Effect of RNA Interference-Induced Knockdown of the Actin Gene on Mortality of the German Cockroach, Blattella germanica

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Abstract

At present, the development of environmentally friendly bioinsecticides for the control of agricultural insect pests and synanthropic insect species is of particular relevance. One promising approach is to use double-stranded RNA complementary to a vital insect gene to knockdown that gene through an RNA interference mechanism, resulting in the death of the insect. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model object, one gene, Actin 5C, was selected from six paralogous Drosophila actin genes based on the fact that knockdown of this gene in most Drosophila tissues results in insect death. A double-stranded RNA complementary to the Actin 5C gene of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, was microinjected under the cuticle. RNA interference of this gene has been shown to kill cockroaches within few weeks. The prospects of using double-stranded RNA complementary to the Actin 5C gene as an insecticide are discussed.

About the authors

K. A. Kosherova

Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: dmitryVmukha@gmail.com
Moscow, 119991 Russia

N. V. Roshina

Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences; National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”

Email: dmitryVmukha@gmail.com
Moscow, 119991 Russia; Moscow, 123182 Russia

A. V. Symonenko

National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”

Email: dmitryVmukha@gmail.com
Moscow, 123182 Russia

D. V. Mukha

Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: dmitryVmukha@gmail.com
Moscow, 119991 Russia

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