An entomopathogenic bacteria, Xenorhabdus nematophila (Xn) and Photorhabdus temperata subsp temperata (Ptt), suppresses insect immune responses and facilitates its symbiotic nematode development in target insect. Benzylideneacetone (BZA), PY, cPY, Ac-FGV, indole, 2-oxindole and 3-(4-hydroxyphenylpropionic) acid (PHPP) were compounds derived from the bacterial. Their immunosuppressive activities have been induced by inhibitory activity against eicosanoid biosynthesis and used to develop an additive to enhance control efficacy of other commercial microbial insecticides. This study investigated any cytotoxicity of their culture broth and bacterial metabolites on Spodoptera exigua hemocyte. When Xn or Ptt (<100 cells per larva) were injected to larval of S. exigua, the bacteria increased in density with incubation time, while the insent hemocyte numbers significantly and the resulting culture broths were sampled for analysis of their cytotoxicity against S. exigua hemocytes. In addition, the sequential culture broth samples were analyzed in active component chemicals using a reverse phase HPLC. Finally, seven bacterial metabolites were analyzed in relative cytotoxicity against S. exigua. These results suggest that BZA is a major cytotoxic compound.

Sound treatments have been considered as a non-chemical insect pest control technique. Different frequency and intensity sounds were applied to immune and adult stages to screen any stress sounds to alter physiological processes. At 95 dB, 5,000 Hz and 30,000 Hz were selected to be stress sounds in audible and inaudible sound ranges, respectively. Both stress sounds significantly inhibited larval and pupal development. In biochemical analyses, lipid and sugar levels in plasma signigicantly increased in response to the stress sound treatments. Moreover, a digestive phospholipase A2 enzyme activity in midgut was significantly reduced. In adult stage, ultrasound treatment significantly inhibited mating behavior, which resulted in a reduced fecundity. These stress sounds altered gene expressions of stress-related genes, such as heat-shock proteins and apolipophorin III. This study suggests that extreme sounds play a role in physiological stress factors in S. exigua by altering developmental and reproductive processes.

An entomopathogenic bacterium, Xenorhabdus sp., symbiotic to Steinernema monticolum was investigated in its insecticidal activity. The bacteria induced septicemia of two lepidopteran insects (Plutella xylostella, Spodoptera exigua), a coleopteran insect (Tribolium castaneum), and a hemipteran insect (Riptortus clavatus) when they were injected into hemocoel. The bacterial culture broth contained immunosuppressive factor(s) that inhibited hemocyte nodulation in response to heat-killed bacteria. The immunosuppressive activity appeared to be caused by inhibition of two main immune-associated enzymes, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and phenoloxidase (PO). HPLC analysis of the bacterial culture broth contained several PLA2 inhibitors. The bacterial culture broth significantly enhanced Bt pathogenicity. There results support a novel insect pest control strategy using eicosanoid-biosynthesis inhibitors.

Two entomopathogenic bacteria, Xenorhabdus nematophila (Xn) and Photorhabdus temperata temperata (Ptt), are symbionts of nematodes, Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis megidis, respectively. When the nematodes enter host insect hemocoel, the bacteria are released from the nematode intestine to insect hemocoel and cause immunosuppression, which results in septicemia. Culture broth of both bacteria had insecticidal effects when injected into hemocoel of Plutella xylostella larvae, but did not when orally administered. However, either mixture of Xn or Ptt with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) significantly enhanced the Bt pathogenicity against P. xylostella. The culture broth was fractionated with hexane and diethylacetate extracts. Diethylacetate extract had potent factor (s) to increase Bt pathogenicity. A compound, benzylideneacetone, identified from the diethylacetate fraction had oral toxicity against P. xylostella. This compound also showed high acaricidal effect on the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae