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Parasitoids of Muscidifurax spp. are of great value in the biological control of Musca domestica, a harmful pest. In this study, the life tables of two newly discovered parasitoid wasps, M. similadanacus and M. sinesensilla (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), were constructed using pupae of M. domestica as the host at 25°C in the laboratory. The parameters of the life tables were calculated and analysed. The differences in lifespan, oviposition period, offspring yield and population growth data between the two species were compared. For the same two species of parasitoids, the net reproductive rate (R0) was 123.49 and 38.26, intrinsic rate of increase (rm) 0.23 and 0.20, finite rate of increase (λ) 1.25 and 1.22, generation time (T) 21.35 and 18.69, and the population doubling time (DT) 3.07 and 3.55, respectively. The results obtained by the jackknife method showed that there were differences in population growth parameters between the two species. M. similadanacus had relatively larger R0, rm, λ and longer T. Our results suggest that M. similadanacus can be used as a biological control agent for M. domestica, and M. sinesensilla has a potential role in controlling M. domestica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acid oxidation dependency of leukemia cells has been documented in recent studies. Pharmacologic inhibition of fatty acid oxidation, thereby, displays significant effects in suppressing leukemia. 2-Bromopalmitate, a palmitate analogue, was initially identified as an inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation, and recently recognized as an inhibitor of protein palmitoylation. However, the effects of 2-Bromopalmitate on leukemia and its cellular targets remain obscure. Herein, we discover in cultured cell lines, a transplantable mouse model, and primary blasts that 2-Bromopalmitate presents synergistic differentiation induction with all-trans retinoic acid in acute promyelocytic leukemia. Moreover, 2-Bromopalmitate overcomes all-trans retinoic acid resistance in all-trans retinoic acid-resistant cells and leukemic mice. Mechanistically, 2-Bromopalmitate covalently binds at cysteine 105 and cysteine 174 of retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) and stabilizes RARα protein in the presence of all-trans retinoic acid which is known to induce RARα degradation, leading to enhanced transcription of RARα-target genes. Mutation of both cysteines largely abrogates the synergistic effect of 2-Bromopalmitate on all-trans retinoic acid-induced differentiation, demonstrating that 2-Bromopalmitate promotes all-trans retinoic acid-induced differentiation through binding RARα. All-trans retinoic acid-based regimens including arsenic trioxide or chemotherapy, as preferred therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia, induce adverse events and irreversible resistance. We expect that combining all-trans retinoic acid with 2-Bromopalmitate would be a promising therapeutic strategy for acute promyelocytic leukemia, especially for overcoming all-trans retinoic acid resistance of relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia patients., (Copyright© 2019 Ferrata Storti Foundation.)