence is annotated in the T. castaneum genome database; however, the function and characteristics of the TcDJ-1 gene have not been elucidated. Here, we investigated the cDNA sequence of TcDJ-1 and partially characterized its function. First, we examined the TcDJ-1 amino acid sequence and found that it was highly conserved with sequences from other species. TcDJ-1 mRNA expression was higher in the early pupal and adult developmental stages. We evaluated oxidant tolerance in TcDJ-1 knockdown adults using paraquat and found that adults with TcDJ-1 knockdown exhibited increased sensitivity to paraquat. Our findings show that TcDJ-1 has an antioxidant function, as observed for DJ-1 from other insects. Therefore, these results suggest that TcDJ-1 protects against oxidative stress during metamorphosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress Response in a Wide Variety of Insect Species)
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13 pages, 1410 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Heat Shock Protein 60 as an Interacting Partner of Superoxide Dismutase 2 in the Silkworm, Bombyx mori, and Its Response to the Molting Hormone, 20-Hydroxyecdysone
by Yosui Nojima
Antioxidants 2021, 10(9), 1385; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10091385 - 30 Aug 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2124
Abstract
Oxidative stress promotes pupation in some holometabolous insects. The levels of superoxide, a reactive oxygen species (ROS), are increased and superoxide dismutase 1 (BmSod1) and superoxide dismutase 2 (BmSod2) are decreased during metamorphic events in silkworm (Bombyx mori). These observations strongly [...] Read more.
Oxidative stress promotes pupation in some holometabolous insects. The levels of superoxide, a reactive oxygen species (ROS), are increased and superoxide dismutase 1 (BmSod1) and superoxide dismutase 2 (BmSod2) are decreased during metamorphic events in silkworm (Bombyx mori). These observations strongly suggest that pupation is initiated by oxidative stress via the down-regulation of BmSod1 and BmSod2. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ROS production during metamorphic events in silkworm remain unknown. To investigate these molecular mechanisms, the peripheral proteins of BmSod1 and BmSod2 were identified and characterized using dry and wet approaches in this study. Based on the results, silkworm heat shock protein 60 (BmHsp60) was identified as an interacting partner of BmSod2, which belongs to the Fe/MnSOD family. Furthermore, the present study results showed that BmHsp60 mRNA expression levels were increased in response to oxidative stress caused by ultraviolet radiation and that BmHsp60 protein levels (but not mRNA levels) were decreased during metamorphic events, which are regulated by the molting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone. These findings improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which holometabolous insects control ROS during metamorphosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress Response in a Wide Variety of Insect Species)
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12 pages, 1174 KiB  
Article
Changes in Antioxidative, Oxidoreductive and Detoxification Enzymes during Development of Aphids and Temperature Increase
by Roma Durak, Jan Dampc, Monika Kula-Maximenko, Mateusz Mołoń and Tomasz Durak
Antioxidants 2021, 10(8), 1181; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10081181 - 25 Jul 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3068
Abstract
Temperature, being the main factor that has an influence on insects, causes changes in their development, reproduction, winter survival, life cycles, migration timing, and population dynamics. The effects of stress caused by a temperature increase on insects may depend on many factors, such [...] Read more.
