GENOMICS AND PROTEOMICS OF STORED-PRODUCT INSECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NEW BIOPESTICIDES

The primary goals for this project are to characterize comprehensively the structure of the genome of Tribolium castaneum (referred to hereafter as Tribolium) and the function of its constituent genes; to integrate this analysis with gene expression analysis of the gut and other tissues; to extend results from Tribolium to other beetle species; and to use the results to identify new physiological targets for pest control and to develop a deeper understanding of the population structure of stored-product pest insects.