Introduction. The mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is known for its importance at commercial level, since it can affect all stages of development on agricultural crops and cause harvest losses. The name is derived from the secretion of white wax that females present around of the body. Objective. The aim of this bibliographical review was to synthesize the main aspects related to taxonomy, biology, damage to host plants, geographic distribution and the impact of the mealybug on Musaceae. Development. Can be transported during the shipment of the crop to be exported, slipping away from the phytosanitary regulations, with a high risk of introduction as a pest of economically important crops to other countries. To identify the individual at species level, adult females are used, males and nymphs lack of the necessary characteristics for their classification. Within the Pseudococcidae family, Pseudococcus elisae (Borchsenius) stands out as one of the first species identified in the Musaceae crop. The State Phytosanitary Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, declared by the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014, a phytosanitary emergency due to the increase of P. elisae, however there are records of up to twenty-four species as vectors of banana streak virus, belonging to fourteen genera with different origins. The feeding period where the transmission, occurs, is associated with the mealybug species and the environmental conditions. They inject toxins, the sugary liquids are secreted from the phloem of the plant, which serves as a means for the establishment of fungi on the surface of the attacked organsthat cause several physiological damages to the crop. Conclusion. It is of great importance to consider related aspects to taxonomy, biology, host plants and the geographical distribution of the different species of the mealybug to develop appropriate strategies that control the pest propagation.

The toxic gain-of-function of RNA-CUG_(exp) in DM1 has been largely studied in skeletal muscle, with little focus on its effects on the central nervous system (CNS). This study aimed to study if oxidative stress is present in DM1, its relationship with the toxic RNA gain-of-function and if natural antioxidants can revert some of the RNA-CUG_(exp) toxic effects. Using an inducible glial DM1 model (MIO-M1 cells), we compared OS in expanded vs. unexpanded cells and investigated whether antioxidants can mitigate OS and RNA-CUG_(exp) toxicity. OS was measured via superoxide anion and lipid peroxidation assays. RNA foci were identified using FISH, and the mis-splicing of selected exons was analyzed using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Cells were treated with natural antioxidants, and the effects on OS, foci formation, and mis-splicing were compared between treated and untreated cells. The results showed significantly higher superoxide anion and lipid peroxidation levels in untreated DM1 cells, which decreased after antioxidant treatment (ANOVA, p < 0.001). Foci were present in 51% of the untreated cells but were reduced in a dose-dependent manner following treatment (ANOVA, p < 0.001). Antioxidants also improved the splicing of selected exons (ANOVA, p < 0.001), suggesting OS plays a role in DM1, and antioxidants may offer therapeutic potential.