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Bed bugs are an important group of medical and urban insect pests. They are obligate blood-feeders. Their bites may cause skin irritation and allergic reactions and, under some circumstances, may lead to mental and other health issues. Despite numerous discoveries on the biology of these obnoxious pests and progress in control strategies over the last two decades, bed bugs continue to preferentially plague those from low socioeconomic communities because the poor generally could not afford effective control options. As a result, such infestations in poorer communities serve as a reservoir for wider society. This Special Collection of the Perspective on Biology and Management of Bed Bugs presents nine original research papers on bed bug detection, insecticide performance and resistance, nonchemical treatment, fungal biopesticides, and pest management procurement and contracts. We hope that these investigative findings will spur research on safer, more affordable, and effective control options in the future.

BackgroundSpecies of the genus Monascus are economically important and widely used in the production of food colorants and monacolin K. However, they have also been known to produce the mycotoxin citrinin. Currently, taxonomic knowledge of this species at the genome level is insufficient.MethodsThis study presents genomic similarity analyses through the analysis of the average nucleic acid identity of the genomic sequence and the whole genome alignment. Subsequently, the study constructed a pangenome of Monascus by reannotating all the genomes and identifying a total of 9,539 orthologous gene families. Two phylogenetic trees were constructed based on 4,589 single copy orthologous protein sequences and all the 5,565 orthologous proteins, respectively. In addition, carbohydrate active enzymes, secretome, allergic proteins, as well as secondary metabolite gene clusters were compared among the included 15 Monascus strains.ResultsThe results clearly revealed a high homology between M. pilosus and M. ruber, and their distant relationship with M. purpureus. Accordingly, all the included 15 Monascus strains should be classified into two distinctly evolutionary clades, namely the M. purpureus clade and the M. pilosus-M. ruber clade. Moreover, gene ontology enrichment showed that the M. pilosus-M. ruber clade had more orthologous genes involved with environmental adaptation than the M. purpureus clade. Compared to Aspergillus oryzae, all the Monascus species had a substantial gene loss of carbohydrate active enzymes. Potential allergenic and fungal virulence factor proteins were also found in the secretome of Monascus. Furthermore, this study identified the pigment synthesis gene clusters present in all included genomes, but with multiple nonessential genes inserted in the gene cluster of M. pilosus and M. ruber compared to M. purpureus. The citrinin gene cluster was found to be intact and highly conserved only among M. purpureus genomes. The monacolin K gene cluster was found only in the genomes of M. pilosus and M. ruber, but the sequence was more conserved in M. ruber.ConclusionThis study provides a paradigm for phylogenetic analysis of the genus Monascus, and it is believed that this report will lead to a better understanding of these food microorganisms in terms of classification, metabolic differentiation, and safety.

Numerous bed bug research papers have been published in the past 20 yr as a result of bed bug (Cimex spp.) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) resurgence in the world. Yet, few of them focused on the management of the tropical bed bug, C. hemipterus (F.). Here, we describe a case of tropical bed bug infestation in two dormitory buildings and effectiveness of a tropical bed bug treatment program. The study site consisted of 125 dormitories in two buildings. An initial building-wide monitoring with ClimbUp interceptors revealed 25 infestations. The spatial distribution of bed bug infested rooms showed a significant aggregated distribution pattern with same infestation status for neighboring units sharing walls. All infested rooms were monitored every 2 wk and treated using a combination of steam and diatomaceous earth (DE) dust application if bed bugs were still found. For the 25 initially identified infested rooms, after 14 wk treatment, 44% of them no longer had bed bugs, and the mean number of bed bugs captured per room decreased by 94.1%. A combination of steam and DE dust treatment is an effective strategy for suppressing tropical bed bug infestations in dormitory environment.

The flexspline features several modal characteristics that are related to its structural parameters, which could impose an impact on the stability and reliability of the system of harmonic gear transmission. In this article, we have integrated the method of orthogonal design with the approach of finite element, so as to study the modal characteristics of flexspline under varying structural parameters. Furthermore, we have analyzed the ways of how varying structural parameters could impose an impact on the first eight-order natural frequencies of flexspline. In addition, by adopting the method of range and variance analysis for the obtained data, we have examined the influence imposed by varying structural parameters on the modal characteristics of flexspline, which could lay a foundation for the optimal design of the structural parameters of flexspline.

Plant based natural products have been widely used as antibacterial and insect repellent agents globally. Because of growing resistance in bacterial plant pathogens and urban pests to current methods of control, combined with the long- and short-term negative impact of certain chemical controls in humans, non-target organisms, and the environment, finding alternative methods is necessary to prevent and/or mitigate losses caused by these pathogens and pests. The antibacterial and insect repellent activities of essential oils of novel cultivars of catnip (Nepeta cataria L. cv. CR9) and oregano (Origanum vulgare L. cv. Pierre) rich in the terpenes nepetalactone and carvacrol, respectively, were evaluated using the agar well diffusion assay and petri dish repellency assay. The essential oils exhibit moderate to high antibacterial activity against three plant pathogens, Pseudomonas cichorii, Pseudomonas syringae and Xanthomonas perforans of economic interest and the individual essential oils, their mixtures and carvacrol possess strong insect repellent activity against the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.), an urban pest of major significance to public health. In this study, the essential oils of catnip and oregano were determined to be promising candidates for further evaluation and development as antibacterial agents and plant-based insect repellents with applications in agriculture and urban pest management.

Fruit softening exacerbates mechanical damage incurred during shipping and handling and the increase in pathogen susceptibility. Here, oligogalacturonides (OGs) produced by fungal polygalacturonase (PG) delayed fruit softening in tomato and maintained fruit firmness at 8.37 ± 0.45 N at 13 d of storage, which was consistent with the fruit firmness level of 5 d in the control groups. From RNA sequencing data in line production of phytohormones, we confirmed ethylene and jasmonic acid signals, the MAPK signaling cascade, and calmodulin involved in the OG-mediated firmness response of whole fruit.

Monascus yellow pigments (MYPs), as food colorants, are of great interest to the food industry, because of their beneficial biological activities. In this study, a comparative metabolomics strategy revealed the metabolic regulatory mechanism of MYP overproduction, comparing ammonium chloride with peptone as nitrogen sources. Metabolomics-based multivariate regression modeling showed that metabolic biomarkers/modules, such as glucose, lactate, and the pentose phosphate (PP) pathway, were closely associated with the biosynthesis of MYPs. Exogenous addition of glucose increased production of MYPs, whereas lactate reduced it. Inhibition of the PP pathway with dehydroepiandrosterone decreased MYP production, while increasing the shunting production of orange and red pigments. All these treatments significantly changed the expression profiles of the pigment biosynthetic gene cluster and the mycelial morphology. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of elucidating the mechanism of MYP biosynthesis by comprehensive metabolomics analysis, as well as discovering potential engineering targets of efficiency improvements to commercial MYP production. KEY POINTS: • Comparative metabolomics revealed the biomarkers/modules of MYP production. • A rational exogenously adding strategy was implemented to regulate MYP synthesis. • Expression profiles of gene cluster and mycelial morphology were characterized.

In this study, a high molecular weight arabinoxylan (AX, Mw: 694 kDa) from wheat bran was alkaline extracted and covalently linked with Catechin (CA) by free radical catalytic reaction. Comparing to AX, arabinoxylan-catechin (AX-CA) conjugates demonstrated an extra UV–vis absorption peak at 274 nm, a new FT-IR absorption band at 1516 cm−1 and new proton signals at 6.5–7.5 ppm, which all confirmed the covalently linked structure. Grafting CA onto AX not only decreased the molecular weight, thermal stability and apparent viscosity of AX, but also enhanced its inhibition effects on starch digestibility in vitro. The in vitro fermentation test with pig feces showed that the degradation & utilization rate of AX, the total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and acetic acid levels produced all were significantly delayed after grafting. This study provided a novel approach to synthesize AX-CA conjugates that could be a novel dietary fiber of enhanced functional/bioactive properties using in the fields of functional foods and medicine.

To understand the mechanisms of immunomodulatory effect, Dendrobium Officinale polysaccharides (DOP) were treated by ultrasound and mild base separately to generate fractions of various weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and degrees of acetylation (DA). The structural features, conformational properties, functional properties and immunomodulatory activities of original and modified DOPs were investigated. Ultrasonic treatment decreased the Mw and apparent viscosity and improved the water solubility of DOP. Mild base treatment remarkably reduced the DA and the water solubility, while the overall apparent viscosity was increased. Conformational analysis by triple-detector high performance size-exclusion chromatography showed that the molecular chain of DOP turned more compact coil conformation with decreased DA. Results from the macrophages RAW 264.7 analysis showed that samples sonicated for 200 min (Mw 34.2 kDa) showed the highest immune-regulation effects. However, the immunomodulatory effects of the samples after de-acetylation were all compromised compared to the original DOP. This study inspires further research to establish the structural-immunomodulatory relationships, which promote the application of DOP in both the food and medicine fields.

The tropical bed bug, Cimex hemipterus (F.) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) is an important public-health pest that feeds on the blood of humans and some other animals. To explore the function of the target genes of C. hemipterus, it is essential to select suitable reference genes for the accurate quantification of gene expression. Here, we selected 10 frequently used reference genes in insects and evaluated their stability in C. hemipterus under various biotic (developmental stage, sex, and tissue) and abiotic (gas stimulation and temperature) conditions through RefFinder (which integrates four computational programs: geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and ∆Ct). Results indicate that the optimal combination of reference genes for each experimental condition was as follows: RPL8 and EF1α for the developmental stage (eggs, early instar nymphs, late instar nymphs, and adults), RPL8 and RPS16 for adult sex, RPL8 and RPL11 for adult tissue (head, thorax, abdomen, and legs), RPL8 and β-tubulin for gas stimulation (air and carbon dioxide), and RPL8 and NADH for temperature (0, 5, 17, 30, and 37 °C). Finally, the expression pattern of the HSP70 and GR21 genes were analyzed, and the results highlight the importance of appropriate reference-gene selection. Our results provide a comprehensive list of optimal reference genes from C. hemipterus for the first time, which will contribute to accurately analyzing the expression of target genes.

To understand the mechanisms of immunomodulatory effect

The tropical bed bug

The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., resurged as an important urban pest in the last 20 yr. Yet, there are no commercial repellent products labeled for bed bugs available in the United States. We evaluated the repellency of two catnip oils from newly developed cultivars, CR3 and CR9, and compared each to 10 and 25% N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET). CR3 contains 63.4% E,Z-nepatalactone and 27.5% Z,E-nepatalactone, and CR9 contains 94.9% Z,E-nepatalactone. Arena studies showed that CR3 and CR9 oils were more effective than DEET within a 24-h period. At 10% concentration, both CR3 and CR9 oils exhibited a repellency of over 94% during the first 8 h. At 25% concentration, the repellency of CR3 and CR9 oils increased to 100%, and repellency of DEET was 92% during the first 24 h. Repellency of 25% CR3 and CR9 oils became lower than 25% DEET after being aged for 3 d. After 28-d aging, repellency of 25% CR3, CR9, and DEET reduced to 25, 64, and 92%, respectively. Soiled socks were placed above repellent treated bands to determine if the repellent can protect soiled socks from being infested. The 20% CR3 oil prevented 100% of bed bugs from infesting soiled socks showing that it was more effective than DEET. These results indicate that catnip oils from CR3 and CR9 cultivars are more repellent than DEET over a 24-h period following application, but their longevity is shorter than DEET after 72 h.

Summary Arabidopsis thaliana AKR2A plays an important role in plant responses to cold stress. However, its exact function in plant resistance to cold stress remains unclear. In the present study, we found that the contents of very long‐chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in akr2a mutants were decreased, and the expression level of KCS1 was also reduced. Overexpression of KCS1 in the akr2a mutants could enhance VLCFAs contents and chilling tolerance. Yeast‐2‐hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BIFC) results showed that the transmembrane motif of KCS1 interacts with the PEST motif of AKR2A both in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of KCS1 in akr2a mutants rescued akr2a mutant phenotypes, including chilling sensitivity and a decrease of VLCFAs contents. Moreover, the transgenic plants co‐overexpressing AKR2A and KCS1 exhibited a greater chilling tolerance than the plants overexpressing AKR2A or KCS1 alone, as well as the wild‐type. AKR2A knockdown and kcs1 knockout mutants showed the worst performance under chilling conditions. These results indicate that AKR2A is involved in chilling tolerance via an interaction with KCS1 to affect VLCFA biosynthesis in Arabidopsis., Significance Statement AKR2A is positively involved in chilling tolerance by interacting with KCS1 to regulate VLCFA biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.

Cycloxaprid, 9-((6-chloropyrid-3-yl)methyl)-4-nitro-8-oxa-10,11-dihydroimidazo-[2,3-a]-bicyclo-[3,2,1]-oct-3-ene, is a cis-configuration neonicotinoid insecticide. In the present study, the lethal and sublethal effect of cycloxaprid against Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), was evaluated and compared with fipronil. Toxicity bioassays showed that cycloxaprid had slightly lower toxicity than fipronil. The minimum cycloxaprid concentration in sand and soil that causes 100% termite mortality was 100 ppm. Similar to fipronil, cycloxaprid significantly reduced wood consumption and tunneling activities of termites. In the tunneling-choice tests, termite tunneling activity measured in both length and area was significantly lower in sand treated with cycloxaprid (10 or 100 ppm) than that in untreated sand. In the aggregation-choice tests, cycloxaprid exhibited inhibition to termite aggregation starting from 100 ppm. In addition, cycloxaprid exhibited significant horizontal transfer effect at 10 ppm. In conclusion, our study showed that cycloxaprid is slightly less toxic than fipronil and more repellent to C. formosanus than fipronil. Future studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of cycloxaprid against subterranean termites in the field.

The house mouse, Mus musculus domesticus, creates significant public health risks for residents in low-income multi-family dwellings (MFDs). This study was designed to evaluate the spatial distribution of house mice in MFDs. Four low-income high-rise apartment buildings in three cities in New Jersey were selected for building-wide monitoring on two occasions with approximately one year between the monitoring events. The presence of a house mouse infestation was determined by placing mouse bait stations with three different non-toxic baits for a one-week period in all accessible units as well as common areas. Permutation tests were conducted to evaluate house mouse infestation spatial patterns. All four analyzed buildings exhibited a significant correlation between apartments with house mouse infestations and whether they share a common wall or ceiling/floor at both sampling periods except one building during the second inspection, which contained a high number of isolated apartments. Foraging ranges, speed of locomotion, and dispersal behavior of house mice are relatively larger, faster, and more common, respectively, compared to common urban arthropod pests. This could lead to the conclusion that house mice are as likely to infest non-neighboring apartments as those that share a wall or floor/ceiling. However, these results demonstrate that house mouse infestations tend to occur among apartments that share common walls or ceilings/floors. This spatial distribution pattern can be utilized in rodent management plans to improve the efficiency of house mouse management programs in MFDs.

Insecticide resistance is one of the factors contributing to the resurgence of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. This study aimed to profile the resistance levels of field-collected C. lectularius populations to two neonicotinoids and one pyrethroid insecticide and the performance of selected insecticide sprays and an inorganic dust. The susceptibility of 13 field-collected C. lectularius populations from the United States to acetamiprid, imidacloprid, and deltamethrin was assessed by topical application using a discriminating dose (10 × LD90 of the respective chemical against a laboratory strain). The RR50 based on KT50 values for acetamiprid and imidacloprid ranged from 1.0–4.7 except for the Linden 2019 population which had RR50 of ≥ 76.9. Seven populations had RR50 values of > 160 for deltamethrin. The performance of three insecticide mixture sprays and an inorganic dust were evaluated against three C. lectularius field populations. The performance ratio of Transport GHP (acetamiprid + bifenthrin), Temprid SC (imidacloprid + β-cyfluthrin), and Tandem (thiamethoxam + λ-cyhalothrin) based on LC90 were 900–2017, 55–129, and 100–196, respectively. Five minute exposure to CimeXa (92.1% amorphous silica) caused > 95% mortality to all populations at 72 h post-treatment.

Pests are frequently found in homes, especially in apartment buildings in low-income communities. We investigated the prevalence and patterns of pest infestations in low-income communities in four cities (Jersey City, Linden, Paterson, Trenton) in New Jersey, USA. Resident interviews, visual inspections, and the placement of monitors were used to identify pest infestations. A total of 1,753 apartments from 19 buildings or building complexes were accessed. The infestation rates of cockroaches, bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.), and house mice (Mus musculus domesticus Schwarz and Schwarz) were 37, 9, and 20%, respectively. Among apartments with cockroaches, 97.8, 2.5, and 0.8% had German cockroach [Blattella germanica (L.)], American cockroach [Periplaneta americana (L.)], and Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis L.), respectively. The percentage of residents who were aware of the presence of cockroaches, bed bugs, and house mice was 70.8, 55.3, and 56.8%, respectively. The prevalence of pest infestation was associated with resident ethnicity and gender. Among 856 interview responses, 78% implemented methods themselves to control pests in their homes in the past six months. Chocolate spread detected 99% of house mouse infestations and was much more sensitive than three commercial blank baits. Significant differences were also observed in the feeding preference of the three commercial blank baits.

Simple Summary The management of house mice, Mus musculus domesticus, in low-income high-rise multi-family dwellings (MFDs) is often frustrated by the limited resources available through low-bid contracting. An improved understanding of the small-scale distribution of this important public health pest could allow the pest management industry to better allocate its limited time and resources to better managing infestations. This study utilized data from two research projects that measured house mouse infestation rates from four urban low-income MFDs to determine if a significant correlation between neighboring units exists in their infestation status. Results show that such a correlation exists whereby apartments that share a wall, ceiling or floor with a neighboring apartment that has a current infestation are more likely to have existing house mouse activity. This information can be utilized by the pest management industry to design monitoring strategies, during integrated pest management activities, to better ensure the elimination of house mice in low-income high-rise MFDs. Abstract The house mouse, Mus musculus domesticus, creates significant public health risks for residents in low-income multi-family dwellings (MFDs). This study was designed to evaluate the spatial distribution of house mice in MFDs. Four low-income high-rise apartment buildings in three cities in New Jersey were selected for building-wide monitoring on two occasions with approximately one year between the monitoring events. The presence of a house mouse infestation was determined by placing mouse bait stations with three different non-toxic baits for a one-week period in all accessible units as well as common areas. Permutation tests were conducted to evaluate house mouse infestation spatial patterns. All four analyzed buildings exhibited a significant correlation between apartments with house mouse infestations and whether they share a common wall or ceiling/floor at both sampling periods except one building during the second inspection, which contained a high number of isolated apartments. Foraging ranges, speed of locomotion, and dispersal behavior of house mice are relatively larger, faster, and more common, respectively, compared to common urban arthropod pests. This could lead to the conclusion that house mice are as likely to infest non-neighboring apartments as those that share a wall or floor/ceiling. However, these results demonstrate that house mouse infestations tend to occur among apartments that share common walls or ceilings/floors. This spatial distribution pattern can be utilized in rodent management plans to improve the efficiency of house mouse management programs in MFDs.

In order to elucidate the antibacterial activity and mechanism of S. alboflavus TD-1 active metabolites, the minimal inhibitory concentration of R. solanacearum and other effects on cell wall, cell membrane, nucleic acid, protein and cell morphology were studied. Besides, based on LCMS-IT-TOF, the active metabolites of S. alboflavus TD-1 were preliminarily analyzed. In this study, We found that the active metabolites had obvious inhibitory effect on R. solanacearum, and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of R. solanacearum was 3.125 mg/mL. And the treatment of 10 mg/mL active metabolites can increase the permeability of R. solanacearum membranes, destroy the cell wall integrity, inhibit the synthesis of bacterial nucleic acids and proteins, and cause leakage of bacterial nucleic acids and proteins, obstruct the normal expression of proteins and destroy their bacterial morphology. At the same time, We speculated the molecular weights corresponding to the six compounds were 618, 615, 615, 615, 646, 646, respectively among the active metabolites, and it was found that were highly unstable. The active metabolites produced by S. alboflavus TD-1 liquid fermentation contain components that can significant inhibitory effects on R. solanacearum. It had the potential to develop biocontrol agents against bacterial wilt and be a kind potential sources for the preparation of functional anti-pathogenic microbial agents.

The German cockroach Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattodea, Ectobiidae) is one of the most common indoor pests in multifamily housing communities. Our objectives were to investigate the spatial distribution patterns of German cockroach infestations in a multiunit dwelling before and after building-wide integrated pest management (IPM) implementation. The study was conducted in a high-rise apartment building with 188 residential units in Paterson, New Jersey. All the identified infestations were treated by researchers using IPM implementation, and monitoring was repeated at 6 and 12 mo after the initial survey. We examined cockroach spatial distribution patterns within and between apartments. Traps placed by the stove and refrigerator caught significantly more cockroaches than traps placed in the kitchen cabinet under the sink or in the bathroom. At month 0, cockroach infestations within the building were spatially correlated. At 12 mo after implementation of IPM, only infestations cross the floors remained to be correlated. Therefore, IPM not only eliminates cockroach infestations in individual units, but also reduces cockroach dispersal between units.

Aspergillus flavus is a saprophytic fungus that contaminates crops with carcinogenic aflatoxin. In the present work, the antifungal effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from Streptomyces alboflavus TD-1 against A. flavus were investigated. VOCs from 8-day-old wheat bran culture of S. alboflavus TD-1 displayed strong inhibitory effects against mycelial growth, sporulation, and conidial germination of A. flavus. Severely misshapen conidia and hyphae of A. flavus were observed by scanning electron microscopy after exposure to VOCs for 6 and 12 h, respectively. Rhodamine 123 staining of mitochondria indicated that mitochondria may be a legitimate antifungal target of the VOCs from S. alboflavus TD-1. Furthermore, the VOCs effectively inhibited aflatoxin B1 production by downregulating genes involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis. Dimethyl trisulfide and benzenamine may play important roles in the suppression of A. flavus growth and production of aflatoxin. The results indicate that VOCs from S. alboflavus TD-1 have tremendous potential to be developed as a useful bio-pesticide for controlling A. flavus.

To establish experimental high uric acid model in C. elegans. Hypoxanthine, adenine, xanthine, and uric acid were used to treat C. elegans and then hyperuricemic C. elegans was evaluated by allopurinol. Hyperuricemic C. elegans were obtained after normal worms were treated by xanthine (0.25 mg/mL, 18 h). For hyperuricemic worms, there was a statistically significant increase in the uric acid level (p 0.05). Moreover, the model was proved to keep a high uric acid level for up to 12 h. After given allopurinol (0.25 mg/mL, 12 h), the uric acid of hyperuricemic C. elegans had a significant reduction by 15%. Furthermore, xanthine oxidase activity in hyperuricemic C. elegans showed a statistically significant increase (p

The immunoregulatory effect of a novel Craterellus cornucopioides polysaccharide (CCP) with a triple-helix structure on immunosuppressive BALB/c mice models was investigated; moreover, the immune response of BALB/c mice models in the preventive and therapeutic treatment groups treated with CCP was explored, and its molecular mechanism was elucidated. It was found that the BALB/c mice models in the preventive groups treated with CCP (120 and 240 mg kg-1 d-1) had better immunoregulatory activity. The spleen and thymus weight indices of the BALB/c mice models were significantly increased, and the histopathological analysis indicated a protective function of CCP against the immunosuppression induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX). Moreover, CCP displayed definite and clear synergistic effects on the T- or B-lymphocyte proliferation induced by ConA or LPS, respectively, promoted the natural killer (NK) cell activity and significantly increased phagocytic activity to activate peritoneal macrophages in immunosuppressive mice. The western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) results provided comprehensive evidence that CCP could upregulate the protein expression of the G-protein-coupled cell membrane receptor TLR4 and the production of its downstream protein kinases (TRAF6, TK1, p-IKKα/β and NF-κB p50); this, in turn, enhanced the production of cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-α) through both preventive and therapeutic treatments via regulation of the TLR4-NFκB pathway in the peritoneal macrophage of immunosuppressive mice.

Monascin (MS) and ankaflavin (AK), as typical yellow lipid-soluble pigments identified from Monascus-fermented products, have been confirmed to possess diverse biological activities such as anti-oxidation, reversing diabetes, and anti-atherosclerosis, and have received increasing attention in recent years. Certainly Monascus-fermented product with a high content of MS/AK is also a concern. The current work explored interactions between MS/AK and human serum albumin (HSA) as well as their influence on the anti-oxidant properties of MS/AK. Moreover, the anti-glycation potential of Monascus-fermented products rich in MS and AK (denoted as Mps) was assessed. The results showed that the fluorescence emission of HSA was quenched by MS/AK through a static quenching mechanism, and MS-HSA and AK-HSA complexes were mainly formed by van der Waals forces and hydrophobic interactions, but AK showed a higher binding affinity than MS. Although the DPPH radical-scavenging abilities of MS-HSA and AK-HSA complexes declined, Mps significantly reduced the formation of fructosamine, α-dicarbonyl compounds and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the in vitro glycation model (HSA-glucose). Notably, approximately 80% of fluorescent-AGEs were suppressed by Mps at a concentration of 0.95 mg mL-1, while aminoguanidine (AG, a reference standard) caused only 65% decrease at the same concentration. Although radical scavenging and metal chelating activities could justify the observed anti-glycation activity of Mps, in-depth research on the structures of other functional compounds present in Mps except MS/AK and reaction mechanisms should be performed. Overall, the present study proved that Mps would be promising sources of food-based anti-glycation agents because of their superior inhibitory effect on AGEs.

Native to eastern Asia, the Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki) is recognized as one of the 100 worst invasive pests in the world, with established populations in Japan, Hawaii and the southeastern United States. Despite its importance, the native source(s) of C. formosanus introductions and their invasive pathway out of Asia remain elusive. Using ~22,000 SNPs, we retraced the invasion history of this species through approximate Bayesian computation and assessed the consequences of the invasion on its genetic patterns and demography. We show a complex invasion history, where an initial introduction to Hawaii resulted from two distinct introduction events from eastern Asia and the Hong Kong region. The admixed Hawaiian population subsequently served as the source, through a bridgehead, for one introduction to the southeastern US. A separate introduction event from southcentral China subsequently occurred in Florida showing admixture with the first introduction. Overall, these findings further reinforce the pivotal role of bridgeheads in shaping species distributions in the Anthropocene and illustrate that the global distribution of C. formosanus has been shaped by multiple introductions out of China, which may have prevented and possibly reversed the loss of genetic diversity within its invasive range., Blumenfeld and Eyer et al. retrace the invasion history of the termite Coptotermes formosansus from eastern Asia to the US using approximate Bayesian computation. They find a complex invasion history, with multiple introductions originating from eastern Asia, as well as a bridgehead introduction originating from Hawaii, which appears to have mitigated the loss of genetic diversity within the invasive US range.

Common bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) are hematophagous pests present in urban environments across the globe. It is widely established that they have a strong host preference for humans. However, there are records of C. lectularius feeding upon a range of mammalian and avian hosts, including rodents, in the field. There is little information available about how frequently common bed bugs feed on alternative hosts in residential settings, but understanding this phenomenon has implications for both management of infestations and public health. Here, we examined cohorts of C. lectularius collected from 13 different dwellings in the state of New Jersey, USA, that were known to be simultaneously infested with house mice (Mus musculus domesticus). Host-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to determine if blood meals were taken from mice, while 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to screen the bed bugs for the presence of zoonotic bacterial pathogens. We found no evidence that any of the bed bugs we collected fed on mice. Furthermore, the insects harbored depauperate bacterial communities that did not include known human pathogens. However, host-specific qPCR detected feline DNA in a pool of bed bugs from one dwelling, suggesting that interaction with domestic pets should be further investigated. Although sampling in this study was limited, the approach described herein will be useful for additional studies of the interactions between bed bugs and alternative blood meal hosts.

Sticky traps are standard tools for monitoring German cockroaches (Blattella germanica L.); however, because they lack an attractant, their ability to catch cockroaches is by chance and largely dependent upon the location of placement and length of time they are left in place. Currently, highly effective and economical cockroach attractants are not available. Food-based attractants have the potential to be employed in sticky traps and enhance their effectiveness on trapping German cockroaches. We conducted laboratory and field experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of novel food-based attractants. Laboratory results showed that sticky traps containing the following attractants: apple oil, blueberry oil, orange oil, or their combination, fish oil, peanut butter, Roach lure tablet, and bacon extract had significantly higher trap catch compared to those traps that do not contain an attractant. Apple plus blueberry oil mixture and Roach lure tablet enhanced the trap catch by ≥ 103%, and bacon extract enhanced the trap catch by 92% in the field assays. Apple plus blueberry oil mixture and Roach lure tablet were the most promising attractants based on laboratory and field experiments. Apple plus blueberry oil mixture aged for 2 wk was as attractive to German cockroaches as fresh mixture.

Monascus pigments (MPs) with different color characteristics, produced by submerged fermentation of Monascus purpureus M9, have potential application in food industry. In the present study, the effects and regulatory mechanisms of ammonium nitrate (AN) on the color characteristics of MPs were investigated. The concentration of intracellular pigments was significantly decreased when subjected to AN. The hue and lightness value indicated AN altered the total pigments appearance from original red to orange. The HPLC analysis for six major components of MPs showed that the production of rubropunctatin or monascorubrin, was significantly reduced to the undetectable level, whereas the the yields of monascin, ankaflavin, rubropunctamine and monascorubramine, were apparently increased with AN supplement. To be noted, via real-time quantitative PCR strategy, the expression level of mppG, closely relative to orange pigments biosynthesis, was significantly down-regulated. However, the expression of mppE, involved in yellow pigments pathway, was up-regulated. Moreover, the broth pH value was dropped to 2.5-3.5 in the fermentation process resulted from AN treatment, along with the increased extracellular polysaccharide biosynthesis. Taken together, the change of MPs categories and amounts by AN might be the driving force for the color characteristics variation in M. purpureus M9. The present study provided useful data for producing MPs with different compositions and modified color characteristics.

Hyperlipidemia can easily cause atherosclerosis and induce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Red yeast rice (RYR) contains a variety of active ingredients and is commonly used as medicine and food, and has pharmacological effects such as lowering blood lipids. In this study, we select Monascus strain SHM1105 with a high yield of Monacolin K and monascus pigment (PIG), and studied the effects of the RYR and PIG fermented by this strain on blood lipids, intestinal flora, and liver transcriptome in hyperlipidemia model rats. The experimental results show that, compared with the high-fat model group, the weight growth rate, liver weight ratio, kidney weight ratio, spleen weight ratio, and fat weight ratio of rats in the gavage lovastatin (LOV), RYR, and PIG group were all significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Intervention with RYR and PIG can significantly reduce the serum TC, TG, and LDL-C levels, which has the effect of lowering blood lipids. The 16SrDNA sequencing results showed that the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.01) after the intervention of LOV, RYR, and PIG; the abundance of the ratio of Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, Prevotellaceae, and Bacteroidales-S24-7-group also changed. The combined analysis of transcriptome and metabolome showed that lovastatin, RYR, and PIG can all improve lipid metabolism in rats by regulating Steroid hormone biosynthesis, Glycerolipid metabolism, and the Arachidonic acid metabolism pathway. In addition, RYR and PIG also have a unique way of regulating blood lipids. Although a lot of research on the lipid-lowering components of Monascus rice and the single pigment component of Monascus has been carried out, the actual application is RYR and pigments as mixtures, as a mixture of RYR and PIG contains a variety of biologically active ingredients, and each component may have a synergistic effect. Hence it has a lipid-lowering mechanism that lovastatin does not have. Therefore, RYR and PIG are effective in reducing lipid potential development and can be utilized in functional foods.

As a species, the German cockroach is one of the most widespread indoor urban pests worldwide. While numerous products have been developed to control their spread, German cockroaches continue to contaminate food, transmit disease and cause significant, long-term economic expense to homes, restaurants, hospitals and more. Biology and Management of the German Cockroach summarises the many advances in management technology, products, delivery systems, and basic and applied research over the past 25 years. Leading researchers explain why the German cockroach is a medically important pest and how its microbiome can provide new insights on cockroach physiology and potential novel targets for control. The authors also address the research from a practical standpoint, detailing why baits have replaced sprays as the primary method of control and how population genetic studies allow for better understanding of cockroach dispersal and population structure. Leading experts on integrated pest management (IPM) explore how studies on German cockroach control programs demonstrate the value and feasibility of IPM in urban environments. This book provides the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the German cockroach and will be a valuable reference for researchers, graduate students, pest management professionals, health workers and government agencies dealing with urban pests and pesticides.

Additional file 1. Tab. S1 Primers for RT-qPCR analyzing pigment biosynthetic genes. Fig. S1 The mass spectra and spectrum of Rubropunctatamine (R1) and Monascorubramine (R2), Monascin (Y1), and Ankaflavin (Y2), Rubropunctatin (O1) and Monascorubrin (O2), and three low-level amounts red pigments RX1, RX2, and RX3.

The mesh stiffness of gear pairs used in aerospace applications, such as geared turbofan, has a vital influence on vibration and noise. To compensate for the deficiencies of the conventional method that does not consider slice coupling and structure coupling simultaneously, a comprehensive mathematical model for computing the mesh stiffness of helical gears is established. In this novel model, the effect of structure coupling and slice coupling between neighboring sliced gears are considered. The effect of the axial component of meshing force is also taken into account simultaneously. The results obtained by the comprehensive model are consistent with the finite element method and it proves that the novel mathematical model is sound. The influences of the helical angle and addendum modification coefficient on mesh stiffness are studied. The results show that the mesh stiffness of helical gears would be decreased in multiteeth regions caused by structure coupling. With or without consideration of the axial component, the relative mean values of mesh stiffness become larger with an increasing helical angle. The fluctuation value of mesh stiffness decreases when a positive addendum modification coefficient is adopted. The addendum modification also changes the phase of mesh stiffness. This study is helpful for a vibration analysis of gear transmission systems.

