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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Genome-wide identification and expression profiling of CSP and OBP genes in Stictocephala bisonia reveals candidate genes potentially associated with insecticide response.

Stictocephala bisonia is an important invasive agricultural pest. Due to the frequent application of insecticides in its habitat, this species is under intense selection pressure. Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) and odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are known to play key roles in insecticide resistance, but their specific functions in S. bisonia remain unclear. In this study, we identified a total of 22 SbisCSPs and 16 SbisOBPs based on the S. bisonia genome. To screen for candidate genes potentially linked to insecticide resistance, we adopted a multi-criteria screening strategy that integrated phylogenetic analysis, molecular docking with three insecticides, and tissue-specific expression profiling. Phylogenetic analysis identified several SbisCSPs and SbisOBPs clustering with genes known to be involved in insecticide resistance, serving as an initial evolutionary filter. Molecular docking results indicated that λ-Cyhalothrin exhibited the strong predicted binding affinity with most of SbisCSPs and SbisOBPs. Subsequent qPCR validation of seven prioritized candidates revealed distinct expression patterns: SbisCSP22 was highly expressed in adults and demonstrated strong binding affinity to all three insecticides tested, suggesting a potential role in mediating multi-insecticide response. Conversely, SbisCSP17 was significantly upregulated in larvae, clustered with genes known to mediate imidacloprid resistance, and exhibited strong binding affinity to imidacloprid. Given its larval-specific expression and the soil-dwelling behavior of larvae, we hypothesize that SbisCSP17 is a key candidate gene for larvae coping with soil-treated insecticides.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Bacillus thuringiensis pathogenicity islands encode regulatory circuits controlling insecticidal Cry toxin expression during vegetative growth.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) produces insecticidal toxins, including Cry and Vip3 proteins, that are widely used for biological pest control. Cry proteins are classically expressed during sporulation under the control of sporulation-specific σ factors, whereas Vip3 is produced during vegetative growth, suggesting distinct regulatory pathways. Notably, many cry and vip3A genes are clustered within pathogenicity islands (PAIs), such as BtPAI-1. However, whether these PAIs also encode regulatory mechanisms coordinating toxin expression remains unclear. Here, we identify VipR, a BtPAI-1-encoded transcriptional regulator, as an activator of insecticidal gene expression during the vegetative phase in Bt strains HD-1 and CT-43. In these strains, VipR promotes the transcription of BtPAI-1 associated insecticidal genes, including vip3A and selected cry genes, resulting in premature Cry protein accumulation and increased insecticidal activity. In addition, VipR contributes to the vegetative-phase expression of the non-BtPAI-1 cry9Aa genes in strain BGSC 4AE1. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that vipR is widely distributed in one-third of Bt strains, and is strongly associated with PAIs. Futhermore, heterologous expression of vipR in BGSC 4J5 and HD-73 was sufficient to activate vegetative-phase transcription of some cry independently of sporulation-specific σ factor cascade. These results support a role for VipR in coordinating vegetative-phase expression of insecticidal genes in the Bt strains examined and suggest that BtPAI-1 can encode both insecticidal determinants and regulatory functions that influence their expression. These findings provide new insights into the regulatory architecture of Bt pathogenicity islands and may facilitate the engineering of strains with enhanced insecticidal activity.

Bacillus thuringiensis↗

PubMed2025

Coordinated regulation of glutathione S-transferases confers metabolic flexibility in multi-insecticide-resistant Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande).

INTRODUCTION: The evolution of multi-insecticide resistance in insect pests threatens global food security. Although glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are implicated in detoxification, the coordinated mechanism by which specific gene subfamilies interact to confer broad-spectrum resistance remains inadequately characterized. OBJECTIVE: To dissect the functional allocation and cooperation of GST subfamilies in multi-insecticide-resistant strains of Frankliniella occidentalis. METHODS: We integrated comparative genomics (20 GST genes cloned), transcriptomics (qRT-PCR), RNAi-mediated silencing, molecular docking (AutoDock Vina), and in vitro metabolism assays (UPLC-MS/MS) across susceptible and resistant thrips strains. RESULTS: The two resistant strains (NIL-R and FS-R) exhibited moderate to high resistance to five insecticides (chlorfenapyr, emamectin benzoate, spinetoram, spinosad, and thiamethoxam), accompanied by significantly elevated GSTs activity. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that GSTs include 10 conserved delta and 7 diverse sigma members. The sigma subfamily has undergone a marked expansion due to gene duplication. Delta (FoGSTd1, d4, and d9) and sigma (FoGSTs1, s2, and s6) genes were significantly up-regulated in the resistant strains. RNAi showed specialized functional allocation among GSTs: delta GSTs mediated resistance to spinosad and chlorfenapyr, sigma GSTs were responsible for thiamethoxam resistance, and notably, cooperation between these subfamilies contributed to resistance against emamectin benzoate and spinetoram. Molecular docking and in vitro metabolism assays of FoGSTd9 and FoGSTs1 proteins further supported the functional allocation and cooperative roles of GST subfamilies. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that F. occidentalis may coordinate GST subfamilies to achieve metabolic flexibility in response to multi-insecticide pressure. This survival strategy, mediated by mechanistic functional allocation and cooperative interactions among subfamilies, may contribute to energy conservation and reduced adaptive costs. Disruption of this coordinated mechanism represents a potential approach for overcoming resistance in agricultural pest populations.

Animals↗

PubMed2024

Omics approaches to unravel insecticide resistance mechanism in Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae).

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) whitefly (BtWf) is an invasive pest that has already spread worldwide and caused major crop losses. Numerous strategies have been implemented to control their infestation, including the use of insecticides. However, prolonged insecticide exposures have evolved BtWf to resist these chemicals. Such resistance mechanism is known to be regulated at the molecular level and systems biology omics approaches could shed some light on understanding this regulation wholistically. In this review, we discuss the use of various omics techniques (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) to unravel the mechanism of insecticide resistance in BtWf. We summarize key genes, enzymes, and metabolic regulation that are associated with the resistance mechanism and review their impact on BtWf resistance. Evidently, key enzymes involved in the detoxification system such as cytochrome P450 (CYP), glutathione S-transferases (GST), carboxylesterases (COE), UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGT), and ATP binding cassette transporters (ABC) family played key roles in the resistance. These genes/proteins can then serve as the foundation for other targeted techniques, such as gene silencing techniques using RNA interference and CRISPR. In the future, such techniques will be useful to knock down detoxifying genes and crucial neutralizing enzymes involved in the resistance mechanism, which could lead to solutions for coping against BtWf infestation.

Hemiptera↗

PubMed2026

Insecticidal peptides as sustainable tools for future agriculture.

The increasing global human population and the intensification of agriculture present unprecedented challenges for pest control. The escalating resistance of pests to conventional synthetic insecticides, coupled with ecological and health concerns, underscores the urgent need for innovative and sustainable management approaches. Insecticidal peptides, due to their structural diversity, molecular specificity, and biodegradability, are emerging as promising candidates for the development of next-generation bioinsecticides. This strategic roadmap synthesizes recent advances in peptide architectures, ranging from pore-forming scaffolds to designs targeting enzyme inhibition and mimicking neuroendocrine actions, with a focus on the molecular mechanisms underpinning their selectivity and efficacy. By integrating structure-function insights with translational frameworks, we identify critical knowledge gaps and propose a pathway toward biotechnological tools, including bioinspired synthesis, artificial intelligence (AI)-guided peptide engineering, and nanodelivery systems for controlled release. Our analysis positions peptide-based insecticides at the forefront of sustainable agriculture, with the potential to minimize off-target effects, reduce environmental impact, and enhance crop resilience in the face of global change.

Agricultural biotechnology↗

PubMed2026

Multifunctional lysozymes from the assassin bug Sycanus bifidus: Insecticidal proteins with anticoagulant and melanization inhibition properties.

BACKGROUND: Predatory hemipterans deploy complex venom cocktails to immobilize preys, yet the specific roles of many individual venom components remain poorly understood. RESULTS: Four lysozyme genes were identified from the genome of the predatory assassin bug Sycanus bifidus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), comprising one i-type (SbLyzi) and three c-type lysozyme genes (SbLyzc1-3). Transcriptomic and quantitative (q)PCR analyses revealed that these lysozymes were expressed at different levels in various venom glands. Of them, SbLyzc1-3 with signal peptides displayed significant transcriptions in the venom glands, implicating these lysozymes as venom constituents. Functional assays found that SbLyzc1 and SbLyzc2 showed antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis. Three lysozymes (SbLyzi, SbLyzc1 and SbLyzc3) suppressed thrombin-induced fibrin clot formation, indicating anticoagulant activity, with SbLyzc1 exhibiting the greatest potency [half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 0.036 ± 0.003 μg μL-1]. SbLyzi and SbLyzc1 inhibited phenoloxidase activity in the hemolymph of the yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor pupae, thereby suppressing its hemolymph melanization, with maximal inhibition rates of 78.4% and 74.3%, respectively. All four lysozymes exhibited insecticidal effects, causing >80% mortality in yellow mealworm pupae following injection of 6 μg per individual, with SbLyzc1 showing the highest insecticidal potency [half-maximal lethal dose (LD50) = 4.25 ± 0.51 μg g-1]. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that lysozymes from S. bifidus possess multifunctional biological activities and SbLyzc1-3 act as significant venom components involved in capturing prey, providing new insights into the functional diversity of lysozymes in predatory bugs and their potential application in biological control strategies. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Nitrilase-mediated degradation of insecticides flonicamid and thiacloprid by immobilized engineered Escherichia coli with a novel pathway.

The nitrile‑containing insecticides flonicamid (FLO) and thiacloprid (THI) are widely used in agriculture, posing risks to the environment and animal health. Nitrilase is a key catalyst for the degradation of nitrile compounds, and immobilized engineered bacteria are preferred in wastewater treatment. However, immobilized engineered bacteria expressing nitrilase have never been investigated for pollutant degradation. Here, engineered Escherichia coli pET28a‑VbNitA harboring the nitrilase gene VbNitA was immobilized by calcium alginate encapsulation. FLO was degraded into N-(4-trifluoromethylnicotinoyl)glycinamide and 4-(trifluoromethyl)nicotinol glycine by the immobilized cells via VbNitA. THI was converted to THI‑amide and THI‑imine using the same system. Notably, this is the first report of a nitrilase converting THI to THI‑amide and of THI‑imine as a biodegradation intermediate. Compared with free cells, the immobilized E. coli pET28a‑VbNitA showed higher tolerance to high temperature, alkaline, and acidic environments, and better long-term storage stability. The substrate inhibition model showed that the optimal initial concentrations of FLO and THI for degradation by immobilized E. coli pET28a‑VbNitA were 45.13 and 127.50 μmol/L, respectively. FLO was degraded more rapidly than THI by the immobilized cells. Molecular docking revealed that both FLO and THI formed stable interactions with VbNitA, with FLO positioned closer to Cys165 of the catalytic triad. This study presents a novel THI degradation pathway and provides a new, efficient immobilized biocatalyst for the remediation of wastewater with nitrile‑containing insecticides.

Escherichia coli↗

PubMed2026

Functional analysis of down-regulated CYP6AE gene clusters involved in the insecticidal mechanism of lycorine against Spodoptera litura.

BACKGROUND: Plants have evolved abundant defensive secondary metabolites to resist insect herbivores. Lycorine is an alkaloid with insecticidal activity from Amaryllidaceae plants, which the destructive pest Spodoptera litura naturally avoids. Cytochrome P450 enzymes are central to xenobiotic detoxification in insects, but the mechanism by which lycorine acts against S. litura remains unknown. This study aimed to reveal the toxic mechanism of lycorine focusing on P450-mediated detoxification. RESULTS: Lycorine exhibited substantial toxicity to first-instar S. litura larvae (LD50 = 0.55 μg larva-1). Subsequently, when fifth-instar larvae were exposed to a sublethal dose (LD30) of lycorine, Lyc disrupted metabolic pathways, damaged Malpighian tubules, and induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, lycorine strongly repressed a CYP6AE gene cluster (CYP6AE47, CYP6AE50, CYP6AE70, CYP6AE138 and CYP6AE139) and decreased total P450 activity to 45% in the Malpighian tubules. RNAi co-silencing of these cluster genes increased larval mortality (+30%) under lycorine treatment. Finally, molecular docking and microscale thermophoresis analyses further confirmed direct binding between Lyc and this CYP6AE gene cluster, with the strongest affinity observed for CYP6AE47 (Kd = 518.5 nM). A key residue, ARG170, may be vital for the interaction between Lyc and CYP6AE47. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that the insecticidal mechanism of Lyc involves suppressing the expression and function of a CYP6AE gene cluster, thereby impairing detoxification capacity, which leads to Lyc accumulation and larval mortality. Elucidation of the detoxification system-targeted mechanism for this plant-derived compound provides a foundation for developing novel, sustainable pest management strategies against S. litura and potentially other noctuid pests. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Aphid symbiotic virus engineered for in vivo expression of insecticidal effectors.

Microbial pesticides are eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides. However, few viral pesticides have been developed. Insects harbor diverse symbiotic viruses, which have the potential to be engineered for translational applications in pest control. Here, we engineered Acyrthosiphon pisum virus (APV), a symbiotic virus of the pea aphid, to deliver anti-aphid effectors using reverse genetics technology. A cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter-driven APV infectious clone was successfully rescued in pea aphids with the assistance of nanocarrier star polymer (SPc). Based on this infectious clone, the protein coding sequence of chymotrypsin inhibitor variant 8 (Chy8) and the double-stranded RNA sequence targeting the aphid clip-domain serine protease (SPLP) were separately assembled into the APV genome to generate APV-Chy8 and APV-dsSPLP infectious clones, respectively. The recombinant APV clones reduced aphid relative survival rates by 34% and 17% by microinjection, respectively. To enhance the transcriptional efficiency, the APV-Chy8 and APV-dsSPLP clones were transcribed in vitro using the T7 promoter. The in vitro-synthesized APV-Chy8 and APV-dsSPLP clones reduced aphid relative survival rates by 48% and 45% by microinjection, respectively. These results demonstrate that engineered APV can deliver cargos and reduce aphid survival under injection-based experimental conditions, highlighting the potential of symbiotic virus-based vectors for delivering insecticidal effectors.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Exploring Actinobacteria for new insecticides and their delivery in crop protection.

Crop protection is essential for agricultural production systems, safeguarding yields and product quality. Chemical controls are a mainstay of protection; however, regulatory and consumer demands, environmental concerns and a general overreliance resulting in resistance development in pest populations have led to increased interest in biopesticides and environmentally friendly alternatives. Biopesticides targeting insects include micro-organisms and their derivatives, such as peptides and specialized metabolites. Their target specificity, structural complexity, modes of action and environmental safety are key differentiators to chemical controls, and when used in integrated pest management programmes, biopesticides can reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and promote sustainable agriculture. As the demand for bioinsecticides grows, so too has the research and application of micro-organisms, alongside their taxonomic diversity and isolation sources. Of key interest are Actinobacteria as both promising and well-tested alternatives for managing insect pests in various agricultural settings, with several products commercialized for use across a variety of crops and target pests. Recent advances and investigations in metabolomics and genomics highlight the untapped and significant biochemical potential and value of Actinobacteria for natural product discovery. This review covers a broad spectrum of published literature that has reported on insecticidal biological activity data associated with Actinobacteria or their natural products. We also report on Actinobacteria-derived nematicides and acaricides that are significant for crop protection. The origin of these natural products, their structural diversity and notable substructures are discussed, along with new areas for discovery and avenues for enhancing screening methods and metabolo-genomics approaches.

Insecticides↗

PubMed2026

Identification and functional validation of glutathione S-transferase genes involved in detoxification of sulfoxaflor, afidopyropen and lambda-cyhalothrin in Aphis glycines.

BACKGROUND: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play important roles in the detoxification of insecticides in insects. However, genome-wide identification and functional characterization of the GST gene family in the soybean aphid Aphis glycines have not been performed. RESULTS: A total of 17 AgGST genes were identified in the A. glycines genome and classified into five classes. Phylogenetic analysis and chromosomal mapping showed that delta and epsilon class genes experienced significant expansion. Exposure to LC₅₀ concentrations of sulfoxaflor, afidopyropen and lambda-cyhalothrin strongly induced several AgGST genes with AgGSTd5, AgGSTd6 and AgGSTe2 displaying the highest expression levels. RNA interference of AgGSTd5 significantly increased aphid mortality following exposure to all three insecticides. Knockdown of AgGSTd6 significantly elevated mortality under sulfoxaflor, while knockdown of AgGSTe2 significantly increased mortality under both sulfoxaflor and lambda-cyhalothrin. In contrast, silencing of AgGSTt1 and AgGSTt2 showed no significant effect on aphid mortality under the tested insecticides. CONCLUSION: This study provides comprehensive characterization of the GST gene family in A. glycines and demonstrates that AgGSTd5 plays a central role in the detoxification of sulfoxaflor, afidopyropen and lambda-cyhalothrin, while AgGSTd6 and AgGSTe2 contribute to tolerance against specific insecticides among the three compounds. These genes represent promising molecular targets for monitoring insecticide detoxification responses and for the development of strategies based on GST inhibitors to enhance insecticide efficacy in integrated pest management. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Identification of Specific Virulence Factors of Pseudomonas Strains in the Biocontrol of the Potato Pest Tecia solanivora.

Tecia solanivora (The Guatemalan potato tuber moth) is a major potato pest, responsible for up to 20% of crop losses and a significant economic impact. Certain Pseudomonas exhibit insecticidal activity and produce virulence factors with cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties, positioning them as promising candidates for biological control. This study evaluated seven Pseudomonas strains with insecticidal activity and identified key virulence factors involved. The strains demonstrated varying degrees of insecticidal activity, with Pseudomonas protegens strains CHA0 and 59C being the most lethal, causing over 75% mortality and triggering a systemic melanization response in the insects. Genomic analysis revealed 175 virulence-related genes shared across all strains and 16 genes specific to the highly insecticidal ones, including genes for antimicrobial compounds and insect toxins. Mutational analysis confirmed the roles of hydrogen cyanide, 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol, pyoluteorin, Fit toxin, and two-partner secretion systems in P. protegens CHA0 insecticidal activity. This strain also exhibited insecticidal effects on adult T. solanivora and delayed egg hatching and pupal emergence. In microcosm assays, P. protegens CHA0 reduced tuber damage caused by T. solanivora larvae by up to 38%. These results suggest that P. protegens CHA0 is a promising biocontrol agent, providing a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides to control T. solanivora.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Paradigm shift for cry gene expression in Bacillus thuringiensis.

In most Bacillus thuringiensis strains, the cry genes are transcribed by RNA polymerases containing sporulation-sigma factors E or K, leading to the formation of an insecticidal crystal within the mother cell along spore development. The kurstaki HD1 strain, a parent of commercial strains, also releases the insecticidal proteins Cry1I and Vip3A in the extracellular medium. vip3A expression is activated by the transcriptional regulator VipR at the onset of the stationary phase. Here, we expanded the VipR regulon in strain HD1 by identifying the VipR-binding box upstream from the cry2Aa, cry2Ab, and cry1Ia genes, and conducting transcription assays. Unexpectedly, a VipR box was located in the promoter of a putative N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase (ami) gene upstream from cry1Ac in strain kurstaki HD73, closely related to the HD1 but devoid of vipR. Introduction of vipR in this strain led to the expression of the ami-cry1Ac operon, resulting in an early and increased production of Cry1Ac. We demonstrated that Cry1Ac was also produced in a VipR-dependent manner in an HD73 ∆spo0A mutant. Similarly, an HD1 ∆spo0A strain produces all the insecticidal proteins encoded in its genome, including cry2Ab, previously considered unexpressed. A genomic analysis also revealed the presence of putative VipR-binding sequences in lepidopteran-active strains, upstream from cry genes such as cry1E, cry1F, cry9D, and cry9E. Overall, our results break the dogma on the regulation of cry1A and cry2A genes and provide evidence of sporulation-independent Cry toxin production in biopesticidal Bt strains.IMPORTANCEBacillus thuringiensis is a remarkably efficient entomopathogen due to its ability to produce various insecticidal proteins, such as Cry or Vip. This property has made it a highly effective biopesticide used worldwide. Our work modifies the paradigm of cry1 and cry2 genes being regulated solely by sporulation-specific sigma factors and thus exclusively expressed during this process. Indeed, we demonstrated that the VipR regulator controls the transcription of vip3Aa, cry2Aa, cry2Ab, cry1Ia, and the ami-cry1A operons encoded by a strain closely related to that of commercial biopesticides and specifically turns on their expression from the onset of the stationary phase, leading to the production of insecticidal crystals independently of sporulation. By providing new knowledge on the regulation of insecticidal protein genes, these findings bring new insight for the genetic improvement of Bt strains used as commercial biopesticides.

Bacillus thuringiensis↗

PubMed2022

Expansive and Diverse Phenotypic Landscape of Field Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Larvae with Differential Susceptibility to Temephos: Beyond Metabolic Detoxification.

Arboviruses including dengue, Zika, and chikungunya are amongst the most significant public health concerns worldwide. Arbovirus control relies on the use of insecticides to control the vector mosquito Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus), the success of which is threatened by widespread insecticide resistance. The work presented here profiled the gene expression of Ae. aegypti larvae from field populations of Ae. aegypti with differential susceptibility to temephos originating from two Colombian urban locations, Bello and Cúcuta, previously reported to have distinctive disease incidence, socioeconomics, and climate. We demonstrated that an exclusive field-to-lab (Ae. aegypti strain New Orleans) comparison generates an over estimation of differential gene expression (DGE) and that the inclusion of a geographically relevant field control yields a more discrete, and likely, more specific set of genes. The composition of the obtained DGE profiles is varied, with commonly reported resistance associated genes including detoxifying enzymes having only a small representation. We identify cuticle biosynthesis, ion exchange homeostasis, an extensive number of long noncoding RNAs, and chromatin modelling among the differentially expressed genes in field resistant Ae. aegypti larvae. It was also shown that temephos resistant larvae undertake further gene expression responses when temporarily exposed to temephos. The results from the sampling triangulation approach here contribute a discrete DGE profiling with reduced noise that permitted the observation of a greater gene diversity, increasing the number of potential targets for the control of insecticide resistant mosquitoes and widening our knowledge base on the complex phenotypic network of the Ae. aegypti response to insecticides.

Aedes↗

PubMed2026

Historical metabolic adaptation potentiates the rapid evolution of flonicamid resistance in Myzus persicae.

Rapid adaptation to novel environments is often shaped not only by newly acquired mutations but also by historical genetic backgrounds established through prior evolutionary events. However, the extent to which such historical contingency contributes to the rapid evolution of insecticide resistance remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the emergence of resistance to flonicamid, a recently deployed insecticide, in the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae. We show that constitutive overexpression of the P450 enzymes CYP6CY3 and CYP6CY4, already widespread in populations of M. persicae before flonicamid deployment, confers a previously cryptic tolerance phenotype to flonicamid. However, biochemical and transgenic analyses demonstrated that these metabolic adaptations provide only weak protection against flonicamid. Following flonicamid deployment, however, a novel target-site mutation, NaamV251I, in the recently identified molecular target of 4-trifluoromethylnicotinamide (TFNA-AM), emerged in M. persicae on a genetic background of CYP6CY3 or CYP6CY4 overexpression. Structural modeling, enzymatic assays, and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing demonstrated that this mutation reduces target sensitivity and independently confers moderate resistance. Strikingly, combining the nicotinamidase (Naam) mutation with pre-existing CYP6CY3 or CYP6CY4 overexpression produced substantially elevated resistance phenotypes that far exceeded the effects of either mechanism alone. Our results demonstrate that the pre-existing metabolic background did not itself evolve further following flonicamid deployment but fundamentally altered the phenotypic consequences of a subsequently acquired target-site mutation. These findings provide direct evidence that historical adaptive variation can potentiate rapid resistance evolution to newly introduced insecticides and reveal how interactions between past and contemporary adaptations shape evolutionary responses to novel environmental challenges.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Influence of genetic factors of humans, mosquitoes and parasites, on the evolution of Plasmodium falciparum infections, malaria transmission and genetic control methods: a review of the literature.

Despite significant progress, malaria remains a public health problem in many regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This situation is partly explained by the mosquito's resistance to insecticides and the emergence of parasite resistance to antimalarial drugs. Indeed, in spite of the various vectors' controls, insecticide resistance emerges from multi-generational selection and poses worldwide concern. In parallel, artemisinin resistance unfortunately emerged independently in multiple countries in eastern Africa. Since 2014, artemisinin resistance has been observed in 6 countries in Africa and, more concerningly, the evidence from longitudinal molecular surveys in these countries suggests that it is spreading. While phenotypic evidence of treatment failure is still limited, the increasing reports of validated artemisinin resistance mutations are alarming. Unlike the emergence of artemisinin resistance in South-East Asia, our understanding of the genetic determinants of artemisinin resistance and our ability to sequence and map the spread of resistance are significantly greater. In addition to mosquito and parasite genetics affecting malaria evolution, many human individual variants have been identified that are associated with malaria protection, but the most important of all relates to the structure or function of red blood cells, the classical polymorphisms that causes sickle cell trait, α-thalassaemia, G6PD deficiency, and the major red cell blood group variants. In that biological complex context, there is a need to characterize the various genetic factors in Plasmodium falciparum, humans and mosquitoes that are potentially associated with resistance to antimalarial drugs and insecticides, and their involvement in the evolution, severity and transmission of malaria. In this direction, A comprehensive literature review was conducted to capture the objectives highlighted above. The advances in genomic surveillance and emerging genetic control strategies, such as gene drive technology were also considered in this review. We used search engines such as PubMed and Google scholar to retrieve articles useful to the objective of this paper and information on the knowledge of genetic factors and methods that contributed to malaria control were synthesized.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Chlorfenapyr-pyrethroid nets for pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors: efficacy, resistance risks, and policy implications.

The Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030 aims to reduce malaria incidence and mortality by 90%, yet widespread pyrethroid resistance among major malaria vectors in sub-Saharan Africa threatens this goal. Thus, the World Health Organization recommends chlorfenapyr-pyrethroid combination nets as a priority intervention where pyrethroid resistance undermines vector control. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on the performance, emerging resistance risks, and policy implications of these next-generation insecticide-treated nets. A structured search of literature from 2010 to 2024 across PubMed, Embase, WHO IRIS, and Google Scholar identified 31 eligible studies from 113 records. Evidence shows that chlorfenapyr-pyrethroid nets consistently outperform pyrethroid-only nets against resistant Anopheles populations, demonstrating a 1.8-fold increase in mosquito mortality (95% CI: 1.5-2.1). Community trials report 40-60% reductions in malaria infection incidence and entomological inoculation rates following deployment. However, early signs of chlorfenapyr resistance have emerged in Anopheles gambiae populations in Central Africa (RR: 2.4, p = 0.01), linked to CYP6P4 metabolic overexpression. A significant correlation was also observed between agricultural pesticide use and vector resistance patterns (r = 0.62, p < 0.05). Although chlorfenapyr-pyrethroid nets provide an important short-term tool for managing pyrethroid resistance, their long-term effectiveness depends on integrated resistance management. Rotational deployment with other insecticide classes, strengthened genetic and phenotypic surveillance, and a coordinated 'One Health' approach involving both public health and agriculture are essential to sustain gains and advance progress toward the 2030 malaria targets.

Pyrethrins↗

PubMed2026

Proteome-level evidence that tebuconazole, both alone and in interaction with thiacloprid, affects epigenetic events in bumblebee heads.

Tebuconazole, a widely used ergosterol biosynthesis-inhibiting fungicide, can affect nontargets, especially when combined with insecticides. We employed label-free quantitative proteomics to investigate the effects of long-term exposure to sublethal concentrations (100 μg/L) of tebuconazole, either by itself or alongside the neonicotinoid thiacloprid (100 μg/L), on the heads of Bombus terrestris workers. A Bayesian factor power analysis revealed that the experiment produced conclusive proteomic results. Tebuconazole treatment revealed eleven differentially abundant proteins, which increased elevenfold with thiacloprid. The proteins that changed in the same direction in both treatments suggest the occurrence of epigenetic events because they are involved in histone trimethylation (H3K4me3), pre-mRNA processing, and folate (vitamin B9) metabolism. Following co-exposure, the abundance of histone H2A.V and its associated proteins was affected. Two important detoxification-related proteins, CYP6BE1 and CYP6AQ1 (honey bee homologs), were identified, as well as proteins that suggest hormonal and neurotoxic effects. Overall, this study suggests that tebuconazole affects key epigenetic processes in bumblebee heads at the proteome level, though this was not confirmed at the biological level or through orthogonal methods. The tested chemicals were previously found to affect trimethylations, but not H3K4me3. We suggest analyzing the different trimethylations, their interplay, and associated hallmarks, such as folate levels. SIGNIFICANCE: The effects of pesticides and their combinations on organisms can be unexpected until they are examined using modern, complex methods. High-throughput proteomics can provide data on important biochemical processes affected by pesticides, offering a different perspective to that at the expression level. Despite their low acute toxicity, a group of fungicides that inhibit (ergo)sterol biosynthesis (EBI or SBI) are considered dangerous to pollinators, including bumblebees. This is due to the increasing toxicity of insecticides through the inhibition of cytochrome P450 detoxification enzymes. We found that tebuconazole had a similar effect on epigenetic events when used alone or in combination with the insecticide thiacloprid. Key proteins suggest that H3K4 histone trimethylation (H3K4me3) was impacted. To our knowledge, this expands the existing evidence suggesting that tebuconazole/triazole fungicides affect histone trimethylation H3K27me3. Since literature shows that thiacloprid affects H3K9me3, it is possible that thiacloprid and tebuconazole interact in these epigenetic events that affect each other. Overall, our results suggest that tebuconazole affects proteins involved in histone trimethylation, pre-mRNA processing, and folate metabolism. These are all hallmarks of epigenetic processes and were further extended by the co-exposure of tebuconazole and thiacloprid to more differently abundant proteins. Additionally, the results provide data on cytochrome P450s of the CYP6 family, which act as detoxifying proteins, as well as proteins that indicate hormonal and neurotoxic effects in bumblebee heads. Finally, the results of the Bayesian power analysis confirmed the meaningfulness of the proteomic data analyzed in this study. If the new findings obtained at the proteome level are verified by different methods, the full extent of the side effects of tebuconazole can be revealed.

Animals↗