• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2009

Juvenile hormone (JH) is an insect hormone mediating immature metamorphosis and adult reproduction. It also mediates immune responses to suppress hemocyte behavior, which is, however, activated by ecdysteroid. This study investigated an effect of a commercial pyriproxyfen (a JH agonist) formulation on a cellular immune response of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, and analysed its mixture with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in insecticidal potency. The commercial pyriproxyfen formulation significantly suppressed hemocyte-spreading behavior at low doses as did in pyriproxyfen technical grade. When the commercial pyriproxyfen formulation was mixed with Bt, Bt toxicity was significantly increased against P. xylostella larvae in laboratory. The mixture effect was then confirmed in field cultivating cabbage infested with P. xylostella larvae. The mixture showed a significantly enhanced mortality and reduced effective lethal time, compared to only Bt treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.164-170
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• 2007

The concept of innate immunity in insects which refers to the first line of host defense constitutes the humoral and cellular components which are involved in recognition and actively participate in the elimination of the intruding foreign micro- or macro-organisms. Several recent studies suggest that juvenile hormone (JH) modulates the cellular immune reactions in response to pathogen. In this study, pyriproxyfen (a JH agonist as an insect growth regulator) was tested in its any inhibitory effect on the immune reactions of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua. To this end, five different hemocyte morphotypes of final instar S. exigua were identified by phase contrast microscopy. Plasmatocytes and granular cells, which constitute about 90% of the total hemocyte count, were prominently distinguished based on their basophilic/acidophilic nature using Giemsa stain. The role of pyriproxyfen on the functional ability of hemocytes was analyzed using FITC-labeled Providencia vermicola for the phagocytic potential of the hemocytes. Both granular cells and plasmatocytes exhibited phagocytosis behavior. Pyriproxyfen significantly inhibited the phagocytosis of both cell types, proposing its novel action as an immunosuppressant.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2004

Non-spinning syndrome of Bombyx mori has been serious issue in sericulture industry near Kyungbuk area. This study was focused on the analysis of the mechanism and on screening candidate chemicals inducing the anti-metamorphosis of the silkworms. Rearing temperatures or initial body weight of the final instar larvae did not affect a normal larval to pupal metamorphosis of B. mori. However, pyriproxyfen (a juvenile hormone (JH) agonist) induced follicle patency significantly even at its 10$\^$-8/ M concentration and inhibited metamorphosis of B. mori in both developmental time and dose dependent manners. Pyriproxyfen induced JH esterase (JHE) activity and downregulated expression of JH binding protein of 5. mori. These results suggests that pyriproxyfen induced JHE activity as a JH agonist and that the elevated JHE activity degraded endogenous JH and resulted in JHBP gene expression. Based on the fact that the JH agonist induced follicle patency and inhibited metamorphosis of B. mori, follicle patency bioassay suggested that three commercial pesticides including simazine, molinate or alachlor were proved to give potent JH agonistic effect on B. mori. Further direct exposure experiments to these candidates are required to determine the chemicals responsible for the non-spinning syndrome of 8. mori.