The aim of this book is to summarize our understanding on the insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This area of research received great impetus from the identification of the first subunit sequences to be used as neonicotinoid insecticide target sites. Although a book of this nature can provide the details only of commonly published results, it is hoped that it may provide a useful guide to the newcomer to the field as well as to point out some of the future challenges. For example, we need to determine the precise subunit nomenclature of insect nicotinic receptors. This nomenclature varies amongst species and this led to some of the early confusion that persists. We need to be precise in identifying the subunit composition of native insect nicotinic receptor subtypes, their functional properties and physiological roles.

The nicotinoids are the most important new class of pesticides, joining the organophosphorus compounds, methylcarbamates, and pyrethroids as the major insecticides. Recently, imidacloprid and related nicotinoids have begun replacing organophosphorus and methylcarbamate compounds as insecticides to control insect pests on major crops. Nicotinoids act on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, as does naturally occurring nicotine, but with remarkable effectiveness against insects while being safe for mammals; they are quickly degraded and do not persist in the environment. This volume describes the relationship of nicotinoids to botanical insecticidal alkaloids, their discovery and development as insecticides, and the prospects for their expanded use and for the development of resistance. This book is the first to provide concise, comprehensive information on nicotinoids, their chemistry, mode of action, metabolism, and application in agriculture.

In recent years many of the conventional methods of insect control by broad spectrum synthetic chemicals have come under scrutiny because of their unde sirable effects on human health and the environment. In addition, some classes of pesticide chemistry, which generated resistance problems and severely affected the environment, are no longer used. It is against this background that the authors of this book present up-to-date findings-relating to biochemical sites that can serve as targets for developing insecticides with selective prop erties, and as the basis for the elucidation of resistance mechanisms and countermeasures. The book consists of eight chapters relating to biochemical targets for insec ticide action and seven chapters relating to biochemical modes of resistance and countermeasures. The authors of the chapters are world leaders in pesti cide chemistry, biochemical modes of action and mechanisms of resistance. Biochemical sites such as chitin formation, juvenile hormone and ecdysone receptors, acetylcholine and GABA receptors, ion channels, and neuropeptides are potential targets for insecticide action. The progress made in recent years in molecular biology (presented in depth in this volume) has led to the iden tification of genes that confer mechanisms of resistance, such as increased detoxification, decreased penetration and insensitive target sites. A combina tion of factors can lead to potentiation of the resistance level. Classifications of these mechanisms are termed gene amplification, changes in structural genes, and modification of gene expression.

The future of insect control looked very bright in the 1950s and 1960s with new insecticides constantly coming onto the market. Today, however, whole classes of pesticide chemistry have fallen by the wayside due to misuse which generated resistance problems reaching crisis proportions, severe adverse effects on the environment, and public outcry that has led to increasingly stricter regulation and legislation. It is with this background, demanding the need for safer, environmentally friendly pesticides and new strategies to reduce resistance problems, that this book was written. The authors of the various chapters have a wealth of experience in pesticide chemistry, biochemical modes of action, mechanism of resistance and application, and have presented concise reviews. Each is actively involved in thedevelopment of new groups of pesticide chemistry which led to the development of novel insecticides with special impact in controlling agricultural pests. Emphasis has been given to insecticides with selective properties, such as insect growth regulators hormone mimics, ecdysone agonists), (chitin synthesis inhibitors, juvenile chloronicotinyl insecticides (imidacloprid, acetamiprid), botanical insecticides (neem, plant oils), pymetrozine, diafenthiuron, pyrrole insecticides, and others. The importance of these compounds, as components in integrated pest management programs and in insecticide resistance management strategies, is discussed. The data presented are essential in establishing new technologies and developing novel groups of compounds which will have impact on our future agricultural practices.

The first book in two decades to address this multi-faceted field, The Toxicology and Biochemistry of Insecticides provides the most up-to-date information on insecticide classification, formulation, mode of action, resistance, metabolism, environmental fate, and regulatory legislation. The book draws on the author's groundbreaking research

The chemistry of heterocycles is an important branch of organic chemistry. This is due to the fact that a large number of natural products, e. g. hormones, antibiotics, vitamins, etc. are composed of heterocyclic structures. Often, these compounds show beneficial properties and are therefore applied as pharmaceuticals to treat diseases or as insecticides, herbicides or fungicides in crop protection. This volume presents important pharmaceuticals. Each of the 20 chapters covers in a concise manner one class of heterocycles, clearly structuredas follows: * Structural formulas of most important examples (market products) * Short background of history or discovery * Typical syntheses of important examples * Mode of action * Characteristic biological activity * Structure-activity relationship * Additional chemistry information (e.g. further transformations, alternative syntheses, metabolic pathways, etc.) * References. A valuable one-stop reference source for researchers in academia and industry as well as for graduate students with career aspirations in the pharmaceutical chemistry.

Neuronal nicotinic receptors are key molecules for signal transduction in a number of neuronal pathways. They are widely distributed in the brain and are known to be involved in cognitive tasks, including learning and memory, in smoking addiction and in several brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's dementias, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. This book provides a comprehensive review of the field, starting with a historical perspective and dealing with the molecular structure of these receptors, their biophysical and pharmacological properties, their distribution in central and peripheral nervous systems, and their major involvement in brain functions. Particular emphasis is paid to drugs (both new and old) that are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases involving neuronal nicotinic receptors. Finally, the relevance of these receptors in smoking addiction is carefully evaluated, together with future trends and the latest results.

This book contains 20 chapters, which are divided into 5 sections. Section 1 covers different aspects of insecticide resistance of selected economically important plant insect pests, whereas section 2 includes chapters about the importance, development and insecticide resistance management in controlling malaria vectors. Section 3 is dedicated to some general questions in insecticide resistance, while the main topic of section 4 is biochemical approaches of insecticide resistance mechanisms. Section 5 covers ecologically acceptable approaches for overcoming insecticide resistance, such are the use of mycoinsecticides, and understanding the role of some plant chemical compounds, which are important in interactions between plants, their pests and biological control agents.

Modern agribusiness is one of the main generators of employment and income worldwide and plays a vital role in improving the production, quality, and quantity of food, feed, fiber, and fuel ensuring our world has the safest and most nutritious, abundant, and sustainable food supply possible. The global agribusiness industry with its offerings such as insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides as well as biotechnology products contributes to growing public expectations for food security and agricultural sustainability while addressing the industry's global challenges, such as population growth and rising caloric consumption, increasing environmental stresses across the globe, a changing regulatory landscape, development of resistance to existing active ingredients and traits by investing in effective R&D programs and inventing new solutions. The book provides an update on state of the art crop protection research and highlights the pivotal role of novel chemistries for modern crop protection. Recent research and new directions in the synthesis and chemistry of agrochemicals, as well as new research approaches, tools and directions in the crop protection field including nematicides, biologicals and natural products are described and details on the design, synthesis, biology and/or structure-activity relationships of a series of new chemical entities targeting fungicides, insecticides, herbicides and nematicides provided. Furthermore future directions for advancing research and regulation of agricultural chemistry and pest management science, promoting public health, and preserving environmental quality are covered as well.

Bringing together the expertise of over 450 distinguished entomologists from 40 countries, this exhaustive work provides a global overview of insects and their close relatives. It is designed as an introduction to this fascinating group of animals.