Ingestion of heat-killed pathogens confers transgenerational immunity to the pathogens via the vitellogenin-hypopharyngeal gland axis in honeybees.

Honeybee diseases are a serious threat to beekeeping and pollination. Transgenerational immune priming (TGIP) has been attracting increasing attention as a promising strategy to protect honeybee colonies from infections. This study investigated whether feeding honeybees (Apis mellifera) with a heat-killed pathogen cocktail can provide them with transgenerational immunity to these pathogens.

Fumarate mitigates disruption induced by fenpropathrin in the silkworm Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera): A metabolomics study.

The silkworm Bombyx mori L. is a model organism of the order Lepidoptera. Understanding the mechanism of pesticide resistance in silkworms is valuable for Lepidopteran pest control.

Dual function of a bumblebee (Bombus ignitus) serine protease inhibitor that acts as a microbicidal peptide and anti-fibrinolytic venom toxin.

In bee venoms, low-molecular-weight peptides, including serine protease inhibitors (SPIs), exhibit multifunctional activities. Although SPIs in bee venoms are relatively well known, those that function in both the body and secreted venom of bees are not well-characterized. In this study, we identified a bumblebee (Bombus ignitus) SPI (BiSPI) that displays microbicidal and anti-fibrinolytic activities.

Chemical synthesis, inhibitory activity and molecular mechanism of 1-deoxynojirimycin-chrysin as a potent α-glucosidase inhibitor.

Hyperglycemia can be efficaciously regulated by inhibiting α-glucosidase activity and this is regarded as an effective strategy to treat type 2 diabetes. 1-Deoxynojimycin, an α-glucosidase inhibitor, can penetrate cells rapidly to potently inhibit α-glucosidase in a competitive manner. However, the application of 1-deoxynojimycin is limited by its poor lipophilicity and low bioavailability.

Activator protein-1 mediated CYP6ER1 overexpression in the clothianidin resistance of Nilaparvata lugens (Stål).

Background: Nilaparvata lugens, a destructive rice pest in Asia, has developed resistance to many insecticides, including the neonicotinoid clothianidin. CYP6ER1 plays an important role in N. lugens resistant to clothianidin, but only limited information on the transcriptional regulation of CYP6ER1 overexpression in clothianidin resistance is available.

Dual-Targeting Antiproliferation Hybrids Derived from 1-Deoxynojirimycin and Kaempferol Induce MCF-7 Cell Apoptosis through the Mitochondria-Mediated Pathway.

1-Deoxynojirimycin, an α-glucosidase inhibitor, possesses various biological activities such as antitumor, antidiabetic, and antiviral effects. However, the application of 1-deoxynojirimycin is restricted by its poor lipophilicity and low bioavailability. In this study, three 1-deoxynojirimycin derivatives (-) comprising 1-deoxynojirimycin and kaempferol were designed and synthesized to modify their pharmacokinetics and improve their antitumor efficacy.

Effect of the silkworm pupa protein-glucose conjugate on the thermal stability and antioxidant activity of anthocyanins.

Anthocyanin (cyanidin-3-O-glucose) is a natural water-soluble pigment with a robust antioxidant capacity. However, its poor stability and bioavailability limits its application as a functional food ingredient. This study explored the ability of the silkworm pupa protein-glucose (Spp-Glu) conjugate, developed under wet-heating conditions, to improve the thermal stability and antioxidant activity of cyanidin-3-O-glucose (C3G) at pH 3.

Dual oxidase-dependent reactive oxygen species are involved in the regulation of UGT overexpression-mediated clothianidin resistance in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens.

Background: Uridine diphosphate-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are phase II metabolic enzymes involved in metabolism of toxins and resistance to insecticides in insect pests. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by xenobiotics are important for activation of detoxification pathways. However, relationships between ROS and UGTs involved in toxin metabolism and insecticide resistance remain unclear.

Anti-fibrinolytic activity of a metalloprotease inhibitor from bumblebee (Bombus ignitus) venom.

Bee venom is a mixture of bioactive components that include proteases and protease inhibitors. A metalloprotease inhibitor has been predicted to be a bumblebee-specific toxin in the venom proteome of Bombus terrestris; however, the identification and functional roles of bee venom metalloprotease inhibitors have not been previously determined. In this study, we identified a bumblebee (B.

Lipolytic Activity of a Carboxylesterase from Bumblebee () Venom.

Bee venom is a complex mixture composed of peptides, proteins with enzymatic properties, and low-molecular-weight compounds. Although the carboxylesterase in bee venom has been identified as an allergen, the enzyme's role as a venom component has not been previously elucidated. Here, we show the lipolytic activity of a bumblebee () venom carboxylesterase (BivCaE).

Spider Silk Fibroin Protein Heterologously Produced in Rice Seeds Reduce Diabetes and Hypercholesterolemia in Mice.

