@article{lawrie_mitchell_deguenon_ponnusamy_reisig_pozo-valdivia_kurtz_roe_2022, title={Characterization of Long Non-Coding RNAs in the Bollworm, Helicoverpa zea, and Their Possible Role in Cry1Ac-Resistance}, volume={13}, ISSN={["2075-4450"]}, url={https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/1/12}, DOI={10.3390/insects13010012}, abstractNote={Multiple insect pest species have developed field resistance to Bt-transgenic crops. There has been a significant amount of research on protein-coding genes that contribute to resistance, such as the up-regulation of protease activity or altered receptors. However, our understanding of the role of non-protein-coding mechanisms in Bt-resistance is minimal, as is also the case for resistance to chemical pesticides. To address this problem relative to Bt, RNA-seq was used to examine statistically significant, differential gene expression between a Cry1Ac-resistant (~100-fold resistant) and Cry1Ac-susceptible strain of Helicoverpa zea, a prevalent caterpillar pest in the USA. Significant differential expression of putative long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) was found in the Cry1Ac-resistant strain (58 up- and 24 down-regulated gene transcripts with an additional 10 found only in resistant and four only in susceptible caterpillars). These lncRNAs were examined as potential pseudogenes and for their genomic proximity to coding genes, both of which can be indicative of regulatory relationships between a lncRNA and coding gene expression. A possible pseudogenic lncRNA was found with similarities to a cadherin. In addition, putative lncRNAs were found significantly proximal to a serine protease, ABC transporter, and CYP coding genes, potentially involved in the mechanism of Bt and/or chemical insecticide resistance. Characterization of non-coding genetic mechanisms in Helicoverpa zea will improve the understanding of the genomic evolution of insect resistance, improve the identification of specific regulators of coding genes in general (some of which could be important in resistance), and is the first step for potentially targeting these regulators for pest control and resistance management (using molecular approaches, such as RNAi and others).}, number={1}, journal={INSECTS}, author={Lawrie, Roger D. and Mitchell, Robert D. and Deguenon, Jean Marcel and Ponnusamy, Loganathan and Reisig, Dominic and Pozo-Valdivia, Alejandro Del and Kurtz, Ryan W. and Roe, Richard Michael}, year={2022}, month={Jan} }
 @article{cave_west_mccord_koene_beck_deguenon_luan_roe_2022, title={Novel 3-D Spacer Textiles to Protect Crops from Insect Infestation and That Enhance Plant Growth}, volume={12}, ISSN={["2077-0472"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12040498}, DOI={10.3390/agriculture12040498}, abstractNote={Pesticide-free, 3-D, spacer fabrics (Plant Armor Generation (PA Gen) 1 and 2) were investigated for proof-of-concept as an insect barrier to protect plants and improve plant agronomics for organic farming. The time to 50% penetration (TP50) for tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds) adults in laboratory Petri dish bioassays was 30 and 175 min for PA Gen 1 and 2, respectively, and 12 min for the control (a commercially available, single layer-crop cover, Proteknet). PA Gen 2 was ≥90% resistant to penetration of unfed caterpillar neonates, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), while the TP50‘s for Gen 1 and Proteknet were 3.1 and 2.35 h, respectively. In small cage studies, PA Gen 2 covered potted cabbage plants were 100% resistant to penetration by these insects through 10 d after which the study was ended. In small field plot studies for 3 summer months, cabbage plants grew approximately twice as fast when covered versus not covered with Gen 1 and Gen 2 without the need for insecticides or herbicides. This was not observed for the control crop cover. Martindale abrasion tests demonstrated Gen 1 and 2 were at least 6- and 1.8-fold more durable than the control crop cover used. Data are also presented on percentage light, water, air, and water vapor penetration across each textile and operational temperatures and humidity for cabbage plants covered and uncovered in small field plots.}, number={4}, journal={AGRICULTURE-BASEL}, publisher={MDPI AG}, author={Cave, Grayson L. and West, Andre J. and McCord, Marian G. and Koene, Bryan and Beck, J. Benjamin and Deguenon, Jean M. and Luan, Kun and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2022}, month={Apr} }
 @article{deguenon_dhammi_ponnusamy_travanty_cave_lawrie_mott_reisig_kurtz_roe_2021, title={Bacterial Microbiota of Field-Collected Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from Transgenic Bt and Non-Bt Cotton}, volume={9}, ISSN={["2076-2607"]}, url={https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/4/878}, DOI={10.3390/microorganisms9040878}, abstractNote={The bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an important agricultural pest in U.S. cotton and is managed using transgenic hybrids that produce insecticidal proteins from the bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The reduced efficacy against H. zea caterpillars of Bt plants expressing Cry toxins is increasing in the field. In a first step towards understanding Bt cotton–bollworm–microbiota interactions, we investigated the internal bacterial microbiota of second–third stadium H. zea collected in the field from non-Bt versus Bt (WideStrike) cotton in close proximity (in North Carolina, USA). The bacterial populations were analyzed using culture-dependent and -independent molecular approaches. We found that WideStrike samples had a higher bacterial density and diversity per larva than insects collected from non-Bt cotton over two field seasons: 8.42 ± 0.23 and 5.36 ± 0.75 (log10 colony forming units per insect) for WideStrike compared to 6.82 ± 0.20 and 4.30 ± 0.56 for non-Bt cotton for seasons 1 and 2, respectively. Fifteen phyla, 103 families, and 229 genera were identified after performing Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA. At the family level, Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcaceae were the most abundant taxa. The Enterococcaceae family was comprised mostly of Enterococcus species (E. casseliflavus and another Enterococcus sp.). Members of the Enterococcus genus can acidify their environment and can potentially reduce the alkaline activation of some Bt toxins. These findings argue for more research to better understand the role of cotton–bollworm–bacteria interactions and the impact on Bt toxin caterpillar susceptibility.}, number={4}, journal={MICROORGANISMS}, publisher={MDPI AG}, author={Deguenon, Jean M. and Dhammi, Anirudh and Ponnusamy, Loganathan and Travanty, Nicholas V and Cave, Grayson and Lawrie, Roger and Mott, Dan and Reisig, Dominic and Kurtz, Ryan and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2021}, month={Apr} }
 @article{aniwanou_sinzogan_deguenon_sikirou_stewart_ahanchede_2021, title={Bio-Efficacy of Diatomaceous Earth, Household Soaps, and Neem Oil against Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae in Benin}, volume={12}, ISSN={["2075-4450"]}, DOI={10.3390/insects12010018}, abstractNote={Spodoptera frugiperda was first reported in Africa in 2016 and has since become a serious threat to maize/cereal production on the continent. Current control of the pest relies on synthetic chemical insecticides, which can negatively impact the environment and promote the development of resistance when used indiscriminately. Therefore, great attention is being paid to the development of safer alternatives. In this study, several biorational products and a semi-synthetic insecticide were evaluated. Two household soaps (“Palmida” and “Koto”) and a detergent (“So Klin”) were first tested for their efficacy against the larvae under laboratory conditions. Then, the efficacy of the most effective soap was evaluated in field conditions, along with PlantNeem (neem oil), Dezone (diatomaceous earth), and Emacot 19 EC (emamectin benzoate), in two districts, N’Dali and Adjohoun, located, respectively, in northern and southern Benin. The soaps and the detergent were highly toxic t second-instar larvae with 24 h lethal concentrations (LC50) of 0.46%, 0.44%, and 0.37% for So Klin, Koto, and Palmida, respectively. In field conditions, the biorational insecticides produced similar or better control than Emacot 19 EC. However, the highest maize grain yields of 7387 and 5308 kg/ha were recorded, respectively, with Dezone (N’Dali) and Emacot 19 EC (Adjohoun). A cost-benefit analysis showed that, compared to an untreated control, profits increased by up to 90% with the biorational insecticides and 166% with Emacot 19 EC. Therefore, the use of Palmida soap at 0.5% concentration, neem oil at 4.5 L/ha, and Dezone at 7.5 kg/ha could provide an effective, environmentally friendly, and sustainable management of S. frugiperda in maize.}, number={1}, journal={INSECTS}, author={Aniwanou, Crepin T. S. and Sinzogan, Antonio A. C. and Deguenon, Jean M. and Sikirou, Rachidatou and Stewart, David A. and Ahanchede, Adam}, year={2021}, month={Jan} }
 @article{deguenon_riegel_cloherty-duvernay_chen_stewart_wang_gittins_tihomirov_apperson_mccord_et al._2021, title={New Mosquitocide Derived From Volcanic Rock}, volume={58}, ISSN={["1938-2928"]}, DOI={10.1093/jme/tjaa141}, abstractNote={Abstract}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY}, author={Deguenon, Jean M. and Riegel, Claudia and Cloherty-Duvernay, Erin R. and Chen, Kaiying and Stewart, David A. and Wang, Bo and Gittins, David and Tihomirov, Larissa and Apperson, Charles S. and McCord, Marian G. and et al.}, year={2021}, month={Jan}, pages={458–464} }
 @article{chen_deguenon_cave_denning_reiskind_watson_stewart_gittins_zheng_liu_et al._2021, title={New thinking for filth fly control: residual, non-chemical wall spray from volcanic glass}, volume={35}, ISSN={["1365-2915"]}, DOI={10.1111/mve.12521}, abstractNote={Abstract}, number={3}, journal={MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY}, author={Chen, K. and Deguenon, J. M. and Cave, G. and Denning, S. S. and Reiskind, M. H. and Watson, D. W. and Stewart, D. A. and Gittins, D. and Zheng, Y. and Liu, X. and et al.}, year={2021}, month={Sep}, pages={451–461} }
 @article{deguenon_travanty_zhu_carr_denning_reiskind_watson_roe_ponnusamy_2019, title={Exogenous and endogenous microbiomes of wild-caught Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) flies from a suburban farm by 16S rRNA gene sequencing}, volume={9}, ISSN={["2045-2322"]}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56733-z}, DOI={10.1038/s41598-019-56733-z}, abstractNote={Abstract}, journal={SCIENTIFIC REPORTS}, author={Deguenon, Jean M. and Travanty, Nicholas and Zhu, Jiwei and Carr, Ann and Denning, Steven and Reiskind, Michael H. and Watson, David W. and Roe, R. Michael and Ponnusamy, Loganathan}, year={2019}, month={Dec} }