Original paper

Nasonia vitripennis as a parasitoid wasp model for pest-specific dsRNA safety assessment

Li, Jiangjie; Deveux, Melissa; Christiaens, Olivier; Smagghe, Guy; Taning, Clauvis N. T.

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Entomologia Generalis Volume 43 Number 1 (2023), p. 139 - 146

published: Mar 22, 2023
published online: Feb 9, 2023
manuscript accepted: Dec 20, 2022
final revised version received: Nov 29, 2022
manuscript revision requested: Nov 4, 2022
manuscript received: Aug 31, 2022

DOI: 10.1127/entomologia/2023/1812

BibTeX file

ArtNo. ESP146004301012, Price: 29.00 €

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Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising mode of action for pest control. It can play an important role in integrated pest management (IPM), where it could be used alongside beneficial insects (such as predators and parasitoids) for pest control. However, despite the possibility of designing the active molecule double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to be pest-specific, potential adverse effects to beneficial insects cannot be ruled out a priori, thus prompting the need for safety assessment studies. In this study, the jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis is presented as a parasitoid wasp model for the evaluation of possible unintended effects that could arise from oral exposure of a parasitoid to exogenously delivered pest-specific dsRNA. First, the susceptibility of N. vitripennis to ingested dsRNA was tested through a worst-case exposure scenario, where they were exposed to a high concentration (1 µg/µl) of N. vitripennis-specific dsRNA (dsNv_alphaCOP). Ingestion of dsNv_alphaCOP resulted in 97% wasps mortality by day 16 post treatment when compared to the control. Once the risk of exposure was established, N. vitripennis were orally exposed to a pollen beetle pest (Brassicogethes aeneus)-specific dsRNA (dsBa_alphaCOP), after which both lethal and potential sub-lethal effects (development time, fecundity and sex ratio) were evaluated. In this worst-case scenario exposure setup, dsBa_alphaCOP did not cause any adverse effects to N. vitripennis. This study confirms that RNAi-based pest control, under laboratory conditions, can be compatible with biological control based on parasitoid wasps. Furthermore, this study can contribute to guiding the development and safety assessment of future RNAi-based pest control products.

Keywords

RNAi • IPM • pest control • biocontrol • risk assessment