Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) functions as an apoptotic adapter in mammals, recruiting caspases for death-inducing signaling complexes, while in lower animals, it interacts with IMD and DREDD to initiate antimicrobial responses. In this study, we examined the T. molitor FADD sequence (TmFADD) using molecular informatics methods to understand its involvement in the host's immune response against microorganisms. Knocking down TmFADD transcripts resulted in increased susceptibility of T. molitor larvae to E. coli, underscoring the significance of FADD in insect defense mechanisms and providing valuable insights into insect immunity.

The major innate immune pathways in Asian longhorned ticks, Haemaphysalis longicornis, include Toll, IMD, and JAK/STAT. In the field, H. longicornis can be infected with various pathogens including Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus (SFTS virus), Rickettsia, Babesia and Anaplasma species. One approach to identify whether ticks are infected with pathogens is by examining the expression levels of immune response genes. To evaluate whether upregulation of immune genes from H. longicornis can serve as an indicator for pathogen infection in ticks, we first designed primer sets for Dorsal, STAT, and Relish from the H. longicornis genome. We then conducted quantitative reverse transcription PCR(qRT-PCR) on cDNA of field-collected H. longicornis and identified individuals with high expression levels in immune response genes. Subsequently, we performed digital PCR assays to determine whether selected ticks were infected with SFTS virus. Using this approach, we evaluated correlation between pathogen infection and upregulation of immune response genes in ticks. Although more experiments are needed to draw conclusions, this study suggests immune response gene-based screening methods for pathogen infected ticks from the field.

겨울과 같은 환경에서 곤충은 생존과 번성을 위해 생리학적, 생화학적 및 행동적 메커니즘을 이용하고 있다. 대부분의 곤충은 생리학적 적응가운데 급속내한성(Rapid cold hardiness, RCH) 유기를 통해 기온이 급격히 낮아 지는 외부 환경에 대해 빠르게 적응하고 저온조건에서 생존율을 높인다. 열대거세미나방의 경우 행동적 메커니 즘을 통해 따뜻한 곳을 찾아 장거리 비행을 하며, 생존에 유리한 환경으로 이동한다. 본 연구에서는 열대거세미나 방의 생리적 월동능력과 RCH 능력에 관해 조사하였다. 그 결과, RCH에 의해 혈중 글리세롤의 농도가 증가와 체내빙결점이 하강하는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한, RCH(-10℃, 1h)에 노출된 2령 유충기를 대상으로 4령과 5령 유충기에 단기저온(5℃, 30min)에 노출 시 글리세롤 생합성에 관여하는 유전자(glycerol kinase 1, 2)의 발현이 RCH에 노출되지 않은 대조구와 비교하여 빠르게 발현되었다. 이는, 열대거세미나방의 유전자 수준에서 저온에 대한 단기기억이 존재하는 것을 제시한다.

A new fumigant, carbonyl sulfide (COS), has potential for use as a replacement for methyl bromide, yet its mechanism of toxicity to insects remains poorly understood. In this study, transcriptome analysis was performed on Tribolium castaneum malpighian tubules and fat bodies, which are known to play an essential role in energy storage and utilization in insect species. In total, upon exposure to COS, 3,034 and 2,973 genes were differentially expressed in the T. castaneum malpighian tubules and fat body, respectively. These differentially expressed genes comprise a significant number of detoxification-related genes, including 105 P450s, 18 glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), 82 ABC transporters, 25 UDP-glucosyltransferases and 42 carboxylesterases and mitochondrial–related genes, including 9 complex Ⅰ genes, 2 complex Ⅱ genes, 1 complex Ⅲ gene, 9 complex IV genes, 8 complex V genes from both malpighian tubules and fat body tissues. Moreover, KEGG analysis demonstrated that the upregulated genes were enriched in xenobiotic metabolism by ABC transporters and drug metabolism by other enzymes. We also investigated the role of carbonic anhydrases (CAs) in toxicity of COS using dsRNA treatment in T. castaneum. These results show that CA genes have a key role in toxicity of the COS. Furthermore, the results of transcriptomic analysis provide new insights into the insecticidal mechanism of COS fumigation against T. castaneum and eventually contribute to the management of this important stored grain pests.

This study explored the changes in senescence patterns and vase life of cut roses grown in summer and autumn, aiming to identify the relationship between harvest seasons and flower longevity. We analyzed gene expression profiles associated with lignin, pectin, ethylene, auxin, and sucrose transport to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying senescence symptoms, such as the bent neck, petal abscission, and petal wilting in cut rose flowers. Our results revealed season-dependent occurrences of bent neck and petal abscission, with higher incidence rates in autumn-harvested rose flowers. These increases in bent neck and petal abscission contributed to a shortened vase life for the cut flowers. Gene expression analysis indicated that elevated levels of ethylene biosynthesis genes and reduced expression of lignin, pectin biosynthesis, auxin response factor, and sucrose transport genes accelerated the increased senescence symptoms. Notably, the incidence rates of the bent neck were highly negatively correlated with the transcript levels of key genes involved in lignin and pectin biosynthesis, RhPRXPX and RhGAUT1, in pedicels. These findings contribute to our understanding of the molecular factors influencing the mechanical strength of flower pedicels and provide insights for postharvest strategies to enhance the ornamental value of cut flowers across seasons.

Pigs are considered a “mixing vessel” that can produce new influenza strains through genetic reassortments, which threaten public health and cause economic losses worldwide. We performed surveillance of swine influenza virus (SIV) using 114,140 nasal swabs from 11,414 Korean farms from 2009 to 2022, and characterized their genetic evolution at each farm level. A total of 169 farms out of the 11,414 (1.48%) were SIV-positive. The positivity rate for the H1N2 subtype, which is most dominant in the pig population, was 37.87% (64/169). Through hemagglutinin (HA) gene analysis, 64 H1N2-positive farms were classified into Eurasian avian-like (46/64, 71.88%), triple-reassortant (14/64, 21.88%), pdm09 (3/64, 4.69%), and classical swine (1/64, 1.56%) groups. The estimated evolutionary rate of HA in H1N2 from 2009 to 2022 in Korea is 1.5309 × 10-3/site/year (95% HPD intervals from 1.0003 × 10-3 to 2.1735 × 10-3) with an estimated mean growth rate of 0.0114. Estimates of the relative genetic diversity of clades over time suggested that the HA of H1N2 exhibited an increase in population size. The results of this study showed that the Eurasian avian-like-HA of the H1N2 subtype was dominant in the pig population. The continued evolution of the HA of H1N2, which is critical for cell entry, might lead to genetic diversity and the loss of vaccine cross-protection. These results indicate that continus surveillance is imperative for monitoring the evolution of the swine influenza virus.

Gray leaf spot caused by Stemphylium spp., is a major disease of tomatoes, and it threatens its cultivation worldwide, especially in warm and humid areas. This study was conducted on 223 tomato germplasm conserved at the National Agrobiodiversity Center to select the resources resistant to the gray leaf spot pathogen strain previously isolated in Korea, using a bioassay and genotypic analysis of the resistance gene (Sm). Two weeks after inoculation with Stemphylium lycopersici, the disease index (rated on a scale of 0-4) of gray leaf spot was assessed in detached tomato leaves. The results showed that 22 resources were resistant, with a disease index of 0-1. Additionally, 65 genetic resources were found to be moderately resistant, with a disease index between 1.0 and 2.0. Subsequently, Hybridization Probe Melting (HPM) analysis of the 22 resistant genetic resources confirmed the genotype of the gray leaf spot resistance gene (Sm). Among them, 20 genetic resources showed a homozygous resistant genotype. The resources selected in this research may contribute to the breeding of new tomato varieties resistant to gray leaf spot and may serve as a basis for further genotypic analysis studies.

본 연구는 연해자평에서 주장하는 육친 가운데 이견이 존재하는 財星과 官星의 문제점과 타당성을 밝히는 것을 목적으로 한다. 유학자인 진소암은 보 수적인 유교사회에서 자식이 부친을 극하는 財와 官의 배치는 효 윤리를 위 배하는 문제가 있다고 판단하고, 부모는 모두 인성으로, 자식은 남녀 모두 식 상에 배치해야 한다고 주장하여 재관의 배치에 혼란을 초래하였다. 이와 같이 중요한 財官이 혼동되면 운명을 판단하는데 오류가 발생하고, 명리의 신뢰가 손상될 수 있다. 이에 따라 재관의 배치에 대한 혼란을 막고, 하극상의 효 윤리적 문제를 해소하기 위해서는 합리적인 연구가 필요하나 아 직까지 부족하여 여전히 논란의 여지가 남아있다. 이를 위해, 본 논문은 성역할 관점에서 부친(재성)과 모친(인성)의 역할을 조명하고, 유전자 관점에서 자식(관)을 연구하였다. 이 과정에서 진소암의 육 친론에는 오류가 존재한다는 사실을 발견하였다. 그리고 그의 오류를 바로잡 고 논란이 되는 재관의 배치를 자연스럽게 수용하기 위해서는 육친은 위계적 인 관계가 아닌 서로 유기적인 관계를 맺으며 공존하는 관점이 필요함을 밝 혀냈다. 또한 자식으로서 관의 배치는 유전자가 전달되는 생물학적인 관점을 고려해야 한다는 결론을 얻었다. 주제어: 육친론, 성역할, 공존화, 진소암, 재관의 배치, 오행의 위계.

The onion thrips, Thrips tabaci, is a serious global pest attacking many agricultural crops such as onion and Welsh onion. The thrips, assumed to originate in the Mediterranean region, has been reported for a long time in South Korea. According to worldwide molecular works, the species composes of three genetic lineages (LI, L2 and T) which related to reproductive mode (arrhenotoky vs. thelotoky). To understand the genetic diversity of T. tabaci in South Korea, we investigated genetic lineage and haplotype composition, using about 80 mitochondrial COI gene sequences (369bp) along with foreign sequences from GenBank and BOLD. The COI gene analysis shows that both of thelotokous L1 and arrhenotokous L2 population distribute in South Korea. Among 97 COI-haplotypes worldwide, only six haplotypes are found and thelotokous H1 dominantly distributes.

The honey bee, Apis mellifera, has a defense system, including detoxification, antioxidation, and immunity pathways, against external stimulation such as chemicals, stress, and pathogens. However, pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids and butenolids, have been recently reported to alter physiological changes in honey bee. In this study, we investigated the expression levels of eight genes categorized into detoxification (CYPQ3), antioxidation (CAT and SOD2), and immune system (Abaecin, Apidaecin, Defensin1, Defensin2, and Hymenoptaecin), in five tissues (Head, Thorax, Gut, Fat body, and Carcass) of honey bee treated with three pesticides (Acetamiprid, Imidacloprid, and Flupyradifurone) using quantitative real-time PCR. Gene expression patterns was varied depending on the type of pesticides and tissues. However, among eight genes, the expression levels of CYPQ3 was notably induced, but those of AMPs were generally reduced by all pesticides tested in this study in five tissues. These suggest that CYPQ3-mediated detoxification pathway is induced, but AMP-mediated immune system might be disrupted when honey bee is exposed to neonicotinoids and butenolid.

Pesticides are indispensable in contemporary agriculture but are mainly attributed to honey bee population decline. In order to understand the approximate physiological response to pesticides, honey bees were exposed to seven pesticides (Acetamiprid, Imidacloprid, Flupyradifurone, Carbaryl, Fenitrothion, Amitraz, and Bifenthrin), and expression changes of the genes categorized into four physiological functions (insecticide targets, immune-, detoxification-, and reactive oxygen species response-related gene) were analyzed in the head and abdomen of honey bee exposed to pesticides using quantitative PCR. Based on the heat map analysis, immune-related genes seem to be more up-regulated by pesticide exposure in head than abdomen. Among detoxification genes, only cytochrome P450 families were up-regulated in head. Interestingly, regardless of the insecticide target, expressions of Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor beta 1 and Acetylcholinesterase 1 were notably induced by pesticide exposure in head. Heat map analysis expressing the transcription profiles of various genes in the head and abdomen of the honey bee exposed to various pesticides can be used to diagnose pesticide damage in honey bees in the future.

The adult of honey bee, Apis mellifera, performs an age-dependent division of labor with nurse bees and foragers. Foragers fly outside the hive to collect pollen and nectar, while nurses feed and care for the larvae and queen inside the hive. Foragers are considered to be frequently exposed to agrochemicals, although nurses, stayed inside the hive, are potentially exposed to pesticides through application of miticides and pesticidecontaminated food provided by forager. Therefore, physiological effects of pesticides to nurses should be elucidated to understand the adverse effects of the chemicals on entire honey bee colony. In this study, we investigated the expression changes of the genes associated with labor division (task genes) and the nursing behavior of nurse bees fed four pesticides: acetamiprid (ACE), carbaryl (CB), imidacloprid (IMI), and fenitrothion (FEN). When nurses were exposed to ACE, IMI, and FEN, expression levels of task genes were up- and down-regulated, and their nursing behaviors were also suppressed and enhanced, respectively. CB did not alter the gene expression levels, however increased nursing behavior. These suggest the potential of pesticide that breaks the balance of labor distribution in honey bee colony.

The striped fruit fly (SFF), Zeugodacus scutellata, is an agricultural pest species with a strong and rapid reproductive ability that can cause significant harm. To control the population of these kind of pests, the sterile insect technique (SIT) is being used as one of the effective methods. SIT involves the introduction of sexually transmitted factors that reduce the reproductive capacity of males. This study shows that knocking down the testis-specific serine/threonine protein kinase 1 (Zs-Tssk1) gene alters male fertility and male-initiated types of communication. Since Zs-Tssk1 influences the physiology of the testes, spermatogenesis is also affected, which in turn alters the lifespan of Zs-Tssk1 knock down group in comparison with the control. Based on these results, Zs-Tssk1 may be crucial in reproductive function, and its down-regulation may be helpful in controlling SFF through SIT.