Gut Symbionts: Hidden Players of Pesticide Resistance in Insects

Development of resistance to insecticides in insects is a global concern. Understanding the mechanisms is critical for effective plant protection and human health. Challenge in dealing the matter is that, resistance can occur via direct organism response (metabolic, physiological, and target-site changes) or via gut microbiome. Insects are constantly evolving like any other organisms; they are adopting various measures to overcome the chemicals sprayed to control them. Increasing evidence suggest that the gut microbiome can promote pesticide resistance in pests. Possible mechanisms by which gut bacteria play role in insecticide resistance are, direct acquisition of pesticide degrading microbes from the environment, difference in gut bacterial composition and diversity, difference in xenobiotic degrading enzymes and presence of microbial xenobiotic degradation pathways and cross-acclimatization to related insecticides.