Entomological Research最新文献

Despite continuous efforts to control mosquito populations and disease vectors, they remain prevalent globally and pose significant health risks. Botanicals have garnered increasing attention as alternatives to synthetic insecticides due to their broad-spectrum insecticidal properties, biodegradability, and environmental compatibility. This study aimed to evaluate the larvicidal efficacy of Solanum incanum Soxhlet extracts using various solvents. Additionally, we conducted a phytochemical analysis of the methanol extracts using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and performed molecular docking studies. The methanol extract of S. incanum demonstrated significant larvicidal activity, with LC₅₀ values of 266.75, 214.52, and 90.15 μg/mL at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-treatment, respectively. GC–MS analysis identified several compounds in the methanol extract, with trans-9-Octadecenoic acid, pentyl ester (17.99%) and propanoic acid, 2-(3-acetoxy-4,4,14-trimethylandrost-8-en-17-yl) (14.42%) being the most abundant. The methanol extract exhibited the highest phenolic content, with 1.44 mg GAE/g. The IC50 values for the DPPH assay were 1.69 mg/mL for the ethyl acetate extract and 6.7 mg/mL for the methanol extract. Furthermore, molecular docking supported the findings, with propanoic acid, 2-(3-acetoxy-4,4,14-trimethylandrost-8-en-17-yl) emerging as the top compound for all targets tested, including AChE (−9.4 kcal/mol), GABA-T (−8 kcal/mol), and ATPase (−7.9 kcal/mol). These results provide valuable insights into the potential application and development of bioinsecticides.

Pantala flavescens, commonly referred to as the globe skimmer or wandering glider, are migratory dragonflies that are distributed around the world whose genetic diversities and population structures have not been defined in South Korea. Thus, we explored the genetic diversities, population structures, and morphological adaptations of P. flavescens along four main river basins in South Korea. In the present study, we carried out landmark morphometric analysis, microsatellite genotyping, and haplotype network analysis to gain insight into the morphological divergence, genetic diversity, and evolutionary dynamics of the P. flavescens populations from four different river basins. Microsatellite markers and mitochondrial DNA haplotypes revealed moderate genetic diversity and significant gene flow among populations, showing minimal geographic differentiation; hence, this points toward a capacity for extensive gene exchange in this species. Wing morphometrical analysis showed clear morphological differences among populations. However, the fact that there is a lack of correlation between morphological differences and geographic distance argues against pure local environmental pressures driving wing morphology. Based on the global genetic connectivity observed using the haplotype network, P. flavescens represents a model organism to investigate the evolutionary consequences of migration over broad geographic scales. These findings have given important insights into mechanisms maintaining genetic diversity and adaptability in P. flavescens and provided valuable guidance for the conservation of migratory species under rapidly changing environmental conditions.

Mosquitoes are one of the most significant vectors of diseases worldwide. They can transmit many viral and parasitic diseases to humans and animals. A survey was conducted in ten areas in Buraydah City to investigate the prevalence and distribution of mosquitoes in the area. The study involved the collection of adult mosquitoes using Blackhole light traps over a year, from January to December 2021. During this period, a total of 23,346 adult mosquitoes were collected and analyzed as part of the survey. The results showed the presence of several mosquito species, including Aedes aegypti, Ae. caspius, Culex pipiens, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. citizens, and Anopheles d'thali. This mosquito survey revealed the dominance of Cx. mosquitoes, with 21,216 mosquitoes collected out of a total of 23,346, representing 91% of the total. In contrast, the Aedes genus was the second most prevalent species, with 1,860 mosquitoes collected, representing 8% of the total mosquito population. Anopheles mosquitoes were remarkably low, with only 270 individuals collected, representing less than 1% of the total mosquito population. The survey revealed that mosquitoes are present throughout the year, but their density varies due to monthly changes in temperature and humidity. Furthermore, the first documented sighting of the Ae. aegypti mosquito in the city was recorded. This finding represents a serious public health concern, as Ae. aegypti is a known vector of diseases, especially dengue fever. Therefore, there is an urgent need to enhance mosquito surveillance and control measures in Buraydah to mitigate the risks of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks.

