Insect Biotechnology (eBook)

Foreword 5
Contents 8
Contributors 10
Part I Insect Biotechnology in Medicine 12
1 The Greater Wax Moth Galleria mellonella as an Alternative Model Host for Human Pathogens 13
1.1 Introduction 13
1.2 Advantages of the Galleria Model 15
1.2.1 The Greater Wax Moth G. mellonella as a Host for Human Pathogens 15
1.2.1.1 The Galleria Model System for Human Pathogenic Bacteria 15
1.2.1.2 Use of the Galleria Model System to Study Septic Infection by Listeria – A Case Study 17
1.2.1.3 Correlation of Mammalian Infection in Galleria 18
1.2.1.4 Cellular Responses in Galleria Following L. monocytogenes Infection 19
1.2.1.5 Systemic Induction of Anti-Microbial-Related Immune Genes in L. monocytogenes-Infested Galleria 19
1.3 Galleria as a Model System for Human Pathogenic Fungi 20
1.4 Conclusion 22
References 22
2 Fruit Flies as Models in Biomedical Research – A Drosophila Asthma Model 25
2.1 What Is Asthma? 26
2.2 Drosophila in Asthma Research 27
2.3 Infection and Ectopic Activation of the Immune System Induce Asthma-Like Phenotypes 30
2.4 What Has the Fly to Offer? 30
2.5 What Is the Greatest Potential of Drosophila in Asthma Research? 32
2.6 Potential Roles of Asthma Susceptibility Genes in Drosophila 33
References 35
3 Therapeutic Potential of Anti-Microbial Peptides from Insects 38
3.1 The Insect Immune System 39
3.2 Classification of Anti-Microbial Peptides 40
3.2.1 Non-ribosomally Synthesized Peptides 40
3.2.2 Bacteriocins 40
3.2.3 Anti-Microbial Peptides of Multi-Cellular Organisms 41
3.3 Mode of Action 42
3.4 Classes of Insect AMPs 44
3.4.1 a-Helical AMPs 44
3.4.2 Disulfide-Stabilized AMPs 46
3.4.3 Proline-Rich AMPs 49
3.4.4 Glycine-Rich Polypeptides 52
3.5 AMPs in Clinical Trials 56
3.5.1 Human AMPs 56
3.5.2 UBI 29-41 Derived from Human Ubiquicidin 58
3.5.3 rBPI21 Derived from Human Bactericidal/Permeability Increasing Protein (BPI) 59
3.5.4 P-113 Derived from Human Histatins 60
3.5.5 hLF1-11 Derived from Human Lactoferrin 61
3.5.6 Pexiganan Derived from Frog Magainins 62
3.5.7 Iseganan Derived from Porcine Protegrins 62
3.5.8 Omiganan Derived from Bovine Indolicidin 63
3.6 Insect AMPs as New Leads for Human Treatments 64
References 66
4 From Traditional Maggot Therapy to Modern Biosurgery 75
4.1 Renewed Attention to an Old-Fashioned Therapy 75
4.2 Biology of Medicinal Maggots 76
4.3 Beneficial Effects of Maggot Therapy 77
4.3.1 Debridement 77
4.4 Promotion of Wound Healing 78
4.5 Disinfection 78
4.6 Application of Medicinal Maggots 79
4.7 Maggot-Derived Compounds with Therapeutic Potential in Biosurgery 79
4.7.1 Anti-Microbial Molecules from L. sericata 79
4.8 Inducible Digestive Enzymes 82
4.9 Future Directions 82
References 82
5 Insect-Associated Microorganisms as a Source for Novel Secondary Metabolites with Therapeutic Potential 84
5.1 Introduction 84
5.2 Entomopathogenic Fungi 86
5.3 Entomopathogenic Bacteria 88
5.4 Bacteria as Insect Symbionts 93
5.5 Conclusions 96
References 96
6 Potential Pharmaceuticals from Insects and Their Co-Occurring Microorganisms 101
6.1 Introduction 101
6.2 Interesting Low Molecular Natural Compounds from Insects and Their Biologically Active Synthetic Derivatives 104
6.2.1 Cantharidin from Coleoptera and Canthariphilous Insects and Its Natural and Synthetic Analogues 104
6.2.2 Other Insect-Derived Compounds 108
6.3 Low Molecular Weight Compounds from Insect-Derived Microorganisms 109
6.3.1 Odonata (Dragonflies) 110
6.3.2 Orthoptera 110
6.3.3 Hemiptera 111
6.3.4 Hymenoptera 112
6.3.5 Neuroptera 113
6.3.6 Coleoptera (Beetles) 113
6.3.7 Siphonaptera 117
6.3.8 Unknown Insects 118
6.4 Conclusions 119
References 119
Part II Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection 126
7 Insect Antimicrobial Peptides as New Weapons Against Plant Pathogens 127
7.1 Controlling Microbial Plant Pathogens 127
7.2 Insect Antimicrobial Peptides 128
7.3 Cecropins 130
7.4 Sarcotoxins 132
7.5 Attacins 133
7.6 Defensins 134
7.7 Metchnikowin 136
7.8 Future Prospects 139
7.8.1 Rational Design of AMPs 139
7.8.2 Directed Discovery of Specific Insect AMPs 140
7.8.3 Inducible and Tissue-Specific Expression of Insect AMPs 141
7.8.4 Fusion of AMPs and Pathogen-Specific Antibodies 143
References 145
8 Protection of Crops Against Insect Pests Using RNA Interference 149
8.1 Introduction 150
8.2 Regulation of Gene Expression by Small Cytoplasmic RNAs 150
8.3 RNA Interference and Cellular Transport Mechanisms for RNA Import and Export Systemic Effects 153
8.4 Oral Delivery of dsRNA to Insects to Produce RNA Interference Effects 158
8.5 Production of dsRNA in Plants for Delivery to Invertebrate Pests: Nematodes as a Case Study 161
8.6 Insect Resistance in Plants Through RNAi Effects: Current Progress 164
8.6.1 Preselection of Target Gene 165
8.6.2 Selection of Target Genes by Screening 166
8.7 Prospects for RNAi-Mediated Crop Protection 167
References 169
9 Insect Transgenesis and the Sterile Insect Technique 173
9.1 Introduction 173
9.2 Features of Insect Transformation Systems 174
9.3 Basic Science: Tools for Functional Gene Identification and Characterization 178
9.4 Insect Pest Management: Transgene-Improved Sterile Insect Technique 183
9.5 Ecological and Ethical Considerations 188
References 190
Part III Industrial Applications of Insect Biotechnology 199
10 Insect Cells for Heterologous Production of Recombinant Proteins 200
10.1 Heterologous Protein Expression in Insect Cells -- History 200
10.2 Insect Cells -- Introduction 201
10.2.1 Types and Sources 201
10.2.2 Post-Translational Modifications 201
10.3 Baculoviruses 203
10.3.1 Classification 203
10.3.2 Structure and Replication 203
10.4 Commercially Available Expression Systems 204
10.4.1 Bac-to-Bac ® System (Invitrogen) 205
10.5 Lab Facilities 206
10.5.1 Cell Growth 207
10.6 Insect Cells for Continuous Protein Expression 207
10.7 Protein Production in Larvae 208
10.8 Conclusions 209
References 209
11 Biotechnologies Based on Silk 213
11.1 Silk Use in Textiles and Related Products 213
11.1.1 Silk as a Natural Fiber 213
11.1.2 The Ancient Technology of Silk Reeling 216
11.2 Use of Natural Silk in Medicine 217
11.2.1 Silk Fibers 217
11.2.2 Use of Sericin Products 218
11.3 Recombinant Silk Products 221
11.3.1 Filaments from Recombinant Silk-Type Proteins 221
11.3.2 Recombinant Sericin-Like Proteins 222
References 223
12 Biosensors on the Basis of Insect Olfaction 227
12.1 Definition and Basic Principles 227
12.2 Types of Biosensors 228
12.2.1 Bio-Components 228
12.2.2 Generations of Biosensors 229
12.2.3 Transducers 229
12.3 Applications of Biosensors 230
12.4 Insect Olfaction as a Basis for Biosensors 231
12.4.1 The Biochemical Transduction Pathway in Insect Olfaction 231
12.5 Application Layout: Biosensors on the Basis of Insect Antennae 233
12.5.1 Fire Detection with Insect Antennae 234
12.5.2 Detection of Phytophagous Infestation in Agricultural Crops 235
12.5.3 Assessment of Increased Infestation Disposition for Insect Forest Pests 236
12.5.4 Post Mortem Interval (PMI) Estimation in Legal Medicine 237
12.6 Biomimetic Approaches to Sensors on the Basis of Insect Olfaction 238
12.6.1 Detection of Meat Spoilage 239
12.6.2 Early Fire Warning System in Wood Flake Driers 240
References 241
13 Insect-Inspired Technologies: Insects as a Source for Biomimetics 243
13.1 Introduction 243
13.2 Materials 244
13.3 Surfaces 247
13.4 Adhesives 253
13.5 Optics 256
13.6 Photonics 257
13.7 Sensorics 258
13.8 Robotics 259
13.9 Future Perspectives 261
References 262
Index 267