The Defense Response Mechanisms of Host Midgut to Bacillus thuringiensis and Its Pesticidal Proteins

doi:10.16409/j.cnki.2095-039x.2025.03.003

Abstract

Abstract: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is one of the insect pathogens which has specific insecticidal activity against a wide range of agricultural pests and nematodes. It produces different insecticidal proteins to destroy the target pest midgut epithelial cells, resulting in an imbalance of intracellular osmotic pressure and the death of their host pests. As we know, the midgut epitheliums of pests are the protective barriers between the internal and external environments of pests, which plays a key role in defense against pathogens and their insecticidal proteins. After intoxication with Bt insecticidal proteins, the midgut epithelial cell defense responses are activated to maintain the structural integrity of midgut to reduce the damage caused by the Bt insecticidal proteins. The defense mechanisms significantly affected the activity of Bt insecticidal proteins and even led to the development of resistance in target pests. Here we review the Bt-induced midgut epithelial cell defense mechanism of the host pests, including vesicle trafficking pathways, autophagy, apoptotic death, cell defense signaling pathways, cell shedding and regeneration. Aiming to lay an important theoretical foundation for improving the insecticidal activity of Bt and delaying the resistance of target pests.

Key words: Bacillus thuringiensis, insecticidal proteins, midgut cells, cell defense mechanism, pests, Caenorhabditis elegans

CLC Number:

S476.1

LI Sirui, YANG Yanchao, WU Guoxing, WANG Zeyu. The Defense Response Mechanisms of Host Midgut to Bacillus thuringiensis and Its Pesticidal Proteins[J]. Chinese Journal of Biological Control, 2025, 41(2): 492-500.

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