title: Transcriptome analysis and systemic RNAi response in the African sweetpotato weevil (Cylas puncticollis, Coleoptera, Brentidae).
abstract: The African sweetpotato weevil (SPW) Cylas puncticollis Boheman is one of the most important constraints of sweetpotato production in Sub-Saharan Africa and yet is largely an uncharacterized insect pest. Here, we report on the transcriptome analysis of SPW generated using an Illumina platform. More than 213 million sequencing reads were obtained and assembled into 89,599 contigs. This assembly was followed by a gene ontology annotation. Subsequently, a transcriptome search showed that the necessary RNAi components relevant to the three major RNAi pathways, were found to be expressed in SPW. To address the functionality of the RNAi mechanism in this species, dsRNA was injected into second instar larvae targeting laccase2, a gene which encodes an enzyme involved in the sclerotization of insect exoskeleton. The body of treated insects showed inhibition of sclerotization, leading eventually to death. Quantitative Real Time PCR (qPCR) confirmed this phenotype to be the result of gene silencing. Together, our results provide valuable sequence data on this important insect pest and demonstrate that a functional RNAi pathway with a strong and systemic effect is present in SPW and can further be explored as a new strategy for controlling this important pest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; International Potato Center (CIP), Genomics and Biotechnology Program, Nairobi 00603, Kenya.
authors.forename: Katterinne
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prentice
authors.affiliation: VIB, Institute of Plant Biotechnology Outreach, Technologiepark 3, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium; Ghent University, Department Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology Outreach, Technologiepark 3, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ine
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pertry
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Christiaens
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lander
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bauters
authors.affiliation: Venganza Inc., St. Augustine, FL 32080, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Venganza Inc., St. Augustine, FL 32080, United States of America.
authors.forename: Chuck
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Niblett
authors.affiliation: International Potato Center (CIP), Genomics and Biotechnology Program, Nairobi 00603, Kenya.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghislain
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Godelieve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gheysen
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smagghe
mesh_terms: D060105:Animal Shells; D000818:Animals; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D027723:Ipomoea batatas; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D034622:RNA Interference; D048889:Weevils / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins