Bacteria-delivered RNA interference strategies to silence genes related to vector competence of Aedes aegypti
Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Dengue infection is a devastating mosquito-borne disease, and the principal vector is the mosquito, Aedes aegypti.Current vector control strategies are not working, hence the need for alternative strategies.Cathepsin B is a mosquito protein that dengue viruses require to establish and replicate within mosquitoes; knocking down cathepsin B using RNAi changes the phenotype from dengue susceptible to dengue refractory in Ae. aegypti.We engineered bacteria to express dsRNA against cathepsin B to develop an orally delivered RNAi system.Our data suggest inconsistencies in the alteration of gene expression that may be a result of the modified bacteria being digested, or a lower than required quantity of the RNAi constructs being expressed.Without a consistent knockdown, it is unlikely that we will be able to reduce vector competence predictably.
Source: Summit (Simon Fraser University)
Author: Shir Yi Toh
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2808036734