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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Biological Control of Pests Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #299878
Title: Saliva of TBP digests double stranded RNAs

Author
item Allen, Margaret - Meg

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/22/2013
Publication Date: 11/1/2013
Citation: Allen, M.L. 2013. Saliva of TBP digests double stranded RNAs. Meeting Abstract. p.135. Available at http://www.midsouthentomologist.org.msstate.edu/pdfs/Vol6_2/Vol6_No_2_MEA%20Abstracts_134-146.pdf

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The tarnished plant bug (TPB), Lygus lineolaris, is a generalist pest of many crops including cotton, strawberries, and alfalfa. While studying gene expression and gene knockdown through RNA interference, my lab was frustrated by an observation. We were unable to replicate knock down effects observed when double stranded RNA was injected into insects if we fed the same double stranded RNA to the insects. It became clear that the oral route of administration was ineffective. So we collected salivary fluids of the insects and discovered that these fluids digested double stranded RNA (dsRNA), but not DNA. The saliva of TPB digested samples of dsRNA with comparable activity to commercial dsRNA digesting enzymes.