Genome-wide analyses provide insights into genetic variation, phylo- and co-phylogenetic relationships, and biogeography of the entomopathogenic nematode genus Heterorhabditis.

Multigene, genus-wide phylogenetic studies have uncovered the limited taxonomic resolution power of commonly used gene markers, particularly of rRNA genes, to discriminate closely related species of the nematode genus Heterorhabditis. In addition, conflicting tree topologies are often obtained using the different gene markers, which limits our understanding of the phylo- and co-phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of the entomopathogenic nematode genus Heterorhabditis. Here we carried out phylogenomic reconstructions using whole nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, and whole ribosomal operon sequences, as well as multiple phylogenetic reconstructions using various single nuclear and mitochondrial genes.

The Impact of Administrative Districts and Urban Landscape on the Dispersal of Aedes aegypti via Genetic Differentiation.

Mosquito-borne diseases affect millions and cause numerous deaths annually. Effective vector control, which hinges on understanding their dispersal, is vital for reducing infection rates. Given the variability in study results, likely due to environmental and human factors, gathering local dispersal data is critical for targeted disease control.

Coloration in a Praying Mantis: Color Change, Sexual Color Dimorphism, and Possible Camouflage Strategies.

Background matching, an important form of camouflage, can be challenging for animals that range across heterogeneously colored habitats. To remain cryptic in such habitats, animals may employ color change, background choice, or generalist coloration, and the efficacy of these strategies may be influenced by an animal's mobility. We examined camouflage strategies in the praying mantis .

Antimicrobial Peptides Against Arboviruses: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Future Directions.

This review delves into the potential of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as promising candidates for combating arboviruses, focusing on their mechanisms of antiviral activity, challenges, and future directions. AMPs have shown promise in preventing arbovirus attachment to host cells, inducing interferon production, and targeting multiple viral stages, illustrating their multifaceted impact on arbovirus infections. Structural elucidation of AMP-viral complexes is explored to deepen the understanding of molecular determinants governing viral neutralization, paving the way for structure-guided design.

An emerging fungal disease is spreading across the globe and affecting the blueberry industry.

Powdery mildew is an economically important disease caused by c. 1000 different fungal species. Erysiphe vaccinii is an emerging powdery mildew species that is impacting the blueberry industry.

Ruvbl1 silencing affects reproduction of the corn planthopper, Peregrinus maidis.

Ruvbl1 (also known as TIP49, Pontin) encodes an ATPase of the AAA+ protein superfamily involved in several cellular functions, including chromatin remodeling, control of transcription, and cellular development (motility, growth, and proliferation). While its role has been well established in model organisms including vertebrates and invertebrates (e.g.

Nutritional Profiling of Wild Edible Plants: Quantification of Macronutrients and Minerals via Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) Fluorescence Spectroscopy.

The wild edible plants offer a valuable resource for food and human nutrition. The current study aimed to analyze the proximate composition and ethno-medicinal profiles of twenty selected wild edible plants from the Malakand District, Pakistan. The proximate composition (moisture, ash, crude protein, crude fat, and dietary fiber) was analyzed following Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) protocols.

Plasmodium falciparum surf4.1 in clinical isolates: From genetic variation and variant diversity to in silico design immunopeptides for vaccine development.

SURFINs protein family expressed on surface of both infected red blood cell and merozoite surface making them as interesting vaccine candidate for erythrocytic stage of malaria infection. In this study, we analyze genetic variation of Pfsurf4.1 gene, copy number variation, and frequency of SURFIN4.

Challenges and motivating factors for integrating geostatistical models in targeted schistosomiasis control: A qualitative case study in Northwestern Tanzania.

Introduction: To address problems of over- and under-treatment with preventive chemotherapy resulting in ongoing transmission of schistosomiasis, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends targeted mass drug administration (MDA) interventions at a sub-district level. In Tanzania, the lack of sub-district (ward) prevalence data has inhibited a transition to targeted treatment. Model-based prevalence estimation combined with routine surveillance data can be used to overcome this gap.

Beyond balance: the impact of adult sex ratios on reproduction and longevity in Zophobas morio rearing.

Over the years, the study of adult sex ratio is a topic that has gained attention for its impact on reproductive outcomes and aging across various insect species. However, there is still limited research focused on insects reared for food and feed production. To address this gap, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of different adult sex ratios on the reproductive dynamics and longevity of the superworm, Zophobas morio (F.

Exploring the physiological, biochemical, and enzymatic responses of Vigna mungo varieties to Mungbean Yellow Mosaic India Virus (MYMIV) infection.

This study aims to enhance sustainable disease management in black gram by identifying varieties resistant to Mungbean Yellow Mosaic India Virus (MYMIV). We screened sixteen black gram genotypes, assessing physiological, biochemical and enzymatic basis. Results revealed a range of resistance levels, with PANT URD-19 showing the highest resistance (PDI 0.

Assessing the lethal effects of pesticide residue exposure on beneficial parasitoids and their host, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

Chemical control is currently the main strategy for managing brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål). However, chemical pesticides can harm nontarget species, including natural enemies of H. halys.

Establishing best practices for insect resistance management: a new paradigm for genetically engineered toxins in cotton expressing Mpp51Aa2.

Debate over resistance management tactics for genetically engineered (GE) crops expressing insecticidal toxins is not new. For several decades, researchers, regulators, and agricultural industry scientists have developed strategies to limit the evolution of resistance in populations of lepidopteran and coleopteran pests. A key attribute of many of these events was insecticide resistance management (IRM) strategies designed around a presumed high-dose expression sufficient to kill 99.

