insect growth regulators and spinosyns which are physiologically and ecologically selective, respectively, have been investigated as replacements or complements to non-selective conventional insecticides. the effects of diflubenzuron, hexaflumuron, profenofos, spinosad and thiodicarb were assessed on the 1st instars of cotton bollworm, helicoverpa armigera (hã¼bner) using dietary and leaf disc ...

Chitin, the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature, occurs in fungi, some algae and many invertebrates, including insects. Thus, chitin synthesis and degradation could represent specific targets for fungicides and insecticides. Chitinases hydrolyze chitin into oligomers of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine at key points in the life cycles of organisms, consequently, chitinase inhibitors have become...

Chitin and β-glucan are major cell wall components of Aspergillus spp. We investigated the antifungal activity of chitin synthesis inhibitors nikkomycin Z, polyoxin D, flufenoxuron, lufenuron, and teflubenzuron, alone and combined with the β-glucan synthesis inhibitor caspofungin. Only nikkomycin Z and caspofungin were found to act synergistically. The nikkomycin Z-induced chitin decrease corre...

In vitro testing of Aspergillus fumigatus susceptibility to echinocandins has always been a challenge. Using a simple and quick colorimetric method to analyze the activity of inhibitors of β-1,3-glucan synthesis, we found that the composition of the culture medium significantly influences glucan synthesis and consequently the antifungal properties of inhibitors of β-1,3-glucan synthesis when th...

In the course of our antifungal screening programme, we have devised an efficient screening system for chitin synthesis inhibitors. Considering this as a therapeutic target, the fungal cell wall has a promising unique layer that fulfills the criteria for selective toxicity1^ The major structural cell wall components of many medically important yeasts, filamentous fungi, and dimorphic fungi cons...

Chitin synthesis inhibitors are successfully used in pest control and an excellent option for integrated management programs due to their low non-target effects. However, field-evolved resistance of lepidopteran pests chitin the selection laboratory-resistant strains these products has been already reported. Therefore, support efficient it is necessary expand knowledge on mechanisms potential m...

The fungal cell wall represents an attractive target for pharmacologic inhibition, as many of the components are fungal-specific. Though targeted inhibition of β-glucan synthesis is effective treatment for certain fungal infections, the ability of the cell wall to dynamically compensate via the cell wall integrity pathway may limit overall efficacy. To date, chitin synthesis inhibitors have not...

Combinations of nikkomycin X (NX) or nikkomycin Z (NZ), known inhibitors of chitin synthesis in fungi, together with papulacandin B (PB), an inhibitor of beta-glucan synthesis, were tested for synergistic activity against four isolates of Candida albicans by using the broth microdilution checkerboard technique and a method to assess the regeneration of cell wall material in protoplasts. The con...

Chitin synthases (CHS) produce chitin, an essential component of the fungal cell wall. The molecular mechanism of processive chitin synthesis is not understood, limiting the discovery of new inhibitors of this enzyme class. We identified the bacterial glycosyltransferase NodC as an appropriate model system to study the general structure and reaction mechanism of CHS. A high throughput screening...