Transcriptomics reveals specific molecular mechanisms underlying transgenerational immunity in Manduca sexta

Area of Science:

• Insect immunology
• Transgenerational immune priming (TGIP)
• Molecular mechanisms of immunity

Background:

• Innate immunity in insects was traditionally considered non-adaptive.
• Recent studies show sublethal pathogen exposure can prime insect immune systems.
• Transgenerational immune priming (TGIP) demonstrates parental immune history affects offspring immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate gene expression changes underlying TGIP in the tobacco moth, *Manduca sexta*.
• Identify molecular pathways affected by maternal immune priming.
• Provide the first transcriptome-wide analysis of TGIP in this model organism.

Main Methods:

• Performed transcriptome-wide, transgenerational differential gene expression analysis.
• Exposed mother *Manduca sexta* to *Serratia marcescens* (live and heat-killed).
• Analyzed gene expression in mothers and their offspring.

Main Results:

• Maternal exposure to *S. marcescens* significantly impacted offspring gene expression.
• Upregulation of key immune genes observed in offspring, including peptidoglycan recognition protein, toll-like receptor 9, and cecropin.
• Demonstrated strong and significant transgenerational effects on immune gene expression.

Conclusions:

• Maternal immune priming has profound transgenerational effects on offspring immunity in *Manduca sexta*.
• TGIP involves significant alterations in offspring immune gene expression.
• This study provides molecular insights into adaptive immunity in insects.