S. Bradleigh Vinson | Texas A&M University - Estados Unidos

• Grant number: 05/00452-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: May 09, 2005
• End date: May 15, 2005
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Luis Cônsoli
• Grantee: Fernando Luis Cônsoli
• Visiting researcher: S. Bradleigh Vinson
• Visiting researcher institution: Texas A&M University, United States
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The host-parasitoid physiological interactions have been suggested to be a potential source of molecules to aid in the development and improvement of new insect control strategies. Parasitoids developed a variety of strategies to regulate the host physiology as a mechanism to manipulate the host nutritional value to their own benefit. The strategies developed to regulate the host physiology affect a number of physiological and endocrine processes related to the host immune response, growth, nutrient absorption, protein synthesis, metabolism and nutrient allocation. Regulation of all of these processes is obtained through the inoculation or secretion of specific regulatory molecules by the parasitoid female or the developing parasitoid larva. Specific cell types and symbiotic virus particles associated to the developing parasitoid are also a source of regulatory substances, and can affect the host gene expression. Therefore, all of the host regulatory mechanisms employed by insect parasitoids are a reliable source of molecules that can control insect growth and development. The identification and characterization of such mechanisms will allow the discovery of new molecules, metabolic pathways and/or target sites that could lead to the development and improvement of insect pest control management. (AU)