Inventors:
Michael E. Scharf - Gainesville FL, US
Xuguo Zhou - High Springs FL, US
Faith M. Oi - Gainesville FL, US
Marsha M. Wheeler - Gainesville FL, US
Assignee:
University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Gainesville FL
International Classification:
A01N 43/16
A01N 33/18
A01N 43/50
Abstract:
A method, composition and system for controlling termites wherein single carbohydrate-based compounds are used as both cellulase inhibitors and feeding stimulants. Di-saccharides, cellobioimidazole (CBI), fluoro-methyl cellobiose (FMCB), and mono-saccharides, fluoro-methyl glucose (FMG) and analogs thereof inhibit termite cellulose digestion, which leads to starvation or stimulates termite feeding to cause mortality. CBI, FMCB and FMG were tested against enzyme fractions that represented endogenous (foregut/salivary gland/midgut) and symbiotic (hindgut) termite cellulases in vitro and in vivo. Feeding stimulation by di-saccharides results in greater cellulase inhibitor intake throughout midrange concentrations (1 mM-10 mM), which is associated with significant termite mortality. In contrast, the monosaccharide inhibitor, FMG did not stimulate feeding, but did inhibit feeding at concentrations above 1 mM, causing mortality. With modification to create longer β-glycosidic chain lengths, the cellulase inhibitors identified herein can also be targeted to endoglucanase activity for increased efficacy and use as novel termite control compositions.