Article
Biology
Lynda M. Menard, Neil B. Wood, Jim O. Vigoreaux
Summary: The conserved protein domain WYR is found to interact with muscle myosin, leading to structural changes in the myosin protein that can impact muscle function and stability. This interaction provides valuable insights into the evolutionary success of insects.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Wen-Hua Xue, Nan Xu, Sun-Jie Chen, Xin-Yang Liu, Jin-Li Zhang, Hai-Jun Xu
Summary: In insects, the second insulin receptor (InR2) has distinct functions from the InR homologue (NlInR1) in terms of fuel metabolism, lifespan, and starvation tolerance, while resembling NlInR1 in nymph development and reproduction. Proper expression of NlInR2 is crucial for maintaining symmetric vein patterning in wings.
Article
Entomology
Haojia Ding, Shaoze Yan
Summary: This study investigates how the neural activity of the abdominal ganglion affects the flapping-wing flight of honeybees. It was found that changes in the neural activity of ganglion 3 or ganglion 4 have a stronger effect on the electrophysiological activity of indirect flight muscles than that of ganglion 5. Vertical indirect flight muscles are more affected by the change in neural activity of the abdominal ganglion compared to lateral indirect flight muscles. Moreover, the change in neural activity mainly affects the muscular activity of indirect wing muscles without significant changes in activity patterns or complicated details.
Article
Developmental Biology
Antonio Celestino-Montes, Salvador Hernandez-Martinez, Mario Henry Rodriguez, Febe Elena Cazares-Raga, Carlos Vazquez-Calzada, Anel Lagunes-Guillen, Bibiana Chavez-Munguia, Jose Angel Rubio-Miranda, Felipe de Jesus Hernandez-Cazares, Leticia Cortes-Martinez, Fidel de La Cruz Hernandez-Hernandez
Summary: The study presents a general description of the development of indirect flight muscles in A. aegypti, from myoblast fusion in larvae to sarcomere maturation in adults. Several differences in IFM development were observed between A. aegypti and Drosophila melanogaster, but similarities were found with Chironomus sp. as they are both Nematoceran insects with the same number of larval stages.
BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Jia-Bao Lu, Sai-Nan Wang, Peng-Peng Ren, Fang He, Qiao Li, Jian-Ping Chen, Jun-Min Li, Chuan-Xi Zhang
Summary: This study identifies and characterizes a key gene, Nllet1, in the brown planthopper and reveals its essential role in serosal cuticle formation and embryonic development. The findings provide insights into the important functions of CTL-S and suggest Nllet1 as a promising candidate for RNAi-based pest control strategies and novel ovicides.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu-Cheng Xie, Hou-Hong Zhang, Han-Jing Li, Xiao-Ya Zhang, Xu-Mei Luo, Ming-Xing Jiang, Chuan-Xi Zhang
Summary: Digestion and absorption of old cuticles during insect molting are essential for new cuticle formation. This study identified 33 trypsin and trypsin-like homologs, 14 metallocarboxypeptidase and 32 aminopeptidase genes in the brown planthopper. Gene silencing experiments showed that certain trypsin-like proteases and a metallocarboxypeptidase were essential for ecdysis in the brown planthopper. These proteins exhibited specific expression patterns and were predominantly located in the exuvial space.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Jin-Li Zhang, Ke-Liang Liu, Xin-Yu Cai, Xin-Yang Liu, Hai-Jun Xu
Summary: The FoxO protein plays a crucial role in regulating development, lifespan, reproduction, and stress resistance in the brown planthopper, an economically important insect pest. The study demonstrates the highly conserved function of FoxO in both holometabolous and hemimetabolous insects and suggests potential target genes for controlling the brown planthopper.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhongyan Wei, Wenbin Guo, Shanshan Jiang, Dankan Yan, Yan Shi, Bin Wu, Xiangqi Xin, Li Chen, Yupeng Cai, Hehong Zhang, Yanjun Li, Haijian Huang, Junmin Li, Fei Yan, Chuanxi Zhang, Wensheng Hou, Jianping Chen, Zongtao Sun
Summary: Direct feeding by Riptortus pedestris is the primary cause of soybean staygreen syndrome, occurring at the early pod stage. Various signal transduction pathways, including photoperiod, hormone, defense response, and photosynthesis, respond to R. pedestris infestation in soybean. Overexpression of floral inducer GmFT2a attenuates staygreen symptoms by mediating soybean defense response and photosynthesis.
