Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology最新文献_第2页

Characterization of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora response to insect-derived and non-biological stimuli: Insights into nematode recovery and released proteins

IF 4.2 1区农林科学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology

Pub Date : 2025-02-03 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106318

Sara Šreibr , Jana Ilgová , Pavel Dobeš , Jiří Vorel , Jacek Marciniak , Jana Hurychová , Duarte Toubarro , Nelson Simões , Martin Kašný , Pavel Hyršl

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are biological control agents that naturally kill insect pests, providing an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms behind the recovery process, where infective juveniles (IJs) transition to a parasitic state upon contact with the host, remain unclear. This study investigates the stimulatory effect of insect-derived materials on the recovery of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora IJs. Three materials from Galleria mellonella larvae—bioactive homogenates from live and frozen larvae, and heat-inactivated homogenate—were tested, along with non-host stimuli including filtered water and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). While none of the materials induced complete recovery of IJs, all triggered the release of excreted/secreted products (ESPs), with consistent protein concentrations across treatments. However, mass spectrometry revealed significant differences in ESP protein composition. IJs exposed to PBS released the highest number of proteins, while bioactive homogenates induced the fewest. Proteins linked to host-parasite interactions, such as alpha-2-macroglobulins and trypsin inhibitor-like proteins, were more abundant in ESPs following exposure to insect-derived materials and PBS. Interestingly, nematodes exposed to water released a substantial number of proteins, comparable to stimulation by heat-inactivated homogenates, though their protein profiles were distinct, reflecting stress responses in the former and host-parasite interaction-related proteins in the latter. Our findings demonstrate that both host-derived and non-biological stimuli can trigger IJs recovery and ESPs release, underscoring the complexity of host-nematode interactions. These results provide novel insights into molecular mechanisms underlying H. bacteriophora parasitism and may contribute to optimizing biocontrol strategies through a better understanding of nematode activation and released ESPs.

{"title":"Characterization of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora response to insect-derived and non-biological stimuli: Insights into nematode recovery and released proteins","authors":"Sara Šreibr , Jana Ilgová , Pavel Dobeš , Jiří Vorel , Jacek Marciniak , Jana Hurychová , Duarte Toubarro , Nelson Simões , Martin Kašný , Pavel Hyršl","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106318","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106318","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are biological control agents that naturally kill insect pests, providing an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms behind the recovery process, where infective juveniles (IJs) transition to a parasitic state upon contact with the host, remain unclear. This study investigates the stimulatory effect of insect-derived materials on the recovery of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora IJs. Three materials from Galleria mellonella larvae—bioactive homogenates from live and frozen larvae, and heat-inactivated homogenate—were tested, along with non-host stimuli including filtered water and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). While none of the materials induced complete recovery of IJs, all triggered the release of excreted/secreted products (ESPs), with consistent protein concentrations across treatments. However, mass spectrometry revealed significant differences in ESP protein composition. IJs exposed to PBS released the highest number of proteins, while bioactive homogenates induced the fewest. Proteins linked to host-parasite interactions, such as alpha-2-macroglobulins and trypsin inhibitor-like proteins, were more abundant in ESPs following exposure to insect-derived materials and PBS. Interestingly, nematodes exposed to water released a substantial number of proteins, comparable to stimulation by heat-inactivated homogenates, though their protein profiles were distinct, reflecting stress responses in the former and host-parasite interaction-related proteins in the latter. Our findings demonstrate that both host-derived and non-biological stimuli can trigger IJs recovery and ESPs release, underscoring the complexity of host-nematode interactions. These results provide novel insights into molecular mechanisms underlying H. bacteriophora parasitism and may contribute to optimizing biocontrol strategies through a better understanding of nematode activation and released ESPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106318"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143372377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

A family of nitronate monooxygenase-domain proteins are essential for biocontrol potential of the insect mycopathogen Beauveria bassiana

IF 4.2 1区农林科学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology

Pub Date : 2025-01-31 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106317

Hao Zhang, Xin-Yi Wang, Ting-Fei Sun, Tian-Jing Chen, Jin-Li Ding, Ming-Guang Feng, Sheng-Hua Ying

