RNAi递送系统在害虫防治中的研究进展

RNAi是由dsRNA引发的,靶向目的 基因的高效与特异的基因沉默技术.由于其高效性、特异性和便捷性,RNAi技术广泛应用于基因功能研究、高通量目的 基因筛选、基因治疗、药物靶标预测和农业病虫害防治等领域.考虑到RNAi效率、安全性和预期靶基因下调的潜在障碍,RNAi提供高效防治应用的前提是以合适的方式递送效应RNA.本文对近期农业重要性害虫和病媒害虫防治应用中开发的RNAi递送系统进行综述,对这些RNAi递送系统的干扰效率和多重进入位点作了比较,并展望了RNAi递送系统在害虫防治中的应用,以期更好地完善RNAi技术在昆虫学研究和害虫防治中的应用.     

基因干预治疗的新星——RNAi

快速发展的RNAi(RNA interference)技术为选择性抑制特异性基因的表达提供了有利的工具。RNAi是外源的dsRNA(double strand RNA,>19bp)进入细胞后,激活细胞内自然存在的加工活性,引起对侵入的外源dsRNA及具有同源序列的单链RNA降解(包括内源性的mRNA)的现象。RNAi技术目前多作为基因功能研究的有利工具,随着RNAi分子机制研究的不断深入,相信它将成为最有潜力的基因干预治疗方法。     

基于工程菌高效合成靶向昆虫基因的dsRNA的方法

外源或内源双链RNA(dsRNA)可以干扰昆虫基因的表达。目前,利用RNA干扰(RNAi)技术防治农业害虫已经取得了一定进展,但高昂的dsRNA合成成本是RNAi技术在田间应用的主要限制因素。本方法利用L4440质粒和大肠杆菌HT115(DE3)菌株,建立了一种经济、高效的昆虫靶标基因dsRNA合成方法。与商业化的dsRNA合成试剂盒相比,工程菌合成dsRNA的方法大幅降低了dsRNA的合成成本。本方法将为大规模昆虫基因功能解析和RNAi制剂的田间应用提供可能,有望促进以RNAi为核心的害虫防治技术的实践和发展。     

RNAi在害虫防治中应用的重要进展及存在问题

RNAi是目前最有可能应用于害虫绿色防控的新技术。2017年6月,美国环境署(EPA)批准了国际上第一例表达昆虫双链RNA(dsRNA)的抗虫转基因玉米MON87411,掀起了利用RNAi技术进行害虫防治研究新的热潮。但是,目前RNAi在害虫防治中的应用还存在一些问题,例如有效靶标基因筛选和应用策略,鳞翅目昆虫对RNAi的敏感性以及双链RNA在环境中的稳定性等等。本文系统总结了RNA干扰现象发现20年来,该技术在害虫防治领域的研究及应用概况,并对RNAi技术应用的可行性、应用方法、存在问题和目前的一些解决办法进行了比较详细的综述。通过对近期研究结果的综合分析发现,dsRNA进入某些鳞翅目昆虫中肠或血淋巴后,被相关核酸酶降解可能是其RNAi效率较低的首要原因。通过对dsRNA进行脂质体修饰,纳米粒子包埋可以在一定程度上解决dsRNA降解的问题,进而提高RNAi效率。     

RNAi技术在蜂学研究中的应用

RNA干扰(RNA interference,RNAi)是指外源或内源的双链RNA(dsRNA)特异性引起基因表达沉默的现象,特异性和高效性是RNAi技术的特点。本文主要从调控目标基因的表达、级型分化的分子基础、防治蜜蜂病毒病3个方面概述了RNAi技术在蜂学研究中的应用进展情况,并展望RNAi技术在蜜蜂功能基因组研究领域的应用前景。     

RNA干扰技术及其在植物研究中的应用

RNA干扰(RNA interference,RNAi)是最近几年发现和发展起来的一门新兴的在转录水平上的基因阻断技术,它是生物体内由双链RNA(double-stranded RNA,dsRNA)介导同源mRNA降解的现象。RNAi广泛存在于从真菌到高等植物、从无脊椎动物到哺乳动物各种生物中。研究表明通过转入目的基因序列的双链RNA可以诱导产生基因沉默现象。同时,RNAi能监控异常的或外源的遗传物质在机体内的水平,并调控基因的表达,是生物体抵御外在感染的一种重要的保护机制,这使得RNA干扰技术具有十分诱人的应用前景。介绍了RNAi的研究历史、作用机制、特点及其在植物研究中的应用。     

RNAi技术应用的研究进展

RNAi(RNA interference),即RNA干扰是由与靶基因同源的内源或外源双链RNA(double stranded RNA,dsRNA)所引发的一种在动植物中普遍存在的基因沉默现象.它最早在植物体中被发现,现在已发展成为一种生物技术,并成为了后基因时代的重要研究手段.对RNAi技术在生物基础、医学、药学和植物学等领域的研究成果进行综述.     

