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Updated: Mar 11, 2026
Localization and Quantification of Begomoviruses in Whitefly Tissues by Immunofluorescence and Quantitative PCR
Published on: February 8, 2020
A peptidoglycan recognition protein acts in whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) immunity and involves in Begomovirus
Zhi-Zhi Wang1, Min Shi1, Yi-Cun Huang1
1Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Abstract:
Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are multifunctional pattern recognition proteins. Here, we report that a PGRP gene, BtPGRP, encodes a PGRP from the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (MEAM1) that binds and kills bacteria in vitro. We analyzed BtPGRP transcriptional profiling, and the distribution of the cognate protein within the midgut. Fungal infection and wasp parasitization induced expression of BtPGRP. Silencing BtPGRP with artificial media amended with dsRNA led to reduced expression of a gene encoding an antimicrobial peptide, B. tabaci c-type lysozyme. Begomovirus infection also led to increased expression of BtPGRP. We propose that BtPGRP has a potential Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) binding site because we detected in vitro interaction between BtPGRP and TYLCV by immunocapture PCR, and recorded the co-localization of TYLCV and BtPGRP in midguts. This work addresses a visible gap in understanding whitefly immunity and provides insight into how the whitefly immunity acts in complex mechanisms of Begomovirus transmission among plants.
Insights
Bemisia tabaci peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) bind and kill bacteria. BtPGRP, a whitefly PGRP, is induced by infection and parasitization, and interacts with Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV).
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are crucial for innate immunity in insects.
- The immune responses of whiteflies, particularly Bemisia tabaci, are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of a novel PGRP gene (BtPGRP) in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (MEAM1).
- To explore the role of BtPGRP in whitefly immunity and its potential involvement in Begomovirus transmission.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptional profiling of BtPGRP.
- In vitro bacterial binding and killing assays.
- RNA interference (RNAi) to silence BtPGRP expression.
- Immunocapture PCR and co-localization studies to detect interactions with Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV).
Main Results:
- BtPGRP encodes a functional PGRP that binds and kills bacteria in vitro.
- BtPGRP expression is induced by fungal infection, wasp parasitization, and Begomovirus infection.
- Silencing BtPGRP reduced the expression of an antimicrobial peptide gene (B. tabaci c-type lysozyme).
- In vitro and in vivo evidence suggests an interaction between BtPGRP and TYLCV.
Conclusions:
- BtPGRP plays a significant role in whitefly innate immunity against bacterial pathogens.
- BtPGRP may be involved in the complex mechanisms of Begomovirus transmission by interacting with the virus.
