Topically Applied AaeIAP1 Double-Stranded RNA Kills Female Adults of Aedes aegypti
Julia W. Pridgeona b✉, Liming Zhaoa, James J. Becnela, Daniel A. Strickmanc, Gary G. Clarka, Kenneth J. Linthicuma
- aCenter for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, USDA–ARS, 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608
- bCenter for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, USDA-ARS, 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA. julia.pridgeon@ars.usda.gov
- cNational Program staff, USDA–ARS, George Washington Carver Center, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) is the primary vector of both dengue and yellow fever. Use of insecticides is one of the primary ways to control this medically important insect pest. However, few new insecticides have been developed for mosquito control in recent years. As a part of our effort to develop new insecticides to control mosquitoes, an inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1 gene in Aedes aegypti (AaeIAP1) was targeted for the development of molecular pesticides. Herein, for the first time, we report that topically applied AaeIAP1 double-stranded RNA products are able to kill female adults of Ae. aegypti. Our results indicate that critical pathways or genes could be targeted to develop molecular pesticides for the control of medically important diseases vectors.