Journal of invertebrate pathology最新文献

{"title":"Characterization of Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei infection stages in shrimp using machine learning and gene network analysis","authors":"Yi Qiao ,&nbsp;Leiting Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaohui Cao ,&nbsp;Tingyue Liu ,&nbsp;Huiwen Jiang ,&nbsp;Jie Cheng ,&nbsp;Ge Jiang ,&nbsp;Xianping Fan ,&nbsp;Hui Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108326","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108326","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei</em> (EHP), causing hepatopancreatic microsporidiosis (HPM), significantly impacts <em>Litopenaeus vannamei</em>, leading to economic losses. Using bioinformatics and machine learning, this study characterized EHP infection stages and host-pathogen interactions. Consensus clustering of 2,613 metabolism-related genes from 36 shrimp samples identified four subclasses: healthy (HG), heavily (HEG), moderately (MEG), and lightly infected groups (LEG). Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) revealed subclass-specific metabolic and immune patterns, with HEG showing impaired carbohydrate metabolism and upregulated amino acid degradation, MEG indicating recovery, and LEG demonstrating metabolic normalization. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) linked infection subclasses to pathways like Hippo, JAK-STAT, steroid biosynthesis, and calcium signaling. Machine learning identified 52 characteristic genes involved in EHP proliferation (e.g., RAPTOR), host invasion (e.g., cell surface glycoprotein 1), and host defense (e.g., mucin-5AC). A stacked classifier model predicted infection severity with high accuracy. EHP severely impacts immunity, autophagy, and oxidative stress in early infection, with host responses evolving from detoxification to metabolic recovery and adaptation. Key pathways and genes, including polar tube protein (PTP) and mucin-5AC, were identified as critical to host-pathogen interactions, offering insights into EHP infection dynamics and potential intervention strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108326"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143768449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Viral mutations and their implications for genetic diversity of the Infectious Myonecrosis Virus (IMNV)","authors":"Jhonatas Teixeira Viana ,&nbsp;Juliana Oliveira de Freitas ,&nbsp;Rafael dos Santos Rocha ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Maggioni","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108325","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108325","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Infectious Myonecrosis Virus (IMNV) is a main pathogen affecting global shrimp farming. It was first recorded in Brazil in 2002, but has spread to other Asian countries, especially Indonesia. Records of strains from different origins show different infection progress. Therefore, the present work aimed to evaluate the genetic differences between the IMMV strains, as well as their possible causes. Our results showed a great diversity of haplotypes, especially in Asia. We also observed that the majority of viral proteins present positive type selection, preserving their primary structure, although there are differences in SNPs among them. Our results reinforce the theory of the spread of IMNV from Brazil to Indonesia, where it appears to have spread to other Asian countries. Thus, the South American and Asian strains have a divergent evolutionary history, showing that virus mutations are influenced by the environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108325"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143783689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vibrio plasmids harboring vhv gene associated with shrimp translucent post-larvae disease: Coexistence of two types of T4SS and multiple transposons","authors":"Yuying Zhang ,&nbsp;Peilong Tan ,&nbsp;Xiaosha Liang ,&nbsp;Qingli Zhang ,&nbsp;Mingshu Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108324","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108324","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Translucent post-larvae disease (TPD), known as “glass post-larvae disease” is an emerging threat characterized by high mortality rates and severe economic losses. The pathogenesis of TPD has been linked to the <em>Vibrio</em> high virulent (<em>vhv</em>) gene by virulent strains of <em>V. parahaemolyticus</em>. This study presents a comparative genomic analysis of 16 <em>Vibrio</em> plasmids carrying the <em>vhv</em> gene, associated with TPD in shrimp. Specifically, the analysis identified secretion systems and transposons within these plasmids, revealing that all 16 harbor the Type IV Secretion System (T4SS), with distinct T4SS_typeT and T4SS_typeF gene clusters in seven and nine plasmids, respectively. And it was found that the two types of plasmids can coexist within a single bacterial strain. A diverse array of transposons, classified into seven families, was also identified. The study unveils the genetic intricacies of two plasmid types carrying the <em>vhv</em> gene, which are implicated in TPD pathogenesis. The findings underscore the importance of these plasmids’ classification based on their secretion systems and highlight their genetic diversity and the presence of transposons, key factors in bacterial adaptability and virulence. This understanding is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate TPD’s impact on shrimp aquaculture and ensure food safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108324"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143739298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High-throughput screening reveals high diversity and widespread distribution of viruses in black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens)","authors":"Robert D. Pienaar ,&nbsp;Salvador Herrero ,&nbsp;Alexandra Cerqueira de Araujo ,&nbsp;Franciszek Krupa ,&nbsp;Adly M.M. Abd-Alla ,&nbsp;Elisabeth A. Herniou","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108322","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108322","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Virus discovery in mass-reared insects is a growing topic of interest due to outbreak risks and for insect welfare concerns. In the case of black soldier flies (<em>Hermetia illucens</em>, BSF), pioneering bioinformatic studies have uncovered exogenous viruses from the orders <em>Ghabrivirales</em> and <em>Bunyavirales</em>, as well as endogenous viral elements from five virus families. This prompted further virome investigation of BSF metagenomes and metatranscriptomes, including from BSF individuals displaying signs and symptoms of disease. A high-throughput pipeline allowed the simultaneous investigation of 203 next generation sequencing datasets. This revealed the presence of seven viruses belonging to the families <em>Dicistroviridae</em>, <em>Iflaviridae</em>, <em>Rhabdoviridae</em>, <em>Solinviviridae</em>, <em>Inseviridae, Lebotiviridae</em>, and an unclassified <em>Bunyavirales.</em> Here we describe five viruses, which were detected in BSF from multiple origins, outlining the diversity of naturally occurring viruses associated with BSF colonies. As this viral community may also include BSF pathogens, we developed molecular detection tools which could be used for viral surveillance, both in mass-reared and wild populations of BSF.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108322"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143743028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diverse viral communities inhabit the guts of date palm rhinoceros beetles (Oryctes spp.)","authors":"Saeid Tabein ,&nbsp;Davood Nazarpour ,&nbsp;Akram Hegazy ,&nbsp;Arash Rasekh ,&nbsp;Michael J. Furlong ,&nbsp;Kayvan Etebari","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108321","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108321","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Two species of palm tree pests, <em>Oryctes elegans</em> and <em>Oryctes agamemnon</em> (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), cause significant damage to date palm trees (<em>Phoenix dactylifera</em>) in many countries in the Middle East. Despite several decades of research and the implementation of numerous control strategies, including mechanical, chemical, regulatory, and biosecurity measures, managing these pests remains challenging. Control of <em>O. rhinoceros</em> in the Pacific using an entomopathogenic virus is a landmark of classical biological control. In this study, we used a transcriptomic approach to examine the virome of populations of two <em>Oryctes</em> species across various regions in southern Iran, with the hope of discovering natural viral pathogens as potential biocontrol agents. Total RNA was extracted from a pool of larval gut samples and sequenced using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000. After analysing the RNA-Seq data, 28 novel virus sequences, including a diverse range of RNA and DNA viruses, were identified. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that these newly discovered viruses are evolutionarily linked with other closely related members in several families, including <em>Partitiviridae</em>, <em>Picobirnaviridae</em>, <em>Totiviridae</em>, <em>Dicistroviridae</em>, <em>Tombusviridae</em>, <em>Nodaviridae</em>, <em>Potyviridae</em>, <em>Endornaviridae</em>, <em>Circoviridae</em> and some unassigned viruses such as Negevirus and Jivivirus. Given the similarity of some of these viruses to plant viruses, and viruses reported from fungi and protists and their unclear host association, we have tentatively named them “Oryctes-associated viruses.” This study uncovers the great diversity of viruses in <em>Oryctes</em> species; however, further studies are necessary to determine their natural incidence, geographical distribution, impact on their hosts, and their potential as biological control agents for these significant date palm pests.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108321"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143724926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First report of a xenoma-forming parasitic ciliate in a gastropod: The case of the invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata","authors":"Martinez Lorena E. ,&nbsp;Gilardoni Carmen M.A. ,&nbsp;Vázquez Nuria ,&nbsp;Quintana Silvina ,&nbsp;Martín Pablo R. ,&nbsp;Etchegoin Jorge A. ,&nbsp;Cremonte Florencia","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108323","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108323","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The apple snail <em>Pomacea canaliculata</em> is native to South America and has been introduced into many regions outside its natural range. Despite being one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species, little is known about the pathologies caused by parasites other than digeneans. Here, we identify and characterize a xenoma-forming ciliate in <em>P. canaliculata</em> from three waterbodies in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, using histology, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and molecular analyses. Under a stereomicroscope, the xenomas appeared individually as white nodules measuring up to 2 mm in diameter. Of the 133 snails examined by histology, 23 were infected with xenomas (17 %) that occupied the connective tissue of most organs, with 74 % of these were located in the kidney. Snails from the three water bodies were infected. The highest prevalence was observed in the Mar del Plata Port Reserve Pond (25 %), followed by Los Padres Lake (16.4 %) and Pigüé-Venado Channel (14.4 %). Of the infected snails, 70 % had a low infection intensity (fewer than 10 xenomas per slide). No significant inflammatory response was observed in host tissues. However, in specimens with xenoma accumulations, significant tissue changes were observed, including organ enlargement in the gill lamellae, mantle border, and lung, as well as tubule compression and connective tissue replacement in the digestive gland. The host cell becomes hypertrophied, and its nucleus disintegrates. Although no cilia were observed in histological sections, TEM analysis revealed that the organisms had cilia near the cytostome and around the body, a large food vacuole, a macronucleus, and a micronucleus. Phylogenetic analysis of the SSU rDNA sequence placed the ciliate in the class Phyllopharyngea, showing the closest relationship to an uncultured eukaryote identified by BLAST. This is the fifth record of xenoma-inducing ciliates in mollusks and the first report in a gastropod.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108323"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143725016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using soil actinobacterium Streptomyces anthocyanicus and investigation of their larvicidal potentials against Culex quinquefasciatus Aedes aegypti, and Anopheles stephensi","authors":"Suresh Kalaivani ,&nbsp;Manickam Kalpana ,&nbsp;Palanisamy Devapriya ,&nbsp;Krishnan Raguvaran ,&nbsp;Rajan Maheswaran","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108316","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108316","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mosquitoes represent a considerable risk to human health due to their role in transmitting various pathogens responsible for diseases like chikungunya, malaria, dengue, and Japanese encephalitis. There is an immediate necessity to explore innovative biological strategies to combat mosquito-borne illnesses. One promising avenue in current research is the development of bioinsecticides utilizing advanced nanotechnology. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles from the actinobacterial strain <em>Streptomyces anthocyanicus</em> (OR186732), isolated from the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, India. The AgNPs were synthesized and then characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, identifying a prominent absorption peak at 424 nm. The identification of different functional groups within the AgNPs was confirmed through FTIR. The produced AgNPs were shown to be crystalline by XRD analysis. The nanoparticles were characterized using FESEM, HRTEM, and EDX to analyze their morphology, size, and elemental composition. The stability was assessed through Zeta potential measurements, which were measured at −0.2 mV. The synthesized AgNPs showed strong larvicidal effects against <em>Culex quinquefasciatus</em> (LC₅₀ = 2.924 ppm), <em>Aedes aegypti</em> (LC₅₀ = 3.245 ppm), and <em>Anopheles stephensi</em> (LC₅₀ = 3.767 ppm). Furthermore, the AgNPs were observed to significantly increase the levels of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and GPx at high concentrations. In contrast, levels of detoxifying enzymes such as AChE and GST levels were reduced. Histological analysis of mosquito larvae treated with AgNPs revealed significant damage to the midgut tissues. The research suggests that AgNPs synthesized by Actinobacteria could be an environmentally friendly option for biological mosquito control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108316"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143692341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The unique transmembrane protein NbTMP2 (NBO_555g0004) of Nosema bombycis contributes to host infection","authors":"Shaogang He ,&nbsp;Shiyi Zheng ,&nbsp;Yuanke Hu ,&nbsp;Zhonghua Yang ,&nbsp;Honglin Zhu ,&nbsp;Bin Yu ,&nbsp;Junhong Wei ,&nbsp;Guoqing Pan ,&nbsp;Zeyang Zhou ,&nbsp;Chunfeng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108320","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108320","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Nosema bombycis</em> is one of the earliest discovered microsporidia and can infect silkworms through both horizontal and transovarial transmission, posing a significant threat to the sericulture industry. Microsporidia can form mature dormant spores with a thick proteinaceous and chitin-rich wall that shields them from environmental stress, leading to difficulties in prevention and control. However, the intracellular proliferative phase is a particularly active life stage for the pathogen. At this stage, the plasma membrane of pathogen is exposed to the cytoplasm of the host cells without the protection of the spore walls, which make it an ideal phase for intervention. In this study, based on transcriptomic data, we identified that a transmembrane protein of <em>N. bombycis</em>, NbTMP2 (NBO_555g0004), was highly expressed after infection with microsporidia. Sequence analysis of the cloned NbTMP2 gene revealed that the protein consists of 253 amino acids, including a signal peptide and a transmembrane domain. Indirect immunofluorescence analysis (IFA) showed that NbTMP2 is localized to the plasma membrane. Furthermore, IFA, RT-qPCR, and western blotting indicated that NbTMP2 is expressed at all developmental stages, with a significant upregulation during the early proliferative phase of <em>N. bombycis</em>. The interference of NbTMP2 confirmed that downregulation of NbTMP2 expression significantly inhibit the proliferation of <em>N. bombycis</em>. In conclusion, NbTMP2 is a membrane protein that plays a role during the development of <em>N. bombycis</em>. This study provides a potential target for inhibiting the proliferation of <em>N. bombycis</em> and lays a foundation for future research on breeding <em>N. bombycis</em>-resistant silkworms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108320"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143692345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nup358 and Nup153 Facilitate nuclear import of BmNPV nucleocapsids in Bombyx mori cells","authors":"Kangping Yin ,&nbsp;Tianran Zhang ,&nbsp;Jinshan Huang ,&nbsp;Bifang Hao","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108318","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108318","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are crucial for the nuclear import of viral genomes, serving as gateways for many viruses to deliver their genetic material into host cell nuclei. However, the role of NPCs in the entry of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) remains poorly understood. This study investigates the involvement of specific nucleoporins in the nuclear import of BmNPV nucleocapsids, a crucial step for viral replication in host cells. Using a combination of Importazole, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), we demonstrate that BmNPV entry into BmN cells is mediated through the NPC. Importazole and WGA treatment significantly inhibited viral infection, highlighting the essential role of nucleoporins in BmNPV entry. Additionally, siRNA-mediated knockdown of Nup358 and Nup153 resulted in a marked accumulation of nucleocapsids in the cytoplasm. Overexpression of the <em>N</em>-terminal fragment of Nup358 (1–1127) enhanced nucleocapsid entry efficiency, whereas deletion of the phenylalanine-glycine (FG) repeats in Nup153 (Nup153^ΔFG) reduced viral entry. These results confirm the pivotal roles of Nup358 and Nup153 in the nuclear import of BmNPV nucleocapsids. Our findings provide new insights into the molecular interactions between BmNPV and host NPCs, offering potential targets for controlling BmNPV infections in sericulture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108318"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143682318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Where are my nematodes? labelling and visualising entomopathogenic nematodes in vivo using carbon quantum dots","authors":"Ernesto San-Blas ,&nbsp;María José Cornejo ,&nbsp;Mayamarú Guerra ,&nbsp;Macarena Olivares ,&nbsp;Sebastian Faundez ,&nbsp;Brynelly Bastidas ,&nbsp;Patricia Morales-Montero ,&nbsp;Lorena Pizarro ,&nbsp;Humberto Aponte ,&nbsp;Carlos Castaneda-Alvarez ,&nbsp;Gabriela Lankin","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108317","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108317","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Identifying single or groups of animals has significantly advanced our understanding of animal biology and ecology. However, labelling is extremely difficult in small animals, like soil invertebrates. Due to the complexity of current methods, the dynamics and interactions of these populations are often studied indirectly. Labelling nematodes or microarthropods such as collembolans or soil acari has been challenging due to the high cost, potential toxicity, genetic modification requirements, cellular processes interference, and photobleaching. In this scenario, no methods can be applied to large numbers of microorganisms at once due to their mentioned practical and biological limitations and cost. In this work we show that quantum carbon dots (Cdots) are effective for labelling infective juveniles (IJs) of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). In in vitro assays the IJs gradually acquired fluorescence, as Cdots accumulated in the lysosome-related organelles from their intestine cells, peaking at day 14, and with no lethal or sub-lethal effects on IJs. Fluorescence was clearly distinguishable from the natural auto-fluorescence of non-labelled IJs and persisted for months in IJs transferred to water. We and non-experts easily differentiated between similar species of EPNs and between two strains of <em>S. feltiae</em> placed in the same matrix (soil or water). We demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of labelling large numbers of IJs (hundreds of thousands/millions) with Cdots at minimal cost without any adverse effects for over a year. Our findings could be the starting point for detailed and large-scale field investigations on nematodes and other small organisms, allowing deeper understanding of their roles in soil ecosystems. This method provides a cost-effective and reliable tool for advancing research in the ecology of soil invertebrates, such as the interactions occurring in communities or between specific organisms, movement and dispersal, population dynamics or ecosystem services in a cryptic environment difficult to study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108317"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143692432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}