Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
L. Viridiana Soto-Robles, Maria Fernanda Lopez, Veronica Torres-Banda, Claudia Cano-Ramirez, Gabriel Obregon-Molina, Gerardo Zuniga
Summary: Dendroctonus-bark beetles play important roles in forest ecosystems by colonizing and killing damaged pine trees. Research found that these beetles have an alpha-amylase capable of hydrolyzing starch, primarily active in the gut.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Veronica Torres-Banda, Gabriel Obregon-Molina, L. Viridiana Soto-Robles, Arnulfo Albores-Medina, Maria Fernanda Lopez, Gerardo Zuniga
Summary: Dendroctonus bark beetles, the most destructive agents in coniferous forests, have molecular mechanisms to counteract the toxic compounds of their host's chemical defenses. By comparing the gut response of two sibling species of bark beetles after being stimulated with a blend of their main kairomones, differences in digestive process and xenobiotics metabolism were observed. The results suggest that terpenes metabolism is accompanied by an adaptive response, involving the activation of other metabolic pathways, to ensure energy supply and survival specific to each species based on their life history and ecological strategy.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
J. Manuel Quijano-Barraza, Gerardo Zuniga, Claudia Cano-Ramirez, Maria Fernanda Lopez, Gema L. Ramirez-Salinas, Moises Becerril
Summary: Dendroctonus bark beetles are important ecological agents in coniferous forests, and their cytochrome P450 enzymes exhibit diversification in detoxification of terpenes. The study found that cytochromes in the CYP6DE and CYP6DJ subfamilies can hydroxylate different monoterpenes with varying affinities. The CYP6DE subfamily evolved to enhance detoxification capacity, while the CYP6DJ subfamily retained their original detoxification function.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Wei Lin, Sangwook Park, Zi-Ru Jiang, Ying-Chao Ji, Andris Simon Ernstsons, Jun-Jun Li, You Li, Jiri Hulcr
Summary: The red-haired pine bark beetle, Hylurgus ligniperda, is a rapidly spreading invasive species in East Asia, initially invading Japan and then South Korea, before successfully colonizing Shandong province in China. It has now widely distributed in South Korea and Japan.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gothandapani Sellamuthu, Jan Bily, Mallikarjuna Reddy Joga, Jiri Synek, Amit Roy
Summary: This study evaluated the stability of reference genes in Ips typographus under different experimental conditions and identified ribosomal protein 3a (RPS3-a) as the best reference gene. The findings contribute to future genomic and functional genomic research.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Mathias Just Justesen, Aslak Kappel Hansen, Milos Knizek, Ake Lindelow, Alexey Solodovnikov, Hans Peter Ravn
Summary: Species in the genus Cryphalus are often difficult to identify in Europe, with frequent misidentifications due to their small size, similar appearance, and lack of diagnostic characters. This study provides robust morphological and molecular evidence supporting the recognized native species of Cryphalus in Europe, based on the examination of over 1000 specimens and a thorough literature review. A key for reliable identification, including new diagnostic characters, has been constructed. The study also highlights the need for taxonomic revision of the genus Cryphalus in the entire Palearctic region.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiri Hulcr, Demian F. Gomez, Andrew J. Johnson
Summary: This article describes various methods for collecting and preserving bark and ambrosia beetles, including collecting tools, recording data, and step-by-step beetle extraction techniques. It also elaborates on trapping techniques, tools, attractants, and beetle preservation. The key rule for manual collecting is to separate the wood or bark from the beetle gently and systematically, instead of trying to pry the insect out. The main rule for trapping is to use attractants and traps that reflect the ecology of the targeted beetle species.
Article
Zoology
Stephanie A. Dole, Jiri Hulcr, Anthony Cognato
Summary: Canopy fogging was used to sample the diversity of bark and ambrosia beetles in two western Amazonian rainforest sites in Ecuador. A subset of the data analyzed in this study found high diversity of these beetles, with a total species richness estimated between 260 and 323. However, undersampling was identified as a limitation affecting the accuracy of beta diversity estimates.
Article
Microbiology
Karina Vazquez-Ortiz, Rosa Maria Pineda-Mendoza, Roman Gonzalez-Escobedo, Thomas S. Davis, Kevin F. Salazar, Flor N. Rivera-Orduna, Gerardo Zuniga
Summary: This study investigates the fungal diversity in mycetangial communities of beetle species in the Dendroctonus frontalis complex using metabarcoding. The results show a diverse range of fungal taxa present, with distinct differences in fungal assemblages between different beetle species. The study also highlights the complexity of molecular networks within mycetangia and the presence of shared fungal genera among different beetle species.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Ling Zhang, You Li, Sarah M. Smith, Jianguo Wang
Summary: A new species of bark beetle, Scolytus jiulianshanensis, from Jiangxi, China, is distinguished from other Asian Scolytus species by the presence of a broad median tubercle on the apical margins of ventrites 3 and 4 of the male, along with the absence of ventral spines. This new species was collected from dead elm trees and a DNA barcoding sequence is provided for further identification.
Article
Entomology
Kasak Josef, Holusa Otakar, Foit Jiri
Summary: This study investigated the distribution, phenology, and habitat preferences of Dryocoetes himalayensis in the Czech Republic. The species was found to be relatively widespread in warmer lowland regions, with a peak emergence in June. It showed a preference for attacking larger trees and common walnut trees with decreased vitality. These findings suggest that D. himalayensis should be considered a significant pest of walnut trees, particularly black walnuts, in Europe.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Steven J. Seybold, Christopher J. Fettig
Summary: The symposium focused on the application of behavioral chemicals for managing bark and ambrosia beetles in conifers and hardwoods in North America and Europe. Nine invited speakers from Canada, Slovakia, and the United States summarized the current state of knowledge and latest technologies, sharing their career-long experiences and insights. Publications derived from those presentations are featured in this special issue.
CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Dirk H. R. Spennemann
Summary: This study found that the date stone beetles exhibit a strong preference for penetrating the grooved side of Canary Islands Date Palm seeds. The beetles rely on their hind legs for thrust and traction provided by the groove in order to penetrate the seed. The mid legs function as a pivot and the fore legs enable lateral control. Gustatory cues prevent the beetles from tunneling through to the other side of the seed.
Article
Entomology
Kenta Kobayashi, Kazunobu Iguchi, Etsuro Takagi
Summary: In this study, we investigated the gallery structure and egg oviposition of the tree-killing bark beetle Polygraphus proximus in its native range. We found that galleries with two arms had significantly more eggs oviposited compared to galleries with one or three arms. Additionally, galleries with no egg oviposition were significantly shorter in length than galleries with more than two arms. Our data suggest that the optimal number of arms in a gallery system for maximum egg oviposition is two.
JOURNAL OF ASIA-PACIFIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Yanzhuo Liu, Gean Rodrigues Anastacio, Guncha Ishangulyyeva, Jean C. Rodriguez-Ramos, Nadir Erbilgin
Summary: Recent studies have focused on the interactions between mutualistic bark beetles and ophiostomatoid fungi, showing how volatile organic compounds emitted by mutualist fungi can influence bark beetle behaviors. This study investigated the effects of a beetle pheromone, host tree volatiles, and their combination on the growth and biomass of two mutualistic fungi. The results suggest that both Grosmannia clavigera and Ophiostoma montium can utilize bark beetle pheromones and host tree volatiles as nutrient sources, supporting further research on the role of volatile organic compounds in mediating mutualistic bark beetle-fungi interactions.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Ulises Gonzalez, Jesus Morales-Jimenez, Antonio Nieto-Camacho, Mahinda Martinez, Emma Maldonado
Summary: A phytochemical study from Zinnia peruviana L. led to the isolation of a new elemene-type sesquiterpene lactone, zinaflorin VI (1), which showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus.
NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jesus Resendiz-Sanchez, Jossue Ortiz-Alvarez, Arturo Casimiro-Ramos, Cesar Hernandez-Rodriguez, Lourdes Villa-Tanaca
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2020)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jose Felix Aguirre-Garrido, Francisco Martinez-Abarca, Daniel Montiel-Lugo, Luis Mario Hernandez-Soto, Hugo Ramirez-Saad
INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alfredo Ortega, Guillermo Pastor-Palacios, Naytze Ortiz-Pastrana, Emmanuel Avila-Cabezas, Ruben A. Toscano, Pedro Joseph-Nathan, Jesus Morales-Jimenez, Elihu Bautista
Article
Biology
Erica McGale, Henrique Valim, Deepika Mittal, Jesus Morales Jimenez, Rayko Halitschke, Meredith C. Schuman, Ian T. Baldwin
Article
Plant Sciences
Aurora Cobos-Villagran, Cesar Hernandez-Rodriguez, Ricardo Valenzuela, Lourdes Villa-Tanaca, Rosa Paulina Calvillo-Medina, Luz Elena Mateo-Cid, Michelle Martinez-Pineda, Tania Raymundo
ACTA BOTANICA MEXICANA
(2020)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Ernesto Cadena Munoz, Luis Fernando Pedraza Martinez, Cesar Augusto Hernandez
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jossue Ortiz-Alvarez, Arturo Becerra-Bracho, Alfonso Mendez-Tenorio, Jazmin Murcia-Garzon, Lourdes Villa-Tanaca, Cesar Hernandez-Rodriguez
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Maria Eugenia de la Torre-Hernandez, Leilani Salinas-Virgen, J. Felix Aguirre-Garrido, Antonio J. Fernandez-Gonzalez, Francisco Martinez-Abarca, Daniel Montiel-Lugo, Hugo C. Ramirez-Saad
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cesar A. Hernandez, Johann F. Osma
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bibiana Rios-Galicia, Catalina Villagomez-Garfias, Esau De la Vega-Camarillo, Jairo Eder Guerra-Camacho, Nora Medina-Jaritz, Ramon Ignacio Arteaga-Garibay, Lourdes Villa-Tanaca, Cesar Hernandez-Rodriguez
Summary: This study isolated and identified 16 bacterial strains with plant-growth-promoting potential from maize Jala, showing promising use as biofertilizers or biopesticides in sustainable agriculture. Among the selected strains, Burkholderia sp., Klebsiella variicola, and Pseudomonas protegens significantly improved maize plant growth and controlled infection against Fusarium sp. 50.
Article
Microbiology
Damian A. Madrigal-Aguilar, Adilene Gonzalez-Silva, Blanca Rosales-Acosta, Celia Bautista-Crescencio, Jossue Ortiz-Alvarez, Carlos H. Escalante, Jaime Sanchez-Navarrete, Cesar Hernandez-Rodriguez, German Chamorro-Cevallos, Joaquin Tamariz, Lourdes Villa-Tanaca
Summary: Due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of yeasts, discovering antifungal agents that target alternative molecular targets is urgently needed. This study evaluated the capacity of three different series of synthetic compounds to inhibit a specific enzyme in Candida glabrata, leading to the disruption of ergosterol synthesis and yeast viability. Two compounds, 1c and 5b, were identified as the best antifungal candidates among the compounds studied. They effectively inhibited the growth of fluconazole-resistant and fluconazole-susceptible C. glabrata strains. The compounds act by inhibiting the mevalonate synthesis pathway, resulting in a decrease in ergosterol concentration. The docking analysis suggested that their inhibitory effect may be mediated by their interaction with the enzyme's catalytic site. Further research and modifications to increase their specificity and potency are needed.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Review
Entomology
Ana Paola Martinez-Falcon, Laura Yanez-Espinosa, Joel Flores, Jesus Israel Morales-Jimenez, Alfredo Ramirez-Hernandez
Summary: This review summarizes the importance of cactus species as a wood resource for the saproxylic (dead wood-dependent) entomofauna in arid and semiarid environments. The decomposition process of cactus species and the insect diversity associated with decaying cacti are discussed. Further research is needed to understand the ecological succession and the potential role of decomposed cactus stems in xeric soils.
ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
F. Martinez-Abarca, L. M. Hernandez-Soto, H. C. Ramirez-Saad, J. F. Aguirre-Garrido
Summary: The genome sequence of Halomonas venusta strain DSM 4743T, a moderately halophilic marine bacterium, consists of a 4.3-Mb chromosome, with 3,777 protein-coding genes, 60 tRNA loci, and 6 complete rRNA operons, as well as a 6.1-kb plasmid.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2021)