Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Obdulia L. Segura-Leon, Brenda Torres-Huerta, Alan Ruben Estrada-Perez, Juan Cibrian-Tovar, Fidel De la Cruz Hernandez-Hernandez, Jose Luis Cruz-Jaramillo, Jose Salvador Meza-Hernandez, Fabian Sanchez-Galicia
Summary: This study represents the first effort to identify, classify, and characterize six chemosensory gene families in the Mexican fruit fly A. ludens, contributing significantly to the genetic databases of insects, particularly dipterans.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Cecilia Castro-Lopez, Carlos Pascacio-Villafan, Martin Aluja, Hugo S. Garcia, Aaron F. Gonzalez-Cordova, Belinda Vallejo-Cordoba, Adrian Hernandez-Mendoza
Summary: This study assessed the biosafety of Limosilactobacillus fermentum J23 using the Mexican fruit fly as a model. The results showed that L. fermentum J23 did not have toxic effects on adult flies and led to improved locomotor activity and extended lifespan in female flies. When administered to larvae, the strain also increased adult emergence, sex ratio, and flight ability. However, further studies are needed to establish its biosafety in humans.
PROBIOTICS AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROTEINS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Guadalupe Cordova-Garcia, Carlos J. Esquivel, Diana Perez-Staples, Eliel Ruiz-May, Mariana Herrera-Cruz, Martha Reyes-Hernandez, Solana Abraham, Martin Aluja, Laura Sirot
Summary: This study reveals that seminal fluid proteins (Sfps) in the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens, may play a role in regulating female olfactory responses and memory formation. These findings have important implications for understanding the evolutionary mechanisms of this significant agricultural pest.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Jose Arredondo, Juan F. Aguirre-Medina, Jose S. Meza-Hernandez, Jorge Cancino, Francisco Diaz-Fleischer
Summary: The effects of two insecticide growth regulators, methoprene and pyriproxyfen, on the sexual maturation and mating competitiveness of male fruit flies were compared. The results showed that pyriproxyfen accelerated sexual development without reducing mating propensity, making it a suitable alternative to methoprene. Both compounds equally reduced male survival.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Ricardo Vanegas-Carrillo, Jose Francisco Ramirez-Davila, Roberto Rivera-Martinez
Summary: Fruit production is a significant source of income globally but is often affected by pests. Research found that the Mexican fruit fly population in orchards exhibits an aggregate distribution, which can be helpful in guiding control measures.
REVISTA COLOMBIANA DE ENTOMOLOGIA
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Elkin Aguirre-Ramirez, Sandra Velasco-Cuervo, Nelson Toro-Perea
Summary: The study showed that genomic differentiation among populations of Anastrepha obliqua is mainly influenced by host plants. Candidate genes under divergent selection were identified, likely due to selective pressure from host plants. Future studies should further investigate adaptive processes in phytophagous insects in the Neotropics using advanced molecular tools.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fatih Tok, Xiangbing Yang, Nurhayat Tabanca, Bedia Kocyigit-Kaymakcioglu
Summary: Thirteen phthalimide derivatives were designed and synthesized in this study. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against female Caribbean fruit flies. Three compounds, 4a, 4c, and 4d, were discovered to have potent insecticidal activity. Compound 4a exhibited the highest inhibitory potency and was found to be less toxic than phthalimide and other precursors. These findings suggest that compound 4a has strong potential as a candidate for developing an environmentally friendly insecticide for pest fruit fly control.
Article
Entomology
Patricia Lopez, Daniel Rosales, Salvador Flores, Pablo Montoya
Summary: The study found that the density of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata females foraging on a patch is negatively correlated with the number of hosts attacked by one female. In mass-rearing conditions, reducing the density of females per cage can decrease superparasitism levels without affecting adult emergence and female proportion.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martin Aluja, Mirna Vazquez-Rosas-Landa, Daniel Cerqueda-Garcia, Juan L. Monribot-Villanueva, Alma Altuzar-Molina, Monica Ramirez-Vazquez, Olinda Velazquez-Lopez, Greta Rosas-Saito, Alexandro G. Alonso-Sanchez, Rafael Ortega-Casas, Adrian Jose Enriquez-Valencia, Jose A. Guerrero-Analco, Enrique Ibarra-Laclette
Summary: Hass avocados can quickly counteract the oviposition of Anastrepha ludens insects by generating neoplasia and hindering eclosion. Through transcriptomics and metabolomics, molecular mechanisms triggered by the fruit in response to damage or insect oviposition were identified. These mechanisms include the activation of neoplastic tissue production, defense system initiation, and cell wall modification.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Virginie Ravigne, Nathalie Becker, Francois Massol, Erwan Guichoux, Christophe Boury, Frederic Mahe, Benoit Facon
Summary: One promising approach to balance crop production and ecosystem preservation is through the manipulation of beneficial biotic interactions, particularly between insects and microbes. This study investigated the contributions of fly phylogeny, fly specialization, and fly sampling environment to the composition and structure of bacterial gut microbiota in fruit flies. The results showed that fly identity and sampling environment were strong determinants of microbial profiles, while fly specialization had little impact. These findings suggest that fruit flies exert important control over their gut microbiota through vertical transmission and environmental filtering.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Amanda Ayala, Jorge Toledo, Gabriela Perez-Lachaud, Pablo Liedo, Pablo Montoya
Summary: Knowledge on the reproductive strategies and host use in insect parasitoids is crucial for biological control purposes. This study investigated the occurrence of superparasitism and multiparasitism in three native species of solitary endoparasitoids attacking Anastrepha Shiner species in the Neotropical region, and its potential impact on offspring fitness. The results showed that self-superparasitism was uncommon in the three species, and multiparasitism was more commonly observed in U. anastrephae compared to D. crawfordi and O. hirtus. It is yet to be determined whether this difference is due to adult female traits or larval competitive ability. Most females of the native species appeared to avoid superparasitism, indicating a high discrimination ability likely derived from their close relationship and evolutionary history with Anastrepha hosts.
BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Larissa Guillen, Lorena Lopez-Sanchez, Olinda Velazquez, Greta Rosas-Saito, Alma Altuzar-Molina, John G. G. Stoffolano Jr, Monica Ramirez-Vazquez, Martin Aluja
Summary: This study observed and described the different types of sensilla and other unknown structures in the antenna of the Mexican Fruit Fly. The aim was to update the knowledge of these structures and their functions in the perception of odors, temperature, humidity, and movement. The findings are important in understanding the behavior of this pest insect and developing environmentally friendly control methods.
Article
Agronomy
Cristiano Machado Teixeira, Alexandra Peter Kruger, Dori Edson Nava, Flavio Roberto Mello Garcia
Summary: The study used the Maximum Entropy method to model the potential distribution of the South American cucurbit fruit fly, indicating extensive environmental suitability in continents with tropical and subtropical climates. Average annual temperature and rainfall were identified as the main prediction variables for the establishment of the fly in new territories.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Tamara Limon, Andrea Birke, Juan Luis Monribot-Villanueva, Jose Antonio Guerrero-Analco, Alma Altuzar-Molina, Gloria Carrion, Francisco M. Goycoolea, Bruno M. Moerschbacher, Martin Aluja
Summary: Chitosan coatings significantly reduce decay, pest infestation, and anthracnose disease in mangoes, extend shelf-life, and improve fruit quality, making it a promising postharvest treatment for commercialization.
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Nancy Galvez-Reyes, Miguel Salvador-Figueroa, Nadia S. Santini, Alicia Mastretta-Yanes, Juan Nunez-Farfan, Daniel Pinero
Summary: The Mexican fruit fly is an important pest that causes widespread damage to fruit crops in Mexico. This study investigated the genetic diversity and structure of A. ludens populations using nuclear DNA microsatellite loci. The results showed that the genetic diversity and structure of A. ludens are influenced by environmental and anthropogenic factors, and gene flow is present among populations. These findings are important for understanding the evolutionary ecology of pests and their potential impacts on crop production.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
David B. Stern, Jesse Breinholt, Carlos Pedraza-Lara, Marilu Lopez-Mejia, Christopher L. Owen, Heather Bracken-Grissom, James W. Fetzner, Keith A. Crandall
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Christopher L. Owen, David C. Marshall, Kathy B. R. Hill, Chris Simon
SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simon A. Wentworth, Katrina Thede, Varsha Aravindabose, Ian Monroe, Andrew W. Thompson, Neil Molyneaux, Christopher L. Owen, John R. Burns, Agustin Gonzalez Vicente, Jeffrey L. Garvin, Randall K. Packer
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS
(2018)
Review
Zoology
David C. Marshall, Max Moulds, Kathy B. R. Hill, Benjamin W. Price, Elizabeth J. Wade, Christopher L. Owen, Geert Goemans, Kiran Marathe, Vivek Sarkar, John R. Cooley, Allen F. Sanborn, Krushnamegh Kunte, Martin H. Villet, Chris Simon
Article
Immunology
Shelly J. Krebs, Young D. Kwon, Chaim A. Schramm, William H. Law, Gina Donofrio, Kenneth H. Zhou, Syna Gift, Vincent Dussupt, Ivelin S. Georgiev, Sebastian Schatzle, Jonathan R. McDaniel, Yen-Ting Lai, Mallika Sastry, Baoshan Zhang, Marissa C. Jarosinski, Amy Ransier, Agnes L. Chenine, Mangaiarkarasi Asokan, Robert T. Bailer, Meera Bose, Alberto Cagigi, Evan M. Cale, Gwo-Yu Chuang, Samuel Darko, Jefferson Driscoll, Aliaksandr Druz, Jason Gorman, Farida Laboune, Mark K. Louder, Krisha McKee, Letzibeth Mendez, M. Anthony Moody, Anne Marie O'Sullivan, Christopher Owen, Dongjun Peng, Reda Rawi, Eric Sanders-Buell, Chen-Hsiang Shen, Andrea R. Shiakolas, Tyler Stephens, Yaroslav Tsybovsky, Courtney Tucker, Raffaello Verardi, Keyun Wang, Jing Zhou, Tongqing Zhou, George Georgiou, S. Munir Alam, Barton F. Haynes, Morgane Rolland, Gary R. Matyas, Victoria R. Polonis, Adrian B. McDermott, Daniel C. Douek, Lawrence Shapiro, Sodsai Tovanabutra, Nelson L. Michael, John R. Mascola, Merlin L. Robb, Peter D. Kwong, Nicole A. Doria-Rose
