Molecular analysis of resistance in a deltamethrin-resistant strain of Musca domestica from China

We investigated the molecular basis of resistance in a strain of house fly (BJD) from Beijing, China. This strain showed 567-fold resistance to commonly used deltamethrin. Flies were 64-fold resistant to deltamethrin synergized by piperonyl butoxide (PBO). The 5′-flanking sequence of the cytochrome P450 gene CYP6D1 in BJD strain had a 15-bp insert as in the LPR strain. Two mutations (kdr, super-kdr) in the voltage sensitive sodium channel (VSSC) were also detected in the BJD strain. Our results showed that a combination of resistance alleles for CYP6D1 and VSSC existed in deltamethrin resistant house flies in China.     

Indoxacarb resistance in the house fly, Musca domestica

Indoxacarb (DPX-MP062) is a recently introduced oxadiazine insecticide with activity against a wide range of pests, including house flies. It is metabolically decarbomethoxylated to DCJW. Selection of field collected house flies with indoxacarb produced a New York indoxacarb-resistant (NYINDR) strain with >118-fold resistance after three generations. Resistance in NYINDR could be partially overcome with the P450 inhibitor piperonyl butoxide (PBO), but the synergists diethyl maleate and S,S,S-tributyl phosphorothioate did not alter expression of the resistance, suggesting P450 monooxygenases, but not esterases or glutathione S-transferases are involved in the indoxacarb resistance. Conversely, the NYINDR strain showed only 3.2-fold resistance to DCJW, and this resistance could be suppressed with PBO. Only limited levels of cross-resistance were detected to pyrethroid, organophosphate, carbamate or chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides in NYINDR. Indoxacarb resistance in the NYINDR strain was inherited primarily as a completely recessive trait. Analysis of the phenotypes vs. mortality data revealed that the major factor for indoxacarb resistance is located on autosome 4 with a minor factor on autosome 3. It appears these genes have not previously been associated with insecticide resistance.     

Selection of Anopheles stephensi with DDT and dieldrin and cross-resistance spectrum to pyrethroids and fipronil

The field strain of Anopheles stephensi, the main malaria vector in south of Iran, was colonized in laboratory and selected with DDT and dieldrin in two separate lines for 3 generations to a level of 19.5- and 14-fold for DDT and dieldrin resistance, respectively. Synergist tests with chlorofenethol (DMC) and piperonyl butoxide (PBO) on the selected strains indicated that dehydrochlorination and oxidative detoxification might be the underlying mechanisms involved in the resistance to dieldrin and DDT in selected strains. DDT selection decreased susceptibility to DDT and pyrethroids including lambdacyhalothrin, permethrin deltamethrin and cyfluthrin. The result also showed that selection with dieldrin caused negative and positive cross-resistance to pyrethroid and fipronil, respectively. Based on these results, it can be concluded that besides metabolic resistance mechanisms, other factors such as mutation in γ aminobutyric acid (GABA) and voltage-gated sodium channels (Kdr) might be involved.     

Characterization of acephate resistance in the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella

Decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) sensitivity and metabolic detoxification mediated by glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) were examined for their involvement in resistance to acephate in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. The resistant strain showed 47.5-fold higher acephate resistance than the susceptible strain had. However, the resistant strain was only 2.3-fold more resistant to prothiofos than the susceptible strain. The resistant strain included insects having the A298S and G324A mutations in AChE1, which are reportedly involved in prothiofos resistance in P. xylostella, showing reduced AChE sensitivity to inhibition by methamidophos, suggesting that decreased AChE1 sensitivity is one factor conferring acephate resistance. However, allele frequencies at both mutation sites in the resistant strain were low (only 26%). These results suggest that other factors such as GSTs are involved in acephate resistance. Expression of GST genes available in P. xylostella to date was examined using the resistant and susceptible strains, revealing no significant correlation between the expression and resistance levels.     

Mechanism of resistance to spinosyn in the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens

Topical laboratory selection of tobacco budworm larvae, Heliothis virescens, with technical spinosad for multiple generations resulted in larvae 1068-fold resistant to topical applications of the insecticide and 316.6-fold resistant to insecticide treated diet as compared to the parental strain. The penetration of 2′-O-methyl[¹⁴C]spinosyn A across the cuticle of the susceptible (parental) and selected (resistant) tobacco budworms increased with time 3-12 h after application. A trend of reduced penetration in the resistant strain was found but the differences were not statistically significant. 2′-O-methyl[¹⁴C]spinosyn A when injected into the hemocoel was not metabolized 96 h after treatment in both the susceptible and resistant strain, suggesting that a change in metabolism was not the mechanism of resistance. Electrophysiological studies indicated that dose-dependent spinosyn A-induced currents occurred in neurons from spinosyn resistant and susceptible (adult) tobacco budworms. At both 10 and 100 nM spinosyn A, however, the amplitude of these currents in the resistant insects was significantly smaller than the amplitude of currents observed from neurons from susceptible tobacco budworm adults. This suggests that neurons from resistant insects have decreased sensitivity to spinosyn A. However, the reduced inward currents in the resistant strain may or may not be related to the mode of action of the spinosyns. No statistically significant cross-resistance was noted for the spinosad resistant tobacco budworms for topical applications of permethrin (Pounce^®), profenofos (Curacron^®), emamectin benzoate (Denim^®), or indoxacarb (Steward^®). A statistically significant reduction in susceptibility to acetamiprid (Mospilan^®) in artificial diet as determined from a resistance ratio of 0.482 was found.     

Decreased nerve sensitivity and decreased cuticular penetration as mechanisms of resistance to pyrethroids in a (1R)-trans-permethrin-selected strain of the house fly

A fenthion-resistant strain of the house fly (Musca domestica L.) was selected with bioresmethrin resulting in ca. 90-fold resistance to the selecting agent. This strain was subsequently selected with (1R)-trans-permethrin producing ca. 140-fold resistance to this latter insecticide. The permethrin-resistant (147-R) strain was highly cross-resistant to several other pyrethroids and demonstrated resistance to knockdown by these insecticides as well as by DDT. The sensitivity of the central nervous system to four pyrethroids was investigated. The 147-R strain was 2.6-fold less sensitive to (1R)-trans-ethanoresmethrin than the susceptible (NAIDM-S) strain, and >43-fold and >67-fold less sensitive to (1R,S)-cis, trans-tetramethrin and (1R)-trans-permethrin, respectively. It also displayed decreased penetration of (1R,S)-trans-[¹⁴C]permethrin when compared to the NAIDM-S strain. Lower nerve sensitivity and decreased cuticular penetration are potential mechanisms of resistance to pyrethroids in house flies in the United States.     

棉铃虫对Cry1Ac抗性的稳定性及其对适合度的影响

为明确棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera（Hübner）对苏云金芽胞杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis（Bt）Cry1Ac毒蛋白抗性的稳定性及其适合度变化,利用生物测定的方法研究了Cry1Ac抗性品系棉铃虫转到正常饲料饲养后的抗性衰退及再次筛选后抗性的恢复情况,并比较了敏感、抗性和抗性衰退后各品系间的适合度差异。在失去选择压的情况下,高抗品系棉铃虫对Cry1Ac的抗性迅速衰退,经过4代后抗性水平由最初的3626.67倍下降到1436.67倍;到第12代时抗性水平已低于10倍,随后品系保持较稳定的低抗水平;当重新进行抗性再筛选时,其抗性水平可快速恢复,抗性倍数快速回升,5代后恢复到1123.33倍。与敏感品系相比,高抗棉铃虫品系的适合度明显降低,相对适合度仅为0.33,但转到正常饲料连续饲养14代后,棉铃虫适合度明显上升,相对适合度为0.87,主要表现为卵孵化率和幼虫存活率等显著提高。     

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase-mediated permethrin resistance confers limited and larval specific cross-resistance in the southern house mosquito, Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus

The cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases (P450s) are an important enzymatic system that metabolizes xenobiotics (e.g., pesticides), as well as endogenous compounds (e.g., hormones). P450-mediated metabolism can result in detoxification of insecticides such as pyrethroids, or can be involved in the bioactivation and detoxification of insecticides such as organophosphates. We isolated (from the JPAL strain) a permethrin resistant strain (ISOP450) of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus, having 1300-fold permethrin resistance using standard backcrossing procedures. ISOP450 is highly related to the susceptible lab strain (SLAB) and the high resistance to permethrin is due solely to P450-mediated detoxification. This is the first time in mosquitoes that P450 monooxygenase involvement in pyrethroid resistance has been isolated and studied without the confounding effects of kdr. Resistance in ISOP450 is incompletely dominant (D = +0.3), autosomally linked, and monofactorally inherited. It is expressed in the larvae, but not in adults. Cross-resistance to pyrethroids lacking a 3-phenoxybenzyl moiety (tetramethrin, fenfluthrin, bioallethrin, and bifenthrin) ranged from 1.5- to 12-fold. ISOP450 had only limited (6.6- and 11-fold) cross-resistance to 3-phenoxybenzyl pyrethroids with an α-cyano group (cypermethrin and deltamethrin, respectively). Examination of cross-resistance patterns to organophosphate insecticides in ISOP450 showed an 8-fold resistance to fenitrothion, while low, but significant, levels of negative cross-resistance were found for malathion (RR = 0.84), temephos (RR = 0.73), and methyl-parathion (RR = 0.55). The importance and uniqueness of this P450 mechanism in insecticide resistance is discussed.     

