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- Title
Expressing Double-Stranded RNAs of Insect Hormone-Related Genes Enhances Baculovirus Insecticidal Activity.
- Authors
Liu, Zheming; Wang, Xiaofang; Dai, Yan; Wei, Xiaoli; Ni, Mi; Zhang, Lei; Zhu, Zhen
- Abstract
Baculoviruses have already been used for insect pest control, but the slow killing speed limits their further promotion and application. Here we provide a strategy for improving baculovirus insecticidal activity using Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) to express double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) targeting cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) juvenile hormone (JH)-related genes. Droplet-feeding bioassays show that the 50% lethal concentration (LC50) values of recombinant baculoviruses expressing the dsRNA of JH acid methyl transferase gene (HaJHAMT) and the JH acid binding protein gene (HaJHBP) were 1.24 × 104 polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIB)/mL and 2.26 × 104 PIB/mL, respectively. Both were much lower than the control value (8.12 × 104 PIB/mL). Meanwhile, the LT50 of recombinant baculovirus expressing dsRNA of HaJHBP was only 54.2% of the control value, which means that larval death was accelerated. Furthermore, the mRNA level of target genes was reduced in recombinant baculovirus-treated cotton bollworm larvae. Transcription of several key genes involved in hormone signaling pathways—for example, ecdysone receptor gene (HaEcR)—was also altered. This study establishes a new strategy for pest management by interfering with insect hormone-related gene expression via baculoviruses, and the engineered baculoviruses have great potential application in cotton production.
- Subjects
RECOMBINANT baculoviruses; RNA interference; JUVENILE hormones; HELICOVERPA armigera; NUCLEOPOLYHEDROVIRUSES; MICRORNA
- Publication
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2019, Vol 20, Issue 2, p419
- ISSN
1661-6596
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/ijms20020419