Article
Entomology
Eric W. Riddick, Gary L. Miller, Christopher L. Owen, Gary R. Bauchan, Jason M. Schmidt, Tara Gariepy, Richard L. Brown, Michael J. Grodowitz
JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christine Ewers-Saucedo, Christopher L. Owenz, Marcos Perez-Losada, Jens T. Hoeg, Henrik Glenner, Benny K. K. Chan, Keith A. Crandall
Article
Microbiology
Morgane Rolland, Sodsai Tovanabutra, Bethany Dearlove, Yifan Li, Christopher L. Owen, Eric Lewitus, Eric Sanders-Buell, Meera Bose, AnneMarie O'Sullivan, Raabya Rossenkhan, Jan Phillipus Lourens Labuschagne, Paul T. Edlefsen, Daniel B. Reeves, Gustavo Kijak, Shana Miller, Kultida Poltavee, Jenica Lee, Lydia Bonar, Elizabeth Harbolick, Bahar Ahani, Phuc Pham, Hannah Kibuuka, Lucas Maganga, Sorachai Nitayaphan, Fred K. Sawe, Leigh Anne Eller, Robert Gramzinski, Jerome H. Kim, Nelson L. Michael, Merlin L. Robb
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michael Skvarla, Matthew Kramer, Christopher L. Owen, Gary L. Miller
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christopher L. Owen, David B. Stern, Sarah K. Hilton, Keith A. Crandall
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2020)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Bethany Dearlove, Sodsai Tovanabutra, Christopher L. Owen, Eric Lewitus, Yifan Li, Eric Sanders-Buell, Meera Bose, Anne-Marie O'sullivan, Gustavo Kijak, Shana Miller, Kultida Poltavee, Jenica Lee, Lydia Bonar, Elizabeth Harbolick, Bahar Ahani, Phuc Pham, Hannah Kibuuka, Lucas Maganga, Sorachai Nitayaphan, Fred K. Sawe, Jerome H. Kim, Leigh Anne Eller, Sandhya Vasan, Robert Gramzinski, Nelson L. Michael, Merlin L. Robb, Morgane Rolland
Summary: The study found that shared diversity and temporal signal was limited in acute infection, thus dated phylogenies were primarily analyzed for env, gag, pol and near full-length genomes. Different molecular clock models were tested, and results suggested caution when using uniform clock and population models or short genes with limited information content.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Christopher L. Owen, Gary L. Miller
Summary: This study uses genomic and transcriptomic data to address the taxonomy problem and estimate the phylogenomic relationships of Aphididae subfamilies. The results suggest that there are three main clades within the subfamilies, but the relationship between these clades is unclear.
SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Christopher L. Owen, David C. Marshall, Elizabeth J. Wade, Russ Meister, Geert Goemans, Krushnamegh Kunte, Max Moulds, Kathy Hill, M. Villet, Thai-Hong Pham, Michelle Kortyna, Emily Moriarty Lemmon, Alan R. Lemmon, Chris Simon
Summary: Contamination of genetic samples in molecular phylogenetic studies is a continuing concern. This study developed an automated pipeline to identify and exclude contaminated loci, without relying on prior knowledge of taxon relatedness. The experiment showed that contaminated loci can affect topological patterns and branch supports, and contamination is correlated with long tip branches and certain statistical values. The cleaned data set supported some subfamilies in the Cicadidae family.
SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James P. Bernot, Christopher L. Owen, Joanna M. Wolfe, Kenneth Meland, Jorgen Olesen, Keith A. Crandall
Summary: This study investigates the phylogeny of the clade Pancrustacea, particularly focusing on the impact of taxon sampling on phylogenetic estimation. The researchers discover that small changes in taxon sampling can significantly affect the resulting phylogenetic trees. By comparing their results with previous studies, the researchers propose new relationships between certain taxa.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Cynthia S. Parr, Danielle G. Lemay, Christopher L. Owen, M. Jennifer Woodward-Greene, Jiayang Sun
Summary: Advances in natural language processing and computer vision are being applied to agricultural problems, but could be more powerful when combined with AI and numeric data sources. Challenges include obtaining high-quality training data and a lack of customized machine learning techniques.