SBIR Phase II: Development of Novel Repellents for the Honeybee, Apis Mellifera

SBIR 第二阶段：开发新型蜜蜂驱虫剂

• 批准号: 0956877
• 负责人: Daniel Woods
• 金额: $ 49.89万
• 依托单位: Inscent, Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-04-01 至 2012-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0956877&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; II; Development; Novel

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project provides the scientific foundation for a paradigm shift in insect pest control away from traditional insecticides to products that alter insect behavior by manipulating insect chemosensory proteins. We used rational design to isolate compounds that bind to critical insect chemosensory proteins, and are isolating those compounds capable of altering insect behavior. In response to citrus grower demand we have isolated small molecules that have the potential to alter the foraging behavior of the agriculturally and economically significant insect, Apis mellifera (European honeybee). Our final products will be repellents capable of protecting citrus from unwanted pollination. The technologies utilized here are applicable to the development of control products for other insect pest species, including insect carriers of human disease and insect pests of economic, agricultural, or domestic significance.The broader impacts of this research are avoiding the use of insecticides and expanding our ability to control insect behavior. The initial insect targeted, the European honeybee (Apis mellifera), provides essential pollination that adds an estimated $14 billion annually in value to US crops. However, unwanted honeybee pollination severely decreases the value of mandarin crops, leading to the need for an effective bee repellent that is safe for bees and humans alike. Similar approaches are currently underway to control other important agricultural and public health pests. This project utilizes novel methods with the potential to transform the way insect control products are designed and utilized.

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）二期项目为害虫控制的范式转变提供了科学基础，从传统的杀虫剂转向通过操纵昆虫化学感觉蛋白来改变昆虫行为的产品。我们使用合理的设计来分离与关键昆虫化学感觉蛋白结合的化合物，并且正在分离能够改变昆虫行为的化合物。为了响应柑橘种植者的需求，我们分离出了小分子，这些小分子有可能改变农业和经济上重要的昆虫——欧洲蜜蜂的觅食行为。我们的最终产品将是能够保护柑橘免受有害授粉的驱虫剂。本文所采用的技术也适用于其他害虫种类的防治产品的开发，包括人类疾病的昆虫载体和具有经济、农业或家庭意义的害虫。这项研究更广泛的影响是避免使用杀虫剂，扩大我们控制昆虫行为的能力。最初的目标昆虫是欧洲蜜蜂（Apis mellifera），它提供重要的授粉，每年为美国农作物增加约140亿美元的价值。然而，不受欢迎的蜜蜂授粉严重降低了柑橘作物的价值，导致需要一种对蜜蜂和人类都安全的有效防蜂剂。目前正在采取类似的方法来控制其他重要的农业和公共卫生害虫。该项目采用了新颖的方法，有可能改变昆虫控制产品的设计和使用方式。