Flexible diet choice offsets protein costs of pathogen resistance in a caterpillar.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
K P LeeS J Simpson

Abstract

Mounting effective resistance against pathogens is costly in terms of energy and nutrients. However, it remains unexplored whether hosts can offset such costs by adjusting their dietary intake so as to recoup the specific resources involved. We test this possibility by experimentally challenging caterpillars (Spodoptera littoralis) with a highly virulent entomopathogen (nucleopolyhedrovirus), under dietary regimes varying in the content of protein and digestible carbohydrate. We found that dietary protein influenced both resistance to pathogen attack and constitutive immune function to a greater extent than did dietary carbohydrate, indicating higher protein costs of resistance than energy costs. Moreover, when allowed to self-compose their diet, insects surviving viral challenge increased their relative intake of protein compared with controls and those larvae dying of infection, thus demonstrating compensation for protein costs associated with resistance. These results suggest that the change in the host's nutritional demands to fight infection induces a compensatory shift in feeding behaviour.

References

Apr 18, 2002·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Kenneth WilsonSarah L Moore
May 25, 2002·The Journal of Hand Surgery : Journal of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand·I A Trail
Jun 1, 1997·Journal of Insect Physiology·P AzambujaD Feder
Jul 26, 2003·Science·J Rolff, M T Siva-Jothy
Jan 1, 1995·Biotechnology Advances·S Gepstein, B A Horwitz
Oct 2, 2004·The American Naturalist·Jens RolffRobby Stoks
Oct 9, 2004·Annual Review of Entomology·Paul Schmid-Hempel
Oct 13, 2004·The American Naturalist·Michael S SingerThomas Hartmann
Jan 8, 2005·Science·David MayntzStephen J Simpson
Jul 29, 2005·Nature·Elizabeth A Bernays, Michael S Singer
Sep 1, 2005·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·S N Thompson, R A Redak
Aug 19, 2008·The American Naturalist·Marlene Zuk, Andrew M Stoehr
Aug 1, 1996·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·B C Sheldon, S Verhulst

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 28, 2009·Oecologia·Jessamyn S MansonJames D Thomson
Oct 16, 2009·Oecologia·Jukka SuhonenMarkus J Rantala
Jun 14, 2006·Journal of Chemical Ecology·Karen J MarshWilliam J Foley
Apr 30, 2013·Journal of Insect Physiology·Benjamin G FansonPhillip W Taylor
Feb 2, 2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Spencer T Behmer, Anthony Joern
Aug 18, 2010·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Dror Hawlena, Oswald J Schmitz
May 15, 2013·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Robert B Srygley, Patrick D Lorch
Jan 22, 2010·Biology Letters·Cédric AlauxYves Le Conte
Sep 20, 2007·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Crystal D GroverDavid A Holway
Apr 17, 2009·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Dalial FreitakHeiko Vogel
May 9, 2012·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·David RaubenheimerAlice H Tait
Jun 1, 2013·Science·Jacobus C de RoodeMark D Hunter
Mar 5, 2008·BMC Evolutionary Biology·Kurt A McKeanAndrew G Clark
Jul 15, 2009·PLoS Biology·Janelle S Ayres, David S Schneider
Apr 6, 2012·PloS One·Michael D Simone-Finstrom, Marla Spivak
Dec 7, 2011·PLoS Pathogens·Fleur PontonStephen J Simpson
Jan 17, 2014·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Adam D KayMichael Kaspari
Jun 18, 2014·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Robin W Warne
Jun 22, 2014·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Michael S SingerAngela M Smilanich
Nov 4, 2008·The American Naturalist·Bret D ElderdGreg Dwyer
Dec 15, 2015·The American Naturalist·Kwang Pum LeeMyung Suk Rho
Jul 26, 2014·The American Naturalist·Marc Choisy, Jacobus C de Roode
Apr 19, 2016·Evolutionary Applications·Judith H Myers, Jenny S Cory
Aug 19, 2015·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Nick BosDalial Freitak
Nov 20, 2012·Journal of Insect Physiology·Fleur PontonStephen J Simpson
Apr 30, 2011·Developmental and Comparative Immunology·Alex R KraaijeveldPhilip L Newland

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.