Abstract
(Englisch)
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INCHECO is a network project of fundamental research that exploits the multidisciplinary of complementary scientific domains among life sciences, environment and chemistry. The aim is to elucidate a chemical defence recently discovered in phytophagous insects. INCHECO will allow to obtain, within 48 months, a complete picture on this defence strategy, since the project will perform field work, bio-assays testing plant-insect and insect-natural enemy relationships, analytical chemistry, but also molecular phylogenetics and artificial selection experiments, up to physiological work on both hormonal processes and the immune system. The originality of this defence system, called 'bleeding', consists of a king of induced response new to science. This is triggering fundamental questions on the evolution of insects in their environment, and on the role of bio-active molecules for plants up to vertebrates. The profound influence of the molecules within the insect will be thoroughly studied. Hence, bleeding is the faculty for the insect to emit toxic blood through any part of the epidermis (integument). By a combination of chemical, immunological and physiological studies, the mechanism itself will be understood. Then by integrating behavioural, ecological and phylogenetic results, INCHECO will be able to explain 'how' and 'why' this defence strategy emerged during the evolution of insects. The multidisciplinary approach involves seven European teams specialised in scientific domains directly connected to chemical ecology. The expected results should obviously stimulate the interest of agrochemical companies, which seek comprehensive information on subtle biological mechanisms, in order to enhance the efficiency of insect pest management tools. On the other hand, bio-active molecules from plants, but increased in their potency by insects, are selected on structure-activity criteria and directly available for the industry.
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