Diverse actions and target-site selectivity of neonicotinoids: structural insights

Pharmacology and molecular modeling studies of sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone and neonicotinoids on the human neuronal α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

We conducted electrophysiological and molecular docking studies using a heterologous expression system (Xenopus oocytes) to compare the effects of four neonicotinoids (acetamiprid, imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam), one sulfoximine, (sulfoxaflor), and one butenolide (flupyradifurone), on human α7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). All neonicotinoids (except thiamethoxam), as well as the recently introduced nAChR competitive modulators, flupyradifurone and sulfoxaflor, appear to be weaker agonists than acetylcholine. Two mutations in loop C (E211N and E211P) and one mutation in loop D (Q79K), known to be involved in the binding properties of neonicotinoids were introduced to the α7 wild type. Interestingly, the acetylcholine and nicotine-evoked activation was not modified in human α7 mutated receptors, but the net charge was enhanced for clothianidin and imidacloprid, respectively. Flupyradifurone responses strongly increased under the Q79K mutation. The molecular docking investigations demonstrated that the orientations and interactions of the ligands considered were in accordance with those observed experimentally. Specifically, the charged fragments of acetylcholine and nicotine, used as reference ligands, and their neonicotinoid homologs were found to be surrounded by aromatic residues, with key interactions with Trp171 and Y210. Furthermore, the molecular docking investigations predicted the water-mediated interaction between the carbonyl oxygen of acetylcholine and the Nsp2 nitrogen of the pyridine ring for nicotine (as well as for the majority of the corresponding neonicotinoid fragments) and main chain NH of L141. The docking scores, extending over a significant range of 6 kcal/mol, showed that most neonicotinoids were poorly stabilized in the α7 nAChR compared to acetylcholine, except sulfoxaflor.

Impact of a worker bee thoracic ganglion RIC-3 variant on the actions of acetylcholine and neonicotinoids on nicotinic receptors in Apis mellifera

A transmembrane thioredoxin (TMX3) enables the functional expression of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in Xenopus laevis oocytes, while co-factors RIC-3 and UNC-50 regulate the receptor expression level. RIC-3 (resistant to inhibitors of cholinesterase 3) has been shown to diversify by its differential mRNA splicing patterns. How such diversity influences neonicotinoid sensitivity of nAChRs of beneficial insect species remains poorly understood. We have identified a RIC-3 variant expressed most abundantly in the thoracic ganglia of honeybee (Apis mellifera) workers and investigated its effects on the functional expression and pharmacology of Amα1/Amα8/Amβ1 and Amα1/Amα2/Amα8/Amβ1 nAChRs expressed in X. laevis oocytes. The AmRIC-3 enhanced the response amplitude to the acetylcholine (ACh) of these A. mellifera nAChRs when its cRNA was injected into oocytes at low concentrations but suppressed the ACh response amplitude at high concentrations. Co-expression of the AmRIC-3 had a minimal impact on the affinity of ACh, but changed the efficacy of imidacloprid and clothianidin, suggesting that the presence and the level of RIC-3 expression can affect the nAChR responses to ACh and neonicotinoids, depending on nAChR subunit composition in honeybees. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Unravelling nicotinic receptor and ligand features underlying neonicotinoid knockdown actions on the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae

With the spread of resistance to long-established insecticides targeting Anopheles malaria vectors, understanding the actions of compounds newly identified for vector control is essential. With new commercial vector-control products containing neonicotinoids under development, we investigate the actions of 6 neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiacloprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, nitenpyram and acetamiprid) on 13 Anopheles gambiae nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes produced by expression of combinations of the Agα1, Agα2, Agα3, Agα8 and Agβ1 subunits in Xenopus laevis oocytes, the Drosophila melanogaster orthologues of which we have previously shown to be important in neonicotinoid actions. The presence of the Agα2 subunit reduces neonicotinoid affinity for the mosquito nAChRs, whereas the Agα3 subunit increases it. Crystal structures of the acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP), an established surrogate for the ligand-binding domain, with dinotefuran bound, shows a unique target site interaction through hydrogen bond formation and CH-N interaction at the tetrahydrofuran ring. This is of interest as dinotefuran is also under trial as the toxic element in baited traps. Multiple regression analyses show a correlation between the efficacy of neonicotinoids for the Agα1/Agα2/Agα8/Agβ1 nAChR, their hydrophobicity and their rate of knockdown of adult female An. gambiae, providing new insights into neonicotinoid features important for malaria vector control.

The Molecular Resistance Mechanisms of European Earwigs from Apple Orchards Subjected to Different Management Strategies

To date, apple orchards are among the most treated crops in Europe with up to 35 chemical treatments per year. Combining control methods that reduce the number of pesticide treatments is essential for agriculture and more respectful of the environment, and the use of predatory insects such as earwigs may be valuable to achieve this goal. European earwigs, Forficula auricularia (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) are considered beneficial insects in apple orchards where they can feed on many pests like aphids. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential impact of orchards' insecticide treatments on resistance-associated molecular processes in natural populations of earwigs. Because very few molecular data are presently available on earwigs, our first goal was to identify earwig resistance-associated genes and potential mutations. Using earwigs from organic, integrated pest management or conventional orchards, we identified mutations in acetylcholinesterase 2, α1 and β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In addition, the expression level of these targets and of some essential detoxification genes were monitored using RT-qPCR. Unexpectedly, earwigs collected in organic orchards showed the highest expression for acetylcholinesterase 2. Four cytochromes P450, one esterase and one glutathione S-transferases were over-expressed in earwigs exposed to various management strategies in orchards. This first study on resistance-associated genes in Forficula auricularia paves the way for future experimental studies aimed at better understanding the potential competition between natural enemies in apple orchards in order to optimize the efficiency of biocontrol.

The modes of action of ion-channel-targeting neurotoxic insecticides: lessons from structural biology

Insecticides are indispensable tools for plant protection in modern agriculture. Despite having highly heterogeneous structures, many neurotoxic insecticides use similar principles to inhibit or deregulate neuronal ion channels. Insecticides targeting pentameric ligand-gated channels are structural mimetics of neurotransmitters or manipulate and deregulate the proteins. Those binding to (pseudo-)tetrameric voltage-gated(-like) channels, on the other hand, are natural or synthetic compounds that directly block the ion-conducting pore or prevent conformational changes in the transmembrane domain necessary for opening and closing the pore. The use of a limited number of inhibition mechanisms can be problematic when resistances arise and become more widespread. Therefore, there is a rising interest in the development of insecticides with novel mechanisms that evade resistance and are pest-insect-specific. During the last decade, most known insecticide targets, many with bound compounds, have been structurally characterized, bringing the rational design of novel classes of agrochemicals within closer reach than ever before.

Neuroprotective potential of berberine against acetamiprid induced toxicity in rats: Implication of oxidative stress, mitochondrial alterations, and structural changes in brain regions

Acetamiprid (ACMP) is an extensively used neonicotinoid pesticide to control sucking and chewing insects and is known to cause nontarget toxicity. The present study aimed to evaluate the ameliorative potential of berberine (BBR)-a polyphenolic alkaloid- on ACMP-induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunctioning, and structural changes in different rat brain regions. The male Wistar rats were divided into four groups, that is, control, BBR-treated (150 mg/kg b.wt), ACMP-exposed (21.7 mg/kg b.wt) and BBR + ACMP co-treated; and were dosed intragastrically for 21 consecutive days. Results of the biochemical analysis showed that BBR significantly ameliorated ACMP-induced oxidative stress by decreasing lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation along with a marked increase in endogenous antioxidants and lowered AChE activity in rat brain regions. Inside mitochondria, BBR significantly attenuated the toxic effects of ACMP by increasing the activity of mitochondrial complexes. Findings of polymerase chain reaction also demonstrated the modulatory effects of BBR against ACMP-mediated downregulation of ND1, ND2, COX1, and COX4 subunits of mitochondrial complexes. The histopathological and ultrastructural examination also validated the biochemical and transcriptional alterations following toxicity of ACMP exposure and the protective potential of BBR against ACMP-induced neurotoxicity. Thus, the present study indicates the promising ameliorative potential of BBR against ACMP-induced neurotoxicity via its antioxidative and modulatory activities.

Functional impact of subunit composition and compensation on Drosophila melanogaster nicotinic receptors-targets of neonicotinoids

Neonicotinoid insecticides target insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and their adverse effects on non-target insects are of serious concern. We recently found that cofactor TMX3 enables robust functional expression of insect nAChRs in Xenopus laevis oocytes and showed that neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and clothianidin) exhibited agonist actions on some nAChRs of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), honeybee (Apis mellifera) and bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) with more potent actions on the pollinator nAChRs. However, other subunits from the nAChR family remain to be explored. We show that the Dα3 subunit co-exists with Dα1, Dα2, Dβ1, and Dβ2 subunits in the same neurons of adult D. melanogaster, thereby expanding the possible nAChR subtypes in these cells alone from 4 to 12. The presence of Dα1 and Dα2 subunits reduced the affinity of imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and clothianidin for nAChRs expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, whereas the Dα3 subunit enhanced it. RNAi targeting Dα1, Dα2 or Dα3 in adults reduced expression of targeted subunits but commonly enhanced Dβ3 expression. Also, Dα1 RNAi enhanced Dα7 expression, Dα2 RNAi reduced Dα1, Dα6, and Dα7 expression and Dα3 RNAi reduced Dα1 expression while enhancing Dα2 expression, respectively. In most cases, RNAi treatment of either Dα1 or Dα2 reduced neonicotinoid toxicity in larvae, but Dα2 RNAi enhanced neonicotinoid sensitivity in adults reflecting the affinity-reducing effect of Dα2. Substituting each of Dα1, Dα2, and Dα3 subunits by Dα4 or Dβ3 subunit mostly increased neonicotinoid affinity and reduced efficacy. These results are important because they indicate that neonicotinoid actions involve the integrated activity of multiple nAChR subunit combinations and counsel caution in interpreting neonicotinoid actions simply in terms of toxicity.

(−)-Adaline from the Adalia Genus of Ladybirds Is a Potent Antagonist of Insect and Specific Mammalian Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) possess strong chemical defences that are secreted in response to stress and are also found on the coating of eggs, which are rich in alkaloids that are responsible for their toxicity to other species. Recent studies have shown that alkaloids from several species of ladybird beetle can target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) acting as receptor antagonists. Here, we have explored the actions of (−)-adaline, found in the 2-spot (Adalia bipunctata) and 10-spot (Adalia decempunctata) ladybirds, on both mammalian (α1β1γδ, α7, α4β2, α3β4) and insect nAChRs using patch-clamp of TE671 cells and locust brain neurons natively expressing nAChRs, as well as two-electrode voltage clamp of Xenopus laevis oocytes recombinantly expressing nAChRs. All nAChR subtypes were antagonised by (−)-adaline in a time-dependent, voltage-dependent and non-competitive manner with the lowest IC₅₀s at rat α3β4 (0.10 μM) and locust neuron (1.28 μM) nAChRs, at a holding potential of −75 mV. The data imply that (−)-adaline acts as an open channel blocker of nAChRs.

Effects of cofactors RIC-3, TMX3 and UNC-50, together with distinct subunit ratios on the agonist actions of imidacloprid on Drosophila melanogaster Dα1/Dβ1 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes

Insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) require cofactors for functional heterologous expression. A previous study revealed that TMX3 was crucial for the functional expression of Drosophila melanogaster Dα1/Dβ1 nAChRs in Xenopus laevis oocytes, while UNC-50 and RIC-3 enhanced the acetylcholine (ACh)-induced responses of the nAChRs. However, it is unclear whether the coexpression of UNC-50 and RIC-3 with TMX3 and the subunit stoichiometry affect pharmacology of Dα1/Dβ1 nAChRs when expressed in X. laevis oocytes. We have investigated the effects of coexpressing UNC-50 and RIC-3 with TMX3 as well as changing the subunit stoichiometry on the agonist activity of ACh and imidacloprid on the Dα1/Dβ1 nAChRs. UNC-50 and RIC-3 hardly affected the agonist affinity of ACh and imidacloprid for the Dα1/Dβ1 nAChRs formed by injecting into X. laevis oocytes with an equal amount mixture of the subunit cRNAs, but enhanced current amplitude of the ACh-induced response. Imidacloprid showed higher affinity for the Dβ1 subunit-excess Dα1/Dβ1 (Dα1/Dβ1 = 1/5) nAChRs than the Dα1 subunit-excess Dα1/Dβ1 (Dα1/Dβ1 = 5/1) nAChRs, suggesting that imidacloprid prefers the Dα1-Dβ1 orthosteric site over the Dα1-Dα1 orthosteric site.

Effects of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit deletion mutants on insecticide susceptibility and fitness in Drosophila melanogaster

BACKGROUND

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are major excitatory neurotransmitter receptors in insects and also the target site for many insecticides. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of these insecticides is diminishing as a consequence of the evolution of insecticide resistance. Further exploration of insecticide targets is important to sustainable pest management.

RESULTS

In order to validate the role of nAChR subunits in insecticide susceptibility and test whether the subunit's absence imposes the fitness cost on insects, we determined the susceptibility of eight nAChR subunit deletion mutants of Drosophila melanogaster to nine insecticides. These findings highlighted the specific resistance of the Dα6 deletion mutant to spinosyns. Although triflumezopyrim, dinotefuran and imidacloprid are competitive modulators of nAChRs, differences in susceptibility of the insect with different deletion mutants suggested that the target sites of these three insecticides do not overlap completely. Mutants showed decreased susceptibility to insecticides, accompanied by a reduction in fitness. The number of eggs produced by Dα1^attP , Dα2^attP , Dβ2^attP and Dβ3^attP females was significantly lesser than that of the vas-Cas9 strain as the control. In addition, adults of Dα2^attP , Dα3^attP and Dα7^attP strains showed lower climbing performance. Meanwhile, males of Dα3^attP , Dα5^attP , Dβ2^attP and Dβ3^attP , and females of Dβ2^attP showed significantly shorter longevity than those of the vas-Cas9 strain.

CONCLUSION

This study provides new insights into the interactions of different insecticides with different nAChRs subunit in D. melanogaster as a research model, it could help better understand such interaction in agricultural pests whose genetic manipulations for toxicological research are often challenging. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of Thiamethoxam-Dressed Oilseed Rape Seeds and Nosema ceranae on Colonies of Apis mellifera iberiensis, L. under Field Conditions of Central Spain. Is Hormesis Playing a Role?

Simple Summary

The collapse of the honey bee colonies is a complex phenomenon in which different factors may participate in an interrelated manner (e.g., pathogen interactions, exposure to chemicals, beekeeping practices, climatology, etc.). In light of the current debate regarding the interpretation of field and monitoring studies in prospective risk assessments, here we studied how exposure to thiamethoxam affects honey bee colonies in Central Spain when applied as a seed treatment to winter oilseed rape, according to the good agricultural practice in place prior to the EU restrictions. Under the experimental conditions, exposure to thiamethoxam, alone or in combination with other stressors, did not generate and maintain sufficient chronic stress as to provoke honey bee colony collapse. The stress derived from exposure to thiamethoxam and honey bee pathogens was compensated by adjustments in the colony’s dynamics, and by an increase in the worker bee population, a behavior known as hormesis. An analysis of the factors underlying this phenomenon should be incorporated into the prospective risk assessment of plant protection products in order to improve the future interpretation of field studies and management practices.

Abstract

To study the influence of thiamethoxam exposure on colony strength and pathogen prevalence, an apiary (5 colonies) was placed in front of a plot sown with winter oilseed rape (wOSR), just before the flowering phase. Before sowing, the seeds were treated with an equivalent application of 18 g thiamethoxam/ha. For comparison, a second apiary (5 colonies) was located in front of a separate 750 m plot sown with untreated wOSR. Dead foragers at the entrance of hives were assessed every 2–3 days throughout the exposure period, while the colony strength (number of combs covered with adult honey bees and brood) and pathogens were monitored each month until the following spring. Foraging on the wOSR crop was confirmed by melissopalynology determination of the corbicular pollen collected periodically, while the chemical analysis showed that exposure to thiamethoxam was mainly through nectar. There was an increase in the accumulation of dead bees in the apiary exposed to thiamethoxam relating with the control, which was coped with an increment of bee brood surface and adult bee population. However, we did not find statistically significant differences between apiaries (α = 0.05) in terms of the evolution of pathogens. We discuss these results under hormesis perspective.

Toxicological Effect and Molecular Mechanism of the Chiral Neonicotinoid Dinotefuran in Honeybees

With the increasing demand for pollinating services, the wellness of honeybees has received widespread attention. Recent evidence indicated honeybee health might be posed a potential threat by widely used neonicotinoids worldwide. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism of these insecticides in honeybees especially at an enantiomeric level. In this study, we selected two species of bees, Apis mellifera (A. mellifera) and Apis cerana (A. cerana), to assess the toxicity and molecular mechanism of neonicotinoid dinotefuran and its enantiomers. The results showed that S-dinotefuran was more toxic than rac-dinotefuran and R-dinotefuran to honeybees by oral and contact exposures as much as 114 times. A. cerana was more susceptible to highly toxic enantiomer S-dinotefuran. S-dinotefuran induced the immune system response in A. cerana after 48 h exposure and significant changes were observed in the neuronal signaling of A. mellifera under three forms of dinotefuran exposure. Moreover, molecular docking also revealed that S-dinotefuran formed more hydrogen bonds than R-dinotefuran with nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, indicating the higher toxicity of S-dinotefuran. Data provided here show that R-dinotefuran may be a safer alternative to control pests and protect pollinators than rac-dinotefuran.

Structural Biology-Guided Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Insect Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Orthosteric Modulators

The development of novel and safe insecticides remains an important need for a growing world population to protect crops and animal and human health. New chemotypes modulating the insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have been recently brought to the agricultural market, yet with limited understanding of their molecular interactions at their target receptor. Herein, we disclose the first crystal structures of these insecticides, namely, sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, triflumezopyrim, flupyrimin, and the experimental compound, dicloromezotiaz, in a double-mutated acetylcholine-binding protein which mimics the insect-ion-channel orthosteric site. Enabled by these findings, we discovered novel pharmacophores with a related mode of action, and we describe herein their design, synthesis, and biological evaluation.

Chemical and biological studies of natural and synthetic products for the highly selective control of pest insect species

Tanacetum cinerariifolium was known to produce pyrethrins, but the mechanism of pyrethrin biosynthesis was largely unclear. The author showed that the nonmevalonate and oxylipin pathways underlie biosynthesis of the acid and alcohol moieties, respectively, and a GDSL lipase joins the products of these pathways. A blend of the green leaf volatiles and (E)-β-farnesene mediates the induction of wounding responses to neighboring intact conspecies by enhancing pyrethrin biosynthesis. Plants fight against herbivores underground as well as aboveground, and, in soy pulps, some fungi produce compounds selectively modulating ion channels in insect nervous system. The author proposed that indirect defense of plants occurs where microorganisms produce defense substances in the rhizosphere. Broad-spectrum pesticides, including neonicotinoids, may affect nontarget organisms. The author discovered cofactors enabling functional expression of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). This led to understanding the mechanism of insect nAChR-neonicotinoid interactions, thus paving new avenues for controlling crop pests and disease vectors.

Molecular innovations underlying resistance to nicotine and neonicotinoids in the aphid Myzus persicae

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, is a globally distributed highly damaging crop pest. This species has demonstrated an exceptional ability to evolve resistance to both synthetic insecticides used for control, and natural insecticides produced by certain plants as a chemical defense against insect attack. Here we review work characterizing the evolution of resistance in M. persicae to the natural insecticide nicotine and the structurally related class of synthetic neonicotinoid insecticides. We outline how research on this topic has provided insights into long-standing questions of both evolutionary and applied importance. These include questions pertaining to the origins of novel traits, the number and nature of mutational events or 'adaptive steps' underlying the evolution of new phenotypes, and whether host plant adaptations can be co-opted to confer resistance to synthetic insecticides. Finally, research on the molecular mechanisms underlying insecticide resistance in M. persicae has generated several outstanding questions on the genetic architecture of resistance to both natural and synthetic xenobiotics, and we conclude by identifying key knowledge gaps for future research. © 2021 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Robust functional expression of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors provides new insights into neonicotinoid actions and new opportunities for pest and vector control

Neonicotinoids are selective modulators of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). These widely deployed insecticides interact with the orthosteric sites of nAChRs, not only to activate nAChRs on their own, but also to block the desensitizing component of nAChR responses. To date recombinant vertebrate or insect/vertebrate hybrid nAChRs have been deployed to understand the mechanism of selectivity and diversity of neonicotinoid actions as well as to show that both α/α and α/non-α interfaces are involved in the interactions with neonicotinoids. However, many of the fine details of insecticide interactions with sites on nAChRs remain to be resolved. The breakthrough of functional expression of insect nAChRs allows such questions to be addressed, not only for neonicotinoids but for other insecticides targeting insect nAChRs. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Synergism and unintended effects of the association between imidacloprid and sodium chloride (NaCl) on the management of Euschistus heros

BACKGROUND

The use of insecticidal solutions containing sodium chloride (NaCl) has been proposed as a more environmentally friendly alternative to managing stink bug infestations of Neotropical soybean fields. The potential sublethal and undesirable effects of this practice have, however, been overlooked, especially with novel insecticides. Here, we have evaluated experimentally whether the addition of NaCl (0.5% w/v) to imidacloprid-containing solutions could alter insecticide toxicity and modify the reproductive responses of the Neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros.

RESULTS

Adding NaCl to imidacloprid solutions significantly increased imidacloprid toxicity against E. heros. The exposure to E. heros to sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid affected the insect's mating abilities in a concentration-dependent manner. The addition of NaCl to solutions containing imidacloprid at concentrations as low as 0.126 μg a.i. cm^-2 (i.e. the equivalent to 3% of field rate recommendation) also impacted the sexual behavior of E. heros, reducing mating duration. NaCl-exposed stink bugs, however, exhibited higher fecundity and fertility rates than those insects that were unexposed to NaCl or those that were exposed to sublethal levels of imidacloprid only.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of low amounts of NaCl resulted in a higher toxicity of imidacloprid. This practice, however, can also lead to undesirable effects as increasing reproductive output of E. heros that can potentially compromise the management of these insect pests.

Binding properties to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors can explain differential toxicity of neonicotinoid insecticides in Chironomidae

Neonicotinoids are neuroactive insecticides commonly detected in freshwater ecosystems. Recent studies have indicated that these compounds are markedly toxic to Chironomidae, a widespread family of ecologically important aquatic insects. However, despite their sensitivity, the pharmacological mechanisms driving neonicotinoid toxicity have yet to be characterized in these insect species. Here, we used a combination of saturation and competition binding studies to characterize neonicotinoid binding properties to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in two different Chironomidae (Chironomus riparius and Chironomus dilutus) at two different life stages (larval and adult). Using radiolabeled imidacloprid ([³H]-IMI), we characterized and compared receptor density (B_max), imidacloprid binding affinity (K_D), and receptor binding affinity (K_i) to three different neonicotinoid competitors (imidacloprid, clothianidin, and thiamethoxam). We then compared receptor density and binding affinity parameters derived for Chironomidae to data previously generated for other dipterans and agricultural pests. We found that there were limited differences in neonicotinoid binding between C. riparius and C. dilutus, with both organisms demonstrating high affinities for imidacloprid (K_D = 0.22-0.87 nM) and high receptor densities (B_max = 0.92-6.53 pmol/mg). However, there were significant differences between life-stages, with larvae expressing higher densities of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and higher imidacloprid affinities than adults. Moreover, there were compound-specific differences in receptor affinity, with larval stages displaying relative affinities (K_i) that generally correlated with acute neonicotinoid toxicity (e.g. clothianidin ≥ imidacloprid >>> thiamethoxam). Finally, compared to other dipterans and agricultural pests, Chironomidae display very high densities of high affinity nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which likely contribute to their sensitivity. Results indicated that receptor-level differences in neonicotinoid binding may be responsible for ecotoxicological differences amongst distinct insect species, and they likely play a role in life stage-, and compound-level toxicity differences previously observed for Chironomidae. Overall, this study highlights the value of understanding the toxicological mechanisms of action of neonicotinoids in sensitive, non-target aquatic insects, to better predict adverse effects associated with unintentional neonicotinoid exposure.