Beauveria bassiana has been assumed a promising biocontrol agent in integrated pest management. Nitronate monooxygenase (NMO) catalyzes the conversion of alkyl nitronates into aldehydes and nitrite as well as nitroalkanes into the corresponding carbonyl compounds and nitrite. In fungi, enzymatic characteristics have been biochemically determined for NMOs; however, the understanding of their biological functions remains largely unknown in entomopathogenic fungi. In this study, a domain annotation analysis revealed that there were eight NMO proteins (BbNmo1–BbNmo8) in the entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana. The first six NMO proteins contained peroxisomal targeting signal type 1 (PTS1), in which BbNmo2 carried an atypical one. Except for BbNMO1 and BbNMO4, other NMO genes were functionally analyzed. The gene loss of six genes did not cause significant change in fungal vegetative growth, but resulted in convergent defects in fungal resistance to cell-wall integrity stress and conidial hydrophobicity. In addition, BbNmo3 was also required for fungal response to oxidative, osmotic, and nitro-compound stresses as well as extracellular acidification. All these six genes were required for fungal conidiation; however, except for BbNMO3, the other five contributed to blastospore formation. All tested NMO genes were involved in fungal virulence; significantly, BbNMO3 had the greatest contribution. The functionally-characterized NMO proteins were localized to peroxisomes and cytoplasm, which was in accordance with whether they had the PTS1. Current findings indicate that the NMO-domain proteins play essential roles in unique lifestyle in the insect pathogenic fungi.

{"title":"A family of nitronate monooxygenase-domain proteins are essential for biocontrol potential of the insect mycopathogen Beauveria bassiana","authors":"Hao Zhang, Xin-Yi Wang, Ting-Fei Sun, Tian-Jing Chen, Jin-Li Ding, Ming-Guang Feng, Sheng-Hua Ying","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106317","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106317","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Beauveria bassiana has been assumed a promising biocontrol agent in integrated pest management. Nitronate monooxygenase (NMO) catalyzes the conversion of alkyl nitronates into aldehydes and nitrite as well as nitroalkanes into the corresponding carbonyl compounds and nitrite. In fungi, enzymatic characteristics have been biochemically determined for NMOs; however, the understanding of their biological functions remains largely unknown in entomopathogenic fungi. In this study, a domain annotation analysis revealed that there were eight NMO proteins (BbNmo1–BbNmo8) in the entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana. The first six NMO proteins contained peroxisomal targeting signal type 1 (PTS1), in which BbNmo2 carried an atypical one. Except for BbNMO1 and BbNMO4, other NMO genes were functionally analyzed. The gene loss of six genes did not cause significant change in fungal vegetative growth, but resulted in convergent defects in fungal resistance to cell-wall integrity stress and conidial hydrophobicity. In addition, BbNmo3 was also required for fungal response to oxidative, osmotic, and nitro-compound stresses as well as extracellular acidification. All these six genes were required for fungal conidiation; however, except for BbNMO3, the other five contributed to blastospore formation. All tested NMO genes were involved in fungal virulence; significantly, BbNMO3 had the greatest contribution. The functionally-characterized NMO proteins were localized to peroxisomes and cytoplasm, which was in accordance with whether they had the PTS1. Current findings indicate that the NMO-domain proteins play essential roles in unique lifestyle in the insect pathogenic fungi.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106317"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143277410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Exploring the role of CYP6AB328 in spinetoram resistance and growth and development of Phthorimaea absoluta

IF 4.2 1区农林科学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology

Pub Date : 2025-01-31 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106316

Jingang Xie , Shengyu Wang , Ziyan Zhuang, Xinhai Wang, Minghao Lin, Xiaoning Liu

Phthorimaea absoluta is a major agricultural pest, affecting tomatoes and other solanaceous crops. Insect cytochrome P450 is a key enzyme that metabolizes xenobiotics (insecticides and plant toxins) and regulates endogenous compounds, but the functions of specific CYP genes in P. absoluta remain unclear. This study analyzed the expression pattern of 97 CYP genes in two regional populations of P. absoluta from Xinjiang, China. CYP6AB328 was identified as the most significantly overexpressed in the strain from Yining city (YN) compared to the strain from Alaer city (Ala), its expression level exhibited a positively correlated with the accumulating resistance of spinetoram. Following the cloning and sequence analysis of the target gene, it was named CYP6AB328. Additionally, a leaflet delivery system demonstrated the relatively stable presence of dsCYP6AB328 in the leaves from 12 to 24 h. The expression level of CYP6AB328 was significantly reduced by 68.9 % in 2nd instar larvae treated with 7.5 μg/200 μL dsCYP6AB328 at 48 h. Knockdown CYP6AB328 significantly increased susceptibility to spinetoram in the SPI-S strain (belongs to YN strain) and markedly decreased the spinetoram resistance ratio in the resistant strain (SPI-R: 250.57-fold). Notably, silencing CYP6AB328 inhibited nearly all 1st instar larvae fully mining the leaves, resulting in mortality up to 95.3 %, while in 2nd instar larvae, it prolonged leaf-mining time, reduced leaf damage, extended the development time of 2nd to 4th instar, caused 18 % larval abnormality and achieved an 84.4 % mortality on the 6th day of treatment. In summary, our findings indicate that CYP6AB328 plays an important role in promoting development of spinetoram resistance and growth and development of P. absoluta.

