Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Xiao-Qing Zhang, Ding-Ze Mang, Hui Liao, Jia Ye, Jia-Li Qian, Shuang-Lin Dong, Ya-Nan Zhang, Peng He, Qing-He Zhang, Endang R. Purba, Long-Wa Zhang
Summary: Hyphantria cunea is an invasive pest species in China that uses type II sex pheromone components. In this study, the binding mechanisms of its sex pheromone components to their respective pheromone-binding proteins were explored. The results showed that HcunPBPs have different selectivities for pheromone components with major and minor structural differences, providing insight into the olfactory mechanism of moths using type II pheromone components.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Wu Shaolong, Liu Fengli, Zeng Weiai, Xiao Zhipeng, Li Jiaying, Teng Kai, Guo Qianshaung, Zhao Jinhao, Du Yongjun
Summary: This study screened and optimized effective semiochemical-based attractants in tobacco fields, and developed film lures to release synthetic attractant blends. The synthetic mixture of beta-pinene, methyl salicylate, linalool, and limonene significantly increased the population of natural enemies and effectively suppressed the aphid population in the tobacco fields. The density of lure placement and the distribution of surrounding habitats and flowering plants were also found to be important factors in attracting natural enemies.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Franziska A. Klapper, Christine Kiel, Peter Bellstedt, Wim Vyverman, Georg Pohnert
Summary: Diatoms, abundant unicellular microalgae, play a crucial role in global photosynthetic CO2 fixation. However, their sexual reproduction remains poorly understood. In this study, the structure of a sex-inducing pheromone in the diatom Seminavis robusta was elucidated, revealing its mechanism of action and providing important insights into the reproductive process of diatoms.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Jian-Qiao Li, Rui Zhu, Wei-Chen Yao, Hui-Ping Yu, Jian-Rong Huang, Zhen Wang, Xin-Yue Sun, Di-Hua Yuan, Yuan-Yuan Sun, Sekina S. Emam, Youssef Dewer, Xiu-Yun Zhu, Ya-Nan Zhang
Summary: In this study, the interaction between chemosensory proteins (CSPs) and sex pheromones in moths was investigated. AlepCSP2 was found to bind strongly to two sex pheromones and five maize volatiles under neutral conditions. RNA interference (RNAi) experiments revealed that siCSP2 males had lower electro-antennography responses to sex pheromones and maize volatiles and a significantly decreased mating rate. These findings contribute to understanding the binding mechanisms of CSPs in moths and identifying targets for pest behavior disruptors.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hao Guo, Bao-Tong Mo, Guo-Cheng Li, Zi-Lin Li, Ling-Qiao Huang, Ya-Lan Sun, Jun-Feng Dong, Dean P. Smith, Chen-Zhu Wang
Summary: This study identifies the sex pheromone and elucidates the olfactory basis of sex pheromone communication in Campoletis chlorideae, a parasitoid wasp. It demonstrates the importance of specific receptors in male attraction and mating behavior, and also shows the synergistic effects of the sex pheromone and a female attractant in increasing the parasitic efficiency of the wasp.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yongzhi Zhong, Minghui Xie, Zhongjuan Di, Fengqi Li, Jiaqi Chen, Xiangxin Kong, Lulu Lin, Weihua Su, Lina Xu, Feng Zhang, Rui Tang, Haoliang Chen
Summary: The study reveals that male adults of the Chinese population of Spodoptera frugiperda are more sensitive to the four components of sex pheromones compared to female adults. This difference may be attributed to the higher expression levels of SfruPBP1 and SfruPBP2 in male adults. SfruPBP1 plays a key role in sex pheromone discrimination. These findings contribute to the development of behavioral-mediating tools for integrated pest management.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Joyce P. S. Leung, Alida F. Janmaat, J. Todd Kabaluk, Jenny S. Cory
Summary: The study found that male Agriotes obscurus click beetles did not avoid Metarhizium brunneum fungus spores and were not significantly influenced by synthetic female pheromones. Exposure to pheromones increased beetle movement and spore uptake, but did not lead to more infected beetles under experimental conditions. The beetles were able to transfer spores at high levels via environmental contamination, although contamination levels declined rapidly after exposure.
JOURNAL OF INVERTEBRATE PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Jingjing Jiang, Shengyan Su, Ting Lai, Wenrong Feng, Feifan Li, Can Tian, Yang Gao, Brian Peelekelo Munganga, Yongkai Tang, Pao Xu
Summary: A new device utilizing sexual pheromone was developed to detect the ovarian development in Chinese mitten crabs, and its effectiveness was confirmed through histological analysis, biochemical indices, and transcriptome analysis.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Yun-Ying Zhang, Teng-Fei Bai, Jin-Meng Guo, Zhi-Qiang Wei, Si-Ruo Liu, Yu He, Jing-Jing Ye, Qi Yan, Jin Zhang, Shuang-Lin Dong
Summary: The study revealed functional differentiations among three PBPs and six PRs in sex pheromone perception in Mythimna loreyi, laying an important basis for understanding the molecular mechanism of sex pheromone perception and developing new control strategies. The findings from electroantennogram assay, fluorescence competition binding assay, and functional study using the Xenopus oocyte system provided insights into the sensitivity of M. loreyi to different pheromone components. Phylogenetic comparison of PRs among different species suggested functional shifts of M. loreyi PRs toward Spodoptera PRs.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tobias G. Koellner, Anja David, Katrin Luck, Franziska Beran, Grit Kunert, Jing-Jiang Zhou, Lorenzo Caputi, Sarah E. O'Connor
Summary: This study elucidated the biosynthesis of iridoids in the pea aphid and discovered that the pathway in aphids is similar to that in plants but with unrelated enzymes. Additionally, it was found that membrane-bound enzymes are likely involved in the aphid iridoid pathway. These findings establish the genetic and biochemical basis for iridoid sex pheromone formation in aphids and provide a foundation for understanding the convergent evolution of complex metabolic pathways between kingdoms.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Bi-Yun Zhang, Feng-Qi Li, Cheng Qu, Youssef Dewer, Yue-Jun Fu, Chen Luo
Summary: In this study, researchers identified genes related to sex pheromone biosynthesis in the Noctuid moths Spodoptera litura and Spodoptera exigua. They found that only the genes SlitDes5 and SexiDes5 were significantly overexpressed in the sex pheromone glands of these moths. Functional analysis of the SlitDes5 gene showed that its expression level could be reduced by 49.42% through RNA interference. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the key genes involved in sex pheromone biosynthesis and provide potential gene targets for pest control strategies.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Parikshit Moitra, Deepa Bhagat, Vinayak B. Kamble, Arun M. Umarji, Rudra Pratap, Santanu Bhattacharya
Summary: The translation analyzes the preference for olive oil, the challenges in large-scale production due to olive fruit pests, and the use of covalently functionalized MEMS devices for selective detection of the female sex pheromone of the olive fruit pest Bactocera oleae. It further explains the specific devices used and their correlation with the detection limit of the olive pheromone, highlighting the potential commercial application of this technology.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jian-Hui Qin, Chao-Qun Wang, Ke-Bin Li, Ya-Zhong Cao, Yu Peng, Hong-Lin Feng, Jiao Yin
Summary: This study characterized six PBPs from black chafer, Holotrichia oblita, showing their ability to recognize sex pheromones and significantly reduce insect tropism to sex pheromones when their genes were knocked down. Molecular docking revealed key residues for binding and hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic forces were identified as the main forces in the binding of the PBPs with sex pheromone ligands.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Julia Tiede, Benjamin Iuliano, Claudio Gratton
Summary: Agricultural intensification has negative effects on the body condition of ecosystem service-providing lady beetles, especially in landscapes with a higher percentage of intensive cropland. Lady beetles with reduced body condition may have lower reproductive success, survival rates, and pest control effectiveness. Landscape diversity and edge density also play a role in affecting the body condition of lady beetles.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anne M. Scott, Nicholas S. Johnson, Michael J. Siefkes, Weiming Li
Summary: Sex pheromones exert maximum attraction when their components are present at optimal ratios, but altering these ratios or adding analogs may disrupt attraction. In sea lamprey, a pheromone analog was found to reduce female attraction and disrupt spawning, providing evidence for balanced olfactory antagonism in vertebrates.