Neonicotinoid Insecticides: Molecular Targets, Resistance, and Toxicity

Neonicotinoids have been used to protect crops and animals from insect pests since the 1990s, but there are concerns regarding their adverse effects on nontarget organisms, notably on bees. Enhanced resistance to neonicotinoids in pests is becoming well documented. We address the current understanding of neonicotinoid target site interactions, selectivity, and metabolism not only in pests but also in beneficial insects such as bees. The findings are relevant to the management of both neonicotinoids and the new generation of pesticides targeting insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Strigolactone signaling regulates specialized metabolism in tobacco stems and interactions with stem-feeding herbivores

Plants are attacked by herbivores, which often specialize on different tissues, and in response, have evolved sophisticated resistance strategies that involve different types of chemical defenses frequently targeted to different tissues. Most known phytohormones have been implicated in regulating these defenses, with jasmonates (JAs) playing a pivotal role in complex regulatory networks of signaling interactions, often generically referred to as "cross talk." The newly identified class of phytohormones, strigolactones (SLs), known to regulate the shoot architecture, remain unstudied with regard to plant-herbivore interactions. We explored the role of SL signaling in resistance to a specialist weevil (Trichobaris mucorea) herbivore of the native tobacco, Nicotiana attenuata, that attacks the root-shoot junction (RSJ), the part of the plant most strongly influenced by alterations in SL signaling (increased branching). As SL signaling shares molecular components, such as the core F-box protein MORE AXILLARY GROWTH 2 (MAX2), with another new class of phytohormones, the karrikins (KARs), which promote seed germination and seedling growth, we generated transformed lines, individually silenced in the expression of NaMAX2, DWARF 14 (NaD14: the receptor for SL) and CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE 7 (NaCCD7: a key enzyme in SL biosynthesis), and KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE 2 (NaKAI2: the KAR receptor). The mature stems of all transgenic lines impaired in the SL, but not the KAR signaling pathway, overaccumulated anthocyanins, as did the stems of plants attacked by the larvae of weevil, which burrow into the RSJs to feed on the pith of N. attenuata stems. T. mucorea larvae grew larger in the plants silenced in the SL pathway, but again, not in the KAI2-silenced plants. These phenotypes were associated with elevated JA and auxin (indole-3-acetic acid [IAA]) levels and significant changes in the accumulation of defensive compounds, including phenolamides and nicotine. The overaccumulation of phenolamides and anthocyanins in the SL pathway-silenced plants likely resulted from antagonism between the SL and JA pathway in N. attenuata. We show that the repressors of SL signaling, suppressor of max2-like (NaSMXL6/7), and JA signaling, jasmonate zim-domain (NaJAZs), physically interact, promoting NaJAZb degradation and releasing JASMONATE INSENSITIVE 1 (JIN1/MYC2) (NaMYC2), a critical transcription factor promoting JA responses. However, the increased performance of T. mucorea larvae resulted from lower pith nicotine levels, which were inhibited by increased IAA levels in SL pathway-silenced plants. This inference was confirmed by decapitation and auxin transport inhibitor treatments that decreased pith IAA and increased nicotine levels. In summary, SL signaling tunes specific sectors of specialized metabolism in stems, such as phenylpropanoid and nicotine biosynthesis, by tailoring the cross talk among phytohormones, including JA and IAA, to mediate herbivore resistance of stems. The metabolic consequences of the interplay of SL, JA, and IAA signaling revealed here could provide a mechanism for the commonly observed pattern of herbivore tolerance/resistance trade-offs.

A critical review on the potential impacts of neonicotinoid insecticide use: current knowledge of environmental fate, toxicity, and implications for human health

Neonicotinoid insecticides are widely used in both urban and agricultural settings around the world. Historically, neonicotinoid insecticides have been viewed as ideal replacements for more toxic compounds, like organophosphates, due in part to their perceived limited potential to affect the environment and human health. This critical review investigates the environmental fate and toxicity of neonicotinoids and their metabolites and the potential risks associated with exposure. Neonicotinoids are found to be ubiquitous in the environment, drinking water, and food, with low-level exposure commonly documented below acceptable daily intake standards. Available toxicological data from animal studies indicate possible genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, impaired immune function, and reduced growth and reproductive success at low concentrations, while limited data from ecological or cross-sectional epidemiological studies have identified acute and chronic health effects ranging from acute respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological symptoms to oxidative genetic damage and birth defects. Due to the heavy use of neonicotinoids and potential for cumulative chronic exposure, these insecticides represent novel risks and necessitate further study to fully understand their risks to humans.

Modulation by neonicotinoids of honeybee α1/chicken β2 hybrid nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes

Neonicotinoids targeting insect nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (insect nAChRs) are used for crop protection, but there is a concern about adverse effects on pollinators such as honeybees (Apis mellifera). Thus, we investigated the agonist actions of neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiacloprid and clothianidin) on A. mellifera α1 (Amα1)/chicken β2 hybrid nAChRs in Xenopus laevis oocytes according to the subunit stoichiometry of (Amα1)₃(β2)₂ and (Amα1)₂(β2)₃ using voltage-clamp electrophysiology. ACh activated (Amα1)₃(β2)₂ and (Amα1)₂(β2)₃ nAChRs with similar current amplitude. We investigated the agonist activity of imidacloprid, thiacloprid and clothianidin for the two hybrid nAChRs and found that: 1) imidacloprid showed higher affinity than clothianidin, whereas clothianidin showed higher efficacy than imidacloprid for the nAChRs; 2) Thiacloprid showed the highest agonist affinity and the lowest efficacy for the nAChRs. The Amα1/β2 subunit ratio influenced the efficacy of imidacloprid and thiacloprid, but hardly affected that of clothianidin. Hydrogen bond formation by the NH group in clothianidin with the main chain carbonyl of the loop B may account, at least in part, for the unique agonist actions of clothianidin on the hybrid nAChRs tested.

Actions on mammalian and insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of harmonine-containing alkaloid extracts from the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis

The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis (H. axyridis), possesses a strong chemical defence that has contributed to its invasive success. Ladybird beetle defensive chemicals, secreted in response to stress and also found on the coating of laid eggs, are rich in alkaloids that are thought to be responsible for this beetle's toxicity to other species. Recent studies have shown that alkaloids from several species of ladybird beetle can target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) acting as receptor antagonists, hence we have explored the actions of alkaloids of the ladybird H. axyridis on both mammalian and insect nAChRs. Electrophysiological studies on native and functionally expressed recombinant nAChRs were used to establish whether an alkaloid extract from H. axyridis (HAE) targeted nAChRs and whether any selectivity exists for insect over mammalian receptors of this type. HAE was found to be an inhibitor of all nAChRs tested with the voltage-dependence of inhibition and the effect on ACh EC₅₀ differing between nAChR subtypes. Our finding that an HAE fraction consisting almost entirely of harmonine had a strong inhibitory effect points to this alkaloid as a key component of nAChR inhibitory actions. Comparison of HAE inhibition between the mammalian and insect nAChRs investigated indicates some preference for the insect nAChR supporting the view that investigation of ladybird alkaloids shows promise as a method for identifying natural product leads for future insecticide development.

The mechanism of loop C-neonicotinoid interactions at insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α1 subunit predicts resistance emergence in pests

Neonicotinoids selectively modulate insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (insect nAChRs). Studies have shown that serine with ability to form a hydrogen bond in loop C of some insect nAChR α subunits and glutamate with a negative charge at the corresponding position in vertebrate nAChRs may contribute to enhancing and reducing the neonicotinoid actions, respectively. However, there is no clear evidence what loop C properties underpin the target site actions of neonicotinoids. Thus, we have investigated the effects of S221A and S221Q mutations in loop C of the Drosophila melanogaster Dα1 subunit on the agonist activity of imidacloprid and thiacloprid for Dα1/chicken β2 nAChRs expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The S221A mutation hardly affected either the affinity or efficacy for ACh and imidacloprid, whereas it only slightly reduced the efficacy for thiacloprid on the nAChRs with a higher composition ratio of β2 to Dα1 subunits. The S221Q mutation markedly reduced the efficacy of the neonicotinoids for the nAChRs with a higher composition of the β2 subunit lacking basic residues critical for binding neonicotinoids. Hence, we predict the possibility of enhanced neonicotinoid resistance in pest insect species by a mutation of the serine when it occurs in the R81T resistant populations lacking the basic residue in loop D of the β1 subunit.

Reprotoxic effects of the systemic insecticide fipronil on the butterfly Pieris brassicae

In addition to controlling pest organisms, the systemic neurotoxic pesticide fipronil can also have adverse effects on beneficial insects and other non-target organisms. Here, we report on the sublethal effects of fipronil on the farmland butterfly Pieris brassicae. Caterpillars were reared on plants that had been grown from seeds coated with fipronil or on leaf discs topically treated with a range of fipronil dosages (1-32 µg kg^-1 on dry mass basis). Females that had developed on fipronil plants laid ca half the number of eggs than females that had developed on control plants. In the bioassay with leaf discs, longevity and lifetime egg production declined with increasing fipronil dosage. Remarkably, exposure to fipronil during larval development primarily affected the adult stage. Chemical analyses of leaf tissues collected from seed-treated plants revealed concentrations of fipronil and its degradation products close to the analytical limit of detection (less than or equal to 1 µg kg^-1). The effective dosage was fivefold higher in the leaf-disc than in the whole-plant experiment. In the whole plant, degradation of fipronil to products that are more toxic than fipronil may explain this discrepancy. Neurotoxicity of insecticides at the level of detection decreases the probability of pinpointing insecticides as the causal agent of harmful effects on non-target organisms.

Imidacloprid induces adverse effects on fish early life stages that are more severe in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) than in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Neonicotinoids are widely used insecticides that have frequently been found in freshwater with concentrations ranging from ng to μg/L. It is known that these compounds impact non-target invertebrates, such as bees and gammaridae, in terms of toxicity and behavior, but impacts and species differences on vertebrates such as fish are little explored. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of one widely used neonicotinoid, imidacloprid, on development and behavior of two fish model species: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). Fish were exposed for 5 (zebrafish) and 14 (medaka) days from 0.2 to 2000 μg/L imidacloprid by aqueous exposure. Survival, development, behavior and histological features were monitored and organism-internal concentrations and biotransformation products measured. Imidacloprid caused sublethal effects in both species but the effects were much stronger in medaka with deformities, lesions and reduced growth being the most prominent impacts. Due to the overall longer time of development, time-integrated exposure of medaka was about 2-fold higher compared to zebrafish, potentially accounting for parts of the sensitivity differences. Our results underline the importance of taking species sensitivity differences into account especially when considering that medaka responded at imidacloprid concentrations that have been measured in the environment.

Neonicotinoid insecticide design: molecular docking, multiple chemometric approaches, and toxicity relationship with Cowpea aphids

Neonicotinoids are the fastest-growing class of insecticides successfully applied in plant protection, human and animal health care. The significant resistance increases led to the urgent need for alternative new neonicotinoids, with improved insecticidal activity. We performed molecular docking to describe a common binding mode of neonicotinoids into the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, and to select the appropriate conformations to derive models. These were further used in a QSAR study employing both linear and nonlinear approaches to model the inhibitory activity against the Cowpea aphids. Linear modeling was performed by multiple linear regression and partial least squares and nonlinear modeling by artificial neural networks and support vector machine methods. The OECD principles were considered for QSAR models validation. Robust models with predictive power were found for neonicotinoid diverse structures. Based on our QSAR and docking outcomes, five new insecticides were predicted, according to the model applicability domain, the ligand efficiencies, and the binding mode. Therefore, the developed models can be confidently used for the prediction of the insecticidal activity of new chemicals, saving a substantial amount of time and money and, also, contributing to the chemical risk assessment.

Quantum Dots-Based Immunochromatographic Strip for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Acetamiprid in Agricultural Products

In this study, a rapid and sensitive immunochromatographic strip (ICS) assay, based on quantum dots (QDs), was developed for the qualitative and quantitative detection of acetamiprid in agricultural samples. Acetamiprid-ovalbumin conjugates (ACE-OVA) and goat anti-mouse IgG were sprayed onto a nitrocellulose membrane as a test and control line. Two kinds of anti-acetamiprid monoclonal antibodies (mAb) obtained in our lab were characterized by the ELISA and surface plasmon resonance assay. The competitive immunoassay was established using a QDs-mAb conjugate probe. The visual detection limit of acetamiprid for a qualitative threshold was set as 1 ng/mL to the naked eye. In the quantitative test, the fluorescence intensity was measured by a portable strip reader and a standard curve was obtained with a linear range from 0.098 to 25 ng/mL, and the half maximal inhibitory concentration of 1.12 ng/mL. The developed method showed no evident cross-reactivities with other neonicotinoid insecticides except for thiacloprid (36.68%). The accuracy and precision of the developed QDs-ICS were further evaluated. Results showed that the average recoveries ranged from 78.38 to 126.97% in agricultural samples. Moreover, to test blind tea samples, the QDs-ICS showed comparable reliability and a high correlation with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The whole sample detection could be accomplished within 1 h. In brief, our data clearly manifested that QDs-ICS was quite qualified for the rapid and sensitive screening of acetamiprid residues in an agricultural product analysis and paves the way to point-of-care testing for other analytes.

Quantum Yields and N2O Formation from Photolysis of Solid Films of Neonicotinoids

Neonicotinoids (NN), first introduced in 1991, are found on environmental surfaces where they undergo photolytic degradation. Photolysis studies of thin films of NN were performed using two approaches: (1) transmission FTIR, in which solid films of NN and the gas-phase products were analyzed simultaneously, and (2) attenuated-total-reflectance FTIR combined with transmission FTIR, in which solid films of NN and the gas-phase products were probed in the same experiment but not at the same time. Photolysis quantum yields using broadband irradiation centered at 313 nm were (2.2 ± 0.9) × 10^-3 for clothianidin (CLD), (3.9 ± 0.3) × 10^-3 for thiamethoxam (TMX), and (3.3 ± 0.5) × 10^-3 for dinotefuran (DNF), with all errors being ±1 s. At 254 nm, which was used to gain insight into the wavelength dependence, quantum yields were in the range of (0.8-20) × 10^-3 for all NNs, including acetamiprid (ACM) and thiacloprid (TCD). Nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas, was the only gas-phase product detected for the photolysis of nitroguanidines, with yields of ΔN₂O/ΔNN > 0.5 in air at both 313 and 254 nm. The atmospheric lifetimes with respect to photolysis for CLD, TMX, and DNF, which absorb light in the actinic region, are estimated to be 15, 10, and 11 h, respectively, at a solar zenith angle of 35° and 12, 8, and 10 h at a solar zenith angle of 15°.

Compound and Dose-Dependent Effects of Two Neonicotinoid Pesticides on Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Metabolic Physiology

Use of neonicotinoid pesticides is now ubiquitous, and consequently non-targeted arthropods are exposed to their residues at sub-lethal doses. Exposure to these neurotoxins may be a major contributor to poor honey bee colony health. Few studies have explored how sub lethal exposure to neonicotinoids affects honey bee metabolic physiology, including nutritional and energetic homeostasis, both of which are important for maintaining colony health. Reported here are results from a study of chronic oral exposure of honey bees to two sub lethal concentrations of clothianidin and imidacloprid. Neonicotinoids altered important aspects of honey bee nutritional and metabolic physiology in a compound and dose-dependent manner; both compounds at low doses reduced honey bee body weight. Low-dose clothianidin exposure resulted in bees having protein, lipids, carbohydrates, and glycogen levels similar to newly emerged bees. High-dose clothianidin exposure lowered lipids and glycogen content of bees. High-dose imidacloprid exposure resulted in bees having depressed metabolic rate. Low-dose imidacloprid exposure resulted in bees consuming low and high levels of protein and carbohydrate rich foods, respectively. Results suggest neonicotinoids interfere with honey bee endocrine neurophysiological pathways. Compound and dose-dependent effects might represent respective chemical structural differences determining an observed effect, and thresholds of compound effects on honey bee physiology.

Comparative susceptibility of thirteen selected pesticides to three different insect egg parasitoid Trichogramma species

The parasitoid Trichogramma species are indispensable natural enemies of many lepidopterans and it plays an important role in integrated pest management (IPM) programs throughout the world. Laboratory studies were conducted to compare the susceptibility of three Trichogramma egg parasitoid species to ten common insecticides and three herbicides. The adults of Trichogramma dendrolimi, T. chilonis, and T. ostriniae were exposed to the above-mentioned pesticides by a glass-vial residue method. Among the four neonicotinoids, dinotefuran and thiamethoxam exhibited extremely toxic effects on the Trichogramma dendrolimi and T. chilonis, with Risk Quotient (RQ) values ranging from 1471.2 to 5492.5. However, these two neonicotinoids have a relatively low toxicity to T. ostriniae, with RQ values 433.6 and 915.4, respectively. In addition, Imidacloprid and acetamiprid were slightly to moderately toxic to all the tested parasitic wasps and their RQ values are less than 500. For pyrethroids, all the selected compounds were slightly to moderately toxic to three Trichogramma species except that cyhalothrin was dangerously toxic to T. dendrolimi and T. chilonis, with RQ values 2567.6 and 3950.4. Among the three herbicides tested, pendimethalin, butralin and napropamid were slightly to moderately toxic to egg parasitoids, with all RQ values below 1000. For two avermectins, abamectin were slightly to moderately toxic to all three wasps with RQ values 635.6, 148.3 and 254.2, respectively. However, emamectin benzoate was found to be safe for the parasitoids. Furthermore, T. dendrolimi showed higher sensitivity than T. chilonis and T. ostriniae to the pesticides based on the comparison of LR₅₀ (application rate causing 50% mortality) values. The present results provide informative data for implementing biological and chemical control strategies in integrated pest management.

Neonicotinoids: molecular mechanisms of action, insights into resistance and impact on pollinators

Neonicotinoids are insecticides that target insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), exhibiting high selective toxicity to insects over vertebrates and good systemic activity in crop plants. For these reasons, neonicotinoids currently make up ∼30% of insecticide sales worldwide. However, due to their adverse impact on pollinators such as honey bees and bumble bees, neonicotinoids are being banned from the EU, and other countries may follow. It is therefore crucial to understand the mechanism underlying neonicotinoid actions on pollinators as well as on the nAChRs of pests, with a view to understanding their selectivity. Here we review the molecular mechanisms of neonicotinoid actions at an atomic level, through structural and resistance mechanism studies and propose relevant research topics for further studies on the future of pest management.

Effects of acetamiprid on life cycle development of predatory mite Amblyseius cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae) after contact exposure

Amblyseius cucumeris (Oudemans) is a beneficial non-target arthropod (NTA) and a key predator of pest mites in integrated pest management (IPM) programs across china. The toxic effects of insecticides have been extensively reported on predatory mites, but few studies devoted to the toxicity of compounds to A. cucumeris. In this study, the effects of a single application of acetamiprid against the A. cucumeris were investigated in a 48-h acute and a 30-d chronic test. In both tests the insecticide acetamiprid was applied once. In the acute test, the "open glass plate method" was used, with a 48-h LC₅₀ value of 223.6 (149.8-336.9) mg a. i. L^-1 for adult female. The LC₅₀ was 1.49-fold the Maximum field recommended concentration. In the chronic test, exposure concentrations (1.12, 2.24, 4.47, 8.94, and 22.4 mg a. i. L^-1) were designed based on a preliminary 48-h LC₅₀ value for adult female. Above treatment levels of 2.24-4.47 mg a. i. L^-1 reduce the total development time, survival rates and food consumption of A. cucumeris in different development stages. In addition, at acetamiprid concentrations higher than 2.24 mg a. i. L^-1 serious effect on the capacity of oviposition of female adults were observed. However, even the highest treatment level of 22.4 mg a. i. L^-1 did not affect egg hatching rates of exposed eggs. Acetamiprid had significant adverse effects on different development life stages of A. cucumeris. The results provide informative data for implementing biological and chemical control strategies in integrated pest management of spider mites.

Combined effects of mutations in loop C and the loop D-E-G triangle on neonicotinoid interactions with Drosophila Dα1/chicken β2 hybrid nAChRs

Neonicotinoid insecticides interact with the orthosteric sites of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) formed at the interfaces of (a) two adjacent α subunits and (b) α and non-α subunits. However, little is known of the detailed contributions of these two orthosteric sites to neonicotinoid actions. We therefore applied voltage-clamp electrophysiology to the Dα1/chicken β2 hybrid nAChR expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes to explore the agonist actions of imidacloprid and thiacloprid on wild type receptors and following binding site mutations. First, we studied the S221E mutation in loop C of the ACh binding site of the Dα1 subunit. Secondly, we explored the impact of combining this mutation in loop C with others in the loop D-E-G triangle (R57S; E78K; K140T; S221E). The S221E loop C mutation alone reduced the affinity of the neonicotinoids tested, while hardly affecting the concentration-response curve for acetylcholine. Addition of the three R57S; E78K; K140T mutations in the loop D-E-G triangle led to a further reduction in neonicotinoid sensitivity, suggesting that all four binding site loops (C, D, E, G) in the Dα1 subunit, which are located upstream of loop B in the N-terminal, extracellular domain, contribute to the selective actions of neonicotinoid insecticides.

Photochemistry of Solid Films of the Neonicotinoid Nitenpyram

The environmental fates of nitenpyram (NPM), a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide, are not well-known. A thin solid film of NPM deposited on a germanium attenuated total reflectance (ATR) crystal was exposed to radiation from a low-pressure mercury lamp at 254 nm, or from broadband low pressure mercury photolysis lamps centered at 350 or 313 nm. The loss during photolysis was followed in time using FTIR. The photolysis quantum yields (ϕ), defined as the number of NPM molecules lost per photon absorbed, were determined to be (9.4 ± 1.5) × 10^-4 at 350 nm, (1.0 ± 0.3) × 10^-3 at 313 nm, and (1.2 ± 0.4) × 10^-2 at 254 nm (±2σ). Imines, one with a carbonyl group, were detected as surface-bound products and gaseous N₂O was generated in low (11%) yield. The UV-vis absorption spectra of NPM in water was different from that in acetonitrile, dichloromethane, and methanol, or in a thin solid film. The photolytic lifetime of solid NPM at a solar zenith angle at 35° is calculated to be 36 min, while that for NPM in water is 269 min, assuming that the quantum yield is the same as in the solid. Thus, there may be a significant sensitivity to the medium for photolytic degradation and the lifetime of NPM in the environment.

Nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots-based fluorescence molecularly imprinted sensor for thiacloprid detection

In this paper, a test strip-based sensor was developed for thiacloprid quantitative detection based on PDA molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs). Thiacloprid is a new type of nicotine insecticide, which can block the normal neurotransmitter delivery process in insects. In the sensing system, N-GQDs were immersed into filter paper at first. Then, dopamine (DA) with thiacloprid can be self-polymerized on test strip surface to form the uniform PDA film. After removed thiacloprid template, the established poly dopamine (PDA) MIP can selectively recognize thiacloprid. As a result, captured thiacloprid can enhance the fluorescence intensity of N-GQDs into the test strip. As a result, the fluorescence intensity of N-GQDs can be linearly related within a certain range of thiacloprid concentration. Under the optimum conditions, the proposed sensor for thiacloprid detection exhibited a linear ranging from 0.1 mg/L to 10 mg/L with a low detection limit of 0.03 mg/L. The N-GQDs based test strip-based sensor for thiaclopridis reported for the first time. The sensing system has high selectivity to thiacloprid and provides new opportunities in the pesticide detection.

Venom based neural modulators

Different types of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are expected to occur in vivo, most structure-activity relationship studies have been carried out for just a few neuronal subtypes. The present review enlightens current aspects of venom modulators of nAChRs. Important electronic databases such as PubMed or Google scholar were explored for the collection of latest studies in the field. Clinical and basic research has shown that cholinergic receptors play a role in several disorders of the nervous system such as chronic pain, Alzheimers disease and addiction to nicotine, alcohol and drugs. Unfortunately, the lack of selective modulators for each subtype of nAChR makes their pharmacological characterization difficult, which has slowed the development of therapeutic nAChR modulators with high selectivity and absence of off-target side-effects. Animal venoms have proven to be an excellent natural source of bioactive molecules with activity against ion channels. The present review concludes that the presence of small-molecule nAChR modulators in spider venoms support the use of venoms as a potential source of novel modulators.

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.

The R81T mutation in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of Aphis gossypii is associated with neonicotinoid insecticide resistance with differential effects for cyano- and nitro-substituted neonicotinoids

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, is one of the most agriculturally important insect pests. Neonicotinoid insecticides and sulfoxaflor have generally shown excellent control of A. gossypii, but these aphids have recently developed resistance against neonicotinoid insecticides. We previously characterized a field-collected A. gossypii Kushima clone that showed higher resistance to nitro-substituted neonicotinoids, such as imidacloprid, than to cyano-substituted neonicotinoids, such as acetamiprid. This Kushima clone harbors the R81T mutation in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) β1 subunit; this mutation is the source of neonicotinoid insecticide resistance. In the present study, electrophysiological analyses and molecular modeling were employed to investigate the differential effects of the R81T mutation on cyano- and nitro-substituted neonicotinoids and sulfoxaflor. We isolated full-length coding sequences of A. gossypii nAChR α1, α2, and β1 subunits. When co-expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes with chicken β2 nAChR, A. gossypii α1 evoked inward currents in a concentration-dependent manner in response to acetylcholine (ACh) and showed sensitivity to neonicotinoid and sulfoxaflor. Additionally, the chicken β2 T77R+E79V (equivalent double mutant of R81T) mutation resulted in a lower effect to cyano-substituted neonicotinoids and sulfoxaflor than to nitro-substituted neonicotinoids. Electrophysiological data and nAChR homology modeling analysis suggested that the Kushima clone exhibited different levels of resistance to cyano- and nitro-substituted neonicotinoid insecticides.

Residual ground-water levels of the neonicotinoid thiacloprid perturb chemosensing of Caenorhabditis elegans

This study investigated the neurological effects of residual ground-water levels of thiacloprid on the non-target organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Nematodes treated with thiacloprid showed a dose-dependent and significantly increased twitch response at concentrations above 50 ng mL-1 that disabled their forward locomotion in liquid culture. In comparison with untreated controls, 10 ng mL-1 thiacloprid perturbed the chemosensory ability of C. elegans such that the nematodes no longer demonstrated positive chemotaxis towards a NaCl chemo-attractant, reducing their chemotaxis index from +0.48 to near to zero. Nematodes also exhibited a locomotion characteristic of those devoid of chemo-attraction, making significantly more pirouetting turns of ≥90° than the untreated controls. Compared to the untreated controls, expression of the endocytosis-associated gene, Rab-10, was also increased in C. elegans that had developed to adulthood in the presence of 10 ng mL-1 thiacloprid, suggesting their active engagement in increased recycling of affected cellular components, such as their nAChRs. Thus, even residual, low levels of this less potent neonicotinoid that may be found in field ground-water had measurable effects on a beneficial soil organism which may have environmental and ecological implications that are currently poorly understood.

Loops D, E and G in the Drosophila Dα1 subunit contribute to high neonicotinoid sensitivity of Dα1-chicken β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Neonicotinoid insecticides interact with the orthosteric site formed at subunit interfaces of insect nicotinic ACh (nACh) receptors. However, their interactions with the orthosteric sites at α-non α and α-α subunit interfaces remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of neonicotinoid actions using the Drosophila Dα1-chicken β2 hybrid nACh receptor.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Computer models of the (Dα1)₃ (β2)₂ nACh receptor in complex with imidacloprid and thiacloprid were generated. Amino acids in the Dα1 subunit were mutated to corresponding amino acids in the human α4 subunit to examine their effects on the agonist actions of neonicotinoids on (Dα1)₃ (β2)₂ and (Dα1)₂ (β2)₃ nACh receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes using voltage-clamp electrophysiology.

KEY RESULTS

The (Dα1)₃ (β2)₂ nACh receptor models indicated that amino acids in loops D, E and G probably determine the effects of neonicotinoids. The amino acid mutations tested had minimal effects on the EC₅₀ for ACh. However, the R57S mutation in loop G, although having minimal effect on imidacloprid's actions, reduced the affinity of thiacloprid for the (Dα1)₃ (β2)₂ nACh receptor, while scarcely affecting thiacloprid's action on the (Dα1)₂ (β2)₃ nACh receptor. Both the K140T and the combined R57S;K140T mutations reduced neonicotinoid efficacy but only for the (Dα1)₃ (β2)₂ nACh receptor. Combining the E78K mutation with the R57S;K140T mutations resulted in a selective reduction of thiacloprid's affinity for the (Dα1)₃ (β2)₂ nACh receptor.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

These findings suggest that a triangle of residues from loops D, E and G contribute to the selective actions of neonicotinoids on insect-vertebrate hybrid nACh receptors.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed section on Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.11/issuetoc.

The invertebrate pharmacology of insecticides acting at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a ligand-gated ion channel composed of 5 protein subunits arranged around a central cation selective pore. Several classes of natural and synthetic insecticides mediate their effect through interacting at nAChRs. This review examines the basic pharmacology of the neonicotinoids and related chemistry, with an emphasis on sap-feeding insects from the order Hemiptera, the principle pest target for such insecticides. Although the receptor subunit stoichiometry for endogenous invertebrate nAChRs is unknown, there is clear evidence for the existence of distinct neonicotinoid binding sites in native insect preparations, which reflects the predicted wide repertoire of nAChRs and differing pharmacology within this insecticide class. The spinosyns are principally used to control chewing pests such as Lepidoptera, whilst nereistoxin analogues are used on pests of rice and vegetables through contact and systemic action, the pharmacology of both these insecticides is unique and different to that of the neonicotinoids.

Splice Variants of pH-Sensitive Chloride Channel Identify a Key Determinant of Ivermectin Sensitivity in the Larvae of the Silkworm Bombyx mori

The pH-sensitive chloride channels (pHCls) are broadly expressed in insects, but little is known about their physiologic role, diversity, and sensitivity to insecticides acting on relevant chloride channels. Here we have sequenced 50 transcripts of the pHCl-1 gene from the brain, third thoracic ganglion (T3G), and midgut of larvae of silkworm Bombyx mori It was found that >50 variants were expressed with distinct splicing in the T3G compared with the brain and midgut. Of the variants detected, variant 9, which was expressed most abundantly in the larvae, was reconstituted in Xenopus laevis oocytes to characterize its pH and ivermectin sensitivity. Variant 9 formed a functional pHCl with half-maximal activation at a pH of 7.87, and was activated by ivermectin irrespective of the extracellular pH. This was in contrast to variant 1, which was activated more profoundly at acidic rather than basic pH. To identify a key determinant for such differential ivermectin sensitivity, different amino acids in variants 1 and 9 were swapped, and the effects of the mutations on ivermectin sensitivity were investigated. The V275S mutation of variant 1 enhanced ivermectin sensitivity, whereas the S275V mutation of variant 9 caused a reduction in sensitivity. In homology models of the Bombyx pHCls, Val275 of variant 1 interacted more strongly with Ala273 than Ser275 of variant 9 at the channel gate. This interaction is likely to prevent ivermectin-induced opening of the channel, accounting, at least partially, for the differential macrolide action on the two variants.

A sublethal dose of a neonicotinoid insecticide disrupts visual processing and collision avoidance behaviour in Locusta migratoria

Neonicotinoids are known to affect insect navigation and vision, however the mechanisms of these effects are not fully understood. A visual motion sensitive neuron in the locust, the Descending Contralateral Movement Detector (DCMD), integrates visual information and is involved in eliciting escape behaviours. The DCMD receives coded input from the compound eyes and monosynaptically excites motorneurons involved in flight and jumping. We show that imidacloprid (IMD) impairs neural responses to visual stimuli at sublethal concentrations, and these effects are sustained two and twenty-four hours after treatment. Most significantly, IMD disrupted bursting, a coding property important for motion detection. Specifically, IMD reduced the DCMD peak firing rate within bursts at ecologically relevant doses of 10 ng/g (ng IMD per g locust body weight). Effects on DCMD firing translate to deficits in collision avoidance behaviours: exposure to 10 ng/g IMD attenuates escape manoeuvers while 100 ng/g IMD prevents the ability to fly and walk. We show that, at ecologically-relevant doses, IMD causes significant and lasting impairment of an important pathway involved with visual sensory coding and escape behaviours. These results show, for the first time, that a neonicotinoid pesticide directly impairs an important, taxonomically conserved, motion-sensitive visual network.

Weight of evidence evaluation of a network of adverse outcome pathways linking activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in honey bees to colony death

Ongoing honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony losses are of significant international concern because of the essential role these insects play in pollinating crops. Both chemical and non-chemical stressors have been implicated as possible contributors to colony failure; however, the potential role(s) of commonly-used neonicotinoid insecticides has emerged as particularly concerning. Neonicotinoids act on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the central nervous system to eliminate pest insects. However, mounting evidence indicates that neonicotinoids also may adversely affect beneficial pollinators, such as the honey bee, via impairments on learning and memory, and ultimately foraging success. The specific mechanisms linking activation of the nAChR to adverse effects on learning and memory are uncertain. Additionally, clear connections between observed impacts on individual bees and colony level effects are lacking. The objective of this review was to develop adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) as a means to evaluate the biological plausibility and empirical evidence supporting (or refuting) the linkage between activation of the physiological target site, the nAChR, and colony level consequences. Potential for exposure was not a consideration in AOP development and therefore this effort should not be considered a risk assessment. Nonetheless, development of the AOPs described herein has led to the identification of research gaps which, for example, may be of high priority in understanding how perturbation of pathways involved in neurotransmission can adversely affect normal colony functions, causing colony instability and subsequent bee population failure. A putative AOP network was developed, laying the foundation for further insights as to the role of combined chemical and non-chemical stressors in impacting bee populations. Insights gained from the AOP network assembly, which more realistically represents multi-stressor impacts on honey bee colonies, are promising toward understanding common sensitive nodes in key biological pathways and identifying where mitigation strategies may be focused to reduce colony losses.

Photochemistry of Thin Solid Films of the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid on Surfaces

Imidacloprid (IMD) is the most widely used neonicotinoid insecticide found on environmental surfaces and in water. Analysis of surface-bound IMD photolysis products was performed using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transfer infrared (ATR-FTIR) analysis, electrospray ionization (ESI-MS), direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS), and transmission FTIR for gas-phase products. Photolysis quantum yields (ϕ) for loss of IMD were determined to be (1.6 ± 0.6) × 10^-3 (1s) at 305 nm and (8.5 ± 2.1) × 10^-3 (1s) at 254 nm. The major product is the imidacloprid urea derivative (IMD-UR, 84% yield), with smaller amounts of the desnitro-imidacloprid (DN-IMD, 16% yield) product, and gaseous nitrous oxide (N₂O). Theoretical calculations show that the first step of the main mechanism is the photodissociation of NO₂, which then recombines with the ground electronic state of IMD radical to form IMD-UR and N₂O in a thermally driven process. The photolytic lifetime of IMD at a solar zenith angle of 35° is calculated to be 16 h, indicating the significant reaction of IMD over the course of a day. Desnitro-imidacloprid has been identified by others as having increased binding to target receptors compared to IMD, suggesting that photolysis on environmental surfaces increases toxicity.

Relative Toxicity of Two Aphicides to Hippodamia convergens (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): Implications for Integrated Management of Sugarcane Aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Flupyradifurone and sulfoxaflor present novel insecticide chemistries with particular efficacy against aphids, and the recent emergence of sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), as a pest of sorghum in the United States has resulted in their widespread use. We examined their toxicity to Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville, an important aphid biocontrol agent. We exposed beetles to topical applications of the field rate (FR) of these insecticides, fed them contaminated food (eggs of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller), and gave first-instar larvae 24-h exposures to leaf residues. More than half of fourth-instar larvae receiving topical applications of sulfoxaflor at FR survived, whereas flupyradifurone at 0.1× FR caused 90% mortality. Adults survived topical treatments better than larvae and without measurable mortality, except flupyradifurone at FR, which killed more than 80% of beetles. Survivors of all treatments had fertility similar to controls, whether treated as larvae or adults. Ingestion of contaminated food caused significant mortality in all treatments (15-40% for adults and 55-85% for larvae), with no significant differences between insecticides at FR. Leaf residues of sulfoxaflor at 1.0 and 2.0× FR caused approximately 60 and 80% mortality of first instars, respectively, whereas flupyradifurone at 0.1 and 1.0× FR caused > 90% mortality. Although sulfoxaflor was less toxic to H. convergens than flupyradifurone, the tested FR of flupyradifurone has now been reduced by half. We conclude that neither insecticide appears as toxic as other nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists, and that both materials are compatible with integrated pest management programs for M. sacchari.

Low doses of a neonicotinoid insecticide modify pheromone response thresholds of central but not peripheral olfactory neurons in a pest insect

Insect pest management relies mainly on neurotoxic insecticides, including neonicotinoids, leaving residues in the environment. There is now evidence that low doses of insecticides can have positive effects on pest insects by enhancing various life traits. Because pest insects often rely on sex pheromones for reproduction, and olfactory synaptic transmission is cholinergic, neonicotinoid residues could modify chemical communication. We recently showed that treatments with different sublethal doses of clothianidin could either enhance or decrease behavioural sex pheromone responses in the male moth, Agrotis ipsilon. We investigated now effects of the behaviourally active clothianidin doses on the sensitivity of the peripheral and central olfactory system. We show with extracellular recordings that both tested clothianidin doses do not influence pheromone responses in olfactory receptor neurons. Similarly, in vivo optical imaging does not reveal any changes in glomerular response intensities to the sex pheromone after clothianidin treatments. The sensitivity of intracellularly recorded antennal lobe output neurons, however, is upregulated by a lethal dose 20 times and downregulated by a dose 10 times lower than the lethal dose 0. This correlates with the changes of behavioural responses after clothianidin treatment and suggests the antennal lobe as neural substrate involved in clothianidin-induced behavioural changes.