Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology最新文献

{"title":"A venom serpin from the assassin bug Sycanus croceovittatus exhibiting inhibitory effects on melanization, development, and insecticidal activity towards its prey","authors":"Wenkai Liang ,&nbsp;Meijiao Li ,&nbsp;Fenlian Chen ,&nbsp;Yuqin Wang ,&nbsp;Kui Wang ,&nbsp;Chaoyan Wu ,&nbsp;Jiaying Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106322","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106322","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Serine protease inhibitors (SPIs) have been identified as main common components in the venom of the predatory bugs, while their functional roles remain unexplored. In this study, we identified 35 SPI genes belonging to three subfamilies of serpin, canonical SPI, and A2M in genome of the assassin bug, <em>Sycanus croceovittatus</em>. The amino acid sequences of these SPI genes reveal conserved functional regions, albeit with mutations or deletions at certain active site residues. Transcriptomic and qPCR analyses of gene expression patterns in various tissues across developmental stages indicate that most SPI genes exhibit high expression levels in venom apparatus, suggesting their role as venom proteins. Notably, the ScSPI5 gene from the serpin class was found to be most abundantly expressed in all three distinct venom glands, indicating its significant role as a venomous protein. Functional characterization demonstrated that this venom serpin effectively inhibits trypsin activity <em>in vitro</em> and suppresses phenoloxidase activity, thereby blocking hemolymph melanization in preys, including <em>Spodoptera frugiperda</em>, <em>Achelura yunnanensis</em>, and <em>Tenebrio molitor</em>. When ingested, it reduces the larval and pupal weight of the fall armyworm by impeding trypsin activity in the midgut. Upon injection, ScSPI5 exhibits a dose-dependent insecticidal effect against <em>T. molitor</em>, with an LD₅₀ of 5.6 ± 1.1 μg/g. These findings elucidate the specific functions of SPIs in the venom of predatory bugs, enhancing our understanding of their predation efficiency, and highlighting the potential application of venomous SPIs as protease inhibitors in pest management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 106322"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143403061","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative assays revealed distinct toxicity characterizations between pymetrozine and flonicamid","authors":"Tengfei Liu,&nbsp;Jianguo Niu,&nbsp;Yuying Gao,&nbsp;Xuan Liu,&nbsp;Jianya Su","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106319","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106319","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Flonicamid is an insecticide with a unique mode of action, primarily inhibiting the feeding behavior of sap-sucking insects. However, its molecular target remains controversial. Reports indicate that both flonicamid and pymetrozine affect insect behavior and mobility. To investigate further, we compared the susceptibility of three insect species (<em>Myzus persicae</em>, <em>Nilaparvata lugens</em>, and <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em>) to flonicamid and pymetrozine under two different feeding postures. Results showed that feeding posture did not affect the survival curves or mean lifespans of the three insects. However, insect lifespans were significantly reduced under exposure to either insecticide compared to untreated controls. The effects of the two insecticides on susceptibility and lifespan under different feeding postures were markedly different: feeding posture significantly influenced the sensitivity of aphids, planthoppers, and fruit flies to pymetrozine but had minimal effects on the sensitivity of aphids and planthoppers to flonicamid. Flonicamid had only a minor impact on fruit flies' sensitivity. Survival curve analysis also revealed significant differences under pymetrozine stress, while no such differences were observed under flonicamid stress. These findings indicate that flonicamid exerts different toxicological effects on target insects (aphids and planthoppers) <em>versus</em> non-target insects (fruit flies), depending on feeding posture. This suggests that the toxicological mechanisms of flonicamid differ substantially between target and non-target organisms, with implications that findings in non-target insects may not directly apply to target pests. Our study provides valuable insights and directions for further research into flonicamid's mode of action, aiding in elucidating its underlying mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 106319"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143387897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Honey bees prefer moderate sublethal concentrations of acetamiprid and experience increased mortality","authors":"Jingliang Shi ,&nbsp;Xiaolong Wang ,&nbsp;Yi Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106320","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106320","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acetamiprid, a prevalent neonicotinoid residue in honey, poses long-term risks to honey bee health even at sublethal concentrations. Despite this, the chronic lethal effects across a bee's full adult life stage and the influence of acetamiprid at environmentally relevant concentrations on food preferences in honey bees remain uncertain. By conducting a long-term survival monitoring, we found that bees chronically exposed to 0.75 mg/L acetamiprid exhibited a greater mortality compared to those exposed to the highest concentration (3 mg/L) when given a choice between acetamiprid-treated syrup and nontreated pollen. Bees exposed to 0.75 mg/L acetamiprid consumed less pollen and higher amounts of treated syrups compared to the control and 3 mg/L treatment, indicating a preference for moderate sublethal concentrations. To refine our understanding, we tested a range of additionally extended acetamiprid concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 5 mg/L) using various food-choice assays. The findings indicated no consumption bias and revealed a significant dose-response relationship concerning reduced survival at concentrations exceeding 0.5 mg/L of acetamiprid in the no-choice assay, while manifesting a highest preference for 0.5 mg/L concentration in the two-choice and five-choice assays. This study underscores the hidden risk of acetamiprid threatening bees through foraging preferences on specific range of concentrations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106320"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143377419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The UDP-glycosyltransferase UGT352A3 contributes to the detoxification of thiamethoxam and imidacloprid in resistant whitefly","authors":"Tianhua Du ,&nbsp;Hu Xue ,&nbsp;Xiaomao Zhou ,&nbsp;Lianyou Gui ,&nbsp;Natalia A. Belyakova ,&nbsp;Youjun Zhang ,&nbsp;Xin Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106321","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106321","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glycosyltransferases are essential phase-II detoxification enzymes that glycosylate lipophilic endogenous and xenobiotic compounds and they are thought to play a role in driving the evolution of insecticide resistance. To examine if the resistance to thiamethoxam and imidacloprid was associated with enhancement of UDP-glycosyltransferase in the whitefly, <em>Bemisia tabaci</em>, we first conducted UDP enzyme activity assays in resistant and sensitive strains in the absence and presence of UGT inhibitors. We found that the UGT enzyme content of resistant whitefly was significantly 5.02- to 10.69-fold higher than that of sensitive whitefly. Individual UGT inhibitors effectively inhibited UGT activity in resistant strains and their effect was synergistic when applied in combination. We then used bioinformatic, molecular, genetic and in silico approaches to determine if <em>UGT352A3</em> encoded a key enzyme linked to neonicotinoid resistance<em>.</em> In resistant strains, <em>UGT352A3</em> expression was elevated 1.8- to 6.6-fold compared to susceptible strains, which correlated with higher resistance ratios. RNAi-mediated knockdown of <em>UGT352A3</em> in resistant whitefly strains significantly heightened their sensitivity to the insecticides, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid. Molecular docking analyses further confirmed a strong binding affinity between UGT352A3 and thiamethoxam and imidacloprid, which supported a role in their metabolism. These findings suggest that <em>UGT352A3</em> is a critical factor in the development of resistance to thiamethoxam and imidacloprid in whitefly, underscoring its important potential as a new pest resistance management target.