Name: administering and detecting protein marks on arthropods for dispersal research
Uploaded: 2016-01-28T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Administering and Detecting Protein Marks on Arthropods for Dispersal Research at JoVE.com

Funding was provided by USDA CRIS 5347-22620-021-00D and, in part, by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2011-67009-30141 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. We are grateful for the technical support of Johanna Nassif. We also thank Paul Baker, David Horton, Diego Nieto, and Frances Sivakoff for providing some of the pictures used in Figure 3.

1. Internal Mark, Retention, and Detection Procedure
<ol>
	<li>Internal marking procedure
	<ol>
		<li>Collect insects of interest (n &#8776; 100 individuals) from a laboratory colony reared on an artificial diet or from the field and divide into two clean rearing containers.</li>
		<li>Place a regular 20 ml diet packet (unmarked negative control treatment) into one of the containers. Supplement a second 20 ml artificial diet packet with 1.0 ml of a 1.0 mg/ml chicken IgG/IgY solution, mix thoroughly, and place ...

The arthropod protein immunomarking procedure was first described almost a quarter of a century ago9. Since then, the procedure has been adapted to study the dispersal patterns of a wide variety of arthropods using both internally and externally administered IgG/IgYs. These proteins have proven steadfast markers for the wide variety of insect species tested thus far. However, as mentioned above, the major limitation for using IgG/IgYs is that they are very expensive. Consequently, IgG/IgYs are only useful for ...

Tracking the movement of arthropod pests, natural enemies (parasitoids and predators), and pollinators in nature is essential for better understanding how to improve ecosystem services. The key component for most types of dispersal research is having a reliable method to tag the arthropod(s) of interest. A variety of materials (e.g., paints, dyes, colored dusts, tags, rare elements, proteins) have been used to mark arthropods to assess their population dynamics, dispersal capabilities, feeding behaviors, and other ecological interactions1,2.
The appropriateness of a marker used for any given dispersal research will be dependent on the type of study being conducted. There are three broad categorizations for marking arthropods: (1) mark-release-recapture (MRR), (2) mark-capture, and (3) self-mark-capture. For mark-release-recapture research, the investigator typically marks the arthropods collectively in the laboratory and releases them at a central point in the field. The arthropods are then recaptured at various spatial and temporal intervals using different collection devices (e.g., sweep net, vacuum, sticky trap)3,4,5. The recaptured specimens are then examined for the specific mark to distinguish released from native individuals. For mark-capture research, the investigator usually applies the mark directly in the field using spray equipment (e.g., backpack sprayer, boom and nozzle sprayer). The best markers for mark-capture research are inexpensive and easily applied to the arthropod&#39;s habitat. For self-mark-capture research, the investigator usually applies marks to an arthropod bait6,7 or nest entrance8. In turn, the arthropod marks itself internally by devouring the marked bait or externally by &#34;brushing&#34; up against the mark as it exits the nest.
As mentioned above, many types of markers have been used to tag a variety of arthropod species. However, very few are useful for all three of these dispersal research categories. The development of the protein immunomarking procedure was a major breakthrough for marking insects. Immunomarking puts a protein label on arthropods either internally or externally which, in turn, is detected by an anti-protein specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The first such protein markers used were rabbit immunoglobulin (IgG) and chicken IgG/IgY9,10. They proved to be very effective marks for MRR and self-mark-capture research (see discussion). Unfortunately, IgG/IgY proteins are costly and are therefore not practical for mark-capture research and most types of self-mark-capture research. Subsequently, second-generation protein detection ELISAs were developed for proteins contained in chicken egg whites (albumin), cow&#39;s milk (casein) and soy milk (trypsin inhibitor protein). Each assay is highly sensitive, specific, and, most importantly, uses proteins that are much less expensive than the IgG/IgY proteins11. These proteins have proven effective for MRR, mark-capture, and self-mark-capture research (see discussion).
In this article, we describe and demonstrate how to conduct protein mark laboratory retention studies. Such studies are the first phase of research needed for any type of field dispersal study. Specifically, it is critical that investigators know how long the mark will be retained on the targeted arthropod species prior to embarking on field dispersal studies. Here, we describe and demonstrate how to internally and externally mark insects for MRR, mark-capture, and self-mark-capture type field studies. We then demonstrate how to detect the presence of the marks with indirect and sandwich ELISAs.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Food storage container (for insect rearing)</td>
			<td>Rubbermaid/Tupperware</td>
			<td>Various sizes</td>
			<td>Various manufacturers &#38; vendors. Mesh fabric is glued in a window `</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Small volume nebulizer (Micro Mist)</td>
			<td>Teleflex-Hudson RCI</td>
			<td>1881</td>
			<td>Available online and in medical supply shops. Other brands will work as well.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microcentrifuge tubes, 1.6 ml w/cap</td>
			<td>Continental Lab Products</td>
			<td>4445.X</td>
			<td>Any similar type will work. We prefer brands that have easy to open lids.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Styrofoam storage box for microcentrifuge tubes (5x20 grid)</td>
			<td>RPI Corp.</td>
			<td>145746</td>
			<td>This design is nice because it doesn&#39;t crowd the tubes.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dispenser, repeater</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>4982000322</td>
			<td>Anything similar will help speed up the dispensing.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pestles, plastic disposable tissue grinders, 1.5 mL</td>
			<td>Kimble Chase</td>
			<td>749521-1500</td>
			<td>Available with various vendors. Pestles can be cleaned and autoclaved for reuse.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BD Falcon ELISA plates, 96-well (flat bottom)</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>351172</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ovation pipette, manual (20-200 &#181;l)</td>
			<td>VistaLab</td>
			<td>1057-0200 or 1070-0200</td>
			<td>Any similar type will work. This model is ergonomic.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Reservoirs, sterile reagent</td>
			<td>VistaLab</td>
			<td>4054-1000</td>
			<td>Anything similar will work.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Electronic pipette, 8-channel (50-1200 &#181;l) (Biohit eLine)</td>
			<td>Sartorius</td>
			<td>730391</td>
			<td>If you had to pick one electronic model, this size is most useful.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Electronic pipette, 8-channel (10-300 &#181;l) (Biohit eLine)</td>
			<td>Sartorius</td>
			<td>730361</td>
			<td>Anything similar will work.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Manifold, multiwell plate washer (8-position, straight)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>Z369802&#160;</td>
			<td>Anything similar will work for manual plate washing.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microplate reader with absorbance detection</td>
			<td>Molecular Devices</td>
			<td>SpectraMax 250</td>
			<td>Anything similar will work.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Chicken IgG/IgY</td>
			<td>United States Biological</td>
			<td>I1903-15R</td>
			<td>Also available from other sources</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Egg whites</td>
			<td>Grocery store</td>
			<td>&#8220;All Whites&#8221;, &#8220;Egg Beaters&#8221;, etc.</td>
			<td>Mix 5 mL with 95 mL dH2O for 5% solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tris (Trizma Base)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>T1503</td>
			<td>2.42 g/L to make TBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium chloride (NaCl)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S9888</td>
			<td>29.22 g/L to make TBS and 8.0 g/L for PBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium phosphate dibasic (Na2HPO4)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S0876&#160;</td>
			<td>1.14 g/L for PBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium phosphate monobasic (KH2PO4)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P5655</td>
			<td>0.2 g/L for PBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium chloride (KCl)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P9541</td>
			<td>0.2 g/L for PBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tween 20, EIA grade</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P1379</td>
			<td>Add 0.5 mL per L to PBS after salts are dissolved.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS with 1% BSA</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P3688</td>
			<td>Mix 1 packet in 1 L dH20</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Chicken IgY (IgG) (whole molecule) antibody produced in rabbit (1:500)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>C6409</td>
			<td>Mix 100 &#181;l in 50 ml TBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dry Milk, Powdered or Fresh Milk (1%)</td>
			<td>Grocery store</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Mix 10 g with 1 L dH2O for 1% solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Chicken IgY (IgG) (whole molecule)-Peroxidase antibody produced in rabbit (1:10000)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A9046</td>
			<td>Mix 100 ul in 1 L of 1% milk</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Chicken Egg Albumin antibody produced in rabbit (1:8000)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>C6534</td>
			<td>Dilute 125 &#181;l in 1 L PBS-BSA</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat Anti-Rabbit IgG Peroxidase Conjugate (1:2000)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A6154</td>
			<td>Dilute 0.5 ml in 1 L PBS-BSA, then add 1.3 ml Silwet</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vac-In-Stuff (Silwet L-77)silicon-polyether copolymer</td>
			<td>Lehle Seeds</td>
			<td>VIS-01</td>
			<td>Add as last ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TMB Microwell One Component Peroxidase Substrate</td>
			<td>SurModics</td>
			<td>TMBW-1000-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

administering and detecting protein marks on arthropods for dispersal research

Monitoring arthropod movement is often required to better understand associated population dynamics, dispersal patterns, host plant preferences, and other ecological interactions. Arthropods are usually tracked in nature by tagging them with a unique mark and then re-collecting them over time and space to determine their dispersal capabilities. In addition to actual physical tags, such as colored dust or paint, various types of proteins have proven very effective for marking arthropods for ecological research. Proteins can be administered internally and/or externally. The proteins can then be detected on recaptured arthropods with a protein-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Here we describe protocols for externally and internally tagging arthropods with protein. Two simple experimental examples are demonstrated: (1) an internal protein mark introduced to an insect by providing a protein-enriched diet and (2) an external protein mark topically applied to an insect using a medical nebulizer. We then relate a step-by-step guide of the sandwich and indirect ELISA methods used to detect protein marks on the insects. In this demonstration, various aspects of the acquisition and detection of protein markers on arthropods for mark-release-recapture, mark-capture, and self-mark-capture types of research are discussed, along with the various ways that the immunomarking procedure has been adapted to suit a wide variety of research objectives.

Internal marking:
The results of the internal mark retention test are shown in Figure 2A. The calculated ELISA critical threshold value was 0.054. Overall (all four sample dates combined), the insects treated without protein yielded consistently low ELISA values (x&#772; = 0.038 &#177; 0.002, n = 80). Conversely, all of the insects fed the protein enriched diet yielded consistently stro...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Administering and Detecting Protein Marks on Arthropods for Dispersal Research at JoVE.com

Administering and Detecting Protein Marks on Arthropods for Dispersal Research

Proteins are often used to mark arthropods for dispersal research. Methods for administering internal and external protein marks on arthropods are demonstrated. Protein mark detection techniques, either through indirect or sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), are also illustrated.

Monitoring arthropod movement is often required to better understand associated population dynamics, dispersal patterns, host plant preferences, and other ...

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