Core Concepts
The parasitoid wasp Trichopria drosophilae has evolved specialized molecular and ecological adaptations, including the use of venom proteins to arrest host development, teratocyte cells to digest host tissues, and conditional tolerance of intraspecific competition and avoidance of interspecific competition, enabling it to successfully parasitize a broad range of Drosophila hosts, including the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii.
Abstract
The study investigates the molecular and ecological adaptations that enable the parasitoid wasp Trichopria drosophilae (Td) to successfully parasitize a broad range of Drosophila hosts, including the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii.
Key findings:
- Td is a pupal parasitoid that can effectively parasitize D. suzukii and a variety of other Drosophila species, showing higher parasitism and emergence rates compared to the larval parasitoid Asobara japonica (Aj).
- Td has a relatively large genome with a massive expansion of the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (Timp) gene family, which are recruited as venom proteins to arrest host development.
- Td releases specialized cells called teratocytes that secrete trypsin proteins to digest host tissues, providing nutrients for the developing parasitoid larvae.
- Td allows conditional intraspecific superparasitism, which can enhance parasitic success in older host pupae, but strictly avoids interspecific competition with larval parasitoids like Aj.
- Td's ovipositor contains chemosensory structures that likely enable it to discriminate between parasitized and non-parasitized host pupae, allowing it to avoid interspecific competition.
The study provides insights into the coordinated molecular and ecological adaptations that enable the successful parasitism of Td, highlighting its potential as a biological control agent against invasive pests like D. suzukii.
Stats
"Td showed an 85% parasitism rate and a 77% emergence rate on D. suzukii, compared to Aj which showed a 60% parasitism rate and a 48% emergence rate."
"Td genome encodes 29 Timp genes, much more than that of any other hymenopteran species (0-7 genes)."
"Superparasitism improved the parasitism rate by 2.2-fold and the emergence rate by 3.2-fold in 4-day-old host pupae compared to monoparasitism."
Quotes
"Td provides a valuable model for studying the parasitic success in a pupal parasitoid and serves as a promising control agent on invasive pests."
"Our study not only demystifies how parasitoids weaponize themselves to colonize formidable hosts but also provided empirical evidence of the intricate coordination between the molecular and ecological adaptations that drive evolutionary success."