Grand challenges in entomology: Priorities for action in the coming decades

Entomology is key to understanding terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems at a time of unprecedented anthropogenic environmental change and offers substantial untapped potential to benefit humanity in a variety of ways, from improving agricultural practices to managing vector-borne diseases and inspiring technological advances.We identified high priority challenges for entomology using an inclusive, open, and democratic four-stage prioritisation approach, conducted among the membership and affiliates (hereafter 'members') of the UK-based Royal Entomological Society (RES).A list of 710 challenges was gathered from 189 RES members. Thematic analysis was used to group suggestions, followed by an online vote to determine initial priorities, which were subsequently ranked during an online workshop involving 37 participants.The outcome was a set of 61 priority challenges within four groupings of related themes: (i) 'Fundamental Research' (themes: Taxonomy, 'Blue Skies' [defined as research ideas without immediate practical application], Methods and Techniques); (ii) 'Anthropogenic Impacts and Conservation' (themes: Anthropogenic Impacts, Conservation Options); (iii) 'Uses, Ecosystem Services and Disservices' (themes: Ecosystem Benefits, Technology and Resources [use of insects as a resource, or as inspiration], Pests); (iv) 'Collaboration, Engagement and Training' (themes: Knowledge Access, Training and Collaboration, Societal Engagement).Priority challenges encompass research questions, funding objectives, new technologies, and priorities for outreach and engagement. Examples include training taxonomists, establishing a global network of insect monitoring sites, understanding the extent of insect declines, exploring roles of cultivated insects in food supply chains, and connecting professional with amateur entomologists. Responses to different challenges could be led by amateur and professional entomologists, at all career stages.Overall, the challenges provide a diverse array of options to inspire and initiate entomological activities and reveal the potential of entomology to contribute to addressing global challenges related to human health and well-being, and environmental change.

CLRM-05. DRUG-RELEASING MICRODEVICES TO PREDICT RESPONSES TO TARGETED THERAPIES IN PATIENTS WITH GLIOMAS

Genomic studies of tumor specimens are becoming standard of care in patients with gliomas to characterize druggable molecular features. Unfortunately, with the exception of IDH1-R132 mutation and MGMT promoter methylation, molecular markers have failed to predict clinical responses to drugs, and the impact of targeted therapies remains minimal. There is a need for a high-throughput, patient-specific, and significantly predictive method to inform a most effective personalized therapy. This pilot trial tests the safety and feasibility of drug-releasing microdevices which are temporarily implanted into the tumor during a standard craniotomy. They release microdoses of up to 20 drugs or drug combinations into surrounding tissue in a controlled spatial distribution. The devices, together with a cuff of surrounding tumor tissue, are removed at the end of surgery, and the tissue is analyzed for biological and molecular response markers allowing for in situ characterization of the drug efficacy. Four patients have been enrolled to date, out of a total planned of six. Two microdevices were implanted into each tumor (8 total devices). Average indwelling time in tumor tissue was 139 minutes. Eight devices (100%) were successfully retrieved, and all surgeries were completed without immediate (<24 hours) or delayed (<30 days) complications. Seven (87%) specimens were of adequate quality, allowing for planned histological and molecular studies. For all analyzed specimens, the intraoperative incubation time was sufficient to observe: 1) Drug concentration gradients; 2) Differential molecular signs of cell toxicity (DNA damage and Caspase 3 activation); 3) Whole genome transcriptional changes; 4) Tumor microenvironment composition; and 5) Preliminary evidence of concordance between the biological readout obtained from microdevice analysis and clinical response. Drug-releasing microdevices were well tolerated, seamlessly integrated in standard craniotomy workflow, and allowed for collection of a significant amount of data related to the differential efficacy of multiple drugs in a personalized manner.

Functionalized carbon nanotube adsorption interfaces for electron transfer studies of galactose oxidase

Modified electrodes featuring specific adsorption platforms able to access the electrochemistry of the copper containing enzyme galactose oxidase (GaOx) were explored, including interfaces featuring nanomaterials such as nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Electrodes modified with various self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) including those with attached nanoparticles or amide-coupled functionalized CNTs were examined for their ability to effectively immobilize GaOx and study the redox activity related to its copper core. While stable GaOx electrochemistry has been notoriously difficult to achieve at modified electrodes, strategically designed functionalized CNT-based interfaces, cysteamine SAM-modified electrode subsequently amide-coupled to carboxylic acid functionalized single wall CNTs, were significantly more effective with high GaOx surface adsorption along with well-defined, more reversible, stable (≥ 8 days) voltammetry and an average ET rate constant of 0.74 s^-1 in spite of increased ET distance - a result attributed to effective electronic coupling at the GaOx active site. Both amperometric and fluorescence assay results suggest embedded GaOx remains active. Fundamental ET properties of GaOx may be relevant to biosensor development targeting galactosemia while the use functionalized CNT platforms for adsorption/electrochemistry of electroactive enzymes/proteins may present an approach for fundamental protein electrochemistry and their future use in both direct and indirect biosensor schemes.