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Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces Jun 2024Responsive release systems have received extensive attention to enhance pesticide utilization efficiency and reduce environmental pollution. In this study, pH/GSH dual...
Responsive release systems have received extensive attention to enhance pesticide utilization efficiency and reduce environmental pollution. In this study, pH/GSH dual responsive release system based on brush-like silica (bSiO) carriers was constructed to enhance the utilization of pesticides. The bSiO carriers present core-shell structure, length of 550 nm, diameter of 350 nm and shell thickness of 100 nm. The carrier had a high pesticide loading (20.0 %, w/w) for dinotefuran (Din). After loading Din, zein was covalently linked with cysteine-bridge to seal the loaded pesticides (namely Din@bSiO@Zein). The Din@bSiO@Zein exhibited superior foliar affinity, retention and photostability, and retention rate still remain above 95 % with 220 min UV irradiation. Din@bSiO@Zein displayed pH/GSH responsive release and the cumulative release within 92 h was up to 81 % under pH=9/C=6 mM, mimicking the microenvironment of lepidopteran. The Din@bSiO@Zein possessed good control efficacy against Plutella xylostella. Appreciably, Din@bSiO@Zein could be transported bi-directionally to various regions of tobacco plants within 24 h, which had potential to promote pesticide efficacy. This work offers a strategy to minimize the pesticide dosage and encourage sustainable agricultural development.
PubMed: 38941651
DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2024.114061 -
Molecular Biology and Evolution Jun 2024Insect crop pests threaten global food security. This threat is amplified through the spread of non-native species and through adaptation of native pests to control...
Insect crop pests threaten global food security. This threat is amplified through the spread of non-native species and through adaptation of native pests to control measures. Adaptations such as pesticide resistance can result from selection on variation within a population, or through gene flow from another population. We investigate these processes in an economically important noctuid crop pest, Helicoverpa zea, which has evolved resistance to a wide range of pesticides. Its sister species Helicoverpa armigera, first detected as an invasive species in Brazil in 2013, introduced the pyrethroid resistance gene CYP337B3 to South American H. zea via adaptive introgression. To understand whether this could contribute to pesticide resistance in North America, we sequenced 237 H. zea genomes across 10 sample sites. We report H. armigera introgression into the North American H. zea population. Two individuals sampled in Texas in 2019 carry H. armigera haplotypes in a 4Mbp region containing CYP337B3. Next, we identify signatures of selection in the panmictic population of non-admixed H. zea, identifying a selective sweep at a second cytochrome P450 gene: CYP333B3. We estimate that its derived allele conferred a ∼5% fitness advantage and show that this estimate explains independently observed rare nonsynonymous CYP333B3 mutations approaching fixation over a ∼20-year period. We also detect putative signatures of selection at a kinesin gene associated with Bt resistance. Overall, we document two mechanisms of rapid adaptation: the introduction of fitness-enhancing alleles through interspecific introgression, and selection on intraspecific variation.
PubMed: 38941083
DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae129 -
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Jun 2024The emerging alien cactus Cylindropuntia pallida (Rose) F.M. Knuth originates from northern Mexico and introduced into South Africa in 1940s as an ornamental...