Article
Agronomy
Xin-Yang Liu, Ru Yan, Sun-Jie Chen, Jin-Li Zhang, Hai-Jun Xu
Summary: The migratory brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, exhibits strong olfactory responses to major rice volatile compounds, and the Orco gene plays a crucial role in BPHs. By utilizing gene editing technology, researchers generated a NlOrco-knockout mutant of BPHs, which showed no response to rice volatile compounds and lost their preference for host plants. These findings have significant implications for BPH control applications and the identification of potential target genes or chemical compounds.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Yu-Juan He, Zhuang-Xin Ye, Chuan-Xi Zhang, Jun-Min Li, Jian-Ping Chen, Gang Lu
Summary: This study identified four novel RNA viruses in Chinese grasshoppers, which were classified as nege-like virus, iflavirus, chu-like virus, and ollusvirus. Phylogenetic analysis and complete genome sequencing revealed that most of the viruses were targeted by the host antiviral RNA interference pathway. Using high-throughput sequencing and advanced bioinformatics methods, a comprehensive analysis of the RNA virome in Chinese grasshoppers was conducted.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Qing-Ling Hu, Zhuang-Xin Ye, Chuan-Xi Zhang
Summary: The complete mitochondrial genome of the rice thrips was sequenced, revealing the presence of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 2 putative control regions. Phylogenetic analysis showed a close relationship between the rice thrips and the Thrips imaginis and Thrips palmi. This study provides valuable insights into the mitochondrial evolution of Thysanoptera.
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Yue Huang, Biao Hu, Zhongyan Wei, Shiqi Shan, Chunyun Guo, Hehong Zhang, Yanjun Li, Jianping Chen, Xue Kang, Haijian Huang, Zongtao Sun
Summary: R. pedestris is a major pest in soybeans causing staygreen syndrome, and recent research suggests that its salivary proteins may play a crucial role in insect infestation. This study identified Rp2155 as a salivary effector protein that induces cell death and is specifically expressed in the salivary gland of R. pedestris. It was found that silencing Rp2155 can alleviate soybean staygreen symptoms caused by R. pedestris, suggesting that it could be a potential target for insect control.
Article
Microbiology
Yan Zhang, Bo-Xue Li, Qian-Zhuo Mao, Ji-Chong Zhuo, Hai-Jian Huang, Jia-Bao Lu, Chuan-Xi Zhang, Jun-Min Li, Jian-Ping Chen, Gang Lu
Summary: In this study, we reported that plant viral infection activates the JAK-STAT pathway and this pathway regulates apoptosis to facilitate virus accumulation in insect vectors. This is a novel regulatory mechanism of virus-induced apoptosis for persistent viral infection and expands our understanding of the crosstalk between JAK-STAT and other pathways in promoting virus transmission.
Article
Microbiology
Yan Zhang, Zhuang-Xin Ye, Xiao-Xiao Feng, Zhong-Tian Xu, Jian-Ping Chen, Chuan-Xi Zhang, Jun-Min Li
Summary: In this study, two iflaviruses with reversed genome organization were unexpectedly identified in a damselfly host species, indicating that the families of the order Picornavirales might be more complex than previously thought.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sun-Jie Chen, Jin-Li Zhang, Wen-Jing Ma, Hui-Jie Wu, Yang Li, Xing-Xing Shen, Hai-Jun Xu
Summary: In this study, the zinc finger transcription factor rotund was identified as a potential regulator of wing-morph in insects. Through transcriptomic analysis and phenotypic screening, it was found that rotund physically interacts with FoxO to regulate the development of wings.
Article
Agronomy
Hai-Bin Lu, Jia-Bao Lu, Li-Li Li, Ze-Long Zhang, Jian-Ping Chen, Jun-Min Li, Chuan-Xi Zhang, Hai-Jian Huang
Summary: This study identifies 69 neutral lipases in the bean bug, R. pedestris, and analyzes their functions. The results show that several of these lipases play crucial roles in insect reproduction and survival, suggesting their potential as targets for controlling this pest.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Xin Wang, Zhuang-Xin Ye, Yi-Zhe Wang, Xiao-Jing Wang, Jian-Ping Chen, Hai-Jian Huang
Summary: This study investigates the gene expression patterns of tobacco in response to whitefly infestation. It finds that whitefly infestation activates plant defense mechanisms, allowing the plant to recognize pathogens and enhance immunity. However, it also suppresses energy metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, ribosomes, and photosynthesis, leading to impaired plant development.
Article
Entomology
Ze-Long Zhang, Xiao-Jing Wang, Hai-Bin Lu, Hai-Jian Huang
Summary: This study investigated the gut transcriptomic changes of Riptortus pedestris when feeding on different parts of soybean plants, revealing the mechanisms by which they adapt to different food resources.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hai-Jian Huang, Yi-Yuan Li, Zhuang-Xin Ye, Li-Li Li, Qing-Ling Hu, Yu-Juan He, Yu-Hua Qi, Yan Zhang, Ting Li, Gang Lu, Qian-Zhuo Mao, Ji-Chong Zhuo, Jia-Bao Lu, Zhong-Tian Xu, Zong-Tao Sun, Fei Yan, Jian-Ping Chen, Chuan-Xi Zhang, Jun-Min Li
Summary: Non-retroviral endogenous viral elements (nrEVEs) are widely dispersed in eukaryotic genomes, with their functions largely unknown. In this study, researchers discovered that a ToEVE in planthoppers has been domesticated and plays essential roles in their development and reproduction. Analysis of arthropod genomes suggests that nrEVEs may contribute to the functional diversity of arthropod genes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)