Staying Dry and Clean: An Insect’s Guide to Hydrophobicity

Bello, Elizabeth; Alleyne, Marianne

doi:10.3390/insects14010042

Cited by 13 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 122 publications

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“…[ 4 ] These nanostructured ridges act as diffraction gratings that give the cicadas the ability to hide, self‐clean, attract mates, and repel water to remain clean and dry. [ 42 ] Although the nanostructures on cicada wings are incredibly complex, it is possible to replicate them synthetically to create materials with similar properties, such as improved hydrophobicity and antibacterial behavior. [ 9 ] Figure a is an atomic force microscopy (AFM) image taken from a region of a Cicada Neotibicen canicularis wing, seen in Figure 1a inset.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning from Nature: Fighting Pathogenic Escherichia coli Bacteria Using Nanoplasmonic Metasurfaces

Smith

Mazloumi

Karperien

et al. 2023

Adv Materials Inter

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Bioinspired nanoplasmonic 3D crossed surface relief gratings and metasurfaces are fabricated on azobenzene molecular glass thin films to create effective antibacterial surfaces. A synergetic mechanical and photothermal interaction at the interface between the nanostructures and the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria results in a significant decrease in the viable bacterial population. In particular, combined exposure to the interfacial nanospikes as well as the evanescent blue and red electromagnetic fields induced by the nanoplasmonic metasurface, results in a 97% reduction of the viable E. coli in only 25 min, when illuminated with a low-power white light. IntroductionAntibiotics can be regarded as a lifesaving marvel for humanity since the discovery of penicillin in 1928. However, overuse of antibiotics around the world has resulted in bacterial resistance, leading to an estimated 700 000 deaths per year which could increase to ≈10 million deaths annually by 2050 with a potential cost of up to 100 trillion USD. [1] To combat this important problem and to reduce antibiotic use, scientists are exploring alternative options. One way is to learn from nature.Many natural examples, such as lotus leaves, [2] shark skin, [3] cicada wings, [4] and flower petals [5] have been shown to possess antibacterial and self-cleaning surfaces. Researchers have tried to learn from nature and replicate these natural surface structures to affect pathogens through physical and chemical interactions. [6] One method is to create bioinspired antibacterial

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning from Nature: Fighting Pathogenic Escherichia coli Bacteria Using Nanoplasmonic Metasurfaces

Smith

Mazloumi

Karperien

et al. 2023

Adv Materials Inter

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“…However, the precise characteristics and exact adaptive significance of this specialized coating remain largely unknown. Although they are widely believed to confer hydrophobicity, protecting leafhoppers from water and their own excreta (Rakitov & Gorb, 2013a), similar functionalities are attributed to cuticular waxes on the external surfaces of various insects, including leafhoppers (Andersen, 1979;Bello et al, 2022). Consequently, the functionalities of brochosomes may extend beyond this conventional understanding.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brochosomes as an antireflective camouflage coating for leafhoppers

Wu,

Mao,

et al. 2024

Preprint

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In nature, insects face immense predation pressure, where visual cues play a vital role in predators locating them. To counter this threat, insects employ a variety of nano- and microstructures on their cuticular layer to manipulate and interact with light, enhancing anti-reflective properties and providing camouflage or reducing detectability by predators. Leafhoppers have a unique extra-cuticular coating called brochosome, yet its anti-reflective functions and protein composition remain unclear. Our study demonstrates strong anti-reflective properties of brochosomes, effectively reducing reflectance on the cuticle surface, especially in the ultraviolet spectrum, to improve evasion from visual predators. Furthermore, we identify four novel structural proteins of the brochosome (BSM) for the first time. Inhibiting their synthesis by RNAi alters brochosome morphology, impacting the optical properties of the cuticle surface. Evolutionary origin analysis of BSM suggests that brochosomes likely originated from a process involving duplication–divergence. Our study reveals that leafhoppers employ a unique camouflage strategy by secreting brochosomes as anti-reflection nano-coatings, enabling them to evade natural predators and contributing to their evolutionary success.

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“…( 2014 ) and Bello et al. ( 2023 ). Spreading wetted Wenzel state (right) equilibrium contact angle and hydrophobic Cassie–Baxter repelling state (left) contact angle .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Looking for future biological control agents: the comparative function of the deutosternal groove in mesostigmatid mites

Bowman

2023

Exp Appl Acarol

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The physics of fluid laminar flow through an idealised deutosternum assembly is used for the first time to review predatory feeding designs over 72 different-sized example species from 16 mesostigmatid families in order to inform the finding of new biological control agents. Gnathosomal data are digitised from published sources. Relevant gnathosomal macro- and micro-features are compared and contrasted in detail which may subtly impact the control of channel- or ‘pipe’-based transport of prey liquids around various gnathosomal locations. Relative deutosternal groove width on the mesostigmatid subcapitulum is important but appears unrelated to the closing velocity ratio of the moveable digit. Big mites are adapted for handling large and watery prey. The repeated regular distance between deutosternal transverse ridges (‘Querleisten’) supports the idea of them enabling a regular fluctuating bulging or pulsing droplet-based fluid wave ‘sticking’ and ‘slipping’ along the groove. Phytoseiids are an outlier functional group with a low deutosternal pipe flow per body size designed for slot-like microchannel transport in low volume fluid threads arising from daintily nibbling nearby prey klinorhynchidly. Deutosternal groove denticles are orientated topographically in order to synergise flow and possible mixing of coxal gland-derived droplets and circumcapitular reservoir fluids across the venter of the gnathosomal base back via the hypostome to the prey being masticated by the chelicerae. As well as working with the tritosternum to mechanically clean the deutosternum, denticles may suppress fluid drag. Shallow grooves may support edge-crawling viscous flow. Lateral features may facilitate handling unusual amounts of fluid arising from opportunistic feeding on atypical prey. Various conjectures for confirmatory follow-up are highlighted. Suggestions as to how to triage non-uropodoid species as candidate plant pest control agents are included.

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Staying Dry and Clean: An Insect’s Guide to Hydrophobicity

Cited by 13 publications

References 122 publications

Learning from Nature: Fighting Pathogenic Escherichia coli Bacteria Using Nanoplasmonic Metasurfaces

Learning from Nature: Fighting Pathogenic Escherichia coli Bacteria Using Nanoplasmonic Metasurfaces

Brochosomes as an antireflective camouflage coating for leafhoppers

Looking for future biological control agents: the comparative function of the deutosternal groove in mesostigmatid mites

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