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Integrated pest management relies on insect pest monitoring to support the decision of counteracting a given level of infestation and to select the adequate control method. The classic monitoring approach of insect pests is based on placing in single infested areas a series of traps that are checked by human operators on a temporal basis. This strategy requires high labor cost and provides poor spatial and temporal resolution achievable by single operators. The adoption of image sensors to monitor insect pests can result in several practical advantages. The purpose of this review is to summarize the progress made on automatic traps with a particular focus on camera-equipped traps. The use of software and image recognition algorithms can support automatic trap usage to identify and/or count insect species from pictures. Considering the high image resolution achievable and the opportunity to exploit data transfer systems through wireless technology, it is possible to have remote control of insect captures, limiting field visits. The availability of real-time and on-line pest monitoring systems from a distant location opens the opportunity for measuring insect population dynamics constantly and simultaneously in a large number of traps with a limited human labor requirement. The actual limitations are the high cost, the low power autonomy and the low picture quality of some prototypes together with the need for further improvements in fully automated pest detection. Limits and benefits resulting from several case studies are examined with a perspective for the future development of technology-driven insect pest monitoring and management.

The antimicrobial functions of neutrophils are facilitated by a defensive armamentarium of proteins stored in granules, and by the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). However, the toxic nature of these structures poses a threat to highly vascularized tissues, such as the lungs. Here, we identified a cell-intrinsic program that modified the neutrophil proteome in the circulation and caused the progressive loss of granule content and reduction of the NET-forming capacity. This program was driven by the receptor CXCR2 and by regulators of circadian cycles. As a consequence, lungs were protected from inflammatory injury at times of day or in mouse mutants in which granule content was low. Changes in the proteome, granule content and NET formation also occurred in human neutrophils, and correlated with the incidence and severity of respiratory distress in pneumonia patients. Our findings unveil a ‘disarming’ strategy of neutrophils that depletes protein stores to reduce the magnitude of inflammation. Hidalgo and colleagues describe a cell-intrinsic program that induces changes in the proteome, granule content and NET-forming capacity of neutrophils and is driven by the chemokine receptor CXCR2 and regulators of the circadian clock.

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) are net-like structures composed of DNA-histone complexes and proteins released by activated neutrophils. In addition to their key role in the neutrophil innate immune response, NETs are also involved in autoimmune diseases, like systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and in other non-infectious pathological processes, as coagulation disorders, thrombosis, diabetes, atherosclerosis, vasculitis, and cancer. Recently, a large body of evidence indicates that NETs are involved in cancer progression and metastatic dissemination, both in animal models and cancer patients. Interestingly, a close correlation between cancer cell recruitment of neutrophils in the tumor microenvironment (Tumor Associated Neutrophils. TANs) and NET formation has been also observed either in primary tumors and metastatic sites. Moreover, NETs can also catch circulating cancer cells and promote metastasis. Furthermore, it has been reported that wake dormant cancer cells, causing tumor relapse and metastasis. This review will primarily focus on the pro-tumorigenic activity of NETs in tumors highlighting their ability to serve as a potential target for cancer therapy.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with high mortality rates and respiratory compromise in which excessive neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) production may amplify alveolar inflammation and injury. Dornase alfa, a recombinant DNAse 1, has been proposed to attenuate these effects by degrading extracellular DNA and enhancing alveolar clearance of NETs. In this multicenter, open-label, randomized in two parallel arms (1:1) controlled trial, intubated COVID-19 ARDS patients received either standard-of-care (SOC) alone or SOC plus aerosolized dornase alfa (2500 IU twice daily for 7 days). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with ARDS severity improvement at Day 7, defined by at least one-grade improvement on the Berlin criteria scale. Secondary outcomes included 28-day mortality, ventilator-free days, ICU-free days, and changes in key ventilatory parameters. Biological samples were analyzed to assess NET related markers, DNAse drug activity and indicate possible bioavailability issues associated with aerosolization of dornase alfa. Seventy-seven patients were enrolled (dornase alfa group, n  = 39; SOC group, n  = 38). At Day 7, ARDS severity improved in 18% of patients receiving dornase alfa compared with 29% in the SOC group (adjusted OR: 0.33; 95% CI 0.09–1.14; p  = 0.11). Secondary endpoints, including 28-day mortality, ventilator-free days, and ICU-free days, showed no significant differences between groups. Adverse events occurred in 38.5% of patients in the dornase alfa arm versus 31.6% in the SOC arm, indicating comparable safety profiles. Despite early increases in NET plasmatic levels observed in both groups and successful ex vivo NET degradation, aerosolized dornase alfa failed to significantly enhance DNAse activity or reduce NET-related markers in patients’ plasma and mucus, suggesting potential bioavailability limitations with this delivery method. In patients with COVID-19-related ARDS, dornase alfa did neither significantly reduce ARDS severity nor improve clinical outcomes over SOC. Although well tolerated, analysis of biological samples suggests that aerosol administration may have compromised drug bioavailability. Further trials are needed to determine whether specific patient subgroups could benefit more from dornase alfa or if alternative drug delivery methods might enhance treatment efficacy. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04355364. Registered on 21/04/2020.