{"title":"Exploring the role of CYP6AB328 in spinetoram resistance and growth and development of Phthorimaea absoluta","authors":"Jingang Xie , Shengyu Wang , Ziyan Zhuang, Xinhai Wang, Minghao Lin, Xiaoning Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106316","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106316","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phthorimaea absoluta is a major agricultural pest, affecting tomatoes and other solanaceous crops. Insect cytochrome P450 is a key enzyme that metabolizes xenobiotics (insecticides and plant toxins) and regulates endogenous compounds, but the functions of specific CYP genes in P. absoluta remain unclear. This study analyzed the expression pattern of 97 CYP genes in two regional populations of P. absoluta from Xinjiang, China. CYP6AB328 was identified as the most significantly overexpressed in the strain from Yining city (YN) compared to the strain from Alaer city (Ala), its expression level exhibited a positively correlated with the accumulating resistance of spinetoram. Following the cloning and sequence analysis of the target gene, it was named CYP6AB328. Additionally, a leaflet delivery system demonstrated the relatively stable presence of dsCYP6AB328 in the leaves from 12 to 24 h. The expression level of CYP6AB328 was significantly reduced by 68.9 % in 2nd instar larvae treated with 7.5 μg/200 μL dsCYP6AB328 at 48 h. Knockdown CYP6AB328 significantly increased susceptibility to spinetoram in the SPI-S strain (belongs to YN strain) and markedly decreased the spinetoram resistance ratio in the resistant strain (SPI-R: 250.57-fold). Notably, silencing CYP6AB328 inhibited nearly all 1st instar larvae fully mining the leaves, resulting in mortality up to 95.3 %, while in 2nd instar larvae, it prolonged leaf-mining time, reduced leaf damage, extended the development time of 2nd to 4th instar, caused 18 % larval abnormality and achieved an 84.4 % mortality on the 6th day of treatment. In summary, our findings indicate that CYP6AB328 plays an important role in promoting development of spinetoram resistance and growth and development of P. absoluta.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106316"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143277409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Re-exploration of phenolic compounds from natural waste rice husks: Combined synthesis of novel herbicide and evaluation of herbicidal activity

IF 4.2 1区农林科学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology

Pub Date : 2025-01-28 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106312

Li-xia Zhao , Ruo-nan Song , Jing-yi Li , Yue-chun Zou , Shuang Gao , Ying Fu , Fei Ye

In a global context, weed management has emerged as a significant challenge in agricultural production, causing substantial economic losses annually. Consequently, the development of innovative and efficient herbicides is crucial. Natural products serve as important sources for discovering novel herbicides. Through chemical synthesis and structural modification of natural compounds, novel herbicides can be developed. Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO, EC 1.3.3.4) catalyzes the oxidation of protoporphyrinogen IX to protoporphyrin IX, a critical step in the biosynthesis of porphyrins. PPO inhibitors target protoporphyrinogen oxidase, inhibiting its activity and thereby blocking porphyrin biosynthesis, ultimately leading to plant death. In this research, protoporphyrinogen oxidase was targeted, and monomeric compounds were extracted from natural rice husks, followed by selective manipulation to design and synthesize 33 new compounds. Weed control assays (37.5–300 g ai/ha) showed that most of the new compounds exhibited significant herbicidal activity against dicot weeds, but less effectiveness against monocot weeds. In particular, compound I–c4 demonstrated excellent post-emergence herbicidal activity on six weed species, comparable to the commercial herbicide oxyfluorfen. Activity experiments showed that compound I–c4 significantly reduced PPO levels in weeds. Molecular docking results indicated that compound I–c4 effectively occupies the substrate pocket of PPO enzymes, demonstrating strong inhibitory effects on receptor protein activity. Thus, compound I–c4 shows promise as a novel PPO herbicide for effective weed control.

