Modeling resistance to genetic control of insects

• Published in: Journal of theoretical biology Vol. 270; no. 1; pp. 42 - 55
• Main Authors: Alphey, Nina, Bonsall, Michael B., Alphey, Luke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 07.02.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Algorithms; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Animals, Genetically Modified - genetics; Animals, Genetically Modified - physiology; Computer Simulation; dynamic models; Gene Frequency; Gene Frequency - genetics; Genes, Dominant; Genes, Dominant - genetics; Genes, Insect; Genes, Insect - genetics; Genes, Lethal; Genes, Lethal - genetics; Genetic control; Genetic Fitness; Genetic Fitness - genetics; genetic resistance; genetics; Genetics, Population; homozygosity; Homozygote; Insecta; Insecta - genetics; Insecta - physiology; insects; irradiation; mass rearing; Mathematical modeling; methods; Models, Genetic; Pest Control, Biological; Pest Control, Biological - methods; pests; physiology; Population Dynamics; Resistance; RIDL; sterile insect technique; Sterile insect technique (SIT); British Isles; Resistance; RIDL; Mathematical modeling; Genetic control; Sterile insect technique (SIT)
• ISSN: 0022-5193; 1095-8541; 1095-8541
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2010.11.016

The sterile insect technique is an area-wide pest control method that reduces pest populations by releasing mass-reared sterile insects which compete for mates with wild insects. Modern molecular tools have created possibilities for improving and extending the sterile insect technique. As with any new insect control method, questions arise about potential resistance. Genetic RIDL®11RIDL® is a registered trademark of Oxitec Limited, UK. (Release of Insects carrying a Dominant Lethal) technology is a proposed modification of the technique, releasing insects that are homozygous for a repressible dominant lethal genetic construct rather than being sterilized by irradiation. Hypothetical resistance to the lethal mechanism is a potential threat to RIDL strategies' effectiveness. Using population genetic and population dynamic models, we assess the circumstances under which monogenic biochemically based resistance could have a significant impact on the effectiveness of releases for population control. We assume that released insects would be homozygous susceptible to the lethal genetic construct and therefore releases would have a built-in element of resistance dilution. We find that this effect could prevent or limit the spread of resistance to RIDL constructs; the outcomes are subject to competing selective forces deriving from the fitness properties of resistance and the release ratio. Resistance that is spreading and capable of having a significant detrimental impact on population reduction is identifiable, signaling in advance a need for mitigating action.