Developing genetic control methods for the silverleaf whitefly
Lead Research Organisation:
University of East Anglia
Department Name: Graduate Office
Abstract
The silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is a species complex comprising several biotypes/cryptic species. It has over 500 host plants, to which damage is caused by the adult flies feeding, but they also vector a range of plant viruses. Control of the whitefly is principally by insecticide spraying, which can be of limited effectiveness as the pest develops resistance, and chemical modes-of-action or withdrawn from use.
This project will seek to develop genetic tools for new management strategies against this pest. Current genetic control approaches involve development of transgenic strains showing a self-limiting trait. For instance, engineered genetic sexing allows the production of male-only cohorts, which after release in the field will mate with wild counterparts, producing no female adult progeny and thereby reducing the pest population. This approach relies on mating, so is therefore highly species-specific with a low ecological impact. A transgenic self-limiting strain of the dengue mosquito, Aedes aegypti, has been used to successfully control wild populations of the mosquito, and similar fruit fly and lepidopteran strains are nearing field trial testing. With the technology developed in Diptera and Lepidoptera, we are seeking to apply a similar approach to management of whitefly (a hemipteran).
Working with Bemisia tabaci, the student will develop transformation methods and test construct components. The project will require investigation by molecular biology and bioinformatics to identify, characterize and clone whitefly regulatory sequences of interest for engineering new genetic pest management traits. At project end, we propose to have established the genetic toolkit and methods that will enable the development of new genetic methods of controlling this pest, and other Hemiptera.
This project will seek to develop genetic tools for new management strategies against this pest. Current genetic control approaches involve development of transgenic strains showing a self-limiting trait. For instance, engineered genetic sexing allows the production of male-only cohorts, which after release in the field will mate with wild counterparts, producing no female adult progeny and thereby reducing the pest population. This approach relies on mating, so is therefore highly species-specific with a low ecological impact. A transgenic self-limiting strain of the dengue mosquito, Aedes aegypti, has been used to successfully control wild populations of the mosquito, and similar fruit fly and lepidopteran strains are nearing field trial testing. With the technology developed in Diptera and Lepidoptera, we are seeking to apply a similar approach to management of whitefly (a hemipteran).
Working with Bemisia tabaci, the student will develop transformation methods and test construct components. The project will require investigation by molecular biology and bioinformatics to identify, characterize and clone whitefly regulatory sequences of interest for engineering new genetic pest management traits. At project end, we propose to have established the genetic toolkit and methods that will enable the development of new genetic methods of controlling this pest, and other Hemiptera.
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BB/N504178/1 | 01/10/2015 | 30/09/2019 | |||
1654669 | Studentship | BB/N504178/1 | 01/10/2015 | 30/09/2019 |
Description | Company of Biologists Travel Fund (Society of experimental biology) |
Amount | £420 (GBP) |
Organisation | Company of Biologists |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2017 |
End | 06/2017 |
Description | Company of Biologists Travel Fund (Society of experimental biology) |
Amount | £430 (GBP) |
Organisation | Company of Biologists |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 09/2018 |
Description | Travel grant |
Amount | £450 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Entomological Society |
Sector | Learned Society |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 09/2018 |
Description | Travel grant |
Amount | £180 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Sir Philip Reckitt Educational Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 09/2018 |
Description | iCASE PhD studentship |
Amount | £12,400 (GBP) |
Organisation | Oxitec Ltd |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2015 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | Formal collaboration with University of East Anglia |
Organisation | University of East Anglia |
Department | School of Biological Sciences UEA |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Member of the supervisory committee of a PhD student in the TC lab (iCASE studentship with Oxitec). |
Collaborator Contribution | Colleague is member of supervisory committee of my PhD student (iCASE studentship with Oxitec). |
Impact | Gained new insights on how to control insect pests of plants. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Formal research collaboration with Oxitec |
Organisation | Oxitec Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | My group provides knowledge, data and resources on whiteflies and other hemipteran insects. |
Collaborator Contribution | Oxitec provides information on insect transformation technologies and design of transformation plasmids. |
Impact | Obtained a iCASE PhD student fellowship. Hired PhD student Rebecca Corkill. Rebecca is making good progress with the project. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Formal research collaboration with Tracey Chapman, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK |
Organisation | University of East Anglia |
Department | School of Biological Sciences UEA |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am secondary supervisor on a Oxitec co-funded iCASE PhD studentship of Tracey. |
Collaborator Contribution | Tracey is secondary supervisor on a Oxitec co-funded iCASE PhD studentship of my group. |
Impact | We exchange knowledge about insect pests. We will start holding monthly journal club meetings starting Apr 2018. DIscussions to apply for research funding together are ongoing. We discuss research on the identification of sex-determination genes accross hemipteran insect species. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Engagement with Oxitec |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Regular meetings with Neil Morrison for supervisory meetings and discussing research progress of the iCASE studentship. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017,2018,2019 |
Description | Hosting of Milind Sood, BSc student, University of Oxford, UK. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Will do a research project in my lab as part of the JIC/TSL/EI International Undergraduate Summer School programme at JIC, Jun-Aug 2019. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |