Bees play a crucial role not only in the global food supply but also in the maintenance of natural terrestrial ecosystems. Around thirty per cent of global agricultural systems are reliant on pollination by bees. However, these systems are currently under threat from microorganisms that include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses, as well as Arthropod pests such as the Small Hive Beetle. A selective pesticide that targets the pests but is safe for honeybees and also for vertebrates would be a valuable tool in efforts to protect honeybee colonies and the pollination industry.
In this regard, we are targeting a hormone binding protein in insects known as the ecdysone receptor protein for pesticide development. This receptor interacts with the pest hormone ecdysone to regulate its development, reproduction and behaviour. Disruption of this interaction by designed chemicals would significantly impair mite development and reproduction, meaning that such chemicals could be potent pesticide candidates. Also, because this receptor is absent from vertebrates and is also subtly different between insects, chemicals targeting this receptor would be safe for farm workers, consumers and also beneficial insects such as honeybees.
Our research aims to introduce a target-driven approach for parallel screening of chemical libraries against several ‘bad’ insects and honeybee ECRs. This approach will deliver lead compounds that can be developed into a commercial pesticide that offers a significant step towards sustainable global agricultural systems.