RNA interference (RNAi) is a highly conserved post-transcriptional gene regulatory mechanism that controls gene expression at the mRNA level within living cells. The application of RNAi has fundamentally changed our way when we design laboratory experiments to address the questions of gene function, regulation and interaction at the cell and whole-organism levels. This presentation is to highlight some useful applications of RNAi to address research questions in insect toxicology. Several examples of using RNAi techniques, including microinjection, insect feeding, nanoparticle-assisted delivery, and transgenic plant, will be discussed. These methods have been successfully used to help us: 1) understand different functions of insect acetylcholinesterase genes in Tribolium castaneum, 2) identify a novel aminopeptidase P-like gene possibly involved in Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxicity and resistance in Ostrinia nubilalis, 3) reveal the role of cytochrome P450 genes in insecticide detoxification in Aedes aegypti, and 4) develop new strategies for managing insect pests.

RNA interference: Applications in insect toxicology

248th National Meeting (2014)

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