Mitochondrial genes associated with pyrethroid resistance revealed by mitochondrial genome and transcriptome analyses in the malaria vector Anopheles sinensis (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Insecticides are still the main method of mosquito control, but mosquito resistance presents a large obstacle. The function of mitochondrial genes in the evolution of insecticide resistance is still poorly understood. Pyrethroid is the most commonly used insecticide, and Anopheles sinensis is an important malaria vector in China and Southeast Asia. In this study, we investigated the mitochondrial genes associated with pyrethroid resistance through their genetic and expression variation based on analyses of transcriptomes and 36 individuals with resequencing in three geographical populations in China. RESULTS:The nucleotide diversity (Pi) in 18 resistant individuals was much lower than that in 18 susceptible individuals, which suggests that some sites experienced purifying selection subject to pyrethroid stress. Ka/Ks and amino acid analyses showed that ND4 experienced positive selection and had 23 amino acid mutations due to pyrethroid stress. These mutations might change the ND4 structure and function and thus alter the efficiency of the respiratory chain. ND5 was significantly upregulated, and ATP8 was significantly downregulated in these three pyrethroid resistant populations, which suggests that these two genes function in the production and maintenance of pyrethroid resistance. There are differences in mitochondrial genes involved in pyrethroid resistance among these three populations.CONCLUSION: This is the first study to reveal the association of mitochondrial genes in the evolution of insecticide resistance through amino acid mutation and expression patterns and can help us further understand insecticide resistance mechanisms.

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Reference-Guided De Novo Genome Assembly of the Flour Beetle Tribolium freemani

“…In addition to their most prevalent usage for molecular systematics at different taxonomic scales, mitochondrial genomes of some insects have been reported to be related to insecticide resistance. For example, changes in sequence and expression of some mitochondrial genes in the malaria vector Anopheles sinensis appeared to be associated with resistance to the pyrethroid insecticide [ 46 ], while changes in the expression level of mitochondrial-encoded genes in Drosophila melanogaster 91-R strain are linked to DDT resistance [ 47 ]. Differential expression of the genes related to mitochondrial functions was also found in the T. castaneum population resistant to phosphine, a fumigant used for stored products treatment to control pests [ 48 ].…”

Complete mitochondrial genome sequencing of Oxycarenus laetus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) from two geographically distinct regions of India

“…Uniparental maternal inheritance involving mtDNA has been reported as one of the reasons for the difference between susceptible and resistant species 9 . Recently, Ding et al 10 , by employing mitochondrial genome and transcriptome sequencing, identified the role of mitochondrial genes atp8 and nad5 and the associated amino acid mutations to be rendering resistance to pyrethroid by A. sinensis population.…”