25-Year Anniversary of RNAi for Pest Management: Milestones and Prospects

Over 25 years have elapsed since gene regulation by RNA interference (RNAi) was described by Fire and Mello. During this time mechanisms of RNAi were defined at the molecular level, enabling the development of tools for studying gene function and controlling pests. Regarding arthropod control, much has been learned about pest susceptibility to environmental dsRNA, target gene selection, dsRNA delivery, pest resistance and methods of commercial scale production and deployment. Along with the development of insecticide resistance in several devastating insect pest populations, RNAi is rapidly emerging as one of the most promising new modes of action for use as commercialized bio-insecticidal crop traits or sprays.

This Research Topic will cover recent advances in RNA interference for pest management and highlights the success, opportunities, and obstacles that hinder the wider application of this technology in pest control. New findings exploring RNAi mechanisms across a wide range of RNAi-responsive pests and model insects will pave the way for the development of RNAi biopesticides. Furthermore, understanding physiological and cellular barriers against dsRNA in refractory insects will help to improve the efficiency of RNAi in several recalcitrant insect pests. Moreover, innovations in delivery and encapsulation of dsRNA will enhance RNAi efficiency. Advances in Genomics and transcriptomics with the power of computational analysis and bioinformatics have enabled acceleration of target gene discovery and more tools of effective designs of dsRNA sequences. Cost-effective production at field scale and various technical approaches to effectively deliver dsRNA are enabling successful insect control in the field. Regulatory agencies worldwide are developing frameworks for safety assessments of this new promising technology. It is crucial in this topic to discuss factors impacting the efficacy of RNAi in the field and risk assessment of its applications.

Authors are welcome to submit Original Research articles presenting new research findings and Review Articles summarizing the state of the art aimed at the development of insecticidal RNA products. Contributions summarizing the perspective of regulatory agencies are also welcome. Some potential themes of interest for this Research Topic:

• Advances in utilization of RNAi technology to control arthropod pests
• Advances in design optimization of dsRNA sequences for pest control in the AI era
• Advances in innovations in delivery of dsRNA to enhance RNAi efficiency
• Advances in understanding of RNAi mechanisms in arthropods
• Advances in understanding insect resistance to dsRNA
• Regional experiences and local perspectives on RNAi for pest control worldwide
• Advance in the mass production of RNA
• Environmental impact and risk assessment of dsRNA bioinsecticide and plant traits
• Advances in the discovery of dsRNA targets in non-model organisms
• Advancing RNAi technologies against recalcitrant insect pests
• Cellular uptake and novel intra and intercellular carriers of dsRNA
• Contribution of RNAi in basic research and Insect evolution
• Safety studies and regulatory perspectives of dsRNA bioinsecticides
• Transgenerational effects and symbiont mediated RNAi
• RNAi technology application in insect conservation, evolution, and ecosystem management

Topic Editor Kenneth Narva is employed by GreenLight Biosciences. Topic Editor Partha Ramaseshadri is employed by Bayer Crop Science. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: RNAi, RNA Interference, dsRNA, Insect Control, Crop Protection, Biopesticide, Trait

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.