Dynamics of Insects and Their Facultative Defensive Endosymbiotic Bacteria: A Simulation Model.

Most insects harbour endosymbionts that modify their physiology, reproductive mode, and ecology. One fascinating case is in aphids, which host endosymbionts that protect them against attacks from parasitoids. These symbionts are transmitted maternally with high fidelity but can also be transmitted horizontally from infected to uninfected hosts.

Bioactive Insecticides from Chemometric Diverse Ant-Associated Symbionts and against the Fall Armyworm Larvae.

The genus has long been recognized as a prolific and valuable source of diverse secondary metabolites. These metabolites contribute significantly to the intricate chemical diversity exhibited by , making them an indispensable reservoir for drug discovery, agricultural applications, and industrial processes. Exploiting the potential of these natural compounds holds the promise of ushering in a new era in insect pest management, reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals and fostering ecologically sustainable solutions.

Bulk segregant mapping and transcriptome analyses reveal the molecular mechanisms of spinetoram resistance in Spodoptera frugiperda.

The evolution of resistance to insecticides poses a significant threat to pest management programs. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying insecticide resistance is essential to design sustainable pest control and resistance management programs. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is an important insect pest of many crops and has a remarkable ability to evolve resistance to insecticides.

Evolutionary and phylogenetic insights from the mitochondrial genomic analysis of Diceraeus melacanthus and D. furcatus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

The mitochondrial genomes of D. melacanthus and D. furcatus were sequenced and used to investigate the phylogenetic relationships with 54 species of Pentatomidae.

Transcriptomic investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam and the pyrethroid lambda-cyhalothrin in Euschistus heros (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

Background: Laboratory-selected resistant strains of Euschistus heros to thiamethoxam (NEO) and lambda-cyhalothrin (PYR) were recently reported in Brazil. However, the mechanisms conferring resistance to these insecticides in E. heros remain unresolved.

Comparative Genomics of Pesticide-Degrading Enterococcus Symbionts of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Leads to the Identification of Two New Species and the Reappraisal of Insect-Associated Enterococcus Species.

Enterococcus species have been described as core members of the microbial community of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and have been previously reported as insecticide degrading agents. This study aimed to investigate the molecular composition of these microbial symbionts of S. frugiperda to better understand their association with the host and their potential for insecticide metabolization.

Susceptibility monitoring and comparative gene expression of susceptible and resistant strains of Spodoptera frugiperda to lambda-cyhalothrin and chlorpyrifos.

Background: Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) is a widespread agricultural pest with several records of resistance to different insecticides and Bt proteins, including the neurotoxic insecticides chlorpyrifos (organophosphate) and lambda-cyhalothrin (pyrethroid).

The genome sequence of the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros provides insights into population structure, demographic history and signatures of adaptation.

The Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros, is a major pest of soybean in South America. The importance of E. heros as a pest has grown significantly in recent times due to increases in its abundance and range, and the evolution of insecticide resistance.

Non-targeted metabolomics reveals differences in the gut metabolic profile of the fall armyworm strains when feeding different food sources.

Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm - FAW) is an important polyphagous agricultural pest feeding on nearly 350 host plants. FAW is undergoing incipient speciation with two well-characterized host-adapted strains, the "corn" (CS) and "rice" (RS) strains, which are morphologically identical but carry several genes under positive selection for host adaptation. We used non-targeted metabolomics based on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to identify differences in metabolite profiles of the larval gut of CS and RS feeding on different host plants.

The molecular interplay of the establishment of an infection - gene expression of Diaphorina citri gut and Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus.

Background: Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) is one the causative agents of greening disease in citrus, an unccurable, devastating disease of citrus worldwide. CLas is vectored by Diaphorina citri, and the understanding of the molecular interplay between vector and pathogen will provide additional basis for the development and implementation of successful management strategies. We focused in the molecular interplay occurring in the gut of the vector, a major barrier for CLas invasion and colonization.

The Genome of " Liberibacter asiaticus" Is Highly Transcribed When Infecting the Gut of .

The Asian citrus psyllid, , is the vector of the bacterium " Liberibacter asiaticus" (Las), associated with the devastating, worldwide citrus disease huanglongbing. In order to explore the molecular interactions of this bacterium with during the vector acquisition process, cDNA libraries were sequenced on an Illumina platform, obtained from the gut of adult psyllids confined in healthy (H) and in Las-infected young shoots (Las) for different periods of times (I = 1/2 days, II = 3/4 days, and III = 5/6 days). In each sampling time, three biological replicates were collected, containing 100 guts each, totaling 18 libraries depleted in ribosomal RNA.

Chromosomal scale assembly of parasitic wasp genome reveals symbiotic virus colonization.

Endogenous viruses form an important proportion of eukaryote genomes and a source of novel functions. How large DNA viruses integrated into a genome evolve when they confer a benefit to their host, however, remains unknown. Bracoviruses are essential for the parasitism success of parasitoid wasps, into whose genomes they integrated ~103 million years ago.

Modelling movement and stage-specific habitat preferences of a polyphagous insect pest.

Background: The feeding preferences of (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) cause a parent-offspring conflict, as providing the best host for the offspring development is detrimental to adult survival and fecundity. Understanding the implications of this conflict could help entomologists to implement pest-management programs. With this in mind, the foraging behaviour of was investigated using an individual-based model in two distinct scenarios.

Beyond host regulation: Changes in gut microbiome of permissive and non-permissive hosts following parasitization by the wasp Cotesia flavipes.

Koinobiont parasitoids regulate the physiology of their hosts, possibly interfering with the host gut microbiota and ultimately impacting parasitoid development. We used the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes to investigate if the regulation of the host would also affect the host gut microbiota. We also wondered if the effects of parasitization on the gut microbiota would depend on the host-parasitoid association by testing the permissive Diatraea saccharalis and the non-permissive Spodoptera frugiperda hosts.

Regulation of the Larval Transcriptome of (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) by Maternal and Other Factors of the Parasitoid (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

Koinobiont endoparasitoid wasps regulate the host's physiology to their own benefit during their growth and development, using maternal, immature and/or derived-tissue weaponry. The tools used to subdue the wasps' hosts interfere directly with host transcription activity. The broad range of host tissues and pathways affected impedes our overall understanding of the host-regulation process during parasitoid development.

Microbial Diversity and Chemical Multiplicity of Culturable, Taxonomically Similar Bacterial Symbionts of the Leaf-Cutting Ant Acromyrmex coronatus.

Insects are a highly diverse group, exploit a wide range of habitats, and harbor bacterial symbionts of largely unknown diversity. Insect-associated bacterial symbionts are underexplored but promising sources of bioactive compounds. The community of culturable bacteria associated with the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex coronatus (Fabricius) and the diversity of their metabolites produced were investigated.

Shifting the Balance: Heat Stress Challenges the Symbiotic Interactions of the Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera, Liviidae).

Global warming may impact biodiversity by disrupting biological interactions, including long-term insect-microbe mutualistic associations. Symbiont-mediated insect tolerance to high temperatures is an ecologically important trait that significantly influences an insect's life history. Disruption of microbial symbionts that are required by insects would substantially impact their pest status.

Culturable symbionts associated with the reproductive and digestive tissues of the Neotropical brown stinkbug Euschistus heros.

Symbionts are widely distributed in eukaryotes, and potentially affect the physiology, ecology and evolution of their host. Most insects harbour free-living bacteria in their haemocoel and gut lumen, intracellular-living bacteria in a range of tissues or bacteria in host-derived specialized cells. Stinkbugs, as do many arthropods, harbour extracellular bacteria in the gut that may affect the fitness of their host.

Loci under selection and markers associated with host plant and host-related strains shape the genetic structure of Brazilian populations of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae).

We applied the ddRAD genotyping-by-sequencing technique to investigate the genetic distinctiveness of Brazilian populations of the noctuid moth Spodoptera frugiperda, the fall armyworm (FAW), and the role of host-plant association as a source of genetic diversification. By strain-genotyping all field-collected individuals we found that populations collected from corn were composed primarily of corn-strain individuals, while the population collected from rice was composed almost entirely of rice-strain individuals. Outlier analyses indicated 1,184 loci putatively under selection (ca.

Spiroplasma affects host aphid proteomics feeding on two nutritional resources.

Bacterial symbionts are broadly distributed among insects, influencing their bioecology to different degrees. Aphids carry a number of secondary symbionts that can influence aphid physiology and fitness attributes. Spiroplasma is seldom reported as an aphid symbiont, but a high level of infection has been observed in one population of the tropical aphid Aphis citricidus.

Two genomes of highly polyphagous lepidopteran pests (Spodoptera frugiperda, Noctuidae) with different host-plant ranges.

Emergence of polyphagous herbivorous insects entails significant adaptation to recognize, detoxify and digest a variety of host-plants. Despite of its biological and practical importance - since insects eat 20% of crops - no exhaustive analysis of gene repertoires required for adaptations in generalist insect herbivores has previously been performed. The noctuid moth Spodoptera frugiperda ranks as one of the world's worst agricultural pests.

Tapping the biotechnological potential of insect microbial symbionts: new insecticidal porphyrins.

Background: The demand for sustainable agricultural practices and the limited progress toward newer and safer chemicals for use in pest control maintain the impetus for research and identification of new natural molecules. Natural molecules are preferable to synthetic organic molecules because they are biodegradable, have low toxicity, are often selective and can be applied at low concentrations. Microbes are one source of natural insecticides, and microbial insect symbionts have attracted attention as a source of new bioactive molecules because these microbes are exposed to various selection pressures in their association with insects.