Biology subjects

Rauf, I.

Publications and source records attributed to Rauf, I..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2020

Chalcid Hymenopteran parasitoid Dirhinus giffardii Silvestri proficiently disturbed house fly production

ObjectivesMan is always conscious about his health, and is well being challenged by many diseases. These diseases are directly causing hazards and most of them are transmitted through a vector. These vectors (mostly insects) have the ability to transfer / spread pathogenic organisms and that have the potential to cause severe epidemics. The house fly, Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) plays a leading role in spreading more than 100 human and animal diseases. House fly is an eternal issue and mostly the management tactics rely on the use of chemicals either as spray, fumigants or baits. Unauthenticated behavior of these chemicals creates lethal effects on biological ecosystem, furthermore these measures may not be an effective options for outdoor management. For natural and safe option, bio-control strategy is being utilized to make environment healthy and clean. The present study was a part of such effort to use this strategy and validate the biological performance of the potential pupal parasitoid Dirhinus giffardii Silvestri against house fly and provide alternative and safe control of filthy flies. This is the first report on parasitism potential of D. giffardii Silvestri against house fly. ResultsThe D. giffardii Silvestri, 1913 (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), early reported as an effective pupal parasitoid of tephritid flies, here in the case presented, showed overall 70% reduction in the house fly population by parasitizing pupae. The parasitism efficiency and longevity of hymenopteran parasitoid was remarkably noted two-fold higher on house fly pupae as compared to primary hosts (Tephritids). An amazing results were recorded on house fly parasitism, where, female production was increased one fold as compared to tephritids. Furthermore, sex ratio of the resultant progeny was also confirmed the dominancy of female by 74% as compared to males. Based on the unique and remarkable findings we therefore conclude that D. giffardii is the best bio-control agent for controlling house flies and provide healthy, clean and ecofriendly environment.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2018

Silencing cathepsin L expression reduces Myzus persicae protein content and the nutritional value as prey for Coccinella septempunctata

Gut-expressed aphid genes, which may be more easily inhibited by RNA interference (RNAi) constructs, are attractive targets for pest control efforts involving transgenic plants. Here we show that expression of cathepsin L, a cysteine protease that functions in aphid guts, can be reduced by expression of an RNAi construct in transgenic tobacco. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated by up to 80% adult mortality, reduced fecundity, and delayed nymph production of Myzus persicae (green peach aphids) when cathepsin L expression was reduced by plant-mediated RNAi. Consistent with the function of cathepsin L as a gut protease, M. persicae fed on the RNAi plants had a lower protein content in their bodies and excreted more protein in their honeydew. Larvae of Coccinella septempunctata (seven-spotted ladybugs) grew more slowly on aphids having reduced cathepsin L expression, suggesting that prey insect nutritive value, and not just direct negative effects of the RNAi construct, needs to be considered when producing transgenic plants for RNAi-mediated pest control.\n\nHighlightsO_LISilencing expression of cathepsin L by RNA interference reduces protein content of Myzus persicae (green peach aphid) bodies.\nC_LIO_LIHoneydew of aphids with cathepsin L silenced contains elevated protein.\nC_LIO_LICathepsin L is required for efficient protein uptake from phloem sap.\nC_LIO_LIAphids with cathepsin L expression silenced have increased mortality and fewer offspring.\nC_LIO_LICoccinella septempunctata (seven-spotted ladybugs) grow more slowly on aphids with expression of cathepsin L silenced.\nC_LI\n\n\n\nO_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=173 SRC=\"FIGDIR/small/451211_ufig1.gif\" ALT=\"Figure 1\">\nView larger version (26K):\norg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@5ee6d7org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@853fe8org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@26c2aborg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@b67e2b_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

molecular biology↗