The susceptibility of Hyphantria cunea larvae to microbial pesticides Bacillus thuringiensis and Mamestra brassicae nuclear polyhedrosis virus under Cd stress

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution is an abiotic factor that can affect the efficiency of pest control. In this study, two microbial pesticides, Bacillus thuringiensis and Mamestra brassicae nuclear polyhedrosis virus (MbNPV), were used to treat Hyphantria cunea larvae with Cd pre-exposure, and the humoral and cellular immunity of H. cunea larvae with Cd exposure were evaluated. The results showed that Cd exposure increased the susceptibility of H. cunea larvae to microbial pesticides B. thuringiensis and MbNPV, and the lethal effect of Cd exposure and microbial pesticides on H. cunea larvae was synergistic. Cd exposure significantly decreased the expression of pathogen recognition genes (GNBP1 and GNBP3), signal transduction genes (Relish, Myd88, Tube, and Imd), and antimicrobial peptide gene (Lebocin) in the humoral immunity of H. cunea larvae compared with the untreated larvae. Parameters of cellular immunity, including the number of hemocytes, phagocytic activity, melanization activity, encapsulation activity, and the expression of three phagocytic regulatory genes (HEM1, GALE1, GALE2), were also found to decrease significantly in Cd-treated larvae. TOPSIS analysis showed that humoral immunity, cellular immunity, and total immunity levels of H. cunea larvae with Cd exposure were weaker than those in untreated larvae. Correlation analysis showed that the mortality of two microbial pesticides investigated in H. cunea larvae was negatively correlated with the humoral and cellular immunity of larvae. Taken togther, Cd exposure results in immunotoxic effects on H. cunea larvae and the use of microbial pesticides are an effective strategy for pest control in heavy metal-polluted areas.