Changes in the expression of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunits due to pyrethroid intoxication in pyrethroid-resistant pollen beetles, Meligethes aeneus (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

• DOI: 10.1007/bf03356496
• Publication Date: 2016-04-16T08:01:24Z
• Authors: Przemysław Wieczorek; Paweł Węgorek; Dorota Protasewicz; Joanna Zamojska; Marta Budziszewska; Marek Mrówczyński; Aleksandra Obrępa...
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences

Pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus, Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) is the most important pest of oilseed rape in Europe, causing great yield losses. Due to the heavy use of pyrethroid insecticides in controlling Meligethes, a widespread build-up of resistance to pyrethroid active substances has arisen, reported in many countries where the pest occurs. Mutations in the voltage-sensitive sodium channels (VSSC), which constitute the main targets for the pharmacological action, as well as increased oxidative metabolism of pyrethroid active substances in resistant populations are considered, as they are the main molecular mechanisms of the development of pyrethroid resistance. In this study we have analyzed the level of expression of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit genes (mtCOI, mtCOII) in esfenvalerate-treated populations of M. aeneus collected in 2011 by using the real-time PCR approach. Our results indicate that the esfenvalerate-treated beetles have a significantly higher mtCOI gene expression compared with the untreated ones and that the mtCOII transcript level is also slightly induced. This enhanced expression might, in part, be responsible for the increased oxidative metabolism in pyrethroid-challenged pollen beetle populations.