Highly efficient expression of human extracellular superoxide dismutase (rhEcSOD) with ultraviolet ‐B‐induced damage‐resistance activity in transgenic silkworm cocoons
The present study reports an efficient strategy for producing active rhEcSOD by transgenic silkworms. This strategy demonstrates that the rhEcSOD was successfully synthesized with high expression level and purified from cocoons with potent enzymatic activity against the ultraviolet-B-induced damage, thereby offering an effective alternative for producing the rhEcSOD with enzymatic and biological activities for the biomedical applications. AbstractExtracellular superoxide dismutase (EcSOD) protects tissues from oxidative stress, and thus is considered as a therapeutic agent for many diseases such as atherosclerosis, hyperte...
Source: Insect Science - November 28, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Feng Wang,
Ri ‐Yuan Wang,
De‐Bin Zhong,
Ping Zhao,
Qing‐You Xia Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Egg ‐associated secretions from the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) activate rice immune responses
In this study, we found that both infestation of rice by gravid BPH female adults and treatment with the EAS elicited a strong and rapid accumulation of jasmonic acid (JA), JA-isoleucine, and hydrogen peroxide in rice. Proteome sequencing of EAS led to 110 proteins being identified and 55 proteins with 2 or more unique peptides. These findings point to novel proteins affecting interactions between planthoppers and rice during oviposition. AbstractThe brown planthopper (BPH,Nilaparvata lugens) is a notorious sap-sucking insect pest that damages rice (Oryza sativa) plants throughout Asia. During BPH feeding, saliva enters ri...
Source: Insect Science - November 27, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Jing Li,
Shuai Li,
Jing Li,
Xinyang Tan,
Zhichang Zhao,
Lei Jiang,
Ary A. Hoffmann,
Jichao Fang,
Rui Ji Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
The temporal –spatial expression and functional analysis of three gustatory receptor genes in Solenopsis invicta using sweet and bitter compounds
This study first identified stimulant and deterrent compounds of fire ant workers and then the GRs involved in the taste recognition of these compounds. This study could provide potential target gustatory genes for the control of the fire ant. (Source: Insect Science)
Source: Insect Science - November 27, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Muhammad Irfan Waris,
Yanyuan Lei,
Guojun Qi,
Ziying Guan,
Abdul Rashied,
Jie Chen,
Lihua Lyu Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Odorant receptor orthologues from moths display conserved responses to cis ‐jasmone
AbstractIn insects, the odorant receptor (OR) multigene family evolves by the birth-and-death evolutionary model, according to which the OR repertoire of each species has undergone specific gene gains and losses depending on their chemical environment, resulting in taxon-specific OR lineage radiations with different sizes in the phylogenetic trees. Despite the general divergence in the gene family across different insect orders, the ORs in moths seem to be genetically conserved across species, clustered into 23 major clades containing multiple orthologous groups with single-copy gene from each species. We hypothesized that...
Source: Insect Science - November 27, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Xiao ‐Qing Hou,
Zhongqiang Jia,
Dan‐Dan Zhang,
Guirong Wang Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
A novel diagnostic gene region for distinguishing between two pest fruit flies: Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) and Bactrocera neohumeralis (Hardy) (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Bactrocera tryoni andBactrocera neohumeralis are morphologically similar sibling pest fruit fly species. Whilst morphologically similar, adults may be separated based on subtle characters; however, some characters exhibit intraspecific variability, creating overlap between the two species. Here we report the first molecular marker that can consistently distinguish betweenB. tryoni andB. neohumeralis. The assay utilises four primers in multiplex, with two outer universal primers, and two internal primers; one designed to target the SNPs present inB. tryoni, and the other targetingB. neohumeralis. This assay will likely be m...
