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Background: The RNA interference (RNAi) efficiency of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) delivery to insects by various methods is different and the reduced efficacy of feeding dsRNA is partly due to the presence of DNA/RNA non-specific endonuclease in the insect gut. However, the mechanism leading to the low RNAi efficiency of Nilaparvata lugens by feeding remains elusive.
Results: In this study, we identified a putatively DNA/RNA non-specific endonuclease gene in the N. lugens genome database that was highly expressed in the first nymphal instar and the midgut. Different expression levels of NldsRNase after feeding and injection suggested that NldsRNase might interfere with oral RNAi in N. lugens. A co-delivery RNAi strategy further revealed that the presence of NldsRNase reduces RNAi efficiency. In vitro dsRNA degradation experiments also showed that the stability of dsRNA was higher in a gut mixture from nymphs injected with dsNldsRNase. These results support the idea that the low oral RNAi response observed in N. lugens is likely due to the presence of NldsRNase.
Conclusions: Our study provides insight into the differences in RNAi response between the injection and feeding of dsRNA in N. lugens and sheds light on the mechanisms underlying the reduced efficacy of RNAi via feeding. These findings may help to inform the development of more-effective RNAi-based strategies controlling N. lugens and other insect pests. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ps.8307 | DOI Listing |
Pestic Biochem Physiol
November 2025
Henan Engineering Laboratory of Pest Biological Control/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, People's Republic of China.
Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata represents a significant economic pest, typically controlled through the use of chemical insecticides. The introduction of RNA interference (RNAi) technology has opened new avenues for biopesticide development, leading to the identification of various genes that are crucial for the growth and development of insects. However, the efficient screening of target genes in H.
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November 2025
Shanxi Key Laboratory of Nucleic Acid Biopesticides, Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China; School of Synthetic Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China; School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China.
Glutamine: fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase (GFAT) is the first rate-limiting enzyme in the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway, which plays a crucial role in various biological processes, including chitin metabolism in insects. Locusta migratoria, a widespread and highly destructive agricultural pest, poses a significant threat due to its rapid reproduction and long-distance migration. In this study, we identified and characterized LmGFAT as a key regulator of locust development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPest Manag Sci
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School of Life Sciences, Genetic Engineering Research Center, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
Background: Entomopathogenic fungi show great potential as biological control agents for managing insect pests. However, host defenses have limited the effectiveness of these fungi in practice. Utilizing genetic engineering-based technology could be a promising strategy to enhance the killing efficiency of these fungi against insect pests.
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Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan, 305817, India.
Mosquito reproductive biology is an underexplored area with potential for developing novel vector control strategies. In this study, we investigated the role of the testis-specific serine/threonine-protein kinase (tssk) family, an essential regulator of spermiogenesis in mammals, in mosquitoes. We identified tssk homologues, As_tssk3 and Aea_tssk1, in Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti, respectively and analyzed their expression across different developmental stages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe ability of an organism to identify self and foreign RNA is central to eliciting an immune response in times of need while avoiding autoimmunity. As viral pathogens typically employ double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), host identification, modulation, and response to dsRNA is key. However, dsRNA is also abundant in host transcriptomes, raising the question of how these molecules can be differentiated.
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