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Wegst UGK, Cloetens P, Betz O. Desert locusts ( Schistocerca gregaria) feed with self-sharpening, scissor-like mandibles. Interface Focus 2024; 14:20230069. [PMID: 38618238 PMCID: PMC11008957 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2023.0069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The mandibles of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria (Forsskål, 1775) are digger-shovel-shaped mouthparts that are part of the locust's exoskeleton formed by the insect cuticle. The cuticle is a polymer-fibre composite, which supports, encases and protects the entire body. Mandibles experience heavy loading and wear due to direct contact with hard and abrasive food, just like teeth, their mineralized analogues in vertebrates. With dual-energy X-ray tomography, we image well-defined regions of zinc (Zn)-enriched cuticle at the mandible cutting edges and quantify the Zn concentrations in these regions. Zn is known to increase stiffness, hardness and wear resistance of the otherwise purely polymeric insect cuticle. In S. gregaria, the position of the Zn-enriched cutting-edge regions relative to one another suggests that the mandibles form a scissor-like cutting tool, which sharpens itself as the mouthparts shear past one another during feeding. Comparing the architecture of these purely polymeric mandibles with the mineralized incisors of rodents, we find fundamental design differences in cutting-tool structure and performance. Locusts' scissors and rodents' carving knives perform different functions, because they act on food that differs significantly in properties and shape: softer, sheet-like material in the case of locusts and harder bulk material in the case of rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike G. K. Wegst
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, 360 Huntingdon Avenue, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter Cloetens
- ESRF, the European Synchrotron, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 40220, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Oliver Betz
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology of Invertebrates, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28E, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Hoch H, Pingel M, Voigt D, Wyss U, Gorb S. Adhesive properties of Aphrophoridae spittlebug foam. J R Soc Interface 2024; 21:20230521. [PMID: 38196374 PMCID: PMC10777165 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Aphrophora alni spittlebug nymphs produce a wet foam from anal excrement fluid, covering and protecting themselves against numerous impacts. Foam fluid contact angles on normal (26°) and silanized glass (37°) suggest that the foam wets various substrates, including plant and arthropod surfaces. The pull-off force depends on the hydration state and is higher the more dry the fluid. Because the foam desiccates as fast as water, predators once captured struggle to free from drying foam, becoming stickier. The present study confirms that adhesion is one of the numerous foam characteristics resulting in multifunctional effects, which promote spittlebugs' survival and render the foam a smart, biocompatible material of biological, biomimetic and biomedical interest. The sustainable 'reuse' of large amounts of excrement for foam production and protection of the thin nymph integument suggests energetic and evolutionary advantages. Probably, that is why foam nests have evolved in different groups of organisms, such as spittlebugs, frogs and fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannelore Hoch
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Pingel
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dagmar Voigt
- Botany, Faculty of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Urs Wyss
- Entofilm, Dahlmannstraße 2a, 24103 Kiel, Germany
| | - Stanislav Gorb
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, 24098 Kiel, Germany
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Stamm K, Dirks JH. Insect exoskeletons react to hypergravity. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20232141. [PMID: 38052238 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A typical feature of biological materials is their ability to adapt to mechanical load. However, it is not known whether the cuticle exoskeleton, one of the most common biological structures, also shares this trait. Here, we show direct experimental evidence that prolonged exposure to hypergravity conditions affects the morphology and biomechanics of an insect exoskeleton. Locusts were raised for several weeks in a custom-designed centrifuge at various levels of hypergravity. Biomechanical measurements and X-ray microtomography show that up to 3 g load Young's modulus of the tibiae increased by about 67%. Higher gravitational loads however decreased the survival rate, body mass and endocuticle thickness. These results directly show that cuticle exoskeletons can react to hypergravity. This ability has so far only been known for bone endoskeletons and plants. Our findings thus add important context to the discussion on general ultimate factors in the evolution of adaptive biological materials and skeletal systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Stamm
- Biomimetics-Innovation-Centre, Hochschule Bremen-City University of Applied Sciences, Neustadtswall 30 28199, Bremen, Germany
| | - Jan-Henning Dirks
- Biomimetics-Innovation-Centre, Hochschule Bremen-City University of Applied Sciences, Neustadtswall 30 28199, Bremen, Germany
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Ajuna HB, Lim HI, Moon JH, Won SJ, Choub V, Choi SI, Yun JY, Ahn YS. The Prospect of Hydrolytic Enzymes from Bacillus Species in the Biological Control of Pests and Diseases in Forest and Fruit Tree Production. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16889. [PMID: 38069212 PMCID: PMC10707167 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant diseases and insect pest damage cause tremendous losses in forestry and fruit tree production. Even though chemical pesticides have been effective in the control of plant diseases and insect pests for several decades, they are increasingly becoming undesirable due to their toxic residues that affect human life, animals, and the environment, as well as the growing challenge of pesticide resistance. In this study, we review the potential of hydrolytic enzymes from Bacillus species such as chitinases, β-1,3-glucanases, proteases, lipases, amylases, and cellulases in the biological control of phytopathogens and insect pests, which could be a more sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides. This study highlights the application potential of the hydrolytic enzymes from different Bacillus sp. as effective biocontrol alternatives against phytopathogens/insect pests through the degradation of cell wall/insect cuticles, which are mainly composed of structural polysaccharides like chitins, β-glucans, glycoproteins, and lipids. This study demonstrates the prospects for applying hydrolytic enzymes from Bacillus sp. as effective biopesticides in forest and fruit tree production, their mode of biocidal activity and dual antimicrobial/insecticidal potential, which indicates a great prospect for the simultaneous biocontrol of pests/diseases. Further research should focus on optimizing the production of hydrolytic enzymes, and the antimicrobial/insecticidal synergism of different Bacillus sp. which could facilitate the simultaneous biocontrol of pests and diseases in forest and fruit tree production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry B. Ajuna
- Department of Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.B.A.); (J.-H.M.); (S.-J.W.); (V.C.); (S.-I.C.); (J.-Y.Y.)
| | - Hyo-In Lim
- Forest Bioinformation Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Suwon 16631, Republic of Korea;
| | - Jae-Hyun Moon
- Department of Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.B.A.); (J.-H.M.); (S.-J.W.); (V.C.); (S.-I.C.); (J.-Y.Y.)
| | - Sang-Jae Won
- Department of Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.B.A.); (J.-H.M.); (S.-J.W.); (V.C.); (S.-I.C.); (J.-Y.Y.)
| | - Vantha Choub
- Department of Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.B.A.); (J.-H.M.); (S.-J.W.); (V.C.); (S.-I.C.); (J.-Y.Y.)
| | - Su-In Choi
- Department of Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.B.A.); (J.-H.M.); (S.-J.W.); (V.C.); (S.-I.C.); (J.-Y.Y.)
| | - Ju-Yeol Yun
- Department of Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.B.A.); (J.-H.M.); (S.-J.W.); (V.C.); (S.-I.C.); (J.-Y.Y.)
| | - Young Sang Ahn
- Department of Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.B.A.); (J.-H.M.); (S.-J.W.); (V.C.); (S.-I.C.); (J.-Y.Y.)
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Wang S, McNamara ME, Wang B, Hui H, Jiang B. The origins of colour patterns in fossil insects revealed by maturation experiments. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231333. [PMID: 37727088 PMCID: PMC10509590 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Many fossil insects show monochromatic colour patterns that may provide valuable insights into ancient insect behaviour and ecology. Whether these patterns reflect original pigmentary coloration is, however, unknown, and their formation mechanism has not been investigated. Here, we performed thermal maturation experiments on extant beetles with melanin-based colour patterns. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that melanin-rich cuticle is more resistant to degradation than melanin-poor cuticle: with progressive maturation, melanin-poor cuticle regions experience preferential thinning and loss, yet melanin-rich cuticle remains. Comparative analysis of fossil insects with monotonal colour patterns confirms that the variations in tone correspond to variations in preserved cuticle thickness. These preserved colour patterns can thus be plausibly explained as melanin-based patterning. Recognition of melanin-based colour patterns in fossil insects opens new avenues for interpreting the evolution of insect coloration and behaviour through deep time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research & Lunar and Planetary Science Institute, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 39 East Beijing Road, Nanjing 210008, People's Republic of China
- School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork T23 TK30, Ireland
- Environmental Research Institute, Ellen Hutchins Building, University College Cork, Cork T23 XE10, Ireland
| | - Maria E. McNamara
- School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork T23 TK30, Ireland
- Environmental Research Institute, Ellen Hutchins Building, University College Cork, Cork T23 XE10, Ireland
| | - Bo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 39 East Beijing Road, Nanjing 210008, People's Republic of China
| | - Hejiu Hui
- State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research & Lunar and Planetary Science Institute, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Baoyu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research & Lunar and Planetary Science Institute, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
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Reiter KE, Perkovich C, Smith KN, Feng J, Kritsky G, Lehnert MS. Comparative Material and Mechanical Properties among Cicada Mouthparts: Cuticle Enhanced with Inorganic Elements Facilitates Piercing through Woody Stems for Feeding. Biology (Basel) 2023; 12:biology12020207. [PMID: 36829484 PMCID: PMC9953083 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Adult cicadas pierce woody stems with their mouthparts to feed on xylem, suggesting the presence of cuticular adaptations that could increase hardness and elastic modulus. We tested the following hypotheses: (a) the mouthpart cuticle includes inorganic elements, which augment the mechanical properties; (b) these elements are abundant in specific mouthpart structures and regions responsible for piercing wood; (c) there are correlations among elements, which could provide insights into patterns of element colocalization. We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to investigate mouthpart morphology and quantify the elemental composition of the cuticle among four cicada species, including periodical cicadas (Magicicada sp.). Nanoindentation was used to quantify hardness and elastic modulus of the mandibles. We found 12 inorganic elements, including colocalized manganese and zinc in the distal regions of the mandible, the structure most responsible for piercing through wood; nanoindentation determined that these regions were also significantly harder and had higher elastic modulus than other regions. Manganese and zinc abundance relates to increased hardness and stiffness as in the cuticle of other invertebrates; however, this is one of the first reports of cuticular metals among insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts (>100,000 described species). The present investigation provides insight into the feeding mechanism of cicadas, an important but understudied component of their life traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen E. Reiter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA
| | - Cynthia Perkovich
- Biology and Toxicology Department, Ashland University, Ashland, OH 44805, USA
| | - Katelynne N. Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA
| | - Jiansheng Feng
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Gene Kritsky
- Department of Biology, Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH 45233, USA
| | - Matthew S. Lehnert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA
- Correspondence:
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Ganina MD, Tyurin MV, Zhumatayeva UT, Lednev GR, Morozov SV, Kryukov VY. Comparative Analysis of Epicuticular Lipids in Locusta migratoria and Calliptamus italicus: A Possible Role in Susceptibility to Entomopathogenic Fungi. Insects 2022; 13:736. [PMID: 36005361 PMCID: PMC9409248 DOI: 10.3390/insects13080736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cuticular lipids protect insects from desiccation and may determine resistance to fungal pathogens. Nonetheless, the trade-off between these lipid functions is still poorly understood. The migratory locust Locusta migratoria and the Italian locust Calliptamus italicus have dissimilar hygrothermal preferences: L. migratoria inhabits areas near water bodies with a reed bed, and C. italicus exploits a wide range of habitats and prefers steppes and semideserts with the predominance of sagebrushes. This paper presents significant differences between these species' nymphs in epicuticular lipid composition (according to gas chromatography with mass spectrometry) and in susceptibility to Metarhizium robertsii and Beauveria bassiana. The main differences in lipid composition are shifts to longer chain and branched hydrocarbons (di- and trimethylalkanes) in C. italicus compared to L. migratoria. C. italicus also has a slightly higher n-alkane content. Fatty acids showed low concentrations in the extracts, and L. migratoria has a wider range of fatty acids than C. italicus does. Susceptibility to M. robertsii and the number of conidia adhering to the cuticle proved to be significantly higher in C. italicus, although conidia germination percentages on epicuticular extracts did not differ between the species. We propose that the hydrocarbon composition of C. italicus may be an adaptation to a wide range of habitats including arid ones but may make the C. italicus cuticle more hospitable for fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariya D. Ganina
- N.N. Vorozhtsov Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician Lavrentyev Ave. 9, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Maksim V. Tyurin
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Frunze Str. 11, 630091 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Ulzhalgas T. Zhumatayeva
- Department of Plant Protection and Quarantine, Faculty of Agrabiology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Abai Avenue 8, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan
| | - Georgy R. Lednev
- All-Russian Institute of Plant Protection, Podbelskogo Avenue 3, St. Petersburg, 196608 Pushkin, Russia
| | - Sergey V. Morozov
- N.N. Vorozhtsov Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician Lavrentyev Ave. 9, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Vadim Yu. Kryukov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Frunze Str. 11, 630091 Novosibirsk, Russia
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Yan Z, Tong X, Xiong G, Yang W, Lu K, Yuan Y, Han M, Hu H, Wei W, Dai F. A Blueprint of Microstructures and Stage-Specific Transcriptome Dynamics of Cuticle Formation in Bombyx mori. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23095155. [PMID: 35563544 PMCID: PMC9101387 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23095155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect cuticle is critical for the environmental adaptability and insecticide resistance of insects. However, there is no clear understanding of the structure and protein components of the cuticle during each developmental stage of holometabolous insects, and knowledge about the protein components within each layer is vague. We conducted serial sectioning, cuticular structure analysis, and transcriptome sequencing of the larval, pupal, and adult cuticles of Bombyx mori. The deposition processes of epicuticle, exocuticle, and endocuticle during larval, pupal, and adult cuticle formation were similar. Transcriptome analysis showed that these cuticle formations share 74% of the expressed cuticular protein (CP) genes and 20 other structural protein genes, such as larval serum protein and prisilkin. There are seven, six, and eleven stage-specific expressed CP genes in larval, pupal, and adult cuticles, respectively. The types and levels of CP genes may be the key determinants of the properties of each cuticular layer. For example, the CPs of the RR-2 protein family with high contents of histidine (His) are more essential for the exocuticle. Functional analysis suggested that BmorCPAP1-H is involved in cuticle formation. This study not only offers an in-depth understanding of cuticle morphology and protein components but also facilitates the elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying cuticle formation in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengwen Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.Y.); (X.T.); (G.X.); (W.Y.); (K.L.); (Y.Y.); (M.H.); (H.H.)
| | - Xiaoling Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.Y.); (X.T.); (G.X.); (W.Y.); (K.L.); (Y.Y.); (M.H.); (H.H.)
| | - Gao Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.Y.); (X.T.); (G.X.); (W.Y.); (K.L.); (Y.Y.); (M.H.); (H.H.)
- College of Notoginseng Medicine and Pharmacy, Wenshan University, Wenshan 663000, China
| | - Weike Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.Y.); (X.T.); (G.X.); (W.Y.); (K.L.); (Y.Y.); (M.H.); (H.H.)
- The Sericultural and Apicultural Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Honghe 661100, China
| | - Kunpeng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.Y.); (X.T.); (G.X.); (W.Y.); (K.L.); (Y.Y.); (M.H.); (H.H.)
| | - Yajie Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.Y.); (X.T.); (G.X.); (W.Y.); (K.L.); (Y.Y.); (M.H.); (H.H.)
| | - Minjin Han
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.Y.); (X.T.); (G.X.); (W.Y.); (K.L.); (Y.Y.); (M.H.); (H.H.)
| | - Hai Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.Y.); (X.T.); (G.X.); (W.Y.); (K.L.); (Y.Y.); (M.H.); (H.H.)
| | - Wei Wei
- Guangxi Academy of Sericultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China;
| | - Fangyin Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.Y.); (X.T.); (G.X.); (W.Y.); (K.L.); (Y.Y.); (M.H.); (H.H.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-23-6825-0793
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Sessa L, Calderón-Fernández GM, Abreo E, Altier N, Mijailovsky SJ, Girotti JR, Pedrini N. Epicuticular hydrocarbons of the redbanded stink bug Piezodorus guildinii (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae): sexual dimorphism and alterations in insects collected in insecticide-treated soybean crops. Pest Manag Sci 2021; 77:4892-4902. [PMID: 34164908 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The redbanded stink bug Piezodorus guildinii (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) is one of the most important species affecting soybean crops in southern South America. Capillary gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was used to characterize the epicuticular hydrocarbon profiles of field-collected insects, and to identify differences in their composition between fifth-instar nymphs and adults, males and females, and between bugs collected in insecticide-treated and insecticide-free soybean crops. RESULTS Straight chain saturated n-C27 and n-C29, and monomethyl and dimethyl chains of C31 and C33 were the most abundant compounds. A group of volatile hydrocarbons with n-C13 and n-C15 as the predominant compounds were also detected. The hydrocarbon pattern was different between nymphs and adults, either males or females. Heneicosene was almost exclusively detected in adult males and was the most important component to differentiate between both sexes, followed by tricosadiene. The total hydrocarbon amount was significantly higher in nymphs, males and females collected in insecticide-treated fields compared with insects obtained from untreated fields. CONCLUSION Differences were found in the epicuticular hydrocarbon pattern among nymphs and adults, as well as sexual dimorphism in adult stink bugs. Interestingly, an alteration was also found in the hydrocarbon profile of insects collected in insecticide-treated soybean crops and its relevance is discussed within a pest management context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Sessa
- Laboratorio de Bioproducción, Plataforma de Bioinsumos, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Las Brujas, Uruguay
| | - Gustavo M Calderón-Fernández
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (INIBIOLP), CCT La Plata Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) - Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Eduardo Abreo
- Laboratorio de Bioproducción, Plataforma de Bioinsumos, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Las Brujas, Uruguay
| | - Nora Altier
- Laboratorio de Bioproducción, Plataforma de Bioinsumos, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Las Brujas, Uruguay
| | - Sergio J Mijailovsky
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (INIBIOLP), CCT La Plata Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) - Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Juan R Girotti
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (INIBIOLP), CCT La Plata Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) - Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Nicolás Pedrini
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (INIBIOLP), CCT La Plata Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) - Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
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10
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Montesinos-Matías R, Ordaz-Hernández A, Angel-Cuapio A, Colin-Bonifacio Y, Garcia-Garcia RE, Ángel-Sahagún CA, Arredondo-Bernal HC. Principal component analysis of the biological characteristics of entomopathogenic fungi in nutrient-limited and cuticle-based media. J Basic Microbiol 2021; 61:147-156. [PMID: 33448045 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202000627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Media formulated with insect cuticle (0.5% and 1%; Sphequit Sph®), with a reduction in nutrients (¼ Sabouraud dextrose agar + yeast [SDAY]) and commercial media (potato dextrose agar, Sabouraud dextrose agar) were evaluated for the cultivation of Beauveria bassiana, Cordyceps javanica (Isaria javanica [Bally] Samson & Hywel-Jones), and Metarhizium robertsii. By using principal component analysis, it was determined that the ¼ SDAY and Sph formulations have greater advantages than commercial media for the development of fungi. The ¼ SDAY and Sph (0.5% and 1%) improved hydrophobicity, radial growth rate, germination, conidia yield, and virulence in B. bassiana; in M. robertsii, they favored conidia yield, germination, and virulence, and in C. javanica, the ¼ SDAY and Sph 0.5% media enhanced conidia yield, germination, radial growth rate, and virulence. We suggest that these formulations are an alternative to commercial culture media as they are cheaper and appropriate to improve the growth characteristics and virulence of the three strains evaluated. Some applications of culture media are suggested, and the importance of multivariate analysis as an exploratory tool to carry out the choice of culture media in a suitable way for the development of mycoinsecticides is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Montesinos-Matías
- Colección de Hongos Entomopatógenos, Centro Nacional de Referencia de Control Biológico, Tecomán, Colima, México
| | - Armando Ordaz-Hernández
- Instituto de Farmacobiología, Universidad de la Cañada, Teotitlán de Flores Magón, Oaxaca, México
| | - Alejandro Angel-Cuapio
- División de Ingeniería Química y Bioquímica, Tecnológico Nacional de México/TES de Ecatepec, Ecatepec de Morelos, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Yazmin Colin-Bonifacio
- Departamento de El Hombre y su Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Unidad Xochimilco, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Rosa E Garcia-Garcia
- Colección de Hongos Entomopatógenos, Centro Nacional de Referencia de Control Biológico, Tecomán, Colima, México
| | - Cesar A Ángel-Sahagún
- Departamento de Veterinaria y Zootecnia, División de Ciencias de la Vida, Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Universidad de Guanajuato, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
| | - Hugo C Arredondo-Bernal
- Colección de Hongos Entomopatógenos, Centro Nacional de Referencia de Control Biológico, Tecomán, Colima, México
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11
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Jullien A, Neradovskiy M, Scarangella A, Mitov M. Biomimicry of iridescent, patterned insect cuticles: comparison of biological and synthetic, cholesteric microcells using hyperspectral imaging. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20200239. [PMID: 32546113 PMCID: PMC7328402 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological systems inspire the design of multifunctional materials and devices. However, current synthetic replicas rarely capture the range of structural complexity observed in natural materials. Prior to the definition of a biomimetic design, a dual investigation with a common set of criteria for comparing the biological material and the replica is required. Here, we deal with this issue by addressing the non-trivial case of insect cuticles tessellated with polygonal microcells with iridescent colours due to the twisted cholesteric organization of chitin fibres. By using hyperspectral imaging within a common methodology, we compare, at several length scales, the textural, structural and spectral properties of the microcells found in the two-band cuticle of the scarab beetle Chrysina gloriosa with those of the polygonal texture formed in flat films of cholesteric liquid crystal oligomers. The hyperspectral imaging technique offers a unique opportunity to reveal the common features and differences in the spectral-spatial signatures of biological and synthetic samples at a 6-nm spectral resolution over 400 nm-1000 nm and a spatial resolution of 150 nm. The biomimetic design of chiral tessellations is relevant to the field of non-specular properties such as deflection and lensing in geometric phase planar optics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Jullien
- Institut de Physique de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, UMR 7010, Valbonne, France
| | - Maxim Neradovskiy
- Institut de Physique de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, UMR 7010, Valbonne, France
| | - Adriana Scarangella
- Centre d'Elaboration de Matériaux et d'Etudes Structurales, CEMES, CNRS, UPR 8011, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Michel Mitov
- Centre d'Elaboration de Matériaux et d'Etudes Structurales, CEMES, CNRS, UPR 8011, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
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12
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Birer C, Moreau CS, Tysklind N, Zinger L, Duplais C. Disentangling the assembly mechanisms of ant cuticular bacterial communities of two Amazonian ant species sharing a common arboreal nest. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:1372-1385. [PMID: 32133714 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria living on the cuticle of ants are generally studied for their protective role against pathogens, especially in the clade of fungus-growing ants. However, little is known regarding the diversity of cuticular bacteria in other ant host species, as well as the mechanisms leading to the composition of these communities. Here, we used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to study the influence of host species, species interactions and the pool of bacteria from the environment on the assembly of cuticular bacterial communities on two phylogenetically distant Amazonian ant species that frequently nest together inside the roots system of epiphytic plants, Camponotus femoratus and Crematogaster levior. Our results show that (a) the vast majority of the bacterial community on the cuticle is shared with the nest, suggesting that most bacteria on the cuticle are acquired through environmental acquisition, (b) 5.2% and 2.0% of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) are respectively specific to Ca. femoratus and Cr. levior, probably representing their respective core cuticular bacterial community, and (c) 3.6% of OTUs are shared between the two ant species. Additionally, mass spectrometry metabolomics analysis of metabolites on the cuticle of ants, which excludes the detection of cuticular hydrocarbons produced by the host, were conducted to evaluate correlations among bacterial OTUs and m/z ion mass. Although some positive and negative correlations are found, the cuticular chemical composition was weakly species-specific, suggesting that cuticular bacterial communities are prominently environmentally acquired. Overall, our results suggest the environment is the dominant source of bacteria found on the cuticle of ants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Birer
- CNRS, UMR8172 EcoFoG, AgroParisTech, CIRAD, INRA, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, Cayenne, France.,Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Corrie S Moreau
- Departments of Entomology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Niklas Tysklind
- INRAE, UMR8172 EcoFoG, AgroParisTech, CIRAD, CNRS, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, Kourou, France
| | - Lucie Zinger
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Université Paris, Paris, France
| | - Christophe Duplais
- CNRS, UMR8172 EcoFoG, AgroParisTech, CIRAD, INRA, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, Cayenne, France
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13
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Rajabi H, Jafarpour M, Darvizeh A, Dirks JH, Gorb SN. Stiffness distribution in insect cuticle: a continuous or a discontinuous profile? J R Soc Interface 2018; 14:rsif.2017.0310. [PMID: 28724628 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect cuticle is a biological composite with a high degree of complexity in terms of both architecture and material composition. Given the complex morphology of many insect body parts, finite-element (FE) models play an important role in the analysis and interpretation of biomechanical measurements, taken by either macroscopic or nanoscopic techniques. Many previous studies show that the interpretation of nanoindentation measurements of this layered composite material is very challenging. To develop accurate FE models, it is of particular interest to understand more about the variations in the stiffness through the thickness of the cuticle. Considering the difficulties of making direct measurements, in this study, we use the FE method to analyse previously published data and address this issue numerically. For this purpose, sets of continuous or discontinuous stiffness profiles through the thickness of the cuticle were mathematically described. The obtained profiles were assigned to models developed based on the cuticle of three insect species with different geometries and layer configurations. The models were then used to simulate the mechanical behaviour of insect cuticles subjected to nanoindentation experiments. Our results show that FE models with discontinuous exponential stiffness gradients along their thickness were able to predict the stress and deformation states in insect cuticle very well. Our results further suggest that, for more accurate measurements and interpretation of nanoindentation test data, the ratio of the indentation depth to cuticle thickness should be limited to 7% rather than the traditional '10% rule'. The results of this study thus might be useful to provide a deeper insight into the biomechanical consequences of the distinct material distribution in insect cuticle and also to form a basis for more realistic modelling of this complex natural composite.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Rajabi
- Institute of Zoology, Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - M Jafarpour
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
| | - A Darvizeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
| | - J-H Dirks
- Biomimetics-Innovation-Centre, Bremen University of Applied Sciences, Bremen, Germany
| | - S N Gorb
- Institute of Zoology, Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
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14
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Kolmann MA, Welch KC, Summers AP, Lovejoy NR. Always chew your food: freshwater stingrays use mastication to process tough insect prey. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 283:rspb.2016.1392. [PMID: 27629029 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chewing, characterized by shearing jaw motions and high-crowned molar teeth, is considered an evolutionary innovation that spurred dietary diversification and evolutionary radiation of mammals. Complex prey-processing behaviours have been thought to be lacking in fishes and other vertebrates, despite the fact that many of these animals feed on tough prey, like insects or even grasses. We investigated prey capture and processing in the insect-feeding freshwater stingray Potamotrygon motoro using high-speed videography. We find that Potamotrygon motoro uses asymmetrical motion of the jaws, effectively chewing, to dismantle insect prey. However, CT scanning suggests that this species has simple teeth. These findings suggest that in contrast to mammalian chewing, asymmetrical jaw action is sufficient for mastication in other vertebrates. We also determined that prey capture in these rays occurs through rapid uplift of the pectoral fins, sucking prey beneath the ray's body, thereby dissociating the jaws from a prey capture role. We suggest that the decoupling of prey capture and processing facilitated the evolution of a highly kinetic feeding apparatus in batoid fishes, giving these animals an ability to consume a wide variety of prey, including molluscs, fishes, aquatic insect larvae and crustaceans. We propose Potamotrygon as a model system for understanding evolutionary convergence of prey processing and chewing in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Kolmann
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Canada Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kenneth C Welch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Canada
| | - Adam P Summers
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Friday Harbor Laboratories, Friday Harbor, WA, USA
| | - Nathan R Lovejoy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Canada Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Pedrini N, Ortiz-Urquiza A, Huarte-Bonnet C, Fan Y, Juárez MP, Keyhani NO. Tenebrionid secretions and a fungal benzoquinone oxidoreductase form competing components of an arms race between a host and pathogen. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:E3651-60. [PMID: 26056261 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1504552112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Entomopathogenic fungi and their insect hosts represent a model system for examining invertebrate-pathogen coevolutionary selection processes. Here we report the characterization of competing components of an arms race consisting of insect protective antimicrobial compounds and evolving fungal mechanisms of detoxification. The insect pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana has a remarkably wide host range; however, some insects are resistant to fungal infection. Among resistant insects is the tenebrionid beetle Tribolium castaneum that produces benzoquinone-containing defensive secretions. Reduced fungal germination and growth was seen in media containing T. castaneum dichloromethane extracts or synthetic benzoquinone. In response to benzoquinone exposure, the fungus expresses a 1,4-benzoquinone oxidoreductase, BbbqrA, induced >40-fold. Gene knockout mutants (ΔBbbqrA) showed increased growth inhibition, whereas B. bassiana overexpressing BbbqrA (Bb::BbbqrA(O)) displayed increased resistance to benzoquinone compared with wild type. Increased benzoquinone reductase activity was detected in wild-type cells exposed to benzoquinone and in the overexpression strain. Heterologous expression and purification of BbBqrA in Escherichia coli confirmed NAD(P)H-dependent benzoquinone reductase activity. The ΔBbbqrA strain showed decreased virulence toward T. castaneum, whereas overexpression of BbbqrA increased mortality versus T. castaneum. No change in virulence was seen for the ΔBbbqrA or Bb::BbbqrA(O) strains when tested against the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella or the beetle Sitophilus oryzae, neither of which produce significant amounts of cuticular quinones. The observation that artificial overexpression of BbbqrA results in increased virulence only toward quinone-secreting insects implies the lack of strong selection or current failure of B. bassiana to counteradapt to this particular host defense throughout evolution.
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