Insect cuticle: a critical determinant of insecticide resistance

• Published in: Current opinion in insect science Vol. 27; pp. 68 - 74
• Main Authors: Balabanidou, Vasileia, Grigoraki, Linda, Vontas, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.06.2018
• Subjects: ABC transporters; Animals; enzymatic reactions; gene overexpression; genes; insect cuticle; Insect Proteins - physiology; Insecta - drug effects; Insecta - physiology; Insecticide Resistance; insecticides; insects; laccase; resistance mechanisms; resistance to penetration
• ISSN: 2214-5745; 2214-5745; 2214-5753
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.03.001

•Cuticular resistance is due to cuticle thickening and its altered composition.•Cuticular alterations can increase the intensity and broaden the spectrum of insecticide resistance.•The molecular mechanisms underlying cuticular resistance are poorly understood. Intense use of insecticides has resulted in the selection of extreme levels of resistance in insect populations. Therefore understanding the molecular basis of insecticide resistance mechanisms becomes critical. Penetration resistance refers to modifications in the cuticle that will eventually slow down the penetration of insecticide molecules within insects’ body. So far, two mechanisms of penetration resistance have been described, the cuticle thickening and the altering of cuticle composition. Cuticular modifications are attributed to the over-expression of diversified genes or proteins, which belong to structural components (cuticular proteins mainly), enzymes that catalyze enzymatic reactions (CYP4G16 and laccase 2) or ABC transporters that promote cuticular translocation. In the present review we summarize recent studies and discuss future perspectives.