Experimental hybridization and reproductive isolation between two sympatric species of tephritid fruit flies in the Anastrepha fraterculus species group

Among tephritid fruit flies, hybridzation has been found to produce local adaptationand speciation, and in the case of pest species, induce behavioral and ecological alterations that can adversely impact efficient pest management. The fraterculus species group within Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a rapidly radiating aggregate, which includes cryptic species complexes, numerous sister species, and several pest species. Molecular studies have highlighted the possibility of introgression between A. fraterculus and A. obliqua. Reproductive isolation has been studied among morphotypes of the A. fraterculus species complex as a tool for species delimitation. Here we examined the existence and strength ofprezygotic and postzygotic isolation between sympatric populations of two closely related species within the highly derived fraterculus group (A. fraterculus and A. obliqua), coexisting in nature. Although adults of both species showed a strong tendency for assortative mating, a small proportion of hybrid pairings in both directions were observed. We also observed asymetric postzygotic isolation, with one hybrid cross displaying a strong reduction in fecundity and F1 egg fertility. Survival was greater for the progeny of homotypic and hybrid crosses in the maternal host. There was a marked female biased sex ratio distortion for both F1 hybrid adults. Hybridization between A. fraterculus and A. obliqua in nature may be difficult but possible; these two species display stronger reproductive isolation than all pairsof species previously examined in the A. fraterculus species complex. Asymetric postzygotic isolation is suggestive of Wolbachia mediated cytoplasmic incompatibilities that may be exploited in area-wide pest management.Fil: Rull Gabayet, Juan Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiologicos; ArgentinaFil: Tadeo, Eduardo. Instituto de Ecología A. C. . Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores; MéxicoFil: Lasa, Rodrigo. Instituto de Ecología A. C. . Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores; MéxicoFil: Rodríguez, Christian L.. Instituto de Ecología A. C. . Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores; MéxicoFil: Altuzar Molina, Alma. Instituto de Ecología A. C. . Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores; MéxicoFil: Aluja, Martín. Instituto de Ecología A. C. . Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores; Méxic

Comparación de atrayentes para Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera: Tephritidae) en México: ¿existe un atrayente mejor que el CeraTrap?

Fruit fly monitoring using effective attractants is a key tool in the integration of pest control strategies. The present study compared the capture efficacy of Anastrepha obliqua using six attractants that are commercially available in Mexico. In three field experiments in mango var. manila orchards, CeraTrap®, an attractant comprising enzymatically-hydrolyzed animal proteins, was significantly more effective than chemically-hydrolyzed proteins mixed with borax (Captor 300®, Winner 360® and Flyral®), or a newly developed attractant, Agrotrap® containing a mixture of hydrolyzed protein, torula yeast, ammonium acetate and vinegars. A mixture of Captor 300 + borax and Orga Fly Trap® (a potentiation adjuvant) captured statistically similar numbers of A. obliqua as CeraTrap. The pH of attractant preparations and their release of ammonia were not clear indicators of the attractiveness of these products in the field. We conclude that CeraTrap is stable for several weeks and continues to be the most effective attractant for monitoring populations of A. obliqua in mango.El monitoreo de las moscas de la fruta utilizando atrayentes efectivos es una herramienta determinante para integrar las estrategias de control. En este estudio se comparó la efectividad de captura de Anastrepha obliqua con seis atrayentes alimenticios disponibles comercialmente en México. En tres experimentos en huertas de mango variedad manila, CeraTrap®, un atrayente de hidrólisis enzimática de proteínas de origen animal, resultó ser significativamente más efectivo que otras proteínas de hidrólisis ácida con bórax como Captor 300®, Winner 360® y Flyral®, así como un nuevo atrayente, Agrotrap® desarrollado a partir de la mezcla de proteína hidrolizada, levadura, acetato de amonio y vinagres. Las capturas de A. obliqua con CeraTrap resultaron estadísticamente similares que una mezcla de Captor 300 + bórax y Orga Fly Trap®, un adyuvante suministrado para potenciar la actividad de proteínas convencionales. La cuantificación del pH y la emisión de amoniaco por los atrayentes comerciales evaluados no mostraron una relación clara con los niveles de atracción en campo. CeraTrap es estable durante varias semanas y continúa siendo la opción más efectiva para el monitoreo de poblaciones de A. obliqua en mango