The emerging alien cactus Cylindropuntia pallida (Rose) F.M. Knuth originates from northern Mexico and introduced into South Africa in 1940s as an ornamental plant. Multiple populations of C. pallida have been detected in various areas of South Africa. C. pallida has effective propagule dispersal and rapid recruitment making it a likely key future invader, and thus, is a target for eradication in South Africa. To eradicate C. pallida populations, a foliar spray (i.e. using a 2% concentration of herbicide with fluroxypyr and triclopyr) has been applied to plants in nine populations, with population sizes ranging between 535 and 2701 plants and populations covering areas of 100 -1000 ha. The aims of the study were to investigate the efficacy of the foliar spray method used to eradicate C. pallida; to investigate the impacts of C. pallida invasions on native vegetation integrity; to apply species distribution models (SDMs) to identify suitable climates for C. pallida in South Africa; and to document the biomes vulnerable to the negative impact of C. pallida in South Africa. Results show that foliar spray killed many C. pallida plants (mean percentage of dead plants ± SE, 83.3 ± 6.4; n = 9; range, 70-96%), with adult plants taking about 2 months to die completely. The efficacy of the herbicide was not affected by plant size or the concentration of the herbicide used. The invaded site had significantly greater vegetation cover which persisted across winter compared to the uninvaded site, but the latter site's vegetation cover significantly dropped in winter. Also, the invaded site had lower plant species diversity than the uninvaded site and was dominated by species in the Poaceae and Asteraceae plant families. Additionally, a normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) analysis shows that the uninvaded site has higher vegetation cover and health than the invaded site wherein a notable decline in vegetation health was observed between 2019 and 2022. A large area (> 15 million hectares) was predicted to be suitable for invasion by C. pallida in provinces with arid and warm temperate climates - the fynbos and grassland biomes are the most vulnerable. Because of the observed negative impacts, high environmental compatibility, and high cost of clearing large infestations, we advocate for considering the biocontrol method for effectively managing C. pallida invasion in South Africa.
Topics: Herbicides; South Africa; Cactaceae; Introduced Species; Environmental Monitoring
PubMed: 38940993
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12821-w -
Current Microbiology Jun 2024Garlic (Allium sativum L.), particularly its volatile essential oil, is widely recognized for medicinal properties. We have evaluated the efficacy of Indian Garlic...
Garlic (Allium sativum L.), particularly its volatile essential oil, is widely recognized for medicinal properties. We have evaluated the efficacy of Indian Garlic Essential Oil (GEO) for antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity and its bioactive constituents. Allyl sulfur-rich compounds were identified as predominant phytochemicals in GEO, constituting 96.51% of total volatile oils, with 38% Diallyl trisulphide (DTS) as most abundant. GEO exhibited significant antibacterial activity against eleven bacteria, including three drug-resistant strains with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 78 to 1250 µg/mL. In bacterial growth kinetic assay GEO effectively inhibited growth of all tested strains at its ½ MIC. Antibiofilm activity was evident against two important human pathogens, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that GEO disrupts bacterial cell membranes, leading to the release of nucleic acids, proteins, and reactive oxygen species. Additionally, GEO demonstrated potent antioxidant activity at IC 31.18 mg/mL, while its isolated constituents, Diallyl disulphide (DDS) and Diallyl trisulphide (DTS), showed effective antibacterial activity ranging from 125 to 500 µg/mL and 250-1000 µg/mL respectively. Overall, GEO displayed promising antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against enteric bacteria, suggesting its potential application in the food industry.
Topics: Garlic; Oils, Volatile; Antioxidants; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biofilms; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Staphylococcus aureus; Allyl Compounds; Phytochemicals; Sulfides; Bacteria; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Disulfides; India; Plant Oils; Humans; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 38940852
DOI: 10.1007/s00284-024-03753-2 -
Parasitology Research Jun 2024As ecosystem disruptors and intermediate hosts for various parasites, freshwater snails have significant socioeconomic impacts on human health, livestock production, and... (Review)
Review
As ecosystem disruptors and intermediate hosts for various parasites, freshwater snails have significant socioeconomic impacts on human health, livestock production, and aquaculture. Although traditional molluscicides have been widely used to mitigate these effects, their environmental impact has encouraged research into alternative, biologically based strategies to create safer, more effective molluscicides and diminish the susceptibility of snails to parasites. This review focuses on alterations in glucose metabolism in snails under the multifaceted stressors of parasitic infections, drug exposure, and environmental changes and proposes a novel approach for snail management. Key enzymes within the glycolytic pathway, such as hexokinase and pyruvate kinase; tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle; and electron transport chains, such as succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase, are innovative targets for molluscicide development. These targets can affect both snails and parasites and provide an important direction for parasitic disease prevention research. For the first time, this review summarises the reverse TCA cycle and alternative oxidase pathway, which are unique metabolic bypasses in invertebrates that have emerged as suitable targets for the formulation of low-toxicity molluscicides. Additionally, it highlights the importance of other metabolic pathways, including lactate, alanine, glycogenolysis, and pentose phosphate pathways, in snail energy supply, antioxidant stress responses, and drug evasion mechanisms. By analysing the alterations in key metabolic enzymes and their products in stressed snails, this review deepens our understanding of glucose metabolic alterations in snails and provides valuable insights for identifying new pharmacological targets.
