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<p>Molting is a critical physiological process in insect development and survival, frequently targeted in both pest control strategies and insect–antagonist interactions. Parasitic wasps, in particular, manipulate host development through the injection of parasitic factors rich in Bracovirus components—agents with potential applications in sustainable pest control. Here, we investigated the interaction between the parasitoid wasp <i>Microplitis prodeniae</i> and its host, the fall armyworm <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>, focusing on a Bracovirus-derived parasitic factor (MpBV). Parasitism by <i>M. prodeniae</i> inhibited larval development, disrupted molting, and significantly reduced titers of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). Similar effects were observed upon MpBV injection, which led to increased mortality, decreased pupation, and suppressed 20E levels. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that 130 cuticle protein genes were downregulated in both parasitized and MpBV-injected larvae. RT-qPCR confirmed reduced expression of 20E-regulated genes at 6 and 12&#xa0;h post-injection, consistent with impaired molting. Among the MpBV components, we identified an ankyrin-repeat protein (MpBVankyrin), which was detected in the hemolymph of injected larvae. Recombinant MpBVankyrin suppressed both larval development and 20E production. Yeast two-hybrid assays followed by validation demonstrated that MpBVankyrin interacts with several host proteins (SfBrC2, SfLCP22, SfRasRab, SfLCYBc1, SfCYP450V2, SfCcO, SfAnk13C, and SfGAnk), all of which were downregulated after MpBV or MpBVankyrin injection. Moreover, RNAi silencing of <i>SfBrC2</i> and <i>SfLCP22</i> significantly delayed larval growth. Together, these findings demonstrate that <i>M. prodeniae</i> disrupts host molting via MpBVankyrin, highlighting promising molecular targets for the development of molting-based pest control strategies.</p>

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Molting disruption in fall armyworm by an ankyrin-based Bracovirus factor from the parasitoid wasp Microplitis prodeniae Rao and Chandry

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月27日

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  • Yaru Wang,
  • Farman Ullah,
  • Liuying Lin,
  • Xiangyun Cai,
  • Ge Gao,
  • Limin Chen,
  • Zhiming Chen,
  • Raul Narciso C. Guedes,
  • Yaobin Lu,
  • Jinda Wang,
  • Youming Hou

摘要

Molting is a critical physiological process in insect development and survival, frequently targeted in both pest control strategies and insect–antagonist interactions. Parasitic wasps, in particular, manipulate host development through the injection of parasitic factors rich in Bracovirus components—agents with potential applications in sustainable pest control. Here, we investigated the interaction between the parasitoid wasp Microplitis prodeniae and its host, the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda, focusing on a Bracovirus-derived parasitic factor (MpBV). Parasitism by M. prodeniae inhibited larval development, disrupted molting, and significantly reduced titers of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). Similar effects were observed upon MpBV injection, which led to increased mortality, decreased pupation, and suppressed 20E levels. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that 130 cuticle protein genes were downregulated in both parasitized and MpBV-injected larvae. RT-qPCR confirmed reduced expression of 20E-regulated genes at 6 and 12 h post-injection, consistent with impaired molting. Among the MpBV components, we identified an ankyrin-repeat protein (MpBVankyrin), which was detected in the hemolymph of injected larvae. Recombinant MpBVankyrin suppressed both larval development and 20E production. Yeast two-hybrid assays followed by validation demonstrated that MpBVankyrin interacts with several host proteins (SfBrC2, SfLCP22, SfRasRab, SfLCYBc1, SfCYP450V2, SfCcO, SfAnk13C, and SfGAnk), all of which were downregulated after MpBV or MpBVankyrin injection. Moreover, RNAi silencing of SfBrC2 and SfLCP22 significantly delayed larval growth. Together, these findings demonstrate that M. prodeniae disrupts host molting via MpBVankyrin, highlighting promising molecular targets for the development of molting-based pest control strategies.