Chemical study of insect-plant interactions: a contribution to biorational control of crop pests

由于对现有杀虫剂抗药性的演变，迫切需要新的解决方案来管理害虫。该项目侧重于植物次生代谢物的新型纳米技术配方的开发和生物活性测试，这些配方可以为作物保护提供新的选择。S·卡洛斯联邦大学(UFSCAR)的研究小组有强有力的初步数据表明，某些植物黄酮类化合物与镁(II)络合的纳米技术配方大大减少了昆虫的生长。基尔大学(KU)小组用PAA(聚烯丙基胺)纳米技术配方的精油进行的初步实验表明，精油具有非常显著的驱避作用，与传统配方材料相比，活性大大增强。英国和巴西的合作将为加强这一新的、前景光明的研究领域提供一个理想的机会。该项目包括讲习班和互访，以建立小组之间的研究网络。两个小组将分享专业知识并合作创建植物次生代谢物(橙皮苷和柚皮苷、酚酸和精油等类黄酮类)的新型纳米技术配方。将进行平行实验，测试针对选定昆虫的活动，选择这些昆虫是因为它们与巴西农业和抗药性挑战有关。将在科罗拉多州立大学进行西方花蓟马和桃-土豆蚜虫的生物鉴定，在S圣保罗州立大学进行烟粉虱的生物鉴定，在UFSCar进行秋季粘虫的生物鉴定。抗生素、拒食剂和驱虫剂的活性将使用既定的方法进行测试。在泵启动项目中进行的实验将揭示利用纳米技术改进植物次生代谢物配方以对抗昆虫的潜力。该项目将受益于KU医药学院Co-I的专业知识，他们在为医疗部门开发纳米技术配方方面拥有丰富的专业知识。我们将考虑已经开发的用于药物的低成本技术可以在多大程度上转化为农业领域。除了实证研究方案外，我们还将对该领域进行文献审查，并将其提交给一份高质量的科学期刊，作为对知识的贡献。我们认为，该项目涉及的学科(化学、医学和昆虫学)之间存在着相当大的交叉受精潜力。这有可能使农业配方技术通过使用已经为医学开发的方法“跃升”到纳米技术。此外，当然，通过与处于作物保护纳米技术发展前沿的巴西科学家分享见解，将获得洞察力。该项目有相当大的潜力产生急需的新工具来管理农作物的害虫。该项目将使我们能够检验这样的假设，即通过新的纳米技术配方提供植物次生代谢物可以增强生物活性。

New solutions for managing insect pests are urgently needed due to evolution of resistance to current insecticides. This project focuses on development and bioactivity testing of novel nanotech formulations of plant secondary metabolites that could provide new options for crop protection. The Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) group has strong preliminary data showing that nanotech formulations of certain plant flavonoids complexed with Mg (II) substantially reduce growth of insects. Preliminary experiments done by the Keele University (KU) group with PAA (poly(allylamine)) nanotech formulations of essential oils have shown highly significant repellent action, with greatly enhanced activity compared to conventionally formulated material. UK-Brazil collaboration would provide an ideal opportunity to strengthen this new and promising area of research. The project includes Workshops and exchange visits to build a research network between the groups. Both groups will share expertise and work together to create novel nanotech formulations of plant secondary metabolites (flavonoids such as Hesperidin and Naringenin, phenolic acids and essential oils). Parallel experiments will be conducted testing activity against selected insects, chosen due to their relevance to Brazilian agriculture and insecticide resistance challenges. Bioassays with Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, and peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae, will be conducted at KU; with whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, at São Paulo State University (UNESP), and with fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda at UFSCar. Antibiotic, antifeedant and repellent activity will be tested for using established methods. The experiments conducted in the pump-priming project will reveal the potential for use of nanotechnology to improve the formulation of plant secondary metabolites for use against insects. The project will benefit from the expertise in the KU School of Pharmacy Co-I who has considerable expertise in development of nanotech formulations for the medical sector. We will consider the extent to which low cost technologies already developed for medicines can be translated into the agricultural field. In addition to the programme of empirical research, we will also conduct a literature review of the area and submit this to a high quality scientific journal as a contribution to knowledge. We think there is considerable potential for cross-fertilisation between the disciplines involved in the project (chemistry, medicine and entomology). This has potential to allow agricultural formulation technology to "leapfrog" into nanotechnology by using approaches already developed for Medicine. Furthermore, there will, of course, be insights gained by sharing insights with the Brazilian scientists who are at the forefront of the development of nanotechnology for crop protection. The project has considerable potential to generate much needed new tools for managing insect pests of crops.The project will allow us to test the hypothesis that bioactivity of plant secondary metabolites can be enhanced by delivery via novel nanotech formulations.