Drosophila suzukii Management in Latin America: Current Status and Perspectives

Spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, was first established in Latin America in Mexico in 2011. The vinegar fly has since been detected in 296 municipalities in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay. Drosophila suzukii is polyphagous and is found on 64 host plants in 25 families in Latin America, with most hosts also exotic species. In Latin America, D. suzukii is attacked by 14 species of parasitoid wasps in the families Diapriidae, Figitidae, and Pteromalidae, which are promising native parasitoids for control of the pest. This article analyzes results from studies on monitoring, biological, chemical, and cultural control, and sterile insect techniques to provide a basis for the development of area-wide and sustainable D. suzukii management programs in Latin America. The review examines how D. suzukii has been managed in Latin America and how research conducted in this region can contribute to management of the species in other parts of the world.EEA FamailláFil: Garcia, Flávio Roberto Mello. Universidade Federal de Pelotas. Instituto de Biologia. Departamento de Ecologia, Zoologia e Genética; BrasilFil: Lasa, Rodrigo. Instituto de Ecología AC. Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores; MéxicoFil: Funes, Claudia Fernanda. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Buzzetti, Karina. Consultora AgriDevelopment Ltda; Chil

Can low concentration flufenoxuron treatment increase the pathogenicity or production of nucleopolyhedrovirus occlusion bodies in Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) or Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)? (English)

Los nucleopoliedrovirus (Baculoviridae) son patógenos letales que infectan de manera natural a las larvas de lepidópteros. El inhibidor de la síntesis de quitina flufenoxuron, ha sido reportado como un potenciador de las propiedades insecticidas de los cuerpos de oclusión (OBs) de nucleopoliedrovirus mediante la degradación de integridad de la matriz peritrófica de las larvas. En el presente estudio se ha examinado el efecto de un tratamiento de flufenoxuron sobre la susceptibilidad de larvas de quinto estadio de Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) y Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) a sus nucleopoliedrovirus homólogos, SeMNPV y SfMNPV, respectivamente. Ensayos preliminares indicaron que una concentración de 1 mg/l de flufenoxuron resultó en la mortalidad de un 6.6 - 13.3% de larvas, el cual podría ser utilizado en combinación con un inóculo de OBs a concentraciones de 1.5 × 104 OBs/ml para SeMNPV o 1.3 × 10⁶ OBs/ml para SfMNPV. El tratamiento de larvas con flufenoxuron no incrementó significativamente la mortalidad por virus en S. exigua (16.7 - 17.2%) o S. frugiperda (28.9 - 34.4%), y no tuvo efecto sobre el promedio de producción de OBs en larvas muertas por virus en ninguna de las especies. La identidad de SeMNPV y SfMNPV fue confirmada para cada virus mediante los perfiles realizados con la digestión con endonucleasas de restricción. Estos hallazgos contrastan con los resultados de estudios previos en los que una concentración más alta de flufenoxuron (100 mg/l) potenciaba la mortalidad por virus en el gusano de seda Bombyx mori L., aunque por razones no muy claras no se reportaba una mortalidad del insecto debida sólo al tratamiento de flufenoxuron. Concluimos que el flufenoxuron (1 mg/l) no tuvo el efecto de potenciar la actividad insecticida del SeMNPV o SfMNPV en sus respectivos hospederos.  Nucleopolyhedroviruses (Baculoviridae) are lethal pathogens that naturally infect lepidopteran larvae. The chitin synthesis inhibitor flufenoxuron has been reported to potentiate the insecticidal properties of nucleopolyhedrovirus occlusion bodies (OBs) by degrading the integrity of the peritrophic matrix in lepidopteran larvae. In the present study we examined the effect of flufenoxuron treatment on susceptibility of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) and Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) fifth instars to their homologous nucleopolyhedroviruses, SeMNPV and SfMNPV, respectively. Preliminary bioassays indicated that a 1 mg/l concentration of flufenoxuron resulted in 6.6 - 13.3% mortality of larvae, which could be used in combination with OB inoculum concentrations of 1.5 × 104 OBs/ml of SeMNPV OBs or 1.3 × 10⁶ OBs/ml of SfMNPV OBs. Treatment of larvae with flufenoxuron did not significantly affect virus-induced mortality of either S. exigua (16.7 - 17.2%) or S. frugiperda (28.9 - 34.4%) and had no significant effect on the mean yield of OBs from virus-killed insects of either species. The identity of both SeMNPV and SfMNPV in experimental insects was confirmed by examination of the restriction endonuclease profiles of each virus. These findings contrast with the results of previous studies in which high concentrations of flufenoxuron (100 mg/l) greatly potentiated virus-induced mortality in the silkworm Bombyx mori L., although insect mortality due to flufenoxuron treatment alone was not reported, for reasons that are unclear. We conclude that flufenoxuron (1 mg/l) failed to potentiate the insecticidal activity of SeMNPV or SfMNPV in their respective hosts.

