Assessment of species specificity of moulting accelerating compounds in Lepidoptera: comparison of activity between Bombyx mori and Spodoptera littoralis by in vitro reporter and in vivo toxicity assays

作者：Soin Thomas; De Geyter Ellen; Mosallanejad Hadi; Iga Masatoshi; Martin David; Ozaki Shunsuke; Kitsuda Shigeki; Harada Toshiyuki; Miyagawa Hisashi; Stefanou Dimitra; Kotzia Georgia; Efrose Rodica; Labropoulou Vassiliki; Geelen Danny; Iatrou Kostas; Nakagawa Yoshiaki; Janssen Colin R; Smagghe Guy; Swevers Luc^*

来源：Pest Management Science, 2010, 66(5): 526-535.

DOI：10.1002/ps.1903

• ecdysone agonist
• moulting accelerating compound
• Bombyx mori
• Spodoptera littoralis
• insect growth regulator
• lepidopteran cell line

BACKGROUND: Dibenzoylhydrazine analogues have been developed successfully as a new group of insect growth regulators, called ecdysone agonists or moulting accelerating compounds. A notable feature is their high activity against lepidopteran insects, raising the question as to whether species-specific analogues can be isolated. In this study, the specificity of ecdysone agonists was addressed through a comparative analysis in two important lepidopterans, the silkworm Bombyx mori L. and the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.).
RESULTS: When collections of non-steroidal ecdysone agonists containing different mother structures (dibenzoylhydrazine, acylaminoketone, tetrahydroquinoline) were tested, in vitro reporter assays showed minor differences using cell lines derived from both species. However, when compounds with high ecdysone agonist activity were examined in toxicity assays, larvicidal activity differed considerably. Of note was the identification of three dibenzoylhydrazine analogues with >100-fold higher activity against Bombyx than against Spodoptera larvae.
CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that species-specific ecdysone-agonist-based insecticides can be developed, but their species specificity is not based on differences in the activation of the ecdysone receptor but rather on unidentified in vivo parameters such as permeability of the cuticle, uptake/excretion by the gut or metabolic detoxification.

• 出版日期2010-5