RNA interference (RNAi) is a sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene silencing mechanism mediated by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). RNAi has been widely considered as a novel strategy for managing insect pests. However, the instability of dsRNA in insects and the limited options for effective dsRNA delivery are among the major challenges against the application of RNAi-based technology for insect pest management. We identified several dsRNA-degrading nuclease (<i>dsRNase</i>) genes in insects and demonstrated that some genes were responsible for the instability of dsRNA, which led to low RNAi efficiency in certain insect species. To address this issue, we developed nanoparticle-based techniques for oral delivery of dsRNA and demonstrated that our dsRNA delivery methods can significantly improve dsRNA stability and enhance RNAi efficiency. Our findings are expected to promote the application of RNAi-based approaches for insect pest management.

Breaking down the barriers: Strategies to enhance RNAi efficiency in insects

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ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.