β-lactamase targeted photosensitizer for pesticide and pest detection
Photoactivatable pesticide compounds and methods for the use thereof in the elimination and detection of pests are provided.
1. A method for controlling an insect pest, the method comprising contacting the pest with an effective amount of a pesticidal composition comprising a compound comprising two or more inactive benzophenothiazinium photosensitizers linked by a cephalosporin linker that is capable of maintaining the photosensitizers in an inactive state, wherein the photosensitizers become photoactivatable when released from the compound upon cleavage by beta-lactamase enzymes present in the pest, wherein exposing the pest to light photoactivates the photosensitizers and generates a phototoxic species sufficient to kill or inhibit the insect pest.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the benzophenothiazinium photosensitizer is benzophenothiazinium chloride (EtNBS).
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the benzophenothiazinium photosensitizers are each attached to the cephalosporin linker via an ester or carbamate group.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the insect pest is a mosquito.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the mosquito is Aedes spp., Anopheles spp., or Culex spp.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the mosquito is Aedes albopictus.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the insect pest is a parasitic filarial nematode.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parasitic filarial nematode is Brugia malayi.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pesticidal composition is applied in an aerosol, pressure-free spray product, automatic fogging system, fogger, foam, gel, evaporator tablets, liquid evaporator, gel and membrane evaporator, propeller-driven evaporator, energy-free or passive evaporation system, moth paper, as granules or dust, or in baits for spreading or in bait station.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pesticidal composition is applied to water.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising exposing the pest to light to photoactivate the benzophenothiazinium photosensitizers.
12. The method of claim 11 , comprising exposing the pest to light comprising 650 nm light.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound comprises the formula: