The sirtuin system consists of seven highly conserved regulatory enzymes responsible for metabolism, antioxidant protection, and cell cycle regulation. The great interest in sirtuins is associated with the potential impact on life extension. This article summarizes the latest research on the activity of sirtuins and their role in the aging process. The effects of compounds that modulate the activity of sirtuins were discussed, and in numerous studies, their effectiveness was demonstrated. Attention was paid to the role of a caloric restriction and the risks associated with the influence of careless sirtuin modulation on the organism. It has been shown that low modulators’ bioavailability/retention time is a crucial problem for optimal regulation of the studied pathways. Therefore, a detailed understanding of the modulator structure and potential reactivity with sirtuins in silico studies should precede in vitro and in vivo experiments. The latest achievements in nanobiotechnology make it possible to create promising molecules, but many of them remain in the sphere of plans and concepts. It seems that solving the mystery of longevity will have to wait for new scientific discoveries.

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The rising applicability of graphene oxide (GO) should be preceded by detailed tests confirming its safety and lack of toxicity. Sensitivity to GO of immature, or with different survival strategy, individuals has not been studied so far. Therefore, in the present research, we focused on the GO genotoxic effects, examining selected parameters of DNA damage (total DNA damage, double-strand breaks—DSB, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine-8-OHdG, abasic site—AP sites), DNA damage response parameters, and global methylation in the model organism Acheta domesticus. Special attention was paid to various life stages and lifespans, using wild (H), and selected for longevity (D) strains. DNA damage was significantly affected by stage and/or strain and GO exposure. Larvae and young imago were generally more sensitive than adults, revealing more severe DNA damage. Especially in the earlier life stages, the D strain reacted more intensely/inversely than the H strain. In contrast, DNA damage response parameters were not significantly related to stage and/or strain and GO exposure. Stage-dependent DNA damage, especially DSB and 8-OHdG, with the simultaneous lack or subtle activation of DNA damage response parameters, may result from the general life strategy of insects. Predominantly fast-living and fast-breeding organisms can minimize energy-demanding repair mechanisms.

The box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) origins from East Asia. In Europe, it was recorded for the first time in 2007, and in Poland in 2012. By the end of 2020, it was found all over Poland. There are no published data on the range of C. perspectalis occurrence in Poland because it is not a quarantine pest in the European Union and is not subject to official monitoring. Data collected in 2018–2020 via a website dedicated to monitoring, for the first time, illustrate the current range and its largest concentrations in southern and central Poland. The monitoring confirmed that the main directions of the invasion are related to the main communication routes of Poland (south-north) and are of a long-distance character. The dispersal pattern corresponds to the model developed for Cameraria ohridella: a stratified dispersal model that considers long-distance road/rail transport. The second important factor contributing to the invasion of C. perspectalis are large human communities enabling rapid local dispersion (a diffusion model). Comparing its invasion with the monitoring data from 2007–2013 of two other invasive pests of Poland: Ostrinia nubilalis and Diabrotica virgifera, shows that a diffusion model best describes the spatial spread of these pests only to uninhabited neighboring areas.

The box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis Walk; Lepidoptera, Crambidae) origins from East Asia. It was probably brought to Europe in 2005-2007 along with boxwood bushes (Buxus spp.) imported from China. In Europe, it was recorded for the first time in 2007 in south-western Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Without encountering any natural enemies, it quickly became an invasive alien species that threaten plants of the genus Buxus, both wild and cultured. There is a risk of its migration to other host plants. In Poland, C. perspectalis was found for the first time in 2012 in the south-western part of the country. From 2015, it was recorded in subsequent provinces of southern Poland, and a year later it appeared in the east (Outer Subcarpathia). The direction of its expansion eastwards suggests a natural way of expanding the acreage. In 2017 it was found in the central part of the country. In the 2018 growing season, boxwood plants were utterly destroyed for the first time in many Poland regions. In the following years, insects between Poland's western and eastern borders occupied different areas to the north. By the end of 2020, C. perspectalis was found all over Poland. As it is not a quarantine pest in the European Union, it is not subject to official monitoring in Poland. Hence the lack of official information on the range of occurrence in the country. The studies conducted in 2018-2020 determined the current range of C. perspectalis occurrence in Poland, along with the selection of places with the highest intensity of occurrence. The caterpillars are most harmful in Poland's southern and central part, where their foraging leads to total defoliation. The Polish climatic conditions allow the pest to develop without any obstacles two generations a year. In the warm year of 2019, the third generation was observed in large numbers. The insect poses a real threat to box trees in Poland, including the historic boxwood garden arrangements.