{"title":"Re-exploration of phenolic compounds from natural waste rice husks: Combined synthesis of novel herbicide and evaluation of herbicidal activity","authors":"Li-xia Zhao , Ruo-nan Song , Jing-yi Li , Yue-chun Zou , Shuang Gao , Ying Fu , Fei Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106312","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106312","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In a global context, weed management has emerged as a significant challenge in agricultural production, causing substantial economic losses annually. Consequently, the development of innovative and efficient herbicides is crucial. Natural products serve as important sources for discovering novel herbicides. Through chemical synthesis and structural modification of natural compounds, novel herbicides can be developed. Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO, EC 1.3.3.4) catalyzes the oxidation of protoporphyrinogen IX to protoporphyrin IX, a critical step in the biosynthesis of porphyrins. PPO inhibitors target protoporphyrinogen oxidase, inhibiting its activity and thereby blocking porphyrin biosynthesis, ultimately leading to plant death. In this research, protoporphyrinogen oxidase was targeted, and monomeric compounds were extracted from natural rice husks, followed by selective manipulation to design and synthesize 33 new compounds. Weed control assays (37.5–300 g ai/ha) showed that most of the new compounds exhibited significant herbicidal activity against dicot weeds, but less effectiveness against monocot weeds. In particular, compound I–c4 demonstrated excellent post-emergence herbicidal activity on six weed species, comparable to the commercial herbicide oxyfluorfen. Activity experiments showed that compound I–c4 significantly reduced PPO levels in weeds. Molecular docking results indicated that compound I–c4 effectively occupies the substrate pocket of PPO enzymes, demonstrating strong inhibitory effects on receptor protein activity. Thus, compound I–c4 shows promise as a novel PPO herbicide for effective weed control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106312"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143100677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Toxicological investigations of biosynthesized nickel ferrites nanoparticles on midgut epithelium of Blaps polychresta as nanopesticides: Structural damages and oxidative stress

IF 4.2 1区农林科学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology

Pub Date : 2025-01-28 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106314

Esraa A. Arafat , Abdelazeem S. Eltaweil , Eman M. Abd El-Monaem , Hanan I. Elhenawy , Hussein K. Hussein , Mohamed A. Hassan , Lamia M. El-Samad

The development of eco-friendly insecticides with the ability to overcome insecticide resistance remains a thorny issue. This study therefore intends to evaluate the effectiveness of green synthesized nickel ferrite nanoparticles (NiFe₂O₄ NPs) as nanopesticides in this first report using darkling beetles, Blaps polychresta, as a model. The biosynthesized NiFe₂O₄ NPs were characterized employing various approaches, including FTIR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, XRD, XPS, and VSM. The morphological features and size of the nanoparticles were determined adopting SEM and TEM analyses, revealing that NiFe₂O₄ NPs have an average size of 24.59 nm with a quasi-spherical shape. The beetles treated with NiFe₂O₄ NPs showed their accumulation in midgut tissues, as evidenced by EDX analysis. Accumulation of NiFe₂O₄ NPs in midgut epithelium induced surplus reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, engendering elevated MDA level linked with increased expression of MT1 and HSP70. Besides, decreased GST, SOD, and GSH activities were also reported. These findings indicate antioxidant defense systems malfunction due to failure of NiFe₂O₄ NPs detoxification. Beyond that, comet assay and flow cytometry analysis exhibited noticeable amplifications of DNA impairment and cellular apoptosis, respectively, in beetles treated with NiFe₂O₄ NPs compared to untreated beetles. Pathohistological and ultrastructure investigations showed various aberrations in beetles exposed to NiFe₂O₄ NPs, including rapture of midgut epithelium and necrotic signs, substantiating the biochemical findings. These findings suggest that NiFe₂O₄ NPs could be implemented in agricultural practices as a sustainable insecticidal candidate to manage insect pests. Further studies are required to investigate NiFe₂O₄ NPs interaction with environmental conditions.

{"title":"Toxicological investigations of biosynthesized nickel ferrites nanoparticles on midgut epithelium of Blaps polychresta as nanopesticides: Structural damages and oxidative stress","authors":"Esraa A. Arafat , Abdelazeem S. Eltaweil , Eman M. Abd El-Monaem , Hanan I. Elhenawy , Hussein K. Hussein , Mohamed A. Hassan , Lamia M. El-Samad","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106314","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106314","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of eco-friendly insecticides with the ability to overcome insecticide resistance remains a thorny issue. This study therefore intends to evaluate the effectiveness of green synthesized nickel ferrite nanoparticles (NiFe2O4 NPs) as nanopesticides in this first report using darkling beetles, Blaps polychresta, as a model. The biosynthesized NiFe2O4 NPs were characterized employing various approaches, including FTIR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, XRD, XPS, and VSM. The morphological features and size of the nanoparticles were determined adopting SEM and TEM analyses, revealing that NiFe2O4 NPs have an average size of 24.59 nm with a quasi-spherical shape. The beetles treated with NiFe2O4 NPs showed their accumulation in midgut tissues, as evidenced by EDX analysis. Accumulation of NiFe2O4 NPs in midgut epithelium induced surplus reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, engendering elevated MDA level linked with increased expression of MT1 and HSP70. Besides, decreased GST, SOD, and GSH activities were also reported. These findings indicate antioxidant defense systems malfunction due to failure of NiFe2O4 NPs detoxification. Beyond that, comet assay and flow cytometry analysis exhibited noticeable amplifications of DNA impairment and cellular apoptosis, respectively, in beetles treated with NiFe2O4 NPs compared to untreated beetles. Pathohistological and ultrastructure investigations showed various aberrations in beetles exposed to NiFe2O4 NPs, including rapture of midgut epithelium and necrotic signs, substantiating the biochemical findings. These findings suggest that NiFe2O4 NPs could be implemented in agricultural practices as a sustainable insecticidal candidate to manage insect pests. Further studies are required to investigate NiFe2O4 NPs interaction with environmental conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106314"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143277381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

