title: Developing an in vivo toxicity assay for RNAi risk assessment in honey bees, Apis mellifera L.
abstract: Maize plants expressing dsRNA for the management of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera are likely to be commercially available by the end of this decade. Honey bees, Apis mellifera, can potentially be exposed to pollen from transformed maize expressing dsRNA. Consequently, evaluation of the biological impacts of RNAi in honey bees is a fundamental component for ecological risk assessment. The insecticidal activity of a known lethal dsRNA target for D. v. virgifera, the vATPase subunit A, was evaluated in larval and adult honey bees. Activity of both D. v. virgifera (Dvv)- and A. mellifera (Am)-specific dsRNA was tested by dietary exposure to dsRNA. Larval development, survival, adult eclosion, adult life span and relative gene expression were evaluated. The results of these tests indicated that Dvv vATPase-A dsRNA has limited effects on larval and adult honey bee survival. Importantly, no effects were observed upon exposure of Am vATPase-A dsRNA suggesting that the lack of response involves factors other than sequence specificity. The results from this study provide guidance for future RNAi risk analyses and for the development of a risk assessment framework that incorporates similar hazard assessments.
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska, Department of Entomology, 103 Entomology Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0816, United States. Electronic address: anamaria.velez@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vélez
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska, Department of Entomology, 103 Entomology Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0816, United States.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jurzenski
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska, Department of Entomology, 103 Entomology Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0816, United States.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matz
authors.affiliation: University of Kentucky, Department of Entomology, S-225 Agricultural Science Center N, Lexington, KY 40546-0091, United States.
authors.forename: Xuguo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska, Department of Entomology, 103 Entomology Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0816, United States.
authors.forename: Haichuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska, Department of Entomology, 103 Entomology Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0816, United States.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska, Department of Entomology, 103 Entomology Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0816, United States.
authors.forename: Blair D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Siegfried
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D001681:Biological Assay; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011058:Pollen / Q000235:genetics / Q000633:toxicity; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000187:drug effects*; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded
keywords: Diabrotica virgifera virgifera; Non-target arthropod; RNAi risk assessment; dsRNA; vATPase-A