Project Number: 1275-22000-192-02
Project Type: Specific C/A

Start Date: Aug 01, 2001
End Date: Jul 31, 2006

Objective:
The goals of this project are to: 1) develop an expression system to produce recombinant odorant-binding proteins (OBP) and, 2) develop a screening protocol for mosquito repellents and attractants based on binding activities of candidate compounds with OBP's.

Approach:
Most insects rely on chemical cues to guide their behavior. The molecules that constitute the chemical message must reach the dendrites of olfactory receptor neurons, and then activate specific receptors. In some insects it is known that OBP ferry ligands to their receptors, in the process protecting the chemical signals from odorant-degrading enzymes. The OBP play a significant part in the early events (peripheral receptor events) in insect olfaction by acting as a liaison between the external environment and the receptors, filtering out ligands and transporting only the biologically significant signals to their receptors. However, for mosquitoes the knowledge OBP is meager, which is retarding the search for new repellents and attractants using up-to-date molecular methodology. This project is aimed at isolating, characterizing, cloning, and expressing mosquito OBP, and using these OBP to develop a new strategy for screening of mosquito attractants and repellents.

Project Team

Klun, Jerome Walter Leal - Associate Professor, Dept. Of Entomology 301-504-9388

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002

Related National Programs

Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)