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106321"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143349613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora response to insect-derived and non-biological stimuli: Insights into nematode recovery and released proteins","authors":"Sara Šreibr ,&nbsp;Jana Ilgová ,&nbsp;Pavel Dobeš ,&nbsp;Jiří Vorel ,&nbsp;Jacek Marciniak ,&nbsp;Jana Hurychová ,&nbsp;Duarte Toubarro ,&nbsp;Nelson Simões ,&nbsp;Martin Kašný ,&nbsp;Pavel Hyršl","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106318","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106318","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are biological control agents that naturally kill insect pests, providing an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms behind the recovery process, where infective juveniles (IJs) transition to a parasitic state upon contact with the host, remain unclear. This study investigates the stimulatory effect of insect-derived materials on the recovery of <em>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora</em> IJs. Three materials from <em>Galleria mellonella</em> larvae—bioactive homogenates from live and frozen larvae, and heat-inactivated homogenate—were tested, along with non-host stimuli including filtered water and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). While none of the materials induced complete recovery of IJs, all triggered the release of excreted/secreted products (ESPs), with consistent protein concentrations across treatments. However, mass spectrometry revealed significant differences in ESP protein composition. IJs exposed to PBS released the highest number of proteins, while bioactive homogenates induced the fewest. Proteins linked to host-parasite interactions, such as alpha-2-macroglobulins and trypsin inhibitor-like proteins, were more abundant in ESPs following exposure to insect-derived materials and PBS. Interestingly, nematodes exposed to water released a substantial number of proteins, comparable to stimulation by heat-inactivated homogenates, though their protein profiles were distinct, reflecting stress responses in the former and host-parasite interaction-related proteins in the latter. Our findings demonstrate that both host-derived and non-biological stimuli can trigger IJs recovery and ESPs release, underscoring the complexity of host-nematode interactions. These results provide novel insights into molecular mechanisms underlying <em>H. bacteriophora</em> parasitism and may contribute to optimizing biocontrol strategies through a better understanding of nematode activation and released ESPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106318"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143372377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A family of nitronate monooxygenase-domain proteins are essential for biocontrol potential of the insect mycopathogen Beauveria bassiana","authors":"Hao Zhang,&nbsp;Xin-Yi Wang,&nbsp;Ting-Fei Sun,&nbsp;Tian-Jing Chen,&nbsp;Jin-Li Ding,&nbsp;Ming-Guang Feng,&nbsp;Sheng-Hua Ying","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106317","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106317","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Beauveria bassiana</em> has been assumed a promising biocontrol agent in integrated pest management. Nitronate monooxygenase (NMO) catalyzes the conversion of alkyl nitronates into aldehydes and nitrite as well as nitroalkanes into the corresponding carbonyl compounds and nitrite. In fungi, enzymatic characteristics have been biochemically determined for NMOs; however, the understanding of their biological functions remains largely unknown in entomopathogenic fungi. In this study, a domain annotation analysis revealed that there were eight NMO proteins (BbNmo1–BbNmo8) in the entomopathogenic fungus <em>B. bassiana</em>. The first six NMO proteins contained peroxisomal targeting signal type 1 (PTS1), in which BbNmo2 carried an atypical one. Except for <em>BbNMO1</em> and <em>BbNMO4</em>, other NMO genes were functionally analyzed. The gene loss of six genes did not cause significant change in fungal vegetative growth, but resulted in convergent defects in fungal resistance to cell-wall integrity stress and conidial hydrophobicity. In addition, BbNmo3 was also required for fungal response to oxidative, osmotic, and nitro-compound stresses as well as extracellular acidification. All these six genes were required for fungal conidiation; however, except for <em>BbNMO3</em>, the other five contributed to blastospore formation. All tested <em>NMO</em> genes were involved in fungal virulence; significantly, <em>BbNMO3</em> had the greatest contribution. The functionally-characterized NMO proteins were localized to peroxisomes and cytoplasm, which was in accordance with whether they had the PTS1. Current findings indicate that the NMO-domain proteins play essential roles in unique lifestyle in the insect pathogenic fungi.