Effects of X-ray irradiation on the fitness of the established invasive pest fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda.

BACKGROUND: Spodoptera frugiperda has spread to Africa, Asia, and Oceania, posing a serious threat to global agriculture. We estimated the appropriate dose of X-ray sterilization for S. frugiperda using an X-ray irradiation instrument to investigate environmentally acceptable control techniques, laying the framework for future applications of sterile insect technology (SIT) to manage the pest environmentally-friendly. RESULTS: This study is the first to investigate the effects of X-ray irradiation on the growth, development, survival, reproduction, and flight of S. frugiperda. The results showed that irradiation with 50-400 Gy had no significant effect on pupal eclosion, but females were more sensitive than males in terms of reproductive parameters, especially when doses of radiation were > 350 Gy. After irradiation with a sub-sterilizing dose of 250 Gy, the parental sterility rate was > 85%, and the sterility traits could be passed on to their offspring, resulting in a continuous decrease in the population of F1 and F2 generations. CONCLUSION: Our laboratory experiments theoretically confirmed the feasibility of SIT for controlling S. frugiperda in the field using X-ray radiation. This study provides a theoretical basis for future regional pest management strategies. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Novel External Quality Assessment of Chromosomal Karyotype Analysis Based on Chimera Image Assembly.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to establish a new external quality assessment (EQA) of chromosomal karyotype analysis. METHODS: Chimeric assembly A1 was established by collecting chimeric chromosome images prepared artificially from chromosomally abnormal amniocytes remaining after prenatal diagnosis. Chimeric assembly B1 and nonchimeric assembly C1 were constructed through the collection of chimeric and nonchimeric chromosome images from prenatal diagnosis, respectively. Then, chromosome images were selected randomly from assemblies A1, B1, or C1 to send to 20 technicians via email to verify the validity of a new EQA of chromosomal karyotype analysis. RESULTS: According to the EQA of 20 technicians, 47,XX,+mar from assembly A was easily misdiagnosed as 47,XX,+19 or 47,XXY, and 45,XX,t(13;22) (q10;q10) was misdiagnosed as 45,XX,13S+,-22. The total misdiagnosis rate was 3.8%. For assembly B, 46,X,+mar and 46,X,idic(Y) were easily misdiagnosed as 46,XY and 46,X,+mar, respectively. In addition, some testers missed 47,XXX in 47,XXX[2]/46,XX[48], as well as 47,XX,+18 in 46,XX [47]/47,XX,+18[3], and 45,X and 47,XXX in 46,XX[47]/45,X[2]/47,XXX[1]. The total misdiagnosis rate was 4.2%. All karyo-types from assembly C were correctly diagnosed, although incorrect descriptions used for 4% of cases. CONCLUSION: The quality of chromosome karyotype analysis can be comprehensively evaluated by a new EQA based on assembly A1 or B1.

Correction: Wu, Q.-L.; et al. Estimation of the Potential Infestation Area of Newly-Invaded Fall Armyworm Spodoptera Frugiperda in the Yangtze River Valley of China. Insects 2019, 10, 298.

The authors wish to make the following correction to this paper [...].

Estimation of the Potential Infestation Area of Newly-invaded Fall Armyworm Spodoptera Frugiperda in the Yangtze River Valley of China.

The fall armyworm (FAW), native to the Americas, has rapidly invaded the whole of Southern China since January 2019. In addition, it can survive and breed in the key maize- and rice- growing area of the Yangtze River Valley. Furthermore, this pest is also likely to continue infiltrating other cropping regions in China, where food security is facing a severe threat. To understand the potential infestation area of newly-invaded FAW from the Yangtze River Valley, we simulated and predicted the possible flight pathways and range of the populations using a numerical trajectory modelling method combining meteorological data and self-powered flight behavior parameters of FAW. Our results indicate that the emigration of the first and second generations of newly-invaded FAW initiating from the Yangtze River Valley started on 20 May 2019 and ended on 30 July 2019. The spread of migratory FAW benefitted from transport on the southerly summer monsoon so that FAW emigrants from the Yangtze River Valley can reach northern China. The maize-cropping areas of Northeastern China, the Korean Peninsula and Japan are at a high risk. This study provides a basis for early warning and a broad picture of FAW migration from the Yangtze River Valley.

[Expression and clinical significance of Toll-like receptors in human renal carcinoma cell 786-0 and normal renal cell HK-2].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of toll-like receptors (TLR1-TLR10) in human renal carcinoma cell 786-0 and normal renal cell HK-2 and discuss the significance of TLRs in the development of renal carcinoma. METHODS: Human renal carcinoma cell 786-0 (experimental group) and normal renal cell HK-2 (control group) were cultured. The expression of TLR1-TLR10 was detected by real-time fluorogenic quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR). RESULTS: The FQ-PCR analysis demonstrated that 786-0 cell line and HK-2 cell line expressed TLR1-TLR6 and TLR8-TLR10 mRNA. Yet neither had an expression of TLR7. Moreover, the expression levels of TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR8 and TLR10 in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in HK-2 cell line [(4.40 ± 0.19) × 10(-2), (1.77 ± 0.24) × 10(-2), (5.03 ± 0.62) × 10(-2), (3.93 ± 0.86) × 10(-2), (6.11 ± 0.48) × 10(-2), (1.89 ± 0.47) × 10(-2), (2.84 ± 0.57) × 10(-2) vs (0.84 ± 0.27) × 10(-2), (0.40 ± 0.04) × 10(-2), (0.95 ± 0.73) × 10(-2), (0.56 ± 0.25) × 10(-2), (0.49 ± 0.16) × 10(-2), (0.20 ± 0.07) × 10(-2), (0.27 ± 0.08) × 10(-2), P < 0.01]. There was no significant change in the expressions of TLR3 and TLR9 between 786-0 and HK-2 cell line (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expressions of TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR8 and TLR10 are significantly higher in 786-0 cell line than those in HK-2 cell line. They may play key roles in the development of renal carcinoma.

[Application of SF-36 scale on pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Yunnan province of China and southern Thailand].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of SF-36 scale being applied in different countries under different culture and to describe the quality of life of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in China and Thailand. METHODS: SF-36 scale was applied to pulmonary tuberculosis patients in both countries using face to face interview. RESULTS: Many coefficients among domains were greater than 0.5 when quality of life of tuberculosis patient in both countries was measured. Cronbach's coefficient of all domains were greater than 0.7 for tuberculosis patients in China while cronbach's Coefficient of most domains were equal or greater than 0.7 for tuberculosis patients in Thailand except for vitality and social domains. The score of social domain for patients in Thailand was greater than that of China. CONCLUSION: Structure validity was not good for tuberculosis patients in both countries since there were some items overlapped in different domains. However, the reliability was good for measuring quality of life of tuberculosis patients both in China and in Thailand.