A functional study of the trehalase genes in Tribolium castaneum and their application in the construction of RNAi engineering bacteria

IF 4.2 1区农林科学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology

Pub Date : 2025-01-28 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106315

Yue Li , Puxing Hou , Ruyu Li , Pei Li , Zhiqing Ma , Hua Wu , Zhili Jiang

Tribolium castaneum, belonging to the order Coleoptera, family Tenebrionidae, is a global grain storage pest. The enzyme trehalase can catalyze trehalose decomposition and participate in chitin synthesis, which is of great significance in insect physiology and may be a key target for T. castaneum pest prevention and control. This study focused on T. castaneum and explored the function of its trehalase (TcTre) in test insects' growth and development process. We analyzed the roles of TcTre in different growth stages and tissues of T. castaneum by measuring its spatio and temporal expression patterns. The silencing of TcTre by RNAi technology reduced the transcription level of the target gene, affected the enzyme activity of trehalase, disturbed the sugar balance, blocked the pathway of chitin synthesis, and caused abnormal molting and wing development of the tested insects. Key genes about pest control such as TcTre1–1, TcTre1–3, and TcTre2 were screened, which caused the accumulated mortality of 53.33 %, 56.67 %, and 50.00 % respectively. Subsequently, an engineered bacterium, Tre-L4440-HT115 (DE3), was developed to efficiently express dsRNA and mediate insecticidal activity. The dsRNA produced by the bacterial solution, targeting TcTre1–1, TcTre1–3, and TcTre2 fragments for silencing, could cause the death of 44.44 %, 48.89 %, and 46.67 % of the test insects cumulatively. This advancement was aimed at reducing the production costs of dsRNA and laying a scientific foundation for the industrial development of nucleic acid pesticides for T. castaneum.

{"title":"A functional study of the trehalase genes in Tribolium castaneum and their application in the construction of RNAi engineering bacteria","authors":"Yue Li , Puxing Hou , Ruyu Li , Pei Li , Zhiqing Ma , Hua Wu , Zhili Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106315","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106315","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tribolium castaneum, belonging to the order Coleoptera, family Tenebrionidae, is a global grain storage pest. The enzyme trehalase can catalyze trehalose decomposition and participate in chitin synthesis, which is of great significance in insect physiology and may be a key target for T. castaneum pest prevention and control. This study focused on T. castaneum and explored the function of its trehalase (TcTre) in test insects' growth and development process. We analyzed the roles of TcTre in different growth stages and tissues of T. castaneum by measuring its spatio and temporal expression patterns. The silencing of TcTre by RNAi technology reduced the transcription level of the target gene, affected the enzyme activity of trehalase, disturbed the sugar balance, blocked the pathway of chitin synthesis, and caused abnormal molting and wing development of the tested insects. Key genes about pest control such as TcTre1–1, TcTre1–3, and TcTre2 were screened, which caused the accumulated mortality of 53.33 %, 56.67 %, and 50.00 % respectively. Subsequently, an engineered bacterium, Tre-L4440-HT115 (DE3), was developed to efficiently express dsRNA and mediate insecticidal activity. The dsRNA produced by the bacterial solution, targeting TcTre1–1, TcTre1–3, and TcTre2 fragments for silencing, could cause the death of 44.44 %, 48.89 %, and 46.67 % of the test insects cumulatively. This advancement was aimed at reducing the production costs of dsRNA and laying a scientific foundation for the industrial development of nucleic acid pesticides for T. castaneum.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106315"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143277408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

A comparative study of the controllable release and insecticidal efficacy for two typical carrier methods on diamide insecticide delivery system

IF 4.2 1区农林科学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology

Pub Date : 2025-01-28 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106313