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106317"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143277410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the role of CYP6AB328 in spinetoram resistance and growth and development of Phthorimaea absoluta","authors":"Jingang Xie ,&nbsp;Shengyu Wang ,&nbsp;Ziyan Zhuang,&nbsp;Xinhai Wang,&nbsp;Minghao Lin,&nbsp;Xiaoning Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106316","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106316","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Phthorimaea absoluta</em> is a major agricultural pest, affecting tomatoes and other solanaceous crops. Insect cytochrome P450 is a key enzyme that metabolizes xenobiotics (insecticides and plant toxins) and regulates endogenous compounds, but the functions of specific CYP genes in <em>P. absoluta</em> remain unclear. This study analyzed the expression pattern of 97 CYP genes in two regional populations of <em>P. absoluta</em> from Xinjiang, China. <em>CYP6AB328</em> was identified as the most significantly overexpressed in the strain from Yining city (YN) compared to the strain from Alaer city (Ala), its expression level exhibited a positively correlated with the accumulating resistance of spinetoram. Following the cloning and sequence analysis of the target gene, it was named <em>CYP6AB328</em>. Additionally, a leaflet delivery system demonstrated the relatively stable presence of ds<em>CYP6AB328</em> in the leaves from 12 to 24 h. The expression level of <em>CYP6AB328</em> was significantly reduced by 68.9 % in 2nd instar larvae treated with 7.5 μg/200 μL ds<em>CYP6AB328</em> at 48 h. Knockdown <em>CYP6AB328</em> significantly increased susceptibility to spinetoram in the SPI-S strain (belongs to YN strain) and markedly decreased the spinetoram resistance ratio in the resistant strain (SPI-R: 250.57-fold). Notably, silencing <em>CYP6AB328</em> inhibited nearly all 1st instar larvae fully mining the leaves, resulting in mortality up to 95.3 %, while in 2nd instar larvae, it prolonged leaf-mining time, reduced leaf damage, extended the development time of 2nd to 4th instar, caused 18 % larval abnormality and achieved an 84.4 % mortality on the 6th day of treatment. In summary, our findings indicate that <em>CYP6AB328</em> plays an important role in promoting development of spinetoram resistance and growth and development of <em>P. absoluta</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106316"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143277409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Re-exploration of phenolic compounds from natural waste rice husks: Combined synthesis of novel herbicide and evaluation of herbicidal activity","authors":"Li-xia Zhao ,&nbsp;Ruo-nan Song ,&nbsp;Jing-yi Li ,&nbsp;Yue-chun Zou ,&nbsp;Shuang Gao ,&nbsp;Ying Fu ,&nbsp;Fei Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106312","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106312","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In a global context, weed management has emerged as a significant challenge in agricultural production, causing substantial economic losses annually. Consequently, the development of innovative and efficient herbicides is crucial. Natural products serve as important sources for discovering novel herbicides. Through chemical synthesis and structural modification of natural compounds, novel herbicides can be developed. Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO, EC 1.3.3.4) catalyzes the oxidation of protoporphyrinogen IX to protoporphyrin IX, a critical step in the biosynthesis of porphyrins. PPO inhibitors target protoporphyrinogen oxidase, inhibiting its activity and thereby blocking porphyrin biosynthesis, ultimately leading to plant death. In this research, protoporphyrinogen oxidase was targeted, and monomeric compounds were extracted from natural rice husks, followed by selective manipulation to design and synthesize 33 new compounds. Weed control assays (37.5–300 g ai/ha) showed that most of the new compounds exhibited significant herbicidal activity against dicot weeds, but less effectiveness against monocot weeds. In particular, compound <strong>I–c4</strong> demonstrated excellent post-emergence herbicidal activity on six weed species, comparable to the commercial herbicide oxyfluorfen. Activity experiments showed that compound <strong>I–c4</strong> significantly reduced PPO levels in weeds. Molecular docking results indicated that compound <strong>I–c4</strong> effectively occupies the substrate pocket of PPO enzymes, demonstrating strong inhibitory effects on receptor protein activity. Thus, compound <strong>I–c4</strong> shows promise as a novel PPO herbicide for effective weed control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106312"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143100677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toxicological investigations of biosynthesized nickel ferrites nanoparticles on midgut epithelium of Blaps polychresta