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Enhanced Insect Susceptibility to Entomopathogens

Summary

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a technology that can identify genes and proteins in termites that increase susceptibility to pathogens. Whereas much research and development have gone into non-specific chemical insecticides that attempt to brute force their way through the termites' defenses, this new technology aims to dismantle the defense outright. Using treatments of an immune-suppressive nicotinoid insecticide and fungi and bacterial pathogens, hundreds of genes that encode potential defense mechanisms have been identified; the expression of these genes can be suppressed, increasing the termites' susceptibility to pathogens. Several protist symbiont enzymes were also identified which may have played a central role in protecting termites from fungal entomopathogens, and a recombinant form of these enzymes may have uses as novel drugs to fight fungal infections.

Technology Benefits

More biorational and environmentally friendly than chemical insecticides Protein-based enzymatic treatment offers a more "organic" approach than conventional drugs

Technology Application

Termite control Fungal infection treatment

Detailed Technology Description

Michael ScharfPurdue Entomology

Countries

United States

Application No.

None

Country/Region

USA

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