Discovery and development of novel repellents against Aedes aegypti

• Grant number: 17/08688-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: June 01, 2018
• End date: May 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Molecular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Edson Katekawa
• Grantee: Edson Katekawa
• Company: Chemyunion Ltda
• CNAE: Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais
• Associated researchers: Bianca da Silva Sufi

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, vector borne diseases are responsible for over 17% of all infectious diseases and cause over 1 million deaths worldwide each year. Aedes aegypti is one of the most prevalent vectors; it may infect over 2.5 billion humans in over 100 countries. In Brazil, up to the 2016 Epidemiologic Week 49, almost 1% of the Brazilian population had zika, dengue or chikungunya fever, and 774 deaths were recorded.From the personal protection view by use of repellents, Anvisa recommends three chemical substances: DEET, IR3535 and icaridin, besides citronella oil. However, several studies indicate that insects may develop some kind of behavioral adaptation or resistance when exposed to chemical agents. Hence, new repellent development for populational protection against insects has a fundamental role in the public health management.The objective of this project is to discover and develop new substances for use as insect repellent, especially against Aedes aegypti, using molecular modelling and computational simulation methods associated to in vitro efficacy testing. (AU)