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.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Hieu T. Pham, Kathryn B. McNamara, Mark A. Elgar
Summary: Studies have shown that older virgin female gumleaf skeletonizer moths may adjust their calling behavior to mitigate mating failure risk by competing with other females, even though they are less likely to call and spend less time calling compared to younger females. Male olfactory preferences for pheromones produced by younger females suggest that pheromone quality plays a role in the males' choice. These results indicate potential adaptive adjustments in female moths' calling behavior with age.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas Blankers, Rik Lievers, Camila Plata, Michiel van Wijk, Dennis van Veldhuizen, Astrid T. Groot
Summary: This study examines the relationship between chemical signals and fitness in moths, finding correlations between fitness and pheromone amount, composition, and stability. The results support the hypotheses that fitness covaries with signal characteristics and stability, highlighting the contribution of signal-fitness covariance to heritable variation in chemical signals.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Liuyang Wang, Chaoxia Yang, Xiangdong Mei, Bingbo Guo, Xinling Yang, Tao Zhang, Jun Ning
Summary: The study identified and validated the sex pheromone of female M. crassisigna and developed potent sex lures for field-based pest monitoring. These findings enriched the understanding of chemical communication in Noctuidae and provided a foundation for practical monitoring and control methods against M. crassisigna.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Hui-Hui Yang, Jian-Qiao Li, Sai Ma, Wei-Chen Yao, Yu-Wen Chen, Abeer El Wakil, Youssef Dewer, Xiu-Yun Zhu, Liang Sun, Ya-Nan Zhang
Summary: In this study, the potential roles of the clock gene period (Per) in regulating sex pheromone communication in Spodoptera litura were investigated. The results showed that the expression levels of SlitPer and two desaturase genes differed significantly between the siPer group and the control group. The disruption of Per gene led to disordered sex pheromone titers and calling behavior in female S. litura, as well as decreased mating rates and reduced oviposition.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Hua Yan, Jurgen Liebig
Summary: Social behavior relies on the nervous system's ability to sense and interpret signals, with pheromones playing a crucial role in communication. Eusocial insects exhibit cooperative behavior, with evolutionary changes in genetic systems influencing social behavior. Recent genetic and genomic studies have uncovered key genes involved in pheromone synthesis and chemosensory perception.
GENES & DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shimaa A. M. Ebrahim, Hany K. M. Dweck, Brian L. Weiss, John R. Carlson
Summary: Tsetse flies engage in chemical communication through volatile pheromones, specifically methyl palmitoleate, which elicits strong behavioral responses. This compound induces G. morsitans males to mount females of another species, Glossina fuscipes. Infection with African trypanosomes alters the flies' chemical profile and mating behavior, indicating the potential usefulness of identifying volatile attractants in tsetse flies for reducing disease spread.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stephen P. Foster, Karin G. Anderson
Summary: Female moths attract mates by synthesizing and emitting sex pheromones. They manage pheromone production by calling intermittently during their calling period. Factors such as adult feeding, gland physical parameters, and catabolism influence pheromone emission. Efficient pheromone use by female moths depends on a complex interaction between synthesis, storage, catabolism, and calling behavior.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Weizhao Sun, Michelle Ina Lange, Juergen Gadau, Jan Buellesbach
Summary: This study addresses the knowledge gaps in understanding the genetic basis and encoding mechanism of sexual attractiveness. By studying two fatty acid synthase genes in parasitic wasps, the researchers discovered that knocking out these genes significantly reduces the sexual attractiveness of female wasps and decreases male courtship and copulation behavior. The study also reveals a shift in methyl-branching patterns in the female surface pheromonal compounds, which is found to be the main cause for the reduced male mating response. This suggests a potential coding mechanism for sexual attractiveness mediated by specific methyl-branching patterns in complex cuticular hydrocarbon profiles.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Heather J. Rhodes, Melanie Amo
Summary: The African clawed frog has a unique nose structure that allows it to sense both airborne and waterborne stimuli. Research shows that adult males of this species have strong olfactory responses to cloacal fluids and skin secretions of conspecifics, especially females. Further investigation will help identify the compounds driving these responses and examine the behavioral reactions to them.
Article
Family Studies
Sarah Abboud, Dalmacio D. Flores, Keosha Bond, Perla Chebli, Bridgette M. Brawner, Marilyn S. Sommers
Summary: The study found that there is little family sex communication among Arab American young adults, with women feeling less comfortable than men. Gender differences were mainly based on sex communication topics, and the most common source of sex information was peers/friends.
JOURNAL OF FAMILY NURSING
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Mihir Joshi, Bronte Ellsworth, Maria Thaker
Summary: This study investigated the interactions between different components of complex chemical signals in the Mysore day gecko. The results showed that cholesterol and squalene are redundant components in the signal and can convey sexual information from males to conspecific females. The overall concentration of the signal has the potential to encode information about male quality.
Article
Family Studies
Lisette M. DeSouza, Jennifer M. Grossman, Alicia Doyle Lynch, Amanda M. Richer
Summary: This study explores patterns of family communication about sex, demographic predictors of membership in these patterns, and their relationship to outcomes associated with sexual activity. The findings suggest that youth communicate at different frequencies and sometimes in different ways with parents and extended family, and some patterns of communication are related to whether youth are sexually active.
Article
Communication
Qiwei Luna Wu, Elizabeth Pask
Summary: The family environment is essential but underused for promoting sexual and reproductive health protective behaviors. This study examines the roles of family communication patterns (FCP) and parents' sexual communication in influencing adult daughters' intentions to engage in sexual and reproductive health protective behaviors. The findings suggest that direct and indirect sexual communication, higher conversation orientation, higher parental control, and less adoption of parental values are associated with daughters' intentions to engage in sexual and reproductive health protective behaviors.
HEALTH COMMUNICATION
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Lorena M. Estrada-Martinez, Jennifer M. Grossman, Amanda M. Richer
Summary: The study compared the extent of sexuality communication between Hispanic teenagers and family members, and found significant gender differences in communication with mothers and fathers. The results suggest that the content of sexuality communication and the gender of the teenager and family member play a role in whether the communication is protective for teenagers' sexual behavior.
SEX EDUCATION-SEXUALITY SOCIETY AND LEARNING
(2021)
Article
Biology
Xiao-Qing Hou, Dan-Dan Zhang, Daniel Powell, Hong-Lei Wang, Martin N. Andersson, Christer Lofstedt
Summary: This study expands our understanding of the insect ionotropic receptor (IR) family by identifying IRs in the moth Agrotis segetum. The functional analysis suggests that subfunctionalization after gene duplication plays a key role in the evolution of ligand specificities of acid-sensing IRs in Lepidoptera. Additionally, the study reveals the potentially repellant effect of certain medium-chain fatty acids on the moths.
Article
Agronomy
Bao-Jian Ding, Hong-Lei Wang, Mohammed Ali Al-Saleh, Christer Lofstedt, Binu Antony
Summary: This study successfully demonstrated the biological production of ZETA pheromone in yeast through metabolic engineering, using genes such as E12 fatty acyl desaturase.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Yi-Han Xia, Bao-Jian Ding, Shuang-Lin Dong, Hong-Lei Wang, Per Hofvander, Christer Lofstedt
Summary: In this study, we characterized essential functional genes for sex pheromone biosynthesis in the rice stem borer and successfully released these pheromones from genetically modified plants. This research provides a method and theoretical basis for using plants as biological pheromone sources in pest control strategies.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Cas Eikenaar, Erica Winslott, Heiko Schmaljohann, Hong-Lei Wang, Caroline Isaksson
Summary: During migratory endurance flights, migrating birds upregulate their antioxidant defence system to limit oxidative damage. They also limit oxidative lipid damage by using relatively fewer polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as fuel. Nocturnal migrants, which fly longer distances, have lower PUFA levels and therefore lower susceptibility to lipid peroxidation.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kamil Demski, Bao-Jian Ding, Hong-Lei Wang, Tam N. T. Tran, Timothy P. Durrett, Ida Lager, Christer Lofstedt, Per Hofvander
Summary: Biologically produced wax esters can be used for various industrial purposes, such as biolubricants and insect sex pheromones. In this study, we investigated the possibility of assembling wax esters in plants through transient expression of different gene combinations. We successfully obtained industrially important wax esters enriched in specific fatty acyl and fatty alcohol moieties, as well as unsaturated moieties similar to moth pheromones. This research provides valuable insights for the production of specialized wax esters in plants.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
T. Brock Wooldridge, Andreas F. Kautt, Jean-Marc Lassance, Sade McFadden, Vera S. Domingues, Ricardo Mallarino, Hopi E. Hoekstra
Summary: By studying the oldfield mouse, researchers have identified the genetic basis of color variation in their dorsal coats. A specific region upstream of the Agouti signaling protein coding region was strongly associated with pigment variation. The study also found that the light allele of this region has been maintained in mainland populations and has spread to and been selected in independent beach mouse lineages, facilitating their rapid and parallel evolution.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Biology
Marjorie A. Lienard, Wendy A. Valencia-Montoya, Naomi E. Pierce
Summary: This article reviews bioinformatic approaches and recently developed assays to identify and model functional variation in opsins and measure spectral phenotypes. Using a heterologous method, the study characterizes novel LW Gq opsins from 10 species and shows differences in their absorbance spectra.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Hong-Lei Wang, Bao-Jian Ding, Jian-Qing Dai, Tara J. Nazarenus, Rafael Borges, Agenor Mafra-Neto, Edgar B. Cahoon, Per Hofvander, Sten Stymne, Christer Lofstedt
Summary: Pheromones have been recognized as an environmentally friendly substitute for conventional insecticides. However, their use is currently limited to high-value crops. Through genetic modification of camelina sativa, researchers were able to produce pheromones and demonstrated their effectiveness in pest control, showing that plant-derived pheromones are equally effective as synthetic ones.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Glenn P. Svensson, Olle Anderbrant, Elisabeth Oberg, Erling V. Jirle, Sven Hellqvist, Christer Lofstedt
Summary: The sex pheromone components of the currant bud moth were identified, and field tests showed that a 1:1 blend of (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate attracted the males strongly. Adding the alcohols to the blend reduced trap catches drastically, while the addition of tetradecyl acetate had no significant impact. Testing different ratios of the blend revealed optimal attraction with a 25:75 or 50:50 ratio of the E:Z acetate isomers. The identification of these pheromone components contributes to the development of sustainable control methods for this destructive pest.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Marie Inger Dam, Bao-Jian Ding, Glenn P. Svensson, Hong-Lei Wang, Douglas J. Melo, Jean-Marc Lassance, Paulo H. G. Zarbin, Christer Lofstedt
Summary: The sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis is a key pest on sugarcane and other grasses in the Americas, where biological control and insecticide treatments are commonly used for pest management. Researchers have identified the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the main sex pheromone component in female moths, paving the way for potential biotechnological production of pheromones for pest management.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)