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The global biodiversity and climate emergencies demand transformative changes to human activities. For example, food production relies on synthetic, industrial and non-sustainable products for managing pests, weeds and diseases of crops. Sustainable farming requires approaches to managing these agricultural constraints that are more environmentally benign and work with rather than against nature. Increasing pressure on synthetic products has reinvigorated efforts to identify alternative pest management options, including plant-based solutions that are environmentally benign and can be tailored to different farmers’ needs, from commercial to small holder and subsistence farming. Botanical insecticides and pesticidal plants can offer a novel, effective and more sustainable alternative to synthetic products for controlling pests, diseases and weeds. This Special Issue reviews and reports the latest developments in plant-based pesticides from identification of bioactive plant chemicals, mechanisms of activity and validation of their use in horticulture and disease vector control. Other work reports applications in rice weeds, combination biopesticides and how chemistry varies spatially and influences the effectiveness of botanicals in different locations. Three reviews assess wider questions around the potential of plant-based pest management to address the global challenges of new, invasive and established crop pests and as-yet underexploited pesticidal plants.

antifeedant --- encapsulation --- induced systemic response --- corn --- barnyard grass --- rutin --- deguelin --- botanical pesticides --- insect behavior --- organic farming --- aphids --- leaf disc assay --- Melia volkensii --- rotenoids --- botanicals --- entomopathogenic fungi --- anise --- oil emulsion entrapment --- integrated pest management --- sesquiterpene --- botanical pesticide --- pest management --- neem --- insecticidal activity --- insect pest --- insects --- resistance --- biopesticide --- Tetranychus urticae --- karanja --- Colorado potato beetle --- essential oils --- Y-tube olfactometer --- parasitoid --- pests --- chemotype 3 --- limonoid --- prospects --- pyrethrum --- botanical insecticides --- weed control --- cover crops --- agro-ecological intensification --- spatial-temporal variation --- survival analysis --- Senecio fistulosus --- organic pesticide --- synergism --- growth inhibitor --- biopesticides --- tryptophan --- acaricide --- pyrrolizidine alkaloid --- phytotoxic activity --- phenylalanine --- rice --- Meliaceae --- invasive species --- botanical active substances --- structure-activity relationships --- pesticidal plant --- fennel --- spray drying --- foliar fertiliser --- sustainable agriculture --- Italian ryegrass

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Proteins represent one of the most abundant classes of biological macromolecules and play crucial roles in a vast array of physiological and pathological processes. The knowledge of the 3D structure of a protein, as well as the possible conformational transitions occurring upon interaction with diverse ligands, are essential to fully comprehend its biological function.In addition to globular, well-folded proteins, over the past few years, intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) have received a lot of attention. IDPs are usually aggregation-prone and may form toxic amyloid fibers and oligomers associated with several human pathologies. Peptides are smaller in size than proteins but similarly represent key elements of cells. A few peptides are able to work as tumor markers and find applications in the diagnostic and therapeutic fields. The conformational analysis of bioactive peptides is important to design novel potential drugs acting as selective modulators of specific receptors or enzymes. Nevertheless, synthetic peptides reproducing different protein fragments have frequently been implemented as model systems in folding studies relying on structural investigations in water and/or other environments.This book contains contributions (seven original research articles and five reviews published in the journal Molecules) on the above-described topics and, in detail, it includes structural studies on globular folded proteins, IDPs and bioactive peptides. These works were conducted usingdifferent experimental methods.

Research & information: general --- mass spectrometric epitope mapping --- gas phase immune complex dissociation --- apparent gas phase dissociation constants --- apparent gas phase activation energies --- ITEM-TWO --- native mass spectrometry --- TRIOBP --- cancer --- deafness --- hearing loss --- mental illness --- schizophrenia --- actin --- cytoskeleton --- disordered structure --- protein aggregation --- solid-state NMR --- ELDOR-detected NMR --- ATP hydrolysis --- ATP analogues --- DnaB helicase --- ABC transporter --- biopesticides --- antifungal activity --- insecticidal activity --- mechanism of action --- transgenic crops --- protein folding --- NMR --- High Hydrostatic Pressure --- ACE2 --- viral spike receptor-binding domain --- SARS-CoV-2 --- transmission --- bioinformatics --- IDP 1 --- binding 2 --- molecular dynamics 3 --- MELD×MD 4 --- advanced sampling 5 --- p53 6 --- MDM2 7 --- NAD(P)H-dependent oxidoreductase --- zinc-containing alcohol dehydrogenase --- cofactor binding and release --- interdomain cleft dynamics --- molecular dynamics simulations --- denatured state ensemble --- protein coil library --- peptides --- intrinsically disordered proteins --- ion-pairing interaction --- side-chain length --- charged amino acids --- β-hairpin --- peptide --- Friedman’s test --- backbone atom coordinate variances and uncertainties --- superimposition --- nanobody --- protein structure --- immunoglobulin domain --- n/a --- Friedman's test

