Induction of mortality on Nasutitermes corniger (Isoptera, Termitidae) by Myracrodruon urundeuva heartwood lectin

Insecticide Activity of Lectins and Secondary Metabolites

“…The first report of toxic effect of a lectin against termites was the insecticidal activity of MuHL against N. corniger. When concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg ml -1 of this lectin were used, it promoted mortality of termites with LC 50 values of 0.248 mg ml -1 for workers and 0.199 mg ml -1 for soldiers (Sá et al, 2008). That study suggested that resistance of the heartwood to termite attack may be linked to termiticidal activity of MuHL.…”

“…Lectins have deleterious effects against larvae, developing stages and mature forms of insects from orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Lepidoptera and Neuroptera (Murdock et al, 1990;Eisemann et al, 1994;Powell et al, 1995;Zhu-Salzman et al, 1998;Bandyopadhyay et al, 2001;Isidro et al, 2001;Hogervorst et al, 2006;Kaur et al, 2006;Coelho et al, 2007;Macedo et al, 2007;Fitches et al, 2008;Sá et al, 2008;Coelho et al, 2009;Sá et al, 2009c;Silva et al, 2009;Napoleão et al, 2011;Souza et al, 2011b). Insecticide activity of lectin is generally evaluated by bioassays that incorporate the lectin into artificial diets offered to insects, with insects dying from nutritional deprivation.…”

Protein Purification by Affinity Chromatography

“…The three lectins showed termiticidal activity against Nasutitermes corniger and insecticidal effect on fourth-stage larvae of A. aegypti (Sá et al, 2008;Sá et al, 2009b;Napoleão et al, 2011a;Napoleão et al, 2011b).…”

Termiticidal lectins from Myracrodruon urundeuva (Anacardiaceae) cause midgut damage when ingested by Nasutitermes corniger (Isoptera: Termitidae) workers

“…Lectins isolated from the bark (MuBL), heartwood (MuHL) and leaves (MuLL) of Myracrodruon urundeuva , a hardwood tree native to Brazilian Caatinga, showed insecticidal activity against workers of the termite Nasutitermes corniger . It was suggested that MuHL plays a role in the resistance of M. urundeuva heartwood to biodeterioration . Initial studies on the action mechanisms of these lectins showed that they were resistant to incubation with N. corniger worker gut proteases and were able to impair the growth and survival of termite gut symbionts .…”