Immunity in Insects

This volume details methods and protocols necessary to further the study of insect immunity. Chapters guide readers through up-to-date genomic and transcriptomic approaches, insect samples for proteomic analysis, hemocytes in Drosophila, cellular response in Lepidoptera, insect AMPs, manipulate the composition of mosquito microbiota, viral infections in insects, infections by entomopathogenic nematodes, immune response following oral infections, and protocols to to monitor the effect of septic infections with human pathogens using B. mori as a model. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and cutting-edge, Immunity in Insects aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

Part I: Searching for Genes and Proteins Involved in the Immune Response

1. Characterization of Insect Immune Systems from Genomic Data

Robert M. Waterhouse, Brian P. Lazzaro, and Timothy B. Sackton

2. Analyzing Immunity in Non-model Insects using de novo Transcriptomics

Shulin He, Paul R. Johnston, and Dino P. McMahon

3. Preparation of Insect Protein Samples for Label-free Proteomic Quantification by LC-mass Spectrometry

Part II: Cellular Response

4. Quantification of Blood Cells in Drosophila melanogaster and other Insects

Sean Corcoran and Katja Brückner

Samuel Liégeois, Wenhui Wang, and Dominique Ferrandon

6. Analysis of Cellular Immune Responses in Lepidopteran Larvae

Andrea Becchimanzi, Ilaria Di Lelio, Francesco Pennacchio, and Silvia Caccia

Part III: Humoral Response: Melanization, Lysozyme, and Antimicrobial Peptides

7. Detection of Enzyme Distribution, Expression, Activation, and Activity of Insect Prophenoloxidase

Kai Wu, Bing Yang, Jing Wang, Yufa Luo, Yuyang Ni, and Wuren Huang

8. Basic Methods to Evaluate Humoral Immunity Processes in Lepidoptera larvae

Maristella Mastore and Maurizio Francesco Brivio

Part IV: Humoral Response: Antimicrobial Peptides as Alternatives to Conventional Antibiotics

9. Methods for the in vitro Examination of the Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activities of Antimicrobial Peptides

Bruno Casciaro, Floriana Cappiello, Maria Rosa Loffredo, and Maria Luisa Mangoni

10. Characterization of Antimicrobial Peptide - Membrane Interaction Using All-atom Molecular Dynamic Simulation

Part V: Insect Immunity and Environmental Interactions

11. Manipulating the Mosquito Microbiota to Study its Function

Ottavia Romoli and Mathilde Gendrin

Lumi Viljakainen and Jaana Jurvansuu

VI: Infection Models

13. A Workflow for Infection of Drosophila with Entomopathogenic Nematodes to Monitor Immune Gene Transcriptional Activity

Christa Heryanto, Eric Kenney, and Ioannis Eleftherianos

Daniel Brady, Alessio Saviane, Ottavia Romoli, Gianluca Tettamanti, Federica Sandrelli, and Silvia Cappellozza

15. Silkworm Infection Model for Evaluating Pathogen Virulence

Yasuhiko Matsumoto and Kazuhisa Sekimizu