Source: Insect Science - November 23, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Melissa L. Starkie,
Elizabeth V. Fowler,
Alexander M. Piper,
Xiaocheng Zhu,
Pauline Wyatt,
David Gopurenko,
Matt N. Krosch,
Francesca Strutt,
Karen F. Armstrong,
Hamish Patrick,
Mark K. Schutze,
Mark J. Blacket Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Single ‐cell transcriptomes provide insights into expansion of glial cells in Bombyx mori
Single-cell transcriptomes from larval and adult brains ofBombyx mori. The transition from larva to adult resulted in great expansion of glia cells. AbstractThe diversity of cell types in the brain and how these change during different developmental stages, remains largely unknown. The life cycle of insects is short and goes through 4 distinct stages including embryonic, larval, pupal, and adult stages. During postembryonic life, the larval brain transforms into a mature adult version after metamorphosis. The silkworm,Bombyx mori, is a lepidopteran model insect. Here, we characterized the brain cell repertoire of larval an...
Source: Insect Science - November 21, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Xiaojing Liu,
Zhongjie Zhang,
Bo Hu,
Kai Chen,
Ye Yu,
Hui Xiang,
Anjiang Tan Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Identification and immune analysis of antimicrobial peptides from the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne)
This study indicates that the AMPs LsDef1, LsDef2, and LsCole are highly effective immune effectors in the innate immunity ofLasioderma serricorne. AbstractAntimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in insects are endogenous peptides that are effector components of the innate defense system of the insect. AMPs may serve as antimicrobial agents because of their small molecular weight and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. In this study, we performed transcriptome analysis of cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne) larvae, parasitized by the ectoparasitic wasp,Anisopteromalus calandrae. Several AMP genes were significantly upregulat...
Source: Insect Science - November 21, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Yue Zhang,
Yi Yan,
Guy Smagghe,
Hong Yang,
Ren ‐huai Dai,
Wen‐jia Yang Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
n ‐octyl acrylate is a candidate sex pheromone component involved in courtship in parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator
In this study, we functionally characterized a candidate sex pheromone component inMicroplitis mediator (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a solitary parasitoid of Noctuidae insects. We found that the body surface extract from female wasps could significantly stimulate courtship behavior of males. Gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) analysis revealed that a candidate semiochemical from extract triggered significant electrophysiological response of antennae of males. By performing gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) measurement, GC-EAD active compound was identified asn-octyl acrylate, a candidate s...
Source: Insect Science - November 16, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Yu ‐Xiao Tao,
Shuang Shan,
Youssef Dewer,
Shan‐Ning Wang,
Adel Khashaveh,
Rui‐Jun Li,
Yong‐Jun Zhang Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Heterosis effect for larval performance of fall armyworm interstrain hybrids
AbstractSpodoptera frugiperda, also known as fall armyworm (FAW), is an invasive crop pest that can feed on a variety of host plants, posing a serious threat to food security. There are two sympatric strains of FAW that are morphologically identical but described with different food preferences: the “rice strain” (SfR) and the “corn strain” (SfC). A few genetic loci exist to identify these two strains. Mitochondrial and Z-chromosome-linked haplotypes are the most used, but the biggest part of the genome displays little polymorphism between strains that could explain their adaptation to different plants. We have pre...
Source: Insect Science - November 16, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Laijiao Lan,
Nicolas N ègre Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Feeding behavior and hormoligosis associated with imidacloprid resistance in Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri
The objectives of this research were to (1) survey current levels of imidacloprid resistance in Florida citrus; (2) compare feeding behavior between imidacloprid-resistant and susceptibleD. citri using electrical penetration graph recordings, and (3) investigate the possible amplification of insecticide hormoligosis associated with resistance. Field surveys confirmed that the susceptibility ofD. citri populations to imidacloprid has decreased in commercial Florida citrus groves compared with a laboratory-susceptible population. Following 12 generations of selection, resistance to imidacloprid increased by 438 fold compared...
