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Stewart ATM, Mysore K, Njoroge TM, Winter N, Feng RS, Singh S, James LD, Singkhaimuk P, Sun L, Mohammed A, Oxley JD, Duckham C, Ponlawat A, Severson DW, Duman-Scheel M. Demonstration of RNAi Yeast Insecticide Activity in Semi-Field Larvicide and Attractive Targeted Sugar Bait Trials Conducted on Aedes and Culex Mosquitoes. Insects 2023; 14:950. [PMID: 38132622 PMCID: PMC10743515 DOI: 10.3390/insects14120950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Eco-friendly new mosquito control innovations are critical for the ongoing success of global mosquito control programs. In this study, Sh.463_56.10R, a robust RNA interference (RNAi) yeast insecticide strain that is suitable for scaled fermentation, was evaluated under semi-field conditions. Inactivated and dried Sh.463_56.10R yeast induced significant mortality of field strain Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae in semi-field larvicide trials conducted outdoors in St. Augustine, Trinidad, where 100% of the larvae were dead within 24 h. The yeast was also stably suspended in commercial bait and deployed as an active ingredient in miniature attractive targeted sugar bait (ATSB) station sachets. The yeast ATSB induced high levels of Aedes and Culex mosquito morbidity in semi-field trials conducted in Trinidad, West Indies, as well as in Bangkok, Thailand, in which the consumption of the yeast resulted in adult female mosquito death within 48 h, faster than what was observed in laboratory trials. These findings support the pursuit of large-scale field trials to further evaluate the Sh.463_56.10R insecticide, a member of a promising new class of species-specific RNAi insecticides that could help combat insecticide resistance and support effective mosquito control programs worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akilah T. M. Stewart
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (A.T.M.S.); (K.M.); (T.M.N.); (L.S.); (D.W.S.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Keshava Mysore
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (A.T.M.S.); (K.M.); (T.M.N.); (L.S.); (D.W.S.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Teresia M. Njoroge
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (A.T.M.S.); (K.M.); (T.M.N.); (L.S.); (D.W.S.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Nikhella Winter
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; (N.W.); (R.S.F.); (S.S.); (L.D.J.); (A.M.)
| | - Rachel Shui Feng
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; (N.W.); (R.S.F.); (S.S.); (L.D.J.); (A.M.)
| | - Satish Singh
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; (N.W.); (R.S.F.); (S.S.); (L.D.J.); (A.M.)
| | - Lester D. James
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; (N.W.); (R.S.F.); (S.S.); (L.D.J.); (A.M.)
| | - Preeraya Singkhaimuk
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate–Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (P.S.); (A.P.)
| | - Longhua Sun
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (A.T.M.S.); (K.M.); (T.M.N.); (L.S.); (D.W.S.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Azad Mohammed
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; (N.W.); (R.S.F.); (S.S.); (L.D.J.); (A.M.)
| | - James D. Oxley
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78238, USA;
| | | | - Alongkot Ponlawat
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate–Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (P.S.); (A.P.)
| | - David W. Severson
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (A.T.M.S.); (K.M.); (T.M.N.); (L.S.); (D.W.S.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; (N.W.); (R.S.F.); (S.S.); (L.D.J.); (A.M.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Molly Duman-Scheel
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (A.T.M.S.); (K.M.); (T.M.N.); (L.S.); (D.W.S.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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Mysore K, Njoroge TM, Stewart ATM, Winter N, Hamid-Adiamoh M, Sun L, Feng RS, James LD, Mohammed A, Severson DW, Duman-Scheel M. Characterization of a novel RNAi yeast insecticide that silences mosquito 5-HT1 receptor genes. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22511. [PMID: 38110471 PMCID: PMC10728091 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49799-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which regulate numerous intracellular signaling cascades that mediate many essential physiological processes, are attractive yet underexploited insecticide targets. RNA interference (RNAi) technology could facilitate the custom design of environmentally safe pesticides that target GPCRs in select target pests yet are not toxic to non-target species. This study investigates the hypothesis that an RNAi yeast insecticide designed to silence mosquito serotonin receptor 1 (5-HTR1) genes can kill mosquitoes without harming non-target arthropods. 5-HTR.426, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain that expresses an shRNA targeting a site specifically conserved in mosquito 5-HTR1 genes, was generated. The yeast can be heat-inactivated and delivered to mosquito larvae as ready-to-use tablets or to adult mosquitoes using attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs). The results of laboratory and outdoor semi-field trials demonstrated that consumption of 5-HTR.426 yeast results in highly significant mortality rates in Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex mosquito larvae and adults. Yeast consumption resulted in significant 5-HTR1 silencing and severe neural defects in the mosquito brain but was not found to be toxic to non-target arthropods. These results indicate that RNAi insecticide technology can facilitate selective targeting of GPCRs in intended pests without impacting GPCR activity in non-targeted organisms. In future studies, scaled production of yeast expressing the 5-HTR.426 RNAi insecticide could facilitate field trials to further evaluate this promising new mosquito control intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keshava Mysore
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN, 46617, USA
- The University of Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Teresia M Njoroge
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN, 46617, USA
- The University of Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Akilah T M Stewart
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN, 46617, USA
- The University of Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Nikhella Winter
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago, Spain
| | - Majidah Hamid-Adiamoh
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN, 46617, USA
- The University of Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Longhua Sun
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN, 46617, USA
- The University of Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Rachel Shui Feng
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago, Spain
| | - Lester D James
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago, Spain
| | - Azad Mohammed
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago, Spain
| | - David W Severson
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN, 46617, USA
- The University of Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, IN, USA
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago, Spain
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Molly Duman-Scheel
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN, 46617, USA.
- The University of Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
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Brizzee C, Mysore K, Njoroge TM, McConnell S, Hamid-Adiamoh M, Stewart ATM, Kinder JT, Crawford J, Duman-Scheel M. Targeting Mosquitoes through Generation of an Insecticidal RNAi Yeast Strain Using Cas-CLOVER and Super PiggyBac Engineering in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1056. [PMID: 37998862 PMCID: PMC10672312 DOI: 10.3390/jof9111056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The global deployment of RNAi yeast insecticides involves transitioning from the use of laboratory yeast strains to more robust strains that are suitable for scaled fermentation. In this investigation, the RNA-guided Cas-CLOVER system was used in combination with Piggybac transposase to produce robust Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains with multiple integrated copies of the Sh.463 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) insecticide expression cassette. This enabled the constitutive high-level expression of an insecticidal shRNA corresponding to a target sequence that is conserved in mosquito Shaker genes, but which is not found in non-target organisms. Top-expressing Cas-CLOVER strains performed well in insecticide trials conducted on Aedes, Culex, and Anopheles larvae and adult mosquitoes, which died following consumption of the yeast. Scaled fermentation facilitated the kilogram-scale production of the yeast, which was subsequently heat-killed and dried. These studies indicate that RNAi yeast insecticide production can be scaled, an advancement that may one day facilitate the global distribution of this new mosquito control intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey Brizzee
- Demeetra Ag Bio, 2277 Thunderstick Dr. Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40505, USA; (C.B.); (S.M.); (J.T.K.)
| | - Keshava Mysore
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (K.M.); (T.M.N.); (M.H.-A.); (A.T.M.S.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Teresia M. Njoroge
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (K.M.); (T.M.N.); (M.H.-A.); (A.T.M.S.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Seth McConnell
- Demeetra Ag Bio, 2277 Thunderstick Dr. Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40505, USA; (C.B.); (S.M.); (J.T.K.)
| | - Majidah Hamid-Adiamoh
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (K.M.); (T.M.N.); (M.H.-A.); (A.T.M.S.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Akilah T. M. Stewart
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (K.M.); (T.M.N.); (M.H.-A.); (A.T.M.S.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - J. Tyler Kinder
- Demeetra Ag Bio, 2277 Thunderstick Dr. Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40505, USA; (C.B.); (S.M.); (J.T.K.)
| | - Jack Crawford
- Demeetra Ag Bio, 2277 Thunderstick Dr. Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40505, USA; (C.B.); (S.M.); (J.T.K.)
| | - Molly Duman-Scheel
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, IN 46617, USA; (K.M.); (T.M.N.); (M.H.-A.); (A.T.M.S.)
- Eck Institute for Global Health, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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James LD, Winter N, Stewart ATM, Feng RS, Nandram N, Mohammed A, Duman-Scheel M, Romero-Severson E, Severson DW. Field trials reveal the complexities of deploying and evaluating the impacts of yeast-baited ovitraps on Aedes mosquito densities in Trinidad, West Indies. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4047. [PMID: 35260697 PMCID: PMC8904463 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07910-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of lure-and-kill, large-volume ovitraps to control Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus populations has shown promise across multiple designs that target gravid females (adulticidal) or larvae post-oviposition (larvicidal). Here we report on a pilot trial to deploy 10 L yeast-baited ovitraps at select sites in Curepe, Trinidad, West Indies during July to December, 2019. Oviposition rates among ovitraps placed in three Treatment sites were compared to a limited number of traps placed in three Control areas (no Aedes management performed), and three Vector areas (subjected to standard Ministry of Health, Insect Vector Control efforts). Our goal was to gain baseline information on efforts to saturate the Treatment sites with ovitraps within 20–25 m of each other and compare oviposition rates at these sites with background oviposition rates in Control and Vector Areas. Although yeast-baited ovitraps were highly attractive to gravid Aedes females, a primary limitation encountered within the Treatment sites was the inability to gain access to residential compounds for trap placement, primarily due to residents being absent during the day. This severely limited our intent to saturate these areas with ovitraps, indicating that future studies must include plans to account for these inaccessible zones during trap placement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lester D James
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Nikhella Winter
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Akilah T M Stewart
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Rachel Shui Feng
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Naresh Nandram
- Insect Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Azad Mohammed
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Molly Duman-Scheel
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Ethan Romero-Severson
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - David W Severson
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. .,Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN, USA. .,Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
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Winter N, Stewart ATM, Igiede J, Wiltshire RM, Hapairai LK, James LD, Mohammed A, Severson DW, Duman-Scheel M. Assessment of Trinidad community stakeholder perspectives on the use of yeast interfering RNA-baited ovitraps for biorational control of Aedes mosquitoes. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252997. [PMID: 34185784 PMCID: PMC8241094 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever viruses continue to be a major public health burden. Aedes mosquitoes, the primary vectors responsible for transmitting these viral pathogens, continue to flourish due to local challenges in vector control management. Yeast interfering RNA-baited larval lethal ovitraps are being developed as a novel biorational control tool for Aedes mosquitoes. This intervention circumvents increasing issues with insecticide resistance and poses no known threat to non-target organisms. In an effort to create public awareness of this alternative vector control strategy, gain stakeholder feedback regarding product design and acceptance of the new intervention, and build capacity for its potential integration into existing mosquito control programs, this investigation pursued community stakeholder engagement activities, which were undertaken in Trinidad and Tobago. Three forms of assessment, including paper surveys, community forums, and household interviews, were used with the goal of evaluating local community stakeholders' knowledge of mosquitoes, vector control practices, and perceptions of the new technology. These activities facilitated evaluation of the hypothesis that the ovitraps would be broadly accepted by community stakeholders as a means of biorational control for Aedes mosquitoes. A comparison of the types of stakeholder input communicated through use of the three assessment tools highlighted the utility and merit of using each tool for assessing new global health interventions. Most study participants reported a general willingness to purchase an ovitrap on condition that it would be affordable and safe for human health and the environment. Stakeholders provided valuable input on product design, distribution, and operation. A need for educational campaigns that provide a mechanism for educating stakeholders about vector ecology and management was highlighted. The results of the investigation, which are likely applicable to many other Caribbean nations and other countries with heavy arboviral disease burdens, were supportive of supplementation of existing vector control strategies through the use of the yeast RNAi-based ovitraps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhella Winter
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Akilah T. M. Stewart
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Jessica Igiede
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Rachel M. Wiltshire
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Limb K. Hapairai
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Lester D. James
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Azad Mohammed
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - David W. Severson
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Molly Duman-Scheel
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, Indiana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Stewart ATM, Winter N, Igiede J, Hapairai LK, James LD, Feng RS, Mohammed A, Severson DW, Duman-Scheel M. Community acceptance of yeast interfering RNA larvicide technology for control of Aedes mosquitoes in Trinidad. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237675. [PMID: 32797066 PMCID: PMC7428178 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi), a technique used to investigate gene function in insects and other organisms, is attracting attention as a potential new technology for mosquito control. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) was recently engineered to produce interfering RNA molecules that silence genes required for mosquito survival, but which do not correspond to genes in humans or other non-target organisms. The resulting yeast pesticides, which facilitate cost-effective production and delivery of interfering RNA to mosquito larvae that eat the yeast, effectively kill mosquitoes in laboratory and semi-field trials. In preparation for field evaluation of larvicides in Trinidad, a Caribbean island with endemic diseases resulting from pathogens transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, adult residents living in the prospective trial site communities of Curepe, St. Augustine, and Tamana were engaged. Open community forums and paper surveys were used to assess the potential acceptability, societal desirability, and sustainability of yeast interfering RNA larvicides. These assessments revealed that Trinidadians have good working knowledge of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne illnesses. A majority of the respondents practiced some method of larval mosquito control and agreed that they would use a new larvicide if it were proven to be safe and effective. During the community engagement forums, participants were educated about mosquito biology, mosquito-borne diseases, and the new yeast larvicides. When invited to provide feedback, engagement forum attendees were strongly supportive of the new technology, raised few concerns, and provided helpful advice regarding optimal larvicide formulations, insecticide application, operational approaches for using the larvicides, and pricing. The results of these studies suggest that the participants are supportive of the potential use of yeast interfering RNA larvicides in Trinidad and that the communities assessed in this investigation represent viable field sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akilah T. M. Stewart
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Nikhella Winter
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Jessica Igiede
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Limb K. Hapairai
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Lester D. James
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Rachel Shui Feng
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Azad Mohammed
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - David W. Severson
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Molly Duman-Scheel
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, Indiana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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