In the Functional Signaling of Ion Channels and Receptors (SiFCIR) laboratory, the research of Valérie Raymond and Delphine Goven focuses on new strategies for combating harmful insects. They will take an active part in the ParaGluRSite project of the National Research Agency (ANR), which will begin in March 2025.
Valérie Raymond and Delphine Goven.Essential for our food, bees are also a symbol of biodiversity. Unfortunately, around 40% of bee colonies have been decimated in less than ten years in Europe. One of the causes is the use of pesticides to eliminate certain arthropods such as aphids, ticks and varroa. The latter attach directly to bees, feed on hemolymph (the equivalent of blood in insects) and can transmit viruses.
The ParaGluRSite project is based on the interactions between bees and varroa in order to develop new means of combating certain arthropods. “ We have filed a patent on a new technology for fighting aphids and the Max-Mousseron Institute of Biomolecules (IBMM), at the University of Montpellier, contacted us to find out if this work could be transposed to other arthropods. », recalls Valérie Raymond, director of SiFCIR. “ As part of the project ANRthe objective is therefore to find new strategies to combat varroa, ticks or aphids while sparing bees and, more generally, the environment. », Adds Delphine Goven, teacher-researcher in biology and co-leader of the project.
An innovative strategy to preserve bees and the environment
This patented technology is RNA interference, a biological mechanism “used” by cells to control gene expression by reducing or preventing the production of certain proteins essential to the functioning of the nervous system.
-For this project, Valérie Raymond and Delphine Goven will first identify these proteins and then design double-stranded RNA molecules (two chains of nucleotides) which are complementary to the messenger RNA of the target genes identified in the arthropod. of interest. “ Interfering RNA directed against these new neuronal targets is an innovative strategy to fight against certain arthropods while preserving bees and the environment.. »
In addition to this technology, compounds extracted from essential oils and peptides from spider and ant venoms administered by nanovectorization will also be tested. “ The safety of molecules capable of blocking the movement of varroa will be evaluated using locomotor and cognitive behavioral tests on bees, conclude the researchers. We will test if this approach can also be extended to the mite Ixodes ricinusthe most widespread tick in France, as well as the aphid Acyrthosiphon pisumwhich ravages legume crops. »
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