Evaluate radiation-excitable nanoparticles for use in sterilizing insects for sterile insect techn ique (SIT) to reduce the overall radiation dose and improve overall insect health while retaining…

Evaluate radiation-excitable nanoparticles for use in sterilizing insects for sterile insect techn ique (SIT) to reduce the overall radiation dose and improve overall insect health while retaining sterility. Activities will include assessing the impact of radiation on mexican fruit fly sperm using DNA fragmentation and genotoxicity metrics to provide a baseline to compare with nanoparticle treated flies. Additionally activities will include documenting targeted delivery of nano-therapy to fly testis using spectroscopic techniques and evaluating the impact of radiation on nanoparticle treated with flies using DNA fragmentation and genotoxicity metrics. Deliverables will include reports on the relationship between radiation dose and type on sperm quality, the effectiveness of antibody tagging of nanoparticles for colocalization with testis, the effectiveness of enhancing damage to reproductive tissues with nanoparticles, and a protocol for implementation of antibody tagged nanoparticles for sterilization enhancement of flies. This work will evaluate a new strategy to improve the overall health of mxff, and insects in general, irradiated to the point of sterility for use in sterile insect technique programs. If successful, nanoparticles will reduce the overall radiation dosage necessary for sterility, thereby reducing the damage to somatic cells, improving performance in the field of SIT organisms, and reducing the risk to employees working with radiation. If successful, this project will benefit fruit crop growers that suffer damage from mxff. No subawards planned.