Open AccessVariation of TNF modulates cellular immunity of gregarious and solitary locusts against fungal pathogen Metarhizium anisopliae
Author(s) -
Yundan Wang,
Xiaowei Tong,
Shenglei Yuan,
Pengcheng Yang,
Ling Li,
Yong Zhao,
Le Kang
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2120835119
Subject(s) - biology , effector , metarhizium anisopliae , pathogen , tumor necrosis factor alpha , immune system , phagocytosis , immunity , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , cytokine , ecology , biological pest control
Significance Ecological immunology addresses the interactions between host immunity and the environment. Locusts display density-dependent phase transitions between solitary and gregarious locusts. In control practices and laboratory bioassays, gregarious locusts always exhibit stronger resistance to fungal pathogens than solitary locusts. However, few studies have investigated the mechanism of altered immune switch in locusts. Here, we combined mathematical simulation and experimental studies to show that gregarious locusts inhibit tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to alter immune defense by enhancing humoral defense and reducing cellular defense, and high levels of TNF reduce the survival of solitary locusts. Our study provides an important cue for understanding cellular immunity variations in response to different population densities and for improving the control efficacy of locust plagues.