• Nanoparticle-Assisted RNAi Tar...

*Result*: Nanoparticle-Assisted RNAi Targeting Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels Enhances Insecticide Susceptibility and Disrupts Development in Spodoptera frugiperda.

Title:
Nanoparticle-Assisted RNAi Targeting Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels Enhances Insecticide Susceptibility and Disrupts Development in Spodoptera frugiperda.
Authors:
Li X; State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, Shaanxi 712100, P. R. China., Xu Z; State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, Shaanxi 712100, P. R. China., Peng C; State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, Shaanxi 712100, P. R. China., Korai AK; State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, Shaanxi 712100, P. R. China., Fatima J; State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, Shaanxi 712100, P. R. China., Shen H; State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, Shaanxi 712100, P. R. China., Li Y; State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, Shaanxi 712100, P. R. China.
Source:
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry [J Agric Food Chem] 2026 Feb 18; Vol. 74 (6), pp. 5092-5106. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Feb 08.
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: American Chemical Society Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0374755 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1520-5118 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00218561 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Agric Food Chem Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Original Publication: Washington, American Chemical Society.
MeSH Terms:
Insecticides*/pharmacology , Insect Proteins*/genetics , Insect Proteins*/metabolism , Spodoptera*/genetics , Spodoptera*/growth & development , Spodoptera*/drug effects , Spodoptera*/metabolism, Larva/growth & development ; Larva/drug effects ; Larva/genetics ; Larva/metabolism ; Nanoparticles/chemistry ; Pyrethrins/pharmacology ; Ivermectin/analogs & derivatives ; Ivermectin/pharmacology ; Nitriles/pharmacology ; Animals ; RNA Interference ; Insecticide Resistance
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: RNA interference; SK; Spodoptera frugiperda; insecticide susceptibility; lepidopteran
Substance Nomenclature:
0 (Insecticides)
0 (Insect Proteins)
0 (Pyrethrins)
V0V73PEB8M (cyhalothrin)
70288-86-7 (Ivermectin)
0 (Nitriles)
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20260209 Date Completed: 20260218 Latest Revision: 20260218
Update Code:
20260218
DOI:
10.1021/acs.jafc.5c13255
PMID:
41656727
Database:
MEDLINE

*Further Information*

*Spodoptera frugiperda is a globally invasive pest of Poaceae crops with extensive insecticide resistance, necessitating alternative control strategies. RNA interference (RNAi) was evaluated using the small-conductance Ca<sup>2+</sup>-activated K<sup>+</sup> channel gene (SK) as a novel target. The SfSK gene exhibited conserved SK family features and was highly expressed in pupae and adults. Silencing of SfSK via dsRNA microinjection reduced transcript levels by up to 42.6% and significantly increased larval susceptibility to emamectin benzoate and λ-cyhalothrin, with a maximum increase of 26.7% in mortality. Encapsulation of dsRNA in chitosan-tripolyphosphate (CS-TPP) nanoparticles protected against enzymatic degradation and substantially enhanced silencing efficiency. Correspondingly, injection of CS-TPP-dsSfSK increased larval mortality by up to 36.7% and 30% with emamectin benzoate and λ-cyhalothrin treatments, respectively. Moreover, oral administration also enhanced susceptibility, delayed pupation, and reduced the level of adult emergence, indicating developmental disruption. These results highlight the potential applications of CS-TPP-dsSfSK nanoparticles for RNAi-mediated pest management.*