REVIEW PAPER
Mechanism of Insecticide Resistance
in Insects/Pests
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1
Center for Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Swat, Swat. Pakistan
2
Department of Microbiology, University of Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
3
Director Technical KP Food Safety and Halal Food Authority Peshawar, Pakistan
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Department of Agriculture (Entomology), University of Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
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Department of Zoology, University of Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
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Department of Chemistry, University of Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Submission date: 2018-12-11
Final revision date: 2019-03-18
Acceptance date: 2019-04-14
Online publication date: 2020-01-23
Publication date: 2020-03-31
Corresponding author
Muhammad Muhammad
Department of Microbiology,, University of Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, 23340, Swabi, Pakistan
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(3):2023-2030
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ABSTRACT
The main purpose of this study is to provide essential information regarding the molecular basis of
insecticide resistance and to report candidate genes which are responsible for resistance in insects/pests.
There are two basic resistance mechanisms existing in pests, i.e., target site resistance and metabolic
resistance. During resistance of target site, the specific binding site of an insecticide is modified (mutated)
and/or lost, which makes the target site incompatible for activation. Mutation occurs in most common
pest (Myzus persicae, Musca domestica and Drosophila melanogaster) target regions, i.e., subunits
like nicotinic acetylene choline receptors (nAChRs), knock-down resistance (KDR) etc. Due to these
mutations, insecticides are unable to bind into the target region, resulting in loss of binding affinity.
Furthermore, in metabolic resistance over production of enzymes occurs which break down (detoxify)
insecticides and resulting resistance of pests. The amplification of metabolic enzymes, i.e., Cytochromes
p450 monooxygenase, hydrolyses, and Glutathione S-transferase play a central role in evolving metabolic
resistance. Various successful approaches are used to combat pests resistance such as insecticides,
bio-pesticides and biological control agents. However, some of these strategies have certain limitations
such as contamination of the environment, while others possess a low capacity in management of pests.
Recent studies have highlighted some novel mechanisms of insecticide resistance that are part of the
ongoing efforts to define the molecular basis of insecticide resistance in insect species.