Biological Chemistry

Dr Michael A Birkett:
Publication List

Birkett, M.A. (2010). The Chemistry of Plant Signalling. In Plant-Insect Interactions from an Ecological Perspective. Eds. Baluska, F. and Ninkovic, V. Springer press, 21-41.

Pickett, J.A., Birkett, M.A., Dewhirst, S.Y., Logan, J.G., Omollo, M.O., Torto, B., Pelletier, J., Syed, Z. and Leal, W.S. (2010). Chemical ecology of animal and human pathogen vectors in a changing global climate. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 36, 113-121.

Hooper, A.M., Khan, Z.R., Torto, B., Birkett, M.A., Bruce, T.J. and Pickett, J.A. (2010). Exploiting phytochemical diversity to control pests of agriculture and vectors of human and animal disease. In Aspects of African Biodiversity, RSC Publishing, 321, 43-48.

Bruce, T.J., Midega, C.A.O., Birkett, M.A., Pickett, J.A. and Khan, Z.R. (2010). Is quality more important than quantity? Insect behavioural responses to changes in a volatile blend after stemborer oviposition on an African grass. Biology Letters, 6, 314-317.

Weeks, E.N.I., Logan, J.G., Gezan, S.A., Woodcock, C.M., Birkett, M.A., Pickett, J.A. and Cameron, M.M. (2009). A novel bioassay for studying behavioural responses of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) to bed-bug volatiles. Bulletin of Entomological Research, in press.

Ukeh, D.A., Birkett, M.A., Bruce, T.J.A., Allan, E.J., Pickett, J.A. and Mordue (Luntz), A.J. (2010). Behavioural responses of the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, to host (stored grain) and non-host plant volatiles. Pest Management Science, 66, 44-50.

Carson, C., Birkett, M.A., Logan, J.L., Mawa, K., Pates, H.V., Pickett, J.A., Rwegoshora, R.T., Tungu, P.K. and Cameron, M.M. (2010). Novel use of stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) in the isolation of oviposition site attractants for gravid Culex quinquefasciatus. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 100, 1-7.

Oyarzun, M.P., Palma, R., Alberti, E., Hormazabal, E., Pardo, F., Birkett, M.A. and Quiroz, A. (2009). Olfactory Response of Haematobia irritans (Diptera: Muscidae) to Cattle-Derived Volatile Compounds. Journal of Medical Entomology, 46, 1320-1326.

Ukeh, D.A., Birkett, M.A., Pickett, J.A., Bowman, A.S. and Mordue (Luntz), A.J. (2009). Repellent activity of alligator pepper, Aframomum melegueta, and ginger, Zingiber officinale against the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais. Phytochemistry, 6, 751-758.

Pickett, J.A., Birkett, M.A., Woodcock, C.M. and Zhou, J.J. (2009). Scents and sex. The Biochemist, April, 1-6.

Pareja, M., Mohib, A., Birkett, M.A., Dufour S. and Glinwood, R.T. (2009). Behavioural responses to multiple cues: an approach coupling multivariate statistics coupled to generalised linear models. Animal Behaviour, 77, 901-909.

Mordue (Luntz), A.J.  and Birkett, M.A. (2009). A review of host finding behaviour in the parasitic sea louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Caligidae: Copepoda). Journal of Fish Diseases, 32, 3-13.

Moraes, M.C.B., Sereno, F.T.P.S., Michereff, M.F.F., Pareja, M., Laumann, R.A., Birkett, M.A., Pickett, J.A. and Borges, M. (2009). Attraction of the stink bugegg parasitoid, Telenomus podisi (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) to defence signals from soybean, Glycine max (Fabaceae), activated by treatment with cis-jasmone. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 131, 178-188.

Logan, J.G., Seal, N.J., Cook, J.I., Stanczyk, N.M., Birkett, M.A., Clark, S.J., Gezan, S.A., Wadhams, L.J., Pickett, J.A. and Mordue (Luntz), A.J. (2009). Identification of human-rerived volatile chemicals that interfere with attraction of the Scottish Biting Midge and their potential use as repellents. Journal of Medical Entomology, 46, 208-219.

Frati, F., Chamberlain, K., Birkett, M.A., Dufour, S., Mayon, P., Woodcock, C.M., Wadhams, L.J., Pickett, J.A., Salerno, G., Conti, E. and Bin, F. (2009). Volatiles induced in Vicia faba by Lygus rugulipennis and their role in enhancement of sex pheromone activity. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 35, 201-208.
Glinwood R., Birkett M., Kumar, S. Ninkovic V and Pettersson J (2008). Sustainable plant protection for increased food security in a changing climate. Currents 44/45: 29-33.

Dewhirst, S.Y, Birkett, M.A., Fitzgerald, J.D., Stewart-Jones, A., Woodcock, C.M., Wadhams, L.J., Pickett, J.A. and Hardie, J. (2008). Dolichodial: A third component of the aphid sex pheromone? Journal of Chemical Ecology, 34, 1575-1583.

Pickett, J.A., Birkett, M.A. and Logan, J.G. (2008). DEET repels ORNery mosquitoes. P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 105, 13195-13196.

Pettersson, J., Ninkovic, V., Glinwood, R., Al Abassi, S., Birkett, M., Pickett, J.A. and Wadhams, L.J. (2008). Chemical stimuli supporting foraging behaviour of Coccinella septempunctata (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): volatiles and allelobiosis – a minireview. Applied Entomology and Zoology, 43, 315-321.

Webster, B., Bruce, T., Dufour, S., Birkemeyer, C., Birkett, M., Hardie, J. and Pickett, J. (2008). Identification of volatile compounds used in host location by the black-bean aphid, Aphis fabae. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 34, 1153-1161.

Birkett, M.A., Al Abassi, S., Krober, T., Chamberlain, K., Hooper, A.M., Guerin, P.M., Pettersson, J., Pickett, J.A., Slade, R. and Wadhams, L. (2008). Antoectoparasitic activity of the gum resin, gum haggar, from the East African plant, Commiphora holtziana. Phytochemistry, 69, 1710-1715.

Bruce, T.J., Matthes, M., Chamberlain, K., Woodcock, C.M., Mohib, A., Webster, B., Smart, L.E., Birkett, M.A., Pickett, J.A. and Napier, J.A. (2008). cis-Jasmone induces Arabidopsis genes that affect the chemical ecology of multitrophic interactions with aphids and their parasitoids. P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 105, 4553-4558.

Mauchline, A.L., Birkett, M.A., Woodcock, C.M., Pickett, J.A., Osborne, J.L. and Powell, W. (2008). Electrophysiological and behavioural responses of the pollen beetle, Meligethes aeneus, to volatiles from a non-host plant, lavender, Lavandula angustifolia (Lamiaceae). Arthropod and Plant Interactions, 2, 109-115.

Serrano, R.M., Barata, E.N., Birkett, M.A., Hubbard, P.C., Guerreiro, P.S. and Canario, A.V.M. (2008). Behavioural and olfactory responses of female Salaria pavo (Pisces: Blenniidae) to putative pheromones from the anal glands of males. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 34, 647-658.

Logan, J.G., Birkett, M.A., Clark, S.J., Mordue (Luntz), A.J., Pickett, J.A., Powers, S., Seal, N.J. and Wadhams, L.J. (2008). Identification of human-derived volatile chemicals that interfere with attraction of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 34, 308-322.

Schonrogge, K., Napper, E.K.V., Birkett, M.A., Woodcock, C.M., Pickett, J.A., Wadhams, L.J., and Thomas, J. (2008). Host recognition by the specialist hoverfly, Microdon mutabilis, a social parasite of the ant, Formica lemani. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 34, 168-178.

Oyarzun, M.P., Birkett, M.A., and Quiroz, A. (2008). Insecticide resistance in the horn fly (Diptera: Muscidae): alternative control strategies. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 22, 188-202.

Blassioli-Moraes, M.C., Birkett, M.A., Gordon-Weeks, R., Smart, L.E., Martin, J.L., Pye, B.J., Bromilow, R. and Pickett, J.A. (2008). cis-Jasmone induces accumulation of defence compounds in wheat, Triticum aestivum. Phytochemistry, 69, 9-17.

Deswarte, F.E.I., Clark, J.H., Wilson, A.J., Hardy, J.J.E., Marriott, R., Chahal, S., Jackson, C., Heslop, G., Birkett, M., Bruce, T.J. and Whitely, G. (2008). Towards an integrated straw-based biorefinery. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, DOI: 10.1002/bbb.

Pickett, J.A., Birkett, M.A., Bruce, T.J., Chamberlain, K., Gordon-Weeks, R., Matthes, M., Napier, J.A., Smart, L.E. and Woodcock, C.M. (2007). Developments in aspects of ecological phytochemistry: the role of cis-jasmone in inducible defence systems in plants. Phytochemistry, 68, 2937-2945.

