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Pollen beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) rank among the most important pests of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). For their timely detection in early spring, yellow sticky or water pan traps are used; however, it has been suggested that the addition of chemical lures to attractive visual cues could improve trap efficacy. During the course of field trials in Hungary, we have developed a 3-component synthetic floral lure consisting of (E)-anethol + (E)-cinnamyl alcohol + (E)-cinnamyl acetate, which attracted large numbers of pollen beetles into large capture-capacity fluorescent yellow funnel traps. There was no apparent difference between the pollen beetle species Brassicogethes aeneus F. 1775 (earlier Meligethes aeneus), Brassicogethes viridescens F. 1775, Brassicogethes coracinus Sturm 1845 and Fabogethes nigrescens Sturm 1845 in their responses to the 3-component lure, which can therefore be used to trap all of them. Funnel traps with the new ternary floral lure were more efficient in catching beetles than those with lures containing 2-phenethyl isothiocyanate, a previously described plant-derived attractant for pollen beetles. However, the effect of the addition of the isothiocyanate to the ternary blend was not completely clear from these experiments and thus requires further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic mutations in pancreatic digestive enzymes may cause protein misfolding, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and chronic pancreatitis. The CPA1 N256K mouse model carries the human p.N256K carboxypeptidase A1 (CPA1) mutation, a classic example of a pancreatitis-associated misfolding variant. CPA1 N256K mice develop spontaneous, progressive chronic pancreatitis with moderate acinar atrophy, acinar-to-ductal metaplasia, fibrosis, and macrophage infiltration. Upregulation of the ER-stress associated pro-apoptotic transcription factor Ddit3/Chop mRNA was observed in the pancreas of CPA1 N256K mice suggesting that acinar cell death might be mediated through this mechanism. Here, we crossed the CPA1 N256K strain with mice containing a global deletion of the Ddit3/Chop gene (Ddit3-KO mice) and evaluated the effect of DDIT3/CHOP deficiency on the course of chronic pancreatitis. Surprisingly, CPA1 N256K x Ddit3-KO mice developed chronic pancreatitis with a similar time course and features as the CPA1 N256K parent strain. In contrast, Ddit3-KO mice showed no pancreas pathology. The observations indicate that DDIT3/CHOP plays no significant role in the development of misfolding-induced chronic pancreatitis in CPA1 N256K mice and this transcription factor is not a viable target for therapeutic intervention in this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In field trapping tests the addition of 4‐oxoisophorone (2,6,6‐trimethylcyclohex‐2‐ene‐1,4‐dione) to the known ternary bisexual lure (consisting of phenylacetaldehyde + benzyl acetate + eugenol) significantly increased catches of the silver Y moth Autographa gamma, an important migratory noctuid pest. Both female and male moths were attracted, supposedly in the natural sex ratio of the local population. Traps baited with the quaternary lure caught 27.9% of the number of moths in traps baited with synthetic sex pheromone (all males), and the two types of lures showed similar seasonal trends when following the quantitative changes in moth flight throughout the whole season. This suggests that the improved quaternary bisexual lure could be efficient enough to yield a new tool for detection and monitoring of A. gamma, resulting in more reliable plant protection decisions based on female catches, and can provide data for studies where the catch of females and data on sex ratio are indispensable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T7K24R mice carry mutation p.K24R in mouse cationic trypsinogen (isoform T7), which is analogous to the human hereditary pancreatitis-associated mutation p.K23R. The mutation renders trypsinogen more prone to autoactivation. We recently reported that T7K24R mice exhibit increased severity of acute pancreatitis induced by repeated cerulein injections. The objective of the present study was to test whether trypsinogen mutant mice are prone to develop chronic pancreatitis, as observed in patients. We characterized the natural course of cerulein-induced pancreatitis in T7K24R mice and the C57BL/6N parent strain from the acute episode to 3 months post-attack. As expected, an acute episode of pancreatitis in C57BL/6N mice was followed by rapid recovery and histological restitution. In stark contrast, T7K24R mice developed progressive chronic pancreatitis with acinar cell atrophy, persistent macrophage infiltration, and diffuse fibrosis. The nadir of pancreas damage occurred on days 5–6 after the acute episode and was accompanied by digestive dysfunction. Remarkably, histological recovery was markedly delayed and permanent, chronic changes were still detectable 1–3 months after the acute pancreatitis episode. We conclude that during cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in T7K24R mice, trypsin triggers an autonomous inflammatory program resulting in chronic disease progression, even after the cessation of cerulein-mediated injury. We propose that this uniquely trypsin-dependent mechanism explains the development of hereditary chronic pancreatitis in humans. Trypsin inhibition during acute attacks should prevent or delay progression to chronic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]