Banca de DEFESA: SAMIA KELLY DA SILVA MATOS

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : SAMIA KELLY DA SILVA MATOS
DATE: 26/02/2026
TIME: 08:00
LOCAL: Recife-PE (Híbrido)
TITLE:

EFFECTS OF SPECIFIC AND NON-SPECIFIC dsRNAS ON ORAL INDUCTION OF RNAI IN THE PREDATORY LADY BEETLE Eriopis connexa (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE)

KEY WORDS:

Lady beetle; Coccinellidae; Non-target organisms; Dietary exposure; Heterologous dsRNA; Gene silencing; Environmental biosafety.

PAGES: 71
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Agronomia
SUBÁREA: Fitossanidade
SPECIALTY: Entomologia Agrícola
SUMMARY:

Modern agriculture seeks to balance food security and sustainability; however, conventional pest control methods are limited by resistance and damage to non-target organisms. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) incorporates selective tools, such as biological control, which utilizes natural enemies to regulate pest populations. Nevertheless, these agents are often negatively impacted by chemical insecticides. A promising alternative to mitigate such effects is RNA interference (RNAi) technology. RNAi is a conserved cellular mechanism that promotes sequence-specific gene silencing by degrading messenger RNA. In agriculture, it can be applied via genetically modified plants or through topical applications. For instance, SmartStax® PRO corn expresses dsRNA targeting the Snf7 gene of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera. This highly conserved gene encodes a vital protein of the ESCRT-III complex, essential for cellular trafficking. Although RNAi effectiveness is based on sequence identity between the dsRNA and the target mRNA, effects on natural enemies exposed to dsRNA designed for a specific pest cannot be ruled out and must be verified. Predators such as the lady beetle Eriopis connexa (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) are excellent models for these studies, particularly as many dsRNAs are designed to target coleopteran pests. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the biosafety of this technology for beneficial species. This study aimed to verify the functionality of dietary RNAi in E. connexa and to evaluate the adverse effects of exposure to dsRNAs designed for the cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Additionally, I propose E. connexa as a surrogate model for non-target effect studies adapted to tropical conditions. The established protocols and this ecologically relevant model will support future biosafety assessments, contributing to the responsible development of sustainable pest control strategies.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - JOSE DIJAIR ANTONINO DE SOUZA JUNIOR
Interno - ***.976.374-** - MARCELO HENRIQUE SANTOS PAIVA - UFPE
Externo à Instituição - DANIEL DAVID NORIEGA VASQUEZ