Invasive insects are fascinating owing to their naive genetic makeup that allows them to marvel in new environments. The insect midgut representa a major tissue interface that deals with several important physiological functions including digestion, detoxification and immune response. The emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis) and bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are are intriguing invasive insect pestis that have adapated to various ecological niches challenged with plant and synthetic toxins. In this talk, I will emphasize potential physiological aspects of detoxification and antioxidnat responses that these insects have utilized to overcome their ecological niche challenges. Specifically, how the midgut has played a critical component in establishing the invasiveness via the application of cutting-edge molecular tools including bulk RNA Seq. I will conclude by discussing current genomic strategies such as single cell transcriptomics in order to decipher novel targets and cellular processes.
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