Impact of plant toxins on the gut microbial community of Spodoptera littoralis

Amygdalin, coumarin, methoxypsoralen, crotaline, 3-nitropropanoic acid (3-NPA) and salicin in natural relevant concentrations slowed down the growth of the larvae, but did not increase the mortality. S. littoralis is high resistant to 3-NPA; concentrations up to 33.6 mol 3-NPA /g of diet did not increase the mortality compared to the control. Conjugation of 3-NPA with glycine, serine, threonine and alanine represent efficient way of 3-NPA detoxification. Gut microbiome is not involved in the conjugation process of 3-NPA and glycine. Cytosolic proteins, isolated from S. littoralis gut tissue, were shown to catalyze the formation of 3-NPA amino acid amides. Brood spectrum of fatty acids with chain length from C4 to C14 carbon atoms could be conjugated with glycine, serine, threonine and alanine amino acids. Plant secondary metabolites are food derived factors, which could shape gut microbial community. Salicin treatment (1.03% m/m of artificial diet) completely removes uncultured Clostridium sp from S.littoralis gut