School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Published: June 2024
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
Parasitoids are important components of the natural enemy guild in the biological control of insect pests. They depend on host resources to complete the development of a specific stage or whole life cycle and thus have evolved towards optimal host exploitation strategies. In the present study, we report a specific survival strategy of a fly parasitoid Exorista sorbillans (Diptera: Tachinidae), which is a potential biological control agent for agricultural pests and a pest in sericulture. We found that the expression levels of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and nitric oxide (NO) production in host Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) were increased after E. sorbillans infection. Reducing NOS expression and NO production with an NOS inhibitor (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride) in infected B. mori significantly impeded the growth of E. sorbillans larvae. Moreover, the biosynthesis of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) in infected hosts was elevated with increasing NO production, and inhibiting NOS expression lowered 20E biosynthesis. More importantly, induced NO synthesis was required to eliminate intracellular bacterial pathogens that presumably competed for shared host resources. Inhibiting NOS expression down-regulated the transcription of antimicrobial peptide genes and increased the number of bacteria in parasitized hosts. Collectively, this study revealed a new perspective on the role of NO in host-parasitoid interactions and a novel mechanism for parasitoid regulation of host physiology to support its development.
Chronic stress increases the incidence of psychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Repeated Social Defeat (RSD) in mice recapitulates several key physiological, immune, and behavioral changes evident after chronic stress in humans. For instance, neurons in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus are involved in the interpretation of and response to fear and threatful stimuli after RSD.
Morphine belongs to the class of opioids and is known for its potential to cause dependence and addiction, particularly with prolonged use. Due to the associated risks, caution must be taken when prescribing and limiting its clinical use. Overexpression of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, nitric oxide and cGMP pathway has been implicated in exacerbate the development of morphine dependence and withdrawal.
This Letter describes the first, to the best of our knowledge, demonstration of a velocity measurement by nitric oxide ionization induced flow tagging and imaging (NiiFTI) of a high-enthalpy hypersonic flow utilizing naturally formed nitric oxide. The measurements were conducted in the hypervelocity expansion tunnel (HXT) at Texas A&M University in Mach 8.5 and Mach 10 flows near an ogive test article.
Cold stress is an environmental factor that seriously restricts the growth, production and survival of plants, and has received extensive attention in recent years. Hydrogen sulfide (HS) is an ubiquitous gas signaling molecule, and its role in alleviating plant cold stress has become a research focus in recent years. This paper reviews for the first time the significant effect of HS on improving plant cold resistance, which makes up for the gaps in the existing literature.