as nanopesticides: Structural damages and oxidative stress","authors":"Esraa A. Arafat ,&nbsp;Abdelazeem S. Eltaweil ,&nbsp;Eman M. Abd El-Monaem ,&nbsp;Hanan I. Elhenawy ,&nbsp;Hussein K. Hussein ,&nbsp;Mohamed A. Hassan ,&nbsp;Lamia M. El-Samad","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106314","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106314","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of eco-friendly insecticides with the ability to overcome insecticide resistance remains a thorny issue. This study therefore intends to evaluate the effectiveness of green synthesized nickel ferrite nanoparticles (NiFe₂O₄ NPs) as nanopesticides in this first report using darkling beetles, <em>Blaps polychresta</em>, as a model. The biosynthesized NiFe₂O₄ NPs were characterized employing various approaches, including FTIR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, XRD, XPS, and VSM. The morphological features and size of the nanoparticles were determined adopting SEM and TEM analyses, revealing that NiFe₂O₄ NPs have an average size of 24.59 nm with a quasi-spherical shape. The beetles treated with NiFe₂O₄ NPs showed their accumulation in midgut tissues, as evidenced by EDX analysis. Accumulation of NiFe₂O₄ NPs in midgut epithelium induced surplus reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, engendering elevated MDA level linked with increased expression of MT1 and HSP70. Besides, decreased GST, SOD, and GSH activities were also reported. These findings indicate antioxidant defense systems malfunction due to failure of NiFe₂O₄ NPs detoxification. Beyond that, comet assay and flow cytometry analysis exhibited noticeable amplifications of DNA impairment and cellular apoptosis, respectively, in beetles treated with NiFe₂O₄ NPs compared to untreated beetles. Pathohistological and ultrastructure investigations showed various aberrations in beetles exposed to NiFe₂O₄ NPs, including rapture of midgut epithelium and necrotic signs, substantiating the biochemical findings. These findings suggest that NiFe₂O₄ NPs could be implemented in agricultural practices as a sustainable insecticidal candidate to manage insect pests. Further studies are required to investigate NiFe₂O₄ NPs interaction with environmental conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106314"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143277381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A functional study of the trehalase genes in Tribolium castaneum and their application in the construction of RNAi engineering bacteria","authors":"Yue Li ,&nbsp;Puxing Hou ,&nbsp;Ruyu Li ,&nbsp;Pei Li ,&nbsp;Zhiqing Ma ,&nbsp;Hua Wu ,&nbsp;Zhili Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106315","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106315","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Tribolium castaneum</em>, belonging to the order Coleoptera, family Tenebrionidae, is a global grain storage pest. The enzyme trehalase can catalyze trehalose decomposition and participate in chitin synthesis, which is of great significance in insect physiology and may be a key target for <em>T. castaneum</em> pest prevention and control<em>.</em> This study focused on <em>T. castaneum</em> and explored the function of its trehalase (<em>TcTre</em>) in test insects' growth and development process. We analyzed the roles of <em>TcTre</em> in different growth stages and tissues of <em>T. castaneum</em> by measuring its spatio and temporal expression patterns. The silencing of <em>TcTre</em> by RNAi technology reduced the transcription level of the target gene, affected the enzyme activity of trehalase, disturbed the sugar balance, blocked the pathway of chitin synthesis, and caused abnormal molting and wing development of the tested insects. Key genes about pest control such as <em>TcTre1–1</em>, <em>TcTre1–3</em>, and <em>TcTre2</em> were screened, which caused the accumulated mortality of 53.33 %, 56.67 %, and 50.00 % respectively. Subsequently, an engineered bacterium, <em>Tre</em>-L4440-HT115 (DE3), was developed to efficiently express dsRNA and mediate insecticidal activity. The dsRNA produced by the bacterial solution, targeting <em>TcTre1–1</em>, <em>TcTre1–3,</em> and <em>TcTre2</em> fragments for silencing, could cause the death of 44.44 %, 48.89 %, and 46.67 % of the test insects cumulatively. This advancement was aimed at reducing the production costs of dsRNA and laying a scientific foundation for the industrial development of nucleic acid pesticides for <em>T. castaneum</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 106315"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143277408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}