Silk fibroin proteins are biomaterials with diverse applications. These spider and silkworm proteins have specific biological effects when consumed by mammals; in addition to reducing blood pressure and blood glucose and cholesterol levels, they have anti-human immunodeficiency virus activity. In the present study, rice () was engineered to produce the C-terminus of the major ampullate spidroin protein from the spider under the control of a promoter.

Carboxylesterase genes in nitenpyram-resistant brown planthoppers, Nilaparvata lugens.

Carboxylesterases (CarEs) represent one of the major detoxification enzyme families involved in insecticide resistance. However, the function of specific CarE genes in insecticide resistance is still unclear in the insect Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), a notorious rice crop pest in Asia. In this study, a total of 29 putative CarE genes in N.

Dual role of the serine protease homolog BmSPH-1 in the development and immunity of the silkworm Bombyx mori.

Serine proteases and serine protease homologs are involved in the prophenoloxidase (proPO)-activating system leading to melanization. The Bombyx mori serine protease homolog BmSPH-1 regulates nodule melanization. Here, we show the dual role of BmSPH-1 in the development and immunity of B.

Honeybee (Apis cerana) vitellogenin acts as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent in the body and venom.

Honeybee (Apis mellifera) egg-yolk protein vitellogenin (Vg) plays roles in immunity, antioxidation, and life span beyond reproduction, but it also acts as an allergen Api m 12 in venom. Here we established antimicrobial and antioxidant roles of honeybee Vg in the body and venom. Using the cDNA encoding Vg identified from Asiatic honeybee (A.

A rapid method for titration of ascovirus infectivity.

Ascoviruses are a recently described family and the traditional plaque assay and end-point PCR assay have been used for their titration. However, these two methods are time-consuming and inaccurate to titrate ascoviruses. In the present study, a quick method for the determination of the titer of ascovirus stocks was developed based on ascovirus-induced apoptosis in infected insect cells.

Anti-fibrinolytic and anti-microbial activities of a serine protease inhibitor from honeybee (Apis cerana) venom.

Bee venom contains a variety of peptide constituents, including low-molecular-weight protease inhibitors. While the putative low-molecular-weight serine protease inhibitor Api m 6 containing a trypsin inhibitor-like cysteine-rich domain was identified from honeybee (Apis mellifera) venom, no anti-fibrinolytic or anti-microbial roles for this inhibitor have been elucidated. In this study, we identified an Asiatic honeybee (A.

Functional characterization of the aspartic proteinase cathepsin D in the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua).

In insects, proteolytic enzymes are involved in food digestion and the metamorphosis process. In the present study, the full-length cDNA of an aspartic proteinase, Spodoptera exigua cathepsin D (SeCatD), was cloned, and its functions in metamorphosis were characterized. SeCatD contains an open reading frame of 1152 nucleotides, encoding a 384-amino acid polypeptide including a signal peptide and two functional domains (family A1 propeptide of amino acids (19-45) and a cathepsin D-like domain of 327 amino acids (55-381)).

SeGSTo, a novel glutathione S-transferase from the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), involved in detoxification and oxidative stress.

Members of the glutathione S-transferase superfamily can protect organisms against oxidative stress. In this study, we characterized an omega glutathione S-transferase from Spodoptera exigua (SeGSTo). The SeGSTo gene contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 744 nucleotides encoding a 248-amino acid polypeptide.

Secapin, a bee venom peptide, exhibits anti-fibrinolytic, anti-elastolytic, and anti-microbial activities.

Bee venom contains a variety of peptide constituents that have various biological, toxicological, and pharmacological actions. However, the biological actions of secapin, a venom peptide in bee venom, remain largely unknown. Here, we provide the evidence that Asiatic honeybee (Apis cerana) secapin (AcSecapin-1) exhibits anti-fibrinolytic, anti-elastolytic, and anti-microbial activities.

Virulence of Entomopathogenic Fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus for the Microbial Control of Spodoptera exigua.

The beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is difficult to control using chemical insecticides because of the development of insecticide resistance. Several pest control agents are used to control the beet armyworm. Entomopathogenic fungi are one of the candidates for eco-friendly pest control instead of chemical control agents.

Comparative study of two thioredoxins from common cutworm (Spodoptera litura): cloning, expression, and functional characterization.

Thioredoxins (Trxs) are a ubiquitous family of antioxidant enzymes that are involved in protecting organisms against various oxidative stresses. Here, we cloned and characterized two thioredoxins, named SlTrx1 and SlTrx2, from the common cutworm Spodoptera litura. SlTrx1 and SlTrx2, respectively, consist of 988 and 606 bp full-length cDNA with 318 and 447 bp open reading frames encoding 106 and 149 amino acid residues.

Apolipophorin III from honeybees (Apis cerana) exhibits antibacterial activity.

Apolipophorin III (apoLp-III) is involved in lipid transport and innate immunity in insects. In this study, an apoLp-III protein that exhibits antibacterial activity was identified in honeybees (Apis cerana). A.