Chemical, Insecticidal, and Antibiotic Properties of Fire Ant Venom

Blum, Murray S.; Walker, J. Robert; Callahan, Philip S.; Novak, Arthur F.

doi:10.1126/science.128.3319.306-b

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Since previous studies on chemical constituents of fire ants ( Solenopsis spp. ) and their biological activities, − especially antimicrobial properties, − have focused on 2,6-dialkylpiperidine derivatives (such as solenopsins and dehydrosolenopsins), the identification of these new piperideine alkaloids in fire ants is significant, and these compounds may possess interesting biological activities.…”

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confidence: 99%

Synthesis and Antifungal Activity of Natural Product-Based 6-Alkyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridines

et al. 2011

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Seven 6-alkyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridines (5a–5g) that mimic the natural piperideines that were recently identified in the fire ant venom have been synthesized. Compounds 5c–5g with the C-6 alkyl chain lengths from C14 to C18 showed varying degrees of antifungal activities, with 5e (6-hexadecyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridine) and 5f (6-heptadecyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridine) being the most active. Compound 5e exhibited minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) of 3.8, 15.0, 7.5, and 7.5 μg/mL against Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida krusei, respectively. The antifungal activities of these compounds appear to be associated with the C-6 side chain length. This study represents the first effort to evaluate antifungal activities of synthetic analogs of the newly identified fire ant venom alkaloids.

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confidence: 99%

Synthesis and Antifungal Activity of Natural Product-Based 6-Alkyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridines

et al. 2011

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“…These ants produce a complex venom, consisting of alkaloids and peptides [29][30][31][32]. Extracts of the venom alkaloids have shown promising results as an antimicrobial [26,[33][34][35]. The venom consists of two groups of structurally similar alkaloids: piperidines and piperideines [26,30,31].…”

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confidence: 99%

Fire Ant Venom Alkaloids: Possible Control Measure for Soilborne and Foliar Plant Pathogens

et al. 2021

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate fire ant venom alkaloids and an alarm pheromone analog against several plant pathogens, including Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, Phytophthora nicotianae, P. cryptogea, Pseudomonas syringae, Phytopythium citrinum, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotonia rolfsii, Xanthomonas axonopodis, and X. campestris. All pathogens were tested against red imported fire ant venom alkaloid extract and alarm pheromone compound for growth inhibition in in vitro assay. The venom alkaloid extract inhibited fungal and oomycete pathogens. Neither of the treatments were effective against bacterial pathogens. Three soilborne pathogens, P. nicotianae, R. solani, F. oxysporum, and one foliar pathogen, B. cinerea were selected for further in-vivo assays on impatiens (Impatiens walleriana ‘Super Elfin XP violet’). Total plant and root weight were higher in venom alkaloid treated plants compared to an inoculated control. The venom alkaloid treatment reduced damping-off, root rot severity, and pathogen recovery in soilborne pathogen inoculated plants. Similarly, venom alkaloid reduced Botrytis blight. However, higher venom rates caused foliar phytotoxicity on plants. Therefore, additional work is needed to evaluate rates of venom alkaloids or formulations to eliminate negative impacts on plants. Overall, these results suggest that red imported fire ant venom alkaloids may provide a basis for new products to control soilborne and foliar plant pathogens.

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Lethality of Red Imported Fire Ant Venom to Argentine Ants and Other Ant Species

Greenberg¹,

Kabashima²,

Allison³

et al. 2008

Annals of the Entomological Society of America

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Using natural venom collected from the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, we determined the dose of venom necessary to kill 50% of the workers (LD50) of Argentine ants, Linepithema humile (Mayr), and several other ant species that the fire ant may encounter in California. Of the species tested, the Argentine ant was most susceptible to the venom. On a weight-adjusted basis the red imported fire ant was 330 times more resistant to the venom than the Argentine ant. In addition, the native southern fire ant, Solenopsis xyloni McCook, was significantly more susceptible to the venom than S. invicta. Formica perpilosa Wheeler was most resistant to the venom when the LD50 was not adjusted for weight, requiring a dose 684 times higher than that of the Argentine ant. When we tested synthetic venom (solenopsin A, which is the main component of S. xyloni venom) against the Argentine ant, the LD50 value was unchanged. However, both S. invicta and S. xyloni were ≈6 times more susceptible to the synthetic compound than to natural venom. Therefore, S. invicta venom is less toxic to fire ants while being just as toxic to Argentine ants as the simpler, more primitive venom of S. xyloni. Fire ant gaster flagging and venom dabbing applies enough venom to the Argentine ant to be lethal and may help explain the superior interference competition shown by the red imported fire ant.

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Chemical, Insecticidal, and Antibiotic Properties of Fire Ant Venom

Cited by 3 publications

References 3 publications

Synthesis and Antifungal Activity of Natural Product-Based 6-Alkyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridines

Synthesis and Antifungal Activity of Natural Product-Based 6-Alkyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridines

Fire Ant Venom Alkaloids: Possible Control Measure for Soilborne and Foliar Plant Pathogens

Lethality of Red Imported Fire Ant Venom to Argentine Ants and Other Ant Species

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