Cellular and molecular mechanisms of DEET toxicity and disease-carrying insect vectors: a review
- PDF / 1,206,047 Bytes
- 14 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 40 Downloads / 147 Views
Genes & Genomics https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-020-00991-z
REVIEW
Cellular and molecular mechanisms of DEET toxicity and disease‑carrying insect vectors: a review Bhanu Shrestha1,2 · Youngseok Lee1,2 Received: 18 July 2020 / Accepted: 20 August 2020 © The Genetics Society of Korea 2020
Abstract Background Several insects such as mosquitoes, flies, ticks, fleas, lice, and mites are known to serve as vectors for a vast number of pathogens. Many such vectors are hematophagous, and therefore introduce pathogens directly into the host’s bloodstream. Importantly, the capacity of these vectors to spread disease can lead to serious global health crises. Furthermore, crop damage can be exacerbated by pathogen infection and increased insect foraging due to recent global warming. Methods Our study categorized insect-associated damage into three groups: animal infection, plant infection, and direct crop damage due to insect foraging. To manage these problems, insect repellents and pesticides have been developed, among which DEET is the most broadly used and studied pest control agent. This review discusses the mode of action and possible mechanisms of DEET action, including olfactory and gustatory mechanisms and central nervous system impairment. Conclusion To protect humans from malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, zika, and filariasis, as well as to reduce economic losses associated with crop damage, considerably more efforts are needed to characterize the interactions between insects and insect repellents/pesticides to develop more potent pest control agents. Keywords Antifeedant · DEET · Insect · Pesticide · Repellent · Vector
Introduction Arthropods are well-known vectors of disease-causing agents such as viruses, Plasmodium, and others. Millions of deaths each year are attributable to disease-carrying insects such as mosquitoes and fleas. To ameliorate these outcomes, insect repellents have long been the mainstay for insect bite prevention. In the past, smoke, tar, plant oils, and various other remedies were used as insect repellents until a synthetic compound, DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), was developed by the US military in 1946. DEET began to be commercialized 10 years after its discovery and has since become the most widely used insect repellent to date.
* Youngseok Lee [email protected] 1
Interdisciplinary Program for Bio‑Health Convergence, Kookmin University, 77, Jeongneung‑ro, Seongbuk‑gu, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea
Department of Bio and Fermentation Convergence Technology, BK21 PLUS Project, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea
2
Moreover, direct DEET application on skin has been deemed safe and effective in humans. The use of insect repellents helps overcome the majority of pest-related problems worldwide. The most common insect pest control strategies consist of repelling them through the use of either volatile or non-volatile repellents. Specifically, DEET is the most common and widely used volatile pest control agent due to its low toxicity and longer stability
Data Loading...
