Biopesticides are pest control products derived from natural sources such as microbes, macro-organisms (insects and pathogens), plant extracts, and certain minerals. Many biopesticides are considered environmentally safe and can complement or substitute conventional chemical pesticides. They can also be highly specific or broad spectrum with a unique mode of action controlling a wide range of pest species. Due to their target-specificity and low to no environmental residuality, biopesticides conform to the 3 pillars of Climate-Smart Agriculture, the Sustainable Development Goals, and, ultimately, the Paris Agreement.

Tadesse Mawcha K, Malinga L, Muir D et al. Recent Advances in Biopesticide Research and Development with a Focus on Microbials [version 3; peer review: 2 approved]. F1000Research 2024, 13:1071 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.154392.3)

Read More: https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.154392.3

Large household water storage containers are among the most productive habitats for Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762), the primary mosquito vector for dengue and other arboviral pathogens. Increasing concerns for insecticide resistance and larvicide safety are limiting the successful treatment of large household water storage containers, which are among the most productive habitats for Aedes juveniles. The recent development of species-specific RNAi-based yeast larvicides could help overcome these problems, particularly if shelf stable ready-to-use formulations with significant residual activity in water can be developed.

Mysore, K., Oxley, J. D., Duckham, C., Stewart, A. T., Winter, N., Feng, R. S., Singh, S., James, L. D., Mohammed, A., & Severson, D. W. (2024). Development of a controlled-release mosquito RNAi yeast larvicide suitable for the sustained control of large water storage containers. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81800-5

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The genus Aedes is well-known for its role in transmitting a wide range of arboviruses. Particularly, Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) (Linnaeus) has emerged as a crucial vector, contributing to the spread of infectious diseases that pose significant public health challenges worldwide. This species is a competent carrier of four major arboviruses-dengue virus, chikungunya virus, yellow fever virus, and Zika virus-resulting in substantial global health burdens and economic impacts.

Srinivasan, K., Radhakrishnan, N., Han, Y. S., Karthi, S., Chellappandian, M., Babu, P., Ganesan, R., & Park, K. B. (2024). Larvicidal and enzyme inhibition effects of Phoenix pusilla derived Methyl oleate and malathion on Aedes aegypti strains. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79988-7

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Malaria continues to afflict hundreds of millions of lives annually, causing substantial fatalities despite available vaccines endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these vaccines lack efficacy against Plasmodium vivax (Pv). Concomitantly, a considerable part of residents from several Pv-endemic areas face malnutrition, compromising their immunity to diseases, including malaria.

Faria, A. C., Fock, R. A., Soares, I. S., & Silveira, E. L. (2024). Protein-energetic malnutrition hinders malaria vaccine-derived cellular and class-switched antibody responses against the Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein in mice. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-024-01545-2

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Insecticide resistance (IR) poses a significant global challenge to public health and welfare. Here, we develop a locally-acting unitary self-eliminating allelic-drive system, inserted into the Drosophila melanogaster yellow (y) locus. The drive cassette encodes both Cas9 and a single gRNA to bias inheritance of the favored wild-type (1014 L) allele over the IR (1014 F) variant of the voltage-gated sodium ion channel (vgsc) target locus. When enduring a fitness cost, this transiently-acting drive can increase the frequency of the wild-type allele to 100%, depending on its seeding ratio, before being eliminated from the population. However, in a fitness-neutral “hover” mode, the drive maintains a constant frequency in the population, completely converting IR alleles to wild-type, even at low initial seeding ratios.

Auradkar, A., Corder, R. M., Marshall, J. M., & Bier, E. (2024). A self-eliminating allelic-drive reverses insecticide resistance in Drosophila leaving no transgene in the population. Nature Communications, 15(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54210-4

Read More: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54210-4

Testing and treating symptomatic malaria cases is crucial for case management, but it may also prevent future illness by reducing mean infection duration. Measuring the impact of effective treatment on burden and transmission via field studies or routine surveillance systems is difficult and potentially unethical. The most significant prevalence reduction – up to 50% – was observed in young children from lower transmission settings (prevalence below 0.2), alongside a 35% reduction in incidence, when increasing effective treatment from 28% to 60%. A nonlinear relationship between baseline transmission intensity and the impact of treatment was observed.

Camponovo, F., Jeandron, A., Skrip, L.A. et al. Malaria treatment for prevention: a modelling study of the impact of routine case management on malaria prevalence and burden. BMC Infect Dis 24, 1267 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-09912-x

Read More: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-09912-x

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is an exceptionally harmful virus that generally causes high levels of mortality in cultured shrimp. Attempts at viral suppression have been made to control the disease and have achieved limited efficiency. Recent advances in genome editing technology using CRISPR/Cas9 have led to potential innovations to prevent or treat many viral diseases. In this study, a CRISPR/Cas9 system was applied to WSSV genome cleavage to suppress WSSV infection in shrimp.

Pudgerd, A., Saedan, S., Santimanawong, W. et al. Genome editing of WSSV CRISPR/Cas9 and immune activation extends the survival of infected Penaeus vannamei. Sci Rep 14, 26306 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78277-7

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CRISPR/Cas12a is a highly promising detection tool. However, detecting single nucleotide variations (SNVs) remains challenging. Here, we elucidate Cas12a specificity through crRNA engineering and profiling of single- and double-base mismatch tolerance across three targets. Our findings indicate that Cas12a specificity depends on the number, type, location, and distance of mismatches within the R-loop.

Mao, X., Xu, J., Jiang, J. et al. Iterative crRNA design and a PAM-free strategy enabled an ultra-specific RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a detection platform. Commun Biol 7, 1454 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07173-7

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As a result of its high reactivity, furan-2(3H)-one derivative 2 can be selected as a versatile and suitable candidate for building of novel nitrogen heterocyclic compounds. Consequently, furan-2(3H)-one derivative 2 and some nitrogen nucleophiles were utilized as starting materials for the formation of new pyridazinone and pyrrolone derivatives bearing naphthalene moiety. The continuous buildup of insecticide resistance is the main obstacle facing pest control measures. Pyrrole-based insecticides are a favourable choice due to their unique mode of action and no cross-resistance with traditional neurotoxic insecticides. The larvicidal activities of pyrrolone derivatives were assessed against field and laboratory strains of Culex pipiens larvae in comparison with chlorfenapyr (pyrrole insecticide).

Hekal, M.H., Hashem, A.I., El-Azm, F.S.A. et al. Rational design and synthesis of new pyrrolone candidates as prospective insecticidal agents against Culex pipiens L. Larvae. Sci Rep 14, 24467 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-74011-5

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Malaria continues a significant public health challenge in Ethiopia, with Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) proving effective in reducing transmission. Despite their effectiveness, consistent LLIN utilization is influenced by various factors. While previous research has quantitatively analyzed LLIN ownership and usage, there is a lack of in-depth examination of the behavioral, sociocultural, socioeconomic, and distribution-related factors affecting their sustained use.

Yirsaw AN, Gebremariam RB, Getnet WA, Nigusie A, Lakew G, Getachew E, Getachew D, Tareke AA, Mihret MS. Barriers of persistent long-lasting insecticidal nets utilization in Northwest Ethiopia: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health. 2024 Oct 15;24:2828. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20319-w. PMCID: PMC11476254.

Read More: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20319-w