RNAinVAL -- Using RNA interference and Systems Biology approaches for validation of insecticide targets in Colorado potato beetle guts (dsRNA design and synthesis, validation of mode of dsRNA's action using RNA-seq gene expression profiling and NGS metagenomics/metatranscriptomics of beetle guts).

Short description

CPB larvae feeding on potato leaf (Photo: Marko Petek)

This project’s main objective is to identify novel Colorado potato beetle (CPB) gene targets for the development of specific RNAi insecticides and further validate prospective targets using transcriptomics. The work includes gene selection, establishment of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) production methodology and the evaluation of dsRNAs’ insecticidal potential in CPB feeding trials.

The global changes induced by the RNAi insecticide on the CPB gut will be examined using RNA-Seq. To explore how the RNAi insecticide changes the bacterial community structure and expression of genes in CPB guts, the larval gut contents will be sequenced using NextGeneration Sequencing (NGS) to obtain metagenomics/metatranscriptomic profiles.

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This project is financed by the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS).
Project ID: Z4-7068
Duration: 1.11.2014 – 31.10.2017