Unique neonicotinoid binding conformations conferring selective receptor interactions

Occurrence and Fate of five representative neonicotinoid insecticides across different wastewater treatment plants and the impact on receiving water bodies

Neonicotinoids (NEOs), despite their widespread use as insecticides, exhibit a notable knowledge deficit in regards to their presence in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and their surrounding environments. This study delves into the presence and disposition of 5 NEOs: Thiamethoxam (THM), Clothianidin (CLO), Imidacloprid (IMD), Acetamiprid (ACE), and Thiacloprid (THA) across 3 domestic WWTPs and their receiving waters. Notably, THM, CLO, and ACE were consistently detected in all water and sludge samples, with THM emerging as the most abundant compound in both influent and effluent. Among the 3 WWTPs, WWTP 2, employing a fine bubble oxidation process, achieved the highest removal efficiency, surpassing 68%, in contrast to WWTP 1 (CAST) at 37% and WWTP 3 (A/A/O) at 7%. Biodegradation played a pivotal role in NEO removal, accounting for 36.7% and 68.2% of the total removal in WWTP 1 and WWTP 2, respectively. Surprisingly, in WWTP 3, biotransformation process inadvertently increased ACE and CLO concentrations by approximately 4.1% and 4.5%, respectively. The total NEO concentration in the receiving surface waters ranged from 72.7 to 155.5 ng/L, while sediment concentrations were significantly lower, spanning between 0.10 and 1.53 ng/g. WWTPs serve as both a removal and concentration point for NEOs, thereby significantly influencing their transportation. Additionally, the concentration of most NEOs in the receiving waters progressively increased from upstream to downstream, highlighting the substantial impact of WWTP discharges on natural water environments. This research offers valuable insights into NEO pollution surrounding WWTPs in the Pearl River Delta, ultimately aiding in pollution control and environmental protection decisions.

Discovery and biological characterization of a novel mesoionic insecticide fenmezoditiaz

BACKGROUND

Many piercing-sucking insects have developed resistance or cross-resistance to many insecticides targeting insect neural nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). Here we are aiming to present the discovery of a novel mesoionic insecticide, fenmezoditiaz, by BASF through structure-based drug design (SBDD) approaches. It has recently been added to the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee mode of classification (IRAC 4E). It is being developed for plant protection against piercing-sucking pests, especially rice hopper complex.

RESULTS

The soluble acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP) from the sea slug Aplysia californica was modified using site-directed mutagenesis and based on putative aphid nAChR subunit sequences to create soluble insect-like AChBPs. Among them, insect-like β1 AChBP and native aphid membrane preparation showed the highest correlated biochemical affinity toward structurally diverse ligands. This mutant AChBP was used to understand how insect nAChRs structurally interact with mesoionics, which was then utilized to design novel mesoionics including fenmezoditiaz. It is an excellent systemic insecticide with diverse application methods and has a broad insecticidal spectrum, especially against piercing/sucking insects. It lacks cross-resistance for neonicotinoid resistant plant hoppers. Field-collected brown plant hopper populations from Asian countries showed high susceptibility.

CONCLUSIONS

Fenmezoditiaz is a systemic insecticide with a broad spectrum, lack of cross-resistance and it could be an additional tool for integrated pest management and insecticide resistance management, especially for the rice hopper complex. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Design, Synthesis, and Synergistic Activities of Eight-Membered Carbon Bridged Neonicotinoid Derivatives

Insecticide synergists are an effective approach to increase the control efficacy and reduce active ingredient usage. In order to explore neonicotinoid-specific synergists with novel scaffolds and higher potency, a series of eight-membered carbon bridged neonicotinoid derivatives were designed and synthesized in accordance with our previous research. The synergistic effects of the target compounds on neonicotinoids in Aphis craccivora were evaluated, and the structure-activity relationships were summarized. The results indicated that most of the target compounds exhibited significant synergistic effects on imidacloprid in A. craccivora at low concentrations. In particular, compound 1 at a concentration of 1 mg/L reduced the LC50 value of imidacloprid from 0.856 mg/L to 0.170 mg/L. Meanwhile, compound 1 also increased the insecticidal activity of most neonicotinoid insecticides belonging to the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) 4 A subgroup against A. craccivora. The present study might be meaningful for directing the design of neonicotinoid-specific synergists.

Contamination of neonicotinoid insecticides in source water and their fate during drinking water treatment in the Dongguan section of the Pearl River

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) as well as their metabolites are highly mobile on the subsurface and can potentially contaminate drinking water sources; however, their pollution status and fate in the drinking water system remains ambiguous. In this study, six parent NEOs and two characteristic metabolites were measured in drinking water source protection area (source water, n = 52) and two related drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) (n = 88) located in the Dongguan section of the Pearl River. The ubiquitous of NEOs was observed in source water with the mean concentration of total NEOs (ΣNEOs) at 240 ng/L. Although advanced DWTP (A-DWTP; range: 26 % to 100 %) showed better removals of ΣNEOs and all individual NEOs rather than those in conventional DWTP (C-DWTP; range: -53 % to 28 %), the removals were still low for acetamiprid (ACE, 26 %), thiacloprid (THD, 59 %), thiamethoxam (THM, 56 %) and N-desmethyl-acetamiprid (N-dm-ACE, 45 %) in A-DWTP. Removal rates were positive in chlorination (48 %), final stage of sedimentation (F-Sed, 24 %), and granular activated carbon (GAC) filter effluent (19 %) in A-DWTP. It worthy to note that ΣNEOs has high negative removal rates at the start stage of sedimentation (S-Sed, -83 %), middle stage of sedimentation (M-Sed, -47 %), and sand filter effluent (-42 %) water in C-DWTP, which resulted in negative removals of ΣNEOs (-9.6 %), imidacloprid (IMI, -22 %), clothianidin (CLO, -37 %), flupyradifurone (FLU, -76 %), and N-dm-ACE (-29 %) in C-DWTP. Residual levels of NEOs were high in source water, and their low or negative removals in DWTPs should be highly concerning. Results would fill the existing knowledge gap of NEOs in aquatic environment and provide a scientific dataset for policy-making on pollution control and environmental protection.

Screening of Toxic Effects of Neonicotinoid Insecticides with a Focus on Acetamiprid: A Review

Recently, neonicotinoids have become the fastest-growing class of insecticides in conventional crop protection, with extensive usage against a wide range of sucking and chewing pests. Neonicotinoids are widely used due to their high toxicity to invertebrates, simplicity, flexibility with which they may be applied, and lengthy persistence, and their systemic nature ensures that they spread to all sections of the target crop. However, these properties raise the risk of environmental contaminations and potential toxicity to non-target organisms. Acetamiprid is a new generation insecticide, which is a safer alternative for controlling insect pests because of its low toxicity to honeybees. Acetamiprid is intended to target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in insects, but its widespread usage has resulted in negative impacts on non-target animals such as mammals. This review summarizes in vivo and in vitro animal studies that investigated the toxicity of specific neonicotinoids. With summarized data, it can be presumed that certain concentrations of neonicotinoids in the reproductive system cause oxidative stress in the testis; spermatogenesis disruption; spermatozoa degradation; interruptions to endocrine function and Sertoli and Leydig cell function. In the female reproductive system, acetamiprid evokes pathomorphological alterations in follicles, along with metabolic changes in the ovaries.

Combining Experimental Sorption Parameters with QSAR to Predict Neonicotinoid and Transformation Product Sorption to Carbon Nanotubes and Granular Activated Carbon

We recently discovered that transformation of the neonicotinoid insecticidal pharmacophore alters sorption propensity to activated carbon, with products adsorbing less than parent compounds. To assess the environmental fate of novel transformation products that lack commercially available standards, researchers must rely on predictive approaches. In this study, we combined computationally derived quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) parameters for neonicotinoids and neonicotinoid transformation products with experimentally determined Freundlich partition constants (log K F for sorption to carbon nanotubes [CNTs] and granular activated carbon [GAC]) to model neonicotinoid and transformation product sorption. QSAR models based on neonicotinoid sorption to functionalized/nonfunctionalized CNTs (used to generalize/simplify neonicotinoid-GAC interactions) were iteratively generated to obtain a multiple linear regression that could accurately predict neonicotinoid sorption to CNTs using internal and external validation (within 0.5 log units of the experimentally determined value). The log K F,CNT values were subsequently related to log K F,GAC where neonicotinoid sorption to GAC was predicted within 0.3 log-units of experimentally determined values. We applied our neonicotinoid-specific model to predict log K F,GAC for a suite of novel neonicotinoid transformation products (i.e., formed via hydrolysis, biotransformation, and chlorination) that do not have commercially available standards. We present this modeling approach as an innovative yet relatively simple technique to predict fate of highly specialized/unique polar emerging contaminants and/or transformation products that cannot be accurately predicted via traditional methods (e.g., pp-LFER), and highlights molecular properties that drive interactions of emerging contaminants.