Review
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
M. P. Nsevolo, N. Kiatoko, M. B. Kambashi, F. Francis, R. Caparros Megido
Summary: This paper reviews the diversity of edible insect species and their associated host plants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It explores the consumption patterns and motivations of entomophagy practices in the country, highlighting research gaps and major challenges for the sustainable development of the edible insect market. The study identifies 148 insect species consumed in the DRC, with dominant orders including Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera. The inventory of host plants for major edible lepidopterans reveals 122 species dominated by four plant families. Conservation strategies and mass-rearing methods are needed to protect endangered plant species and support sustainable insect consumption.
JOURNAL OF INSECTS AS FOOD AND FEED
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xin Jiang, Jun Jiang, Miaomiao Yu, Siyu Zhang, Yaoguo Qin, Yun Xu, Frederic Francis, Jia Fan, Julian Chen
Summary: This study identified an OBP called AgifOBP6, which plays a crucial role in detecting and utilizing EBF in tri-trophic level interactions among plants, aphids, and natural enemies. AgifOBP6 can recognize and bind to EBF, thereby enhancing the efficiency of parasitoids in controlling their hosts.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Gregoire Noel, Arnaud Mestrez, Philippe Lejeune, Frederic Francis, Junko Kawai, Masayuki Miwa, Koichi Uehara, Ayako Nagase
Summary: This study highlights the spatio-temporal patterns of foraging behavior of honeybees in urban-rural landscapes. Landscape type influences the composition of pollen source-plants, while taxa richness remains unaffected. The study also reveals a strong seasonal dependence of pollen diversity and source-plant composition.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jiahui Zhang, Huiyuan Li, Xue Zhong, Jinfu Tian, Arnaud Segers, Lanqin Xia, Frederic Francis
Summary: Grain aphid (Sitobion miscanthi) is a dominant and devastating insect pest in wheat, causing significant losses to wheat production. This study identified and characterized a potential RNAi target gene (SmDSR33) encoding a salivary protein in grain aphids. Transgenic wheat lines expressing dsRNA for targeted silencing of SmDSR33 were generated, and the feeding experiments showed attenuated expression levels of SmDSR33 in aphids and reduced fecundity, survival, and reproduction. Altered feeding behaviors were observed in electroneurography assays. The results suggest that SmDSR33 can be an effective RNAi target for wheat aphid control.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shen Liu, Xiaobei Liu, Tiantao Zhang, Shuxiong Bai, Kanglai He, Yongjun Zhang, Frederic Francis, Zhenying Wang
Summary: Bacterial symbionts associated with aphids are important for their ecological fitness. This study investigated the effects of secondary symbionts on the ecology fitness of Rhophalosiphum maidis and its primary symbiont Buchnera aphidicola, and found that infection with secondary symbionts leads to significant fitness costs on aphids and modulation of primary symbiont abundance.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Arnaud Segers, Gregoire Noel, Louise Delanglez, Rudy Caparros Megido, Frederic Francis
Summary: The cultivation of seed legumes is beneficial to biodiversity, the environment, and agronomic systems, but the field yields of these crops are uncertain due to various stresses. Controlling the main pest, Bruchus rufimanus, is essential for sustainable development. Semiochemical traps have shown effectiveness for capturing the pest, but they also have collateral effects on beneficial insect populations. This study evaluated the efficiency of different traps and lures for pest capture and assessed their impact on beneficial insects.
