New Pheromone Bioassay and Spider Trap Testing
Department
Chemistry
Major
Chemistry and Biological Sciences
Research Advisor
Shi, Honglan
Advisor's Department
Chemistry
Funding Source
Ozark Biomedical Initiative (OBI), OURE
Abstract
Brown recluse spider (BRS) bites can lead to deep wounds persisting for months, blood loss that can be severe enough to need treatment in intensive care units, and can be life-threatening for children. Our research team has been investigating the sexual pheromones of BRS in order to develop enhanced spider traps capable of more effectively targeting BRS. We have applied ultra-sensitive solid-phase microextraction (SPME) sampling techniques to sample the headspace of BRS containers. These samples were then analyzed using GC-MS to identify the chemicals which were emitted by BRS. Dozens of BRS have been tested, including juveniles, adult males, adult females that do not attract males, and adult females that do attract males, to develop a thorough understanding of the chemicals and semiochemicals emitted by the various types of spiders. Several potential semiochemicals have been identified via this method. A new testing chamber was also developed to allow a more accurate biological assay in order to better observe the effects of these specific chemicals, as well as future potential semiochemicals, on the behavior of the spiders.
Biography
Zachary Foulks is a junior undergraduate at Missouri S&T majoring in both Chemistry and Biological Sciences. He has been involved in research with Dr. Honglan Shi's research group for 2 years, and he plans to pursue an MD/PhD degree once he graduates.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Award
Sciences poster session, First place
Location
Upper Atrium
Presentation Date
16 Apr 2019, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
New Pheromone Bioassay and Spider Trap Testing
Upper Atrium
Brown recluse spider (BRS) bites can lead to deep wounds persisting for months, blood loss that can be severe enough to need treatment in intensive care units, and can be life-threatening for children. Our research team has been investigating the sexual pheromones of BRS in order to develop enhanced spider traps capable of more effectively targeting BRS. We have applied ultra-sensitive solid-phase microextraction (SPME) sampling techniques to sample the headspace of BRS containers. These samples were then analyzed using GC-MS to identify the chemicals which were emitted by BRS. Dozens of BRS have been tested, including juveniles, adult males, adult females that do not attract males, and adult females that do attract males, to develop a thorough understanding of the chemicals and semiochemicals emitted by the various types of spiders. Several potential semiochemicals have been identified via this method. A new testing chamber was also developed to allow a more accurate biological assay in order to better observe the effects of these specific chemicals, as well as future potential semiochemicals, on the behavior of the spiders.