RNAi技术及在植物抗病毒研究中的应用

RNA干扰(RNA interference,RNAi)技术是一项基因沉默新技术,在抗病毒研究中,人为地将与病毒或宿主基因(宿主基因编码的蛋白质对病毒很重要而对宿主本身作用很小或不起作用)同源的双链RNA(double strand RNA,dsRNA)导入生物体内,引起与其同源的基因发生沉默,从而抑制病毒复制,达到抗病毒的目的。因此RNAi技术在抗病毒研究中倍受关注,并取得了显著成绩。主要对RNAi技术的相关知识以及在植物抗病毒中的应用进展作一综述。     

单链抗体靶向递送系统在RNA干扰中的应用

RNA干扰(RNA interference,RNAi)是一种由干扰小RNA(small interfering RNA,siRNA)介导的转录后基因沉默.随着医学的发展,通过RNAi来抑制靶基因的表达已经成为一种强有力的研究基因功能、验证药物靶标和治疗多种疾病的方法.然而,RNAi在哺乳动物中的治疗应用却受到基因递送系统的限制,即siRNA在体内递送的靶向性.目前,各种配体,如糖基化分子、肽类、蛋白质、抗体和基因工程抗体片段对于靶向递送siRNA具有巨大的应用潜力.它们改善了基因递送系统的有效性、特异性和安全性.本文主要就单链抗体-鱼精蛋白截短体融合蛋白在 RNAi中的应用进行综述.     

RNAi technology: a new platform for crop pest control

The insect pests are big threat in meeting the food demands for future generation. The present pest control strategies, including the existing transgenic approaches show certain limitations and are not completely successful in limiting the insect pests. However, the sequence-specific gene silencing via RNA interference (RNAi) holds a great promise for effective management of agricultural pests. RNAi is naturally occurring conserved process responsible for gene regulation and defense against pathogens. The efficacy of RNAi varies among different insect orders and also depends upon various factors, including the target gene selection, method of dsRNAs delivery, expression of dsRNAs and presence of off-target effects. RNAi-mediated silencing of different insect genes involved in various physiological processes was found to be detrimental to insects growth, development and survival. In this article, we have reviewed the potential of RNAi-based strategies for effective management of insect pests. We have also discussed the various parameters, which are to be considered for host-induced RNAi-mediated control of insect pests without producing any effect on non-target organisms and environment.     

Feasibility,limitation and possible solutions of RNAi‐based technology for insect pest control

Abstract Numerous studies indicate that target gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) could lead to insect death. This phenomenon has been considered as a potential strategy for insect pest control, and it is termed RNAi‐mediated crop protection. However, there are many limitations using RNAi‐based technology for pest control, with the effectiveness target gene selection and reliable double‐strand RNA (dsRNA) delivery being two of the major challenges. With respect to target gene selection, at present, the use of homologous genes and genome‐scale high‐throughput screening are the main strategies adopted by researchers. Once the target gene is identified, dsRNA can be delivered by micro‐injection or by feeding as a dietary component. However, micro‐injection, which is the most common method, can only be used in laboratory experiments. Expression of dsRNAs directed against insect genes in transgenic plants and spraying dsRNA reagents have been shown to induce RNAi effects on target insects. Hence, RNAi‐mediated crop protection has been considered as a potential new‐generation technology for pest control, or as a complementary method of existing pest control strategies; however, further development to improve the efficacy of protection and range of species affected is necessary. In this review, we have summarized current research on RNAi‐based technology for pest insect management. Current progress has proven that RNAi technology has the potential to be a tool for designing a new generation of insect control measures. To accelerate its practical application in crop protection, further study on dsRNA uptake mechanisms based on the knowledge of insect physiology and biochemistry is needed.     

Nanoparticle-mediated double-stranded RNA delivery system: A promising approach for sustainable pest management

RNA interference (RNAi) targeting lethal genes in insects has great potential for sustainable crop protection. Compared with traditional double-stranded (ds)RNA delivery systems, nanoparticles such as chitosan, liposomes, and cationic dendrimers offer advantages in delivering dsRNA/small interfering (si)RNA to improve RNAi efficiency, thus promoting the development and practice of RNAi-based pest management strategies. Here, we illustrate the limitations of traditional dsRNA delivery systems, reveal the mechanism of nanoparticle-mediated RNAi, summarize the recent progress and successful applications of nanoparticle-mediated RNAi in pest management, and finally address the prospects of nanoparticle-based RNA pesticides.     

Delivery of dsRNA for RNAi in insects: an overview and future directions

Abstract RNA interference (RNAi) refers to the process of exogenous double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) silencing the complementary endogenous messenger RNA. RNAi has been widely used in entomological research for functional genomics in a variety of insects and its potential for RNAi‐based pest control has been increasingly emphasized mainly because of its high specificity. This review focuses on the approaches of introducing dsRNA into insect cells or insect bodies to induce effective RNAi. The three most common delivery methods, namely, microinjection, ingestion, and soaking, are illustrated in details and their advantages and limitations are summarized for purpose of feasible RNAi research. In this review, we also briefly introduce the two possible dsRNA uptake machineries, other dsRNA delivery methods and the history of RNAi in entomology. Factors that influence the specificity and efficiency of RNAi such as transfection reagents, selection of dsRNA region, length, and stability of dsRNA in RNAi research are discussed for further studies.     

RNAi knock-down mice: an emerging technology for post-genomic functional genetics

RNA interference (RNAi) has been extensively used for sequence-specific silencing of gene function in mammalian cells. The latest major breakthrough in the application of RNAi technology came from experiments demonstrating RNAi-mediated gene repression in mice and rats. After more than two decades of functional mouse research aimed at developing and continuously improving transgenic and knock-out technology, the advent of RNAi knock-down mice represents a valuable new alternative for studying gene function in vivo. In this review we provide some basic insight as to how RNAi can induce gene silencing to then focus on recent findings concerning the applicability of RNAi for regulating gene function in the mouse. Reviewed topics will include delivery methods for RNAi-mediating molecules, a comparison between traditional knock-out and innovative transgenic RNAi technology and the generation of graded RNAi knock-down phenotypes. Apart from the exciting possibilities RNAi provides for studying gene function in mice, we discuss several caveats and limitations to be considered. Finally, we present prospective strategies as to how RNAi technology might be applied for generating conditional and tissue-restricted knock-down mice.     

Environmental RNA interference

The discovery of RNA interference (RNAi), the process of sequence-specific gene silencing initiated by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), has broadened our understanding of gene regulation and has revolutionized methods for genetic analysis. A remarkable property of RNAi in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and in some other multicellular organisms is its systemic nature: silencing signals can cross cellular boundaries and spread between cells and tissues. Furthermore, C. elegans and some other organisms can also perform environmental RNAi: sequence-specific gene silencing in response to environmentally encountered dsRNA. This phenomenon has facilitated significant technological advances in diverse fields including functional genomics and agricultural pest control. Here, we describe the characterization and current understanding of environmental RNAi and discuss its potential applications.     

Bacillus brevis,a Host Bacterium for Efficient Extracellular Production of Useful Proteins

Abstract

Since its discovery in 1998 RNA interference (RNAi), a potent and highly selective gene silencing mechanism, has revolutionized the field of biological science. The ability of RNAi to specifically down-regulate the expression of any cellular protein has had a profound impact on the study of gene function in vitro. This property of RNAi also holds great promise for in vivo functional genomics and interventions against a wide spectrum of diseases, especially those with “undruggable” therapeutic targets. Despite the enormous potential of RNAi for medicine, development of in vivo applications has met with significant problems, particularly in terms of delivery. For effective gene silencing to occur, silencing RNA must reach the cytoplasm of the target cell. Consequently, various strategies using chemically modified siRNA, liposomes, nanoparticles and viral vectors are being developed to deliver silencing RNA. These approaches, however, can be expensive and in many cases they lack target cell specificity or clinical compatibility. Recently, we have shown that RNAi can be activated in vitro and in vivo by non-pathogenic bacteria engineered to manufacture     

RNA interference in infectious tropical diseases

Introduction of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into some cells or organisms results in degradation of its homologous mRNA, a process called RNA interference (RNAi). The dsRNAs are processed into short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that subsequently bind to the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), causing degradation of target mRNAs. Because of this sequence-specific ability to silence target genes, RNAi has been extensively used to study gene functions and has the potential to control disease pathogens or vectors. With this promise of RNAi to control pathogens and vectors, this paper reviews the current status of RNAi in protozoans, animal parasitic helminths and disease-transmitting vectors, such as insects. Many pathogens and vectors cause severe parasitic diseases in tropical regions and it is difficult to control once the host has been invaded. Intracellularly, RNAi can be highly effective in impeding parasitic development and proliferation within the host. To fully realize its potential as a means to control tropical diseases, appropriate delivery methods for RNAi should be developed, and possible off-target effects should be minimized for specific gene suppression. RNAi can also be utilized to reduce vector competence to interfere with disease transmission, as genes critical for pathogenesis of tropical diseases are knockdowned via RNAi.