The effect of Habrobracon hebetor venom on the activity of the prophenoloxidase system, the generation of reactive oxygen species and encapsulation in the haemolymph of Galleria mellonella larvae

J Insect Physiol. 2011 Jun;57(6):796-800. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2011.03.008. Epub 2011 Mar 17.

Abstract

The cellular and humoral immune reactions in haemolymph of the wax moth Galleria mellonella larvae naturally injected by venom of ectoparasitic wasp Habrobracon hebetor were analyzed. A strong decline of phenoloxidase (PO) activity in the haemolymph and the number of haemocytes with PO activity of envenomated wax moth was observed. In addition, it has been shown that the rate of capsule melanization in the envenomated larvae was half that of the control. Also production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the haemolymph of envenomated larvae decreased. The obtained data casts light on the suppression of the main immune reactions in G. mellonella larvae during natural envenomation by H. hebetor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Catechol Oxidase / immunology*
  • Enzyme Precursors / immunology*
  • Hemolymph / enzymology
  • Hemolymph / immunology
  • Host-Parasite Interactions*
  • Insect Proteins / immunology*
  • Larva / enzymology
  • Larva / immunology
  • Larva / parasitology
  • Moths / drug effects
  • Moths / enzymology
  • Moths / immunology
  • Moths / parasitology*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / immunology*
  • Wasp Venoms / metabolism*
  • Wasps / growth & development*
  • Wasps / metabolism

Substances

  • Enzyme Precursors
  • Insect Proteins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Wasp Venoms
  • pro-phenoloxidase
  • Catechol Oxidase