Jinhua Xiao

Mito-nuclear coadaptation is a fundamental evolutionary process linking genomic interactions to metabolic performance and organismal fitness. Although mito-nuclear incompatibility is known to impair mitochondrial function and contribute to hybrid breakdown, its effects on metabolic coordination between cellular organelles remain poorly understood, particularly in insects. Here, we used the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) as an experimental model and established a mito-nuclear incompatibility system by introducing heterologous mitochondrial genomes into a common nuclear background. Integrating genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, and functional analyses, we found that mito-nuclear mismatch disrupted not only mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation but also peroxisome biogenesis and fatty acid metabolism. We identified the peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidases ACOX1 and ACOX3 as important components associated with mito-nuclear incompatibility-induced disruption of mitochondria–peroxisome metabolic coordination. Functional knockdown of acyl-CoA oxidase (ACOX) genes recapitulated major metabolic and fitness-related phenotypes associated with mito-nuclear mismatch, including energy deficiency, oxidative stress, delayed larval development, and reduced adult reproductive performance. Moreover, restoration of redox and energetic homeostasis partially rescued ACOX expression, whereas reinstating ACOX expression alleviated lipid metabolic defects in mismatched lines. Together, these findings support a model in which mito-nuclear incompatibility disrupts mitochondrial function and peroxisomal metabolic homeostasis, with reduced ACOX-dependent fatty acid metabolism representing an important component of broader mitochondria–peroxisome metabolic dysregulation. Our findings reveal a previously underappreciated role of mito-nuclear interactions in coordinating mitochondrial–peroxisomal metabolism and provide a mechanistic framework for understanding how genomic compatibility influences metabolic integration across cellular organelles.

This study explores how ecological niches influence the dynamics of transposable elements (TEs) in the genomes of pollinating and non‐pollinating fig wasps (NPFWs), and how these ecological factors shape genome evolution. To examine the protective role of fig fruits for pollinators, we compared TE load and dynamics in six pollinating and five NPFW species from six different Ficus species. Phylogenetic analysis was used to assess correlations between genome size, oviposition sites, and TE length. We also analyzed the effects of natural selection and population dynamics on TE accumulation. Significant differences were observed in the total length, number, and types of TEs between pollinators and NPFWs. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that TEs in NPFWs, driven by genome size and oviposition sites, exhibit an expanding state, while pollinators show “dormant” TE landscapes with limited insertions. Despite relaxed selection pressure aimed at prolonging TE retention, pollinators maintain a limited TE abundance, likely due to the contracted population size. Additionally, numerous cis ‐regulatory modules derived from TEs are located near genes involved in environmental information processing, emphasizing their potential role in adaptation. Our findings highlight the role of ecological niches, represented by oviposition sites, in shaping the TE dynamics of fig wasps. These results provide new insights into how ecological pressures influence genome evolution and adaptation in insects.

Due to the rapid development of obesity and related metabolic diseases in the world, it is particularly important to explore the ability of novel materials in regulating obesity. In this study, C57BL/6J obese mice were used as objects, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing and lipidomics techniques were used to explore the regulatory effect and mechanism of the P. brevitarsis ethanol extract (50%, v/v) against obesity. Our results showed that P. brevitarsis extract could significantly reduce the body weight, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6) levels of HFD-fed mice. Moreover, the P. brevitarsis extract changed the composition and relative abundance of its gut microbiota, especially increasing Akkermansia muciniphila. Meanwhile, the content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) was increased, especially acetic acid and butyric acid, which leads to a decrease in the synthesis and accumulation of lipids in the liver. Furthermore, the P. brevitarsis extract also induced the difference in lipid synthesis in the liver by down-regulating the mRNA levels of SREPB-1C, FAS, and ACC. Therefore, this research provided preliminary work and reference for the development of P. brevitarsis as a functional food for anti-obesity.

As sales have increased in recent years, enhancing production processes and quality has emerged as a significant challenge for the cricket industry. In this study, we investigated the impact of supplementing feed with black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) on the yield, nutritional characteristics, and protein digestibility of Acheta domesticus. In addition, the bioactivity of house cricket proteins was compared. The results demonstrated that incorporating BSFL into feed improved the yield and nutritional characteristics of house cricket, such as crude protein levels and total phenolic content. Alterations in amino acid and fatty acid profiles also enhanced their nutritional value. In addition, 5% BSFL and 10% BSFL were more readily digested, and the protein hydrolysate of the groups fed BSFL demonstrated stronger antioxidant activity. The findings of this study can offer valuable insights into house cricket farming, protein processing, and the development of new food products.

This research emphasizes the application of ultrafine grinding technologies to optimize the extraction process of chitin from house crickets (Acheta domesticus), aiming to establish a more sustainable and efficient production method. This study evaluates the extraction efficiency of two advanced ultrafine grinding techniques: (1) fluidized bed jet milling (FBJM) and (2) graded impact milling (GIM), alongside a traditional hand sieving method. A comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of the extracted chitin was performed, measuring critical parameters such as moisture content, residual ash, and protein levels, while also assessing its physicochemical properties. The results demonstrate that the implementation of ultrafine grinding methods significantly enhances both the yield and purity of chitin, while also reducing raw material consumption. This highlights the potential of house crickets as a sustainable source of biomaterials. The findings provide essential theoretical insights and practical guidance for the future development and application of chitin derived from insects.

Wolbachia is an obligate endosymbiont that is maternally inherited and widely distributed in arthropods and nematodes. It remains in the mature eggs of female hosts over generations through multiple strategies and manipulates the reproduction system of the host to enhance its spreading efficiency. However, the transmission of Wolbachia within the host’s ovaries and its effects on ovarian cells during oogenesis, have not been extensively studied. We used single-cell RNA sequencing to comparatively analyze cell-typing and gene expression in Drosophila ovaries infected and uninfected with Wolbachia . Our findings indicate that Wolbachia significantly affects the transcription of host genes involved in the extracellular matrix, cytoskeleton organization, and cytomembrane mobility in multiple cell types, which may make host ovarian cells more conducive for the transmission of Wolbachia from extracellular to intracellular. Moreover, the genes nos and orb , which are related to the synthesis of ribonucleoprotein complexes, are specifically upregulated in early germline cells of ovaries infected with Wolbachia , revealing that Wolbachia can increase the possibility of its localization to the host oocytes by enhancing the binding with host ribonucleoprotein-complex processing bodies (P-bodies). All these findings provide novel insights into the maternal transmission of Wolbachia between host ovarian cells. IMPORTANCE: Wolbachia , an obligate endosymbiont in arthropods, can manipulate the reproduction system of the host to enhance its maternal transmission and reside in the host’s eggs for generations. Herein, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of ovaries from Drosophila melanogaster and observed the effects of Wolbachia (strain w Mel) infection on different cell types to discuss the potential mechanism associated with the transmission and retention of Wolbachia within the ovaries of female hosts. It was found that the transcriptions of multiple genes in the ovary samples infected with Wolbachia are significantly altered, which possibly favors the maternal transmission of Wolbachia . Meanwhile, we also discovered that Wolbachia may flexibly regulate the expression level of specific host genes according to their needs rather than rigidly changing the expression level in one direction to achieve a more suitable living environment in the host’s ovarian cells. Our findings contribute to a further understanding of the maternal transmission and possible universal effects of Wolbachia within the host.