Combined use of lipopolysaccharide‐binding protein dsRNA and Gram‐negative bacteria for pest management of Coptotermes formosanus

Abstract

AbstractBACKGROUNDRNA interference (RNAi) technology is an environmentally friendly strategy for controlling insect pests. Lipopolysaccharide‐binding protein (LBP) recognizes lipopolysaccharides, which are a major outer membrane constituent of Gram‐negative bacteria. We propose that the LBP gene is a potential target for termite management; however, to date, no studies have examined this gene in termites.RESULTSIn this study, we cloned the LBP gene of Coptotermes formosanus (Cf) and found that the mortality rate of termite workers significantly increased, and the repellence of these workers to Gram‐negative bacteria was suppressed after knockdown of CfLBP using double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) injection and feeding. Moreover, the mortality rate of termite workers fed with CfLBP dsRNA and three Gram‐negative bacteria (provided separately) was over 50%, which was much higher than that of termites treated with either CfLBP dsRNA or Gram‐negative bacteria. Finally, we found that CfLBP impacts the IMD pathway to regulate the immune response of C. formosanus to Gram‐negative bacteria.CONCLUSIONCfLBP plays a important role in the immune defense of termites against Gram‐negative bacteria. It can be used as an immunosuppressant for RNAi‐based termite management and is an ideal target for termite control based on the combined use of RNAi and pathogenic bacteria. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.