Targeting DOPA decarboxylase disrupts immune-metabolic coordination and renders Spodoptera frugiperda susceptible to bacterial infection.
DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) is a key enzyme that connects melanin production and innate immunity in insects, yet its regulatory network in major lepidopteran pests remains poorly understood. We combined CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing with multi-omics analysis to explore DDC's role in immune responses in the invasive pest Spodop...