Influence of Diet, Sex, and Viral Infections on the Gut Microbiota Composition of Spodoptera exigua Caterpillars

The gut microbiota plays essential roles in processes related with metabolism, physiology, and immunity in all organisms, including insects. In the present work, we performed a broad analysis of the Spodoptera exigua gut microbiota, a major agricultural pest. We analyzed the influence of multiple parameters such as diet, geographic location, sex, or viral infections on S. exigua caterpillar gut microbiota composition. Our study revealed a high variability in bacterial composition among individuals, and a major influence of environmental bacteria (including those acquired through diet) on the gut microbiota composition, supporting previous studies that claim resident microbiota are lacking in caterpillars. Previous studies with laboratory-reared insects showed that changes in caterpillar gut bacterial composition affect the insecticidal properties of entomopathogenic viruses and bacteria. Our study revealed different microbiota composition in field insects carrying a natural viral infection with Spodoptera exigua nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV) and/or Spodoptera exigua iflavirus 1 (SeIV1). Few taxa can be specifically associated with the infection, suggesting microbiota influence the infective process of these natural pathogens, and providing new strategies for insect pest management.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Martínez Solís, María, Collado, María Carmen, Herrero, Salvador
Other Authors:	Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España)
Format:	artículo biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	Frontiers Media 2020-05-06
Subjects:	Lepidoptera, Microbiota, Spodoptera exigua, 16S rRNA, Viral infection,
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/10261/216283 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000780 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003329
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