Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda) induces changes in expression of select genes of Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera)

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Belosevic, M.
  • Shostak, A. W.
  • Hitchen, S. J.

• The flour beetle Tribolium confusum is a common experimental intermediate host for the tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta, but while many aspects of their host-parasite interactions have been determined to have genetic basis, the genes involved have not been identified. In this paper, we report on the expression of several predicted metabolic and defense-related genes using quantitative polymerase chain reaction 2 weeks after initial infection of the beetle. The expression of heat shock protein 68, a predicted sugar transporter, a pheromone binding protein, and endoglin were up-regulated in infected beetles. The expression of thaumatin-like protein and prophenoloxidase 2/3 was down-regulated in infected beetles, while the mRNA levels of Toll-like receptor 3, Toll-like receptor 4, and lysozyme 4 were not affected by infection with H. diminuta.

• Date created

  2009

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Susceptibility
  • Tapeworm Infection
  • Intermediate hosts
  • Aggregation
  • Identification
  • Castaneum
  • Red Flour Beetle
  • Cysticercoids
  • Genome
  • Tenebrio-molitor

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3513V242

• License

  © 2009 Springer Verlag (Germany). This version of this article is open access and can be downloaded and shared. The original author(s) and source must be cited. The final publication is available at www.springerlink.com.