Insight into insect odorant binding proteins: An alternative approach for pest management

Insects have enormous impact on public health as agricultural pests and disease vectors worldwide. Olfaction is the most crucial recognition process that mediates chemical communication in insects. Odorant binding proteins (OBP) are the small soluble proteins present in the sensory organs of the insects and are involved in many behavioural contexts, such as locating host, mating partners, escaping predators, flight, hygrosensation, immunity and identifying oviposition sites. OBPs are typically thought to function as a molecular carrier that bind, solubilize, and transport hydrophobic odorant molecules through the sensillar fluid and protect them from odorant degradation, thus maximizing olfactory system’s sensitivity. Due to their large structural and functional diversity, OBPs can be used as molecular targets for species, stage and sex specific insect pest management. In this review article, we will explore the structural and functional aspects of insect OBP and its potential applications in insect pest management. Antennal transcriptomics, ligand binding assay, olfactory repellents, pheromone-based disruption, RNA interference (RNAi) and genetic modifications can be effective management tactics for insect pests.