Cloning of the acetylcholinesterase 1 gene and identification of point mutations putatively associated with carbofuran resistance in Nilaparvata lugens

Molecular mechanisms of carbofuran resistance in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stål, were investigated. A carbofuran-resistant strain (CAS) showed approximately 45.5- and 15.1-fold resistance compared with a susceptible strain (SUS) and a non-selected field strain (FM), respectively. Activities of the esterase and mixed-function oxidase were approximately 2.8- and 1.6-fold higher, respectively, in the CAS strain than in the SUS strain, suggesting that these enzymes play a minor role in carbofuran resistance. Interestingly, the insensitivity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) to carbofuran was approximately 5.5- and 3.7-fold higher in the CAS strain compared to the SUS and FM strains, respectively, indicating that AChE insensitivity is associated with carbofuran resistance. Western blot analysis identified two kinds of AChEs, of which the type-1 AChE (encoded from Nlace1, which is paralogous to the Drosophila AChE gene) was determined to be the major catalytic AChE in N. lugens. The open reading frame of Nlace1 is composed of 1989 bp (approximately 74 kD) and revealed 52.5% and 24.3% amino acid sequence identities to those of Nephotettix cincticeps and Drosophila melanogaster, respectively. Screening of point mutations identified four amino acid substitutions (G119A, F/Y330S, F331H and H332L) in the CAS strain that likely contribute to AChE insensitivity. The frequencies of these mutations were well correlated with resistance levels, confirming that they are associated with reduced sensitivity to carbofuran in N. lugens. These point mutations can be useful as genetic markers for monitoring resistance levels in field populations of N. lugens.     

Toxicological and biochemical characterization of coumaphos resistance in the San Roman strain of Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

The San Roman strain of the southern cattle tick, Boophilus microplus, collected from Mexico was previously reported to have a high level of resistance to the organophosphate acaricide coumaphos. An oxidative detoxification mechanism was suspected to contribute to coumaphos resistance in this tick strain, as coumaphos bioassay with piperonyl butoxide (PBO) on larvae of this resistant strain resulted in enhanced coumaphos toxicity, while coumaphos assays with PBO resulted in reduced toxicity of coumaphos in a susceptible reference strain. In this study, we further analyzed the mechanism of oxidative metabolic detoxification with synergist bioassays of coroxon, the toxic metabolite of coumaphos, and the mechanism of target-site insensitivity with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition kinetics assays. Bioassays of coroxon with PBO resulted in synergism of coroxon toxicity in both the San Roman and the susceptible reference strains. The synergism ratio of PBO on coroxon in the resistant strain was 4.5 times that of the susceptible strain. The results suggested that the cytP450-based metabolic detoxification existed in both resistant and susceptible strains, but its activity was significantly enhanced in the resistant strain. Comparisons of AChE activity and inhibition kinetics by coroxon in both susceptible and resistant strains revealed that the resistant San Roman strain had an insensitive AChE, with a reduced phosphorylation rate, resulting in a reduced bimolecular reaction constant. These data indicate a mechanism of coumaphos resistance in the San Roman strain that involves both insensitive AChE and enhanced cytP450-based metabolic detoxification.     

Effects of Bacillus subtilis metabolites on larval Aedes aegypti L

The culture supernatant of a strain of Bacillus subtilis isolated from soil samples killed larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The metabolites produced by B. subtilis were characterized using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Mortality rate was dose-dependent for all larval instars of A. aegypti. Log probit analysis (95% confidence level) revealed an LC₅₀ of 1.73 and an LC₉₀ 3.71 μg/ml. Molecular weights/masses of B. subtilis metabolites were confirmed using SDS–PAGE analysis. B. subtilis metabolites were confirmed using HPLC analysis. We demonstrate that secondary metabolites from B. subtilis have larvicidal activity against A. aegypti and may be suitable for the control of this and other mosquito vectors of human disease. The larvae to the metabolites, significant reduction in the activities of acetylcholinesterse, α-carboxylesterase, and acid phosphatases were recorded.     

