Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 3:47 PM
1059

Evaluation of RNA interference in R. flavipes through voluntary feeding

Xuguo Zhou, joezhou@ufl.edu, Marsha Wheeler, mmwheel1@ufl.edu, Faith Oi, fmoi@ifas.ufl.edu, and Michael E. Scharf, mescharf@ifas.ufl.edu. University of Florida, Entomology, PO Box 110620 Bldg. 970 Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL

RNA interference (RNAi) has been a premier tool used in the transition from physical genomics to functional genomics, and has shown great promise in both pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) mediated gene-silencing has been proven as a viable control agent against several insect pests including fruit fly, nematode, cotton bollworm, and corn rootworm. In this report, a dsRNA-based in vivo delivery system was tested on our model organism, Reticulitermes flavipes, the most common subterranean termite in North America. In an effort to test target genes with pest control potential, we examined a nutrition-related cellulase gene (Cell-1) and two soldier-inhibitory hexamerin genes (Hexa-1 & 2). Suppression of these target genes impacted vital biological processes of termites including but not limited to feeding, juvenile hormone modulation, development, and differentiation. Eventually, these biological impacts led to individual death and / or compromised fitness. In addition, this report also includes information regarding dsRNA stability, an oral delivery system, validation of gene silencing effects, and potential applications.


Species 1: Isoptera Rhinotermitidae Reticulitermes flavipes (eastern subterranean termite)