Molecular Basis of N,N-Diethyl-3-Methylbenzamide (DEET) in Repelling the Common Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius

Abstract

As the most extensively used chemical repellent, N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) displayed repellency to a wide range of insects, including the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius. While the neuronal or molecular basis involved in DEET's repellency have been majorly focused on mosquitos and fruit flies, DEET's repellency to the common bed bug is largely unreached. To gain new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms in DEET's repellency to the common bed bug, we characterized the neuronal response of bed bugs to DEET, identified the olfactory receptors targeted by DEET and demonstrated the interfering effect of DEET on bed bug's responses to human odorants. High doses of DEET were required for activating the olfactory receptor neurons in the sensilla of bed bugs and at least three DEET-sensitive receptors were functionally deciphered. These DEET-sensitive receptors presented even more sensitive to certain botanical terpenes/terpenoids which also displayed repellency at varying levels for bed bugs. In addition, DEET produced a blocking effect on the neuronal responses of bed bugs to specific human odors and showed inhibitory effect on the function of odorant receptors in responding to certain human odors. Taken together, our results indicate that DEET may function as a stimulus that triggers avoidance behaviors and a molecular “confusant” for interrupting the host odor recognition in the odorant receptors of bed bugs. The receptors that coincidently responded to both synthetic DEET and botanical terpenes/terpenoids suggested that DEET probably target on receptors that originally responded to terpenes/terpenoids. This study gave novel insight into the mechanisms of DEET's repellency to bed bugs and also provided valuable information for developing new reagents for bed bug control.

BdorOR88a Modulates the Responsiveness to Methyl Eugenol in Mature Males of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)

“…The oocyte microinjection and two-electrode voltage clamp recording were performed following published protocols (see Xu et al, 2014 ; Li et al, 2017 ; Liu F. et al, 2017 ). Briefly, mature healthy X. laevis oocytes (stage V–VII) were treated with 2 mg/ml of collagenase I (GIBCO, Carlsbad, CA, United States) in a washing buffer (96 mM NaCl, 5 mM MgCl2, 2 mM KCl, and 5 mM HEPES [pH = 7.6]) for ca.…”

Bioprospecting endophytic fungi for antifeedants and larvicides and their enhancement by gamma irradiation

“…Meanwhile, porphyrins are a group of heterocyclic macrocycle organic compounds with diverse biotechnological applications (Alves et al 2015 ) include their successful use as insecticides (Amor and Jori 2000 ). Interestingly, N-Diethyl-3-nitrobenzamide, from L. theobromae culture, is a derivative of the most extensively used chemical repellent, N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) displayed repellency to a wide range of insects, including kissing bug, fruit flies, mosquitos, the tropical bed bug and the common bed bug (Syed and Leal 2008 ; Terriquez et al 2013 ; Liu et al 2017 ). Also, the Diisooctyl-phthalate from L. theobromae culture is a phthalate derivative.…”

Behavioral Responses of the Common Bed Bug to Essential Oil Constituents

“…Information on the efficacy and use of repellents against bed bugs is limited. N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET), the most widely used insect repellent, has been evaluated using in vivo [ 15 ] and in vitro systems [ 14 , 16 , 17 ] providing greater efficacy and extended residual activity. However, there is a growing concern about the public’s negative perception about the impact of DEET on human health [ 18 ].…”