Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences
Research Advisor
Krishnan, Niranjana
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
FYRE, Missouri S&T Biological Sciences Department
Abstract
This project aims to determine why there is a significant difference in susceptibility to imidacloprid (IMI) between corn earworms (Helicoverpa zea) and fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda). Both species belong to the Lepidoptera order and Noctuidae family, but corn earworms are significantly more susceptible to IMI. In this study, three enzyme inhibitors were used to identify the metabolic pathways that both species of moth use to detoxify IMI from their system. The enzyme inhibitors were triphenyl phosphate (TPP) which inhibits esterase, piperonyl butoxide (PBO) which inhibits mixed-function oxidases and diethyl maleate (DEM) which inhibits transferase enzymes. In the first study, we reevaluated the toxicity of imidacloprid in the presence of enzyme inhibitors by topically exposing the larvae to both the insecticide and individual inhibitors. In the second study, we crushed the larvae and assessed the activity of the metabolizing enzymes in the presence and absence of inhibitors using standardized methods. The in vitro results were observed using colorimetric assays to measure enzymatic activity. The overall outcome from this study will be incorporated into a larger project to predict insect responses to pesticides, with implications in risk assessment and pest management.
Biography
Lexi Baiter is a senior in Environmental Science at Missouri S&T with an interest in toxicology and its impact on environmental health. She was raised by her parents in Herculaneum, Missouri, where she saw the impacts of lead contamination that plagued her community. This experience sparked her passion for helping others through her career and research. She serves others as a Resident Assistant at Thomas Jefferson Residential Hall, and in her free time she enjoys creating expressionistic paintings.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Award
Sciences – section 2 poster presentation, Third place
Location
Upper Atrium
Presentation Date
14 Apr 2022, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Enzyme Inhibitors and Insecticide Effect on Caterpillars
Upper Atrium
This project aims to determine why there is a significant difference in susceptibility to imidacloprid (IMI) between corn earworms (Helicoverpa zea) and fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda). Both species belong to the Lepidoptera order and Noctuidae family, but corn earworms are significantly more susceptible to IMI. In this study, three enzyme inhibitors were used to identify the metabolic pathways that both species of moth use to detoxify IMI from their system. The enzyme inhibitors were triphenyl phosphate (TPP) which inhibits esterase, piperonyl butoxide (PBO) which inhibits mixed-function oxidases and diethyl maleate (DEM) which inhibits transferase enzymes. In the first study, we reevaluated the toxicity of imidacloprid in the presence of enzyme inhibitors by topically exposing the larvae to both the insecticide and individual inhibitors. In the second study, we crushed the larvae and assessed the activity of the metabolizing enzymes in the presence and absence of inhibitors using standardized methods. The in vitro results were observed using colorimetric assays to measure enzymatic activity. The overall outcome from this study will be incorporated into a larger project to predict insect responses to pesticides, with implications in risk assessment and pest management.
Comments
Joint Project with Sage Wood