Preface: Papers from the 16th International Ecdysone Workshop

Abstract

AbstractWe are pleased to introduce a two‐issue set of papers by contributors to the 16th International Ecdysone Workshop held last July in Ghent, Belgium with 128 participants from 18 countries. It would be very difficult to understate the biological significance of ecdysteroids in insect science, and the papers in this Special Issue help us appreciate the continued and rapid progress in this important area. This is also reflected in the fact that nearly 2000 papers were published on “ecdysteroids” in ISI indexed peer‐reviewed international journals over the last 6 years since 2000.Ecdysteroids do not act on a one‐dimensional hormone‐effect axis. To the contrary, papers in this Special Issue report on ecdysteroid interactions with other signal moieties. Gruntenko et al. and Rauschenach et al. reveal important interactions between biogenic amines and ecdysteroid titers. Eizaguirre et al. bring in new information on interactions of JH and ecdysteroids, while Kamimura et al. write about the influence of ecdysteroids on JH esterase gene expression. Ecdysteroids influence cell death, however, this effect is modulated by JH, as seen in Lobbia et al. As this area develops, we are sure to see new entities—perhaps even eicosanoids—interacting with ecdysteroids.The mechanisms of ecdysteroids and ecdysteroid biosynthesis continue to fascinate many insect scientists. Dedos et al. report on calcium signal cascades in prothoracic glands. Localization and movement of the ecdysteroid receptor complex draws the attention of Cronauer et al. and Betanska et al. This receptor also has potential biotech application with gene switch technology, as discussed by Tavva et al.The significance of ecdysteroids in insect biology is highlighted by the number of parasitoids and plants that influence insect ecdysteroids. Rharrabe et al. outline the diversity of detoxification pathways for ingested ecdysteroids, and Bodin et al. report on host‐induced ecdysteroids in a parasitoid. Krishnan et al. report on the influence of ecdysteroids in oxidative stress damage.Together, the papers in this Special Issue advance our appreciation of the biological significance of ecdysteroids in insect biology and they celebrate the insect scientists who are working on the frontiers of our knowledge in this substantial area. We hope this body of work helps scientists who want to participate in this exciting research.