Figure 11. RNAi (MMP-1) knock-down Tribolium imagoes are more susceptible to infection by the fungal entomopathogen B. bassiana.
Injection of Beauveria bassiana spores into the hemocoel of Tribolium imagoes resulted in killing within 4 to 5 days. MMP-1 knock-down animals died significantly faster than wild type animals. Values of seven independent trials including 10–15 animals per trial are shown for control (RNAi) animals and MMP-1 (RNAi) animals. Mean values of surviving control (RNAi) animals are shown in green and of surviving MMP-1 (RNAi) animals in red. Statistically significant differences were determined using Student's t-test and are indicated (*, p<0.05). Ns, not significant.