Project Number: 3622-22000-036-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Feb 01, 2011
End Date: Jan 31, 2016

Objective:
Objective 1. Use established procedures to obtain basic understanding of eicosanoid-mediated immune signaling in pest (squash bug, Anasa tristis) and beneficial (spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris) insect species. Objective 2. Generate new knowledge for future deployment of dsRNA to silence genes involved in immune signaling, particularly eicosanoid-mediated signaling, in a pest insect (squash bug, Anasa tristis) and test for species specificity using a beneficial insect (spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris).

Approach:
1) Determine the influence of infection on PLA2 activity in immune tissues from squash bugs and spined soldier bugs; 2) Characterize and determine the influence of infection on prostaglandin production in immune tissues from squash bugs and spined soldier bugs; 3) Test the idea that prostaglandins and other eicosanoids mediate cellular reactions to infection; 4) Design dsRNA to silence genes involved in immune signaling; and 5) Determine the influence of dsRNA on immune signaling in intact squash bugs.