Recombinant monovalent llama-derived antibody fragments (VHH) to rotavirus VP6 protect neonatal gnotobiotic piglets against human rotavirus-induced diarrhea

Group A Rotavirus (RVA) is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in children. The aims of the present study were to determine the neutralizing activity of VP6-specific llama-derived single domain nanoantibodies (VHH nanoAbs) against different RVA strains in vitro and to evaluate the ability of G6P[1] VP6-specific llama-derived single domain nanoantibodies (VHH) to protect against human rotavirus in gnotobiotic (Gn) piglets experimentally inoculated with virulent Wa G1P[8] rotavirus. Supplementation of the daily milk diet with 3B2 VHH clone produced using a baculovirus vector expression system (final ELISA antibody -Ab- titer of 4096; virus neutralization -VN- titer of 256) for 9 days conferred full protection against rotavirus associated diarrhea and significantly reduced virus shedding. The administration of comparable levels of porcine IgG Abs only protected 4 out of 6 of the animals from human RVA diarrhea but significantly reduced virus shedding. In contrast, G6P[1]-VP6 rotavirus-specific IgY Abs purified from eggs of hyperimmunized hens failed to protect piglets against human RVA-induced diarrhea or virus shedding when administering similar quantities of Abs. The oral administration of VHH nanoAb neither interfered with the host's isotype profiles of the Ab secreting cell responses to rotavirus, nor induced detectable host Ab responses to the treatment in serum or intestinal contents. This study shows that the oral administration of rotavirus VP6-VHH nanoAb is a broadly reactive and effective treatment against rotavirus-induced diarrhea in neonatal pigs. Our findings highlight the potential value of a broad neutralizing VP6-specific VHH nanoAb as a treatment that can complement or be used as an alternative to the current strain-specific RVA vaccines. Nanobodies could also be scaled-up to develop pediatric medication or functional food like infant milk formulas that might help treat RVA diarrhea.Fil: Vega, Celina Guadalupe. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bok, Marina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vlasova, Anastasia N.. Ohio State University; Estados UnidosFil: Chattha, Kuldeep S.. Ohio State University; Estados UnidosFil: Gómez Sebastián, Silvia. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; EspañaFil: Nuñez, Carmen. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; EspañaFil: Alvarado, Carmen. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; EspañaFil: Lasa, Rodrigo. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; EspañaFil: Escribano, José M.. Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria. Departamento Mejora Genética y Biotecnología; EspañaFil: Garaicoechea, Lorena Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Bok, Karin. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Wigdorovitz, Andrés. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Saif, Linda J.. Ohio State University; Estados UnidosFil: Parreño, Gladys Viviana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks