In the course we will identify modern research areas, both theoretical and applied, which deal with interactions by chemical substances, i.e. semiochemicals, between animals, plants and environment. In addition we will discuss the effect of chemical signals originating from pollutants on insect behaviour.
Techniques (both in chemistry and biology) which are used to collects and identify odor and taste related compounds will be presented.
Importance of chemical communication in living organisms (e.g. humans, other animals and pest insects) will be discussed. Examples of successful exchange of poisonous chemicals to species specific environmentally friendly chemical signals will be given.
The course is interdisciplinary and comprises of chemical and biological research areas. The course and laborations will combine analytical chemistry, separation sciences, biochemistry, organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, dispenser technology, surface chemistry and structure activity calculations.
The laborations will be thematic in groups constituting 2-4 people. Students are encouraged to bring own problems or ideas.
Undergraduate, Ph D students and high school teachers, with chemical and biological interests are welcome to participate. Chemistry courses at undergraduate level with at least the first courses in chemistry and organic chemistry (KTH) or 10p chemistry (SU) are recommended.
The overall aim is to present fundamental knowledge in the area and will include theory and methodology to collect and identify biologically relevant compounds. Examples will be given from both terrestrial and aquatic organisms. You will be able to get an overview of sustainable biological control methods of pest organisms in agriculture and forestry as well as in urban areas.
After the course the students should be able to
* know about the common methods to isolate biologically active natural products
* choose and use the appropriate chemical collection and isolation methods
* separate a mixture of compounds with chromatography techniques (2D-GC, GC-MS, HPLC-MS, MPLC)
- know about the advantages and disadvantages when identifying compounds using mass spectrometry
- identify and separate chiral volatile compounds
- test the activity of compounds or fractions using a bioassay (windtunnel, olfactometer, and other bioactivity test methods)
- understand the importance in involving structure-activity studies to optimize the bioactivity of chemical substances
- use dispensers to create a controlled release of biologically active compounds
- discuss sustainable alternatives to the conventional use of insectides, fungicides and herbicides used in gardening, agriculture and forestry
- know about basic terminology in chemical ecology as pheromones, kairomones, allomones and more generally semiochemicals
- know about important reserach areas in ecological chemistry, chemical communication
- discuss the advantages – disadvantages with biological control methods
- plan a project with the goal to identify and apply biologically active compounds in the control of pest organisms.