Effect of RNA Interference-Induced Knockdown of the Actin Gene on Mortality of the German Cockroach, Blattella germanica

At present, the development of environmentally friendly bioinsecticides for the control of agricultural insect pests and synanthropic insect species is of particular relevance. One promising approach is to use double-stranded RNA complementary to a vital insect gene to knock down that gene through an RNA interference mechanism, resulting in the death of the insect. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model object, one gene, Actin 5C, was selected from six paralogous Drosophila actin genes on the basis of the fact that knockdown of this gene in most Drosophila tissues results in the death of the insect. A double-stranded RNA complementary to the Actin 5C gene of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, was microinjected under the cuticle. RNA interference of this gene has been shown to kill cockroaches within few weeks. The prospects of using double-stranded RNA complementary to the Actin 5C gene as an insecticide are discussed.