Vector Control: Insights Arising from the Post-Genomics Findings on Insects’ Reproductive Biology

Abstract

The high prevalence of neglected vector-borne diseases, such as Chagas disease and dengue fever, imposes enormous health and financial burdens in developing countries. Historically, and still, to this day, the main effective methods to manage those diseases rely on vector population control. Although early efforts in understanding vector-specific biology resulted in important advancements in the development of strategies for the management of vector-borne diseases, studies regarding the complex physiology of local vector species were weakened by the expanding use of insecticide-based tools, which were, at the time, proven simpler and effective. The rising threat of insecticide resistance and climate change (which can expand endemic areas) has reemphasized the need to rely on thorough species-specific vector biology. One approach to controlling vector populations is to disrupt molecular processes or antagonize the metabolic targets required to produce viable eggs. Here, we discuss new findings arising from post-genomics molecular studies on vector reproductive biology and discuss their potential for the elaboration of new effective vector control interventions.

Knockdown of Sec16 causes early lethality and defective deposition of the protein Rp30 in the eggshell of the vector Rhodnius prolixus

“…Recently, the necessity to rely on in-depth species-specific vector biology has been highlighted by the growing threat of pesticide resistance and climate change (which can expand endemic areas) ( Shaw and Catteruccia, 2019 ; Wilson et al, 2020 ). Disrupting molecular processes required to generate viable eggs is one method of managing vector populations and the recent completion of genome sequencing projects enables functional studies that expand our understanding of reproductive processes allowing the identification of new species-specific vector control targets ( Ramos and Gomes, 2022 ).…”

Silencing of the 20S proteasomal subunit-α6 triggers full oogenesis arrest and increased mRNA levels of the selective autophagy adaptor protein p62/SQSTM1 in the ovary of the vector Rhodnius prolixus

“…Insects’ high reproductive outputs play a major role in their capacity to fill nearly every niche in nature and serve as carriers of various vector-borne diseases. To create novel strategies for vector population control, it is strategically important to identify molecular targets with biotechnological potential through the functional research of genes that are crucial for insect reproduction [ 84 ]. This is particularly important for the attempts to manage neglected diseases spread by vectors that are common in developing nations, such as dengue fever and Chagas disease ( www.who.int/neglected diseases/en/ ).…”