Dual Oxidase-Derived Reactive Oxygen Species Against and Its Suppression by Eicosanoid Biosynthesis Inhibitors.

Two entomopathogenic bacteria, and , are known to be able to synthesize and secrete eicosanoid biosynthesis inhibitors (EIBs) that can enhance pathogenicity of (Bt) against different target insects. Such enhancements can be explained by the suppression of immune responses in the hemocoel by EIBs. However, little is known about the role of EIBs in the defense against Bt pathogenicity in the gut. This study was focused on the role of insect gut immunity in the defense against Bt pathogenicity, in which the cooperative effect of bacterial metabolites was assessed. Screening 14 different bacterial strains, bacterial culture broth of Photorhabdus subsp. ANU101 (Ptt) gave the highest cooperative effect on Bt virulence along with significant inhibitory activity against phospholipase A (PLA) of . In gut lumen, Ptt culture broth suppressed the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by Bt treatment and facilitated bacterial growth, similar to vitamin E, an antioxidant. To analyze the ROS source, dual oxidase () and NADPH-dependent oxidase () genes were predicted from genome and their expressions were confirmed in larval gut. RNA interference (RNAi) of expression reduced ROS levels in both gut epithelium and lumen while RNAi of expression reduced ROS levels only in gut epithelium. Ptt extract significantly suppressed gene expression levels of and , leading to lower ROS concentrations in the gut lumen. Three commercial PLA inhibitors significantly increased the insecticidal activity of Bt by suppressing ROS levels in the gut lumen. These results indicate that Ptt extract containing EBIs can prevent up-regulation of ROS level in the midgut in response to Bt infection and enhance the virulence of Bt against . .