Work was supported by grant no. 01GU0615 of the "Bundesministerium f&uuml;r Forschung und Technologie (BMBF).

1) Bacterial Delivery of shRNAs
<ol>
<li> Before starting with the bacterial culture, one has to prepare LB-medium and LB-agar. </li>
<li> For the LB-medium weigh out yeast extract (0.5 % w/v), bacto tryptone (1.0 % w/v), and NaCl (0.6 % w/v) and dilute these components in aqua bidest. The prepared solutions have to be sterilized in an autoclave and are then ready to use. </li>
<li> For LB-agar plates bacto agar (1.5 % w/v) has to be added to the LB-medium previous to sterilization. </li>
<li> Heat up LB-agar in the microwave until the LB-agar is completely dissolved. Let the solution cool down until the bottle can be touched easily without getting burned. Add kanamycin (100 mg/ml) for selection of positive clones in further steps. </li>
<li> Prepare LB-agar plates at a laminar flow bench (sterile conditions) by pipetting 20 ml of the LB-agar solution into 10-cm Petri-dishes. Let the plates cool down until the fluid has become solid. The plates are now ready to use and can be stored at 4 &deg;C . </li>
<li> ShRNA-encoding expression vectors are transformed into competent E. coli ceq221 by heat shock using the CaCl2 procedure.</li>
<li> Plate the transformed bacteria on LB-agar plates containing 100 &mu;g/ml kanamycin, close the lid, seal the plates with parafilm and cultivate upside down at 37 &deg;C over night.</li>
<li> Inoculate bacterial mini cultures with positive clones by picking grown colonies with a tooth pick. Transfer the tooth pick into 7.0 ml of fresh LB-medium containing 100 mg/ml kanamycin and cultivate at 37 &deg;C over night on a shaker at 200 rpm.</li>
<li> Inoculate 100 ml of fresh LB-medium containing 100 mg/ml kanamycin 1:100 with the over night mini culture in a 1 l Erlenmeyer flask, and incubate at 37 &deg;C over night on a shaker at 200 rpm.</li>
<li> Seed 25 x 104 (number of seeded cells depends on the speed of cell growth of the according cell line; confluency should be ~ 70-80 % 24 hours after seeding) human gastric carcinoma cells (EPG85-257RDB) per well in 6-well dishes and incubate these at 37 &deg;C, in a 
5 % CO2, water vapor saturated atmosphere over night. </li>
<li> Previous to cancer cell infection, over night cultures of tkRNAi vector-containing E. coli are measured in a photometer to determine the OD600. Dilute the bacterial solution until an optical density of 0.5 is reached (OD600 = 0.5 equals 1.6 x 108 bacterial cells/ml). </li>
<li> Replace the FCS-containing cell culture medium of the carcinoma cells against FCS-free medium 30 min previous to bacterial co-incubation. </li>
<li> Wash bacteria twice with 1 x PBS, and dilute in serum-free Leibovitz L-15 medium.</li>
<li> Add diluted bacteria to cancer cells at desired MOI (multiplicity of infection = number of bacterial cells per cancer cell) and co-incubate bacteria and cancer cells for 2 hours at 37 &deg;C.</li>
<li> After 2 hours of co-incubation cancer cells were washed twice with 1x x PBS and once with serum-containing Leibovitz L-15 medium supplemented with 100 u/ml penicillin, 100 &mu;g/ml streptomycin, 2.5 &mu;g/ml amphotericin, 150 &mu;g/ml gentamicin, and 100 &mu;g/ml kanamycin.</li>
<li> Continue cultivating the cancer cells at 37 &deg;C, in a 5 % CO2, water vapor saturated atmosphere.</li>
<li> The effects of the bacterial treatment can be visualized by fluorescent microscopy, measured by quantitative real-time RT PCR on mRNA level, and by western blot analysis on protein level, and shown with functional assays like FACS analysis, and cell proliferation assays. (if wanted, these procedures can be described in detail).</li>
</ol>

2) Representative Results
If the protocol is performed correctly, the results should be comparable to the ones shown below. 

