Historical samples reveal a combined role of agriculture and public-health applications in vector resistance to insecticides

Recombinant Beauveria bassiana expressing Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cyt1Aa: a promising approach for enhancing Aedes mosquito control

The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana provides an eco-friendly substitute to chemical insecticides for mosquito control. Nevertheless, its widespread application has been hindered by its comparatively slow efficacy in eliminating mosquitoes. To augment the potency of B. bassiana against Aedes mosquitoes, a novel recombinant strain, Bb-Cyt1Aa, was developed by incorporating the Bacillus thuringiensis toxin gene Cyt1Aa into B. bassiana. The virulence of Bb-Cyt1Aa was evaluated against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus using insect bioassays. Compared to the wild-type (WT) strain, the median lethal time (LT50) for A. aegypti larvae infected with Bb-Cyt1Aa decreased by 33.3% at a concentration of 1 × 108 conidia/mL and by 22.2% at 1 × 107 conidia/mL. The LT50 for A. aegypti adults infected with Bb-Cyt1Aa through conidia ingestion was reduced by 37.5% at 1 × 108 conidia/mL and by 33.3% at 1 × 107 conidia/mL. Likewise, the LT50 for A. aegypti adults infected with Bb-Cyt1Aa through cuticle contact decreased by 33.3% and 30.8% at the same concentrations, respectively. Furthermore, the Bb-Cyt1Aa strain also demonstrated increased toxicity against both larval and adult A. albopictus, when compared to the WT strain. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the expression of B. thuringiensis toxin Cyt1Aa in B. bassiana enhanced its virulence against Aedes mosquitoes. This suggests that B. bassiana expressing Cyt1Aa has potential value for use in mosquito control.

IMPORTANCE

Beauveria bassiana is a naturally occurring fungus that can be utilized as a bioinsecticide against mosquitoes. Cyt1Aa is a delta-endotoxin protein produced by Bacillus thuringiensis that exhibits specific and potent insecticidal activity against mosquitoes. In our study, the expression of this toxin Cyt1Aa in B. bassiana enhances the virulence of B. bassiana against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, thereby increasing their effectiveness in killing mosquitoes. This novel strain can be used alongside chemical insecticides to reduce dependence on harmful chemicals, thereby minimizing negative impacts on the environment and human health. Additionally, the potential resistance of B. bassiana against mosquitoes in the future could be overcome by acquiring novel combinations of exogenous toxin genes. The presence of B. bassiana that expresses Cyt1Aa is of significant importance in mosquito control as it enhances genetic diversity, creates novel virulent strains, and contributes to the development of safer and more sustainable methods of mosquito control.

Integrated de novo transcriptome of Culex pipiens mosquito larvae as a resource for genetic control strategies

We present a de novo transcriptome of the mosquito vector Culex pipiens, assembled by sequences of susceptible and insecticide resistant larvae. The high quality of the assembly was confirmed by TransRate and BUSCO. A mapping percentage until 94.8% was obtained by aligning contigs to Nr, SwissProt, and TrEMBL, with 27,281 sequences that simultaneously mapped on the three databases. A total of 14,966 ORFs were also functionally annotated by using the eggNOG database. Among them, we identified ORF sequences of the main gene families involved in insecticide resistance. Therefore, this resource stands as a valuable reference for further studies of differential gene expression as well as to identify genes of interest for genetic-based control tools.

Molecular monitoring of insecticide resistance in major disease vectors in Armenia

BACKGROUND

Armenia is considered particularly vulnerable to life-threatening vector-borne diseases (VBDs) including malaria, West Nile virus disease and leishmaniasis. However, information relevant for the control of the vectors of these diseases, such as their insecticide resistance profile, is scarce. The present study was conducted to provide the first evidence on insecticide resistance mechanisms circulating in major mosquito and sand fly populations in Armenia.

METHODS

Sampling sites were targeted based mainly on previous historical records of VBD occurrences in humans and vertebrate hosts. Initially, molecular species identification on the collected vector samples was performed. Subsequently, molecular diagnostic assays [polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Sanger sequencing, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), quantitative PCR (qPCR)] were performed to profile for major insecticide resistance mechanisms, i.e. target site insensitivity in voltage-gated sodium channel (vgsc) associated with pyrethroid resistance, acetylcholinesterase (ace-1) target site mutations linked to organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CRB) resistance, chitin synthase (chs-1) target site mutations associated with diflubenzuron (DFB) resistance and gene amplification of carboxylesterases (CCEs) associated with resistance to the OP temephos.

RESULTS

Anopheles mosquitoes were principally represented by Anopheles sacharovi, a well-known malaria vector in Armenia, which showed no signs of resistance mechanisms. Contrarily, the knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations V1016G and L1014F/C in the vgsc gene were detected in the arboviral mosquito vectors Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens, respectively. The kdr mutation L1014S was also detected in the sand fly, vectors of leishmaniasis, Phlebotomus papatasi and P. tobbi, whereas no mutations were found in the remaining collected sand fly species, P. sergenti, P. perfiliewi and P. caucasicus.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to report on molecular mechanisms of insecticide resistance circulating in major mosquito and sand fly disease vectors in Armenia and highlights the need for the establishment of systematic resistance monitoring practices for the implementation of evidence-based control applications.

Monitoring of Insecticide Resistance Mutations and Pathogen Circulation in Sand Flies from Emilia-Romagna, a Leishmaniasis Endemic Region of Northern Italy

The continuously expanding distribution of sand flies, proven vectors of Leishmania and of several phleboviruses, is a growing public health issue in Europe. Especially in Italy, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is occurring with increasing incidence northward, in previously non-endemic provinces. Around the globe, disease elimination efforts largely focus on sand fly vector insecticidal control, often leading to the development of resistance. In Emilia-Romagna (ER), northern Italy, insecticides are heavily applied for agricultural and mosquito control, but not specifically against sand flies. Here, we investigated the sand fly species composition in certain environmental settings in ER provinces and monitored the presence of pyrethroid resistance mutations and pathogen circulation. Phlebotomus perfiliewi, a dominant vector of Leishmania infantum, was detected almost exclusively in the region. No mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene, e.g., knock-down resistance mutations I1011M, L1014F/S, V1016G, or F1020S, were recorded. Pathogen monitoring revealed that almost 40% of the tested sand fly pools were positive for Leishmania, while the presence of Toscana and Fermo phleboviruses was also observed in much lower frequencies (≤3% positive pools). Regular epidemiological and entomological monitoring, alongside resistance surveillance, is highly recommended to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of vector control interventions.

Cuticle Modifications and Over-Expression of the Chitin-Synthase Gene in Diflubenzuron-Resistant Phenotype

Insecticide resistance is a major threat challenging the control of harmful insect species. The study of resistant phenotypes is, therefore, pivotal to understand molecular mechanisms underpinning insecticide resistance and plan effective control and resistance management strategies. Here, we further analysed the diflubenzuron (DFB)-resistant phenotype due to the point-mutation I1043M in the chitin-synthase 1 gene (chs1) in the mosquito Culex pipiens. By comparing susceptible and resistant strains of Cx. pipiens through DFB bioassays, molecular analyses and scanning electron microscopy, we showed that the I1043M-resistant mosquitoes have: (i) a striking level of DFB resistance (i.e., resistance ratio: 9006); (ii) a constitutive 11-fold over-expression of the chs1 gene; (iii) enhanced cuticle thickness and cuticular chitin content. Culex pipiens is one of the most important vector species in Europe and the rapid spread of DFB resistance can threaten its control. Our results, by adding new data about the DFB-resistant phenotype, provide important information for the control and management of insecticide resistance.

Novel real-time PCR assay detects widespread distribution of knock down resistance (kdr) mutations associated with pyrethroid resistance in the mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, in Thailand

Susceptibility to pyrethroids in the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus, the major vector of lymphatic filariasis, is being seriously threatened worldwide. Knockdown resistance (kdr), caused by mutations in the voltage gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene, particularly the L1014F mutation, is an important resistance mechanism. Our aim was to develop a real-time PCR with melt curve analysis to evaluate the distribution of the L1014F mutation in Cx. quinquefasciatus throughout Thailand and to determine the polymorphism pattern of a VGSC gene fragment spanning the L1014F mutation. A total of 3760 females from 18 localities across five regions of Thailand were bio-assayed by exposure to 0.05% deltamethrin WHO papers, showing mortality rates ranging from 2.4% to 83.0%. Genotyping of 753 dead and surviving mosquitoes using our novel real-time PCR assay with melt curve analysis and tetra-primer allele-specific PCR revealed the mutant F1014 allele is closely associated with the deltamethrin resistance phenotype. The L1014F mutation was found at high frequency throughout Thailand, particularly in the North. However, some survivors were homozygous for wild type L1014 allele, which were further sequenced for the IIP-IIS6 region of VGSC gene. The haplotype network of phenotypically characterized individuals indicated the presence of other possible kdr alleles/resistance mechanisms at play including two novel mutations, V978E and D992E. The finding of new putative kdr alleles and widespread distribution of the F1014 allele emphasizes the significant role of kdr mutations in pyrethroid resistance in Thai Cx. quinquefasciatus populations. Monitoring kdr variations and phenotypic resistance is critical for managing resistance in Cx. quinquefasciatus.