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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Biological Control of Insects Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #178019
Title: PLASMA SELENIUM LEVELS CORRELATE WITH ELEVATED IMMUNOCOMPETENCE OF HELIOTHIS VIRESCENS LARVAE AGAINST BACULOVIRUS INFECTION

Author
item Shelby, Kent
item Popham, Holly
item MORRIS, STEVE - UNIV OF MO

Submitted to: University of Missouri Life Sciences Week
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/2/2005
Publication Date: 4/13/2005
Citation: Shelby, K., Popham, H.J., Morris, S.J. 2005. Plasma selenium levels correlate with elevated immunocompetence of heliothis virescens larvae against baculovirus infection [abstract]. University of Missouri Life Sciences Week. Available: http://lifesciencesweek.missouri.edu/uploads05/abstracts/shelbyk@1.doc.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Dietary selenium supplementation boosts larval lepidopteran immunocompetence against a baculoviral challenge. To begin dissecting the mechanism of this Se-dependent immunostimulatory effect we have determined the plasma Se levels in larvae of the lepidopteran pest the budworm, Heliothis virescens. Larvae were fed increasing amounts of the micronutrient Se (as selenite) in artificial diet and the uptake of Se into plasma was determined using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Larvae fed diets containing from 5-25 ppm Se exhibited elevated plasma concentrations of the micronutrient. To determine the effect of Se-supplementation upon immunocompetence, the plasma virucidal activity against budded virus was measured using an in vitro assay. Increasing concentrations of plasma Se were directly proportional to virucidal activity present in the plasma.