Jun Xu , Qibin Xu

Animal Science Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Bioscience Methods, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 6   
Received: 20 Sep., 2024    Accepted: 31 Oct., 2024    Published: 21 Nov., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Earwigs have emerged as valuable model organisms for studying innate immunity in invertebrates, providing insights into the complex defense mechanisms against pathogens. This study focuses on the immune components of earwigs, including immune cells, organs, and pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which play a critical role in pathogen detection and immune activation; identifies and characterized antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in earwigs, exploring their mechanisms of action against bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens. Additionally, the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway was examined for its role in viral suppression, highlighting its molecular regulation in earwig immunity. Comparative analysis of immune responses across various pathogens—bacteria, fungi, and viruses—was conducted to reveal unique immune features and evolutionary adaptations in earwigs. A case study of Forficula auricularia under pathogen stress provided further molecular insights into immune-related gene expression. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of invertebrate immunity, with potential applications in developing biopesticides and enhancing pest management strategies. This study underscores the significance of earwig immune studies for evolutionary biology and disease control.

Earwig immunity; Antimicrobial peptides; RNA interference; Pathogen defense; Immune regulation