Abbas, U, Majeed, MZ, Alkherb, WAH et al. (2024) Evaluation of silver nanoformulated plant extracts against larvae of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), under laboratory and field conditions. Entomological Research, 54;e70003. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-5967.70003.

The reference ‘Kalleshwaraswamy CM, Asokan R, Swamy HM et al. (2018) First report of the fall armyworm, S. frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an alien invasive pest on maize in India. Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems 24:23–29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41190-018-0012-8’ was incorrect. This should have read: ‘Sharanabasappa SD, Kalleshwara Swamy CM, Asokan R et al. (2018). First report of the fall armyworm, S. frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an alien invasive pest on maize in India. Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems 24:23–29.’

We apologize for this error.

The production of recombinant glycoproteins is pivotal for numerous therapies targeting human diseases, forming a cornerstone of the medical industry. The baculovirus-insect cell system has emerged as a leading method for producing high-value therapeutic glycoproteins. This system has several advantages, including rapid cultivation of insect cells, high production yields, and relatively straightforward post-translational processing. Insect cells, being eukaryotic, have functional glycosylation pathways, offering a significant advantage over prokaryotic cells which lack these capabilities. These advantages are particularly promising for the expression and testing of post-translational processing in de novo proteins, which are newly developed and extensively researched through AI-based computational methods. However, challenges remain, particularly with expression levels and glycosylation modifications, which need to be addressed to optimize protein production. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the baculovirus-insect cell expression system, highlighting progress in insect cell utilization, expression optimization, glycosylation modifications, and the production of therapeutic proteins.

The Korean rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus, an edible insect in the Republic of Korea, is an important insect for industrial farming, with various uses ranging from medical purposes to pets. However, there have been difficulties in the production and management of this species over the past 10 years as a result of nudivirus. This virus belongs to the family Nudiviridae, and infection with this virus proves fatal for rhinoceros beetles. The goal of this work was to develop an antibody for fundamental research on virus diagnosis. The ODV-E66 gene encoding an envelope protein was selected for antibody production. The peptide region was derived from in silico analysis considering the conserved motif region and secondary structure of the peptide. In addition, the final peptide immunogen was validated by analyzing the physicochemical properties of the peptide to increase the rate of antibody formation. The production of polyclonal antibodies was induced by injecting peptide immunogens into rabbits. Antibody activity was evaluated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. As a result, we confirmed that antibody formation was possible with nudivirus mimotopes, and we also confirmed that the antigen–antibody reaction differs depending on the peptide. These results suggest a new perspective for diagnosing insect viruses and contribute to the broader knowledge of peptide immunogens.

The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, is an agricultural and storage pest with a global distribution. Studies have shown that eucalyptol has strong contact toxicity against larvae of this beetle, whereas odorant binding proteins (OBPs) are known to contribute to larval defenses against this phytochemical toxin. However, the mechanisms underlying the protective effect of insect OBPs against eucalyptol remain unclear. Here, TcOBPC02 from T. castaneum was cloned and characterized. Gene expression profile analysis showed that TcOBPC02 is highly expressed at early larval and early pupal stages. Additionally, tissue expression profiling revealed that, in the adult, TcOBPC02 was most highly expressed in the head, followed by the epidermis, whereas in larvae, TcOBPC02 was mainly expressed in hemolymph and the epidermis. These developmental stages and tissues that exhibit high TcOBPC02 expression are closely related to the detoxification of heterologous substances. Furthermore, the mRNA level of TcOBPC02 was significantly increased after exposure to eucalyptol, whereas TcOBPC02-targeted RNA interference increased the susceptibility of T. castaneum to eucalyptol, indicating that TcOBPC02 participates in the tolerance of this beetle to eucalyptol. Additionally, recombinant TcOBPC02 was expressed in Escherichia coli and isolated, enabling a straightforward fluorescence competition binding assay. In combination, these results have demonstrated that TcOBPC02 is required for defenses against phytochemicals in T. castaneum. This study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanisms underlying the degradation of exogenous toxicants in insects and adds to the repertoire of potential target genes for pest control.