Insect immunity

Mechanisms of formation of cell immunity, intercellular communication, generation of reactive oxygen species in hemolymph and hemocytes, synthesis of hemokinins and cytolitic proteins, agglutinins and phenoloxidase systems are studied. Changes in structure of insect population of hemocytes during various pathogenesis are examined.

The role of antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutation-S-transpherase, peroxidase, ascorbatperoxidase and non-enzymatice antioxidants) and detoxication compounds (eaterase, glutation-S-transpherase) in resistance reactions of Galleria mellonella, Gryllus bimaculatus and Lymantria dispar during the diseases are investigated.

The role of free radicals in immune response of insects is studied with Slepneva I.A. from Biophysical Group (Biophysical Group of the Institute of Chemical Kinetics & Combustion of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, www.kinetics.nsc.ru/bio/).

Bacterial diseases

The entomopathogenic bacteria of Bacillus thuringiensis and B. sphaericus are only studied. The basic researches are the selection of microorganisms, the study of secondary metabolites (protein crystals and bacteriocines) and their effect on insect organism. The development of biological control methods of forest and agriculture pest and mosquitoes, the isolation and the study of different origin strains are conducted.

Viral diseases

The structure, morphology and morphogenesis of entomopathogenic viruses, cyto- and histopathology, epizootology and persistence in the forest biocenoses are studied. These viruses included the virus of nuclear polyhedrosis and granulosis are a base of biopesticides against forest pests such as Neodiprion sertifer, Lymantria dispar, L. monacha and Dendrolimus sibiricus. New methods of biocontrol also are developed including aerosol technology.

Three-trophic level system: host plant (birch, Betula pendula) - insect (gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar) - entomopathogens is studied. The influence of defoliation induced alterations in the host plants on the sensitivity of gypsy moth to nuclear polyhedrosis virus and entomopathogenic bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis are researched.

Microsporidian diseases

Effect of microsporidia on detoxication enzymes and antioxidant system of insects is studied. Two parasite-host models are used for investigations, such as Vairimorpha ephestiae (microsporidia) – Galleria mellonella (insect) and Nosema grylli (microsporidia) – Gryllus bimaculatus (insect).