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Simple Summary: Australian horticulture is at risk from incursions by exotic tephritid fruit fly species, particularly oriental fruit fly. An incursion by exotic fruit flies is likely to result in global trade restrictions and will cause significant economic losses. In this study, we investigated global management strategies for exotic fruit fly species and compared them with available local strategies in Australia to identify areas where Australian management practices could be improved. We identified that although Australia has a good understanding of the main exotic fruit fly threats, there remains no species-specific emergency response plan available to implement in the case of an incursion. Australia has effective tools for exotic fruit fly detection, an early warning surveillance network is in place across Australia and control measures used successfully for eradication elsewhere are available in Australia. However, the speed at which Australia could respond to an incursion is currently limited by the lack of a response plan, and this could have major implications for the effectiveness of management strategies for containment and eradication, likely leading to a more severe and costly incursion outcome. Exotic tephritid incursions are of high concern to Australia's biosecurity and its horticultural industries. It is vital that Australia remains ready to respond to incursions as they arise, as an incursion of tephritid fruit fly species will result in significant economic losses. In this review, we compared Australian incursion management strategies for fruit flies with global management strategies and identified possible areas where improvements could be made in an Australian context. Overall, Australia has a good understanding of the main tephritid threats, of which Bactrocera species from across the Torres Strait (northern Australia) are of most concern. Effective tools for tephritid detection and early warning surveillance at points of entry are in place at ports and in horticultural areas Australia-wide and provide the basis for initiating biosecurity responses in the event of an incursion. Area-wide control measures used in successful eradication attempts globally are available for use in Australia. However, a specific tephritid emergency response plan identifying suitable response measures and control options for species of concern is not yet available. We have identified that Australia has the policies and management tools available to respond to an exotic tephritid incursion, but the speed at which this could be accomplished would be greatly improved by the development of species-specific emergency response plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The common armyworm Mythimna convecta is an important pest of pastures and graminaceous crops in Australia, but materials currently registered for its control are limited to broad‐spectrum compounds incompatible with integrated pest management (IPM) systems. In this study we assessed the response of M. convecta larvae to four alternative compounds using topical and dietary bioassays. RESULTS: Emamectin benzoate [LC50 (lethal concentration for 50% of insects tested) values 2.69 μg mL−1 topical, 0.017 μg active ingredient (AI) g−1 dietary] and chlorantraniliprole (LC50 values 4.87 μg mL−1 topical, 0.080 μg AI g−1 dietary) were significantly more active than either indoxacarb or cyantraniliprole. Our results showed strong parallels with data on the more extensively studied Australian strains of Helicoverpa armigera, with the most notable differences being the higher contact toxicity of emamectin benzoate to M. convecta and the lower acute dietary activity of formulated cyantraniliprole to this species, which was linked to feeding deterrence. Cyantraniliprole at dietary concentrations of ≥0.02 μg AI g−1 significantly reduced the weight of surviving larvae and frass production (an indirect measure of food consumption) over the seven‐day exposure period. There was also some evidence of chlorantraniliprole deterring larval feeding, although to a much more limited extent. CONCLUSIONS: Both emamectin benzoate and chlorantraniliprole are suitable for use against M. convecta. The decision as to which of these compounds should be prioritized for further development should be based on their potential effects on beneficial species once their optimal field rates have been determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the interactions between insecticides (acephate and indoxacarb) and fungal entomopathogens (Beauveria bassiana [Bals.‐Criv.] Vuill. strain B27, Metarhizium anisopliae [Metschn.] Sorokin strain ECS1, and a commercial B. bassiana product, Velifer® Biological Insecticide) for controlling the macadamia seed weevil, Kuschelorhynchus macadamiae Jennings and Oberprieler, in the laboratory and glasshouse. In the laboratory, additive interactions between insecticides at their full field concentrations (776 mg AI/L of acephate and 75 mg AI/L of indoxacarb) and fungal entomopathogens at 107 conidia/ml (ECS1 and B27) or at full field concentration (0.5 ml of Velifer®/L) were seen at 6 days and 12 days post‐application. Under the same experimental conditions, synergistic interactions against K. macadamiae were observed 6 days post‐application when fungal entomopathogens at 2.5 × 106 conidia/ml or at 25% of full field concentration (Velifer®) were co‐applied with insecticides at 25% of their full field concentrations, whilst additive interactions were again observed at 12 days post‐application. In the glasshouse, additive interactions between insecticides (at full field concentrations) and fungal entomopathogens (at 107 conidia/ml, or at full field concentration for Velifer®) were obtained at 6 days and 12 days post‐application. The results from this study suggest that acephate and indoxacarb have both synergistic and additive effects against K. macadamiae when deployed together with fungal entomopathogens, depending on the initial concentrations of mixture components. Combined application of entomopathogens with compatible insecticides promises to provide more effective management of K. macadamiae than individual chemical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Integrating fungal biocontrol agents into crop protection programs dominated by synthetic pesticides is an important first step towards developing an integrated pest management (IPM) program; however, their successful integration relies on an understanding of how their performance may be impacted by the remaining agrochemicals deployed for managing other pests and diseases. In this study we tested 10 formulated pesticides used in macadamia production at different concentrations to determine their effects on the germination, mycelial growth and sporulation of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana in vitro. Further tests with laboratory‐grade actives of the noncompatible pesticides were conducted to determine whether any antagonistic effects were caused by the active constituent or by formulation additives. Results: At their registered concentrations, formulated trichlorfon, acephate and indoxacarb were compatible with M. anisopliae, whereas B. bassiana showed compatibility with formulated trichlorfon, acephate, indoxacarb, sulfoxaflor and spinetoram. Bioassays using laboratory‐grade active constituents indicated that the adverse impact of formulated beta‐cyfluthrin on both fungal species and that of formulated methidathion on B. bassiana is probably due to components of the emulsifiable concentrate formulations rather than their active constituents. Diazinon was the only insecticidal active that showed high toxicity to both fungal species. The two fungicides, carbendazim and pyraclostrobin, were toxic to both fungal species at all tested concentrations. Conclusion: Our results identify which pesticides used on macadamias in Australia are compatible and incompatible with entomopathogenic fungi. Future studies on pesticide degradation rates will help define the spray intervals required to eliminate these adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early-season leaf loss due to damage by thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is considered an important issue by Australian cotton growers. To understand the potential impact of early-season leaf loss in the southern region of New South Wales, we investigated the effects of artificial defoliation on cotton growth, maturity timing and lint yield over four seasons (2013-14 to 2016-17) in commercial cotton crops in the Riverina district. Four defoliation scenarios were investigated: (i) complete defoliation, 100% removal of all true leaves from all plants; (ii) partial defoliation by plant, 100% removal of all true leaves from 75% of plants; (iii) partial defoliation by leaf, removal of 75% of leaf area from all individual true leaves on all plants; and (iv) no defoliation. Defoliation was done by hand at the onset of the 2-, 4-, and 6-node growth stages. Defoliated plants were initially shorter than undefoliated (control) plants, but by ~100-days post seedling emergence, height differences were no longer statistically significant in two of the four seasons. Defoliation did not affect the total number of bolls shortly before harvest. However, complete defoliation delayed crop maturity by up to 18 days and partial defoliation by plant delayed crop maturity by up to 8 days. Because of the delays, fully defoliated plants often had fewer open bolls shortly before harvest and yielded significantly less than undefoliated plants in three of the four seasons. A laboratory experiment with caged cotton seedlings showed that weekly introductions of up to10 thrips per seedling (predominantly onion thrips (Thrips tabaci), the most abundant species on cotton in the region) caused significant clubbing in true leaves, but the total leaf area was not significantly reduced at the 6-node stage. Implications of the results for southern cotton integrated pest management are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM) has benefited from significant advancements in treatment that have improved outcomes and reduced morbidity. However, the disease remains incurable and is characterized by high rates of drug resistance and relapse. Consequently, methods to select the most efficacious therapy are of great interest. Here we utilize a functional assay to assess the ex vivo drug sensitivity of single multiple myeloma cells based on measuring their mass accumulation rate (MAR). We show that MAR accurately and rapidly defines therapeutic susceptibility across human multiple myeloma cell lines to a gamut of standard-of-care therapies. Finally, we demonstrate that our MAR assay, without the need for extended culture ex vivo, correctly defines the response of nine patients to standard-of-care drugs according to their clinical diagnoses. This data highlights the MAR assay in both research and clinical applications as a promising tool for predicting therapeutic response using clinical samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assays that can determine the response of tumor cells to cancer therapeutics could greatly aid the selection of drug regimens for individual patients. However, the utility of current functional assays is limited, and predictive genetic biomarkers are available for only a small fraction of cancer therapies. We found that the single-cell mass accumulation rate (MAR), profiled over many hours with a suspended microchannel resonator, accurately defined the drug sensitivity or resistance of glioblastoma and B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia cells. MAR revealed heterogeneity in drug sensitivity not only between different tumors, but also within individual tumors and tumor-derived cell lines. MAR measurement predicted drug response using samples as small as 25 μl of peripheral blood while maintaining cell viability and compatibility with downstream characterization. MAR measurement is a promising approach for directly assaying single-cell therapeutic responses and for identifying cellular subpopulations with phenotypic resistance in heterogeneous tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods to rapidly assess cell growth would be useful for many applications, including drug susceptibility testing, but current technologies have limited sensitivity or throughput. Here we present an approach to precisely and rapidly measure growth rates of many individual cells simultaneously. We flow cells in suspension through a microfluidic channel with 10-12 resonant mass sensors distributed along its length, weighing each cell repeatedly over the 4-20 min it spends in the channel. Because multiple cells traverse the channel at the same time, we obtain growth rates for >60 cells/h with a resolution of 0.2 pg/h for mammalian cells and 0.02 pg/h for bacteria. We measure the growth of single lymphocytic cells, mouse and human T cells, primary human leukemia cells, yeast, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis. Our system reveals subpopulations of cells with divergent growth kinetics and enables assessment of cellular responses to antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides within minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergence of adult citrus gall wasp (CGW) Bruchophagus fellis (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) in citrus orchards in far western New South Wales, Australia, was monitored with sticky traps for three seasons (2010 to 2012 inclusive). Emergence started from early October to early November, peaked from late October to mid-November, and was mostly finished by mid-late November. Emergence timing was mainly influenced by year and site, with the largest differences observed between years. Most emergence (90%) took place during an average period of only 19days each season (range of 11-28days across all trap types, sites and seasons). The role of temperature in emergence timing was investigated using a degree-day (DD) model. DD accumulated since 1 April using a lower threshold temperature of 15°C and an upper threshold temperature of 35°C or 40°C gave the best predictions of median emergence dates in the three years. The required DDs to achieve 5, 50, and 95% emergence were 336, 403 and 447 DD, respectively. The maximum difference between predicted and observed median dates for 2010-2012 was only four days. CGW adult emergence in future years can be predicted using these DD parameters and a combination of observed and average historical temperature data for the target site. Effective prediction of emergence peaks will allow the timing of pesticide applications to be optimised whilst providing protection for establishing parasitoids which emerge from the galls 2-3weeks after citrus gall wasp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are a major problem for Australia's $6.9 billion horticultural industry. Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) is the most significant fruit fly pest in the eastern states of Australia. Catches of male B. tryoni from cuelure-baited Lynfield surveillance traps in towns bordering the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone in New South Wales, Australia, from November to May in 2001/2002–2007/2008 were analysed with respect to year, town, property type (urban/rural), and tree species/crop varieties in which the trap was placed (tree type). Average catches of all traps were highest in 2007/2008 and lowest in 2003/2004, and showed an overall positive correlation with rainfall (P < 0.05). More B. tryoni males were caught in Wagga Wagga and Lockhart than in other towns. There were no significant differences in catches of B. tryoni between urban and rurally located traps. With respect to tree type, traps placed in pomefruit trees caught significantly more flies than those in citrus, stonefruit, or nonfruit trees, with no significant differences among the latter three tree groups. Within the pomefruit group, traps in apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) and pears (Pyrus spp.) caught significantly more flies than those in cotoneasters (Cotoneaster spp). Within the citrus group, traps in orange trees (Citrus × sinensis (L.) Osbeck) caught significantly more flies than those in mandarin trees (Citrus reticulata Blanco). No significant differences were detected in catches between any members of the stonefruit group. Within the nonfruit group, traps placed in kurrajongs (Brachychiton populneum (Schott & Endl.) R. Br.) caught significantly more flies than those placed on other tree species in the group. This study demonstrates that although surveillance programs conducted to establish and/or maintain area freedom from specific pests may not provide balanced datasets, careful analysis of the results of such programs can provide valuable insights into the behaviour of the species in question. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A commercial formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (B.t.i.) was evaluated for its potential to control chironomid midge larvae in newly sown rice crops in south-eastern Australia. Two replicated small-plot field trials were conducted using product application rates of 0.5–6kg/ha. In trial 1 application rates between 2 and 6kg product/ha all significantly (P <0.05) reduced populations of target Chironominae/Orthocladiinae by between 71% and 93% over the 19day post-treatment monitoring period. Trial 2 was conducted using lower application rates (0.5–2kg product/ha) and only the 2kg product/ha rate significantly (P <0.05) reduced numbers of the target group (81% reduction) despite lower application rates resulting in target group suppression of 38–62%. Identification of larvae to species level from selected samples indicated that populations of Chironomus tepperi, the principal pest species that attacks the roots of rice seedlings, were reduced at all application rates; elimination of C. tepperi was achieved in trial 1 at an application rate of 2kg/ha. Consistent with other studies, non-target Tanypodinae were not adversely affected by B.t.i., and in some treatments populations of Tanypodinae exceeded control levels by up to 73%. In the first trial, which was conducted under relatively high pest pressure, plant establishment was significantly (P <0.05) increased (120–157%) by Vectobac® WDG application rates of 2–6kg/ha. No significant increase in plant establishment relative to the controls was identified in the second trial, when pest pressure was substantially lower and minimal damage occurred in the control bays. Overall, our results demonstrate that B.t.i. may be an economically viable alternative to broad-spectrum synthetic pesticides for the control of phytophagous midge larvae in establishing rice crops where members of the Chironominae, the group most susceptible to B.t.i., are the principal species of concern. The high specificity of B.t.i. for nematoceran Diptera should lead to reduced impacts on non-target organisms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fuller's rose weevil (FRW; Asynonychus cervinus (Boheman)) is a pest of quarantine concern in many Asian markets for Australian citrus. We investigated vertical (tree climbing) and horizontal movements (inter-tree movements) of FRW adults in a citrus orchard during 2009-2011 with mark-recapture experiments. Trunk traps were used to intercept tree-climbing adults. The results showed that the majority of the adults released on the foliage stayed in the canopy, however considerable numbers did drop and some dropped multiple times. The rate of drops appeared to be fixed, independent of how many times the weevils had dropped before. Inter-tree movements of adults in the canopy occurred mainly within rows, probably because of touching foliage between within-row neighboring trees. Movement directions on the ground were more random, when reliance on touching foliage was not necessary. According to fitted dispersal equations, the average dispersal distance was 38 m for weevils released on foliage and 127 m for those released on the ground. Trunk banding with chemicals is an important control tactic for FRW, and based on our results, chemicals should be applied at a high enough rate (or in a wide enough band) to ensure the weevils are killed by a single crossing. For maximum reductions of FRW populations in citrus, control actions should be applied not only to infested blocks but also to neighboring blocks in the orchard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of a co-occurring insecticide–herbicide mixture were evaluated using model ecosystems (microcosms) in the laboratory. Microcosms dosed with a high concentration (10 μg/L) of the insecticide terbufos, alone and as a mixture with the herbicide atrazine (25 μg/L), exhibited community level effects attributed to the elimination and decline of invertebrate populations, and also indirect effects. There were no community level effects at a lower concentration of terbufos (0.1 μg/L) alone or in a mixture with atrazine, although delayed population effects were observed. Female chironomids also emerged later and those from terbufos-only microcosms were smaller. Exposure to atrazine alone was also associated with lower abundances of cladocerans and reduced emergence of chironomids. The risk posed by atrazine is low and is unlikely to exacerbate the effects of terbufos. Nevertheless, the population-level effects highlight that terbufos poses a potential risk to aquatic ecosystems, regardless of whether atrazine is also present. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To examine the link between corn agriculture and the observed decline of the endangered southern bell frog (SBF), the effects of two corn crop pesticides on larval growth and development were investigated. Tadpoles were exposed to terbufos sulfone (10 μg/L), a major breakdown product of the insecticide terbufos, and the herbicide atrazine (25 μg/L) individually and as a mixture until the completion of metamorphosis. Atrazine did not interact synergistically with terbufos sulfone or result in significant effects on growth and development alone, although there was some indication of accelerated metamorphosis in the pilot study. Terbufos sulfone alone and as a mixture (terbufos/atrazine) significantly slowed larval development and ultimately delayed metamorphosis. The observed developmental effects from an environmentally relevant concentration of terbufos sulfone indicates a risk posed by this persistent degradation product to the endangered SBF, which breeds and develops in the rice bays adjacent to corn fields treated with pesticides. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sugar flotation procedures have been used for many years to separate insects from soil and other substrates. In this study we investigated whether brown sugar flotation (BSF) could be used for detecting eggs and larvae of Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) in cherries. Our first study involved both species and combined BSF with either manually or mechanically crushed fruit to quantify the egg and larval detection ability of BSF in conjunction with these sample preparation methods. A second set of experiments (using B. tryoni only) focused on determining the sensitivity of BSF for detecting fruit fly infestation and determining the proportions of different life stages recoverable. This was done by varying oviposition periods to generate fruits with different infestation levels. Our final experiments were used to develop an optimized cherry fruit sampling regime for detecting B. tryoni using BSF. Wet sieving/maceration of the fruit residue and incubation of the macerated fruit sample to allow further insect development were used to determine the number of eggs and larvae in each test sample that were not detected using BSF. Our results show that BSF is more effective when combined with mechanical (rather than manual) fruit crushing. BSF is highly sensitive, detecting at least one B. tryoni second instar from all the samples tested down to a pest density of 1–5 larvae in one fruit within a 35-fruit sample. BSF was less sensitive for egg detection, however when 6 or more eggs were present within a sample of 35 fruits, the probability of detecting at least one egg was ≥85%. Samples of 35 or 42 cherries provided a higher probability of detecting B. tryoni than larger samples when 1–5 eggs or larvae were present in total. BSF is an effective tool for detecting the presence of fruit fly eggs and particularly larvae in cherries and should be considered for incorporation into the current market access protocol for minimizing fruit fly risk in Australian cherry exports. • Brown sugar flotation procedure is an effective tool for detecting fruit fly in cherry. • Mechanical fruit crushing technique exposes more fruit fly for detection than manual crushing. • Current cherry market access protocol should incorporate the brown sugar flotation procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on imidacloprid seed treatments and its influence on rice germination and early seedling growth. Chlotonicotinyl insecticide imidacloprid used in seed treatments were investigated to observe the effect of concentration and exposure regime influence on rice growth and germination. There is a decrease in normal germination by 18% after exposing the 15 cultivars in imidacloprid continuously. The results also showed that imidacloprid exposure on seed during germination have effects on cultivars with high levels of sensitivity.

Abstract: The biopesticide Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (B.t.i.) is highly toxic to the larvae of Chironomus tepperi, an important pest of aerially sown rice in southern Australia. In this study, all of the known Cry genes and the Cyt1A gene from B.t.i. were expressed and tested for individual toxicity against fourth instar C. tepperi larvae. Possible synergism between toxins in two component mixtures involving all toxins except Cry10A was also evaluated. Of the Cry toxins, only Cry11A and Cry4B displayed substantial toxicity; however, both were 10- to 20-fold less toxic than the parental B.t.i. strain. The only detected synergy was between the mildly toxic Cry4A and Cyt1A toxins. In direct contrast to previous studies with mosquitoes, mixtures of Cry11A/Cry4B and Cry11A/Cyt1A were mildly antagonistic. The activity of Cry11A and Cry4B is sufficient to justify investigation as to whether their expression in transgenic rice plants could provide control of C. tepperi larvae. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The midge Chironomus tepperi was used in laboratory experiments to assess the relative toxicity of formulated molinate, clomazone, and thiobencarb, three herbicides used in Australian rice crops. Static bioassays were initiated with first-instar larvae at herbicide concentrations between 0.0625 and 2 times the anticipated field concentrations (AFCs) expected from the registered application rates. Adult emergence success, development time, and wing length were used as indices of the effect of each herbicide. Clomazone had no effect on any parameters at concentrations up to 0.288 mg/L (p > 0.05). Molinate significantly increased development time at concentrations equivalent to the AFC (3.6 mg/L) and above (p < 0.05). Thiobencarb reduced emergence success of adult C. tepperi at 0.0625 times the AFC (0.1875 mg/L) as well as decreasing male adult size and increasing development time for males and females at 0.125 times the AFC (p < 0.05). Nontarget effects of the herbicides on aquatic invertebrate communities were assessed in shallow experimental ponds using commercial application rates. One week after treatment, only thiobencarb had a significant effect, suppressing populations of chironomids, calanoids, and cyclopoids (p < 0.05). Four weeks later, all populations had recovered, equaling or exceeding control densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The citrus gall wasp, Bruchophagus fellis, is a serious pest of citrus in southeast Australia and the ability to accurately predict its highly synchronised adult emergence periods is critical for its effective management. We monitored emergence of the citrus gall wasp for six years during 2010–2017 in southern Australia, yielding a total of 22 site-by-year datasets from two citrus production regions and multiple citrus varieties. For each dataset, the proportions of emerged wasps on different monitoring dates were related to the corresponding degree-days using a 2-parameter Weibull function. The two degree-day parameters, the lower development threshold temperature and biofix date, were estimated at 8 °C and August 1 respectively by cross-validation of a series of candidate values using the sum of squared differences between the predicted and observed median emergence dates as the performance indicator. According to the final fitted Weibull function, 5, 50, and 95% emergence occur when 560, 723 and 835 degree-days above 8 °C have accumulated after August 1. The predicted median emergence dates differed from the corresponding observed median emergence dates by an average of 2.8 days across the 22 datasets. The average deviations for 5 and 95% emergence were slightly larger, at five and four days, respectively. Observed degree-days for median emergence did not differ significantly between the two citrus production regions, indicating there is no need for separate degree-day models for different regions. Based on the degree-day model, an interactive, online timing tool has been developed, allowing growers to use local weather station data to predict when the gall wasp is likely to emerge in average, warm, and cool years. • A degree-day model was developed for the emergence of the citrus gall wasp. • 50% emergence occurs when 723 DD above 8 °C have accumulated after August 1. • Average prediction accuracy is ±2.8 days across 22 datasets. • An online tool was published to help citrus growers time their control operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Horticultural crops are vulnerable to attack by many different weevil species. Fungal entomopathogens provide an attractive alternative to synthetic insecticides for weevil control because they pose a lesser risk to human health and the environment. This review summarises the available data on the performance of these entomopathogens when used against weevils in horticultural crops. We integrate these data with information on weevil biology, grouping species based on how their developmental stages utilise habitats in or on their hostplants, or in the soil. These patterns of habitat usage can help identify the stages during which pest species are at their most vulnerable, and also help to determine the most effective ways to deploy entomopathogens for their control. Weevils are significant pests of horticultural crops and are largely managed with insecticides. In response to concerns about negative impacts of synthetic insecticides on humans and the environment, entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have been developed as an alternative method of control, and as such appear to be "ready-made" components of integrated pest management (IPM) programs. As the success of pest control requires a thorough knowledge of the biology of the pests, this review summarises our current knowledge of weevil biology on nut trees, fruit crops, plant storage roots, and palm trees. In addition, three groups of life cycles are defined based on weevil developmental habitats, and together with information from studies of EPF activity on these groups, we discuss the tactics for integrating EPF into IPM programs. Finally, we highlight the gaps in the research required to optimise the performance of EPF and provide recommendations for the improvement of EPF efficacy for the management of key weevils of horticultural crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cylas formicarius is a major pest of sweetpotato in Papua New Guinea. In this study, the chronic effects of infection with Metarhizium anisopliae strain QS155 in adult C. formicarius were investigated. Female fecundity was significantly reduced in treatments where females were infected directly and maintained in pairs with either infected or uninfected males, and to a statistically equivalent level (51%) when initially uninfected females were caged with infected males. A significant increase in the proportion of eggs left exposed outside the host plant occurred in response to either direct or indirect maternal exposure to M. anisopliae . The hatchability of eggs fully enclosed by host plant tissues was also significantly reduced by exposure of females to M. anisopliae ; together these factors led to a total decline in reproductive success of 69%–80%. These results demonstrate that a conidial concentration of M. anisopliae strain QS155 well below that required for rapid host mortality adversely affects reproductive and behavioural traits in adult C. formicarius. When groups of C. formicarius were held together for 12 days after either all males, all females, or just a proportion of males were initially inoculated, clear evidence of horizontal transmission was