A. Heddi

Cereal Weevil's Antimicrobial Peptides: At the Crosstalk between Development, Endosymbiosis and Immune Response

The paper examines 16 antimicrobial peptides in the cereal weevil and their roles in immune response and endosymbiosis.

Transcriptional survey of ovarian bacteriomes in the cereal weevil, Sitophilus oryzae, shows down-regulation of immune effectors at the onset of sexual maturity

The paper analyzes ovarian bacteriome transcriptomes in Sitophilus oryzae to show immune effector downregulation at sexual maturity, suggesting a mechanism for endosymbiont transmission.

Weevil carbohydrate intake triggers endosymbiont proliferation: a trade-off between host benefit and endosymbiont burden

The paper shows that host carbohydrate intake triggers endosymbiont proliferation in beetles, which is beneficial for cuticle formation but can harm host survival under poor diet conditions.

Efficient compartmentalization in insect bacteriomes protects symbiotic bacteria from host immune system

The paper shows that insect bacteriomes protect endosymbionts from host immune responses by confining them physically, preventing direct contact with immune effectors during challenges.

The aphid BCR4 structure and activity uncover a new defensin peptide superfamily

The paper identifies BCR4, a novel defensin superfamily peptide from aphids, showing insecticidal activity and structural uniqueness.

The non-specific Lipid Transfer Protein (nsLTP) is involved at early and late stages of symbiosis between Alnus glutinosa and Frankia alni.

The paper identifies nsLTP as a gene upregulated in Alnus glutinosa during early symbiosis with Frankia alni, showing its role in nitrogen fixation and localization at root hair and nodule sites.