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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
07:16
Immunofluorescent Labeling of Plant Virus and Insect Vector Proteins in Hemipteran Guts
Published on: May 14, 2021
Infection with a plant virus modifies vector feeding behavior.
Candice A Stafford1, Gregory P Walker, Diane E Ullman
1Departments of Plant Pathology and Entomology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. canstafford@ucdavis.edu
Summary
Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infection alters thrips feeding behavior, increasing feeding frequency and non-ingestion probes. This modification enhances virus transmission, suggesting a conserved trait among Bunyaviridae viruses.
Area of Science:
- Plant Virology
- Insect Vector Behavior
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Parasite transmission often involves modifying host or vector behavior.
- Vector feeding is crucial for parasite transmission, including plant viruses.
- Bunyaviridae viruses infect both plants and animals, with some altering vector behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) alters the feeding behavior of its thrips vector, Frankliniella occidentalis.
- To determine if altered feeding behavior enhances TSWV transmission probability.
- To explore if behavioral modification is a conserved trait in Bunyaviridae.
Main Methods:
- Infection of male Frankliniella occidentalis thrips with TSWV.
- Observation and quantification of feeding behaviors in infected versus uninfected thrips.
- Analysis of non-ingestion probes and salivation behavior.
Main Results:
- Infected male thrips exhibited increased feeding frequency (up to threefold) compared to uninfected males.
- Infected thrips made significantly more non-ingestion probes, a behavior likely initiating TSWV infection.
- These behavioral changes increase the probability of virus inoculation and transmission.
Conclusions:
- TSWV infection alters Frankliniella occidentalis feeding behavior to enhance virus transmission.
- The observed behavioral modification supports the hypothesis of a conserved transmission-enhancing mechanism in Bunyaviridae.
- Vector behavioral modification is evolutionarily significant for diverse parasites across plant and animal kingdoms.
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