Microsclerotia from Metarhizium robertsii: Production, ultrastructural analysis, robustness, and insecticidal activity.

Microsclerotia (MS) are considered one of the most promising propagules for use as active ingredients in biopesticides due to their tolerance to abiotic factors and ability to produce infective conidia for the control of pests. Therefore, the objective of this research was to establish the conditions required to induce the formation of microsclerotia in Metarhizium robertsii Mt004 and to study its development process, tolerance to abiotic factors and insecticidal activity of MS-derived conidia. M.

Validation of RT-qPCR test for SARS-CoV-2 in saliva specimens.

Background: Saliva samples may be an easier, faster, safer, and cost-saving alternative to NPS samples, and can be self-collected by the patient. Whether SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR in saliva is more accurate than in nasopharyngeal swaps (NPS) is uncertain. We evaluated the accuracy of the RT-qPCR in both types of samples, assuming both approaches were imperfect.

Natural Coinfection between Novel Species of Baculoviruses in Larvae.

(Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an important pest in different crops of economic relevance in America. For its control, strategies that include chemicals are usually used; so, the description of entomopathogens would be very useful for the formulation of biopesticides. In this regard, two different baculoviruses affecting were isolated in Colombia, with one of them being an NPV and the other a GV.

Characterization of a new strain of with potential to be developed as a biopesticide.

The fungal species , that occurs only in New Zealand and Australia has been poorly studied.  In this work, a new strain of isolated from a larva of sp. is described based on morphology, genomic multilocus (ITS, EF-1α and β-tubulin) phylogeny, growth in different culture media and insecticidal activity.

Use of Trichoderma koningiopsis chitinase to enhance the insecticidal activity of Beauveria bassiana against Diatraea saccharalis.

Trichoderma is a well-known soil-borne fungus, highly efficient producer of extracellular enzymes including chitinases. The aim of this study was to recover a chitinase from fermentation waste after harvesting Trichoderma koningiopsis Th003 conidia and assess its potential as an enhancer of Beauveria bassiana insecticidal activity against Diatraea saccharalis. T.

Three-dimensional cellular aggregates formed by in liquid culture with potential for use as a biocontrol agent of the African black beetle ().

formed three-dimensional aggregates of cells (CAs) in liquid culture. CAs were formed mainly by blastospores and conidia, distinct from microsclerotia formed through adhesion of hyphae. The formation, germination and sporulation of CAs were studied, as well as the pathogenicity of conidia produced from them against adults of black beetle.

Novel use of Kombucha consortium to reduce Escherichia coli in dairy shed effluent.

Background: Faecal contamination from dairy farm effluent is a major risk to water quality in New Zealand. In this experiment we have tested the efficacy of Kombucha SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast), to reduce the concentration of Escherichia coli in dairy shed effluent (DSE).

Results: Kombucha SCOBY was highly effective in lowering the number of E.

Can Biological Control Overcome the Threat From Newly Invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Populations (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)? A Review.

The coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB: Linnaeus) is one of the most damaging pests to coconut and oil palms in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Adults bore into the crown and damage developing fronds, which affects tree development and yield. The insect is native to South and Southeast Asia and was inadvertently introduced into the Pacific in 1909.

Novel biopesticide based on Erinnyis ello betabaculovirus: characterization and preliminary field evaluation to control Erinnyis ello in rubber plantations.

Background: The hornworn Erinnyis ello is the major pest of natural rubber crops in Colombia, mainly controlled using toxic chemical insecticides. The use of E. ello Betabaculovirus is an environmentally sustainable alternative for its control.

Metarhizium rileyi biopesticide to control Spodoptera frugiperda: Stability and insecticidal activity under glasshouse conditions.

The insect-pathogenic fungus Metarhizium rileyi is highly sensitive to nutritional and environmental conditions which makes it difficult to produce as a stable biopesticide. In this study, a Colombian isolate of this fungus was produced in bulk, and conidia were formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate (EC). The stability of formulated conidia was studied.

