10 research outputs found
Molecular alliance of Lymantria dispar multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus and a short unmodified antisense oligonucleotide of its anti-apoptotic IAP-3 gene: A novel approach for gypsy moth control
Baculovirus IAP (inhibitor-of-apoptosis) genes originated by capture of host genes. Unmodified short antisense DNA oligonucleotides (oligoDNAs) from baculovirus IAP genes can down-regulate specific gene expression profiles in both baculovirus-free and baculovirus-infected insects. In this study, gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) larvae infected with multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV), and LdMNPV-free larvae, were treated with oligoDNA antisense to the RING (really interesting new gene) domain of the LdMNPV IAP-3 gene. The results with respect to insect mortality, biomass accumulation, histological studies, RT-PCR, and analysis of DNA apoptotic fragmentation suggest that oligoRING induced increased apoptotic processes in both LdMNPV-free and LdMNPV-infected insect cells, but were more pronounced in the latter. These data open up possibilities for promising new routes of insect pest control using antisense phosphodiester DNA oligonucleotides
Molecular Alliance of Lymantria dispar Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus and a Short Unmodified Antisense Oligonucleotide of Its Anti-Apoptotic IAP-3 Gene: A Novel Approach for Gypsy Moth Control
Baculovirus IAP (inhibitor-of-apoptosis) genes originated by capture of host genes. Unmodified short antisense DNA oligonucleotides (oligoDNAs) from baculovirus IAP genes can down-regulate specific gene expression profiles in both baculovirus-free and baculovirus-infected insects. In this study, gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) larvae infected with multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV), and LdMNPV-free larvae, were treated with oligoDNA antisense to the RING (really interesting new gene) domain of the LdMNPV IAP-3 gene. The results with respect to insect mortality, biomass accumulation, histological studies, RT-PCR, and analysis of DNA apoptotic fragmentation suggest that oligoRING induced increased apoptotic processes in both LdMNPV-free and LdMNPV-infected insect cells, but were more pronounced in the latter. These data open up possibilities for promising new routes of insect pest control using antisense phosphodiester DNA oligonucleotides
Biological control of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar): an RNAi-based approach and a case for DNA insecticides
The discovery of the post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) mechanism,
widely known as RNAi (RNA interference),has contributed towards the
elucidation of the cellular machinery involved in the response against viral
infections based on gene silencing, and in developmental regulation of
translational suppression. The application of RNAi in insect pest management
(IPM),and gene functional analysis, has been of enormous importance.
Unfortunately, as RNAi has many times proven to be difficult to examine in
Lepidoptera, focus has shifted to other potential post-genomic options in
IPM. Special attention has afforded to novel DNA insecticides based on
preparations of short single-stranded fragments of baculovirus anti-apoptosis
genes, which represent a safe and relatively rapid alternative approach for
IPM. This paper focuses on the draw backs and advantages of DNA insecticides
used in gypsy moth control and based on RNAi
DNA insecticides: The effect of concentration on non-target plant organisms such as wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
The excessive use of pesticides is a problem in most parts of the world today because of
their broad and unspecific target range that is considerably harmful. The accumulation of
several chemical insecticide residues based on chlorpyrifos-methyl, organochlorine, different
isomers of HCH, DDT etc., in Triticum aestivum L. plants can be dangerous. Hence,
there is an urgent need to develop potential and safer alternative measures. Wheat (Triticum
aestivum L.) is a major cereal crop grown and used for food, animal feed, beverages
and furniture accessories in most parts of the world. It also serves as a host to various
insect pests. Our previous studies showed the insecticidal potency and specificity of short
ssDNA oligonucleotides from the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP-2 and IAP-3) genes of Lymantria
dispar multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (LdMNPV) against gypsy moth (L. dispar)
larvae, a possible insect pest of non-host plants like wheat. Consequently, the present
study analyzes the effects of ssDNA oligonucleotides used as DNA insecticides on wheat
(T. aestivum) plant biomass, plant organs and some biochemical parameters as a marker of
the safety margin on non-target organisms. The results obtained on plant biomass showed
that groups treated with ssDNA oligonucleotides at concentrations of 0.01 pmol · μl−1,
0.1 pmol · μl−1 and 1 pmol · μl−1 varied in comparison with the control group, but remained
harmless to plant growth and development, while the treatment concentration of
0.001 pmol · μl−1 did not affect the plant biomass. The glucose, protein and phosphorous
biochemical parameters, analyzed after 21 days, showed that the ssDNA oligonucleotides
used were equally safe. The data obtained for the plant organs (leaves and root lengths)
indicate that the phenomenon of DNA insecticides can be further studied and developed
for plant protection while improving the growth of plant organs even for a non-target
organism such as wheat T. aestivum plants
The need for the application of modern chemical insecticides and environmental consequences of their use: a mini review
Currently, the use of insecticides is an acute problem. Due to rapid population growth, the
primary task is to increase food production. Beyond abiotic factors (drought, soil salinity,
etc.) that reduce crop yields, farmers face problems with insect pests that can decrease crop
productivity up to 60%. Also, insects are carriers of severe viral and protozoan human
diseases. The need for application of insecticides is not questioned but many of them cause
resistance of insect pests to them. This, in turn, leads to the necessity to invent new insecticides
that are safe and more effective for long-term use. Preparations based on conservative
parts of nucleic acids, particularly contact DNA insecticides, could be used to solve insecticide
resistance problem as control agents which are well-tailored to target insect pests. This
mini review is devoted to these issues
Molecular Alliance of Lymantria dispar Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus and a Short Unmodified Antisense Oligonucleotide of Its Anti-Apoptotic IAP-3 Gene: A Novel Approach for Gypsy Moth Control
A Half-Century History of Applications of Antisense Oligonucleotides in Medicine, Agriculture and Forestry: We Should Continue the Journey
A Half-Century History of Applications of Antisense Oligonucleotides in Medicine, Agriculture and Forestry: We Should Continue the Journey
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), short single-stranded polymers based on DNA or RNA chemistries and synthesized in vitro, regulate gene expression by binding in a sequence-specific manner to an RNA target. The functional activity and selectivity in the action of ASOs largely depends on the combination of nitrogenous bases in a target sequence. This simple and natural property of nucleic acids provides an attractive route by which scientists can create different ASO-based techniques. Over the last 50 years, planned and realized applications in the field of antisense and nucleic acid nanotechnologies have produced astonishing results and posed new challenges for further developments, exemplifying the essence of the post-genomic era. Today the majority of ASOs are chemically modified and/or incorporated within nanoparticles to enhance their stability and cellular uptake. This review critically analyzes some successful cases using the antisense approach in medicine to address severe diseases, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy, and suggests some prospective directions for future research. We also examine in detail the elaboration of unmodified insect-specific DNA insecticides and RNA preparations in the areas of agriculture and forestry, a relatively new branch of ASO that allows circumvention of the use of non-selective chemical insecticides. When considering the variety of successful ASO modifications with an efficient signal-to-noise ratio of action, coupled with the affordability of in vitro oligonucleotide synthesis and post-synthesis procedures, we predict that the next half-century will produce a fruitful yield of tools created from effective ASO-based end products