Bingrui Liu, Yucong Huang, Xingyu Liu, Huiying Yang, Shaochen Li, Yahui Li

Using nano/microcarriers of pesticides in sustainable pest management represents a promising strategy for enhancing pesticide efficiency while mitigating environmental harm. The reported pesticide loading methods include one-step self-assembly encapsulation and two-step absorption loading, but the controllable release and insecticidal efficacy of these two methods have been infrequently evaluated. Herein, the typical diamide insecticide cyantraniliprole (CTP) was employed as the model pesticide. A hydrogen bond-driven one-step self-assembly method and a chemical deposition method were utilized to fabricate highly dispersed polylactic acid (PLA) microspheres and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) microspheres. The resulting CTP-loaded PLA microspheres (CTP-PLA MS) and CaCO₃ microspheres (CTP-CaCO₃ MS) both exhibited high adhesion, resistance to rain erosion, and insecticidal activity under laboratory conditions. However, the functional CTP-PLA MS demonstrated superior sustained pesticide release performance, higher pesticide loading capacity, and less application amount than that of CTP-CaCO₃ MS. At the same time, the acute toxicity of CTP-PLA MS exhibited slightly reduced acute toxicity to honeybees (Apis mellifera), signifying enhanced biocompatibility. Finally, the CTP-PLA MS maintained superior insecticidal efficacy than the normal CTP in controlling O. nubilalis at a low concentration. The present study represents a promising pesticide carrier as a highly efficient, eco-friendly agent for sustained management of O. nubilalis.

{"title":"A comparative study of the controllable release and insecticidal efficacy for two typical carrier methods on diamide insecticide delivery system","authors":"Bingrui Liu, Yucong Huang, Xingyu Liu, Huiying Yang, Shaochen Li, Yahui Li","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106313","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106313","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Using nano/microcarriers of pesticides in sustainable pest management represents a promising strategy for enhancing pesticide efficiency while mitigating environmental harm. The reported pesticide loading methods include one-step self-assembly encapsulation and two-step absorption loading, but the controllable release and insecticidal efficacy of these two methods have been infrequently evaluated. Herein, the typical diamide insecticide cyantraniliprole (CTP) was employed as the model pesticide. A hydrogen bond-driven one-step self-assembly method and a chemical deposition method were utilized to fabricate highly dispersed polylactic acid (PLA) microspheres and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) microspheres. The resulting CTP-loaded PLA microspheres (CTP-PLA MS) and CaCO3 microspheres (CTP-CaCO3 MS) both exhibited high adhesion, resistance to rain erosion, and insecticidal activity under laboratory conditions. However, the functional CTP-PLA MS demonstrated superior sustained pesticide release performance, higher pesticide loading capacity, and less application amount than that of CTP-CaCO3 MS. At the same time, the acute toxicity of CTP-PLA MS exhibited slightly reduced acute toxicity to honeybees (Apis mellifera), signifying enhanced biocompatibility. Finally, the CTP-PLA MS maintained superior insecticidal efficacy than the normal CTP in controlling O. nubilalis at a low concentration. The present study represents a promising pesticide carrier as a highly efficient, eco-friendly agent for sustained management of O. nubilalis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106313"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143100675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Design and synthesis of sulfur-containing pseudilin analogs and their biological activity evaluation

IF 4.2 1区农林科学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology

Pub Date : 2025-01-27 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106311

Jili Wang , Yaqing Zhou , Can Chen , Zhiyi Wang , Xin Wu , Xin Zhou , Yong Sun , Wenhai Wu , Aidong Zhang

Pseudilin is a natural product that inhibits the enzyme 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol synthase (IspD) in the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway, and using it as a template for designing lead structure is an effective strategy in developing new active compounds. In this work, a series of sulfur-containing pseudilin analogs were designed by replacing the pyrrole rings in pseudilin with pyrazole rings through bioisosteric replacement strategy, while introducing sulfur-containing groups. The target compounds were synthesized through a four-step reaction sequence, in which the key intermediate of sulfur-containing chromones was obtained by cyclization reaction, further transannulation, oxidation, and finally bromination. The bioactivity evaluation demonstrated that most of the synthesized compounds exhibited certain IspD enzyme inhibitory activity and good pre-emergence model plants inhibitory activity. Notably, these compounds showed stronger inhibitory effects on the monocot Echinochloa crus-galli (E. crus-galli) compared to the dicot Brassica napus L (B. napus L). In particular, compound 5h exhibited potent inhibitory activity against the Arabidopsis thaliana IspD (AtIspD) enzyme and achieved the highest pre-emergence herbicidal activity, superior to the control pentabromopseudilin (PBQ). The molecular docking results showed that compound 5h could bind well to the allosteric site of AtIspD, and the confirmed 5h and PBQ bind to the IspD in a similar way. These results suggest that the sulfur-containing compound 5h may represent a novel herbicide lead compound with new mode of action targeting IspD in the MEP pathway.

