title: Mosquito carboxylesterases: a review of the molecular biology and biochemistry of a major insecticide resistance mechanism.
abstract: The major mechanism of organophosphorus insecticide resistance in Culex mosquitoes involves the elevation of one or more esterases. The general mechanism underlying this resistance is the amplification of the structural genes. This review covers the classification of the mosquito esterases in the context of classical esterase nomenclature. The function of the amplified esterases and the structure of the amplified DNA on which they occur are also described. Implications of information on the esterase amplicons are discussed in relation to the evolution and migration of insecticide resistance in Culex.
authors.affiliation: School of Pure and Applied Biology, University of Wales, Cardiff, U.K. Hemingway@cardiff.ac.uk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hemingway
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Karunaratne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009033:Culicidae / Q000201:enzymology*; D005784:Gene Amplification; D007305:Insecticide Resistance; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases