How Changes in Diet Can Enable Caterpillars to Overcome Parasite Infection

饮食的改变如何使毛毛虫克服寄生虫感染

• 批准号: 0744676
• 负责人: Michael Singer
• 金额: $ 31.43万
• 依托单位: Wesleyan University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-01-15 至 2011-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0744676&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: How; Changes; Diet; Enable; Caterpillars

Michael S. Singer, Proposal IOS-0744676How changes in diet can enable caterpillars to overcome parasite infectionChanges in feeding behavior can enable individual animals to cure themselves of parasite infections or other physiological distress. All animals have immunological defenses that can potentially change in strength based on an individual's diet. In addition, herbivores such as caterpillars may kill their parasites by ingesting and accumulating toxic chemicals found in the plants they eat. This research project will investigate these two means of anti-parasite behavior by the woolly bear caterpillar Grammia geneura. This species is suspected from previous study to ward off natural parasites through its feeding choices. First, behavioral experiments will characterize the dietary choices of experimentally parasitized caterpillars in relation to unparasitized caterpillars. Second, to evaluate the role of specific diets in resistance against parasites, the survival of parasitized and unparasitized caterpillars on different diets will be tested. Third, physiological experiments will evaluate the effects of these diets on the caterpillar's immune response to parasites. Finally, to analyze direct effects of caterpillar diet without the immune system, the parasites will be raised on artificial diets that reflect different caterpillar diets. Caterpillars newly infected by the potentially lethal, parasitic fly Exorista mella, are expected to choose a nutritious diet to enhance their immunological resistance. This mechanism is expected to carry minimal physiological costs for the caterpillar. However, caterpillars threatened by late-stage parasitic infections are expected to choose a diet rich in natural plant toxins called pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Ingesting unusually large quantities of alkaloids is expected to be physiologically costly for the caterpillar, and thus used as a last resort. The broader impacts of this research include training diverse students and a post-doctoral fellow in linking behavior, physiology, and ecology to animal health. Through public presentations, this project will also educate the public about the scientific link between animal health, behavior, and the environment.

迈克尔·S·辛格（Michael S.所有动物都有免疫防御能力，可以根据个人的饮食来可能改变力量。此外，诸如毛毛虫之类的食草动物可能会通过摄入和积累在食用植物中发现的有毒化学物质而杀死其寄生虫。该研究项目将调查羊毛毛毛虫格莱美氏菌的这两种抗寄生虫行为的手段。怀疑该物种是从先前的研究中通过其喂养选择来抵御天然寄生虫的。首先，行为实验将表征实验性寄生的毛毛虫相对于无寄生的毛毛虫的饮食选择。其次，为了评估特定饮食在抵抗寄生虫的耐药性中的作用，将测试寄生和无寄存的毛毛虫在不同饮食中的生存。第三，生理实验将评估这些饮食对毛毛虫对寄生虫的免疫反应的影响。最后，为了分析没有免疫系统的毛毛虫饮食的直接作用，将在反映不同毛毛虫饮食的人工饮食上提出寄生虫。毛毛虫新近感染了潜在致命的寄生虫埃斯托里斯塔梅拉（Exorista Mella），有望选择营养饮食来增强其免疫耐药性。预计这种机制将为毛毛虫带来最低的生理成本。但是，受后期寄生虫感染威胁的毛毛虫有望选择富含天然植物毒素的饮食，称为吡咯烷碱性生物碱。摄入异常数量的生物碱对于毛毛虫的生理昂贵，因此被用作最后手段。这项研究的更广泛影响包括培训多样化的学生以及将行为，生理学和生态学与动物健康联系起来的博士后研究员。通过公开演讲，该项目还将教育公众有关动物健康，行为和环境之间的科学联系。