Molecular and Electrophysiological Characterization of Olfactory and Gustatory Perception in Honeybee and Cockroach for Application as Biosensor

Abstract

Chemoreception is an essential sensory modality for the survival and reproduction of many animals, especially insects. Food sources, mate and oviposition sites are located and evaluated through the use of the chemosensory apparatus. Despite growing knowledge of insect olfactory and gustatory detection and processing very little is known about the modulation and receptor function of the chemosensory system. This objective of this thesis was to explore olfactory modulation of the peripheral olfactory system in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana and to compare olfactory sensitivity between Asian honeybee, Apis cerana and European honeybee, Apis mellifera. In addition, this research concentrated on 2 determining the natural ligands such as sugar and amino acids of gustatory receptors of honeybee, Apis mellifera, in order to understand the gustatory world of insect. Finally, we developed a bioelectronics tongue using honeybee taste receptor for the detection of umami taste compounds with human like performance. Through the use of morphological, behavioral, electrophysiological, pharmacological, neuroanatomical, and biophysical techniques we have begun to elucidate the modulatory effects of internal factors, neuromodulators, on insect chemoreception. Also, we demonstrated functional role and characterization of gustatory receptors related to sweet and amino acids compounds in the honeybee, Apis mellifera. These studies provide a foundation for understanding the molecular and cellular basis of olfactory and gustatory coding and behavior.