Asobara japonica, photo by Yuko Shimada

Researchers at University of Tsukuba have identified venom genes from the endoparasitoid wasp Asobara japonica, which uses the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as its host. The proteins encoded by these venom genes degrade the adult precursor tissues of the flies during the host larval stage, enabling the wasp to develop within the host and achieve successful parasitism.

Tsukuba, Japan—Parasitoid wasps, belonging to the family Hymenoptera, deprive their insect and spider hosts of nutrition. These wasps represent approximately 20% of the one million insect species on Earth, making them one of the planet's most successful animal groups. Due to their unique life strategies and ecological success, researchers have long studied how parasitoids commandeer their hosts' bodies. However, the small size of these wasps and the challenges of rearing them have made the molecular mechanisms of parasitism difficult to decipher.

Focusing on the endoparasitoid wasp A. japonica, which parasitizes the model organism D. melanogaster, the research team identified two venom genes termed imaginal disc degradation factors (IDDFs). IDDF is required to degrade the imaginal discs—adult tissue precursors—in the host fly larvae. By degrading these tissues, the IDDF-containing venoms prevent the fly from undergoing metamorphosis, ensuring the wasp's successful parasitism.

The findings illuminate the molecular mechanisms behind the sophisticated survival strategy of parasitoid wasps, suggesting that their venoms could serve as a potential focus for research into novel biological toxins. Further investigation into the mechanisms of venom across various insects may lead to applications in agricultural pest control and the discovery of natural medicinal resources.

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JSPS, KAKENHI, 16K20945 (to YSN)
JSPS, KAKENHI, 18K05670 (to YSN)
JSPS, KAKENHI, 21J10894 (to TKa)
JSPS, KAKENHI, 23K13960 (to TKa)
MEXT, KAKENHI, 24H02297 (to RN)
MEXT, KAKENHI, 24H02289 (to SK)
MEXT, Promotion of Development of a Joint Usage/ Research System Project:Coalition of Universities for Research Excellence Program (CURE), JPMXP1323015486 (to AN)
MEXT, Supported Program for the Inter-University Research Network for High Depth Omics, IMEG, Kumamoto University (no grant number) (to AN)
JST, PRESTO, JPMJPR19H6 (to YSN)
JST, FOREST, JPMJFR2263 (to YSN)
Ohsumi Frontier Science Foundation (no grant number) (to YSN)
Kumamoto University, The program of the Joint Usage/Research Center for Developmental Medicine, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, K21-09, K22-10, K23-06, and K24-15 (to RN)

Original Paper

Title of original paper:

Parasitoid wasp venoms degrade Drosophila imaginal discs for successful parasitism

Journal:

Science Advances

DOI:

10.1126/sciadv.adq8771

Correspondence

Associate Professor SHIMADA-NIWA Yuko
Professor NIWA Ryusuke
Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba

Professor SENDA Toshiya
Structural Biology Research Center, Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization

Professor KATSUMA Susumu
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo

Related Link

Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA)