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Advances in Molecular and Physiological Responses of Insects to Biotic, Abiotic and Xenobiotic Constraints

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2025 | Viewed by 901

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Farman Ullah

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Interests: plant protection; integrated pest management; genetic pest management; ecotoxicology; insect physiology and toxicology; stress-induced hormesis; invasion biology; molecular toxicology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Shuo Yan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Interests: nanocarrier-based delivery system; RNA pesticide; nano-pesticide; nano-fertilizer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yaobin Lu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MOA of China and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
2. Institute of Bio-Interaction, Xianghu Laboratory, Hangzhou 311258, China
Interests: plant protection; integrated pest management; ecotoxicology; insect physiology and toxicology; invasion biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Insects are vital arthropods, impacting various agro-ecosystems. They show a wide range of adaptations to biotic (e.g., insects, plants and microorganisms), abiotic (e.g., temperature and humidity), and xenobiotic (e.g., chemicals and environmental pollutants) constraints that significantly impact various ecosystems. These adaptations allow insects to withstand these stresses. Although many studies have already been published on insect adaptations, their underlying mechanisms require further in-depth investigation. We believe that a detailed understanding of insect responses to biotic, abiotic and xenobiotic factors at both molecular and physiological levels, as well as their impact at the community level, is crucial in effectively managing economically important insect pests.

For this Special Issue, entitled "Advances in Molecular and Physiological Responses of Insects to Biotic, Abiotic and Xenobiotic Constraints", we welcome all types of submissions, including original research articles, reviews, mini reviews, perspectives, methodologies and opinion articles, in this field, including (but not limited to) the following topics:

(1) Recent trends in insect responses to chemical insecticides;

(2) Insecticide-induced hormetic effects on insects at the molecular and physiological levels;

(3) Advances in insect responses to temperature and humidity stresses;

(4) Insect responses to the natural enemies at the community level;

(5) Underlying molecular mechanisms of insect adaptation to withstand stress conditions.

Dr. Farman Ullah
Prof. Dr. Shuo Yan
Prof. Dr. Yaobin Lu
Guest Editors

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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

  • climatic changes
  • chemical insecticides
  • insect adaptation mechanisms
  • resistance mechanisms
  • ecosystem services
  • insect ecology
  • thermal stress adaptations

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2940 KiB  
Article
Proactive Resistance Management Studies Highlight the Role of Cytochrome P450 Genes in the Resistance of Tuta absoluta Against Tetraniliprole
by Farman Ullah, Zeeshan Ullah, Hina Gul, Xiaowei Li, Yuhan Pan, Haixia Zhang, Zhijun Zhang, Jun Huang, Roditakis Emmanouil, Raul Narciso C. Guedes, Nicolas Desneux and Yaobin Lu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(11), 5180; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115180 - 28 May 2025
Viewed by 326
Abstract
The diamide insecticide tetraniliprole is a valuable tool for managing major insect pests like the invasive tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick). However, the mechanisms underlying tetraniliprole resistance, as well as its associated fitness costs, remain unclear. In this study, we assessed the fitness [...] Read more.
The diamide insecticide tetraniliprole is a valuable tool for managing major insect pests like the invasive tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick). However, the mechanisms underlying tetraniliprole resistance, as well as its associated fitness costs, remain unclear. In this study, we assessed the fitness of tetraniliprole-resistant (TetraRS) and susceptible (SS) strains of T. absoluta and conducted Illumina RNA-seq to compare their transcriptomes. We also used nanocarrier-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) to knockdown P450 genes and evaluate their role in tetraniliprole resistance. After eight generations of selection, T. absoluta developed a 20.80-fold resistance to tetraniliprole, accompanied by fitness costs. RNA-seq analysis revealed 3332 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 1707 upregulated and 1625 downregulated in the TetraRS compared to the SS strain. Gene Ontology (GO) annotations showed significant enrichment in categories related to metabolic processes, cellular processes, catalytic activity, cellular anatomical entity, and binding. These genes were also identified in key KEGG pathways such as cytochrome P450, drug metabolism, carbon metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid metabolism, and protein processing. RT-qPCR analysis confirmed that P450 genes (CYP405D1, CYP6AB269, and CYP4AU1) were upregulated in TetraRS insects, in line with the RNA-seq results. Cytochrome P450 activity was significantly higher in the TetraRS strain than in the SS strain. Notably, nano-encapsulated dsRNA targeting these overexpressed P450 genes increased the susceptibility of T. absoluta to tetraniliprole. Further, cytochrome P450 activity was significantly reduced following silencing of P450 genes. These findings suggest that multiple genes and pathways, particularly P450 genes, contribute to tetraniliprole resistance in T. absoluta. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying insecticide resistance in this key pest species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Molecular and Physiological Responses of Insects to Biotic, Abiotic and Xenobiotic Constraints)
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13 pages, 4301 KiB  
Article
Phenethyl Acetate as an Agonist of Insect Odorant Receptor Co-Receptor (Orco): Molecular Mechanisms and Functional Insights
by Myungmi Moon, Jihwon Yun, Minsu Pyeon, Jeongyeon Yun, Jaehui Yang, Hye Duck Yeom, Geonu Lee, Yong-Seok Choi, Jaehyeong Lee and Junho H. Lee
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(11), 4970; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26114970 - 22 May 2025
Viewed by 248
Abstract
The insect olfactory system is vital for survival, enabling the recognition and discrimination of a wide range of odorants present in the environment. This process is mediated by odorant receptors (Ors) and the highly conserved co-receptor Orco. Insect Ors are structurally distinct from [...] Read more.
The insect olfactory system is vital for survival, enabling the recognition and discrimination of a wide range of odorants present in the environment. This process is mediated by odorant receptors (Ors) and the highly conserved co-receptor Orco. Insect Ors are structurally distinct from mammalian olfactory receptors, a divergence that presents unique advantages for developing insect-specific pest control strategies. In this study, we explored the molecular-level interactions between insect Ors and volatile organic compounds. Specifically, we investigated the response of Ors/Orco to phenethyl acetate (PA), a volatile compound found in the culture media of acetic acid bacteria. PA elicited activation in a concentration-dependent, reversible, and voltage-independent manner in Or1a, Or24a, and Or35a when combined with Orco, as well as in Orco homomers. Through molecular docking studies, we determined that the PA-binding site is localized to the Orco subunit, a highly conserved protein across diverse insect taxa. To further elucidate the role of key residues in the Orco homotetramer receptor, we performed site-directed mutagenesis. A mutational analysis identified W146 and E153 as critical residues for PA binding and activation. A double-mutant Orco receptor (W146A + E153A) exhibited a significant reduction in PA-induced activation compared to the wild-type receptor. These findings indicate that PA functions as an agonist for the Drosophila melanogaster Orco receptor and highlight its potential applications in chemosensory research and insect pest management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Molecular and Physiological Responses of Insects to Biotic, Abiotic and Xenobiotic Constraints)
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