Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of camptothecin analogue FL118 as a payload for antibody-drug conjugates in targeted cancer therapy.

FL118, a camptothecin derivative with dual mechanisms of action through topoisomerase I inhibition and proteasome-mediated degradation of anti-apoptotic proteins exhibits potent anti-tumor activity while remaining resistant to drug efflux transporters. This work describes the targeted delivery of FL118 to tumors via antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) using the pH-sensitive CL2A linker. ADCs targeting Trop2, HER2, and EGFR exhibited potent in vitro cytotoxicity, with IC values as low as 0.

Temperature-dependent development of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) at constant temperatures: instar pathways and stage transition models with semifield validation.

Temperature-dependent development of Helicoverpa armigera (Hüber) fed with an artificial diet was studied at different temperatures. The instar pathway (IPW) defined as the number of instars prior to pupation significantly affected larval development time, with higher IPW leading to longer larval development time. The IPW was determined at the fifth instar to proceed to 6-7 IPW, when the development time of fifth instar was largely shortened.

Chymotrypsin is a molecular target of insect resistance of three corn varieties against the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis.

The Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis, is a serious insect pest that can infest corn leaves and stems. Due to its internal feeding behavior, its larvae are not exposed to insecticides that are usually sprayed for pest control. To minimize crop damage caused by O.

Identification of a fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)-specific gene and development of a rapid and sensitive loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay.

The fall armyworm [FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith)], a moth native to America, has spread throughout the world since it was first discovered in Africa in 2016. The FAW is a polyphagous migratory pest that can travel over long distances using seasonal winds or typhoons because of its excellent flying ability, causing serious damage to many crops. For effective FAW control, accurate species identification is essential at the beginning of the invasion.

CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis against sex pheromone biosynthesis leads to loss of female attractiveness in Spodoptera exigua, an insect pestt.

Virgin female moths are known to release sex pheromones to attract conspecific males. Accurate sex pheromones are required for their chemical communication. Sex pheromones of Spodoptera exigua, a lepidopteran insect, contain unsaturated fatty acid derivatives having a double bond at the 12th carbon position.

Physiological Alterations in Deletion Mutants of Two Insulin-Like Peptides Encoded in Using CRISPR/Cas9.

Most insect species encode multiple insulin-like peptides (ILPs) that exhibit functional overlaps in mediating physiological processes such as development and reproduction. Why do they need multiple ILPs? To address this question, we tested a hypothesis of the requirement of multiple ILPs by generating mutants lacking individual ILP genes using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Two ILPs (ILP1 and ILP2) in the legume pod borer, , mediate similar physiological processes such as hemolymph sugar level, larval development, and adult reproduction.

Fine-mapping and candidate gene analysis for the foxglove aphid resistance gene Raso2 from wild soybean PI 366121.

The foxglove aphid resistance gene Raso2 from PI 366121 was fine-mapped to 77 Kb region, and one candidate gene was identified. The foxglove aphid (FA: Aulacorthum solani Kaltenbach) is an important insect pest that causes serious yield losses in soybean. The FA resistance gene Raso2 from wild soybean PI 366121 was previously mapped to a 13 cM interval on soybean chromosome 7.

Development, Reproduction, and Life Table Parameters of the Foxglove Aphid, Kaltenbach (Hemiptera: Aphididae), on Soybean at Constant Temperatures.

We investigated several characteristics of the development and reproduction of the aphid raised on soybean () at 10 constant temperatures between 2.5 and 30 °C, and described the relationship between temperature and several critical biological characteristics using mathematical models. We found that could survive and reproduce on soybean at temperatures ranging from 5 to 27.

Alteration of insulin signaling to control insect pest by using transformed bacteria expressing dsRNA.

Background: Insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) is known to mediate larval growth and adult reproduction in the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Four IIS components (InR, FOXO, Akt, and TOR) play crucial roles in the IIS pathway.

Results: RNA interference (RNAi) against any of these four IIS component genes was effective in suppressing each target mRNA level by either hemocoelic injection or oral administration using gene-specific double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs).

The complete mitochondrial genome of (Fallén, 1826) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) collected in a southern part of Korean peninsula.

A 16,359 bp mitochondrial genome of collected in a southern part of Korean peninsula was completed and their intraspecies variations were compared with Korean and Chinese mitogenomes. The circular mitogenome of contains 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, 22 tRNAs, and a single large non-coding region of 1,972 bp. The base composition was AT-biased (77.

The complete mitochondrial genome of (Fallén, 1826) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) collected in a mid-Western part of Korean peninsula.

(Fallén, 1826) is one of key rice pests in Northeast Asia. We have determined the mitochondrial genome of collected in a mid-western part of Korean peninsula. The circular mitogenome of is 16,359 bp long including 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNAs, and a single large non-coding region of 1,972 bp.

Insulin signaling mediates previtellogenic development and enhances juvenile hormone-mediated vitellogenesis in a lepidopteran insect, Maruca vitrata.

Background: Insulin/insulin-like growth peptide signaling (IIS) down-regulates hemolymph sugar level and facilitates larval growth in the soybean pod borer, Maruca vitrata. The objective of this study is to determine whether IIS of M. vitrata can mediate ovarian development of adult females.

Insulin-like peptides of the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata, and their mediation effects on hemolymph trehalose level, larval development, and adult reproduction.

Insulin-like peptides (ILPs) of insects mediate various physiological processes including hemolymph sugar level, immature growth, female reproduction, and lifespan. In target cells of ILPs, insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) is highly conserved in animals. IIS in the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is known to be involved in maintaining hemolymph trehalose levels and promoting larval growth.

Application of insulin signaling to predict insect growth rate in Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).

Insect growth is influenced by two major environmental factors: temperature and nutrient. These environmental factors are internally mediated by insulin/insulin-like growth factor signal (IIS) to coordinate tissue or organ growth. Maruca vitrata, a subtropical lepidopteran insect, migrates to different climate regions and feeds on various crops.

Regulation of hemolymph trehalose titers by insulin signaling in the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).

A disaccharide, trehalose, is a main hemolymph sugar of the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata larvae, but its titers fluctuated with feeding activity. During diurnal feeding in the photophase, hemolymph trehalose remained at a relatively low level (69 mM) and increased (98 mM) during scotophase. Starvation significantly increased the hemolymph trehalose level, in which the elevation of trehalose titers was dependent on the non-feeding period.

Forecasting Spring Emergence of the Asian Corn Borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Based on Postdiapause Development Rate.

This study was conducted to develop temperature-dependent postdiapause development models of overwintering larvae of the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), and to evaluate the models' forecasting accuracy using spring adult emergence data. Overwintering larvae were collected at three different times: 24 February (first), 23 March (second), and 25 April (third), 2005. The developmental periods of each collection colony were measured at eight constant temperatures, and those developmental rates were modeled with linear and nonlinear regression.

Rapid Cold-Hardening of a Subtropical Species, Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Accompanies Hypertrehalosemia by Upregulating Trehalose-6-Phosphate Synthase.

A subtropical insect, Maruca vitrata (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is invasive to temperate zones, in which low temperatures during winter would be a serious challenge for colonization. This study assessed cold tolerance and cold-hardening of M.

Effect of erythritol formulation on the mortality, fecundity and physiological excretion in Drosophila suzukii.

Previously, we studied various combinations of non-nutritive sugars including erythritol and erythrose having a potentially insecticidal effect on Drosophila suzukii. The study suggested two potential physiological changes causing fly mortality: 1) starvation from the feeding of non-metabolizable erythritol and erythrose; 2) abnormal osmotic pressure increased in the hemolymph with erythritol transported from the midgut. In the present study, sucrose and erythritol were applied to blueberries and effects of these combinations on fly mortality and fecundity were monitored in the lab and greenhouse.

Characterization of joining sites of a viral histone H4 on host insect chromosomes.

A viral histone H4 (CpBV-H4) is encoded in a polydnavirus, Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV). It plays a crucial role in parasitism of an endoparasitoid wasp, C. plutellae, against diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, by altering host gene expression in an epigenetic mode by its N-terminal tail after joining host nucleosomes.

An entomopathogenic bacterium, Xenorhabdus hominickii ANU101, produces oxindole and suppresses host insect immune response by inhibiting eicosanoid biosynthesis.

An entomopathogenic bacterium, Xenorhabdus hominickii ANU101, was isolated from an entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema monticolum. X. hominickii exhibited significant insecticidal activities at ≥6.

Identification and bacterial characteristics of Xenorhabdus hominickii ANU101 from an entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema monticolum.

An entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema monticolum, was collected in Korea. Its identity was confirmed by morphological and molecular characters. Its symbiotic bacterium, Xenorhabdus hominickii ANU101, was isolated and assessed in terms of bacterial characteristics.

A Mixture of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis With Xenorhabdus nematophila -Cultured Broth Enhances Toxicity Against Mosquitoes Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens pallens (Diptera: Culicidae).

Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus spp. (Enterobacteriaceae) can synthesize and release secondary metabolites that play crucial roles in their pathogenicity by suppressing the immunity of target insects. The insect immunity contributes to defense against the pathogenicity of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).

The Biochemical Adaptations of Spotted Wing Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) to Fresh Fruits Reduced Fructose Concentrations and Glutathione-S Transferase Activities.

Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, is an invasive and economically damaging pest in Europe and North America. The females have a serrated ovipositor that enables them to infest almost all ripening small fruits. To understand the physiological and metabolic basis of spotted wing drosophila food preferences for healthy ripening fruits, we investigated the biological and biochemical characteristics of spotted wing drosophila and compared them with those of Drosophila melanogaster Meigen.

Time-Course RNA-Seq Analysis Reveals Transcriptional Changes in Rice Plants Triggered by Rice stripe virus Infection.

Rice stripe virus (RSV) has become a major pathogen of rice. To determine how the rice transcriptome is modified in response to RSV infection, we used RNA-Seq to perform a genome-wide gene expression analysis of a susceptible rice cultivar. The transcriptomes of RSV-infected samples were compared to those of mock-treated samples at 3, 7, and 15 days post-infection (dpi).