Senior researcher Ghent University Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium
RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising mode of action for crop pest control, and in an environmentally friendly manner. However, RNAi efficiency can significantly vary between different insect species due to several possible barriers, such as, the sensitivity of dsRNA to degradation by nucleases, limited cellular uptake, and ineffective systemic spread. Thus, how dsRNA is delivered to an insect pest is crucial in the development of RNAi-based pest control strategies. Viruses have evolved to easily get into their host cells and can be exploited through a process known as virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to overcome many of the barriers, and to effectively deliver foreign sequences to targets within the host cell. Using case studies, the concept of VIGS will first be explained in detail, followed by, how insect viruses could be modified, and delivered to insect pests in the context of VIGS-based pest control. Furthermore, the concept of using virus-like particles (VLPs) for insect pest control will also be highlighted. Although still at the proof-of-concept stage, carefully designed virus-based systems are proving to be useful and effective tools, with potential, for insect pest management.
