Kun Yan Zhu

Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA

RNA interference (RNAi) refers to the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)- or small interfering RNA (siRNA)-triggered post-transcriptional gene silencing that destroys mRNA of a particular gene in a sequence-specific manner. The discovery of RNAi has not only provided a breakthrough in the methodology for functional analysis of genes, but also opened a new avenue for protecting crops against insect pest damage. Although RNAi is a conserved mechanism in eukaryotes including fungi, plants, insects and mammals, there have been great challenges for successful RNAi in some insect species or some developmental stages of an insect. These challenges include the lack of effective delivery technologies for dsRNA or siRNA and the lack of effective strategies to improve RNAi efficiency in different insect species due to our limited knowledge on the cellular processes (e.g., cellular uptake) of RNAi after the delivery dsRNA or siRNA. In this presentation, I will present two examples focusing on the oral delivery of dsRNA by using chitosan/dsRNA nanoparticles in mosquito larvae and the cellular mechanism of dsRNA uptake in the red flour beetle. Our results suggest great potentials for developing new strategies for pest management and provide new insights into improving RNAi efficiency by enhancing dsRNA endosomal release.