Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.3
3.5
Journals
Biology
Special Issues
Studies on Insect Genetics and Genomics
share announcement

Studies on Insect Genetics and Genomics

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2027 | Viewed by 1633

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ying Lin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Interests: novel sequencing technologies; genomics-editing methods; sex chromosome origins; horizontal gene transfer; resource insects; eco-friendly insect control technologies; genomics; ecology; molecular biology; insect

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Insects, as the most species-rich group on Earth, serve as both major biological agents of crop damage and valuable bio-resources with significant economic potential. Balancing the utilization of insect resources with ecological pest control has become a key research focus. A thorough understanding of insect genomic features and their genetic mechanisms is the fundamental scientific basis for achieving this goal.

With the rapid advancement of modern genome-editing technologies, we now possess the following research potential:

  1. Precise genetic analysis—deciphering the hereditary traits and biological functions of insect genes to provide a theoretical foundation for the genetic improvement of resource insects.
  2. Cross-species gene transfer—directed modification of economically valuable insect genomes to enable the expression of high-value bioactive compounds.
  3. Eco-friendly pest control—developing targeted, environmentally sustainable biopesticides based on genome-editing principles.

Accordingly, this journal prioritizes the following research directions:

  • Technological innovation: development and application of novel sequencing technologies and genome-editing methods.
  • Theoretical breakthroughs: revealing evolutionary mechanisms such as sex chromosome origins and horizontal gene transfer.
  • Applied research: practical exploration of eco-friendly insect control technologies and genetic enhancement of resource insects.
  • Interdisciplinary integration: multidimensional studies combining genomics, ecology, and molecular biology.

Dr. Ying Lin
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • novel sequencing technologies
  • genome-editing methods
  • sex chromosome origins
  • horizontal gene transfer
  • resource insects
  • eco-friendly insect control technologies
  • genomics
  • ecology
  • molecular biology
  • insect

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

14 pages, 1541 KB  
Article
Curing Parthenogenesis-Inducing (PI) Wolbachia-Induced Reproductive Disorders in the Egg Parasitoid Telenomus remus
by I-Cheng Tu, Ching-Ting Lai and Li-Hsin Wu
Biology 2026, 15(3), 210; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15030210 - 23 Jan 2026
Viewed by 672
Abstract
Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium widespread in invertebrates that causes various reproductive effects, including cytoplasmic incompatibility, feminization, male killing, and the induction of parthenogenesis (PI). PI-Wolbachia wRem converts Telenomus remus, an egg parasitoid of Spodoptera frugiperda, from arrhenotokous reproduction (male-producing) [...] Read more.
Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium widespread in invertebrates that causes various reproductive effects, including cytoplasmic incompatibility, feminization, male killing, and the induction of parthenogenesis (PI). PI-Wolbachia wRem converts Telenomus remus, an egg parasitoid of Spodoptera frugiperda, from arrhenotokous reproduction (male-producing) to thelytokous reproduction (female-producing). Long-term symbiosis between egg parasitoids and Wolbachia has been shown to lead to reproductive barriers and “female functional virginity,” causing progressive and potentially irreversible sex ratio imbalances. However, whether such reproductive barriers occur in T. remus remains unknown, which has important implications for biological control programs utilizing this parasitoid. To address this question, we cured wRem using tetracycline and conducted crossing experiments with naturally uninfected strains (W-). The results indicated that the cured strain (Wcure) retained normal sexual reproductive capability, with self-crossing fertilization rates comparable to those of W- strains. However, first-generation hybridization between Wcure and W- strains produced strongly male-biased offspring (male proportion: 94.3% and 85.8% for W-♂ × Wcure♀ and Wcure♂ × W-♀, respectively), indicating substantial reproductive incompatibility. Notably, an asymmetric pattern was observed between reciprocal crosses. In second-generation hybridization experiments, hybrid females (W-/Wcure) mated with W- or Wcure males showed markedly recovered sex ratios (male proportion: 14.3% and 15.6%, respectively), although total offspring numbers remained lower than in self-crossing groups. These results suggest that the reproductive incompatibility in T. remus differs from female functional virginity and is more consistent with mitonuclear incompatibility arising from population divergence. The partial recovery in second-generation hybrids indicates that surviving F1 hybrid females likely represent individuals selected for compatibility, rather than exhibiting progressive deterioration of sexual function. These findings offer insights into Wolbachia’s impact on parasitoid reproduction and highlight key considerations for biological control applications, underscoring the importance of evaluating reproductive barriers before deploying cured strains and preventing symbiont loss within populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies on Insect Genetics and Genomics)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 5613 KB  
Article
Comprehensive Identification and Male-Biased Expression Analysis of Odorant-Binding Protein Genes in the Hawaiian Flower Thrips, Thrips hawaiiensis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
by Qingqing Fan, Yanjun Li and Xiaodi Hu
Biology 2026, 15(2), 170; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15020170 - 17 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 521
Abstract
Olfaction is essential for key insect behaviors, such as host-seeking and mating, and is initiated by odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), which bind and transport hydrophobic odors. Thrips hawaiiensis is a major pest that infests the flowers of numerous horticultural crops, yet its chemosensory mechanisms [...] Read more.
Olfaction is essential for key insect behaviors, such as host-seeking and mating, and is initiated by odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), which bind and transport hydrophobic odors. Thrips hawaiiensis is a major pest that infests the flowers of numerous horticultural crops, yet its chemosensory mechanisms remain poorly understood. Now, the availability of its genome assembly allows us to address this gap. To this end, we performed a comprehensive exploration and comparative analysis of its OBP genes. Our genome-wide analysis identified a total of 12 OBP genes in T. hawaiiensis, whereas the repertoire across other published thrips genomes ranges from 10 to 17, a count significantly lower than that in most other insects. Notably, transcriptomic and RT-qPCR analyses revealed consistent male-biased expression of OBPs in T. hawaiiensis, supporting their role in mate-finding and foraging behaviors. Furthermore, we identified 11 chemosensory proteins (CSPs). Transcriptomic and RT-qPCR analyses revealed that these CSPs exhibit an expression pattern similar to that of the OBPs, with over half of the genes showing significantly higher expression in males. This work provides a foundational framework for future functional studies of olfactory proteins, both in T. hawaiiensis and the wider insect community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies on Insect Genetics and Genomics)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop