Contribution to integrated studies for leaf-cutting ants control: obtaining natural products from microorganisms and plants, optimizing active natural products production and developing new complexes from natural products-metals

• Grant number: 17/06232-1
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal researcher: Paulo Cézar Vieira
• Grantee: Eli Fernando Pimenta
• Home Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/25299-6 - Integrated studies for leaf cutting control, AP.TEM

Abstract

The predatory power of leaf-cutting ants and their power to transform the soil have been known for centuries. The use of plants for the control of ants is known to farmers and can be better explored using chemosystematic knowledge of plants. Obtaining natural products from plants or microorganisms with potential insecticidal or fungicidal action on the nest of leaf-cutting ants, as well as synthetic analogues and modes of applications and actions, and their determinations are the general objectives of the project. The participation in the execution of the project, as a post doctor, aims to contribute to its development, counting with the contribution of doctors with experiences that can broaden the intended results and mainly complete the training of candidates for scholarships. The candidate for the scholarship, Dr. Eli Fernando Pimenta, will focus on the fungus and yeast culture of Atta Sexdens rubopilosa for large-scale production of active natural products, to study the biosynthesis of active compounds, and obtain new complexes with metals for to increase the insecticidal or fungicidal activity of natural metals products (Metalo-insecticides luminescentes inteligentes), and to know the mechanisms of actions and their active sites, to evaluate the aquatic toxicity on the fish "paulistinha" (Brachdanio rerio) and acute to the luminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri, and search for natural products in plants of the order Sapindales in high scale for complexations. (AU)