Topics: Animals; Molluscacides; Snails; Glucose; Fresh Water
PubMed: 38940835
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08274-2 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Jun 2024In pursuit of sustainable agricultural production, the development of environmentally friendly and effective biopesticides is essential to improve food security and...
In pursuit of sustainable agricultural production, the development of environmentally friendly and effective biopesticides is essential to improve food security and environmental sustainability. Bacteriophages, as emerging biocontrol agents, offer an alternative to conventional antibiotics and synthetic chemical pesticides. The primary challenges in applying phage-based biopesticides in agricultural settings are their inherent fragility and low biocidal efficacy, particularly the susceptibility to sunlight exposure. This study addresses the aforementioned challenges by innovatively encapsulating phages in sporopollenin exine capsules (SECs), which are derived from plant pollen grains. The size of the apertures on SECs could be controlled through a non-thermal and rapid process, combining reinflation and vacuum infusion techniques. This unique feature facilitates the high-efficiency encapsulation and controlled release of phages under various conditions. The proposed SECs could encapsulate over 9 log PFU g of phages and significantly enhance the ultraviolet (UV) resistance of phages, thereby ensuring their enhanced survivability and antimicrobial efficacy. The effectiveness of SECs encapsulated phages (T7@SECs) in preventing and treating bacterial contamination on lettuce leaves is further demonstrated, highlighting the practical applicability of this novel biopesticide in field applications. Overall, this study exploits the potential of SECs in the development of phage-based biopesticides, presenting a promising strategy to enhancing agricultural sustainability.
PubMed: 38940376
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202403465 -
Pest Management Science Jun 2024Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides play important roles in the control of plant fungal diseases. However, they are facing serious challenges from issues...
BACKGROUND
Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides play important roles in the control of plant fungal diseases. However, they are facing serious challenges from issues with resistance and cross-resistance, primarily attributed to their frequent application and structural similarities. There is an urgent need to design and develop SDHI fungicides with novel structures.
RESULTS
Aiming to discover novel potent SDHI fungicides, 31 innovative pyrazole β-ketonitrile derivatives with diphenyl ether moiety were rationally designed and synthesized, which were guided by a 3D-QSAR model from our previous study. The optimal target compound A23 exhibited not only outstanding in vitro inhibitory activities against Rhizoctonia solani with a half-maximal effective concentration (EC) value of 0.0398 μg mL comparable to that for fluxapyroxad (EC = 0.0375 μg mL), but also a moderate protective efficacy in vivo against rice sheath blight. Porcine succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) enzymatic inhibitory assay revealed that A23 is a potent inhibitor of SDH, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 0.0425 μm. Docking study within R. solani SDH indicated that A23 effectively binds into the ubiquinone site mainly through hydrogen-bonds, and cation-π and π-π interactions.
CONCLUSION
The identified β-ketonitrile compound A23 containing diphenyl ether moiety is a potent SDH inhibitor, which might be a good lead for novel fungicide research and optimization. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
PubMed: 38940289
DOI: 10.1002/ps.8269 -
Epigenomics Jun 2024
PubMed: 38940212
DOI: 10.1080/17501911.2024.2365615 -
Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark... May 2024Phosphine resistance in challenges grain storage. This study investigates the impact of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and CYP346 family genes on phosphine resistance in...
