Biological Control of Insects Research Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
 

Research Project: IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PEST INSECT IMMUNE RESPONSES TO BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS

Location: Biological Control of Insects Research

Title: Eicosanoids influence insect susceptibility to nucleopolyhedroviruses

Authors
item Stanley, David
item Shapiro, Martin

Submitted to: Journal of Invertebrate Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: September 9, 2009
Publication Date: November 1, 2009
Repository URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10113/36234
Citation: Stanley, D.W., Shapiro, M. 2009. Eicosanoids influence insect susceptibility to nucleopolyhedroviruses. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 102(3):245-249.

Interpretive Summary: Baculoviruses are pathogenic viruses responsible for lethal infections in insects. Of all known viruses, these are the most beneficial to humans. They are major elements of sustained agriculture because they are used to manage populations of pest, but not beneficial, insects. Baculoviruses are used globally in some biological control programs. A serious problem, however, is their full potential as biopesticides has not been reached. This is because we do not understand why some pest insect species are resistant to baculoviruses. We have identified a biochemical signal operating within insects that mediate insect resistance to viruses. This finding will allow future research to manipulate the signal system, which will help understand how insects are able to resist baculoviruses. Longer term, this research will directly help growers and users of agricultural products by promoting sustainable agriculture.

Technical Abstract: Nine pharmaceutical inhibitors of eicosanoid biosynthesis (e.g., bromophenacyl bromide, clotrimazole, diclofenamic acid, esculetin, flufenamic acid, domethacin, nimesulide, sulindac, tolfenamic acid) that increased the susceptibility of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), to the nucleopolyhedrovirus LdMNPV were tested against the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), the corn earworm Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) and their respective NPVs to determine whether these compounds also alter the susceptibility of these insects. The susceptibility of the beet armyworm was increased by six inhibitors (bromophenacyl bromide, clotrimazole, diclofenic acid, esculetin, flufenamic acid, nimesulide). The susceptibility of the fall armyworm was increased by seven inhibitors, (bromophenacyl bromide, diclofenamic acid, esculetin, indomethacin, nimesulide, sulindac, tolfenamic acid), whereas the susceptibility of the corn earworm was increased by only one inhibitor (sulindac). The influence of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin was expressed in a dose-related manner in beet armyworms. We infer from these findings that eicosanoids, including prostaglandins and lipoxygenase products, act in insect anti-viral defenses.

   

 
Project Team
Shelby, Kent
Coudron, Thomas - Tom
Popham, Holly
Stanley, David
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)
 
 
Last Modified: 05/23/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House