Insect Molecular Biology最新文献

Genome-scale evidence for host-associated lineage divergence in the parasitoid, Microctonus aethiopoides. 埃塞俄比亚小棉蚧寄主相关谱系分化的基因组尺度证据。

IF 3.3 2区农林科学

Insect Molecular Biology Pub Date : 2026-10-20 DOI: 10.1111/imb.70069

Meeran Hussain, Elahe Parvizi, Mark R McNeill, Angela McGaughran

{"title":"Genome-scale evidence for host-associated lineage divergence in the parasitoid, Microctonus aethiopoides.","authors":"Meeran Hussain, Elahe Parvizi, Mark R McNeill, Angela McGaughran","doi":"10.1111/imb.70069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70069","url":null,"abstract":"Parasitoids closely rely on their hosts for successful reproduction and development. This dependence, combined with exposure to different environmental conditions, can lead to ecological specialisation and divergent selection. The parasitoid Microctonus aethiopoides serves as a valuable model for investigating such processes, as its use as a biocontrol agent against weevils of the genera Hypera and Sitona has revealed clear intraspecific divergence largely driven by different host pressures. This study examined M. aethiopoides strains from three different host species (Hypera postica, Sitona discoideus, Sitona obsoletus) and 10 geographic regions. We generated eight high-quality genome assemblies and compared them with each other and to two publicly available genomes. Comparative analyses revealed a strong host-associated phylogenetic structure separating the H. postica-associated strain from those associated with Sitona species. This separation was accompanied by distinct heterozygosity patterns, with the H. postica strain showing the highest heterozygosity, followed by S. discoideus and S. obsoletus-associated strains, and the lowest heterozygosity observed in the S. obsoletus-associated Irish strain, most likely due to its asexual reproductive mode. Further comparisons indicated that most gene families were conserved across strains, with rapid evolution of transposable element-related genes suggesting ongoing genomic diversification among strains. Chemosensory gene family classification showed broad conservation of these genes across strains, with modest variation in odourant receptor copy numbers. Overall, our study suggests that host associations may be key drivers of genomic divergence within M. aethiopoides strains, with this primarily driven by genome-level variation and limited evidence for major changes at the gene family level.","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149227707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

A serine-rich salivary protein facilitates brown planthopper feeding and survival by mediating salivary sheath formation. 一种富含丝氨酸的唾液蛋白通过介导唾液鞘的形成促进褐飞虱的摄食和存活。

IF 3.3 2区农林科学

Insect Molecular Biology Pub Date : 2026-10-05 DOI: 10.1111/imb.70068

Jing Zhang, Zhenglei Wang, Zhirou Duan, Yingchuan Peng, Wanna Zhang, Haijun Xiao, Jianping Guo

{"title":"A serine-rich salivary protein facilitates brown planthopper feeding and survival by mediating salivary sheath formation.","authors":"Jing Zhang, Zhenglei Wang, Zhirou Duan, Yingchuan Peng, Wanna Zhang, Haijun Xiao, Jianping Guo","doi":"10.1111/imb.70068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70068","url":null,"abstract":"The piercing-sucking pest, brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens, BPH), poses a severe and persistent threat to rice in China and across Asia. During feeding, BPHs secrete salivary proteins to form salivary sheaths, which are crucial for successful and sustained phloem sap ingestion. These salivary sheath proteins are crucial for rice-BPH interactions and hold promise as targets for pest control strategies like RNAi. However, the specific functions of salivary proteins in sheath formation remain largely unclear. In this study, we identify NlSRP, a serine-rich salivary protein in BPH, as a novel planthopper-specific secreted salivary protein. NlSRP is highly expressed in the salivary glands and is delivered into host rice plants during feeding. RNAi-mediated knockdown of NlSRP significantly impairs feeding ability, survival and fecundity of BPH. NlSRP is required for the formation of elongated and branched salivary sheaths in BPH. These results demonstrate that NlSRP plays an essential role in BPH salivary sheath formation, feeding and population growth, advancing our mechanistic understanding of piercing-sucking insect feeding and highlighting its potential as an RNAi-based target for BPH control.","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149109105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Disruption of paramyosin compromises muscle integrity and alters systemic trehalose metabolism in Helicoverpa armigera. 副肌球蛋白的破坏破坏了棉铃虫的肌肉完整性并改变了系统海藻糖代谢。

IF 3.3 2区农林科学

Insect Molecular Biology Pub Date : 2026-10-02 DOI: 10.1111/imb.70067

Sharada D Mohite, Rakesh S Joshi

{"title":"Disruption of paramyosin compromises muscle integrity and alters systemic trehalose metabolism in Helicoverpa armigera.","authors":"Sharada D Mohite, Rakesh S Joshi","doi":"10.1111/imb.70067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70067","url":null,"abstract":"Trehalose is a principal circulating sugar in insects, maintaining a critical balance between energy supply and storage through systemic insulin signalling. Among different tissues, insect muscle functions as a metabolic hub, coordinating trehalose utilization and glucose uptake to sustain energy homeostasis. In Helicoverpa armigera, we examined whether paramyosin (key muscle gene) silencing influence carbohydrate metabolism. HaPrm silencing led to muscle defects and delayed pupation, indicating a crucial role of HaPrm in development. Transcriptomics revealed dysregulation of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and insulin-mTOR signalling. Notably, expression and enzymatic activities of HaTPS/TPP and HaTreh(s) were reduced in HaPrm-silenced insects, accompanied by their altered metabolite intermediate levels. Given that trehalose metabolism fuels both glycolysis and glycogen synthesis, HaPrm silencing also altered the expression of glycolytic, glycogen metabolism and energy-sensing genes. Metabolomics further demonstrated differential accumulation of intermediates from glycolysis, glycogen recycling, the TCA cycle and amino acid metabolism. Moreover, insulin-mTOR signalling genes and the glucose-sensing transcription factor were significantly affected, highlighting the sensitivity of nutrient-sensing mechanisms to HaPrm silencing. Taken together, these results suggest that HaPrm disruption affects muscle integrity and is linked to changes in insulin-mTOR signalling and trehalose metabolism. These data highlight the close relationship between muscle architecture and energy homeostasis in H. armigera.","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149109015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The anchor and the architect: Merging gene drive, membrane tethering and generative AI for next-generation vector control. 锚和架构师：融合基因驱动、膜系留和生成式人工智能，以实现下一代矢量控制。

IF 3.3 2区农林科学

Insect Molecular Biology Pub Date : 2026-09-30 DOI: 10.1111/imb.70064

Yanan Wei, Yanying Sun, Jeong Kyu Bang, Woo Jae Kim

引用次数: 0

A conserved miR-281-x is associated with self-grooming behaviour in Apis cerana. 保守的miR-281-x与中华蜜蜂的自我梳理行为有关。

IF 3.3 2区农林科学

Insect Molecular Biology Pub Date : 2026-09-28 DOI: 10.1111/imb.70065

Yang Lü, Jiali Liao, Wenyao Ouyang, Chaoguo Chen, Xue Zhao, Yanan Xing, Zhiguo Li, Songkun Su

{"title":"A conserved miR-281-x is associated with self-grooming behaviour in Apis cerana.","authors":"Yang Lü, Jiali Liao, Wenyao Ouyang, Chaoguo Chen, Xue Zhao, Yanan Xing, Zhiguo Li, Songkun Su","doi":"10.1111/imb.70065","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70065","url":null,"abstract":"Self-grooming behaviour is a crucial adaptation in honey bees for maintaining individual hygiene and combating parasite infestations. The miRNA-mediated influence on self-grooming behaviour has been recently demonstrated in Apis mellifera but remains largely unexplored in Apis cerana. This study combined behavioural analysis, miRNA sequencing and molecular biology techniques to investigate these mechanisms. We first identified two distinct behavioural phenotypes in A. cerana: strong groomers (CS) and weak groomers (CW). miRNA sequencing of bee brains revealed 12 differentially expressed miRNAs between CS and CW groups. Notably, miR-281-x, previously associated with grooming in A. mellifera, was significantly upregulated in CW bees, suggesting a conserved role. Subsequent qPCR and functional experiments confirmed that miR-281-x overexpression suppressed grooming behaviour and reduced brain octopamine (OA) levels in A. cerana. Furthermore, through a dual-luciferase assay, qPCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), we identified tyrosine decarboxylase (tdc-1), a key enzyme in OA synthesis, as a direct target of miR-281-x. Finally, RNAi-mediated knockdown of tdc-1 significantly reduced both brain OA levels and grooming behaviour, mirroring the effects of miR-281-x overexpression. Our findings identify a conserved miR-281-x/tdc-1/OA axis that is associated with grooming behaviour in A. cerana, providing new insights into the molecular basis of this essential innate behaviour.","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149069551","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Geomagnetic intensity variation and deprivation elicit distinct transcriptomic responses in a migratory insect. 地磁强度变化和剥夺在迁徙昆虫中引起不同的转录组反应。

IF 3.3 2区农林科学

Insect Molecular Biology Pub Date : 2026-09-26 DOI: 10.1111/imb.70066

Wenhao Xie, Yuan Wang, Liangfeng Zou, Hui Qiu, Pin Li, Viacheslav Krylov, Yuanyuan Li, Weidong Pan, Fajun Chen, Guijun Wan

{"title":"Geomagnetic intensity variation and deprivation elicit distinct transcriptomic responses in a migratory insect.","authors":"Wenhao Xie, Yuan Wang, Liangfeng Zou, Hui Qiu, Pin Li, Viacheslav Krylov, Yuanyuan Li, Weidong Pan, Fajun Chen, Guijun Wan","doi":"10.1111/imb.70066","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70066","url":null,"abstract":"Geomagnetic field intensity varies along migratory routes; however, whether migratory insects respond similarly to intensity shifts and geomagnetic deprivation remains unclear. We compared transcriptomes of brown planthoppers, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), reared under ~45 μT or ~50 μT fields, approximating intensities along their migratory route, or under a near-zero magnetic field (NZMF). The natural-range ~5 μT comparison identified 244 DEGs and a restricted functional response. 'Lipid transporter activity' was the only Gene Ontology term significant after false-discovery-rate correction, whereas 'response to light stimulus' and 'flavin adenine dinucleotide binding', both containing cryptochrome1 (Cry1), were nominally enriched. By contrast, NZMF identified 2753-3258 DEGs and enrichment of central carbon and amino-acid metabolism, peroxisomal function, redox regulation and clock-related genes. RT-qPCR validated representative genes. Given its differential expression under ecologically relevant geomagnetic intensity variation, established photoreceptive and circadian functions and previous NZMF responsiveness, Cry1 was examined by RNA interference as a step toward an eclosion-based magnetic response assay. Cry1 knockdown disrupted the diel eclosion rhythm, demonstrating its importance for eclosion timing and limiting this phenotype as a magnetic field intensity readout after knockdown. Together, natural-range geomagnetic variation and NZMF exposure may evoke qualitatively distinct magnetobiological response states rather than quantitatively different magnetic environments.","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149060176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Binding characteristics and physicochemical basis of C-minus odorant-binding protein 8 in western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, with various host vegetable volatiles. 西花蓟马c -气味结合蛋白8与不同寄主植物挥发物的结合特性及理化基础

IF 3.3 2区农林科学

Insect Molecular Biology Pub Date : 2026-09-11 DOI: 10.1111/imb.70063

Hong-Qi Zhang, Jia-Qi Huang, Meng-Yang Li, Yu-Sen Chen, Lin-Xuan Wang, Zhi-Ke Zhang, Hong-Liang Li

{"title":"Binding characteristics and physicochemical basis of C-minus odorant-binding protein 8 in western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, with various host vegetable volatiles.","authors":"Hong-Qi Zhang, Jia-Qi Huang, Meng-Yang Li, Yu-Sen Chen, Lin-Xuan Wang, Zhi-Ke Zhang, Hong-Liang Li","doi":"10.1111/imb.70063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70063","url":null,"abstract":"Western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a globally invasive polyphagous pest that relies on olfaction to sense host plants. Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) in insect sensillar lymph mediate interactions with plant volatiles. However, the physicochemical mechanisms by which OBPs in F. occidentalis bind to host-plant volatiles, the key amino acid residues involved in these interactions and the structural characteristics of the preferred ligands remain unclear. Here, we cloned a novel OBP, FoccOBP8, which belongs to the C-minus OBP subfamily based on sequence alignment and phylogenetic analyses. Competitive fluorescence binding assays using purified recombinant FoccOBP8 revealed broad binding interactions towards host-plant volatiles. Notably, 4-ethylacetophenone and ethyl isonicotinate showed the strongest binding affinity with dissociation constants (KD) of 2.00 and 2.46 μmol/L, respectively. Thermodynamic analyses indicated the binding processes were dynamic quenching processes and mainly driven by hydrophobic interactions, spontaneously. Molecular docking and the corresponding residue-interaction energy heatmap analyses predicted that the conserved Gln4 residue contributed substantially to the ligand-protein interactions. Molecule clustering and structural analyses predicted that the ligands containing aromatic moieties π-π conjugated with the carbonyl group or carbon-carbon double bond preferentially bound to FoccOBP8. This study elucidates the broad binding profiles of FoccOBP8 with ligands and their physicochemical basis, providing insights into the olfactory-driven polyphagia of WFT and theoretical foundations for developing odour-based attractants or repellents targeting this invasive pest.","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148929863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

