cDNA cloning and molecular characterization of a defensin-like antimicrobial peptide from larvae of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Kolbe).

We identified new defensin-like cDNA (called Psdefensin) by searching data set of high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) expression profiling of immunized larva of white-spotted flower chafers, Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis. The length of the analyzed new defensin-like sequences were 240 base pair (bp) and encoded the deduced polypeptide of 79 amino acid residues with signal peptides (amino acids 1-20), pro-peptide region (amino acids 21-36), and mature peptide region (amino acids 37-79). The Psdefensin transcript levels were slightly up-regulated at 4 h post-infection and were highly expressed at 8 h post-infection compared to control larvae injected with sterile water.

Identification of immunity-related genes in the larvae of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae) by a next-generation sequencing-based transcriptome analysis.

To identify immune-related genes in the larvae of white-spotted flower chafers, next-generation sequencing was conducted with an Illumina HiSeq2000, resulting in 100 million cDNA reads with sequence information from over 10 billion base pairs (bp) and >50× transcriptome coverage. A subset of 77,336 contigs was created, and ∼35,532 sequences matched entries against the NCBI nonredundant database (cutoff, e < 10(-5)). Statistical analysis was performed on the 35,532 contigs.

Circulating Hemocytes from Larvae of the Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle Allomyrina dichotoma (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and the Cellular Immune Response to Microorganisms.

Hemocytes of the last larva of the Japanese rhinoceros beetle A. dichotoma (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) were classified as granulocytes, plasmatocytes, oenocytoids, spherulocytes, prohemocytes, and adipohemocytes. Among these cell types, only the granulocytes became immunologically activated with obvious morphological changes, displaying large amoeba-like, lobopodia-like, and fan-like structures.

Characterization of the hemocytes in Larvae of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis: involvement of granulocyte-mediated phagocytosis.

Hemocytes are key players in the immune response against pathogens in insects. However, the hemocyte types and their functions in the white-spotted flower chafers, Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Kolbe), are not known. In this study, we used various microscopes, molecular probes, and flow cytometric analyses to characterize the hemocytes in P.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a lysozyme cDNA from the mole cricket Gryllotalpa orientalis (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae).

A full-length lysozyme cDNA from Gryllotalpa orientalis was cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence of the lysozyme protein was 143 amino acids in length, with a calculated molecular mass of 15.84 kDa and an isoelectric point of 4.

Characterization of a β-1,3-glucan recognition protein from the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The β-1,3-glucan recognition protein gene from Spodoptera exigua (SeβGRP) was cloned and characterized. The cDNA of this gene is 1 644 nucleotides in length and the predicted polypeptide is 491 amino acids (aa) in length, with a calculated molecular mass of 54.8 kDa.

Enhanced antibacterial activity of an attacin-coleoptericin hybrid protein fused with a helical linker.

Previously, we isolated and characterized attacin from Spodoptera exigua and a coleoptericin-like protein from Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis. In this study, we fused these two genes encoding antimicrobial proteins to obtain a hybrid protein with enhanced antimicrobial activity. To fuse the two antimicrobial proteins, we employed helical and non-helical linker sequences that function as inter-domain linkers in proteins.

Characterization and expression of attacin, an antibacterial protein-encoding gene, from the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

To isolate antimicrobial-related genes from the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, we performed GeneFishing, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based differential display technique. An attacin-like complementary DNA (cDNA) including a 3'-untranslated region was identified from among 18 over-expressed genes in microbial-infected larvae. The full-length attacin cDNA from S.