Titel Deelnemers "Mapping insecticide resistance and characterization of resistance mechanisms in Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae) in Ethiopia" "Eba Alemayehu Simma, Abebe Asale, Kasahun Eba, Kefelegn Getahun, Kora Tushune, Astrid Bryon, Evangelia Morou, John Vontas, Thomas Van Leeuwen, Delenasaw Yewhalaw" "Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome modification to understand the genetic basis of insecticide resistance : Drosophila and beyond" "Vassilis Douris, Shane Denecke, Thomas Van Leeuwen, Chris Bass, Ralf Nauen, John Vontas" "Chemical insecticides are a major tool for the control of many of the world's most damaging arthropod pests. However, their intensive application is often associated with the emergence of resistance, sometimes with serious implications for sustainable pest control. To mitigate failure of insecticide-based control tools, the mechanisms by which insects have evolved resistance must be elucidated. This includes both identification and functional characterization of putative resistance genes and/or mutations. Research on this topic has been greatly facilitated by using powerful genetic model insects like Drosophila melanogaster, and more recently by advances in genome modification technology, notably CRISPR/Cas9. Here, we present the advances that have been made through the application of genome modification technology in insecticide resistance research. The majority of the work conducted in the field to date has made use of genetic tools and resources available in D. melanogaster. This has greatly enhanced our understanding of resistance mechanisms, especially those mediated by insensitivity of the pesticide target-site. We discuss this progress for a series of different insecticide targets, but also report a number of unsuccessful or inconclusive attempts that highlight some inherent limitations of using Drosophila to characterize resistance mechanisms identified in arthropod pests. We also discuss an experimental framework that may circumvent current limitations while retaining the genetic versatility and robustness that Drosophila has to offer. Finally, we describe examples of direct CRISPR/Cas9 use in non-model pest species, an approach that will likely find much wider application in the near future." "Resistance mutation conserved between insects and mites unravels the benzoylurea insecticide mode of action on chitin biosynthesis" "Vassilis Douris, Denise Steinbach, Rafaela Panteleri, Ioannis Livadaras, John Anthony Pickett, Thomas Van Leeuwen, Ralf Nauen, John Vontas" "Phenotypic insecticide resistance status of the Culex pipiens complex: a European perspective" "Stien Vereecken, Adwine Vanslembrouck, Isabelle Kramer, Ruth Müller" "Background: The common house mosquito Culex pipiens is known to be a major vector for West Nile virus. In order to decrease risks of West Nile virus outbreaks in Europe, insecticides and the bio-larvicide Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) are commonly used for vector control. Alarmingly, insecticide resistance has been reported in Cx. pipiens populations from Southern Europe and several countries neighbouring Europe. For Central and Northern Europe, however, the phenotypic insecticide resistance status of Cx. pipiens has not yet been investigated.Methods: A literature review was performed to assess the geographical distribution of insecticide resistance in Cx. pipiens. To fill the gap of knowledge for Central and Northern Europe, WHO susceptibility tests with permethrin, deltamethrin, malathion, bendiocarb and DDT and a larval toxicity test with Bti were performed with a Cx. pipiens population from Belgium, a country in Central Europe.Results: This research provides the first evidence of widespread phenotypic insecticide resistance in Cx. pipiens. In general, Cx. pipiens developed resistance against multiple insecticides in several countries. Another Cx. pipiens population from Belgium was tested and showed insecticide resistance against deltamethrin, permethrin, DDT and possibly against bendiocarb. The bio-larvicide Bti caused lower mortality than reported for other Cx. pipiens populations in the literature.Conclusions: These results indicate the urgent need for insecticide resistance monitoring against commonly used adulticides and larvicides in Europe, for the translation of knowledge gained regarding the limited efficiency and availability of insecticide into EU legislation and the need for innovative non-chemical vector control tools in order to counter the widespread insecticide resistance in Culex populations." "Significance and interpretation of molecular diagnostics for insecticide resistance management of agricultural pests" "Thomas Van Leeuwen, Wannes Dermauw, Konstantinos Mavridis" "Insecticide resistant pests become increasingly difficult to control in current day agriculture. Because of environmental and health concerns, the insecticide portfolio to combat agricultural pests is gradually decreasing. It is therefore crucial to make rational decisions on insecticide use to assure effective resistance management. However, resistance monitoring programs that inform on pest susceptibility and resistance are not yet common practice in agriculture. Molecular markers of resistance that are turned into convenient diagnostic tools are urgently needed and will only increase in importance. This review investigates which factors determine the strength, diagnostic value, and success of a diagnostic marker, and in which cases recent technical advances might provide new opportunities for decision making in an operational meaningful way." "Biochemical and insecticidal effects of plant essential oils on insecticide resistant and susceptible populations of Musca domestica L. point to a potential cross-resistance risk" "Ebrahim Ahmadi, Jahangir Khajehali, Thomas Van Leeuwen" "The insecticide resistance status of malaria vectors in the Mekong region" "Wim Van Bortel, HD Trung, LK Thuan, T. Sochantha, D Socheat, C Sumrandee, V Baimai, K Keokenchanh, P Samlane, Patricia Roelants, Leen Denis, Katrijn Verhaeghen, Valérie Obsomer, M. Coosemans" "The need to develop an efficient network for monitoring insecticide resistance at regional level" "Wim Van Bortel, M. Coosemans" "Functional characterization of glutathione S-transferases associated with insecticide resistance in Tetranychus urticae" "Nena Pavlidi, Vasilis Tseliou, Maria Riga, Ralf Nauen, Thomas Van Leeuwen, Nikolaos E Labrou, John Vontas" "Insecticide resistance in house fly (Musca domestica) populations of pig farms in Belgium" "Stanny Geerts, Reginald De Deken"