The physicochemical properties, structural features and structure-immunomodulatory activity relationship of pectic polysaccharides from the white asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) skin were systematically studied. Using sequential ethanol precipitation, five sub-fractions namely WASP-40, WASP-50, WASP-60, WASP-70 and WASP-80 with distinct degree of esterification (DE) and molecular weight (Mw) were obtained. The Mw and DE values were decreased with the increase of the ethanol concentrations. Structurally, although 4-α-D-GalpA was the dominant sugar residue in all fractions, the molar ratios were decreased, whereas other sugar residues including arabinose- and mannose-based sugar residues overall increased with the increase of ethanol concentration. In addition, the effects of sub-fractions on the RAW 264.7 cells indicated that pectic polysaccharides with the higher DE value showed a stronger immunomodulatory activity. Moreover, the structure-activity relationship was also discussed in this study, which extends the value-added application of asparagus and its processing by-products.

A high Mw (5012 kDa) polysaccharide (PNPS) from the fruiting body of Pleurotus nebrodensis was isolated using water extraction followed by ethanol precipitation. The structural characteristics and in vitro fermentation behaviors of this polysaccharide was investigated. Chemical composition analysis showed the total sugar content of PNPS was up to 97.20 ± 1.80 wt%. Monosaccharide composition analysis showed PNPS contained mainly glucose (89.22 ± 5.70 mol%) while small percentage of mannose (5.60 ± 0.74 mol%) and galactose (5.18 ± 0.33 mol%) were also detected. According to the linkage pattern analysis (methylation analysis), PNPS comprised mainly 4-β-D-Glcp (58.90 mol%), while other residues including α-D-Glcp, 6-α-D-Galp, 3,6-α-D-Manp, 3-β-D-Glcp and 6-α-D-Glcp were detected with a comparable amount. Combined with results from 1D and 2D NMR spectrum, a proposed structure of PNPS was presented. In vitro fermentation of PNPS by gut microbiota showed total SCFA production of all treatment groups was higher than negative control group (NC) significantly (p

From the 1960s to the 1980s, with the implementation of nationwide ‘Four-Pest Elimination’ campaigns (bed bugs, Cimex lectularius L. and Cimex hemipterus (F.) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), were listed as one of the targeted pests), bed bug infestations were gradually eliminated in most provinces in China. However, during the last two decades, reports of bed bug infestations in the Pearl River Delta of China have shown an upward trend. Up to now, the bed bug species occurring in this area was much less frequently reported. In this study, we used both morphological and molecular methods to accurately identify the species of bed bugs collected from the cities of Guangzhou and Foshan, China. Results indicated that no significant difference was observed in the mean pronotum width-to-length ratio of Guangzhou (2.6) and Foshan (2.4) specimens; however, both were significantly lower than that of a laboratory strain C. lectularius (3.1). The genetic distances of our specimens with C. hemipterus and C. lectularius were 0–0.2% and 22.2–22.6%, respectively. On the basis of the morphological characteristics and mitochondrial DNA sequence data, it can be affirmed that bed bugs collected from Guangzhou and Foshan were C. hemipterus.

Insecticide dust formulations are considered as more effective for controlling the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius (L) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), than residual sprays. Various environmental factors may affect the efficacy of insecticide dusts. In this study, we evaluated the effect of moisture on the efficacy of three insecticide dusts against C. lectularius. Moisture was created using two methods: applying steam to insecticide dust-treated tiles and aging insecticide dust-treated tiles in chambers with various levels of relative humidity (RH). In the steam treatment, three insecticides including Cimexa (92.1% amorphous silica gel), Alpine (0.25% dinotefuran, 95% diatomaceous earth), and Tempo (1% cyfluthrin) were evaluated. Exposure to steam significantly reduced the efficacy of all three insecticide dusts. Among the three insecticides, the efficacy of Cimexa was significantly higher than Alpine and Tempo. In the different RH treatments, Cimexa treated tiles that were aged under different (52, 75, and 100%) RH conditions for 1 and 2 mo caused significantly lower mortality to C. lectularius than nonaged Cimexa. We conclude that both, a short period of exposure to steam and long-period aging in a moist environment, can significantly reduce the efficacy of insecticide dusts. Moisture needs to be considered when applying insecticide dusts for controlling bed bug infestations.

Mechanical wounding causes significant economic losses of fresh produce due to accelerated senescence and spoilage as well as loss of nutritional value. Here, pre-application of oligogalacturonides (OGs) enzymatically hydrolyzed from apple pectin effectively reduced the healing times of mechanical wounds from>24 h in mock groups to 12 h, and the Botrytis cinerea infection rate was reduced from 37.5% to 12.5%. OGs accordingly increased callose deposition; SlPR1, SlPAL and SlHCT gene expression; and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity around the wounds. Inhibition of Ca2+ signaling using the inhibitor Ruthenium Red markedly inhibited OG accelerated healing of mechanical wounding on fruit. SlPG2, SlEXP1, and SlCEL2 mRNAs accumulation was reduced in OG-elicited tomato fruit compared to water-treated fruit with subsequent retardation of the fruit softening during ripening. These results indicated that apple pectin OGs accelerate wound healing and inhibit fruit softening by activating calcium signaling in tomato fruits during postharvest storage.

The fatty acid profile of plant oils determines their quality and uses. Saturated fatty acids are often not desirable from the standpoints of nutrition and some industrial applications. Camelina sativa is a re-emerged oilseed crop, however its oil needs to be improved to meet different application requirements. In this study, saturated fatty acids were greatly reduced by down-regulating genes encoding the fatty acyl-ACP thioesterases (FATB). An artificial microRNA (amiFATB) was created by replacing a microRNA sequence in the camelina Csa-miR159a gene with a FATB gene specific sequence. Seed-specific expression of amiFATB caused a 45% reduction of palmitic acid (16:0) and a 38% reduction of stearic acid (18:0) compared to wildtype seeds. The total saturated fatty acid content was decreased by 35% from 14.6% to 9.4% of total fatty acids. When amiFATB was expressed in a high-oleic acid transgenic line, it caused further increased oleic acid content. This work demonstrates that the FATB genes in camelina can be effectively knocked down by an artificial microRNA targeting gene-specific sequences, thus provides an additional tool to improve seed oils for desired properties.

Diaphania angustalis Snellen (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) has emerged as a very important pest of blackboard tree, Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. (Apocynaceae), in China during the last two decades. Understanding its biology and behavior is crucial for designing effective and environmentally friendly pest management strategies. Under laboratory conditions [25-28°C, 12:12 (L:D) h, 75-80% RH], adults emerged during both light and dark hours with peak emergence occurring between the first and fifth hours of scotophase, and unmated males and females lived for a mean (±SE) 5.4 ± 0.4 and 5.3 ± 0.7 d, respectively. Female calling behavior was observed only during scotophase (peaking in the fifth hour) by 1- to 5-d-old females, and mating activities occurred 2-5 d after emergence, peaking on day 3. These behavioral characteristics could inform control programs targeting adults.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the combined treatment of ammonium molybdate and Rhodosporidium paludigenum, a yeast species with broad-spectrum antifungal effects, in controlling green mold caused by Penicillium digitatum in satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.). The addition of 0.1 mmol L−1 ammonium molybdate markedly improved the biological activity of R. paludigenum against green mold and decreased disease incidence by 89.3%, and simultaneously discontinued mold development within 0–12 h of infection. Although treatment with ammonium molybdate alone did not effectively reduce the incidence of green mold, treatment with high doses of ammonium molybdate attenuated disease severity. The use of R. paludigenum markedly reduced the dose of ammonium molybdate required to control green mold. Ammonium molybdate significantly depressed the ecto-phosphatase activity of P. digitatum, as well as interrupted the environmental acidification caused by this pathogen. These results suggested that ammonium molybdate contributes to the control of green mold infection by suppressing P. digitatum spore germination and proton-pump activity on the surface of P. digitatum membranes. Moreover, the results indicated that ammonium molybdate may be utilized as an environmentally-friendly additive that can enhance the performance of R. paludigenum against green mold rot in satsuma mandarin fruit.

The teak skeletonizer, Eutectona machaeralis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is a primary pest of teak trees in plantations and natural forests. However, the biology of this pest is not well studied. We investigated adult emergence, calling behavior, and circadian rhythm of sex pheromone production of this moth in the laboratory. Adult emergence only occurred during scotophase, when females emerged faster than males. Females initiated sexual calling behavior starting 1 d after emergence. This behavior then peaked on the second day of emergence. Sex pheromone release peaked 7 h into scotophase, wherein 2-d-old females elicited the strongest male antennal response to this substance. Our results provide a basis for future investigations of E. machaeralis sex pheromone production that may lead to development of novel methods to control this forestry pest. Resumen El esqueletizador de teca, Eutectona machaeralis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), es una plaga principal de los arboles de teca en plantaciones y bosques naturales. Sin embargo, la biologia de esta plaga no esta bien estudiada. Investigamos la aparicion de adultos, el comportamiento de llamada y el ritmo circadiano de la produccion de feromonas sexuales de esta polilla en el laboratorio. La emergencia del adulto solo ocurrio durante la escotofase, cuando las hembras emergieron mas rapido que los machos. Las hembras iniciaron el comportamiento de llamada sexual comenzando 1 dia despues de la emergencia. Este comportamiento luego alcanzo su punto maximo en el segundo dia de emergencia. La liberacion de feromonas sexuales alcanzo un maximo a la 7 hora en la escotofase, en el que las hembras de 2 dias de edad provocaron la respuesta antenal masculina mas fuerte a esta sustancia. Nuestros resultados proveen una base para investigaciones futuras de la produccion de feromonas sexuales de E. machaeralis que pueden resultar en el desarrollo de nuevos metodos para controlar esta plaga forestal. View this article in BioOne

Background Bed bugs, Cimex lectularius L., have become one of the most difficult urban pests to control. Steam treatment is reported to be an effective method to kill bed bugs and is considered to be an important component of bed bug integrated pest management (IPM). We evaluated and compared the efficacies of two affordable consumer-grade commercial steamers and a commonly used professional-grade steamer for killing bed bugs. Results In laboratory experiments, the consumer-grade steamers at affordable prices achieved the same high control efficacy as the professional-grade steamer for treating bed bugs exposed on mattresses (100% bed bug mortality for all steamers), located beneath a fabric cover (>89% bed bug mortality for all steamers), or hiding in cracks (100% bed bug mortality for all steamers). Bed bugs located behind a leather cover did not suffer significant mortality from steam treatment regardless of the type of steamers used and the treatment duration. Conclusion Proper use of steamers can kill all life stages of bed bugs. Affordable consumer-grade steamers are as effective as professional-grade steam machines for eliminating bed bugs resting on mattresses and hiding behind fabric materials or in cracks. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

BACKGROUND Infestations of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., have become common in low-income communities in the USA over the last 15 years. We evaluated community-based integrated pest management (IPM) programs for reducing bed bug infestations. Two housing authorities (Bayonne and Hackensack) implemented bed bug IPM programs. A third housing authority (Paterson) was used as the control site. Building-wide surveys were conducted in all communities, three times, to evaluate the effectiveness of the IPM programs. RESULTS From 0 to 24 months, the infestation rate at Bayonne, Hackensack, and Paterson decreased by 49, 64, and 26%, respectively. The two sites that adopted IPM achieved faster bed bug elimination than the control site. The bed bug introduction rate over a 24-month period at Bayonne, Hackensack, and Paterson was 7, 3, and 11%, respectively. The introduction rate was positively associated with the initial infestation rate. Residents from buildings enrolled in IPM programs were more satisfied with the bed bug control services than residents from the control site. CONCLUSION IPM programs were more effective in reducing bed bug infestations than traditional pest control services, but many factors contributed to the lower than desired level of reduction in infestation rate. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.