Quantitation of a Glyptapanteles indiensis polydnavirus gene expressed in parasitized host, Lymantria dispar, by real-time quantitative RT-PCR

Glyptapanteles indiensis is a polydnavirus-carrying wasp that parasitizes early instar gypsy moth larvae. During oviposition, the wasp injects calyx fluid containing polydnavirus along with its eggs into the host. Within the host, expression of polydnavirus genes triggers a set of changes in host physiology, which are of critical importance for the survival of the wasp. In the present study, a G. indiensis polydnavirus (GiPDV) gene, represented by cDNA clone GiPDV 1.1, was selected for expression analysis in the parasitized host. The GiPDV 1.1 gene transcript was detected in host hemolymph 30 min post-parasitization (pp) and continued to be detected for six days. The level of GiPDV 1.1 expression varied in different host tissues and expression in the brain was lower than in the hemolymph. The findings suggest that GiPDV 1.1 could be involved in early protection of parasitoid eggs from host cellular encapsulation. The temporal and spatial variations in PDV gene expression in different host tissues post-parasitization affirm their specific host regulation mechanism. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.