Deltamethrin and transfluthrin select for distinct transcriptomic responses in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae

Abstract Background The widespread use of pyrethroid insecticides in Africa has led to the development of strong resistance in Anopheles mosquitoes. Introducing new active ingredients can contribute to overcome this phenomenon and ensure the effectiveness of vector control strategies. Transfluthrin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Malaria Journal
Main Authors: Marius Gonse Zoh, Jean-Marc Bonneville, Frederic Laporte, Jordan Tutagata, Christabelle G. Sadia, Behi K. Fodjo, Chouaibou S. Mouhamadou, Justin McBeath, Frederic Schmitt, Sebastian Horstmann, Stéphane Reynaud, Jean-Philippe David
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04673-5
https://doaj.org/article/c271951ea22e424c9e9dc965f0974f0a
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Summary:Abstract Background The widespread use of pyrethroid insecticides in Africa has led to the development of strong resistance in Anopheles mosquitoes. Introducing new active ingredients can contribute to overcome this phenomenon and ensure the effectiveness of vector control strategies. Transfluthrin is a polyfluorinated pyrethroid whose structural conformation was thought to prevent its metabolism by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases in malaria vectors, thus representing a potential alternative for managing P450-mediated resistance occurring in the field. In this study, a controlled selection was used to compare the dynamics of resistance between transfluthrin and the widely used pyrethroid deltamethrin in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Then, the associated molecular mechanisms were investigated using target-site mutation genotyping and RNA-seq. Methods A field-derived line of An. gambiae carrying resistance alleles at low frequencies was used as starting material for a controlled selection experiment. Adult females were selected across 33 generations with deltamethrin or transfluthrin, resulting in three distinct lines: the Delta-R line (selected with deltamethrin), the Transflu-R line (selected with transfluthrin) and the Tiassale-S line (maintained without selection). Deltamethrin and transfluthrin resistance levels were monitored in each selected line throughout the selection process, as well as the frequency of the L1014F kdr mutation. At generation 17, cross-resistance to other public health insecticides was investigated and transcriptomes were sequenced to compare gene transcription variations and polymorphisms associated with adaptation to each insecticide. Results A rapid increase in resistance to deltamethrin and transfluthrin was observed throughout the selection process in each selected line in association with an increased frequency of the L1014F kdr mutation. Transcriptomic data support a broader response to transfluthrin selection as compared to deltamethrin selection. For instance, multiple ...