Fluorescence microscopy
Figure 1 shows a human gastric carcinoma cell three hours after bacterial treatment (a) in comparison to an untreated cell (b). Around the nucleus of the treated cell, bacteria can be detected.
<img src="/files/ftp_upload/2099/2099fig1.jpg" alt="Figure 1" /> 
Figure 1: Fluorescent microscopy Human gastric carcinoma cell after bacterial treatment (1:500) and an untreated human gastric carcinoma cell as control, DAPI-staining, DAPI bandpass filter (&#923;em = 640 nm), 40x objective .

Quantitative real-time RT PCR
In figure 2 a down regulation of MDR1 mRNA of about 70 % (black beam) can be seen after treatment with the therapeutic bacteria. Parental cells serve as a positive control due to the lack of MDR1 overexpression. The cell line 257RDB p170 containing a plasmid expressing anti-MDR1 shRNAs s taken as direct comparison of the transkingdom RNAi technology to other RNAi silencing strategies. The untreated resistant cell line EPG85-257RDB overexpressing MDR1, the same cell line treated with bacteria lacking the shRNA expressing plasmid, and this cell line treated with therapeutic bacteria carrying a plasmid expressing anti-MRP2 shRNAs were taken as positive controls.
<img src="/files/ftp_upload/2099/2099fig2.jpg" alt="Figure 2" /> 
Figure 2: Quantitative real-time RT PCR MDR1 mRNA expression after treatment with therapeutic E. coli ceq221 expressing anti-MDR1 shRNAs (MOI 1 : 500). Normalization was performed using the housekeeping gene aldolase. The MDR1/aldolase ratio of untreated cells of the cell line EPG85-257RDB were set 100 %. P-values were calculated using the student's t-test (* = p&lt;0.05, ** = p&lt;0.005, *** = p&lt;0.001).
Western blot analysis
Figure 3 reveals that the MDR1 down regulation also took place on protein level after bacterial treatment. It shows the lacking MDR1 expression of the drug sensitive parental cell line (EPG85-257P), the MDR1 expression of the untreated drug resistant cell line (EPG85-257RDB) and the MDR1 expression of the treated sample. A clear down regulation of MDR1 of the bacterially treated cells can be observed. <img src="/files/ftp_upload/2099/2099fig3.jpg" alt="Figure 3" />
Figure 3: Western blot analysis. MDR1 expression levels of the untreated drug-sensitive EPG85-257P, the untreated drug-resistant EPG-257RDB, and of EPG85-257RDB after co-incubation with E. coli ceq221 + p43 MDR1. Primary Ab C219 1:100, and anti-actin 1:5 000, secondary Ab anti-mouse 1:10 000.
Cytotoxicity assay
Functional analysis like the cytotoxicity assay shown in figure 4 are also indicators for the functioning of the transkingdom RNAi. The parental cell line and the cell line containing an anit-MDR1 shRNA expressing plasmid do not show any resistance to daunorubicin. The resistant cell line EPG85-257RDB and two further controls do not show significant changes in resistance in comparison to the sample treated with anti-MDR1 shRNA expressing bacteria where the resistance to Daunorubicin could be reversed by about 90 %.
<img src="/files/ftp_upload/2099/2099fig4.jpg" alt="Figure 4" /> 
Figure 4: Cytotoxicity assay. Drug-specific IC50-values determined by a cytotoxicity assay for cell survival. P-values were calculated using the student's t-test (* = p&lt;0.05, ** = p&lt;0.005, *** = p&lt;0.001).

Anthracycline accumulation assay
According to the lowered resistance of bacterially treated samples (figure 4), the anthracycline accumulation of anti-MDR1 shRNA treated cells is increased by about 90 % as shown in figure 5. The parental cell line and the cell line 257RDB p170 show a strong daunorubicin accumulation up to 100 %. The resistant variant shows rarely any accumulation. Cells treated with anti-MDR1 shRNA expressing bacteria show an anthracyline accumulation increase of 90 %.
<img src="/files/ftp_upload/2099/2099fig5.jpg" alt="Figure 5" /> 
Figure 5: Anthracycline accumulation assay. Anthracycline accumulation of carcinoma cells 6 days after bacterial treatment measured by flow cytometry. P-values were calculated using the student's t-test (* = p&lt;0.05, ** = p&lt;0.005, *** = p&lt;0.001).

<ol>
	<li>Kr&#252;hn, A., Wang, A., Fruehauf, J. H., Lage, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Delivery+of+short+hairpin+RNAs+by+transkingdom+RNA+interference+modulates+the+classical+ABCB1-mediated+multidrug-resistant+phenotype+of+cancer+cells.">Delivery of short hairpin RNAs by transkingdom RNA interference modulates the classical ABCB1-mediated multidrug-resistant phenotype of cancer cells.</a> Cell Cycle. 8, 3349-3354 (2009).</li><li>Lage, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=MDR1/P-glycoprotein+(ABCB1)+as+target+for+RNA+interference-mediated+reversal+of+multidrug+resistance.">MDR1/P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) as target for RNA interference-mediated reversal of multidrug resistance.</a> Curr. Drug Targets. 7, 813-821 (2006).</li><li>Lage, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+overview+of+cancer+multidrug+resistance:+a+still+unsolved+problem.">An overview of cancer multidrug resistance: a still unsolved problem.</a> Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 65, 3145-3167 (2008).</li><li>Lage, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Therapeutic+potential+of+RNA+interference+in+drug-resistant+cancers.">Therapeutic potential of RNA interference in drug-resistant cancers.</a> Fut. Oncol. 5, 169-185 (2009).</li><li>Nguyen, T. A., Fruehauf, J. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transkingdom+RNA+interference+(tkRNAi):+a+novel+method+to+induce+therapeutic+gene+silencing.">Transkingdom RNA interference (tkRNAi): a novel method to induce therapeutic gene silencing.</a> Methods Mol. Biol. 514, 27-34 (2009).</li><li>Nieth, C., Priebsch, A., Stege, A., Lage, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Modulation+of+the+classical+multidrug+resistance+(MDR)+phenotype+by+RNA+interference+(RNAi.">Modulation of the classical multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype by RNA interference (RNAi.</a> FEBS Lett. 545, 144-150 (2003).</li><li>Stege, A., Priebsch, A., Nieth, C., Lage, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stable+and+complete+overcoming+of+MDR1/P-glycoprotein-mediated+multidrug+resistance+in+human+gastric+carcinoma+cells+by+RNA+interference.">Stable and complete overcoming of MDR1/P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance in human gastric carcinoma cells by RNA interference.</a> Cancer Gene Ther. 11, 699-706 (2004).</li><li>Stein, U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Complete+in+vivo+reversal+of+the+multidrug+resistance+(MDR)+phenotype+by+jet-injection+of+anti-MDR1+short+hairpin+RNA-encoding+plasmid+DNA.">Complete in vivo reversal of the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype by jet-injection of anti-MDR1 short hairpin RNA-encoding plasmid DNA.</a> Mol. Ther. 16, 178-186 (2008).</li><li>Xiang, S., Fruehauf, J., Li, C. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Short+hairpin+RNA-expressing+bacteria+elicit+RNA+interference+in+mammals.">Short hairpin RNA-expressing bacteria elicit RNA interference in mammals.</a> Nat. Biotechnol. 24, 697-702 (2006).</li></ol>

No conflicts of interest declared.

The cell number seeded for infection and the corresponding MOI used, critically depend on the cell lines under observation and their speed of growth. To find optimal cell numbers for seeding, pre-experiments to determine the speed of growth are strongly recommended. Besides this, different MOIs should be tested due to the limited extend to which the cells can stand the bacterial invasion without dying of stress. The optimal point of time where the down regulation of the gene under observation may vary. It is recommended ...

<table><tbody><tr><td>Agar</td><td>Biochrom AG</td><td>214050</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Amphotericin B</td><td>Biochrom AG</td><td>A2612</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dulbecco&#039;s Phosphate Buffered Saline-PBS (10 x)</td><td>Invitrogen GmbH</td><td>14080048</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>&lt;em&gt;E. coli&lt;/em&gt; ceq221</td><td>Cequent Pharmaceuticals Inc.</td><td></td><td>No catalogue available, direct order</td></tr><tr><td>Gentamycin</td><td>Biochrom AG</td><td>A2710</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Penicillin/Streptomycin</td><td>Invitrogen GmbH</td><td></td><td>Contains 5,000 units of penicillin (base) and 5,000 &amp;mu;g of streptomycin (base)/ml utilizing penicillin G (sodium salt) and streptomycin sulfate in 0.85% saline.</td></tr><tr><td>Sodium chloride</td><td>Merck KgaA</td><td>1064060500</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tryptone</td><td>Difco Laboratories</td><td>211705</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Yeast Extract</td><td>Difco Laboratories</td><td>212750</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

bacterial delivery of rnai effectors: transkingdom rnai

RNA interference (RNAi) represents a high effective mechanism for specific inhibition of mRNA expression. Besides its potential as a powerful laboratory tool, the RNAi pathway appears to be promising for therapeutic utilization. For development of RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapies, delivery of RNAi-mediating agents to target cells is one of the major obstacles. A novel strategy to overcome this hurdle is transkingdom RNAi (tkRNAi). This technology uses non-pathogenic bacteria, e.g. Escherichia coli, to produce and deliver therapeutic short hairpin RNA (shRNA) into target cells to induce RNAi. A first-generation tkRNAi-mediating vector, TRIP, contains the bacteriophage T7 promoter for expression regulation of a therapeutic shRNA of interest. Furthermore, TRIP has the Inv locus from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis that encodes invasin, which permits natural noninvasive bacteria to enter &beta;1-integrin-positive mammalian cells and the HlyA gene from Listeria monocytogenes, which produces listeriolysin O. This enzyme allows the therapeutic shRNA to escape from entry vesicles within the cytoplasm of the target cell. TRIP constructs are introduced into a competent non-pathogenic Escherichia coli strain, which encodes T7 RNA polymerase necessary for the T7 promoter-driven synthesis of shRNAs. A well-characterized cancer-associated target molecule for different RNAi strategies is ABCB1 (MDR1/P-glycoprotein, MDR1/P-gp). This ABC-transporter acts as a drug extrusion pump and mediates the "classical" ABCB1-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype of human cancer cells which is characterized by a specific cross resistance pattern. Different ABCB1-expressing MDR cancer cells were treated with anti-ABCB1 shRNA expression vector bearing E. coli. This procedure resulted in activation of the RNAi pathways within the cancer cells and a considerable down regulation of the ABCB1 encoding mRNA as well as the corresponding drug extrusion pump. Accordingly, drug accumulation was enhanced in the pristine drug-resistant cancer cells and the MDR phenotype was reversed. By means of this model the data provide the proof-of-concept that tkRNAi is suitable for modulation of cancer-associated factors, e.g. ABCB1, in human cancer cells.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Bacterial Delivery of RNAi Effectors: Transkingdom RNAi at JoVE.com

Bacterial Delivery of RNAi Effectors: Transkingdom RNAi

For development of RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapies, a novel strategy was developed, transkingdom RNAi (tkRNAi). This technology uses non-pathogenic bacteria to produce and deliver therapeutic short hairpin RNA (shRNA) into target cells. Here, tkRNAi was successfully applied for reversal of classical ABCB1-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells.

RNA interference (RNAi) represents a high effective mechanism for specific inhibition of mRNA expression. Besides its potential as a powerful laboratory ...

bacterial-delivery-of-rnai-effectors-transkingdom-rnai

Universidad de Cartagena UDEC

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

13.4K Views.  Charité Campus Mitte. For development of RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapies, a novel strategy was developed, transkingdom RNAi (tkRNAi). This technology uses non-pathogenic bacteria to produce and deliver therapeutic short hairpin RNA (shRNA) into target cells. Here, tkRNAi was successfully applied for reversal of classical ABCB1-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells.

Video: Bacterial Delivery of RNAi Effectors: Transkingdom RNAi

Rearing and Double-stranded RNA-mediated Gene Knockdown in the Hide Beetle, Dermestes maculatus

Advances in genomics have raised the possibility of probing biodiversity at an unprecedented scale. However, sequence alone will not be informative without tools to study gene function. The development and sharing of detailed protocols for the establishment of new model systems in laboratories, and for tools to carry out functional studies, is thus crucial for leveraging the power of genomics. Coleoptera (beetles) are the largest clade of insects and occupy virtually all types of habitats on the planet. In addition to providing ideal models for fundamental research, studies of beetles can have impacts on pest control as they are often pests of households, agriculture, and food industries. Detailed protocols for rearing and maintenance of D. maculatus laboratory colonies and for carrying out dsRNA-mediated interference in D. maculatus are presented. Both embryonic and parental RNAi procedures-including apparatus set up, preparation, injection, and post-injection recovery-are described. Methods are also presented for analyzing embryonic phenotypes, including viability, patterning defects in hatched larvae, and cuticle preparations for unhatched larvae. These assays, together with in situ hybridization and immunostaining for molecular markers, make D. maculatus an accessible model system for basic and applied research. They further provide useful information for establishing procedures in other emerging insect model systems.

Rearing and Double-stranded RNA-mediated Gene Knockdown in the Hide Beetle, Dermestes maculatus

Here, we present protocols for rearing an intermediate-germ beetle, Dermestes maculatus (D. maculatus) in the lab. We also share protocols for embryonic and parental RNAi and methods for analyzing embryonic phenotypes to study gene function in this species.

Advances in genomics have raised the possibility of probing biodiversity at an unprecedented scale. However, sequence alone will not be informative ...

Genetics

RNA Interference in Ticks

Ticks are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites of wild and domestic animals and humans, and are considered to be second worldwide to mosquitoes as vectors of human diseases1 and the most important vectors affecting cattle industry worldwide2. Ticks are classified in the subclass Acari, order Parasitiformes, suborder Ixodida and are distributed worldwide from Arctic to tropical regions3. Despite efforts to control tick infestations, these ectoparasites remain a serious problem for human and animal health4,5.
RNA interference (RNAi)6 is a nucleic acid-based reverse genetic approach that involves disruption of gene expression in order to determine gene function or its effect on a metabolic pathway. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are the effector molecules of the RNAi pathway that is initiated by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and results in a potent sequence-specific degradation of cytoplasmic mRNAs containing the same sequence as the dsRNA trigger7-9. Post-transcriptional gene silencing mechanisms initiated by dsRNA have been discovered in all eukaryotes studied thus far, and RNAi has been rapidly developed in a variety of organisms as a tool for functional genomics studies and other applications10.
RNAi has become the most widely used gene-silencing technique in ticks and other organisms where alternative approaches for genetic manipulation are not available or are unreliable5,11. The genetic characterization of ticks has been limited until the recent application of RNAi12,13. In the short time that RNAi has been available, it has proved to be a valuable tool for studying tick gene function, the characterization of the tick-pathogen interface and the screening and characterization of tick protective antigens14. Herein, a method for RNAi through injection of dsRNA into unfed ticks is described. It is likely that the knowledge gained from this experimental approach will contribute markedly to the understanding of basic biological systems and the development of vaccines to control tick infestations and prevent transmission of tick-borne pathogens15-19.

A method for RNA interference (RNAi) by injection of dsRNA into unfed ticks is described. RNAi is the most widely used gene-silencing technique in ticks where the use of other methods of genetic manipulation has been limited.

Ticks are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites of wild and domestic animals and humans, and are considered to be second worldwide to mosquitoes as vectors ...

Immunology and Infection

Double-stranded RNA Oral Delivery Methods to Induce RNA Interference in Phloem and Plant-sap-feeding Hemipteran Insects

Phloem and plant sap feeding insects invade the integrity of crops and fruits to retrieve nutrients, in the process damaging food crops. Hemipteran insects account for a number of economically substantial pests of plants that cause damage to crops by feeding on phloem sap. The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) and the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) are hemipteran insect pests introduced in North America, where they are an invasive agricultural pest of high-value specialty, row, and staple crops and citrus fruits, as well as a nuisance pest when they aggregate indoors. Insecticide resistance in many species has led to the development of alternate methods of pest management strategies. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) is a gene silencing mechanism for functional genomic studies that has potential applications as a tool for the management of insect pests. Exogenously synthesized dsRNA or small interfering RNA (siRNA) can trigger highly efficient gene silencing through the degradation of endogenous RNA, which is homologous to that presented. Effective and environmental use of RNAi as molecular biopesticides for biocontrol of hemipteran insects requires the in vivo delivery of dsRNAs through feeding. Here we demonstrate methods for delivery of dsRNA to insects: loading of dsRNA into green beans by immersion, and absorbing of gene-specific dsRNA with oral delivery through ingestion. We have also outlined non-transgenic plant delivery approaches using foliar sprays, root drench, trunk injections as well as clay granules, all of which may be essential for sustained release of dsRNA. Efficient delivery by orally ingested dsRNA was confirmed as an effective dosage to induce a significant decrease in expression of targeted genes, such as juvenile hormone acid O-methyltransferase (JHAMT) and vitellogenin (Vg). These innovative methods represent strategies for delivery of dsRNA to use in crop protection and overcome environmental challenges for pest management.

This article demonstrates novel techniques developed for oral delivery of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) through the vascular tissues of plants for RNA interference (RNAi) in phloem sap feeding insects.

Phloem and plant sap feeding insects invade the integrity of crops and fruits to retrieve nutrients, in the process damaging food crops. Hemipteran ...

Environment

RNA Interference in Aquatic Beetles as a Powerful Tool for Manipulating Gene Expression at Specific Developmental Time Points

RNA interference (RNAi) remains a powerful technique that allows for the targeted reduction of gene expression through mRNA degradation. This technique is applicable to a wide variety of organisms and is highly efficient in the species-rich order Coleoptera (beetles). Here, we summarize the necessary steps for developing this technique in a novel organism and illustrate its application to the different developmental stages of the aquatic diving beetle Thermonectus marmoratus. Target gene sequences can be obtained cost-effectively through the assembly of transcriptomes against a close relative with known genomics or de novo. Candidate gene cloning utilizes a specific cloning vector (the pCR4-TOPO plasmid), which allows the synthesis of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) for any gene with the use of a single common primer. The synthesized dsRNA can be injected into either embryos for early developmental processes or larvae for later developmental processes. We then illustrate how RNAi can be injected into aquatic larvae using immobilization in agarose. To demonstrate the technique, we provide several examples of RNAi experiments, generating specific knockdowns with predicted phenotypes. Specifically, RNAi for the tanning gene laccase2 leads to cuticle lightening in both larvae and adults, and RNAi for the eye pigmentation gene white produces a lightening/lack of pigmentation in eye tubes. In addition, the knockdown of a key lens protein leads to larvae with optical deficiencies and a reduced ability to hunt prey. Combined, these results exemplify the power of RNAi as a tool for investigating both morphological patterning and behavioral traits in organisms with only transcriptomic databases.

RNA interference is a widely applicable, powerful technique for manipulating gene expression at specific developmental stages. Here, we describe the necessary steps for implementing this technique in the aquatic diving beetle Thermonectus marmoratus, from the acquisition of gene sequences to the knockdown of genes that affect structure or behavior.

RNA interference (RNAi) remains a powerful technique that allows for the targeted reduction of gene expression through mRNA degradation. This technique is ...

Larval RNA Interference in the Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium castaneum

The red flour beetle, Tribolium&#160;castaneum, offers a repertoire of experimental tools for genetic and developmental studies, including a fully annotated genome sequence, transposon-based transgenesis, and effective RNA interference (RNAi). Among these advantages, RNAi-based gene knockdown techniques are at the core of Tribolium research. T. castaneum show a robust systemic RNAi response, making it possible to perform RNAi at any life stage by simply injecting double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into the beetle&#8217;s body cavity.
In this report, we provide an overview of our larval RNAi technique in T. castaneum. The protocol includes (i) isolation of the proper stage of T. castaneum larvae for injection, (ii) preparation for the injection setting, and (iii) dsRNA injection. Larval RNAi is a simple, but powerful technique that provides us with quick access to loss-of-function phenotypes, including multiple gene knockdown phenotypes as well as a series of hypomorphic phenotypes. Since virtually all T. castaneum tissues are susceptible to extracellular dsRNA, the larval RNAi technique allows researchers to study a wide variety of tissues in diverse contexts, including the genetic basis of organismal responses to the outside environment. In addition, the simplicity of this technique stimulates more student involvement in research, making T. castaneum an ideal genetic system for use in a classroom setting.

Larval RNA Interference in the Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium castaneum

RNA interference (RNAi)-based gene knockdown techniques are at the core of Tribolium research. Here, we provide an overview of our larval RNAi technique in Tribolium castaneum. Larval RNAi is a simple, but powerful technique that provides quick access to loss-of-function phenotypes, allowing researchers to study gene functions in diverse contexts.

The red flour beetle, Tribolium&#160;castaneum, offers a repertoire of experimental tools for genetic and developmental studies, including a fully ...

Chitosan/Interfering RNA Nanoparticle Mediated Gene Silencing in Disease Vector Mosquito Larvae

Vector mosquitoes inflict more human suffering than any other organism&#8212;and kill more than one million people each year. The mosquito genome projects facilitated research in new facets of mosquito biology, including functional genetic studies in the primary African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae and the dengue and yellow fever vector Aedes aegypti. RNA interference- (RNAi-) mediated gene silencing has been used to target genes of interest in both of these disease vector mosquito species. Here, we describe a procedure for preparation of chitosan/interfering RNA nanoparticles that are combined with food and ingested by larvae. This technically straightforward, high-throughput, and relatively inexpensive methodology, which is compatible with long double stranded RNA (dsRNA) or small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules, has been used for the successful knockdown of a number of different genes in A. gambiae and A. aegypti larvae. Following larval feedings, knockdown, which is verified through qRT-PCR or in situ hybridization, can persist at least through the late pupal stage. This methodology may be applicable to a wide variety of mosquito and other insect species, including agricultural pests, as well as other non-model organisms. In addition to its utility in the research laboratory, in the future, chitosan, an inexpensive, non-toxic and biodegradable polymer, could potentially be utilized in the field.

Here we describe a procedure for inhibiting gene function in disease vector mosquitoes through the use of chitosan/interfering RNA nanoparticles that are ingested by larvae.

Vector mosquitoes inflict more human suffering than any other organism&#8212;and kill more than one million people each year. The mosquito genome projects ...

Phage-mediated Delivery of Targeted sRNA Constructs to Knock Down Gene Expression in E. coli

RNA-mediated knockdowns are widely used to control gene expression. This versatile family of techniques makes use of short RNA (sRNA) that can be synthesized with any sequence and designed to complement any gene targeted for silencing. Because sRNA constructs can be introduced to many cell types directly or using a variety of vectors, gene expression can be repressed in living cells without laborious genetic modification. The most common RNA knockdown technology, RNA interference (RNAi), makes use of the endogenous RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) to mediate sequence recognition and cleavage of the target mRNA. Applications of this technique are therefore limited to RISC-expressing organisms, primarily eukaryotes. Recently, a new generation of RNA biotechnologists have developed alternative mechanisms for controlling gene expression through RNA, and so made possible RNA-mediated gene knockdowns in bacteria. Here we describe a method for silencing gene expression in E. coli that functionally resembles RNAi. In this system a synthetic phagemid is designed to express sRNA, which may designed to target any sequence. The expression construct is delivered to a population of E. coli cells with non-lytic M13 phage, after which it is able to stably replicate as a plasmid. Antisense recognition and silencing of the target mRNA is mediated by the Hfq protein, endogenous to E. coli. This protocol includes methods for designing the antisense sRNA, constructing the phagemid vector, packaging the phagemid into M13 bacteriophage, preparing a live cell population for infection, and performing the infection itself. The fluorescent protein mKate2 and the antibiotic resistance gene chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) are targeted to generate representative data and to quantify knockdown effectiveness.

Phage-mediated Delivery of Targeted sRNA Constructs to Knock Down Gene Expression in E. coli

We describe a method to knock down gene expression in a growing population of E. coli cells using sequence-targeted sRNA expression cassettes delivered by an M13 phagemid vector.

RNA-mediated knockdowns are widely used to control gene expression. This versatile family of techniques makes use of short RNA (sRNA) that can be ...

RNAi Trigger Delivery into Anopheles gambiae Pupae

RNA interference (RNAi), a naturally occurring phenomenon in eukaryotic organisms, is an extremely valuable tool that can be utilized in the laboratory for functional genomic studies. The ability to knockdown individual genes selectively via this reverse genetic technique has allowed many researchers to rapidly uncover the biological roles of numerous genes within many organisms, by evaluation of loss-of-function phenotypes. In the major human malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, the predominant method used to reduce the function of targeted genes involves injection of double-stranded (dsRNA) into the hemocoel of the adult mosquito. While this method has been successful, gene knockdown in adults excludes the functional assessment of genes that are expressed and potentially play roles during pre-adult stages, as well as genes that are expressed in limited numbers of cells in adult mosquitoes. We describe a method for the injection of Serine Protease Inhibitor 2 (SRPN2) dsRNA during the early pupal stage and validate SRPN2 protein knockdown by observing decreased target protein levels and the formation of melanotic pseudo-tumors in SRPN2 knockdown adult mosquitoes. This evident phenotype has been described previously for adult stage knockdown of SRPN2 function, and we have recapitulated this adult phenotype by SRPN2 knockdown initiated during pupal development. When used in conjunction with a dye-labeled dsRNA solution, this technique enables easy visualization by simple light microscopy of injection quality and distribution of dsRNA in the hemocoel.

RNAi Trigger Delivery into Anopheles gambiae Pupae

RNA interference (RNAi) is an extremely valuable tool for uncovering gene function. However, the ability to target genes using RNAi during pre-adult stages is limited in the major human malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. We describe an RNAi protocol to reduce gene function via direct injection during pupal development.

RNA interference (RNAi), a naturally occurring phenomenon in eukaryotic organisms, is an extremely valuable tool that can be utilized in the laboratory ...

Practical Use of RNA Interference: Oral Delivery of Double-stranded RNA in Liposome Carriers for Cockroaches

RNA interference (RNAi) has been widely applied for uncovering the biological functions of numerous genes, and has been envisaged as a pest control tool operating by disruption of essential gene expression. Although different methods, such as injection, feeding, and soaking, have been reported for successful delivery of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), the efficiency of RNAi through oral delivery of dsRNA is highly variable among different insect groups. The German cockroach, Blattella germanica, is highly sensitive to the injection of dsRNA, as shown by many studies published previously. The present study describes a method to demonstrate that the dsRNA encapsulated with liposome carriers is sufficient to retard the degradation of dsRNA by midgut juice. Notably, the continuous feeding of dsRNA encapsulated by liposomes significantly reduces the tubulin expression in the midgut, and led to the death of cockroaches. In conclusion, the formulation and utilization of dsRNA lipoplexes, which protect dsRNA against nucleases, could be a practical use of RNAi for insect pest control in the future.

This manuscript demonstrates the depletion of gene expression in the midgut of the German cockroach through oral ingestion of double-stranded RNA encapsulated in liposomes.

RNA interference (RNAi) has been widely applied for uncovering the biological functions of numerous genes, and has been envisaged as a pest control tool ...

Effective Oral RNA Interference (RNAi) Administration to Adult Anopheles gambiae Mosquitoes

RNA interference has been a heavily utilized tool for reverse genetic analysis for two decades. In adult mosquitoes, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) administration has been accomplished primarily via injection, which requires significant time and is not suitable for field applications. To overcome these limitations, here we present a more efficient method for robust activation of RNAi by oral delivery of dsRNA to adult Anopheles gambiae. Long dsRNAs were produced in Escherichia coli strain HT115 (DE3), and a concentrated suspension of heat-killed dsRNA-containing bacteria in 10% sucrose was offered on cotton balls ad-libitum to adult mosquitoes. Cotton balls were replaced every 2 days for the duration of the treatment. Use of this method to target doublesex (a gene involved in sex differentiation) or fork head (which encodes a salivary gland transcription factor) resulted in reduced target gene expression and/or protein immunofluorescence signal, as measured by quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) or fluorescence confocal microscopy, respectively. Defects in salivary gland morphology were also observed. This highly flexible, user-friendly, low-cost, time-efficient method of dsRNA delivery could be broadly applicable to target genes important for insect vector physiology and beyond.

Effective Oral RNA Interference RNAi Administration to Adult Anopheles gambiae Mosquitoes

The oral administration of dsRNA produced by bacteria, a delivery method for RNA interference (RNAi) that is routinely used in Caenorhabditis elegans, was successfully applied here to adult mosquitoes. Our method allows for robust reverse genetics studies and transmission-blocking vector studies without the use of injection.

Bacterial Delivery of RNAi Effectors: Transkingdom RNAi

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RNAi Trigger Delivery into Anopheles gambiae Pupae

Practical Use of RNA Interference: Oral Delivery of Double-stranded RNA in Liposome Carriers for Cockroaches

Effective Oral RNA Interference (RNAi) Administration to Adult Anopheles gambiae Mosquitoes