Insect-borne diseases of plants, humans and farm livestock and nematode parasites can severely impact not only human health but also crop and livestock yields. As we consider how to do things better and more sustainably in future, it is timely to reflect how technology has transformed research on these topics in the past 50 years. Many important chemicals deployed in crop protection, animal health and human health for the control of invertebrate pests, vectors and pathogens are active on ion channels. Understanding their modes of action has been accelerated by studies on the physiology of invertebrate excitable cells, particularly identified neurones and pathways. Radioligand binding studies have also contributed, as have studies on invertebrate genetic model organisms such as <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> and <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>. Genetic screens can identify with precision molecular targets of compounds with unknown modes of action and point towards new candidate targets.  Comparative genomics, the cloning and functional expression of molecular targets have all accelerated progress. Automated phenotyping allows high-throughput screening of chemical libraries of new and re-profiled compounds. Target-based testing has become more common as targets become better defined and more accessible. In future, we can perhaps envisage the development of pest and vector genetic model organisms, more structural insights into insect and nematode molecular targets of control chemicals, the wider deployment of repellants and attractants rather than toxic agents, genetic modification of plants targeting more sustainable agriculture and new approaches to help realise the largely untapped potential of the rhizosphere for plant protection.

Invertebrate neurones, genomes, phenotypic and target-based screening in the search for new leads and new targets for the control of pests, parasites and disease vectors

ACS Fall 2021

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