AimsDiabetes is associated with an excess release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and an enhanced NETosis, a neutrophil cell death programme instrumental to anti-microbial defences, but also involved in tissue damage. We herein investigated whether the antidiabetic drug metformin protects against NETosis.MethodsWe measured NET components in the plasma of patients with pre-diabetes who were randomized to receive metformin or placebo for 2 months. To control for the effect on glucose, we also measured NET components in the plasma of patients with type 2 diabetes before and after treatment with insulin or dapagliflozin. In vitro, we used static and dynamic imaging with advanced live confocal two-photon microscopy to evaluate the effects of metformin on cellular events during NETosis. We examined putative molecular mechanisms by monitoring chromatin decondensation and DNA release in vitro.ResultsMetformin, as compared to placebo, significantly reduced the concentrations of NET components elastase, proteinase-3, histones and double strand DNA, whereas glucose control with insulin or dapagliflozin exerted no significant effect. In vitro, metformin prevented pathologic changes in nuclear dynamics and DNA release, resulting in a blunted NETosis in response to phorbol myristate acetate and calcium influx. Metformin prevented membrane translocation of PKC-βII and activation of NADPH oxidase in neutrophils, both of which diminished the NETosis response.ConclusionsMetformin treatment reduced the concentrations of NET components independently from glucose control. This effect was reproducible in vitro and was related to the inhibitory effect exerted by metformin on the PKC-NADPH oxidase pathway.

In order to study regional faunas, one or two methods of studying Coleoptera are often used. However, a comparison of several ways of studying shows that it is more expedient to use more than one of them. Six different methods of catching Coleoptera used in studies of the biodiversity of regional faunas were compared. This research employed pitfall traps (PfT), beer traps (BT), freely hanging flight intercept traps or window traps (FWT), Malaise traps (MT), pan traps (PT), and sweep net (SN). The goal was to assess the effectiveness of these methods in evaluating the biodiversity of this insect group. Studies were conducted from 2011 to 2017 and 2019 to 2023 in the Ryazan region (the central part of European Russia). A total of 27,892 specimens of Coleoptera (927 species from 64 families) were collected. Specifically, 17,659 specimens were collected using PfT (396 species from 36 families), 4971 specimens using BT (146 species from 30 families), 1014 specimens using FWT (221 species from 51 families), 109 specimens using MT (43 species from 16 families), 2220 specimens using PT (357 species from 42 families), and 1919 specimens using SN (265 species from 32 families). The maximum number of families was observed with FWT, while the minimum number of families was registered with MT. Interestingly, the highest number of rare species from both protected lists was obtained using BT and PfT. The Margalef index was higher for Coleoptera collections using PT and PfT, while the largest Shannon index values were recorded for samples using SN and PT. The Berger–Parker index was the highest for catches using BT, which was characterized by the highest dominance of one or more species. In our study, four species of Coleoptera were found that are included in the protected lists of the Russian Federation and 14 species of Coleoptera were listed in the protected species of the Ryazan region. Considering the results of this study, the Coleoptera fauna of the Ryazan region currently accounts for 1674 species.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) play important roles in host immunity, as there is increasing evidence of their contribution to the progression of several types of cancers even though their role in colorectal cancers (CRCs) remains unclear. To investigate the clinical relevance of NETs in CRCs, we examined the expression of citrullinated histone H3 using immunohistochemistry and preoperative serum myeloperoxidase–DNA complexes in CRC patients using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. High expression of intratumoral or systemic NETs was found to correlate with poor relapse-free survival (RFS), for which it is an independent prognostic factor. In vitro investigations of CRC cells (HCT116, HT29) revealed that NETs did not affect their proliferation but did promote the migration of CRC cells mediated by neutrophil elastase (NE) released during NETosis to increase extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity. In vivo experiments using nude mice (KSN/slc) revealed that NE inhibition suppressed liver metastases in CRC cells, although it did not affect the growth of subcutaneously implanted tumors. Taken together, these results suggest that NET formation correlates with poor prognoses of patients with CRC and that the inhibition of NE could be a potential therapy for CRC metastases.

Reliable monitoring of the invasive Halyomorpha halys abundance, phenology and geographic distribution is critical for its management. Halyomorpha halys adult and nymphal captures on clear sticky traps and in black pyramid traps were compared in 18 states across the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Pacific Northwest and Western regions of the United States. Traps were baited with commercial lures containing the H. halys pheromone and synergist, and deployed at field sites bordering agricultural or urban locations with H. halys host plants. Nymphal and adult captures in pyramid traps were greater than those on sticky traps, but captures were positively correlated between the two trap types within each region and during the early-, mid- and late season across all sites. Sites were further classified as having a low, moderate or high relative H. halys density and again showed positive correlations between captures for the two trap types for nymphs and adults. Among regions, the greatest adult captures were recorded in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic on pyramid and sticky traps, respectively, with lowest captures recorded in the West. Nymphal captures, while lower than adult captures, were greatest in the Southeast and lowest in the West. Nymphal and adult captures were, generally, greatest during July–August and September–October, respectively. Trapping data were compared with available phenological models showing comparable population peaks at most locations. Results demonstrated that sticky traps offer a simpler alternative to pyramid traps, but both can be reliable tools to monitor H. halys in different geographical locations with varying population densities throughout the season.

The high neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio observed in critically ill patients with COVID-19 is associated with excessive levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which promote a cascade of biological events that drive pathological host responses. ROS induce tissue damage, thrombosis and red blood cell dysfunction, which contribute to COVID-19 disease severity. We suggest that free radical scavengers could be beneficial for the most vulnerable patients.In this Comment article, Becker and colleagues consider how the excessive release of reactive oxygen species by neutrophils may perpetuate red blood cell dysfunction, thrombosis and tissue damage in severe cases of COVID-19.