Changes in the expression of immune proteins of diatraea saccharalis (lepidoptera: crambidae) challenged by bacterialagents and entomap athogenic fungus beauveria bassiana

In this study, the expression of proteins from hemolymph of Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) larvae was analyzed after septic challenge in order to verify the humoral response to Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. Hemolymph samples were submitted to two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry for identification of proteins and peptides. Orthologous immune proteins were identified using Mascot database and TagIdent software. After six hours of microbial septic challenge was observed that E. coli increased the expression of a putative defense protein and B. subtilis modulated negatively the expression of peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP). In this condition, B. subtilis also increased the expression of the same putative defense protein and others proteins like to attacin-A and inhibitor of serine-protease were induced. Septic challenge by six hours with B. bassiana induced the expression of Cecropin-A2 related protein and a possible Drosomycin-like protein. In addition twelve hours of septic challenge with B. subtilis and E. coli increased the expression of a probable lysozyme. A multifunctional protein Apolipophorin-3 was induced twelve hours after of fungal challenge. These results indicate that septic challenge of D. saccharalis larvae was able to induce or regulate the expression of putative proteins involved in immunological processes.