The effects of development and temperature on immunity in Manduca sexta

Both immunity and development are temperature-dependent, but how development and temperature interact to affect immunity has yet to be explored. Here we measure immunity changes during the 4th instar in Manduca sexta larvae under low (18°C), control (25°C), and high (32°C) temperatures. Different immune pathways differed in their responses across development, with the melanization immune response increasing over the course of the instar. Melanization also differed from the control temperature at high, but not low temperatures. There was no significant relationship found between immunity and development or temperature for the encapsulation immune pathway. These results suggest immunity in insects may be weakened as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events as well as average temperatures.Bachelor of Scienc