Advances in research on pattern recognition receptors in the Lepidoptera
Author of the article:DU Min XING Long-Sheng QIAN Wan-Qiang WAN Fang-Hao
Author's Workplace:College of Plant Health and Medicine of Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266108, China; Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China; State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193; China
Key Words:pattern recognition receptors; pathogen associated molecular patterns; innate immunity; immune recognition; adaptive evolution
Abstract:
Though lacking an
adaptive immune system, insects have evolved a highly efficient and complex
innate immune system to protect them from multiple pathogens. This innate
immune system can recognize invading pathogens, and rapidly activate an immune
response to eliminate potential threats. The first step of the immune response
is dependent on pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which detect and bind
certain pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) on the surface of
invading pathogens, thereby activating a downstream immune response. So far, a
variety of PRRs have been identified in the Lepidoptera, such as peptidoglycan
recognition protein (PGRP) and C-type lectin (CTL). Various types of PRRs work
together to participate in complex and delicate immune responses. Research in
biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology have found that different types of
PRRs have unique binding specificity and adaptive evolution. This review
focuses on summarizing the origin and structural characteristics of PRR related
gene families, as well as progress in research on physiological functions and
evolution of PRRs in Lepidopteran model insects. This information will assist
further research on the immune system of other Lepidopteran insects and provide
a reference for exploring the relationship between immune genes and mechanisms
of host ecological adaptation.