{"title":"Design and synthesis of sulfur-containing pseudilin analogs and their biological activity evaluation","authors":"Jili Wang , Yaqing Zhou , Can Chen , Zhiyi Wang , Xin Wu , Xin Zhou , Yong Sun , Wenhai Wu , Aidong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106311","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pseudilin is a natural product that inhibits the enzyme 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol synthase (IspD) in the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway, and using it as a template for designing lead structure is an effective strategy in developing new active compounds. In this work, a series of sulfur-containing pseudilin analogs were designed by replacing the pyrrole rings in pseudilin with pyrazole rings through bioisosteric replacement strategy, while introducing sulfur-containing groups. The target compounds were synthesized through a four-step reaction sequence, in which the key intermediate of sulfur-containing chromones was obtained by cyclization reaction, further transannulation, oxidation, and finally bromination. The bioactivity evaluation demonstrated that most of the synthesized compounds exhibited certain IspD enzyme inhibitory activity and good pre-emergence model plants inhibitory activity. Notably, these compounds showed stronger inhibitory effects on the monocot Echinochloa crus-galli (E. crus-galli) compared to the dicot Brassica napus L (B. napus L). In particular, compound 5h exhibited potent inhibitory activity against the Arabidopsis thaliana IspD (AtIspD) enzyme and achieved the highest pre-emergence herbicidal activity, superior to the control pentabromopseudilin (PBQ). The molecular docking results showed that compound 5h could bind well to the allosteric site of AtIspD, and the confirmed 5h and PBQ bind to the IspD in a similar way. These results suggest that the sulfur-containing compound 5h may represent a novel herbicide lead compound with new mode of action targeting IspD in the MEP pathway.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106311"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143156720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Synergistic effect of β-ocimene on Hyphantria cunea sex pheromone and its potential attraction mechanism related to Ca2+ stimulation

IF 4.2 1区农林科学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology

Pub Date : 2025-01-25 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106310

Siye Zhou , Jiayun Li , Dongping Chen, Zhixuan Xu, Kudousi Kuerban, Qiang Liu, Muhammad Irfan Waris, Wenwu Wu, Nannan Lv, Jianting Fan

Hyphantria cunea, a globally significant quarantine pest, causes severe ecological and economic impacts in invaded regions. Attractants are environment-friendly and valuable pest management tools for H. cunea control. In this study, we identified that the combination of β-ocimene with sex pheromone components was strongly attractive to H. cunea males. This attractant combination activates the Ras signaling pathway and stimulates Ca²⁺ in male adults following exposure. Feeding and oviposition behavior results demonstrated that H. cunea prefers Morus alba over Platanus × acerifolia, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, and Taxodium distichum. In the fresh branches of M. alba with leaves, the relative abundance of β-ocimene (36.33 ± 0.41 %) was significantly higher than the other hosts. Electroantennography recordings, behavioral choice assays, and field trapping trials showed that the combination of β-ocimene with sex pheromone components significantly enhanced male response and attraction. The number of trapped males using β-ocimene/ sex pheromone blend was 3.7-fold higher than that of sex pheromone or β-ocimene alone in the field, indicating a synergistic effect of adding β-ocimene to sex pheromone. The molecular mechanism of β-ocimene/sex pheromone synergism was further analyzed. After exposure to the attractant, the Ras signaling pathway in the heads of males are activated (HcILP and HcPLCε1 are upregulated, while HcRasGAP and HcPLD are downregulated), which further stimulates the expression of IP3 and Ca²⁺. The activation of Ca²⁺ may be the key reason for its higher attraction to males. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the selection and mechanistic understanding of attractants for H. cunea, offering insights for attractant-based pest control strategies.

{"title":"Synergistic effect of β-ocimene on Hyphantria cunea sex pheromone and its potential attraction mechanism related to Ca2+ stimulation","authors":"Siye Zhou , Jiayun Li , Dongping Chen, Zhixuan Xu, Kudousi Kuerban, Qiang Liu, Muhammad Irfan Waris, Wenwu Wu, Nannan Lv, Jianting Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106310","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106310","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hyphantria cunea, a globally significant quarantine pest, causes severe ecological and economic impacts in invaded regions. Attractants are environment-friendly and valuable pest management tools for H. cunea control. In this study, we identified that the combination of β-ocimene with sex pheromone components was strongly attractive to H. cunea males. This attractant combination activates the Ras signaling pathway and stimulates Ca2+ in male adults following exposure. Feeding and oviposition behavior results demonstrated that H. cunea prefers Morus alba over Platanus × acerifolia, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, and Taxodium distichum. In the fresh branches of M. alba with leaves, the relative abundance of β-ocimene (36.33 ± 0.41 %) was significantly higher than the other hosts. Electroantennography recordings, behavioral choice assays, and field trapping trials showed that the combination of β-ocimene with sex pheromone components significantly enhanced male response and attraction. The number of trapped males using β-ocimene/ sex pheromone blend was 3.7-fold higher than that of sex pheromone or β-ocimene alone in the field, indicating a synergistic effect of adding β-ocimene to sex pheromone. The molecular mechanism of β-ocimene/sex pheromone synergism was further analyzed. After exposure to the attractant, the Ras signaling pathway in the heads of males are activated (HcILP and HcPLCε1 are upregulated, while HcRasGAP and HcPLD are downregulated), which further stimulates the expression of IP3 and Ca2+. The activation of Ca2+ may be the key reason for its higher attraction to males. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the selection and mechanistic understanding of attractants for H. cunea, offering insights for attractant-based pest control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106310"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143100676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Effects of the insecticide thiodicarb on non-target organs and behavior of the stingless bee Partamona helleri (Hymenoptera: Meliponini)

