Bedbugs Evolving Rapidly to Withstand Pesticides, Gene Study Find

[Robbien]

Source: WSJ

<snip>

The findings add to a growing body of evidence from molecular-biology studies that bedbugs have recently evolved at least three improved biochemical defenses against common pesticides. Bedbugs today appear to have nerve cells better able to withstand the chemical effects, higher levels of enzymes that detoxify the lethal substances, and thicker shells that can block insecticides.

(. . .)

In an era of antibiotic-resistant infections and herbicide-resistant weeds, the ability of bedbugs to survive once-lethal doses of insecticides is the newest evidence that efforts to eradicate pests that plague humankind may make some of them stronger. It is a key reason for the spread of bedbugs in the past decade, several researchers who study them said.

(. . . )

Laboratory tests in the U.S., Europe and Africa show today's bedbugs can survive pesticide levels a thousand times greater than the lethal dose of a decade or so ago. "There is a phenomenal level of resistance," said bedbug entomologist Michael Siva-Jothy at the University of Sheffield in the U.K. "It has evolved very recently."

(. . .)

By analyzing thousands of RNA sequences—the biochemical record of the parasite's genetic activity—entomologist Omprakash Mittapalli and his Ohio State colleagues found that bedbugs exposed to pesticides showed unusually high levels of activity among those genes controlling enzymes able to turn the toxic chemicals into water-soluble compounds that can be safely excreted.

"When we mined our database for these specific genes, we found that the bedbug has quite a few of these enzyme systems," Dr. Mittapalli said.



Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703951704576092302399464190.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsTop

[Botany]

1. Gee evolution works

Don't tell the fundy nut jobs.



Adam and Eve were white and used hair product.

[Courtesy Flush]

2. Bugs can evolve. People can't. nt

[Botany]

3. evolution happens over generations

bugs = tons of generations in one year

humans = one generation every 20 to 40 years (and more complex genetically which
means that for every mutation only a tiny fraction might be considered beneficial
something like 1/10,000)

[Robbien]

4. So true.

The article says the bedbugs in New York are 250 times more resistant than the ones in Florida. If I am remembering correctly, the infestation happened in New York is only a couple of months before it hit Florida.

250 times in just a couple of months!

[Botany]

6. Well with bugs, rats, and weeds exposed to certain toxins made to kill ....

.... them the ones that tend to live are the ones that carry the genes that are resistant
to what ever is being sprayed to kill them and high % of their offspring will carry that
resistance in their genes.

This why antibiotics and certain chemicals should be used very sparingly.

[mimitabby]

10. yes we can, it just takes longer

[greiner3]

11. And your source is?

That fundy museum in KY? A belief in a fundamentalist sect of a deleterious religion? Upbringing? Scientific fact?

I grant you that even the majority of scientists have some doubt that this occurred; 0.001%. There is nothing sure in this world. It could be that the movie and book 2001 is the real thing that happened, but nearly impossible. It's possible that some space borne spore gave rise to humanity, but while this is more possible, there would be live close by that produced this spore in the first place.

Dark skinned people have a genetic advantage when it comes to skin cancer. They are more 'immune' to its effects. There will be more dark skinned people born in the future. This is evolution. Nothing more and nothing less.

Evolution, like having a black president, is real; get over it.

[Courtesy Flush]

13. I really need to remember to use that darned sarcasm smiley. nt

[harun]

7. This study claims the opposite

Not of evolution but a pesticide bottle neck causing the current pesticide resistance.

http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/0022-2585%282008%2945%5B229%3AMARITS%5D2.0.CO%3B2

It says the resistance is from a previously isolated population.

[Botany]

9. It is a perfect example of evolution ....

.... a once small isolated population is now the dominate population.

[Jefferson23]

8. ROFL, great pic and caption...perfect!!!!!! n/t

[tomm2thumbs]

12. lol@hair products -- too too much!

well, not TOO much - just right!

[Botany]

14. And Adam grooms his beard too.

No messy hippy / cave man beard but a well groomed one.

[mucifer]

5. Oy Vey.

[and-justice-for-all]

15. Breaking: Bedbugs evolve faster than republicans...nt

[hunter]

16. Do Argentine ants and various house spiders eat bedbugs?

If they do I've got nothing to worry about.

[DeSwiss]

17. We will have to change our approach.

For example, one of the main reasons that bacteria became resistant to many antibiotics, was in part because of the incomplete antibiotic regimens ("I felt better so I didn't take all the medicine"), which then allowed the bacteria which survived to develop immunities and were later excreted into the environment. As well as the overuse of antibiotics in the general environment (antibacterial soaps, and the like).

However, the new approach now being investigated (See- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVfmUfr8VPA">Bonnie Bassler: The secret, social lives of bacteria) seeks to understand the methods that bacteria use to overwhelm our immune systems. They do so successfully through a process called "Quorum-Sensing." In other words, they never attack until they have sufficient numbers in our bodies -- and they figure out how many are present by talking to each other "chemically." So the key to controlling bacteria may be best approached by interrupting their communication's networks. And so I suspect that if we could set aside the chemical sledgehammers that we've gotten so used to employing and try to understand the chemical physiology of bedbugs and how they find their meals -- or in how they find each other in order to reproduce, then we would very likely find an effective and "non-poisonous" means of controlling them.

And towards that end, I remember reading of a couple of studies which sought to determine novel ways to control mosquitoes infecting people with West Nile fever and Malaria. One study looked at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/5132587/Flies-engage-in-chemical-warfare-to-control-mates-sex-drive.html">how female fruit flies control males from seeking sex when there's too much competition around. Another study sought to expand upon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1Iwzrp8aRA">homosexual behaviors observed in male fruit flies in the absence of the correct type of pheromones. Obviously if either of these approaches worked, there would be no offspring and a significant reduction in the bedbug population would follow.

So although I realize that the "smart approach" would be novel for us - not killing and blowing things up directly -- we might actually discover how to control these pests and maybe others that are even more harmful. But then we'd likely have to tell Monsanto and DuPont to take their planet-killing chemicals and go fuck off somewhere, now wouldn't we???

- Hmmmm. Well, it was just an idle thought......

[Matt Shapiro]

19. You present very interesting ideas that should certainly be pursued, but ...

There are two methods currently in use which are far more effective than pesticides. High amounts of heat (usually steam) or freezing will kill them. Specially trained canines are also very effective at locating them.

These much better methods are not used as much because they cost more, and most building owners are just not willing to pay the price. Penny wise and pound foolish.

[Duer 157099]

18. I'll bet they can't evolve to withstand diatomaceous earth

That stuff does physical damage to their bodies

[ipaint]

20. +1 I don't have bed bugs but works great on my dog for killing fleas.

People use it successfully to rid themselves of bed bugs and DE works great as a wormer for dogs too.

Just make sure it's the food safe variety.