Molecular and computational characterization of resistance genes of Culex pipiens complex mosquitoes

Abstract

Mosquitoes in the Culex pipiens complex, the primary vectors of diseases, have been exposed to repeated applications of insecticides, particularly pyrethroids, which resulted in the development of resistance. Detoxification enzymes play a major role in the development of insecticide resistance. Two glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes responsible for insecticide resistance: CPIJ002663 “CpGSTD5/CqGSTD5” and CPIJ002681 “CqGSTD11”, were presently used in a comprehensive molecular analysis for differentiating resistant and susceptible individuals of Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus collected from Egypt and the United States of America, respectively. Gene amplification, sequencing and cloning, were analyzed via bioinformatics databases. Data indicated 79.8% and 80.9% similarity of amplified CpGSTD5/CqGSTD5 respectively, to CPIJ002663 gene, whereas CqGSTD11 gene yielded 98% similarity to CPIJ002681 gene. The identity of translated amino acid sequences of these two genes was 99% for CpGSTD5 and CqGSTD5, and 96% for CqGSTD11. Although alignment of obtained amino acids sequences in NCBI conserved domains perceived polymorphic loci, the overall results revealed that no specific molecular marker for differentiating susceptible and resistant individuals was identified.