AUTHOR=Tian Zhenya , Chen Lixiang , Chen Guangmei , Wang Jingjing , Ma Chao , Zhang Yan , Gao Xuyuan , Chen Hongsong , Zhou Zhongshi 

TITLE=Effect of host shift on the gut microbes of Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1264788

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2023.1264788

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1001"><title>Background</title><p>Gut microbes play an important role in the adaptation of insects. Polyphagous insects usually undergo changes in gut microbiota after host shift. The <italic>Bactrocera cucurbitae</italic> have a wide range of hosts, but the dynamic of gut microorganisms during host shift have not been thoroughly investigated. To understand the role of gut microbes in insect adaptation, it is necessary to study the dynamics of insect gut microorganisms during host transfer.</p></sec><sec id="sec2001"><title>Methods</title><p>Using <italic>Bactrocera cucurbitae</italic> (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and its four hosts as study subjects, we investigated the dynamics of gut microbes during host transfer and the effects of different hosts on the gut microbial composition of <italic>B. cucurbitae</italic>.</p></sec><sec id="sec3001"><title>Results</title><p>The results showed that the Chao1 index of <italic>B. cucurbitae</italic> decreased significantly during host transfer, and the intestinal microorganisms were significantly affected by the original host, host, and generations. Furthermore, predicated changes in the abundance of secondary metabolite pathways after host transfer suggested that microorganisms may play an important role in the degradation of secondary metabolites, among which <italic>Providencia</italic> and <italic>Morganella</italic> have important functions in the gut of <italic>B. cucurbitae</italic>.</p></sec><sec id="sec4001"><title>Conclusion</title><p>This implied that microorganisms play a function in the host transfer process of <italic>B. cucurbitae</italic> and may be an important cofactor in the adaptation of <italic>B. cucurbitae</italic> to different hosts and environments, providing new research ideas for the future control of <italic>B. cucurbitae</italic>.</p></sec>