Comparative Nanopore Sequencing-Based Evaluation of the Midgut Microbiota of the Summer Chafer ( Amphimallon solstitiale L.) Associated with Possible Resistance to Entomopathogenic Nematodes

Ewa Sajnaga, Marcin Skowronek, Agnieszka Kalwasińska, Waldemar Kazimierczak, Magdalena Lis, Monika Elżbieta Jach and Adrian Wiater
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Ewa Sajnaga: Laboratory of Biocontrol, Production, and Application of EPN, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
Marcin Skowronek: Laboratory of Biocontrol, Production, and Application of EPN, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
Agnieszka Kalwasińska: Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Waldemar Kazimierczak: Laboratory of Biocontrol, Production, and Application of EPN, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
Magdalena Lis: Laboratory of Biocontrol, Production, and Application of EPN, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
Monika Elżbieta Jach: Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
Adrian Wiater: Department of Industrial and Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: Root-feeding Amphimallon solstitiale larvae and certain other scarab beetles are the main soil-dwelling pests found in Europe, while entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) have been used as a biocontrol agent against these species. Our study provides the first detailed characterization of the bacterial community of the midgut in wild A. solstitiale larvae, based on the nanopore sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. In the whole dataset, we detected 2586 different genera and 11,641 species, with only 83 diverse bacterial genera shared by all studied individuals, which may represent members of the core midgut microbiota of A. solstitiale larvae. Subsequently, we compared the midgut microbiota of EPN-resistant and T0 (prior to EPN exposure) individuals, hypothesizing that resistance to this parasitic infection may be linked to the altered gut community. Compared to the control, the resistant insect microbiota demonstrated lower Shannon and Evenness indices and significant differences in the community structure. Our studies confirmed that the gut microbiota alternation is associated with resistant insects; however, there are many processes involved that can affect the bacterial community. Further research on the role of gut microbiota in insect-parasitic nematode interaction may ultimately lead to the improvement of biological control strategies in insect pest management.

Keywords: gut microbiota; entomopathogenic nematodes; pathogen resistance; host–pathogen interactions; Scarabaeidae; nanopore sequencing; metataxonomics; pest biocontrol (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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