Haemolymph protein concentration of Scylla serrata : assessment of quantitative methods and intra-individual variability

Green synthesis of AgNP-ligand complexes and their toxicological effects on Nilaparvata lugens

BACKGROUND

Despite developments in nanotechnology for use in the pharmaceutical field, there is still a need for implementation of this technology in agrochemistry. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully prepared by a facile and an eco-friendly route using two different ligands, 2'-amino-1,1':4',1″-terphenyl-3,3″,5,5″-tetracarboxylic acid (H4L) and 1,3,6,8-tetrakis (p-benzoic acid)-pyrene (TBAPy), as reducing agents. The physiochemical properties of the as-obtained AgNPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The toxicity of H4L-AgNP and TBAPy-AgNP against the brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens) was also measured.

RESULTS

SEM and TEM analyses demonstrated the formation of quasi-spherical AgNP structures in the presence of H4L and TBAPy. Insecticidal assays showed that TBAPy is less effective against N. lugens, with a median lethal concentration (LC50) of 810 mg/L, while the toxicity of H4L increased and their LC50 reached 786 mg/L 168 h posttreatment at a high concentration of 2000 mg/L. H4L-AgNPs were also highly toxic at a low concentration of 20 mg/L, with LC50 =  ~ 3.9 mg/L 168 h posttreatment, while TBAPy-AgNPs exhibited less toxicity at the same concentration, with LC50 =  ~ 4.6 mg/L.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the synthesized AgNPs using the two ligands may be a safe and cheaper method compared with chemical insecticides for protection of rice plants from pests and has potential as an effective insecticide in the N. lugens pest management program.

Controlling Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens pallens using silver nanoparticles synthesized from aqueous extract of Cassia fistula fruit pulp and its mode of action

Mosquitoes act as key vector for transmission of devastating parasites and pathogens which affect millions of people globally. In this research, the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles of Cassia fistula fruit pulp as an innovative and operative tool against vector mosquitoes is presented. Silver nanoparticles were characterized by a series of techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscope and confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscope, UV-Vis spectrophotometry and X-ray diffraction. Silver nanoparticles were highly effective against the larvae (I-IV instar) and pupae of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens pallens after 24, 48 and 72 h of treatment. Ae. albopictus had LC50 values ranging from 8.3 mg/L (I instar) to 17.3 mg/L (pupae) and LC50 ranging from 1.1 mg/L (I instar) to 19.0 mg/L (pupae) against Cx. pipiens pallens. The systemic effect of AgNPs was further assessed in the fourth instar larvae of Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens pallens by measuring the levels of total proteins and activity of two important marker enzymes: Acetylcholinesterase and α- and β-carboxylesterase. Overall, the findings of the study suggest that the use of Cassia fistula-fruit pulp extract mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles can be used for controlling vector mosquitoes. This is the first report on the mosquito larvicidal and pupicidal activity of AgNPs synthesized by Cassia fistula fruit pulp and its possible mechanism of action.

Effects of Bacillus subtilis metabolites on larval Aedes aegypti L

The culture supernatant of a strain of Bacillus subtilis isolated from soil samples killed larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The metabolites produced by B. subtilis were characterized using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Mortality rate was dose-dependent for all larval instars of A. aegypti. Log probit analysis (95% confidence level) revealed an LC50 of 1.73 and an LC90 3.71μg/ml. Molecular weights/masses of B. subtilis metabolites were confirmed using SDS-PAGE analysis. B. subtilis metabolites were confirmed using HPLC analysis. We demonstrate that secondary metabolites from B. subtilis have larvicidal activity against A. aegypti and may be suitable for the control of this and other mosquito vectors of human disease. The larvae to the metabolites, significant reduction in the activities of acetylcholinesterse, α-carboxylesterase, and acid phosphatases were recorded.

Effects of extract of soapnut Sapindus emarginatus on esterases and phosphatases of the vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Our earlier investigations with kernels from the soapnut Sapindus emarginatus revealed it as a new source of botanical biocide with potent antimosquito activity, as evident from the proven unique ability of the aqueous kernel extract to kill all the developmental stages of three important vector mosquito species, Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus. This extract was also found to be safe for two non-target aquatic insects. As a sequel to these findings, we have further examined quantitative and qualitative changes in total proteins, esterases, and phosphatases in whole body homogenates of fourth instar larvae and pupae of A. aegypti exposed to this extract at an appropriate threshold time for its lethal effect to gain insights into the impact of the botanical biocide on biochemical characteristics of the target vector mosquito at two distinct developmental stages. The profiles of proteins, esterases (acetylcholinesterse, α- and β-carboxylesterases), and phosphatases (acid and alkaline) exhibited distinct patterns of variation during normal development of fourth instar larvae and pupae, indicating intrinsic difference in biochemical features between these two developmental stages of A. aegypti. Upon exposure of the larvae to the extract, significant reduction in the activities of acetylcholinesterse, β-carboxylesterase, and acid phosphatases were recorded, whereas the total proteins, α-carboxylesterase and alkaline phosphatase activities were unaffected. By contrast, only alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly affected in pupae exposed to the extract. Analysis of these enzymes in native PAGE revealed that they exist in isoforms in both the larvae and pupae. The alterations in the levels of enzymatic activities observed from the quantitative assays of various enzymes were reflected by the respective zymograms with perceptible differences in the intensity and the number of bands detected especially with β-carboxylesterase, acid and alkaline phosphatase activity between the control and exposed test organisms. Despite the fact that the soapnut kernel extract causes mortality of both the larvae and pupae of A. aegypti, the findings of this study demonstrate that the impact of this extract is most pronounced in various enzyme profiles of the larvae rather than the pupae. Such discrepancy implicates the presence of unique biochemical mechanisms in the pupae of mosquito for detoxification of botanical biocides.