A K-State researcher is peering beyond the bug’s-eye view of pest control by examining an insect’s microscopic anatomy.
In the agricultural world, pest control is a pivotal concern for farmers, especially as they consider the environmental effects of harmful pesticides.
Researchers have recently been tossing around the idea of attempting to control RNA interference — a natural process that can turn off specific survival, developmental or reproductive genes in an insect’s body.
Insect interior
K-State’s Festus Ajibefun is searching even deeper into the structure of insects, specifically the Southern Corn Rootworm, to determine how their extracellular vesicles — bubble-like packages released by cells that transport information — could contribute to RNA interference signals.
“I have always been fascinated by the interactions between insects and the molecular mechanisms that can be used to manage them,” Ajibefun said. “By improving our understanding of how RNAi signals are transported and distributed within insects, this research may help overcome barriers that currently limit the effectiveness of RNAi in some pest species.”
To support his research and spur on his presentation at the annual Entomological Society of America meeting, Ajibefun received the Sarachek Travel Award. His advancements in this largely unexplored area of insect biology could unlock more sustainable and effective approaches to pest control.
By Kate Ellwood