An isolated protein from Cimex lectularius comprising an amino acid sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID No. 1 or 5 or fragment thereof or an isolated polypeptide from Cimex lectularius comprising an amino acid sequence selected from any one or more of SEQ ID No. 2, SEQ ID No. 3, SEQ ID No. 6 and SEQ ID No. 7 or fragment thereof for use in generating antibodies to detect the presence of antigens specific for Cimex lectularius wherein the antibodies are capable of detecting Cimex lectularius antigen in all stages of Cimex lectularius development from egg, nymphs, moults to mature male and female adults at antigen concentrations of less than 2 g/ml.

The present invention relates to a screening method for determining whether or not a candidate compound directly binds to an insect transient receptor potential V (TRPV) channel. The present invention further provides a method of identifying a compound that directly binds to a Nanchung protein, TRP and/or TRPV protein and/or channel using, a binding assay. The present invention further provides a method of classifying an insecticide compound by its mode of action using the binding assay and/or a functional assays.

The present invention relates to a screening method for determining whether or not a candidate compound is a modulator of an insect transient receptor potential V (TRPV) channel. The present invention further provides a method of insect control by applying to an insect-specific TRPV channel modulator determined by the screening method. The present invention further relates to an expression vector that includes a nucleic acid molecule coding for an insect TRPV channel. Also, the present invention relates to cell that includes the expression vector encoding a TRPV channel.

Disclosed are novel bioactive peptides derived as antagonists to a fire ant receptor for a pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide/pyrokinin (PBAN/pyrokinin) gene derived neuropeptide ligand. Also disclosed are methods of controlling fire ants with the bioactive peptides disclosed herein. Methodological approaches to screening peptide libraries for the presence of PBAN/pyrokinin ligands are also provided herein.

The invention provides a screening method for identifying an insect-specific TRPA1 modulator by comparing modulation of an insect TRPA1 and a mammalian TRPA1. The invention further provides method of insect control by applying to an insect a insect-specific TRPA1 modulator identified by the screening method.

Pesticidal proteins exhibiting toxic activity against Lepidopteran pest species are disclosed, and include, but are not limited to, TIC4472, TIC4472PL, TIC1425, TIC2613, and TIC2613PL. DNA constructs are provided which contain a recombinant nucleic acid sequence encoding one or more of the disclosed pesticidal proteins. Transgenic plants, plant cells, seed, and plant parts resistant to Lepidopteran infestation are provided which contain recombinant nucleic acid sequences encoding the pesticidal proteins of the present invention. Methods for detecting the presence of the recombinant nucleic acid sequences or the proteins of the present invention in a biological sample, and methods of controlling Lepidopteran species pests using any of the TIC4472, TIC4472PL, TIC1425, TIC2613, and TIC2613PL pesticidal proteins are also provided.

Disclosed are novel bioactive peptides derived as antagonists to a fire ant receptor for a pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide/pyrokinin (PBAN/pyrokinin) gene derived neuropeptide ligand. Also disclosed are methods of controlling fire ants with the bioactive peptides disclosed herein. Methodological approaches to screening peptide libraries for the presence of PBAN/pyrokinin ligands are also provided herein.

The present invention discloses a rapid diagnosis method of citrus huanglongbing. In the present invention, the accuracy of diagnosis of citrus huanglongbing is significantly improved in the following manners: eliminating the interference of residual starch by effectively removing the residual starch contained in the leaf; eliminating the interference of chlorophyll by effectively removing chlorophyll; and directly developing the color on the leaf rather than mixing and grinding the leaf in water, so as to avoid the problem that the accuracy of color development reaction conducted by mixing the leaf with water is liable to be interfered since the starch is insoluble in water. Therefore a rapid diagnosis of the citrus huanglongbing with much higher accuracy is achieved, which provides effective detection means for the control of the citrus huanglongbing and is beneficial for the control of the citrus huanglongbing.

The invention relates to a colorimetric method for detecting bacterial or fungal pathogens by detecting peptidoglycan or (1-3)--D-glucan in a sample.

The disclosure relates to Bt toxin resistance management. One embodiment relates to the isolation and characterization of polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to novel Bt toxin receptors. The polynucleotides and polypeptides are useful in identifying or designing novel Bt toxin receptor ligands including novel insecticidal toxins.