obtained. In both males and females mortality arising from horizontal transmission was statistically equivalent to mortality levels when individuals of the same sex had been directly infected. Exposure to sporulating adult cadavers also caused significant mortality to uninfected SPW adults, and M. anisopliae was recovered from weevils that died following exposure to infected cadavers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Both Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana are highly pathogenic. • Indigenous isolates performed as well as commercially available entomopathogens. • Entomopathogens in the future can be integrated into IPM programs. Macadamia seed weevil, Kuschelorhynchus macadamiae Jennings and Oberprieler, is a major pest of macadamia in eastern Australia, causing yield losses of up to 15%. Current control methods involve two applications of acephate per season but more recently have moved to a single application of indoxacarb, combined with the collection and destruction of fallen nuts that contain developing larvae. As a first step towards reducing the dependence of the industry on synthetic insecticides, we tested six isolates of M. anisopliae, six isolates of B. bassiana and one commercial B. bassiana product (Velifer® biological insecticide) against adult macadamia seed weevil under laboratory conditions. All isolates were pathogenic against adult weevils with M. anisopliae accession ECS1/BRIP 70272 and B. bassiana accession B27/BRIP 70267 causing 97.5% and 92.5% mortality 12 days after being treated at 1 × 107 conidia/mL. Isolates ECS1/BRIP 70272 and B27/BRIP 70267 had the shortest LT 50 values of 5.13 days and 5.37 days respectively. The median lethal concentrations (LC 50) for ECS1/BRIP 70272 and B27/BRIP 70267 were 1.48 × 105 and 1.65 × 105 conidia/mL respectively. Results of this study indicate that M. anisopliae accession ECS1/BRIP 70272 and B. bassiana accession B27/BRIP 70267 have considerable potential for K. macadamiae control, and should be developed into biological insecticides for integration into macadamia pest management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metarhizium anisopliae has a wide range of coleopteran hosts, including weevils. Some susceptible insects are known to modify their behavior to prevent infection, typically detecting virulent strains by olfaction, and avoiding physical contact with sources of infection. Laboratory olfactometer assays were conducted on the sweetpotato weevil Cylas formicarius to test the hypothesis that insects would avoid a more virulent strain of M. anisopliae when presented with a strain of low virulence or an untreated control. When adult weevils were allowed to choose between paired test arenas containing sweetpotato roots and M. anisopliae isolates on agar cores, weevils avoided arenas with the highly virulent isolate QS155, showing a preference for either roots with uninoculated agar cores or cores with the low virulence isolate QS002-3. When roots or whole sweetpotato plants were inoculated with M. anisopliae , the preferences of weevils remained broadly similar; weevils were repelled by the highly virulent isolate QS155 when tested against either QS002-3 or uninoculated roots and plants, however weevils were not repelled by the low virulence isolate QS002-3 tested against uninoculated controls. When single-sex groups of weevils were tested separately in the olfactometer using uninoculated whole plants and plants treated with isolate QS155, males and females responded similarly and statistically identical preferences were found for the untreated plants. When weevils were released singly at different times of the day the response time for males was significantly shorter in the afternoon compared to the morning. Males were always significantly faster to respond to olfactory stimuli than females. Understanding factors that may lead to avoidance of virulent M. anisopliae strains by C. formicarius will be an essential part of developing an ‘attract-and-infect’ strategy for the management of C. formicarius . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the transcriptomic response of the Australian endemic freshwater gastropod Isidorella newcombi exposed to 80 ± 1 μg/L of copper for 3 days. Analysis of copper tissue concentration, lysosomal membrane destabilisation and RNA-seq were conducted. Copper tissue concentrations confirmed that copper was bioaccumulated by the snails. Increased lysosomal membrane destabilisation in the copper-exposed snails indicated that the snails were stressed as a result of the exposure. Both copper tissue concentrations and lysosomal destabilisation were significantly greater in snails exposed to copper. In order to interpret the RNA-seq data from an ecotoxicological perspective an integrated biological response model was developed that grouped transcriptomic responses into those associated with copper transport and storage, survival mechanisms and cell death. A conceptual model of expected transcriptomic changes resulting from the copper exposure was developed as a basis to assess transcriptomic responses. Transcriptomic changes were evident at all the three levels of the integrated biological response model. Despite lacking statistical significance, increased expression of the gene encoding copper transporting ATPase provided an indication of increased internal transport of copper. Increased expression of genes associated with endocytosis are associated with increased transport of copper to the lysosome for storage in a detoxified