Downregulation of gene expression in insect pests

摘要

An interfering ribonucleic acid (RNA) that functions after absorption by a species of insect pest to downregulate the expression of a target gene in said insect pest, where the target gene (i) is selected from the group of genes that have a nucleotide sequence that comprises any of SEQ ID NOs 277, 138, 253, 152, or that have a nucleotide sequence that, when the two sequences are optimally aligned and compared, is at least 85% identical to either SEQ ID NOs 277, 138, 253 and 152 or (ii) is an ortholog of insect pests of a gene having a nucleotide sequence comprising any of SEQ ID NOs 277, 138, 253 and 152, wherein the two orthologous genes are similar in sequence to such an extent that when the two genes are optimally aligned and compared, the ortholog has a sequence that is at least 85% identical to any of the sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs 277, 138, 253 and 152; wherein said interfering RNA comprises at least one silencing element, wherein the silencing element is a double stranded RNA region comprising reassociated complementary strands, one of which comprises a sequence of at least 21 nucleotides that is complementary to a sequence of target nucleotides within said target gene.