Vol. 12, Issue 5, Part A (2025)

Author(s): K Umamaheswari and RK Sumathi

Abstract: <p><strong>Aim:</strong> Mosquito-borne diseases pose major global health challenges, and resistance to chemical insecticides highlights the need for ecofriendly alternatives. This study aimed to evaluate the larvicidal potential of metabolites extracted from <em>Bacillus cereus</em> against <em>Culex quinquefasciatus</em> and investigate their inhibitory effects on the mosquito salivary gland D7 protein using molecular docking. </p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> <em>Bacillus cereus</em> was isolated and identified by culture and 16S rRNA analysis. The bacterial metabolites were extracted, and GC-MS analysis was performed to identify bioactive compounds. Molecular docking simulations were conducted to assess the binding affinities of compounds such as 2-piperidinone, dodecanoic acid, and n-hexadecanoic acid to the D7 protein (PDB ID: 7TVY) of <em>Culex quinquefasciatus</em>. </p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> Molecular docking showed strong interactions of these compounds with the D7 protein, with 2-piperidinone exhibiting the highest docking score of -7.0 kcal/mol, followed by n-hexadecanoic acid (-5.4 kcal/mol) and dodecanoic acid (-4.4 kcal/mol). These interactions suggest disruption of the D7 protein’s role in mosquito blood feeding and disease transmission. </p> <strong>Conclusion: </strong><em>Bacillus cereus</em><strong></strong>metabolites showed strong binding to the mosquito salivary gland D7 protein, indicating potential larvicidal activity and supporting their use as ecofriendly mosquito control agents.

DOI: 10.22271/23487941.2025.v12.i5a.856