Amplification of DNA from preserved specimens shows blowflies were preadapted for the rapid evolution of insecticide resistance.

ABSTRACT: Mutations of esterase 3 confer two forms of organophosphate resistance on contemporary Australasian Lucilia cuprina. One form, called diazinon resistance, is slightly more effective against commonly used insecticides and is now more prevalent than the other form, called malathion resistance. We report here that the single amino acid replacement associated with diazinon resistance and two replacements associated with malathion resistance also occur in esterase 3 in the sibling species Lucilia sericata, suggesting convergent evolution around a finite set of resistance options. We also find parallels between the species in the geographic distributions of the polymorphisms: In both cases, the diazinon-resistance change is absent or rare outside Australasia where insecticide pressure is lower,

SUBMITTER: Hartley CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1482651 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature