Abstract

The study deals with the chemical mechanisms by which insects interact with organisms in their environment. It is aimed at elucidating the chemical structure and biological function of substances that insects use for defense against enemies, communication with mates, and protection of offspring. Molecular characterization will be effected by modern analytical techniques (GC- and HPL-chromatography; mass-and nuclear- magnetic spectrometry); biological studies will involve field and laboratory bioassay, structural and ultrastructural studies of glands, and various techniques for elucidation of physiological functions. Insects are major vectors of disease. An understanding of how insects depend on natural products for regulation of their biotic interactions is of broad applied significance to both medicine and agriculture.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI002908-39
Application #
2429345
Study Section
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Study Section (TMP)
Project Start
1974-09-01
Project End
1999-05-31
Budget Start
1997-06-01
Budget End
1998-05-31
Support Year
39
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Cornell University
Department
Other Basic Sciences
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Ithaca
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14850

  Publications

Eisner, Thomas; Schroeder, Frank C; Snyder, Noel et al. (2008) Defensive Chemistry of Lycid Beetles and of Mimetic Cerambycid Beetles that Feed on Them. Chemoecology 18:109-119
Eisner, Thomas; Aneshansley, Daniel (2008) ""Anting"" in Blue Jays: evidence in support of a food-preparatory function. Chemoecology 18:197-203
Jantzen, Benjamin; Eisner, Thomas (2008) Hindwings are unnecessary for flight but essential for execution of normal evasive flight in Lepidoptera. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105:16636-40
Lee, Hyeunjoo; Finckbeiner, Steven; Yu, Jose S et al. (2007) Characterization of (E,E)-farnesol and its fatty acid esters from anal scent glands of nutria (Myocastor coypus) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-infrared spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 1165:136-43
Schroeder, Frank C; del Campo, Marta L; Grant, Jacqualine B et al. (2006) Pinoresinol: A lignol of plant origin serving for defense in a caterpillar. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103:15497-501
del Campo, Marta L; Smedley, Scott R; Eisner, Thomas (2005) Reproductive benefits derived from defensive plant alkaloid possession in an arctiid moth (Utetheisa ornatrix). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102:13508-12
Eisner, Thomas; Rossini, Carmen; Gonzalez, Andres et al. (2004) Chemical defense of an opilionid (Acanthopachylus aculeatus). J Exp Biol 207:1313-21
Bezzerides, Alexander; Yong, Tze-Hei; Bezzerides, Julie et al. (2004) Plant-derived pyrrolizidine alkaloid protects eggs of a moth (Utetheisa ornatrix) against a parasitoid wasp (Trichogramma ostriniae). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101:9029-32
Eisner, Thomas (2003) Chemical ecology: can it survive without natural products chemistry? Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100 Suppl 2:14517-8
Smedley, Scott R; Schroeder, Frank C; Weibel, Douglas B et al. (2002) Mayolenes: labile defensive lipids from the glandular hairs of a caterpillar (Pieris rapae). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99:6822-7

Showing the most recent 10 out of 67 publications