Antibacterial nanoparticles as insecticide synergists and insect growth regulators for improved control of cockroach infestations

项目总结 美国的哮喘患病率约为8%(2500万人)。在非裔美国人中， 患病率为11%。大多数哮喘患者对过敏原敏感，包括那些在哮喘中脱落的过敏原 蟑螂的粪便、唾液和分泌物。因此，暴露在蟑螂侵扰下既是一种 是发展过敏性哮喘的重要危险因素，也是哮喘发作的有力触发因素。这个 暴露于蟑螂的哮喘风险在市中心居民中尤其高，那里的蟑螂水平较高 蟑螂过敏原很常见。例如，一些研究表明，蟑螂过敏原被发现 在美国45%的高层公寓和60%的高层公寓中，高浓度与哮喘有关 美国市中心患有哮喘的儿童对蟑螂过敏原敏感。治疗活动性蟑螂 感染可以显著降低结构内的过敏原水平，这是改善哮喘的一种策略 国家哮喘教育和预防委员会建议的症状。德国人 蟑螂，Blatella germanica，是城市环境中分布最广、问题最多的蟑螂害虫。 传统上，使用杀虫诱饵是控制该物种的最有效方法。 然而，杀虫剂抗药性在德国白纹伊蚊种群中的传播可能会降低 采取杀虫干预措施，需要改进工具。我们的研究团队最近报告说，内脏 微生物区系与德国小实蝇的抗药性有关。我们还发现，扰乱肠道 微生物群会降低生殖适合度。因此，我们预测，针对德国的微生物区系 通过在杀虫诱饵配方中加入抗菌金属氧化物纳米颗粒，蟑螂可以 改进田间抗药性虫害控制的有效策略。我们提出三个建议 特定的目的是测试这种方法的可行性，以对抗对多种杀虫剂产生抗药性的蟑螂 两种已知抗菌性能的金属氧化物纳米颗粒(氧化锌和氧化铜)。在目标1中，我们将 确定抗菌纳米粒是否可以提高几种常用诱饵杀虫剂的药效 抵抗抗药性蟑螂品系。在目标2中，我们将确定诱饵中的抗菌纳米颗粒是否可以 对蟑螂生活史产生不利影响。在目标3中，我们将确定纳米颗粒-杀虫剂组合诱饵 可在半田间条件下消灭抗性蟑螂种群。预计我们的结果是 工作将为新型杀虫诱饵配方的开发提供信息，以减轻杀虫剂抗药性和 改善蟑螂控制，这已被证明可以减少哮喘发病率并改善预后 在人类群体中。

PROJECT SUMMARY The prevalence of asthma in the United States is approximately 8% (>25 million people). In African Americans, the prevalence is >11%. A majority of asthma sufferers are sensitized to allergens, including those shed in the feces, saliva, and exuviae of cockroaches. Thus, exposure to cockroach infestation is recognized as both a significant risk factor for the development of allergic asthma and a potent trigger of asthma attacks. The asthma risk from cockroach exposure is particularly high in inner-city residences where elevated levels of cockroach allergens are common. For example, some studies have shown that cockroach allergens are found at high concentrations associated with asthma in >45% of high-rise apartments in the U.S., and >60% of asthmatic children in U.S. inner cities are sensitized to cockroach allergens. Treating active cockroach infestations can significantly reduce allergen levels within structures and is one strategy to improve asthma symptoms that is recommended by the National Asthma Education and Prevention Board. The German cockroach, Blatella germanica, is the most widespread and problematic cockroach pest in urban environments. The use of insecticidal baits has traditionally been the most effective method for control of this species. However, the spread of insecticide resistance across populations of B. germanica can reduce the efficacy of insecticidal interventions, creating a need for improved tools. Our research team recently reported that the gut microbiota contributes to insecticide resistance in B. germanica. We also found that disrupting the gut microbiota decreases reproductive fitness. Accordingly, we predict that targeting the microbiota of German cockroaches by incorporating antibacterial metal oxide nanoparticles into insecticidal bait formulations could be an effective strategy to improve control of insecticide-resistant infestations in the field. We propose three specific aims to test the viability of this approach against cockroaches resistant to diverse insecticides using two types of metal oxide nanoparticles with known antibacterial properties (ZnO and CuO). In aim 1, we will determine if antibacterial nanoparticles can increase the efficacy of several commonly used bait insecticides against resistant cockroach strains. In aim 2, we will determine if antibacterial nanoparticles in bait can adversely affect cockroach life history. In aim 3, we will determine if nanoparticle-insecticide combination baits can eliminate resistant cockroach populations under semi-field conditions. It is expected that the results of our work will inform the development of novel insecticidal bait formulations to mitigate insecticide resistance and improve cockroach control, which has been demonstrated to reduce asthma morbidity and improve outcomes in human populations.