Chemical communication between Piper species and Eois species

• Grant number: 19/06875-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: May 01, 2019
• End date: March 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Agreement: NSF - Dimensions of Biodiversity and BIOTA
• Principal Investigator: Massuo Jorge Kato
• Grantee: Thiago Andrade Franco
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/50316-7 - Dimensions US-Biota São Paulo: Chemically mediated multi-trophic interaction diversity across tropical gradients, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

The project aims to investigate the insect-plant interaction between Eois moths and Piper species, with an emphasis on the characterization of olfactory proteins (ORs, OBPs, CSPs, IRs, GRs) involved in the attraction and recognition of host plants. The investigation of the transcriptome of the Eois sp antennas will allow the selection of olfactory receptors that will be functionally characterized through gene silencing by the RNA interference technique of the olfactory co-receptor and / or of some specific receptor, followed by behavioral and electrophysiological studies. This reverse approach is an innovative aspect that may contribute to describing the mechanisms of the specificity of interactions.