Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42011023›Full record

ArticlePest management science2026

Down-regulation of the PxJHE2 gene elevates juvenile hormone titers and compensates for fitness costs of Bt Cry1Ac resistance in Plutella xylostella (L.).

Zhouqiang Cheng, Yang Bai, Liuhong Zhu, Shi Kang, Lina Dong, Mingmei Wu, Ruihong Yang, Neil Crickmore, Xuguo Zhou, Youjun Zhang and 1 more

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Article in Pest management science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Zhouqiang Cheng *College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China.
Yang Bai *State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Liuhong Zhu *State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Shi Kang *School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, China.
Lina DongState Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Mingmei WuState Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Ruihong YangState Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Neil CrickmoreSchool of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
Xuguo ZhouDepartment of Entomology, School of Integrative Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1123-8754
Youjun ZhangState Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3508-6695
Zhaojiang GuoState Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4682-7241

Funding

Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation ProgramBeijing Key Laboratory for Pest Control and Sustainable Cultivation of VegetablesEarmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research SystemNational Natural Science Foundation of China
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUnraveling the compensatory mechanisms that mitigate fitness costs associated with resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) pesticidal proteins is essential for delaying the evolution of Bt resistance. The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella, the first insect reported to evolve field resistance to Bt biopesticides, serves as an ideal model for elucidating the compensatory mechanisms underlying Bt resistance, as its evolution of Bt Cry1Ac resistance is not always accompanied by significant fitness costs. In this study, we identified a novel juvenile hormone esterase (JHE) gene (PxJHE2) and explored its role in compensating for the fitness costs associated with Bt Cry1Ac resistance in P. xylostella.

resultsWe found a noncanonical JHE gene through sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis. Metabolic analysis based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) demonstrated that PxJHE2 possesses the ability to degrade juvenile hormone (JH) into JH acid. We cloned PxJHE2 gene, and found its expression was significantly reduced in the midgut of both Bt Cry1Ac-treated and Bt-resistant strains. Furthermore, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing of PxJHE2 gene significantly increased JH titers, accompanied by significant fitness costs such as reduced fecundity, decreased pupation rate, and lowered eclosion rate.

conclusionOur findings identify PxJHE2 as a key regulator of JH homeostasis that mediates compensation of fitness costs in Bt Cry1Ac-resistant P. xylostella. Targeting PxJHE2 or its hormonal regulatory pathway may provide a promising strategy to disrupt resistance-associated compensatory mechanisms, thereby enhancing the sustainability of Bt-based pest management programs. These results further provide valuable molecular insights for the development of innovative bioinsecticide strategies. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Indexed as

Bacillus thuringiensis ToxinsBacterial ProteinsCarboxylic Ester HydrolasesEndotoxinsGenetic FitnessHemolysin ProteinsInsecticide ResistanceInsecticidesInsect ProteinsJuvenile HormonesMothsAnimalsBacillus thuringiensisDown-RegulationLarvaPhylogenyBacillus thuringiensis ToxinsBacterial ProteinsCarboxylic Ester HydrolasesEndotoxinsHemolysin Proteinsinsecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus ThuringiensisInsecticidesInsect Proteinsjuvenile hormone esteraseJuvenile HormonesBacillus thuringiensisfitness costsjuvenile hormonePlutella xylostellaPxJHE2

Identifiers

PMID42011023
PMCPMC13352284

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.