Temperature, being the main factor that has an influence on insects, causes changes in their development, reproduction, winter survival, life cycles, migration timing, and population dynamics. The effects of stress caused by a temperature increase on insects may depend on many factors, such as the frequency, amplitude, duration of the stress, sex, or the developmental stage of the insect. The aim of the study was to determine the differences in the enzymatic activity of nymphs and adult aphids Aphis pomi, Macrosiphum rosae and Cinara cupressi, and changes in their response to a temperature increase from 20 to 28 °C. The activity of enzymatic markers (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), β-glucosidase, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD)) in aphid tissues was analysed for three constant temperatures. The results of our research showed that the enzymatic activity of aphids (measured as the activity of antioxidant, detoxifying and oxidoreductive enzymes) was mainly determined by the type of morph. We observed a strong positive correlation between the activity of the detoxifying and oxidoreductive enzymes and aphids’ development, and a negative correlation between the activity of the antioxidant enzymes and aphids’ development. Moreover, the study showed that an increase in temperature caused changes in enzyme activity (especially SOD, CAT and β-glucosidase), which was highest at 28 °C, in both nymphs and adults. Additionally, a strong positive correlation between metabolic activity (heat flow measured by microcalorimeter) and longevity was observed, which confirmed the relationship between these characteristics of aphids. The antioxidant enzyme system is more efficient in aphid nymphs, and during aphid development the activity of antioxidant enzymes decreases. The antioxidant enzyme system in aphids appears to deliver effective protection for nymphs and adults under stressful conditions, such as high temperatures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress Response in a Wide Variety of Insect Species)
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16 pages, 2174 KiB  
Article
Ozone Pollution Alters Olfaction and Behavior of Pollinators
by Maryse Vanderplanck, Benoît Lapeyre, Margot Brondani, Manon Opsommer, Mathilde Dufay, Martine Hossaert-McKey and Magali Proffit
Antioxidants 2021, 10(5), 636; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10050636 - 21 Apr 2021
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 4699
Abstract
Concentration of air pollutants, particularly ozone (O3), has dramatically increased since pre-industrial times in the troposphere. Due to the strong oxidative potential of O3, negative effects on both emission and lifetime in the atmosphere of plant volatile organic compounds [...] Read more.
Concentration of air pollutants, particularly ozone (O3), has dramatically increased since pre-industrial times in the troposphere. Due to the strong oxidative potential of O3, negative effects on both emission and lifetime in the atmosphere of plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have already been highlighted. VOCs alteration by O3 may potentially affect the attraction of pollinators that rely on these chemical signals. Surprisingly, direct effects of O3 on the olfaction and the behavioral response of pollinators have not been investigated so far. We developed a comprehensive experiment under controlled conditions to assess O3 physiological and behavioral effects on two pollinator species, differing in their ecological traits. Using several realistic concentrations of O3 and various exposure times, we investigated the odor antennal detection and the attraction to VOCs present in the floral scents of their associated plants. Our results showed, in both species, a clear effect of exposure to high O3 concentrations on the ability to detect and react to the floral VOCs. These effects depend on the VOC tested and its concentration, and the O3 exposure (concentration and duration) on the pollinator species. Pollination systems may, therefore, be impaired in different ways by increased levels of O3, the effects of which will likely depend on whether the exposure is chronic or, as in this study, punctual, likely causing some pollination systems to be more vulnerable than others. While several studies have already shown the negative impact of O3 on VOCs emission and lifetime in the atmosphere, this study reveals, for the first time, that this impact alters the pollinator detection and behavior. These findings highlight the urgent need to consider air pollution when evaluating threats to pollinators. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress Response in a Wide Variety of Insect Species)
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12 pages, 2607 KiB  
Article
Meta-Analysis of Oxidative Transcriptomes in Insects
by Hidemasa Bono
Antioxidants 2021, 10(3), 345; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10030345 - 25 Feb 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3781
Abstract
Data accumulation in public databases has resulted in extensive use of meta-analysis, a statistical analysis that combines the results of multiple studies. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between free radical activity and antioxidant activity, which can be studied in insects [...] Read more.
Data accumulation in public databases has resulted in extensive use of meta-analysis, a statistical analysis that combines the results of multiple studies. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between free radical activity and antioxidant activity, which can be studied in insects by transcriptome analysis. This study aimed to apply a meta-analysis approach to evaluate insect oxidative transcriptomes using publicly available data. We collected oxidative stress response-related RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data for a wide variety of insect species, mainly from public gene expression databases, by manual curation. Only RNA-seq data of Drosophila melanogaster were found and were systematically analyzed using a newly developed RNA-seq analysis workflow for species without a reference genome sequence. The results were evaluated by two metric methods to construct a reference dataset for oxidative stress response studies. Many genes were found to be downregulated under oxidative stress and related to organ system process (GO:0003008) and adherens junction organization (GO:0034332) by gene enrichment analysis. A cross-species analysis was also performed. RNA-seq data of Caenorhabditis elegans were curated, since no RNA-seq data of insect species are currently available in public databases. This method, including the workflow developed, represents a powerful tool for deciphering conserved networks in oxidative stress response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress Response in a Wide Variety of Insect Species)
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Review

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12 pages, 2619 KiB  
Review
Host Response against Virus Infection in an Insect: Bidensovirus Infection Effect on Silkworm (Bombyx mori)
by Katsuhiko Ito, Kangayam M. Ponnuvel and Keiko Kadono-Okuda
Antioxidants 2021, 10(4), 522; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10040522 - 27 Mar 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2938
Abstract
Silk cocoons obtained from silkworms are the primary source of commercial silk, making the silkworm an economically important insect. However, the silk industry suffers significant losses due to various virus infections. Bombyx mori bidensovirus (BmBDV) is one of the pathogens that cause flacherie [...] Read more.
Silk cocoons obtained from silkworms are the primary source of commercial silk, making the silkworm an economically important insect. However, the silk industry suffers significant losses due to various virus infections. Bombyx mori bidensovirus (BmBDV) is one of the pathogens that cause flacherie disease in silkworms. Most silkworm strains die after BmBDV infection. However, certain silkworm strains show resistance to the virus, which is determined by a single recessive gene, nsd-2. The +nsd-2 gene (allele of nsd-2; the susceptibility gene) encodes a putative amino acid transporter expressed only in the insect’s midgut, where BmBDV can infect, suggesting that this membrane protein may function as a receptor for BmBDV. Interestingly, the expression analysis revealed no changes in the +nsd-2 gene expression levels in virus-uninfected silkworms, whereas the gene expression drastically decreased in the virus-infected silkworm. This condition indicates that the host factor’s expression, the putative virus receptor, is affected by BmBDV infection. It has recently been reported that the expression levels of some host genes encoding cuticle, antioxidant, and immune response-related proteins were significantly regulated by BmBDV infection. In this review, we discuss the host response against virus infection based on our knowledge and long-term research experience in this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress Response in a Wide Variety of Insect Species)
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20 pages, 1255 KiB  
Review
Life as a Vector of Dengue Virus: The Antioxidant Strategy of Mosquito Cells to Survive Viral Infection
by Chih-Chieh Cheng, Eny Sofiyatun, Wei-June Chen and Lian-Chen Wang
Antioxidants 2021, 10(3), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10030395 - 5 Mar 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5933
Abstract
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease of increasing global importance. The disease has caused heavy burdens due to frequent outbreaks in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. The dengue virus (DENV) is generally transmitted between human hosts via the bite of [...] Read more.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease of increasing global importance. The disease has caused heavy burdens due to frequent outbreaks in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. The dengue virus (DENV) is generally transmitted between human hosts via the bite of a mosquito vector, primarily Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus as a minor species. It is known that the virus needs to alternately infect mosquito and human cells. DENV-induced cell death is relevant to the pathogenesis in humans as infected cells undergo apoptosis. In contrast, mosquito cells mostly survive the infection; this allows infected mosquitoes to remain healthy enough to serve as an efficient vector in nature. Overexpression of antioxidant genes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutaredoxin (Grx), thioredoxin (Trx), and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) have been detected in DENV2-infected mosquito cells. Additional antioxidants, including GST, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5a), and p53 isoform 2 (p53-2), and perhaps some others, are also involved in creating an intracellular environment suitable for cell replication and viral infection. Antiapoptotic effects involving inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) upregulation and subsequent elevation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 activities also play crucial roles in the ability of mosquito cells to survive DENV infection. This article focused on the effects of intracellular responses in mosquito cells to infection primarily by DENVs. It may provide more information to better understand virus/cell interactions that can possibly elucidate the evolutionary pathway that led to the mosquito becoming a vector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress Response in a Wide Variety of Insect Species)
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