Phylogenetic analysis and homology modelling of a new Cry8A crystal protein expressed in a sporulating soil bacterium.

Cry proteins, commonly found in Gram-positive soil bacteria, are used worldwide as aerial sprays or in transgenic plants for controlling crop pest populations and insect vectors. Via PCR analysis, a spore producing soil isolate (BV5) was speculated to encode a Cry gene. Partial nucleotide sequence of the amplified PCR fragment showed homology with the Cry8 genes present in GenBank.

Distinct biological control agents differentially modulate the immune system of the sugarcane borer larvae (Diatraea saccharalis).

The humoral response plays a crucial role in insect defense against parasites and pathogens, typically producing antimicrobial peptides through the Toll, IMD, and Jak-STAT signaling pathways, as well as melanization via phenoloxidases. However, many studies use nonpathogenic or opportunistic organisms and often infect insects in nonnatural ways, such as piercing or injecting the pathogen into the hemocoel. The objective of this study was to examine the modulation of the main humoral pathway genes involved in the interaction between the nonmodel organism Diatraea saccharalis (the sugarcane borer) and different biological control agents.

Insights from different reproductive gene knockdowns via RNA interference in the lady beetle Eriopis connexa: Establishing a new model for molecular studies on natural enemies.

Insect pest control can be achieved by the application of RNA interference (RNAi), a key molecular tool in functional genomics. Whereas most RNAi research has focused on insect pests, few studies have been performed on natural enemies. Validating the efficacy of RNAi in natural enemies is crucial for assessing its safety and enabling molecular research on these organisms.

Transcriptome Profiling of the Resistance Response of subsp. , var. Calcutta 4 to .

Banana ( spp.), which is one of the world's most popular and most traded fruits, is highly susceptible to pests and diseases. , responsible for Sigatoka leaf spot disease, is a principal fungal pathogen of spp.

Why is oral-induced RNAi inefficient in Diatraea saccharalis? A possible role for DsREase and other nucleases.

The efficiency of RNAi technology in insects varies considerably, particularly in lepidopterans. An important limiting factor of RNAi-mediated gene silencing is the degradation of dsRNA by insect nucleases before cellular uptake. To date, few studies have reported effective gene knockdown in the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis.

Field-evolved resistance to beta-cyfluthrin in the boll weevil: Detection and characterization.

Background: Insecticide resistance in arthropods is an inherited trait that has become a major cause of insect pest control failure. Monitoring the level of susceptibility and characterization of the type of resistance of key pest species aims to determine the risk of resistance selection in time to take action to mitigate control failures. Seven populations of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis, collected from cotton fields in the Semiarid and Cerrado areas of Brazil, were screened for their resistance to malathion and beta-cyfluthrin, insecticides widely recommended for control of boll weevil and other pests.

Increasing Anthonomus grandis susceptibility to Metarhizium anisopliae through RNAi-induced AgraRelish knockdown: a perspective to combine biocontrol and biotechnology.

Background: The hemolymph and insect gut together have an essential role in the immune defense against microorganisms, including the production of antimicrobial peptides (AMP). AMPs are mainly induced by two specific signaling pathways, Toll and immune deficiency (IMD). Here, we characterize the expression profile of four genes from both pathways and describe the importance of AgraRelish in the immune defense of Anthonomus grandis against the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae by RNA interference (RNAi).

RNAi-Mediated Suppression of Impairs Cuticle Tanning and Molting in the Cotton Boll Weevil ().

The cotton boll weevil, , is the most economically important pest of cotton in Brazil. Pest management programs focused on are based mostly on the use of chemical insecticides, which may cause serious ecological impacts. Furthermore, has developed resistance to some insecticides after their long-term use.

Comparative Genomics Reveals Novel Target Genes towards Specific Control of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes.

Plant-parasitic nematodes cause extensive annual yield losses to worldwide agricultural production. Most cultivated plants have no known resistance against nematodes and the few bearing a resistance gene can be overcome by certain species. Chemical methods that have been deployed to control nematodes have largely been banned from use due to their poor specificity and high toxicity.

Transcriptome Analysis and Knockdown of the Juvenile Hormone Esterase Gene Reveal Abnormal Feeding Behavior in the Sugarcane Giant Borer.

The sugarcane giant borer (SGB), , is a pest that has strong economic relevance for sugarcane producers. Due to the endophytic behavior of the larva, current methods of management are inefficient. A promising biotechnological management option has been proposed based on RNA interference (RNAi), a process that uses molecules of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to specifically knock down essential genes and reduce insect survival.

Comparative gut transcriptome analysis of Diatraea saccharalis in response to the dietary source.

The sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis, Fabricius, 1794) is a devastating pest that causes millions of dollars of losses each year to sugarcane producers by reducing sugar and ethanol yields. The control of this pest is difficult due to its endophytic behavior and rapid development. Pest management through biotechnological approaches has emerged in recent years as an alternative to currently applied methods.

Author Correction: Enzymatic activity of a recombinant β-1,4-endoglucanase from the Cotton Boll Weevil (Anthonomus grandis) aiming second generation ethanol production.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Enzymatic activity of a recombinant β-1,4-endoglucanase from the Cotton Boll Weevil (Anthonomus grandis) aiming second generation ethanol production.

In the last years, the production of ethanol fuel has started to change with the introduction of second-generation ethanol (2 G Ethanol) in the energy sector. However, in Brazil, the process of obtaining 2 G ethanol did not reach a basic standard to achieve relevant and economically viable results. Several studies have currently been addressed to solve these issues.

Stable reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis of gene expression in the Musa acuminata-Pseudocercospora musae interaction.

Leaf pathogens are limiting factors in banana (Musa spp.) production, with Pseudocercospora spp. responsible for the important Sigatoka disease complex.

The plant WEE1 kinase is involved in checkpoint control activation in nematode-induced galls.

Galls induced by plant-parasitic nematodes involve a hyperactivation of the plant mitotic and endocycle machinery for their profit. Dedifferentiation of host root cells includes drastic cellular and molecular readjustments. In such a background, potential DNA damage in the genome of gall cells is evident.