具有单个CRD的PxGalectin-4参与Plutella xylostella对昆虫病原真菌Isaria cicadae的免疫反应

doi:10.1016/j.jia.2025.07.002

Journal of Integrative Agriculture ›› 2026, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (6): 2485-2495.DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.07.002

具有单个CRD的PxGalectin-4参与Plutella xylostella对昆虫病原真菌Isaria cicadae的免疫反应

收稿日期:2025-03-03 修回日期:2025-07-05 接受日期:2025-06-09 出版日期:2026-06-20 发布日期:2026-05-06

PxGalectin-4 with single carbohydrate recognition domain involved in the immunity of Plutella xylostella against entomopathogenic fungus Isaria cicadae

Yongli Zhou^{1, 2*}, Ying Lu^{1, 2*}, Yue Xing^{1, 2}, Jian Liang^{1, 2}, Xiangli Dang^{1, 2#}

¹ Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
²Key Laboratory of Agri-products Quality and Biosafety (Anhui Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Hefei 230036, China

Received:2025-03-03 Revised:2025-07-05 Accepted:2025-06-09 Online:2026-06-20 Published:2026-05-06
About author:Yongli Zhou, E-mail: 2370165743@qq.com; Ying Lu, E-mail: 1125799818@qq.com; #Correspondence Xiangli Dang, Mobile: +86-18326075763, E-mail: xldang@ahau.edu.cn * These authors contributed equally to this study.
Supported by:
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32372522), the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province, China (2108085MC104), and the Natural Science Research Project for Universities in Anhui Province, China (2022AH050929).

摘要/Abstract

摘要：

小菜蛾Plutella xylostella对十字花科作物构成全球性威胁，并已对常规杀虫剂产生了显著抗性。昆虫病原真菌（Entomopathogenic fungi，EPF）作为化学杀虫剂的环境友好型替代品受到了广泛关注。由于昆虫免疫系统是抵御真菌病原体的主要防线，研究这些机制有助于开发生物防治策略。然而，关于昆虫中半乳糖凝集素免疫功能的研究仍然有限。本研究中，我们在小菜蛾中鉴定出一种半乳糖凝集素-4同源物PxGalectin-4，并系统地探讨了其应对昆虫病原真菌蝉拟青霉Isaria cicadae侵染的免疫功能。PxGalectin-4的开放阅读框编码了338个氨基酸，包含一个CRD结构域。研究发现，PxGalectin-4基因在高龄幼虫阶段和脂肪体中的表达量达到峰值，并在I. cicadae侵染后显著增加。功能分析表明，重组PxGalectin-4（rPxGalectin-4）能够直接与微生物细胞和细胞壁成分结合，并表现出Ca²⁺依赖的微生物凝集作用。此外，rPxGalectin-4通过促进结节和包囊形成，增强血细胞介导的免疫反应，并提高了血淋巴中的酚氧化酶活性。敲低PxGalectin-4表达显著增强了小菜蛾幼虫对I. cicadae感染的易感性。总的来说，PxGalectin-4在P. xylostella对I. cicadae的防御中发挥着重要的免疫作用，可能成为新的害虫控制策略的一个有前途的靶标。

Abstract:

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella represents a worldwide threat to Brassicaceae crops and has developed substantial resistance to conventional insecticides. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have emerged as environmentally sustainable alternatives to chemical insecticides. Since insect immunity constitutes the primary defense against fungal pathogens, understanding these mechanisms could advance biocontrol strategies. Nevertheless, research on the immune functions of galectins in insects remains limited. This study identifies a Galectin-4 homolog in P. xylostella (PxGalectin-4) and systematically examines its immunological functions against an EPF Isaria cicadae infection. The open reading frame of PxGalectin-4 encoded 338 amino acids with a carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). PxGalectin-4 expression exhibited peak levels in late-instar larval stages and fat body, and increased significantly following I. cicadae challenge. Functional characterization demonstrated that recombinant PxGalectin-4 (rPxGalectin-4) directly bound cells and cell wall components of microbes, and displayed Ca²⁺-dependent microbial agglutination. Additionally, rPxGalectin-4 enhanced hemocyte-mediated immune responses by promoting nodulation and encapsulation, and increased phenoloxidase activity of hemolymph. Knockdown of PxGalectin-4 significantly increased the susceptibility of P. xylostella larvae to I. cicadae infection. In conclusion, PxGalectin-4 serves a vital immune function in P. xylostella defense against I.cicadae, and presents a potential target for novel pest control strategies.

Key words: galectin , immunity , biocontrol , Plutella xylostella , entomopathogenic fungi , Isaria cicadae

Yongli Zhou, Ying Lu, Yue Xing, Jian Liang, Xiangli Dang. 具有单个CRD的PxGalectin-4参与Plutella xylostella对昆虫病原真菌Isaria cicadae的免疫反应[J]. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2485-2495.

Yongli Zhou, Ying Lu, Yue Xing, Jian Liang, Xiangli Dang. PxGalectin-4 with single carbohydrate recognition domain involved in the immunity of Plutella xylostella against entomopathogenic fungus Isaria cicadae[J]. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2485-2495.

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具有单个CRD的PxGalectin-4参与Plutella xylostella对昆虫病原真菌Isaria cicadae的免疫反应

PxGalectin-4 with single carbohydrate recognition domain involved in the immunity of Plutella xylostella against entomopathogenic fungus Isaria cicadae

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