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Effects of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium flavoviride on the fat body lipid composition of Zophobas morio larvae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

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Abstract

Insects employ different defense strategies against fungal infections and chemicals. We aimed to identify the lipid compositions of the fat body of Zophobas morio larvae before and after fungal infection with the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium flavoviride. We used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze lipid extracts of the fat body isolated of Z. morio 2, 5, and 7 days after fungal infection (treatment group) and compared it with the lipid extracts in a control group injected with physiological isotonic saline. In all the samples, fatty acids were the most abundant compound found in the fat body extracts, with hexadecanoic acid/C16:0 being the most abundant lipid. However, the types and concentrations of lipids changed after fungal infection, likely as an immune response. The most considerable changes occurred in the concentrations of long-chain fatty acids, i.e., hexadecanoic acid/C16:0, octadecenoic acid/C18:1, and octadecanoic acid/C18:0. Contents of methyl ester increased significantly after infection, but that of other esters, especially octanoic acid decyl ester/OADE, decreased on the 5th day after infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detailed analysis of the changes in the lipid composition of the fat body of Z. morio larvae as a result of fungal infection. Our results suggest that entomopathogenic fungal infection affects the internal lipid composition of insects, potentially as a way of adjusting to such infection. These results can help understand infection processes and defense strategies of insects against fungal infection. Ultimately, they can contribute to the creation of more effective chemicals against pest insects.

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Funding

Financial support was provided by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education under the grant DS 530-8617-D-594-19.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Analysis, Laboratory of Analysis of Natural Compounds, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland

    Marek Gołębiowski & Aleksandra Bojke

  2. Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland

    Aleksandra Urbanek & Anna Pietrzak

  3. Department of Molecular Evolution, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland

    Aleksandra M. Naczk

  4. Department of Plant Protection and Breeding, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, B. Prusa 14, 08-110, Siedlce, Poland

    Cezary Tkaczuk

  5. Department of Environmental Analysis, Laboratory of Chemical Environmental Risks, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland

    Piotr Stepnowski

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  1. Marek Gołębiowski
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Contributions

AU, AB, and MG conceived and designed the study; AU, AP, AB, CT, and MG performed experiments; AU, AN, AB, and MG analyzed the data; AU, AN, PS, and MG interpreted results of experiments; AU, AN, and MG prepared the figures and drafted the manuscript; AU, AN, AB, PS, and MG edited and revised the manuscript; AU,AP, AN, AB, CT, and MG approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Marek Gołębiowski.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Zophobas morio larvae were used for experiments in this article. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Communicated by: Paula Roig Boixeda

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Gołębiowski, M., Urbanek, A., Pietrzak, A. et al. Effects of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium flavoviride on the fat body lipid composition of Zophobas morio larvae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Sci Nat 107, 7 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-019-1662-5

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