Imbalanced host development and homeostasis of Drosophila larva by endoparasitic wasp infection

• Project/Area Number: 16K20945
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Developmental biology; Insect science
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Shimada Yuko 筑波大学, 生命領域学際研究センター, 助教 (30722699)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): Niwa Ryusuke 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 准教授 (60507945)
• Research Collaborator: Takemata Hitomi 筑波大学, 生命環境科学研究科 ; Katayama Minami 筑波大学, 生命環境科学研究科
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥2,470,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥570,000)
• Keywords: Asobara japonica / 内部寄生蜂 / ショウジョウバエ / Drosophila melanogaster / 細胞死 / 成虫原基 / 免疫応答 / 感染 / キイロショウジョウバエ / ステロイドホルモン / 蛹化 / エクジステロイド / 自然免疫応答 / 発育調節

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An endoparasitic wasp, Asobara japonica, affects on the larval development of its host, Drosophila melanogaster. Upon infection, the host adult tissues, known as imaginal discs were degenerated. Overexpression of antiapototic gene p35 partially suppressed the successful parasitism, suggesting that the degeneration of imaginal discs is required for successful parasitism. To identify the bioactive molecule of A. japonica, we are trying to make the fractions of the whole body of wasp or the body fluid of host larvae by using the molecular weight-based filters.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Dual Roles of Glutathione in Ecdysone Biosynthesis and Antioxidant Function During the Larval Development in Drosophila (2017)
  • Author(s): Enya S, Yamamoto C, Mizuno H, Esaki T, Lin H-K, Iga M, Morohashi K, Hirano T, Kataoka H, Masujima H, Shimada-Niwa Y, Niwa R
  • Journal Title: Genetics Volume: 207 Issue: 4 Pages: 1519-1532
  • DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.300391
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Protocols for visualizing steroidogenic organs and their interactive organs with immunostaining in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. (2017)
  • Author(s): Imura E, Yoshinari Y, Shimada-Niwa Y, Niwa R
  • Journal Title: Journal of Visualized Experiments Volume: 122 Issue: 122
  • DOI: 10.3791/55519
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Ouija board: A transcription factor evolved for only one target in steroid hormone biosynthesis in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. (2016)
  • Author(s): Niwa YS, Niwa R
  • Journal Title: Transcription Volume: 7 Issue: 5 Pages: 196-202
  • DOI: 10.1080/21541264.2016.1210370
  • NAID: 120007128557
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Transcriptional regulation of insect steroid hormone biosynthesis and its role in controlling timing of molting and metamorphosis (2016)
  • Author(s): Yuko S. Niwa and Ryusuke Niwa
  • Journal Title: Development, Growth & Differentiation Volume: 58 Issue: 1 Pages: 94-105
  • DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12248
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] 栄養と発育をつなぐ神経内分泌機構の研究 (2017)
  • Author(s): Yuko Shimada
  • Organizer: 日本分子生物学会第４０回年会（ConBio2017）
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Exploring a neuroendocrine link between feeding, wandering, and pupariation (2016)
  • Author(s): Yuko Shimada-Niwa
  • Organizer: Janelia Conference “Behavioral Neurogenetics of Drosophila larva”
  • Place of Presentation: Ashburn（アメリカ合衆国）
  • Year and Date: 2016-10-23
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Remarks] Niwa+Shimada Lab, University of Tsukuba
  • URL: https://sites.google.com/site/niwashimadalab/
• [Remarks] 筑波大学丹羽研究室
  • URL: http://niwa-lab.org