An analysis of Wolbachia incidence and genetics in non-ant Hymenoptera diversity 非蚁类膜翅目沃尔巴克氏体发病率及遗传多样性分析。

IF 3.3 2区农林科学

Insect Molecular Biology Pub Date : 2026-09-08 Epub Date: 2026-06-03 DOI: 10.1111/imb.70048

Yury Ilinsky, Roman Bykov

{"title":"An analysis of Wolbachia incidence and genetics in non-ant Hymenoptera diversity","authors":"Yury Ilinsky, Roman Bykov","doi":"10.1111/imb.70048","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.70048","url":null,"abstract":"Wolbachia bacteria are widespread maternally inherited symbionts of Nematoda and diverse Arthropoda hosts. Their evolutionary success is determined by the ability to affect the biology of the host in different ways, promoting the relative fitness of females harbouring Wolbachia, as well as sporadic cases of horizontal transmission of Wolbachia between different host species. Here, we revised Wolbachia infection in the Hymenoptera with respect to the symbiont occurrence in host taxa and Wolbachia genetics. The representatives of about half of the extant families and 1000 out of 140,000 non-ant hymenopteran species have been tested for Wolbachia infection. We concluded that Wolbachia are found in all major hymenopteran families. More than 75% of Wolbachia diversity belongs to the A supergroup, whereas other variants belong to the B supergroup and only two isolates belong to the supergroup F. One of the main results of this study is the discovery of a specific Wolbachia genetic pattern (based on multilocus sequence typing [MLST]) in Apoidea hosts. Two haplotypes, ST-479 and ST-wH14, along with their alleles within other sequence types (STs), form the core of symbiont diversity, comprising 81% of unique host–Wolbachia ST associations. These haplotypes have not been reported beyond the Apoidea superfamily or Hymenoptera order. The reasons and mechanisms underlying this pattern in Apoidea remain unknown. Another important result of our study concerns the use of the MLST protocol, which has been previously criticised. We analysed 51 Wolbachia genomes for the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and MLST data, and found that genome and MLST variation are highly correlated. Therefore, the MLST protocol for Wolbachia remains reliable for many research tasks.","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":"35 5","pages":"541-555"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148156453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Sex-biased DNA methylation in small hive beetles (Aethina tumida) 小蜂房甲虫（Aethina tumida）中性别偏倚的DNA甲基化。

IF 3.3 2区农林科学

Insect Molecular Biology Pub Date : 2026-09-08 Epub Date: 2026-05-28 DOI: 10.1111/imb.70047

Qiang Huang, Ryszard Maleszka, Jay D. Evans

引用次数: 0

Distinctive gene expression in the reduced first thoracic legs of a nymphalid butterfly 雌雄蛱蝶第一胸肢缩小后的独特基因表达。

IF 3.3 2区农林科学

Insect Molecular Biology Pub Date : 2026-09-08 Epub Date: 2026-06-02 DOI: 10.1111/imb.70045

Asia E. Hoile, Peter O. Mulhair, Peter W. H. Holland

{"title":"Distinctive gene expression in the reduced first thoracic legs of a nymphalid butterfly","authors":"Asia E. Hoile, Peter O. Mulhair, Peter W. H. Holland","doi":"10.1111/imb.70045","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.70045","url":null,"abstract":"Nymphalid butterflies have unique leg morphology among Lepidoptera: they are the only family with greatly reduced forelegs (T1) in adults of both sexes, which are not used for walking. Previous studies have suggested that T1 legs may have chemosensory functions. To investigate which genes underpin this biology, we undertook a differential gene expression analysis in female Maniola jurtina. We find that nymphalid T1 legs have a distinct transcriptomic profile to T2 and T3 legs and also distinct from sensory palps. We find over 250 genes commonly expressed in nymphalid T1 legs and palps, but not in T2 legs. Despite this overlap, T1 legs are still more similar to T2 and T3 legs in their gene expression profiles than they are to palps. Genes expressed in common between palps and T1 legs include one encoding a trypsin-domain protein descendent from a nymphalid-specific duplication and several others involved in sensory functions, including genes with putative chemosensory roles. A blue-sensitive opsin gene is specifically expressed in T1 legs. Our findings indicate clear transcriptomic differences between T1 legs and walking legs in M. jurtina, pointing to the functional basis of these differences, including minor acquisition of palp-like gene expression.","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":"35 5","pages":"504-516"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/imb.70045","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148149757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0