A new genome sequence resource for five invasive fruit flies of agricultural concern: , , , and (Diptera, Tephritidae).

Here, we present novel high quality genome assemblies for five invasive tephritid species of agricultural concern: , , , and (read depths between 65 and 78x). Three assemblies ( , and ) were scaffolded with chromosome conformation data and annotated using RNAseq reads. For some species this is the first reference genome available ( , and ), for others we have published improved annotated genomes ( and ).

Metarhizium anisopliae engineering mediated by a CRISPR/Cas9 recyclable system.

The advent of CRISPR/Cas technology has revolutionized genome editing, offering simplicity, precision, and cost-effectiveness. While its application in biological control fungi has been limited, including the cosmopolitan fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, recent advancements show promise. However, integrating cas9 and selection-marker genes into fungal genomes poses challenges, including reduced efficiency, toxicity, and off-target effects.

Deterministic and stochastic effects drive the gut microbial diversity in cucurbit-feeding fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae).

Insect diversity is closely linked to the evolution of phytophagy, with most phytophagous insects showing a strong degree of specialisation for specific host plants. Recent studies suggest that the insect gut microbiome might be crucial in facilitating the dietary (host plant) range. This requires the formation of stable insect-microbiome associations, but it remains largely unclear which processes govern the assembly of insect microbiomes.

RIF1 integrates DNA repair and transcriptional requirements during the establishment of humoral immune responses.

The establishment of protective immune responses relies on the ability of terminally differentiated B cells to secrete a broad variety of antigen-specific antibodies with different effector functions. RIF1 is a multifunctional protein that promotes antibody isotype diversification via its DNA end protection activity during class switch recombination. In this study, we showed that RIF1 ablation resulted in increased plasmablast formation ex vivo and enhanced terminal differentiation into plasma cells upon immunization.

Variation in HIV-1 Tat activity is a key determinant in the establishment of latent infection.

Despite effective treatment, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) persists in optimally treated people as a transcriptionally silent provirus. Latently infected cells evade the immune system and the harmful effects of the virus, thereby creating a long-lasting reservoir of HIV. To gain a deeper insight into the molecular mechanisms of HIV latency establishment, we constructed a series of HIV-1 fluorescent reporter viruses that distinguish active versus latent infection.