Impact of Regiella insecticola infection on EBF production in Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris

Symbionts of aphids influence their host from many points of view. We investigate the potential influence of bacterial symbionts on the production and emission of the aphid alarm pheromone, E-β-franesene. Some trends could be observed in the total EβF production. Particularly, aphid strains infected by Buchnera only seemed to produce less alarm pheromone. By contrast, the presence of Regiella insecticola seemed to increase EβF production. Mevalonate pathway was investigated by RT-qPCR. This analysis showed a slightly lower transcription level o mIPPS in Regiella-infected strains. This enzyme is involved in the last step of EβF production. By contrast, two enzymes involved respectively in the linkage and release of farnesyl moeities on proteins c-terminal ends. Escape tests were conducted to assay if these results were traduced by differential behavior in front of a predator. Preliminary results showed significantly higher dropping behavior for Regiella-infected strains.