Emerging Evidence on Tenebrio molitor Immunity: A Focus on Gene Expression Involved in Microbial Infection for Host-Pathogen Interaction Studies

Abstract

In recent years, the scientific community’s interest in T. molitor as an insect model to investigate immunity and host-pathogen interactions has considerably increased. The reasons for this growing interest could be explained by the peculiar features of this beetle, which offers various advantages compared to other invertebrates models commonly used in laboratory studies. Thus, this review aimed at providing a broad view of the T. molitor immune system in light of the new scientific evidence on the developmental/tissue-specific gene expression studies related to microbial infection. In addition to the well-known cellular component and humoral response process, several studies investigating the factors associated with T. molitor immune response or deepening of those already known have been reported. However, various aspects remain still less understood, namely the possible crosstalk between the immune deficiency protein and Toll pathways and the role exerted by T. molitor apolipoprotein III in the expression of the antimicrobial peptides. Therefore, further research is required for T. molitor to be recommended as an alternative insect model for pathogen-host interaction and immunity studies.

Farmed Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor; Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Welfare: Species-Specific Recommendations for a Global Industry

“…Microbes: Viruses, bacteria, protists, and fungi YML are an important insect model for humoral and cellular aspects of innate immunity (e.g., Jo et al 2019;Johnson et al 2014;Petronio et al 2022;Vigneron et al 2019). Immune responses to a wide range of parasites and pathogens have been characterized (Haine et al 2008;Jo et al 2021).…”

“…Immune challenge also results in downregulation of metabolism and nutrient-storage genes (Johnson et al 2014). Adequate nutrient provisioning should be provided alongside any procedural induction of the YML immune system to bolster resistance to pathogen outbreaks (see review of molecular mechanisms of immune response in Petronio et al 2022).…”