biostudies-literatureWhitten MMBill and Melinda Gates FoundationBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council20160042https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4810840biostudies-literatureUnknown283(1825)RNA interference (RNAi) methods for insects are often limited by problems with double-stranded (ds) RNA delivery, which restricts reverse genetics studies and the development of RNAi-based biocides. We therefore delegated to insect symbiotic bacteria the task of: (i) constitutive dsRNA synthesis and (ii) trauma-free delivery. RNaseIII-deficient, dsRNA-expressing bacterial strains were created from the symbionts of two very diverse pest species: a long-lived blood-sucking bug, Rhodnius prolixus, and a short-lived globally invasive polyphagous agricultural pest, western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis). When ingested, the manipulated bacteria colonized the insects, successfully competed with the wild-type microflora, and sustainably mediated systemic knockdown phenotypes that were Proceedings. Biological sciencesSymbiont-mediated RNA interference in insects.PMC4810840BB/G024154/1OPP1068514Dyson PJBodger OGDel Sol REvans MCWhitten MMMitchell JJFacey PDFernandez-Martinez LTfalseSymbiont-mediated RNA interference in insects.RNA interference (RNAi) methods for insects are often limited by problems with double-stranded (ds) RNA delivery, which restricts reverse genetics studies and the development of RNAi-based biocides. We therefore delegated to insect symbiotic bacteria the task of: (i) constitutive dsRNA synthesis and (ii) trauma-free delivery. RNaseIII-deficient, dsRNA-expressing bacterial strains were created from the symbionts of two very diverse pest species: a long-lived blood-sucking bug, Rhodnius prolixus, and a short-lived globally invasive polyphagous agricultural pest, western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis). When ingested, the manipulated bacteria colonized the insects, successfully competed with the wild-type microflora, and sustainably mediated systemic knockdown phenotypes that were 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 Feb2026-05-05T11:45:51.534Z2019-03-26T22:42:36ZS-EPMC48108402691196310.1098/rspb.2016.0042