Source: Insect Science - November 16, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Xue Dong Chen,
Justin George,
Lauren M. Diepenbrock,
Hunter Gossett,
Guoping Liu,
Jawwad A. Qureshi,
Lukasz L. Stelinski Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
An electropenetrography waveform library for the probing and ingestion behaviors of Culex tarsalis on human hands
This study uses AC –DC electropenetrography (EPG) to identify and characterize the electrical signatures (waveforms, families J, K, L, M, N and W) produced byCulex tarsalis when blood-feeding on human hands and correlates them with specific behaviors using videography and dissection techniques. This is the first reported use of EPG to characterizeCx. tarsalis blood-feeding and provides a foundation for comparing probing and blood-feeding behaviors to other mosquito species as well as for facilitating future pathogen acquisition and transmission studies. AbstractCulex tarsalis Coquillett (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes ar...
Source: Insect Science - November 10, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Anastasia M. W. Cooper,
Samuel B. Jameson,
Victoria Pickens,
Cameron Osborne,
Elaine A. Backus,
Kristopher Silver,
Dana N. Mitzel Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Juvenile hormone induces reproduction via miR ‐1175‐3p in the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta
We first identified a highly expressed miRNA, miRNA-1175-3p, and found that miR-1175-3p interacts with its target gene,broad-complex core (Br-C) in the fat bodies. miR-1175-3p regulates the reproduction of queens and workers inSolenopsis invicta. Juvenile hormone (JH) could reduce miR-1175-3p and increase Vg-2 and Vg-3 to enhance the fertility of the queens. AbstractJuvenile hormone (JH) acts in the regulation of caste differentiation between queens and workers (i.e., with or without reproductive capacity) during vitellin synthesis and oogenesis in social insects. However, the regulatory mechanisms have not yet been elucid...
Source: Insect Science - November 7, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Jie Chen,
Ziying Guan,
Yunjie Ma,
Qingxing Shi,
Ting Chen,
Muhammad Irfan Waris,
Lihua Lyu,
Yongyue Lu,
Guojun Qi Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Efficient DIPA ‐CRISPR‐mediated knockout of an eye pigment gene in the white‐backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera
This study demonstrates the potential utility of DIPA-CRISPR for future gene-editing studies in non-model insect species and can facilitate the development of novel pest management applications. (Source: Insect Science)
Source: Insect Science - November 3, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Meng ‐Qi Zhang,
Lang‐Lang Gong,
Ya‐Qin Zhao,
Yun‐Feng Ma,
Gui‐Jun Long,
Huan Guo,
Xuan‐Zheng Liu,
J. Joe Hull,
Youssef Dewer,
Chao Yang,
Ning‐Ning Zhang,
Ming He,
Peng He Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Excitation of the abdominal ganglion affects the electrophysiological activity of indirect flight muscles of the honeybee Apis mellifera
Electromyograms reveal that the neural activity change of the abdominal ganglion affects the physiological activity of the indirect flight muscles in honeybees. The response characteristics of indirect flight muscles after the excitation of the abdominal ganglion are profiled. AbstractOur understanding of the nervous tissues that affect the wing flapping of insects mainly focuses on the brain, but wing flapping is a rhythmic movement related to the central pattern generator in the ventral nerve cord. To verify whether the neural activity of the abdominal ganglion of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) affects the flapping-wing f...
Source: Insect Science - November 1, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Haojia Ding,
Shaoze Yan Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Implications of mosquito metabolism on vector competence
AbstractMosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) annually kill nearly half a million people. Due to the lack of effective vaccines and drugs on most MBDs, disease prevention relies primarily on controlling mosquitoes. Despite huge efforts having been put into mosquito control, eco-friendly and sustainable mosquito-control strategies are still lacking and urgently demanded. Most mosquito-transmitted pathogens have lost the capacity ofde novo nutrition biosynthesis, and rely on their vertebrate and invertebrate hosts for sustenance during the long-term obligate parasitism process. Therefore, a better understanding of the metabolic int...
Source: Insect Science - November 1, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Li Gao,
Wenxu Yang,
Jingwen Wang Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research
