Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Other

Glycomed, Inc.

Agricultural and Mechanical College

Anomeri, Inc.

Roger A Laine

Gregg Henderson

Betty C R Zhu

Wai C Lo

Feng Chen

Chin-Yih Ou

Brian K Brandley

Lun H Lam

Jian Chen

Donald O Heumann

Eunsun Yoon

Jesse M Jaynes

H Edward Conrad

Peter Fugedi

Anne M Sauer

William E Crowe

Cherly Srnka

James Gilbert

Sanaa A Ibrahim

Lara Maistrello

Lucas Veillon

Rosemary Patton

Wai ChunJennifer Lo

Wai Chun Jennifer Lo

Compositions are described comprising an amount of a toxicant comprising a compound of the formula HNRR, or a salt thereof, wherein Rand Rare independently hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted C-C-cycloalkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted C-C-aryl group; wherein the amount of the toxicant is sufficient to control termites. Methods for controlling termites using such compositions are also described.

Cyclohexylamine-based compounds and uses thereof

An inexpensive, stereoselective synthesis for nootkatone, tetrahydronootkatone, and their derivatives is disclosed utilizing ozonolysis. The starting materials used in the synthesis are inexpensive and the reactions are commercially feasible and amenable to scaling up. The principal starting material, (&#x2212;)-&#x3b2;-Pinene, is on the GRAS list (generally recognized as safe).

Reaction sequence for the synthesis of nootkatone, dihydronootkatone, and tetrahydronootkatone

Several derivatives of naphthalene, including 1'-acetonaphthone, 2&#x2032;-acetpnaphthone, 1-methoxynaphthalene, and 2-methoxynaphthalene, were discovered to be effective toxicants and repellents of termites, and resulted in significant reduction in termite feeding activity. For example, 2&#x2032;-acetonaphthone was found to be an effective repellent and feeding deterrent of termites. Termites exposed to concentrations as low as 8 mg/kg sand exhibited a significant reduction in tunneling and feeding activity. Moreover, some of the dead termites had symptoms indicative of a failure to molt. At concentrations &#x2267;20 &#x3bc;g/cm, 2&#x2032;-acetonaphthone was a strong repellent. Interestingly, at 160-fold lower concentration (0.125 &#x3bc;g/cm), 2&#x2032;-acetonaphthone stimulated termite feeding activity. As a sand barrier, 2&#x2032;-acetonaphthone significantly inhibited tunneling and feeding activity in concentrations from 8.33 to 35.0 mg/kg. Molting problems were also identified in termites exposed to 2&#x2032;-acetonaphthone.

Naphthalene derivatives as termite repellents and toxicants

An inexpensive, stereoselective synthesis for nootkatone, tetrahydronootkatone, and their derivatives is disclosed. The starting materials used in the synthesis are inexpensive. The principal starting material, (&#x2212;)-&#x3b2;-Pinene, is on the GRAS list (generally recognized as safe).

Efficient and economic asymmetric synthesis of nootkatone, tetrahydronootkatone, their precursors and derivatives

Extracts of vetiver oil were found to be significant repellents and toxicants of ants, ticks, and cockroaches. Nootkatone was shown to significantly decrease ant invasion and increase mortality in fire ants. Nootkatone is an effective repellent and toxicant of ants either by itself or as an addition to other substrates, including mulches made from vetiver grass roots, diatomaceous earth, alumina, silica, clays; building materials made from either aluminum or wood; and other suitable solid substances. Nootkatone was also a repellent and toxicant to ticks; and a repellent to cockroaches. Nootkatone is non-toxic to humans and other mammals and is environmentally safe. In addition, it is believed that other extracts of vetiver oil, specifically &#x3b1;-cedrene, zizanol and bicyclovetivenol, will be effective against ants, ticks, and cockroaches.

Extracts of vetiver oil as repellent and toxicant to ants, ticks, and cockroaches

Two derivatives of nootkatone, tetrahydronootkatone and 1,10-dihydronootkatone, are surprisingly effective as repellents of termites and mosquitos. Tetrahydronootkatone and 1,10-dihydronootkatone were shown to effectively repel termites at concentrations as low as 2 &#x3bc;g/ml and 12.5 &#x3bc;g/ml, respectively. Tetrahydronootkatone was shown to repel mosquitos at a concentration of 5%. Tetrahydronootkatone is an effective repellent of termites either by itself or as an addition to other substrates, including mulches made from wood products or other cellulose-containing material. Tetrahydronootkatone or 1,10-dihydronootkatone can be used to protect construction wood from attack by Formosan subterranean termites, either alone or used in combination with other compounds known to repel termites. It is also believed that these compounds will prove effective in repelling ants, ticks, and cockroaches. These derivatives of nootkatone are non-toxic to humans and other mammals and environmentally safe.

Dihydronootkatone and tetrahydronootkatone as repellents to arthropods

Extracts of vetiver oil were found to significantly repel termites. In one extract, nootkatone was isolated and found to be a significant repellent and toxicant of termites. Nootkatone significantly decreased food consumption, decreased tunneling behavior, and increased mortality in termites. Nootkatone is an effective repellent and toxicant of termites either by itself or as an addition to other materials or substrates, including mulches made from vetiver grass roots or other wood products. Nootkatone can also be used to protect construction wood from attack by Formosan subterranean termites. Nootkatone as a repellent is non-toxic to humans and other mammals and is environmentally safe. In addition, &#x3b1;-cedrene was found to be a weak termite repellent; and both zizanol and bicyclovetivenol were found to be repellents and toxicants of termites.

Vetiver oil extracts as termite repellent and toxicant

Significant concentrations of naphthalene were detected in carton nests of Formosan subterranean termites, Shiraki, collected from Florida, Hawaii, and Louisiana. This is the first report of naphthalene being associated with termites or any other insects. Naphthalene and other compounds associated with termite carton nests may be used to increase termite bait acceptance. New attractant molecules include 2-phenoxyethanol. New feeding stimulants include ergosterol. A list of volatile compounds associated with termite nests is presented, compounds that may be used to detect termite nests.

Compositions and methods for detecting and killing termites

Catalytically inactive murein binding enzyme diagnostic reagents and methods and kits for detecting eubacteria and fungus in biological samples.

Isolation and purification of eubacteria and fungus with catalytically inactive murein binding enzymes

Murein binding polypeptide and antibiotic diagnostic reagents, methods and kits for detecting eubacteria and fungus in biological samples.

Pan-bacterial and pan-fungal identification reagents and methods of use

A 134 kDa, calcium-independent, chitin-binding lectin called chitovibrin is secreted by marine bacteria of the genus Vibnio. The secretion of chitovibrin is inducible by chitin or chitin-oligomers. Chitovibrin shows no apparent enzymatic activity, but has a strong affinity for chitin and for chito-oligomers dp9 and larger. The protein has an isoelectric pH of 3.6, shows thermal tolerance, binds chitin with an optimum at pH 6 and is active in 0-4 M NaCl. Chitovibrin is useful as a stain for fungi and other chitin-containing organisms. Chitovibrin may be used to detect the presence of chitin, particularly in diagnosing fungal infections in humans, animals, and plant materials. Fungal infections are a particular problem in immunocompromised hosts such as AIDS patients and bone marrow transplant patients, because they can cause opportunistic infections. The chitovibrin diagnostic method allows the convenient, broad spectrum diagnosis of fungal infections in tissue samples or in body fluids. Other, smaller polypeptide fragments of chitovibrin will exhibit similar chitin-binding properties, and could be used in coupling to detection systems.

Diagnosis of fungal infections, and a chitin-binding lectin useful in

Chitinase fungal diagnostic reagents comprising a chitinase conjugate comprising a chitinase enzyme and a label, the label selected from among a flourescent or a radioactive compound, an enzyme and a dye, the said chitinase fungal diagnostic reagent comprises a substantially pure aqueous solution of said chitinase conjugate; kits for detecting a fungal cell wall glucosamine compound in a biological specimen comprising the chitinase fungal diagnostic reagent and a filter capable of collecting the fungal cell wall glucosamine compound; and methods for detecting a fungal cell wall glucosamine compound in a biological specimen.

Diagnosis of fungal infections with a chitinase

A method is presented for detecting eubacteria and fungus in biological samples, and, if present, determining their antibiotic sensitivity, where the presence and amount of eubacteria or fungus is measured by means of catalytically inactive murein binding enzymes in both parts of the method. The sensitivity of eubacteria or fungus to a test antibiotic is obtained by comparing the amount of eubacteria or fungus in the sample after culturing the sample in the presence and absence of the test antibiotic. The biological sample may be chemically treated with alkali to cleave peptide bonds in the sample before incubating the sample with the catalytically inactive murein binding enzyme.

Detecting eubacteria and fungus and determining their antibiotic

A method for detecting eubacteria in biological samples with catalytically inactive murein binding enzyme is presented. The biological sample may be chemically treated with alkali to cleave peptide bonds in the sample before incubating the sample with the catalytically inactive murein binding enzyme.

Method for detecting eubacteria in biological samples with catalytically

A 134 kDa, calcium-independent, chitin-binding lectin called chitovibrin is secreted by marine bacteria of the genus Vibrio. The secretion of chitovibrin is inducible by chitin or chitin-oligomers. Chitovibrin shows no apparent enzymatic activity, but has a strong affinity for chitin and for chito-oligomers dp9 and larger. The protein has an isoelectric pH of 3.6, shows thermal tolerance, binds chitin with an optimum at pH 6 and is active in 0-4 M NaCl. Chitovibrin is useful as a stain for fungi and other chitin-containing organisms. Chitovibrin may be used to detect the presence of chitin, particularly in diagnosing fungal infections in humans, animals, and plant materials. Fungal infections are a particular problem in immunocompromised hosts such as AIDS patients and bone marrow transplant patients, because they can cause opportunistic infections. The chitovibrin diagnostic method allows the convenient, broad spectrum diagnosis of fungal infections in tissue samples or in body fluids. Other, smaller polypeptide fragments of chitovibrin will exhibit similar chitin-binding properties, and could be used in coupling to detection systems.

Growing community of inventors

Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America

Roger A Laine