Multi-Target Insect Repellent Composition for Resistant Strains

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insect repellents are ineffective against mutant and resistant strains of mosquitoes and ticks, and there is a need for compositions and methods that can effectively repel these insects.

Innovation Solution

The method involves identifying and isolating compounds that activate specific odorant receptors (Or31, Or20, Or53, Or76) and voltage-gated sodium channels in insects using single sensillum recording and Xenopus oocyte expression systems, and combining these activators to create compositions that provide broad-spectrum repellency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional insect repellents are used, then they provide some level of repellency against wild-type insects, but they become ineffective against mutant and resistant insect strains

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverepellency effectivenessVSAvoidspectrum of insect strains covered

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple compounds with different modes of action (odorant receptor activators like (E)-β-farnesene and voltage-gated sodium channel activators like pyrethrin) into a composite repellent formulation. This multi-component approach ensures effectiveness against both wild-type and resistant insect strains by targeting multiple physiological pathways simultaneously, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability across different insect populations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Device complexity

If single-target repellent mechanisms are used, then the mechanism is simple to understand, but the repellency is easily overcome by resistant strains

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanism complexityVSAvoidrepellency durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the repellent mechanism into two distinct segments: odorant receptor activation (using compounds like (E)-β-farnesene) and voltage-gated sodium channel activation (using compounds like pyrethrin). Each segment targets a different physiological pathway in insects. This segmentation allows the formulation to maintain reliability against resistant strains while keeping the overall mechanism conceptually manageable through clear functional separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If broad-spectrum repellency is achieved through multiple targets, then effectiveness against resistant strains improves, but the composition complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebroad-spectrum coverageVSAvoidcomposition structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs compounds that exhibit multi-functionality: (E)-β-farnesene activates odorant receptors while pyrethrin activates voltage-gated sodium channels. This universality allows a relatively simple two-compound formulation to achieve broad-spectrum coverage against diverse insect strains, including resistant populations, without requiring a complex multi-component composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The described compositions achieve durable and wide-spectrum repellency against both wild-type and resistant insect strains by activating multiple targets, including odorant receptors and sodium channels, thereby enhancing insect repellency.

Implementation Method 1

contacting at least one test compound with an insect sensilla that expresses an odorant receptor 31 (Or31), an odorant receptor 53 (Or53), odorant receptor 20 (Or20), or an odorant receptor 76 (Or76) gene product; and recording firing frequencies of the sensilla to thereby identify at least one test insect repellent compound. Test insect repellent compounds of interest increase the firing frequency of the insect sensilla.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOdorant receptor activation:

Implementation Method 2

The compositions and methods can in some cases include one or more activators of odorant receptors and one or more activator of voltage-gated sodium channels.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVoltage-gated sodium channel activation:

Implementation Method 3

The method can further include applying the test insect repellent compound to a test window of a hand-in-cage apparatus and scoring the number of insects that land on the test window compared to the number of insects that land on a control window of a hand-in-cage apparatus.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS12578324B2Methods and compositions for improved insect repellency

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 BOARD OF TRUSTEES OPERATING MICHIGAN STATE UNIV

AI summary

Described herein are compositions and methods useful for isolating compositions that repel insects, including mosquitoes.