JNK‐TOR signaling mediates production of winged offspring induced by infection in the pea aphid, <i>Acyrthosiphon pisum</i>

Non-immune defenses against pathogens and parasites are of particular importance for animals that have incomplete immune systems, such as aphids. Production of winged offspring that are able to fly away from danger in response to infection is one of the non-immune defensing strategies. However, the signaling mediating winged offspring production induced by infection is largely unknown so far. In this study, we found that the pea aphids Acyrthosiphon pisum produced more winged offspring when they were challenged by Micrococcus luteus and Beauveria bassiana. The target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway was up-regulated after infections, and inhibition of TOR activity or knockdown of TOR expression resulted in fewer winged offspring produced by the infected aphids. Similarly, inhibition of Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) or knockdown of JNK expression had same effect. We further provide evidence showing that JNK regulates the TOR pathway. Taken together, our study suggests the JNK-TOR signaling pathway mediates induction of winged offspring as a non-immune response to infection in aphids.