A proctolin-like peptide is regulated after baculovirus infection and mediates in caterpillar locomotion and digestion.

摘要: Baculoviruses constitute a large group of invertebrate DNA viruses, predominantly infecting larvae the insect order Lepidoptera. During baculovirus infection, virus spreads throughout body producing systemic infection in multiple larval tissues, included central nervous system (CNS). As main component CNS, neuropeptides are small protein-like molecules functioning as neurohormones, neurotransmitters, or neuromodulators. These peptides involved regulating animal physiology and behavior could be altered after infection. In this study, we have investigated effect Spodoptera exigua nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV) on expression neuropeptide-like genes. Expression gene encoding polypeptide that resembles well-known neuropeptide proctolin named proctolin-like peptide (PLP), was downregulated brain following chosen for further analysis. A recombinant Autographa californica (AcMNPV) overexpressing C-terminal part PLP generated used bioassays using S. to study its influence viral behavior. AcMNPV-PLP-infected showed less locomotion activity reduction growth compared infected with wild type AcMNPV mock-infected larvae. results indicative new neuromodulator regulates visceral skeletal muscle contractions offers novel effector behavioral changes during