A5052986958- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Insect Pheromone Research and Control
- Hemiptera Insect Studies
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Ion Channels and Receptors
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Vehicle Noise and Vibration Control
- Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Ion Transport and Channel Regulation
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Music Technology and Sound Studies
Agricultural Research Service
2014-2024
U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center
2014-2024
Huazhong Agricultural University
2024
United States Department of Agriculture
2013-2022
University of Wyoming
2012
RIKEN Advanced Science Institute
2009-2011
Maricopa Medical Center
2010
Wyoming Department of Education
2010
RIKEN
2004-2009
University of Nevada, Reno
2001-2009
The development of a spider silk-manufacturing process is great interest. However, there are serious problems with natural manufacturing through farming, and standard recombinant protein production platforms have provided limited progress due to their inability assemble silk proteins into fibers. Thus, we used piggyBac vectors create transgenic silkworms encoding chimeric silkworm/spider proteins. fibers produced by these animals were composite materials that included integrated in an...
RNA interference (RNAi) is a widespread post-transcriptional silencing mechanism that targets homologous mRNA sequences for specific degradation. An RNAi-based pest management strategy target-specific and considered sustainable biopesticide. However, the genes targeted efficiency of delivery methods can vary widely across species. In this study, spray-induced nanocarrier-delivered gene (SI-NDGS) system incorporated gene-specific dsRNAs targeting conserved was used to evaluate phenotypic...
Summary The whitefly ( Bemisia tabaci ) causes tremendous damage to cotton production worldwide. However, very limited information is available about how plants perceive and defend themselves from this destructive pest. In study, the transcriptomic differences between two cultivars that exhibit either strong resistance HR or sensitivity ZS were compared at different time points (0, 12, 24 48 h after infection) using RNA ‐Seq. Approximately one billion paired‐end reads obtained by Illumina...
The sex pheromone biosynthetic pathways of lepidopterans require the concerted actions multiple gene products. A number gland (PG)-specific genes have been cloned in recent years and, whereas vitro characterizations indicated functions consistent with roles production, there no clear demonstrations vivo. Using an RNA interference-mediated loss-of-function approach, we injected newly formed Bombyx mori pupae dsRNAs corresponding to interest [i.e., PG fatty acyl reductase (pgFAR), B....
The rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis, is one of the most damaging insect pests to production worldwide. Although C. suppressalis has been focus numerous studies examining cold tolerance and diapause, plant-insect interactions, pesticide targets resistance, development RNAi-mediated pest management, absence a high-quality genome limited deeper insights. To address this limitation, we generated draft constructed from both Illumina PacBio sequences. assembled size was 824.35 Mb with contig...
Abstract Cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs) are evolutionarily conserved organelles that store neutral lipids and play critical roles in plant growth, development, stress responses. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their biogenesis at endoplasmic reticulum (ER) remain obscure. Here we show a recently identified protein termed LD-associated [LDAP]-interacting (LDIP) works together with both reticulum-localized SEIPIN LD-coat LDAP to facilitate LD formation Arabidopsis thaliana....
The straight-chain C 10 to 18 unsaturated aliphatic compounds containing an oxygenated functional group (aldehyde, alcohol, or acetate ester) derived from saturated 16 fatty acids are a major class of sex pheromone components produced by female moths. In the biosynthesis these components, various combinations limited chain-shortening and regio- stereospecific desaturation reactions significantly contribute production vast number species-specific in Lepidoptera. Biosynthesis silkmoth...
In most Lepidoptera, pheromone biosynthesis is regulated by a neuropeptide termed activating (PBAN). Although much known about the cellular targets of PBAN, identification and functional characterization PBAN receptor (PBANR) has proven to be elusive. Given sequence similarity between active C-terminal regions neuromedin U, it was hypothesized that their respective receptors might also similar in structure (Park, Y., Kim, Y. J., Adams, M. E. (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 99,...
In insects, the perception and discrimination of odorants requires involvement odorant-binding proteins (OBPs). To gain a better molecular understanding olfaction in agronomic pest Lygus lineolaris (the tarnished plant bug), we used transcriptomics-based approach to identify potential OBPs. total, 33 putative OBP transcripts, including previously reported antennal protein (LAP), were identified based on characteristic Cys signature and/or sequence similarity with annotated orthologous...
Abstract BACKGROUND Adelphocoris suturalis is a destructive pest that attacks > 270 plants, including cotton, maize, soybean, and fruit trees. can cause tremendous crop losses when the density exceeds economic thresholds, but because it be both phytophagous zoophytophagous serve as natural enemy of other pests below threshold. Effective control its population beneficial for maximizing yield profits. RNA interference (RNAi) has potential to viable alternative conventional pesticide‐based...
Mirid plant bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae), including Lygus hesperus (western tarnished bug), are key pests of numerous agricultural crops. While management this pest relies heavily on chemical insecticides, the evolution resistance and environmental concerns underscore need for new more effective approaches. Genetic-based strategies that target male fertiliy currently being evaluated population suppression. However, a lack candidate gene targets with appropriate function, specifically in...
Beetles, like other insects, depend on diuretic and antidiuretic hormones to control water balance. We have isolated, using head extracts from the beetle Tenebrio molitor , a peptide that strongly inhibits fluid secretion by Malpighian tubules of this insect. This factor (ADF) appears elicit its effect via cGMP as second messenger but does not stimulate NO production. It has primary structure: Val-Val-Asn-Thr-Pro-Gly-His-Ala-Val-Ser-Tyr-His-Val-Tyr-OH. The ADF tubule with high potency: EC 50...
Background Mirid plant bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae) are economically important insect pests of many crops worldwide. The western tarnished bug Lygus hesperus Knight is a pest cotton, alfalfa, fruit and vegetable crops, potentially several emerging biofuel natural product feedstocks in the US. However, little known about underlying molecular genetics, biochemistry, or physiology L. hesperus, including their ability to survive extreme environmental conditions. Methodology/Principal Findings We...
ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are a large superfamily of proteins that mediate diverse physiological functions by coupling ATP hydrolysis with substrate transport across lipid membranes. In insects, these play roles in metabolism, development, eye pigmentation, and xenobiotic clearance. While ABC have been extensively studied vertebrates, less is known concerning this particularly hemipteran pests. We used RNA-Seq transcriptome sequencing to identify 65 putative transporter...
Abstract The western tarnished plant bug, Lygus hesperus , is a key hemipteran pest of numerous agricultural, horticultural, and industrial crops in the United States Mexico. A lack genetic tools L. hinders progress functional genomics developing innovative control methods such as gene drive. Here, using RNA interference (RNAi) against cardinal ( LhCd ), cinnabar LhCn white LhW we showed that knockdown was lethal to embryos, while or produced bright red eye phenotypes, contrast wild-type...
Although the utility of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated knockdown as an environmentally friendly pest management strategy has gained traction in recent years, its overall efficacy been limited by poor stability and cellular uptake. Encapsulation dsRNAs with various nanomaterials, however, shown promise overcoming these limitations. This study sought to investigate biological oral dsRNA nanomaterial mixture targeting CYP15C1 gene product economically important rice pest, Chilo...
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), zinc finger homeodomain-2 (zfh-2), Abdominal-A (Abd-A), and Abdominal-B (Abd-B) regulate the development of insect abdomen. However, their potential roles in pest control have not been fully assessed. The insecticide resistance to multiple chemistries white-backed planthopper (WBPH), a major rice, has prompted interest novel approaches that are ecologically friendly. Although management based on double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated interference (RNAi)...
Although CRISPR/Cas9 has been widely used in insect gene editing, the need for microinjection of preblastoderm embryos can preclude technique being species with eggs that are small, have hard shells, and/or difficult to collect and maintain outside their normal environment. Such is case Sogatella furcifera, white-backed planthopper (WBPH), a significant pest Oryza sativa (rice) oviposits inside rice stems. Egg extraction from stem runs risk mechanical damage hatching heavily influenced by...