Assessment of acetylcholinesterase, catalase, and glutathione S-transferase as biomarkers for imidacloprid exposure in penaeid shrimp

Shrimp aquaculture is a valuable source of quality seafood that can be impacted by exposure to insecticides, such as imidacloprid. Here, adult black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) were used to evaluate the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in abdominal, head, gill, and hepatopancreas tissue as biomarkers for imidacloprid exposure. Adult P. monodon were continuously exposed to imidacloprid in water (5 μgL^-1 and 30 μgL^-1) or feed (12.5 μg g^-1 and 75 μg g^-1) for either 4 or 21 days. The imidacloprid concentration in shrimp tissues was determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry after QuEChER extraction, and AChE, CAT, and GST activities were estimated by spectrophotometric assay. Imidacloprid exposure in shrimp elevated the activity of biomarkers, and the enzymatic activity was positively correlated to tissue imidacloprid accumulation, although the effects varied in a tissue-, dose- and time-dependent manner. AChE activity was correlated to imidacloprid concentration in the abdominal tissue of shrimp and was likely related to neural tissue distribution, while the activity of CAT and GST confirmed a generalised anti-oxidant stress response. AChE, CAT, and GST were valuable biomarkers for assessing shrimp response to imidacloprid exposure from dietary or water sources, and the abdominal tissue was the most reliable for exposure assessment. An elevated response in each of these biomarkers during routine monitoring could provide an early warning of shrimp stress, suggesting that investigating potential contamination by neonicotinoid pesticides would be worthwhile.

Impacts of Neonicotinoids on Molluscs: What We Know and What We Need to Know

The broad utilisation of neonicotinoids in agriculture has led to the unplanned contamination of adjacent terrestrial and aquatic systems around the world. Environmental monitoring regularly detects neonicotinoids at concentrations that may cause negative impacts on molluscs. The toxicity of neonicotinoids to some non-target invertebrates has been established; however, information on mollusc species is limited. Molluscs are likely to be exposed to various concentrations of neonicotinoids in the soil, food and water, which could increase their vulnerability to other sources of mortality and cause accidental exposure of other organisms higher in the food chain. This review examines the impacts of various concentrations of neonicotinoids on molluscs, including behavioural, physiological and biochemical responses. The review also identifies knowledge gaps and provides recommendations for future studies, to ensure a more comprehensive understanding of impacts from neonicotinoid exposure to molluscs.

Honeybee colonies compensate for pesticide-induced effects on royal jelly composition and brood survival with increased brood production

Sublethal doses of pesticides affect individual honeybees, but colony-level effects are less well understood and it is unclear how the two levels integrate. We studied the effect of the neonicotinoid pesticide clothianidin at field realistic concentrations on small colonies. We found that exposure to clothianidin affected worker jelly production of individual workers and created a strong dose-dependent increase in mortality of individual larvae, but strikingly the population size of capped brood remained stable. Thus, hives exhibited short-term resilience. Using a demographic matrix model, we found that the basis of resilience in dosed colonies was a substantive increase in brood initiation rate to compensate for increased brood mortality. However, computer simulation of full size colonies revealed that the increase in brood initiation led to severe reductions in colony reproduction (swarming) and long-term survival. This experiment reveals social regulatory mechanisms on colony-level that enable honeybees to partly compensate for effects on individual level.

Differences in Neonicotinoid and Metabolite Sorption to Activated Carbon Are Driven by Alterations to the Insecticidal Pharmacophore

Widespread application of neonicotinoids has led to their proliferation in waters. Despite low neonicotinoid hydrophobicity, our prior studies implicated granular activated carbon (GAC) in neonicotinoid removal. Based on known receptor binding characteristics, we hypothesized that the insecticidal pharmacophore influences neonicotinoid sorption. Our objectives were to illuminate drivers of neonicotinoid sorption for parent neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and thiacloprid) and pharmacophore-altered metabolites (desnitro-imidacloprid and imidacloprid urea) to GAC, powdered activated carbon, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Neonicotinoid sorption to GAC was extensive and largely irreversible, with significantly greater sorption of imidacloprid than desnitro-imidacloprid. Imidacloprid and imidacloprid urea (electronegative pharmacophores) sorbed most extensively to nonfunctionalized CNTs, whereas desnitro-imidacloprid (positive pharmacophore) sorbed most to COOH-CNTs, indicating the importance of charge interactions and/or hydrogen bonding between the pharmacophore and carbon surface. Water chemistry parameters (temperature, alkalinity, ionic strength, and humic acid) inhibited overall neonicotinoid sorption, suggesting that pharmacophore-driven sorption in real waters may be diminished. Analysis of a full-scale drinking water treatment plant GAC filter influent, effluent, and spent GAC attributes neonicotinoid/metabolite removal to GAC under real-world conditions for the first time. Our results demonstrate that the neonicotinoid pharmacophore not only confers insecticide selectivity but also impacts sorption behavior, leading to less effective removal of metabolites by GAC filters in water treatment.

Detrimental effects of clothianidin on foraging and dance communication in honey bees

Ongoing losses of pollinators are of significant international concern because of the essential role they have in our ecosystem, agriculture, and economy. Both chemical and non-chemical stressors have been implicated as possible contributors to their decline, but the increasing use of neonicotinoid insecticides has recently emerged as particularly concerning. In this study, honey bees were exposed orally to sublethal doses of the neonicotinoid clothianidin in the field in order to assess its effects on the foraging behavior, homing success, and dance communication. The foraging span and foraging activity at the contaminated feeder decreased significantly due to chronic exposure at field-realistic concentrations. Electrostatic field of dancing bees was measured and it was revealed that the number of waggle runs, the fanning time and the number of stop signals were significantly lower in the exposed colony. No difference was found in the homing success and the flight duration between control and treated bees released at a novel location within the explored area. However, a negative effect of the ambient temperature, and an influence of the location of the trained feeder was found. Finally, the residues of clothianidin accumulated in the abdomens of exposed foraging bees over time. These results show the adverse effects of a chronic exposure to sublethal doses of clothianidin on foraging and dance communication in honey bees.

Do novel insecticides pose a threat to beneficial insects?

Systemic insecticides, such as neonicotinoids, are a major contributor towards beneficial insect declines. This has led to bans and restrictions on neonicotinoid use globally, most noticeably in the European Union, where four commonly used neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin and thiacloprid) are banned from outside agricultural use. While this might seem like a victory for conservation, restrictions on neonicotinoid use will only benefit insect populations if newly emerging insecticides do not have similar negative impacts on beneficial insects. Flupyradifurone and sulfoxaflor are two novel insecticides that have been registered for use globally, including within the European Union. These novel insecticides differ in their chemical class, but share the same mode of action as neonicotinoids, raising the question as to whether they have similar sub-lethal impacts on beneficial insects. Here, we conducted a systematic literature search of the potential sub-lethal impacts of these novel insecticides on beneficial insects, quantifying these effects with a meta-analysis. We demonstrate that both flupyradifurone and sulfoxaflor have significant sub-lethal impacts on beneficial insects at field-realistic levels of exposure. These results confirm that bans on neonicotinoid use will only protect beneficial insects if paired with significant changes to the agrochemical regulatory process. A failure to modify the regulatory process will result in a continued decline of beneficial insects and the ecosystem services on which global food production relies.