Effect of celangulin V on detoxification enzymes in Mythimna separata and Agrotis ypsilon

Celangulin V (CA-V), a β-dihydroagrofuran sesquiterpene polyol ester, is extracted from the root bark of Chinese bittersweet, Celastrus augulatus Maxim. It exhibited selective toxicity against different insects. By CO-difference spectral and biochemical method, the effects of CA-V on two kinds of detoxification enzymes, cytochrome P450 (P450 and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase) and glutathione S-transferase, were investigated in oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata and black cutworm, Agrotis ypsilon. CA-V showed higher induction against P450 of M. separata than that of A. ypsilon. Treated by CA-V, the maximum absorption of M. separata increased 1.2 and 0.8 nm than the control, respectively. Meanwhile, compared with the control, the P450 content and NADPH-P450 reductase activity in treated M. separata larvae increased 1.46-, 2.26- and 1.26-, 2.56-fold, respectively. But in treated A. ypsilon larvae, they all increased a little more than those of control. So far as M. separata and A. ypsilon, whether there is exposure of CA-V or not, the P450 content and GST activity in A. ypsilon were obviously higher than those in M. separata. It suggested that the content or activity difference of these two kinds of detoxification enzymes may have important roles in the selective toxicity of CA-V in M. separata and A. ypsilon.     

Mechanisms of resistance to diflubenzuron in the house fly, Musca domestica (L.)

The mechanisms of resistance to the chitin synthesis inhibitor diflubenzuron were investigated in a diflubenzuron-selected strain of the house fly (Musca domestica L.) with > 1000 × resistance, and in an OMS-12-selected strain [O-ethyl O-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)phosphoramidothioate] with 380 × resistance to diflubenzuron. In agreement with the accepted mode of action of diflubenzuron, chitin synthesis was reduced less in larvae of the resistant (R) than of a susceptible (S) strain. Cuticular penetration of diflubenzuron into larvae of the R strains was about half that of the S. Both piperonyl butoxide and sesamex synergized diflubenzuron markedly in the R strains, indicating that mixed-function oxidase enzymes play a major role in resistance. Limited synergism by DEF (S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate) and diethylmaleate indicated that esterases and glutathione-dependent transferases play a relatively small role in resistance. Larvae of the S and R strains exhibited a similar pattern of in vivo cleavage of ³H- and ¹⁴C-labeled diflubenzuron at N₁C₂ and N₁C₁ bonds. However, there were marked differences in the amounts of major metabolites produced: R larvae metabolized diflubenzuron at considerably higher rates, resulting in 18-fold lower accumulation of unmetabolized diflubenzuron by comparison with S larvae. Polar metabolites were excreted at a 2-fold higher rate by R larvae. The high levels of resistance to diflubenzuron in R-Diflubenzuron and R-OMS-12 larvae are due to the combined effect of reduced cuticular penetration, increased metabolism, and rapid excretion of the chemical.     

Beta-cypermethrin resistance associated with high carboxylesterase activities in a strain of house fly, Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae)

A housefly strain, originally collected in 1998 from a dump in Beijing, was selected with beta-cypermethrin to generate a resistant strain (CRR) in order to characterize the resistance and identify the possible mechanisms involved in the pyrethroid resistance. The resistance was increased from 2.56- to 4419.07-fold in the CRR strain after 25 consecutive generations of selection compared to a laboratory susceptible strain (CSS). The CRR strain also developed different levels of cross-resistance to various insecticides within and outside the pyrethroid group such as abamectin. Synergists, piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF), increased beta-cypermethrin toxicity 21.88- and 364.29-fold in the CRR strain as compared to 15.33- and 2.35-fold in the CSS strain, respectively. Results of biochemical assays revealed that carboxylesterase activities and maximal velocities to five naphthyl-substituted substrates in the CRR strain were significantly higher than that in the CSS strain, however, there was no significant difference in glutathione S-transferase activity and the level of total cytochrome P450 between the CRR and CSS strains. Therefore, our studies suggested that carboxylesterase play an important role in beta-cypermethrin resistance in the CRR strain.     

The effects of Artemisia annua L. and Achillea millefolium L. crude leaf extracts on the toxicity, development, feeding efficiency and chemical activities of small cabbage Pieris rapae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

The biological effects of two important medicinal plants, Artemisia annua L. and Achillea millefolium (L.) (viz, mortality, growth, and feeding indices as well as enzyme and non-enzymatic activities) were studied on small white Pieris rapae L a deleterious pest of cruciferous plants under controlled conditions (16:8 h L:D at 25 ± 1 °C and 65 ± 5% RH). The LC₅₀ and LC₂₅ values were 9.387% and 3.645% for A. annua L. and 4.19% and 1.69% for A. millefolium (L.), respectively. At the lowest concentration (0.625%), the deterrency was 29.826% and 44.185% for A. annua L. and A. millefolium (L.), respectively. Feeding indices were variously affected with changes in a number of parameters and an increase in larval and pupal duration. The activity level of alkaline phosphatase increased sharply while alanin and aspartate aminotransferases showed a sharp decrease. For non-enzymatic compounds, the amount of glucose and uric acid increased, but total protein and cholesterol decreased. These results indicate that these two medicinal plants might possess potential secondary metabolites that may be useful for controlling potential insect pests.     

