Innovative Vector Control Developments from the Research Program for

Deployed War-Fighter Protection (DWFP) against disease-carrying insects

Graham B. WhiteAFPMB Consultant and DWFP Facilitator

TriService PMW @ NAS JAX Feb 2010

DWFP is an initiative —$5M/yearto develop and validate novel methods

to protect US military from threats posed by

disease-carrying insects

MMoU supplement 2004:“…U.S. Department of Defense, through the DWFP, to provide funding to the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the United States Department of Agriculture to reinvigorate the mutually beneficial relationship between the two Departments. The DWFP will be executed under the auspices of the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB), The program will consist of a noncompetitive funding process for ARS-based research and a competitively funded grants process open to non-ARS scientists.”

DWFP Objective “screen, develop, and evaluate new and

existing public health insecticides and improve application methods to provide protection to deployed war-fighters from arthropod vectors of diseases”

DoD prior achievements (with USDA-ARS)

• Aerosol valve with pressurized spray-can system (1941- 43)

• DDT vs lice, malaria vectors, etc (1943- )

• DEET insect repellent (1947- )

• SIT population suppression (1949- )

• ULV insecticide spray (1970s)

• BTI biolarvicide (1977- )

• Monomolecular layer larvicide (1977- )

• Permethrin-impregnated fabrics (1978- )

• Lethal Ovitrap for dengue vectors (1997- )

DWFP Technical CommitteeSelect & Review Projects / Provide Feedback

• Lt Col Doug Burkett AFPMB - RLO• CAPT (ret) Gary Breeden NMCPHC – Navy Med Ent PM• CAPT Stan Cope AFPMB - Director• CAPT Mark Beavers AFPMB - CIS• COL Russ Coleman USAMMDA – Army• COL Scott Gordon USAMRU-K - Army• COL Rich Johnson USUHS - Army• Col John Putnam Air Force Academy - AF• COL (ret) Dan Strickman USDA-ARS NPL#104 • Dr. Graham White DWFP Tech Consultant, UFL & USDA

Deployed War-Fighter Protection ProgramDevelopment of New Pesticides and Application

Methods to Protect Military Personnel From Biting Arthropods

• Administered by Armed Forces Pest Management Board

• Funding: $5M/year + increments − SBIR tax

- up to $3M/year to USDA Agricultural Research Service

› $1.6M/year for other competitive proposals

- Grants up to $250,000/yr for up to 3 years

• Areas of Emphasis

- Novel insecticide chemistries/formulations

- Personal Protective Systems

- Application Technology

- Anticipate DWFP products for wider uses

• POC: Lt Col Douglas Burkett – douglas.burkett@osd.mil

• DWFP Consultant – Dr. Graham White GBWhite@ufl.edu

Lesions of dermal leishmaniasis

Sand fly Phlebotomus

DWFP: USDA-ARS Component: $3m/yrReinvigorate the

traditional role of USDA/ARS

in research on public health pesticides

for the U.S. military and public sector

Program 104 Projects

ARS Research at the National Center for Natural Products for

the DWFP

National Center for Natural Products Research

University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), Oxford, MS

Natural Products Utilization Research Unit

BillMoniqueNeilKelly Jimmy

PATENT pending “Pesticidal Double Stranded RNA Composition and method of use thereof” Pridgeon, Becnel & Strickman

DWFP competitive grants

FY04-FY10 : 43 Awards

DWFP Accomplishments

• Four new classes of pesticides

• Scientific specification of spray equipment

• Leveraging of $$ through USDA labs

• State of the art insectary facilities

• Improved filth fly control (trapping/lures)

Adulticides & Applications • Etofenprox (Zenivex) ULV regulatory steps by IR4• 37 sprayers evaluated (95% of NSN inventory)• Thermal fog superior to ULV in desert• Diesel-powered silent back-pack sprayer• refinement of cage bioassays

Uniforms

• permethrin clothing treatment progress– ABU (USAF): IDA kit provides good treatment– FROG (Marines): long-lasting– FRACU: not long-lasting

• treated velcro cuff protects sleeve and skin

Barrier Systems and Repellents• Optimization of residual sprays on vegetation barriers• Improved repellent clothing (FRACU challenge)• Improving residual insecticide treatment on tents

(Camouflage material better - 8 months)• Three compounds found better than DEET

(ligustilide, diol terpenoids, natural product)

• Infected mosquitoes less sensitive to repellents• Discovery of first stereospecific EAG receptor• Spatial inhibitors work against sand flies & mosquitoes

New PH pesticides from DWFP

• Molecular Pesticides - novel modes of action• Pyriproxyfen autodissemination by adult mosquitoes • Mosquito sterol blocking IGR • Chromene and piperidine toxicants• Carboxamide QSAR validation• New volatile pyrethroids - tox testing 6-pack

Novel interventions

• Commercialization of lethal ovitrap for dengue vectors• Insecticidal fly trap – folding/portable for deployment • Volatile chemical inhibitors of mosquito biting • Attractive toxic sugar baits for adult sand flies• Rodent baits for systemic control of adult sand flies

and feed-through control of larval sand flies

DWFP outreach

• Multiple symposia at national meetings

• Military entomologists at CMAVE, CDC

• Improved relationships/progress with industry

• Educational opportunities: military entomologists

• USDA virtual laboratory concept

• UFL Insect Solutions Center

Sede Eliyahu annual leishmaniasis case location

1

3

21

2

2007

3

3

5

22

1

4

2006

In 2006-7, 18 CL cases were diagnosed. All but one were residents of houses close to

the southern perimeter of the kibbutz .

1

2

2008

2

4

3

1

1

2

2

1

2

2

31

1

2

1

1

1

11

1

In 2008 50 additional cases have been diagnosed ,95% RESIDING ALONG THE PERIMETER FENCE

Nov. 16th, 2009 24COVE, Belek Turkey

Sede Eliyahu sandfly barrier, 2009

Nov. 16th, 2009 25COVE, Belek Turkey

DWFP Accomplishments

• New products in National Stock System• Sprayers, Pesticides, Fly Traps

• > 160 publications in 6 years• Multiple patents (6), invention disclosures (6)• IR-4 agreement to expedite PH pesticides• Increased interaction with other agencies

Deployed War-Fighter Protection Program Competitive Grants

• pre-proposals: 195 submitted FY04-FY10• 82 Selected for Full Proposals FY04-FY10 • 43 Grants funded so far, plus IR-4 and NECE support − PIs: Academia-16, Industry-11, Military Medical Entomologists-14, other Govt-2 − target insects: mosquitoes & general vectors-23, sand flies-16, other flies-4 − methodology: insecticides-18, sprayers-7, other equipment-10, strategies-5, repellents-2

• Scientific and Programmatic Review by DWFP Committee• Annual DWFP Review Conferences

(College Station TX; Gainesville FL; Oxford MS)

• Patents pending

• Industry SCAs & licensing

• EPA approvals