Cloning, Expression, and Immunological Characterization of Formosan Subterranean Termite (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) Arginine Kinase.

Several parts of the world regularly consume termites. Arthropod arginine kinase proteins often cross-react with human immunoblobulin E (IgE) antibodies and they are considered pan-allergens. The Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus (C. formosanus (Shiraki) [Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae]), along with cockroaches, belong to the order Blattodea and they are common household pests in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. An sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) band migrating at approximately 37 kDa in C. formosanus termite extracts cross-reacted with IgE from five cockroach allergic patient samples by immunoblot. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of gel slices from the corresponding region of a gel indicated several peptides from the excised region were identical to the American cockroach arginine kinase allergen, Per a 9. The sequence of the full-length C. formosanus arginine kinase gene indicates the protein it encodes is 96% identical to American cockroach Per a 9, 94% identical to German cockroach Bla g 9, and 82-84% identical to shrimp arginine kinase proteins Pen m 2, Lit v 2, and Cra c 2. Full-length C. formosanus arginine kinase was fused to a glutathione S-transferase tag and recombinantly expressed and purified from Escherichia coli by affinity chromatography. The recombinant protein was recognized by IgE from 11 of 12 cockroach or shrimp allergic samples, but did not cross-react with dust mite allergic or peanut/tree nut allergic samples. The results of this study indicate the C. formosanus arginine kinase cross-reacts with cockroach and shrimp allergic IgE, and if consumed would likely act as an allergen.

Field Evaluations of Fluid Baits against Colonies of the Formosan Subterranean Termite (Blattodea:Rhinotermitidae).

Fluid baits comprised of 10% dry medium (impregnated with 0.5% hexaflumuron) and 90% methylcel solution were injected into foraging galleries of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), in trees and buildings. Elimination times at two of the six baited sites were longer than expected, possibly due to the application disturbance or the presence of an old and declining colony, but fluid bait treatments eliminated all baited colonies. Fluid baits were injected through drill holes behind infested wood surface, and bypassed the difficulties for installing above-ground (AG) bait stations on uneven surface or at tight corners. Because a large quantity of fluid baits could be applied at once, termite control professionals may be able to avoid revisiting the site to add more baits. The absence of unsightly AG station in a house will also make fluid baits more acceptable to homeowners than AG baits. Currently, local applications of liquid termiticides are common practices because termite control professionals are often urged by homeowners to take remedial actions when termites are found in a house, but such treatments only drive termites away from the active loci without affecting the termite colony(s). Remedial treatments with fluid baits would result in immediate bait consumption and shorten colony elimination time with or without the use of in-ground baiting systems. Introduction of fluid baits will add another tool to the termite control industry and will make it more plausible for the homeowners to accept baiting technology.

Cross-reaction between Formosan termite (Coptotermes formosanus) proteins and cockroach allergens.

Cockroach allergens can lead to serious allergy and asthma symptoms. Termites are evolutionarily related to cockroaches, cohabitate in human dwellings, and represent an increasing pest problem in the United States. The Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) is one of the most common species in the southern United States. Several assays were used to determine if C. formosanus termite proteins cross-react with cockroach allergens. Expressed sequence tag and genomic sequencing results were searched for homology to cockroach allergens using BLAST 2.2.21 software. Whole termite extracts were analyzed by mass-spectrometry, immunoassay with IgG and scFv antibodies to cockroach allergens, and human IgE from serum samples of cockroach allergic patients. Expressed sequence tag and genomic sequencing results indicate greater than 60% similarity between predicted termite proteins and German and American cockroach allergens, including Bla g 2/Per a 2, Bla g 3/Per a 3, Bla g 5, Bla g 6/Per a 6, Bla g 7/Per a 7, Bla g 8, Per a 9, and Per a 10. Peptides from whole termite extract were matched to those of the tropomyosin (Bla g 7), arginine kinase (Per a 9), and myosin (Bla g 8) cockroach allergens by mass-spectrometry. Immunoblot and ELISA testing revealed cross-reaction between several proteins with IgG and IgE antibodies to cockroach allergens. Several termite proteins, including the hemocyanin and tropomyosin orthologs of Blag 3 and Bla g 7, were shown to crossreact with cockroach allergens. This work presents support for the hypothesis that termite proteins may act as allergens and the findings could be applied to future allergen characterization, epitope analysis, and clinical studies.

Sustainable Management of Subterranean Termite Populations (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Armstrong Park, New Orleans, With Durable Baits.

Durable baits, Recruit HD, were installed in 45 Sentricon stations between September 2010 and July 2014 in the 32-acre Armstrong Park, New Orleans. After eliminating all detectable termite colonies in the Park, 6-12 mo elapsed before new activity was detected. Newly invading termite colonies were usually found near the Park border or were smaller colonies that originated from recently paired alates. After colony elimination, Recruit HD baits were left in the stations to intercept newly invading colonies of subterranean termites, leading to their elimination, and multiple cycles of such interception and elimination events were recorded. Because the presence of Recruit HD baits continues to eliminate incoming colonies with little effort in maintaining and resupplying baits in the target areas, the bait system offers an economically sustainable option for managing subterranean termite populations in a large area. The 32-acre Armstrong Park is a manageable size to carry out an area-wide (AW) project. If the number of such AW projects is gradually increased over time in selected metro areas of New Orleans, we predict that we may be able to turn the tide against the ever-increasing populations of C. formosanus in the entire city.