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Essential oils (EOs) and microbial/plant-based volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are being used in an increasing number of sectors such as health, cosmetics, the food industry and, more recently, agronomy. In agronomy, they are employed as bio-herbicides and bio-pesticides due to their their insecticidal, antifungal, and bactericidal effects. Several EO-based bio-pesticides are already registered. Essential oils and other VOCs are 100% bio-based and present numerous additional advantages. They contain a great number of structurally diverse compounds that frequently act in synergy; they are thus less subject to resistance. As highly volatile compounds are found in EOs and VOCs, they typically cause no residue problems in food products or in soils. Indeed, the supply of EOs can be really challenging because they are frequently produced in restricted areas of the world with prices and chemical composition fluctuations. Besides, while the high volatility of EOs and VOCs is interesting for some specific applications, it can be a problem when developing a bio-pesticide with long lasting effects. Finally, EOs are frequently phytotoxic, which is perfect for herbicide formulations, but not for other applications. In both cases, the development of a proper formulation is essential. Owing to the current attraction for natural products, a better understanding of their modes of biological action is of importance for the development of new and optimal applications.

Research & information: general --- Biology, life sciences --- natural antimicrobials --- encapsulation --- shelf-life --- microbiological quality --- micelles --- plant-derived antimicrobial --- Enteric pathogens --- leafy greens --- cheese --- essential oils --- Escherichia coli --- Clostridium tyrobutyricum --- Penicillium verrucosum --- antimicrobial --- Elsholtzia ciliata --- Tribolium castaneum --- essential oil --- carvone --- limonene --- insecticidal activity --- synergistic effect --- starch films --- active food packaging films --- cinnamon oil emulsions --- Botrytis cinerea --- Zanthoxylum leprieurii --- Sitophilus granarius --- tridecan-2-one --- β-myrcene --- (E)-β-ocimene --- dendrolasin --- antioxidant --- anti-inflammatory --- insecticidal --- anti-plasmodial --- Côte d’Ivoire --- Staphylococcus aureus --- S. epidermidis --- carvacrol --- thymol --- eugenol --- benzalkonium chloride --- biofilms --- planktonic --- disinfection --- natural products --- Aphis nerii --- Coccinella septempunctata --- plant-based insecticide --- Oryzaephius surinamensis --- Rhyzopertha dominica --- Trogoderma granarium --- thyme --- edible films --- high pressure thermal treatment --- ultrasonication --- food safety --- essential oil composition --- sabinene --- citronellal --- Sitophilus oryzae --- marinating solution --- pork loin --- quality --- safety --- phytotoxicity --- mode of action --- biopesticides --- biocontrol --- antifungal --- antibacterial --- biopesticide --- insecticide --- eco-friendly --- stored product pest --- Allium sativum --- Gaultheria procumbens --- Mentha arvensis --- Eucalyptus dives --- controlled release --- biosourced --- surface response methodology --- sweet wormwood --- mulberry pyralid --- mulberry --- immunity --- reproductive system --- digestive system --- n/a --- Côte d'Ivoire

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Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-based products are the most successful microbial insecticides to date. This entomopathogenic bacterium produces different kinds of proteins whose specific toxicity has been shown against a wide range of insect orders, nematodes, mites, protozoa, and human cancer cells. Some of these proteins are accumulated in parasporal crystals during the sporulation phase (Cry and Cyt proteins), whereas other proteins are secreted in the vegetative phase of growth (Vip and Sip toxins). Currently, insecticidal proteins belonging to different groups (Cry and Vip3 proteins) are widely used to control insect pests and vectors both in formulated sprays and in transgenic crops (the so-called Bt crops). Despite the extensive use of these proteins in insect pest control, especially Cry and Vip3, their mode of action is not completely understood. The aim of this Special Issue was to gather information that could summarize (in the form of review papers) or expand (research papers) the knowledge of the structure and function of Bt proteins, as well as shed light on their mode of action, especially regarding the insect receptors. This subject has generated great interest, and this interest has been materialized into the 18 papers of important scientific value in the field (5 reviews and 13 research papers) that have been compiled in this issue.

Research & information: general --- Bacillus thuringiensis --- Plutella xylostella --- Cry1Ac resistance --- trypsin-like midgut protease --- protoxin activation --- Spodoptera spp., Helicoverpa armigera --- Mamestra brassicae --- Anticarsia gemmatalis --- Ostrinia furnacalis --- Cry2Ab toxin --- Bombyx mori --- ATP-binding cassette subfamily a member 2 (ABCA2) --- genome editing --- transcription activator-like effector-nucleases (TALENs) --- HEK293T cell --- functional receptor --- Vip3Aa --- lysosome --- mitochondria --- apoptosis --- Sf9 cells --- Cry1Ab --- oligomer formation --- Sf21 cell line --- Ostrinia nubilalis --- Lobesia botrana --- Leptinotarsa decemlineata --- bioassay --- Cyt2Aa2 toxin --- protein-lipid binding --- erythrocyte membrane --- AFM --- QCM-D --- Asian corn borer --- ABCC2 --- CRISPR/Cas9 --- Cry1Fa --- resistance --- chitin-binding protein --- adhesion --- peritrophic matrix --- Vip3A --- Spodoptera litura --- site-directed mutagenesis --- Cry --- Cyt --- parasporins --- S-layer proteins --- Vip --- Sip --- membrane receptors --- insecticidal activity --- anticancer activity --- Aedes aegypti --- minor proteins --- synergy --- mosquito control --- Bti --- Spodoptera frugiperda --- cadherin --- mode of action of Cry toxin --- insecticidal proteins --- insect resistance --- tobacco budworm --- Bacillus thuringiensis proteins --- coleopteran pests --- structure --- mode of action --- 3D-structure --- biological control --- antimicrobial peptide --- gut microbiota --- vegetative insecticidal proteins --- pyramids --- 3D-Cry toxins --- in vitro evolution --- rational design --- toxin enhancement --- n/a

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Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-based products are the most successful microbial insecticides to date. This entomopathogenic bacterium produces different kinds of proteins whose specific toxicity has been shown against a wide range of insect orders, nematodes, mites, protozoa, and human cancer cells. Some of these proteins are accumulated in parasporal crystals during the sporulation phase (Cry and Cyt proteins), whereas other proteins are secreted in the vegetative phase of growth (Vip and Sip toxins). Currently, insecticidal proteins belonging to different groups (Cry and Vip3 proteins) are widely used to control insect pests and vectors both in formulated sprays and in transgenic crops (the so-called Bt crops). Despite the extensive use of these proteins in insect pest control, especially Cry and Vip3, their mode of action is not completely understood. The aim of this Special Issue was to gather information that could summarize (in the form of review papers) or expand (research papers) the knowledge of the structure and function of Bt proteins, as well as shed light on their mode of action, especially regarding the insect receptors. This subject has generated great interest, and this interest has been materialized into the 18 papers of important scientific value in the field (5 reviews and 13 research papers) that have been compiled in this issue.

Research & information: general --- Bacillus thuringiensis --- Plutella xylostella --- Cry1Ac resistance --- trypsin-like midgut protease --- protoxin activation --- Spodoptera spp., Helicoverpa armigera --- Mamestra brassicae --- Anticarsia gemmatalis --- Ostrinia furnacalis --- Cry2Ab toxin --- Bombyx mori --- ATP-binding cassette subfamily a member 2 (ABCA2) --- genome editing --- transcription activator-like effector-nucleases (TALENs) --- HEK293T cell --- functional receptor --- Vip3Aa --- lysosome --- mitochondria --- apoptosis --- Sf9 cells --- Cry1Ab --- oligomer formation --- Sf21 cell line --- Ostrinia nubilalis --- Lobesia botrana --- Leptinotarsa decemlineata --- bioassay --- Cyt2Aa2 toxin --- protein-lipid binding --- erythrocyte membrane --- AFM --- QCM-D --- Asian corn borer --- ABCC2 --- CRISPR/Cas9 --- Cry1Fa --- resistance --- chitin-binding protein --- adhesion --- peritrophic matrix --- Vip3A --- Spodoptera litura --- site-directed mutagenesis --- Cry --- Cyt --- parasporins --- S-layer proteins --- Vip --- Sip --- membrane receptors --- insecticidal activity --- anticancer activity --- Aedes aegypti --- minor proteins --- synergy --- mosquito control --- Bti --- Spodoptera frugiperda --- cadherin --- mode of action of Cry toxin --- insecticidal proteins --- insect resistance --- tobacco budworm --- Bacillus thuringiensis proteins --- coleopteran pests --- structure --- mode of action --- 3D-structure --- biological control --- antimicrobial peptide --- gut microbiota --- vegetative insecticidal proteins --- pyramids --- 3D-Cry toxins --- in vitro evolution --- rational design --- toxin enhancement --- n/a