The genome sequence of a cuckoo wasp, Hedychridium roseum (Rossi, 1790).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Hedychridium roseum (cuckoo wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Chrysididae). The genome sequence has a total length of 174.70 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 19 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.84 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of a braconid wasp, Dinocampus coccinellae (Schrank, 1802).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Dinocampus coccinellae (a braconid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Braconidae). The genome sequence spans 110.40 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 8 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 22.88 kilobases in length.

Isolated Acute Liver Injury Following Mass Envenomation by Wasps.

Acute liver injury from wasp venom exposure has been reported in the literature, most often in the context of anaphylaxis and multiorgan injury. We present a case of isolated liver injury, a rare presentation, in a healthy 26-year-old man stung by more than 40 wasps. We observed a delayed presentation with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, significantly raised transaminases, and mild coagulopathy, in the absence of other organ involvement. Complete normalization of liver enzymes was seen 61 days following presentation. Clinicians encountering patients with liver injury in the context of wasp stings should consider wasp venom-associated hepatitis as a possible cause.

The genome sequence of an ichneumonid wasp, Hyposoter dolosus (Gravenhorst, 1829).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Hyposoter dolosus (ichneumonid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence spans 222.70 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 12 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 27.89 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of the chalcid wasp, Chalcis sispes Linnaeus, 1761.

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Chalcis sispes (chalcid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Chalcididae). The genome sequence is 412.4 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 6 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.9 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of a braconid wasp, Aleiodes testaceus (Telenga, 1941).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Aleiodes testaceus (braconid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Braconidae). The genome sequence spans 110.70 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 19 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 28.0 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 10,520 protein-coding genes.

Scar/WAVE drives actin protrusions independently of its VCA domain using proline-rich domains.

Cell migration requires the constant modification of cellular shape by reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Fine-tuning of this process is critical to ensure new actin filaments are formed only at specific times and in defined regions of the cell. The Scar/WAVE complex is the main catalyst of pseudopod and lamellipodium formation during cell migration. It is a pentameric complex highly conserved through eukaryotic evolution and composed of Scar/WAVE, Abi, Nap1/NCKAP1, Pir121/CYFIP, and HSPC300/Brk1. Its function is usually attributed to activation of the Arp2/3 complex through Scar/WAVE's VCA domain, while other parts of the complex are expected to mediate spatial-temporal regulation and have no direct role in actin polymerization. Here, we show in both B16-F1 mouse melanoma and Dictyostelium discoideum cells that Scar/WAVE without its VCA domain still induces the formation of morphologically normal, actin-rich protrusions, extending at comparable speeds despite a drastic reduction of Arp2/3 recruitment. However, the proline-rich regions in Scar/WAVE and Abi subunits are essential, though either is sufficient for the generation of actin protrusions in B16-F1 cells. We further demonstrate that N-WASP can compensate for the absence of Scar/WAVE's VCA domain and induce lamellipodia formation, but it still requires an intact WAVE complex, even if without its VCA domain. We conclude that the Scar/WAVE complex does more than directly activating Arp2/3, with proline-rich domains playing a central role in promoting actin protrusions. This implies a broader function for the Scar/WAVE complex, concentrating and simultaneously activating many actin-regulating proteins as a lamellipodium-producing core.

Machine-learning based prediction model for acute kidney injury induced by multiple wasp stings.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) following multiple wasp stings is a severe complication with potentially poor outcomes. Despite extensive research on AKI's risk factors, predictive models for wasp sting-related AKI are limited. This study aims to develop and validate a machine learning-based clinical prediction model for AKI in individuals with wasp stings. In this retrospective cohort study, conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital in Yichang, China, from July 2013 to April 2023, 214 patients with wasp sting injuries were analyzed. Using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate logistic regression, prognostic variables for AKI were identified. A nomogram incorporating these four variables was constructed. The model's performance was assessed through internal validation, leave-one-out cross-validation, net reclassification improvement (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and decision curve analysis (DCA). Among 214 patients affected by wasp stings, 34.6% (74/214) developed AKI. Following LASSO regression and multivariate logistic regression, the number of stings, presence of gross hematuria, systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), and platelet count were identified as prognostic factors. A nomogram was constructed and evaluated for its predictive accuracy, showing an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.757 (95% CI 0.711 to 0.804) and a concordance index (C-index) of 0.75. Validation confirmed the model's reliability and superior discrimination ability over existing models, as demonstrated by NRI, IDI, and DCA. The developed nomogram effectively predicts AKI risk in wasp sting patients, facilitating early identification and management of those at risk.

The genome sequence of a braconid wasp, Aleiodes leptofemur van Achterberg & Shaw, 2016.

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Aleiodes leptofemur (braconid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Braconidae). The genome sequence spans 271.20 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 15 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 32.28 kilobases in length.

The Gall Wasp Ophelimus migdanorum and Its Parasitoid Closterocerus chamaeleon on Eucalyptus globulus at Two Sites with Different Rainfall Parameters in Bogotá, Colombia.

As a pest, the gall wasp Ophelimus migdanorum poses a risk to several Eucalyptus species in Colombia. In the tropical Andes, its biological development and the damage it causes can be influenced by climate, particularly rainfall. In this regard, we examined gall phenology, population fluctuation, and leaf damage caused by O. migdanorum, and its parasitoid Closterocerus chamaeleon, over 5 months at two sites with contrasting rainfall in peri-urban areas of Bogotá, Colombia. Gall phenology and foliar damage were assessed on 10 trees per site. We characterized gall phenology by assessing their size and color, wasps' developmental stages, as well as affected leaf area and gall density on the leaf blade. Additionally, the individuals found in five attraction traps at each site were quantified biweekly to record population fluctuations. The effect of rainfall on wasp frequency and gall density between sampling sites and dates was compared using the chi-square test, while the relationship with rainfall was evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Only females of the gall wasp and its parasitoid were observed during the study, displaying multivoltine behavior. Six developmental stages of the galls were differentiated, each characterized by distinct coloration. Drier microclimates favored gall size, wasps' development stage frequency, population trend, and foliar damage. The general trend indicated a greater abundance of the parasitoid C. chamaeleon compared to O. migdanorum. Our study suggests that O. migdanorum has a less damaging effect on E. globulus in areas with rainy microclimates.

The Belowground-Aboveground Interactions of Zucchini: The Effects of Trichoderma afroharzianum Strain T22 on the Population and Behavior of the Aphid Aphis gossypii Glover and Its Endoparasitoid Aphidius colemani Viereck.

Fungi belonging to the genus Trichoderma have received high consideration in agriculture due to their beneficial effects on crops from their plant promotion effects and protection from disease. A role of Trichoderma fungi in triggering plant defense mechanisms against insect pests, either directly or by natural enemy attraction, has been proposed, even if the results in different studies are controversial. In this present study, using zucchini plants as a model species, we investigated the effects of Trichoderma afroharzianum strain T22 plant inoculation on the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii and its endoparasitoid Aphidius colemani. Our results showed that the inoculation with T. afroharzianum T22 promotes A. gossypii population growth and makes zucchini more attractive to the aphid. The higher abundance of aphids on Trichoderma-inoculated zucchini was compensated for by a higher presence of the mummies of Aphidius colemani. In this present study, we recorded a higher zucchini biomass, thereby confirming that Trichoderma can act as a plant growth inducer.

First report of the association between Wolbachia and Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): effect on life history parameters of the parasitoid.

The symbiosis between microorganisms and host arthropods can cause biological, physiological, and reproductive changes in the host population. The present study aimed to survey facultative symbionts of the genera Wolbachia, Arsenophonus, Cardinium, Rickettsia, and Nosema in Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in the laboratory and evaluate the influence of infection on the fitness of these hosts. For this purpose, 16S rDNA primers were used to detect these facultative symbionts in the host species, and the hosts' biological and morphological features were evaluated for changes resulting from the infection caused by these microorganisms. The bacterial symbionts studied herein were not detected in the D. saccharalis samples analysed, but the endosymbiont Wolbachia was detected in C. flavipes and altered the biological and morphological aspects of this parasitoid insect. The results of this study may help to elucidate the role of Wolbachia in maintaining the quality of populations/lineages of C. flavipes.

The Chromosome-level Genome Provides Insights into the Evolution and Adaptation of Extreme Aggression.

Extremely aggressive behavior, as the special pattern, is rare in most species and characteristic as contestants severely injured or killed ending the combat. Current studies of extreme aggression are mainly from the perspectives of behavioral ecology and evolution, while lacked the aspects of molecular evolutionary biology. Here, a high-quality chromosome-level genome of the parasitoid Anastatus disparis was provided, in which the males exhibit extreme mate-competition aggression. The integrated multiomics analysis highlighted that neurotransmitter dopamine overexpression, energy metabolism (especially from lipid), and antibacterial activity are likely major aspects of evolutionary formation and adaptation for extreme aggression in A. disparis. Conclusively, our study provided new perspectives for molecular evolutionary studies of extreme aggression as well as a valuable genomic resource in Hymenoptera.

Multifaceted role of the actin-binding protein WIP: Promotor and inhibitor of tumor progression and dissemination.

Cancer cells depend on actin cytoskeleton reorganization to achieve hallmark malignant functions including abnormal activation, proliferation, migration and invasiveness. (Neural)-Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome protein ((N-)WASP) binds actin and forms a complex with the WASP-interacting protein (WIP), which plays a critical role in regulating the actin cytoskeleton, through (N)-WASP-dependent and independent functions. Mutations in the WIP gene (WIPF1) lead to severe early onset immunodeficiency in humans and severe autoimmunity and shortened lifespan in mice. This review covers the available evidence about the physiological role of WIP in different tissues and its contribution to human disease, focusing on cancer. In solid tumors overexpression of WIP has mostly been associated with tumor initiation, progression and dissemination through matrix degradation by invadopodia, while a suppressive function has been shown for WIP in certain hematological cancers. Interestingly, a minority of studies suggest a protective role for WIP in specific tumor contexts. These data support the need for further research to fully understand the mechanisms underlying WIP's diverse functions in health and disease and raise important questions for future work.

The genome sequence of the Mournful Wasp, Pemphredon lugubris (Fabricius, 1793).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Pemphredon lugubris (the Mournful Wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Crabronidae). The genome sequence is 328.1 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 5 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.88 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 10,335 protein coding genes.

Transcriptome analysis and functional study of phospholipase A2 in Galleria mellonella larvae lipid metabolism in response to envenomation by an ectoparasitoid, Iseropus kuwanae.

There is abundant evidence that parasitoids manipulate their hosts by envenomation to support the development and survival of their progeny before oviposition. However, the specific mechanism underlying host nutritional manipulation remains largely unclear. To gain a more comprehensive insight into the effects induced by the gregarious ectoparasitoid Iseropus kuwanae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) on the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae, we sequenced the transcriptome of both non-envenomed and envenomed G. mellonella larvae, specifically targeting genes related to lipid metabolism. The present study revealed that 202 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and 9 DEGs were involved in lipid metabolism. The expression levels of these 9 DEGs relied on envenomation and the duration post-envenomation. Further, envenomation by I. kuwanae induced an increase in triglyceride (TG) level in the hemolymph of G. mellonella larvae. Furthermore, silencing GmPLA2 in G. mellonella larvae 24 h post-envenomation significantly decreased the content of 4 unsaturated fatty acids and TG levels in the hemolymph. The content of linoleic acid and α-linoleic acid were significantly decreased and the content of oleic acid was significantly increased by exogenous supplement of arachidonic acid. Meanwhile, the reduction in host lipid levels impairs the growth and development of wasp offspring. The present study provides valuable knowledge about the molecular mechanism of the nutritional interaction between parasitoids and their hosts and sheds light on the coevolution between parasitoids and host insects.

An expanded odorant-binding protein mediates host cue detection in the parasitic wasp Baryscapus dioryctriae basis of the chromosome-level genome assembly analysis.

BACKGROUND: Baryscapus dioryctriae (Chalcidodea: Eulophidae) is a parasitic wasp that parasitizes the pupae of many Pyralidae members and has been used as a biological control agent against Dioryctria pests of pinecones. RESULTS: This B. dioryctriae assembly has a genome size of 485.5 Mb with a contig N50 of 2.17 Mb, and scaffolds were assembled onto six chromosomes using Hi-C analysis, significantly increasing the scaffold N50 to 91.17 Mb, with more than 96.13% of the assembled bases located on chromosomes, and an analysis revealed that 94.73% of the BUSCO gene set. A total of 54.82% (279.27 Mb) of the assembly was composed of repetitive sequences and 24,778 protein-coding genes were identified. Comparative genomic analysis demonstrated that the chemosensory perception, genetic material synthesis, and immune response pathways were primarily enriched in the expanded genes. Moreover, the functional characteristics of an odorant-binding protein (BdioOBP45) with ovipositor-biased expression identified from the expanded olfactory gene families were investigated by the fluorescence competitive binding and RNAi assays, revealing that BdioOBP45 primarily binds to the D. abietella-induced volatile compounds, suggesting that this expanded OBP is likely involved in locating female wasp hosts and highlighting a direction for future research. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, this work not only provides new genomic sequences for the Hymenoptera systematics, but also the high-quality chromosome-level genome of B. dioryctriae offers a valuable foundation for studying the molecular, evolutionary, and parasitic processes of parasitic wasps.

The venom of Habrobracon hebetor induces alterations in host metabolism.

The ability of parasitic wasps to manipulate a host's metabolism is under active investigation. Components of venom play a major role in this process. In the present work, we studied the effect of the venom of the ectoparasitic wasp Habrobracon hebetor on the metabolism of the greater wax moth host (Galleria mellonella). We identified and quantified 45 metabolites in the lymph (cell-free hemolymph) of wax moth larvae on the second day after H. hebetor venom injection, using NMR spectroscopy and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. These metabolites included 22 amino acids, nine products of lipid metabolism (sugars, amines and alcohols) and four metabolic intermediates related to nitrogenous bases, nucleotides and nucleosides. An analysis of the larvae metabolome suggested that the venom causes suppression of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, an increase in the number of free amino acids in the lymph, an increase in the concentration of trehalose in the lymph simultaneously with a decrease in the amount of glucose, and destructive processes in the fat body tissue. Thus, this parasitoid venom not only immobilizes the prey but also modulates its metabolism, thereby providing optimal conditions for the development of larvae.

The genome sequence of an ichneumonid wasp, Oxytorus armatus Thomson, 1883.

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Oxytorus armatus (an ichneumonid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 367.8 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 13 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 56.22 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of an ichneumonid wasp, Exephanes ischioxanthus (Gravenhorst, 1829).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Exephanes ischioxanthus (an ichneumonid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 284.0 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 12 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 19.43 kilobases in length.