BACKGROUND
Phosphine resistance in challenges grain storage. This study investigates the impact of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and CYP346 family genes on phosphine resistance in Indian Tribolium castaneum populations.
METHODS
Seven field populations of were compared with Lab- susceptible population for their resistance to phosphine. The levels of cytochrome P450 enzyme and expression of certain CYP346 family genes were tracked in these populations.
RESULTS
The highly resistant Patiala population showed significantly increased CYP450 activity (11.26 ± 0.14 nmol/min/mg protein, 7.41-fold higher) compared to the lab-susceptible population (1.52 ± 0.09 nmol/min/mg protein) when assayed using 8 mM p-nitroanisole as the substrate. The mRNA expression was measured relative to the standard gene and revealed significant upregulation of and in highly resistant populations Moga and Patiala (: 12.09 ± 2.19 to 21.74 ± 3.82; : 59.097 ± 10.265 to 50.148 ± 8.272). Patiala's exhibited an impressive 685.76-fold change, and Moga's showed a 361.893-fold change compared to lab-susceptible. Linear regression confirmed robust fits for each gene (R2: 0.693 to 0.756). Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated a strong positive correlation between genes expression; and cytochrome P450 activity. Patiala, Moga, and Hapur populations showed conformity, associating higher resistance with increased P450 activity and CYP346 gene expression. Cluster analysis highlighted a potential correlation between , , and and P450 activity, with Patiala and Moga clustering together.
CONCLUSIONS
Variability in and in strong resistance populations may contribute to adaptation and resistance mechanisms. The study provides insights into specific CYP346 family genes associated with phosphine resistance, emphasizing the intricate interaction between CYP450 detoxifying enzymes, CYP346 family genes, and resistance mechanisms. The upregulation of genes suggests a survival advantage for against phosphine, diminishing phosphine's efficacy as a pest control measure.
Topics: Tribolium; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Insecticide Resistance; Phosphines; Insecticides; India; Animals
PubMed: 38940033
DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2906203 -
The Analyst Jun 2024Safety problems caused by organophosphorus pesticide (OP) residues are constantly occurring, so the development of new methods for the degradation and detection of OPs...
Safety problems caused by organophosphorus pesticide (OP) residues are constantly occurring, so the development of new methods for the degradation and detection of OPs is of great scientific significance. In the present study, β-sheet peptides and β-hairpin peptides for catalyzing the hydrolysis of OPs were designed and synthesized. The peptide sequences with the highest hydrolytic activity (EHSGGVTVPPLTVEHSAG) were screened by investigating the effect of the location of the active sites of the peptide and the peptide's structure on the degradation of OPs. In addition, the relationship between the peptides' conformation and hydrolytic activity was further analyzed based on density functional theory calculations. The noncovalent interactions of the peptides with the OPs and the electrostatic potential on the molecular surface and molecular docking properties were also investigated. It was found that peptides with approximate active amino acids consisting of the catalytic triad and with the hairpin structure had enhanced hydrolytic activity toward the hydrolysis of OPs. To develop an electrochemical sensor technique to detect OPs, the conductive MXene (TiC) material was first immobilized with a caffeic acid monolayer enediol-metal complex chemistry and then bound with the β-hairpin peptide (EHSGGVTVPPLTVEHSAG) carboxy-amine condensation chemistry between the -COOH of caffeic acid and the -NH of the peptide to prepare a MXene-peptide composite. Then, the prepared composite was modified on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode to construct an electrochemical sensor for the detection of OPs. The developed technique could be used to monitor OPs within 15 min with a two orders of linear working range and with a detection limit of 0.15 μM. Meanwhile, the sensor showed good reliability for the detection of OPs in real vegetables.
PubMed: 38940008
DOI: 10.1039/d4an00674g