Exploring insecticide resistance using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing

A better understanding of the resistant mechanisms conferring insecticide resistance in insects can lead to new and improved control strategies to manage agriculturally and medically important insect pests. CRISPR/Cas9 genome modification technology enables us to perform functional studies on genes, mechanisms, and/or pathways that have been implicated to confer insecticide resistance. We have currently created pyrethroid resistant Cas9 strains of mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus and/or house flies Musca domestica to study the molecular basis of insecticide resistance. Highly pyrethroid resistant strains of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus have been generated through multiple backcrosses to laboratory generated Cas9 strains. Genetic transformation of transposon mediated Cas9 gene as cargo into a pyrethroid resistant M. domestica strain has been performed. Functional studies of gene(s) involved in resistance in these pyrethroid resistant Cas9 strains are discussed.