Pino-Marambio, J., A.J. Mordue (Luntz), M. Birkett, J. Carvajal, G. Asencio, A. Mellado and A. Quiroz. (2007). Behavioural studies of host, non-host and mate location by the Sea Louse, Caligus rogercresseyi Boxshall & Bravo, 2000 (Copepoda: Caligidae). Aquaculture, 271, 70-76. 

Logan, J.G. and Birkett, M.A. (2007). Semiochemicals for biting fly control: their identification and exploitation. Pest Management Science, 63, 647-657.

Skelton, A.S., Cameron, M.M., Birkett, M.A. and Pickett, J.A. (2007). A novel bioassay for studying house dust mite behaviour. Journal of Medical Entomology, 44, 367-371.

Cook, S.M., Rasmussen, H.B., Birkett, M.A., Murray, D.A., Pye, B.J., Watts, N.P. and Williams, I.H. (2007). Behavioural and chemical ecology underlying the success of turnip rape (Brassica rapa) trap crops in protecting oilseed rape (Brassica napus) from the pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus). Arthropod-Plant Interactions, 1, 57-67.

Pickett, J.A., Birkett, M.A., Blassioli Moraes, M.C., Bruce, T.J.A., Chamberlain, K., Gordon-Weeks, R., Matthes, M.C., Napier, J.A., Smart, L.E., Wadhams, L.J. and Woodcock, C.M. (2007). cis-Jasmone as allelopathic agent in inducing plant defence. Allelopathy Journal, 19, 109-117.

Pareja, M., Moraes, M.C.B., Clark, S.J., Birkett, M.A. and Powell, W. (2007). Response of the aphid parasitoid, Aphidius funebris, to volatiles from undamaged and aphid-infested Centurea nigra. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 33, 695-710.

Borges, M., Birkett, M., Aldrich, J., Oliver, J.E., Chiba, M., Murata, Y., Laumann, R.A., Barrigossi, J.A., Pickett, J.A. and Moraes, M.C.B. (2006). Sex attractant pheromone from the rice stalk bug, Tibraca limbativentris STAL (Hempitera: Pentatomidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 32, 2749-2761.

Beale, M.H., Birkett, M.A., Bruce, T.J., Chamberlain, K., Field, L.M., Huttly, A., Martin, J.L., Parker, R., Phillips, A., Pickett, J.A., Prosser, I.M., Shewry, P., Smart, L.E., Wadhams, L.J., Woodcock, C.M. and Zhang, Y. (2006). Aphid alarm pheromone produced by transgenic plants affects aphid and parasitoid behavior.  P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 103, 10509-10513.

Birkett, M.A., Chamberlain, K., Khan, Z.R., Pickett, J.A., Toshova, T., Wadhams, L.J. and Woodcock, C.M. (2006). Electrophysiological responses of the lepidopterous stemborers Chilo partellus and Busseola fusca to the volatiles from wild and cultivated host plants. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 32, 2475-2487.

Nakashima, Y., Birkett, M.A., Pye, B.J. and Powell, W. (2006). Chemically-mediated intraguild predator avoidance by aphid parasitoids: inter-specific variability in sensitivity to semiochemical trails of ladybird predators. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 32, 1989-1998.

Birkett, M.A. and Pickett, J.A. (2006). Interrogation of natural signals/biomarkers. State of Science Review SSR8, Foresight: Infectious Diseases: Preparing for the Future. http://www.foresight.gov.uk/Detection_and_Identification_of_Infectious_Diseases/Reports_and_Publications/Final_Reports/Science_Review_Summaries/s8.pdf

Powell, W., Pell, J., Nakashima, Y., Baverstock, J. and Birkett, M.A. (2006). Functional biodiversity of aphid natural enemies: positive intra-guild interactions. Proceedings IOBC workshop on landscape management for functional biodiversity, Zurich, Switzerland, 16-19 May 2006, 29, 101-104.

Bailey, R.A., Birkett, M.A., Ingvarsdottir, A., Mordue Luntz, A.J., Mordue, W., Pickett, J.A. and Wadhams, L.J. (2006). The role of semiochemicals in mediating host location and non-host avoidance by copepodid larvae of the parasitic sea louse, Lepeoptheirus salmonis, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 63, 448-456.

Pettersson, J., Ninkovic. V., Glinwood, R., Al Abassi, S., Birkett, M., Pickett, J. and  Wadhams, L.J. (2005). Foraging behaviour of Coccinella septempunctata (L.): volatiles and allelobiosis. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Biological Control of Aphids and Coccids, Tsuruoka, Japan, 25-29 September 2005.

Nakashima, Y., Birkett, M.A., Powell, W. (2005). Avoidance of intraguild predators by parasitoids: chemical mechanisms, behaviour and field evaluation. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Biological Control of Aphids and Coccids, Tsuruoka, Japan, 25-29 September 2005.

Pickett, J.A., Birkett, M.A., Bruce, T.J.A., Chamberlain, K., Gordon-Weeks, R., Matthes, M., Moraes, M.C.B., Napier, J., Smart, L.E., Wadhams, L.J. and Woodcock, C.M. (2005). Cis-jasmone as an allelopathic agent through plant defence induction. Proceedings of the Fourth World Congress on Allelopathy, Wagga Wagga, Australia, 21-26 August 2005.

Pettersson, J., Ninkovic. V., Glinwood, R., Birkett, M. and Pickett, J. (2005). Foraging in a complex environment - semiochemicals support searching behaviour of the seven spot ladybird. European Journal of Entomology, 102 (3): 365-370.

Bruce, T.J.A., Birkett, M.A., Blande, J., Hooper, A.M., Martin, J.L., Khambay, BPS., Prosser, I., Smart, L.E. and Wadhams, L.J. (2005). Response of economically important aphids to components of Hemizygia petiolata essential oil. Pest Management Science, 61, 1115-1121.

Cruz M.D.S, Vega Robles, M.C., Jespersen, J.B., Kilpinen, O., Birkett, M., Dewhirst, S. and Pickett, J. (2005). Scanning electron microscopy of foreleg tarsal sense organs of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae (DeGeer) (Acari:Dermanyssidae) Micron, 36 (5): 415-421.

Ngumbi, E.N., Ngi-Song., Njagi, E.N.M., Torto, R., Wadhams, L.J., Birkett, M.A., Pickett, J.A., Overholt, W. and Torto, B., (2005). Responses of the stem borer larval endoparasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera:Braconidae) to plant derived synomones: Laboratory and field cage experiments. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 15, 271-279.

Gouinguene, S., Pickett, J.A., Wadhams, L.J., Birkett, M.A. and Turlings, T.C.J. (2005). Antennal electrophysiological responses of three parasitic wasps to caterpillar-induced volatiles from maize (Zea mays mays), cotton (Gossypium herbaceum), and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 31, 1023-1038.

Hassanali, A., Khan, Z.R., Birkett, M.A., Chamberlain, K., Hooper, A.M., Mayon, P., Wadhams, L.J., Woodcock, C.M., Khamis, T.M., van den Berg, J. and Toshova, T. (2004). Understanding chemical ecology and long term biotechnological opportunities for management of stem borers and striga in Northern Africa. Proceedings Second Pest Management Conference, 6-9 December 2004.

Birkett, M.A., Agelopoulos, N., Jensen, K-M.V., Jespersen, J.B., Pickett, J.A., Pickett, J.A, Prijs., Thomas, G., Trapman, J.J., Wadhams, L.J., and Woodcock, C.M. (2004). The role of volatile semiochemicals in mediating host location and selection by nuisance and disease-transmitting cattle flies. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 18, 313-322.

Jensen, K-M.V., Jespersen, J.B., Birkett, M.A., Pickett, J.A., Thomas, G., Wadhams, L.J., and Woodcock, C.M. (2004). Variation in the load of the horn fly, Haematobia irritans (L.), (Diptera: Muscidae) in cattle herds is determined by the presence or absence of individual heifers. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 18, 275-280.

Birkett, M.A., Bruce, T.J.A., Martin, J.L., Smart, L.E., Oakley, J., and Wadhams, L.J. (2004). Responses of female Orange wheat blossom midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana, to wheat panacle volatiles. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 30, 1309-1328.

Nakashima, Y., Birkett, M.A., Pye, B.J., Pickett, J.A. and Powell, W. (2004). The role of semiochemicals in the avoidance of the seven-spot ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata (Coleoptera; Coccinellidae) by the aphid parasitoid, Aphidius ervi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 30, 1103-1116.

Olagbemiro, T.O., Birkett, M.A., Mordue (Luntz), A.J. and Pickett, J.A. (2004) Laboratory and field responses of the pathogen-vectoring mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, to plant-derived oviposition pheromone and the oviposition cue skatole. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 30, 965-976.

Goldensaz, S.H., Birkett, M.A., Dewhirst, S.Y., Pickett, J.A., Wadhams, L.J. and McNeil, J.N (2004) Identification of the sex pheromone in the potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas)(Homoptera: Aphididae). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 30, 819-834.

Zhou, J.J., Zhang, G., Huang, W., Birkett, M.A., Field, L.M., Pickett, J.A. and Pelosi, P. (2004) Revisiting odorant-binding protein LUSH of Drosophila melanogaster: evidence for odour recognition and discrimination. FEBS letters, 558, 23-26.

Birkett, M.A. Towards an organic system for cattle fly control: a push and a pull? 2004. Proceedings Joint BGS/AAB/COR conference "Organic Farming - Science and Practice for Profitable Livestock Production", 20-22 April 2004.

Birkett, M.A., Dodds, C.J., Henderson, I.F., Leake, L.D., Pickett, J.A., Selby M.J. and Watson P.  (2004) Antifeedant compounds from three species of Apiaceae active against the field slug Deroceras reticulatum (Muller). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 30, 563-576.

Birkett, M.A. and Pickett, J.A. (2003). Aphid sex pheromones: from discovery to commercial production. Phytochemistry, 62, 651-656.

Birkett, M., Chamberlain, K., Guerrieri, E., Pickett, J. A., Wadhams, L. J. and Yasuda, T. (2003) Volatiles from whitefly-infested plants elicit a host-locating response in the parasitoid, Encarsia formosa. Journal of Chemical Ecology 29, 1589-1600.

Glinwood, R., Pettersson, J., Ahmed, E., Ninkovic, V., Birkett, M. and Pickett, J.  (2003) Change in acceptability of barley plants to aphids after exposure to allelochemicals from couch-grass (Elytrigia repens). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 29, 261-274.

Kilpinen, O., Steenberg, T., Jespersen, J.B., Cruz, M.D.S., Vega Robles, C., Birkett, M.A., Dewhirst, S. and Pickett, J. (2002). Advances in the development of alternative control methods against chicken mites. Proceedings Mange and myiasis in livestock annual meeting, 18-21 September 2002.

Ingvarsdottir, A., Birkett, M.A., Duce, I., Mordue, W., Pickett, J.A., Wadhams, L.J. and Mordue (Luntz) A.J. (2002). Role of semiochemicals in the mating behaviour of the parasitic sea louse Lepeoptheirus salmonis. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 28, 2107-2117.

Ingvarsdottir, A., Birkett, M.A., Duce, I., Genna, R., Mordue, W., Pickett, J.A., Wadhams, L.J. and Mordue (Luntz) A.J. (2002). Semiochemical strategies for sea lice control: host location cues. Pest Management Science, 58, 537-545.

Costantini, C., Birkett, M.A., Gibson, G., Ziesmann, J. Sagnon, N'F. Mohammed, H.A., Coluzzi, M. and Pickett, J.A. (2001). Electroantennogram and behavioural responses of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae to human-specific sweat components. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 15, 259-266.

Birkett, M.A., Chamberlain, K., Hooper, A.M. and Pickett, J.A. (2001) Does allelopathy offer real promise for practical weed management and for explaining rhizosphere interactions involving higher plants? Plant and Soil 232, 31-39.

Al Abassi, S., Birkett, M.A., Pettersson, J., Pickett, J.A., Wadhams, L.J. and Woodcock, C.M. (2001) Response of the ladybird parasitoid Dinocampus coccinellae to toxic alkaloids from the seven-spot ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 27, 33-43.

Birkett, M.A., Campbell, C.A.M., Chamberlain, K., Guerrieri, E., Hick, A.J., Martin, J.L., Matthes, M., Napier, J.A., Pettersson, J., Pickett, J.A., Poppy, G.M., Pow, E.M., Pye, B.J., Smart, L.E., Wadhams, G.H., Wadhams, L.J. and Woodcock, C.M. (2000). New roles for cis-jasmone as an insect semiochemical and in plant defence against insects. P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97: (16) 9329-9334.

Al Abassi, S., Birkett, M.A., Pettersson, J., Pickett, J.A., Wadhams, L.J. and Woodcock, C.M. (2000). Response of the seven-spot ladybird to an aphid alarm pheromone and an alarm pheromone inhibitor is mediated by paired olfactory cells. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 26, 1765-1771.