Sex-linked RNAi insecticide materials and methods
AssigneeIndiana University Research and Technology Corporation
InventorMolly Duman Scheel
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides insecticides that can specifically target mosquitoes based on their sex. These sex-specific insecticides prevent maturation or development of larvae into adult insects using interfering RNA (iRNA). The present disclosure further provides compositions comprising sex-linked iRNA and methods of controlling, reducing, or treating an insect infestation with the iRNA or compositions described herein. The compositions and methods described herein can be used to sort mosquitoes based on sex.
Claims8
A mosquito insecticide composition for preventing and/or controlling a mosquito infestation comprising:
- (i) at least one interfering ribonucleic acid (iRNA);
- (ii) a yeast cell expressing the iRNA;
- and
- (iii) at least one suitable carrier, excipient or diluent,
- wherein the interfering ribonucleic acid (IRNA) corresponding to a target nucleotide sequence of at least one sex-linked larval lethal arthropod gene required for maturation from larvae to adult of at least one arthropod species, wherein one of the sex-linked larval lethal arthropod genes is AAEL017331, and wherein binding of the target nucleotide sequence by the iRNA silences expression of the at least one sex-linked gene in female larvae, wherein the at least one arthropod species consists of at least one mosquito species.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.