does not give an advantage to the ectoparasitoid (Say, 1836) when it develops on an infected host.

The effect of on the viability and antimicrobial activity of the ectoparasitoid was evaluated in laboratory experiments. Two lines of the parasitoid, -infected (W+) and -free (W-), were used. Parasitoid larvae were fed with a host orally infected with a sublethal dose of (Bt) and on the host uninfected with Bt.

Nearly complete genome sequences of the first two identified Colorado potato beetle viruses.

The Colorado potato beetle is one of the most devastating potato pests in the world. However, its viral pathogens, which might have potential in pest control, have remained unexplored. With high-throughput sequencing of Colorado potato beetle samples derived from prepupal larvae which died from an unknown infection, we have identified two previously unknown RNA viruses and assembled their nearly complete genome sequences.

The endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia (Rickettsiales) alters larval metabolism of the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

Infection of intestinal tissues with Wolbachia has been found in Habrobracon hebetor. There are not many studies on the relationship between Habrobracon and Wolbachia, and they focus predominantly on the sex index of an infected parasitoid, its fertility, and behavior. The actual role of Wolbachia in the biology of Habrobracon is not yet clear.

Tenuazonic acid alters immune and physiological reactions and susceptibility to pathogens in Galleria mellonella larvae.

Tenuazonic acid (TeA) is synthesized by phytopathogenic and opportunistic fungi and is detected in a broad range of foods. This natural compound is of interest in terms of toxicity to animals, but its mechanisms of action on insects are poorly understood. We administered TeA orally at different concentrations (0.

The Metagenomic Analysis of Viral Diversity in Colorado Potato Beetle Public NGS Data.

The Colorado potato beetle (CPB) is one of the most serious insect pests due to its high ecological plasticity and ability to rapidly develop resistance to insecticides. The use of biological insecticides based on viruses is a promising approach to control insect pests, but the information on viruses which infect leaf feeding beetles is scarce. We performed a metagenomic analysis of 297 CPB genomic and transcriptomic samples from the public National Center for Biotechnology Information Sequence Read Archive (NCBI SRA) database.

Expression of Immunity- and Stress-Related Genes during an Intermolt Period in the Colorado Potato Beetle.

Different developmental stages of insects may be dissimilar in immunity functioning. Additionally, the stages often inhabit diverse environments with specific microbial communities. In the Colorado potato beetle, a strong increase in resistance to entomopathogenic fungi is observed during the intermolt period of last-instar larvae, but mechanisms of this change are insufficiently understood.

Identification of the Ricin-B-Lectin LdRBLk in the Colorado Potato Beetle and an Analysis of Its Expression in Response to Fungal Infections.

Ricin-B-lectins (RBLs) have been identified in many groups of organisms, including coleopterans insects, particularly the Colorado potato beetle (LdRBLs). We hypothesized that one of these LdRBLs (LdRBLk) may be involved in the immune response to fungal infections. We performed a theoretical analysis of the structure of this protein.

Fungus Metarhizium robertsii and neurotoxic insecticide affect gut immunity and microbiota in Colorado potato beetles.

Fungal infections and toxicoses caused by insecticides may alter microbial communities and immune responses in the insect gut. We investigated the effects of Metarhizium robertsii fungus and avermectins on the midgut physiology of Colorado potato beetle larvae. We analyzed changes in the bacterial community, immunity- and stress-related gene expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and detoxification enzyme activity in response to topical infection with the M.

Galleria mellonella larvae fat body disruption (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) caused by the venom of Habrobracon brevicornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

The ability of Habrobracon brevicornis venom to elevate the nutritional suitability of a host by affecting the host larvae fat body condition was studied. To understand whether H. brevicornis crude venom impacts the host biochemical profile, the concentrations of total lipids and main sugars in the host larvae lymph were analyzed.

Interplay between Fungal Infection and Bacterial Associates in the Wax Moth under Different Temperature Conditions.

Various insect bacterial associates are involved in pathogeneses caused by entomopathogenic fungi. The outcome of infection (fungal growth or decomposition) may depend on environmental factors such as temperature. The aim of this study was to analyze the bacterial communities and immune response of larvae injected with and incubated at 15 °C and 25 °C.

Parasitoid envenomation alters the Galleria mellonella midgut microbiota and immunity, thereby promoting fungal infection.

Gut bacteria influence the development of different pathologies caused by bacteria, fungi and parasitoids in insects. Wax moth larvae became more susceptible to fungal infections after envenomation by the ectoparasitoid Habrobracon hebetor. In addition, spontaneous bacterioses occurred more often in envenomated larvae.

High frequency of somatic mutations in rat liver mitochondrial DNA.

Somatic mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are thought to play an important role in both aging and neurodegenerative diseases although their specific contributions remain a subject of intense debate. We analyzed somatic mutations in the mtDNA control regions in the liver of Wistar rats. The mutation rate was found to be high and increased with age from 5.