D3117: Investigating olfactory sensitivity of Lepidoptera and Diptera to streptomyces derived volatiles

Streptomyces bacteria produce bioactive secondary metabolites which have been used by the pharmaceutical industry as a major source of antibiotics. However, there are a myriad of additional Streptomyces-derived volatiles which may provide novel methods for insect pest control. Well-documented metabolites such as geosmin elicit strong repellent and attractant behavior from several pest insect species. In this study, a series of volatile metabolites identified from Streptomyces samples were tested against insect species with different life histories to compare electrophysiological responses. Using Gas Chromatography-linked Electroantennographic Detection (GC-EAD) the olfactory sensitivity of the following species were analysed: Drosophila melanogaster, Heliothis virescens, Heliocoverpa zea, Plutella xylostella and Aedes aegypti. Despite having different life histories, multiple species shared similar sensitivity to the same Streptomyces-derived compounds. This could be a potential indicator that Streptomyces microbial metabolites elicit highly conserved behavioural responses from a variety of pest species. To determine if compounds generate an attractant or repellant activity from individual insect species, future studies will investigate the behavioral relevance of these compounds. Understanding the function of Streptomyces volatiles in a comparative fashion, will enable new insights into insect-microbe interactions and the prospect for development of novel pest control tools.