E-learning capsule: “Towards Safe and Selective Insecticides. Development of Safe and Selective Insecticides: current status and future advances”

https://sites.google.com/view/cyptox-training-design/home

Introduction & Objectives: Some of the most acute challenges that the world faces now and in the foreseeable future are caused by insects and mites that seriously threaten human health and food security. Their control is primarily achieved by the use of insecticides: for example, malaria prevalence has halved since 2000, saving 660 million lives, with 80% of the reduction being attributable to the use of insecticides. However, both the limited availability of low risk insecticides and insecticide resistance represent a major threat, and there is an urgent need to develop new insecticides. CypTox will apply biotechnology excellence to exploit the cytochrome P450 (CYP) metabolic/detoxification pathway of target and non-target organisms, to develop novel insecticides, efficient against selected insect & mite major pests and vectors, but are highly selective and safe for mammals, pollinators and the environment. Outcomes will also include biotechnology-based platforms (high-throughput cell/enzyme- screening assays and in silico pipelines), in line and beyond Pharma state of the art, that will advance research capabilities, for future developments of low risk insecticides. CypTox will provide excellent research training within a creative and flexible environment that actively promotes the integration of academic rigor and commercial pragmatism through mobility between sectors and focused training events. The size and balance of a highly motivated consortium (6 academics/6 industrial in EU and 3 TC partners; 300 well distributed secondments), the involvement of experienced PIs in Horizon 2020 and ERC projects and the modern communication, dissemination and exploitation approaches of CypTox will ensure efficient implementation and impact, at several levels. Enhanced career perspectives for scientists and researchers will be achieved by building on a sustainable multidisciplinary and inter-sectoral network in a wide range of fields, with the integration of world leading researchers and stakeholders. Overarching Objective of the CypTox is to exploit the primary P450-based metabolic pathway of target and non-target organisms, for the development of highly selective, safe insecticides and new resistance breaking formulations, to improve the efficiency and sustainability of pests and vector control.

Current phase of the project: Year 2, mid term meeting, before the 24 Mo review.

Secondments progress: A total of 15 secondments visits have been performed so far.

Training Events progress: A total of 2 training events (1 Workshop, 1 Practical Course) have been performed so far.

Technical progress: The following activities have already been delivered: (1) Curated CYPs and comparative phylogenetic trees, (2) Correlation matrix of CYP expression/phenotype & metabolic signatures, (3) Novel recombinant enzyme prototype formulations, (4) Chemical structures and leads likely to interact with P450s. Significant progress has been made at the technical level for all WPs of the project.

21st of September 2022

The CypTox Workshop: Personal Career Development Plan will take place on the 21st of September 2022 at IMBB-FORTH with physical attendance only.

The agenda of the Workshop is available here (pdf).

22nd of September 2022

The CypTox Practical Course: Enzyme Biotechnology– CYP applications will take place on the 22nd of September 2022 at IMBB-FORTH with physical attendance only.

The agenda of the Practical Course is available here (pdf).

23rd of September 2022 

The CypTox Mid-Term-Meeting will take place on the 23rd of September 2022 at IMBB-FORTH with option of virtual participation (hybrid meeting). The main objectives of the meeting will be to:

-Review tasks and activities (in preparation of EU Report).
-Clarify technical and/or managerial issues.
-Define action plan for next period.

The agenda of the Mid-Term-Meeting is available here (pdf).

Kickoff Agenda of CypTox

Tweets by Cyp_Tox

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the grant agreement No 101007917

Overview of CypTox planned Secondments

FORTH-IMBB

Project Coordinator: John Vontas
Website: https://www.aua.gr/vontas
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: +30 2105294545 (office)

Agendas

The agenda of the Mid-Term-Meeting is available here

The agenda of the Practical Course is available here

The agenda of the Workshop is available here

Flyers

Accelerate your innovation and career!

Updated information on Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Staff Exchanges can be found here

Publications

1. The Role of Cytochrome P450s in Insect Toxicology and Resistance.

Link to Repository:

https://zenodo.org/record/5902546#.Yxr-13ZBxaQ

Link to Publisher:

https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-ento-070621-061328

2. Functionally characterized arthropod pest and pollinator cytochrome P450s associated with xenobiotic metabolism.

Link to Repository:

https://zenodo.org/record/5903059#.YxsFUnZBxaR

Link to Publisher:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048357521002364

Educational Videos (CypTox)

Towards Safe and Selective Insecticides. Development of Safe and Selective Insecticides: current status and future advances

https://sites.google.com/view/cyptox-training-design/home

Educational Videos (SuperPests, DMC-MAVEC)

DMC-Malvec - Game Videos

SuperPests educational videos and quizzes in the open pedagogic platform MOODLE

SuperPests educational videos in Youtube:

E-learning unit 1A: Pesticide resistance mechanisms of arthropods- Part A 

E-learning unit 1B: Pesticide resistance mechanisms of arthropods- Part B

E-learning unit 2: Plant resistance to arthropods

E-learning unit 3: Molecular diagnostics of insecticide resistance

E-learning unit 4: Models of predator / prey / plants interactions

All videos

 Acknowledgements for SuperPests educational videos and pedagogic platform

Scientific Coordination

E-learning units 1A and 1B: MS. Tixier (SupAgro), and A. Tsakgarakou (DIMITRA)

E-learning unit 2: M. Kant (UvA)

E-learning unit 3: J. Vontas (AUA) and C. Bass (UNEXE)

E-learning unit 4: : M. Montserrat (CSIC) and M. Recker (UNEXE)

Technical Support

Julien Rose and Mathilde Cathelain, Montpellier SupAgro

Coordination and Supervision

Maria Navajas, WP7 leader

Italian subtitles kindly provided by Carla Marchiorio

1. The Role of Cytochrome P450s in Insect Toxicology and Resistance.

Nauen R, Bass C, Feyereisen R, Vontas J. Annu Rev Entomol. 2022 Jan 7;67:105-124. doi: 10.1146/annurev-ento-070621-061328. Epub 2021 Sep 30. PMID: 34590892.

Abstract: Insect cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) perform a variety of important physiological functions, but it is their role in the detoxification of xenobiotics, such as natural and synthetic insecticides, that is the topic of this review. Recent advances in insect genomics and postgenomic functional approaches have provided an unprecedented opportunity to understand the evolution of insect P450s and their role in insect toxicology. These approaches have also been harnessed to provide new insights into the genomic alterations that lead to insecticide resistance, the mechanisms by which P450s are regulated, and the functional determinants of P450-mediated insecticide resistance. In parallel, an emerging body of work on the role of P450s in defining the sensitivity of beneficial insects to insecticides has been developed. The knowledge gained from these studies has applications for the management of P450-mediated resistance in insect pests and can be leveraged to safeguard the health of important beneficial insects.

Link to Repository:

https://zenodo.org/record/5902546#.Yxr-13ZBxaQ

Link to Publisher:

https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-ento-070621-061328

2. Functionally characterized arthropod pest and pollinator cytochrome P450s associated with xenobiotic metabolism.

Katsavou E, Riga M, Ioannidis P, King R, Zimmer CT, Vontas J. Pestic Biochem Physiol. 2022 Feb;181:105005. doi: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2021.105005. Epub 2021 Dec 13. PMID: 35082029.

Abstract: The cytochrome P450 family (P450s) of arthropods includes diverse enzymes involved in endogenous essential physiological functions and in the oxidative metabolism of xenobiotics, insecticides and plant allelochemicals. P450s can also establish insecticide selectivity in bees and pollinators. Several arthropod P450s, distributed in different phylogenetic groups, have been associated with xenobiotic metabolism, and some of them have been functionally characterized, using different in vitro and in vivo systems. The purpose of this review is to summarize scientific publications on arthropod P450s from major insect and mite agricultural pests, pollinators and Papilio sp, which have been functionally characterized and shown to metabolize xenobiotics and/or their role (direct or indirect) in pesticide toxicity or resistance has been functionally validated. The phylogenetic relationships among these P450s, the functional systems employed for their characterization and their xenobiotic catalytic properties are presented, in a systematic approach, including critical aspects and limitations. The potential of the primary P450-based metabolic pathway of target and non-target organisms for the development of highly selective insecticides and resistance-breaking formulations may help to improve the efficiency and sustainability of pest control.

Link to Repository:

https://zenodo.org/record/5903059#.YxsFUnZBxaR

Link to Publisher:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048357521002364

21^st January 2021

The CypTox Kick-off Meeting will take place in 21^st of January 2021. The main aim of the meeting will be to discuss the implementation plan, how this project will move forward and develop the structure in which all partners will work.

SUPERPESTS

Web site: https://superpests.eu/ 

CropLife

Website: https://croplife.org/ 

ECPA

Website: https://www.ecpa.eu/ 

OPTIMA

Website: http://optima-h2020.eu/ 

NOVATERRA

Website: https://www.novaterraproject.eu/ 

ISIDORe

Website: https://isidore-project.eu/ 

COMING SOON (grant agreement preparation phase)

INOVEC (HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-SE)

A research and InNOvation Partnership for enhancing the surveillance and control of mosquito VECtors of emerging arboviruses

MicroBioPest

Microbial Biopesticides to Control Disease Vectors and Agricultural Pests

RATION

Risk AssessmenT InnOvatioN for low-risk pesticides