Prentice Katterinne, Christiaens Olivier, Pertry Ine, Bailey Ana, Niblett Chuck, Ghislain Marc, Gheysen Godelieve, Smagghe Guy
Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Pest Manag Sci. 2017 Jan;73(1):44-52. doi: 10.1002/ps.4337. Epub 2016 Jul 22.
RNA interference (RNAi) technology can potentially serve as a suitable strategy to control the African sweet potato weevil Cylas puncticollis (SPW), which is a critical pest in sub-Saharan Africa. Important prerequisites are required to use RNAi in pest control, such as the presence of an efficient RNAi response and the identification of suitable target genes.
Here we evaluated the toxicity of dsRNAs targeting essential genes by injection and oral feeding in SPW. In injection assays, 12 of 24 dsRNAs were as toxic as the one targeting Snf7, a gene used commercially against Diabrotica virgifera virgifera. Three dsRNAs with high insecticidal activity were then chosen for oral feeding experiments. The data confirmed that oral delivery can elicit a significant toxicity, albeit lower compared with injection. Subsequently, ex vivo assays revealed that dsRNA is affected by degradation in the SPW digestive system, possibly explaining the lower RNAi effect by oral ingestion.
We conclude that the full potential of RNAi in SPW is affected by the presence of nucleases. Therefore, for future application in crop protection, it is necessary constantly to provide new dsRNA and/or protect it against possible degradation in order to obtain a higher RNAi efficacy. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
RNA干扰（RNAi）技术有可能成为控制非洲甘薯象甲（Cylas puncticollis，SPW）的合适策略，该害虫是撒哈拉以南非洲的一种关键害虫。在害虫防治中使用RNAi需要重要的前提条件，例如存在有效的RNAi反应以及鉴定合适的靶基因。
在此，我们通过注射和口服给药评估了靶向必需基因的dsRNA对SPW的毒性。在注射试验中，24种dsRNA中有12种与靶向Snf7的dsRNA毒性相同，Snf7是一种商业上用于防治玉米根萤叶甲的基因。然后选择三种具有高杀虫活性的dsRNA进行口服给药实验。数据证实口服给药可引发显著毒性，尽管与注射相比毒性较低。随后，体外试验表明dsRNA在SPW消化系统中受到降解影响，这可能解释了口服摄入时RNAi效应较低的原因。
我们得出结论，RNAi在SPW中的全部潜力受到核酸酶的影响。因此，为了未来在作物保护中的应用，有必要不断提供新的dsRNA和/或保护其免受可能的降解，以获得更高的RNAi功效。©2016化学工业协会。