DDT and pyrethroids: Receptor binding in relation to knockdown resistance (kdr) in the house fly

The nature of target site or knockdown resistance (kdr) to DDT and pyrethroids was studied by investigating specific binding of [14_C] DDT and [14_C] cis-permethrin to the previously established membrane receptors from the heads of susceptible (sbo) and resistant (kdr) strains of the house fly, Musca domestica L. In vivo studies showed the heads from sbo flies bound two to three times more DDT than those from kdr flies at all doses tested. Reduced binding was also observed in kdr flies in in vitro [14_C] DDT binding assays. Scatchard analysis indicated that kdr flies have the same affinity but fewer receptors per milligram protein in the CNS than sbo flies. Assays with [14_C] cis-permethrin also showed binding was much reduced in kdr flies in comparison with sbo flies. Based on these results, the nature of the target site insensitivity of kdr flies may relate to their having a reduced number of receptors for the insecticides.     

The effect of pretreatment with S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate on deltamethrin resistance and carboxylesterase activity in Aphis gossypii (Glover) (Homoptera: Aphididae)

The synergism of S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF) and its effect on carboxylesterase activity were investigated in deltamethrin-selected resistant (DRR) and susceptible (DSS) strains of cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii (Glover). Compared to the DSS strain, the DRR strain showed 23,900-fold resistance to deltamethrin, and 7560- and 99-fold cross-resistance to bifenthrin and ethofenprox, respectively. The synergist, DEF, increased the toxicity of both deltamethrin and bifenthrin, but not of ethofenprox when DEF was pretreated of 15 h. DEF exhibited significant inhibition on the carboxylesterase activity in the DRR strain, but no significant effect on that of the DSS strain in vitro. After the cotton aphids exposing to DEF, the carboxylesterase activity decreased gradually until 15 h and then gradually recovered until 24 h in the DRR strain, which fluctuated according to the effect of DEF on the deltamethrin toxicity detected using DEF pretreatment in the DRR strain. Therefore, our studies suggested that the effect of DEF on carboxylesterase was associated with deltamethrin resistance in the DRR strain.     

Hyper-susceptibility to deltamethrin in para DDT resistant Drosophila melanogaster

The extensively studied para gene encodes a α-subunit of the voltage-activated sodium channel in Drosophila melanogaster, which is the documented target site of DDT and pyrethroid insecticides. The para^ts-1 fruit fly line carries a recessive sex-linked insecticide-resistance trait (para^ts-1 allele) that has been defined on the basis of the behavioral phenotype of temperature-sensitive paralysis. We have determined that para^ts-1 confers hyper-susceptibility to deltamethrin in addition to the previously annotated resistance to DDT, revealing the presence of negative cross-resistance. We investigated the potential use of negative cross-resistance shifting para^ts-1 gene frequencies in D. melanogaster populations. After five generations of selection, the para^ts-1 allele, respectively, became more or less frequent whether Drosophila populations were selected with DDT or deltamethrin.     

Variability in resistance-related enzyme activities in field populations of the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris

Widespread use of Bt crops for control of lepidopterous pests has reduced insecticide use and provided the tarnished plant bug the opportunity to become a serious pest on mid-South cotton. Organophosphate insecticides have predominantly been used against plant bugs in recent years due to the reduced efficacy of other insecticides. In this study, a biochemical approach was developed to survey enzymatic levels associated with organophosphate resistance levels in field populations of the tarnished plant bug. Forty-three populations were collected from the delta areas of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Three esterase substrates and one substrate each of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were used to determine corresponding detoxification enzyme activities in different populations. Compared to a laboratory susceptible colony, increases up to 5.29-fold for esterase, 1.96-fold for GST, and 1.97-fold for AChE activities were detected in the field populations. In addition to the survey of enzyme activities among the populations, we also examined the susceptibility of major detoxification enzymes to several inhibitors which could be used in formulations to synergize insecticide toxicity against the target pests. As much as 52-76% of esterase, 72-98% of GST, and 93% of AChE activities were inhibited in vitro. Revealing variable esterase and GST activities among field populations may lead to a better understanding of resistance mechanisms in the tarnished plant bug. This study also reports effective suppression of detoxification enzymes which may be useful in future insecticide resistance management program for the tarnished plant bug and other Heteropteran pests on Bt crops.