Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs), found in almost all organisms, are involved in endobiotic metabolism and detoxification of xenobiotic compounds, such as drugs, pollutants, and insecticides. In insects, CYPs play a major role in conferring resistance to various insecticides including DDT. In Drosophila and other insects, DDT-resistant strains exhibit increased expression of multiple P450 genes; however, the mechanism of overexpression is unknown. Since many CYP genes including Cyp6a8 of Drosophila are induced by caffeine and other xenobiotics, these chemicals are used as tools to understand the regulation of these genes. Previously it was shown that the 0.8-kb (-1/-732) and 0.2-kb (-1/-170) upstream DNA of Cyp6a8 of the DDT-resistant 91-R strain support caffeine, DDT, and Phenobarbital induction in adult flies and S2 cells, the 0.2-kb DNA has many transcriptionally important sequence motifs. In the present investigation, site-directed mutagenesis was performed on the putative TATA box and CREB/AP-1 motifs located at the -97/-101, -57/-61, -43/-47, and -6/-10 regions of the 0.2- and 0.8 DNAs to determine their cis-regulatory role in caffeine and PB induction in S2 cells using luciferase reporter system. Results showed that all four deletions in 0.2- and 0.8-kb DNA decreased both basal and caffeine-induced activities, but maximum effect was seen with the -57/-61 deletion. Second, the TATA mutations greatly decreased basal activity, but they did not decrease caffeine-inducibility as much as the -57/-61 mutations. Third, the effects of other three deletions on basal activities were not as pronounced in the 0.8-kb environment as were seen in the 0.2-kb environment. Taken together these results suggest that of all four putative CREB/AP1 sites the one located at -57/-61 region is most important for both basal and caffeine-induced activities. The results also suggest that the additional 600 bases upstream of -1/-170 have distal elements that interact with the proximal promoter in the 0.2-kb DNA and boost basal transcription. A model suggesting interactions of all cis elements with the basal promoter for basal and induced transcription has been proposed.

The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.) is a major pest of crucifer crops worldwide. It is a particularly important problem in Southeast Asia where climatic conditions favor a short generation time and rapid proliferation. In countries such as Thailand, the diamondback moth has apparently become resistant to all classes of insecticides, even the newest ones. The first part of this thesis is the development of a computer database of all the available information on diamondback moth toxicology. About 1,550 records were extracted from more than 235 published or unpublished documents. These records include information on the geographical location of experiments, the insecticide evaluated, the testing method and the results observed. Most records in the database are from the last decade, and are predominantly from Taiwan, Thailand, the USA and Japan. Trends in the use of various classes of insecticides can easily be followed. Thirty three records have been found of insecticide resistance of more than a thousandfold. An the known mechanisms of resistance are found, and the diamondback moth has become resistant to all the classes of insecticides, including Bacillus thuringiensis but excluding abamectin. Case studies made possible by the use of the database showed a rapid succession in the use of 29 insecticides in the last 26 years in a single country (Thailand). Although this rapid succession is usually ascribed to the development of resistance, a case study on the regional differences in resistance to five insecticides showed marked variations in the level of resistance over distances of 20 miles or more. The possibility of managing insecticide resistance at the local level, already suggested by studies in Hawaii, is thus supported by this analysis. In the second part of this thesis, the toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis var. aizawai and of the bacterial toxin abamectin was tested by two bioassay techniques on populations of the diamondback moth from two Chinese kale fields at locations in Thailand at which the highest levels of resistance to most insecticides have been reported. The leaf-dip bioassay was found to be superior to a residue-vial assay or to the FAO-recommended assay. More than 70-fold resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis var. aizawai was observed in the populations of DBM collected from these two fields, suporting the theory that resistance resulted in the control failures reported by growers. Resistance did not explain control failures with abamectin as no resistance to this compound could be detected. The third part of this thesis analyzes the intraplant distribution of the diamondback moth larvae in an effort to explain the control failures with abamectin on Chinese kale. Extensive sampling of the various larval instars of the diamondback moth revealed that a majority of second instar larvae were sheltered on the young folded leaves of Chinese kale. The majority of fourth instar larvae and pupae were found on mature (lower) leaves. Inefficient spraying practices observed in the field with high volume, low pressure hydraulic pump sprayers may allow the young larvae to escape pesticide exposure possibly explaining control failures in the absence of physiological resistance. This study shows that resistance in the diamondback moth is a worldwide problem of major proportions. The rapid development of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis in the field is of practical concern. Resistance management programs in developing countries should include mechanisms to optimize insecticide delivery to the protected habitats of diamondback moth on Chinese kale. / Graduation date: 1992

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Thesis (MSc. (Human Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Resumo: A alta incidência da dengue no Brasil, causada pela elevada freqüência de seu vetor, o Aedes aegypti, torna importante conhecer a organização de suas populações em termos de diferenciação genética. Esse conhecimento poderá levar a métodos de monitoramento e controle mais eficientes. No presente trabalho, a técnica RAPD-PCR foi utilizada na análise de quatro populações brasileiras de A. aegypti, sendo três classificadas pela SUCEN (Superintendência do Controle de Endemias) como resistentes aos inseticidas utilizados para seu controle (São Luís- SL; São José do Rio Preto- RP; Araçatuba- AR) e uma classificada como portadora de resistência em desenvolvimento (Bauru- BA). Uma quinta população, procedente dos Estados Unidos, suscetível aos mesmos inseticidas (Rockefeller- RO) foi utilizada para comparação. A aplicação dos métodos estatísticos de Nei, (1973, 1978) produziu índices que permitem considerar o conjunto de populações analisadas, no total de primers, como portador de diferenciação genética muito alta conforme a classificação de Wright (1978). Assim indicaram os valores de Gst (0,277), que mede a diferenciação gênica; de Hs (0,129), que mede a heterozigose média e de Ht (0,181), que mede a heterozigose total. Porém, considerando-se as comparações das populações duas a duas, verifica-se que essa diferenciação foi variável, sendo que a comparação entre as populações RP e AR mostrou que estas são as populações menos diferenciadas geneticamente, enquanto as mais diferenciadas foram SL x RO e SL x BA. Os cálculos de similaridade de Nei e Li (1979) confirmaram os dados obtidos com os índices mencionados, reforçando a idéia de maior similaridade entre RP e AR, seguida de RO e BA. De modo geral, pode-se dizer que não é fácil interpretar a estrutura das populações de A. aegypti quanto às causas de sua diferenciação... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The high incidence of dengue in Brazil, caused by the high frequency of its vector, Aedes aegypti, makes the organization of their populations in terms of genetic differentiation something important to know. This knowledge could lead to more efficient methods of monitoring and control of the vector. In this study, the RAPD-PCR was used in the analysis of four Brazilian populations of A. aegypti, three of which were classified by SUCEN (Superintencia do Controle de Endemias) as resistant to the insecticides used for its control (San Luis-SL; São Jose do Rio Preto, RP; Araçatuba-AR) and one considered in resistance development (Bauru-BA). A fifth population, from the United States, susceptible to these insecticides (Rockefeller-RO) was used for comparison. The application of the statistical methods of Nei (1973, 1978) produced indices that allowed us to consider the set of populations studied, in the total of primers, as having a very high genetic differentiation, according to the classification of Wright (1978). This is indicated by the values of Gst (0.277), which measure the genetic differentiation, the values of Hs (0.129), which measures the average heterozygosity and of Ht (0.181), that measure the total heterozygosity. However, considering the pair-wise comparisons of populations, this differentiation was variable, being the populations RP and AR the less differentiated genetically, while the more differentiated were SL x RO and BA x SL. The estimation of the similarity of Nei and Li (1979) confirmed the data obtained with the indices mentioned, reinforcing the idea of greater similarity between RP and AR, followed by RO and BA. In general, it is not easy to interpret the structure of A. aegypti populations as to on the causes of their genetic differentiation, since they are under strong interference of the human activity, which includes not only the passive transport... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Hermione Elly Melara de Campos Bicudo / Coorientador: Lilian Madi-Ravazzi / Banca: Lílian Castiglioni / Banca: Francisco Chiaravalloti Neto / Mestre

Cattle ticks and tick-borne infections (TBIs) undermine cattle health and productivity in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) including Nigeria. In this West African country, two thirds of the cattle population are reared in the central-northern regions, kept under the traditional pastoral husbandry of Fulani herders. Under the Fulanis’ management, cattle are grazed extensively, being exposed to infestation by several tick genera (i.e. Amblyomma, Hyalomma, and Rhipicephalus spp., sub-genus Boophilus spp. included), vectors of the causative agents of the most important bovine TBIs in West Africa: anaplasmosis, babesiosis and ehrlichiosis (cowdriosis). Nevertheless, the Fulani pastoralists do not usually employ chemicals to control ticks in their cattle, merely relying on traditional methods (i.e. manual removal of the most conspicuous specimens). This approach, however, does not prevent cattle from being re-infested, leaving the animals challenged by a broad variety of other tick species, most of which are vectors of economically relevant TBIs. Knowledge of tick and TBIs occurrence is an essential pre-requisite to assist field diagnosis and devising effective control strategies for a given area. Existing information on tick infestation of cattle in Nigeria is rather out-dated, mostly derived from studies carried out in the south of the country. Similarly, all studies published to date on cattle TBIs in the country do not include any molecular analysis, being based instead on cytological and/or serological diagnostics. Therefore, the aim of the present thesis was to assess the presence of cattle ticks and TBIs occurring in an area of Central Nigeria (i.e. Plateau State). This is a densely populated area with traditionally managed cattle, where no acarides have historically been employed on livestock. The work undertaken herein firstly reviews the information available to date on ticks and TBIs known to be endemic in Nigerian cattle, identifying gaps present in the existing knowledge, leading to the rationale of this study. An initial survey was conducted documenting the tick species infesting cattle in Central Nigeria, in order to assess the infestation rate of surveyed animals at the time of the year when the tick load on the host is known to be most abundant (i.e. the wet season). The survey provided novel information on tick populations in cattle in Nigeria disclosing the presence of a broad variety of species, most of which are vectors of hazardous TBIs. In order to conduct a molecular diagnosis of the TBIs within the study area, a novel methodology was developed (i.e. reverse line blotting, RLB). The application of this approach was based on a thorough review of its application to the diagnosis of TBIs worldwide as well as in SSA. The optimisation of the RLB at the University of Edinburgh to enable the detection of a broad-spectrum of TBIs in Nigeria, caused by an array of five genera of microorganisms (i.e. Ehrlichia and Anaplasma, Theileria and Babesia, Rickettsia spp.) is presented. The assessment of the analytical sensitivity of this technique for the detection of Anaplasma marginale, a highly endemic tick-borne pathogen in SSA, demonstrated a detection threshold of ≥ 7 infected cells (keeping the limit of a natural infection). The occurrence of TBIs in cattle in the study area was assessed during a large-scale epidemiological survey through the application of the validated RLB. This study disclosed the occurrence of a high prevalence of several bovine TBIs in Central Nigeria, some of which are of great veterinary and zoonotic concern. The RLB enabled the detection of carrier status as well as of numerous multiple infections (69.5%, 95% CI: 65.5–73.6%). Based on the findings presented, endemic stability for highly prevalent haemoparasites (i.e. Theileria mutans, Theileria velifera, Theileria taurotragi, Anaplasma marginale, Ehrlichia species Omatjenne) is postulated, whereas a more instable epidemiological scenario is hypothesized for other microorganisms (i.e. Anaplasma centrale and Babesia bovis), which might be connected with outbreaks of clinically apparent disease, sporadically seen in the study area. The effect of a monthly tsetse-borne trypanosomiasis-focused control programme (based on the application 0.005% deltamethrin spray formulation, applied only to the lower quarters of cattle) on the kinetics of bovine TBIs was assessed at the village level. Longitudinal monitoring of control and treated cattle was conducted over the period of eleven months. Results generated provide input to the improvement of future control strategies to be rolled out across SSA, aiming to achieve an integrated control of both trypanosomiasis and TBIs. The present thesis contributes to a better understanding of the epidemiology of bovine TBIs in Nigeria as well as in the rest of West Africa, using a highly sensitive tool of wide applicability. These findings will be shared with the local pastoralist communities to further promote effective yet sustainable, vector control, in tune with the traditional long-established practices.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-09-10Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:42:40Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 guirado_mm_dr_sjrp.pdf: 243606 bytes, checksum: d763ca85a0e74640c2c01e853c525fde (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Hoje se sabe que as enzimas esterásicas estão relacionadas com o desenvolvimento de resistência a inseticidas, em muitos organismos. Em Aedes aegypti, a dedução desse envolvimento tem resultado mais de testes que permitem a avaliação da atividade das esterases no extrato total dos mosquitos (mostrando valores maiores nas populações resistentes) do que de estudos mais profundos de padrões e bandas individualizadas e sua relação com a resistência. Com o objetivo básico de contribuir para o conhecimento desse aspecto, no presente trabalho 11 populações geográficas daquele vetor, sendo seis classificadas como resistentes, três como suscetíveis e duas como tendo suscetibilidade diminuída, foram analisadas quanto ao polimorfismo de esterases, por eletroforese em géis de poliacrilamida. O resultado do estudo de cerca de 30 amostras de larvas e adultos de cada população mostrou 24 bandas que foram tentativamente associadas com oito loci genéticos. Considerando também os dados de Lima-Catelani et al. (2004) e de Sousa-Polezzi & Bicudo (2005), temos o total de 25 bandas esterásicas, incluídas em 12 supostos loci, em 15 populações daquele vetor, até a presente data. A população de São José do Rio Preto, analisada em intervalos de cinco anos entre aqueles dois estudos, e sete anos entre Sousa-Polezzi & Bicudo (2005) e o presente trabalho, mostrou modificações no padrão de esterases, que ocorreram ao longo do tempo paralelamente ao surgimento e aumento da resistência aos inseticidas utilizados no controle, nessa população. Essas modificações abrangeram, basicamente, aumento ou diminuição da freqüência de algumas bandas e ausência de bandas previamente detectadas. De modo geral, a busca por padrões esterásicos específicos, relacionados ao desenvolvimento da resistência, indicou algumas bandas ou combinações de bandas para um estudo mais aprofundado. Essas bandas são: EST-1, sozinha, devido à sua alta freqüência em cinco das seis populações classificadas como resistentes, a combinação de EST-1 com EST-4, ambas ocorrendo simultaneamente, de forma predominante nas populações resistentes, e as colinesterases , detectadas nas 11 populações, mas apresentando freqüências mais altas em quatro das seis populações consideradas resistentes. Diante do conhecimento atual sobre as esterases e sua relação com a resistência a inseticidas, em A. aegypti, no presente trabalho é discutida a possibilidade de que a quantidade total de esterases (principalmente das carboxilesterases) produzidas por um grupo de genes possa ser mais importante em gerar resistência do que o grau de expressão de genes individuais que codificam para bandas específicas. Contudo, entendemos que as bandas destacadas neste trabalho devem ser alvo de um estudo mais detalhado, antes que essa hipótese ganhe maior força. / It is presently known that the esterases are involved in the process of resistance to insecticides, in several organisms. In Aedes aegypti, the conclusion about such involvement resulted rather from tests in which the total amount of esterases is computed in extracts of the mosquitoes (showing greater quantities in the resistant ones) than from deeper studies of esterase patterns or particular esterase bands and their relationship with resistance. With the basic aim to contribute to the knowledge of this relationship, in the present study the esterase polymorphism of 11 geographic populations of that vector, being six classified as resistant, three as susceptible and two as presenting decreased susceptibility, was studied by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels. The results of the analysis of about 30 individual samples of larvae and adults of each population showed 24 esterase bands which were tentatively associated to eight loci. Considering also the data from Lima-Catelani et al. (2004) and Sousa-Polezzi & Bicudo (2005), a total of 25 bands and 12 loci, in 15 populations, was obtained. The population from São José do Rio Preto, analyzed at intervals of five years between those two studies and seven years between Sousa-Polezzi & Bicudo (2005) and the present study, showed changes in the esterase pattern, which occurred along time concomitant to the increase of insecticide resistance in that population, including frequency increase or decrease of some bands and absence of bands previously detected. The search for specific esterase patterns related to the resistance development indicated some bands and combinations of bands as deserving a deeper study. They are EST-1 alone, due to high frequency in five of the six resistant populations, or the combination of EST-1 with EST-4, both occurring simultaneously, with high frequency, mainly in the resistant populations, and the cholinesterases, which although present in the 11 populations, showed higher frequencies in four of the six resistant ones. In front of the present knowledge on esterases related with resistance, in A. aegypti, we discuss the possibility that the total amount of esterases (mainly carboxilesterases) produced by a group of genes might be more important in the generation of resistance than the degree of expression of genes codifying particular bands. However, we understand that the bands stood out in the present study must be the target of a more detailed analysis, before this hypothesis gains a greater consideration. / FAPESP: 05/59219-5

The insecticide resistance mechanisms present in the aphids Myzus persicae and Aphis gossypii have been characterised and sensitive biochemical assays have been developed to monitor their presence in individual aphids. It was found that enhanced esterase activity is present in both aphid species, and that this enhanced activity results from the presence of larger amounts of the same enzyme rather than the presence of a more efficient enzyme. In Myzus persicae this mechanism alone is sufficient to confer high levels of insecticide resistance. In Aphis gossypii, it appears that the presence of insensitive acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is necessary for measurable levels of resistance to occur. During the course of this work, insensitive AChE was detected in Myzus persicae for the first time. This additional resistance mechanism, when combined with the enhanced esterase activity, was found to confer extremely high levels of tolerance against specific insecticides. This additional mechanism is rare in the UK at present but the use of sensitive assays to monitor its existence is of increasing importance. When the AChE mechanism becomes more prevalent in the UK, as it almost certainly will, new strategies for aphid control will be needed. Further examples of insensitive AChE conferring insensitivity not only to carbamates, but also to organophosphates, have also been detected in Aphis gossypii. The inter-relationships of the two mechanisms in this species have been resolved and new monitoring methods made available.

Master of Science / Department of Entomology / Thomas W. Phillips / Resistance of stored-grain insects to the fumigant gas phosphine is becoming common, due to genetic-based resistance. Using proper resistance management, phosphine can continue to be effective with efficient monitoring methods. This thesis focuses on assessing the levels of phosphine resistance across North America in a common stored-product pest, the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), and on refining a rapid bioassay method so that resistance can be easily and accurately detected. Previous work found that phosphine resistance was present in two regions of the USA, the Southeast and Midwest. In this study a discriminating-dose bioassay was used with adult beetles to determine the number of resistant and susceptible individuals in a test population. Adult T. castaneum from 25 locations across the United States and Canada were collected, and 25-60 adults from each population were assessed for the percentage of resistant individuals. Thirteen populations were deemed susceptible with no resistant insects in the samples, while eight populations had 52% or fewer individuals scored as resistant, and four populations had between 88 and 100% resistant individuals. Dose-mortality experiments were conducted to characterize the “strength” of resistance. One population with 41% resistant beetles in the discriminating dose assay was 4.5-fold resistant relative to the susceptible laboratory strain, compared to 127-fold resistant for a population with all 100% scored as resistant. Adult beetles from twelve populations were used to determine if a “knockdown” test of insects exposed to a high concentration of phosphine (3000 ppm) could assess resistance as well as the discriminating-dose mortality assay. The time required for five out of ten beetles to be knocked down, called the KT[subscript]50 for the time to knockdown 50% of the sample, was useful to characterize resistance. Phosphine susceptible beetles had KT[subscript]50 values less than 15 minutes, while samples from resistant populations had KT[subscript]50’s between 15 and 52 minutes. The refined quick test and knowledge of current levels of phosphine resistance in the United States and Canada reported in this thesis point to the importance of such information in developing phosphine resistance management programs for grain insects.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-03-07Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:27:38Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_jp_me_jabo.pdf: 1313453 bytes, checksum: 4c61c83068fdecf5e8c6a9ee5b5f525e (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O inseticida diflubenzuron (DFB), comercializado como Dimilin®, é empregado em pisciculturas no tratamento de ecotoparasitoses em peixes. Este composto inibe a síntese de quitina, componente do exoesqueleto dos parasitas. A utilização deste inseticida se deve à sua baixa toxicidade aos peixes e eficácia no controle dos ectoparasitas. Porém, no ambiente aquático o DFB pode ser tóxico à espécies sensíveis e não-alvos, a concentração empregada no tratamento das ectoparasitoses é de 2 mg.L-1. Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar a toxicidade do DFB para as espécies de Daphnia magna, Poecilia reticulata e Lemna minor, classificar o produto quanto à sua toxicidade e risco ambiental e avaliar o efeito do sedimento na biodisponibilidade do DFB na água. Os organismos-teste foram submetidos a concentrações crescentes do inseticida em salas climatizadas do Laboratório de Ecotoxicologia da FCAV-UNESP. Os testes com D. magna foram realizados em volume de 10 mL a 20° C e cinco organismos neonatos por concentração, durante 48 horas na presença e ausência de sedimento. Os peixes (P. reticulata) foram expostos às concentrações do DFB por 96 horas em testes na presença e ausência de sedimento. O volume final foi de 3000 mL e cinco animais por concentração à 25° C. As plantas de L. minor foram expostas ao DFB por sete dias na presença e ausência de sedimento. O volume final foi de 100 mL e 12 frondes por concentração à 24° C. Os testes foram realizados com três réplicas incluindo o controle. As CE50-48h calculadas para D. magna foram de 0,56 μg.L-1 e 1,51 μg.L-1 na ausência e presença de sedimento respectivamente; as CL50-96h para P. reticulata foram 152,00 mg.L-1 e 277,83 mg.L-1 na ausência e presença de sedimento respectivamente; e as CE50-7dias para L. minor foram 459,50 mg.L-1 e 698,25 mg.L-1 na ausência e presença de sedimento respectivamente... / The insecticide diflubenzuron (DFB), marketed as Dimilin®, is used in fish farms to treat ectoparasites in fishes. This compound inhibits the chitin synthesis, exoskeleton component of the parasites. The use of this insecticide is due to its low toxicity for fish and effectiveness in the control of ectoparasites. However, the DFB in the aquatic environmental can be toxic to sensitive species and non-targed, the concentration used in the treatment of ectoparasites is 2 mg.L-1. The aims of this study were to evaluate the toxicity of the DFB for the species of Daphnia magna, Poecilia reticulata and Lemna minor, classify the product as to their toxicity and environmental risk and evaluate the effect of sediment on the bioavailability of the DFB in the water. The organisms-test were submitted to increasing concentrations of insecticide in air conditioned rooms of the Laboratory of Ecotoxicology FCAV-UNESP. Tests with D. magna were performed in volume of 10 mL at 20° C and five organisms neonates (6 and 24 hours of age) in each concentration, for 48 hours in the presence and absence of sediment. Fishes (P. reticulata) were exposed to concentrations of the DFB for 96 hours in tests in the presence and absence of sediment. The final volume was 3000 mL and five animals per concentration to 25° C. The plants of L. minor were exposed to the DFB for seven days in the presence and absence of sediment. The final volume was 100 mL and 12 fronds by concentration to 24° C. The tests were performed with three repetitions incluing the control. The EC50-48h estimeds for D. magna were 0.56 and 1.51 μg.L-1 in the absence and presence of sediment respectively; the LC50-96h for P. reticulata were 152.00 mg.L-1 and 277.83 mg.L-1 in the absence and presence of sediment respectively; and the EC50-7dias to L. minor were 459.50 mg.L-1 and 698.25 mg.L-1 in the absence and presence of sediment respectively...(Complete abstract, click electronic access below)