Identification of Diatraea spp. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) based on cytochrome oxidase II.

Diatraea spp. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) are a group of insects that are agriculture pests in many economically relevant crops such as sugarcane, sorghum, corn and rice. Recognized species for this genus respond differentially to natural enemies used in their biological control, emphasizing the importance of species in a regional approach.

Evidence of recent interspecies horizontal gene transfer regarding nucleopolyhedrovirus infection of Spodoptera frugiperda.

Background: Baculoviruses are insect-associated viruses carrying large, circular double-stranded-DNA genomes with significant biotechnological applications such as biological pest control, recombinant protein production, gene delivery in mammals and as a model of DNA genome evolution. These pathogens infect insects from the orders Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera, and have high species diversity which is expressed in their diverse biological properties including morphology, virulence or pathogenicity. Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), the fall armyworm, represents a significant pest for agriculture in America; it is a host for baculoviruses such as the Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV) (Colombia strain, genotype A) having been classified as a Group II alphabaculovirus making it a very attractive target for bioinsecticidal use.

The complete sequence of the first Spodoptera frugiperda Betabaculovirus genome: a natural multiple recombinant virus.

Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major pest in maize crops in Colombia, and affects several regions in America. A granulovirus isolated from S. frugiperda (SfGV VG008) has potential as an enhancer of insecticidal activity of previously described nucleopolyhedrovirus from the same insect species (SfMNPV).

Deletion genotypes reduce occlusion body potency but increase occlusion body production in a Colombian Spodoptera frugiperda nucleopolyhedrovirus population.

A Colombian field isolate (SfCOL-wt) of Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV) is a mixture of different genotypes. To evaluate the insecticidal properties of the different genotypic variants, 83 plaque purified virus were characterized. Ten distinct genotypes were identified (named A through J).

Experimental mixtures of Phthorimaea operculella granulovirus isolates provide high biological efficacy on both Phthorimaea operculella and Tecia solanivora (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

The Guatemalan potato moth Tecia solanivora (Povolny) recently invaded part of South America, colonizing zones where Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), another potato moth species belonging to the same group, was previously established. T. solanivora is now the major insect pest of potato in this area encompassing Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador.

[The effect of the formulation on the shelf-life of biopesticides based on two Colombian isolates of Trichoderma koningiopsis Th003 and Trichoderma asperellum Th034].

Background: Four biopesticide prototypes formulated as dispersible granules and dry powders based on 2 Colombian isolates of Trichoderma koningiopsis (Th003) and T. asperellum (Th034) were developed. These microorganisms have antagonist activity against Fusarium oxysporum f.

Genetic and biological analysis of Colombian Phthorimaea operculella granulovirus isolated from Tecia solanivora (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

Tecia solanivora (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is an invasive potato pest of the north of South America that recently colonized zones where Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a taxonomically related insect, was established. Nowadays, both species can be found in most areas in different proportions. The Phthorimaea operculella granulovirus (PhopGV) was found to efficiently control P.

[Incidence of respiratory symptoms and the association with air pollution in preschoolers: a multilevel analysis].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between air pollution and respiratory symptoms in preschoolers from Bucaramanga, Colombia. A cohort study was conducted by reporting daily symptoms in preschoolers living in two zones of the city with different PM10 air pollution levels. Individual and neighborhood variables were included in a multilevel analysis.

Eudragit S100 microparticles containing Spodoptera frugiperda nucleopolyehedrovirus: physicochemical characterization, photostability and in vitro virus release.

The aim of this study was to encapsulate the occlusion bodies (OBs) of Spodoptera frugiperda nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfNPV) in Eudragit S100 microparticles (MPs), considering this technique as a possible alternative to protect them from deleterious environmental conditions. The MPs were prepared by oil-in-oil emulsion (O/O) solvent evaporation method. Experimental conditions were established according to a previous multi-level experimental design involving the core/polymer ratio as independent variable.