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Termiticidal lectins from Myracrodruon urundeuva (Anacardiaceae) cause midgut damage when ingested by Nasutitermes corniger (Isoptera: Termitidae) workers
Author(s) -
Lima Thâmarah A,
Fernandes Kenner M,
Oliveira Ana Patrícia S,
Dornelles Leonardo P,
Martins Gustavo F,
Napoleão Thiago H,
Paiva Patrícia MG
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.4415
Subject(s) - midgut , biology , lectin , staining , oxidative stress , botany , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , larva , genetics
BACKGROUND Myracrodruon urundeuva is a hardwood tree, and its bark, heartwood and leaf contain lectins (MuBL, MuHL and MuLL respectively) with termiticidal activity against Nasutitermes corniger . In this work, the effects of these lectins on the midgut of N. corniger workers were evaluated. RESULTS The insects were supplied with an artificial diet containing the lectins at their respective LC 50 (previously determined). At 48 h after treatment, the midguts were dissected and fixed for histopathology analyses. Toluidine‐blue‐stained midguts from lectin‐treated workers showed disorganisation, with the presence of debris in the lumen and the absence of brush border. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that the numbers of digestive and proliferating cells were lower in lectin‐treated individuals than in the control, and caspase‐3 staining confirmed the occurrence of cell apoptosis. Enteroendocrine cells were not seen in the treated individuals. The midguts from treated insects showed greater staining for peroxidase than the control, suggesting that the lectins caused oxidative stress. Staining with wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to FITC revealed that the lectins interfered with the integrity of the peritrophic matrix. CONCLUSION This study showed that termiticidal lectins from M. urundeuva cause severe injuries, oxidative stress and cell death in the midgut of N. corniger workers. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry