Biotechnology Controls Insects Causing Human Diseases

Controlling pest insects has become more difficult due to emerging insect resistance to chemical pesticides and the introduction of invasive insect species. The insecticidal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) provide an alternative to chemical pesticides by their deployment in crop plants and biopesticides. Basic research by UGA entomologists on how Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) kills pest insects is relevant to both agricultural pest insects and insects that vector human disease. Corn and cotton engineered to produce insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry proteins has greatly reduced the number of chemical pesticide applications. While managing the threat of insects becoming resistant to Bt Cry proteins has mostly been successful, the emergence of corn rootworm, fall armyworm and possibly cotton bollworm resistant to Bt crops is a serious threat to the long-term use of this in the United States and globally. Mosquitoes vector major human diseases including malaria, dengue and Zika viruses and West Nile virus. Research investigated the action of the insecticidal toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and Lysinibacillus sphaericus (Lsph) against larvae of mosquito species. Because the Lysph bacterium is highly toxic to Culex mosquitoes that vector West Nile virus and lymphatic filiarisis, it has been widely used as a biopesticide against Culex larvae.Researchers collaborated to investigate strategies for improving Lysph activity against Culex mosquitoes.The larval stage of pest insects remains an attractive target for use of insecticidal proteins derived from Bt and other insect pathogens. UGA research yielded insights into how this group of toxins functions to kill pest insects. Their long-term goal is to apply this information to designing novel proteins for insect control. Hundreds of undergraduates were educated about the role of insects in emerging and orphan human diseases. They were taught to understand the impact of such diseases in an increasingly global society. Students learned about innovative technologies for developing therapeutics and managing pest insects in the context of global human challenges. The impact is that these individuals are more aware that new technologies are needed to better human food security and human health and they need to be involved as citizen scientists.