The miR-125 targeting ARFIP2 and the miR-3770 targeting Rrs1_0 are involved in beta-cypermethrin resistance in cockroach

Abstract

Overuse of insecticides has led to severe environmental problems and rapid evolution of resistance. Incomplete metamorphosis insects, such as cockroaches, are ideal models for studying insecticide resistance mechanisms due to their short generation cycle and rapid development of resistance. Blattella germanica (L.), which endangers human health by causing allergic diseases and asthma, is ranks seventh among the top 20 most insecticide-resistant pest species globally, however, its miRNA-related resistance mechanisms are not well understood. Here, by miRNA-mRNA integration analysis, we identified two novel miRNAs, namely ame-miR-125-5p and ame-miR-3770-5p, that mediate the resistance of B. germanica to beta-cypermethrin (β-cypermethrin). Mechanistically, ame-miR-125-5p, which was significantly upregulated in the resistant (R) strain of cockroach compared with the susceptible (S) strain, promoted insecticide resistance by negatively targeting ARFIP2 (ADP ribosylation factor interacting protein 2). While, ame-miR-3770-5p, which was significantly downregulated in the R strain, impaired insecticide resistance by negatively targeting Rrs1_0 (ribosome biogenesis regulator 1 homolog). This study used cockroach as a model insect to broaden our understanding of the complex mechanisms of insecticide resistance, thereby providing opportunities to develop novel insecticides with enhanced killing effect based on the key molecular targets of the ame-miR-125-5p-ARFIP2 axis and the ame-miR-3770-5p-Rrs1_0 axis, with the aim of delaying or overcoming the resistance development at the genetic level.