Millipedes vs. pathogens: Defensive secretions of some julids (Diplopoda: Julida) as potential antimicrobial agents

Ilić, Bojan; Dimkić, Ivica; Unković, Nikola; Grbić, Milica Ljaljević; Vukojević, Jelena; Vujisić, Ljubodrag; Tešević, Vele; Stanković, Slaviša; Makarov, Slobodan E.; Lučić, Luka

doi:10.1111/jen.12526

Cited by 9 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…The function of this VTG peptide is unknown. Further, a total of 119 proteins were identified to possess antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral properties (S15 Fig), corroborating results from other studies suggesting that millipede ozadenes also play an important antimicrobial role [42][43][44]. Consequently, our data add weight to the assertion that one of the main functions of the millipede ozadene, at least in T. corallinus, is to provide defence against pathogenic microorganisms, in addition to providing a defence mechanism against predators.…”

Section: Plos Biologysupporting

confidence: 89%

Millipede genomes reveal unique adaptations during myriapod evolution

Nong

et al. 2020

PLoS Biol

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The Myriapoda, composed of millipedes and centipedes, is a fascinating but poorly understood branch of life, including species with a highly unusual body plan and a range of unique adaptations to their environment. Here, we sequenced and assembled 2 chromosomal-level genomes of the millipedes Helicorthomorpha holstii (assembly size = 182 Mb; shortest scaffold/contig length needed to cover 50% of the genome [N50] = 18.11 Mb mainly on 8 pseudomolecules) and Trigoniulus corallinus (assembly size = 449 Mb, N50 = 26.78 Mb mainly on 17 pseudomolecules). Unique genomic features, patterns of gene regulation, and defence systems in millipedes, not observed in other arthropods, are revealed. Both repeat content and intron size are major contributors to the observed differences in millipede genome size. Tight Hox and the first loose ecdysozoan ParaHox homeobox clusters are identified, and a myriapod-specific genomic rearrangement including Hox3 is also observed. The Argonaute (AGO) proteins for loading small RNAs are duplicated in both millipedes, but unlike in insects, an AGO duplicate has become a pseudogene. Evidence of post-transcriptional modification in small RNAs-including species-specific microRNA arm switching-providing differential gene regulation is also obtained. Millipedes possesses a unique ozadene defensive gland unlike the venomous forcipules found in centipedes. We identify sets of genes associated with the ozadene that play roles in chemical defence as well as antimicrobial activity. Macrosynteny analyses revealed highly conserved genomic blocks between the 2 millipedes and deuterostomes. Collectively, our analyses of millipede genomes reveal that a series of unique adaptations have occurred in this major lineage of arthropod diversity. The 2 highquality millipede genomes provided here shed new light on the conserved and lineagespecific features of millipedes and centipedes. These findings demonstrate the importance of the consideration of both centipede and millipede genomes-and in particular the reconstruction of the myriapod ancestral situation-for future research to improve understanding of arthropod evolution, and animal evolutionary genomics more widely.

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Section: Plos Biologysupporting

confidence: 89%

Millipede genomes reveal unique adaptations during myriapod evolution

Nong

et al. 2020

PLoS Biol

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“…Defensive secretions of M . unilineatum , which show moderate antibacterial activity but have a strong antifungal potential [18], are composed of 38 components. The most dominant of quinones (and of all components) is 2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The number of compounds in these secretions can vary from two to ca. 60 [4,18]. These facts mean that julidan defensive chemistry is the most complex within the Diplopoda [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…So far, defensive secretions of four julid species ( Cylindroiulus boleti (C. L. Koch, 1847), Megaphyllum bosniense (Verhoeff, 1897), M . unilineatum (C. L. Koch, 1838), and Pachyiulus hungaricus (Karsch, 1881)) have been tested against different bacterial and fungal pathogens [18,19]. Both studies revealed that the tested julid defensive secretions are highly potent antifungals and moderately strong antibacterials.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…are important pathogens of plants and mammals (including humans) which exhibit moderate to high resistance to many commercial used antifungal agents [20,21]. Based on the known chemical nature of selected defensive secretions [18,19], we also designed this study to gain insight into the antioxidative and antineurodegenrative potential of these two julid secretions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multifaceted activity of millipede secretions: Antioxidant, antineurodegenerative, and anti-Fusarium effects of the defensive secretions of Pachyiulus hungaricus (Karsch, 1881) and Megaphyllum unilineatum (C. L. Koch, 1838) (Diplopoda: Julida)

et al. 2019

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Members of the millipede order Julida rely on dominantly quinonic defensive secretions with several minor, non-quinonic components. The free radical-scavenging activities of ethanol, methanol, hexane, and dichloromethane extracts of defensive secretions emitted by Pachyiulus hungaricus (Karsch, 1881) and Megaphyllum unilineatum (C. L. Koch, 1838) were investigated using the ABTS, DPPH, and total reducing power (TRP) tests. The obtained extracts were also tested for inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase activity. Finally, the antifungal potential of both julid extracts was evaluated against seven Fusarium species. Secretions of both species showed activity against free radicals, acetylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, and all of the selected fungal species. The secretions of P. hungaricus exhibited a more potent antioxidative effect than did those of M. unilineatum, while there were no significant differences of antiacetylcholinesterase activity between the tested extracts. Only the hexane extract of M. unilineatum showed an effect on tyrosinase activity stronger than that of P. hungaricus. Fusarium sporotrichioides, F. graminearum, and F. verticillioides were the fungi most resistant to secretions of both julids. The Fusarium species most susceptible to the secretion of P. hungaricus was F. avenaceum, while the concentrations of M. unilienatum extracts needed to inhibit and completely suppress fungal growth were lowest in the case of their action on F. lateritium. Our data support previous findings that julid defensive secretions possess an antimicrobial potential and reveal their antioxidative and antineurodegenrative properties. Bearing in mind the chemical complexity of the tested defensive secretions, we presume that they can also exhibit other biological activities.

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Alkaloid chemistry in pill-millipedes: Defensive secretion in two species of Typhloglomeris Verhoeff, 1898 (Diplopoda, Glomerida, Glomeridellidae)

Bodner,

Antić,

Jovanović

et al. 2024

Chemoecology

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Millipedes of the order Glomerida are known to produce quinazolinone alkaloids as defensive substances. However, chemical data are rather scarce and all hitherto available publications refer to a single glomeridan family, the Glomeridae. To contribute to the knowledge of the chemical ecology of glomeridans, we collected species, Typhloglomeris coeca Verhoeff, 1898 and T. varunae Makarov, Lučić, Tomić & Karaman, 2003, from a second family – Glomeridellidae. The defensive exudates were extracted in methylene chloride and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Our results show that the secretions of the two glomeridellids contain the quinazolinone alkaloid homoglomerin (2-ethyl-1-methylquinazolin-4(1H)-one) as the sole defensive constituent. This report provides initial data on the chemoprofiles of members of the family Glomeridellidae and supports the phenomenon of chemical homogeneity of glomeridan defensive secretions. So far, all analyzed representatives of the order possess glomerin and/or homoglomerin as defensive equipment. The phylogenetic origin of alkaloidal compounds in the secretions of millipedes in general, and particularly the origin of quinazolinone alkaloids in Glomerida is discussed. Considering that the quinazolinone alkaloid defensive secretions may be the same (or very similar) in other Glomerida, our results have important implication for further studies of defensive secretions in these arthropods. Also, as data are available only for a limited number of glomeridan and colobognathan species, additional analyses are necessary to elucidate the evolution of alkaloid defensive secretion in Diplopoda.

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Millipedes vs. pathogens: Defensive secretions of some julids (Diplopoda: Julida) as potential antimicrobial agents

Cited by 9 publications

References 61 publications

Millipede genomes reveal unique adaptations during myriapod evolution

Millipede genomes reveal unique adaptations during myriapod evolution

Multifaceted activity of millipede secretions: Antioxidant, antineurodegenerative, and anti-Fusarium effects of the defensive secretions of Pachyiulus hungaricus (Karsch, 1881) and Megaphyllum unilineatum (C. L. Koch, 1838) (Diplopoda: Julida)

Alkaloid chemistry in pill-millipedes: Defensive secretion in two species of Typhloglomeris Verhoeff, 1898 (Diplopoda, Glomerida, Glomeridellidae)

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