Characterization of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora response to
insect-derived and non-biological stimuli: Insights into
nematode recovery and released proteins

J 2025

Characterization of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora response to insect-derived and non-biological stimuli: Insights into nematode recovery and released proteins

ŠREIBR, Sara; Jana ILGOVÁ; Pavel DOBEŠ; Jiří VOREL; Jacek MARCINIAK et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Characterization of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora response to insect-derived and non-biological stimuli: Insights into nematode recovery and released proteins

Authors

ŠREIBR, Sara (276 Germany, belonging to the institution); Jana ILGOVÁ (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution); Pavel DOBEŠ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution); Jiří VOREL; Jacek MARCINIAK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution); Jana HURYCHOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution); Duarte TOUBARRO; Nelson SIMÕES; Martin KAŠNÝ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Pavel HYRŠL (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, Elsevier Inc. 2025, 0048-3575

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Article in a journal

Field of Study

10608 Biochemistry and molecular biology

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 4.200 in 2023

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106318

UT WoS

001425185300001

EID Scopus

2-s2.0-85217005822

Keywords in English

entomopathogenic nematode; Heterorhabditis bacteriophora; recovery; activation; excreted/secreted products; host-derived stimulus; proteomics; secretome

Abstract

V originále

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are biological control agents that naturally kill insect pests, providing an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms behind the recovery process, where infective juveniles (IJs) transition to a parasitic state upon contact with the host, remain unclear. This study investigates the stimulatory effect of insect-derived materials on the recovery of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora IJs. Three materials from Galleria mellonella larvae—bioactive homogenates from live and frozen larvae, and heat-inactivated homogenate—were tested, along with non-host stimuli including filtered water and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). While none of the materials induced complete recovery of IJs, all triggered the release of excreted/secreted products (ESPs), with consistent protein concentrations across treatments. However, mass spectrometry revealed significant differences in ESP protein composition. IJs exposed to PBS released the highest number of proteins, while bioactive homogenates induced the fewest. Proteins linked to host-parasite interactions, such as alpha-2-macroglobulins and trypsin inhibitor-like proteins, were more abundant in ESPs following exposure to insect-derived materials and PBS. Interestingly, nematodes exposed to water released a substantial number of proteins, comparable to stimulation by heat-inactivated homogenates, though their protein profiles were distinct, reflecting stress responses in the former and host-parasite interaction-related proteins in the latter. Our findings demonstrate that both host-derived and non-biological stimuli can trigger IJs recovery and ESPs release, underscoring the complexity of host-nematode interactions. These results provide novel insights into molecular mechanisms underlying H. bacteriophora parasitism and may contribute to optimizing biocontrol strategies through a better understanding of nematode activation and released ESPs.

Links

GA23-06457S, research and development project

Name: Identifikace a funkční charakteristika bioaktivních molekul produkovaných entomopatogenními hlísticemi

Investor: Czech Science Foundation, Identification and functional characterization of bioactive molecules produced by entomopathogenic nematodes

LM2023042, research and development project

Name: Česká infrastruktura pro integrativní strukturní biologii

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR, CIISB - Czech Infrastructure for Integrative Structural Biology

90254, large research infrastructures

Name: e-INFRA CZ II

90255, large research infrastructures

Name: ELIXIR CZ III

Cite

ŠREIBR, Sara; Jana ILGOVÁ; Pavel DOBEŠ; Jiří VOREL; Jacek MARCINIAK; Jana HURYCHOVÁ; Duarte TOUBARRO; Nelson SIMÕES; Martin KAŠNÝ and Pavel HYRŠL. Characterization of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora response to insect-derived and non-biological stimuli: Insights into nematode recovery and released proteins. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology. Elsevier Inc., 2025, vol. 208, March, p. 1-14. ISSN 0048-3575. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106318.

@article{2476438,
   author = {Šreibr, Sara and Ilgová, Jana and Dobeš, Pavel and Vorel, Jiří and Marciniak, Jacek and Hurychová, Jana and Toubarro, Duarte and Simões, Nelson and Kašný, Martin and Hyršl, Pavel},
   article_number = {March},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106318},
   keywords = {entomopathogenic nematode; Heterorhabditis bacteriophora; recovery; activation; excreted/secreted products; host-derived stimulus; proteomics; secretome},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0048-3575},
   journal = {Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology},
   title = {Characterization of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora response to insect-derived and non-biological stimuli: Insights into nematode recovery and released proteins},
   url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048357525000318},
   volume = {208},
   year = {2025}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2476438
AU  - Šreibr, Sara - Ilgová, Jana - Dobeš, Pavel - Vorel, Jiří - Marciniak, Jacek - Hurychová, Jana - Toubarro, Duarte - Simões, Nelson - Kašný, Martin - Hyršl, Pavel
PY  - 2025
TI  - Characterization of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora response to insect-derived and non-biological stimuli: Insights into nematode recovery and released proteins
JF  - Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology
VL  - 208
IS  - March
SP  - 1-14
EP  - 1-14
PB  - Elsevier Inc.
SN  - 00483575
KW  - entomopathogenic nematode
KW  - Heterorhabditis bacteriophora
KW  - recovery
KW  - activation
KW  - excreted/secreted products
KW  - host-derived stimulus
KW  - proteomics
KW  - secretome
UR  - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048357525000318
N2  - Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are biological control agents that naturally kill insect pests, providing an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms behind the recovery process, where infective juveniles (IJs) transition to a parasitic state upon contact with the host, remain unclear. This study investigates the stimulatory effect of insect-derived materials on the recovery of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora IJs. Three materials from Galleria mellonella larvae—bioactive homogenates from live and frozen larvae, and heat-inactivated homogenate—were tested, along with non-host stimuli including filtered water and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). While none of the materials induced complete recovery of IJs, all triggered the release of excreted/secreted products (ESPs), with consistent protein concentrations across treatments. However, mass spectrometry revealed significant differences in ESP protein composition. IJs exposed to PBS released the highest number of proteins, while bioactive homogenates induced the fewest. Proteins linked to host-parasite interactions, such as alpha-2-macroglobulins and trypsin inhibitor-like proteins, were more abundant in ESPs following exposure to insect-derived materials and PBS. Interestingly, nematodes exposed to water released a substantial number of proteins, comparable to stimulation by heat-inactivated homogenates, though their protein profiles were distinct, reflecting stress responses in the former and host-parasite interaction-related proteins in the latter. Our findings demonstrate that both host-derived and non-biological stimuli can trigger IJs recovery and ESPs release, underscoring the complexity of host-nematode interactions. These results provide novel insights into molecular mechanisms underlying H. bacteriophora parasitism and may contribute to optimizing biocontrol strategies through a better understanding of nematode activation and released ESPs.
ER  -

ŠREIBR, Sara; Jana ILGOVÁ; Pavel DOBEŠ; Jiří VOREL; Jacek MARCINIAK; Jana HURYCHOVÁ; Duarte TOUBARRO; Nelson SIMÕES; Martin KAŠNÝ and Pavel HYRŠL. Characterization of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora response to insect-derived and non-biological stimuli: Insights into nematode recovery and released proteins. \textit{Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology}. Elsevier Inc., 2025, vol.~208, March, p.~1-14. ISSN~0048-3575. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106318.

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