ARS | Publication request: Measurement of Trace Elements During the Development and Immune Response of Heliothis virescens Larvae

Submitted to: American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 10, 2010
Publication Date: August 23, 2010
Citation: Sun, R., Popham, H.J., Shelby, K., Robertson, J.D. 2010. Measurement of Trace Elements During the Development and Immune Response of Heliothis virescens Larvae [abstract]. American Chemical Society National Meeting. Available: http://abstracts.acs.org/chem/240nm/program/view.php.

Technical Abstract: While many studies have examined the effect of microbial infections on the status of trace elements in mammalian tissues, similar studies have not been performed in insects. We used inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to quantify changes in trace elements of Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mo in the plasma of the budworm moth (Heliothis virescens) due to larval development, in response to per os baculovirus infection in fourth and fifth instar larvae, and in response to injection of bacteria in fifth instar larvae. All trace elements of interest changed during the development of larvae and in response to infection with Helicoverpa zea single nucleopolyhedrosis virus (HzSNPV). We are now developing radiotracer methods to enable detailed studies of trace element transport and distribution in larvae during development and following microbial infection. Results of the ICP-MS and radiotracer studies will be presented.