Article
Entomology
Jianqing Guo, Jing Li, Sebastien Massart, Kanglai He, Frederic Francis, Zhenying Wang
Summary: Population genetic studies provide insights into the evolution of adaptive strategies and the influence of environmental factors on aphid populations. This study analyzed the genetic diversity of two aphid species from China and Europe. The results showed genetic differentiation between Chinese and European populations in one species, while the other species had low genetic diversity indicating high gene flow. These findings are important for the development of pest control strategies.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Beibei Li, Baoming Yuan, Jiaqi Duan, Youcai Qin, Hongfei Shen, Jie Ren, Frederic Francis, Minghua Chen, Guangyue Li
Summary: Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB), has a significant impact on global wheat production, resulting in 10-70% loss. In this study, we screened 59 Xenorhabdus strains and found that the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of X. budapestensis 14 (XBD14) exhibited the highest bioactivity against F. graminearum. Through genetic methods and HRMS/MS analysis, Fcl-29, a fabclavine derivative, was identified as the major antifungal natural product. Field tests demonstrated that Fcl-29 effectively controlled FHB and showed broad-spectrum antifungal activity against important pathogenic fungi. The production of Fcl-29 was significantly improved by 33.82-fold through a combinational strategy of genetic and fermentation engineering. This research opens up new possibilities for the development of biofungicides in global plant protection.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Clement Martin, Marta Malevic, Claire Diederich, Francois Verheggen
Summary: Human remains detection dogs (HRDD) are commonly used for cadaver search, but the olfactory cues used to train them are still not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the chemical basis of HRDD olfaction. The research found that HRDDs recognized a simplified synthetic aid composed of cadaveric compounds and could perceive cadaveric smell at low concentrations. However, slight modifications to the chemical composition did not impact their responses. The lack of specificity and individual differences in dog responses raise concerns about the accuracy of HRDD detection.
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tianyu Huang, Yang Liu, Kang He, Frederic Francis, Bing Wang, Guirong Wang
Summary: In this study, a chromosome-scale genome assembly of the spotted alfalfa aphid (Therioaphis trifolii) was generated using PacBio long-read sequencing, Illumina sequencing, and Hi-C scaffolding techniques. The genome assembly includes 13,684 protein-coding genes and provides important resources for studying aphid evolution, ecological adaptation, and insecticide resistance.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Louise Dijon, Wouter Dekoninck, Gilles Colinet, Frederic Francis, Gregoire Noel
Summary: In the context of global insect decline, the urbanisation process plays a key role. However, urban pavements, which are considered to be impervious to biodiversity, can harbour ground-nesting insects under certain conditions. Recent observations have revealed the presence of Formicidae nests under urban pavements. The aim of this work is to determine the species richness of Formicidae nesting under urban pavements in the Brussels-Capital Region (Belgium) and to characterise their nest environment and soil texture. Seven ant species were identified in 120 nesting sites: Lasius niger, Lasius brunneus, Lasius flavus, Lasius fuliginosus, Tetramorium caespitum, Tetramorium impurum and Myrmica rugulosa. Concrete slabs or natural stones with a sandy sub-layer are the main structures in which ants nest. In addition, nests were mainly found under modular pavements with degraded rigid joints. The results of this work highlight the capacity of urban structures to host part of ant biodiversity in cities.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Arnaud Segers, Joachim Carpentier, Frederic Francis, Rudy Caparros Megido
Summary: This study investigated the potential use of RNA interference (RNAi) as a biotechnological tool for controlling the bruchid pest Callosobruchus maculatus. The researchers identified key proteins and genes involved in the RNAi mechanism and successfully reduced the expression of laccase 1 in C. maculatus using dsRNA injections. While no significant mortalities were observed, this study supports RNAi as a potential method for controlling bruchid pests.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jinfu Tian, Jiahui Zhang, Frederic Francis
Summary: In this study, 2469 VQ genes from 56 plant species were identified and their molecular and evolutionary features were analyzed. The study found that amino acids are highly conserved in the VQ domain, while other positions are relatively variable. Most VQ genes encode small proteins and do not have introns. The VQ proteins can be divided into nine subgroups and in gymnosperms, they are classified into 11 groups with similar motifs in each group.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Marcellin C. Cokola, Ibtissem Ben Fekih, Espoir B. Bisimwa, Rudy Capparos Megido, Frank Delvigne, Frederic Francis
Summary: The study reveals the occurrence of Beauveria bassiana infecting the fall armyworm and earwig in eastern DR Congo and Africa for the first time.
EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Gregoire Noel, Laurent Serteyn, Abdoul Razack Sare, Sebastien Massart, Frank Delvigne, Frederic Francis
Summary: This study investigates the gut bacteria of G. mellonella and identifies bacteria and enzymes capable of degrading polyethylene. The addition of low-density polyethylene does not significantly affect the bacterial microbiota, indicating its resilience. This study provides a basis for further research on the biodegradation of polyethylene using bacterial microbiota from insect guts.
INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
