Efficient Convolutional Neural Network Model for the Taxonomy and Sex Identification of Three Phlebotomine Sandfly Species (Diptera, Psychodidae, and Phlebotominae).

Sandflies, small insects primarily from the Psychodidae family, are commonly found in sandy, tropical, and subtropical regions. Most active during dawn and dusk, female sandflies feed on blood to facilitate egg production. In doing so, they can transmit infectious diseases that may cause symptoms such as fever, headaches, muscle pain, anemia, skin rashes, and ulcers.

Phylogenetic analysis and homology modelling of a new Cry8A crystal protein expressed in a sporulating soil bacterium.

Cry proteins, commonly found in Gram-positive soil bacteria, are used worldwide as aerial sprays or in transgenic plants for controlling crop pest populations and insect vectors. Via PCR analysis, a spore producing soil isolate (BV5) was speculated to encode a Cry gene. Partial nucleotide sequence of the amplified PCR fragment showed homology with the Cry8 genes present in GenBank.

Knockout of a testis-specific gene cluster impairs male fertility in the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda.

Background: The function of some testis-specific genes (TSGs) in model insects have been studied, but their function in non-model insects remains largely unexplored. In the present study, we identified several TSGs in the fall armyworm (FAW), a significant agricultural pest, through comparative transcriptomic analysis. A testis-specific gene cluster (TSGC) comprising multiple functional genes and long non-coding RNAs was found.

Pathogens spread by high-altitude windborne mosquitoes.

Recent studies have revealed that many mosquito species regularly engage in high-altitude windborne migration, but its epidemiological significance was debated. The hypothesis that high-altitude mosquitoes spread pathogens over large distances has not been directly tested. Here, we report for the first time that high-altitude windborne mosquitoes are commonly infected with arboviruses, protozoans, and helminths affecting vertebrates and humans, and provide the first description of this pathogen-vector aerial network.

Utility of integrated papyrus-bivalve for bioremediation of aquaculture wastewater.

Aquaculture generates substantial amount of residual feeds and faecal matter that accumulate in the culture environment and pollute effluent-receiving water, diminishing its ecological functioning. To devise means of treating nutrient-rich aquaculture wastewater, the efficiency of integrated papyrus-bivalve mesocosms in removing nutrients was evaluated. The mesocosms were fed on water (6600 L) from one brood-stock pond and allowed to settle for 2 weeks.

First detection of the S989P+V1016G+D1763Y haplotype and expansion of voltage-gated sodium channel mutations in Aedes aegypti in Taiwan in 2016-2023.

Background: Aedes aegypti transmits various arthropod-borne diseases such as dengue, posing a significant burden to public health in tropical and subtropical regions. Pyrethroid-based control strategies are effective in managing this vector; however, the development of insecticide resistance has hindered these efforts. Hence, long-term monitoring of insecticide resistance in mosquito populations is crucial for effective vector and disease control.

Development and Characterization of Fusidic Acid-Loaded Alginate-Aloe vera Based Hydrogel Film.

A new fusidic acid-loaded hydrogel film was prepared via the solvent casting technique using alginate and Aloe vera. The hydrogel films were optimized using different ratios of sodium alginate, Aloe vera, and glycerin. The films containing 10% glycerin (w/w of alginate) exhibited the best appearance.

Characterization of sulfakinin and its role in larval feeding and molting in Spodoptera frugiperda.

Feeding and molting are particularly important physiological processes for insects, and it has been reported that neuropeptides are involved in the nervous regulation of these 2 processes. Sulfakinin (SK) is an important neuropeptide that is widely distributed among insects and plays a pivotal role in regulating feeding, courtship, aggression, and locomotion. In this study, we investigated the involvement of SK in feeding and molting on a highly notorious pest insect, the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda.

Treatment of cattle with ivermectin and its effect on dung degradation and larval abundance in a tropical savanna setting.

When ingested as part of a blood meal, the antiparasitic drug ivermectin kills mosquitoes, making it a candidate for mass drug administration (MDA) in humans and livestock to reduce malaria transmission. When administered to livestock, most ivermectin is excreted unmetabolized in the dung within 5 days post administration. Presence of ivermectin, has been shown to adversely affect dung colonizers and dung degradation in temperate settings; however, those findings may not apply to, tropical environment, where ivermectin MDA against malaria would occur.

TraitTrainR: accelerating large-scale simulation under models of continuous trait evolution.

Motivation: The scale and scope of comparative trait data are expanding at unprecedented rates, and recent advances in evolutionary modeling and simulation sometimes struggle to match this pace. Well-organized and flexible applications for conducting large-scale simulations of evolution hold promise in this context for understanding models and more so our ability to confidently estimate them with real trait data sampled from nature.

Results: We introduce , an R package designed to facilitate efficient, large-scale simulations under complex models of continuous trait evolution.

Time to change implementation units for mass drug administration against schistosomiasis in Uganda: Evidence from Communities levels data validation and its implication in planning.

Uganda started implementing mass drug administration against schistosomiasis in 2003, with district used as an implementation unit. This resulted into misclassification of communities into wrong risk levels, under-or-over treatment and over request of praziquantel (PZQ) drugs. The objective of the current study was to reviewing the community data available at World Health Organization/ESPEN database to understand the status of schistosomiasis and identify pockets with infection.

Identification of leaf rust resistance loci in hard winter wheat using genome-wide association mapping.

Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia triticina (Pt), is a serious constraint to wheat production. Developing resistant varieties is the best approach to managing this disease. Wheat leaf rust resistance (Lr) genes have been classified into either all-stage resistance (ASR) or adult-plant resistance (APR).

Land Use Change Consistently Reduces α- But Not β- and γ-Diversity of Bees.

Land use change threatens global biodiversity and compromises ecosystem functions, including pollination and food production. Reduced taxonomic α-diversity is often reported under land use change, yet the impacts could be different at larger spatial scales (i.e.

Ubiquitination of OsCSN5 by OsPUB45 activates immunity by modulating the OsCUL3a-OsNPR1 module.

The COP9 signalosome (CSN) is a highly conserved protein complex in eukaryotes, with CSN5 serving as its critical catalytic subunit. However, the role of CSN5 in plant immunity is largely unexplored. Here, we found that suppression of in rice enhances resistance against the fungal pathogen and the bacterial pathogen pv.

Weeds and agro by-products for sustainable farming of edible field cricket, Gryllus madagascarensis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae).

Gryllus madagascarensis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) is a cricket species that shows promise to mitigate food insecurity and malnutrition. But whether this species will accept low- to no-cost weeds and agro by-products as feed, and how these feeds affect its performance, remains unknown. This study assessed the acceptability of 66 weed species and agro by-products (derived from a single plant species) by adult G.

Repellency and toxicity of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs) to bed bugs.

Vector control is essential for eliminating malaria, a vector-borne parasitic disease responsible for over half a million deaths annually. Success of vector control programs hinges on community acceptance of products like long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs). Communities in malaria-endemic regions often link LLIN efficacy to their ability to control indoor pests such as bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.

Early allelopathic input and later nutrient addition mediated by litter decomposition of invasive affect native plant and facilitate its invasion.

Litter decomposition is essential for nutrient and chemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Previous research on litter decomposition has often underestimated its impact on soil nutrient dynamics and allelopathy. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive study involving both field and greenhouse experiments to examine the decomposition and allelopathic effects of the invasive L.

Effects of three different host plants on two sex life table parameters of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda.

The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major phytophagous pest that invaded China in late 2018, posing a serious threat to local agricultural production. Therefore, we investigated the effects of maize, soybean, and sweet potato on the growth, development, and reproduction of S. frugiperda under laboratory conditions.

Continuous cell lines derived from the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, harbor viruses and Wolbachia.

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), is a major pest of global citriculture. In the Americas and in Asia, D. citri vectors the phloem-limited bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), which causes the fatal citrus disease huanglongbing, or citrus greening.

Regional patterns and climatic predictors of viruses in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies over time.

Honey bee viruses are serious pathogens that can cause poor colony health and productivity. We analyzed a multi-year longitudinal dataset of abundances of nine honey bee viruses (deformed wing virus A, deformed wing virus B, black queen cell virus, sacbrood virus, Lake Sinai virus, Kashmir bee virus, acute bee paralysis virus, chronic bee paralysis virus, and Israeli acute paralysis virus) in colonies located across Canada to describe broad trends in virus intensity and occurrence among regions and years. We also tested climatic variables (temperature, wind speed, and precipitation) as predictors in an effort to understand possible drivers underlying seasonal patterns in viral prevalence.

Development of colorimetric and fluorescent closed tube LAMP assay using simplified extraction for diagnosis of Meloidogyne enterolobii in root tissues.

Meloidogyne enterolobii, a guava root-knot nematode, is a highly virulent pest in tropical and subtropical regions causing galls or knots in roots of diverse plant species posing a serious threat to agriculture. Managing this nematode is challenging due to limitations in conventional identification based on isolation and microscopic classification requiring expertise and time. A colorimetric and fluorescent LAMP assay using simplified extraction method targeting rDNA-ITS region was developed to detect M.

Predatory capacity of Lasioseius lindquisti (Acari: Blattisociidae) and Lasioseius scapulatus (Acari: Blattisociidae) on Megalurothrips usitatus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an important pest of cowpeas, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., and can cause severe damage to the crop.

Multiple introductions and sustained local transmission of in Southern Brazil between 2022-2023.

Mpox is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the (MPXV). Human cases have been mainly restricted to the African continent until the worldwide multi-country outbreak unfolded in 2022. We reconstructed epidemiological links of 53 MPXV infections using genomic epidemiology in Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil, during 2022 and 2023.