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Effect of entomopathogenic nematode of Heterorhabditis indica infection on immune and antioxidant system in lepidopteran pest Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

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Abstract

Entomopathogenic nematodes form excellent tools to study insect immunity in response to during infection. Insects activate as several defense mechanisms, namely Phenoloxidase, haemocytes, detoxification and antioxidant enzymes. However little mechanistic information is available about the sublethal effects of entomopathogenic nematodes infection on detoxification and immune mechanisms in lepidopteran insects. In the present study, the effects of infection on antioxidant, detoxification and immune systems of Spodoptera litura larvae were studied. Results show a significant reduction in Total Haemocyte Count observed after 3 h of infection. A significant increase Superoxide dismutase, Catalase, Glutathione S-transferase, Glutathione Peroxidase and Acid phosphatase were observed 6 h after infection and, progressive decrease in Peroxidase, Alkaline phosphatase and Lipid peroxidation was also observed. This study shows that increased detoxification enzyme levels in response to nematode infection are a protective mechanism in insects. Nematode infection suppresses insect immune response, which is evident from low haemocyte count and Phenoloxidase levels to ultimately cause larval mortality.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Department of Biotechnology, Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India for providing infrastructure facilities for carrying out this research work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Entomology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu, 636 011, India

    K. Lalitha, S. Karthi, G. Vengateswari & M. S. Shivakumar

  2. Marine Biotechnology and Ecological Genomics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu, 636 011, India

    R. Karthikraja & P. Perumal

Authors
  1. K. Lalitha
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  2. S. Karthi
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  3. G. Vengateswari
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  4. R. Karthikraja
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  5. P. Perumal
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  6. M. S. Shivakumar
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Contributions

Experiment design: MSS, PP. Performing the experiments: KL RK and GV. Data analyzed: KL GV. Writing of manuscript: KL, MSS.

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Correspondence to M. S. Shivakumar.

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Lalitha, K., Karthi, S., Vengateswari, G. et al. Effect of entomopathogenic nematode of Heterorhabditis indica infection on immune and antioxidant system in lepidopteran pest Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J Parasit Dis 42, 204–211 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-018-0983-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-018-0983-1

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