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Title: Use of electroporation as an option to transform the Horn Fly, Haematobia irritans: a species recalcitrant to microinjection

Author
item XU, QIANG - Abilene Christian University
item Guerrero, Felicito
item PALAVESAM, AZHAHIANAMBI - Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
item Perez De Leon, Adalberto - Beto

Submitted to: Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/13/2015
Publication Date: 5/1/2015
Citation: Xu, Q., Guerrero, F., Palavesam, A., Perez De Leon, A.A. 2015. Use of electroporation as an option to transform the Horn Fly, Haematobia irritans: a species recalcitrant to microinjection. Insect Science. 00:1-9.

Interpretive Summary: Horn flies are serious pests of cattle in North America and control of these flies has primarily relied on insecticides. However, the heavy use of insecticides has led to the development of resistance in horn flies and novel methods of fly control are greatly needed. The use of transformation technology to genetically modify insects may lead to novel methods of pest control based on genetic approaches. Here we report a successful set of experiments whereby we succeeded in genetic transformation of the horn fly, Haematobia irritans, via electroporation. Stable genetic transformation was verified by use of PCR and through visualization of the fluorescent genetic marker protein used in the transformation.

Technical Abstract: Horn flies are serious pests of cattle in North America and control of these flies has primarily relied on insecticides. However, the heavy use of insecticides has led to the development of resistance in horn flies and novel methods of fly control are greatly needed. The use of transformation technology to genetically modify insects may lead to novel methods of pest control based on genetic approaches. Here we report a successful piggyBac-mediated stable germ-line transformation of the horn fly, Haematobia irritans, via electroporation. Transformation with fluorescent marker proteins was verified by PCR and sequencing of PCR products.