Double-Stranded RNA Technology to Control Insect Pests: Current Status and Challenges

Olivier Christiaens; Steve Whyard; Ana M Vélez; Guy Smagghe

doi:10.3389/fpls.2020.00451

Double-Stranded RNA Technology to Control Insect Pests: Current Status and Challenges

Front Plant Sci. 2020 Apr 21:11:451. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00451. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Olivier Christiaens¹, Steve Whyard², Ana M Vélez³, Guy Smagghe¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Plants and Crops, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
² Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
³ Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States.

Abstract

Exploiting the RNA interference (RNAi) gene mechanism to silence essential genes in pest insects, leading to toxic effects, has surfaced as a promising new control strategy in the past decade. While the first commercial RNAi-based products are currently coming to market, the application against a wide range of insect species is still hindered by a number of challenges. In this review, we discuss the current status of these RNAi-based products and the different delivery strategies by which insects can be targeted by the RNAi-triggering double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules. Furthermore, this review also addresses a number of physiological and cellular barriers, which can lead to decreased RNAi efficacy in insects. Finally, novel non-transgenic delivery technologies, such as polymer or liposomic nanoparticles, peptide-based delivery vehicles and viral-like particles, are also discussed, as these could overcome these barriers and lead to effective RNAi-based pest control.

Keywords: RNA interference; RNAi; dsRNA; host-induced gene silencing (HIGS); insect pests; pest management; spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS); virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS).

Publication types

Review