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A simple procedure for rearing axenic Delia antiqua with half-fermented sterile diets is described. Only one Wolbachia strain was detected in each instar of axenic D. antiqua using PCR.
Axenic insects are obtained from sterile artificial rearing systems using sterile media. These insects, characterized by their small size, short growth cycle, and low feed requirements, are ideal for studying the relationship between microorganisms and hosts. The gut microbiota significantly influences the physiological characteristics of insect hosts, and introducing specific strains into axenic insects provides a method for verifying gut microbial functions. Delia antiqua, a threatening pest in the order Diptera, family Anthomyiidae, and genus Delia, primarily feeds on onions, garlic, leeks, and other vegetables of the family Liliaceae. Its larvae feed on the bulbs, causing rotting, wilting, and even death of entire plants. By rearing axenic larvae, follow-up studies can be conducted to observe the effects of intestinal microflora on the growth and development of D. antiqua. Unlike the method involving antibiotic elimination of associated microbes, this article presents a low-cost and high-efficiency approach to raising axenic D. antiqua. After surface sterilization of D. antiqua eggs, half-fermented sterile diets were used to raise larvae, and the axenic state of D. antiqua was verified through culture-dependent and culture-independent assays. In conclusion, the combination of insect egg sterilization and the preparation of sterile diets for larval culture has enabled the development of an efficient and simple method for obtaining axenic D. antiqua. This method provides a powerful approach to studying insect-microflora interactions.
Axenic animals, defined as animals in which no viable microorganisms or parasites can be detected, are valuable experimental models for studying host-microorganism interactions1,2. Insects, the largest group of invertebrates, can form symbiotic relationships with microorganisms3. Axenic insects can be used to study host-symbiont interactions in symbiotic systems4. For example, Nishide et al.5 established a practical sterile rearing procedure for the malodor worm Plautia stali, enabling reliable and rigorous analysis of host-symbio....
D. antiqua are obtained from the field of Fanzhen, Taian.
1. Preparation of sterile diets
The life stages of D. antiqua are depicted in Figure 4. The complete life cycle comprises eggs, larvae, pupa (Figure 4C), and adults (Figure 4D). They are cultivated in sterile centrifuge tubes, and their appearance and survival rate are indistinguishable from D. antiqua raised under non-axenic conditions. The growth and development times for each stage of D. antiqua can be found in Fi.......
Insects possess a highly complex gut microbiota20,21, necessitating the use of axenic insects inoculated with specific gut microbial strains for studying insect-microorganism interactions. The preparation of axenic insects is crucial for such research endeavors. Antibiotic treatment is a method used to eliminate gut microbiota. For example, Jung and Kim22 fed Spodoptera exigua with penicillin, while Raymond23
This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (32272530), the New Twenty Policies for University in Jinan Project (2021GXRC040), Major Scientific and Technological Innovation Projects in Shandong Province (2021TZXD002), and the Science and Education Integration Project of Qilu University of Technology (2022PYI009, 2022PY016, 2022PT105).
....Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
0.22 μM filter bottle | Thermo Scientific | 450-0045 | |
0.22 μM Syringe Filter | Biosharp | BS-QT-011 | |
100-mesh sieve | Zhejiang Shangyu Jinding Standard Sieve Factory | No Catalog numbers | |
1x PBS solution | Solarbio | P1020 | |
2x Taq PCR Master Mix | GENVIEW | GR1113-1ML | |
5.2% NaClO solution | Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd. | 80010428 | |
500 mL Conical flask | Thermo Scientific | 4103-0500 | |
50 mL vented centrifuge tube | JET BIOFIL | BRT-011-050 | |
50x TAE buffer | GENVIEW | GT1307 | |
Agar powder | Ding Guo | DH010-1.1 | |
Biochemical incubator | STIK | 21040121500010 | |
Cell sieve | SAINING | 5022200 | |
Choline chloride | Sangon Biotech | A600299-0100 | |
ddH2O | Ding Guo | PER018-2 | |
Disposable grinding pestle | JET BIOFIL | CSP-003-002 | |
DNA extraction kit | Sangon Biotech | B518221-0050 | |
DNA Marker | Sangon Biotech | B600335-0250 | |
Ethanol absolute | Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd. | 10009218 | |
Filter paper | NEWSTAR | 1087309025 | |
Food processor | Guangdong Midea Life Electric Appliance Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | WBL25B26 | |
Illuminated incubator | Shanghai ESTABLISH Instrumentation Co., Ltd. | A16110768 | |
L-Ascorbic acid | Sangon Biotech | A610021-0100 | |
L-shaped spreader | SAINING | 6040000 | |
Nutrient agar medium | Hope Bio | HB0109 | |
Scissors | Bing Yu | BY-103 | Purchase on Jingdong |
Shock incubator | Shanghai Zhichu Instrument Co., Ltd. | 2020000014 | |
Sucrose | GENVIEW | CS326-500G | |
Super Green nucleic acid dye | Biosharp | BS355A | |
Super-clean table | Heal Force | AC130052 | |
TSB | Hope Bio | HB4114 | |
Vacuum pump | Zhejiang Taizhou Seeking Precision Vacuum Pump Co., Ltd. | 22051031 | |
Yeast extract | Thermo Scientific | LP0021B |
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