Project Number: 3622-22000-031-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Oct 01, 2005
End Date: Aug 31, 2010

Objective:
To optimize the efficacy of biological control agents for integrated management of pests through the following: 1) Develop substantial new knowledge on host innate immune reactions to viral infection and determine important differences in the immune mechanisms to viral and bacterial infection; 2) Develop important new knowledge on the biological roles of selenium, other micronutrients and phytonutrients in insect immune reactions to challenge; 3) Develop new information on prostaglandins and other biochemical signals responsible for mediating and coordinating insect immune reactions to challenge; and 4)Develop new methods to inhibit synthesis of key mediators (eicosanoids) of insect immunity.

Approach:
1) Identify immune response factors responsible for resistance to entomopathogenic viruses, bacteria and parasitoids using proteomic, mass spectrometric, liquid chromatographic, and genomic methods; 2) Isolate and clone selected immune response factors for detailed characterization; 3) Determine the mechanisms by which these immune response factors determine virulence and host range; 4) Test the effects of foliar immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory factors upon the activities or levels of immune response factors; and 5) Determine and characterize the role of eicosanoids in the biochemical regulatory pathways coordinating immune response factors using in vitro and in vivo approaches.