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First published online August 28, 2009
Journal of Experimental Biology 212, 2998-3006 (2009)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2009
doi: 10.1242/jeb.030635

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Infection by a symbiotic polydnavirus induces wasting and inhibits metamorphosis of the moth Pseudoplusia includens

A. J. Pruijssers¹, P. Falabella², J. H. Eum¹, F. Pennacchio³, M. R. Brown¹ and M. R. Strand^1,*

¹ Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
² Dipartimento di Biologia, Difesa e Biotecnologie Agro-Forestali, Universita della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
³ Dipartimento di Entomologia e Zoologia Agraria `Filippo Silvestri', Universita di Napoli `Federico II', 80055 Portici, Italy

^* Author for correspondence (mrstrand{at}uga.edu)

Accepted 19 June 2009

Insect pathogens and parasites often affect the growth and development of their hosts, but understanding of these processes is fragmentary. Among the most species-rich and important mortality agents of insects are parasitoid wasps that carry symbiotic polydnaviruses (PDVs). Like many PDV-carrying wasps, Microplitis demolitor inhibits growth and pupation of its lepidopteran host, Pseudoplusia includens, by causing host hemolymph juvenile hormone (JH) titers to remain elevated and preventing ecdysteroid titers from rising. Here we report these alterations only occurred if P. includens was parasitized prior to achieving critical weight, and were fully mimicked by infection with only M. demolitor bracovirus (MdBV). Metabolic assays revealed that MdBV infection of pre-critical weight larvae caused a rapid and persistent state of hyperglycemia and reduced nutrient stores. In vitro ecdysteroid assays further indicated that prothoracic glands from larvae infected prior to achieving critical weight remained in a refractory state of ecdysteroid release, whereas infection of post-critical weight larvae had little or no effect on ecdysteroid release by prothoracic glands. Taken together, our results suggest MdBV causes alterations in metabolic physiology, which prevent the host from achieving critical weight. This in turn inhibits the endocrine events that normally trigger metamorphosis.

Key words: insect, infection, growth, molting, parasite

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