IF 4.2 1区农林科学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology

Pub Date : 2025-01-24 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106308

Davy Soares Gomes , Franciane Rosa Miranda , João Victor de Oliveira Motta , Mateus Soares de Oliveira , Cliver Fernandes Farder-Gomes , Daniel Silva Sena Bastos , Rodrigo Cupertino Bernardes , Fernanda Pereira da Silva , Pollyana Leão Gonçalves , Hugo Bolsoni Zago , Cynthia Canêdo da Silva , Leandro Licursi de Oliveira , Kenner Morais Fernandes , José Eduardo Serrão

Stingless bees are vital pollinators in the Neotropics and can be exposed to pesticides used in agriculture during their foraging activities. Among these pesticides, the insecticide thiodicarb is commonly applied to bean and sunflower crops, posing a potential risk to the stingless bee Partamona helleri, which pollinates these plants. This study aimed to investigate the effects of thiodicarb on mortality, morphology, programmed cell death signaling pathways in the midgut and Malpighian tubules, and the locomotion behavior of P. helleri workers. The estimated lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of thiodicarb for P. helleri was 87 μg a.i. mL⁻¹. Bees fed this concentration exhibited morphological damage to the midgut epithelium and Malpighian tubules, including brush border degeneration, increased cytoplasm vacuolation, and the release of cell fragments into the intestinal lumen. In the midgut, regenerative cells showed cytoplasm disorganization and nuclear pyknosis. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed an increase in cell death via autophagy and apoptosis in the epithelial cells of the affected organs. Ingestion of thiodicarb also altered the bees' locomotion, resulting in increased meandering and decreased walking speed and total distance traveled. These findings demonstrate that the LC₅₀ of thiodicarb causes damage to non-target organs as the midgut and Malpighian tubules, and impairs behavior, which may ultimately affect the pollination services provided by P. helleri. These results enhance our understanding of the vulnerability of stingless bees to insecticides and underscore the importance of strategies aimed at protecting these pollinators.

{"title":"Effects of the insecticide thiodicarb on non-target organs and behavior of the stingless bee Partamona helleri (Hymenoptera: Meliponini)","authors":"Davy Soares Gomes , Franciane Rosa Miranda , João Victor de Oliveira Motta , Mateus Soares de Oliveira , Cliver Fernandes Farder-Gomes , Daniel Silva Sena Bastos , Rodrigo Cupertino Bernardes , Fernanda Pereira da Silva , Pollyana Leão Gonçalves , Hugo Bolsoni Zago , Cynthia Canêdo da Silva , Leandro Licursi de Oliveira , Kenner Morais Fernandes , José Eduardo Serrão","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106308","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106308","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stingless bees are vital pollinators in the Neotropics and can be exposed to pesticides used in agriculture during their foraging activities. Among these pesticides, the insecticide thiodicarb is commonly applied to bean and sunflower crops, posing a potential risk to the stingless bee Partamona helleri, which pollinates these plants. This study aimed to investigate the effects of thiodicarb on mortality, morphology, programmed cell death signaling pathways in the midgut and Malpighian tubules, and the locomotion behavior of P. helleri workers. The estimated lethal concentration (LC50) of thiodicarb for P. helleri was 87 μg a.i. mL−1. Bees fed this concentration exhibited morphological damage to the midgut epithelium and Malpighian tubules, including brush border degeneration, increased cytoplasm vacuolation, and the release of cell fragments into the intestinal lumen. In the midgut, regenerative cells showed cytoplasm disorganization and nuclear pyknosis. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed an increase in cell death via autophagy and apoptosis in the epithelial cells of the affected organs. Ingestion of thiodicarb also altered the bees' locomotion, resulting in increased meandering and decreased walking speed and total distance traveled. These findings demonstrate that the LC50 of thiodicarb causes damage to non-target organs as the midgut and Malpighian tubules, and impairs behavior, which may ultimately affect the pollination services provided by P. helleri. These results enhance our understanding of the vulnerability of stingless bees to insecticides and underscore the importance of strategies aimed at protecting these pollinators.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106308"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143100234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0