Systemic RNA interference in locusts: reverse genetics and possibilities for locust pest control

• RNAi is a widely used technique for reverse genetics.
• For the development of RNAi-based locust control, several problems must be overcome.
• Locusts are very sensitive to RNAi upon injection.
• Locusts are refractory to effective RNAi upon oral delivery of naked dsRNA.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a biological process triggered by double stranded (ds)RNA that results in sequence-dependent mRNA degradation. Because of its high specificity, this post-transcriptional gene silencing mechanism is a widely used tool for reverse genetics in several insect species. In particular, locusts possess a very robust and sensitive RNAi response that has already been exploited to investigate a diverse range of important physiological processes. These orthopteran insects constitute important model organisms in several areas of entomology, but they can also become voracious swarming pests that threaten the agricultural production in large parts of the world. In comparison to the widely applied chemical insecticides, the RNAi-technology could contribute to the development of a novel generation of insecticides, with high species-specificity. In this article, we discuss the potential of the RNAi-technology in loss of function studies in locusts, as well as to control locust populations.