A Novel Nutrient Deprivation-Induced Neonicotinoid Insecticide Acetamiprid Degradation by Ensifer adhaerens CGMCC 6315

Biodegradation of pesticide pollution is often restricted by environmental pressures, such as nutrient deprivation. Ensifer adhaerens CGMCC 6315 could overcome this issue and degrade neonicotinoid acetamiprid (ACE) efficiently under low nutrient stimuli. The ACE degradation rate improved by 33.1-fold when the lysogeny broth content for cell culture was decreased to 1/15-fold. Resting cells of CGMCC 6315 degraded 94.4% of 200 mg/L ACE in 12 h and quickly eliminated 87.8% of 5 mg/kg of residual soil ACE within 2 d. ACE degradation by CGMCC 6315 was via a nitrile hydratase (NHase) pathway. Genome sequencing showed that CGMCC 6315 had two NHase genes ( cnhA and pnhA). PnhA had the highest reported activity of 28.8 U/mg for ACE. QPCR and proteomic analysis showed that the improved ACE degradation ability was attributed to the up-regulated expression of PnhA. This biodegradation system of CGMCC 6315 has great potential for use in pesticide pollution remediation.

Mammalian Susceptibility to a Neonicotinoid Insecticide after Fetal and Early Postnatal Exposure

Neonicotinoids have become the most widely used class of insecticides world-wide. Although numerous studies have documented neonicotinoid toxicity in bees and other insects, the effects of exposure during early development in mammals remain largely unexplored. We assessed the effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid (IMI) in adult male and female mice after in utero and early postnatal exposure. Pregnant mice were infused with IMI (0.5 mg/kg/day) from gestational day 4 to the end of nursing at postnatal day 21. The young adult offspring were studied in a series of biochemical and behavioral tests. To assess reproducibility, the behavioral analyses were conducted in three separate studies using multiple exposed litters. Exposure to IMI reduced fecundity, and in adult offspring, decreased body weight in male but not female pups. Offspring from IMI-treated mothers displayed lower triglycerides, elevated motor activity, enhanced social dominance, reduced depressive-like behavior, and a diminution in social aggression compared to vehicle treated controls. Low levels of IMI were detected in the brains and livers of the treated mothers, while trace levels were detected in some offspring. Our results demonstrate that transient exposure to a neonicotinoid over the early developmental period induces long-lasting changes in behavior and brain function in mice.

Lethal and sublethal toxicity of neonicotinoid and butenolide insecticides to the mayfly, Hexagenia spp

Neonicotinoid insecticides are environmentally persistent and highly water-soluble, and thus are prone to leaching into surface waters where they may negatively affect non-target aquatic insects. Most of the research to date has focused on imidacloprid, and few data are available regarding the effects of other neonicotinoids or their proposed replacements (butenolide insecticides). The objective of this study was to assess the toxicity of six neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, clothianidin, thiacloprid, and dinotefuran) and one butenolide (flupyradifurone) to Hexagenia spp. (mayfly larvae). Acute (96-h), water-only tests were conducted, and survival and behaviour (number of surviving mayflies inhabiting artificial burrows) were assessed. Acute sublethal tests were also conducted with imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and thiacloprid, and in addition to survival and behaviour, mobility (ability to burrow into sediment) and recovery (survival and growth following 21 d in clean sediment) were measured. Sublethal effects occurred at much lower concentrations than survival: 96-h LC50s ranged from 780 μg/L (acetamiprid) to >10,000 μg/L (dinotefuran), whereas 96-h EC50s ranged from 4.0 μg/L (acetamiprid) to 630 μg/L (thiamethoxam). Flupyradifurone was intermediate in toxicity, with a 96-h LC50 of 2000 μg/L and a 96-h EC50 of 81 μg/L. Behaviour and mobility were impaired significantly and to a similar degree in sublethal exposures to 10 μg/L imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and thiacloprid, and survival and growth following the recovery period were significantly lower in mayflies exposed to 10 μg/L acetamiprid and thiacloprid, respectively. A suite of effects on mayfly swimming behaviour/ability and respiration were also observed, but not quantified, following exposures to imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and thiacloprid at 1 μg/L and higher. Imidacloprid concentrations measured in North American surface waters have been found to meet or exceed those causing toxicity to Hexagenia, indicating that environmental concentrations may adversely affect Hexagenia and similarly sensitive non-target aquatic species.

Neonicotinoids and Other Insect Nicotinic Receptor Competitive Modulators: Progress and Prospects

Neonicotinoids (neonics) are remarkably effective as plant systemics to control sucking insects and for flea control on dogs and cats. The nitroimines imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and dinotefuran are the leaders among the seven commercial neonics that also include the nitromethylene nitenpyram, the nitromethylene-derived cycloxaprid, and the cyanoimines acetamiprid and thiacloprid. Honey bees are highly sensitive to the nitroimines and nitromethylenes, but the cyanoimines are less toxic. All neonics are nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists with a common mode of action, target-site cross-resistance, and much higher potency on insect than mammalian nAChRs at defined binding sites. The structurally related sulfoximine sulfoxaflor and butenolide flupyradifurone are also nAChR agonists, and the mesoionic triflumezopyrim is a nAChR competitive modulator with little or no target-site cross-resistance. Some neonics induce stress tolerance in plants via salicylate-associated systems. The neonics in general are readily metabolized and, except for pollinators, have favorable toxicological profiles.

Partitioning the roles of CYP6G1 and gut microbes in the metabolism of the insecticide imidacloprid in Drosophila melanogaster

Resistance to insecticides through enhanced metabolism is a worldwide problem. The Cyp6g1 gene of the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is a paradigm for the study of metabolic resistance. Constitutive overexpression of this gene confers resistance to several classes of insecticides, including the neonicotinoid imidacloprid (IMI). The metabolism of IMI in this species has been previously shown to yield oxidative and nitro-reduced metabolites. While levels of the oxidative metabolites are correlated with CYP6G1 expression, nitro-reduced metabolites are not, raising the question of how these metabolites are produced. Some IMI metabolites are known to be toxic, making their fate within the insect a second question of interest. These questions have been addressed by coupling the genetic tools of gene overexpression and CRISPR gene knock-out with the mass spectrometric technique, the Twin-Ion Method (TIM). Analysing axenic larvae indicated that microbes living within D. melanogaster are largely responsible for the production of the nitro-reduced metabolites. Knock-out of Cyp6g1 revealed functional redundancy, with some metabolites produced by CYP6G1 still detected. IMI metabolism was shown to produce toxic products that are not further metabolized but readily excreted, even when produced in the Central Nervous System (CNS), highlighting the significance of transport and excretion in metabolic resistance.

Temporal dynamics of whole body residues of the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid in live or dead honeybees

In cases of acute intoxication, honeybees often lay in front of their hives for several days, exposed to sunlight and weather, before a beekeeper can take a sample. Beekeepers send samples to analytical laboratories, but sometimes no residues can be detected. Temperature and sun light could influence the decrease of pesticides in bee samples and thereby residues left for analysis. Moreover, samples are usually sent via normal postal services without cooling. We investigated the temporal dynamics of whole-body residues of imidacloprid in live or dead honeybees following a single-meal dietary exposure of 41 ng/bee under various environmental conditions, such as freezing, exposure to UV light or transfer of individuals through the mail system. Immobile, “dead” looking honeybees recovered from paralysis after 48 hours. The decrease of residues in living but paralysed bees was stopped by freezing (= killing). UV light significantly reduced residues, but the mode of transport did not affect residue levels. Group feeding increased the variance of residues, which is relevant for acute oral toxicity tests. In conclusion, elapsed time after poisoning is key for detection of neonicotinoids. Freezing before mailing significantly reduced the decrease of imidacloprid residues and may increase the accuracy of laboratory analysis for pesticides.

Immunosuppression in Honeybee Queens by the Neonicotinoids Thiacloprid and Clothianidin

Queen health is crucial to colony survival of honeybees, since reproduction and colony growth rely solely on the queen. Queen failure is considered a relevant cause of colony losses, yet few data exist concerning effects of environmental stressors on queens. Here we demonstrate for the first time that exposure to field-realistic concentrations of neonicotinoid pesticides can severely affect the immunocompetence of queens of western honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). In young queens exposed to thiacloprid (200 µg/l or 2000 µg/l) or clothianidin (10 µg/l or 50 µg/l), the total hemocyte number and the proportion of active, differentiated hemocytes was significantly reduced. Moreover, functional aspects of the immune defence namely the wound healing/melanisation response, as well as the antimicrobial activity of the hemolymph were impaired. Our results demonstrate that neonicotinoid insecticides can negatively affect the immunocompetence of queens, possibly leading to an impaired disease resistance capacity.

Sensitivity of the early-life stages of freshwater mollusks to neonicotinoid and butenolide insecticides

Neonicotinoid insecticides can be transported from agricultural fields, where they are used as foliar sprays or seed treatments, to surface waters by surface or sub-surface runoff. Few studies have investigated the toxicity of neonicotinoid or the related butenolide insecticides to freshwater mollusk species. The current study examined the effect of neonicotinoid and butenolide exposures to the early-life stages of the ramshorn snail, Planorbella pilsbryi, and the wavy-rayed lampmussel, Lampsilis fasciola. Juvenile P. pilsbryi were exposed to imidacloprid, clothianidin, or thiamethoxam for 7 or 28 d and mortality, growth, and biomass production were measured. The viability of larval (glochidia) L. fasciola was monitored during a 48 h exposure to six neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, acetamiprid, thiacloprid, or dinotefuran), or a butenolide (flupyradifurone). The 7-d LC50s of P. pilsbryi for imidacloprid, clothianidin, and thiamethoxam were ≥4000 μg/L and the 28-d LC50s were ≥182 μg/L. Growth and biomass production were considerably more sensitive endpoints than mortality with EC50s ranging from 33.2 to 122.0 μg/L. The 48-h LC50s for the viability of glochidia were ≥456 μg/L for all seven insecticides tested. Our data indicate that neonicotinoid and butenolide insecticides pose less of a hazard with respect to mortality of the two species of mollusk compared to the potential hazard to other non-target aquatic insects.

Molecular modeling of sulfoxaflor and neonicotinoid binding in insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: impact of the Myzus β1 R81T mutation

BACKGROUND

Sulfoxaflor (Isoclast™ active), a new sulfoximine-class insecticide, targets sap-feeding insect pests, including those resistant to neonicotinoids. Sulfoxaflor acts on the insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in a distinct manner relative to neonicotinoids. Unlike any of the neonicotinoids, sulfoxaflor has four stereoisomers. A homology model of Myzus persicae (green peach aphid) based on the ACh binding protein from Aplysia californica, overlaid with M. persicae nAChR sequence (α2 and β1 subunits) was used to investigate the interactions of the sulfoxaflor stereoisomers with WT and R81T versions of the nAChR.

RESULTS

Whole-molecule van der Waals interactions are highly correlated with the binding affinity for the neonicotinoids and correctly predict the rank order of binding affinity for neonicotinoids and sulfoxaflor. The R81T mutation in M. persicae nAChR is predicted to have much less effect on binding of sulfoxaflor's stereoisomers than that of the neonicotinoids.

CONCLUSION

All four stereoisomers predictably contribute to the activity of sulfoxaflor. The WT and R81T nAChR homology models suggest that changes in a whole-molecule electrostatic energy component can potentially explain the effects of this target-site mutation on the pattern of reduced efficacy for the modeled neonicotinoids, and provide a basis for the reduced effect of this mutation on sulfoxaflor. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Structure of olefin–imidacloprid and gas-phase fragmentation chemistry of its protonated form

Gas-phase fragmentation reactions of protonated olefin–imidacloprid.

Transcriptome Analysis of the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems of the Spider Cupiennius salei Reveals Multiple Putative Cys-Loop Ligand Gated Ion Channel Subunits and an Acetylcholine Binding Protein

Invertebrates possess a diverse collection of pentameric Cys-loop ligand gated ion channel (LGIC) receptors whose molecular structures, evolution and relationships to mammalian counterparts have been intensely investigated in several clinically and agriculturally important species. These receptors are targets for a variety of control agents that may also harm beneficial species. However, little is known about Cys-loop receptors in spiders, which are important natural predators of insects. We assembled de novo transcriptomes from the central and peripheral nervous systems of the Central American wandering spider Cupiennius salei, a model species for neurophysiological, behavioral and developmental studies. We found 15 Cys-loop receptor subunits that are expected to form anion or cation permeable channels, plus a putative acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP) that has only previously been reported in molluscs and one annelid. We used phylogenetic and sequence analysis to compare the spider subunits to homologous receptors in other species and predicted the 3D structures of each protein using the I-Tasser server. The quality of homology models improved with increasing sequence identity to the available high-resolution templates. We found that C. salei has orthologous γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), GluCl, pHCl, HisCl and nAChα LGIC subunits to other arthropods, but some subgroups are specific to arachnids, or only to spiders. C. salei sequences were phylogenetically closest to gene fragments from the social spider, Stegodyphus mimosarum, indicating high conservation within the Araneomorphae suborder of spiders. C. salei sequences had similar ligand binding and transmembrane regions to other invertebrate and vertebrate LGICs. They also had motifs associated with high sensitivity to insecticides and antiparasitic agents such as fipronil, dieldrin and ivermectin. Development of truly selective control agents for pest species will require information about the molecular structure and pharmacology of Cys-loop receptors in beneficial species.

Tetrahydroindeno[1',2':4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazol-5(1H)-ones as novel neonicotinoid insecticides: reaction selectivity and substituent effects on the activity level

Tetraheterocyclic tetrahydroindeno[1',2':4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazol-5(1H)-one derivatives as novel neonicotinoid candidates were designed and prepared by selective etherification, chlorination and esterification of ninhydrin-heterocyclic ketene aminals adducts. Some of the designed compounds showed excellent insecticidal activity against cowpea aphids (Aphis craccivora), brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens), and armyworm (Mythimna separata). In particular, the activity against armyworm (Mythimna separata) improved a lot in contrast with that of imidacloprid and cycloxaprid. The research here provides a novel neonicotinoid chemotype for further development.

DDT, epigenetic harm, and transgenerational environmental justice

Although the environmentally harmful effects of widespread dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) use became well-known following Rachel Carson's Silent Spring (1962), its human health effects have more recently become clearer. A ban on the use of DDT has been in place for over 30 years, but recently DDT has been used for malaria control in areas such as Africa. Recent work shows that DDT has transgenerational effects in progeny and generations never directly exposed to DDT. These effects have health implications for individuals who are not able to have any voice in the decision to use the pesticide. The transgenerational effects of DDT are considered in light of some widely accepted ethical principles. We argue that this reframes the decision to use DDT, requiring us to incorporate new considerations, and new kinds of decision making, into the deliberative process that determines its ongoing use. Ethical considerations for intergenerational environmental justice are presented that include concern and respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, and justice. Here, we offer a characterization of the kinds of ethical considerations that must be taken into account in any satisfactory decisions to use DDT.

Design, synthesis, crystal structures, and insecticidal activities of eight-membered azabridge neonicotinoid analogues

Three series of novel azabridge neonicotinoid analogues were designed and synthesized, which were constructed by starting material A, glutaraldehyde, and primary amine hydrochlorides (aliphatic amines, phenylhydrazines, and anilines). Most of the eight-membered azabridge compounds presented higher insecticidal activities than oxabridged compound B against cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora) and brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens). Compared with imidacloprid, some azabridged compounds exhibited excellent insecticidal activity against brown planthopper. The crystal structures and bioassay indicated that changing bridge atoms from O to N could lead to entirely different conformations, which might be the important influential factor of the bioactivities.

Sulfoxaflor and the sulfoximine insecticides: chemistry, mode of action and basis for efficacy on resistant insects

The sulfoximines, as exemplified by sulfoxaflor ([N-[methyloxido[1-[6-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridinyl]ethyl]-λ(4)-sulfanylidene] cyanamide] represent a new class of insecticides. Sulfoxaflor exhibits a high degree of efficacy against a wide range of sap-feeding insects, including those resistant to neonicotinoids and other insecticides. Sulfoxaflor is an agonist at insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and functions in a manner distinct from other insecticides acting at nAChRs. The sulfoximines also exhibit structure activity relationships (SAR) that are different from other nAChR agonists such as the neonicotinoids. This review summarizes the sulfoximine SAR, mode of action and the biochemistry underlying the observed efficacy on resistant insect pests, with a particular focus on sulfoxaflor.