Article
Neurosciences
Nobuaki K. Tanaka, Takashi Hirao, Hikaru Chida, Aki Ejima
Summary: The study revealed that the courtship behavior in male fruit flies is mediated by specific neurons, which respond to multimodal sensory stimuli and lead to a fixed sequence of behaviors. Furthermore, male flies are able to suppress or promote their courtship actions by receiving specific olfactory stimuli through neurons when in contact with females.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Youhei Suzuki, Takahiro Shiotsuki, Akiya Jouraku, Ken Miura, Chieka Minakuchi
Summary: In thrips metamorphosis, the adult specifier gene E93 starts to increase in expression at the end of the larval stage or in the propupal stage, coinciding with decreased levels of Kruppel homolog 1 and broad genes. Exogenous treatment with a JH mimic can prevent pupal-adult transition and repress the expression of E93. Comparing the expression profiles of key genes among different insect species suggests similarities between thrips' propupal and pupal stages with holometabolous species.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Julie M. Cridland, Alex C. Majane, Li Zhao, David J. Begun
Summary: Research on de novo gene discovery in Drosophila has revealed significant differences in gene abundance and expression between different tissues, particularly in the testis and accessory gland. While other properties such as transcript length and chromosomal distribution are more similar, regulatory mechanisms may vary and interact with selection to produce differences in de novo genes expressed in male reproductive tissues.
Review
Parasitology
Nur N. A. Aliah, S. Ab-Rahim, H. E. Moore, C. C. Heo
Summary: Juvenile hormone is a unique hormone found exclusively in insects, involved in regulating insect physiology. There are eight different types of juvenile hormones identified in insects, with Corpora allata responsible for their production and synthesis. Factors like diet temperatures, photoperiods, and plant compounds affect the biosynthesis and regulation of juvenile hormones. The use of juvenile hormone analogues as insect-growth regulators in pest control is widespread, but other potential applications remain unexplored.
TROPICAL BIOMEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Joachim Van Lommel, Cynthia Lenaerts, Charlotte Delgouffe, Jozef Vanden Broeck
Summary: Locusts, known as pests of agricultural crops, have caused the largest swarms in recent years, posing a threat to food security in Africa and Asia. The development of specific pesticides is urgently needed, requiring fundamental research on the molecular mechanisms of key physiological processes involved in swarm formation.
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicholas C. Aflitto, Abigail G. Dittmar, Todd A. Ugine, Jennifer S. Thaler
Summary: Through dissecting adult male bugs and analyzing the chemical composition, it was found that the release behavior of the spined shoulder bug is related to male age, gland development, and sexual maturity. The developmental trend of reproductive glands and the number of semiochemical releases increased with age, while the sexual composition did not affect the release behavior. These findings have important implications for understanding the timing of olfactory cues perception in other organisms, such as prey.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Igor Luiz Araujo Munhoz, Jose Eduardo Serrao, Alan Lane de Melo, Luiza Carla Barbosa Martins, Vinicius Albano Araujo
Summary: This study describes the structure of the male reproductive tract in two species of creeping water bugs, providing new data that can enhance behavioral research and contribute to understanding the evolutionary history of aquatic Heteroptera.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marijke Gijbels, Elisabeth Marchal, Thomas Wolf Verdonckt, Evert Bruyninckx, Jozef Vanden Broeck
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marijke Gijbels, Sam Schellens, Tine Schellekens, Evert Bruyninckx, Elisabeth Marchal, Jozef Vanden Broeck
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Forkwa Tengweh Fombong, John Kinyuru, Jeremiah Ng'ang'a, Monica Ayieko, Chrysantus Mbi Tanga, Jozef Vanden Broeck, Mik van der Borght
Summary: The study evaluated the nutritional profiles of three widely consumed orthopterans after blanching and oven-drying. The processed insects showed high protein and fat contents, abundant amino acids and minerals, as well as high levels of Vitamin B-12, making them promising alternative ingredients for improving food and nutritional security.
Review
Plant Sciences
Dulce Santos, Simon Remans, Stijn Van den Brande, Jozef Vanden Broeck
Summary: RNA plays a crucial role in regulating various biological processes, including controlling agricultural pests. Recent research has shown the importance of extracellular RNAs and RNA-based cell-to-cell communication in this field. Understanding key discoveries and molecular mechanisms in these areas has significant implications for future biotechnological advancements.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lina Verbakel, Cynthia Lenaerts, Rania Abou El Asrar, Caroline Zandecki, Evert Bruyninckx, Emilie Monjon, Elisabeth Marchal, Jozef Vanden Broeck
Summary: Insect molting is regulated by neuropeptides triggering pulses in ecdysteroid hormone titers. The study shows that CCAP has prothoracicostatic activity in regulating ecdysteroid production in desert locusts, shedding light on the complex interplay between CCAP signaling and ecdysteroidogenesis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Joachim Van Lommel, Cynthia Lenaerts, Charlotte Delgouffe, Jozef Vanden Broeck
Summary: Locusts, known as pests of agricultural crops, have caused the largest swarms in recent years, posing a threat to food security in Africa and Asia. The development of specific pesticides is urgently needed, requiring fundamental research on the molecular mechanisms of key physiological processes involved in swarm formation.
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Darron A. Cullen, Gregory A. Sword, Gil G. Rosenthal, Stephen J. Simpson, Elfie Dekempeneer, Maarten L. A. T. M. Hertog, Bart M. Nicolai, Robbe Caes, Lisa Mannaerts, Jozef Vanden Broeck
Summary: Adaptive plasticity in desert locusts involves changes in social communication and morphological traits according to local population density. High-density adults exhibit yellow warning patterns, with males also yellowing as a signal to deter sexual harassment. These findings highlight the sexual dimension of locust phase polyphenism.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Virology
Dulce Santos, Thomas-Wolf Verdonckt, Lina Mingels, Stijn Van den Brande, Bart Geens, Filip Van Nieuwerburgh, Anna Kolliopoulou, Luc Swevers, Niels Wynant, Jozef Vanden Broeck
Summary: Insect antiviral immunity primarily relies on RNAi mechanisms. This study investigates the involvement of PIWI proteins and viral piRNAs in the immunity against single-stranded RNA viruses in lepidopteran cells, and identifies two PIWIs (Siwi and Ago3) with an antiviral role. However, small RNA analysis suggests the absence of viral piRNAs in these cells.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sam Schellens, Cynthia Lenaerts, Maria del Rocio Perez Baca, Dorien Cools, Paulien Peeters, Elisabeth Marchal, Jozef Vanden Broeck
Summary: Ecdysteroids play important roles in insect molting and the development of the female reproductive system. This study identified two new genes related to ecdysteroid synthesis and demonstrated the significant impact of these genes on oocyte development in the desert locust.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Virology
Thomas-Wolf Verdonckt, Anton Bilsen, Filip Van Nieuwerburgh, Loes De Troij, Dulce Santos, Jozef Vanden Broeck
Summary: Insect cell expression systems are used in the medical industry for vaccine development against diseases like COVID-19. The study focuses on the characterization of a specific virus called Bombyx mori latent virus (BmLV) and its pathogenicity. The results demonstrate that a variant of BmLV causes acute infections and strong cytopathic effects in cell lines and animal models. The study also examines the RNAi-based immune response in the cell line and animal models, shedding light on the genomic diversity of BmLV.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benedikt Geier, Esther Gil-Mansilla, Zita Liutkeviciute, Roland Hellinger, Jozef Vanden Broeck, Janina Oetjen, Manuel Liebeke, Christian W. Gruber
Summary: By integrating high-resolution mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) with microtomography, we successfully conducted multiplexed mapping of neuropeptides in two ant species. We compared the three-dimensional distributions of neuropeptides in the brains of these species and found that integrating 3D MSI data into high-resolution anatomy models is critical for studying organs with high plasticity.