Wingless strain created using binary transgenic CRISPR/Cas9 alleviates concerns about mass rearing of Hermetia illucens.

Larvae of the black soldier fly Hermetia illucens have potential as a natural waste recycler and subsequent use as protein-rich feed for livestock. A common question about the insect-farming processes is, what about the concerns of mass escape of insects from large populations? Here, we present a binary transgenic CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate wingless strain with the potential to address this issue. We identified gonad-specific promoters in vivo and evaluated use of the two strongest promoters, nanos and exuperantia, to drive Cas9 expression.

Nap1 is essential for eupyrene spermatogenesis and migration in Plutella xylostella.

Spermatogenesis is a key process for the sexual reproduction species. In lepidopteran insects, spermatogenesis produces two different types of sperms, in which eupyrene sperm carry genomic DNA and fertilize eggs, whereas apyrene sperm are necessary for eupyrene sperm to enter eggs. However, functional genetic studies of spermatogenesis in Plutella xylostella remain a longstanding puzzle even though the phenomenon in lepidoptera has been widely documented more than a century.

Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolic Characterization of Mango Ripened by Different Methods.

So far, the metabolic differences between tree-ripened and postharvest-ripened mangoes have largely remained unexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition of nutrient substances in mangoes subjected to different ripening methods. An untargeted metabolomic approach based on ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was carried out to investigate the differences between artificially ripened and naturally ripened mangoes.

CD137 Protein Expression Pattern Determines the Functional Role of Galectin-9 in Colorectal Cancer.

The rapid advancement of single-cell sequencing technology has generated extensive data, providing critical resources for colorectal cancer (CRC) research. This study conducts a detailed analysis of CRC single-cell sequencing data to develop a novel clinical prognostic tool and explore potential therapeutic targets for the LGALS9 gene. Using the Scissor algorithm, we created a CRC prognostic scoring system (SDRS) based on 13 key genes, with particular focus on LGALS9 and its protein, Galectin-9, in mice CRC model with altered CD137 expression.

Multi-targets cleavage of BmNPV genome through genome-wide repeat sequence using CRISPR/Cas9 antiviral system.

The escalating severity of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) infections poses significant challenges to the silkworm industry, especially when massive production shifts occur from the eastern regions to western regions with lower labor costs. Education and experience levels are different and disease control is badly needed. To solve the problems, we have developed an innovative CRISPR/Cas9 system specifically targeting BmNPV to enhance viral resistance.

Phase-modulation-induced reconfigurable rotating photonic lattices in atomic vapors.

We propose a method to prepare optically induced rotating hexagonal and honey-comb photonic lattices by employing the phase modulated three-beam interference in atomic vapors with electromagnetically induced transparency. The phase differences among the three beams are dynamically elaborated to synthesize the circular motion (in transverse dimensions) of waveguides in the photonic lattices. Further, we verify this model experimentally in the case of low-speed modulation.

Non-Hermitian Delocalization in a Two-Dimensional Photonic Quasicrystal.

Theoretical and experimental studies suggest that both Hermitian and non-Hermitian quasicrystals show localization due to the fractal spectrum and to the transition to diffusive bands via exceptional points, respectively. Here, we present an experimental study of a dodecagonal photonic quasicrystal based on electromagnetically induced transparency in a Rb vapor cell. First, we observe the suppression of the wave packet expansion in the Hermitian case.

Unveiling the neuroprotective properties of isoflavones: current evidence, molecular mechanisms and future perspectives.

Neurodegenerative diseases encompass a wide range of debilitating and incurable brain disorders characterized by the progressive deterioration of the nervous system's structure and function. Isoflavones, which are naturally occurring polyphenolic phytochemicals, have been found to regulate various cellular signaling pathways associated with the nervous system. The main objective of this comprehensive review is to explore the neuroprotective effects of isoflavones, elucidate the underlying mechanisms, and assess their potential for treating neurodegenerative disorders.

Genome-wide identification of yellow gene family in Hermetia illucens and functional analysis of yellow-y by CRISPR/Cas9.

The yellow gene family plays a crucial role in insect pigmentation. It has potential for use as a visible marker gene in genetic manipulation and transgenic engineering in several model and non-model insects. Sadly, yellow genes have rarely been identified in Stratiomyidae species and the functions of yellow genes are relatively unknown.

Mammalian PIWI-piRNA-target complexes reveal features for broad and efficient target silencing.

The PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway is an adaptive defense system wherein piRNAs guide PIWI family Argonaute proteins to recognize and silence ever-evolving selfish genetic elements and ensure genome integrity. Driven by this intensive host-pathogen arms race, the piRNA pathway and its targeted transposons have coevolved rapidly in a species-specific manner, but how the piRNA pathway adapts specifically to target silencing in mammals remains elusive. Here, we show that mouse MILI and human HILI piRNA-induced silencing complexes (piRISCs) bind and cleave targets more efficiently than their invertebrate counterparts from the sponge Ephydatia fluviatilis.

Super amplification enabled by orbital angular momentum in weak measurement.

Weak measurement, which can amplify a weak signal, has shown great significance in precision measurements. The amplification is usually realized through the weak value and the propagation factor. We show that the orbital angular momentum (OAM) can provide another dimension for amplification that is linearly proportional to the OAM number.

Effects of collagen-based coating with chitosan and ε-polylysine on sensory, texture, and biochemical changes of refrigerated fillets.

In order to evaluate the effects of chitosan, ε-polylysine, and collagen on the preservation properties of refrigerated , samples were tested with different treatments for 10 days, namely chitosan, ε-polylysine and collagen (CH + ε-PL + CA), chitosan and ε-polylysine (CH + ε-PL), chitosan and collagen (CH + CA), ε-polylysine and collagen (ε-PL + CA), and the uncoated sample (CK). The results demonstrated that the bio-coating exhibited better preservation effects. The CH + ε-PL + CA, CH + ε-PL, CH + CA, ε-PL + CA treatments could significantly inhibit bacterial growth and retard the increase of total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA), K-value, and total viable counts (TVC) in fillets.

Bmpali, Bmb1 and Bmcap are necessary for uric acid granule formation in Bombyx mori.

Uric acid is the end-product of nitrogen metabolism of the silkworm and other lepidopterans. The accumulation of uric acid particles in the epidermis causes the larval silkworm to appear white and opaque. However, the mechanism of uric acid granule formation is still unclear.

A Supramolecular Reinforced Gel Fracturing Fluid with Low Permeability Damage Applied in Deep Reservoir Hydraulic Fracturing.

Gel fracturing fluid is the optimum fracturing fluid for proppant suspension, which is commonly applied in deep reservoir hydraulic fracturing. The content of polymers and crosslinkers in gel fracturing fluid is usually high to meet the needs of high-temperature resistance, leading to high costs and reservoir permeability damage caused by incomplete gel-breaking. In this paper, a supramolecular reinforced gel (SRG) fracturing fluid was constructed by strengthening the supramolecular force between polymers.

SPSL1 is essential for spermatophore formation and sperm activation in Spodoptera frugiperda.

The reproductive process in various species has undergone evolutionary adaptations at both the physiological and molecular levels, playing a significant role in maintaining their populations. In lepidopteran insects, the spermatophore is a unique structure formed in the female reproductive system, in which sperm storage and activation take place. It is known that the formation of the spermatophore is regulated by seminal fluid proteins derived from males.

A gut commensal bacterium promotes black soldier fly larval growth and development partly via modulation of intestinal protein metabolism.

Black solider fly larvae and the gut microbiota can recycle nutrients from various organic wastes into valuable insect biomass. We found that , a gut commensal bacterium of the insect, exerts beneficial effects on larval growth and development and that the expression of many metabolic larval genes was significantly impacted by the symbiont. To identify the larval genes involved in the host-symbiont interaction, we engineered the symbiont to produce double-strand RNA and enabled the strain to silence host genes in the larval gut environment where the interaction takes place.

Masculinizer gene controls sexual differentiation in Hyphantria cunea.

The Masculinizer gene, Masc, encodes a lepidopteran-specific novel CCCH-type zinc finger protein, which controls sex determination and dosage compensation in Bombyx mori. Considering the potential application of it in pest control, it is necessary to investigate the function of Masc gene in Hyphantria cunea, a globally invasive forest pest. In the present study, we identified and functionally characterized the Masc gene, HcMasc, in H.

Functional characterization of Bmcap in uric acid metabolism in the silkworm.

After a millennium of domestication, numerous silkworm mutants have emerged that exhibit transparent epidermis, which is caused by abnormally low levels of uric acid. We identified the Bombyx mori gene Bmcap (BMSK0003832) as the homolog of cappuccino, a subunit of the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-1 (BLOC-1) that has been extensively characterized in human, mouse, and insect species, by analyzing the amino acid sequences of putative purine metabolism genes. Using the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) / CRISPR-associated protein 9 system, we disrupted Bmcap, resulting in decreased uric acid levels in the silkworm epidermis and a translucent skin phenotype.

Structure and characteristics of the plant-frugivore bird network from the Guilin Botanical Garden.

The interaction between plants and frugivores is crucial to ecosystem function and community diversity. However, little is known about the interaction between plants and frugivorous bird species in urban green spaces. We observed interactions between plants and frugivorous birds in the Guilin Botanical Garden for one year and determined the structure and characteristics of the interaction network.

The RNase III enzyme Dicer1 is essential for larval development in Bombyx mori.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of nearly all aspects of biological processes in eukaryotes. During the biogenesis of miRNAs, the RNase III enzyme Dicer processes double-strand precursor miRNAs into mature miRNAs and promotes the assembly of RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs). Dicer has been reported to participate in a wide range of physiological processes, including development and immunity, in some insect species.

Intersex is required for female sexual development in Hermetia illucens.

Sex-determination pathways are extremely diverse. Understanding the mechanism of sex determination in insects is important for genetic manipulation of the pest population and for breeding of economically valuable insects. Although sex determination has been well characterized in the model species Drosophila melanogaster, little is known about this pathway in Stratiomyidae.