Identification and Comparative Analysis of Differentially Expressed Chemosensory Genes in the Male and Female Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus) Wax Moth

To better understand the olfactory mechanisms in G. mellonella, we established six transcriptomes from the antennae of male and female adults. A total of 226 chemosensory gene transcripts were identified, which included 36 chemosensory proteins, 52 odorant-binding proteins, 2 sensory neuron membrane proteins, 80 olfactory receptors, and 56 ionotropic receptors. The expression patterns of these genes were calculated from the estimated fragments per kilobase of transcript sequence per million fragments mapped, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to olfaction were validated by qRT-PCR. Among the 114 DEGs identified, 66 were exclusively or primarily expressed in the female antenna, whereas the rest were specifically expressed in the male antenna. These antenna-specific genes may provide useful subjects for advanced studies of their biological functions; this may provide a theoretical basis for the control of G. mellonella and the prevention of damage caused by this species using the male pheromone as a bait. Analysis of Chemosensory Genes in antenna of the Male and Female Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus) Wax Moth