Aedes aegypti (L.) is the vector responsible for transmitting dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika viruses, as well as other pathogens. Microbial larvicides based on Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner israelensis (Bti) and Saccharopolyspora spinosa Mertz and Yao, such as VectoBac 12AS and Natular 2EC, have been shown to be effective in reducing larval populations of Ae. aegypti. We examined the gene expression of two detoxification enzymes, glucosyl and glucuronosyl transferases (AaeGGT1 and AaeGGT2), through developmental stages and a time course study in response to larvicide exposure using qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). AaeGGT1 and AaeGGT2 gene expressions were differentially regulated during development of the immature stages. We also found that male adults had higher expression than female adults after controlling for age effects. AaeGGT1 and AaeGGT2 gene expression were both upregulated in response to VectoBac 12AS and Natular 2EC treatments with the maximum level of expression occurring 24 h after treatment applications. This information sheds light on larvicide-induced changes in the physiology of Ae. aegypti with implications for development of mosquito control strategies.
Keywords: Aedes aegypti; Natular 2EC; VectoBac 12AS; larvicide; metabolic detoxification.
© The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.