# Identification of the pyrethroid resistance mutation on chromosome 1 in Aedes aegypti

> **NIH NIH R21** · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $229,800

## Abstract

SUMMARY/ABSTRACT:
Here we seek to understand the evolution of resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in Aedes
aegypti, an important vector of human diseases such as dengue and Zika. Pyrethroid insecticides
are widely used for control of adult Aedes, but resistance has evolved in many populations,
representing a global challenge for control of this vector and the diseases it transmits. Finding
strategies for delaying the development of resistance by mosquito vectors to the few available
insecticides is critical. To do so, it is essential to identify the mutations responsible for resistance
in order to design sensitive and precise monitoring programs, to understand the population
genetics and the evolution of resistance, and to design effective countermeasures to slow the
development of resistance.
Our long-term goal is to develop the necessary technologies for monitoring resistance alleles so that
this important evolutionary process can be studied and so that the development of resistance can be
delayed. Our short-term goal is to determine the mutation responsible for the newly identified
pyrethroid resistance locus on chromosome 1 in A. aegypti. To address our short-term goal, we will
pursue two specific aims:
Aim 1. Determining the resistance locus on chromosome 1 with high resolution.
Aim 2. Evaluation of candidate genes at the resistance locus on chromosome 1 and
validation of the mutation causing resistance.
A substantial amount of preliminary data has been obtained in support of this proposal. In addition to
the susceptible ROCK and well characterized SP strains, we have isolated two congenic resistant
strains. The CKR strain contains the resistance factors from the SP strain introgressed into the
background of the ROCK strain, and the KR strain contains only the kdr mutation in the background
of ROCK. We have also conducted a transcriptomic (RNAseq) and proteomic analysis of these
strains which will facilitate our selection of candidate genes at the resistance locus.
These experiments will allow us to identify a new pyrethroid resistance mutation in A. aegypti and
will give us preliminary information about its frequency in other populations of A. aegypti from across
the globe. These data will provide new information about the similarities and differences that
insecticide selection has had on geographically distant populations. Our results will form the basis
for future studies of resistance monitoring and resistance management in this important vector of
human disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10057017
- **Project number:** 1R21AI149121-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeffrey G Scott
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $229,800
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10057017

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10057017, Identification of the pyrethroid resistance mutation on chromosome 1 in Aedes aegypti (1R21AI149121-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10057017. Licensed CC0.

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