Ecological patterns of plant-pollinator interactions in the Palouse Prairie.

Insect pollinators are essential for natural ecosystems. Without pollination, native plants are less likely to be able to persist. As natural ecosystems have become more fragmented and degraded, interest in their restoration and preservation has increased.

Prevalence and histopathological analysis of cystic echinococcosis in ruminants of District Narowal, Pakistan: focus on pulmonary involvement.

A total of 384 animals (sheep, goat, cattle, and buffalo) were examined for the presence of hydatid cysts only in the lungs. The lung tissue samples associated with the hydatid cyst were collected immediately after slaughter, followed by fixation in 10% formalin. The fixed tissue was subjected to paraffin embedding technique.

Evaluating UCE Data Adequacy and Integrating Uncertainty in a Comprehensive Phylogeny of Ants.

While some relationships in phylogenomic studies have remained stable since the Sanger sequencing era, many challenging nodes remain, even with genome-scale data. Incongruence or lack of resolution in the phylogenomic era is frequently attributed to inadequate data modeling and analytical issues that lead to systematic biases. However, few studies investigate the potential for random error or establish expectations for the level of resolution achievable with a given empirical dataset and integrate uncertainties across methods when faced with conflicting results.

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis among adolescents in Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria: Insights and recommendations for effective control.

Over the past decade, Anambra State, Nigeria, has implemented mass administration of medicines (MAMs) to combat soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), a significant public health challenge in low-income regions. Nevertheless, these efforts have predominantly focused on pre-school and school-aged children, leaving a notable gap in understanding STH infection rates and the efficacy of these campaigns among secondary school adolescents, who have been excluded from this initiative. Our study aimed to address this critical knowledge gap by assessing soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) prevalence and contextual factors hindering effective control among adolescents in Anambra State, Nigeria.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of the seasonally polyphenic scorpionfly (Panorpa liui).

Mecoptera is a small relict order of insects within the Holometabola. Panorpidae is the most speciose family in Mecoptera. They are also known as scorpion flies due to the enlarged and upward recurved male genital bulb.

Similar host instar preferences by three sympatric parasitoids of (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): potential host niche overlapping.

Parasitoids employ diverse oviposition strategies to enhance offspring survival and maximise fitness gains from hosts. Ladybird parasitoids, significant natural enemies of ladybirds, have the potential to disrupt biocontrol efforts, yet their biology and ecology remain poorly understood. This study investigated the host-parasitoid interaction among three sympatric larval endoparasitoids of (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupidae) and (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).

Effects of intraspecific hybridisation between the northern and the southern populations of the cabbage beetle, on life-history traits.

Significant differences in life-history traits between the southern population (S) and northern (N) population of the cabbage beetle make it an excellent model for studying inheritance in this insect. In the present study, we observed the life-history traits of pure strains, F, reciprocal backcross and reciprocal F progeny under a photoperiod of L:D 15:9 h at 22 °C. The S population had shorter larval development time, longer pupal time, higher body weight, growth rate and weight loss compared with the N population.

Pervasive horizontal transmission of Wolbachia in natural populations of closely related and widespread tropical skipper butterflies.

Background: The endosymbiotic relationship between Wolbachia bacteria and insects has been of interest for many years due to their diverse types of host reproductive phenotypic manipulation and potential role in the host's evolutionary history and population dynamics. Even though infection rates are high in Lepidoptera and specifically in butterflies, and reproductive manipulation is present in these taxa, less attention has been given to understanding how Wolbachia is acquired and maintained in their natural populations, across and within species having continental geographical distributions.

Results: We used whole genome sequencing data to investigate the phylogenetics, demographic history, and infection rate dynamics of Wolbachia in four species of the Spicauda genus of skipper butterflies (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae), a taxon that presents sympatric and often syntopic distribution, with drastic variability in species abundance in the Neotropical region.

Phylogeographic and genetic insights into Sinonychia martensi: an endemic cave-dwelling harvestman in Beijing.

Caves are one of the most exciting environments on earth, often considered an evolutionary laboratory due to the suite of convergent adaptive traits (troglomorphisms) of organisms inhabiting them. Sinonychia martensi Zhang & Derkarabetian, 2021, is the first and only Travunioidea species recorded in China and is endemic to Beijing, being known from multiple caves. However, nothing is known regarding its phylogeographic or evolutionary history.

Investigation of RNA Viruses in Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in a Mining Complex in the Southeastern Region of the Brazilian Amazon.

The biting midges Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is highly relevant to epidemiology and public health, as it includes species that are potential vectors of human and animal arboviruses. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of RNA viruses in species of the genus collected in the Carajás mining complex in the state of Pará. The biting midges were collected in the municipalities of Canaã dos Carajás, Curionópolis and Marabá and morphologically identified.

The Tick Microbiome: The "Other Bacterial Players" in Tick Biocontrol.

Hard ticks (family Ixodidae) are one of the most predominant arthropod disease vectors worldwide, second only to mosquitoes. In addition to harboring animal and human pathogens, ticks are known to carry a microbial community constituted of non-pathogenic organisms, which includes maternally inherited intracellular endosymbionts and other environmentally acquired extracellular microorganisms. These microbial communities, which include bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and fungi-with often commensal, mutualistic, or parasitic associations with the tick-comprise the tick microbiome, bacteria being the most studied community.

Species Infections Detected from Fecal Samples of Animal and Human Hosts in South Africa: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study presents a systematic review and meta-analysis approach of species prevalence studies in animal and human hosts published between 1980 and 2020 in South Africa. Extensive searches were conducted on three electronic databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar. The findings indicated an overall pooled prevalence estimate (PPE) of spp.