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Adult Control ATSB/SIT/Wolbachia

Adult Control ATSB/SIT/Wolbachia

227 - Engineered Nectaries using Capillary Alginate Hydrogel (Capgel) Biomaterials for Attractive Toxic Sugar Bait (ATSB) Platforms

Thursday, March 6, 2025

8:30 AM – 8:40 AM AST

Location: 208 B

Abstract: Attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSBs) are powerful tools to control vector mosquitoes. Ideally, ATSBs should be both potent against and selective for target vector species. We have therefore developed an ATSB platform based on capillary alginate hydrogel (Capgel) biomaterials. The concept underlying this new platform is that the unique parallel capillary microstructure of Capgel approximates a nectary and facilitates the sugar feeding of vector mosquitoes like Aedes (Ae.) aegypti and Culex (Cx.) pipiens while minimizing feeding of off-targets such as Toxorhynchites (Tx.) rutilus septentrionalis and Apis mellifera. To explore this concept, we created prototype Capgel ATSBs loaded with a sucrose/propylene glycol (PG)/abamectin formulation(s). Sucrose stimulates feeding/interest, while PG reduces diuresis and helps solubilize abamectin, the active pesticidal agent. The formulation was made available for feeding by wicking through Capgel, and this new ATSB platform was presented in the laboratory setting for up to 96h to various target and non-target species. Parameters such as feeding interest, feeding rates and mortality were quantified and compared to controls. Our results to date indicated that Ae. aegypti, Cx. pipiens and Anopheles (An.) quadrimaculatus exhibited high interest and could readily feed from the Capgel, while Tx. rutilus septentrionalis exhibited limited interest and feed only in conditions that forced interaction with the gel. Correspondingly, mortality for Ae. aegypti was nearly 100% by 24h post-presentation of the ATSB in a no-choice test. These results support the conclusion that the Capgel-based ATSB platform is an effective and selective control tool for vector mosquitoes. Work is ongoing to define the role of Capgel properties on feeding and effectiveness of this new ATSB platform.

Supported (in part) by the American Mosquito Control Association Research Fund (AMCARF 2024-01, PI: BJW).

BJW is cofounder, co-owner (67%) and a manager of Saisijin Biotech, LLC, which had no role in this work whatsoever.

Presenter(s)

BW

Bradley J. Willenberg, PhD

Assistant Professor of Medicine
University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Florida, United States

Co-Author(s)

Christopher S. Bibbs, PhD

Laboratory Director
Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, Utah, United States
EF

Evelyn J. Franco, Pharm.D., Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Scholar
University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Florida, United States
DR

Diane Roach, AS

OPS Laboratory Technician
University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Florida, United States
JD

Jordyn Diaz, BS

OPS Laboratory Technician
University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Florida, United States
AS

Ailed Sanchez, BS

OPS Laboratory Technician
University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Florida, United States