form. Survival mechanisms included metabolic depression and processes associated with cellular repair and recycling. There was transcriptomic evidence of increased cell death by apoptosis in the copper-exposed organisms. Increased apoptosis is supported by the increase in lysosomal membrane destabilisation in the copper-exposed snails. Transcriptomic changes relating to apoptosis, phagocytosis, protein degradation and the lysosome were evident and these processes can be linked to the degradation of post-apoptotic debris. The study identified contaminant specific transcriptomic markers as well as markers of general stress. From an ecotoxicological perspective, the use of a framework to group transcriptomic responses into those associated with copper transport, survival and cell death assisted with the complex process of interpretation of RNA-seq data. The broad adoption of such a framework in ecotoxicology studies would assist in comparison between studies and the identification of reliable transcriptomic markers of contaminant exposure and response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokine regulation of lymphocyte growth and proliferation is essential for matching nutrient consumption with cell state. Here, we examine how cellular biophysical changes that occur immediately after growth factor depletion promote adaptation to reduced nutrient uptake. After growth factor withdrawal, nutrient uptake decreases, leading to apoptosis. Bcl-xL expression prevents cell death, with autophagy facilitating long-term cell survival. However, autophagy induction is slow relative to the reduction of nutrient uptake, suggesting that cells must engage additional adaptive mechanisms to respond initially to growth factor depletion. We describe an acute biophysical response to growth factor withdrawal, characterized by a simultaneous decrease in cell volume and increase in cell density, which occurs before autophagy initiation and is observed in both FL5.12 Bcl-xL cells depleted of IL-3 and primary CD8+ T cells depleted of IL-2 that are differentiating toward memory cells. The response reduces cell surface area to minimize energy expenditure while conserving biomass, suggesting that the biophysical properties of cells can be regulated to promote survival under conditions of nutrient stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efforts to cure BCR::ABL1 B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) solely through inhibition of ABL1 kinase activity have thus far been insufficient despite the availability of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with broad activity against resistance mutants. The mechanisms that drive persistence within minimal residual disease (MRD) remain poorly understood and therefore untargeted. Utilizing 13 patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and clinical trial specimens of Ph+ ALL, we examined how genetic and transcriptional features co-evolve to drive progression during prolonged TKI response. Our work reveals a landscape of cooperative mutational and transcriptional escape mechanisms that differ from those causing resistance to first generation TKIs. By analyzing MRD during remission, we show that the same resistance mutation can either increase or decrease cellular fitness depending on transcriptional state. We further demonstrate that directly targeting transcriptional state-associated vulnerabilities at MRD can overcome BCR::ABL1 independence, suggesting a new paradigm for rationally eradicating MRD prior to relapse. Finally, we illustrate how cell mass measurements of leukemia cells can be used to rapidly monitor dominant transcriptional features of Ph+ ALL to help rationally guide therapeutic selection from low-input samples., Competing Interests: DECLARATION OF INTERESTS S.R.M., R.J.K., M.M.S., and D.M.W. disclose equity ownership in Travera. A.K.S. reports compensation for consulting and/or SAB membership from Honeycomb Biotechnologies, Cellarity, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Fog Pharma, Passkey Therapeutics, Ochre Bio, Relation Therapeutics, IntrECate biotherapeutics, and Dahlia Biosciences unrelated to this work. P.S.W receives research funding from Microsoft. S.R. holds equity in Amgen and receives research funding from Microsoft. D.M.W. is an employee of Merck and Co., owns equity in Merck and Co., Bantam, Ajax, and Travera, received consulting fees from Astra Zeneca, Secura, Novartis, and Roche/Genentech, and received research support from Daiichi Sankyo, Astra Zeneca, Verastem, Abbvie, Novartis, Abcura, and Surface Oncology. P.S.W., A.K.S., M.A.M., S.R.M., and D.M.W. have filed a patent related to this work. Other authors – none.

Here we use nuclear magnetic resonance to measure the solubility limit of several biologically relevant sterols in electroformed giant unilamellar vesicle membranes containing phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipids in ratios of 1:1:X DOPC:DPPC:sterol. We find solubility limits of cholesterol, lanosterol, ergosterol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol to be 65-70%, ~35%, 30-35%, 20-25%, and ~40%, respectively. The low solubilities of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol, which differ from cholesterol only in their alkyl tails, show that subtle differences in tail structure can strongly affect sterol solubility. Below the solubility limits, the fraction of sterol to PC-lipid in electroformed vesicles linearly reflects the fraction in the original stock solutions used in the electroformation process.