Control of plant pests using rna molecules
AssigneeDevgen NV
InventorsYann NAUDET, Myriam BEGHYN, Lien DE SCHRIJVER, Isabelle MAILLET, Annelies PHILIPS
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Abstract
Disclosed are double stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules that are toxic to insect pests. In particular, interfering RNA molecules capable of modulating expression of a pest insect target gene and that are toxic to the insect pest are provided. Further, methods of making and using the interfering RNA, for example as the active ingredient in an insecticidal composition or in a transgenic plant, to confer protection from insect damage are disclosed.
Claims21
A double stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecule comprising a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein a nucleotide sequence of the antisense strand is complementary to a portion of a mRNA polynucleotide transcribable from a coleopteran insect Rpt5 gene that comprises a Rpt5 coding sequence i) having from at least about 90% identity to at least about 99% identity to any of SEQ ID NOs:
- 8;
- or ii) comprises any of SEQ ID NOs:
- 8, and wherein the dsRNA molecule is toxic to at least a coleopteran insect pest.
A method of controlling at least a coleopteran insect pest comprising contacting said insect pest with a dsRNA comprising a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein a nucleotide sequence of the antisense strand is complementary to a portion of a mRNA polynucleotide transcribable from a coleopteran insect Rpt5 gene that comprises a Rpt5 coding sequence i) having from at least about 90% identity to at least about 99% identity to any of SEQ ID NOs:
- 8;
- or ii) comprises any of SEQ ID NOs:8, and wherein the dsRNA molecule is toxic to at least a coleopteran insect pest.
A method of identifying a Rpt5 gene in an insect pest for interfering RNA targeting, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) isolating nucleic acid from an insect pest;
- b) amplifying an orthologous Rpt5 target gene from the nucleic acid with a pair of primers comprising nucleotide sequences selected from SEQ ID NOs:38-55;
- c) identifying a sequence of an orthologous Rpt5 target gene;
- d) producing a dsRNA molecule, wherein the dsRNA molecule comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein a nucleotide sequence of the antisense strand is complementary to a portion of a mRNA polynucleotide transcribable from the insect pest Rpt5 gene that comprises a Rpt5 coding sequence, and e) testing the dsRNA molecule of step d) for insecticidal activity against the insect pest.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.