Marsha Huffman Wheeler

US Patent:

20080107619, May 8, 2008

Filed:

Oct 18, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/975314

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

US Classification:

424 84

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.

US Patent:

7968525, Jun 28, 2011

Filed:

Nov 26, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/324312

Inventors:

Michael E. Scharf - Gainesville FL, US
Xuguo Zhou - Lexington KY, US
Faith M. Oi - Gainesville FL, US
Marsha M. Wheeler - Urbana IL, US
Matthew R. Tarver - Gainesville FL, US
Monique R. Coy - Gainesville FL, US

Assignee:

University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Gainesville FL

International Classification:

A61K 31/70
C07H 21/02
C07H 21/04
C12Q 1/68

US Classification:

514 44A, 435375, 536 231, 536 241, 536 245

Abstract:

Methods, matrix compositions and kits for increasing the mortality of termites () and interfering with termite development using RNA interference techniques to target cellulase, lignocellulase, hexamerin, broad, farnesoic acid methyl transferase, cytochrome P450 and vitellogenin activity are provided.