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Overexpression of cytochrome P450 and esterase genes involved in permethrin resistance in larvae and adults of Culex quinquefasciatus

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Abstract

Mosquitoes are important vectors of several arthropod-borne diseases, which remain a priority for epidemiological research. Mosquito vector control strategies have traditionally relied on chemical insecticides such as synthetic pyrethroids. However, the indiscriminate use of pesticides has resulted in the development of resistance in many mosquito species. In insects, resistance evolves primarily through the overexpression of one or more gene products from the cytochrome P450, carboxylesterase, and glutathione superfamilies. The current study examined the expression of cytochrome P450 CYP6M2, CYP6AA7, CYP6Z2, CYP9J34, α-Esterase, Esterase B1, and neuroactin genes in larvae and adults of a permethrin-resistant (PerRes) and susceptible (Sus) Culex quinquefasciatus strains. The results showed that the CYP6AA7 gene was overexpressed (10-fold) in larvae and adults with PerRes (p < 0.01) followed by CYPJ34 (9.0-fold) and CYP6Z2 (5.0-fold) compared to the Sus, whereas fewer changes in CYP6M gene expression were observed in PerRes adults (p < 0.05), and no expression was found in larvae. The esterase gene was overexpressed in PerRes larvae (9.0-fold) followed by adults (2.5-fold) compared to the susceptible strain. Based on data, the present study suggests that cytochrome P450, CYP6AA7, CYP6Z2, CYP9J34, α-Esterase, Esterase B1, and neuroactin genes were involved in permethrin resistance in larval and adult Cx. quinquefasciatus.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Department of Biotechnology, Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India, and PG and Research Center for Biotechnology, MGR College, Hosur, India, for providing the infrastructural facility. The authors would also like to thank the reviewer of this draft for valuable suggestions and changes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA, 30223, USA

    Govindaraju Ramkumar

  2. Molecular Entomology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Periyar University, Salem, 636 011, Tamil Nadu, India

    Govindaraju Ramkumar & Muthugoundar Subramanian Shivakumar

  3. PG and Research Centre in Biotechnology, MGR College, Adhiyamaan Educational and Research Institution, Hosur, 635130, Tamil Nadu, India

    Ranganathan Muthusamy

  4. Division of Research and Innovation, Department of Biotechnology, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science, Chennai, 602105, Tamil Nadu, India

    Mathiyazhagan Narayanan

  5. Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania

    Eliningaya J. Kweka

  6. Research Department, Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, P.O. Box 3024, Arusha, Tanzania

    Eliningaya J. Kweka

  7. Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority, P.O. Box 3024, Arusha, Tanzania

    Eliningaya J. Kweka

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  1. Govindaraju Ramkumar
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  2. Ranganathan Muthusamy
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Contributions

Govindaraju Ramkumar: Planned and conducted research, analyzed the data and wrote the original manuscript; Mathiyazhagan Narayanan: Help with RT-PCR analysis; Ranganathan Muthusamy: planning the research and editing the manuscript; Muthugoundar Subramanian Shivakumar: planning and supervising the research work; Eliningaya J. Kweka: Edited and reviewed the language and draft manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ranganathan Muthusamy.

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Ramkumar, G., Muthusamy, R., Narayanan, M. et al. Overexpression of cytochrome P450 and esterase genes involved in permethrin resistance in larvae and adults of Culex quinquefasciatus. Parasitol Res 122, 3205–3212 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-023-08010-2

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