Structural Activity of Bovidic Acid and Related Compounds as Feeding Deterrents against Aedes aegypti

Natural products present in preferred and non-preferred animal hosts of biting insects can exhibit interesting semiochemical properties. Recently, a novel fatty acid compound that acts as a feeding deterrent for blood sucking insects was identified from the gaur (Bos frontalis). In our laboratory we have prepared analogues of this novel fatty acid and explored their structure activity relationships to understand the molecular and stereochemical properties that may be responsible for the observed repellent or deterrent effect of these compounds. These hydroxy furanoid fatty acid analogues were evaluated against Aedes aegypti (L.) mosquitoes and results indicate that this may generate class of topical repellents for use against insects that transmit pathogens to humans.