ARS | Publication request: Discovering and Designing New Insecticides and their Development Vector Control.

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 29, 2010
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The discovery and development of novel insecticides for vector control is a primary focus of toxicology research conducted at the Mosquito and Fly Research Unit, Gainesville, FL. To identify new active ingredients, the screening of large numbers of experimental compounds is conducted using a primary high throughput screen (HTS) bioassay using Aedes aegypti larvae. Highly active compounds are then evaluated in secondary topical adult (Ae. aegypti) bioassays. Toxicity data are subjected to structural-activity relationship (SAR) analysis to identify characteristics for efficacious toxicants. Analogs of active compounds obtained from the SAR results are then directly evaluated for adulticidal activities. Another line of research is the targeting of critical genes/proteins to develop molecular (genetic) biopesticides through RNA interference (RNAi). Critical target proteins include inhibitors of apoptosis protein (IAPs) that regulate programmed cell death. dsRNA constructs targeting critical proteins are evaluated in vivo against adult mosquitoes through topical application to determine activity. Constructs can be refined by targeting different regions of one or multiple genes to achieve high activity. Preliminary results suggest that: (1) chemical screening using bioassays combined with SAR analysis is useful in identifying potential toxicants for vector control and (2) targeting critical genes/proteins through RNAi offers exciting possibilities for novel pesticide development.